Composite membranes and methods for making same

DOEpatents

Routkevitch, Dmitri; Polyakov, Oleg G

2012-07-03

Composite membranes that are adapted for separation, purification, filtration, analysis, reaction and sensing. The composite membranes can include a porous support structure having elongate pore channels extending through the support structure. The composite membrane also includes an active layer comprising an active layer material, where the active layer material is completely disposed within the pore channels between the surfaces of the support structure. The active layer is intimately integrated within the support structure, thus enabling great robustness, reliability, resistance to mechanical stress and thermal cycling, and high selectivity. Methods for the fabrication of composite membranes are also provided.

Fabrication and Water Treatment Application of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs)-Based Composite Membranes: A Review

PubMed Central

Ma, Lining; Dong, Xinfa; Chen, Mingliang; Zhu, Li; Wang, Chaoxian; Yang, Fenglin; Dong, Yingchao

2017-01-01

Membrane separation technology is widely explored for various applications, such as water desalination and wastewater treatment, which can alleviate the global issue of fresh water scarcity. Specifically, carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-based composite membranes are increasingly of interest due to the combined merits of CNTs and membrane separation, offering enhanced membrane properties. This article first briefly discusses fabrication and growth mechanisms, characterization and functionalization techniques of CNTs, and then reviews the fabrication methods for CNTs-based composite membranes in detail. The applications of CNTs-based composite membranes in water treatment are comprehensively reviewed, including seawater or brine desalination, oil-water separation, removal of heavy metal ions and emerging pollutants as well as membrane separation coupled with assistant techniques. Furthermore, the future direction and perspective for CNTs-based composite membranes are also briefly outlined. PMID:28335452

Fabrication and Water Treatment Application of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs)-Based Composite Membranes: A Review.

PubMed

Ma, Lining; Dong, Xinfa; Chen, Mingliang; Zhu, Li; Wang, Chaoxian; Yang, Fenglin; Dong, Yingchao

2017-03-18

Membrane separation technology is widely explored for various applications, such as water desalination and wastewater treatment, which can alleviate the global issue of fresh water scarcity. Specifically, carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-based composite membranes are increasingly of interest due to the combined merits of CNTs and membrane separation, offering enhanced membrane properties. This article first briefly discusses fabrication and growth mechanisms, characterization and functionalization techniques of CNTs, and then reviews the fabrication methods for CNTs-based composite membranes in detail. The applications of CNTs-based composite membranes in water treatment are comprehensively reviewed, including seawater or brine desalination, oil-water separation, removal of heavy metal ions and emerging pollutants as well as membrane separation coupled with assistant techniques. Furthermore, the future direction and perspective for CNTs-based composite membranes are also briefly outlined.

TiO2/bi A-SPAES(Ds 1.0) composite membranes for proton exchange membrane in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC).

PubMed

Zhang, Ni; Zhong, Chuanqing; Xie, Bing; Liu, Huiling; Wang, Xingzu

2014-09-01

A series of TiO2/bi A-SPAES(Ds 1.0) composite membranes with various contents of nano-sized TiO2 particles were prepared through sol-gel method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicated the TiO2 particles were well dispersed within polymer matrix. These membranes were used for proton exchange membrane (PEM) for performance evaluation in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). These composite membranes showed good thermal stability and mechanical strength. It was found that the water uptake of these membranes enhanced with the TiO2 amount increasing in these composite membranes. Meanwhile, the introduction of TiO2 particles increased the proton conductivity and reduced the methanol permeability. The proton conductivities of these composite membranes with 8% TiO2 particles (0.120 S/cm and 0.128 S/cm) were higher than those of Nafion 117 membrane (0.114 S/cm and 0.117 S/cm) at 80 degrees C and 100 degrees C. Specially, the methanol diffusion coefficient (1.2 x 10(-7) cm2/s) of the composite membrane with 8% TiO2 content was much lower than that of Nafion 117 membrane (2.1 x 10(-6) cm2/s). As a result, the TiO2/bi A-SPAES composite membrane was considered as a promising material for PEM in DMFC.

Composite membranes for fluid separations

DOEpatents

Blume, Ingo; Peinemann, Klaus-Viktor; Pinnau, Ingo; Wijmans, Johannes G.

1992-01-01

A method for designing and making composite membranes having a microporous support membrane coated with a permselective layer. The method involves calculating the minimum thickness of the permselective layer such that the selectivity of the composite membrane is close to the intrinsic selectivity of the perselective layer. The invention also provides high performance membranes with optimized properties.

Composite membranes for fluid separations

DOEpatents

Blume, Ingo; Peinemann, Klaus-Viktor; Pinnau, Ingo; Wijmans, Johannes G.

1991-01-01

A method for designing and making composite membranes having a microporous support membrane coated with a permselective layer. The method involves calculating the minimum thickness of the permselective layer such that the selectivity of the composite membrane is close to the intrinsic selectivity of the permselective layer. The invention also provides high performance membranes with optimized properties.

Composite membranes for fluid separations

DOEpatents

Blume, Ingo; Peinemann, Klaus-Viktor; Pinnau, Ingo; Wijmans, Johannes G.

1990-01-01

A method for designing and making composite membranes having a microporous support membrane coated with a permselective layer. The method involves calculating the minimum thickness of the permselective layer such that the selectivity of the composite membrane is close to the intrinsic selectivity of the permselective layer. The invention also provides high performance membranes with optimized properties.

Proton conductivity and methanol permeability of Nafion-SiO2/SiWA composite membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thiam, Hui San; Chia, Min Yan; Cheah, Qiao Rou; Koo, Charlene Chai Hoon; Lai, Soon Onn; Chong, Kok Chung

2017-04-01

Proton exchange membranes for a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) were prepared by incorporating silica/silicotungstic acid (SiO2/SiWA) inorganic composite into a Nafion polymer. The effects of SiO2/SiWA content on proton conductivity of membranes were investigated by using a four-probe conductivity cell. Methanol permeability of composite membrane was also determined by using a homemade diffusion cell and gas chromatography technique. It was found that proton conductivity of the composite membranes decreased with SiO2/SiWA content, however the highest proton conductivity achieved was 11% greater than the pure recast Nafion membrane. The methanol permeability of composite membrane was much lower than that of pure recast Nafion, in a reduction of 58% which indicated a better resistance to fuel crossover. Nafion-SiO2/SiWA composite membrane showed promising advantages over pure Nafion on electrochemical properties such as proton conductivity and fuel crossover and it is potentially attractive for use in DMFC.

Biosensors Based on Ultrathin Film Composite Membranes

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-01-25

composite membranes should have a number C •’ of potential advantages including fast response time, simplicity of construction, and applicability to a number...The support membrane for the ultrathin film composite was an Anopore ( Alltech Associates) microporous alumina filter, these membranes are 55 Pm thick...constant 02 concentration in this solution. Finally, one of the most important potential advantage of a sensor based on an ultrathin film composite

Mordenite/Nafion and analcime/Nafion composite membranes prepared by spray method for improved direct methanol fuel cell performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prapainainar, Paweena; Du, Zehui; Kongkachuichay, Paisan; Holmes, Stuart M.; Prapainainar, Chaiwat

2017-11-01

The aim of this work was to improve proton exchange membranes (PEMs) used in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). A membrane with a high proton conductivity and low methanol permeability was required. Zeolite filler in Nafion (NF matrix) composite membranes were prepared using two types of zeolite, mordenite (MOR) and analcime (ANA). Spray method was used to prepare the composite membranes, and properties of the membranes were investigated: mechanical properties, solubility, water and methanol uptake, ion-exchange capacity (IEC), proton conductivity, methanol permeability, and DMFC performance. It was found that MOR filler showed higher performance than ANA. The MOR/Nafion composite membrane gave better properties than ANA/Nafion composite membrane, including a higher proton conductivity and a methanol permeability that was 2-3 times lower. The highest DMFC performance (10.75 mW cm-2) was obtained at 70 °C and with 2 M methanol, with a value 1.5 times higher than that of ANA/Nafion composite membrane and two times higher than that of commercial Nafion 117 (NF 117).

Preparation and electrochemical characterization of ionic-conducting lithium lanthanum titanate oxide/polyacrylonitrile submicron composite fiber-based lithium-ion battery separators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Yinzheng; Ji, Liwen; Guo, Bingkun; Lin, Zhan; Yao, Yingfang; Li, Ying; Alcoutlabi, Mataz; Qiu, Yiping; Zhang, Xiangwu

Lithium lanthanum titanate oxide (LLTO)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) submicron composite fiber-based membranes were prepared by electrospinning dispersions of LLTO ceramic particles in PAN solutions. These ionic-conducting LLTO/PAN composite fiber-based membranes can be directly used as lithium-ion battery separators due to their unique porous structure. Ionic conductivities were evaluated after soaking the electrospun LLTO/PAN composite fiber-based membranes in a liquid electrolyte, 1 M lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF 6) in ethylene carbonate (EC)/ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) (1:1 vol). It was found that, among membranes with various LLTO contents, 15 wt.% LLTO/PAN composite fiber-based membranes provided the highest ionic conductivity, 1.95 × 10 -3 S cm -1. Compared with pure PAN fiber membranes, LLTO/PAN composite fiber-based membranes had greater liquid electrolyte uptake, higher electrochemical stability window, and lower interfacial resistance with lithium. In addition, lithium//1 M LiPF 6/EC/EMC//lithium iron phosphate cells containing LLTO/PAN composite fiber-based membranes as the separator exhibited high discharge specific capacity of 162 mAh g -1 and good cycling performance at 0.2 C rate at room temperature.

Chlorine-resistant composite membranes with high organic rejection

DOEpatents

McCray, Scott B.; Friesen, Dwayne T.; Barss, Robert P.; Nelson, Leslie D.

1996-01-01

A method for making a chlorine-resistant composite polyamide membrane having high organic rejection, the essential step of which comprises treating a conventional composite membrane with an acyl halide. The novel membrane is especially suitable for the treatment of water containing chlorine or lower molecular weight organic compounds.

Facile Fabrication of Composite Membranes with Dual Thermo- and pH-Responsive Characteristics.

PubMed

Ma, Bing; Ju, Xiao-Jie; Luo, Feng; Liu, Yu-Qiong; Wang, Yuan; Liu, Zhuang; Wang, Wei; Xie, Rui; Chu, Liang-Yin

2017-04-26

Facile fabrication of novel functional membranes with excellent dual thermo- and pH-responsive characteristics has been achieved by simply designing dual-layer composite membranes. pH-Responsive poly(styrene)-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) block copolymers and polystyrene blended with thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) nanogels are respectively used to construct the top layer and bottom layer of composite membranes. The stretching/coiling conformation changes of the P4VP chains around the pK a (∼3.5-4.5) provide the composite membranes with extraordinary pH-responsive characteristics, and the volume phase transitions of PNIPAM nanogels at the pore/matrix interfaces in the bottom layer around the volume phase transition temperature (VPTT, ∼33 °C) provide the composite membranes with great thermoresponsive characteristics. The microstructures, permeability performances, and dual stimuli-responsive characteristics can be well tuned by adjusting the content of PNIPAM nanogels and the thickness of the PS-b-P4VP top layer. The water fluxes of the composite membranes can be changed in order of magnitude by changing the environment temperature and pH, and the dual thermo- and pH-responsive permeation performances of the composite membranes are satisfactorily reversible and reproducible. The membrane fabrication strategy in this work provides valuable guidance for further development of dual stimuli-responsive membranes or even multi stimuli-responsive membranes.

Chitosan/silica coated carbon nanotubes composite proton exchange membranes for fuel cell applications.

PubMed

Liu, Hai; Gong, Chunli; Wang, Jie; Liu, Xiaoyan; Liu, Huanli; Cheng, Fan; Wang, Guangjin; Zheng, Genwen; Qin, Caiqin; Wen, Sheng

2016-01-20

Silica-coated carbon nanotubes (SCNTs), which were obtained by a simple sol-gel method, were utilized in preparation of chitosan/SCNTs (CS/SCNTs) composite membranes. The thermal and oxidative stability, morphology, mechanical properties, water uptake and proton conductivity of CS/SCNTs composite membranes were investigated. The insulated and hydrophilic silica layer coated on CNTs eliminates the risk of electronic short-circuiting and enhances the interaction between SCNTs and chitosan to ensure the homogenous dispersion of SCNTs, although the water uptake of CS/SCNTs membranes is reduced owing to the decrease of the effective number of the amino functional groups of chitosan. The CS/SCNTs composite membranes are superior to the pure CS membrane in thermal and oxidative stability, mechanical properties and proton conductivity. The results of this study suggest that CS/SCNTs composite membranes exhibit promising potential for practical application in proton exchange membranes. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Temperature and metal exposure affect membrane fatty acid composition and transcription of desaturases and elongases in fathead minnow muscle and brain.

PubMed

Fadhlaoui, Mariem; Pierron, Fabien; Couture, Patrice

2018-02-01

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that metal exposure affected the normal thermal response of cell membrane FA composition and of elongase and desaturase gene transcription levels. To this end, muscle and brain membrane FA composition and FA desaturase (fads2, degs2 and scd2) and elongase (elovl2, elovl5 and elovl6) gene transcription levels were analyzed in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) acclimated for eight weeks to 15, 25 or 30°C exposed or not to cadmium (Cd, 6μg/l) or nickel (Ni, 450 6μg/l). The response of membrane FA composition to temperature variations or metal exposure differed between muscle and brain. In muscle, an increase of temperature induced a decrease of polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) and an increase of saturated FA (SFA) in agreement with the current paradigm. Although a similar response was observed in brain between 15 and 25°C, at 30°C, brain membrane unsaturation was higher than predicted. In both tissues, metal exposure affected the normal thermal response of membrane FA composition. The transcription of desaturases and elongases was higher in the brain and varied with acclimation temperature and metal exposure but these variations did not generally reflect changes in membrane FA composition. The mismatch between gene transcription and membrane composition highlights that several levels of control other than gene transcription are involved in adjusting membrane FA composition, including post-transcriptional regulation of elongases and desaturases and de novo phospholipid biosynthesis. Our study also reveals that metal exposure affects the mechanisms involved in adjusting cell membrane FA composition in ectotherms. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Gradient composite metal-ceramic foam as supportive component for planar SOFCs and MIEC membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smorygo, Oleg; Mikutski, Vitali; Marukovich, Alexander; Sadykov, Vladislav; Usoltsev, Vladimir; Mezentseva, Natalia; Borodinecs, Anatolijs; Bobrenok, Oleg

2011-06-01

A novel approach to the design of planar gradient porous supports for the thin-film SOFCs and MIEC membranes is described. The support's thermal expansion is controlled by the creation of a two-component composite metal-ceramic foam structure. Thin MIEC membranes and SOFCs were prepared on the composite supports by the layerwise deposition of composite functional layers including complex fluorites and perovskites. Lab-scale studies demonstrated promising performance of both MIEC membrane and SOFC.

The influence of TiO2 composition in LiBOB electrolyte polymer composite membrane characteristics for lithium ion batteries applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lestariningsih, T.; Sabrina, Q.; Wigayati, E. M.

2018-03-01

Characterization of the composite membrane of LiBOB electrolyte polymers made from poly (vinylidene fluoride co-hexafluororopylene) (PVdF-HFP) as the polymer, LiBOB or LiB(C2O4)2 as electrolyte salt and titanium dioxide (TiO2) as ceramic filler of three different concentrations have been done. Sample of membrane was prepared using solution casting technique. Microstructural study by SEM shows non-uniform distribution of pore over the surface of the sample. X-ray structural analysis, impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies were carried out. Membrane composite polymer of LiBOB electrolyte without additional ceramic filler with composition of 70% polymer, 30% LiBOB, and 0% TiO2 has the greatest conductivity for forming amorphous phase and is compatible with material membrane composite. Meanwhile, sample with 70% polymer composition, 28% LiBOB and 2% TiO2 shows oxidation reaction at the most perfect discharge despite very slow current speed.

Enhancement of fuel cell performance with less-water dependent composite membranes having polyoxometalate anchored nanofibrous interlayer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abouzari-lotf, Ebrahim; Jacob, Mohan V.; Ghassemi, Hossein; Ahmad, Arshad; Nasef, Mohamed Mahmoud; Zakeri, Masoumeh; Mehdipour-Ataei, Shahram

2016-09-01

Polyoxometalate immobilized nanofiber was used to fabricate low gas permeable layer for composite membranes designed for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) operating at low relative humidity (RH). The composite membranes revealed enhanced proton conductivity in dry conditions compared with state-of-the-art pristine membrane (Nafion 112, N112). This was coupled with a low fuel crossover inheriting the composite membranes about 100 mV higher OCV than N112 when tested in PEMFC at 60 °C and 40% RH. A maximum power density of up to 930 mW cm-2 was also achieved which is substantially higher than the N112 under similar conditions (577 mW cm-2). Such remarkable performance enhancement along with undetectable leaching of immobilized polyoxometalate, high dimensional stability and low water uptake of the composite membranes suggest a strong potential for PEMFC under low RH operation.

CO2 adsorption using TiO2 composite polymeric membranes: A kinetic study.

PubMed

Hafeez, Sarah; Fan, X; Hussain, Arshad; Martín, C F

2015-09-01

CO2 is the main greenhouse gas which causes global climatic changes on larger scale. Many techniques have been utilised to capture CO2. Membrane gas separation is a fast growing CO2 capture technique, particularly gas separation by composite membranes. The separation of CO2 by a membrane is not just a process to physically sieve out of CO2 through the controlled membrane pore size. It mainly depends upon diffusion and solubility of gases, particularly for composite dense membranes. The blended components in composite membranes have a high capability to adsorb CO2. The adsorption kinetics of the gases may directly affect diffusion and solubility. In this study, we have investigated the adsorption behaviour of CO2 in pure and composite membranes to explore the complete understanding of diffusion and solubility of CO2 through membranes. Pure cellulose acetate (CA) and cellulose acetate-titania nanoparticle (CA-TiO2) composite membranes were fabricated and characterised using SEM and FTIR analysis. The results indicated that the blended CA-TiO2 membrane adsorbed more quantity of CO2 gas as compared to pure CA membrane. The high CO2 adsorption capacity may enhance the diffusion and solubility of CO2 in the CA-TiO2 composite membrane, which results in a better CO2 separation. The experimental data was modelled by Pseudo first-order, pseudo second order and intra particle diffusion models. According to correlation factor R(2), the Pseudo second order model was fitted well with experimental data. The intra particle diffusion model revealed that adsorption in dense membranes was not solely consisting of intra particle diffusion. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Haryadi, E-mail: haryadi@polban.ac.id; Gunawan, Y. B.; Harjogi, D.

The modification of Nafion 117 - TMSP (trimethoxysylilprophanthiol) composite membrane has been conducted by in-situ sol-gel method followed by characterization of structural and properties of material using spectroscopic techniques. The performance of composite membrane has then been examined in the single stack module of Fe-Cr Redox Flow Battery. It was found that the introduction of silica from TMSP through sol-gel process within the Nafion 117 membrane produced composite membrane that has slightly higher proton conductivity values as compared to the pristine of Nafion 117 membrane observed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The degree of swelling of water in the composite membranemore » demonstrated greatly reduced than a pristine Nafion 117 signifying low water cross over. The SEM-EDX measurements indicated that there was no phase separation occurred suggesting that silica nanoparticles are distributed homogeneously within the composite membrane. The composite membrane used as separator in the system of Fe-Cr Redox Flow Battery revealed no cross mixing (crossover) occurred between anolyte and catholyte in the system as observed from the total voltage measurements that closed to the theoretical value. The battery efficiency generally increased as the volume of the electrolytes enlarged.« less

Development of cesium phosphotungstate salt and chitosan composite membrane for direct methanol fuel cells.

PubMed

Xiao, Yanxin; Xiang, Yan; Xiu, Ruijie; Lu, Shanfu

2013-10-15

A novel composite membrane has been developed by doping cesium phosphotungstate salt (CsxH3-xPW12O40 (0≤x≤3), Csx-PTA) into chitosan (CTS/Csx-PTA) for application in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Uniform distribution of Csx-PTA nanoparticles has been achieved in the chitosan matrix. The proton conductivity of the composite membrane is significantly affected by the Csx-PTA content in the composite membrane as well as the Cs substitution in PTA. The highest proton conductivity for the CTS/Csx-PTA membranes was obtained with x=2 and Cs2-PTA content of 5 wt%. The value is 6×10(-3) S cm(-1) and 1.75×10(-2) S cm(-1) at 298 K and 353 K, respectively. The methanol permeability of CTS/Cs2-PTA membrane is about 5.6×10(-7), 90% lower than that of Nafion-212 membrane. The highest selectivity factor (φ) was obtained on CTS/Cs2-PTA-5 wt% composite membrane, 1.1×10(4)/Scm(-3)s. The present study indicates the promising potential of CTS/Csx-PTA composite membrane as alternative proton exchange membranes in direct methanol fuel cells. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Geopolymer Porous Nanoceramics for Structural, for Smart and Thermal Shock Resistant Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-02-02

porous membranes and foams, ceramic armor composites , iron-based geopolymer analogues, geopolymer composites reinforced with chopped polypropylene...the microstructure of geopolymers and geopolymer composites , as fabricated and upon conversion to ceramics with heating. The microstructure consisted...porous membranes and foams, ceramic armor composites , iron-based geopolymer analogues, geopolymer composites reinforced with chopped polypropylene or

Influence of aminosilane precursor concentration on physicochemical properties of composite Nafion membranes for vanadium redox flow battery applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kondratenko, Mikhail S.; Karpushkin, Evgeny A.; Gvozdik, Nataliya A.; Gallyamov, Marat O.; Stevenson, Keith J.; Sergeyev, Vladimir G.

2017-02-01

A series of composite proton-exchange membranes have been prepared via sol-gel modification of commercial Nafion membranes with [N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl]trimethoxysilane. The structure and physico-chemical properties (water uptake, ion-exchange capacity, vanadyl ion permeability, and proton conductivity) of the prepared composite membranes have been studied as a function of the precursor loading (degree of the membrane modification). If the amount of the precursor is below 0.4/1 M ratio of the amino groups of the precursor to the sulfonic groups of Nafion, the composite membranes exhibit decreased vanadium ion permeability while having relatively high proton conductivity. With respect to the use of a non-modified Nafion membrane, the performance of the composite membrane with an optimum precursor loading in a single-cell vanadium redox flow battery demonstrates enhanced energy efficiency in 20-80 mA cm-2 current density range. The maximum efficiency increase of 8% is observed at low current densities.

Biochar composite membrane for high performance pollutant management: Fabrication, structural characteristics and synergistic mechanisms.

PubMed

Ghaffar, Abdul; Zhu, Xiaoying; Chen, Baoliang

2018-02-01

Biochar, a natural sourced carbon-rich material, has been used commonly in particle shape for carbon sequestration, soil fertility and environmental remediation. Here, we report a facile approach to fabricate freestanding biochar composite membranes for the first time. Wood biochars pyrolyzed at 300 °C and 700 °C were blended with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) in three percentages (10%, 30% and 50%) to construct membranes through thermal phase inversion process. The resultant biochar composite membranes possess high mechanical strength and porous structure with uniform distribution of biochar particles throughout the membrane surface and cross-section. The membrane pure water flux was increased with B300 content (4825-5411 ± 21 L m -2 h -1 ) and B700 content (5823-6895 ± 72 L m -2 h -1 ). The membranes with B300 were more hydrophilic with higher surface free energy (58.84-60.31 mJ m -2 ) in comparison to B700 (56.32-51.91 mJ m -2 ). The biochar composite membranes indicated promising adsorption capacities (47-187 mg g -1 ) to Rhodamine B (RhB) dye. The biochar membranes also exhibited high retention (74-93%) for E. coli bacterial suspensions through filtration. After simple physical cleaning, both the adsorption and sieving capabilities of the biochar composite membranes could be effectively recovered. Synergistic mechanisms of biochar/PVdF in the composite membrane are proposed to elucidate the high performance of the membrane in pollutant management. The multifunctional biochar composite membrane not only effectively prevent the problems caused by directly using biochar particle as sorbent but also can be produced in large scale, indicating great potential for practical applications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dynamic adsorption of mixtures of Rhodamine B, Pb (II), Cu (II) and Zn(II) ions on composites chitosan-silica-polyethylene glycol membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahatmanti, F. W.; Rengga, W. D. P.; Kusumastuti, E.; Nuryono

2018-04-01

The adsorption of a solution mixture of Rhodamine B, Pb (II), Cu (II) and Zn(II) was studied using dynamic methods employing chitosan-silica-polyethylene glycol (Ch/Si/P) composite membrane as an adsorptive membrane. The composite Ch/Si/P membrane was prepared by mixing a chitosan-based membrane with silica isolated from rice husk ash (ASP) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a plasticizer. The resultant composite membrane was a stronger and more flexible membrane than the original chitosan-based membrane as indicated by the maximum percentage of elongation (20.5 %) and minimum Young’s Modulus (80.5 MPa). The composite membrane also showed increased mechanical and hydrophilic properties compared to the chitosan membranes. The membrane was used as adsorption membrane for Pb (II), Cu (II), Cd (II) ions and Rhodamine B dyes in a dynamic system where the permeation and selectivity were determined. The permeation of the components was observed to be in the following order: Rhodamine B > Cd (II) > Pb (II) > Cu (II) whereas the selectivity was shown to decrease the order of Cu (II) > Pb (II) > Cd (II) > Rhodamine B.

Nanocellulose based asymmetric composite membrane for the multiple functions in cell encapsulation.

PubMed

Park, Minsung; Shin, Sungchul; Cheng, Jie; Hyun, Jinho

2017-02-20

We describe the nanocomposite membrane for cell encapsulation using nanocelluose hydrogels. One of the surfaces of bacterial cellulose (BC) pellicles was coated with collagen to enhance cell adhesion and the opposite side of the BC pellicles was coated with alginate to protect transplanted cells from immune rejection by the reduced pore size of the composite membrane. The morphology of nanocomposite membrane was observed by scanning electron microscopy and the permeability of the membrane was estimated by the release test using different molecular weights of polymer solution. The nanocomposite membrane was permeable to small molecules but impermeable to large molecules such as IgG antibodies inferring the potential use in cell implantation. In addition, the BC-based nanocomposite membrane showed a superior mechanical property due to the incorporation of compared with alginate membranes. The cells attached efficiently to the surface of BC composite membranes with a high level of cell viability as well as bioactivity. Cells grown on the BC composite membrane kit released dopamine freely to the medium through the membrane, which showed that the BC composite membrane would be a promising cell encapsulation material in implantation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Surface Properties and Permeability of Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride)-Clays (PVDF/Clays) Composite Membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pramono, E.; Ahdiat, M.; Simamora, A.; Pratiwi, W.; Radiman, C. L.; Wahyuningrum, D.

2017-07-01

Surface properties are important factors that determine the performance of ultrafiltration membranes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of clay addition on the surface properties and membrane permeability of PVDF (poly-vinylidene fluoride) membranes. Three types of clay with different particle size were used in this study, namely montmorillonite-MMT, bentonite-BNT and cloisite 15A-CLS. The PVDF-clay composite membranes were prepared by phase inversion method using PEG as additive. The hydrophobicity of membrane surface was characterized by contact angle. The membrane permeability was determined by dead- end ultrafiltration with a trans-membrane pressure of 2 bars. In contact angle measurement, water contact angle of composite membranes is higher than PVDF membrane. The addition of clays decreased water flux but increased of Dextran rejection. The PVDF-BNT composite membranes reach highest Dextran rejection value of about 93%. The type and particle size of clay affected the hydrophobicity of membrane surface and determined the resulting membrane structure as well as the membrane performance.

Sandwich morphology and superior dye-removal performances for nanofiltration membranes self-assemblied via graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Hui; Shi, Jie; Liu, Liyan; Shan, Mingjing; Xu, Zhiwei; Li, Nan; Li, Jing; Lv, Hanming; Qian, Xiaoming; Zhao, Lihuan

2018-01-01

To tune interlayer spacing, regulate water channel and improve stability of composite membrane, graphene oxide (GO) and oxidized carbon nanotubes (OCNTs) were assembled alternately to form sandwich morphology on a polyacrylonitrile substrate by layer-by-layer self-assembly technique. Polyelectrolyte played a part in cross-linking between GO and OCNTs. The effects about concentration ratio of GO and OCNTs on nanofiltration performance were investigated in detail. The composite membrane was used for dye rejection. When composite membrane with concentration ratio of GO and OCNTs was 10:1, water flux and rejection rate for methyl blue reached 21.71 L/(m2 h) and 99.3%, respectively. Meanwhile, this composite membrane had higher flux compared with reported literatures in which rejection also reached up to 99%. When concentration ratio of composite membranes about GO and OCNTs were 10:1 and 15:1, dye rejection for methyl blue remained 99.3% and 99.6% respectively after operating time of 50 h. Irreversible fouling ratio of composite membrane in a concentration ratio of 10:1 was only 4.4%, indicating that composite membrane had excellent antifouling performance for Bovine Serum Albumin. It was speculated that proper distribution of OCNTs in the sandwich morphology formed proper support points and water channels which benefited for a more stable performance.

Separation of n-hexane/acetone mixtures by pervaporation using high density polyethylene/ethylene propylene diene terpolymer rubber blend membranes.

PubMed

Kumar, P V Anil; Anilkumar, S; Varughese, K T; Thomas, Sabu

2012-01-15

Polymer membranes were prepared by blending high density polyethylene (HDPE) with ethylene propylene diene terpolymer rubber (EPDM). These blend membranes were evaluated for the selective separation of n-hexane from acetone. The flux and selectivity of the membranes were determined both as a function of the blend composition and feed mixture composition. Results showed that polymer blending method could be very useful to develop new membranes with improved selectivity. Pervaporation properties could be optimized by adjusting the blend composition. The effects of blend ratio, feed composition, and penetrant size on the pervaporation process were analyzed. The permeation properties have been explained on the basis of interaction between the membrane and solvents and blend morphology. Flux increases with increasing alkane content in the feed composition. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fabrication of COF-MOF Composite Membranes and Their Highly Selective Separation of H2/CO2.

PubMed

Fu, Jingru; Das, Saikat; Xing, Guolong; Ben, Teng; Valtchev, Valentin; Qiu, Shilun

2016-06-22

The search for new types of membrane materials has been of continuous interest in both academia and industry, given their importance in a plethora of applications, particularly for energy-efficient separation technology. In this contribution, we demonstrate for the first time that a metal-organic framework (MOF) can be grown on the covalent-organic framework (COF) membrane to fabricate COF-MOF composite membranes. The resultant COF-MOF composite membranes demonstrate higher separation selectivity of H2/CO2 gas mixtures than the individual COF and MOF membranes. A sound proof for the synergy between two porous materials is the fact that the COF-MOF composite membranes surpass the Robeson upper bound of polymer membranes for mixture separation of a H2/CO2 gas pair and are among the best gas separation MOF membranes reported thus far.

Anion exchange composite membrane based on octa quaternary ammonium Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane for alkaline fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elumalai, Vijayakumar; Sangeetha, Dharmalingam

2018-01-01

A series of novel composite anion exchange membranes were prepared via simple solution casting method using synthesized quaternary ammonium functionalized Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (QA-POSS) with Quaternary polysulfone (QPSU). QA-POSS was synthesized from prepared Cl-POSS and well characterized by FT-IR, NMR, SEM and TEM analyses to confirm the chemical modifications and cubic morphologies. The QA-POSS nano particles have dual role in the membrane providing additional ion conducting groups and reinforcing the membrane in molecular level for the overall improvement of composite membrane. Additionally, the composite membranes were characterized by XRD, SEM, Ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake and conductivity to ensure the suitability of its use as an electrolyte in alkaline fuel cell. Finally, membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was fabricated using Pt anode (0.25 mg/cm2), Ag cathode (0.375 mg/cm2) and various synthesized composite membranes, and then it was tested in real time fuel cell setup. The membrane with 15% QA-POSS showed the maximum power density of 321 mW/cm2. The results showed that QA-POSS possess the ability to enhance the performance of the anion exchange membrane significantly.

Preparation and characterization of PVDF-glass fiber composite membrane reinforced by interfacial UV-grafting copolymerization.

PubMed

Luo, Nan; Xu, Rongle; Yang, Min; Yuan, Xing; Zhong, Hui; Fan, Yaobo

2015-12-01

A novel inorganic-organic composite membrane, namely poly(vinylidene fluoride) PVDF-glass fiber (PGF) composite membrane, was prepared and reinforced by interfacial ultraviolet (UV)-grafting copolymerization to improve the interfacial bonding strength between the membrane layer and the glass fiber. The interfacial polymerization between inorganic-organic interfaces is a chemical cross-linking reaction that depends on the functionalized glass fiber with silane coupling (KH570) as the initiator and the polymer solution with acrylamide monomer (AM) as the grafting block. The Fourier transform infrared spectrometer-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectra and the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) pictures of the interface between the glass fiber and polymer matrix confirmed that the AM was grafted to the surface of the glass fiber fabric and that the grafting polymer was successfully embedded in the membrane matrix. The formation mechanisms, permeation, and anti-fouling performance of the PGF composite membrane were measured with different amounts of AM in the doping solutions. The results showed that the grafting composite membrane improved the interfacial bonding strength and permeability, and the peeling strength was improved by 32.6% for PGF composite membranes with an AM concentration at 2wt.%. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Significantly enhanced high-frequency permeability for composites with amorphous-membrane-fillers prepared using an infiltration method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Z. W.; Yang, Z. H.

2016-03-01

Amorphous-membrane-filler composites have been fabricated using an infiltration method. The composites are able to significantly increase the permeability by 200%, as compared to general amorphous flake composites. SEM and magnetic measurement show that the amorphous flakes in membrane are in-plane arrangement. A model, which considers the effect of flake arrangement on demagnetizing factor Nd and permeability, is proposed. The effect of the arrangement of flakes is equivalent to an effective Nd, which is equal to 1/3 and zero for random and complete in-plane arrangements, respectively. Due to in-plane arrangement of amorphous flakes, the decreased Nd leads to significantly enhanced permeability for the amorphous-membrane-filler composites, based on the Maxwell-Garret mixing law.

Composite hydrogen separation element and module

DOEpatents

Edlund, D.J.; Newbold, D.D.; Frost, C.B.

1997-07-08

There are disclosed improvements in multicomponent composite metal membranes useful for the separation of hydrogen, the improvements comprising the provision of at least one common-axis hole through all components of the composite membrane and the provision of a gas-tight seal around the periphery of the hole or holes through a coating metal layer of the membrane. 11 figs.

Composite hydrogen separation element and module

DOEpatents

Edlund, David J.; Newbold, David D.; Frost, Chester B.

1997-01-01

There are disclosed improvements in multicomponent composite metal membranes useful for the separation of hydrogen, the improvements comprising the provision of at least one common-axis hole through all components of the composite membrane and the provision of a gas-tight seal around the periphery of the hole or holes through a coating metal layer of the membrane.

Polyarylether composition and membrane

DOEpatents

Hung, Joyce; Brunelle, Daniel Joseph; Harmon, Marianne Elisabeth; Moore, David Roger; Stone, Joshua James; Zhou, Hongyi; Suriano, Joseph Anthony

2010-11-09

A composition including a polyarylether copolymer is provided. The copolymer includes a polyarylether backbone; and a sulfonated oligomeric group bonded to the polyarylether suitable for use as a cation conducting membrane. Method of bonding a sulfonated oligomeric group to the polyarylether backbone to form a polyarylether copolymer. The membrane may be formed from the polyarylether copolymer composition. The chain length of the sulfonated oligomeric group may be controlled to affect or control the ion conductivity of the membrane.

Poly(acrylonitrile)chitosan composite membranes for urease immobilization.

PubMed

Gabrovska, Katya; Georgieva, Aneliya; Godjevargova, Tzonka; Stoilova, Olya; Manolova, Nevena

2007-05-10

(Poly)acrylonitrile/chitosan (PANCHI) composite membranes were prepared. The chitosan layer was deposited on the surface as well as on the pore walls of the base membrane. This resulted in the reduction of the pore size of the membrane and in an increase of their hydrophilicity. The pore structure of PAN and PANCHI membranes were determined by TEM and SEM analyses. It was found that the average size of the pore under a selective layer base PAN membrane is 7 microm, while the membrane coated with 0.25% chitosan shows a reduced pore size--small or equal to 5 microm and with 0.35% chitosan--about 4 microm. The amounts of the functional groups, the degree of hydrophilicity and transport characteristics of PAN/Chitosan composite membranes were determined. Urease was covalently immobilized onto all kinds of PAN/chitosan composite membranes using glutaraldehyde. Both the amount of bound protein and relative activity of immobilized urease were measured. The highest activity (94%) was measured for urease bound to PANCHI2 membranes (0.25% chitosan). The basic characteristics (pH(opt), pH(stability), T(opt), T(stability), heat inactivation and storage stability) of immobilized urease were determined. The obtained results show that the poly(acrylonitrile)chitosan composite membranes are suitable for enzyme immobilization.

Composite zeolite membranes

DOEpatents

Nenoff, Tina M.; Thoma, Steven G.; Ashley, Carol S.; Reed, Scott T.

2002-01-01

A new class of composite zeolite membranes and synthesis techniques therefor has been invented. These membranes are essentially defect-free, and exhibit large levels of transmembrane flux and of chemical and isotopic selectivity.

Positron annihilation lifetime study of Nafion/titanium dioxide nano-composite membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lei, M.; Wang, Y. J.; Liang, C.; Huang, K.; Ye, C. X.; Wang, W. J.; Jin, S. F.; Zhang, R.; Fan, D. Y.; Yang, H. J.; Wang, Y. G.

2014-01-01

Positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) technique is applied for investigation of size and number density of free volumes in Nafion/TiO2-nanoparticles composite membrane. The proton transporting ability is correlated with the properties of free volume inside the membrane. It is revealed that composite membrane with 5 wt% of TiO2 nano-fillers exhibits good electrochemical performance under reduced humidity and it can be saturated with water at relative humidity of 50%, under which ionic clusters and proton transporting channels are formed, indicating that composite membranes with 5 wt% of TiO2 nano-fillers are effective electrolyte for fuel cells operated at reduced humidification levels. The results suggest that PAL can be a powerful tool for elucidating the relationship between microstructure and ion transport in polymer electrolyte membranes.

Ion-conducting membranes

DOEpatents

Masel, Richard L.; Chen, Qingmei; Liu, Zengcai; Kutz, Robert

2016-06-21

An ion conducting polymeric composition mixture comprises a copolymer of styrene and vinylbenzyl-R.sub.s. R.sub.s is selected from the group consisting of imidazoliums and pyridiniums. The composition contains 10%-90% by weight of vinylbenzyl-R.sub.s. The composition can further comprise a polyolefin comprising substituted polyolefins, a polymer comprising cyclic amine groups, a polymer comprising at least one of a phenylene group and a phenyl group, a polyamide, and/or the reaction product of a constituent having two carbon-carbon double bonds. The composition can be in the form of a membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.

Composite metal membrane

DOEpatents

Peachey, Nathaniel M.; Dye, Robert C.; Snow, Ronny C.; Birdsell, Stephan A.

1998-01-01

A composite metal membrane including a first metal layer of Group IVB met or Group VB metals, the first metal layer sandwiched between two layers of an oriented metal of palladium, platinum or alloys thereof is provided together with a process for the recovery of hydrogen from a gaseous mixture including contacting a hydrogen-containing gaseous mixture with a first side of a nonporous composite metal membrane including a first metal of Group IVB metals or Group VB metals, the first metal layer sandwiched between two layers of an oriented metal of palladium, platinum or alloys thereof, and, separating hydrogen from a second side of the nonporous composite metal membrane.

Composite metal membrane

DOEpatents

Peachey, N.M.; Dye, R.C.; Snow, R.C.; Birdsell, S.A.

1998-04-14

A composite metal membrane including a first metal layer of Group IVB met or Group VB metals, the first metal layer sandwiched between two layers of an oriented metal of palladium, platinum or alloys thereof is provided together with a process for the recovery of hydrogen from a gaseous mixture including contacting a hydrogen-containing gaseous mixture with a first side of a nonporous composite metal membrane including a first metal of Group IVB metals or Group VB metals, the first metal layer sandwiched between two layers of an oriented metal of palladium, platinum or alloys thereof, and, separating hydrogen from a second side of the nonporous composite metal membrane.

Fabrication and characterization of a flow-through nanoporous gold nanowire/AAO composite membrane.

PubMed

Liu, L; Lee, W; Huang, Z; Scholz, R; Gösele, U

2008-08-20

The fabrication of a composite membrane of nanoporous gold nanowires and anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) is demonstrated by the electrodeposition of Au-Ag alloy nanowires into an AAO membrane, followed by selective etching of silver from the alloy nanowires. This composite membrane is advantageous for flow-through type catalytic reactions. The morphology evolution of the nanoporous gold nanowires as a function of the diameter of the Au-Ag nanowire 'precursors' is also investigated.

Design of membrane actuators based on ferromagnetic shape memory alloy composite for the synthetic jet actuator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Yuanchang; Taya, Minoru; Kuga, Yasuo

2004-07-01

A new membrane actuator based on our previous diaphragm actuator was designed and constructed to improve the dynamic performance. The finite element analysis was used to estimate the frequency response of the composite membrane which will be driven close to its resonance to obtain a large stroke. The membrane is made of ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA) composite including a ferromagnetic soft iron pad and a superelastic grade of NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA). The actuation mechanism for the FSMA composite membrane of the actuator is the hybrid mechanism that we proposed previously. This membrane actuator is designed for a new synthetic jet actuator package that will be used for active flow control technology on airplane wings. Based on the FEM results, the new membrane actuator system was assembled and its static and dynamic performance was experimentally evaluated including the dynamic magnetic response of the hybrid magnet.

Sulfonated polyphenylene polymers

DOEpatents

Cornelius, Christopher J.; Fujimoto, Cy H.; Hickner, Michael A.

2007-11-27

Improved sulfonated polyphenylene compositions, improved polymer electrolyte membranes and nanocomposites formed there from for use in fuel cells are described herein. The improved compositions, membranes and nanocomposites formed there from overcome limitations of Nafion.RTM. membranes.

Inorganic-based proton conductive composite membranes for elevated temperature and reduced relative humidity PEM fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chunmei

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells are regarded as highly promising energy conversion systems for future transportation and stationary power generation and have been under intensive investigations for the last decade. Unfortunately, cutting edge PEM fuel cell design and components still do not allow economically commercial implementation of this technology. The main obstacles are high cost of proton conductive membranes, low-proton conductivity at low relative humidity (RH), and dehydration and degradation of polymer membranes at high temperatures. The objective of this study was to develop a systematic approach to design a high proton conductive composite membrane that can provide a conductivity of approximately 100 mS cm-1 under hot and dry conditions (120°C and 50% RH). The approach was based on fundamental and experimental studies of the proton conductivity of inorganic additives and composite membranes. We synthesized and investigated a variety of organic-inorganic Nafion-based composite membranes. In particular, we analyzed their fundamental properties, which included thermal stability, morphology, the interaction between inorganic network and Nafion clusters, and the effect of inorganic phase on the membrane conductivity. A wide range of inorganic materials was studied in advance in order to select the proton conductive inorganic additives for composite membranes. We developed a conductivity measurement method, with which the proton conductivity characteristics of solid acid materials, zirconium phosphates, sulfated zirconia (S-ZrO2), phosphosilicate gels, and Santa Barbara Amorphous silica (SBA-15) were discussed in detail. Composite membranes containing Nafion and different amounts of functionalized inorganic additives (sulfated inorganics such as S-ZrO2, SBA-15, Mobil Composition of Matter MCM-41, and S-SiO2, and phosphonated inorganic P-SiO2) were synthesized with different methods. We incorporated inorganic particles within Nafion clusters either by mixing inorganic gels or solutions with Nafion solution followed by membrane casting or by blending inorganic powders with Nafion solution. The membrane properties, such as acidity, swelling, water uptake, thermostability, proton conductivity, and electrochemical performance, were explored in depth. We characterized the inorganic phase inside composite membranes and its interaction with the Nafion matrix by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Furthermore, we discussed the effect of these inorganic conductors' properties, such as particle size, conductivity, and interaction between functional groups and the Nafion, on the membrane conductivity. The contribution of hydrophilic inorganic particles in improving the membrane fuel cell performance was numerically analyzed by Tafel plot. Finally, the proton conductivity phenomena in composite membranes were simulated with two proton-transport models; one was based on the rule of mixtures, and the other was described by generalized Stefan-Maxwell equations. In the simulation, we proposed a new route in rational design of high proton-conductive composite membranes.

Investigation of Antibacterial and Fouling Resistance of Silver and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Doped Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride-co-Hexafluoropropylene) Composite Membrane

PubMed Central

Macevele, Lutendo E.; Moganedi, Kgabo L. M.; Magadzu, Takalani

2017-01-01

Composite membranes were successfully prepared using a phase-inversion method. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) profiles has confirmed formation of 4.8 wt % Ag/poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene) (PVDF-HFP), 3 wt % Ag-MWCNTs/PVDF-HFP (EDX surface composition of Ag nanoparticles) and 1.5 wt % MWCNTs/PVDF-HFP composite membranes. The MWCNTs crystallites are mainly encapsulated by a layer of PVDF-HFP, as evidenced by disappearance of graphitic peak. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images have depicted the formation of microporous structure, with few MWCNTs on the surface and strongly interacting with PVDF-HFP as demonstrated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), XRD and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) data. The data indicated an increase in porosity, swellability and water content of the PVDF-HFP membrane with the addition of MWCNTs and/or Ag nanoparticles, showing an improved hydrophilicity. The 1.5 wt % MWCNTs/PVDF-HFP composite membrane showed good desalination and fouling resistance rates, which correlates with a low water contact angle. The combined effects of Ag nanoparticles and MWCNTs do not promote fouling resistance of PVDF-HFP membranes, as shown during NaCl microfiltration (this is linked with high water contact angle as compared to that of MWCNTs/PVDF-HFP composite). Both 1.5 wt % MWCNTs/PVDF-HFP and 3 wt % Ag-MWCNTs/PVDF-HFP composite membranes prevented the bacteria passing through the membrane (100% bacterial load reduction). The surface of 3 wt % Ag-MWCNTs/PVDF-HFP showed good bactericidal and non-leaching properties of the dopant materials (MWCNTs and Ag), as evidenced by bacterial growth on the edges of the membranes. PMID:28703740

Composite membranes, methods of making same, and applications of same

DOEpatents

Pintauro, Peter N.; Park, Andrew; Ballengee, Jason

2016-05-24

In one aspect of the present invention, a method of fabricating a composite membrane includes: forming a first polymer solution from a first polymer and a second polymer solution from a second polymer, respectively, where the first polymer includes a charged polymer and the second polymer includes an uncharged polymer; electrospinning, separately and simultaneously, the first and second polymer solutions to form a dual fiber mat with first polymer fibers and second polymer fibers; and processing the dual fiber mat by softening and flowing one of the first or second polymer fibers to fill in the void space between the other of the first and second polymer fibers so as to form the composite membrane. In some embodiments, the composite membrane may be a proton exchange membrane (PEM) or an anion exchange membrane (AEM).

Ion-conducting membranes

DOEpatents

Masel, Richard I.; Chen, Qingmei; Liu, Zengcai; Kutz, Robert

2017-02-28

An ion conducting polymeric composition mixture comprises a copolymer of styrene and vinylbenzyl-R.sub.s. R.sub.s is selected from the group consisting of imidazoliums, pyridiniums, pyrazoliums, pyrrolidiniums, pyrroliums, pyrimidiums, piperidiniums, indoliums, and triaziniums. The composition contains 10%-90% by weight of vinylbenzyl-R.sub.s. The composition can further comprise a polyolefin comprising substituted polyolefins, a polymer comprising cyclic amine groups, a polymer comprising at least one of a phenylene group and a phenyl group, a polyamide, and/or the reaction product of a constituent having two carbon-carbon double bonds. The composition can be in the form of a membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.

Transparent Composites Made from Tunicate Cellulose Membranes and Environmentally Friendly Polyester.

PubMed

Zhao, Yadong; Moser, Carl; Henriksson, Gunnar

2018-05-25

A series of optically transparent composites were made by using tunicate cellulose membranes, in which the naturally organized cellulose microfibrillar network structure of tunicate tunics was preserved and used as the template and a solution of glycerol and citric acid at different molar ratios was used as the matrix. Polymerization through ester bond formation occurred at elevated temperatures without any catalyst, and water was released as the only byproduct. The obtained composites had a uniform and dense structure. Thus, the produced glycerol citrate polyester improved the transparency of the tunicate cellulose membrane while the cellulose membrane provided rigidity and strength to the prepared composite. The interaction between cellulose and polyester afforded the composites high thermal stability. Additionally, the composites were optically transparent and their shape, strength, and flexibility were adjustable by varying the formulation and reaction conditions. These composites of cellulose, glycerol, and citric acid are renewable and biocompatible and have many potential applications as structural materials in packaging, flexible displays, and solar cells. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Thermally tolerant multilayer metal membrane

DOEpatents

Dye, Robert C.; Snow, Ronny C.

2001-01-01

A composite metal membrane including a first metal layer of a Group IVB or Group VB metal sandwiched between two layers of a Group VIIIB metal selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, nickel, rhodium, iridium, cobalt, and alloys thereof, and a non-continuous layer of a metal chalcogenide upon one layer of the Group VIIIB metal is disclosed together with a process for the recovery of hydrogen from a gaseous mixture using such a composite membrane and a process for forming such a composite metal membrane.

Zirconium oxide nanotube-Nafion composite as high performance membrane for all vanadium redox flow battery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aziz, Md. Abdul; Shanmugam, Sangaraju

2017-01-01

A high-performance composite membrane for vanadium redox flow battery (VRB) consisting of ZrO2 nanotubes (ZrNT) and perfluorosulfonic acid (Nafion) was fabricated. The VRB operated with a composite (Nafion-ZrNT) membrane showed the improved ion-selectivity (ratio of proton conductivity to permeability), low self-discharge rate, high discharge capacity and high energy efficiency in comparison with a pristine commercial Nafion-117 membrane. The incorporation of zirconium oxide nanotubes in the Nafion matrix exhibits high proton conductivity (95.2 mS cm-1) and high oxidative stability (99.9%). The Nafion-ZrNT composite membrane exhibited low vanadium ion permeability (3.2 × 10-9 cm2 min-1) and superior ion selectivity (2.95 × 107 S min cm-3). The VRB constructed with a Nafion-ZrNT composite membrane has lower self-discharge rate maintaining an open-circuit voltage of 1.3 V for 330 h relative to a pristine Nafion membrane (29 h). The discharge capacity of Nafion-ZrNT membrane (987 mAh) was 3.5-times higher than Nafion-117 membrane (280 mAh) after 100 charge-discharge cycles. These superior properties resulted in higher coulombic and voltage efficiencies with Nafion-ZrNT membranes compared to VRB with Nafion-117 membrane at a 40 mA cm-2 current density.

Reverse osmosis membrane composition, structure and performance modification by bisulphite, iron(III), bromide and chlorite exposure.

PubMed

Ferrer, O; Gibert, O; Cortina, J L

2016-10-15

Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane exposure to bisulphite, chlorite, bromide and iron(III) was assessed in terms of membrane composition, structure and performance. Membrane composition was determined by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and membrane performance was assessed by water and chloride permeation, using a modified version of the solution-diffusion model. Iron(III) dosage in presence of bisulphite led to an autooxidation of the latter, probably generating free radicals which damaged the membrane. It comprised a significant raise in chloride passage (chloride permeation coefficient increased 5.3-5.1 fold compared to the virgin membrane under the conditions studied) rapidly. No major differences in terms of water permeability and membrane composition were observed. Nevertheless, an increase in the size of the network pores, and a raise in the fraction of aggregate pores of the polyamide (PA) layer were identified, but no amide bond cleavage was observed. These structural changes were therefore, in accordance with the transport properties observed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electrochemical performance of an air-breathing direct methanol fuel cell using poly(vinyl alcohol)/hydroxyapatite composite polymer membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Chun-Chen; Chiu, Shwu-Jer; Lin, Che-Tseng

A novel composite polymer membrane based on poly(vinyl alcohol)/hydroxyapatite (PVA/HAP) was successfully prepared by a solution casting method. The characteristic properties of the PVA/HAP composite polymer membranes were examined by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), micro-Raman spectroscopy and AC impedance method. An air-breathing DMFC, comprised of an air cathode electrode with MnO 2/BP2000 carbon inks on Ni-foam, an anode electrode with PtRu black on Ti-mesh, and the PVA/HAP composite polymer membrane, was assembled and studied. It was found that this alkaline DMFC showed an improved electrochemical performance at ambient temperature and pressure; the maximum peak power density of an air-breathing DMFC in 8 M KOH + 2 M CH 3OH solution is about 11.48 mW cm -2. From the application point of view, these composite polymer membranes show a high potential for the DMFC applications.

Performance of polymer nano composite membrane electrode assembly using Alginate as a dopant in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mulijani, S.

2017-01-01

Polymer membrane and composite polymer for membrane electrode assembly (MEAs) are synthesized and studied for usage in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). In this study, we prepared 3 type of MEAs, polystyrene (PS), sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) and composite polymer SPS-alginat membrane via catalyst hot pressed method. The performance and properties of prepared MEAs were evaluated and analyzed by impedance spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The result showed that, water up take of MEA composite polymer SPS-alginate was obtained higher than that in SPS and PS. The proton conductivity of MEA-SPS-alginate was also higher than that PS and PSS. SEM characterization revealed that the intimate contact between the carbon catalyst layers (CL) and the membranes, and the uniformly porous structure correlate positively with the MEAs prepared by hot pressed method, exhibiting high performances for DMFC.

Composite membranes from photochemical synthesis of ultrathin polymer films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chao; Martin, Charles R.

1991-07-01

THERE has recently been a resurgence of interest in synthetic membranes and membrane-based processes1-12. This is motivated by a wide variety of technological applications, such as chemical separations1-7, bioreactors and sensors8,9, energy conversion10,11 and drug-delivery systems12. Many of these technologies require the ability to prepare extremely thin, defect-free synthetic (generally polymeric) films, which are supported on microporous supports to form composite membranes. Here we describe a method for producing composite membranes of this sort that incorporate high-quality polymer films less than 50-nm thick. The method involves interfacial photopolymerization of a thin polymer film on the surface of the microporous substrate. We have been able to use this technique to synthesize a variety of functionalized ultrathin films based on electroactive, photoactive and ion-exchange polymers. We demonstrate the method here with composite membranes that show exceptional gas-transport properties.

Investigation of local environments in Nafion-SiO(2) composite membranes used in vanadium redox flow batteries.

PubMed

Vijayakumar, M; Schwenzer, Birgit; Kim, Soowhan; Yang, Zhenguo; Thevuthasan, S; Liu, Jun; Graff, Gordon L; Hu, Jianzhi

2012-04-01

Proton conducting polymer composite membranes are of technological interest in many energy devices such as fuel cells and redox flow batteries. In particular, polymer composite membranes, such as SiO(2) incorporated Nafion membranes, are recently reported as highly promising for the use in redox flow batteries. However, there is conflicting reports regarding the performance of this type of Nafion-SiO(2) composite membrane in the redox flow cell. This paper presents results of the analysis of the Nafion-SiO(2) composite membrane used in a vanadium redox flow battery by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The XPS study reveals the chemical identity and environment of vanadium cations accumulated at the surface. On the other hand, the (19)F and (29)Si NMR measurement explores the nature of the interaction between the silica particles, Nafion side chains and diffused vanadium cations. The (29)Si NMR shows that the silica particles interact via hydrogen bonds with the sulfonic groups of Nafion and the diffused vanadium cations. Based on these spectroscopic studies, the chemical environment of the silica particles inside the Nafion membrane and their interaction with diffusing vanadium cations during flow cell operations are discussed. This study discusses the origin of performance degradation of the Nafion-SiO(2) composite membrane materials in vanadium redox flow batteries. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Investigation of Local Environments in Nafion-SiO2 Composite Membranes used in Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vijayakumar, M.; Schwenzer, Birgit; Kim, Soowhan

2012-04-01

The proton conducting polymer composite membranes are of technological interest in many energy devices such as fuel cells and redox flow batteries. In particular, the polymer composite membranes such as SiO2 incorporated Nafion membranes are recently reported as highly promising for the redox flow batteries. However, there is conflicting reports regarding the performance of this Nafion-SiO2 composite membrane in the redox flow cell. This paper presents results of the analysis of the Nafion-SiO2 composite membrane used in a vanadium redox flow battery by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier Transformed Infra Red (FTIR) spectroscopy, and ultravioletmore » visible spectroscopy. The XPS study reveals the chemical identity and environment of vanadium cations accumulated at the surface. On the other hand, the 19F and 29Si NMR measurement explores the nature of the interaction between the silica particles, Nafion side chains and diffused vanadium cations. The 29Si NMR shows that the silica particles interaction via hydrogen bonds to the sulfonic groups of Nafion and diffused vanadium cations. Based on these spectroscopic studies, the chemical environment of the silica particles inside the Nafion membrane and their interaction with diffusing vanadium cations during flow cell operations are discussed. This study discusses the origin of performance degradation of the Nafion-SiO2 composite membrane materials in vanadium redox flow batteries.« less

Neurotensin-loaded PLGA/CNC composite nanofiber membranes accelerate diabetic wound healing.

PubMed

Zheng, Zhifang; Liu, Yishu; Huang, Wenhua; Mo, Yunfei; Lan, Yong; Guo, Rui; Cheng, Biao

2018-04-13

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a threat to human health and can lead to amputation and even death. Recently neurotensin (NT), an inflammatory modulator in wound healing, was found to be beneficial for diabetic wound healing. As we demonstrated previously, polylactide-polyglycolide (PLGA) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) (PLGA/CNC) nanofiber membranes show good cytocompatibility and facilitate fibroblast adhesion, spreading and proliferation. PLGA/CNC nanofiber membranes are novel materials that have not been used previously as NT carriers in diabetic wounds. This study aims to explore the therapeutic efficacy and possible mechanisms of NT-loaded PLGA/CNC nanofiber membranes in full-thickness skin wounds in spontaneously diabetic mice. The results showed that NT could be sustained released from NT-loaded PLGA/CNC composite nanofiber membranes for 2 weeks. NT-loaded PLGA/CNC composite nanofiber membranes induced more rapid healing than other control groups. After NT exposure, the histological scores of the epidermal and dermal regeneration and the ratios of the fibrotic area to the whole area were increased. NT-loaded PLGA/CNC composite nanofiber membranes also decreased the expressions of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6. These results suggest that NT-loaded PLGA/CNC composite nanofiber membranes for sustained delivery of NT should effectively promote tissue regeneration for the treatment of DFUs.

