Organochlorine Compounds in Beached Plastics and Marine Organisms

Here we compare bioaccumulation factors in marine organisms to partition ratios in marine debris for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and polychlorinated biphenyls. Both organochlorines are synthetic persistent organic pollutants emitted into the environment since the beginning of the last century in approximately equal amounts. Their vast use and dispersion have resulted in approximately similar median concentrations of the two organochlorines in some pelagic organisms, namely in the liver and muscle tissue of fish. Molluscs, on the other hand, show higher median uptake of PCBs (median = 2.34 ng/g) than of DDTs (median = 1.70 ng/g), probably reflecting more localized conditions. We found that the bioaccumulation factors can be several orders of magnitude higher than the partition ratios. For instance, the median concentrations of organochlorines in the different matrices of fish, birds, and mammals are between one to four orders of magnitude higher than those found in marine debris, when lipid-normalized; or up to two orders of magnitude when measured as wet-weight. But, in molluscs, bioaccumulation/partition equals unity, which agrees with previous studies using passive samplers. Future research should focus on reducing sources of uncertainty by 1) homogenization of chemical procedures; 2) better assessment of chemical partition equilibrium between water and polymers in environmental conditions; 3) use of (multi)polymer passive samplers better aimed at mimicking uptake of specific living tissues.

Transfer Investigations of Lipophilic Drugs from Lipid Nanoemulsions to Lipophilic Acceptors: Contributing Effects of Cholesteryl Esters and Albumin as Acceptor Structures

When studying the release of poorly water-soluble drugs from colloidal drug delivery systems designed for intravenous administration, the release media should preferentially contain lipophilic components that represent the physiological acceptors present in vivo. In this study, the effect of different acceptor structures was investigated by comparing the transfer of fenofibrate, retinyl acetate, and orlistat from trimyristin nanoemulsion droplets into lipid-containing hydrogel particles, as well as to bovine serum albumin (BSA). A nanodispersion based on trimyristin and cholesteryl nonanoate was incorporated into the hydrogel particles (mean diameter ~40 µm) in order to mimic the composition of lipoproteins. The course of transfer observed utilizing the lipid-containing hydrogel particles as an acceptor was in relation to the lipophilicity of the drugs: the higher the logP value, the slower the transfer. There was no detectable amount of the drugs transferred to BSA in liquid solution, demonstrating clearly that albumin alone does not contribute substantially as acceptor for the lipophilic drugs under investigation in this study. In contrast, cholesteryl nonanoate contributes to a much greater extent. However, in all cases, the partition equilibrium of the drugs under investigation was in favor of the trimyristin emulsion droplets.

MODELO MATEMÁTICO PARA LA TRANSFRUCTOSILACIÓN DE ESTEVIÓSIDO CON - FRUCTOFURANOSIDASA INMOVILIZADA

MODELO MATEMÁTICO PARA LA TRANSFRUCTOSILACIÓN DE ESTEVIÓSIDO CON - FRUCTOFURANOSIDASA INMOVILIZADA MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR TRANSFRUCTOSYLATION OF STEVIOSIDE USING ImmOBILIZED - FRUCTOFURANOSIDASE Fiorella Cárdenas T. Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Tohoku, Japón DOI: https://doi.org/10.33017/RevECIPeru2010.0002/ RESUMEN En el presente articulo, un modelo matemático fue diseñado para la transfructosilación de esteviósido con b-fructofuranosidasa inmovilizada considerando el equilibrio de partición entre la fase liquida y la fase de partícula, difusión y reacción dentro de la partícula. Las constantes cinéticas fueron estimadas mediante el ajuste de las ecuaciones cinéticas con los resultados experimentales de la síntesis de fructosil-esteviósido con enzima libre. Las otras constantes fueron estimadas mediante el ajuste del modelo matemático con resultados experimentales de coeficiente de equilibrio de partición, y síntesis de fructosil-esteviósido con enzima inmovilizada. El modelo describe la formación de fructosil-esteviósido en el tiempo para varias condiciones de concentración inicial de sustrato y enzima total en el sistema. Palabras clave: transfructosilación, fructosil-esteviósido, análisis cinético, modelo matemático. ABSTRACT In the present article, a mathematical model for the b- immobilized fructofuranosidase was constructed considering the partition equilibrium between the liquid phase and the particle, diffusion and reaction within the particle. The kinetic constants were estimated by fitting the kinetic equations with the experimental data of the fructosyl-stevioside experiments using suspended enzyme. The other constants were estimated by fitting the mathematical model with experimental data of partition equilibrium coefficient, and fructosyl-stevioside synthesis using immobilized enzyme. The model could describe the fructosyl-stevioside formation under several conditions of initial concentration of substrate and total enzyme in the system. Keywords: Transfructosilation, fructosyl – stevioside, kinetic analysis, mathematical model.

Exploring homo-FRET to quantify the oligomer stoichiometry of membrane-bound proteins involved in a cooperative partition equilibrium

Homo-FRET measurements can be used to monitor the self-assembly of membrane-bound peptides/proteins engaged in a coupled partition–oligomerization equilibrium.

Effect of Additives on Desulfurization Capability of CAS-OB Refining Ladle Slag

To avoid slag sticking onto the ladle snorkel during the CAS-OB refining and alloying process, CaO-B2O3 and CaO-CaF2 were respectively employed as modifiers added into the ladle slag. The desulfurization capability of modified slag was investigated. The results of experiments on sulphur partition equilibrium between metal and slag indicate that the sulphur content of metal can be further decreased by the modified slag. When CaO-B2O3 is used as additive and the mass ratio of CaO to B2O3 is 1:1, the desulfurization ratio of slag to liquid steel is 50%, the final sulphur content can be controlled at 0.002%. The efficiency of desulfurization is fine. When CaO- CaF2 is employed as additive and the mass ratio of CaF2 to CaO is 2:8, the final sulphur content of metal can be controlled lower than 0.004%, the efficiency of desulfurization is also acceptable.