Kinetic data and substrate specificity of a keratinase from Chryseobacterium sp. strain kr6

BACKGROUND: Keratinases are important enzymes for biotechnological processes involving keratin hydrolysis. In this work substrate specificity and kinetic properties of a keratinase from Chryseobaterium sp. were investigated. RESULTS: The optimal conditions for activity of purified keratinase with respect to pH, temperature and sodium chloride concentration were established using factorial design and surface response techniques. The optimum conditions for keratinase activity were pH from 7.4 to 9.2, temperature from 35 °C to 50 °C and NaCl concentration from 50 to 340 mmol L^?1, having azocasein as substrate. Subsequently, the kinetic parameters for this substrate were determined to be K_m = 0.75 mg mL^?1 and V_max = 59.5 U min^?1. The K_i value for 1,10‐phenanthroline was estimated at 0.78 mmol L^?1. The enzyme specificity was evaluated over different synthetic and insoluble substrates. The protease exhibited specificity with selectivity for hydrophobic and positively charged residues. In relation to the insoluble substrates, the enzyme hydrolyzed preferably chicken nails. CONCLUSIONS: This enzyme effectively hydrolyzes insoluble keratin substrates. The knowledge of keratinase properties is an essential step in the development of biotechnological processes involving keratin hydrolysis. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Novel Al2Mo3O12-PTFE composites for microwave dielectric substrates

Nowadays, microwave dielectric substrate materials have been extensively investigated to meet the requirements of rapid development in modern communications. Among them, the composites of ceramic powder filled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) have been a hot topic. However, the compatibility and connectivity between the surface of ceramics and PTFE molecular chains in the samples are usually low. Herein novel PTFE based composites with different contents of Al₂Mo₃O₁₂ (20–60 wt%) modified by C₁₄H₁₉F₁₃O₃Si (F8261) coupling agent were designed and prepared. The coupling agent F8261 has been successfully grafted to the surface of Al₂Mo₃O₁₂ powders, effectively promoting the densification and dielectric properties of the composites. As the content of the modified Al₂Mo₃O₁₂ powders increases from 20 to 60 wt%, the ε_r value increases from 3.4 to 4.2, and tanδ almost remains constant at the beginning and increases with much more Al₂Mo₃O₁₂ added. The Al₂Mo₃O₁₂-PTFE composites filled with 30 wt% Al₂Mo₃O₁₂ present the optimal dielectric properties of ε_r = 3.6 and tanδ = 0.0018 with a high density of 95.6%. In addition, the electromagnetic and multiphysic simulation of a 24 GHz substrate integrated waveguide filter on the basis of the 30 wt% Al₂Mo₃O₁₂ - 70 wt% PTFE composite was carried out. It was revealed that the filter presented high stability on the electrical parameters caused by self-heating and dimension deformation due to the good microwave dielectric, thermal and mechanical properties of the substrate. These results indicate that the as-prepared 30 wt% Al₂Mo₃O₁₂ - 70 wt% PTFE composite would be a promising candidate for high-performance microwave dielectric substrates.     

Dynamic wetting of porous Ni substrate under MCFC conditions

The dynamic contact angle of molten carbonate in first contact with porous Ni was measured as a function of porosity and thickness of the substrate, and of the amount of carbonate as a fraction of the empty pore volume available (“degree-of-filling”). The spreading of molten carbonate on the outer surface, and its penetration inside the porous Ni substrate were observed separately, and the time to complete absorption of a known mass of melt was measured under different conditions of substrate porosity, thickness and degree-of-filling. The average absorption rate and the average linear velocity over the initial void cross-section were determined and correlated with substrate characteristics. A straightforward quasi-linear correlation with control variables was found. However, although initial filling is capillary-force controlled, later stages of absorption appear slowed down significantly by viscous and inertial effects. This helps to understand why capillary equilibrium models do not accurately predict electrolyte redistribution in long-term performance. Moreover, post-test analysis indicates that on first contact of porous Ni substrates with molten carbonate, sintering of Ni particles occurs even at the relatively low temperature of 580 °C. Models for initial filling need to account for this initial accelerated sintering. The result of this work may be used to optimize the infiltration process of electrolyte into the porous MCFC electrodes.     

地杆菌α-L-岩藻糖苷酶的分子改造及其在合成2’-岩藻糖基乳糖中的应用

对地杆菌α-L-岩藻糖苷酶进行分子改造，以提高其酶法合成2’-岩藻糖基乳糖（2’-fucosyllactose，2’-FL）的转化效率。利用易错聚合酶链式反应构建了α-L-岩藻糖苷酶的突变体文库，筛选得到一个合成2’-FL转化率提高的突变酶（mPbFuc29A1）。酶学性质研究结果表明mPbFuc29A1的最适pH值和温度分别为pH 5.0和40 ℃，最适温度较野生型PbFuc29A1提高了5 ℃；突变酶水解2’-FL的比活力提高到3 倍，但是水解4-硝基苯基-α-L-岩藻糖苷（4-nitrophenyl-α-L-fucopyranoside，pNP-FUC）和3’-岩藻糖基乳糖（3’-fucosyllactose，3’-FL）的比活力分别降低了22.8%和52.5%。以pNP-FUC和乳糖为底物，采用mPbFuc29A1酶法催化合成2’-FL和3’-FL，转化率分别为23.6%和56.4%，其中2’-FL的转化率较PbFuc29A1提高了9.1%。通过序列及定点突变分析发现mPbFuc29A1的氨基酸序列中有2 个位点发生突变（Asp21Val和Glu266Lys），其中位于loop区的Glu266Lys可能是mPbFuc29A1底物特异性和转糖苷产物组成发生改变的关键。优良的酶学特性使mPbFuc29A1在2’-FL合成中具有较大的应用潜力。     