Ion-exchange composite membranes pore-filled with sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) and Engelhard titanosilicate-10 for improved performance of vanadium redox flow batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jihoon; Lee, Yongkyu; Jeon, Jae-Deok; Kwak, Seung-Yeop

2018-04-01

A series of ion-exchange membranes for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRBs) are prepared by filling the pores of a poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) substrate with sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) and microporous Engelhard titanosilicate-10 (ETS-10). The effects of ETS-10 incorporation and PTFE reinforcement on membrane properties and VRB single-cell performance are investigated using various characterization tools. The results show that these composite membranes exhibit improved mechanical properties and reduced vanadium-ion permeabilities owing to the interactions between ETS-10 and SPEEK, the suppressed swelling of PTFE, and the unique ETS-10 framework. The composite membrane with 3 wt% ETS-10 (referred to as "SE3/P") exhibits the best membrane properties and highest ion selectivity. The VRB system with the SE3/P membrane exhibits higher cell capacity, higher cell efficiency, and lower capacity decay than that with a Nafion membrane. These results indicate that this composite membrane has potential as an alternative to Nafion in VRB systems.

Pervaporation separation of thiophene-heptane mixtures with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane for desulfurization.

PubMed

Chen, Jian; Li, Jiding; Qi, Rongbin; Ye, Hong; Chen, Cuixian

2010-01-01

Cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-polyetherimide (PEI) composite membranes were prepared, in which asymmetric microporous PEI membrane prepared with phase inversion method was acted as the microporous supporting layer in the flat-plate composite membrane. Membrane characterization was conducted by Fourier transform infrared and scanning electronic microscopy analysis. The composite membranes were employed in pervaporation separation of n-heptane-thiophene mixtures. Effect of amount of PDMS, cross-linking temperature, amount of cross-linking agent, and cross-linking time on the separation efficiency of n-heptane-thiophene mixtures was investigated experimentally. Experiment results demonstrated that 80-100 degrees degrees C of cross-linking temperature was more preferable for practical application, as the amount of cross-linking agent was up to 20 wt.%, and 25 wt.% of PDMS amount was more optimal as far as flux and sulfur enrichment factor were concerned. In addition, the swelling degree of and stableness of composite membrane during long-time operation were studied, which should be significant for practical application.

Dietary fat and the diabetic state alter insulin binding and the fatty acyl composition of the adipocyte plasma membrane.

PubMed Central

Field, C J; Ryan, E A; Thomson, A B; Clandinin, M T

1988-01-01

Control and diabetic rats were fed on semi-purified high-fat diets providing a polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio (P/S) of 1.0 or 0.25, to examine the effect of diet on the fatty acid composition of major phospholipids of the adipocyte plasma membrane. Feeding the high-P/S diet (P/S = 1.0) compared with the low-P/S diet (P/S = 0.25) increased the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in membrane phospholipids in both control and diabetic animals. The diabetic state decreased the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly arachidonic acid, in adipocyte membrane phospholipids. The decrease in arachidonic acid in membrane phospholipids of diabetic animals tended to be normalized to within the control values when high-P/S diets were given. For control animals, altered plasma-membrane composition was associated with change in insulin binding, suggesting that change in plasma-membrane composition may have physiological consequences for insulin-stimulated functions in the adipocyte. PMID:3052424

High-flux water desalination with interfacial salt sieving effect in nanoporous carbon composite membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Wei; Chen, Shuyu; Liang, Tengfei; Zhang, Qiang; Fan, Zhongli; Yin, Hang; Huang, Kuo-Wei; Zhang, Xixiang; Lai, Zhiping; Sheng, Ping

2018-04-01

Freshwater flux and energy consumption are two important benchmarks for the membrane desalination process. Here, we show that nanoporous carbon composite membranes, which comprise a layer of porous carbon fibre structures grown on a porous ceramic substrate, can exhibit 100% desalination and a freshwater flux that is 3-20 times higher than existing polymeric membranes. Thermal accounting experiments demonstrated that the carbon composite membrane saved over 80% of the latent heat consumption. Theoretical calculations combined with molecular dynamics simulations revealed the unique microscopic process occurring in the membrane. When the salt solution is stopped at the openings to the nanoscale porous channels and forms a meniscus, the vapour can rapidly transport across the nanoscale gap to condense on the permeate side. This process is driven by the chemical potential gradient and aided by the unique smoothness of the carbon surface. The high thermal conductivity of the carbon composite membrane ensures that most of the latent heat is recovered.

Chemical modification of Nafion membranes by protic ionic liquids: the key role of ionomer-cation interactions.

PubMed

Lu, Fei; Gao, Xinpei; Xie, Shuting; Sun, Nan; Zheng, Liqiang

2014-10-21

Chemically modified Nafion composite membranes were successfully fabricated using five kinds of protic ionic liquids (PILs) with different cations, 1-butylammonium methanesulfonate (BA-MS), tributylammonium methanesulfonate (TBA-MS), 2,4,6-trimethylphenylammonium methanesulfonate (TMA-MS), butane-1,4-diammonium methanesulfonate (BDA-MS), and N-(2-aminoethyl)ethane-1,2-diammonium methanesulfonate (DETA-MS). The PIL incorporated Nafion composite membranes were characterized by impedance spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In general, the Nafion/PIL composite membranes exhibit a significant increase in the ionic conductivities than Nafion under anhydrous conditions. The interactions between the Nafion ionomer and different geometric cations of PILs were also discussed by the comparison of nanostructures, dynamic-mechanical properties and thermal stabilities of the Nafion/PIL composite membranes.

Impact of membrane lipid composition on the structure and stability of the transmembrane domain of amyloid precursor protein

PubMed Central

Dominguez, Laura; Foster, Leigh; Straub, John E.; Thirumalai, D.

2016-01-01

Cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by γ-secretase is a crucial first step in the evolution of Alzheimer’s disease. To discover the cleavage mechanism, it is urgent to predict the structures of APP monomers and dimers in varying membrane environments. We determined the structures of the C9923−55 monomer and homodimer as a function of membrane lipid composition using a multiscale simulation approach that blends atomistic and coarse-grained models. We demonstrate that the C9923−55 homodimer structures form a heterogeneous ensemble with multiple conformational states, each stabilized by characteristic interpeptide interactions. The relative probabilities of each conformational state are sensitive to the membrane environment, leading to substantial variation in homodimer peptide structure as a function of membrane lipid composition or the presence of an anionic lipid environment. In contrast, the helicity of the transmembrane domain of monomeric C991−55 is relatively insensitive to the membrane lipid composition, in agreement with experimental observations. The dimer structures of human EphA2 receptor depend on the lipid environment, which we show is linked to the location of the structural motifs in the dimer interface, thereby establishing that both sequence and membrane composition modulate the complete energy landscape of membrane-bound proteins. As a by-product of our work, we explain the discrepancy in structures predicted for C99 congener homodimers in membrane and micelle environments. Our study provides insight into the observed dependence of C99 protein cleavage by γ-secretase, critical to the formation of amyloid-β protein, on membrane thickness and lipid composition. PMID:27559086

Hydrophilic nanofibers as new supports for thin film composite membranes for engineered osmosis.

PubMed

Bui, Nhu-Ngoc; McCutcheon, Jeffrey R

2013-02-05

Engineered osmosis (e.g., forward osmosis, pressure-retarded osmosis, direct osmosis) has emerged as a new platform for applications to water production, sustainable energy, and resource recovery. The lack of an adequately designed membrane has been the major challenge that hinders engineered osmosis (EO) development. In this study, nanotechnology has been integrated with membrane science to build a next generation membrane for engineered osmosis. Specifically, hydrophilic nanofiber, fabricated from different blends of polyacrylonitrile and cellulose acetate via electrospinning, was found to be an effective support for EO thin film composite membranes due to its intrinsically wetted open pore structure with superior interconnectivity. The resulting composite membrane exhibits excellent permselectivity while also showing a reduced resistance to mass transfer that commonly impacts EO processes due to its thin, highly porous nanofiber support layer. Our best membrane exhibited a two to three times enhanced water flux and 90% reduction in salt passage when compared to a standard commercial FO membrane. Furthermore, our membrane exhibited one of the lowest structural parameters reported in the open literature. These results indicate that hydrophilic nanofiber supported thin film composite membranes have the potential to be a next generation membrane for engineered osmosis.

Development of composite membranes of PVA-TEOS doped KOH for alkaline membrane fuel cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haryadi, Sugianto, D.; Ristopan, E.

2015-12-01

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) play an important role in separating fuel and oxygen (or air) in the Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cells. Preparation of hybrid organic inorganic materials of Polyvinylalcohol (PVA) - Tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) composite membrane doped KOH for direct alcohol alkaline fuel cell application has been investigated. The sol-gel method has been used to prepare the composite membrane of PVA-TEOS through crosslinking step and catalyzed by concentrated of hydrochloric acid. The gel solution was cast on the membrane plastic plate to obtain membrane sheets. The dry membranes were then doped by immersing in various concentrations of KOH solutions for about 4 hours. Investigations of the cross-linking process and the presence of hydroxyl group were conducted by FTIR as shown for frequency at about 1600 cm-1 and 3300 cm-1 respectively. The degree of swelling in ethanol decreased as the KOH concentration for membrane soaking process increased. The ion exchange capacity (IEC) of the membrane was 0.25meq/g. This composite membranes display significant ionic conductivity of 3.23 x 10-2 S/cm in deionized water at room temperature. In addition, the morphology observation by scanning electron microscope (SEM) of the membrane indicates that soaking process of membrane in KOH increased thermal resistant.

Diatomite reinforced chitosan composite membrane as potential scaffold for guided bone regeneration.

PubMed

Tamburaci, Sedef; Tihminlioglu, Funda

2017-11-01

In this study, natural silica source, diatomite, incorporated novel chitosan based composite membranes were fabricated and characterized for bone tissue engineering applications as possible bone regeneration membrane. The effect of diatomite loading on the mechanical, morphological, chemical, thermal and surface properties, wettability and in vitro cytotoxicity and cell proliferation on of composite membranes were investigated and observed by tensile test, atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), protein adsorption assay, air/water contact angle analysis and WST-1 respectively. Swelling studies were also performed by water absorption capacity determination. Results showed that incorporation of diatomite to the chitosan matrix increased the surface roughness, swelling capacity and tensile modulus of membranes. An increase of about 52% in Young's modulus was achieved for 10wt% diatomite composite membranes compared with chitosan membranes. High cell viability results were obtained with indirect extraction method. Besides, in vitro cell proliferation and ALP activity results showed that diatom incorporation significantly increased the ALP activity of Saos-2 cells cultured on chitosan membranes. The novel composite membranes prepared in the present study with tunable properties can be considered as a potential candidate as a scaffold in view of its enhanced physical & chemical properties as well as biological activities for bone tissue engineering applications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Silicone Membranes to Inhibit Water Uptake into Thermoset Polyurethane Shape-Memory Polymer Conductive Composites

PubMed Central

Yu, Ya-Jen; Infanger, Stephen; Grunlan, Melissa A.; Maitland, Duncan J.

2014-01-01

Electroactive shape memory polymer (SMP) composites capable of shape actuation via resistive heating are of interest for various biomedical applications. However, water uptake into SMPs will produce a depression of the glass transition temperature (Tg) resulting in shape recovery in vivo. While water actuated shape recovery may be useful, it is foreseen to be undesirable during early periods of surgical placement into the body. Silicone membranes have been previously reported to prevent release of conductive filler from an electroactive polymer composite in vivo. In this study, a silicone membrane was used to inhibit water uptake into a thermoset SMP composite containing conductive filler. Thermoset polyurethane (PU) SMPs were loaded with either 5 wt% carbon black (CB) or 5 wt% carbon nanotubes (CNT) and subsequently coated with either an Al2O3- or silica-filled silicone membrane. It was observed that the silicone membranes, particularly the silica-filled membrane, reduced the rate of water absorption (37 °C) and subsequent Tg depression versus uncoated composites. In turn, this led to a reduction in the rate of recovery of the permanent shape when exposed to water at 37 °C. PMID:25663711

Silicone Membranes to Inhibit Water Uptake into Thermoset Polyurethane Shape-Memory Polymer Conductive Composites.

PubMed

Yu, Ya-Jen; Infanger, Stephen; Grunlan, Melissa A; Maitland, Duncan J

2015-01-05

Electroactive shape memory polymer (SMP) composites capable of shape actuation via resistive heating are of interest for various biomedical applications. However, water uptake into SMPs will produce a depression of the glass transition temperature ( T g ) resulting in shape recovery in vivo . While water actuated shape recovery may be useful, it is foreseen to be undesirable during early periods of surgical placement into the body. Silicone membranes have been previously reported to prevent release of conductive filler from an electroactive polymer composite in vivo . In this study, a silicone membrane was used to inhibit water uptake into a thermoset SMP composite containing conductive filler. Thermoset polyurethane (PU) SMPs were loaded with either 5 wt% carbon black (CB) or 5 wt% carbon nanotubes (CNT) and subsequently coated with either an Al 2 O 3 - or silica-filled silicone membrane. It was observed that the silicone membranes, particularly the silica-filled membrane, reduced the rate of water absorption (37 °C) and subsequent T g depression versus uncoated composites. In turn, this led to a reduction in the rate of recovery of the permanent shape when exposed to water at 37 °C.

Silicone membranes to inhibit water uptake into thermoset polyurethane shape-memory polymer conductive composites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yu, Ya-Jen; Infanger, Stephen; Grunlan, Melissa A.

Electroactive shape memory polymer (SMP) composites capable of shape actuation via resistive heating are of interest for various biomedical applications. However, water uptake into SMPs will produce a depression of the glass transition temperature (T g) resulting in shape recovery in vivo. While water actuated shape recovery may be useful, it is foreseen to be undesirable during early periods of surgical placement into the body. Silicone membranes have been previously reported to prevent release of conductive filler from an electroactive polymer composite in vivo. In this paper, a silicone membrane was used to inhibit water uptake into a thermoset SMPmore » composite containing conductive filler. Thermoset polyurethane SMPs were loaded with either 5 wt % carbon black or 5 wt % carbon nanotubes, and subsequently coated with either an Al 2O 3- or silica-filled silicone membrane. It was observed that the silicone membranes, particularly the silica-filled membrane, reduced the rate of water absorption (37°C) and subsequent T g depression versus uncoated composites. Finally, in turn, this led to a reduction in the rate of recovery of the permanent shape when exposed to water at 37°C.« less

Silicone membranes to inhibit water uptake into thermoset polyurethane shape-memory polymer conductive composites

DOE PAGES

Yu, Ya-Jen; Infanger, Stephen; Grunlan, Melissa A.; ...

2014-07-24

Electroactive shape memory polymer (SMP) composites capable of shape actuation via resistive heating are of interest for various biomedical applications. However, water uptake into SMPs will produce a depression of the glass transition temperature (T g) resulting in shape recovery in vivo. While water actuated shape recovery may be useful, it is foreseen to be undesirable during early periods of surgical placement into the body. Silicone membranes have been previously reported to prevent release of conductive filler from an electroactive polymer composite in vivo. In this paper, a silicone membrane was used to inhibit water uptake into a thermoset SMPmore » composite containing conductive filler. Thermoset polyurethane SMPs were loaded with either 5 wt % carbon black or 5 wt % carbon nanotubes, and subsequently coated with either an Al 2O 3- or silica-filled silicone membrane. It was observed that the silicone membranes, particularly the silica-filled membrane, reduced the rate of water absorption (37°C) and subsequent T g depression versus uncoated composites. Finally, in turn, this led to a reduction in the rate of recovery of the permanent shape when exposed to water at 37°C.« less

Performance assessment of MCM-48 ceramic composite membrane by separation of AlCl3 from aqueous solution.

PubMed

Kumar Basumatary, Ashim; Kumar Ghoshal, Aloke; Pugazhenthi, G

2016-12-01

Three dimensional ordered mesoporous MCM-48 membrane was fabricated on a circular shaped ceramic support by in-situ hydrothermal method. The synthesized MCM-48 powder and MCM-48 ceramic composite membrane were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The porosity and pore size of the composite membrane are reduced considerably by the deposition of MCM-48 on the support. The formation of MCM-48 is verified by the XRD analysis. Three stepwise mechanisms for surfactant removal are observed by TGA analysis. FESEM images clearly signify the deposition of MCM-48 on the ceramic support. The pure water flux of the support and MCM-48 composite membrane is found to be 3.63×10 -6 and 4.18×10 -8 m 3 /m 2 skPa, respectively. The above prepared MCM-48 ceramic composite membrane is employed for the removal of AlCl 3 from aqueous solution and the highest rejection of 81% is obtained at an applied pressure of 276kPa with salt concentration of 250ppm. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Study of poly(vinyl alcohol)/titanium oxide composite polymer membranes and their application on alkaline direct alcohol fuel cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Chun-Chen; Chiu, Shwu-Jer; Lee, Kuo-Tong; Chien, Wen-Chen; Lin, Che-Tseng; Huang, Ching-An

The novel poly(vinyl alcohol)/titanium oxide (PVA/TiO 2) composite polymer membrane was prepared using a solution casting method. The characteristic properties of the PVA/TiO 2 composite polymer membrane were investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), a scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a micro-Raman spectroscopy, a methanol permeability measurement and the AC impedance method. An alkaline direct alcohol (methanol, ethanol and isopropanol) fuel cell (DAFC), consisting of an air cathode based on MnO 2/C inks, an anode based on PtRu (1:1) black and a PVA/TiO 2 composite polymer membrane, was assembled and examined for the first time. The results indicate that the alkaline DAFC comprised of a cheap, non-perfluorinated PVA/TiO 2 composite polymer membrane shows an improved electrochemical performances. The maximum power densities of alkaline DAFCs with 4 M KOH + 2 M CH 3OH, 2 M C 2H 5OH and 2 M isopropanol (IPA) solutions at room temperature and ambient air are 9.25, 8.00, and 5.45 mW cm -2, respectively. As a result, methanol shows the highest maximum power density among three alcohols. The PVA/TiO 2 composite polymer membrane with the permeability values in the order of 10 -7 to 10 -8 cm 2 s -1 is a potential candidate for use on alkaline DAFCs.

Removal of Pb(II) from wastewater using Al2O3-NaA zeolite composite hollow fiber membranes synthesized from solid waste coal fly ash.

PubMed

Zhu, Li; Ji, Jiayou; Wang, Shulin; Xu, Chenxi; Yang, Kun; Xu, Man

2018-09-01

Al 2 O 3 -NaA zeolite composite hollow fiber membranes were successfully fabricated via hydrothermal synthesis by using industrial solid waste coal fly ash and porous Al 2 O 3 hollow fiber supports. The as-synthesized Al 2 O 3 -NaA zeolite composite hollow fiber membranes were then characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The hollow fiber membranes were used to remove lead ions (Pb(II), 50 mg L -1 ) from synthetic wastewater with a removal efficiency of 99.9% at 0.1 MPa after 12 h of filtration. This study showed that the Al 2 O 3 -NaA zeolite composite hollow fiber membranes (the pore size of the membrane was about 0.41 nm in diameter) synthesized from coal fly ash could be efficiently used for treating low concentration Pb(II) wastewater. It recycled solid waste coal fly ash not only to solve its environment problems, but also can produce high-value Al 2 O 3 -NaA zeolite composite hollow fiber membranes for separation application in treating wastewater containing Pb(II). Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Alteration of the lipid composition of rat testicular plasma membranes by dietary (n-3) fatty acids changes the responsiveness of Leydig cells and testosterone synthesis.

PubMed

Sebokova, E; Garg, M L; Wierzbicki, A; Thomson, A B; Clandinin, M T

1990-06-01

Experiments were conducted to assess whether changing dietary fat composition altered phospholipid composition of rat testicular plasma membranes in a manner that altered receptor-mediated action of luteinizing hormone (LH)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Weanling rats were fed diets that provided high or low cholesterol intakes and that were enriched with linseed oil, fish oil or beef tallow for 4 wk. Feeding diets high in (n-3) fatty acids decreased plasma and testicular plasma membrane 20:4(n-6) content. A marked reduction of the 22:5(n-6) content and an increase in the 22:6(n-3) content of testicular plasma membrane was found only in animals fed fish oil. A decrease in binding capacity of the gonadotropin (LH/hCG) receptor in the plasma membrane, with no change in receptor affinity, was observed for animals fed either linseed oil or fish oil diets. Dietary treatments that raised plasma membrane cholesterol content and the cholesterol to phospholipid ratio in the membrane were associated with increased binding capacity of the gonadotropin receptor. Feeding diets high in 18:3(n-3) vs. those high in fish oil altered receptor-mediated adenylate cyclase activity in a manner that depended on the level of dietary cholesterol. Feeding diets high in cholesterol or fish oil increased basal and LH-stimulated testosterone synthesis relative to that in animals fed the low cholesterol diet containing linseed oil. It is concluded that changing the fat composition of the diet alters the phospholipid composition of rat testicular plasma membranes and that this change in composition influences membrane-mediated unmasking of gonadotropin receptor-mediated action in testicular tissue.

A Conserved Circular Network of Coregulated Lipids Modulates Innate Immune Responses

PubMed Central

Köberlin, Marielle S.; Snijder, Berend; Heinz, Leonhard X.; Baumann, Christoph L.; Fauster, Astrid; Vladimer, Gregory I.; Gavin, Anne-Claude; Superti-Furga, Giulio

2015-01-01

Summary Lipid composition affects the biophysical properties of membranes that provide a platform for receptor-mediated cellular signaling. To study the regulatory role of membrane lipid composition, we combined genetic perturbations of sphingolipid metabolism with the quantification of diverse steps in Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling and mass spectrometry-based lipidomics. Membrane lipid composition was broadly affected by these perturbations, revealing a circular network of coregulated sphingolipids and glycerophospholipids. This evolutionarily conserved network architecture simultaneously reflected membrane lipid metabolism, subcellular localization, and adaptation mechanisms. Integration of the diverse TLR-induced inflammatory phenotypes with changes in lipid abundance assigned distinct functional roles to individual lipid species organized across the network. This functional annotation accurately predicted the inflammatory response of cells derived from patients suffering from lipid storage disorders, based solely on their altered membrane lipid composition. The analytical strategy described here empowers the understanding of higher-level organization of membrane lipid function in diverse biological systems. PMID:26095250

Analysis of cerium-composite polymer-electrolyte membranes during and after accelerated oxidative-stability test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Dongwon; Han, Myungseong; Shul, Yong-Gun; Lee, Hyejin; Bae, Byungchan

2018-02-01

The oxidative stability of membranes constructed from a composite of pristine sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) and cerium was investigated by conducting an accelerated oxidative-stability test at the open-circuit voltage (OCV). The membranes were analyzed in situ through OCV and impedance measurements, cyclic voltammetry, and linear-sweep voltammetry to monitor the electrochemical properties during the stability test. Although the high-frequency resistance of a composite membrane was slightly higher than that of a pristine membrane because of the exchange of protons from the sulfonic acid with cerium ions, the composite membrane maintained its potential for much longer than the pristine membrane. The effect of the cerium ions as radical scavengers was confirmed by analyzing the drain water and chemical structure after operation. These post-operation analyses confirmed that cerium ions improved the oxidative stability of the hydrocarbon-based polymer during fuel-cell operation. It is clear that the cerium-based radical scavengers prevented chemical degradation of the polymer membrane as well as the electrode in terms of hydrogen cross-over, polymer-chain scission, and the electrochemical surface area, while they rarely diffused outward from the membrane.

Age-dependent changes in the sphingolipid composition of CD4+ T cell membranes and immune synapses implicate glucosylceramides in age-related T cell dysfunction

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Sphingolipid (SL4) composition can influence the biophysical properties of cell membranes. Additionally, specific SL modulate signaling pathways involved in proliferation, senescence, and apoptosis. We investigated age-dependent changes in the SL composition of CD4+ T cells, and the impact of these ...

An amino acid composition criterion for membrane active antimicrobials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, Nathan; Lai, Ghee Hwee; Mishra, Abhijit; Bong, Dennis; McCray, Paul, Jr.; Selsted, Michael; Ouellette, Andre; Wong, Gerard

2011-03-01

Membrane active antimicrobials (AMPs) are short amphipathic peptides with broad spectrum anti microbial activity. While it is believed that their hydrophobic and cationic moieties are responsible for membrane-based mechanisms of action, membrane disruption by AMPs is manifested in a diversity of outcomes, such as pore formation, blebbing, and budding. This complication, along with others, have made a detailed, molecular understanding of AMPs difficult. We use synchrotron small angle xray scattering to investigate the interaction of model bacterial and eukaryotic cell membranes with archetypes from beta-sheet AMPs (e.g. defensins) and alpha-helical AMPs (e.g. magainins). The relationship between membrane composition and peptide induced changes in membrane curvature and topology is examined. By comparing the membrane rearrangement and phase behavior induced by these different peptides we will discuss the importance of amino acid composition on AMP design.

The Influence of Pores in Track Etched Membranes and Prepared on their Base Polymer/Metal Composites on their Fracture Strength

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gumirova, V. N.; Bedin, S. A.; Abdurashidova, G. S.; Razumovskaya, I. V.

The strength of track etched membranes and prepared on their base polymer/metal composites is analysed in point of view of the pores form evolution during the extension and the interaction of elastic mechanical fields on closely positioned pores. The stress-strain curves for track membranes and composites PET/Cu are demonstrated for pore density 1.2×107сm-2 and diameters from 0.06 μm to 2.9 μm

Development of composite membranes of PVA-TEOS doped KOH for alkaline membrane fuel cell

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Haryadi,, E-mail: haryadi@polban.ac.id; Sugianto, D.; Ristopan, E.

2015-12-29

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) play an important role in separating fuel and oxygen (or air) in the Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cells. Preparation of hybrid organic inorganic materials of Polyvinylalcohol (PVA) - Tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) composite membrane doped KOH for direct alcohol alkaline fuel cell application has been investigated. The sol-gel method has been used to prepare the composite membrane of PVA-TEOS through crosslinking step and catalyzed by concentrated of hydrochloric acid. The gel solution was cast on the membrane plastic plate to obtain membrane sheets. The dry membranes were then doped by immersing in various concentrations of KOH solutions for aboutmore » 4 hours. Investigations of the cross-linking process and the presence of hydroxyl group were conducted by FTIR as shown for frequency at about 1600 cm{sup −1} and 3300 cm{sup −1} respectively. The degree of swelling in ethanol decreased as the KOH concentration for membrane soaking process increased. The ion exchange capacity (IEC) of the membrane was 0.25meq/g. This composite membranes display significant ionic conductivity of 3.23 x 10{sup −2} S/cm in deionized water at room temperature. In addition, the morphology observation by scanning electron microscope (SEM) of the membrane indicates that soaking process of membrane in KOH increased thermal resistant.« less

Improved separation and antifouling properties of thin-film composite nanofiltration membrane by the incorporation of cGO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Hongbin; Shi, Wenying; Du, Qiyun; Zhou, Rong; Zhang, Haixia; Qin, Xiaohong

2017-06-01

Poly(piperazine amide) composite nanofiltration (NF) membranes were modified through the incorporation of carboxylated graphene oxide (cGO) in the polyamide layer during the interfacial polymerization (IP) process on the polysulfone (PSF)/nonwoven fabric (NWF) ultrafiltration (UF) substrate membrane surface. The composition and morphology of the prepared NF membrane surface were determined by means of ATR-FTIR, SEM-EDX and AFM. The effects of cGO contents on membrane hydrophilicity, separation performance and antifouling properties were investigated through Water Contact Angle (WCA) analysis, the permeance and three-cycle fouling measurements. The growth model of cGO-incorporated polyamide thin-film was proposed. Compared to the original NF membranes, the surface hydrophilicity, water permeability, salt rejection and antifouling properties of the cGO-incorporated NF membrane had all improved. When cGO content was 100 ppm, the MgSO4 rejection of composite NF membrane reached a maximum value of 99.2% meanwhile membrane obtained an obvious enhanced water flux (81.6 L m-2 h-1, at 0.7 MPa) which was nearly three times compared to the virginal NF membrane. The cGO-incorporated NF membrane showed an excellent selectivity of MgSO4 and NaCl with the rejection ratio of MgSO4/NaCl of approximately 8.0.

Electrospun F18 Bioactive Glass/PCL—Poly (ε-caprolactone)—Membrane for Guided Tissue Regeneration

PubMed Central

Hidalgo Pitaluga, Lucas; Trevelin Souza, Marina; Santocildes Romero, Martin Eduardo; Hatton, Paul V.

2018-01-01

Barrier membranes that are used for guided tissue regeneration (GTR) therapy usually lack bioactivity and the capability to promote new bone tissue formation. However, the incorporation of an osteogenic agent into polymeric membranes seems to be the most assertive strategy to enhance their regenerative potential. Here, the manufacturing of composite electrospun membranes made of poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and particles of a novel bioactive glass composition (F18) is described. The membranes were mechanically and biologically tested with tensile strength tests and tissue culture with MG-63 osteoblast-like cell line, respectively. The PCL-F18 composite membranes demonstrated no increased cytotoxicity and an enhanced osteogenic potential when compared to pure PCL membranes. Moreover, the addition of the bioactive phase increased the membrane tensile strength. These preliminary results suggested that these new membranes can be a strong candidate for small bone injuries treatment by GTR technique. PMID:29517988

Electrically Conductive TPU Nanofibrous Composite with High Stretchability for Flexible Strain Sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tong, Lu; Wang, Xiao-Xiong; He, Xiao-Xiao; Nie, Guang-Di; Zhang, Jun; Zhang, Bin; Guo, Wen-Zhe; Long, Yun-Ze

2018-03-01

Highly stretchable and electrically conductive thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanofibrous composite based on electrospinning for flexible strain sensor and stretchable conductor has been fabricated via in situ polymerization of polyaniline (PANI) on TPU nanofibrous membrane. The PANI/TPU membrane-based sensor could detect a strain from 0 to 160% with fast response and excellent stability. Meanwhile, the TPU composite has good stability and durability. Besides, the composite could be adapted to various non-flat working environments and could maintain opportune conductivity at different operating temperatures. This work provides an easy operating and low-cost method to fabricate highly stretchable and electrically conductive nanofibrous membrane, which could be applied to detect quick and tiny human actions.

Examining the Role of Membrane Lipid Composition in Determining the Ethanol Tolerance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

PubMed Central

Henderson, Clark M.

2014-01-01

Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has an innate ability to withstand high levels of ethanol that would prove lethal to or severely impair the physiology of other organisms. Significant efforts have been undertaken to elucidate the biochemical and biophysical mechanisms of how ethanol interacts with lipid bilayers and cellular membranes. This research has implicated the yeast cellular membrane as the primary target of the toxic effects of ethanol. Analysis of model membrane systems exposed to ethanol has demonstrated ethanol's perturbing effect on lipid bilayers, and altering the lipid composition of these model bilayers can mitigate the effect of ethanol. In addition, cell membrane composition has been correlated with the ethanol tolerance of yeast cells. However, the physical phenomena behind this correlation are likely to be complex. Previous work based on often divergent experimental conditions and time-consuming low-resolution methodologies that limit large-scale analysis of yeast fermentations has fallen short of revealing shared mechanisms of alcohol tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Lipidomics, a modern mass spectrometry-based approach to analyze the complex physiological regulation of lipid composition in yeast and other organisms, has helped to uncover potential mechanisms for alcohol tolerance in yeast. Recent experimental work utilizing lipidomics methodologies has provided a more detailed molecular picture of the relationship between lipid composition and ethanol tolerance. While it has become clear that the yeast cell membrane composition affects its ability to tolerate ethanol, the molecular mechanisms of yeast alcohol tolerance remain to be elucidated. PMID:24610851

Permeability Asymmetry in Composite Porous Ceramic Membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurcharov, I. M.; Laguntsov, N. I.; Uvarov, V. I.; Kurchatova, O. V.

The results from the investigation of transport characteristics and gas transport asymmetry in bilayer composite membranes are submitted. These membranes are produced by SHS method. Asymmetric effect and hysteresis of permeability in nanoporous membranes are detected. It's shown, that permeability ratio (asymmetry value of permeability) increases up to several times. The asymmetry of permeability usually decreases monotonically with the pressure decrease.

Preparation of graphene oxide modified poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) nanofiltration membrane with improved water flux and antifouling property

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Mei; Zhao, Changwei; Zhang, Shaofeng; Li, Pei; Hou, Deyin

2017-02-01

Poly (m-phenylene isophthalamide)/graphene oxide (PMIA/GO) composite nanofiltartion (NF) membranes were prepared via a facile phase inversion method. Structures, surface properties and hydrophilicities of the membrane were analyzed using FT-IR, XPS, AFM, SEM, water contact angle and Zeta-potential measurements. FTIR spectra indicated the existence of hydrophilic carboxylic acid and hydroxyl groups in the GO molecules. SEM pictures revealed the large and finger-like micro-voids formed in the sublayer of the NF membranes after adding GO. The zeta-potential and water contact angle results proved that PMIA/GO composite membranes had more negatively charged and greater hydrophilic surfaces. The pure water flux of the PMIA/GO (0.3 wt% GO) composite membrane (125.2 (L/m2/h)) was 2.6 times as high as that of the pristine PMIA NF membrane (48.3 (L/m2/h)) at 0.8 MPa with slightly higher rejections to all tested dyes and better fouling resistance to bovine serum albumin (BSA). This study gave an effective method for preparing composite PMIA NF membranes with high water flux and excellent antifouling property, which showed potential application in water treatment.

TiO2/bone composite materials for the separation of heavy metal impurities from waste water solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dakroury, G.; Labib, Sh.; Abou El-Nour, F. H.

2012-09-01

Pure bone material obtained from cow meat, as apatite-rich material, and TiO2-bone composite materials are prepared and studied to be used for heavy metal ions separation from waste water solutions. Meat wastes are chemically and thermally treated to control their microstructure in order to prepare the composite materials that fulfill all the requirements to be used as selective membranes with high performance, stability and mechanical strength. The prepared materials are analyzed using Hg-porosimetry for surface characterization, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) for elemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for chemical composition investigation. Structural studies are performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Microstructural properties are studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and specific surface area studies are performed using Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) method. XRD studies show that multiphase structures are obtained as a result of 1h sintering at 700-1200 °C for both pure bone and TiO2-bone composite materials. The factors affecting the transport of different heavy metal ions through the selected membranes are determined from permeation flux measurements. It is found that membrane pore size, membrane surface roughness and membrane surface charge are the key parameters that control the transport or rejection of heavy metal ions through the selected membranes.

Performance and mechanisms for the removal of phthalates and pharmaceuticals from aqueous solution by graphene-containing ceramic composite tubular membrane coupled with the simultaneous electrocoagulation and electrofiltration process.

PubMed

Yang, Gordon C C; Chen, Ying-Chun; Yang, Hao-Xuan; Yen, Chia-Heng

2016-07-01

In this study, commonly detected emerging contaminants (ECs) in water, including di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), cephalexin (CLX), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and caffeine (CAF), were selected as the target contaminants. A lab-prepared graphene-containing ceramic composite tubular membrane (TGCCM) coupled with the simultaneous electrocoagulation and electrofiltration process (EC/EF) in crossflow filtration mode was used to remove target contaminants in model solution. Meanwhile, a comparison of the removal efficiency was made among various tubular composite membranes reported, including carbon fibers/carbon/alumina composite tubular membrane (TCCACM), titania/alumina composite tubular membrane (TTACM) and alumina tubular membrane (TAM). The results of this study showed that the removal efficiencies for DnBP and DEHP were 99%, whereas 32-97% for cephalexin (CLX), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and caffeine (CAF). In this work the mechanisms involved in removing target ECs were proposed and their roles in removing various ECs were also discussed. Further, two actual municipal wastewaters were treated to evaluate the applicability of the aforementioned treatment technology (i.e., TGCCM coupled with EC/EF) to various aqueous solutions in the real world. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Release characteristics and bioactivity of gelatin-tricalcium phosphate membranes covalently immobilized with nerve growth factors.

PubMed

Chen, Pei-Ru; Chen, Ming-Hong; Lin, Feng-Huei; Su, Wen-Yu

2005-11-01

The gelatin-tricalcium phosphate membranes were cross-linking with low concentration glutaraldehyde solution (GTG). This material has good mechanical property, biocompatibility, and is feasible for surgical manipulation. For axonal regeneration, nerve growth factors (NGF) were immobilized onto the composite (GTG) with carbodiimide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the release characteristics and bioactivity of NGF after covalent immobilization onto the GTG membranes (GEN). NGF immobilized onto and released from the composite was quantified using ELISA method. PC 12 cells were cultured on the GTG and GEN composites. Cell survival, cytotoxicity, and cellular activity were evaluated by total protein content, LDH activity, and MTT assay respectively. Neurite outgrowth assay was used to evaluate the biological activity of NGF released from GEN composite. From ELISA measurement, the releasing curve for NGF showing two distinctive parts with different slopes indicated that NGF were released from the composite in diffusion-controlled mechanism and degradation-controlled mechanism respectively. While culturing with PC 12 cells, LDH leakage results implied that whether GTG composite cross-linked with NGF or not showed little cytotoxicity. The total protein content and cellular activity of PC 12 cells were lower on GTG and GEN membranes than control group. However, 56%+/-3.98 of PC 12 cells showed significant neurite outgrowth on GEN membranes which was statistically higher than GTG without NGF immobilization. In addition, sustained release of bioactive NGF for two months had been demonstrated by neurite outgrowth assay. From these experiments, it can be concluded that the technique used in the present study is capable of immobilizing NGF onto GTG membranes covalently and remaining the bioactivity of NGF. Therefore, GEN composite can be materials for sustained release of bioactive NGF and a candidate for future therapeutic application in nerve repair.

Novel Electrospun Dual-Layered Composite Nanofibrous Membrane Endowed with Electricity-Magnetism Bifunctionality at One Layer and Photoluminescence at the Other Layer.

PubMed

Wang, Zijiao; Ma, Qianli; Dong, Xiangting; Li, Dan; Xi, Xue; Yu, Wensheng; Wang, Jinxian; Liu, Guixia

2016-10-05

Dual-layered composite nanofibrous membrane equipped with electrical conduction, magnetism and photoluminescence trifunctionality is constructed via electrospinning. The composite membrane consists of a polyaniline (PANI)/Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) tuned electrical-magnetic bifunctional nanofibrous layer at one side and a Eu(TTA) 3 (TPPO) 2 /polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) photoluminescent nanofibrous layer at the other side, and the two layers are tightly combined face-to-face together into the novel dual-layered composite membrane with trifunctionality. The electric conductivity and magnetism of electrical-magnetic bifunctionality can be respectively tunable via modulating the respective PANI and Fe 3 O 4 NPs contents, and the highest electric conductivity approaches the order of 1 × 10 -2 S cm -1 . Predominant red emission at 615 nm can be obviously observed in the photoluminescent layer under 366 nm excitation. Moreover, the luminescent intensity of photoluminescent layer is almost unaffected by the electrical-magnetic bifunctional layer because of the fact that the photoluminescent materials have been successfully isolated from dark-colored PANI and Fe 3 O 4 NPs. The novel dual-layered composite nanofibrous membrane with trifunctionality has potentials in many fields. Furthermore, the design philosophy and fabrication method for the dual-layered multifunctional membrane provide a new and facile strategy toward other membranes with multifunctionality.

Physically Gelled Room-Temperature Ionic Liquid-Based Composite Membranes for CO2/N-2 Separation: Effect of Composition and Thickness on Membrane Properties and Performance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nguyen, PT; Voss, BA; Wiesenauer, EF

2013-07-03

An aspartame-based, low molecular-weight organic gelator (LMOG) was used to form melt-infused and composite membranes with two different imidazolium-based room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) for CO2 separation from N-2. Previous work demonstrated that LMOGs can gel RTILs at low, loading levels, and this aspartame-based LMOG was selected because it has been reported to gel a large number of RTILs. The imidazolium-based RTILs were used because of their inherent good properties for CO2/light gas separations. Analysis of the resulting bulk RTIL/LMOG physical gels showed that these materials have high sol-gel transition temperatures (ca. 135 degrees C) suitable for flue gas applications. Gasmore » permeabilities and burst pressure measurements of thick, melt infused membranes revealed a trade-off between high CO2 permeabilities and good mechanical stability as a function of the LMOG loading. Defect-free, composite membranes of the gelled RTILs were successfully fabricated by choosing an appropriate porous membrane support (hydrophobic PTFE) using a suitable coating technique (roller coating). The thicknesses of the applied composite gel layers ranged from 10.3 to 20.7 mu m, which represents an order of magnitude decrease in active layer thickness, compared to the original melt-infused gel RTIL membranes.« less

Water hyacinth cellulose-based membrane for adsorption of liquid waste dyes and chromium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agtasia Putri, Cintia; Yulianti, Ian; Desianna, Ika; Sholihah, Anisa; Sujarwata

2018-04-01

Water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) is a weed in aquatic area whose trunk contains a lot of cellulose. Cellulose contained can be used as dyes adsorbent in a form of composite membrane. This study aims to investigate the capacity of water hyacinth cellulose-based membrane to adsorb dye and Chromium (Cr) contained in liquid. The process of membrane fabrication begins with isolation of water hyacinth cellulose. The isolated cellulose powder was used to make the membrane by mixing it with polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol (PVA-PEG) with various compositions. The morphology of membrane surface was analyzed using CCD microscope. The analysis using Ultraviolet Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) indicate that the membrane with composition ratio of cellulose: PVA: PEG of 6.5: 2.5: 1 adsorb Cr up to 38.75%.

Comparison of biofouling mechanisms between cellulose triacetate (CTA) and thin-film composite (TFC) polyamide forward osmosis membranes in osmotic membrane bioreactors.

PubMed

Wang, Xinhua; Zhao, Yanxiao; Yuan, Bo; Wang, Zhiwei; Li, Xiufen; Ren, Yueping

2016-02-01

There are two types of popular forward osmosis (FO) membrane materials applied for researches on FO process, cellulose triacetate (CTA) and thin film composite (TFC) polyamide. However, performance and fouling mechanisms of commercial TFC FO membrane in osmotic membrane bioreactors (OMBRs) are still unknown. In current study, its biofouling behaviors in OMBRs were investigated and further compared to the CTA FO membrane. The results indicated that β-D-glucopyranose polysaccharides and microorganisms accounted for approximately 77% of total biovolume on the CTA FO membrane while β-D-glucopyranose polysaccharides (biovolume ratio of 81.1%) were the only dominant biofoulants on the TFC FO membrane. The analyses on the biofouling structure implied that a tighter biofouling layer with a larger biovolume was formed on the CTA FO membrane. The differences in biofouling behaviors including biofoulants composition and biofouling structure between CTA and TFC FO membranes were attributed to different membrane surface properties. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Blend membrane of succinic acid-crosslinked chitosan grafted with heparin/PVA-PEG (polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol) and its characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sangkota, V. D. A.; Lusiana, R. A.; Astuti, Y.

2018-04-01

Crosslinking and grafting reactions are required to modify the functional groups on chitosan to increase the number of its active groups. In this study, crosslinking reaction of succinic acid and grafting reaction of heparin on chitosan were conducted to produce a membrane as a candidate of a hemodialysis membrane. The mole ratio between chitosan and succinate acids was varied to obtain the best composition of modified materials. By blending all the material composition with PVA-PEG, the blend was transformed into a membrane. The resulted membrane was then characterized by various test methods such as tests of thickness, weight, water uptake, pH resistance, tensile strength and membrane hydrophilicity. The results showed that the best composition of the membrane reached in the addition of 0.011 gram of succinic acid proved by its highest mechanical strength compared to the other membranes.

Anti-bacterial properties of ultrafiltration membrane modified by graphene oxide with nano-silver particles.

PubMed

Li, Jingchun; Liu, Xuyang; Lu, Jiaqi; Wang, Yudan; Li, Guanglu; Zhao, Fangbo

2016-12-15

To improve the anti-biofouling properties of PVDF membranes, GO-Ag composites were synthesized and used as membrane antibacterial agent by a simple and environmentally friendly method. As identified by XRD, TEM and FTIR analysis, AgNPs were uniformly assembled on the synthesized GO-Ag sheets. The membranes were prepared by phase inversion method with different additional amounts (0.00-0.15wt%) of GO-Ag composites. The GO-Ag composites modified membranes show improved hydrophilicity, mechanical property and permeability than unmodified PVDF membrane. Specially, the antibacterial properties and inhibition of biofilm formation were greatly enhanced based on conventional inhibition zone test and anti-adhesion of bacterial experiment. The modified membranes also reveal a remarkable long-term continuous antimicrobial activity with slower release rate of Ag + compared to AgNPs/PVDF membrane. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ultrathin Composite Polymeric Membranes for CO2 /N2 Separation with Minimum Thickness and High CO2 Permeance.

PubMed

Benito, Javier; Sánchez-Laínez, Javier; Zornoza, Beatriz; Martín, Santiago; Carta, Mariolino; Malpass-Evans, Richard; Téllez, Carlos; McKeown, Neil B; Coronas, Joaquín; Gascón, Ignacio

2017-10-23

The use of ultrathin films as selective layers in composite membranes offers significant advantages in gas separation for increasing productivity while reducing the membrane size and energy costs. In this contribution, composite membranes have been obtained by the successive deposition of approximately 1 nm thick monolayers of a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM) on top of dense membranes of the ultra-permeable poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] (PTMSP). The ultrathin PIM films (30 nm in thickness) demonstrate CO 2 permeance up to seven times higher than dense PIM membranes using only 0.04 % of the mass of PIM without a significant decrease in CO 2 /N 2 selectivity. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Zirconium phosphate reinforced short side chain perflurosulfonic acid membranes for medium temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Casciola, Mario; Cojocaru, Paula; Donnadio, Anna; Giancola, Stefano; Merlo, Luca; Nedellec, Yannig; Pica, Monica; Subianto, Surya

2014-09-01

Composite membranes, made of an 830 equivalent weight short-side-chain perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer and containing up to 10 wt% zirconium phosphate (ZrP), are prepared by casting dispersions of ZrP nanoparticles in the ionomer solution. 30 μm thick composite membranes are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, stress-strain tests, conductivity measurements, water uptake and ion-exchange capacity determinations, as well as fuel cell tests in H2/air. In comparison with the neat ionomer, the tensile modulus (E) and the yield stress (Y) of the composite membranes increase with the ZrP content, both at room temperature (ΔE/E up to +75%, ΔY/Y up to +47%) and at 80 °C/70% relative humidity (ΔE/E up to +64%, ΔY/Y up to +103%). Despite their lower hydration, the composite membranes are as conductive as the neat ionomer and the in-plane conductivity at 110 °C ranges from ∼0.005 S cm-1 at 25% RH to 0.14 S cm-1 at 90% RH. The fuel cell performance of a catalyst coated membrane loaded with 10 wt% ZrP is weakly affected by temperature in the range 80-110 °C. The peak power density decreases from 0.36 W cm-2, at 80 °C, to 0.28 W cm-2 at 110 °C, where the composite membrane performs better than the neat ionomer.

Effects of retinoids on differentiation, lipid metabolism, epidermal growth factor, and low-density lipoprotein binding in squamous carcinoma cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ponec, M.; Weerheim, A.; Havekes, L.

The relationship among keratinocyte differentiation capacity, lipid synthesis, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism, plasma membrane composition, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding has been studied in SCC-12F2 cells. The differentiation capacity of the cells, i.e., ionophore-induced cornified envelope formation, was inhibited by various retinoids and stimulated by hydrocortisone. Retinoids that caused a significant reduction of cornified envelope formation, i.e., retinoic acid and 13-cis-retinoic acid, caused only minor changes in lipid synthesis and plasma membrane composition. Arotinoid ethylsulfone, having a minor effect on cornified envelope formation, caused a drastic inhibition of cholesterol synthesis resulting in changes in the plasma membrane composition. Hydrocortisonemore » stimulated cornified envelope formation but had only minor effects on lipid synthesis and plasma membrane composition. Of all retinoids tested, only arotinoid ethylsulfone caused a drastic increase in EGF binding, while hydrocortisone had no effect. These results clearly demonstrate that the plasma membrane composition is not related to keratinocyte differentiation capacity, but most likely does determine EGF binding. Furthermore, EGF binding does not determine keratinocyte differentiation capacity.« less

Mixed-Matrix Membranes Containing Carbon Nanotubes Composite with Hydrogel for Efficient CO2 Separation.

PubMed

Zhang, Haiyang; Guo, Ruili; Hou, Jinpeng; Wei, Zhong; Li, Xueqin

2016-10-26

In this study, a carbon nanotubes composite coated with N-isopropylacrylamide hydrogel (NIPAM-CNTs) was synthesized. Mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) were fabricated by incorporating NIPAM-CNTs composite filler into poly(ether-block-amide) (Pebax MH 1657) matrix for efficient CO 2 separation. The as-prepared NIPAM-CNTs composite filler mainly plays two roles: (i) The extraordinary smooth one-dimensional nanochannels of CNTs act as the highways to accelerate CO 2 transport through membranes, increasing CO 2 permeability; (ii) The NIPAM hydrogel layer coated on the outer walls of CNTs acts as the super water absorbent to increase water content of membranes, appealing both CO 2 permeability and CO 2 /gas selectivity. MMM containing 5 wt % NIPAM-CNTs exhibited the highest CO 2 permeability of 567 barrer, CO 2 /CH 4 selectivity of 35, and CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 70, transcending 2008 Robeson upper bound line. The improved CO 2 separation performance of MMMs is mainly attributed to the construction of the efficient CO 2 transport pathways by NIPAM-CNTs. Thus, MMMs incorporated with NIPAM-CNTs composite filler can be used as an excellent membrane material for efficient CO 2 separation.

Further insight into the roles of the chemical composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on ultrafiltration membranes as revealed by multiple advanced DOM characterization tools.

PubMed

Ly, Quang Viet; Hur, Jin

2018-06-01

This study assessed the relative contributions of different constitutes in dissolved organic matter (DOM) with two different sources (i.e., urban river and effluent) to membrane fouling on three types of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes via excitation emission matrix - parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). Two polyethersulfone membranes with different pore sizes and one regenerated cellulose membrane were used as representative hydrophobic (HPO) and hydrophilic (HPI) UF membranes, respectively. Although size exclusion effect was found to be the most prevailing rejection mechanism, the behaviors of individual fluorescent components (one tryptophan-like, one microbial-humic-like, and terrestrial humic-like) and different size fractions upon the UF filtration revealed that chemical interactions (e.g., hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding) between DOM and membrane might play important roles in UF membrane fouling, especially for small sized DOM molecules. Based on the molecular level composition determined by FT-ICR-MS, the CHOS formula group showed a greater removal tendency toward the HPO membrane, while the CHONS group was prone to be removed by the HPI membrane. The changes in the overall molecular composition of DOM upon UF filtration were highly dependent on the sources of DOM. The molecules of more acidic nature tended to remain in the permeate of effluent DOM, while the river DOM was shifted into more nitrogen-enriched composition after filtration. Regardless of the DOM sources, the HPO membrane with a smaller pore size led to the most pronounced changes in the molecular composition of DOM. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Composite solid polymer electrolyte membranes

DOEpatents

Formato, Richard M.; Kovar, Robert F.; Osenar, Paul; Landrau, Nelson; Rubin, Leslie S.

2001-06-19

The present invention relates to composite solid polymer electrolyte membranes (SPEMs) which include a porous polymer substrate interpenetrated with an ion-conducting material. SPEMs of the present invention are useful in electrochemical applications, including fuel cells and electrodialysis.

Layered plasma polymer composite membranes

DOEpatents

Babcock, Walter C.

1994-01-01

Layered plasma polymer composite fluid separation membranes are disclosed, which comprise alternating selective and permeable layers for a total of at least 2n layers, where n is .gtoreq.2 and is the number of selective layers.

Composite solid polymer electrolyte membranes

DOEpatents

Formato, Richard M.; Kovar, Robert F.; Osenar, Paul; Landrau, Nelson; Rubin, Leslie S.

2006-05-30

The present invention relates to composite solid polymer electrolyte membranes (SPEMs) which include a porous polymer substrate interpenetrated with an ion-conducting material. SPEMs of the present invention are useful in electrochemical applications, including fuel cells and electrodialysis.

Layered plasma polymer composite membranes

DOEpatents

Babcock, W.C.

1994-10-11

Layered plasma polymer composite fluid separation membranes are disclosed, which comprise alternating selective and permeable layers for a total of at least 2n layers, where n is [>=]2 and is the number of selective layers. 2 figs.

Preparation of PVDF/SiO2 composite membrane for salty oil emulsion separation: Physicochemical properties changes and its impact on fouling propensity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ngang, H. P.; Ahmad, A. L.; Low, S. C.; Ooi, B. S.

2017-06-01

In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/silica (SiO2) composite membranes were prepared by diffusion induced phase separation through direct blending method. The roles of SiO2 particles concentration on membrane physicochemical properties were evaluated through oil emulsion separation under high ionic strength environment whereby hydrophobic interaction is prevalent. Membranes were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle measurement, membrane porosity and pore size distribution. It was expected that by adding the monodispersed SiO2, it will render the membrane with hydrophilic characteristic. However, it is concomitantly changing the physical properties of the membrane. Addition of SiO2 caused the changes to the physicochemical properties of the composite membrane and its effects on the fouling propensity were evaluated. It was found that the mean pore size of the membranes increased with the increase of SiO2 concentration. The addition of hydrophilic SiO2 had accelerated the precipitation of the membrane dope solution resulting in changes of membrane cross section morphology. FESEM images showed the membrane cross-section morphology of PVDF/SiO2 composite membrane had gradually changed from finger-like to macrovoid-like structure with the increased of SiO2 concentration. The hydrophilicity of the PVDF/SiO2 composite membrane was enhanced which is a desired property for water purification. However, the changes in physical properties (pore size, porosity, and surface roughness) had played more dominant role in the oil emulsion fouling behaviour rather than hydrophilicity enhancement. Due to the salting out effect under high ionic strength environment, hydrophobic interaction played an important role in the oil adsorption. The increment in membrane pore size, porosity, and surface roughness after incorporation of SiO2 particles had encountered more serious relative flux reduction and lower flux recovery ratio.

Membrane Curvature and Lipid Composition Synergize To Regulate N-Ras Anchor Recruitment.

PubMed

Larsen, Jannik B; Kennard, Celeste; Pedersen, Søren L; Jensen, Knud J; Uline, Mark J; Hatzakis, Nikos S; Stamou, Dimitrios

2017-09-19

Proteins anchored to membranes through covalently linked fatty acids and/or isoprenoid groups play crucial roles in all forms of life. Sorting and trafficking of lipidated proteins has traditionally been discussed in the context of partitioning to membrane domains of different lipid composition. We recently showed that membrane shape/curvature can in itself mediate the recruitment of lipidated proteins. However, exactly how membrane curvature and composition synergize remains largely unexplored. Here we investigated how three critical structural parameters of lipids, namely acyl chain saturation, headgroup size, and acyl chain length, modulate the capacity of membrane curvature to recruit lipidated proteins. As a model system we used the lipidated minimal membrane anchor of the GTPase, N-Ras (tN-Ras). Our data revealed complex synergistic effects, whereby tN-Ras binding was higher on planar DOPC than POPC membranes, but inversely higher on curved POPC than DOPC membranes. This variation in the binding to both planar and curved membranes leads to a net increase in the recruitment by membrane curvature of tN-Ras when reducing the acyl chain saturation state. Additionally, we found increased recruitment by membrane curvature of tN-Ras when substituting PC for PE, and when decreasing acyl chain length from 14 to 12 carbons (DMPC versus DLPC). However, these variations in recruitment ability had different origins, with the headgroup size primarily influencing tN-Ras binding to planar membranes whereas the change in acyl chain length primarily affected binding to curved membranes. Molecular field theory calculations recapitulated these findings and revealed lateral pressure as an underlying biophysical mechanism dictating how curvature and composition synergize to modulate recruitment of lipidated proteins. Our findings suggest that the different compositions of cellular compartments could modulate the potency of membrane curvature to recruit lipidated proteins and thereby synergistically regulate the trafficking and sorting of lipidated proteins. Copyright © 2017 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Surface characterization of dialyzer polymer membranes by imaging ToF-SIMS and quantitative XPS line scans.

PubMed

Holzweber, Markus; Lippitz, Andreas; Krueger, Katharina; Jankowski, Joachim; Unger, Wolfgang E S

2015-03-24

The surfaces of polymeric dialyzer membranes consisting of polysulfone and polyvinylpyrrolidone were investigated regarding the lateral distribution and quantitative surface composition using time-of-flight secondary-ion-mass-spectrometry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Knowledge of the distribution and composition on the outer surface region is of utmost importance for understanding the biocompatibility of such dialyzer membranes. Both flat membranes and hollow fiber membranes were studied.

Reorganization of Azospirillum brasilense cell membrane is mediated by lipid composition adjustment to maintain optimal fluidity during water deficit.

PubMed

Cesari, A B; Paulucci, N S; Biasutti, M A; Reguera, Y B; Gallarato, L A; Kilmurray, C; Dardanelli, M S

2016-01-01

We study the Azospirillum brasilense tolerance to water deficit and the dynamics of adaptive process at the level of the membrane. Azospirillum brasilense was exposed to polyethylene glycol (PEG) growth and PEG shock. Tolerance, phospholipids and fatty acid (FA) composition and membrane fluidity were determined. Azospirillum brasilense was able to grow in the presence of PEG; however, its viability was reduced. Cells grown with PEG showed membrane fluidity similar to those grown without, the lipid composition was modified, increasing phosphatidylcholine and decreasing phosphatidylethanolamine amounts. The unsaturation FAs degree was reduced. The dynamics of the adaptive response revealed a decrease in fluidity 20 min after the addition of PEG, indicating that the PEG has a fluidizing effect on the hydrophobic region of the cell membrane. Fluidity returned to initial values after 60 min of PEG exposure. Azospirillum brasilense is able to perceive osmotic changes by changing the membrane fluidity. This effect is offset by changes in the composition of membrane phospholipid and FA, contributing to the homeostasis of membrane fluidity under water deficit. This knowledge can be used to develop new Azospirillum brasilense formulations showing an adapted membrane to water deficit. © 2015 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

Novel amine-based presursor compounds and composite membranes thereof

DOEpatents

Lee, Eric K. L.; Tuttle, Mark E.

