Transient Adsorption Behavior of Single Fluorophores on an Electrode-Supported Nanobubble

Here we report the use of a Langmuir isotherm model to analyze and better understand the dynamic adsorption and desorption behavior of single fluorophore molecules at the surface of a hydrogen nanobubble supported on an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. Three rhodamine dyes, rhodamine 110 (R110, positively charged), rhodamine 6G (R6G, positively charged), and sulforhodamine G (SRG, negatively charged) were chosen for this study. The use of the Langmuir isotherm model allows us to determine the equilibrium constant and the rate constants for the adsorption and desorption processes. Of the three fluorophores used in this study, SRG was found to have the greatest equilibrium constant. No significant potential dependence was observed on the adsorption characteristics, which suggests the nanobubble size, geometry, and surface properties are relatively constant within the range of potentials used in this study. Our results suggest that the use of the Langmuir isotherm model is a valid and useful means for probing and better understanding the unique adsorption behavior of fluorophores at surface-supported nanobubbles.

A Study of the Synthesis and Characterization of New Acrylamide Derivatives for Use as Corrosion Inhibitors in Nitric Acid Solutions of Copper

The objective of this research was to explore the impact of corrosion inhibition of some synthetic acrylamide derivatives 2-cyano-N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)acrylamide (ACR-2) and 2-cyano-N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-phenylacrylamide (ACR-3) on copper in 1.0 M nitric acid solution using chemical and electrochemical methods, including mass loss as a chemical method and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PP) as electrochemical methods. By Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR), and mass spectroscopy (MS) methods, the two compounds were verified and characterized. There is evidence that both compounds were effective corrosion inhibitors for copper in 1.0 M nitric acid (HNO₃) solutions, as indicated by the PP curves, which show that these compounds may be considered mixed-type inhibitors. With the two compounds added, the value of the double-layer capacitance was reduced. In the case of 20 × 10^-5 M, they reached maximum efficiencies of 84.5% and 86.1%, respectively. Having studied its behavior during adsorption on copper, it was concluded that it follows chemical adsorption and Langmuir isotherm. The theoretical computations and the experimental findings were compared using density functional theory (DFT) and Monte Carlo simulations (MC).

Identification of the Methanogenesis Inhibition Mechanism Using Comparative Analysis of Mathematical Models

The application of cationic polymers to enhance membrane fluxes in anaerobic membrane bioreactors has been proposed by several authors. However, literature shows contradictory results on the influence of those chemicals on the biological activity. In this research, we studied the effect of a cationic polymer on the production of methane from acetate by acetoclastic methanogens. We assessed the effect of polymer concentration on the accumulated methane production (AMP) and the specific methanogenic activity (SMA) in batch tests. Batch tests results showed lower SMA values at higher concentrations of polymer and no effect on the final AMP. Different inhibition models were calibrated and compared to find the best fit and to hypothesize the prevailing inhibition mechanisms. The assessed inhibition models were: competitive (M1a), non-competitive (M2a), un-competitive (M3a), biocide-linear (M4a), and biocide-exponential (M5a). The parameters in the model related to the polymer characteristics were adjusted to fit the experimental data. M2a and M3a were the only models that fitted both experimental SMA and AMP. Although M1a and M4a adequately fitted the experimental SMA, M1a simulations slightly deviated from the experimental AMP, and M4a considerably underpredicted the AMP at concentrations of polymer above 0.23 gCOD L⁻¹. M5a did not adequately fit either experimental SMA and AMP results. We compared models a (M1a to M5a), which consider the inhibition by the concentration of polymer in the bulk liquid, with models b (M1b to M5b) considering the inhibition being caused by the total concentration of polymer in the reactor. Results showed that the difference between a and b models' simulations were negligible for all kinetic models considered (M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5). Therefore, the models that better predicted the experimental data were the non-competitive (M2a and M2b) and un-competitive (M3a and M3b) inhibition models, which are biostatic inhibition models. Consequently, the decreased methanogenic activity caused by polymer additions is presumably a reversible process

