Fast decolorization of azo dyes in alkaline solutions by a thermostable metal-tolerant bacterial laccase and proposed degradation pathways.

Biocatalytic decolorization of azo dyes is hampered by their recalcitrance and the characteristics of textile effluents. Alkaline pH and heavy metals present in colored wastewaters generally limit the activity of enzymes such as laccases of fungal origin; this has led to an increasing interest in bacterial laccases. In this work, the dye decolorization ability of LAC_2.9, a laccase from the thermophilic bacterial strain Thermus sp. 2.9, was investigated. Its resistance towards different pHs and toxic heavy metals frequently present in wastewaters was also characterized. LAC_2.9 was active and highly stable in the pH range of 5.0 to 9.0. Even at 100 mM Cd+2, As+5 and Ni+2 LAC_2.9 retained 99%, 86% and 75% of its activity, respectively. LAC_2.9 was capable of decolorizing 98% of Xylidine, 54% of RBBR, 40% of Gentian Violet, and 33% of Methyl Orange after 24 h incubation at pH 9, at 60 °C, without the addition of redox mediators. At acidic pH, the presence of the mediator 1-hydroxybenzotriazole generally increased the catalytic effectiveness. We analyzed the degradation products of laccase-treated Xylidine and Methyl Orange by capillary electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, and propose a degradation pathway for these dyes. For its ability to decolorize recalcitrant dyes, at pH 9, and its stability under the tested conditions, LAC_2.9 could be effectively used to decolorize azo dyes in alkaline and heavy metal containing effluents.

A carbon nanotube/poly [Ni-(Protoporphyrin IX)] composite for amperometric detection of long chain aliphatic amines.

Poly [Ni-Protoporphyrin] film (pNiPP), containing multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) was used to cover a glassy carbon electrode. The hybrid material (pNiPP/MWCNT) successfully combines the permselectivity of pNiPP with the high conductivity of MWCNT. The modified electrode was used to perform amperometric detection of long chain aliphatic amines (LCAA) in order to prevent the passivation effect of the aliphatic chain. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrated that the pNiPP/MWCNT facilitates the electron transfer reaction. The charge transfer resistance (Rct) values were significantly lower by up to one order of magnitude compared to the bare electrode. Differential pulse polarography (DPP) showed a marked decrease of the overpotential generated by the aliphatic chain. The calibration of the amperometric peak area vs. concentrations of derivatized LCAA exhibits a linear response within the range of 0.018 and 28 µM and correlation coefficient (R(2)) higher than 0.999 (n=5). The quantitation limit of the pNiPP/MWCNT electrode is about 400 times lower than the UV-visible detection. RSD of 7.2%, 5.8%, 2.5% and 2.3% was obtained for concentrations of 0.028, 0.28, 2.8 and 28 µM of ferrocenyl octadecylamine. A solution of sphingosine, 0.23 µM, was exclusively detected with HPLC-ECD with pNiPP/MWCNT electrode.

Study of peptide-ligand interactions in open-tubular capillary columns covalently modified with porphyrins.

The inner surface of fused silica capillaries has been covalently modified with different porphyrins (deuteroporphyrin, complexes of deuteroporphyrin with metal ions Fe(III), Cu(II), Zn(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II)-meso-tetra (carboxyphenyl) porphyrin) and it was applied for the separation of biologically active peptides by open-tubular capillary electrochromatography. Separations were performed in a mobile phase composed of 25 mM potassium phosphate, pH 4.0, 5% v/v ACN and 10 mM hydroquinone. Changes in the effective electrophoretic mobility of peptides were studied concerning porphyrin central metal atom, attachment geometry, and the presence of coordinating or aromatic amino acid residues in the peptide sequence. The results showed that differences in metal core on the porphyrin and the spatial conformation of attached porphyrin result in changes in the analyte interaction with the stationary phase.

Self-assembled monolayers of disulfide Cu porphyrins on Au surfaces: adsorption induced reduction and demetalation.

Metalloporphyrin molecules have a wide range of potential applications in diverse technological areas ranging from electronics to optoelectronics, electrochemistry, photophysics, chemical sensors, and catalysis. In particular, self-assembled monolayers of porphyrin molecules have recently attracted considerable interest. In this work we have studied for the first time the self-assembly of a novel Cu deutero porphyrin functionalized with disulfide moieties using electrochemical techniques, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, and photoelectron spectroscopies (XPS and UPS). Experimental results indicate that the molecule adsorbs retaining its molecular integrity without forming molecular aggregates via the formation of Au-S covalent bonds. Furthermore, the monolayer consists of a packed array of molecules adsorbed with the plane of the porphyrin molecule at an angle of around 30° with respect to the surface normal. Interestingly, adsorption induces reduction of the Cu center and its consequent removal from the center of the porphyrin ring resulting in porphyrin demetalation. Our results are important in the design of self-assembled monolayers of metallo porphyrins where not only blocking of the metal center by the functional groups that drive the self-assembly should be considered but also possible adsorption induced demetalation with the consequent loss in the properties imparted by the metal center.

Layer-by-layer self-assembled osmium polymer-mediated laccase oxygen cathodes for biofuel cells: the role of hydrogen peroxide.

High potential purified Trametes trogii laccase has been studied as a biocatalyst for oxygen cathodes composed of layer-by-layer self-assembled thin films by sequential immersion of mercaptopropane sulfonate-modified Au electrode surfaces in solutions containing laccase and osmium-complex bound to poly(allylamine), (PAH-Os). The polycation backbone carries the Os redox relay, and the polyanion is the enzyme adsorbed from a solution of a suitable pH so that the protein carries a net negative charge. Enzyme thin films were characterized by quartz crystal microbalance, ellipsometry, cyclic voltammetry, and oxygen reduction electrocatalysis under variable oxygen partial pressures with a rotating disk electrode. New kinetic evidence relevant to biofuel cells is presented on the detection of traces of H(2)O(2), intermediate in the O(2) reduction, with scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Furthermore the inhibitory effect of peroxide on the biocatalytic current resulted in abnormal current dependence on the O(2) partial pressure and peak shape with hysteresis in the polarization curves under stagnant conditions, which is offset upon stirring with the RDE. The new kinetic evidence reported in the present work is very relevant for the operation of biofuel cells under stagnant conditions of O(2) mass transport.

Separation of peptides by open-tubular capillary electrochromatography using Fe(III)-deuteroporphyrin as a covalently attached stationary phase.

The separation of seven biologically active peptides was attempted by open-tubular capillary electrochromatography in fused-silica capillaries chemically modified with iron (III)-deuteroporphyrin using UV-absorption detection at 214 nm. The effect of BGE pH and content of organic solvent modifier was investigated. The best separations were obtained in 25 mM phosphate (BGE), pH 4.0, containing 5% v/v ACN and 10 mM hydroquinone, which was added to prevent gas bubble formation. Considering the method sensitivity, lower concentration LODs were obtained for all peptides in their open-tubular capillary electrochromatography separation as compared with their CZE separation in bare fused-silica capillary. The iron (III)-deuteroporphyrin column proved to be highly stable over time and showed acceptable precision of migration times and corrected peak areas (RSD in the range 2-4%).