1989-01-01

Novel amine-based precursor compounds comprising the condensation products of dialkylenetriamine and alpha, beta-unsaturated acid halides are disclosed, as well as composite membranes containing such compounds, the membranes being useful in RO-type processes for desalination and the removal of low molecular weight organic compounds such as phenols and carboxylic acids.

Stable catalyst layers for hydrogen permeable composite membranes

DOEpatents

Way, J. Douglas; Wolden, Colin A

2014-01-07

The present invention provides a hydrogen separation membrane based on nanoporous, composite metal carbide or metal sulfide coated membranes capable of high flux and permselectivity for hydrogen without platinum group metals. The present invention is capable of being operated over a broad temperature range, including at elevated temperatures, while maintaining hydrogen selectivity.

Honeycomb-alumina supported garnet membrane: Composite electrolyte with low resistance and high strength for lithium metal batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Kai; Wang, Chang-An

2015-05-01

Li-ion ceramic electrolyte material is considered the key for advanced lithium metal batteries, and garnet-type oxides are promising ceramic electrolyte materials. To disentangle the thinness-strength dilemma in garnet-type Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO) electrolyte, we designed and successfully synthesized a ceramic-ceramic composite electrolyte, i.e. a honeycomb-Al2O3 pellet supported LLZTO membrane. The honeycomb-Al2O3 pellet acts as a supporter to the thin LLZTO membrane and makes the whole composite electrolyte strong enough, while the straight holes in the Al2O3 supporter can be filled with liquid electrolyte and acts as channels for Li+ transportation. Such a composite design eliminates the concern over the LLZTO membrane's fragility, and keeps its good electrical property.

Development of novel composite membranes using quaternized chitosan and Na+-MMT clay for the pervaporation dehydration of isopropanol.

PubMed

Choudhari, Santosh K; Kariduraganavar, Mahadevappa Y

2009-10-01

Novel polymer-clay-based composite membranes were prepared by incorporating sodium montmorillonite (Na(+)-MMT) clay into quaternized chitosan. The resulting membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WXAD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The effect of membrane swelling was studied by varying the water concentration in the feed. The membranes were employed for the pervaporation dehydration of isopropanol in terms of feed composition and Na(+)-MMT clay loading. The experimental results demonstrated that membrane containing 10 mass% of Na(+)-MMT clay showed the highest separation selectivity of 14,992 with a flux of 14.23x10(-2) kg/m(2) h at 30 degrees C for 10 mass% of water in the feed. The total flux and flux of water are found to be overlapping each other particularly for clay-incorporated membranes, signifying that the composite membranes developed in the present study involving quaternized chitosan and Na(+)-MMT clay are highly selective toward water. From the temperature-dependent diffusion and permeation values, the Arrhenius activation parameters were estimated. The resulting activation energy values obtained for water permeation (E(pw)) are much lower than those of isopropanol permeation (E(pIPA)), suggesting that the developed composite membranes have higher separation efficiency for the water-isopropanol system. The estimated E(p) and E(D) values ranged between 8.97 and 11.89, and 7.56 and 9.88 kJ/mol, respectively. The positive heat of sorption (DeltaH(s)) values were obtained for all the membranes, suggesting that Henry's mode of sorption is predominant in the process.

Electrospun montmorillonite modified poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposite separators for lithium-ion batteries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fang, Changjiang; Yang, Shuli; Zhao, Xinfei

2016-07-15

Highlights: • Composite separators of PVDF and MMT for lithium-ion batteries were electrospun. • Thermal dimensional stability and tensile property of composite separators get improved. • Presence of montmorillonite promotes electrical properties of PVDF fibrous separators. • Batteries consisting of PVDF/MMT-5% separator achieve the best performance. - Abstract: Composite separators of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with different contents of montmorillonite (MMT) for Li-ion batteries have been fabricated by electrospinning. The morphology, function group, crystallinity, and mechanical properties of membranes were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile test, respectively. Interlayer spacingmore » of MMT in polymer was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). In addition, the results of electrochemical measurements suggest that PVDF/MMT-5% composite membrane has maximum ionic conductivity of 4.2 mS cm{sup −1}, minimum interfacial resistance of 97 Ω, and excellent electrochemical stability. The cell comprising PVDF/MMT-5% composite membrane shows higher capacity and more stable cycle performance than the one using commercial Celgard PP membrane.« less

Cellulose nanofiber-embedded sulfonated poly (ether sulfone) membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

PubMed

Xu, Xianlin; Li, Rui; Tang, Chenxiao; Wang, Hang; Zhuang, Xupin; Liu, Ya; Kang, Weimin; Shi, Lei

2018-03-15

Cellulose nanofibers were embedded into sulfonated poly (ether sulfone) matrix to heighten the water retention and proton conductivity of proton exchange membranes (PEMs). Cellulose nanofibers were obtained by hydrolyzing cellulose acetate nanofibers, which were prepared via electrostatic-induction-assisted solution blow spinning. Morphology, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of the PEMs were investigated. The results showed that proton conductivity, water uptake, and methanol permeability of the composite membranes were improved. Hydrophilicity of the composite membranes was gradually improved with the addition of nanofibers. When the content of nanofibers was 5 wt%, the highest proton conductivity was 0.13 S/cm (80 °C, 100% RH). Therefore, the cellulose nanofiber could be used as support materials to enhance the performance of proton exchange membranes, the composite membranes have potential application in Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Protein Composition of Trypanosoma brucei Mitochondrial Membranes

PubMed Central

Acestor, Nathalie; Panigrahi, Aswini K.; Ogata, Yuko; Anupama, Atashi; Stuart, Kenneth D.

2010-01-01

Mitochondria consist of four compartments, outer membrane, intermembrane space, inner membrane and matrix; each harboring specific functions and structures. In this study, we used mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to characterize the protein composition of Trypanosoma brucei mitochondrial membranes, which were enriched by different biochemical fractionation techniques. The analyses identified 202 proteins that contain one or more transmembrane domain(s) and/or positive GRAVY scores. Of these, various criteria were used to assign 72 proteins to mitochondrial membranes with high confidence, and 106 with moderate to low confidence. The sub-cellular localization of a selected subset of 13 membrane assigned proteins was confirmed by tagging and immunofluorescence analysis. While most proteins assigned to mitochondrial membrane have putative roles in metabolic, energy generating, and transport processes, ~50% have no known function. These studies result in a comprehensive profile of the composition and sub-organellar location of proteins in the T. brucei mitochondrion thus, providing useful information on mitochondrial functions. PMID:19834910

Surface characterization of dialyzer polymer membranes by imaging ToF-SIMS and quantitative XPS line scans

PubMed Central

Holzweber, Markus; Lippitz, Andreas; Krueger, Katharina; Jankowski, Joachim; Unger, Wolfgang E. S.

2015-01-01

The surfaces of polymeric dialyzer membranes consisting of polysulfone and poly-vinylpyrrolidone were investigated regarding the lateral distribution and quantitative surface composition using time-of-flight secondary-ion-mass-spectrometry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Knowledge of the distribution and composition on the outer surface region is of utmost importance for understanding the biocompatibility of such dialyzer membranes. Both flat membranes and hollow fiber membranes were studied. PMID:25711334

A novel polyester composite nanofiltration membrane formed by interfacial polymerization of pentaerythritol (PE) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Jun; Shi, Wenxin; Zhang, Lanhe; Zhang, Ruijun

2017-09-01

A novel polyester thin film composite nanofiltration (NF) membrane was prepared by interfacial polymerization of pentaerythritol (PE) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) on polyethersulfone (PES) supporting membrane. The performance of the polyester composite NF membrane was optimized by regulating the preparation parameters, including reaction time, pH of the aqueous phase solution, pentaerythritol concentration and TMC concentration. A series of characterization, including permeation experiments, attenuated total reflectance-fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), zeta potential analyzer and chlorine resistance experiments, were employed to study the properties of the optimized membrane. The results showed that the optimized polyester composite NF membrane exhibited very high rejection of Na2SO4 (98.1%), but the water flux is relatively low (6.1 L/m2 h, 0.5 MPa, 25 °C). The order of salt rejections is Na2SO4 > MgSO4 > MgCl2 > NaCl, which indicated the membrane was negatively charged, just consistent with the membrane zeta potential results. After treating by NaClO solutions with different concentrations (100 ppm, 500 ppm, 1000 ppm, 2000 ppm, 3000 ppm) for 48 h, the results demonstrated that the polyester NF membrane had good chlorine resistance. Additionally, the polyester TFC NF membrane exhibits good long-term stability.

Anion-conducting polymer, composition, and membrane

DOEpatents

Pivovar, Bryan S [Los Alamos, NM; Thorn, David L [Los Alamos, NM

2011-11-22

Anion-conducing polymers and membranes with enhanced stability to aqueous alkali include a polymer backbone with attached sulfonium, phosphazenium, phosphazene, and guanidinium residues. Compositions also with enhanced stability to aqueous alkali include a support embedded with sulfonium, phosphazenium, and guanidinium salts.

Anion-conducting polymer, composition, and membrane

DOEpatents

Pivovar, Bryan S [Los Alamos, NM; Thorn, David L [Los Alamos, NM

2009-09-01

Anion-conducing polymers and membranes with enhanced stability to aqueous alkali include a polymer backbone with attached sulfonium, phosphazenium, phosphazene, and guanidinium residues. Compositions also with enhanced stability to aqueous alkali include a support embedded with sulfonium, phosphazenium, and guanidinium salts.

Anion-conducting polymer, composition, and membrane

DOEpatents

Pivovar, Bryan S.; Thorn, David L.

2010-12-07

Anion-conducing polymers and membranes with enhanced stability to aqueous alkali include a polymer backbone with attached sulfonium, phosphazenium, phosphazene, and guanidinium residues. Compositions also with enhanced stability to aqueous alkali include a support embedded with sulfonium, phosphazenium, and guanidinium salts.

Anion-Conducting Polymer, Composition, and Membrane

DOEpatents

Pivovar, Bryan S.; Thorn, David L.

2008-10-21

Anion-conducing polymers and membranes with enhanced stability to aqueous alkali include a polymer backbone with attached sulfonium, phosphazenium, phosphazene, and guanidinium residues. Compositions also with enhanced stability to aqueous alkali include a support embedded with sulfonium, phosphazenium, and guanidinium salts.

Multilayer Membranes of Glycosaminoglycans and Collagen I Biomaterials Modulate the Function and Microvesicle Release of Endothelial Progenitor Cells.

PubMed

Dai, Bingyan; Pan, Qunwen; Li, Zhanghua; Zhao, Mingyan; Liao, Xiaorong; Wu, Keng; Ma, Xiaotang

2016-01-01

Multilayer composite membrane of biomaterials can increase the function of adipose stem cells or osteoprogenitor cells. Recent evidence indicates endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and EPCs released microvesicles (MVs) play important roles in angiogenesis and vascular repair. Here, we investigated the effects of biomaterial multilayer membranes of hyaluronic acid (HA) or chondroitin sulfate (CS) and Collagen I (Col I) on the functions and MVs release of EPCs. Layer-by-layer (LBL) technology was applied to construct the multilayer composite membranes. Four types of the membranes constructed by adsorbing either HA or CS and Col I alternatively with different top layers were studied. The results showed that all four types of multilayer composite membranes could promote EPCs proliferation and migration and inhibit cell senility, apoptosis, and the expression of activated caspase-3. Interestingly, these biomaterials increased the release and the miR-126 level of EPCs-MVs. Moreover, the CS-Col I membrane with CS on the top layer showed the most effects on promoting EPCs proliferation, EPCs-MV release, and miR-126 level in EPCs-MVs. In conclusion, HA/CS and Collagen I composed multilayer composite membranes can promote EPCs functions and release of miR-126 riched EPCs-MVs, which provides a novel strategy for tissue repair treatment.

The development of novel Nexar block copolymer/Ultem composite membranes for C2-C4 alcohols dehydration via pervaporation.

PubMed

Zuo, Jian; Shi, Gui Min; Wei, Shawn; Chung, Tai-Shung

2014-08-27

Novel composite membranes comprising sulfonated styrenic Nexar pentablock copolymers were developed by dip-coating on poly(ether imide) hollow fibers for pervaporation dehydration of C2-C4 alcohols. The advantages of using block copolymers as the selective layer are (1) their effectiveness to synergize the physicochemical properties of different chemical and structural moieties and (2) tunable nanoscale morphology and nanostructure via molecular engineering. To achieve high-performance composite membranes, the effects of coating time, ion exchange capacity (IEC) of the copolymer, and solvent systems for coating were investigated. It is revealed that a minimum coating time of 30 s is needed for the formation of a continuous and less-defective top layer. A higher IEC value results in a membrane with a higher flux and lower separation factor because of enhanced hydrophilicity and stretched chain conformation. Moreover, the composite membranes prepared from hexane/ethanol mixtures show higher separation factors and lower fluxes than those from the hexane solvent owing to microdomain segregation induced by ethanol and a smooth and dense top selective layer. These hypotheses were verified by atomic force microscopy and positron annihilation spectroscopy. The newly developed composite membranes demonstrate impressive separation performance with fluxes exceeding 2 kg/m(2) h and separation factors more than 200 for isopropyl alcohol and n-butanol dehydration from 85/15 wt % alcohol/water feed mixtures at 50 °C.

Incorporation of zinc for fabrication of low-cost spinel-based composite ceramic membrane support to achieve its stabilization.

PubMed

Li, Lingling; Dong, Xinfa; Dong, Yingchao; Zhu, Li; You, Sheng-Jie; Wang, Ya-Fen

2015-04-28

In order to reduce environment risk of zinc, a spinel-based porous membrane support was prepared by the high-temperature reaction of zinc and bauxite mineral. The phase evolution process, shrinkage, porosity, mechanical property, pore size distribution, gas permeation flux and microstructure were systematically studied. The XRD results, based on a Zn/Al stoichiometric composition of 1/2, show a formation of ZnAl2O4 structure starting from 1000°C and then accomplished at 1300°C. For spinel-based composite membrane, shrinkage and porosity are mainly influenced by a combination of an expansion induced by ZnAl2O4 formation and a general densification due to amorphous liquid SiO2. The highest porosity, as high as 44%, is observed in ZnAl4 membrane support among all the investigated compositions. Compared with pure bauxite (Al), ZnAl4 composite membrane support is reinforced by ZnAl2O4 phase and inter-locked mullite crystals, which is proved by the empirical strength-porosity relationships. Also, an increase in average pore diameter and gas flux can be observed in ZnAl4. A prolonged leaching experiment reveals the zinc can be successfully incorporated into ceramic membrane support via formation of ZnAl2O4, which has substantially better resistance toward acidic attack. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Geopolymer Porous Nanoceramics for Structural Smart and Thermal Shock Resistant Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-02-02

porous membranes and foams, ceramic armor composites , iron-based geopolymer analogues, geopolymer composites reinforced with chopped polypropylene... geopolymers and geopolymer composites , as fabricated and upon conversion to ceramics with heating. The microstucture consisted of nanoporous...ceramic armore composites , iron-based geopolymer analogues, geopolymer composites reinforced with chopped polypropylene or basalt fibers and

Fabrication of perforated isoporous membranes via a transfer-free strategy: enabling high-resolution separation of cells.

PubMed

Ou, Yang; Lv, Chang-Jiang; Yu, Wei; Mao, Zheng-Wei; Wan, Ling-Shu; Xu, Zhi-Kang

2014-12-24

Thin perforated membranes with ordered pores are ideal barriers for high-resolution and high-efficiency selective transport and separation of biological species. However, for self-assembled thin membranes with a thickness less than several micrometers, an additional step of transferring the membranes onto porous supports is generally required. In this article, we present a facile transfer-free strategy for fabrication of robust perforated composite membranes via the breath figure process, and for the first time, demonstrate the application of the membranes in high-resolution cell separation of yeasts and lactobacilli without external pressure, achieving almost 100% rejection of yeasts and more than 70% recovery of lactobacilli with excellent viability. The avoidance of the transfer step simplifies the fabrication procedure of composite membranes and greatly improves the membrane homogeneity. Moreover, the introduction of an elastic triblock copolymer increases the interfacial strength between the membrane and the support, and allows the preservation of composite membranes in a dry state. Such perforated ordered membranes can also be applied in other size-based separation systems, enabling new opportunities in bioseparation and biosensors.

The glycerophospholipid inventory of Pseudomonas putida is conserved between strains and enables growth condition‐related alterations

PubMed Central

Rühl, Jana; Hein, Eva‐Maria; Hayen, Heiko; Schmid, Andreas; Blank, Lars M.

2012-01-01

Summary Microorganisms, such as Pseudomonas putida, utilize specific physical properties of cellular membrane constituents, mainly glycerophospholipids, to (re‐)adjust the membrane barrier to environmental stresses. Building a basis for membrane composition/function studies, we inventoried the glycerophospholipids of different Pseudomonas and challenged membranes of growing cells with n‐butanol. Using a new high‐resolution liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method, 127 glycerophospholipid species [e.g. phosphatidylethanolamine PE(32:1)] with up to five fatty acid combinations were detected. The glycerophospholipid inventory consists of 305 distinct glycerophospholipids [e.g. PE(16:0/16:1)], thereof 14 lyso‐glycerophospholipids, revealing conserved compositions within the four investigated pseudomonads P. putida KT2440, DOT‐T1E, S12 and Pseudomonas sp. strain VLB120. Furthermore, we addressed the influence of environmental conditions on the glycerophospholipid composition of Pseudomonas via long‐time exposure to the sublethal n‐butanol concentration of 1% (v/v), focusing on: (i) relative amounts of glycerophospholipid species, (ii) glycerophospholipid head group composition, (iii) fatty acid chain length, (iv) degree of saturation and (v) cis/trans isomerization of unsaturated fatty acids. Observed alterations consist of changing head group compositions and for the solvent‐sensitive strain KT2440 diminished fatty acid saturation degrees. Minor changes in the glycerophospholipid composition of the solvent‐tolerant strains P. putida S12 and Pseudomonas sp. VLB120 suggest different strategies of the investigated Pseudomonas to maintain the barrier function of cellular membranes. PMID:21895997

Effects of the consumption of fish meals on the carotid IntimaMedia thickness in patients with hypertension: a prospective study.

PubMed

Colussi, GianLuca; Catena, Cristiana; Dialti, Valeria; Mos, Lucio; Sechi, Leonardo A

2014-01-01

The composition of dietary fat affects various modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular outcomes in the general population. We investigated the effects of the regular consumption of fish meals on the fatty acid composition of red blood cell (RBC) membranes and the relationship of this parameter with the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), an early marker of atherosclerosis. In 56 hypertensive patients, we measured the carotid IMT using ultrasound imaging and the RBC membrane fatty acid composition using gas-chromatography and calculated the polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid (PUFA/SFA) ratio. The patients received intensive nutritional counseling and three weekly meals of fish containing elevated amounts of PUFA, in order to increase the membrane PUFA content. The RBC membrane fatty acid composition and IMT were reassessed after one year. At baseline, the membrane PUFA/SFA ratio was inversely related to the carotid IMT, and the relationship was independent of all major cardiovascular risk factors. At follow-up, the PUFA/SFA ratio increased in the RBC membranes of 25 (45%) of 56 patients. The regular consumption of fish meals resulted in a decreased carotid IMT only in the patients with an increased membrane PUFA/SFA ratio. Changes in the PUFA/SFA ratio induced by the dietary intervention were inversely related to the changes in the IMT, independent of variations in body mass, blood pressure and plasma lipids. In hypertensive patients, a low RBC membrane PUFA/SFA ratio is associated with more prominent vascular damage, and the regular consumption of fish reduces the carotid IMT in patients in whom dietary intervention affects the membrane fatty acid composition.

Predicting membrane protein types by fusing composite protein sequence features into pseudo amino acid composition.

PubMed

Hayat, Maqsood; Khan, Asifullah

2011-02-21

Membrane proteins are vital type of proteins that serve as channels, receptors, and energy transducers in a cell. Prediction of membrane protein types is an important research area in bioinformatics. Knowledge of membrane protein types provides some valuable information for predicting novel example of the membrane protein types. However, classification of membrane protein types can be both time consuming and susceptible to errors due to the inherent similarity of membrane protein types. In this paper, neural networks based membrane protein type prediction system is proposed. Composite protein sequence representation (CPSR) is used to extract the features of a protein sequence, which includes seven feature sets; amino acid composition, sequence length, 2 gram exchange group frequency, hydrophobic group, electronic group, sum of hydrophobicity, and R-group. Principal component analysis is then employed to reduce the dimensionality of the feature vector. The probabilistic neural network (PNN), generalized regression neural network, and support vector machine (SVM) are used as classifiers. A high success rate of 86.01% is obtained using SVM for the jackknife test. In case of independent dataset test, PNN yields the highest accuracy of 95.73%. These classifiers exhibit improved performance using other performance measures such as sensitivity, specificity, Mathew's correlation coefficient, and F-measure. The experimental results show that the prediction performance of the proposed scheme for classifying membrane protein types is the best reported, so far. This performance improvement may largely be credited to the learning capabilities of neural networks and the composite feature extraction strategy, which exploits seven different properties of protein sequences. The proposed Mem-Predictor can be accessed at http://111.68.99.218/Mem-Predictor. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electrospun AOPAN/RC blend nanofiber membrane for efficient removal of heavy metal ions from water.

PubMed

Feng, Quan; Wu, Dingsheng; Zhao, Yong; Wei, Anfang; Wei, Qufu; Fong, Hao

2018-02-15

In this study, an innovative nano-material was prepared, which was ultilized to removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater. Polyacrylonitrile/cellulose acetate (PAN/CA) composite nanofibrous membranes were generated by the electronspinning technique first, and then amidoxime ployarcylonitrile/regenerate cellulose (AOPAN/RC) composite nanofibrous membranes were prepared by combining hydrolysis and amidoximation modification. The modification of composite nanofibers (AOPAN/RC) were consequently used in heavy metal ions adsorption. The characterizations of various different nanofibers were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, surface area and pore size distribution analyzer and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Meantime, the adsorption equilibrium studies were studied. In addition, the saturation adsorption amount of nanofibrous membranes (at 25°C) for Fe(III), Cu(II) and Cd(II) of 7.47, 4.26 and 1.13mmolg -1 , respectively. The effects of pH value of solution, adsorption time and ions concentration on adsorption capacity were also investigated. Furthermore, the composite nanofibrous membranes after five times consecutive adsorption and desorption tests, the desorption rate of the Fe(III), Cu(II) and Cd(II) mental ions maintained more than 80% of their first desorption rate, AOPAN/RC composite nanofibrous reflected excellent resuability. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sulfonated graphene oxide/nafion composite membrane for vanadium redox flow battery.

PubMed

Kim, Byung Guk; Han, Tae Hee; Cho, Chang Gi

2014-12-01

Nafion is the most frequently used as the membrane material due to its good proton conductivity, and excellent chemical and mechanical stabilities. But it is known to have poor barrier property due to its well-developed water channels. In order to overcome this drawback, graphene oxide (GO) derivatives were introduced for Nafion composite membranes. Sulfonated graphene oxide (sGO) was prepared from GO. Both sGO and GO were treated each with phenyl isocyanate and transformed into corresponding isGO and iGO in order to promote miscibility with Nafion. Then composite membranes were obtained, and the adaptability as a membrane for vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) was investigated in terms of proton conductivity and vanadium permeability. Compared to a pristine Nafion, proton conductivities of both isGO/Nafion and iGO/Nafion membranes showed less temperature sensitivity. Both membranes also showed quite lower vanadium permeability at room temperature. Selectivity of the membrane was the highest for isGO/Nafion and the lowest for the pristine Nafion.

A synergetic analysis method for antifouling behavior investigation on PES ultrafiltration membrane with self-assembled TiO2 nanoparticles.

PubMed

Li, Xin; Li, Jiansheng; Fang, Xiaofeng; Bakzhan, Kariboz; Wang, Lianjun; Van der Bruggen, Bart

2016-05-01

Fouling of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes is a major impediment for their use in drinking water production. Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) may have great opportunities in dealing with this challenge due to their hierarchical structures and multiple functionalities. In this study, a synergetic analysis method based on intermolecular adhesion force measurement and fouling process simulation was applied to investigate the fouling mechanism of polyethersulfone (PES) UF membranes containing in situ self-assembled TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). The fouling resistance behavior and antifouling mechanism of the newly developed composite membranes were investigated with sodium alginate (SA), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and humic acid (HA) as model organic foulants. An improved antifouling effect was conspicuously observed for the composite membranes, expressed by a lower flux decline and significantly better cleaning efficiency. A strong correlation between the self-assembled structure of TiO2 NPs and the antifouling behavior of the composite membrane was observed. A lower magnitude and a narrower distribution of adhesion forces for the composite membrane suggest the effective suppression of foulants adsorption on the clean or fouled membrane. The simulation analysis indicates that the main fouling mechanism was standard blocking and cake filtration, further confirming the superiority of the NPs self-assembled structure in mitigating membrane fouling. This dual analysis method may provide a promising technological support for the application of modified UF membranes with self-assembled NPs in drinking water production. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Development of robust fluorinated TiO2/PVDF composite hollow fiber membrane for CO2 capture in gas-liquid membrane contactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Yuqing; Xu, Yilin; Loh, Chun Heng; Wang, Rong

2018-04-01

Gas-liquid membrane contactor (GLMC) is a promising method to attain high efficiency for CO2 capture from flue gas, biogas and natural gas. However, membranes used in GLMC are prone to pore wetting due to insufficient hydrophobicity and low chemical resistance, resulting in significant increase in mass transfer resistance. To mitigate this issue, inorganic-organic fluorinated titania/polyvinylidene fluoride (fTiO2/PVDF) composite hollow fiber (HF) membranes was prepared via facile in-situ vapor induced hydrolyzation method, followed by hydrophobic modification. The proposed composite membranes were expected to couple the superb chemical stability of inorganic and high permeability/low cost of organic materials. The continuous fTiO2 layer deposited on top of PVDF substrate was found to possess a tighter microstructure and better hydrophobicity, which effectively prevented the membrane from wetting and lead to a high CO2 absorption flux (12.7 × 10-3 mol m-2 s-1). In a stability test with 21-day operation of GLMC using 1M monoethanolamine (MEA) as the absorbent, the fTiO2/PVDF membrane remained to be intact with a CO2 absorption flux decline of ∼16%, while the pristine PVDF membrane suffered from a flux decline of ∼80% due to membrane damage. Overall, this work provides an insight into the preparation of high-quality inorganic/organic composite HF membranes for CO2 capture in GLMC application.

Introducing catalyst in alkaline membrane for improved performance direct borohydride fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Haiying; Lin, Longxia; Chu, Wen; Jiang, Wei; He, Yan; Shi, Qiao; Deng, Yonghong; Ji, Zhenguo; Liu, Jiabin; Tao, Shanwen

2018-01-01

A catalytic material is introduced into the polymer matrix to prepare a novel polymeric alkaline electrolyte membrane (AEM) which simultaneously increases ionic conductivity, reduces the fuel cross-over. In this work, the hydroxide anion exchange membrane is mainly composed of poly(vinylalcohol) and alkaline exchange resin. CoCl2 is added into the poly(vinylalcohol) and alkaline exchange resin gel before casting the membrane to introduce catalytic materials. CoCl2 is converted into CoOOH after the reaction with KOH solution. The crystallinity of the polymer matrix decreases and the ionic conductivity of the composite membrane is notably improved by the introduction of Co-species. A direct borohydride fuel cell using the composite membrane exhibits an open circuit voltage of 1.11 V at 30 °C, which is notably higher than that of cells using other AEMs. The cell using the composite membrane achieves a maximum power density of 283 mW cm-2 at 60 °C while the cell using the membrane without Co-species only reaches 117 mW cm-2 at the same conditions. The outstanding performance of the cell using the composite membrane benefits from impregnation of the catalytic Co-species in the membrane, which not only increases the ionic conductivity but also reduces electrode polarization thus improves the fuel cell performance. This work provides a new approach to develop high-performance fuel cells through adding catalysts in the electrolyte membrane.

Electrospun Nafion®/Polyphenylsulfone Composite Membranes for Regenerative Hydrogen Bromine Fuel Cells.

PubMed

Park, Jun Woo; Wycisk, Ryszard; Pintauro, Peter N; Yarlagadda, Venkata; Van Nguyen, Trung

2016-02-29

The regenerative H₂/Br₂-HBr fuel cell, utilizing an oxidant solution of Br₂ in aqueous HBr, shows a number of benefits for grid-scale electricity storage. The membrane-electrode assembly, a key component of a fuel cell, contains a proton-conducting membrane, typically based on the perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomer. Unfortunately, the high cost of PFSA membranes and their relatively high bromine crossover are serious drawbacks. Nanofiber composite membranes can overcome these limitations. In this work, composite membranes were prepared from electrospun dual-fiber mats containing Nafion ® PFSA ionomer for facile proton transport and an uncharged polymer, polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), for mechanical reinforcement, and swelling control. After electrospinning, Nafion/PPSU mats were converted into composite membranes by softening the PPSU fibers, through exposure to chloroform vapor, thus filling the voids between ionomer nanofibers. It was demonstrated that the relative membrane selectivity, referenced to Nafion ® 115, increased with increasing PPSU content, e.g., a selectivity of 11 at 25 vol% of Nafion fibers. H₂-Br₂ fuel cell power output with a 65 μm thick membrane containing 55 vol% Nafion fibers was somewhat better than that of a 150 μm Nafion ® 115 reference, but its cost advantage due to a four-fold decrease in PFSA content and a lower bromine species crossover make it an attractive candidate for use in H₂/Br₂-HBr systems.

Development of composite membrane materials for fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lebedeva, O. V.; Chesnokova, A. N.; Pozhidaev, Yu N.; Maksimenko, S. D.; Malakhova, E. A.; Raskulova, T. V.

2018-03-01

This study is devoted to the development and investigation of composite membrane materials for fuel cells. Proton conductive membranes consisting of silica and various low- and high-molecular organic compounds have been prepared by the sol-gel method. The synthesized membranes are characterized by proton conductivity (up to 10-2 S/cm), ion-exchange capacity (1.84-3.5 meq/g), thermal stability (260 – 400 °C), and tensile modulus (128 - 322 MPa).

Alteration in lipid composition of plasma membranes of sensitive and resistant Guerin carcinoma cells due to the action of free and liposomal form of cisplatin.

PubMed

Naleskina, L A; Todor, I N; Nosko, M M; Lukianova, N Y; Pivnyuk, V M; Chekhun, V F

2013-09-01

To study in vivo changes of lipid composition of plasma membranes of sensitive and resistant to cisplatin Guerin carcinoma cells under influence of free and liposomal cisplatin forms. The isolation of plasma membranes from parental (sensitive) and resistant to cisplatin Guerin carcinoma cells was by differential ultracentrifugation in sucrose density gradient. Lipids were detected by method of thin-layer chromatography. It was determined that more effective action of cisplatin liposomal form on resistant cells is associated with essential abnormalities of conformation of plasma membrane due to change of lipid components and architectonics of rafts. It results in the increase of membrane fluidity. Reconstructions in lipid composition of plasma membranes of cisplatin-resistant Guerin carcinoma cells provide more intensive delivery of drug into the cells, increase of its concentration and more effective interaction with cellular structural elements.

Layer-by-layer cell membrane assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matosevic, Sandro; Paegel, Brian M.

2013-11-01

Eukaryotic subcellular membrane systems, such as the nuclear envelope or endoplasmic reticulum, present a rich array of architecturally and compositionally complex supramolecular targets that are as yet inaccessible. Here we describe layer-by-layer phospholipid membrane assembly on microfluidic droplets, a route to structures with defined compositional asymmetry and lamellarity. Starting with phospholipid-stabilized water-in-oil droplets trapped in a static droplet array, lipid monolayer deposition proceeds as oil/water-phase boundaries pass over the droplets. Unilamellar vesicles assembled layer-by-layer support functional insertion both of purified and of in situ expressed membrane proteins. Synthesis and chemical probing of asymmetric unilamellar and double-bilayer vesicles demonstrate the programmability of both membrane lamellarity and lipid-leaflet composition during assembly. The immobilized vesicle arrays are a pragmatic experimental platform for biophysical studies of membranes and their associated proteins, particularly complexes that assemble and function in multilamellar contexts in vivo.

Electrochemical characterization of bilayer lipid membrane-semiconductor junctions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhao, Xiao Kang; Baral, S.; Fendler, J.H.

Three different systems of glyceryl monooleate (GMO), bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) supported semiconductor particles have been prepared and characterized. A single composition of particulate semiconductor deposited only on one side of the BLM constituted system A, two different compositions of particulate semiconductors sequentially deposited on the same side of the BLM represented system B, and two different compositions of particulate semiconductors deposited on the opposite sides of the BLM made up system C.

High Cholesterol/Low Cholesterol: Effects in Biological Membranes: A Review.

PubMed

Subczynski, Witold K; Pasenkiewicz-Gierula, Marta; Widomska, Justyna; Mainali, Laxman; Raguz, Marija

2017-12-01

Lipid composition determines membrane properties, and cholesterol plays a major role in this determination as it regulates membrane fluidity and permeability, as well as induces the formation of coexisting phases and domains in the membrane. Biological membranes display a very diverse lipid composition, the lateral organization of which plays a crucial role in regulating a variety of membrane functions. We hypothesize that, during biological evolution, membranes with a particular cholesterol content were selected to perform certain functions in the cells of eukaryotic organisms. In this review, we discuss the major membrane properties induced by cholesterol, and their relationship to certain membrane functions.

Towards Enhanced Performance Thin-film Composite Membranes via Surface Plasma Modification

PubMed Central

Reis, Rackel; Dumée, Ludovic F.; Tardy, Blaise L.; Dagastine, Raymond; Orbell, John D.; Schutz, Jürg A.; Duke, Mikel C.

2016-01-01

Advancing the design of thin-film composite membrane surfaces is one of the most promising pathways to deal with treating varying water qualities and increase their long-term stability and permeability. Although plasma technologies have been explored for surface modification of bulk micro and ultrafiltration membrane materials, the modification of thin film composite membranes is yet to be systematically investigated. Here, the performance of commercial thin-film composite desalination membranes has been significantly enhanced by rapid and facile, low pressure, argon plasma activation. Pressure driven water desalination tests showed that at low power density, flux was improved by 22% without compromising salt rejection. Various plasma durations and excitation powers have been systematically evaluated to assess the impact of plasma glow reactions on the physico-chemical properties of these materials associated with permeability. With increasing power density, plasma treatment enhanced the hydrophilicity of the surfaces, where water contact angles decreasing by 70% were strongly correlated with increased negative charge and smooth uniform surface morphology. These results highlight a versatile chemical modification technique for post-treatment of commercial membrane products that provides uniform morphology and chemically altered surface properties. PMID:27363670

Influence of membrane phospholipid composition and structural organization on spontaneous lipid transfer between membranes.

PubMed

Pankov, R; Markovska, T; Antonov, P; Ivanova, L; Momchilova, A

2006-09-01

Investigations were carried out on the influence of phospholipid composition of model membranes on the processes of spontaneous lipid transfer between membranes. Acceptor vesicles were prepared from phospholipids extracted from plasma membranes of control and ras-transformed fibroblasts. Acceptor model membranes with manipulated levels of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), sphingomyelin and phosphatidic acid were also used in the studies. Donor vesicles were prepared of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and contained two fluorescent lipid analogues, NBD-PC and N-Rh-PE, at a self-quenching concentration. Lipid transfer rate was assessed by measuring the increase of fluorescence in acceptor membranes due to transfer of fluorescent lipid analogues from quenched donor to unquenched acceptor vesicles. The results showed that spontaneous NBD-PC transfer increased upon fluidization of acceptor vesicles. In addition, elevation of PE concentration in model membranes was also accompanied by an increase of lipid transfer to all series of acceptor vesicles. The results are discussed with respect to the role of lipid composition and structural order of cellular plasma membranes in the processes of spontaneous lipid exchange between membrane bilayers.

Hydrogen-permeable composite metal membrane and uses thereof

DOEpatents

Edlund, D.J.; Friesen, D.T.

1993-06-08

Various hydrogen production and hydrogen sulfide decomposition processes are disclosed that utilize composite metal membranes that contain an intermetallic diffusion barrier separating a hydrogen-permeable base metal and a hydrogen-permeable coating metal. The barrier is a thermally stable inorganic proton conductor.

Tailor-Made Electrospun Multilayer Composite Polymer Electrolytes for High-Performance Lithium Polymer Batteries.

PubMed

Lim, Du-Hyun; Haridas, Anupriya K; Figerez, Stelbin Peter; Raghavan, Prasanth; Matic, Aleksandar; Ahn, Jou-Hyeon

2018-09-01

A novel tailor-made multilayer composite polymer electrolyte, consisting of two outer layers of electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and one inner layer of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) fibrous membrane, was prepared using continuous electrospinning. These membranes, which are made up of fibers with diameters in the nanometer range, were stacked in layers to produce interconnected pores that result in a high porosity. Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) were prepared by entrapping a liquid electrolyte (1 M LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate/dimethyl carbonate) in the membranes. The composite membranes exhibited a high electrolyte uptake of 450-510%, coupled with an improved room temperature ionic conductivity of up to 4.72 mS cm-1 and a high electrochemical stability of 4.6 V versus Li/Li+. Electrochemical investigations of a composite membrane of PAN-PVAc-PAN, with a LiFePO4 cathode synthesized in-house, showed a high initial discharge capacity of 145 mAh g-1, which corresponds to 85% utilization of the active material, and displayed stable cycle performance.

Design of synthetic jet actuator based on FSMA composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Yuanchang; Kuga, Yasuo; Taya, Minoru

2005-05-01

An improved version of the membrane actuator has been designed and constructed based on our previous diaphragm actuator. It consists of ferromagnetic shape memory alloy composite (FSMA) diaphragm and an electromagnet system. The actuation mechanism of the membrane actuator is the hybrid mechanism that we proposed previously. The high momentum airflow will be produced by the oscillation of the circular FSMA composite diaphragm driven by electromagnets close to its resonance frequency. This membrane actuator is designed for the active flow control technology on airplane wings. The active flow control (AFC) technology has been studied and shown that it can help aircraft improve aerodynamic performance and jet noise reduction. AFC can be achieved by a synthetic jet actuator injecting high momentum air into the airflow at the appropriate locations on aircraft wings. Due to large force and martensitic transformation on the FSMA composite diaphragm, the membrane actuator can produce 190 m/s synthetic jets at 220 Hz. A series connection of several membrane actuators is proposed to construct a synthetic jet actuator package for distributing synthetic jet flow along the wing span.

Focusing solar collector and method for manufacturing same

DOEpatents

Murphy, Lawrence M.

1984-01-01

Disclosed is a solar collector comprising an annular-shaped frame and a composite membrane member for concentrating and focusing sun radiation. The composite membrane member is supported and tensioned by the frame and consists of first and second differentially pretensioned sheet members which are integrally bonded to one another. The frame and one of the two sheet members are adapted to allow tensions in both of the sheets to be adjusted. Subsequent to bonding and upon adjusting a tension in one of the two sheet members, both of the two bonded sheet members react with one another so as to cause the composite membrane member to have a contoured configuration, which enables the membrane member to be focusable. Additionally, adjusting the tension in one of the two sheet members provides a reciprocal adjustment in a focus provided by the membrane member.

Focusing solar collector and method for manufacturing same

DOEpatents

Murphy, L.M.

1984-01-01

Disclosed is a solar collector comprising an annular-shaped frame and a composite membrane member for concentrating and focusing sun radiation. The composite membrane member is supported and tensioned by the frame and consists of first and second differentially pretensioned sheet members which are integrally bonded to one another. The frame and one of the two sheet members are adapted to allow tensions in both of the two sheets to be adjusted. Subsequent to bonding and upon adjusting a tension in one of the two sheet members, both of the two bonded sheet members react with one another so as to cause the composite membrane member to have a contoured configuration, which enables the membrane member to be focusable. Additionally, adjusting the tension in one of the two sheet members provides a reciprocal adjustment in a focus provided by the membrane member.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Padmaraj, O.; Satyanarayana, N., E-mail: nallanis2011@gmail.com; Venkateswarlu, M.

A novel fibrous polymer blend [(100-x) % P(VdF-co-HFP)/x % PMMA, x = 10, 20, 30, 40, 50] electrolyte membranes were prepared by electrospinning technique. Structural, thermal and surface morphology of all the compositions of electrospun polymer blend membranes were studied by using XRD, DSC & SEM. The newly developed five different compositions of polymer blend fibrous electrolyte membranes were obtained by soaking in an electrolyte solution contains 1M LiPF{sub 6} in EC: DEC (1:1,v/v). The wet-ability and conductivity of all the compositions of polymer blend electrolyte membranes are evaluated through electrolyte uptake and impedance measurements. The polymer blend [90% P(VdF-co-HFP)/10%more » PMMA] electrolyte membrane showed good wet-ability and high conductivity (1.788 × 10{sup −3} Scm{sup −1}) at room temperature.« less

Morphology of one-time coated palladium-alumina composite membrane prepared by sol-gel process and electroless plating technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sari, R.; Dewi, R.; Pardi; Hakim, L.; Diana, S.

2018-03-01

Palladium coated porous alumina ceramic membrane tube was obtained using a combination of sol-gel process and electroless plating technique. The thickness, structure and composition of palladium-alumina composite membrane were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Palladium particle size was 6.18 to 7.64 nm. Palladium membrane with thickness of approximately 301.5 to 815.1 nm was formed at the outer surface of the alumina layer. EDX data confirmed the formation of palladium-alumina membrane containing 45% of palladium. From this research it shows the combination of sol-gel process and electroless plating technique with one-time coating can produce a homogeneous and smoother palladium nano layer film on alumina substrate.

Facile and scalable fabrication of polymer-ceramic composite electrolyte with high ceramic loadings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pandian, Amaresh Samuthira; Chen, X. Chelsea; Chen, Jihua; Lokitz, Bradley S.; Ruther, Rose E.; Yang, Guang; Lou, Kun; Nanda, Jagjit; Delnick, Frank M.; Dudney, Nancy J.

2018-06-01

Solid state electrolytes are a promising alternative to flammable liquid electrolytes for high-energy lithium battery applications. In this work polymer-ceramic composite electrolyte membrane with high ceramic loading (greater than 60 vol%) is fabricated using a model polymer electrolyte poly(ethylene oxide) + lithium trifluoromethane sulfonate and a lithium-conducting ceramic powder. The effects of processing methods, choice of plasticizer and varying composition on ionic conductivity of the composite electrolyte are thoroughly investigated. The physical, structural and thermal properties of the composites are exhaustively characterized. We demonstrate that aqueous spray coating followed by hot pressing is a scalable and inexpensive technique to obtain composite membranes that are amazingly dense and uniform. The ionic conductivity of composites fabricated using this protocol is at least one order of magnitude higher than those made by dry milling and solution casting. The introduction of tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether further increases the ionic conductivity. The composite electrolyte's interfacial compatibility with metallic lithium and good cyclability is verified by constructing lithium symmetrical cells. A remarkable Li+ transference number of 0.79 is discovered for the composite electrolyte.

Biocompatibility of NGF-grafted GTG membranes for peripheral nerve repair using cultured Schwann cells.

PubMed

Chen, Pei-Ru; Chen, Ming-Hong; Sun, Jui-Sheng; Chen, Mei-Hsiu; Tsai, Chien-Chen; Lin, Feng-Huei

2004-11-01

We previously developed a biodegradable composite with potentially good biocompatibility composed by tricalcium phosphate and gluataraldehyde cross-linking gelatin (GTG) with good mechanical property feasible for surgical manipulation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of immobilizing nerve growth factor (NGF) onto the composite (GTG) with carbodiimide (GEN composite). Cultured Schwann cells were seeded onto the GTG and GEN composites. For comparison, GTG membrane soaked in NGF solution without carbodiimide (GN composite) as cross-linking agent was also used to culture Schwann cells. Cell morphology was observed by a scanning electron microscope. Cell survival, cytotoxicity and cellular metabolism on the NGF-grafted GTG membrane were assessed quantitatively in terms of cell protein content, leakage of cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and by the well-established MTT assay, respectively. The result of LDH study did not show significant difference among GTG, NGF-modified GTG and control group. This indicated that GTG composite, whether cross-linking with NGF or not, has little cytotoxic effect. Comparing the protein content and MTT assay among GEN, GN composite and control group, the data confirmed more attachment of Schwann cells on GEN composite. Although GTG cross-linking with NGF did not promote Schwann cell proliferation, the techniques we used in this study provided a method to fabricate a novel biomaterial incorporation of Schwann cells and covalently immobilized NGF.

Synthesis of Silver Embedded Poly(o-Anisidine) Molybdophosphate Nano Hybrid Cation-Exchanger Applicable for Membrane Electrode

PubMed Central

Khan, Anish; Khan, Aftab Aslam Parwaz; Asiri, Abdullah M.; Rub, Malik Abdul

2014-01-01

Poly(o-anisidine) molybdophosphate was expediently obtained by sol-gel mixing of Poly(o-anisidine) into the inorganic matrices of molybdophosphate, which was allowed to react with silver nitrate to the formation of poly(o-anisidine) molybdophosphate embedded silver nano composite. The composite was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, UV-Vis Spectrophotometry, Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy-dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy and Thermogravimertic Analysis. Ion exchange capacity and distribution studies were carried out to understand the ion-exchange capabilities of the nano composite. On the basis of highest distribution studies, this nano composite cation exchanger was used as preparation of heavy metal ion selective membrane. Membrane was characterized for its performance as porosity and swelling later on was used for the preparation of membrane electrode for Hg(II), having better linear range, wide working pH range (2–4.5) with fast response in the real environment. PMID:24805257

Genetic interactions between a phospholipase A2 and the Rim101 pathway components in S. cerevisiae reveal a role for this pathway in response to changes in membrane composition and shape

PubMed Central

Mattiazzi, M.; Jambhekar, A.; Kaferle, P.; DeRisi, J. L.; Križaj, I.

2010-01-01

Modulating composition and shape of biological membranes is an emerging mode of regulation of cellular processes. We investigated the global effects that such perturbations have on a model eukaryotic cell. Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s), enzymes that cleave one fatty acid molecule from membrane phospholipids, exert their biological activities through affecting both membrane composition and shape. We have conducted a genome-wide analysis of cellular effects of a PLA2 in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system. We demonstrate functional genetic and biochemical interactions between PLA2 activity and the Rim101 signaling pathway in S. cerevisiae. Our results suggest that the composition and/or the shape of the endosomal membrane affect the Rim101 pathway. We describe a genetically and functionally related network, consisting of components of the Rim101 pathway and the prefoldin, retromer and SWR1 complexes, and predict its functional relation to PLA2 activity in a model eukaryotic cell. This study provides a list of the players involved in the global response to changes in membrane composition and shape in a model eukaryotic cell, and further studies are needed to understand the precise molecular mechanisms connecting them. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00438-010-0533-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. PMID:20379744

Preparation and photoelectrocatalytic performance of N-doped TiO2/NaY zeolite membrane composite electrode material.

PubMed

Cheng, Zhi-Lin; Han, Shuai

2016-01-01

A novel composite electrode material based on a N-doped TiO2-loaded NaY zeolite membrane (N-doped TiO2/NaY zeolite membrane) for photoelectrocatalysis was presented. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-visible (UV-vis) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization techniques were used to analyze the structure of the N-doped TiO2/NaY zeolite membrane. The XRD and SEM results verified that the N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles with the size of ca. 20 nm have been successfully loaded on the porous stainless steel-supported NaY zeolite membrane. The UV-vis result showed that the N-doped TiO2/NaY zeolite membrane exhibited a more obvious red-shift than that of N-TiO2 nanoparticles. The XPS characterization revealed that the doping of N element into TiO2 was successfully achieved. The photoelectrocatalysis performance of the N-doped TiO2/NaY zeolite membrane composite electrode material was evaluated by phenol removal and also the effects of reaction conditions on the catalytic performance were investigated. Owing to exhibiting an excellent catalytic activity and good recycling stability, the N-doped TiO2/NaY zeolite membrane composite electrode material was of promising application for photoelectrocatalysis in wastewater treatment.

Colorimetric test-systems for creatinine detection based on composite molecularly imprinted polymer membranes.

PubMed

Sergeyeva, T A; Gorbach, L A; Piletska, E V; Piletsky, S A; Brovko, O O; Honcharova, L A; Lutsyk, O D; Sergeeva, L M; Zinchenko, O A; El'skaya, A V

2013-04-03

An easy-to-use colorimetric test-system for the efficient detection of creatinine in aqueous samples was developed. The test-system is based on composite molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) membranes with artificial receptor sites capable of creatinine recognition. A thin MIP layer was created on the surface of microfiltration polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes using method of photo-initiated grafting polymerization. The MIP layer was obtained by co-polymerization of a functional monomer (e.g. 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid, itaconic acid or methacrylic acid) with N, N'-methylenebisacrylamide as a cross-linker. The choice of the functional monomer was based on the results of computational modeling. The creatinine-selective composite MIP membranes were used for measuring creatinine in aqueous samples. Creatinine molecules were selectively adsorbed by the MIP membranes and quantified using color reaction with picrates. The intensity of MIP membranes staining was proportional to creatinine concentration in an analyzed sample. The colorimetric test-system based on the composite MIP membranes was characterized with 0.25 mM detection limit and 0.25-2.5mM linear dynamic range. Storage stability of the MIP membranes was estimated as at least 1 year at room temperature. As compared to the traditional methods of creatinine detection the developed test-system is characterized by simplicity of operation, small size and low cost. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Extended longevity of queen honey bees compared to workers is associated with peroxidation-resistant membranes.

PubMed

Haddad, Laura Saade; Kelbert, Louie; Hulbert, A J

2007-07-01

In the honey bee (Apis mellifera), depending on what they are fed, female eggs become either workers or queens. Although queens and workers share a common genome, the maximum lifespan of queens is an order-of-magnitude longer than workers. The mechanistic basis of this longevity difference is unknown. In order to test if differences in membrane composition could be involved we have compared the fatty acid composition of phospholipids of queen and worker honey bees. The cell membranes of both young and old honey bee queens are highly monounsaturated with very low content of polyunsaturates. Newly emerged workers have a similar membrane fatty acid composition to queens but within the first week of hive life, they increase the polyunsaturate content and decrease the monounsaturate content of their membranes, probably as a result of pollen consumption. This means their membranes likely become more susceptible to lipid peroxidation in this first week of hive life. The results support the suggestion that membrane composition might be an important factor in the determination of maximum lifespan. Assuming the same slope of the relationship between membrane peroxidation index and maximum lifespan as previously observed for mammal and bird species, we propose that the 3-fold difference in peroxidation index of phospholipids of queens and workers is large enough to account for the order-of-magnitude difference in their longevity.

Acid-doped polymer nanofiber framework: Three-dimensional proton conductive network for high-performance fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, Manabu; Takeda, Yasushi; Wakiya, Takeru; Wakamoto, Yuta; Harigaya, Kaori; Ito, Tatsunori; Tarao, Takashi; Kawakami, Hiroyoshi

2017-02-01

High-performance polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) with excellent proton conductivity, gas barrier property, and membrane stability are desired for future fuel cells. Here we report the development of PEMs based on our proposed new concept "Nanofiber Framework (NfF)." The NfF composite membranes composed of phytic acid-doped polybenzimidazole nanofibers (PBINf) and Nafion matrix show higher proton conductivity than the recast-Nafion membrane without nanofibers. A series of analyses reveal the formation of three-dimensional network nanostructures to conduct protons and water effectively through acid-condensed layers at the interface of PBINf and Nafion matrix. In addition, the NfF composite membrane achieves high gas barrier property and distinguished membrane stability. The fuel cell performance by the NfF composite membrane, which enables ultra-thin membranes with their thickness less than 5 μm, is superior to that by the recast-Nafion membrane, especially at low relative humidity. Such NfF-based high-performance PEM will be accomplished not only by the Nafion matrix used in this study but also by other polymer electrolyte matrices for future PEFCs.

Haemocompatibility and ion exchange capability of nanocellulose polypyrrole membranes intended for blood purification

PubMed Central

Ferraz, Natalia; Carlsson, Daniel O.; Hong, Jaan; Larsson, Rolf; Fellström, Bengt; Nyholm, Leif; Strømme, Maria; Mihranyan, Albert

2012-01-01

Composites of nanocellulose and the conductive polymer polypyrrole (PPy) are presented as candidates for a new generation of haemodialysis membranes. The composites may combine active ion exchange with passive ultrafiltration, and the large surface area (about 80 m2 g−1) could potentially provide compact dialysers. Herein, the haemocompatibility of the novel membranes and the feasibility of effectively removing small uraemic toxins by potential-controlled ion exchange were studied. The thrombogenic properties of the composites were improved by applying a stable heparin coating. In terms of platelet adhesion and thrombin generation, the composites were comparable with haemocompatible polymer polysulphone, and regarding complement activation, the composites were more biocompatible than commercially available membranes. It was possible to extract phosphate and oxalate ions from solutions with physiological pH and the same tonicity as that of the blood. The exchange capacity of the materials was found to be 600 ± 26 and 706 ± 31 μmol g−1 in a 0.1 M solution (pH 7.4) and in an isotonic solution of phosphate, respectively. The corresponding values with oxalate were 523 ± 5 in a 0.1 M solution (pH 7.4) and 610 ± 1 μmol g−1 in an isotonic solution. The heparinized PPy–cellulose composite is consequently a promising haemodialysis material, with respect to both potential-controlled extraction of small uraemic toxins and haemocompatibility. PMID:22298813

Molecular Modeling of Lipid Aggregates: Theory and Application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fenner, Joel Stewart

The ability of cell membranes to perform a wide variety of biological functions stems from the organization and composition of its molecular constituents. There are many engineering applications, such as liposome drug delivery carriers, whose functionality takes advantage of the structure to function relationship of lipid membranes. The fundamental understanding of the relationship between the thermodynamic behavior and structure of lipid membranes and the molecular properties of their lipid constituents is crucial to the successful design of lipid related applications. However, information about how the local microscopic composition of lipid membranes responds to the presence of proteins and nanomaterials is challenging given the intrinsic experimental and theoretical difficulties of studying such small-scale systems. The present work generalizes a self consistent mean field theory for the study of the thermodynamic and structural behavior of lipid bilayers as a function of its molecular composition and physicochemical environments. This novel molecular theory provides with the ability of performing systematic thermodynamic calculations at relatively low computational costs while considering a detailed molecular description of the system under study. The competition of all relevant molecular interactions, such as electrostatics, vdW and chemical equilibria, in the membrane system is described. The developed molecular theory is applied to study how the protonation state of pH-sensitive amphiphiles in a membrane system affects the membrane's morphology. The molecular theory results demonstrate that the protonation state of ionizable groups within amphiphilic membranes shows a highly complex non-monotonic dependence on bulk salt concentration and pH strength. This result suggests that information about the pKa of the molecules is not sufficient to predict the protonation state of the ionizable groups in the membrane system. The molecular theory is also applied to study how the presence of proteins or functionalized nanoparticles near a multicomponent membrane surface leads to changes in its local membrane composition. The results support an electrostatic dependent recruitment mechanism of oncogenic RhoA proteins to the cell membrane. Finally, the molecular theory results describe how nanoparticle functionality and/or membrane molecular composition can be tuned to enhance or suppress nanoparticle adsorption on to phospholipid membranes.

Conception and construction of an LPG tank using a composite membrane technology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fuvel, P.; Claude, J.

TECHNIGAZ and TOTAL C.F.P. have developed a new LPG storage technology derived from the membrane concept used for LNG storage and transportation. This technology called GMS uses a composite membrane as primary barrier. A 2 000 m/sup 3/ storage pilot unit, based on that concept, is under construction in TOTAL's refinery at DUNKIRK (France) since September 1983.

Preparation of novel poly(vinyl alcohol)/SiO(2) composite nanofiber membranes with mesostructure and their application for removal of Cu(2+) from waste water.

PubMed

Wu, Shengju; Li, Fengting; Wu, Yinan; Xu, Ran; Li, Guangtao

2010-03-14

Novel mesoporous poly(vinyl alcohol)/SiO(2) composite nanofiber membranes functionalized with mercapto groups with diameters of 300-500 nm have been fabricated by a sol-gel electrospinning process; they were highly effective at absorbing Cu(ii) ions from waste water. These nanofiber membranes could be regenerated through acidification.

Lipid composition and sensitivity of Prototheca wickerhamii to membrane-active antimicrobial agents.

PubMed Central

Sud, I J; Feingold, D S

1979-01-01

The lipid composition of Prototheca wickerhamii ATCC 16529 is presented and discussed in relation to the unique susceptibility of the organism to drugs of three membrane-active antimicrobial classes: the polyenes, the polymyxins, and the imidazoles. The presence of ergosterol in the neutral lipid fraction of the membrane is likely responsible for the exquisite susceptibility to amphotericin B. The presence of a large quantity of free fatty acids in the membrane appears responsible for imidazole susceptibility. The membrane determinants of polymyxin B susceptibility are less well defined. PMID:518077

Hybrid polymer composite membrane for an electromagnetic (EM) valveless micropump

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Said, Muzalifah Mohd; Yunas, Jumril; Bais, Badariah; Azlan Hamzah, Azrul; Yeop Majlis, Burhanuddin

2017-07-01

In this paper, we report on a hybrid membrane used as an actuator in an electromagnetically driven valveless micropump developed using MEMS processes. The membrane structure consists of the combination of a magnetic polymer composite membrane and an attached bulk permanent magnet which is expected to have a compact structure and a strong magnetic force with maintained membrane flexibility. A soft polymeric material made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is initially mixed with neodymium magnetic particles (NdFeB) to form a magnetic polymer composite membrane. The membrane is then bonded with the PDMS based microfluidic part, developed using soft lithography process. The developed micropump was tested in terms of the actuator membrane deflection capability and the fluidic flow of the injected fluid sample through the microfluidic channel. The experimental results show that the magnetic composite actuator membrane with an attached bulk permanent magnet is capable of producing a maximum membrane deflection of up to 106 µm. The functionality test of the electromagnetic (EM) actuator for fluid pumping purposes was done by supplying an AC voltage with various amplitudes, signal waves and frequencies. A wide range of sample injection rates from a few µl min-1 to tens of nl min-1 was achieved with a maximum flow rate of 6.6 µl min-1. The injection flow rate of the EM micropump can be controlled by adjusting the voltage amplitude and frequency supplied to the EM coil, to control the membrane deflection in the pump chamber. The designed valveless EM micropump has a very high potential to enhance the drug delivery system capability in biomedical applications.

