Photodegradation of rhodamine B dye using a microwave electrodeless UV lamp (MWUVL)

Microwave Discharge Electrodeless Lamps (MDELs). Part XI. Photolytic, Chemical Oxidation, and Photocatalytic Treatment of Aqueous Urea Solution with a Novel MDEL Photoreactor

Decomposition of urea in aqueous solution was carried out using a microwave discharge electrodeless lamp (MDEL) consisting of two photoreactors with a triple tube structure that generate vacuum-UV/UV light and reactive oxygen species (ROS) using microwaves (MW) as an energy source. The rate of decomposition of urea was highest under acidic conditions (pH 4) compared with those at pH 7 and 10. When used in combination with dispersed TiO₂, a photocatalyst, high decomposition efficiency was achieved with less power consumption. Moreover, decomposition efficiency more than two times higher than that of ozone oxidation and sodium hypochlorite oxidation could be realized.

Molecular modeling and NMR studies of benzyl substituted mannosyl trisaccharide binding to two mannose-specific lectins: Allium sativam agglutinin I and Concanavalin A

The interaction of trimannoside, α-benzyl 3, 6-di-O-(α-D-mannopyranosyl)-α-D-mannopyranoside, 1 with ASAI (Allium sativam agglutinin I, garlic lectin) was studied to reveal the conformational preferences of this ligand in bound-state and detailed binding mode at atomic level. The binding phenomenon was then compared with another well-known mannose-binding lectin, ConA (Concanavalin A). Structural studies of the ligand in free state were done using NMR spectroscopy and Molecular Dynamics simulations. It is found that the substituted-trimannoside can undergo conformational transitions in solution, with one major and one minor conformation per glycosidic linkage (α 1→3 and α 1→6). On the other hand in the bound-state only one of the two major conformations was significantly populated. The role of phenyl ring in the binding process was explored. An extended binding site was observed for the trimannoside in ASAI utilizing the aromatic substituent, which is not seen in ConA. Binding data from difference absorption spectroscopy supported this fact that the binding of benzyl-substituted ligand is tighter with ASAI than ConA. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 93: 952-967, 2010.