Synthesis of biosurfactant‐coated magnesium oxide nanoparticles for methylene blue removal and selective Pb2+ sensing

Dyes and lead (Pb2+) are toxic compounds that can contaminant water. In this study, magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles (NPs) prepared using clove, i.e. Syzygium aromaticum extract [clove extract (CE)] were used for methylene blue (MB) removal and Pb2+ ion sensing in aqueous solution. Maximum 90% MB removal was achieved using MgO NPs. The MB adsorption on MgO NPs surface followed second‐order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm. MB dye was adsorbed as a monolayer on the surface of MgO NPs with maximum adsorption capacity, 5555 mg g−1. MgO NPs were also able to selectively detect lead (Pb2+) in 1 nM–200 µM range with 24 µM (3σ) limit of detection. So, CE prepared MgO NPs are useful for MB dye adsorption and metal ion sensing applications.

Uptake of copper ions from aqueous solutions by Bacillus strain isolated from desert soil

Biosorption of copper (Cu) ions from aqueous solutions has been studied in a batch system using a Bacillus species AEJ-89 isolated from Maranjab desert soil. The optimum conditions of biosorption were determined by investigating the initial pH, contact time, and the initial concentrations of metal ions at constant temperature (25°C). The maximum biosorption of Cu ions was observed at pH 5.0 ± 0.1. Biosorption equilibrium times for Cu (II) ions were observed in 30 min. The maximum biosorption capacities of Cu (II) ions on Bacillus species AEJ-89 were determined to be 0.48 mmol g(-1) at 200 mg l(-1) concentration. The experimental adsorption data were fitted to Langmuir isotherm model. The interactions between metal ions and functional groups on the cell wall surface of the biomass were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. Cu (II) ions were removed from metal-laden biomass after desorption treatments by the addition of different desorbing solutions. The results indicated that the bacterial isolate Bacillus species AEJ-89 is a suitable biosorbent for the removal of Cu (II) ions from aqueous solutions.

Real-time Recognition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Lipoarabinomannan using the Quartz Crystal Microbalance

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) immunosensor has been successfully employed to screen for both whole Mycobacteria tuberculosis (Mtb) bacilli and a Mtb surface antigen, lipoarabinomannan (LAM). One of the most abundant components of the Mtb cell surface, LAM, may be detected without the presence of the entire bacterium. Using available antibodies with proven utility in enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISAs), a sensor was designed to measure Mtb bacilli and LAM. Equilibrium association constants (K(a)) were determined for the interaction of Mtb with immobilized α-LAM and anti-H37Rv antibodies, where avidity was seen to strengthen this interaction and provide for greater binding than might have otherwise been achieved. The binding of LAM to immobilized α-LAM had a high associate rate constant (k(a)) allowing for rapid detection. Evaluating these binding constants helped the compare the sensitivity of these immunosensors to conventional ELISAs. The use of these assays with the better antibodies may allow for immunosensor use in determining LAM as a point-of-care (POC) diagnostic for Mtb.

Microscopic Perspective on the Adsorption Isotherm of a Heterogeneous Surface

Adsorption of dissolved molecules onto solid surfaces can be extremely sensitive to the atomic-scale properties of the solute and surface, causing difficulties for the design of fluidic systems in industrial, medical and technological applications. In this communication, we show that the Langmuir isotherm for adsorption of a small molecule to a realistic, heterogeneous surface can be predicted from atomic structures of the molecule and surface through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We highlight the method by studying the adsorption of dimethyl-methylphosphonate (DMMP) to amorphous silica substrates and show that subtle differences in the atomic-scale surface properties can have drastic effects on the Langmuir isotherm. The sensitivity of the method presented is sufficient to permit the optimization of fluidic devices and to determine fundamental design rules for controlling adsorption at the nanoscale.