Lipid Clustering Correlates with Membrane Curvature as Revealed by Molecular Simulations of Complex Lipid Bilayers

PubMed Central

Koldsø, Heidi; Shorthouse, David; Hélie, Jean; Sansom, Mark S. P.

2014-01-01

Cell membranes are complex multicomponent systems, which are highly heterogeneous in the lipid distribution and composition. To date, most molecular simulations have focussed on relatively simple lipid compositions, helping to inform our understanding of in vitro experimental studies. Here we describe on simulations of complex asymmetric plasma membrane model, which contains seven different lipids species including the glycolipid GM3 in the outer leaflet and the anionic lipid, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphophate (PIP2), in the inner leaflet. Plasma membrane models consisting of 1500 lipids and resembling the in vivo composition were constructed and simulations were run for 5 µs. In these simulations the most striking feature was the formation of nano-clusters of GM3 within the outer leaflet. In simulations of protein interactions within a plasma membrane model, GM3, PIP2, and cholesterol all formed favorable interactions with the model α-helical protein. A larger scale simulation of a model plasma membrane containing 6000 lipid molecules revealed correlations between curvature of the bilayer surface and clustering of lipid molecules. In particular, the concave (when viewed from the extracellular side) regions of the bilayer surface were locally enriched in GM3. In summary, these simulations explore the nanoscale dynamics of model bilayers which mimic the in vivo lipid composition of mammalian plasma membranes, revealing emergent nanoscale membrane organization which may be coupled both to fluctuations in local membrane geometry and to interactions with proteins. PMID:25340788

Highly antifouling and antibacterial performance of poly (vinylidene fluoride) ultrafiltration membranes blending with copper oxide and graphene oxide nanofillers for effective wastewater treatment.

PubMed

Zhao, Chuanqi; Lv, Jinling; Xu, Xiaochen; Zhang, Guoquan; Yang, Yuesuo; Yang, Fenglin

2017-11-01

Innovation and effective wastewater treatment technology is still in great demand given the emerging contaminants frequently spotted from the aqueous environment. By blending with poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), the strong hydrophilic graphene oxide (GO) and antibacterial copper oxide (Cu x O) were used as nanofillers to develop the novel, highly antifouling composite membranes via phase inversion process in our latest work. The existence and dispersion of GO and Cu x O posed a significant role on morphologies, structures, surface composition and hydrophilicity of the developed composite membranes, confirmed by SEM, TEM, FTIR and XPS in depth characterization. The SEM images showed that the modified membranes presented a lower resistant structure with developed finger-like macrovoids and thin-walled even interconnected sponge-like pores after adding nanofillers, much encouraging membrane permeation. The XPS results revealed that Cu x O contained Cu 2 O and CuO in the developed membrane and the Cu 2 O nanoparticles were dominant accounting for about 79.3%; thus the modified membrane specifically exhibited an efficient antibacterial capacity. Due to the hydrophilic and bactericidal membrane surface, the composite membranes demonstrated an excellent antifouling performance, including higher flux recovery rate, more resistant against accumulated contaminants and lower filtration resistance, especially lower irreversible resistance. The antifouling property, especially anti-irreversible fouling, was significantly improved, showing a significant engineering potential. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Electrospun Nafion ®/Polyphenylsulfone composite membranes for regenerative Hydrogen bromine fuel cells

DOE PAGES

Park, Jun; Wycisk, Ryszard; Pintauro, Peter N.; ...

2016-02-29

Here, the regenerative H 2/Br 2-HBr fuel cell, utilizing an oxidant solution of Br 2 in aqueous HBr, shows a number of benefits for grid-scale electricity storage. The membrane-electrode assembly, a key component of a fuel cell, contains a proton-conducting membrane, typically based on the perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomer. Unfortunately, the high cost of PFSA membranes and their relatively high bromine crossover are serious drawbacks. Nanofiber composite membranes can overcome these limitations. In this work, composite membranes were prepared from electrospun dual-fiber mats containing Nafion ® PFSA ionomer for facile proton transport and an uncharged polymer, polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), for mechanicalmore » reinforcement, and swelling control. After electrospinning, Nafion/PPSU mats were converted into composite membranes by softening the PPSU fibers, through exposure to chloroform vapor, thus filling the voids between ionomer nanofibers. It was demonstrated that the relative membrane selectivity, referenced to Nafion ® 115, increased with increasing PPSU content, e.g., a selectivity of 11 at 25 vol% of Nafion fibers. H 2-Br 2 fuel cell power output with a 65 m thick membrane containing 55 vol% Nafion fibers was somewhat better than that of a 150 m Nafion ® 115 reference, but its cost advantage due to a four-fold decrease in PFSA content and a lower bromine species crossover make it an attractive candidate for use in H 2/Br 2-HBr systems.« less

Lipid clustering correlates with membrane curvature as revealed by molecular simulations of complex lipid bilayers.

PubMed

Koldsø, Heidi; Shorthouse, David; Hélie, Jean; Sansom, Mark S P

2014-10-01

Cell membranes are complex multicomponent systems, which are highly heterogeneous in the lipid distribution and composition. To date, most molecular simulations have focussed on relatively simple lipid compositions, helping to inform our understanding of in vitro experimental studies. Here we describe on simulations of complex asymmetric plasma membrane model, which contains seven different lipids species including the glycolipid GM3 in the outer leaflet and the anionic lipid, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphophate (PIP2), in the inner leaflet. Plasma membrane models consisting of 1500 lipids and resembling the in vivo composition were constructed and simulations were run for 5 µs. In these simulations the most striking feature was the formation of nano-clusters of GM3 within the outer leaflet. In simulations of protein interactions within a plasma membrane model, GM3, PIP2, and cholesterol all formed favorable interactions with the model α-helical protein. A larger scale simulation of a model plasma membrane containing 6000 lipid molecules revealed correlations between curvature of the bilayer surface and clustering of lipid molecules. In particular, the concave (when viewed from the extracellular side) regions of the bilayer surface were locally enriched in GM3. In summary, these simulations explore the nanoscale dynamics of model bilayers which mimic the in vivo lipid composition of mammalian plasma membranes, revealing emergent nanoscale membrane organization which may be coupled both to fluctuations in local membrane geometry and to interactions with proteins.

Omega-3 PUFA concentration by a novel PVDF nano-composite membrane filled with nano-porous silica particles.

PubMed

Ghasemian, Samaneh; Sahari, Mohammad Ali; Barzegar, Mohsen; Ahmadi Gavlighi, Hasan

2017-09-01

In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and nano-porous silica particle were used to fabricate an asymmetric nano-composite membrane. Silica particles enhanced the thermal stability of PVDF/SiO 2 membranes; increasing the decomposition temperature from 371°C to 408°C. Cross sectional morphology showed that silica particles were dispersed in polymer matrix uniformly. However, particle agglomeration was found at higher loading of silica (i.e., 20 by weight%). The separation performance of nano-composite membranes was also evaluated using the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) concentration at a temperature and pressure of 30°C and 4bar, respectively. Silica particle increased the omega-3PUFA concentration from 34.8 by weight% in neat PVDF to 53.9 by weight% in PVDF with 15 by weight% of silica. Moreover, PVDF/SiO 2 nano-composite membranes exhibited enhanced anti-fouling property compared to neat PVDF membrane. Fouling mechanism analysis revealed that complete pore blocking was the predominant mechanism occurring in oil filtration. The concentration of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is important in the oil industries. While the current methods demand high energy consumptions in concentrating the omega-3, membrane separation technology offers noticeable advantages in producing pure omega-3 PUFA. Moreover, concentrating omega-3 via membrane separation produces products in the triacylglycerol form which possess better oxidative stability. In this work, the detailed mechanisms of fouling which limits the performance of membrane separation were investigated. Incorporating silica particles to polymeric membrane resulted in the formation of mixed matrix membrane with improved anti-fouling behaviour compared to the neat polymeric membrane. Hence, the industrial potential of membrane processing to concentrate omega-3 fatty acids is enhanced. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Analyses of quasi-isotropic composite plates under quasi-static point loads simulating low-velocity impact phenomena

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kelkar, A. D.

1984-01-01

In thin composite laminates, the first level of visible damage occurs in the back face and is called back face spalling. A plate-membrane coupling model, and a finite element model to analyze the large deformation behavior of eight-ply quasi-isotropic circular composite plates under impact type point loads are developed. The back face spalling phenomenon in thin composite plates is explained by using the plate-membrane coupling model and the finite element model in conjunction with the fracture mechanics principles. The experimental results verifying these models are presented. Several conclusions concerning the deformation behavior are reached and discussed in detail.

Composite Polymer-Garnet Solid State Electrolytes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Villa, Andres; Oduncu, Muhammed R.; Scofield, Gregory D.; Marinero, Ernesto E.; Forbey, Scott

Solid-state electrolytes provide a potential solution to the safety and reliability issues of Li-ion batteries. We have synthesized cubic-phase Li7-xLa3Zr2-xBixO12 compounds utilizing inexpensive, scalable Sol-gel synthesis and obtained ionic conductivities 1.2 x 10-4 S/cm at RT in not-fully densified pellets. In this work we report on the fabrication of composite polymer-garnet ceramic particle electrolytes to produce flexible membranes that can be integrated with standard battery electrodes without the need for a separator. As a first step we incorporated the ceramic particles into polyethylene oxide polymers (PEO) to form flexible membranes. Early results are encouraging yielding ionic conductivity values 1.0 x 10-5 S/cm at RT. To increment the conductivity in the membranes, we are optimizing amongst other: the ceramic particle size distribution and weight load, the polymer molecular weight and chemical composition and the solvated Li-salt composition and content. Unhindered ion transport across interfaces between the composites and the battery electrode materials is paramount for battery performance. To this end, we are investigating the effect of interface morphology, its atomic composition and exploring novel electrode structures that facilitate ionic transport.

A carbon nanotube-infused polysulfone membrane with polyvinyl alcohol layer for treating oil-containing waste water

PubMed Central

Maphutha, Selby; Moothi, Kapil; Meyyappan, M.; Iyuke, Sunny E.

2013-01-01

A carbon nanotube (CNT) integrated polymer composite membrane with a polyvinyl alcohol barrier layer has been prepared to separate oil from water for treatment of oil-containing waste water. The CNTs were synthesised using chemical vapour deposition, and a phase inversion method was employed for the blending of the CNTs in the polymer composite solution for casting of the membrane. Relative to the baseline polymer, an increase of 119% in the tensile strength, 77% in the Young's modulus and 258% in the toughness is seen for a concentration of 7.5% CNTs in the polymer composite. The permeate through the membrane shows oil concentrations below the acceptable 10 mg/L limit with an excellent throughput and oil rejection of over 95%. PMID:23518875

Composite-Material Point-Stress Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spears, F., S.

1982-01-01

PSANAL computes composite-laminate elastic and thermal properties and allowable load levels for any combination of applied membrane and bending loads occurring at a point. Basic linear orthotropic stress/ strain relationships and standard composite-laminate theory formulas are utilized.

Single-walled carbon nanotube-facilitated dispersion of particulate TiO2 on ZrO2 ceramic membrane filters.

PubMed

Yao, Yuan; Li, Gonghu; Gray, Kimberly A; Lueptow, Richard M

2008-07-15

We report that SWCNTs substantially improve the uniformity and coverage of TiO2 coatings on porous ZrO2 ceramic membrane filters. The ZrO2 filters were dip coated with 100 nm anatase TiO2, TiO2/SWCNT composites, a TiO2+SWCNT mixture, and a TiO2/MWCNT composite at pH 3, 5, and 8. Whereas the TiO2+SWCNT mixture and the TiO2/MWCNT composite promote better coverage and less clumping than TiO2 alone, the TiO2/SWCNT composite forms a complete uniform coating without cracking at pH 5 ( approximately 100% coverage). A combination of chemical and electrostatic effects between TiO2 and SWCNTs forming the composite as well as between the composite and the ZrO2 surface explains these observations.

A COMPOSITE HOLLOW FIBER MEMBRANE-BASED PERVAPORATION PROCESS FOR SEPARATION OF VOCS FROM AQUEOUS SURFACTANT SOLUTIONS. (R825511C027)

EPA Science Inventory

The separation and recovery of VOCs from surfactant-containing aqueous solutions by a composite hollow fiber membrane-based pervaporation process has been studied. The process employed hydrophobic microporous polypropylene hollow fibers having a thin plasma polymerized silicon...

A POLYMER-CERAMIC COMPOSITE MEMBRANE FOR RECOVERING VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS FROM WASTEWATERS BY PERVAPORATION

EPA Science Inventory

A composite membrane was constructed on a porous ceramic support from a block copolymer of styrene and butadiene (SBS). It was tested in a laboratory pervaporation apparatus for recovering volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such a 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) and trichloroethylene ...

DETERMINATION OF THE MASS TRANSFER CHARACTERIZATION OF A CERAMIC-POLYMER COMPOSITE MEMBRANE IN THE PERVAPORATION MODE

EPA Science Inventory

The effect of the coating layer thickness on VOC extraction performance of a ceramic polymer composite membrane has been investigated. It was found, under experimental condiitons representing typical field operation, the overall mass transfer rates of feed components were control...

Electroreleasing Composite Membranes for Delivery of Insulin and Other Biomacromolecules

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-04-05

electrochemistry to control the delivery of a chemical or drug (1, 2). The major advantage of electroreleasing systems (over conventional diffusional drug...used to deliver insulin and vitamin B-12. The composite membrane fabrication procedure is shown schematically in Figure 1. An Anopore ( Alltech ) A1203

Semipermeable polymers and method for producing same

DOEpatents

Buschmann, Wayne E [Boulder, CO

2012-04-03

A polyamide membrane comprising reaction product of an anhydrous solution comprising an anhydrous solvent, at least one polyfunctional secondary amine and a pre-polymer deposition catalyst; and an anhydrous, organic solvent solution comprising a polyfunctional aromatic amine-reactive reactant comprising one ring. A composite semipermeable membrane comprising the polyamide membrane on a porous support. A method of making a composite semipermeable membrane by coating a porous support with an anhydrous solution comprising an anhydrous solvent, a polyfunctional secondary amine and a pre-polymer deposition catalyst, to form an activated pre-polymer layer on the porous support and contacting the activated pre-polymer layer with an anhydrous, organic solvent solution comprising a polyfunctional amine-reactive reactant to interfacially condense the amine-reactive reactant with the polyfunctional secondary amine, thereby forming a cross-linked, interfacial polyamide layer on the porous support. A method of impregnating a composite semipermeable membrane with nanoparticles selected from heavy metals and/or oxides of heavy metals.

How Membrane-Active Peptides Get into Lipid Membranes.

PubMed

Sani, Marc-Antoine; Separovic, Frances

2016-06-21

The structure-function relationship for a family of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from the skin of Australian tree frogs is discussed and compared with that of peptide toxins from bee and Australian scorpion venoms. Although these membrane-active peptides induce a similar cellular fate by disrupting the lipid bilayer integrity, their lytic activity is achieved via different modes of action, which are investigated in relation to amino acid sequence, secondary structure, and membrane lipid composition. In order to better understand what structural features govern the interaction between peptides and lipid membranes, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), which translocate through the membrane without compromising its integrity, are also discussed. AMPs possess membrane lytic activities that are naturally designed to target the cellular membrane of pathogens or competitors. They are extremely diverse in amino acid composition and often show specificity against a particular strain of microbe. Since our antibiotic arsenal is declining precariously in the face of the rise in multiantibiotic resistance, AMPs increasingly are seen as a promising alternative. In an effort to understand their molecular mechanism, biophysical studies of a myriad of AMPs have been reported, yet no unifying mechanism has emerged, rendering difficult the rational design of drug leads. Similarly, a wide variety of cytotoxic peptides are found in venoms, the best known being melittin, yet again, predicting their activity based on a particular amino acid composition or secondary structure remains elusive. A common feature of these membrane-active peptides is their preference for the lipid environment. Indeed, they are mainly unstructured in solution and, in the presence of lipid membranes, quickly adsorb onto the surface, change their secondary structure, eventually insert into the hydrophobic core of the membrane bilayer, and finally disrupt the bilayer integrity. These steps define the molecular mechanism by which these membrane-active peptides lyse membranes. The last class of membrane-active peptides discussed are the CPPs, which translocate across the lipid bilayer without inducing severe disruption and have potential as drug vehicles. CPPs are typically highly charged and can show antimicrobial activity by targeting an intracellular target rather than via a direct membrane lytic mechanism. A critical aspect in the structure-function relationship of membrane-active peptides is their specific activity relative to the lipid membrane composition of the cell target. Cell membranes have a wide diversity of lipids, and those of eukaryotic and prokaryotic species differ greatly in composition and structure. The activity of AMPs from Australian tree frogs, toxins, and CPPs has been investigated within various lipid systems to assess whether a relationship between peptide and membrane composition could be identified. NMR spectroscopy techniques are being used to gain atomistic details of how these membrane-active peptides interact with model membranes and cells, and in particular, competitive assays demonstrate the difference between affinity and activity for a specific lipid environment. Overall, the interactions between these relatively small sized peptides and various lipid bilayers give insight into how these peptides function at the membrane interface.

Quaternized poly(styrene ethylene butylene poly styrene)/multiwalled carbon nanotube composites for alkaline fuel cell applications.

PubMed

Vinodh, Rajangam; Sangeetha, Dharmalingam

2013-08-01

The present study is aimed at synthesizing a novel anion exchange composite membrane from quaternized polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene [QPSEBS] and functionalized multi walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNT) by solution casting method. The characteristic properties of the QPSEBS/f-MWCNT composite membranes were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-Visible spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies and Raman spectroscopy. The water uptake, ion exchange capacity, ionic conductivity, methanol permeability and selectivity ratio of the membranes were also studied. The prepared composite membranes were tested in an in-house fabricated alkaline membrane fuel cell (AMFC) set up using Pt/C as the common anode catalyst and three different cathode catalysts namely Pt/C, Pd-Ni/C and Ag/C. Among all the three cathode catalysts, Pt/C for QPSEBS/5% f-MWCNT is found to show the maximum power density and open circuit voltage (OCV) of 187 mW cm(-2) and 0.73 V respectively. For direct methanol alkaline membrane fuel cells (DMAMFC), the OCV of QPSEBS/5% f-MWCNT is found to be 0.76 V and the maximum power density of 59.5 mW cm(-2) is achieved at a current density of 175 mA cm(-2).

Spiral wound extraction cartridge

DOEpatents

Wisted, Eric E.; Lundquist, Susan H.

1999-01-01

A cartridge device for removing an analyte from a fluid comprises a hollow core, a sheet composite comprising a particulate-loaded porous membrane and optionally at least one reinforcing spacer sheet, the particulate being capable of binding the analyte, the sheet composite being formed into a spiral configuration about the core, wherein the sheet composite is wound around itself and wherein the windings of sheet composite are of sufficient tightness so that adjacent layers are essentially free of spaces therebetween, two end caps which are disposed over the core and the lateral ends of the spirally wound sheet composite, and means for securing the end caps to the core, the end caps also being secured to the lateral ends of the spirally wound sheet composite. A method for removing an analyte from a fluid comprises the steps of providing a spirally wound element of the invention and passing the fluid containing the analyte through the element essentially normal to a surface of the sheet composite so as to bind the analyte to the particulate of the particulate-loaded porous membrane, the method optionally including the step of eluting the bound analyte from the sheet composite.

Composite perfluorohydrocarbon membranes, their preparation and use

DOEpatents

Ding, Yong; Bikson, Benjamin

2017-04-04

Composite porous hydrophobic membranes are prepared by forming a perfluorohydrocarbon layer on the surface of a preformed porous polymeric substrate. The substrate can be formed from poly (aryl ether ketone) and a perfluorohydrocarbon layer can be chemically grafted to the surface of the substrate. The membranes can be utilized for a broad range of fluid separations, such as microfiltration, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration as membrane contactors for membrane distillation and for degassing and dewatering of fluids. The membranes can further contain a dense ultra-thin perfluorohydrocarbon layer superimposed on the porous poly (aryl ether ketone) substrate and can be utilized as membrane contactors or as gas separation. membranes for natural gas treatment and gas dehydration.

Effects of Lipid Composition on Bilayer Membranes Quantified by All-Atom Molecular Dynamics.

PubMed

Ding, Wei; Palaiokostas, Michail; Wang, Wen; Orsi, Mario

2015-12-10

Biological bilayer membranes typically contain varying amounts of lamellar and nonlamellar lipids. Lamellar lipids, such as dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC), are defined by their tendency to form the lamellar phase, ubiquitous in biology. Nonlamellar lipids, such as dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), prefer instead to form nonlamellar phases, which are mostly nonbiological. However, nonlamellar lipids mix with lamellar lipids in biomembrane structures that remain overall lamellar. Importantly, changes in the lamellar vs nonlamellar lipid composition are believed to affect membrane function and modulate membrane proteins. In this work, we employ atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to quantify how a range of bilayer properties are altered by variations in the lamellar vs nonlamellar lipid composition. Specifically, we simulate five DOPC/DOPE bilayers at mixing ratios of 1/0, 3/1, 1/1, 1/3, and 0/1. We examine properties including lipid area and bilayer thickness, as well as the transmembrane profiles of electron density, lateral pressure, electric field, and dipole potential. While the bilayer structure is only marginally altered by lipid composition changes, dramatic effects are observed for the lateral pressure, electric field, and dipole potential profiles. Possible implications for membrane function are discussed.

Utilization of composite membrane polyethyleneglycol-polystyrene-cellulose acetate from pineapple leaf fibers in lowering levels of methyl orange batik waste

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delsy, E. V. Y.; Irmanto; Kazanah, F. N.

2017-02-01

Pineapple leaves are agricultural waste from the pineapple that the fibers can be utilized as raw material in cellulose acetate membranes. First, made pineapple leaf fibers into pulp and then converted into cellulose acetate by acetylation process in four stages consisting of activation, acetylation, hydrolysis and purification. Cellulose acetate then used as the raw material to manufacture composite membrane with addition of polystyrene and poly (ethylene glycol) as porogen. Composite membrane is made using phase inversion method with dichloromethane-acetone as a solvent. The result of FTIR analysis (Fourier transform infra-red) showed that the absorption of the carbonyl group (C=O) is at 1643.10 cm-1 and acetyl group (C-O ) at 1227.01 cm-1, with a molecular weight of 8.05 x 104 g/mol and the contents (rate) of acetyl is 37.31%. PS-PEG-CA composite membrane had also been characterized by measuring the water flux values and its application to decrease methyl orange content (level) in batik waste. The results showed that the water flux value is of 25.62 L/(m2.hour), and the decrease percentage of methyl orange content in batik waste is 71.53%.

Differential incorporation of docosahexaenoic acid into distinct cholesterol-rich membrane raft domains.

PubMed

Duraisamy, Yasotha; Lambert, Daniel; O'Neill, Catherine A; Padfield, Philip J

2007-09-07

We investigated the influence of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the fatty acid and protein compositions of two populations of membrane rafts present in Caco-2 cells. DHA (100 microM) had no significant influence on the fatty acid or protein compositions of tight junction-associated, Lubrol insoluble, membrane rafts. However, DHA did significantly alter the fatty acid and protein compositions of "archetypal" Triton X-100 insoluble membrane rafts. The DHA content of the raft lipids increased 25-fold and was accompanied by a redistribution of src and fyn out of the rafts. DHA also increased Caco-2 cell monolayer permeability producing a 95% drop in transepithelial electrical resistance and a 8.56-fold increase in the flux of dextran. In conclusion, the data demonstrate that DHA does not increase permeability through modifying the TJ-associated rafts. The data do, however, show that DHA is differentially incorporated into different classes of membrane rafts, which has significant implications to our understanding of how omega-3 PUFAs modulate plasma membrane organization and cell function.

Kr/Xe Separation over a Chabazite Zeolite Membrane

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Feng, Xuhui; Zong, Zhaowang; Elsaidi, Sameh K.

2016-08-10

Cryogenic distillation, the current conventional technology to separate Krypton and Xenon from air, and from nuclear reprocessing technologies, is an energy-intensive and expensive process. Membrane technology could potentially make this challenging industrial separation less energy intensive and economically viable. We demonstrate that chabazite zeolite SAPO-34 membranes effectively separated Kr/Xe gas mixtures at industrially relevant compositions. Control over membrane thickness and average crystal size led to industrial range permeances and high separation selectivities. Specifically, SAPO-34 membranes can separate Kr/Xe mixtures with Kr permeances as high as 361.4 GPU and separation selectivities of 34.8 for molar compositions close to typical concentrations ofmore » these two gases in air. In addition, SAPO-34 membranes separated Kr/Xe mixtures with Kr permeances as high as 525.7 GPU and separation selectivities up to 45.1 for molar compositions as might be encountered in nuclear reprocessing technologies. Molecular sieving and differences in diffusivities were identified as the dominant separation mechanisms.« less

Preparation and characterization of nonaqueous proton-conducting membranes with protic ionic liquids.

PubMed

Lu, Fei; Gao, Xinpei; Yan, Xiaojun; Gao, Hejun; Shi, Lijuan; Jia, Han; Zheng, Liqiang

2013-08-14

Hybrid Nafion membranes were successfully fabricated by incorporating with protic imidazolium ionic liquids 1-(2-aminoethyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([MimAE]Cl), 1-(2-hydroxylethyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([MimHE]Cl), and 1-carboxylmethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([MimCM]Cl) for high-temperature fuel cells. The composite membranes were characterized by impedance spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The incorporated protic ionic liquids enhance the doping of phosphoric acid (PA) and result in a relatively high ionic conductivity. The Nafion/10 wt % [MimAE]Cl/PA composite membrane exhibits an ionic conductivity of 6.0 mS/cm at 130 °C without humidification. [MimAE]Cl can swell the Nafion matrix more homogeneously than [MimHE]Cl or [MimCM]Cl, which results in a better ionic conductivity. It is notable that the composite Nafion/IL/PA membranes have a better thermal stability than the pristine Nafion membranes.

Two-Ply Composite Membranes with Separation Layers from Chitosan and Sulfoethylcellulose on a Microporous Support Based on Poly(diphenylsulfone-N-phenylphthalimide).

PubMed

Kononova, Svetlana V; Kruchinina, Elena V; Petrova, Valentina A; Baklagina, Yulia G; Romashkova, Kira A; Orekhov, Anton S; Klechkovskaya, Vera V; Skorik, Yury A

2017-12-14

Two-ply composite membranes with separation layers from chitosan and sulfoethylcellulose were developed on a microporous support based on poly(diphenylsulfone- N -phenylphthalimide) and investigated by use of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy methods. The pervaporation properties of the membranes were studied for the separation of aqueous alcohol (ethanol, propan-2-ol) mixtures of different compositions. When the mixtures to be separated consist of less than 15 wt % water in propan-2-ol, the membranes composed of polyelectrolytes with the same molar fraction of ionogenic groups (-NH₃⁺ for chitosan and -SO₃ - for sulfoethylcellulose) show high permselectivity (the water content in the permeate was 100%). Factors affecting the structure of a non-porous layer of the polyelectrolyte complex formed on the substrate surface and the contribution of that complex to changes in the transport properties of membranes are discussed. The results indicate significant prospects for the use of chitosan and sulfoethylcellulose for the formation of highly selective pervaporation membranes.

Facile and scalable fabrication of polymer-ceramic composite electrolyte with high ceramic loadings

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pandian, Amaresh Samuthira; Chen, Xi Chelsea; Chen, Jihua

Solid state electrolytes are a promising alternative to flammable liquid electrolytes for high-energy lithium battery applications. In this work polymer-ceramic composite electrolyte membrane with high ceramic loading (greater than 60 vol%) is fabricated using a model polymer electrolyte poly(ethylene oxide) + lithium trifluoromethane sulfonate and a lithium-conducting ceramic powder. The effects of processing methods, choice of plasticizer and varying composition on ionic conductivity of the composite electrolyte are thoroughly investigated. The physical, structural and thermal properties of the composites are exhaustively characterized. We demonstrate that aqueous spray coating followed by hot pressing is a scalable and inexpensive technique to obtainmore » composite membranes that are amazingly dense and uniform. The ionic conductivity of composites fabricated using this protocol is at least one order of magnitude higher than those made by dry milling and solution casting. The introduction of tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether further increases the ionic conductivity. The composite electrolyte's interfacial compatibility with metallic lithium and good cyclability is verified by constructing lithium symmetrical cells. As a result, a remarkable Li + transference number of 0.79 is discovered for the composite electrolyte.« less

Facile and scalable fabrication of polymer-ceramic composite electrolyte with high ceramic loadings

DOE PAGES

Pandian, Amaresh Samuthira; Chen, Xi Chelsea; Chen, Jihua; ...

2018-04-24

Solid state electrolytes are a promising alternative to flammable liquid electrolytes for high-energy lithium battery applications. In this work polymer-ceramic composite electrolyte membrane with high ceramic loading (greater than 60 vol%) is fabricated using a model polymer electrolyte poly(ethylene oxide) + lithium trifluoromethane sulfonate and a lithium-conducting ceramic powder. The effects of processing methods, choice of plasticizer and varying composition on ionic conductivity of the composite electrolyte are thoroughly investigated. The physical, structural and thermal properties of the composites are exhaustively characterized. We demonstrate that aqueous spray coating followed by hot pressing is a scalable and inexpensive technique to obtainmore » composite membranes that are amazingly dense and uniform. The ionic conductivity of composites fabricated using this protocol is at least one order of magnitude higher than those made by dry milling and solution casting. The introduction of tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether further increases the ionic conductivity. The composite electrolyte's interfacial compatibility with metallic lithium and good cyclability is verified by constructing lithium symmetrical cells. As a result, a remarkable Li + transference number of 0.79 is discovered for the composite electrolyte.« less

Mechanical properties and XRD of Nafion modified by 2-hydroxyethylammonium ionic liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garaev, V.; Pavlovica, S.; Reinholds, I.; Vaivars, G.

2013-12-01

In this work, the Nafion 112 membrane impregnated with 2-hydroxyethylammonium carboxylate ionic liquids have been investigated. The used ionic liquids were 2-hydroxyethylammonium formate [HEA]F, acetate [HEA]A and lactate [HEA]L. Prepared composite membranes Nafion/ionic liquid are characterized by mechanical testing, such as tensile test and creep test. It is found that ionic liquids decrease elastic modulus and creep compliance, but do not have significant effect on the tensile strength. Also, composite membranes were studied by wide angle X-ray diffraction. All ionic liquids shift the peak maximum to the lower angle. In this work, only biodegradable ionic liquids were used for composite preparation.

Experimental and theoretical investigations of Lantana camara oil diffusion from polyacrylonitrile membrane for pulsatile drug delivery system.

PubMed

Verma, Vivek; Balasubramanian, K

2014-08-01

Porous composite membrane of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and Lantana camara essential oil was synthesized by solvent casting method. Stability of oil in PAN solution was measured by XiGo nano tool indicating constant relaxation time of 1487 time/s. Pore size of few microns confirmed by electron microscopy was supported by atomic force microscopy indicating roughness factor of 0.9 nm. Contact angle of 2° inveterates superhydrophilicity of the composite membrane. Membrane showed excellent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and Gram-negative Escherichia coli with a 7-10mm zone of inhibition. In vitro release of Lantana oil from the composite membrane was carried out in isotonic phosphate buffer solution (pH=7.4). Lantana oil was released for 9h, lag time of 3h with constant 33% release confirmed PAN membranes as potential system for pulsatile drug delivery applications. Diffusion of E-caryophyllene (antibacterial component of oil) which was studied through molecular simulation using Material Studio software ensued diffusion coefficient value of 1.11∗10(-9) m(2)/s. Biocompatibility of the composite membrane was assessed by mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line (NIH 3T3) through MTT assay indicating more than 91% viable cell even at 200 μg/mL concentration. Such membranes can be efficiently used in biomedical applications as antibacterial and antifungal agent. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Infrared nanospectroscopy reveals the chemical nature of pit membranes in water-conducting cells of the plant xylem.

PubMed

Pereira, Luciano; Flores-Borges, Denisele; Bittencourt, Paulo; Mayer, Juliana; Kiyota, Eduardo; Araújo, Pedro; Jansen, Steven; Freitas, Raul; Oliveira, Rafael; Mazzafera, Paulo

2018-06-05

In the xylem of angiosperm plants, microscopic pits through the secondary cell walls connect the water-conducting vessels. Cellulosic meshes originated from primary walls and middle lamella between adjacent vessels, called pit membrane, separates one conduit from another. The intricate structure of the nano-sized pores in pit membranes enables the passage of water under negative pressure without hydraulic failure due to obstruction by gas bubbles (i.e., embolism) under normal conditions or mild drought stress. Since the chemical composition of pit membranes affects embolism formation and bubble behavior, we directly measured pit membrane composition in Populus nigra wood. Here, we characterized the chemical composition of cell wall structures by synchrotron infrared nanospectroscopy and atomic force microscopy-infrared nanospectroscopy with high spatial resolution. Characteristic peaks of cellulose, phenolic compounds, and proteins were found in the intervessel pit membrane of P. nigra wood. In addition, vessel to parenchyma pit membranes and developing cell walls of the vascular cambium showed clear signals of cellulose, proteins, and pectin. We did not find a distinct peak of lignin and other compounds in these structures. Our investigation of the complex chemical composition of intervessel pit membranes furthers our understanding of the flow of water and bubbles between neighboring conduits. The advances presented here pave the way for further label-free studies related to the nano-chemistry of plant cell components. {copyright, serif} 2018 American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved.

Electrospun LiFePO₄/C Composite Fiber Membrane as a Binder-Free, Self-Standing Cathode for Power Lithium-Ion Battery.

PubMed

Chen, Li-Li; Shen, Xiang-Qian; Jing, Mao-Xiang; Zhu, Sheng-Wen; Pi, Zhi-Chao; Li, Jing-Quan; Zhai, Hong-Ai; Xiao, Ke-Song

2018-07-01

A LiFePO4/C composite fiber membrane was fabricated by the electrospinning method and subsequent thermal treatment. The thermal decomposition process was analyzed by TG/DSC, the morphology, microstructure and composition were studied using SEM, TEM, XRD, Raman, respectively. The results indicated that the prepared LiFePO4/C composite fibers were composed of nanosized LiFePO4 crystals and amorphous carbon coatings, which formed a three dimensional (3D) long-range networks, greatly enhanced the electronic conductivity of LiFePO4 electrode up to 3.59× 10-2 S · cm-2. The 3D LiFePO4/C fiber membrane could be directly used as a binder-free, self-standing cathode for lithium-ion battery, and exhibited an improved capacity and rate performance. The LiFePO4/C composite electrode delivered a discharge capacity of 116 mAh·g-1, 109 mAh·g-1, 103 mAh·g-1, 91 mAh·g-1, 80 mAh·g-1 at 0.1 C, 0.5 C, 1 C, 3 C, 5 C, respectively. And a stable cycling performance was also achieved that the specific capacity could retain 75 mA·g-1 after 500 cycles at 5 C. Therefore, this LiFePO4/C composite fiber membrane was promising to be used as a cathode for power lithium ion battery.

Detection of superlattice domain formation in ternary lipid mixtures using fluorescence spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mutlu, Burcin; Lopez, Stephanie; Vaughn, Mark; Huang, Juyang; Cheng, K.

2011-10-01

Multicomponent lipid bilayers represent an important model system for studying the structures and functions of cell membranes. At present, the lateral organization of lipid components, particularly the formation of regular distribution, in lipid membranes containing charged lipid, e.g., phosphatidylserine, is not clear. Using a ternary phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylserine/cholesterol lipid bilayer system, the presence of ordered domain formation was examined by measuring the fluorescence anisotropy of the embedded fluorescent probe, 22-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol- 4-yl)amino)-23,24-bisnor-5-cholen-3β- ol (NBD-CHOL), with structure similar to that of a cholesterol, as a function of phospatidylserine composition. The plot of the anisotropy vs. phosphatidylserine revealed abrupt changes at certain critical compositions of phosphatidylserine. Some of these critical compositions agree favorably with those predicted by the headgroup superlattice model suggesting that the charged phosphatidylserine lipid molecules adopt a superlattice-like distribution in the lipid bilayer at some predicted compositions. The ordered distribution of charged lipids may play an important role in the regulation of the composition of the biological membranes.

Oxygen Transport Membrane Reactors for Oxy-Fuel Combustion and Carbon Capture Purposes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Falkenstein-Smith, Ryan L.

This thesis investigates oxygen transport membrane reactors (OTMs) for the application of oxy-fuel combustion. This is done by evaluating the material properties and oxygen permeability of different OTM compositions subjected to a variety of operating conditions. The scope of this work consists of three components: (1) evaluate the oxygen permeation capabilities of perovskite-type materials for the application of oxy-fuel combustion; (2) determine the effects of dual-phase membrane compositions on the oxygen permeation performance and membrane characteristics; and (3) develop a new method for estimating the oxygen permeation performance of OTMs utilized for the application of oxy-fuel combustion. SrSc0.1Co0.9O3-delta (SSC) is selected as the primary perovskite-type material used in this research due to its reported high ionic and electronic conductive properties and chemical stability. SSC's oxygen ion diffusivity is investigated using a conductivity relaxation technique and thermogravimetric analysis. Material properties such as chemical structure, morphology, and ionic and electronic conductivity are examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and conductivity testing using a four-probe method, respectively. Oxygen permeation tests study the oxygen permeability OTMs under modified membrane temperatures, sweeping gas flow rates, sweeping gas compositions, membrane configurations, and membrane compositions. When utilizing a pure CO2 sweeping gas, the membrane composition was modified with the addition of Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9-delta (SDC) at varying wt.% to improve the membranes mechanical stability. A newly developed method to evaluate the oxygen permeation performance of OTMs is also presented by fitting OTM's oxygen permeability to the methane fraction in the sweeping gas composition. The fitted data is used to estimate the overall performance and size of OTMs utilized for the application of oxy-fuel combustion. The findings from this research show that under a wide range of membrane temperatures and in a variety of atmospheres, a pure SSC OTM can achieve superior surface exchange and oxygen chemical diffusion coefficients compared to other commonly studied materials. SSC's high oxygen permeability (>1 ml.min -1.cm-2) demonstrates the material's candidacy for the application of oxy-fuel combustion. However, in the presence of rich CO 2 atmospheres, SSC shows mechanical and chemical instabilities due to the carbonate formation on the perovskite structure. The addition of SDC in the membrane composition produces a dual-phase OTM which is observed to improve the oxygen permeation flux when subjected to pure CO2 sweeping gases. When subjected to pure methane sweeping gases, dual-phase OTM compositions exhibits lower oxygen permeability compared to the single-phase SSC OTM. Despite the decline in the oxygen permeation flux, some dual-phase compositions still exhibit a high oxygen permeability, indicating their potential for the application of oxy-fuel combustion. Furthermore, a newly developed method for evaluating OTMs for the application of oxy-fuel combustion is presented in a portion of this work. This new method calculates key components such as the average oxygen permeation flux, approximate effective surface area, and the impact of additional recirculated exhaust into the incoming sweeping gas to provide a detailed understanding of OTM's application for oxy-fuel combustion. The development of this approach will aid in the evaluation of newly developed materials and create a new standard for implementing OTMs for the application of oxy-fuel combustion.

Preparation of membranes using solvent-less vapor deposition followed by in-situ polymerization

DOEpatents

O'Brien, Kevin C [San Ramon, CA; Letts, Stephan A [San Ramon, CA; Spadaccini, Christopher M [Oakland, CA; Morse, Jeffrey C [Pleasant Hill, CA; Buckley, Steven R [Modesto, CA; Fischer, Larry E [Los Gatos, CA; Wilson, Keith B [San Ramon, CA

2012-01-24

A system of fabricating a composite membrane from a membrane substrate using solvent-less vapor deposition followed by in-situ polymerization. A first monomer and a second monomer are directed into a mixing chamber in a deposition chamber. The first monomer and the second monomer are mixed in the mixing chamber providing a mixed first monomer and second monomer. The mixed first monomer and second monomer are solvent-less vapor deposited onto the membrane substrate in the deposition chamber. The membrane substrate and the mixed first monomer and second monomer are heated to produce in-situ polymerization and provide the composite membrane.

Preparation of membranes using solvent-less vapor deposition followed by in-situ polymerization

DOEpatents

O'Brien, Kevin C [San Ramon, CA; Letts, Stephan A [San Ramon, CA; Spadaccini, Christopher M [Oakland, CA; Morse, Jeffrey C [Pleasant Hill, CA; Buckley, Steven R [Modesto, CA; Fischer, Larry E [Los Gatos, CA; Wilson, Keith B [San Ramon, CA

2010-07-13

A system of fabricating a composite membrane from a membrane substrate using solvent-less vapor deposition followed by in-situ polymerization. A first monomer and a second monomer are directed into a mixing chamber in a deposition chamber. The first monomer and the second monomer are mixed in the mixing chamber providing a mixed first monomer and second monomer. The mixed first monomer and second monomer are solvent-less vapor deposited onto the membrane substrate in the deposition chamber. The membrane substrate and the mixed first monomer and second monomer are heated to produce in-situ polymerization and provide the composite membrane.

Plasma membrane lipid–protein interactions affect signaling processes in sterol-biosynthesis mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana

PubMed Central

Zauber, Henrik; Burgos, Asdrubal; Garapati, Prashanth; Schulze, Waltraud X.

2014-01-01

The plasma membrane is an important organelle providing structure, signaling and transport as major biological functions. Being composed of lipids and proteins with different physicochemical properties, the biological functions of membranes depend on specific protein–protein and protein–lipid interactions. Interactions of proteins with their specific sterol and lipid environment were shown to be important factors for protein recruitment into sub-compartmental structures of the plasma membrane. System-wide implications of altered endogenous sterol levels for membrane functions in living cells were not studied in higher plant cells. In particular, little is known how alterations in membrane sterol composition affect protein and lipid organization and interaction within membranes. Here, we conducted a comparative analysis of the plasma membrane protein and lipid composition in Arabidopsis sterol-biosynthesis mutants smt1 and ugt80A2;B1. smt1 shows general alterations in sterol composition while ugt80A2;B1 is significantly impaired in sterol glycosylation. By systematically analyzing different cellular fractions and combining proteomic with lipidomic data we were able to reveal contrasting alterations in lipid–protein interactions in both mutants, with resulting differential changes in plasma membrane signaling status. PMID:24672530

Nanostructured catalyst supports

DOEpatents

Zhu, Yimin; Goldman, Jay L.; Qian, Baixin; Stefan, Ionel C.

2012-10-02

The present invention relates to SiC nanostructures, including SiC nanopowder, SiC nanowires, and composites of SiC nanopowder and nanowires, which can be used as catalyst supports in membrane electrode assemblies and in fuel cells. The present invention also relates to composite catalyst supports comprising nanopowder and one or more inorganic nanowires for a membrane electrode assembly.

Differential stability of photosynthetic membranes and fatty acid composition at elevated temperature in Symbiodinium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Díaz-Almeyda, E.; Thomé, P. E.; El Hafidi, M.; Iglesias-Prieto, R.

2011-03-01

Coral reefs are threatened by increasing surface seawater temperatures resulting from climate change. Reef-building corals symbiotic with dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium experience dramatic reductions in algal densities when exposed to temperatures above the long-term local summer average, leading to a phenomenon called coral bleaching. Although the temperature-dependent loss in photosynthetic function of the algal symbionts has been widely recognized as one of the early events leading to coral bleaching, there is considerable debate regarding the actual damage site. We have tested the relative thermal stability and composition of membranes in Symbiodinium exposed to high temperature. Our results show that melting curves of photosynthetic membranes from different symbiotic dinoflagellates substantiate a species-specific sensitivity to high temperature, while variations in fatty acid composition under high temperature rather suggest a complex process in which various modifications in lipid composition may be involved. Our results do not support the role of unsaturation of fatty acids of the thylakoid membrane as being mechanistically involved in bleaching nor as being a dependable tool for the diagnosis of thermal susceptibility of symbiotic reef corals.

Stabilization of composition fluctuations in mixed membranes by hybrid lipids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Safran, Samuel; Palmieri, Benoit

2013-03-01

A ternary mixture model is proposed to describe composition fluctuations in mixed membranes composed of saturated, unsaturated and hybrid lipids. The asymmetric hybrid lipid has one saturated and one unsaturated hydrocarbon chain and it can reduce the packing incompatibility between saturated and unsaturated lipids. A methodology to recast the free-energy of the lattice in terms of a continuous isotropic field theory is proposed and used to analyze composition fluctuations above the critical temperature. The effect of hybrid lipids on fluctuations domains rich in saturated/unsaturated lipids is predicted. The correlation length of such fluctuations decreases significantly with increasing amounts of hybrids even if the temperature is maintained close to the critical temperature. This provides an upper bound for the domain sizes expected in rafts stabilized by hybrids, above the critical temperature. When the hybrid composition of the membrane is increased further, a crossover value is found above which ``stripe-like'' fluctuations are observed. The wavelength of these fluctuations decreases with increasing hybrid fraction and tends toward a molecular size in a membrane that contains only hybrids.

Evaluation of antibacterial properties on polysulfone composite membranes using synthesized biogenic silver nanoparticles with Ulva compressa (L.) Kütz. and Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kütz. extracts.

PubMed

Minhas, Fozia T; Arslan, Gulsin; Gubbuk, I Hilal; Akkoz, Cengiz; Ozturk, Betul Yılmaz; Asıkkutlu, Baran; Arslan, Ugur; Ersoz, Mustafa

2018-02-01

Polysulfone (PS) composite membrane using green synthesized biogenic silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) with Ulva compressa (L.) Kütz. and Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kütz. extract were prepared by spin coating technique and are tested for antimicrobial activity using a direct contact test for the first time. Initially green synthesis of Ag-NPs was accomplished utilizing green macro algae i.e. U. compressa (L.) Kütz. and C. glomerata (L.) Kütz. by the reduction of AgNO 3 . The Ag-NPs/PS composite membranes from both algae revealed outstanding antimicrobial activity against all bacteria i.e. K. pneumonia, P. aeruginasa, E. coli, E. faecium and S. aureus. Bacterial growth was monitored for 17h with a temperature controlled microplate spectrophotometer. The kinetics of the outgrowth in each well were recorded continuously at 630nm every 60min. Thus present work remarkably offers a feasible, cheap and efficient alternative for making Ag-NPs and their utilization as antimicrobial agent on the PS composite membrane. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Study of fatty acid composition of cell membranes during the use of soya oil in diet therapy of patients with cardiovascular diseases].

PubMed

Pogozheva, A V; Kondakova, N M; Baĭkov, V G

2000-01-01

Anti-atherogenic diet supplemented with 20 g soy oil has been analyzed in patients with coronary artery disease and high blood pressure. The vegetable PUFA omega-3 and omega-6 from soy oil have been found to change physical, biological and chemical property of membranes; improved clinical condition as well as to modify erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition.

Pervaporation dehydration of ethanol by hyaluronic acid/sodium alginate two-active-layer composite membranes.

PubMed

Gao, Chengyun; Zhang, Minhua; Ding, Jianwu; Pan, Fusheng; Jiang, Zhongyi; Li, Yifan; Zhao, Jing

2014-01-01

The composite membranes with two-active-layer (a capping layer and an inner layer) were prepared by sequential spin-coatings of hyaluronic acid (HA) and sodium alginate (NaAlg) on the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) support layer. The SEM showed a mutilayer structure and a distinct interface between the HA layer and the NaAlg layer. The coating sequence of two-active-layer had an obvious influence on the pervaporation dehydration performance of membranes. When the operation temperature was 80 °C and water concentration in feed was 10 wt.%, the permeate fluxes of HA/Alg/PAN membrane and Alg/HA/PAN membrane were similar, whereas the separation factor were 1130 and 527, respectively. It was found that the capping layer with higher hydrophilicity and water retention capacity, and the inner layer with higher permselectivity could increase the separation performance of the composite membranes. Meanwhile, effects of operation temperature and water concentration in feed on pervaporation performance as well as membrane properties were studied. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Membrane Fluidity Sensing on the Single Virus Particle Level with Plasmonic Nanoparticle Transducers.

PubMed

Feizpour, Amin; Stelter, David; Wong, Crystal; Akiyama, Hisashi; Gummuluru, Suryaram; Keyes, Tom; Reinhard, Björn M

2017-10-27

Viral membranes are nanomaterials whose fluidity depends on their composition, in particular, the cholesterol (chol) content. As differences in the membrane composition of individual virus particles can lead to different intracellular fates, biophysical tools capable of sensing the membrane fluidity on the single-virus level are required. In this manuscript, we demonstrate that fluctuations in the polarization of light scattered off gold or silver nanoparticle (NP)-labeled virus-like-particles (VLPs) encode information about the membrane fluidity of individual VLPs. We developed plasmonic polarization fluctuation tracking microscopy (PFTM) which facilitated the investigation of the effect of chol content on the membrane fluidity and its dependence on temperature, for the first time on the single-VLP level. Chol extraction studies with different methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) concentrations yielded a gradual decrease in polarization fluctuations as a function of time. The rate of chol extraction for individual VLPs showed a broad spread, presumably due to differences in the membrane composition for the individual VLPs, and this heterogeneity increased with decreasing MβCD concentration.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wu, Ting; Feng, Xuhui; Elsaidi, Sameh K.

Herein, we demonstrate that a prototypical type of metal organic framework, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), in membrane form, can effectively separate Kr/Xe gas mixtures at industrially relevant compositions. The best membranes separated Kr/Xe mixtures with average Kr permeances as high as 1.5 × 10 -8 ± 0.2 mol/m 2 s Pa and average separation selectivities of 14.2 ± 1.9 for molar feed compositions corresponding to Kr/Xe ratio encountered typically in air. Molecular sieving, competitive adsorption, and differences in diffusivities were identified as the prevailing separation mechanisms. These membranes potentially represent a less-energy-intensive alternative to cryogenic distillation, which is the benchmarkmore » technology used to separate this challenging gas mixture. To our best knowledge, this is the first example of any metal organic membrane composition displaying separation ability for Kr/Xe gas mixtures.« less

Enhancement of hydrogen gas permeability in electrically aligned MWCNT-PMMA composite membranes.

PubMed

Kumar, Sumit; Sharma, Anshu; Tripathi, Balram; Srivastava, Subodh; Agrawal, Shweta; Singh, M; Awasthi, Kamlendra; Vijay, Y K

2010-10-01

The multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) dispersed polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) composite membranes have been prepared for hydrogen gas permeation application. Composite membranes are characterized by Raman spectroscopy, optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, electrical measurements and gas permeability measurements. The effect of electric field alignment of MWCNT in PMMA matrix on gas permeation has been studied for hydrogen gas. The permeability measurements indicated that the electrically aligned MWCNT in PMMA has shown almost 2 times higher permeability for hydrogen gas as compare to randomly dispersed MWCNT in PMMA. The enhancement in permeability is explained on the basis of well aligned easy channel provided by MWCNT in electrically aligned sample. The effect of thickness of membrane on the gas permeability also studied and thickness of about 30microm found to be optimum thickness for fast hydrogen gas permeates.

Poly(n-vinylpyrrolidone) hydrogels: 2.Hydrogel composites as wound dressing for tropical environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Himly, N.; Darwis, D.; Hardiningsih, L.

1993-10-01

POLY(N-VINYLPYRROLIDONE) HYDROGELS: 2. HYDROGEL COMPOSITES AS WOUND DRESSING FOR TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT. The effects of irradiation on hydration and other properties of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) hydrogel composites have been investigated. The aqueous solution of vinylpyrrolidone (VP) 10 wt % was mixed with several additives such as agar and polyethylen glycol (PEG). The solution was then irradiated with gamma rays from Cobalt-60 source at room temperature. Several parameters such as elongation at break (EB), tensile strength (TS), degree of swelling (DS), water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), equilibrium water content (EWC), microbial growth and penetration test, and water activity (Aw) were analysed at room temperature of 29 ±2°C humidity of 80 ± 10%. Results show that elongation at break of hydrogel membranes with initial composition of VP with agar, VP with agar and PEG were 240 % and 250 % kGy, the equilibrium water content of membranes were 96 to 90%, whereas degree of swelling were 55 to 10. The WVTR of hydrogel membranes with initial composition of VP with agar and PEG was 70 g m -2h -1, while the water activity was 0.9. Such hydrogel membranes exhibits the following properties: They are elastic, transparent, flexible, impermeable for bacteria. They absopt a high capacity of water, attached to healthy skin but not to the wound and they are easy to remove. These properties of the hydrogel membranes allow for applying as a wound dressings in tropical environment.

Mechanical and transport properties of layer-by-layer electrospun composite proton exchange membranes for fuel cell applications.

PubMed

Mannarino, Matthew M; Liu, David S; Hammond, Paula T; Rutledge, Gregory C

2013-08-28

Composite membranes composed of highly conductive and selective layer-by-layer (LbL) films and electrospun fiber mats were fabricated and characterized for mechanical strength and electrochemical selectivity. The LbL component consists of a proton-conducting, methanol-blocking poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride)/sulfonated poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PDAC/sPPO) thin film. The electrospun fiber component consists of poly(trimethyl hexamethylene terephthalamide) (PA 6(3)T) fibers in a nonwoven mat of 60-90% porosity. The bare mats were annealed to improve their mechanical properties, which improvements are shown to be retained in the composite membranes. Spray LbL assembly was used as a means for the rapid formation of proton-conducting films that fill the void space throughout the porous electrospun matrix and create a fuel-blocking layer. Coated mats as thin as 15 μm were fabricated, and viable composite membranes with methanol permeabilities 20 times lower than Nafion and through-plane proton selectivity five and a half times greater than Nafion are demonstrated. The mechanical properties of the spray coated electrospun mats are shown to be superior to the LbL-only system and possess intrinsically greater dimensional stability and lower mechanical hysteresis than Nafion under hydrated conditions. The composite proton exchange membranes fabricated here were tested in an operational direct methanol fuel cell. The results show the potential for higher open circuit voltages (OCV) and comparable cell resistances when compared to fuel cells based on Nafion.

Fate and wetting potential of bio-refractory organics in membrane distillation for coke wastewater treatment.

PubMed

Ren, Jing; Li, Jianfeng; Chen, Zuliang; Cheng, Fangqin

2018-06-02

Membrane distillation (MD) has been hindered in industrial applications due to the potential wetting or fouling caused by complicated organic compositions. This study investigated the correlations between the fate and wetting potential of bio-refractory organics in the MD process, where three coke wastewater samples pre-treated with bio-degradation and coagulation served as feed solutions. Results showed that although most of the bio-refractory organics in coke wastewater were rejected by the hydrophobic membrane, some volatile aromatic organics including benzenes, phenols, quinolines and naphthalenes passed through the membrane during the MD process. Interestingly, membrane wetting occurred coincidently with the penetration of phenolic and heterocyclic organics. The wetting rate was obviously correlated with the feed composition and membrane surface properties. Ultimately, novel insights into the anti-wetting strategy of MD with bio-refractory organics was proposed, illustrating that the polyaluminum chloride/polyacrylamide coagulation not only removed contaminants which could accelerate membrane wetting, but also retarded membrane wetting by the complexation with organics. The deposition of these complexes on the membrane surface introduced a secondary hydrophilic layer on the hydrophobic substrate, which established a composite membrane structure with superior wetting resistance. These new findings would be beneficial to wetting control in membrane distillation for wastewater treatment. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Linking composition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) to the physical structure and hydraulic resistance of membrane biofilms.

PubMed

Desmond, Peter; Best, James P; Morgenroth, Eberhard; Derlon, Nicolas

2018-04-01

The effect of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on the meso-scale physical structure and hydraulic resistance of membrane biofilms during gravity driven membrane (GDM) filtration was investigated. Biofilms were developed on the surface of ultrafiltration membranes during dead-end filtration at ultra-low pressure (70 mbar). Biofilm EPS composition (total protein, polysaccharide and eDNA) was manipulated by growing biofilms under contrasting nutrient conditions. Nutrient conditions consisted of (i) a nutrient enriched condition with a nutrient ratio of 100:30:10 (C: N: P), (ii) a phosphorus limitation (C: N: P ratio: 100:30:0), and (iii) a nitrogen limitation (C: N: P ratio: 100:0:10). The structure of the biofilm was characterised at meso-scale using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Biofilm composition was analysed with respect to total organic carbon, total cellular mass and extracellular concentrations of proteins, polysaccharides, and eDNA. 2D-confocal Raman mapping was used to characterise the functional group composition and micro-scale distribution of the biofilms EPS. Our study reveals that the composition of the EPS matrix can determine the meso-scale physical structure of membrane biofilms and in turn its hydraulic resistance. Biofilms grown under P limiting conditions were characterised by dense and homogeneous physical structures with high concentrations of polysaccharides and eDNA. Biofilm grown under nutrient enriched or N limiting conditions were characterised by heterogeneous physical structures with lower concentrations of polysaccharides and eDNA. For P limiting biofilms, 2D-confocal Raman microscopy revealed a homogeneous spatial distribution of anionic functional groups in homogeneous biofilm structures with higher polysaccharide and eDNA concentrations. This study links EPS composition, physical structure and hydraulic resistance of membrane biofilms, with practical relevance for the hydraulic performances of GDM ultrafiltration. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Method of making metal-polymer composite catalysts

DOEpatents

Zelena, Piotr [Los Alamos, NM; Bashyam, Rajesh [Los Alamos, NM

2009-06-23

A metal-polymer-carbon composite catalyst for use as a cathode electrocatalyst in fuel cells. The catalyst includes a heteroatomic polymer; a transition metal linked to the heteroatomic polymer by one of nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus, and a recast ionomer dispersed throughout the heteroatomic polymer-carbon composite. The method includes forming a heteroatomic polymer-carbon composite and loading the transition metal onto the composite. The invention also provides a method of making a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell that includes the metal-polymer-carbon composite catalyst.

Impact of oxLDL on Cholesterol-Rich Membrane Rafts

PubMed Central

Levitan, Irena; Shentu, Tzu-Pin

2011-01-01

Numerous studies have demonstrated that cholesterol-rich membrane rafts play critical roles in multiple cellular functions. However, the impact of the lipoproteins on the structure, integrity and cholesterol composition of these domains is not well understood. This paper focuses on oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDLs) that are strongly implicated in the development of the cardiovascular disease and whose impact on membrane cholesterol and on membrane rafts has been highly controversial. More specifically, we discuss three major criteria for the impact of oxLDL on membrane rafts: distribution of different membrane raft markers, changes in membrane cholesterol composition, and changes in lipid packing of different membrane domains. We also propose a model to reconcile the controversy regarding the relationship between oxLDL, membrane cholesterol, and the integrity of cholesterol-rich membrane domains. PMID:21490811

Hierarchical Composite Membranes with Robust Omniphobic Surface Using Layer-By-Layer Assembly Technique.

