Mathematical modeling for operative improvement of the decoloration of Acid Red 27 by a novel microbial consortium of Trametes versicolor and Pseudomonas putida: A multivariate sensitivity analysis.

In this work, it is presented a first approach of a mathematical and kinetic analysis for improving the decoloration and further degradation process of an azo dye named acid red 27 (AR27), by means of a novel microbial consortium formed by the fungus Trametes versicolor and the bacterium Pseudomonas putida. A multivariate analysis was carried out by simulating scenarios with different operating conditions and developing a specific mathematical model based on kinetic equations describing all stages of the biological process, from microbial growth and substrate consuming to decoloration and degradation of intermediate compounds. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was performed by using a factorial design and the Response Surface Method (RSM), for determining individual and interactive effects of variables like, initial glucose concentration, initial dye concentration and the moment in time for bacterial inoculation, on response variables assessed in terms of the minimum time for: full decoloration of AR27 (R1 = 2.375 days); maximum production of aromatic metabolites (R2 = 1.575 days); and full depletion of aromatic metabolites (R3 = 12.9 days). Using RSM the following conditions improved the biological process, being: an initial glucose concentration of 20 g l-1, an initial AR27 concentration of 0.2 g l-1 and an inoculation moment in time of P. putida at day 1. The mathematical model is a feasible tool for describing AR27 decoloration and its further degradation by the microbial consortium of T. versicolor and P. putida, this model will also work as a mathematical basis for designing novel bio-reaction systems than can operate with the same principle of the described consortium.

Aroylthioureas: new organic ionophores for heavy metal ion selective electrodes. A nuclear magnetic resonance study.

The 1H and 13C NMR spectra of four series of 1-aroylthiourea derivatives in DMSO-d6 are reported. The NH signals for 3-alkyl substituted aroylthioureas are identified by their multiplicity and by homonuclear irradiation experiments. Correlation analyzes are made for NH, CO and CS signals in order to determine the best way to modulate the nucleophilic character of the CS group, as thioureas are well-known ionophore groups. Almost all 1,3-substituted thioureas (Series 2-4) show the reported chelated structure with the exception of those with CF3, CN and NO2 groups. Pyridine group promote a different equilibrium in solution. The fragment -CO-NH- transmits poorly the electronic effects of substituents in the aroylgroup.

Antimicrobial activity of three Mexican Gnaphalium species.

The antibacterial activity of the hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the flowers, leaves and stems of Gnaphalium oxyphyllum var. oxyphyllum, G. liebmannii var. monticola and G. viscosum was investigated. The hexane extracts showed in all cases the higher inhibitions, G. oxyphyllum flower extract exhibiting the wider spectrum of activity.