Role of silane grafting in the development of a superhydrophobic clay-alumina composite membrane for separation of water in oil emulsion

Hydrophobic composite kaolin-coated clay-alumina membranes are unique choices for water in oil emulsion separation. In this work, a membrane fabrication approach is presented using kaolin clay coating in the clay-alumina tubular composite support tube and subsequently grafting by different concentrations of fluoroalkyl silane (FAS: 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H, -Perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane) on the membrane surface. Different concentrations of fluoroalkyl silane formed distinctive hierarchical structures which exhibited hydrophobicity of the membrane surface. The pore property, surface roughness properties, and thermogravimetric properties can be suitably tailored by tuning the silane concentration in the grafting solution. The surfaces of comparatively higher silane content grafted (M50 and M100) composite membranes were found to be superhydrophobic. Comparably, our optimal composite membrane (M100) displayed a moderate steady flux rate of 80-100LMH (Lm^?2h ^?1) and excellent water rejection (>99%) properties during the separation of water in hexane and toluene emulsion at a cross-flow transmembrane pressure of 1 bar. The role of silane concentration on permeated hexane and toluene flux rate, water rejection rate, surface wettability, microstructure, and hydrophobic stability reveals new distinguishing insights into the hydrophobic clay-alumina composite membrane fabrication.     

3D well-ordered wood substrate coupled transition metal boride as efficient electrode for water splitting

The choice of substrate is critical to the performance of binder-free electrode for water splitting. Here, carbonized wood is employed as 3D porous diffusion substrates to accommodate conductive transitional metal boride. The composite is efficiently and uniformly deposited on the inner wall of the carbonized wood by means of simple electroless plating technique. The well-defined 3D Ni-W-B/wood electrode requires overpotential of only 46 mV at 50 mA cm^?2 for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), outperforming the Ni-W-B/NF electrode with nickel foam as the substrate. The ordered channel structure inherited from the carbonized wood endows the electrode with abundant active site density, fast mass and charge transportation, and efficient transport of evolved gas. The outstanding advantages of environmentally benign nature, low cost, favorable 3D channel structure, and anti-corrosion in harsh condition make wood as a promising substrate for binder-free electrode.     

Study of bending reliability and electrical properties of platinum lines on flexible polyimide substrates

We have experimentally studied the variation in electrical resistance of flexible platinum lines patterned on polyimide foil when they are subjected to circular bending constraints. The lines were patterned by means of standard photolithography and sputtering deposition. Two different photolithography masks were used for comparative evaluation: an un-expensive transparency mask and a standard chromium mask. Measurements of the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and time stability of the resistance have been acquired for lines bent down to 1.25 mm radius of curvature on a customized bending setup, showing good reliability results. The robustness of the lines has been also assessed by registering their change in resistance while bending at different radii of curvature. The lines showed reliability issues for radii of curvature below 1.25 mm, presenting a resistance variation of 19% for transparency mask-fabricated lines and 9% for chromium mask-fabricated lines. The worse reliability performances of transparency mask lines, compared to the chromium mask ones, was found to be due to their imperfect edges, which promoted the formation and propagation of cracks during bending. The results of the experiments in this work permitted to compare the performances of flexible conductive lines with different geometry and fabricated with two different masks, establishing quantitative and qualitative bending limits for their appropriate operation in flexible electronics systems.     

弹性半空间地基板的求解

将地基板和地基之间的接触分布力视为地基的外力,并将接触分布力进行离散化,依次加载到地基上,利用弹性力学中的叠加原理,推导出了地基中储存的弹性势能公式,建立了地基和地基板体系的势能表达式,并利用最小势能原理求解出了地基和地基板的沉降。推导出的势能公式可作为研究建筑结构与地基共同作用原理的理论基础。     

厚规格镀铝锌产品锌花尺寸及均匀性控制研究

针对1.5 mm以上厚规格镀铝锌DX51D+AZ产品易出现边部锌花不均、锌花尺寸偏大等问题,采用扫描电镜(SEM)、辉光分析(GDS)、三维形貌测试等方法对厚规格镀铝锌DX51D产品锌花不均缺陷机理和锌花尺寸控制理论进行了系统分析,发现造成产品边部锌花不均缺陷的主要原因是基板表面粗糙度不均,通过炉辊更换、原料板形优化、炉辊变频器改造等措施,显著降低了该缺陷的发生率。结合热力学计算,发现锌花尺寸偏大的主要原因是镀后冷却能力不足,并探讨了微量Ti可以通过促进TiAl₃相形成从而起到细化凝固组织的作用。因此,提出了采用小锌花专用冷却装置并对原有移动风箱进行整体改造,以及添加微量Ti的措施,经过现场试制,锌花尺寸由2.9~3.0 mm减小至2.5~2.6 mm。采用上述措施后,锌花尺寸及均匀性控制水平得到显著提升。     

玉米秸秆两级CSTR厌氧消化工艺动力学性能研究

文章采用物料衡算模型、微生物衡算模型和一级动力学模型对两级CSTR厌氧消化系统的运行性能进行了研究。研究结果表明:两级厌氧消化系统HRT(20+20)d和HRT(30+10)d的产甲烷系数分别比单级厌氧消化系统HRT40d增加了5.38%和5.99%;HRT(20+20)d和HRT(30+10)d的第一级反应器的一级动力学常数高于HRT40d以及HRT(20+20)d和HRT(30+10)d的第二级反应器的一级动力学常数;HRT40d,HRT(20+20)d和HRT(30+10)d的微生物产率系数分别为0.003 8,0.016 6和0.020 4;在不同有机负荷率下,HRT(20+20)d,HRT30+10d和HRT40d的平均微生物浓度分别为0.221~0.350,0.275~0.447,0.047~0.076 g/L。