PubMed

Woo, Yun Chul; Kim, Youngjin; Yao, Minwei; Tijing, Leonard D; Choi, June-Seok; Lee, Sangho; Kim, Seung-Hyun; Shon, Ho Kyong

2018-02-20

In this study, composite membranes were fabricated via layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of negatively charged silica aerogel (SiA) and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (FTCS) on a polyvinylidene fluoride phase inversion membrane and interconnecting them with positively charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) via electrostatic interaction. The results showed that the PDDA-SiA-FTCS coated membrane had significantly enhanced the membrane structure and properties. New trifluoromethyl and tetrafluoroethylene bonds appeared at the surface of the coated membrane, which led to lower surface free energy of the composite membrane. Additionally, the LBL membrane showed increased surface roughness. The improved structure and property gave the LBL membrane an omniphobic property, as indicated by its good wetting resistance. The membrane performed a stable air gap membrane distillation (AGMD) flux of 11.22 L/m 2 h with very high salt rejection using reverse osmosis brine from coal seam gas produced water as feed with the addition of up to 0.5 mM SDS solution. This performance was much better compared to those of the neat membrane. The present study suggests that the enhanced membrane properties with good omniphobicity via LBL assembly make the porous membranes suitable for long-term AGMD operation with stable permeation flux when treating challenging saline wastewater containing low surface tension organic contaminants.

Carbon nanotube embedded PVDF membranes: Effect of solvent composition on the structural morphology for membrane distillation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mapunda, Edgar C.; Mamba, Bhekie B.; Msagati, Titus A. M.

2017-08-01

Rapid population increase, growth in industrial and agricultural sectors and global climate change have added significant pressure on conventional freshwater resources. Tapping freshwater from non-conventional water sources such as desalination and wastewater recycling is considered as sustainable alternative to the fundamental challenges of water scarcity. However, affordable and sustainable technologies need to be applied for the communities to benefit from the treatment of non-conventional water source. Membrane distillation is a potential desalination technology which can be used sustainably for this purpose. In this work multi-walled carbon nanotube embedded polyvinylidene fluoride membranes for application in membrane distillation desalination were prepared via non-solvent induced phase separation method. The casting solution was prepared using mixed solvents (N, N-dimethylacetamide and triethyl phosphate) at varying ratios to study the effect of solvent composition on membrane morphological structures. Membrane morphological features were studied using a number of techniques including scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, SAXSpace tensile strength analysis, membrane thickness, porosity and contact angle measurements. It was revealed that membrane hydrophobicity, thickness, tensile strength and surface roughness were increasing as the composition of N, N-dimethylacetamide in the solvent was increasing with maximum values obtained between 40 and 60% N, N-dimethylacetamide. Internal morphological structures were changing from cellular structures to short finger-like and sponge-like pores and finally to large macro void type of pores when the amount of N, N-dimethylacetamide in the solvent was changed from low to high respectively. Multi-walled carbon nanotube embedded polyvinylidene fluoride membranes of desired morphological structures and physical properties can be synthesized by regulating the composition of solvents used to prepare the casting solution.

Fluorescent sensor systems based on nanostructured polymeric membranes for selective recognition of Aflatoxin B1.

PubMed

Sergeyeva, Tetyana; Yarynka, Daria; Piletska, Elena; Lynnik, Rostyslav; Zaporozhets, Olga; Brovko, Oleksandr; Piletsky, Sergey; El'skaya, Anna

2017-12-01

Nanostructured polymeric membranes for selective recognition of aflatoxin B1 were synthesized in situ and used as highly sensitive recognition elements in the developed fluorescent sensor. Artificial binding sites capable of selective recognition of aflatoxin B1 were formed in the structure of the polymeric membranes using the method of molecular imprinting. A composition of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) membranes was optimized using the method of computational modeling. The MIP membranes were synthesized using the non-toxic close structural analogue of aflatoxin B1, ethyl-2-oxocyclopentanecarboxylate as a dummy template. The MIP membranes with the optimized composition demonstrated extremely high selectivity towards aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Negligible binding of close structural analogues of AFB1 - aflatoxins B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G2 (AFG2), and ochratoxin A (OTA) was demonstrated. Binding of AFB1 by the MIP membranes was investigated as a function of both type and concentration of the functional monomer in the initial monomer composition used for the membranes' synthesis, as well as sample composition. The conditions of the solid-phase extraction of the mycotoxin using the MIP membrane as a stationary phase (pH, ionic strength, buffer concentration, volume of the solution, ratio between water and organic solvent, filtration rate) were optimized. The fluorescent sensor system based on the optimized MIP membranes provided a possibility of AFB1 detection within the range 14-500ngmL -1 demonstrating detection limit (3Ϭ) of 14ngmL -1 . The developed technique was successfully applied for the analysis of model solutions and waste waters from bread-making plants. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Changes in phosphatidylcholine fatty acid composition are associated with altered skeletal muscle insulin responsiveness in normal man.

PubMed

Clore, J N; Harris, P A; Li, J; Azzam, A; Gill, R; Zuelzer, W; Rizzo, W B; Blackard, W G

2000-02-01

The fatty acid composition of skeletal muscle cell membrane phospholipids (PLs) is known to influence insulin responsiveness in man. We have recently shown that the fatty acid composition of phosphatidylcholine (PC), and not phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), from skeletal muscle membranes is of particular importance in this relationship. Efforts to alter the PL fatty acid composition in animal models have demonstrated induction of insulin resistance. However, it has been more difficult to determine if changes in insulin sensitivity are associated with changes in the skeletal muscle membrane fatty acid composition of PL in man. Using nicotinic acid (NA), an agent known to induce insulin resistance in man, 9 normal subjects were studied before and after treatment for 1 month. Skeletal muscle membrane fatty acid composition of PC and PE from biopsies of vastus lateralis was correlated with insulin responsiveness using a 3-step hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Treatment with NA was associated with a 25% increase in the half-maximal insulin concentration ([ED50] 52.0 +/- 7.5 to 64.6 +/- 9.0 microU/mL, P < .05), consistent with decreased peripheral insulin sensitivity. Significant changes in the fatty acid composition of PC, but not PE, were also observed after NA administration. An increase in the percentage of 16:0 (21% +/- 0.3% to 21.7% +/- 0.4%, P < .05) and decreases in 18:0 (6.2% +/- 0.5% to 5.1% +/- 0.4%, P = .01), long-chain n-3 fatty acids (1.7% +/- 0.2% to 1.4% +/- 0.1%, P < .01), and total polyunsaturated fatty acids ([PUFAs] 8.7% +/- 0.8% to 8.0% +/- 0.8%, P < .05) are consistent with a decrease in fatty acid length and unsaturation in PC following NA administration. The change in ED50 was significantly correlated with the change in PUFAs (r = -.65, P < .05). These studies suggest that the induction of insulin resistance with NA is associated with changes in the fatty acid composition of PC in man.

Surface modification of thin film composite reverse osmosis membrane by glycerol assisted oxidation with sodium hypochlorite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raval, Hiren D.; Samnani, Mohit D.; Gauswami, Maulik V.

2018-01-01

Need for improvement in water flux of thin film composite (TFC) RO membrane has been appreciated by researchers world over and surface modification approach is found promising to achieve higher water flux and solute rejection. Thin film composite RO membrane was exposed to 2000 mg/l sodium hypochlorite solution with varying concentrations of glycerol ranging from 1 to 10%. It was found that there was a drop in concentration of sodium hypochlorite after the addition of glycerol because of a new compound resulted from the oxidation of glycerol with sodium hypochlorite. The water flux of the membrane treated with 1% glycerol with 2000 mg/l sodium hypochlorite for 1 h was about 22% more and salt rejection was 1.36% greater than that of only sodium hypochlorite treated membrane for the same concentration and time. There was an increase in salt rejection of membrane with increase in concentration of glycerol from 1% to 5%, however, increasing glycerol concentration further up to 10%, the salt rejection declined. The water flux was found declining from 1% glycerol solution to 10% glycerol solution. The membrane samples were characterized to understand the change in chemical structure and morphology of the membrane.

Recycling of phenol from aqueous solutions by pervaporation with ZSM-5/PDMS/PVDF hollow fiber composite membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Dan; Yao, Jie; Sun, Hao; Liu, Bing; van Agtmaal, Sjack; Feng, Chunhui

2018-01-01

Zeolite (ZSM-5)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber composite membrane was prepared by dynamic negative pressure. The influence of ZSM-5 silanization, coating time and concentration of ZSM-5 on the resulting pervaporation (PV) performance of composite membranes was investigated. The contact angle (CA) was used to measure surface hydrophobic property and it was found that the water contact angle of the membrane was increased significantly from 99° to 132° when the concentration of ZSM-5 increased from 0% to 50%. The morphology of the membrane was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and those SEM images illustrated that the thickness of the separating layer has obvious differences at varying coating times. Furthermore, the membranes were investigated in PV process to recycle phenol from aqueous solutions as feed mixtures. The impact of phenol concentration in feed, temperature and pressure of penetration side on the PV performance of membrane was studied systematically. When the ZSM-5 concentration was 40% and the coating time was 60 min, separation factor and phenol permeability were 4.56 and 5.78 g/(m2 h), respectively. ZSM-5/PDMS/PVDF membrane significantly improved the recovery efficiency of phenols.

Membrane crystallinity and fuel crossover in direct ethanol fuel cells with Nafion composite membranes containing phosphotungstic acid

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Hongjun; Lee, Sunghwan; Kim, Suran

2016-11-01

Interest has been growing in direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) due to their non-toxicity, low cost and potential contribution to energy issues in third world countries. A reduction in fuel cross-over is of key importance to enhance the performance of DEFCs that operate at low temperatures (<100 °C). We report on the effect of the addition of phosphotungstic acid (PWA) in Nafion membrane on the ethanol-crossover for DEFC application. A set of PWANafion composite membranes (PWA 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 wt%) was prepared by solution casting and their microstructures, diffraction patterns and permeability were systematically characterized. The significant reductionmore » in ethanol-crossover was observed with increasing PWA concentration in PWA-Nafion membranes, which was mainly attributed to an improvement in crystallinity of the membrane. PWA provides additional nucleation sites during solidification leading to higher crystallinity, which is supported by the membrane permeability tests. These PWA-Nafion composites were implemented in proto-type DEFC devices as a membrane and the maximum power density achieved was 22% higher than that of commercial Nafion-117 device.« less

Method for preparation of thermally and mechanically stable metal/porous substrate composite membranes

DOEpatents

Damle, Ashok S.

2004-07-13

A method is provided for the preparation of metal/porous substrate composite membranes by flowing a solution of metal to be plated over a first surface of a porous substrate and concurrently applying a pressure of gas on a second surface of the porous substrate, such that the porous substrate separates the solution of metal from the gas, and the use of the resulting membrane for the production of highly purified hydrogen gas.

Fabrication of bioinspired composite nanofiber membranes with robust superhydrophobicity for direct contact membrane distillation.

PubMed

Liao, Yuan; Wang, Rong; Fane, Anthony G

2014-06-03

The practical application of membrane distillation (MD) for water purification is hindered by the absence of desirable membranes that can fulfill the special requirements of the MD process. Compared to the membranes fabricated by other methods, nanofiber membranes produced by electrospinning are of great interest due to their high porosity, low tortuosity, large surface pore size, and high surface hydrophobicity. However, the stable performance of the nanofiber membranes in the MD process is still unsatisfactory. Inspired by the unique structure of the lotus leaf, this study aimed to develop a strategy to construct superhydrophobic composite nanofiber membranes with robust superhydrophobicity and high porosity suitable for use in MD. The newly developed membrane consists of a superhydrophobic silica-PVDF composite selective skin formed on a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) porous nanofiber scaffold via electrospinning. This fabrication method could be easily scaled up due to its simple preparation procedures. The effects of silica diameter and concentration on membrane contact angle, sliding angle, and MD performance were investigated thoroughly. For the first time, the direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) tests demonstrate that the newly developed membranes are able to present stable high performance over 50 h of testing time, and the superhydrophobic selective layer exhibits excellent durability in ultrasonic treatment and a continuous DCMD test. It is believed that this novel design strategy has great potential for MD membrane fabrication.

Enhanced proton conductivity of Nafion composite membrane by incorporating phosphoric acid-loaded covalent organic framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Yongheng; Li, Zhen; Yang, Xin; Cao, Li; Wang, Chongbin; Zhang, Bei; Wu, Hong; Jiang, Zhongyi

2016-11-01

Design and fabrication of efficient proton transport channels within solid electrolytes is crucial and challenging to new energy-relevant devices such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In this study, the phosphoric acid (H3PO4) molecules are impregnated into SNW-1-type covalent organic frameworks (COFs) via vacuum assisted method. High loading of H3PO4 in SNW-1 and low guest leaching rate are achieved due to the similar diameter between H3PO4 and micropores in SNW-1. Then the COF-based composite membranes are fabricated for the first time with impregnated COFs (H3PO4@SNW-1) and Nafion matrix. For the composite membranes, the acid-base pairs formed between H3PO4@SNW-1 networks and Nafion optimize the interfacial interactions and hydrophilic domains. The acidic -PO3H2 groups in pores of H3PO4@SNW-1 provide abundant proton transfer sites. As a result, the continuous proton transfer channels with low energy barrier are created. At the filler content of 15 wt%, the composite membrane exhibits a superior proton conductivity of 0.0604 S cm-1 at 51% relative humidity and 80 °C. At the same time, the maximum power density of single fuel cell is 60.3% higher than that of the recast Nafion membrane.

Synthesis of hydrophilic carbon nanotubes by grafting poly(methyl methacrylate) via click reaction and its effect on poly(vinylidene fluoride)-carbon nanotube composite membrane properties1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Wenzhong; Zhao, Yuchen; Li, Yuxue; Zhang, Peng; Cao, Zheng; Yang, Haicun; Liu, Chunlin; Tao, Guoliang; Gong, Fanghong; Matsuyama, Hideto

2018-03-01

Surface modification of azide-decorated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with well-defined alkyne-terminated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) chains was accomplished via the combination of reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) and "click" chemistry. Successful attachment of PMMA onto MWCNT was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), gel permeation chromatography, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The highest grafting percentage (GP) of the PMMA chains (GP = 23.3%) was calculated using TGA. The effect of the PMMA-grafted-MWCNTs (MWCNTs-g-PMMA) content on the performance of the poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-MWCNTs-g-PMMA composite membrane was studied. The MWCNTs-g-PMMA was found to be well dispersed in the PVDF composite membrane matrix because of the excellent compatibility between the PMMA and PVDF chains. The composite membranes showed improved porosity, hydrophilicity, water flux, β-PVDF content, and mechanical properties at an optimal amount of 2 wt% MWCNTs-g-PMMA incorporated in the PVDF membrane matrix. In contrast, the hydroxyl functionalized MWCNTs (MWCNTs-OH) showed limited enhancement in the water flux and mechanical strength, which is mainly due to the poor dispersion of MWCNT because of the weak interaction between the MWCNT and PVDF chains. This study reveals the excellent prospect of the MWCNT-based ultrafiltration membrane with enhanced properties in water treatment applications.

[Study on essential oil separation from Forsythia suspensa oil-bearing water body based on vapor permeation membrane separation technology].

PubMed

Zhang, Qian; Zhu, Hua-Xu; Tang, Zhi-Shu; Pan, Yong-Lan; Li, Bo; Fu, Ting-Ming; Yao, Wei-Wei; Liu, Hong-Bo; Pan, Lin-Mei

2018-04-01

To investigate the feasibility of vapor permeation membrane technology in separating essential oil from oil-water extract by taking the Forsythia suspensa as an example. The polydimethylsiloxane/polyvinylidene fluoride (PDMS/PVDF) composite flat membrane and a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) flat membrane was collected as the membrane material respectively. Two kinds of membrane osmotic liquids were collected by self-made vapor permeation device. The yield of essential oil separated and enriched from two kinds of membrane materials was calculated, and the microscopic changes of membrane materials were analyzed and compared. Meanwhile, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to compare and analyze the differences in chemical compositions of essential oil between traditional steam distillation, PVDF membrane enriched method and PDMS/PVDF membrane enriched method. The results showed that the yield of essential oil enriched by PVDF membrane was significantly higher than that of PDMS/PVDF membrane, and the GC-MS spectrum showed that the content of main compositions was higher than that of PDMS/PVDF membrane; The GC-MS spectra showed that the components of essential oil enriched by PVDF membrane were basically the same as those obtained by traditional steam distillation. The above results showed that vapor permeation membrane separation technology shall be feasible for the separation of Forsythia essential oil-bearing water body, and PVDF membrane was more suitable for separation and enrichment of Forsythia essential oil than PDMS/PVDF membrane. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

Bivariate and multivariate analyses of the influence of blood variables of patients submitted to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on the stability of erythrocyte membrane against the chaotropic action of ethanol.

PubMed

de Arvelos, Leticia Ramos; Rocha, Vanessa Custódio Afonso; Felix, Gabriela Pereira; da Cunha, Cleine Chagas; Bernardino Neto, Morun; da Silva Garrote Filho, Mario; de Fátima Pinheiro, Conceição; Resende, Elmiro Santos; Penha-Silva, Nilson

2013-03-01

The stability of the erythrocyte membrane, which is essential for the maintenance of cell functions, occurs in a critical region of fluidity, which depends largely on its composition and the composition and characteristics of the medium. As the composition of the erythrocyte membrane is influenced by several blood variables, the stability of the erythrocyte membrane must have relations with them. The present study aimed to evaluate, by bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses, the correlations and causal relationships between hematologic and biochemical variables and the stability of the erythrocyte membrane against the chaotropic action of ethanol. The validity of this type of analysis depends on the homogeneity of the population and on the variability of the studied parameters, conditions that can be filled by patients who undergo bariatric surgery by the technique of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass since they will suffer feeding restrictions that have great impact on their blood composition. Pathway analysis revealed that an increase in hemoglobin leads to decreased stability of the cell, probably through a process mediated by an increase in mean corpuscular volume. Furthermore, an increase in the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) leads to an increase in erythrocyte membrane stability, probably because higher values of MCH are associated with smaller quantities of red blood cells and a larger contact area between the cell membrane and ethanol present in the medium.

Etude de faisabilite de l'insertion d'une membrane elastomere a renfort textile dans l'aspirateur d'une centrale hydroelectrique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delorme, Rolland

The generation of electrical energy in Quebec, estimated to 200 TWh, comes from hydroelectric generating stations for 96 % which are at the heart of provincial ecological and economic challenges. An important amount of research has been devoted to improving the hydrodynamic profile of hydraulic turbines to maximize their energy efficiency. However, few studies have focused on the draft tube in hydroelectric power plants, which is the duct where water flows out after crossing the turbine. Recent calculations performed by Alstom Power & Transport Canada Inc. revealed that the shape modulation of the draft tube could increase the hydroelectric generating station performance. The goal of this research was to assess the feasibility of this shape modification in existing draft tubes with inflatable composite membranes. The study consisted first of building an experimental setup to test the inflation of at membranes made up of a fiberglass-reinforced rubber composite. The inflated membranes were digitized with an optical equipment enabling 3D representations of their deflections. The second part of the study aimed at building finite element models reproducing the same experiments and enabling the design of more complicated membranes. The study confirmed the technical feasibility of designing and manufacturing such a membrane for the targeted application. However the large-scale roll-out will require to manufacture 3D membranes with the proper anchoring system. Keywords: reinforced rubber composite, reinforced elastomer composite, textile reinforcement, finite element modeling, mechanical behavior.

Effect of sterol esters on lipid composition and antioxidant status of erythrocyte membrane of hypercholesterolemic rats.

PubMed

Sengupta, Avery; Ghosh, Mahua

2014-01-01

Hypercholesterolemia is a major cause of coronary heart disease. Erythrocyte membrane is affected during hypercholesterolemia. The effect of EPA-DHA rich sterol ester and ALA rich sterol ester on erythrocyte membrane composition, osmotic fragility in normal and hypercholesterolemic rats and changes in antioxidant status of erythrocyte membrane were studied. Erythrocyte membrane composition, osmotic fragility of the membrane and antioxidant enzyme activities was analyzed. Osmotic fragility data suggested that the erythrocyte membrane of hypercholesterolemia was relatively more fragile than that of the normal rats' membrane which could be reversed with the addition of sterol esters in the diet. The increased plasma cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic rats could also be lowered by the sterol ester administration. There was also marked changes in the antioxidant enzyme activities of the erythrocyte membrane. Antioxidant enzyme levels decreased in the membrane of the hypercholesterolemic subjects were increased with the treatment of the sterol esters. The antioxidative activity of ALA rich sterol ester was better in comparison to EPA-DHA rich sterol ester. In conclusion, rat erythrocytes appear to be deformed and became more fragile in cholesterol rich blood. This deformity and fragility was partially reversed by sterol esters by virtue of their ability to lower the extent of hypercholesterolemia.

A Novel Approach Toward Fabrication of High Performance Thin Film Composite Polyamide Membranes.

PubMed

Khorshidi, Behnam; Thundat, Thomas; Fleck, Brian A; Sadrzadeh, Mohtada

2016-02-29

A practical method is reported to enhance water permeability of thin film composite (TFC) polyamide (PA) membranes by decreasing the thickness of the selective PA layer. The composite membranes were prepared by interfacial polymerization (IP) reaction between meta-phenylene diamine (MPD)-aqueous and trimesoyl chloride (TMC)-organic solvents at the surface of polyethersulfone (PES) microporous support. Several PA TFC membranes were prepared at different temperatures of the organic solution ranging from -20 °C to 50 °C. The physico-chemical and morphological properties of the synthesized membranes were carefully characterized using serval analytical techniques. The results confirmed that the TFC membranes, synthesized at sub-zero temperatures of organic solution, had thinner and smoother PA layer with a greater degree of cross-linking and wettability compared to the PA films prepared at 50 °C. We demonstrated that reducing the temperature of organic solution effectively decreased the thickness of the PA active layer and thus enhanced water permeation through the membranes. The most water permeable membrane was prepared at -20 °C and exhibited nine times higher water flux compared to the membrane synthesized at room temperature. The method proposed in this report can be effectively applied for energy- and cost-efficient development of high performance nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes.

Solid polymer electrolyte composite membrane comprising a porous support and a solid polymer electrolyte including a dispersed reduced noble metal or noble metal oxide

DOEpatents

Liu, Han; Mittelsteadt, Cortney K; Norman, Timothy J; Griffith, Arthur E; LaConti, Anthony B

2015-02-24

A solid polymer electrolyte composite membrane and method of manufacturing the same. According to one embodiment, the composite membrane comprises a thin, rigid, dimensionally-stable, non-electrically-conducting support, the support having a plurality of cylindrical, straight-through pores extending perpendicularly between opposing top and bottom surfaces of the support. The pores are unevenly distributed, with some or no pores located along the periphery and more pores located centrally. The pores are completely filled with a solid polymer electrolyte, the solid polymer electrolyte including a dispersed reduced noble metal or noble metal oxide. The solid polymer electrolyte may also be deposited over the top and/or bottom surfaces of the support.

ABC triblock copolymer vesicles with mesh-like morphology.

PubMed

Zhao, Wei; Chen, Dian; Hu, Yunxia; Grason, Gregory M; Russell, Thomas P

2011-01-25

Polymer vesicles made from poly(isoprene-b-styrene-b-2-vinyl pyridine) (PI-b-PS-b-P2VP) triblock copolymer confined within the nanopores of an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane are studied. It was found that these vesicles have well-defined, nanoscopic size, and complex microphase-separated hydrophobic membranes, comprised of the PS and PI blocks, while the coronas are formed by the P2VP block. Vesicle formation was tracked using both transmission and scanning electron microscopy. A mesh-like morphology formed in the membrane at a well-defined composition of the three blocks that can be tuned by changing the copolymer composition. The nanoscale confinement, copolymer composition, and subtle molecular interactions contribute to the generation of these vesicles with such unusual morphologies.

Spiral wound extraction cartridge

DOEpatents

Wisted, E.E.; Lundquist, S.H.

1999-04-27

A cartridge device for removing an analyte from a fluid comprises a hollow core, a sheet composite comprising a particulate-loaded porous membrane and optionally at least one reinforcing spacer sheet, the particulate being capable of binding the analyte, the sheet composite being formed into a spiral configuration about the core, wherein the sheet composite is wound around itself and wherein the windings of sheet composite are of sufficient tightness so that adjacent layers are essentially free of spaces therebetween, two end caps which are disposed over the core and the lateral ends of the spirally wound sheet composite, and means for securing the end caps to the core, the end caps also being secured to the lateral ends of the spirally wound sheet composite. A method for removing an analyte from a fluid comprises the steps of providing a spirally wound element of the invention and passing the fluid containing the analyte through the element essentially normal to a surface of the sheet composite so as to bind the analyte to the particulate of the particulate-loaded porous membrane, the method optionally including the step of eluting the bound analyte from the sheet composite. 4 figs.

Carbon composite bipolar plate for high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Dongyoung; Lee, Dai Gil

2016-09-01

A carbon/epoxy composite bipolar plate is an ideal substitute for the brittle graphite bipolar plate for lightweight proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) because of its high specific strength and stiffness. However, conventional carbon/epoxy composite bipolar plates are not applicable for high-temperature PEMFCs (HT-PEMFCs) because these systems are operated at higher temperatures than the glass transition temperatures of conventional epoxies. Therefore, in this study, a cyanate ester-modified epoxy is adopted for the development of a carbon composite bipolar plate for HT-PEMFCs. The composite bipolar plate with exposed surface carbon fibers is produced without any surface treatments or coatings to increase the productivity and is integrated with a silicone gasket to reduce the assembly cost. The developed carbon composite bipolar plate exhibits not only superior electrical properties but also high thermo-mechanical properties. In addition, a unit cell test is performed, and the results are compared with those of the conventional graphite bipolar plate.

Non-noble metal based electro-catalyst compositions for proton exchange membrane based water electrolysis and methods of making

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumta, Prashant N.; Kadakia, Karan Sandeep; Datta, Moni Kanchan

The invention provides electro-catalyst compositions for an anode electrode of a proton exchange membrane-based water electrolysis system. The compositions include a noble metal component selected from the group consisting of iridium oxide, ruthenium oxide, rhenium oxide and mixtures thereof, and a non-noble metal component selected from the group consisting of tantalum oxide, tin oxide, niobium oxide, titanium oxide, tungsten oxide, molybdenum oxide, yttrium oxide, scandium oxide, cooper oxide, zirconium oxide, nickel oxide and mixtures thereof. Further, the non-noble metal component can include a dopant. The dopant can be at least one element selected from Groups III, V, VI and VIImore » of the Periodic Table. The compositions can be prepared using a surfactant approach or a sol gel approach. Further, the compositions are prepared using noble metal and non-noble metal precursors. Furthermore, a thin film containing the compositions can be deposited onto a substrate to form the anode electrode.« less

Abnormal octadeca-carbon fatty acids distribution in erythrocyte membrane phospholipids of patients with gastrointestinal tumor.

PubMed

Lin, Shaohui; Li, Tianyu; Liu, Xifang; Wei, Shihu; Liu, Zequn; Hu, Shimin; Liu, Yali; Tan, Hongzhuan

2017-06-01

Fatty acid (FA) composition is closely associated with tumorigenesis and neoplasm metastasis. This study was designed to investigate the differences of phospholipid FA (PLFA) composition in erythrocyte and platelet cell membranes in both gastrointestinal (GI) tumor patients and healthy controls.In this prospective study, 50 GI tumor patients and 33 healthy volunteers were recruited between the years 2013 and 2015. Blood samples were collected from healthy volunteers and patients, and FA composition was assessed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), and data were analyzed by multifactor regression analysis.Compared with healthy controls, the percentages of C18:0 (stearic acid, SA), C22:6 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA), and n-3 polyunsaturated FAs (n-3 PUFA) were significantly increased, while C18:1 (oleic acid, OA), C18:2 (linoleic acid, LA), and monounsaturated FAs (MUFA) decreased in erythrocyte membranes of GI tumor patients. Also, patient's platelets revealed higher levels of C20:4 (arachidonic acid, AA) and DHA, and lower levels of OA and MUFA.Our study displayed a remarkable change in the FA composition of erythrocyte and platelet membranes in GI tumor patients as compared with healthy controls. The octadeca-carbon FAs (SA, OA, and LA) in erythrocyte membranes could serve as a potential indicator for GI tumor detection.

Diet fat alters synaptosomal phosphatidylethanolaminemethyl-transferase activity and phosphatidylcholine synthesis in brain

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hargreaves, K.M.; Clandinin, M.T.

1986-03-05

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) can be synthesized via three routes, each having potentially different metabolic fates. One route for PC synthesis is methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). To examine if dietary fat affects membrane PE composition and phosphatidylethanolaminemethyltransferase (PEMT) activity, male weanling rats were fed semi-purified diets containing 20% (w/w) fat of differing fatty acid composition for 24 days. Microsomal and synaptic plasma membranes were isolated and phospholipid composition analyzed. PEMT activity was measured by incorporation of the methyl group from /sup 3/H-S-adenosylmethionine into PE. Polyunsaturated diets high in omega 6 fatty acids produce a high ratio of omega 6/omega 3 fatty acidsmore » in synaptic plasma membranes. Dietary omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acid levels are reflected in membrane phospholipid content of 22:6(3), 20:4(6), 22:4(6) and 22:5(6). Diet-induced increase in these longer chain homologues of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids and a high ratio of omega 6/omega 3 fatty acids in PE are both associated with increased PEMT activity. These results suggest that diet-fat induced change in fatty acid composition of membrane PE results in transition in PEMT activity and synthesis of PC in brain, by providing preferred species of PE for methylation.« less

Solid polymer electrolyte composite membrane comprising laser micromachined porous support

DOEpatents

Liu, Han [Waltham, MA; LaConti, Anthony B [Lynnfield, MA; Mittelsteadt, Cortney K [Natick, MA; McCallum, Thomas J [Ashland, MA

2011-01-11

A solid polymer electrolyte composite membrane and method of manufacturing the same. According to one embodiment, the composite membrane comprises a rigid, non-electrically-conducting support, the support preferably being a sheet of polyimide having a thickness of about 7.5 to 15 microns. The support has a plurality of cylindrical pores extending perpendicularly between opposing top and bottom surfaces of the support. The pores, which preferably have a diameter of about 5 microns, are made by laser micromachining and preferably are arranged in a defined pattern, for example, with fewer pores located in areas of high membrane stress and more pores located in areas of low membrane stress. The pores are filled with a first solid polymer electrolyte, such as a perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer. A second solid polymer electrolyte, which may be the same as or different than the first solid polymer electrolyte, may be deposited over the top and/or bottom of the first solid polymer electrolyte.

Solid polymer electrolyte composite membrane comprising plasma etched porous support

DOEpatents

Liu, Han; LaConti, Anthony B.

2010-10-05

A solid polymer electrolyte composite membrane and method of manufacturing the same. According to one embodiment, the composite membrane comprises a rigid, non-electrically-conducting support, the support preferably being a sheet of polyimide having a thickness of about 7.5 to 15 microns. The support has a plurality of cylindrical pores extending perpendicularly between opposing top and bottom surfaces of the support. The pores, which preferably have a diameter of about 0.1 to 5 microns, are made by plasma etching and preferably are arranged in a defined pattern, for example, with fewer pores located in areas of high membrane stress and more pores located in areas of low membrane stress. The pores are filled with a first solid polymer electrolyte, such as a perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer. A second solid polymer electrolyte, which may be the same as or different than the first solid polymer electrolyte, may be deposited over the top and/or bottom of the first solid polymer electrolyte.

Carbon Nanotube Membranes: Synthesis, Properties, and Future Filtration Applications

PubMed Central

Rashid, Md. Harun-Or; Ralph, Stephen F.

2017-01-01

Over the course of the past decade, there has been growing interest in the development of different types of membranes composed of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), including buckypapers and composite materials, for an ever-widening range of filtration applications. This article provides an overview of how different types of CNT membranes are prepared and the results obtained from investigations into their suitability for different applications. The latter involve the removal of small particles from air samples, the filtration of aqueous solutions containing organic compounds and/or bacteria, and the separation of individual liquids present in mixtures. A growing number of reports have demonstrated that the incorporation of CNTs into composite membranes confers an improved resistance to fouling caused by biomacromolecules and bacteria. These results are discussed, along with evidence that demonstrates it is possible to further reduce fouling by taking advantage of the inherent conductivity of composite membranes containing CNTs, as well as by using different types of electrochemical stimuli. PMID:28468314

Electrochemical performance of a thermally rearranged polybenzoxazole nanocomposite membrane as a separator for lithium-ion batteries at elevated temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Moon Joo; Hwang, Jun-Ki; Kim, Ji Hoon; Lim, Hyung-Seok; Sun, Yang-Kook; Suh, Kyung-Do; Lee, Young Moo

2016-02-01

Shape-tunable hydroxyl copolyimide (HPI) nanoparticles are fabricated by a re-precipitation method and are coated onto electrospun HPI membranes, followed by heat treatment to prepare thermally rearranged polybenzoxazole (TR-PBO) composite membranes. The morphology of HPI nanoparticles consisted of sphere and sea-squirt structures, which is controlled by changing the concentration of the stabilizer. The morphological characteristics of TR-PBO nanoparticles convert from HPI nanoparticles by heat treatment and their composite membranes is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) analysis, and contact angle measurements. TGA and DSC measurements confirm the excellent thermal stability compared to Celgard, a commercial PP separator for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Further, TR-PBO nano-composite membranes used in coin-cell type LIBs as a separator show excellent high power density performance as compared to Celgard. This is due to the fact that sea-squirt structured nanoparticles have better electrochemical properties than sphere structured nanoparticles at high temperature.

Changes in plasma membrane lipids, aquaporins and proton pump of broccoli roots, as an adaptation mechanism to salinity.

PubMed

López-Pérez, Luis; Martínez-Ballesta, María Del Carmen; Maurel, Christophe; Carvajal, Micaela

2009-03-01

Salinity stress is known to modify the plasma membrane lipid and protein composition of plant cells. In this work, we determined the effects of salt stress on the lipid composition of broccoli root plasma membrane vesicles and investigated how these changes could affect water transport via aquaporins. Brassica oleracea L. var. Italica plants treated with different levels of NaCl (0, 40 or 80mM) showed significant differences in sterol and fatty acid levels. Salinity increased linoleic (18:2) and linolenic (18:3) acids and stigmasterol, but decreased palmitoleic (16:1) and oleic (18:1) acids and sitosterol. Also, the unsaturation index increased with salinity. Salinity increased the expression of aquaporins of the PIP1 and PIP2 subfamilies and the activity of the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase. However, there was no effect of NaCl on water permeability (P(f)) values of root plasma membrane vesicles, as determined by stopped-flow light scattering. The counteracting changes in lipid composition and aquaporin expression observed in NaCl-treated plants could allow to maintain the membrane permeability to water and a higher H(+)-ATPase activity, thereby helping to reduce partially the Na(+) concentration in the cytoplasm of the cell while maintaining water uptake via cell-to-cell pathways. We propose that the modification of lipid composition could affect membrane stability and the abundance or activity of plasma membrane proteins such as aquaporins or H(+)-ATPase. This would provide a mechanism for controlling water permeability and for acclimation to salinity stress.

Sulfonated Copper Phthalocyanine/Sulfonated Polysulfone Composite Membrane for Ionic Polymer Actuators with High Power Density and Fast Response Time.

PubMed

Kwon, Taehoon; Cho, Hyeongrae; Lee, Jang-Woo; Henkensmeier, Dirk; Kang, Youngjong; Koo, Chong Min

2017-08-30

Ionic polymer composite membranes based on sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPAES) and copper(II) phthalocyanine tetrasulfonic acid (CuPCSA) are assembled into bending ionic polymer actuators. CuPCSA is an organic filler with very high sulfonation degree (IEC = 4.5 mmol H + /g) that can be homogeneously dispersed on the molecular scale into the SPAES membrane, probably due to its good dispersibility in SPAES-containing solutions. SPAES/CuPCSA actuators exhibit larger ion conductivity (102 mS cm -1 ), tensile modulus (208 MPa), strength (101 MPa), and strain (1.21%), exceptionally faster response to electrical stimuli, and larger mechanical power density (3028 W m -3 ) than ever reported for ion-conducting polymer actuators. This outstanding actuation performance of SPAES/CuPCSA composite membrane actuators makes them attractive for next-generation transducers with high power density, which are currently developed, e.g., for underwater propulsion and endoscopic surgery.

Enhanced proton conductivity by the influence of modified montmorillonite on poly (vinyl alcohol) based blend composite membranes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Palani, P. Bahavan, E-mail: bahavanpalani@gmail.com; Abidin, K. Sainul; Kannan, R., E-mail: rksrsrk@gmail.com

2016-05-23

The highest proton conductivity value of 0.0802 Scm{sup −1} is obtained at 6 wt% of protonated MMT added to the PVA/PEG blends. The polymer blend composite membranes are prepared with varied concentration of Poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), Poly ethylene glycol (PEG) and Montmorillonite (MMT) by solution casting method. The Na{sup +} MMT was modified (protonated) to H{sup +} MMT with ion exchange process. The prepared membranes were characterized by using TGA, FTIR, XRD, Ion Exchange Capacity, Water/Methanol uptake, swelling ratio and proton conductivity. The significant improvements in the hydrolytic stability were observed. In addition, thermal stability of the composite membranesmore » were improved and controlled by the addition of MMT. All the prepared membranes are shown appreciable values of proton conductivity at room temperature with 100% relative humidity.« less

Unique battery with a multi-functional, physicochemically active membrane separator/electrolyte-electrode monolith and a method making the same

DOEpatents

Gerald, II, Rex E; Ruscic, Katarina J; Sears, Devin N; Smith, Luis J; Klinger, Robert J; Rathke, Jerome W

2013-11-26

The invention relates to a unique battery having a physicochemically active membrane separator/electrolyte-electrode monolith and method of making the same. The Applicant's invented battery employs a physicochemically active membrane separator/electrolyte-electrode that acts as a separator, electrolyte, and electrode, within the same monolithic structure. The chemical composition, physical arrangement of molecules, and physical geometry of the pores play a role in the sequestration and conduction of ions. In one preferred embodiment, ions are transported via the ion-hoping mechanism where the oxygens of the Al.sub.2O.sub.3 wall are available for positive ion coordination (i.e. Li.sup.+). This active membrane-electrode composite can be adjusted to a desired level of ion conductivity by manipulating the chemical composition and structure of the pore wall to either increase or decrease ion conduction.

Unique battery with a multi-functional, physicochemically active membrane separator/electrolyte-electrode monolith and a method making the same

DOEpatents

Gerald II, Rex E.; Ruscic, Katarina J.; Sears, Devin N.; Smith, Luis J.; Klingler, Robert J.; Rathke, Jerome W.

2012-07-24

The invention relates to a unique battery having a physicochemically active membrane separator/electrolyte-electrode monolith and method of making the same. The Applicant's invented battery employs a physicochemically active membrane separator/electrolyte-electrode that acts as a separator, electrolyte, and electrode, within the same monolithic structure. The chemical composition, physical arrangement of molecules, and physical geometry of the pores play a role in the sequestration and conduction of ions. In one preferred embodiment, ions are transported via the ion-hoping mechanism where the oxygens of the Al₂O₃ wall are available for positive ion coordination (i.e. Li⁺). This active membrane-electrode composite can be adjusted to a desired level of ion conductivity by manipulating the chemical composition and structure of the pore wall to either increase or decrease ion conduction.

Coupling Field Theory with Mesoscopic Dynamical Simulations of Multicomponent Lipid Bilayers

PubMed Central

McWhirter, J. Liam; Ayton, Gary; Voth, Gregory A.

2004-01-01

A method for simulating a two-component lipid bilayer membrane in the mesoscopic regime is presented. The membrane is modeled as an elastic network of bonded points; the spring constants of these bonds are parameterized by the microscopic bulk modulus estimated from earlier atomistic nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations for several bilayer mixtures of DMPC and cholesterol. The modulus depends on the composition of a point in the elastic membrane model. The dynamics of the composition field is governed by the Cahn-Hilliard equation where a free energy functional models the coupling between the composition and curvature fields. The strength of the bonds in the elastic network are then modulated noting local changes in the composition and using a fit to the nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation data. Estimates for the magnitude and sign of the coupling parameter in the free energy model are made treating the bending modulus as a function of composition. A procedure for assigning the remaining parameters in the free energy model is also outlined. It is found that the square of the mean curvature averaged over the entire simulation box is enhanced if the strength of the bonds in the elastic network are modulated in response to local changes in the composition field. We suggest that this simulation method could also be used to determine if phase coexistence affects the stress response of the membrane to uniform dilations in area. This response, measured in the mesoscopic regime, is already known to be conditioned or renormalized by thermal undulations. PMID:15347594

Role of Alcohols in Growth, Lipid Composition, and Membrane Fluidity of Yeasts, Bacteria, and Archaea ▿

PubMed Central

Huffer, Sarah; Clark, Melinda E.; Ning, Jonathan C.; Blanch, Harvey W.; Clark, Douglas S.

2011-01-01

Increased membrane fluidity, which causes cofactor leakage and loss of membrane potential, has long been documented as a cause for decreased cell growth during exposure to ethanol, butanol, and other alcohols. Reinforcement of the membrane with more complex lipid components is thus thought to be beneficial for the generation of more tolerant organisms. In this study, organisms with more complex membranes, namely, archaea, did not maintain high growth rates upon exposure to alcohols, indicating that more complex lipids do not necessarily fortify the membrane against the fluidizing effects of alcohols. In the presence of alcohols, shifts in lipid composition to more saturated and unbranched lipids were observed in most of the organisms tested, including archaea, yeasts, and bacteria. However, these shifts did not always result in a decrease in membrane fluidity or in greater tolerance of the organism to alcohol exposure. In general, organisms tolerating the highest concentrations of alcohols maintained membrane fluidity after alcohol exposure, whereas organisms that increased membrane rigidity were less tolerant. Altered lipid composition was a common response to alcohol exposure, with the most tolerant organisms maintaining a modestly fluid membrane. Our results demonstrate that increased membrane fluidity is not the sole cause of growth inhibition and that alcohols may also denature proteins within the membrane and cytosol, adversely affecting metabolism and decreasing cell growth. PMID:21784917

In situ synthesis of molecularly imprinted nanoparticles in porous support membranes using high-viscosity polymerization solvents.

PubMed

Renkecz, Tibor; László, Krisztina; Horváth, Viola

2012-06-01

There is a growing need in membrane separations for novel membrane materials providing selective retention. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are promising candidates for membrane functionalization. In this work, a novel approach is described to prepare composite membrane adsorbers incorporating molecularly imprinted microparticles or nanoparticles into commercially available macroporous filtration membranes. The polymerization is carried out in highly viscous polymerization solvents, and the particles are formed in situ in the pores of the support membrane. MIP particle composite membranes selective for terbutylazine were prepared and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and N₂ porosimetry. By varying the polymerization solvent microparticles or nanoparticles with diameters ranging from several hundred nanometers to 1 µm could be embedded into the support. The permeability of the membranes was in the range of 1000 to 20,000 Lm⁻²  hr⁻¹  bar⁻¹. The imprinted composite membranes showed high MIP/NIP (nonimprinted polymer) selectivity for the template in organic media both in equilibrium-rebinding measurements and in filtration experiments. The solid phase extraction of a mixture of the template, its analogs, and a nonrelated compound demonstrated MIP/NIP selectivity and substance selectivity of the new molecularly imprinted membrane. The synthesis technique offers a potential for the cost-effective production of selective membrane adsorbers with high capacity and high throughput. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The mystery of membrane organization: composition, regulation and physiological relevance of lipid rafts

PubMed Central

Sezgin, Erdinc; Levental, Ilya; Mayor, Satyajit; Eggeling, Christian

2017-01-01

Cellular plasma membranes are laterally heterogeneous, featuring a variety of distinct subcompartments that differ in their biophysical properties and composition. A large body of research has focused on understanding the basis for this heterogeneity and its physiological relevance. The membrane raft hypothesis formalized a physicochemical principle for a subtype of such lateral membrane heterogeneity, wherein the preferential associations of cholesterol and saturated lipids drives the formation of relatively packed (ordered) membrane domains that selectively recruit certain lipids and proteins. Recent years have yielded new insights into this concept and its in vivo relevance, primarily owing to the development of biochemical and biophysical technologies. PMID:28356571

Proton exchange membrane based on chitosan and solvent-free carbon nanotube fluids for fuel cells applications.

PubMed

Wang, Jie; Gong, Chunli; Wen, Sheng; Liu, Hai; Qin, Caiqin; Xiong, Chuanxi; Dong, Lijie

2018-04-15

Poor dispersion and inert ionic conduction are two major obstacles towards using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to modify polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) in energy conversion devices. In this work, solvent-free carbon nanotube fluids (CNT fluids) with liquid-like behavior are prepared through an ion exchange method and incorporated into a chitosan (CS) matrix to fabricate composite membranes. The electrostatic interactions between SO 3 - groups in the CNT fluids and NH 2 groups in the CS matrix, in addition to the unique flow properties of the CNT fluids, promote the uniform dispersion of CNT fluids in the CS matrix. Markedly, the CS/CNT fluid-3 composite membrane is simultaneously reinforced and toughened by 180% and 300% compared to pure CS membrane, respectively. Moreover, the SO 3 - groups in the CNT fluids facilitate the proton transfer such that the proton conductivity of CS/CNT fluid-3 composite membrane reaches a maximum value of 0.044 S cm -1 at 80 °C. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Peculiarities of the phospholipid and fatty acid composition of erythrocyte plasma membranes of the Black Sea fish].

PubMed

Silkin, Iu A; Silkina, E N; Zabelinskiĭ, S A

2012-01-01

The phospholipid and the fatty acid composition of the main phospholipids families of erythrocyte plasma membranes was studied in two species of cartilaginous fish: the common thrasher (Raja clavata L.) and the common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca) and three bony fish species: the scorpion fish (Scorpaena porcus L.), the smarida (Spicara flexuosa Raf.), and the horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus ponticus Aleev). It was shown that in the studied fish, 70.0-80.0 % of all membrane phospholipids were composed of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Phosphatidylserine, monophosphoinositide, and sphingomyelin were minor components whose content in the erythrocyte membrane fluctuated from 3.0 % to 13.0 %. The fatty acid phospholipids composition was represented by a large specter of acids. From saturated acids, basic for plasma membranes are palmitic (C16: 0) and stearic (C18: 0) acids. From unsaturated acids, the larger part belong to mono-, tetra-, penta-, and hexaenoic acids in fish phospholipids. The calculation of the double bond index and of the unsaturation coefficient showed difference in the deformation ability of erythrocyte membranes of the studied fish.

Composite separators and redox flow batteries based on porous separators

DOEpatents

Li, Bin; Wei, Xiaoliang; Luo, Qingtao; Nie, Zimin; Wang, Wei; Sprenkle, Vincent L.

2016-01-12

Composite separators having a porous structure and including acid-stable, hydrophilic, inorganic particles enmeshed in a substantially fully fluorinated polyolefin matrix can be utilized in a number of applications. The inorganic particles can provide hydrophilic characteristics. The pores of the separator result in good selectivity and electrical conductivity. The fluorinated polymeric backbone can result in high chemical stability. Accordingly, one application of the composite separators is in redox flow batteries as low cost membranes. In such applications, the composite separator can also enable additional property-enhancing features compared to ion-exchange membranes. For example, simple capacity control can be achieved through hydraulic pressure by balancing the volumes of electrolyte on each side of the separator. While a porous separator can also allow for volume and pressure regulation, in RFBs that utilize corrosive and/or oxidizing compounds, the composite separators described herein are preferable for their robustness in the presence of such compounds.

Titanium dioxide, single-walled carbon nanotube composites

DOEpatents

Yao, Yuan; Li, Gonghu; Gray, Kimberly; Lueptow, Richard M.

2015-07-14

The present invention provides titanium dioxide/single-walled carbon nanotube composites (TiO.sub.2/SWCNTs), articles of manufacture, and methods of making and using such composites. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides membrane filters and ceramic articles that are coated with TiO.sub.2/SWCNT composite material. In other embodiments, the present invention provides methods of using TiO.sub.2/SWCNT composite material to purify a sample, such as a water or air sample.

Electrically conductive cellulose composite

DOEpatents

Evans, Barbara R.; O'Neill, Hugh M.; Woodward, Jonathan

2010-05-04

An electrically conductive cellulose composite includes a cellulose matrix and an electrically conductive carbonaceous material incorporated into the cellulose matrix. The electrical conductivity of the cellulose composite is at least 10 .mu.S/cm at 25.degree. C. The composite can be made by incorporating the electrically conductive carbonaceous material into a culture medium with a cellulose-producing organism, such as Gluconoacetobacter hansenii. The composites can be used to form electrodes, such as for use in membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells.

Erythrocyte Membrane Fatty Acid Composition in Premenopausal Patients with Iron Deficiency Anemia.

PubMed

Aktas, Mehmet; Elmastas, Mahfuz; Ozcicek, Fatih; Yilmaz, Necmettin

2016-01-01

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is one of the most common nutritional disorders in the world. In the present study, we evaluated erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition in premenopausal patients with IDA. Blood samples of 102 premenopausal women and 88 healthy control subjects were collected. After the erythrocytes were separated from the blood samples, the membrane lipids were carefully extracted, and the various membrane fatty acids were measured by gas chromatography (GC). Statistical analyses were performed with the SPSS software program. We used blood ferritin concentration <15 ng/mL as cut-off for the diagnosis of IDA. The five most abundant individual fatty acids obtained were palmitic acid (16:0), oleic acid (18:1, n-9c), linoleic acid (18:2, n-6c), stearic acid (18:0), and erucic acid (C22:1, n-9c). These compounds constituted about 87% of the total membrane fatty acids in patients with IDA, and 79% of the total membrane fatty acids in the control group. Compared with control subjects, case patients had higher percentages of palmitic acid (29.9% case versus 25.3% control), oleic acid (16.8% case versus 15.1% control), and stearic acid (13.5% case versus 10.5% control), and lower percentages of erucic acid (11.5% case versus 13.6% control) and linoleic acid (15.2% case versus 15.4% control) in their erythrocyte membranes. In conclusion, the total-erythrocyte-membrane saturated fatty acid (SFA) composition in premenopausal women with IDA was found to be higher than that in the control group; however, the total-erythrocyte-membrane unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) composition in premenopausal women with IDA was found to be lower than that in the control group. The differences in these values were statistically significant.

Liquid—liquid interface-mediated Au—ZnO composite membrane using ‘thiol-ene’ click chemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, Mohammed; Ghosh, Sujit Kumar

2015-07-01

A nanoparticle-decorated composite membrane has been devised at the water/CCl4 interface based on the self-assembly of ligand-stabilized gold and zinc oxide nanoparticles, exploiting the ‘thiol-ene’ click chemistry between the thiol groups of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid-stabilized ZnO nanoparticles and the ene functionality of cinnamic acid attached to gold nanoparticles. The interfacial assembly of ultrasmall particles leads to a multilayer film that exhibits charge-dependent permeability of amino acid molecules across the membrane.

Gas separation by composite solvent-swollen membranes

DOEpatents

Matson, S.L.; Lee, E.K.L.; Friesen, D.T.; Kelly, D.J.

1989-04-25

There is disclosed a composite immobilized liquid membrane of a solvent-swollen polymer and a microporous organic or inorganic support, the solvent being at least one highly polar solvent containing at least one nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus or sulfur atom, and having a boiling point of at least 100 C and a specified solubility parameter. The solvent or solvent mixture is homogeneously distributed through the solvent-swollen polymer from 20% to 95% by weight. The membrane is suitable for acid gas scrubbing and oxygen/nitrogen separation. 3 figs.

Gas separation by composite solvent-swollen membranes

DOEpatents

Matson, Stephen L.; Lee, Eric K. L.; Friesen, Dwayne T.; Kelly, Donald J.

1989-01-01

There is disclosed a composite immobulized liquid membrane of a solvent-swollen polymer and a microporous organic or inorganic support, the solvent being at least one highly polar solvent containing at least one nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous or sulfur atom, and having a boiling point of at least 100.degree. C. and a specified solubility parameter. The solvent or solvent mixture is homogeneously distributed through the solvent-swollen polymer from 20% to 95% by weight. The membrane is suitable for acid gas scrubbing and oxygen/nitrogen separation.

A Novel Fabrication Approach for Multifunctional Graphene-based Thin Film Nano-composite Membranes with Enhanced Desalination and Antibacterial Characteristics.

PubMed

Hegab, Hanaa M; ElMekawy, Ahmed; Barclay, Thomas G; Michelmore, Andrew; Zou, Linda; Losic, Dusan; Saint, Christopher P; Ginic-Markovic, Milena

2017-08-08

A practical fabrication technique is presented to tackle the trade-off between the water flux and salt rejection of thin film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes through controlled creation of a thinner active selective polyamide (PA) layer. The new thin film nano-composite (TFNC) RO membranes were synthesized with multifunctional poly tannic acid-functionalized graphene oxide nanosheets (pTA-f-GO) embedded in its PA thin active layer, which is produced through interfacial polymerization. The incorporation of pTA-f-GOL into the fabricated TFNC membranes resulted in a thinner PA layer with lower roughness and higher hydrophilicity compared to pristine membrane. These properties enhanced both the membrane water flux (improved by 40%) and salt rejection (increased by 8%) of the TFNC membrane. Furthermore, the incorporation of biocidal pTA-f-GO nanosheets into the PA active layer contributed to improving the antibacterial properties by 80%, compared to pristine membrane. The fabrication of the pTA-f-GO nanosheets embedded in the PA layer presented in this study is a very practical, scalable and generic process that can potentially be applied in different types of separation membranes resulting in less energy consumption, increased cost-efficiency and improved performance.

Composite S-layer lipid structures

PubMed Central

Schuster, Bernhard; Sleytr, Uwe B.

2010-01-01

Designing and utilization of biomimetic membrane systems generated by bottom-up processes is a rapidly growing scientific and engineering field. Elucidation of the supramolecular construction principle of archaeal cell envelopes composed of S-layer stabilized lipid membranes led to new strategies for generating highly stable functional lipid membranes at meso- and macroscopic scale. In this review, we provide a state of the art survey how S-layer proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides may be used as basic building blocks for the assembly of S-layer supported lipid membranes. These biomimetic membrane systems are distinguished by a nanopatterned fluidity, enhanced stability and longevity and thus, provide a dedicated reconstitution matrix for membrane-active peptides and transmembrane proteins. Exciting areas for application of composite S-layer membrane systems concern sensor systems involving specific membrane functions. PMID:19303933

Fabrication of composite membranes using copper metal organic framework for energy application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gahlot, Swati; Rajput, Abhishek; Kulshrestha, Vaibhav

2018-04-01

Present manuscript deals with the synthesis of nanocomposite polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) based on copper based metal organic framework (Cu-MOF) and sulfonated poly ether sulfone (SPES) for fuel cell application. Prepared material and composite membrane has been analyzed through various techniques. Structural and thermal characterization of prepared material has been carried out through XRD, FTIR and TGA technique. Measurement shows the successful synthesis of MOF and also confirms the thermal stability. Prepared membranes shows good physicochemical properties and good ionic conductivity which can be utilized as PEM for fuel cell application.

Composite plasma polymerized sulfonated polystyrene membrane for PEMFC

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nath, Bhabesh Kumar; Khan, Aziz; Chutia, Joyanti, E-mail: jchutiaiasst@gmail.com

2015-10-15

Highlights: • Methyl methane sulfonate (MMS) is used as the sulfonating agent. • The proton conductivity of the membrane is found to be 0.141 S cm{sup −1}. • Power density of fuel cell with styrene/MMS membrane is 0.5 W cm{sup −2}. • The membrane exhibits thermal stability up to 140 °C. - Abstract: This work presents the introduction of an organic compound methyl methane sulfonate (MMS) for the first time in fabrication of polystyrene based proton exchange membrane (PEM) by plasma polymerization process. The membrane is fabricated by co-polymerizing styrene and MMS in capacitively coupled continuous RF plasma. The chemicalmore » composition of the plasma polymerized polymer membrane is investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy which reveals the formation of composite structure of styrene and MMS. The surface morphology studied using AFM and SEM depicts the effect of higher partial pressure of MMS on surface topography of the membrane. The proton transport property of the membrane studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows the achievement of maximum proton conductivity of 0.141 S cm{sup −1} which is comparable to Nafion 117 membrane. Fuel cell performance test of the synthesized membrane shows a maximum power density of 500 mW cm{sup −2} and current density of 0.62 A cm{sup −2} at 0.6 V.« less

A statistical anomaly indicates symbiotic origins of eukaryotic membranes

PubMed Central

Bansal, Suneyna; Mittal, Aditya

2015-01-01

Compositional analyses of nucleic acids and proteins have shed light on possible origins of living cells. In this work, rigorous compositional analyses of ∼5000 plasma membrane lipid constituents of 273 species in the three life domains (archaea, eubacteria, and eukaryotes) revealed a remarkable statistical paradox, indicating symbiotic origins of eukaryotic cells involving eubacteria. For lipids common to plasma membranes of the three domains, the number of carbon atoms in eubacteria was found to be similar to that in eukaryotes. However, mutually exclusive subsets of same data show exactly the opposite—the number of carbon atoms in lipids of eukaryotes was higher than in eubacteria. This statistical paradox, called Simpson's paradox, was absent for lipids in archaea and for lipids not common to plasma membranes of the three domains. This indicates the presence of interaction(s) and/or association(s) in lipids forming plasma membranes of eubacteria and eukaryotes but not for those in archaea. Further inspection of membrane lipid structures affecting physicochemical properties of plasma membranes provides the first evidence (to our knowledge) on the symbiotic origins of eukaryotic cells based on the “third front” (i.e., lipids) in addition to the growing compositional data from nucleic acids and proteins. PMID:25631820

Fabrication of low-methanol-permeability sulfonated poly(phenylene oxide) membranes with hollow glass microspheres for direct methanol fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahn, Kisang; Kim, Myeongjin; Kim, Kiho; Ju, Hyun; Oh, Ilgeun; Kim, Jooheon

2015-02-01

Organic/inorganic composite membranes, based on sulfonated poly(phenylene oxide) (SPPO) and hollow glass microspheres (HGMs), with various compositions are prepared for use as proton exchange membranes in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Reaction time between chlorosulfonic acid solution and PPO is controlled to improve proton conductivity of the SPPO membrane. As a result, SPPO at 38.2% sulfonation is selected as the optimum degree of sulfonation. Afterwards, SPPO is successfully introduced onto the surfaces of HGMs to increase their dispersion in the SPPO matrix. The ion exchange capacities (IEC) and proton conductivities of the membranes decrease with increasing amounts of the SPPO-HGMs, because of the decrease of ionic sites with increasing HGM content. The SPPO-HGM composite membranes exhibit proton conductivities ranging from 0.0350 to 0.0212 S cm-1 and low methanol permeability ranging from 1.02 × 10-6 to 3.41 × 10-7 cm2 s-1 at 20 °C. Furthermore, the SPPO-HGM 9 wt%/SPPO membrane presents a maximum power density of 81.5 mW cm-2 and open circuit voltage of 0.70 V.

Mixed conducting membranes for syngas production

DOEpatents

Dyer, Paul Nigel; Carolan, Michael Francis; Butt, Darryl; Van Doorn, Rene Hendrick Elias; Cutler, Raymond Ashton

2002-01-01

This invention presents a new class of multicomponent metallic oxides which are particularly suited toward use in fabricating components used in processes for producing syngas. The non-stoichiometric, A-site rich compositions of the present invention are represented by the formula (Ln.sub.x Ca.sub.1-x).sub.y FeO.sub.3-.delta. wherein Ln is La or a mixture of lanthanides comprising La, and wherein 1.0>x>0.5, 1.1.gtoreq.y>1.0 and .delta. is a number which renders the composition of matter charge neutral. Solid-state membranes formed from these compositions provide a favorable balance of oxygen permeance and resistance to degradation when employed in processes for producing syngas. This invention also presents a process for making syngas which utilizes such membranes.

Method of forming an electrically conductive cellulose composite

DOEpatents

Evans, Barbara R [Oak Ridge, TN; O'Neill, Hugh M [Knoxville, TN; Woodward, Jonathan [Ashtead, GB

2011-11-22

An electrically conductive cellulose composite includes a cellulose matrix and an electrically conductive carbonaceous material incorporated into the cellulose matrix. The electrical conductivity of the cellulose composite is at least 10 .mu.S/cm at 25.degree. C. The composite can be made by incorporating the electrically conductive carbonaceous material into a culture medium with a cellulose-producing organism, such as Gluconoacetobacter hansenii. The composites can be used to form electrodes, such as for use in membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells.

Cytotoxic effects of composite dust on human bronchial epithelial cells.

PubMed

Cokic, Stevan M; Hoet, Peter; Godderis, Lode; Wiemann, Martin; Asbach, Christof; Reichl, Franz X; De Munck, Jan; Van Meerbeek, Bart; Van Landuyt, Kirsten L

2016-12-01

Previous research revealed that during routine abrasive procedures like polishing, shaping or removing of composites, high amounts of respirable dust particles (<5μm) including nano-sized particles (<100nm) may be released. To determine the cytotoxic potential of composite dust particles on bronchial epithelium cells. Composite dust of five commercial composites (one nano-composite, two nano-hybrid and two hybrid composites) was generated following a clinically relevant protocol. Polymerized composite samples were cut with a rough diamond bur (grain size 100μm, speed 200,000rpm) and all composite dust was collected in a sterile chamber. Human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE14o-) were exposed to serially diluted suspensions of composite dust in cell culture medium at concentrations between 1.1 and 3.3mg/ml. After 24h-exposure, cell viability and membrane integrity were assessed by the WST-1 and the LDH leakage assay, respectively. The release of IL-1β and IL-6 was evaluated. The composite dust particles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and by dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering. Neither membrane damage nor release of IL-1β was detected over the complete concentration range. However, metabolic activity gradually declined for concentrations higher than 660μg/ml and the release of IL-6 was reduced when cells were exposed to the highest concentrations of dust. Composite dust prepared by conventional dental abrasion methods only affected human bronchial epithelial cells in very high concentrations. Copyright © 2016 The Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of membrane fatty acid composition and fluidity on airborne survival of Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Ng, Tsz Wai; Chan, Wing Lam; Lai, Ka Man

2018-04-01

Finding ways to predict and control the survival of bacterial aerosols can contribute to the development of ways to alleviate a number of crucial microbiological problems. Significant damage in the membrane integrity of Escherichia coli during aerosolization and airborne suspension has been revealed which has prompted the question of how the membrane fatty acid composition and fluidity influence the survival of airborne bacteria. Two approaches of using isogenic mutants and different growth temperatures were selected to manipulate the membrane fatty acid composition of E. coli before challenging the bacteria with different relative humidity (RH) levels in an aerosol chamber. Among the mutants (fabR - , cfa. fadA - ), fabR - had the lowest membrane fluidity index (FI) and generally showed a higher survival than the parental strain. Surprisingly, its resistance to airborne stress was so strong that its viability was fully maintained even after airborne suspension at 40% RH, a harsh RH level to bacterial survival. Moreover, E. coli cultured at 20 °C with a higher FI than that at 30 and 37 °C generally had a lower survival after aerosolization and airborne suspension. Unlike FI, individual fatty acid and cyclopropane fatty acid composition did not relate to the bacterial survival. Lipid peroxidation of the membrane was undetected in all the bacteria. Membrane fluidity plays a stronger role in determining the bacteria survival during airborne suspension than during aerosolization. Certain relationships between FI and bacteria survival were identified, which could help predict the transmission of bacteria under different conditions.

Restored in vivo-like membrane lipidomics positively influence in vitro features of cultured mesenchymal stromal/stem cells derived from human placenta.

PubMed

Chatgilialoglu, Alexandros; Rossi, Martina; Alviano, Francesco; Poggi, Paola; Zannini, Chiara; Marchionni, Cosetta; Ricci, Francesca; Tazzari, Pier Luigi; Taglioli, Valentina; Calder, Philip C; Bonsi, Laura

2017-02-07

The study of lipid metabolism in stem cell physiology has recently raised great interest. The role of lipids goes beyond the mere structural involvement in assembling extra- and intra-cellular compartments. Nevertheless, we are still far from understanding the impact of membrane lipidomics in stemness maintenance and differentiation patterns. In the last years, it has been reported how in vitro cell culturing can modify membrane lipidomics. The aim of the present work was to study the membrane fatty acid profile of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) derived from human fetal membranes (hFM-MSCs) and to correlate this to specific biological properties by using chemically defined tailored lipid supplements (Refeed®). Freshly isolated hFM-MSCs were characterized for their membrane fatty acid composition. hFM-MSCs were cultivated in vitro following a classical protocol and their membrane fatty acid profile at different passages was compared to the profile in vivo. A tailored Refeed® lipid supplement was developed with the aim of reducing the differences created by the in vitro cultivation and was tested on cultured hFM-MSCs. Cell morphology, viability, proliferation, angiogenic differentiation, and immunomodulatory properties after in vitro exposure to the tailored Refeed® lipid supplement were investigated. A significant modification of hFM-MSC membrane fatty acid composition occurred during in vitro culture. Using a tailored lipid supplement, the fatty acid composition of cultured cells remained more similar to their in vivo counterparts, being characterized by a higher polyunsaturated and omega-6 fatty acid content. These changes in membrane composition had no effect on cell morphology and viability, but were linked with increased cell proliferation rate, angiogenic differentiation, and immunomodulatory properties. In particular, Refeed®-supplemented hFM-MSCs showed greater ability to express fully functional cell membrane molecules. Culturing hFM-MSCs alters their fatty acid composition. A tailored lipid supplement is able to improve in vitro hFM-MSC functional properties by recreating a membrane environment more similar to the physiological counterpart. This approach should be considered in cell therapy applications in order to maintain a higher cell quality during in vitro passaging and to influence the outcome of cell-based therapeutic approaches when cells are administered to patients.

High-performance multilayer composite membranes with mussel-inspired polydopamine as a versatile molecular bridge for CO2 separation.

PubMed

Li, Panyuan; Wang, Zhi; Li, Wen; Liu, Yanni; Wang, Jixiao; Wang, Shichang

2015-07-22

It is desirable to develop high-performance composite membranes for efficient CO2 separation in CO2 capture process. Introduction of a highly permeable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) intermediate layer between a selective layer and a porous support has been considered as a simple but efficient way to enhance gas permeance while maintaining high gas selectivity, because the introduced intermediate layer could benefit the formation of an ultrathin defect-free selective layer owing to the circumvention of pore penetration phenomenon. However, the selection of selective layer materials is unfavorably restricted because of the low surface energy of PDMS. Various highly hydrophilic membrane materials such as amino group-rich polyvinylamine (PVAm), a representative facilitated transport membrane material for CO2 separation, could not be facilely coated over the surface of the hydrophobic PDMS intermediate layer uniformly. Inspired by the hydrophilic nature and strong adhesive ability of polydopamine (PDA), PDA was therefore selected as a versatile molecular bridge between hydrophobic PDMS and hydrophilic PVAm. The PDA coating endows a highly compatible interface between both components with a large surface energy difference via multiple-site cooperative interactions. The resulting multilayer composite membrane with a thin facilitated transport PVAm selective layer exhibits a notably enhanced CO2 permeance (1887 GPU) combined with a slightly improved CO2/N2 selectivity (83), as well as superior structural stability. Similarly, the multilayer composite membrane with a hydrophilic CO2-philic Pebax 1657 selective layer was also developed for enhanced CO2 separation performance.

The Interaction of Melittin with Dimyristoyl Phosphatidylcholine-Dimyristoyl Phosphatidylserine Lipid Bilayer Membranes

DOE PAGES

Rai, Durgesh K.; Qian, Shuo; Heller, William T.

2016-08-13

We report that membrane-active peptides (MAPs), which interact directly with the lipid bilayer of a cell and include toxins and host defense peptides, display lipid composition-dependent activity. Phosphatidylserine (PS) lipids are anionic lipids that are found throughout the cellular membranes of most eukaryotic organisms where they serve as both a functional component and as a precursor to phosphatidylethanolamine lipids. The inner leaflet of the plasma membrane contains more PS than the outer one, and the asymmetry is actively maintained. Here, the impact of the MAP melittin on the structure of lipid bilayer vesicles made of a mixture of phosphatidylcholine andmore » phosphatidylserine was studied. Small-angle neutron scattering of the MAP associated with selectively deuterium-labeled lipid bilayer vesicles revealed how the thickness and lipid composition of phosphatidylserine-containing vesicles change in response to melittin. The peptide thickens the lipid bilayer for concentrations up to P/L = 1/500, but membrane thinning results when P/L = 1/200. The thickness transition is accompanied by a large change in the distribution of DMPS between the leaflets of the bilayer. The change in composition is driven by electrostatic interactions, while the change in bilayer thickness is driven by changes in the interaction of the peptide with the headgroup region of the lipid bilayer. Lastly, the results provide new information about lipid-specific interactions that take place in mixed composition lipid bilayer membranes.« less

The Interaction of Melittin with Dimyristoyl Phosphatidylcholine-Dimyristoyl Phosphatidylserine Lipid Bilayer Membranes.

PubMed

Rai, Durgesh K; Qian, Shuo; Heller, William T

2016-11-01

Membrane-active peptides (MAPs), which interact directly with the lipid bilayer of a cell and include toxins and host defense peptides, display lipid composition-dependent activity. Phosphatidylserine (PS) lipids are anionic lipids that are found throughout the cellular membranes of most eukaryotic organisms where they serve as both a functional component and as a precursor to phosphatidylethanolamine lipids. The inner leaflet of the plasma membrane contains more PS than the outer one, and the asymmetry is actively maintained. Here, the impact of the MAP melittin on the structure of lipid bilayer vesicles made of a mixture of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine was studied. Small-angle neutron scattering of the MAP associated with selectively deuterium-labeled lipid bilayer vesicles revealed how the thickness and lipid composition of phosphatidylserine-containing vesicles change in response to melittin. The peptide thickens the lipid bilayer for concentrations up to P/L=1/500, but membrane thinning results when P/L=1/200. The thickness transition is accompanied by a large change in the distribution of DMPS between the leaflets of the bilayer. The change in composition is driven by electrostatic interactions, while the change in bilayer thickness is driven by changes in the interaction of the peptide with the headgroup region of the lipid bilayer. The results provide new information about lipid-specific interactions that take place in mixed composition lipid bilayer membranes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Poly-m-aramid nanofiber mats: Production for application as structural modifiers in CFRP laminates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazzocchetti, Laura; D'Angelo, Emanuele; Benelli, Tiziana; Belcari, Juri; Brugo, Tommaso Maria; Zucchelli, Andrea; Giorgini, Loris

2016-05-01

Poly(m-phenylene isophtalamide) electrospun nanofibrous membranes were produced to be used as structural reinforcements for carbon fiber reinforced composites production. In order for the polymer to be electrospun, it needs however to be fully solubilized, so the addition of some salts is required to help disrupt the tight macromolecular packing based on intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen bonding. Such salts may also contribute to the electrospinnability of the overall solution, since the provide it with a higher conductivity, whatever the solvent might be. The salt haobwever stays in the final nanofibrous mat. The membranes containing the salt are also observed to be highly hygroscopic, with a water content up to 26%, in the presence of 20%wt LiCl in the nanofibrous mat. When those membranes were interleaved among prepregs to produce a laminates, the obtained composite displayed thermal properties comparable to those of a reference nanofiber-free composite, though the former showed also easier delamination. Hence the removal of the hygroscopic salt was performed, that lead to thinner membranes, whose water content matched that of the pristine polymer. The washing step induced a thinning of the layers and of the fibers diameters, though no fiber shrinking nor membrane macroscopic damages were observed. These preliminary encouraging results thus pave the way to a deeper study of the optimized condition for producing convenient poly(m-phenylene isophtalamide) electrospun nanofibrous membranes to be used for carbon fiber reinforced composites structural modification.

Amine Enrichment of Thin-Film Composite Membranes via Low Pressure Plasma Polymerization for Antimicrobial Adhesion.

PubMed

Reis, Rackel; Dumée, Ludovic F; He, Li; She, Fenghua; Orbell, John D; Winther-Jensen, Bjorn; Duke, Mikel C

2015-07-15

Thin-film composite membranes, primarily based on poly(amide) (PA) semipermeable materials, are nowadays the dominant technology used in pressure driven water desalination systems. Despite offering superior water permeation and salt selectivity, their surface properties, such as their charge and roughness, cannot be extensively tuned due to the intrinsic fabrication process of the membranes by interfacial polymerization. The alteration of these properties would lead to a better control of the materials surface zeta potential, which is critical to finely tune selectivity and enhance the membrane materials stability when exposed to complex industrial waste streams. Low pressure plasma was employed to introduce amine functionalities onto the PA surface of commercially available thin-film composite (TFC) membranes. Morphological changes after plasma polymerization were analyzed by SEM and AFM, and average surface roughness decreased by 29%. Amine enrichment provided isoelectric point changes from pH 3.7 to 5.2 for 5 to 15 min of plasma polymerization time. Synchrotron FTIR mappings of the amine-modified surface indicated the addition of a discrete 60 nm film to the PA layer. Furthermore, metal affinity was confirmed by the enhanced binding of silver to the modified surface, supported by an increased antimicrobial functionality with demonstrable elimination of E. coli growth. Essential salt rejection was shown minimally compromised for faster polymerization processes. Plasma polymerization is therefore a viable route to producing functional amine enriched thin-film composite PA membrane surfaces.

Simple fabrication of 12 μm thin nanocomposite fuel cell membranes by direct electrospinning and printing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Breitwieser, Matthias; Klose, Carolin; Klingele, Matthias; Hartmann, Armin; Erben, Johannes; Cho, Hyeongrae; Kerres, Jochen; Zengerle, Roland; Thiele, Simon

2017-01-01

Direct membrane deposition (DMD) was recently introduced as a novel polymer electrolyte membrane fabrication method. Here, this approach is extended to fabricate 12 μm thin nanocomposite fuel cell membranes. Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) nanofibers are directly electrospun onto gas diffusion electrodes. By inkjet-printing Nafion ionomer dispersion into the pore space of PVDF-HFP nanofiber mats, composite membranes of 12 μm thickness were fabricated. At 120 °C and 35% relative humidity, stoichiometric 1.5/2.5 H2/air flow and atmospheric pressure, the power density of the DMD fuel cell (0.19 W cm-2), was about 1.7 times higher than that of the reference fuel cell (0.11 W cm-2) with Nafion HP membrane and identical catalyst. A lower ionic resistance and, especially at 120 °C, a reduced charge transfer resistance is found compared to the Nafion HP membrane. A 100 h accelerated stress test revealed a voltage decay of below 0.8 mV h-1, which is in the range of literature values for significantly thicker reinforced membranes. Finally, this novel fabrication approach enables new degrees of freedom in the design of complex composite membranes. The presented combination of scalable deposition techniques has the potential to simplify and thus reduce cost of composite membrane fabrication at a larger scale.

Giant Plasma Membrane Vesicles: An Experimental Tool for Probing the Effects of Drugs and Other Conditions on Membrane Domain Stability.

PubMed

Gerstle, Zoe; Desai, Rohan; Veatch, Sarah L

2018-01-01

Giant plasma membrane vesicles (GPMVs) are isolated directly from living cells and provide an alternative to vesicles constructed of synthetic or purified lipids as an experimental model system for use in a wide range of assays. GPMVs capture much of the compositional protein and lipid complexity of intact cell plasma membranes, are filled with cytoplasm, and are free from contamination with membranes from internal organelles. GPMVs often exhibit a miscibility transition below the growth temperature of their parent cells. GPMVs labeled with a fluorescent protein or lipid analog appear uniform on the micron-scale when imaged above the miscibility transition temperature, and separate into coexisting liquid domains with differing membrane compositions and physical properties below this temperature. The presence of this miscibility transition in isolated GPMVs suggests that a similar phase-like heterogeneity occurs in intact plasma membranes under growth conditions, albeit on smaller length scales. In this context, GPMVs provide a simple and controlled experimental system to explore how drugs and other environmental conditions alter the composition and stability of phase-like domains in intact cell membranes. This chapter describes methods to generate and isolate GPMVs from adherent mammalian cells and to interrogate their miscibility transition temperatures using fluorescence microscopy. © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Electrospun H4SiW12O40/cellulose acetate composite nanofibrous membrane for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline and methyl orange with different mechanism.

PubMed

Li, Wei; Li, Tingting; Li, Guangtao; An, Libao; Li, Fan; Zhang, Zhiming

2017-07-15

H 4 SiW 12 O 40 (SiW 12 )/cellulose acetate (CA) composite nanofibrous membrane was prepared by electrospinning in which CA was employed as the support of SiW 12 . Characterization with Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that SiW 12 has been successfully loaded into the CA membrane and its Keggin structure remained intact. The as-prepared composite membrane exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity in the decomposition of tetracycline (TC) and methyl orange (MO) compared with pure SiW 12 under ultraviolet irradiation. The optimal mass ratio of SiW 12 to CA was 1:4, and the corresponding degradation efficiency for TC and MO was 63.8% and 94.6%, respectively. It is noteworthy that the degradation rate of MO increased more evidently than that of TC under the same conditions, which may be attributed to the different role that CA nanofibrous membrane played in the TC and MO photodegradation process. Besides providing more contact area between SiW 12 and the pollutant in TC photodegradation, CA membrane played an additional role that donated electron to SiW 12 in the MO degradation process, leading to a different photocatalytic mechanism with greatly enhanced degradation rate. Moreover, the composite membrane presented an excellent reusability, which was mainly ascribed to the water-insolubility of CA and the hydrogen bonds between CA and SiW 12 . This work will be useful for the design of biopolymer-based membrane photocatalysts applied to antibiotics and dyes wastewater treatment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Liposomes as model for taste cells: receptor sites for bitter substances including N-C=S substances and mechanism of membrane potential changes.

PubMed

Kumazawa, T; Nomura, T; Kurihara, K

1988-02-23

Various bitter substances were found to depolarize liposomes. The results obtained are as follows: (1) Changes in the membrane potential of azolectin liposomes in response to various bitter substances were monitored by measuring changes in the fluorescence intensity of 3,3'-dipropylthiocarbocyanine iodide [diS-C3(5)]. All the bitter substances examined increased the fluorescence intensity of the liposome-dye suspension, which indicates that the substances depolarize the liposomes. There existed a good correlation between the minimum concentrations of the bitter substances to depolarize the liposomes and the taste thresholds in humans. (2) The effects of changed lipid composition of liposomes on the responses to various bitter substances vary greatly among bitter substances, suggesting that the receptor sites for bitter substances are multiple. The responses to N-C=S substances and sucrose octaacetate especially greatly depended on the lipid composition; these compounds depolarized only liposomes having certain lipid composition, while no or hyperpolarizing responses to these compounds were observed in other liposomes examined. This suggested that the difference in "taster" and "nontaster" for these substances can be explained in terms of difference in the lipid composition of taste receptor membranes. (3) It was confirmed that the membrane potential of the planar lipid bilayer is changed in response to bitter substances. The membrane potential changes in the planar lipid bilayer as well as in liposomes in response to the bitter substances occurred under the condition that there is no ion gradient across the membranes. These results suggested that the membrane potential changes in response to bitter substances stem from the phase boundary potential changes induced by adsorption of the substances on the hydrophobic region of the membranes.

The influence of a non-occlusive bi-layer composite membrane on skin barrier properties. A non-invasive evaluation with a right-left intra-individual pre/post comparison study.

PubMed

Brazzelli, V; Berardesca, E; Rona, C; Borroni, G

2008-01-01

The purpose of this placebo-controlled right-left intra-individual pre/post comparison study was to evaluate the efficacy of a new bi-layer composite membrane, composed of a layer of knitted cotton and a layer of semi-permeable polyurethane, developed in order to improve skin hydration. Eighteen healthy subjects entered the study. A T-shirt, dedicated to this study, was prepared and it was worn for 8 h, mimicking overnight wearing. Before and at the removal of the T-shirt an objective quantification of skin parameters was performed by measuring hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin surface pH, bilaterally, on the inner side of the forearm. Measurements were performed both at the interface between the skin and the bi-layer composite membrane or cotton and on the outer side of the membrane (to assess permeation of water and occlusive properties of the product) with and without a single application of a moisturizer. A statistically significant improvement of skin hydration, recorded on the stratum corneum underneath the bi-layer membrane versus cotton alone, was measured both with (p < 0.0001) and without application of the moisturizer (p < 0.002). TEWL was shown to decrease significantly on the side of the bi-layer membrane, if compared with cotton (p < 0.008), after application of the moisturizer. TEWL through the membrane showed no significant differences as compared to placebo, confirming the permeability of the fabric. Our data suggest that this bi-layer composite membrane can promote the hydration process of the stratum corneum, increasing the hydrating properties of the moisturizer agent. (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

Method of making sulfur-resistant composite metal membranes

DOEpatents

Way, J Douglas [Boulder, CO; Lusk, Mark [Golden, CO; Thoen, Paul [Littleton, CO

2012-01-24

The invention provides thin, hydrogen-permeable, sulfur-resistant membranes formed from palladium or palladium-alloy coatings on porous, ceramic or metal supports. Also disclosed are methods of making these membranes via sequential electroless plating techniques, wherein the method of making the membrane includes decomposing any organic ligands present on the substrate, reducing the palladium crystallites on the substrate to reduced palladium crystallites, depositing a film of palladium metal on the substrate and then depositing a second, gold film on the palladium film. These two metal films are then annealed at a temperature between about 200.degree. C. and about 1200.degree. C. to form a sulfur-resistant, composite PdAu alloy membrane.

Lysosomal degradation of membrane lipids.

PubMed

Kolter, Thomas; Sandhoff, Konrad

2010-05-03

The constitutive degradation of membrane components takes place in the acidic compartments of a cell, the endosomes and lysosomes. Sites of lipid degradation are intralysosomal membranes that are formed in endosomes, where the lipid composition is adjusted for degradation. Cholesterol is sorted out of the inner membranes, their content in bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate increases, and, most likely, sphingomyelin is degraded to ceramide. Together with endosomal and lysosomal lipid-binding proteins, the Niemann-Pick disease, type C2-protein, the GM2-activator, and the saposins sap-A, -B, -C, and -D, a suitable membrane lipid composition is required for degradation of complex lipids by hydrolytic enzymes. Copyright 2009 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Rinse-resistant superhydrophobic block copolymer fabrics by electrospinning, electrospraying and thermally-induced self-assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Jie; Li, Xin; Wu, Yang; Liao, Guoxing; Johnston, Priscilla; Topham, Paul D.; Wang, Linge

2017-11-01

An inherent problem that restricts the practical application of superhydrophobic materials is that the superhydrophobic property is not sustainable; it can be diminished, or even lost, when the surface is physically damaged. In this work, we present an efficient approach for the fabrication of superhydrophobic fibrous fabrics with great rinse-resistance where a block copolymer has been electrospun into a nanofibrous mesh while micro-sized beads have been subsequently electrosprayed to give a morphologically composite material. The intricate nano- and microstructure of the composite was then fixed by thermally annealing the block copolymer to induce self-assembly and interdigitation of the microphase separated domains. To demonstrate this approach, a polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-polystyrene (SEBS) nanofibrous scaffold was produced by electrospinning before SEBS beads were electrosprayed into this mesh to form a hierarchical micro/nanostructure of beads and fibers. The effects of type and density of SEBS beads on the surface morphology and wetting properties of composite membranes were studied extensively. Compared with a neat SEBS fibrous mesh, the composite membrane had enhanced hydrophobic properties. The static water contact angle increased from 139° (±3°) to 156° (±1°), while the sliding angle decreased to 8° (±1°) from nearly 90°. In order to increase the rinse-resistance of the composite membrane, a thermal annealing step was applied to physically bind the fibers and beads. Importantly, after 200 h of water flushing, the hierarchical surface structure and superhydrophobicity of the composite membrane were well retained. This work provides a new route for the creation of superhydrophobic fabrics with potential in self-cleaning applications.

Dietary fatty acid composition and the homeostatic regulation of mitochondrial phospholipid classes in red muscle of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

PubMed

Martin, Nicolas; Kraffe, Edouard; Le Grand, Fabienne; Marty, Yanic; Bureau, Dominique P; Guderley, Helga

2015-01-01

Although dietary lipid quality markedly affects fatty acid (FA) composition of mitochondrial membranes from rainbow trout red muscle (Oncorhynchus mykiss), mitochondrial processes are relatively unchanged. As certain classes of phospholipids interact more intimately with membrane proteins than others, we examined whether specific phospholipid classes from these muscle mitochondria were more affected by dietary FA composition than others. To test this hypothesis, we fed trout with two diets differing only in their FA composition: Diet 1 had higher levels of 18:1n-9 and 18:2n-6 than Diet 2, while 22:6n-3 and 22:5n-6 were virtually absent from Diet 1 and high in Diet 2. After 5 months, trout fed Diet 2 had higher proportions of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and less phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in mitochondrial membranes than those fed Diet 1. The FA composition of PC, PE and cardiolipin (CL) showed clear evidence of regulated incorporation of dietary FA. For trout fed Diet 2, 22:6n-3 was the most abundant FA in PC, PE and CL. The n-6 FA were consistently higher in all phospholipid classes of trout fed Diet 1, with shorter n-6 FA being favoured in CL than in PC and PE. Despite these marked changes in individual FA levels with diet, general characteristics such as total polyunsaturated FA, total monounsaturated FA and total saturated FA were conserved in PE and CL, confirming differential regulation of the FA composition of PC, PE and CL. The regulated changes of phospholipid classes presumably maintain critical membrane characteristics despite varying nutritional quality. We postulate that these changes aim to protect mitochondrial function. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Relationship between red cell membrane fatty acids and adipokines in individuals with varying insulin sensitivity.

PubMed

Min, Y; Lowy, C; Islam, S; Khan, F S; Swaminathan, R

2011-06-01

Plasma leptin and adiponectin, and membrane phospholipid fatty acid composition are implicated into the mechanism of insulin resistance but no clear pattern has emerged. Hence, this study examined these variables in subjects presenting to the diabetic clinic for a diagnostic glucose tolerance test. Body composition, glucose, glycated hemoglobin, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, and red cell and plasma phospholipid fatty acids were assessed from 42 normal and 28 impaired glucose tolerant subjects. Insulin sensitivity was determined by homeostatic model assessment. The plasma phosphatidylcholine fatty acid composition of the impaired glucose tolerant subjects was similar to that of normal subjects. However, the impaired glucose tolerant subjects had significantly lower linoleic (P<0.05), eicosapentaenoic (P<0.05) and docosahexaenoic (P<0.01) acids in the red cell phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine compared with the normal subjects. Moreover, red cell phosphatidylcholine docosahexaenoic acid correlated positively with adiponectin (r=0.290, P<0.05) but negatively with leptin (r=-0.252, P<0.05), insulin (r=-0.335, P<0.01) and insulin resistance (r=-0.322, P<0.01). Plasma triglycerides, leptin and glucose combined predicted about 60% of variation in insulin level whereas insulin was the only component that predicted the membrane fatty acids. We postulate that membrane phospholipids fatty acids have an indirect role in determining insulin concentration but insulin has a major role in determining membrane fatty acid composition.

Compositional changes in lipid microdomains of air-blood barrier plasma membranes in pulmonary interstitial edema.

PubMed

Palestini, Paola; Calvi, Chiara; Conforti, Elena; Daffara, Rossella; Botto, Laura; Miserocchi, Giuseppe

2003-10-01

We evaluated in anesthetized rabbits the compositional changes of plasmalemmal lipid microdomains from lung tissue samples after inducing pulmonary interstitial edema (0.5 ml/kg for 3 h, leading to approximately 5% increase in extravascular water). Lipid microdomains (lipid rafts and caveolae) were present in the detergent-resistant fraction (DRF) obtained after discontinuous sucrose density gradient. DRF was enriched in caveolin-1, flotillin, aquaporin-1, GM1, cholesterol, sphingomyelin, and phosphatidylserine, and their contents significantly increased in interstitial edema. The higher DRF content in caveolin, flotillin, and aquaporin-1 and of the ganglioside GM1 suggests an increase both in caveolar domains and in lipid rafts, respectively. Compositional changes could be ascribed to endothelial and epithelial cells that provide most of plasma membrane surface area in the air-blood barrier. Alterations in lipid components in the plasma membrane may reflect rearrangement of floating lipid platforms within the membrane and/or lipid translocation from intracellular stores. Lipid traffic could be stimulated by the marked increase in hydraulic interstitial pressure after initial water accumulation, from approximately -10 to 5 cmH2O, due to the low compliance of the pulmonary tissue, in particular in the basement membranes and in the interfibrillar substance. Compositional changes in lipid microdomains represent a sign of cellular activation and suggest the potential role of mechanotransduction in response to developing interstitial edema.

Interaction of Defensins with Model Cell Membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanders, Lori K.; Schmidt, Nathan W.; Yang, Lihua; Mishra, Abhijit; Gordon, Vernita D.; Selsted, Michael E.; Wong, Gerard C. L.

2009-03-01

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) comprise a key component of innate immunity for a wide range of multicellular organisms. For many AMPs, activity comes from their ability to selectively disrupt and lyse bacterial cell membranes. There are a number of proposed models for this action, but the detailed molecular mechanism of selective membrane permeation remains unclear. Theta defensins are circularized peptides with a high degree of selectivity. We investigate the interaction of model bacterial and eukaryotic cell membranes with theta defensins RTD-1, BTD-7, and compare them to protegrin PG-1, a prototypical AMP, using synchrotron small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). The relationship between membrane composition and peptide induced changes in membrane curvature and topology is examined. By comparing the membrane phase behavior induced by these different peptides we will discuss the importance of amino acid composition and placement on membrane rearrangement.

Enhancement in Proton Conductivity and Thermal Stability in Nafion Membranes Induced by Incorporation of Sulfonated Carbon Nanotubes.

PubMed

Yin, Chongshan; Li, Jingjing; Zhou, Yawei; Zhang, Haining; Fang, Pengfei; He, Chunqing

2018-04-25

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is one of the most promising green power sources, in which perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomer-based membranes (e.g., Nafion) are widely used. However, the widespread application of PEMFCs is greatly limited by the sharp degradation in electrochemical properties of the proton exchange membranes under high temperature and low humidity conditions. In this work, the high-performance sulfonated carbon nanotubes/Nafion composite membranes (Su-CNTs/Nafion) for the PEMFCs were prepared and the mechanism of the microstructures on the macroscopic properties of membranes was intensively studied. Microstructure evolution in Nafion membranes during water uptake was investigated by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, and results strongly showed that the Su-CNTs or CNTs in Nafion composite membranes significantly reinforced Nafion matrices, which influenced the development of ionic-water clusters in them. Proton conductivities in Su-CNTs/Nafion composite membranes were remarkably enhanced due to the mass formation of proton-conducting pathways (water channels) along the Su-CNTs. In particular, these pathways along Su-CNTs in Su-CNTs/Nafion membranes interconnected the isolated ionic-water clusters at low humidity and resulted in less tortuosity of the water channel network for proton transportation at high humidity. At a high temperature of 135 °C, Su-CNTs/Nafion membranes maintained high proton conductivity because the reinforcement of Su-CNTs on Nafion matrices reduced the evaporation of water molecules from membranes as well as the hydrophilic Su-CNTs were helpful for binding water molecules.

Preparation of novel composites based on hydrophilized and functionalized polyacrylonitrile membrane-immobilized NZVI for reductive transformation of metronidazole

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiangyu; Liu, Peng; Ma, Jun; Liu, Huiling

2017-02-01

For the first time, hydrophilized and functionalized polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membrane was synthesized via two-stage process, addition of polyvinyl alcohol and in situ polymerization of acrylic acid (AA), and nano zero-valent iron (NZVI) was incorporated within modified membrane. The as-prepared PAA/PAN-NZVI (PPN) composites possessed superior reactivity for metronidazole (MNZ) with transformation ratio 2.03 and reaction rate 4.77 times higher than that by bare NZVI. Meanwhile, the enhanced stability and recyclability of PPN composites were maintained over repeated cycles. The major advantages of synthetic method lie in the remarkably increased loading and decreased agglomeration of NZVI. Moreover, with hydrophilized and functionalized synthesis processes of membrane, the potential risk of released iron ions was not a concern due to strong chelation of grafted carboxyl groups. Analyses of morphological characteristics (FE-SEM), chemical structure (FTIR), element valence and groups (XPS) of samples confirmed the successful graft of carboxylic acid groups and formation of a uniform iron nanoparticles coating onto PAN matrix. The reaction kinetics of MNZ with PPN composites were well-described by a two-parameter pseudo-first-order decay model with activation energy of 29.5 kJ/mol. The co-solutes except humic acid had a negligible effect on MNZ transformation. Determination of intermediates revealed that nitro reduction, N-denitration and hydroxyethyl cleavage were the main pathways for transformation of MNZ. The findings suggest that the novel composites possess huge potential for antibiotics wastewater treatment.

Highly potent silver-organoalkoxysilane antimicrobial porous nanomembrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Umar, Sirajo; Liu, Yuanfeng; Wu, Yiguang; Li, Guangtao; Ding, Jiabo; Xiong, Runsong; Chen, Jinchun

2013-04-01

We used a simple electrospinning technique to fabricate a highly potent silver-organoalkoxysilane antimicrobial composite from AgNO3-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS)/tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) solution. Spectroscopic and microscopic analyses of the composite showed that the fibers contain an organoalkoxysilane `skeleton,' 0.18 molecules/nm2 surface amino groups, and highly dispersed and uniformly distributed silver nanoparticles (5 nm in size). Incorporation of organoalkoxysilanes is highly beneficial to the antimicrobial mat as (1) amino groups of APTMS are adhesive and biocidal to microorganisms, (2) polycondensation of APTMS and TEOS increases the membrane's surface area by forming silicon bonds that stabilize fibers and form a composite mat with membranous structure and high porosity, and (3) the organoalkoxysilanes are also instrumental to the synthesis of the very small-sized and highly dispersed silver metal particles in the fiber mat. Antimicrobial property of the composite was evaluated by disk diffusion, minimum inhibition concentration (MIC), kinetic, and extended use assays on bacteria (Escherichia coli, Bacillus anthracis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Brucella suis), a fungus (Aspergillus niger), and the Newcastle disease virus. The membrane shows quick and sustained broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Only 0.3 mg of fibers is required to achieve MIC against all the test organisms. Bacteria are inhibited within 30 min of contact, and the fibers can be used repeatedly. The composite is silver efficient and environment friendly, and its membranous structure is suitable for many practical applications as in air filters, antimicrobial linen, coatings, bioadhesives, and biofilms.

[Biocompatibility of poly-L-lactic acid/Bioglass-guided bone regeneration membranes processed with oxygen plasma].

PubMed

Fang, Wei; Zeng, Shu-Guang; Gao, Wen-Feng

2015-04-01

To prepare and characterize a nano-scale fibrous hydrophilic poly-L-lactic acid/ Bioglass (PLLA/BG) composite membrane and evaluate its biocompatibility as a composite membrane for guiding bone regeneration (GBR). PLLA/BG-guided bone regeneration membrane was treated by oxygen plasma to improved its hydrophilicity. The growth of MG-63 osteoblasts on the membrane was observed using Hoechst fluorescence staining, and the biocompatibility of the membrane was evaluated by calculating the cells adhesion rate and proliferation rate. Osteogenesis of MG-63 cells was assessed by detecting alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the formation of calcified nodules and cell morphology changes were observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The cell adhesion rates of PLLA/BG-guided bone regeneration membrane treated with oxygen plasma were (30.570±0.96)%, (47.27±0.78)%, and (66.78±0.69)% at 1, 3, and 6 h, respectively, significantly higher than those on PLLA membrane and untreated PLLA/BG membrane (P<0.01). The cell proliferation rates on the 3 membranes increased with time, but highest on oxygen plasma-treated PLLA/BG membrane (P<0.01). Hoechst fluorescence staining revealed that oxygen plasma treatment of the PLLA/BG membrane promoted cell adhesion. The membranes with Bioglass promoted the matrix secretion of the osteoblasts. Under SEM, the formation of calcified nodules and spindle-shaped cell morphology were observed on oxygen plasma-treated PLLA/BG membrane. Oxygen plasma-treated PLLA/BG composite membrane has good biocompatibility and can promote adhesion, proliferation and osteogenesis of the osteoblasts.

Challenges and advances in the field of self-assembled membranes.

PubMed

van Rijn, Patrick; Tutus, Murat; Kathrein, Christine; Zhu, Leilei; Wessling, Matthias; Schwaneberg, Ulrich; Böker, Alexander

2013-08-21

Self-assembled membranes are of vital importance in biological systems e.g. cellular and organelle membranes, however, more focus is being put on synthetic self-assembled membranes not only as an alternative for lipid membranes but also as an alternative for lithographic methods. More investigations move towards self-assembly processes because of the low-cost preparations, structural self-regulation and the ease of creating composite materials and tunable properties. The fabrication of new smart membrane materials via self-assembly is of interest for delivery vessels, size selective separation and purification, controlled-release materials, sensors and catalysts, scaffolds for tissue engineering, low dielectric constant materials for microelectronic devices, antireflective coatings and proton exchange membranes for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Polymers and nanoparticles offer the most straightforward approaches to create membrane structures. However, alternative approaches using small molecules or composite materials offer novel ultra-thin membranes or multi-functional membranes, respectively. Especially, the composite material membranes are regarded as highly promising since they offer the possibility to combine properties of different systems. The advantages of polymers which provide elastic and flexible yet stable matrices can be combined with nanoparticles being either inorganic, organic or even protein-based which offers pore-size control, catalytic activity or permeation regulation. It is therefore believed that at the interface of different disciplines with each offering different materials or approaches, the most novel and interesting membrane structures are going to be produced. The combinations and approaches presented in this review offer non-conventional self-assembled membrane materials which exhibit a high potential to advance membrane science and find more practical applications.

Influence of lecithin-lipid composition on physico-chemical properties of nanoliposomes loaded with a hydrophobic molecule.

PubMed

Bouarab, Lynda; Maherani, Behnoush; Kheirolomoom, Azadeh; Hasan, Mahmoud; Aliakbarian, Bahar; Linder, Michel; Arab-Tehrany, Elmira

2014-03-01

In this work, we studied the effect of nanoliposome composition based on phospholipids of docosahexaenoic acid (PL-DHA), salmon and soya lecithin, on physico-chemical characterization of vector. Cinnamic acid was encapsulated as a hydrophobic molecule in nanoliposomes made of three different lipid sources. The aim was to evaluate the influence of membrane lipid structure and composition on entrapment efficiency and membrane permeability of cinnamic acid. These properties are important for active molecule delivery. In addition, size, electrophoretic mobility, phase transition temperature, elasticity and membrane fluidity were measured before and after encapsulation. The results showed a correlation between the size of the nanoliposome and the entrapment. The entrapment efficiency of cinnamic acid was found to be the highest in liposomes prepared from salmon lecithin. The nanoliposomes composed of salmon lecithin presented higher capabilities as a carrier for cinnamic acid encapsulation. These vesicles also showed a high stability which in turn increases the membrane rigidity of nanoliposome as evaluated by their elastic properties, membrane fluidity and phase transition temperature. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Membrane Bending Moduli of Coexisting Liquid Phases Containing Transmembrane Peptide.

PubMed

Usery, Rebecca D; Enoki, Thais A; Wickramasinghe, Sanjula P; Nguyen, V P; Ackerman, David G; Greathouse, Denise V; Koeppe, Roger E; Barrera, Francisco N; Feigenson, Gerald W

2018-05-08

A number of highly curved membranes in vivo, such as epithelial cell microvilli, have the relatively high sphingolipid content associated with "raft-like" composition. Given the much lower bending energy measured for bilayers with "nonraft" low sphingomyelin and low cholesterol content, observing high curvature for presumably more rigid compositions seems counterintuitive. To understand this behavior, we measured membrane rigidity by fluctuation analysis of giant unilamellar vesicles. We found that including a transmembrane helical GWALP peptide increases the membrane bending modulus of the liquid-disordered (Ld) phase. We observed this increase at both low-cholesterol fraction and higher, more physiological cholesterol fraction. We find that simplified, commonly used Ld and liquid-ordered (Lo) phases are not representative of those that coexist. When Ld and Lo phases coexist, GWALP peptide favors the Ld phase with a partition coefficient of 3-10 depending on mixture composition. In model membranes at high cholesterol fractions, Ld phases with GWALP have greater bending moduli than the Lo phase that would coexist. Copyright © 2018 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Change in the lipid composition of the inner mitochondrial membranes in rat organs during adaptation to heat].

PubMed

Zubareva, E V; Seferova, R I; Denisova, N A

1991-01-01

Under conditions of adaptation to heating lipid composition in mitochondrial membranes of rat inner tissues was altered as follows: an increase in relative concentration of plasmalogenous forms of phospholipids (kidney, heart) and in content of saturated fatty acids (liver tissue), a decrease in the index of fatty acids unsaturation and in the ratio of fatty acids omega-3/omega-6. The alterations observed enabled the membranes to keep sufficient amount of liquidity essential for functional activity of mitochondria in heating.

Separation of gases through gas enrichment membrane composites

DOEpatents

Swedo, R.J.; Kurek, P.R.

1988-07-19

Thin film composite membranes having as a permselective layer a film of a homopolymer of certain vinyl alkyl ethers are useful in the separation of various gases. Such homopolymers have a molecular weight of greater than 30,000 and the alkyl group of the vinyl alkyl monomer has from 4 to 20 carbon atoms with branching within the alkyl moiety at least at the carbon atom bonded to the ether oxygen or at the next adjacent carbon atom. These membranes show excellent hydrolytic stability, especially in the presence of acidic or basic gaseous components.

Separation of gases through gas enrichment membrane composites

DOEpatents

Swedo, Raymond J.; Kurek, Paul R.

1988-01-01

Thin film composite membranes having as a permselective layer a film of a homopolymer of certain vinyl alkyl ethers are useful in the separation of various gases. Such homopolymers have a molecular weight of greater than 30,000 and the alkyl group of the vinyl alkyl monomer has from 4 to 20 carbon atoms with branching within the alkyl moiety at least at the carbon atom bonded to the ether oxygen or at the next adjacent carbon atom. These membranes show excellent hydrolytic stability, especially in the presence of acidic or basic gaseous components.

SPEEK/PVDF/PES Composite as Alternative Proton Exchange Membrane for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Zhimin; Liu, Jinying; Liu, Qifeng

2016-01-01

A membrane consisting of a blend of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), and poly(ether sulfone) (PES) has been fabricated and used as an ion exchange membrane for application in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRBs). The vanadium ion permeability of the SPEEK/PVDF/PES membrane was one order of magnitude lower than that of Nafion 117 membrane. The low-cost composite membrane exhibited better performance than Nafion 117 membrane at the same operating condition. A VRB single cell with SPEEK/PVDF/PES membrane showed significantly lower capacity loss, higher coulombic efficiency (>95%), and higher energy efficiency (>82%) compared with Nafion 117 membrane. In the self-discharge test, the duration of the cell with the SPEEK/PVDF/PES membrane was nearly two times longer than that with Nafion 117 membrane. Considering these good properties and its low cost, SPEEK/PVDF/PES membrane is expected to have excellent commercial prospects as an ion exchange membrane for VRB systems.

[Peroxide modification of membranes and isomorphic composition of cytochrome P-450 of rat liver microsomes during antioxidant deficiency].

PubMed

Gubskiy, Iu I; Paramonova, G I; Boldeskul, A E; Primak, R G; Bogdanova, L A; Zadorina, O V; Litvinova, N V

1992-01-01

Lipid peroxidation (LPO), physico-chemical properties of the membranes and isoformic composition of microsomal cytochrome P-450 from the rat liver were studied under conditions of antioxidant insufficiency (AOI) which was modelled by exclusion of alpha-tocopherol from the animals' ration. An insignificant accumulation of microsomal diene conjugates and schiff bases against a sharp increase of the ability to the prooxidant stimulated LPO in vitro took place. A significant decrease of membrane lipid microviscosity and a change in surface properties of microsomal membranes of rats with AOI was determined. Absence of alpha-tocopherol in the ration was accompanied by a significant change in the content of separate isoforms of cytochrome P-450 exhibited in growth of a polypeptide with m. w. 54 kDa and the lowering of proteins with m. w. 48 and 50 kDa. Less intensive quenching of tryptophan fluorescence by acrylamide was also revealed, which testified to a lower accessibility of the quencher to membrane proteins or their fluorophore sites. Modification of lipid composition and of physicochemical properties of the rat liver membrane microsomes which was observed at AOI was significantly correlated by pretreatment with the antioxidant 4-methyl-2,6-ditretbutylphenol (ionol).

Natural clinoptilolite composite membranes on tubular stainless steel supports for water softening.

PubMed

Adamaref, Solmaz; An, Weizhu; Jarligo, Maria Ophelia; Kuznicki, Tetyana; Kuznicki, Steven M

2014-01-01

Disk membranes generated from high-purity natural clinoptilolite mineral rock have shown promising water desalination and de-oiling performance. In order to scale up production of these types of membranes for industrial wastewater treatment applications, a coating strategy was devised. A composite mixture of natural clinoptilolite from St. Cloud (Winston, NM, USA) and aluminum phosphate was deposited on the inner surface of porous stainless steel tubes by the slip casting technique. The commercial porous stainless steel tubes were pre-coated with a TiO2 layer of about 10 μm. Phase composition and morphology of the coating materials were investigated using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Water softening performance of the fabricated membranes was evaluated using Edmonton (Alberta, Canada) municipal tap water as feed source. Preliminary experimental results show a high water flux of 7.7 kg/(m(2) h) and 75% reduction of hardness and conductivity in a once-through membrane process at 95 °C and feed pressure of 780 kPa. These results show that natural zeolite coated, stainless steel tubular membranes have high potential for large-scale purification of oil sands steam-assisted gravity drainage water at high temperature and pressure requirements.

Protein-protein interactions indicate composition of a 480 kDa SELMA complex in the second outermost membrane of diatom complex plastids.

PubMed

Lau, Julia B; Stork, Simone; Moog, Daniel; Schulz, Julian; Maier, Uwe G

2016-04-01

Most secondary plastids of red algal origin are surrounded by four membranes and nucleus-encoded plastid proteins have to traverse these barriers. Translocation across the second outermost plastid membrane, the periplastidal membrane (PPM), is facilitated by a ERAD-(ER-associated degradation) derived machinery termed SELMA (symbiont-specific ERAD-like machinery). In the last years, important subunits of this translocator have been identified, which clearly imply compositional similarities between SELMA and ERAD. Here we investigated, via protein-protein interaction studies, if the composition of SELMA is comparable to the known ERAD complex. As a result, our data suggest that the membrane proteins of SELMA, the derlin proteins, are linked to the soluble sCdc48 complex via the UBX protein sUBX. This is similar to the ERAD machinery whereas the additional SELMA components, sPUB und a second Cdc48 copy might indicate the influence of functional constraints in developing a translocation machinery from ERAD-related factors. In addition, we show for the first time that a rhomboid protease is a central interaction partner of the membrane proteins of the SELMA system in complex plastids. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Phospholipase A2 activity-dependent and -independent fusogenic activity of Naja nigricollis CMS-9 on zwitterionic and anionic phospholipid vesicles.

PubMed

Chiou, Yi-Ling; Chen, Ying-Jung; Lin, Shinne-Ren; Chang, Long-Sen

2011-11-01

CMS-9, a phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) from Naja nigricollis venom, induced the death of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells accompanied with the formation of cell clumps without clear boundaries between cells. Annexin V-FITC staining indicated that abundant phosphatidylserine appeared on the outer membrane of MCF-7 cell clumps, implying the possibility that CMS-9 may promote membrane fusion via anionic phospholipids. To validate this proposition, fusogenic activity of CMS-9 on vesicles composed of zwitterionic phospholipid alone or a combination of zwitterionic and anionic phospholipids was examined. Although CMS-9-induced fusion of zwitterionic phospholipid vesicles depended on PLA(2) activity, CMS-9-induced fusion of vesicles containing anionic phospholipids could occur without the involvement of PLA(2) activity. Membrane-damaging activity of CMS-9 was associated with its fusogenicity. Moreover, CMS-9 induced differently membrane leakage and membrane fusion of vesicles with different compositions. Membrane fluidity and binding capability with phospholipid vesicles were not related to the fusogenicity of CMS-9. However, membrane-bound conformation and mode of CMS-9 depended on phospholipid compositions. Collectively, our data suggest that PLA(2) activity-dependent and -independent fusogenicity of CMS-9 are closely related to its membrane-bound modes and targeted membrane compositions. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Flying-fox (Pteropus spp.) sperm membrane fatty acid composition, its relationship to cold shock injury and implications for cryopreservation success.

PubMed

Melville, D F; Johnston, S D; Miller, R R

2012-12-01

The very large acrosome of Pteropus species spermatozoa is prone to damage during cooling procedures. Cryogenic succuss has been linked to membrane composition, therefore the lipid composition of five Pteropus species sperm acrosomal and plasma membranes were investigated to provide insight into reasons for cold shock susceptibility. Rapid chilling and re-warming of spermatozoa from three Pteropus species resulted in a decrease (P<0.05) in acrosomal integrity. Biochemical analysis of lipids revealed that stearic acid (18:0) was the predominant saturated fatty acid and oleic acid (18:1, n-9) the predominant unsaturated fatty acid in both acrosomal and plasma membranes. Linolenic acid (18:3, n-3) was only detected in plasma membranes of Pteropus hypomelanus and was detected in acrosomal membranes of all Pteropus spp. studied (except Pteropus giganteus). Although detected in both plasma and acrosomal membranes of Pteropus vampyrus, docosahexaenoic acid (22:6) was not detected at all in Pteropus poliocephalus, only in trace levels in the acrosomal and plasma membranes of P. giganteus and P. hypomelanus and not in acrosomal membranes of Pteropus rodricensis. No difference was seen in the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) within plasma membranes, however PUFAs were lower (P<0.05) in acrosomal membranes of P. giganteus compared with P. vampyrus. Pteropus spp. spermatozoa have a very low ratio of unsaturated/saturated membrane fatty acids (<0.5). Membranes containing more PUFAs are more fluid, so the use of cryogenic media which improves membrane fluidity should improve Pteropus spp. spermatozoal viability post-thaw. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Influence of the membrane environment on cholesterol transfer.

PubMed

Breidigan, Jeffrey Michael; Krzyzanowski, Natalie; Liu, Yangmingyue; Porcar, Lionel; Perez-Salas, Ursula

2017-12-01

Cholesterol, an essential component in biological membranes, is highly unevenly distributed within the cell, with most localized in the plasma membrane while only a small fraction is found in the endoplasmic reticulum, where it is synthesized. Cellular membranes differ in lipid composition and protein content, and these differences can exist across their leaflets too. This thermodynamic landscape that cellular membranes impose on cholesterol is expected to modulate its transport. To uncover the role the membrane environment has on cholesterol inter- and intra-membrane movement, we used time-resolved small angle neutron scattering to study the passive movement of cholesterol between and within membranes with varying degrees of saturation content. We found that cholesterol moves systematically slower as the degree of saturation in the membranes increases, from a palmitoyl oleyl phosphotidylcholine membrane, which is unsaturated, to a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) membrane, which is fully saturated. Additionally, we found that the energetic barrier to move cholesterol in these phosphatidylcholine membranes is independent of their relative lipid composition and remains constant for both flip-flop and exchange at ∼100 kJ/mol. Further, by replacing DPPC with the saturated lipid palmitoylsphingomyelin, an abundant saturated lipid of the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane, we found the rates decreased by a factor of two. This finding is in stark contrast with recent molecular dynamic simulations that predict a dramatic slow-down of seven orders of magnitude for cholesterol flipping in membranes with a similar phosphocholine and SM lipid composition. Copyright © 2017 by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Flexible polypyrrole/copper sulfide/bacterial cellulose nanofibrous composite membranes as supercapacitor electrodes.

PubMed

Peng, Shuo; Fan, Lingling; Wei, Chengzhuo; Liu, Xiaohong; Zhang, Hongwei; Xu, Weilin; Xu, Jie

2017-02-10

Polypyrrole (PPy) and copper sulfide (CuS) have been successfully deposited on bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes to prepare nanofibrous composite electrodes of PPy/CuS/BC for flexible supercapacitor applications. The introduction of CuS remarkably improves the specific capacitance and cycling stability of BC-based electrodes. The specific capacitance of the supercapacitors based on the PPy/CuS/BC electrodes can reach to about 580Fg -1 at a current density of 0.8mAcm -2 and can retain about 73% of their initial value after 300 cycles, while the PPy/BC-based device could retain only 21.7% after 300 cycles. This work provides a promising approach to fabricate cost-effective and flexible nanofibrous composite membranes for high-performance supercapacitor electrodes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Compositions and Methods for the Treatment of Pierce's Disease

DOEpatents

Gupta, Goutam

2008-10-07

Chimeric anti-microbial proteins, compositions, and methods for the therapeutic and prophylactic treatment of plant diseases caused by the bacterial pathogen Xylella fastidiosa are provided. The anti-microbial proteins of the invention generally comprise a surface recognition domain polypeptide, capable of binding to a bacterial membrane component, fused to a bacterial lysis domain polypeptide, capable of affecting lysis or rupture of the bacterial membrane, typically via a fused polypeptide linker. In particular, methods and compositions for the treatment or prevention of Pierce's disease of grapevines are provided. Methods for the generation of transgenic Vitus vinefera plants expressing xylem-secreted anti-microbial chimeras are also provided.

Preparation and electrochemical characterization of polymer electrolytes based on electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride- co-hexafluoropropylene)/polyacrylonitrile blend/composite membranes for lithium batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raghavan, Prasanth; Zhao, Xiaohui; Shin, Chorong; Baek, Dong-Ho; Choi, Jae-Won; Manuel, James; Heo, Min-Yeong; Ahn, Jou-Hyeon; Nah, Changwoon

Apart from PEO based solid polymer electrolytes, tailor-made gel polymer electrolytes based on blend/composite membranes of poly(vinylidene fluoride- co-hexafluoropropylene) and polyacrylonitrile are prepared by electrospinning using 14 wt% polymer solution in dimethylformamide. The membranes show uniform morphology with an average fiber diameter of 320-490 nm, high porosity and electrolyte uptake. Polymer electrolytes are prepared by soaking the electrospun membranes in 1 M lithium hexafluorophosphate in ethylene carbonate/dimethyl carbonate. Temperature dependent ionic conductivity and their electrochemical performance are studied. The blend/composite polymer electrolytes show good ionic conductivity in the range of 10 -3 S cm -1 at ambient temperature and good electrochemical performance. All the Polymer electrolytes show an anodic stability >4.6 V with stable interfacial resistance with storage time. The prototype cell shows good charge-discharge properties and stable cycle performance with comparable capacity fade compared to liquid electrolyte under the test conditions.

Membrane fouling related to microbial community and extracellular polymeric substances at different temperatures.

PubMed

Gao, Da-Wen; Wen, Zhi-Dan; Li, Bao; Liang, Hong

2013-09-01

An anoxic-aerobic membrane bioreactor was established to investigate the role of microorganisms and microbial metabolites in membrane fouling at different temperatures. The results showed that the membrane fouling cycle at 303, 293, and 283 K were 30, 29, and 5.5 days, respectively. Polysaccharides dominated the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and soluble microbial products (SMP) at 303 and 293 K, instead, proteins was the predominant composition of metabolites at 283 K. The correlation coefficient (r(2)) was calculated to identify the relationship between temperature (T), filtration resistance (R) and compositions of EPS and SMP. In biocake, the EPS polysaccharides (EPSc) was the most correlative factor to temperature (T) and filtration resistance (R); in mixed liquor, the ratio of SMP polysaccharides to proteins (SMPc/p) was the most correlative factor. The microbial community structure and the dominant species was the major reason causing the change of EPS and SMP composition. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nonadditive Compositional Curvature Energetics of Lipid Bilayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sodt, A. J.; Venable, R. M.; Lyman, E.; Pastor, R. W.

2016-09-01

The unique properties of the individual lipids that compose biological membranes together determine the energetics of the surface. The energetics of the surface, in turn, govern the formation of membrane structures and membrane reshaping processes, and thus they will underlie cellular-scale models of viral fusion, vesicle-dependent transport, and lateral organization relevant to signaling. The spontaneous curvature, to the best of our knowledge, is always assumed to be additive. We describe observations from simulations of unexpected nonadditive compositional curvature energetics of two lipids essential to the plasma membrane: sphingomyelin and cholesterol. A model is developed that connects molecular interactions to curvature stress, and which explains the role of local composition. Cholesterol is shown to lower the number of effective Kuhn segments of saturated acyl chains, reducing lateral pressure below the neutral surface of bending and favoring positive curvature. The effect is not observed for unsaturated (flexible) acyl chains. Likewise, hydrogen bonding between sphingomyelin lipids leads to positive curvature, but only at sufficient concentration, below which the lipid prefers negative curvature.

Novel Composite Proton Exchange Membrane with Connected Long-Range Ionic Nanochannels Constructed via Exfoliated Nafion-Boron Nitride Nanocomposite.

PubMed

Jia, Wei; Tang, Beibei; Wu, Peiyi

2017-05-03

Nafion-boron nitride (NBN) nanocomposites with a Nafion-functionalized periphery are prepared via a convenient and ecofriendly Nafion-assisted water-phase exfoliation method. Nafion and the boron nitride nanosheet present strong interactions in the NBN nanocomposite. Then the NBN nanocomposites were blended with Nafion to prepare NBN Nafion composite proton exchange membranes (PEMs). NBN nanocomposites show good dispersibility and have a noticeable impact on the aggregation structure of the Nafion matrix. Connected long-range ionic nanochannels containing exaggerated (-SO 3 - ) n ionic clusters are constructed during the membrane-forming process via the hydrophilic and H-bonding interactions between NBN nanocomposites and Nafion matrix. The addition of NBN nanocomposites with sulfonic groups also provides additional proton transportation spots and enhances the water uptake of the composite PEMs. The proton conductivity of the NBN Nafion composite PEMs is significantly increased under various conditions relative to that of recast Nafion. At 80 °C-95% relative humidity, the proton conductivity of 0.5 NBN Nafion is 0.33 S·cm -1 , 6 times that of recast Nafion under the same conditions.

How Phytoplankton Membranes Cope With Steep Ionic Strength (Salinity) Gradient?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gasparovic, B.; Sesar, T.; Cankovic, M.; Ljubešić, Z.; Hrustić, E.; Zhu, Z.; Zhang, R.; Du, J.

2016-02-01

We report on phytoplankton accommodation on stressful conditions being steep ionic strength, i.e. salinity, changes, the conditions regularly found in the estuaries. We aimed defining how lipid composition of phytoplankton membrane structure is accommodated to prevent spontaneous osmosis. Salinity-dependent lipid profiles for particulate lipid extracts from blooming periods of the two opposing estuaries: eutrophic and polluted Wenchang River Estuary and pristine oligotrophic/mesotrophic Krka River Estuary were characterized by thin layer chromatography (TLC). The composition of phytoplankton pigments which was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Domination of pigment Fucoxanthin in both estuaries indicates diatoms were major blooming group. While total particulate lipid concentration was almost an order of magnitude higher in the Wenchang River estuary (on average 238 µg/L) than in the Krka River Estuary (on average 36 µg/L), the lipid composition was similar. This implies that salinity stress is the main influential factor on phytoplankton lipid composition rather than availability of nutrients. Details on the lipid composition that follow salinity changes will be discussed.

Acoustic emission monitoring of composite containment systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maguire, John R.

2011-07-01

This paper considers two different types of composite containment system, and two different types of acoustic emission (AE) monitoring approach. The first system is a composite reinforced pressure vessel (CRPV) which is monitored both during construction and in-service using a broadband modal acoustic emission (MAE) technique. The second system is a membrane cargo containment system which is monitored using both a global as well as a local AE technique. For the CRPV, the damage assessment is concerned mainly with the integrity of the composite outer layer at the construction stage, and possible fatigue cracking of the inner steel liner at the in-service stage. For the membrane tank, the damage assessment is concerned with locating and quantifying any abnormal porosities that might develop in-service. By comparing and contrasting the different types of structural system and different monitoring approaches inferences are drawn as to what role AE monitoring could take in the damage assessment of other types of composite containment system. (Detailed technical data have not been included, due to client confidentiality constraints.)

Nanofiber Composite Membranes for Alkaline Fuel Cells: Generation of Compositional, Morphological, and Functional Property Relationships

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-01

and chemical stability. Also in Year 3, membranes were prepared by simultaneously electrospinning brominated poly(phenylene oxide) ( PPO ) and... PPO fibers (preventing water solubility when charged groups were added to the PPO ), as shown in Scheme 3. Subsequent mat processing included...brominated PPO fibers), and reaction of the resulting films with either trimethylamine or 1,2-dimethylimidazole to create cationic groups at those

Novel composite membrane coated with a poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)/urushi semi-interpenetrating polymer network for non-aqueous redox flow battery application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Eunhae; Won, Jongok

2016-12-01

Novel composite membranes of a semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) coated on the surfaces of a porous Celgard 2400 support are prepared and investigate for application in a non-aqueous redox flow battery (RFB). A natural polymer, urushi, is used for the matrix because of its high mechanical robustness, and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) provides anionic exchange sites. The PDDA/urushi (P/U) semi-IPN film is prepared by the photo polymerization of urushiol in the presence of PDDA. The thin layer composed of the P/U semi-IPN on the porous support provides selectivity while maintaining the ion conductivity. The coulombic and energy efficiencies increase with increasing amounts of PDDA in the P/U semi-IPN layer, and the values reach 69.5% and 42.5%, respectively, for the one containing 40 wt% of PDDA. These values are substantially higher than those of the Neosepta AHA membrane and the Celgard membrane, indicating that the selective layer reduces the crossover of the redox active species through the membrane. This result implies that the formation of composite membranes using semi-IPN selective layers on the dimensionally stable porous membrane enable the successful use of a non-aqueous RFB for future energy storage systems.

Lipophilic organic pollutants induce changes in phospholipid and membrane protein composition leading to Vero cell morphological change.

PubMed

Liao, Ting T; Wang, Lei; Jia, Ru W; Fu, Xiao H; Chua, Hong

2014-01-01

Membrane damage related to morphological change in Vero cells is a sensitive index of the composite biotoxicity of trace lipophilic chemicals. However, judging whether the morphological change in Vero cells happens and its ratio are difficult because it is not a quantitative characteristic. To find biomarkers of cell morphological change for quantitatively representing the ratio of morphological changed cell, the mechanism of cell membrane damage driven by typical lipophilic chemicals, such as trichlorophenol (TCP) and perfluorooctanesulphonate (PFOS), was explored. The ratio of morphologically changed cells generally increased with increased TCP or PFOS concentrations, and the level of four major components of phospholipids varied with concentrations of TCP or PFOS, but only the ratio of phosphatidylcholine (PC)/phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) decreased regularly as TCP or PFOS concentrations increased. Analysis of membrane proteins showed that the level of vimentin in normal cell membranes is high, while it decreases or vanishes after TCP exposure. These variations in phospholipid and membrane protein components may result in membrane leakage and variation in rigid structure, which leads to changes in cell morphology. Therefore, the ratio of PC/PE and amount of vimentin may be potential biomarkers for representing the ratio of morphological changed Vero cell introduced by trace lipophilic compounds, thus their composite bio-toxicity.

Acid Response of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BBMN68 Is Accompanied by Modification of the Cell Membrane Fatty Acid Composition.

PubMed

Liu, Songling; Ren, Fazheng; Jiang, Jingli; Zhao, Liang

2016-07-28

The acid response of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BBMN68 has been studied in our previous study. The fab gene, which is supposed to be involved in membrane fatty acid biosynthesis, was demonstrated to be induced in acid response. In order to investigate the relationship between acid response and cell membrane fatty acid composition, the acid adaptation of BBMN68 was assessed and the membrane fatty acid composition at different adaptation conditions was identified. Indeed, the fatty acid composition was influenced by acid adaptation. Our results showed that the effective acid adaptations were accompanied with decrease in the unsaturated to saturated fatty acids ratio (UFA/SFA) and increase in cyclopropane fatty acid (CFA) content, which corresponded to previous studies. Moreover, both effective and non-effective acid adaptation conditions resulted in decrease in the C18:1 cis-9/C18:1 trans-9 ratio, indicating that the C18:1 cis-9/C18:1 trans-9 ratio is associated with acid tolerance response but not with acid adaptation response. Taken together, this study indicated that the UFA/SFA and CFA content of BBMN68 were involved in acid adaptation and the C18:1 cis-9/C18:1 trans-9 ratio was involved in acid tolerance response.

Support de source de radioactivité à base de PEDT, amélioration des qualités métrologiques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geffroy, B.; Rosilio, Ch.; de Sanoit, J.; Bouchard, J.; Hainos, D.

1998-06-01

Self-supported conducting membranes with a thickness in the range of 150 to 600 nm have been obtained with a composite of poly(3-4ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDT) and PVC. The PEDT is prepared by oxydation of the EDT monomer with ferric tosylate. The best conductivity of the PEDT/PVC composite is around 20 S/cm. High quality metrology radioactive 60Co sources are prepared with these thin conducting membranes. The advantages of this radioactive source preparation are presented throuth comparative results. Des membranes conductrices, auto-supportées, d'une épaisseur comprise entre 150 et 600 nm ont été obtenues à partir d'un composite de poly(3-4 éthylènedioxythiophène) (PEDT) et de PVC. Le PEDT est synthétisé par oxydation chimique du monomère par le tosylate ferrique et la conductivité maximale du composite est de 20 S/cm. Ces membranes sont utilisées pour préparer des sources de 60Co de bonnes qualités métrologiques. Les avantages de cette méthode de préparation de sources radioactives sont présentés au travers de mesures comparatives.

Biofouling of reverse osmosis membranes: effects of cleaning on biofilm microbial communities, membrane performance, and adherence of extracellular polymeric substances.

PubMed

Al Ashhab, Ashraf; Sweity, Amer; Bayramoglu, Bihter; Herzberg, Moshe; Gillor, Osnat

2017-05-01

Laboratory-scale reverse osmosis (RO) flat-sheet systems were used with two parallel flow cells, one treated with cleaning agents and a control (ie undisturbed). The cleaning efforts increased the affinity of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) to the RO membrane and altered the biofilm surface structure. Analysis of the membrane biofilm community composition revealed the dominance of Proteobacteria. However, within the phylum Proteobacteria, γ-Proteobacteria dominated the cleaned membrane biofilm, while β-Proteobacteria dominated the control biofilm. The composition of the fungal phyla was also altered by cleaning, with enhancement of Ascomycota and suppression of Basidiomycota. The results suggest that repeated cleaning cycles select for microbial groups that strongly attach to the RO membrane surface by producing rigid and adhesive EPS that hampers membrane performance.

Comparative Experimental Study on Ionic Polymer Mental Composite based on Nafion and Aquivion Membrane as Actuators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, B.; Chen, Z.

2017-11-01

Most ionic polymer mental composites employ Nafion as the polymer matrix, Aquivion can also manufactured as ionic polymer mental composite while research was little. This paper researched on two kinds of ionic polymer mental composite based on Aquivion and Nafion matrix with palladium electrode called Aquivion-IPMC and Nafion-IPMC. The samples were fabricated by the same preparation process. The current and deformation responses of the samples were measured at voltage to characterize the mechano-electrical properties. The experimental observations revealed that shorter flexible side chains in Aquivion-IPMC provide a larger force than Nafion-IPMC, while the displacement properties were similar in two different samples. The results also showed that Aquivion membrane can also replace Nafion to reproduce IPMC application in soft robots, MEMS, and so on.

Preparation and characterization of hydroxyapatite/gelatin composite membranes for immunoisolation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Jyh-Ping; Chang, Feng-Nian

2012-12-01

Composite membranes are fabricated from hydroxyapatite (HAP) and gelatin for immunoisolation of cells. The films were fabricated by crosslinking 5 wt%, 10 wt%, and 20 wt% gelatin with 1 wt% glutaraldehyde (GA) in the presence of HAP. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirms imide bond formation between GA and gelatin, while the crystal structure of HAP powder remains unchanged from X-ray diffraction analysis. The degree of crosslinking depends on crosslinking time and gelatin concentration. For 5% and 10% gelatin, the degree of crosslinking levels off at 90% within 48 h. From scanning electron microscopy micrographs, the microstructure of the composite membrane depends on the amount of gelatin used in the crosslinking reaction. The mechanical strength of the composite membrane could be enhanced by increasing the gelatin concentration. BET analysis indicates that pore size of the micropores on the surface HAP/gelatin agglomerates decreases with increasing gelatin concentration. However, the macropore, through which diffusion of molecules occurs, is larger at higher gelatin concentrations. The permeability coefficients of different molecules through a HAP/gelatin composite membrane increase with increasing gelatin concentration and is inversely correlated with the molecular weight of the molecule. For immunoisolation of cells, the diffusion of large molecules stimulated by the immune system can be rejected by a chamber constructed from the HAP/gelatin membrane. Insulinoma cells were encapsulated in alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate microcapsules and enclosed in a HAP/gelatin chamber. The chamber did not impair the viability and function of insulinoma cells and cells can secrete insulin in response to glucose concentration change. The chamber is therefore useful for the physiologically controlled secretion of insulin in response to the blood glucose level. Intraperitoneal transplantation of the chamber into streptozotocin-induced diabetic SD rats could maintain normal blood glucose levels in test animals for up to 60 days without immunosuppression.

Effect of therapeutic concentration of lithium on live HEK293 cells; increase of Na+/K+-ATPase, change of overall protein composition and alteration of surface layer of plasma membrane.

PubMed

Vosahlikova, Miroslava; Ujcikova, Hana; Chernyavskiy, Oleksandr; Brejchova, Jana; Roubalova, Lenka; Alda, Martin; Svoboda, Petr

2017-05-01

The effect of long-term exposure of live cells to lithium cations (Li) was studied in HEK293 cells cultivated in the presence of 1mM LiCl for 7 or 21days. The alteration of Na + /K + -ATPase level, protein composition and biophysical state of plasma membrane was determined with the aim to characterize the physiological state of Li-treated cells. Na + /K + -ATPase level was determined by [ 3 H]ouabain binding and immunoblot assays. Overall protein composition was determined by 2D electrophoresis followed by proteomic analysis by MALDI-TOF MS/MS and LFQ. Li interaction with plasma membrane was characterized by fluorescent probes DPH, TMA-DPH and Laurdan. Na + /K + -ATPase was increased in plasma membranes isolated from cells exposed to Li. Identification of Li-altered proteins by 2D electrophoresis, MALDI-TOF MS/MS and LFQ suggests a change of energy metabolism in mitochondria and cytosol and alteration of cell homeostasis of calcium. Measurement of Laurdan generalized polarization indicated a significant alteration of surface layer of isolated plasma membranes prepared from both types of Li-treated cells. Prolonged exposure of HEK293 cells to 1mM LiCl results in up-regulation of Na + /K + -ATPase expression, reorganization of overall cellular metabolism and alteration of the surface layer/polar head-group region of isolated plasma membranes. Our findings demonstrate adaptation of live HEK293 cell metabolism to prolonged exposure to therapeutic concentration of Li manifested as up-regulation of Na + /K + -ATPase expression, alteration of protein composition and change of the surface layer of plasma membrane. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fabrication and flow characterization of vertically aligned carbon-nanotube/polymer membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castellano, Richard; Meshot, Eric; Fornasiero, Francesco; Shan, Jerry

2017-11-01

Membranes with well-controlled nanopores are of interest for applications as diverse as chemical separations, water purification, and ``green'' power generation. In particular, membranes incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as through-pores have been shown to pass fluids at rates orders-of-magnitude faster than predicted by continuum theory. However, cost-effective and scalable solutions for fabricating such membranes are still an area of research. We describe a solution-based fabrication technique for creating polymer composite membranes from bulk nanotubes using electric-field alignment and electrophoretic concentration. We then focus on flow characterization of membranes with single-wall nanotube (SWNT) pores. We demonstrate membrane quality by size-exclusion testing and showing that the flowrate of different gasses scales as the square root of molecular weight. The gas flowrates and moisture-vapor-transmission rates are compared with theoretical predictions and with composite membranes -fabricated from CVD-grown SWNT arrays. Funded by DTRA Grant BA12PHM123.

Covalent enzyme immobilization onto carbon nanotubes using a membrane reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voicu, Stefan Ioan; Nechifor, Aurelia Cristina; Gales, Ovidiu; Nechifor, Gheorghe

2011-05-01

Composite porous polysulfone-carbon nanotubes membranes were prepared by dispersing carbon nanotubes into a polysulfone solution followed by the membrane formation by phase inversion-immersion precipitation technique. The carbon nanotubes with amino groups on surface were functionalized with different enzymes (carbonic anhydrase, invertase, diastase) using cyanuric chloride as linker between enzyme and carbon nanotube. The composite membrane was used as a membrane reactor for a better dispersion of carbon nanotubes and access to reaction centers. The membrane also facilitates the transport of enzymes to active carbon nanotubes centers for functionalization (amino groups). The functionalized carbon nanotubes are isolated by dissolving the membranes after the end of reaction. Carbon nanotubes with covalent immobilized enzymes are used for biosensors fabrications. The obtained membranes were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy, Thermal analysis, FT-IR Spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, and functionalized carbon nanotubes were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy.

MitoQ Loaded Chitosan-Hyaluronan Composite Membranes for Wound Healing

PubMed Central

Tamer, Tamer M.; Collins, Maurice N.; Valachová, Katarina; Hassan, Mohamed A.; Omer, Ahmed M.; Mohy-Eldin, Mohamed S.; Švík, Karol; Jurčík, Rastislav; Ondruška, Ľubomír; Biró, Csaba; Albadarin, Ahmad B.; Šoltés, Ladislav

2018-01-01

Two self-associating biopolymers, namely chitosan (Ch) and a high-molar-mass hyaluronan (HA), were used to prepare membranes with the aim to protect and to enhance the healing of injured skin. A mitochondrially-targeted antioxidant—MitoQ—was incorporated into the mixture of biopolymers prior to their self-association. These three-component membranes were evaluated in detail utilising surface roughness measurements, contact angle measurements, hemocompatibility, and thrombogenicity analyses. Furthermore, in vivo application of Ch/HA/MitoQ membranes was assessed on injured rabbit and rat skin utilizing histological methods. The results showed that the prepared thrombogenic Ch/HA/MitoQ membranes had higher roughness, which allowed for greater surface area for tissue membrane interaction during the healing processes, and lower cytotoxicity levels than controls. MitoQ-loaded composite membranes displayed superior healing properties in these animal models compared to control membranes. PMID:29642447

MitoQ Loaded Chitosan-Hyaluronan Composite Membranes for Wound Healing.

PubMed

Tamer, Tamer M; Collins, Maurice N; Valachová, Katarina; Hassan, Mohamed A; Omer, Ahmed M; Mohy-Eldin, Mohamed S; Švík, Karol; Jurčík, Rastislav; Ondruška, Ľubomír; Biró, Csaba; Albadarin, Ahmad B; Šoltés, Ladislav

2018-04-07

Two self-associating biopolymers, namely chitosan (Ch) and a high-molar-mass hyaluronan (HA), were used to prepare membranes with the aim to protect and to enhance the healing of injured skin. A mitochondrially-targeted antioxidant-MitoQ-was incorporated into the mixture of biopolymers prior to their self-association. These three-component membranes were evaluated in detail utilising surface roughness measurements, contact angle measurements, hemocompatibility, and thrombogenicity analyses. Furthermore, in vivo application of Ch/HA/MitoQ membranes was assessed on injured rabbit and rat skin utilizing histological methods. The results showed that the prepared thrombogenic Ch/HA/MitoQ membranes had higher roughness, which allowed for greater surface area for tissue membrane interaction during the healing processes, and lower cytotoxicity levels than controls. MitoQ-loaded composite membranes displayed superior healing properties in these animal models compared to control membranes.

Membrane fouling and wetting in membrane distillation and their mitigation by novel membranes with special wettability.

PubMed

Wang, Zhangxin; Lin, Shihong

2017-04-01

Membrane distillation (MD) has been identified as a promising technology to desalinate the hypersaline wastewaters from fracking and other industries. However, conventional hydrophobic MD membranes are highly susceptible to fouling and/or wetting by the hydrophobic and/or amphiphilic constituents in these wastewaters of complex compositions. This study systematically investigates the impact of the surface wetting properties on the membrane wetting and/or fouling behaviors in MD. Specifically, we compare the wetting and fouling resistance of three types of membranes of different wetting properties, including hydrophobic and omniphobic membranes as well as composite membranes with a hydrophobic substrate and a superhydrophilic top surface. We challenged the MD membranes with hypersaline feed solutions that contained a relatively high concentration of crude oil with and without added synthetic surfactants, Triton X-100. We found that the composite membranes with superhydrophilic top surface were robustly resistant to oil fouling in the absence of Triton X-100, but were subject to pore wetting in the presence of Triton X-100. On the other hand, the omniphobic membranes were easily fouled by oil-in-water emulsion without Triton X-100, but successfully sustained stable MD performance with Triton X-100 stabilized oil-in-water emulsion as the feed solution. In contrast, the conventional hydrophobic membranes failed readily regardless whether Triton X-100 was present, although via different mechanisms. These findings are corroborated by contact angle measures as well as oil-probe force spectroscopy. This study provides a holistic picture regarding how a hydrophobic membrane fails in MD and how we can leverage membranes with special wettability to prevent membrane failure in MD operations. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Tetrakis-amido high flux membranes

DOEpatents

McCray, S.B.

1989-10-24

Composite RO membranes of a microporous polymeric support and a polyamide reaction product of a tetrakis-aminomethyl compound and a polyacylhalide are disclosed, said membranes exhibiting high flux and good chlorine resistance.

Tetrakis-amido high flux membranes

DOEpatents

McCray, Scott B.

1989-01-01

Composite RO membranes of a microporous polymeric support and a polyamide reaction product of a tetrakis-aminomethyl compound and a polyacylhalide are disclosed, said membranes exhibiting high flux and good chlorine resistance.

Fatty acid composition of plasma lipids and erythrocyte membranes during simulated extravehicular activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skedina, M. A.; Katuntsev, V. P.; Buravkova, L. B.; Naidina, V. P.

Ten subjects (from 27 to 41 years) have been participated in 32 experiments. They were decompressed from ground level to 40-35 kPa in altitude chamber when breathed 100% oxygen by mask and performed repeated cycles of exercises (3.0 Kcal/min). The intervals between decompressions were 3-5 days. Plasma lipid and erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition was evaluated in the fasting venous blood before and immediately after hypobaric exposure. There were 7 cases decompression sickness (DCS). Venous gas bubbles (GB) were detected in 27 cases (84.4%). Any significant changes in the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes and plasma didn't practically induce after the first decompression. However, by the beginning of the second decompression the total lipid level in erythrocyte membranes decreased from 54.6 mg% to 40.4 mg% in group with DCS symptoms and from 51.2 mg% to 35.2 mg% (p < 0.05) without DCS symptoms. In group with DCS symptoms a tendency to increased level of saturated fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes (16:0, 18:0), the level of the polyunsaturated linoleic fatty acid (18:2) and arachidonic acid (20:4) tended to be decreased by the beginning of the second decompression. Insignificant changes in blood plasma fatty acid composition was observed in both groups. The obtained biochemical data that indicated the simulated extravehicular activity (EVA) condition is accompanied by the certain changes in the blood lipid metabolism, structural and functional state of erythrocyte membranes, which are reversible. The most pronounced changes are found in subjects with DCS symptoms.

The influence of erythrocyte maturity on ion transport and membrane lipid composition in the rat.

PubMed

Vokurková, M; Rauchová, H; Dobešová, Z; Loukotová, J; Nováková, O; Kuneš, J; Zicha, J

2016-01-01

Significant relationships between ion transport and membrane lipid composition (cholesterol, total phospholipids and sphingomyelins) were found in erythrocytes of salt hypertensive Dahl rats. In these animals mean cellular hemoglobin content correlated negatively with Na(+)-K(+) pump activity and Na(+) leak but positively with Na(+)-K(+) cotransport activity. Immature erythrocytes exhibit lower mean cellular hemoglobin content (MCHC) than mature ones. The aim of the present study was to find a relationship between erythrocyte maturity, membrane lipid composition and ion transport activity in Wistar rats aged three months which were subjected to repeated hemorrhage (blood loss 2 ml/day for 6 days) to enrich circulating erythrocytes with immature forms. Immature and mature erythrocyte fractions in control and hemorrhaged rats were separated by repeated centrifugation. Hemorrhaged rats had increased number of reticulocytes but reduced hematocrit and MCHC compared to control rats. Immature erythrocytes of hemorrhaged rats differed from mature ones of control animals by elevated Na(+)-K(+) pump activity, reduced Na(+)-K(+) cotransport activity and increased Rb(+) leak. These ion transport changes in immature erythrocytes were accompanied by higher concentration of total phospholipids in their cell membranes. Membrane phospholipid content correlated positively with Na(+)-K(+) pump activity and cation leaks but negatively with Na(+)-K(+) cotransport activity. Moreover, they were also negatively related with MCHC which correlated negatively with Na(+)-K(+) pump activity and Rb(+) leak but positively with Na(+)-K(+) cotransport activity. Thus certain abnormalities of erythrocyte ion transport and membrane lipid composition detected in hypertensive animals might be caused by higher incidence of immature cells.

Fatty acid composition of plasma lipids and erythrocyte membranes during simulated extravehicular activity.

PubMed

Skedina, M A; Katuntsev, V P; Buravkova, L B; Naidina, V P

1998-01-01

Ten subjects (from 27 to 41 years) have been participated in 32 experiments. They were decompressed from ground level to 40-35 kPa in altitude chamber when breathed 100% oxygen by mask and performed repeated cycles of exercises (3.0 Kcal/min). The intervals between decompressions were 3-5 days. Plasma lipid and erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition was evaluated in the fasting venous blood before and immediately after hypobaric exposure. There were 7 cases decompression sickness (DCS). Venous gas bubbles (GB) were detected in 27 cases (84.4%). Any significant changes in the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes and plasma didn't practically induce after the first decompression. However, by the beginning of the second decompression the total lipid level in erythrocyte membranes decreased from 54.6 mg% to 40.4 mg% in group with DCS symptoms and from 51.2 mg% to 35.2 mg% (p<0.05) without DCS symptoms. In group with DCS symptoms a tendency to increased level of saturated fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes (16:0, 18:0), the level of the polyunsaturated linoleic fatty acid (18:2) and arachidonic acid (20:4) tended to be decreased by the beginning of the second decompression. Insignificant changes in blood plasma fatty acid composition was observed in both groups. The obtained biochemical data that indicated the simulated extravehicular activity (EVA) condition is accompanied by the certain changes in the blood lipid metabolism, structural and functional state of erythrocyte membranes, which are reversible. The most pronounced changes are found in subjects with DCS symptoms.

Sulfated Titania-Silica Reinforced Nafion Nanocomposite Membranes for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells.

PubMed

Abu Sayeed, M D; Kim, Hee Jin; Gopalan, A I; Kim, Young Ho; Lee, Kwang-Pill; Choi, Sang-June

2015-09-01

Sulfated titania-silica (SO4(2-)-/TiO2-SiO2) composites were prepared by a sol-gel method with sulfate reaction and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The nanometric diameter and geometry of the sulfated titania-silica (STS) was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A small amount of the STS composite in the range of 0.5-3 wt% was then added as reinforcing into the Nafion membrane by water-assisted solution casting method to prepare STS reinforced Nafion nanocomposite membranes (STS-Nafion nanocomposite membranes). The additional functional groups, sulfate groups, of the nanocomposite membrane having more surface oxygenated groups enhanced the fuel cell membrane properties. The STS-Nafion nanocomposite membranes exhibited improved water uptake compared to that of neat Nafion membranes, whereas methanol uptake values were decreased dramatically improved thermal property of the prepared nanocomposite membranes were measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Furthermore, increased ion exchange capacity values were obtained by thermoacidic pretreatment of the nanocomposite membranes.

Membrane perturbation activity of cationic phenylene ethynylene oligomers and polymers: selectivity against model bacterial and mammalian membranes.

PubMed

Wang, Ying; Tang, Yanli; Zhou, Zhijun; Ji, Eunkyung; Lopez, Gabriel P; Chi, Eva Y; Schanze, Kirk S; Whitten, David G

2010-08-03

Poly(phenylene ethyneylene) (PPE)-based cationic conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) and cationic phenylene ethynylene oligomers (OPEs) exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, and their main target is believed to be the cell membrane. To understand better how these antimicrobial molecules interact with membranes, a series of PPE-based CPEs and OPEs with different side chains were studied. Large unilamellar vesicles with lipid compositions mimicking those of mammalian or bacterial membranes were used as model membranes. Among the CPEs and OPEs tested, the anionic CPE, PPE-SO(3)(2-) and the smallest cationic OPE-1 are inactive against all vesicles. Other cationic CPEs and OPEs show significant membrane perturbation ability against bacterial membrane mimics but are inactive against a mammalian cell membrane mimic with the exception of PPE-DABCO and two end-only-functionalized OPEs, which also disrupted a mammalian cell membrane mimic. The results suggest that the phospholipid composition of vesicles dominates the interaction of CPE and OPE with lipid membranes.

Composite sensor membrane

DOEpatents

Majumdar, Arun [Orinda, CA; Satyanarayana, Srinath [Berkeley, CA; Yue, Min [Albany, CA

2008-03-18

A sensor may include a membrane to deflect in response to a change in surface stress, where a layer on the membrane is to couple one or more probe molecules with the membrane. The membrane may deflect when a target molecule reacts with one or more probe molecules.

Antifouling coatings via plasma polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization on thin film composite membranes for reverse osmosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirsch, Ulrike; Ruehl, Marco; Teuscher, Nico; Heilmann, Andreas

2018-04-01

A major drawback to otherwise highly efficient membrane-based desalination techniques like reverse osmosis (RO) is the susceptibility of the membranes to biofouling. In this work, a combination of plasma activation, plasma bromination and surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (si-ATRP) of hydrophilic and zwitterionic monomers, namely hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]-dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (SBMA), was applied to generate non-specific, anti-adhesive coatings on thin film composite (TFC) membranes. The antifouling effect of the coatings was shown by short-time batch as well as long-time steady state cultivation experiments with the microorganism Pseudomonas fluorescens. It could be shown that plasma functionalization and polymerization is possible on delicate thin film composite membranes without restricting their filtration performance. All modified membranes showed an increased resistance towards the adhesion of Pseudomonas fluorescens. On average, the biofilm coverage was reduced by 51.4-12.6% (for HEMA, SBMA, and MPC), the highest reduction was monitored for MPC with a biofilm reduction by 85.4%. The hydrophilic coatings applied did not only suppress the adhesion of Pseudomonas fluorescens, but also significantly increase the permeate flux of the membranes relative to uncoated membranes. The stability of the coatings was however not ideal and will have to be improved for future commercial use.

Application of a nanofibrous composite membrane to the fertilizer-driven forward osmosis process for irrigation water use.

PubMed

An, Hee-Kyung; Lee, Chang-Gu; Park, Seong-Jik

2017-11-01

In this study, we fabricated a nanofibrous composite (NFC) membrane as a substrate to produce forward osmosis (FO) membranes, and we also assessed the use of liquid fertilizer as a draw solution for the FO process in order to produce agricultural irrigation water. Commercial cellulose triacetate (CTA) and thin-film composite (TFC) FO membranes were included in this study. Under FO tests, the NFC, CTA, and TFC membranes achieved initial osmotic water flux values of 35.31, 6.85, and 3.31 L/m 2 ·h and final osmotic water flux values of 12.62, 6.31, and 3.85 L/m 2  h, respectively. The reason for the high osmotic water flux of the NFC membrane is because its nanofiber layer has low tortuosity, high porosity, and a low thickness, resulting in a reduction in the internal concentration polarization phenomenon. When liquid fertilizer was used as the draw solution, the water flux values in the FO experiments for the NFC, CTA, and TFC membranes were 15.54, 5.46, and 2.54 L/m 2  h. Finally, our results revealed that the FO process using liquid fertilizer as a draw solution can be applied to produce agricultural irrigation water from brackish water and the newly fabricated NFC membrane can be applied to the FO process.

Steel reinforced composite silicone membranes and its integration to microfluidic oxygenators for high performance gas exchange.

PubMed

Matharoo, Harpreet; Dabaghi, Mohammadhossein; Rochow, Niels; Fusch, Gerhard; Saraei, Neda; Tauhiduzzaman, Mohammed; Veldhuis, Stephen; Brash, John; Fusch, Christoph; Selvaganapathy, P Ravi

2018-01-01

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is one of the main causes of fatality in newborn infants, particularly in neonates with low birth-weight. Commercial extracorporeal oxygenators have been used for low-birth-weight neonates in neonatal intensive care units. However, these oxygenators require high blood volumes to prime. In the last decade, microfluidics oxygenators using enriched oxygen have been developed for this purpose. Some of these oxygenators use thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes to facilitate gas exchange between the blood flowing in the microchannels and the ambient air outside. However, PDMS is elastic and the thin membranes exhibit significant deformation and delamination under pressure which alters the architecture of the devices causing poor oxygenation or device failure. Therefore, an alternate membrane with high stability, low deformation under pressure, and high gas exchange was desired. In this paper, we present a novel composite membrane consisting of an ultra-thin stainless-steel mesh embedded in PDMS, designed specifically for a microfluidic single oxygenator unit (SOU). In comparison to homogeneous PDMS membranes, this composite membrane demonstrated high stability, low deformation under pressure, and high gas exchange. In addition, a new design for oxygenator with sloping profile and tapered inlet configuration has been introduced to achieve the same gas exchange at lower pressure drops. SOUs were tested by bovine blood to evaluate gas exchange properties. Among all tested SOUs, the flat design SOU with composite membrane has the highest oxygen exchange of 40.32 ml/min m 2 . The superior performance of the new device with composite membrane was demonstrated by constructing a lung assist device (LAD) with a low priming volume of 10 ml. The LAD was achieved by the oxygen uptake of 0.48-0.90 ml/min and the CO 2 release of 1.05-2.27 ml/min at blood flow rates ranging between 8 and 48 ml/min. This LAD was shown to increase the oxygen saturation level by 25% at the low pressure drop of 29 mm Hg. Finally, a piglet was used to test the gas exchange capacity of the LAD in vivo . The animal experiment results were in accordance with in-vitro results, which shows that the LAD is capable of providing sufficient gas exchange at a blood flow rate of ∼24 ml/min.

Solid Oxide Membrane (SOM) Process for Facile Electrosynthesis of Metal Carbides and Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zou, Xingli; Chen, Chaoyi; Lu, Xionggang; Li, Shangshu; Xu, Qian; Zhou, Zhongfu; Ding, Weizhong

2017-02-01

Metal carbides (MCs) and composites including TiC, SiC, TaC, ZrC, NbC, Ti5Si3/TiC, and Nb/Nb5Si3 have been directly electrosynthesized from their stoichiometric metal oxides/carbon (MOs/C) mixture precursors by an innovative solid oxide membrane (SOM)-assisted electrochemical process. MOs/C mixture powders including TiO2/C, SiO2/C, Ta2O5/C, ZrO2/C, Nb2O5/C, TiO2/SiO2/C, Nb2O5/SiO2 were pressed to form porous pellets and then served as cathode precursors. A SOM-based anode, made from yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ)-based membrane, was used to control the electroreduction process. The SOM electrochemical process was performed at 1273 K (1000 °C) and 3.5 to 4.0 V in molten CaCl2. The oxygen component contained in the MOs/C precursors was gradually removed during electroreduction process, and thus, MOs/C can be directly converted into MCs and composites at the cathode. The reaction mechanism of the electroreduction process and the characteristics of the obtained MCs and composites products were systematically investigated. The results show that the electrosynthesis process typically involves compounding, electroreduction, dissolution-electrodeposition, and in situ carbonization processes. The products can be predesigned and controlled to form micro/nanostructured MCs and composites. Multicomponent multilayer composites (MMCs) have also been tried to electrosynthesize in this work. It is suggested that the SOM-assisted electroreduction process has great potential to be used for the facile and green synthesis of various MCs and composites.

Film Balance Studies of Membrane Lipids and Related Molecules

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cadenhead, D. A.

1972-01-01

Discusses apparatus, techniques, and measurements used to determine cell membrane composition. The use of a film balance to study monolayer membranes of selected lipids is described and results reported. (TS)

Development and evaluation of sulfonated polysulfone membranes for the zinc-ferricyanide battery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arnold, C., Jr.; Assink, R. A.

1985-03-01

The successful commercialization of the zinc/ferricyanide battery being developed by Lockheed depends in part on the availability of an inexpensive, chemically stable membrane. Other essential membrane properties include low area resistivity (1 - 5 (UC OMEGA) cm(2)) and a low rate of iron permeation (4 x 10(-5) millimoles Fe(cm (2))h). A cast membrane which contained one sulfonate group per repeating unit in th backbone exhibited good stability in the alkaline ferricyanide electrolyte and satisfied the membrane requirements cited above. In ongoing single cell cycling tests, average energy efficiencies of 77% were achieved over 85 charge discharge cycles with this membrane. If sulfonate polysulfone membranes can be mass produced by extrusion, they can be considered as viable candidates to replace the expensive perfluorsulfonate membranes that were used to demonstrate the technical feasibility of the zinc/ferricyanide battery. The feasibility of preparing composite sulfonated polysulfone membranes by impregnation of microporous PTFE was also demonstrated. The manufacture of composite membranes should be possible using chemical coating equipment.

Acid gas scrubbing by composite solvent-swollen membranes

DOEpatents

Matson, Stephen L.; Lee, Eric K. L.; Friesen, Dwayne T.; Kelly, Donald J.

1988-01-01

A composite immobilized liquid membrane suitable for acid gas scrubbing is disclosed. The membrane is a solvent-swollen polymer and a microporous polymeric support, the solvent being selected from a class of highly polar solvents containing at least one atom selected from nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous and sulfur, and having a boiling point of at least 100.degree. C. and a solubility parameter of from about 7.5 to about 13.5 (cal/cm.sup.3 -atm).sup.1/2. Such solvents are homogeneously distributed through the solvent-swollen polymer from 20% to 95% by weight. Also disclosed are methods of acid gas scrubbing of high- and low-Btu gas effluents with such solvent-swollen membranes.

Acid gas scrubbing by composite solvent-swollen membranes

DOEpatents

Matson, S.L.; Lee, E.K.L.; Friesen, D.T.; Kelly, D.J.

1988-04-12

A composite immobilized liquid membrane suitable for acid gas scrubbing is disclosed. The membrane is a solvent-swollen polymer and a microporous polymeric support, the solvent being selected from a class of highly polar solvents containing at least one atom selected from nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur, and having a boiling point of at least 100 C and a solubility parameter of from about 7.5 to about 13.5 (cal/cm[sup 3]-atm)[sup 1/2]. Such solvents are homogeneously distributed through the solvent-swollen polymer from 20% to 95% by weight. Also disclosed are methods of acid gas scrubbing of high- and low-Btu gas effluents with such solvent-swollen membranes. 3 figs.

Properties of the Nafion membrane impregnated with hydroxyl ammonium based ionic liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garaev, Valeriy; Kleperis, Janis; Pavlovica, Sanita; Vaivars, Guntars

2012-08-01

In this work, the Nafion 112 membrane impregnated with nine various hydroxyl ammonium based ionic liquids have been investigated. The used ionic liquids were combined from hydroxyl ammonium cations (2-hydroxyethylammonium/HEA, bis(2- hydroxyethyl)ammonium/BHEA, tris(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium/THEA) and carboxylate anions (formate, acetate, lactate). The membranes are characterized by conductivity and thermal stability measurements. It was found, that almost all composites have 10 times higher ion conductivity than a pure Nafion 112 at 90 °C in ambient environment due to the higher thermal stability. The thermal stability of Nafion membrane was increased by all studied nine ionic liquids. In this work, only biodegradable ionic liquids were used for composite preparation.

Passive membrane penetration by ZnO nanoparticles is driven by the interplay of electrostatic and phase boundary conditions.

PubMed

Tiwari, Anuj; Prince, Ashutosh; Arakha, Manoranjan; Jha, Suman; Saleem, Mohammed

2018-02-15

The internalization of nanoparticles through the biological membrane is of immense importance for biomedical applications. A fundamental understanding of the lipid specificity and the role of the membrane biochemical and physical forces at play in modulating penetration are lacking. The current understanding of nanoparticle-membrane interaction is drawn mostly from computational studies and lacks sufficient experimental evidence. Herein, using confocal fluorescence imaging and potentiometric dye-based fluorimetry, we first investigated the interaction of ZnONP in both multi-component and individual lipid membranes using cell-like giant unilamellar vesicles to dissect the lipid specificity; also, we investigated the changes in membrane order, anisotropy and hydrophobicity. ZnONP was found to interact with phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine head-group-containing lipids specifically. We further investigated the interaction of ZnONP with three physiologically relevant membrane conditions varying in composition and dipole potential. We found that ZnONP interaction leads to a photoinduced enhancement of the partial-to-complete phase separation depending upon the membrane composition and cholesterol content. Interestingly, while the lipid order of a partially-phase-separated membrane remained unchanged upon ZnONP crowding, a fully-phase-separated membrane showed an increase in the lipid order. Strikingly, ZnONP crowding induced a contrasting effect on the fluorescence anisotropy of the membrane upon binding to the two membrane conditions, in line with the measured diffusion coefficient. ZnONP seems to preferentially penetrate through the liquid disordered areas of the membrane and the boundaries of the phase-separated regions driven by the interplay between the electrostatics and phase boundary conditions, which are collectively dictated by the composition and ZnONP-induced lipid reorganization. The results may lead to a greater understanding of the interplay of membrane parameters and ZnONP interaction in driving passive penetration.

Differences in the protein composition of bovine retinal rod outer segment disk and plasma membranes isolated by a ricin-gold-dextran density perturbation method

PubMed Central

1987-01-01

The plasma membrane and disk membranes of bovine retinal rod outer segments (ROS) have been purified by a novel density-gradient perturbation method for analysis of their protein compositions. Purified ROS were treated with neuraminidase to expose galactose residues on plasma membrane-specific glycoproteins and labeled with ricin-gold-dextran particles. After the ROS were lysed in hypotonic buffer, the plasma membrane was dissociated from the disks by either mild trypsin digestion or prolonged exposure to low ionic strength buffer. The dense ricin-gold-dextran-labeled plasma membrane was separated from disks by sucrose gradient centrifugation. Electron microscopy was used to follow this fractionation procedure. The dense red pellet primarily consisted of inverted plasma membrane vesicles containing gold particles; the membrane fraction of density 1.13 g/cc consisted of unlabeled intact disks and vesicles. Ricin-binding studies indicated that the plasma membrane from trypsin-treated ROS was purified between 10-15-fold. The protein composition of plasma membranes and disks was significantly different as analyzed by SDS gels and Western blots labeled with lectins and monoclonal antibodies. ROS plasma membrane exhibited three major proteins of 36 (rhodopsin), 38, and 52 kD, three ricin-binding glycoproteins of 230, 160, and 110 kD, and numerous minor proteins in the range of 14-270 kD. In disk membranes rhodopsin appeared as the only major protein. A 220-kD concanavalin A-binding glycoprotein and peripherin, a rim-specific protein, were also present along with minor proteins of 43 and 57-63 kD. Radioimmune assays indicated that the ROS plasma membrane contained about half as much rhodopsin as disk membranes. PMID:2447095

Evaluation of transport parameters for PVC based polyvinyl alcohol Ce(IV) phosphate composite membrane.

PubMed

Khan, Mohammad Mujahid Ali; Rafiuddin; Inamuddin

2013-05-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the preparation of novel membrane and the characterization of their properties. A new class of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) based polyvinyl alcohol Ce(IV) phosphate composite membrane was successfully prepared by solution casting method. The structural formation was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and morphological studies. The thermal property was investigated by thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) method. The order of surface charge density for various electrolytes was found to be LiCl

Controlled release from a composite silicone/hydrogel membrane.

PubMed

Hu, Z; Wang, C; Nelson, K D; Eberhart, R C

2000-01-01

To enhance the drug uptake and release capacity of silicone rubber (SR), N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) hydrogel particles have been incorporated into a SR membrane. The NIPA particles were thoroughly blended with uncured SR with a certain ratio at room temperature. The mixture was then cast in a Petri dish to 1 mm thickness and cured 10 hours at 90 degrees C. The SR/NIPA composite gel can absorb water approximately equal to its dry weight. Brilliant blue, used as a mock drug, was loaded into the composite gel. Drug release increased exponentially to a final value that is temperature dependent: low at T> =34 degrees C, and high at T< 34 degrees C. This finding is because the hydrophobicity of NIPA changes with temperature. Pulsed release in response to temperature switching between 20 and 39 degrees C has been achieved. Drug uptake and release capability strongly depends upon the structure of the composite gel. The optimal range of NIPA composition is between 75 and 87% by volume. In the cited range, the NIPA particles form an interconnected network that provides a channel for diffusion of drug solution. The SR/NIPA composite gel has promising attributes as a wound dressing and other uses.

Printing-assisted surface modifications of patterned ultrafiltration membranes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wardrip, Nathaniel C.; Dsouza, Melissa; Urgun-Demirtas, Meltem

Understanding and restricting microbial surface attachment will enhance wastewater treatment with membranes. We report a maskless lithographic patterning technique for the generation of patterned polymer coatings on ultrafiltration membranes. Polyethylene glycol, zwitterionic, or negatively charged hydrophilic polymer compositions in parallel- or perpendicular-striped patterns with respect to feed flow were evaluated using wastewater. Membrane fouling was dependent on the orientation and chemical composition of the coatings. Modifications reduced alpha diversity in the attached microbial community (Shannon indices decreased from 2.63 to 1.89) which nevertheless increased with filtration time. Sphingomonas species, which condition membrane surfaces and facilitate cellular adhesion, were depleted inmore » all modified membranes. Microbial community structure was significantly different between control, different patterns, and different chemistries. Lastly, this study broadens the tools for surface modification of membranes with polymer coatings and for understanding and optimization of antifouling surfaces.« less

Printing-assisted surface modifications of patterned ultrafiltration membranes

DOE PAGES

Wardrip, Nathaniel C.; Dsouza, Melissa; Urgun-Demirtas, Meltem; ...

2016-10-17

Understanding and restricting microbial surface attachment will enhance wastewater treatment with membranes. We report a maskless lithographic patterning technique for the generation of patterned polymer coatings on ultrafiltration membranes. Polyethylene glycol, zwitterionic, or negatively charged hydrophilic polymer compositions in parallel- or perpendicular-striped patterns with respect to feed flow were evaluated using wastewater. Membrane fouling was dependent on the orientation and chemical composition of the coatings. Modifications reduced alpha diversity in the attached microbial community (Shannon indices decreased from 2.63 to 1.89) which nevertheless increased with filtration time. Sphingomonas species, which condition membrane surfaces and facilitate cellular adhesion, were depleted inmore » all modified membranes. Microbial community structure was significantly different between control, different patterns, and different chemistries. Lastly, this study broadens the tools for surface modification of membranes with polymer coatings and for understanding and optimization of antifouling surfaces.« less

Rheological properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) derived composite membranes for fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Remiš, T.

2017-01-01

Rheological properties of new anhydrous proton conducting membrane based on PVA, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS),sulfosuccinic acid (SSA), titanium dioxide (TiO2)was examined at various stoichiometric ratios. SSA was used as sulfonating agents to form a crosslinked structure and as proton source, whereas TEO Sand TiO2were utilized to improve the thermal and mechanical properties of the membrane. In order to verify that all the substances were immobilized into the matrix, the membranes were analysed by means of FT-IR. The rheological, mechanical and thermal properties of the membranes were investigated using rheometer ARES G2 and thermogravimetic analyser (TGA).The analysis of mixed PVA solutions exhibited a unique behaviour of viscosity with increased crosslink density. The dynamic storage modulus G´ of dried composite membranes shows better mechanical resistance and increased tolerance to pressure applied during membrane electrode assembly (MEA).

Preparation of hierarchical structured nano-sized/porous poly(lactic acid) composite fibrous membranes for air filtration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhe; Pan, Zhijuan

2015-11-01

Hierarchical structured nano-sized/porous poly(lactic acid) (PLA-N/PLA-P) composite fibrous membranes with excellent air filtration performance were prepared via an electrospinning technique. Firstly, PLA-P fibers with different morphology were fabricated by varying the relative humidity, and the nanopores on fiber surface played a key role in improving the specific surface area and filtration performance of the resultant membranes. Secondly, hierarchical structure of PLA-N/PLA-P interlaced structured membranes and PLA-N/PLA-P double-layer structured membranes with different mass ratios for further enhanced air filtration performance were also successfully prepared by combining PLA-N fibers with PLA-P fibers. Filtration tests by measuring the penetration of sodium chloride (NaCl) aerosol particles with a 260 nm mass median diameter revealed that a moderate mass ratio of PLA-P fibers and PLA-N fibers contributed to improving the filtration performance of the hierarchical structured PLA-N/PLA-P composite membrane, and the double-layer structured PLA-N/PLA-P membrane possessed a higher filtration efficiency and quality factor than that of an interlaced structured PLA-N/PLA-P membrane with the same mass ratio. The as-prepared PLA-N/PLA-P double-layer structured membrane with a mass ratio of 1/5 showed a high filtration efficiency (99.999%) and a relatively low pressure drop (93.3 Pa) at the face velocity of 5.3 cm/s.

[Bioactive glass 45S5-silk fibroin membrane supports proliferation and differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells].

PubMed

Lyu, Xiaoshuai; Li, Zhengmao; Wang, Haiyan; Yang, Xuechao

2015-12-01

To investigate the effect of bioactivity glass 45S5- silk fibroin(BG45S5- SF) membrane on growth, proliferation and differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells(hDPSC), and to provide new ideas and method for the regeneration of pulp-dentine complex. hDPSC seed on pure silk fibroin membrane (protein membrane group) and BG45S5-SF membrane with different concentrations(1 000, 5 000 mg/L, composite membrane group A and B, respectively) were prepared, and the materials were incubated in cell culture fluid for 24 h. No material membrane orifice plate was used as blank control group. Contact angle meter was used to measure surface contact angle of protein membrane and composite membrane group(each group had three repeated holes). Cell proliferation was assessed by cell counting kit- 8 on the 4, 7, 14, and 21 days. The state of adhesion and growth of hDPSC on the materials surface was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and cytoskeleton staining; and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured to evaluate the cell differentiation potential. The expression of odontoblastic differentiation-related genes was measured by real-time PCR. Surface contact angle of the protein membrane group and composite membrane group A and group B were 89.51° ± 0.12°, 70.32° ± 0.07° and 71.31° ± 0.09° respectively. hDPSC adhered well on each materials surface on the 7, 14, 21 days, ALP activity and differentiation genes of composite membrane group A and B rised more significantly than the blank control group and protein membrane group did (P<0.05). Dentin matrix protein1(DMP- 1), dentin sialoprotein(DSP), ALP, osteocalcin(OC) mRNA expression reached peak on the 14 days in group A, and in group B on the 21 days. Bone sialoprotein(BSP) mRNA expression in both group A and B reached peak on the 21 days. BG45S5- SF membrane is able to support the proliferation and showed the potential of odontoblastic differentiation for hDPSC. This finding suggests that BG45S5-SF membrane was a kind of tissue engineering film material with the regeneration potential for pulp-dentine complex.

A dendrite-suppressing composite ion conductor from aramid nanofibres.

PubMed

Tung, Siu-On; Ho, Szushen; Yang, Ming; Zhang, Ruilin; Kotov, Nicholas A

2015-01-27

Dendrite growth threatens the safety of batteries by piercing the ion-transporting separators between the cathode and anode. Finding a dendrite-suppressing material that combines high modulus and high ionic conductance has long been considered a major technological and materials science challenge. Here we demonstrate that these properties can be attained in a composite made from Kevlar-derived aramid nanofibres assembled in a layer-by-layer manner with poly(ethylene oxide). Importantly, the porosity of the membranes is smaller than the growth area of the dendrites so that aramid nanofibres eliminate 'weak links' where the dendrites pierce the membranes. The aramid nanofibre network suppresses poly(ethylene oxide) crystallization detrimental for ion transport, giving a composite that exhibits high modulus, ionic conductivity, flexibility, ion flux rates and thermal stability. Successful suppression of hard copper dendrites by the composite ion conductor at extreme discharge conditions is demonstrated, thereby providing a new approach for the materials engineering of solid ion conductors.

Fuel cell collector plate and method of fabrication

DOEpatents

Braun, James C.; Zabriskie, Jr., John E.; Neutzler, Jay K.; Fuchs, Michel; Gustafson, Robert C.

2001-01-01

An improved molding composition is provided for compression molding or injection molding a current collector plate for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. The molding composition is comprised of a polymer resin combined with a low surface area, highly-conductive carbon and/or graphite powder filler. The low viscosity of the thermoplastic resin combined with the reduced filler particle surface area provide a moldable composition which can be fabricated into a current collector plate having improved current collecting capacity vis-a-vis comparable fluoropolymer molding compositions.

Composite Polymeric Membranes with Directionally Embedded Fibers for Controlled Dual Actuation.

PubMed

Liu, Li; Bakhshi, Hadi; Jiang, Shaohua; Schmalz, Holger; Agarwal, Seema

2018-04-20

In this paper, preparation method and actuation properties of an innovative composite membrane composed of thermo- and pH-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) fibers (average diameter ≈ 905 nm) embedded within a passive thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix at different angles with degree of alignment as high as 98% are presented. The composite membrane has a gradient of TPU along the thickness. It has the capability of temperature- and pH-dependent direction-, and size-controlled actuation in few minutes. The stresses generated at the responsive fiber and nonresponsive matrix provide actuation, whereas the angle at which fibers are embedded in the matrix controls the actuation direction and size. The temperature has no effect on actuation and actuated forms at pH 7 and above, whereas the size of the actuated forms can be controlled by the temperature at lower pH. The membranes are strong enough to reversibly lift and release ≈426 times weight of their own mass (2.47 g metal ring is lifted by a 5.8 mg membrane). Soft actuators are of interest as smart scaffolds, robotics, catalysis, drug release, energy storage, electrodes, and metamaterials. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Incorporation of Exogenous Fatty Acids Protects Enterococcus faecalis from Membrane-Damaging Agents

PubMed Central

Saito, Holly E.; Harp, John R.

2014-01-01

Enterococcus faecalis is a commensal bacterium of the mammalian intestine that can persist in soil and aquatic systems and can be a nosocomial pathogen to humans. It employs multiple stress adaptation strategies in order to survive such a wide range of environments. Within this study, we sought to elucidate whether membrane fatty acid composition changes are an important component for stress adaptation. We noted that E. faecalis OG1RF was capable of changing its membrane composition depending upon growth phase and temperature. The organism also readily incorporated fatty acids from bile, serum, and medium supplemented with individual fatty acids, often dramatically changing the membrane composition such that a single fatty acid was predominant. Growth in either low levels of bile or specific individual fatty acids was found to protect the organism from membrane challenges such as high bile exposure. In particular, we observed that when grown in low levels of bile, serum, or the host-derived fatty acids oleic acid and linoleic acid, E. faecalis was better able to survive the antibiotic daptomycin. Interestingly, the degree of membrane saturation did not appear to be important for protection from the stressors examined here; instead, it appears that a specific fatty acid or combination of fatty acids is critical for stress resistance. PMID:25128342

Evaluation of the Parameters and Conditions of Process in the Ethylbenzene Dehydrogenation with Application of Permselective Membranes to Enhance Styrene Yield.

PubMed

Araújo, Paulo Jardel P; Leite, Manuela Souza; Ravagnani, Teresa M Kakuta

2016-01-01

Styrene is an important monomer in the manufacture of thermoplastic. Most of it is produced by the catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. In this process that depends on reversible reactions, the yield is usually limited by the establishment of thermodynamic equilibrium in the reactor. The styrene yield can be increased by using a hybrid process, with reaction and separation simultaneously. It is proposed using permselective composite membrane to remove hydrogen and thus suppress the reverse and secondary reactions. This paper describes the simulation of a dehydrogenation process carried out in a tubular fixed-bed reactor wrapped in a permselective composite membrane. A mathematical model was developed, incorporating the various mass transport mechanisms found in each of the membrane layers and in the catalytic fixed bed. The effects of the reactor feed conditions (temperature, steam-to-oil ratio, and the weight hourly space velocity), the fixed-bed geometry (length, diameter, and volume), and the membrane geometry (thickness of the layers) on the styrene yield were analyzed. These variables were used to determine experimental conditions that favour the production of styrene. The simulation showed that an increase of 40.98% in the styrene yield, compared to a conventional fixed-bed process, could be obtained by wrapping the reactor in a permselective composite membrane.

Modification of the fatty acid composition of the erythrocyte membrane in patients with chronic respiratory diseases.

PubMed

Novgorodtseva, Tatyana P; Denisenko, Yulia K; Zhukova, Natalia V; Antonyuk, Marina V; Knyshova, Vera V; Gvozdenko, Tatyana A

2013-07-30

Early preclinical diagnosis of COPD is urgent. We proposed that fatty acid composition of red blood cells may serve as a prognostic test for the complications in the chronic respiratory diseases. Fatty acid composition of the erythrocyte membranes in patients with chronic respiratory diseases (chronic bronchitis, CB, and stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD) was studied. It was established that modification of the fatty acid composition in the erythrocyte membranes was unidirectional in both groups of patients. Patients with CB and stable COPD (group A, GOLD 1) (15 subjects in each group) were studied in clinic. The activity of the inflammatory process was evaluated by the phagocytic activity of neutrophils, cytokine levels and cytokine receptors in the blood serum (TNFα, sTNF-RI, bFGF, TGF-β, IL-8). Fatty acid (FA) composition of the erythrocyte membranes was analyzed by gas liquid chromatography. Statistical data processing was performed by the methods of descriptive statistics with Statistica 6.0. In both groups (CB and COPD), a significant accumulation of the saturated FAs (14:0, 15:0, 18:0) was established. The amount of the arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) was increased by 13% (р < 0.05) in CB patients and by 41% (р < 0.001) in COPD patients, as compared with healthy persons. The elevated level of the PUFA n-6 in the erythrocytes membranes in patients with chronic respiratory diseases confirms that proinflammatory (leukotriene B4) and bronchospasm (prostaglandin D2) mediator substrates is increased. The level of the eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) was decreased by 32% (р < 0.05) in CB patients and 2-fold (р < 0.001) in COPD patients. The observed increase in the 20:4n-6/20:5n-3 ratio--1.5-fold (р < 0.001) in CB patients and 3-fold in COPD patients--can be a specific marker of the adverse course of the respiratory pathology and the chronic inflammatory development. Chronic respiratory disease development is associated with the disturbance of the fatty acid composition in erythrocyte membranes and disbalance of the ratio between precursor of pro- and antiinflammatory eicosanoids.

Proton conductive montmorillonite-Nafion composite membranes for direct ethanol fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Xiu-Wen; Wu, Nan; Shi, Chun-Qing; Zheng, Zhi-Yuan; Qi, Hong-Bin; Wang, Ya-Fang

2016-12-01

The preparation of Nafion membranes modified with montmorillonites is less studied, and most relative works mainly applied in direct methanol fuel cells, less in direct ethanol fuel cells. Organic/inorganic composite membranes are prepared with different montmorillonites (Ca-montmorillonite, Na-montmorillonite, K-montmorillonite, Mg-montmorillonite, and H-montmorillonite) and Nafion solution via casting method at 293 K in air, and with balance of their proton conductivity and ethanol permeability. The ethanol permeability and proton conductivity of the membranes are comparatively studied. The montmorillonites can well decrease the ethanol permeability of the membranes via inserted them in the membranes, while less decrease the proton conductivities of the membranes depending on the inserted amount and type of montmorillonites. The proton conductivities of the membranes are between 36.0 mS/cm and 38.5 mS/cm. The ethanol permeability of the membranes is between 0.69 × 10-6 cm2/s and 2.67 × 10-6 cm2/s.

Effect of Graphene Oxide (GO) on the Surface Morphology & Hydrophilicity of Polyethersulfone (PES)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Junaidi, N. F. D.; Khalil, N. A.; Jahari, A. F.; Shaari, N. Z. K.; Shahruddin, M. Z.; Alias, N. H.; Othman, N. H.

2018-05-01

Membrane has been widely used in water and wastewater treatment. One of the major issues related membrane separation is concentration polarization or fouling, which can lead to a decline of flux and premature failure of membrane. However, fouling can be controlled by modification of membrane properties such as morphology and hydrophilicity. In this work, a modification of polymeric membrane, polyethersulfone (PES) was carried out using graphene oxide in order to attain high antifouling characteristics. Graphene oxide (GO) was added at different compositions ranging from (0.1 wt%-1.0 wt%). GO was synthesized using modified Hummers’ method and characterized using XRD and FTIR prior to using it as additive for the PES membrane. The prepared PES-GO composite membranes were characterized using FTIR and SEM, Contact angle measurement and pure water flux test were then conducted to investigate the hydrophilicity of the PES-GO membranes. It was found that the additions of GO has significantly improved the hydrophilicity of the membranes.

Antibacterial surface modified of novel nanocomposite sulfonated polyethersulfone/polyrhodanine membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rostam, Abbas Babaei; Peyravi, Majid; Ghorbani, Mohsen; Jahanshahi, Mohsen

2018-01-01

In this study, sulfonated-polyethersulfone/polyrhodanine (SPES/PRh) membranes with antibacterial behavior were fabricated. Polyethersulfone (PES) sulfonation was performed to enhance its hydrophilicity and next polyrhodanine nanoparticles (PRhNPs) were synthesized along with the sulfonated PES (SPES) by polyrhodanine (PRh) in situ polymerization. The sulfonation step also helps making composite membrane due to development of probable bondings and polymers engagements. The constructed membranes characterization was performed by FTIR, FESEM, contact angle, 1H NMR, TGA and EDS analyses. SPES/PRh membrane had enhanced hydrophilicity and consequently better fluxes for aqueous solutions. The composite SPES/PRh membrane flux was improved to 139/78 L/m2 h comparing 58.21 L/m2 h for SPES one. Membrane operational performances, antibacterial and antibiofouling tests showed improved flux, better rejection and appropriate antibacterial and antibiofouling properties for SPES/PRh membrane. The 100% bacteria mortality for specified concentrations and appropriate inhibition zones up to 9 mm have been achieved. It is generally a suitable membrane to provide proper performance beside antibacterial and antibiofouling behavior.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis of a thin film composite membrane consisting of polysulfone on a porous α-alumina support.

PubMed

Ogieglo, Wojciech; Wormeester, Herbert; Wessling, Matthias; Benes, Nieck E

2012-02-01

Exposure of a thin polymer film to a fluid can affect properties of the film such as the density and thickness. In particular in membrane technology, these changes can have important implications for membrane performance. Spectroscopic ellipsometry is a convenient technique for in situ studies of thin films, because of its noninvasive character and very high precision. The applicability of spectroscopic ellipsometry is usually limited to samples with well-defined interfacial regions, whereas in typical composite membranes, often substantial and irregular intrusion of the thin film into the pores of a support exists. In this work, we provide a detailed characterization of a polished porous alumina membrane support, using variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry in combination with atomic force microscopy and mercury porosimetry. Two Spectroscopic ellipsometry optical models are presented that can adequately describe the surface roughness of the support. These models consider the surface roughness as a distinct layer in which the porosity gradually increases toward the outer ambient interface. The first model considers the porosity profile to be linear; the second model assumes an exponential profile. It is shown that the models can be extended to account for a composite membrane geometry, by deposition of a thin polysulfone film onto the support. The developed method facilitates practicability for in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry studies of nonequilibrium systems, i.e., membranes under actual permeation conditions.

Manipulating Membrane Fatty Acid Compositions of Whole Plants with Tween-Fatty Acid Esters 1

PubMed Central

Terzaghi, William B.

1989-01-01

This paper describes a method for manipulating plant membrane fatty acid compositions without altering growth temperature or other conditions. Tween-fatty acid esters carrying specific fatty acids were synthesized and applied to various organs of plants growing axenically in glass jars. Treated plants incorporated large amounts of exogenous fatty acids into all acylated membrane lipids detected. Fatty acids were taken up by both roots and leaves. Fatty acids applied to roots were found in leaves, while fatty acids applied to leaves appeared in both leaves higher on the plant and in roots, indicating translocation (probably in the phloem). Foliar application was most effective; up to 20% of membrane fatty acids of leaves above the treated leaf and up to 40% of root membrane fatty acids were exogenously derived. Plants which took up exogenous fatty acids changed their patterns of fatty acid synthesis such that ratios of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids remained essentially unaltered. Fatty acid uptake was most extensively studied in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), but was also observed in other species, including maize (Zea mays L.), mung beans (Vigna radiata L.), peas (Pisum sativum L.), petunia (Petunia hybrida L.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Potential applications of this system include studying internal transport of fatty acids, regulation of fatty acid and membrane synthesis, and influences of membrane fatty acid composition on plant physiology. Images Figure 2 PMID:16666997

Changes in the lipid composition of Bradyrhizobium cell envelope reveal a rapid response to water deficit involving lysophosphatidylethanolamine synthesis from phosphatidylethanolamine in outer membrane.

PubMed

Cesari, Adriana B; Paulucci, Natalia S; Biasutti, María A; Morales, Gustavo M; Dardanelli, Marta S

2018-06-02

We evaluate the behavior of the membrane of Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA6144 during adaptation to polyethylene glycol (PEG). A dehydrating effect on the morphology of the cell surface, as well as a fluidizing effect on the membrane was observed 10 min after PEG shock; however, the bacteria were able to restore optimal membrane fluidity. Shock for 1 h caused an increase of lysophosphatidylethanolamine in the outer membrane at the expense of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), through an increase in phospholipase activity. The amount of lysophosphatidylethanolamine did not remain constant during PEG shock, but after 24 h the outer membrane was composed of large amounts of phosphatidylcholine and less amount of lysophosphatidylethanolamine similar to the control. The inner membrane composition was also modified after 1 h of shock, observing an increase of phosphatidylcholine at the expense of PE, the proportions of these phospholipids were then modified to reach 24 h of shock values similar to the control. Vesicles prepared with the lipids of cells exposed to 1 h shock presented higher rigidity compared to the control, indicating that changes in the composition of phospholipids after 1 h of shock restoring fluidity after the PEG effect and would allow cells to maintain surface morphology. Copyright © 2018 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

A low-cost mullite-titania composite ceramic hollow fiber microfiltration membrane for highly efficient separation of oil-in-water emulsion.

PubMed

Zhu, Li; Chen, Mingliang; Dong, Yingchao; Tang, Chuyang Y; Huang, Aisheng; Li, Lingling

2016-03-01

Oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion is considered to be difficult to treat. In this work, a low-cost multi-layer-structured mullite-titania composite ceramic hollow fiber microfiltration membrane was fabricated and utilized to efficiently remove fine oil droplets from (O/W) emulsion. In order to reduce membrane cost, coal fly ash was effectively recycled for the first time to fabricate mullite hollow fiber with finger-like and sponge-like structures, on which a much more hydrophilic TiO2 layer was further deposited. The morphology, crystalline phase, mechanical and surface properties were characterized in details. The filtration capability of the final composite membrane was assessed by the separation of a 200 mg·L(-1) synthetic (O/W) emulsion. Even with this microfiltration membrane, a TOC removal efficiency of 97% was achieved. Dilute NaOH solution backwashing was used to effectively accomplish membrane regeneration (∼96% flux recovery efficiency). This study is expected to guide an effective way to recycle waste coal fly ash not only to solve its environmental problems but also to produce a high-valued mullite hollow fiber membrane for highly efficient separation application of O/W emulsion with potential simultaneous functions of pure water production and oil resource recovery. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Composition Based Strategies for Controlling Radii in Lipid Nanotubes

PubMed Central

Kurczy, Michael E.; Mellander, Lisa J.; Najafinobar, Neda; Cans, Ann-Sofie

2014-01-01

Nature routinely carries out small-scale chemistry within lipid bound cells and organelles. Liposome–lipid nanotube networks are being developed by many researchers in attempt to imitate these membrane enclosed environments, with the goal to perform small-scale chemical studies. These systems are well characterized in terms of the diameter of the giant unilamellar vesicles they are constructed from and the length of the nanotubes connecting them. Here we evaluate two methods based on intrinsic curvature for adjusting the diameter of the nanotube, an aspect of the network that has not previously been controllable. This was done by altering the lipid composition of the network membrane with two different approaches. In the first, the composition of the membrane was altered via lipid incubation of exogenous lipids; either with the addition of the low intrinsic curvature lipid soy phosphatidylcholine (soy-PC) or the high intrinsic curvature lipid soy phosphatidylethanolamine (soy-PE). In the second approach, exogenous lipids were added to the total lipid composition during liposome formation. Here we show that for both lipid augmentation methods, we observed a decrease in nanotube diameter following soy-PE additions but no significant change in size following the addition of soy-PC. Our results demonstrate that the effect of soy-PE on nanotube diameter is independent of the method of addition and suggests that high curvature soy-PE molecules facilitate tube membrane curvature. PMID:24392077

Production and characterization of bacterial cellulose membranes with hyaluronic acid from chicken comb.

PubMed

de Oliveira, Sabrina Alves; da Silva, Bruno Campos; Riegel-Vidotti, Izabel Cristina; Urbano, Alexandre; de Sousa Faria-Tischer, Paula Cristina; Tischer, Cesar Augusto

2017-04-01

The bacterial cellulose (BC), from Gluconacetobacter hansenii, is a biofilm with a high degree of crystallinity that can be used for therapeutic purposes and as a candidate for healing wounds. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a constitutive polysaccharide found in the extracellular matrix and is a material used in tissue engineering and scaffolding for tissue regeneration. In this study, polymeric composites were produced in presence of hyaluronic acid isolated from chicken comb on different days of fermentation, specifically on the first (BCHA-SABT0) and third day (BCHA-SABT3) of fermentation. The structural characteristics, thermal stability and molar mass of hyaluronic acid from chicken comb were evaluated. Native membrane and polymeric composites were characterized with respect to their morphology and crystallinity. The optimized process of extraction and purification of hyaluronic acid resulted in low molar mass hyaluronic acid with structural characteristics similar to the standard commercial hyaluronic acid. The results demonstrate that the polymeric composites (BC/HA-SAB) can be produced in situ. The membranes produced on the third day presented better incorporation of HA-SAB between cellulose microfiber, resulting in membranes with higher thermal stability, higher roughness and lower crystallinity. The biocompatiblily of bacterial cellulose and the importance of hyaluronic acid as a component of extracellular matrix qualify the polymeric composites as promising biomaterials for tissue engineering. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Novel Swelling-Resistant Sodium Alginate Membrane Branching Modified by Glycogen for Highly Aqueous Ethanol Solution Pervaporation.

PubMed

Ji, Chen-Hao; Xue, Shuang-Mei; Xu, Zhen-Liang

2016-10-12

A novel carbohydrate chain cross-linking method of sodium alginate (SA) is proposed in which glycogen with the branched-chain structure is utilized to cross-link with SA matrix by the bridging of glutaraldehyde (GA). The active layer of SA composite ceramic membrane modified by glycogen and GA for pervaporation (PV) demonstrates great advantages. The branched structure increases the chain density of the active layer, which compresses the free volume between the carbohydrate chains of SA. Large amounts of hydroxyl groups are consumed during the reaction with GA, which reduces the hydrogen bond formation between water molecules and the polysaccharide matrix. The two factors benefit the active layer with great improvement in swelling resistance, promoting the potential of the active layer for the dehydration of an ethanol-water solution containing high water content. Meanwhile, the modified active layer is loaded on the rigid α-Al 2 O 3 ceramic membrane by dip-coating method with the enhancement of anti-deformation and controllable thickness of the active layer. Characterization techniques such as SEM, AFM, XRD, FTIR, XPS, and water contact angle are utilized to observe the composite structure and surface morphology of the composite membrane, to probe the free volume variation, and to determine the chemical composition and hydrophilicity difference of the active layer caused by the different glycogen additive amounts. The membrane containing 3% glycogen in the selective layer demonstrates the flux at 1250 g m -2 h -1 coupled with the separation factor of 187 in the 25 wt % water content feed solution at the operating temperature of 75 °C, reflecting superior pervaporation processing capacity compared with the general organic PV membranes in the same condition.

Comparison of the amino acid compositions and antigenic properties of spiralins purified from the plasma membranes of different spiroplasmas.

PubMed

Wróblewski, H; Robic, D; Thomas, D; Blanchard, A

1984-01-01

Spiralins were purified by agarose-suspension electrophoresis after extraction with detergents from the membranes of the following spiroplasmas: Spiroplasma citri C189, S. citri Maroc (R8A2), S. citri Scaph and the honey-bee spiroplasma B88. The four proteins (molecular mass congruent to 26,000 daltons, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate-pore gradient electrophoresis) showed very similar amino acid compositions characterized by the absence of methionine and tryptophan and a high polarity index (greater than 49%). When compared with the amino acid composition of S. citri membrane, the four spiralins had little or no histidine, a low content of glycine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and arginine, and a high content of threonine, alanine and valine. Comparison of the amino acid compositions according to the criteria described by Cornish-Bowden (Anal. Biochem., 1980, 105, 233-238) strongly suggests that all four spiralins are related. A crossed immunoelectrophoretical comparison, however, shows that though the three proteins purified from S. citri strains (serogroup I-1) are antigenically similar, they do not seem to share common epitopes with spiralin from the honey-bee spiroplasma B88 (serogroup I-2).

Optimization of bicelle lipid composition and temperature for EPR spectroscopy of aligned membranes.

PubMed

McCaffrey, Jesse E; James, Zachary M; Thomas, David D

2015-01-01

We have optimized the magnetic alignment of phospholipid bilayered micelles (bicelles) for EPR spectroscopy, by varying lipid composition and temperature. Bicelles have been extensively used in NMR spectroscopy for several decades, in order to obtain aligned samples in a near-native membrane environment and take advantage of the intrinsic sensitivity of magnetic resonance to molecular orientation. Recently, bicelles have also seen increasing use in EPR, which offers superior sensitivity and orientational resolution. However, the low magnetic field strength (less than 1 T) of most conventional EPR spectrometers results in homogeneously oriented bicelles only at a temperature well above physiological. To optimize bicelle composition for magnetic alignment at reduced temperature, we prepared bicelles containing varying ratios of saturated (DMPC) and unsaturated (POPC) phospholipids, using EPR spectra of a spin-labeled fatty acid to assess alignment as a function of lipid composition and temperature. Spectral analysis showed that bicelles containing an equimolar mixture of DMPC and POPC homogeneously align at 298 K, 20 K lower than conventional DMPC-only bicelles. It is now possible to perform EPR studies of membrane protein structure and dynamics in well-aligned bicelles at physiological temperatures and below. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of Fatty Acyl Group and Sterol Composition on Sensitivity of Lecithin Liposomes to Imidazole Antimycotics

PubMed Central

Yamaguchi, Hideyo; Iwata, Kazuo

1979-01-01

The specific affinity for membrane lipids and the membrane selectivity of three imidazole derivatives, clotrimazole, miconazole, and econazole, were studied using various types of liposomes with respect to the lecithin fatty acyl group composition and the liposome content and composition of sterol as membrane models. The sensitivity of liposomes to these drugs was primarily dependent upon the lecithin fatty acyl group composition. With sterol-free liposome systems, each imidazole induced maximum release of trapped glucose as a marker from the unsaturated dioleoyl lecithin liposomes, minimum release from the saturated dipalmitoyl lecithin liposomes, and intermediate release from egg lecithin liposomes. The sensitivity of the dipalmitoyl lecithin liposomes to any imidazole drug was not influenced by the incorporation of cholesterol or ergosterol. On the other hand, clotrimazole-induced permeability changes of liposomes prepared from unsaturated dioleoyl lecithin or egg lecithin were greatly enhanced by the incorporation of ergosterol, whereas they were suppressed by cholesterol incorporation. The sensitivity of liposomes prepared from these unsaturated lecithins to miconazole and econazole was also augmented by ergosterol incorporation, although it was scarcely altered by cholesterol incorporation. Negatively charged liposomes were more sensitive to the three imidazole drugs than positively charged liposomes. PMID:525988

Effect of fatty acyl group and sterol composition on sensitivity of lecithin liposomes to imidazole antimycotics.

PubMed

Yamaguchi, H; Iwata, K

1979-05-01

The specific affinity for membrane lipids and the membrane selectivity of three imidazole derivatives, clotrimazole, miconazole, and econazole, were studied using various types of liposomes with respect to the lecithin fatty acyl group composition and the liposome content and composition of sterol as membrane models. The sensitivity of liposomes to these drugs was primarily dependent upon the lecithin fatty acyl group composition. With sterol-free liposome systems, each imidazole induced maximum release of trapped glucose as a marker from the unsaturated dioleoyl lecithin liposomes, minimum release from the saturated dipalmitoyl lecithin liposomes, and intermediate release from egg lecithin liposomes. The sensitivity of the dipalmitoyl lecithin liposomes to any imidazole drug was not influenced by the incorporation of cholesterol or ergosterol. On the other hand, clotrimazole-induced permeability changes of liposomes prepared from unsaturated dioleoyl lecithin or egg lecithin were greatly enhanced by the incorporation of ergosterol, whereas they were suppressed by cholesterol incorporation. The sensitivity of liposomes prepared from these unsaturated lecithins to miconazole and econazole was also augmented by ergosterol incorporation, although it was scarcely altered by cholesterol incorporation. Negatively charged liposomes were more sensitive to the three imidazole drugs than positively charged liposomes.

Associations between a fatty acid desaturase gene polymorphism and blood arachidonic acid compositions in Japanese elderly.

PubMed

Horiguchi, Sayaka; Nakayama, Kazuhiro; Iwamoto, Sadahiko; Ishijima, Akiko; Minezaki, Takayuki; Baba, Mamiko; Kontai, Yoshiko; Horikawa, Chika; Kawashima, Hiroshi; Shibata, Hiroshi; Kagawa, Yasuo; Kawabata, Terue

2016-02-01

We investigated whether the single nucleotide polymorphism rs174547 (T/C) of the fatty acid desaturase-1 gene, FADS1, is associated with changes in erythrocyte membrane and plasma phospholipid (PL) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) composition in elderly Japanese participants (n=124; 65 years or older; self-feeding and oral intake). The rs174547 C-allele carriers had significantly lower arachidonic acid (ARA; n-6 PUFA) and higher linoleic acid (LA, n-6 PUFA precursor) levels in erythrocyte membrane and plasma PL (15% and 6% ARA reduction, respectively, per C-allele), suggesting a low LA to ARA conversion rate in erythrocyte membrane and plasma PL of C-allele carriers. α-linolenic acid (n-3 PUFA precursor) levels were higher in the plasma PL of C-allele carriers, whereas levels of the n-3 LCPUFAs eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were unchanged in erythrocyte membrane and plasma PL. Thus, rs174547 genotypes were significantly associated with different ARA compositions of the blood of elderly Japanese. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of sterol-binding agent nystatin on wheat roots: the changes in membrane permeability, sterols and glycoceramides.

PubMed

Valitova, Julia N; Minibayeva, Farida V; Kotlova, Ekaterina R; Novikov, Alexander V; Shavarda, Alexey L; Murtazina, Lyaisan I; Ryzhkina, Irina S

2011-10-01

Plant sterols are important multifunctional lipids, which are involved in determining membrane properties. Biophysical characteristics of model lipid and isolated animal membranes with altered sterol component have been intensively studied. In plants however, the precise mechanisms of involvement of sterols in membrane functioning remain unclear. In present work the possible interactions between sterols and other membrane lipids in plant cells were studied. A useful experimental approach for elucidating the roles of sterols in membrane activity is to use agents that specifically bind with endogenous sterols, for example the antibiotic nystatin. Membrane characteristics and the composition of membrane lipids in the roots of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings treated with nystatin were analyzed. The application of nystatin greatly increased the permeability of the plasma membrane for ions and SH-containing molecules and decreased the total sterol level mainly as a consequence of a reduction in the amount of β-sitosterol and campesterol. Dynamic light-scattering was used to confirm the in vitro formation of stable complexes between nystatin and β-sitosterol or cholesterol. Sterol depletion was accompanied by a significant rise in total glycoceramide (GlCer) content after 2h treatment with nystatin. Analysis of the GlCer composition using mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization demonstrated that nystatin induced changes in the ratio of molecular species of GlCer. Our results suggest that changes in the sphingolipid composition can contribute to the changes in plasma membrane functioning induced by sterol depletion. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Primary cellular meningeal defects cause neocortical dysplasia and dyslamination

PubMed Central

Hecht, Jonathan H.; Siegenthaler, Julie A.; Patterson, Katelin P.; Pleasure, Samuel J.

2010-01-01

Objective Cortical malformations are important causes of neurological morbidity, but in many cases their etiology is poorly understood. Mice with Foxc1 mutations have cellular defects in meningeal development. We use hypomorphic and null alleles of Foxc1 to study the effect of meningeal defects on neocortical organization. Methods Embryos with loss of Foxc1 activity were generated using the hypomorphic Foxc1hith allele and the null Foxc1lacZ allele. Immunohistologic analysis was used to assess cerebral basement membrane integrity, marginal zone heterotopia formation, neuronal overmigration, meningeal defects, and changes in basement membrane composition. Dysplasia severity was quantified using two measures. Results Cortical dysplasia resembling cobblestone cortex, with basement membrane breakdown and lamination defects, is seen in Foxc1 mutants. As Foxc1 activity was reduced, abnormalities in basement membrane integrity, heterotopia formation, neuronal overmigration, and meningeal development appeared earlier in gestation and were more severe. Surprisingly, the basement membrane appeared intact at early stages of development in the face of severe deficits in meningeal development. Prominent defects in basement membrane integrity appeared as development proceeded. Molecular analysis of basement membrane laminin subunits demonstrated that loss of the meninges led to changes in basement membrane composition. Interpretation Cortical dysplasia can be caused by cellular defects in the meninges. The meninges are not required for basement membrane establishment but are needed for remodeling as the brain expands. Specific changes in basement membrane composition may contribute to subsequent breakdown. Our study raises the possibility that primary meningeal defects may cortical dysplasia in some cases. PMID:20976766

One-pot synthesis of transition metal ion-chelating ordered mesoporous carbon/carbon nanotube composites for active and durable fuel cell catalysts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dombrovskis, Johanna K.; Palmqvist, Anders E. C.

2017-07-01

Development of non-precious metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells with high activity and durability and with optimal water management properties is of outmost technological importance and highly challenging. Here we study the possibilities offered through judicious selection of small molecular precursors used for the formation of ordered mesoporous carbon-based non-precious metal ORR catalysts. By combining two complementary precursors, we present a one-pot synthesis that leads to a composite material consisting of transition metal ion-chelating ordered mesoporous carbon and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (TM-OMC/CNT). The resulting composite materials show high specific surface areas and a carbon structure that exhibits graphitic signatures. The synthesis procedure allows for tuning of the carbon structure, the surface area, the pore volume and the ratio of the two components of the composite. The TM-OMC/CNT composites were processed into membrane electrode assemblies and evaluated in single cell fuel cell measurements where they showed a combination of good ORR activity and very high durability.

Molecular Simulation Study of Gas Solubility and Diffusion in a Polymer-Boron Nitride Nanotube Composite.

PubMed

Wang, Congyue; Jagirdar, Preeti; Naserifar, Saber; Sahimi, Muhammad

2016-02-25

We study the possibility of using polymer composites made of a polymer and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) as a new type of membranes for gas separation. The polymer used is amorphous poly(ether imide) (PEI), and zigzag BNNTs are used to generate the composites with the PEI. The solubilities and self-diffusivities of CO2 and CH4 in the PEI and its composites with the BNNTs are calculated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The molecular models of the PEI and its composites with the BNNTs are generated using energy minimization and MD simulation, and the Universal Force Field is used to represent the interactions between all the atoms. The morhology of the composites are characterized and are compared with that of PEI. The accuracy of the computations is tested by calculating the gases' solubilities and self-diffsivities in the pure PEI and comparing them with the experimental data. Good agreement is obtained with the data. The computed diffusivities and solubilities in the polymer-BNNTs composites are much larger than those in the pure polymer, which are attributed to the changes that the BNNTs induce in the polymer composite's free-volume distribution. As the mechanical properties of the polymer-BNNTs composites are superior over those of the pure PEI, their use as a membrane for gas separation offers distinct advantages over the pure polymer. We also demonstrate that, calculating the diffusion coefficients with MD simulations in the NPT ensemble, as opposed to the common practice of utilizing the NVT ensemble, leads to much more accurate results.

Characterization of 3D interconnected microstructural network in mixed ionic and electronic conducting ceramic composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harris, William M.; Brinkman, Kyle S.; Lin, Ye; Su, Dong; Cocco, Alex P.; Nakajo, Arata; Degostin, Matthew B.; Chen-Wiegart, Yu-Chen Karen; Wang, Jun; Chen, Fanglin; Chu, Yong S.; Chiu, Wilson K. S.

2014-04-01

The microstructure and connectivity of the ionic and electronic conductive phases in composite ceramic membranes are directly related to device performance. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) including chemical mapping combined with X-ray nanotomography (XNT) have been used to characterize the composition and 3-D microstructure of a MIEC composite model system consisting of a Ce0.8Gd0.2O2 (GDC) oxygen ion conductive phase and a CoFe2O4 (CFO) electronic conductive phase. The microstructural data is discussed, including the composition and distribution of an emergent phase which takes the form of isolated and distinct regions. Performance implications are considered with regards to the design of new material systems which evolve under non-equilibrium operating conditions.The microstructure and connectivity of the ionic and electronic conductive phases in composite ceramic membranes are directly related to device performance. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) including chemical mapping combined with X-ray nanotomography (XNT) have been used to characterize the composition and 3-D microstructure of a MIEC composite model system consisting of a Ce0.8Gd0.2O2 (GDC) oxygen ion conductive phase and a CoFe2O4 (CFO) electronic conductive phase. The microstructural data is discussed, including the composition and distribution of an emergent phase which takes the form of isolated and distinct regions. Performance implications are considered with regards to the design of new material systems which evolve under non-equilibrium operating conditions. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr06684c

Oxygen ion-conducting dense ceramic

DOEpatents

Balachandran, Uthamalingam; Kleefisch, Mark S.; Kobylinski, Thaddeus P.; Morissette, Sherry L.; Pei, Shiyou

1998-01-01

Preparation, structure, and properties of mixed metal oxide compositions and their uses are described. Mixed metal oxide compositions of the invention have stratified crystalline structure identifiable by means of powder X-ray diffraction patterns. In the form of dense ceramic membranes, the present compositions demonstrate an ability to separate oxygen selectively from a gaseous mixture containing oxygen and one or more other volatile components by means of ionic conductivities.

Changes in membrane lipid composition during saline growth of the fresh water cyanobacterium Synechococcus 6311

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huflejt, M. E.; Tremolieres, A.; Pineau, B.; Lang, J. K.; Hatheway, J.; Packer, L.

1990-01-01

Growth of Synechococcus 6311 in the presence of 0.5 molar NaCl is accompanied by significant changes in membrane lipid composition. Upon transfer of the cells from a low salt' (0.015 molar NaCl) to high salt' (0.5 molar NaCl) growth medium at different stages of growth, a rapid decrease in palmitoleic acid (C16:1 delta 9) content was accompanied by a concomitant increase in the amount of the two C18:1 acids (C18:1 delta 9, C18:1 delta 11), with the higher increase in oleic acid C18:1 delta 9 content. These changes began to occur within the first hour after the sudden elevation of NaCl and progressed for about 72 hours. The percentage of palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0) remained almost unchanged in the same conditions. High salt-dependent changes within ratios of polar lipid classes also occurred within the first 72 hours of growth. The amount of monogalactosyl diacylglycerol (bilayer-destabilizing lipid) decreased and that of the digalactosyl diacylglycerol (bilayer-stabilizing lipid) increased. Consequently, in the three day old cells, the ratio of monogalactosyl diacylglycerol to digalactosyl diacylglycerol in the membranes of high salt-grown cells was about half of that in the membranes of low salt-grown cells. The total content of anionic lipids (phosphatidylglycerol and sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol) was always higher in the isolated membranes and the whole cells from high salt-grown cultures compared to that in the cells and membranes from low salt-grown cultures. All the observed rearrangements in the lipid environment occurred in both thylakoid and cytoplasmic membranes. Similar lipid composition changes, however, to a much lesser extent, were also observed in the aging, low salt-grown cultures. The observed changes in membrane fatty acids and lipids composition correlate with the alterations in electron and ion transport activities, and it is concluded that the rearrangement of the membrane lipid environment is an essential part of the process by which cells control membrane function and stability.

Biochemical characterization and membrane fluidity of membranous vesicles isolated from boar seminal plasma.

PubMed

Piehl, Lidia L; Cisale, Humberto; Torres, Natalia; Capani, Francisco; Sterin-Speziale, Norma; Hager, Alfredo

2006-05-01

Mammalian seminal plasma contains membranous vesicles (MV), which differ in composition and origin. Among these particles, human prostasomes and equine prostasome-like MV have been the most studied. The aim of the present work is to characterize the biochemical composition and membrane fluidity of MV isolated from boar seminal plasma. The MV from boar seminal plasma were isolated by ultracentrifugation and further purification by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. The MV were examined by electron microscopy (EM), amount of cholesterol, total phospholipid, protein content, and phospholipid composition were analyzed. Membrane fluidity of MV and spermatozoa were estimated from the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of the 5-doxilstearic acid incorporated into the vesicle membranes by the order parameter (S). The S parameter gives a measure of degree of structural order in the membrane and is defined as the ratio of the spectral anisotropy in the membranes to the maximum anisotropy obtained in a rigidly oriented system. The S parameter takes into consideration that S = 1 for a rapid spin-label motion of about only one axis and S = 0 for a rapid isotropic motion. Intermediate S values between S = 0 and S = 1 represents the consequence of decreased membrane fluidity. The EM revealed the presence of bilaminar and multilaminar electron-dense vesicles. Cholesterol to phospholipid molar ratio from the isolated MV was 1.8. Phospholipid composition showed a predominance of sphingomyelin. The S parameter for porcine MV and for boar spermatozoa was 0.73 +/- 0.02 and 0.644 +/- 0.008, respectively, with the S for MV being greater (p < 0.001) than the S for spermatozoa. The high order for S found for boar MV was in agreement with the greater cholesterol/phospholipids ratio and the lesser ratio for phosphatidylcholine/sphingomyelin. Results obtained in the present work indicate that MV isolated from boar semen share many biochemical and morphological characteristics with equine prostasome-like MV and human prostasomes. The characteristics of the porcine MV of the seminal plasma, however, differed from those of boar sperm plasma membranes.

Impact of Bacterial Membrane Fatty Acid Composition on the Failure of Daptomycin To Kill Staphylococcus aureus.

PubMed

Boudjemaa, Rym; Cabriel, Clément; Dubois-Brissonnet, Florence; Bourg, Nicolas; Dupuis, Guillaume; Gruss, Alexandra; Lévêque-Fort, Sandrine; Briandet, Romain; Fontaine-Aupart, Marie-Pierre; Steenkeste, Karine

2018-07-01

Daptomycin is a last-resort membrane-targeting lipopeptide approved for the treatment of drug-resistant staphylococcal infections, such as bacteremia and implant-related infections. Although cases of resistance to this antibiotic are rare, increasing numbers of clinical, in vitro , and animal studies report treatment failure, notably against Staphylococcus aureus The aim of this study was to identify the features of daptomycin and its target bacteria that lead to daptomycin treatment failure. We show that daptomycin bactericidal activity against S. aureus varies significantly with the growth state and strain, according to the membrane fatty acid composition. Daptomycin efficacy as an antibiotic relies on its ability to oligomerize within membranes and form pores that subsequently lead to cell death. Our findings ascertain that daptomycin interacts with tolerant bacteria and reaches its membrane target, regardless of its bactericidal activity. However, the final step of pore formation does not occur in cells that are daptomycin tolerant, strongly suggesting that it is incapable of oligomerization. Importantly, membrane fatty acid contents correlated with poor daptomycin bactericidal activity, which could be manipulated by fatty acid addition. In conclusion, daptomycin failure to treat S. aureus is not due to a lack of antibiotic-target interaction, but is driven by its capacity to form pores, which depends on membrane composition. Manipulation of membrane fluidity to restore S. aureus daptomycin bactericidal activity in vivo could open the way to novel antibiotic treatment strategies. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

Reduced graphene oxide-NH2 modified low pressure nanofiltration composite hollow fiber membranes with improved water flux and antifouling capabilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xipeng; Zhao, Changwei; Yang, Mei; Yang, Bin; Hou, Deyin; Wang, Tao

2017-10-01

Reduced graphene oxide-NH2 (R-GO-NH2), a kind of amino graphene oxide, was embedded into the polyamide (PA) layer of nanofiltration (NF) composite hollow fiber membranes via interfacial polymerization to enhance the permeate flux and antifouling properties of NF membranes under low pressure conditions. In addition, it could mitigate the poor compatibility issue between graphene oxide materials and PA layer. To evaluate the influence of R-GO-NH2 on the performance of the NF composite hollow fiber membrane, SEM, AFM, FTIR, XPS and Zeta potentials were used to characterize the membranes. The results indicated that the compatibility and interactions between R-GO-NH2 and PA layer were enhanced, which was mainly due to the polymerization reaction between amino groups of R-GO-NH2 and acyl chloride groups of TMC. Therefore, salts rejection of the current membranes was improved significantly, and the modified membranes with 50 mg/L R-GO-NH2 demonstrated highest performance in terms of the rejections, which were 26.9%, 98.5%, 98.1%, and 96.1%, for NaCl, Na2SO4, MgSO4, and CaCl2 respectively. It was found that with the R-GO-NH2 contents rasing from 0 to 50 mg/L, pure water flux increased from 30.44 ± 1.71 to 38.57 ± 2.01 L/(m2.h) at 2 bar. What's more, the membrane demonstrated improved antifouling properties.

Beneficial effects of gamma linolenic acid supplementation on nerve conduction velocity, Na+, K+ ATPase activity, and membrane fatty acid composition in sciatic nerve of diabetic rats.

PubMed

Coste, T; Pierlovisi, M; Leonardi, J; Dufayet, D; Gerbi, A; Lafont, H; Vague, P; Raccah, D

1999-07-01

Metabolic and vascular abnormalities are implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy. Two principal metabolic defects are altered lipid metabolism resulting from the impairment of delta-6-desaturase, which converts linoleic acid (LA) into gamma linolenic acid (GLA), and reduced nerve Na+, K+ ATPase activity. This reduction may be caused by a lack of incorporation of (n-6) fatty acids in membrane phospholipids. Because this ubiquitous enzyme maintains the membrane electrical potential and allows repolarization, disturbances in its activity can alter the process of nerve conduction velocity (NCV). We studied the effects of supplementation with GLA (260 mg per day) on NCV, fatty acid phospholipid composition, and Na+, K+ ATPase activity in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Six groups of 10 rats were studied. Two groups served as controls supplemented with GLA or sunflower oil (GLA free). Two groups with different durations of diabetes were studied: 6 weeks with no supplementation and 12 weeks supplemented with sunflower oil. To test the ability of GLA to prevent or reverse the effects of diabetes, two groups of diabetic rats were supplemented with GLA, one group for 12 weeks and one group for 6 weeks, starting 6 weeks after diabetes induction. Diabetes resulted in a 25% decrease in NCV (P < 0.0001), a 45% decrease in Na+, K+ ATPase activity (P < 0.0001), and an abnormal phospholipid fatty acid composition. GLA restored NCV both in the prevention and reversal studies and partially restored Na+, K+ ATPase activity in the preventive treatment group (P < 0.0001). These effects were accompanied by a modification of phospholipid fatty acid composition in nerve membranes. Overall, the results suggest that membrane fatty acid composition plays a direct role in NCV and confirm the beneficial effect of GLA supplementation in diabetic neuropathy.

Reactive sintering of ceramic lithium ion electrolyte membranes

DOEpatents

Badding, Michael Edward; Dutta, Indrajit; Iyer, Sriram Rangarajan; Kent, Brian Alan; Lonnroth, Nadja Teresia

2017-06-06

Disclosed herein are methods for making a solid lithium ion electrolyte membrane, the methods comprising combining a first reactant chosen from amorphous, glassy, or low melting temperature solid reactants with a second reactant chosen from refractory oxides to form a mixture; heating the mixture to a first temperature to form a homogenized composite, wherein the first temperature is between a glass transition temperature of the first reactant and a crystallization onset temperature of the mixture; milling the homogenized composite to form homogenized particles; casting the homogenized particles to form a green body; and sintering the green body at a second temperature to form a solid membrane. Solid lithium ion electrolyte membranes manufactured according to these methods are also disclosed herein.

Alteration of phospholipid composition by combined defects in phosphatidylserine and cardiolipin synthases and physiological consequences in Escherichia coli.

PubMed Central

Shibuya, I; Miyazaki, C; Ohta, A

1985-01-01

Escherichia coli K-12 derivatives with a common genetic background carrying, either alone or in combination, the pss-1 allele coding for a temperature-sensitive phosphatidylserine synthase (A. Ohta and I. Shibuya, J. Bacteriol. 132:434-443, 1977) and cls- for a defective cardiolipin synthase (G. Pluschke et al., J. Biol. Chem. 253:5048-5055, 1978) were constructed. The phospholipid polar headgroup compositions of these strains were significantly different from each other depending on their genotypes and growth temperature, whereas other membrane characteristics such as the total phospholipid content, fatty acid composition, membrane protein profile, and lipopolysaccharide content were practically the same, suggesting that the phenotypes of these strains were the direct consequences of abnormalities in membrane phospholipid composition. The cls pss-1 double mutation caused an unusual accumulation of phosphatidylglycerol with an extremely low content of cardiolipin. The cls mutation alone was found to give a growth defect, and its introduction into a pss-1 mutant resulted in an enhanced temperature sensitivity of growth. Addition to a broth medium of a proper concentration of sucrose, NaCl, Mg2+, or Ca2+ allowed the growth of a pss-1 mutant at otherwise nonpermissive temperature, but a pss-1 cls double mutant required the combined addition of sucrose or NaCl and MgCl2 for full growth at 42 degrees C. The possible mechanisms for these physiological consequences of the mutations are discussed on a molecular basis. The remedial effects of culture supplements allowed the pss-1 mutants to grow at 42 degrees C resulting in enhanced abnormalities of membrane phospholipid composition. Images PMID:2982784

La and Al co-doped CaMnO 3 perovskite oxides: From interplay of surface properties to anion exchange membrane fuel cell performance

DOE PAGES

Dzara, Michael J.; Christ, Jason M.; Joghee, Prabhuram; ...

2017-09-01

This work reports the first account of perovskite oxide and carbon composite oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts integrated into anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). Perovskite oxides with a theoretical stoichiometry of Ca 0.9La 0.1Al 0.1Mn 0.9O 3-δ are synthesized by an aerogel method and calcined at various temperatures, resulting in a set of materials with varied surface chemistry and surface area. Material composition is evaluated by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The perovskite oxide calcined at 800 degrees C shows the importance of balance between surface area, purity of the perovskite phase, and surfacemore » composition, resulting in the highest ORR mass activity when evaluated in rotating disk electrodes. Integration of this catalyst into AEMFCs reveals that the best AEMFC performance is obtained when using composites with 30:70 perovskite oxide:carbon composition. Doubling the loading leads to an increase in the power density from 30 to 76 mW cm -2. The AEMFC prepared with a composite based on perovskite oxide and N-carbon achieves a power density of 44 mW cm -2, demonstrating an ~50% increase when compared to the highest performing composite with undoped carbon at the same loading.« less

La and Al co-doped CaMnO3 perovskite oxides: From interplay of surface properties to anion exchange membrane fuel cell performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dzara, Michael J.; Christ, Jason M.; Joghee, Prabhuram; Ngo, Chilan; Cadigan, Christopher A.; Bender, Guido; Richards, Ryan M.; O'Hayre, Ryan; Pylypenko, Svitlana

2018-01-01

This work reports the first account of perovskite oxide and carbon composite oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts integrated into anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). Perovskite oxides with a theoretical stoichiometry of Ca0.9La0.1Al0.1Mn0.9O3-δ are synthesized by an aerogel method and calcined at various temperatures, resulting in a set of materials with varied surface chemistry and surface area. Material composition is evaluated by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The perovskite oxide calcined at 800 °C shows the importance of balance between surface area, purity of the perovskite phase, and surface composition, resulting in the highest ORR mass activity when evaluated in rotating disk electrodes. Integration of this catalyst into AEMFCs reveals that the best AEMFC performance is obtained when using composites with 30:70 perovskite oxide:carbon composition. Doubling the loading leads to an increase in the power density from 30 to 76 mW cm-2. The AEMFC prepared with a composite based on perovskite oxide and N-carbon achieves a power density of 44 mW cm-2, demonstrating an ∼50% increase when compared to the highest performing composite with undoped carbon at the same loading.

Enhanced vapor transport in membrane distillation via functionalized carbon nanotubes anchored into electrospun nanofibres

PubMed Central

Kyoungjin An, Alicia; Lee, Eui-Jong; Guo, Jiaxin; Jeong, Sanghyun; Lee, Jung-Gil; Ghaffour, Noreddine

2017-01-01

To ascertain membrane distillation (MD) as an emerging desalination technology to meet the global water challenge, development of membranes with ideal material properties is crucial. Functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were anchored to nanofibres of electrospun membranes. Covalent modification and fluorination of CNTs improved their dispersibility and interfacial interaction with the polymer membrane, resulting in well-aligned CNTs inside crystalline fibres with superhydrophobicity. Consideration for the chemical/physical properties of the CNT composite membranes and calculation of their theoretical fluxes revealed the mechanism of MD: CNTs facilitated the repulsive force for Knudsen and molecular diffusions, reduced the boundary-layer effect in viscous flow, and assisted surface diffusion, allowing for fast vapor transport with anti-wetting. This study shows that the role of CNTs and an optimal composite ratio can be used to reduce the gap between theoretical and experimental approaches to desalination. PMID:28134288

Pentachlorophenol removal from water using surfactant-enhanced filtration through low-pressure thin film composite membranes.

PubMed

Kumar, Yogesh; Popat, K M; Brahmbhatt, H; Ganguly, B; Bhattacharya, A

2008-06-15

Removal of pentachlorophenol from water is investigated using the surfactant-enhanced cross-flow membrane filtration technique in which anionic surfactant; sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is the carrier of pentachlorophenol. The separation performances are studied by varying SDS concentrations (

Enhanced vapor transport in membrane distillation via functionalized carbon nanotubes anchored into electrospun nanofibres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kyoungjin An, Alicia; Lee, Eui-Jong; Guo, Jiaxin; Jeong, Sanghyun; Lee, Jung-Gil; Ghaffour, Noreddine

2017-01-01

To ascertain membrane distillation (MD) as an emerging desalination technology to meet the global water challenge, development of membranes with ideal material properties is crucial. Functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were anchored to nanofibres of electrospun membranes. Covalent modification and fluorination of CNTs improved their dispersibility and interfacial interaction with the polymer membrane, resulting in well-aligned CNTs inside crystalline fibres with superhydrophobicity. Consideration for the chemical/physical properties of the CNT composite membranes and calculation of their theoretical fluxes revealed the mechanism of MD: CNTs facilitated the repulsive force for Knudsen and molecular diffusions, reduced the boundary-layer effect in viscous flow, and assisted surface diffusion, allowing for fast vapor transport with anti-wetting. This study shows that the role of CNTs and an optimal composite ratio can be used to reduce the gap between theoretical and experimental approaches to desalination.

Plasma surface modification of nanofiltration (NF) thin-film composite (TFC) membranes to improve anti organic fouling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Eun-Sik; Yu, Qingsong; Deng, Baolin

2011-09-01

Commercial nanofiltration (NF) thin-film composite (TFC) membranes were treated by low-pressure NH3 plasma, and the effects of the plasma treatment were investigated in terms of the membrane hydrophilicity, pure water flux, salt rejection, protein adsorption, and humic acid fouling. Experimental results indicated that the membrane surface hydrophilicity was increased by the plasma treatment, and changes in the hydrophilicity as well as membrane performance including permeate flux and fouling varied with the original membrane characteristics (e.g., roughness and hydrophilicity). Water flux of plasma treated membranes was the highest with 10 min and 90 W of plasma treatment, and salt rejection was mainly affected by the intensity of the plasma power. Results of bovine serum albumin (BSA) adsorption demonstrated that the protein adsorption decreased with increasing plasma treatment time. The plasma treatment that resulted in more negatively charged surfaces could also better prevent Aldrich humic acid (AHA) attachment on the membrane surface.

The effect of ionic membrane properties on the performance of ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) actuator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jho, Jae Y.; Han, Man J.; Park, Jong H.; Lee, Jang Y.; Wang, Hyuck S.

2005-05-01

On purpose to overcome the limit of conventional ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMC) using the commercial ionic membranes, novel IPMCs with radiation-grafted ion-exchange membranes were prepared. Poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-co-HFP) and poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) were radiation-grafted with styrene, and then sulfonated. The properties of the membranes were modulated by controlling the amount of polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSA) groups in the membranes. The amount of PSSA groups were tuned by controlling the total absorbed dose of γ-ray. The membranes were characterized by measuring the water-uptake, the ion-exchange capacity, and the ion conductivity. The performance of the IPMCs using these membranes were analyzed with laser displacement meter. They exhibited much larger bending displacement in comparison with Nafion-based IPMC. With increasing the amount of PSSA groups, the maximum displacement and the bending speed were remarkably increased. The results made sure that the property of ion-exchange membrane was the key element affecting the actuation performance of IPMC.

Antimicrobial and Physicochemical Characterization of Biodegradable, Nitric Oxide-Releasing Nanocellulose-Chitosan Packaging Membranes.

PubMed

Sundaram, Jaya; Pant, Jitendra; Goudie, Marcus J; Mani, Sudhagar; Handa, Hitesh

2016-06-29

Biodegradable composite membranes with antimicrobial properties consisting of nanocellulose fibrils (CNFs), chitosan, and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-d-penicillamine (SNAP) were developed and tested for food packaging applications. As a nitric oxide donor, SNAP was encapsulated into completely dispersed chitosan in 100 mL of 0.1 N acetic acid and was thoroughly mixed with CNFs to produce a composite membrane. The fabricated membranes had a uniform dispersion of chitosan and SNAP within the CNFs, which was confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs and a chemiluminescence nitric oxide analyzer. The membranes prepared without SNAP showed lower water vapor permeability than that of the membranes with SNAP. The addition of SNAP resulted in a decrease in Young's modulus for both two- and three-layer membrane configurations. Antimicrobial property evaluation of SNAP-incorporated membranes showed an effective zone of inhibition against bacterial strains of Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes and demonstrated its potential applications for food packaging.

Soft actuator based on Kraton with GO/Ag/Pani composite electrodes for robotic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, Ajahar; Kant Jain, Ravi; Banerjee, Priyabrata; Inamuddin; Asiri, Abdullah M.

2017-11-01

In this work, electrochemically-driven Kraton/graphene oxide/Ag/polyaniline (Kraton/GO/Ag/Pani) polymer composite based ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) was fabricated as a soft actuator. Silver nanopowder with polyaniline coating used as an electrode material is a novel approach in the fabrication of IPMC, which gives new opportunities for development of the electrode on ionic polymer actuator surfaces directly without electroless plating of Pt or Au metal. The Kraton/GO/Ag/Pani membrane showed much higher water-uptake (WU), ion exchange capacity (IEC), proton conductivity than those of several reported IPMC membranes. The enhanced actuation performance indicates that the Kraton/GO/Ag/Pani is a better alternative to the highly expensive commercialized IPMC actuator.

Lipid-converter, a framework for lipid manipulations in molecular dynamics simulations

PubMed Central

Larsson, Per; Kasson, Peter M.

2014-01-01

Construction of lipid membrane and membrane protein systems for molecular dynamics simulations can be a challenging process. In addition, there are few available tools to extend existing studies by repeating simulations using other force fields and lipid compositions. To facilitate this, we introduce lipidconverter, a modular Python framework for exchanging force fields and lipid composition in coordinate files obtained from simulations. Force fields and lipids are specified by simple text files, making it easy to introduce support for additional force fields and lipids. The converter produces simulation input files that can be used for structural relaxation of the new membranes. PMID:25081234

Hydrogen transport membranes for dehydrogenation reactions

DOEpatents

Balachandran,; Uthamalingam, [Hinsdale, IL

2008-02-12

A method of converting C.sub.2 and/or higher alkanes to olefins by contacting a feedstock containing C.sub.2 and/or higher alkanes with a first surface of a metal composite membrane of a sintered homogenous mixture of an Al oxide or stabilized or partially stabilized Zr oxide ceramic powder and a metal powder of one or more of Pd, Nb, V, Zr, Ta and/or alloys or mixtures thereof. The alkanes dehydrogenate to olefins by contact with the first surface with substantially only atomic hydrogen from the dehydrogenation of the alkanes passing through the metal composite membrane. Apparatus for effecting the conversion and separation is also disclosed.

Membrane-Soil Composite Layers in the Design, Construction, and Performance of an Expedient Bridge and Approach.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-09-01

Engineering News-Record 1977). The concept is that of a composite soil-membrane system with tensile and flexural strengths greater than soil alone can...uniformity 2 Mean diameter 0.5 mm Sandbags 31. Sandbags used in this project were 14 x 26 in. in size and were made of jute or kenaf burlap...support 4. Converted airfield index penetrometer readings for the upper 6 in. of foundation soil indicated similar relative strengths at the base of

Composite mixed oxide ionic and electronic conductors for hydrogen separation

DOEpatents

Gopalan, Srikanth [Westborough, MA; Pal, Uday B [Dover, MA; Karthikeyan, Annamalai [Quincy, MA; Hengdong, Cui [Allston, MA

2009-09-15

A mixed ionic and electronic conducting membrane includes a two-phase solid state ceramic composite, wherein the first phase comprises an oxygen ion conductor and the second phase comprises an n-type electronically conductive oxide, wherein the electronically conductive oxide is stable at an oxygen partial pressure as low as 10.sup.-20 atm and has an electronic conductivity of at least 1 S/cm. A hydrogen separation system and related methods using the mixed ionic and electronic conducting membrane are described.

Synthesis and characterization of composite polysulfone membranes for desalination in nanofiltration technique.

PubMed

Akbari, A; Homayonfal, M; Jabbari, V

2010-01-01

Composite nanofiltration (NF) membrane was developed polyacrylic acid (PAA) in situ UV graft polymerization process using ultrafiltration (UF) polysulfone (PSF) membrane as porous support. FT-IR spectra indicated that grafting was performed and it show peaks at 1,732 cm⁻¹ and 3,396 cm⁻¹ region for CO and OH starching bond of acrylic acid (AA) monomer, respectively. AFM microscopy showed the roughness of surface was reduced by increase of UV irradiation times. Effect of irradiation time on the grafting of acrylic acid (AA) in the same concentration was discussed. The salts rejection increase was accompanied with grafting of polysulfone (PSF) ultrafiltration (UF) membrane. The rejection of Na₂SO₄, MgSO₄, NaCl and CaCl₂ salts by PSF-grafted-PAA nanofiltration (NF) membrane was in 98, 60, 52 and 30% respectively, under 0.3 MPa.

Membrane-containing virus particles exhibit the mechanics of a composite material for genome protection.

PubMed

Azinas, S; Bano, F; Torca, I; Bamford, D H; Schwartz, G A; Esnaola, J; Oksanen, H M; Richter, R P; Abrescia, N G

2018-04-26

The protection of the viral genome during extracellular transport is an absolute requirement for virus survival and replication. In addition to the almost universal proteinaceous capsids, certain viruses add a membrane layer that encloses their double-stranded (ds) DNA genome within the protein shell. Using the membrane-containing enterobacterial virus PRD1 as a prototype, and a combination of nanoindentation assays by atomic force microscopy and finite element modelling, we show that PRD1 provides a greater stability against mechanical stress than that achieved by the majority of dsDNA icosahedral viruses that lack a membrane. We propose that the combination of a stiff and brittle proteinaceous shell coupled with a soft and compliant membrane vesicle yields a tough composite nanomaterial well-suited to protect the viral DNA during extracellular transport.

The lipid composition modulates the influence of the bovine seminal plasma protein PDC-109 on membrane stability.

PubMed

Tannert, Astrid; Töpfer-Petersen, Edda; Herrmann, Andreas; Müller, Karin; Müller, Peter

2007-10-16

The bovine seminal plasma protein PDC-109 exerts an essential influence on the sperm cell plasma membrane during capacitation. However, by any mechanism, it has to be ensured that this function of the protein on sperm cells is not initiated too early, that is, upon ejaculation when PDC-109 and sperm cells come into first contact, but rather at later stages of sperm genesis in the female genital tract. To answer the question of whether changes of the bovine sperm lipid composition can modulate the effect of PDC-109 on sperm membranes, we have investigated the influence of PDC-109 on the integrity of (i) differently composed lipid vesicles and of (ii) membranes from human red blood cells and bovine spermatozoa. PDC-109 most effectively disturbed lipid membranes composed of choline-containing phospholipids and in the absence of cholesterol. The impact of the protein on lipid vesicles was attenuated in the presence of cholesterol or of noncholine-containing phospholipids, such as phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylserine. An extraction of cholesterol from lipid or biological membranes using methyl-beta-cyclodextrin caused an increased membrane perturbation by PDC-109. Our results argue for a oppositional effect of PDC-109 during sperm cell genesis. We hypothesize that the lipid composition of ejaculated bull sperm cells allows a binding of PDC-109 without leading to an impairment of the plasma membrane. At later stages of sperm cell genesis upon release of cholesterol from sperm membranes, PDC-109 triggers a destabilization of the cells.

Surface nanostructuring of thin film composite membranes via grafting polymerization and incorporation of ZnO nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isawi, Heba; El-Sayed, Magdi H.; Feng, Xianshe; Shawky, Hosam; Abdel Mottaleb, Mohamed S.

2016-11-01

A new approach for modification of polyamid thin film composite membrane PA(TFC) using synthesized ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was shown to enhance the membrane performances for reverse osmosis water desalination. First, active layer of synthesis PA(TFC) membrane was activated with an aqueous solution of free radical graft polymerization of hydrophilic methacrylic acid (MAA) monomer onto the surface of the PA(TFC) membrane resulting PMAA-g-PA(TFC). Second, the PA(TFC) membrane has been developed by incorporation of ZnO NPs into the MAA grafting solution resulting the ZnO NPs modified PMAA-g-PA(TFC) membrane. The surface properties of the synthesized nanoparticles and prepared membranes were investigated using the FTIR, XRD and SEM. Morphology studies demonstrated that ZnO NPs have been successfully incorporated into the active grafting layer over PA(TFC) composite membranes. The zinc leaching from the ZnO NPs modified PMAA-g-PA(TFC) was minimal, as shown by batch tests that indicated stabilization of the ZnO NPs on the membrane surfaces. Compared with the a pure PA(TFC) and PMAA-g-PA(TFC) membranes, the ZnO NPs modified PMAA-g-PA(TFC) was more hydrophilic, with an improved water contact angle (∼50 ± 3°) over the PMAA-g-PA(TFC) (63 ± 2.5°). The ZnO NPs modified PMAA-g-PA(TFC) membrane showed salt rejection of 97% (of the total groundwater salinity), 99% of dissolved bivalent ions (Ca2+, SO42-and Mg2+), and 98% of mono valent ions constituents (Cl- and Na+). In addition, antifouling performance of the membranes was determined using E. coli as a potential foulant. This demonstrates that the ZnO NPs modified PMAA-g-PA(TFC) membrane can significantly improve the membrane performances and was favorable to enhance the selectivity, permeability, water flux, mechanical properties and the bio-antifouling properties of the membranes for water desalination.

Steric Pressure among Membrane-Bound Polymers Opposes Lipid Phase Separation.

PubMed

Imam, Zachary I; Kenyon, Laura E; Carrillo, Adelita; Espinoza, Isai; Nagib, Fatema; Stachowiak, Jeanne C

2016-04-19

Lipid rafts are thought to be key organizers of membrane-protein complexes in cells. Many proteins that interact with rafts have bulky polymeric components such as intrinsically disordered protein domains and polysaccharide chains. Therefore, understanding the interaction between membrane domains and membrane-bound polymers provides insights into the roles rafts play in cells. Multiple studies have demonstrated that high concentrations of membrane-bound polymeric domains create significant lateral steric pressure at membrane surfaces. Furthermore, our recent work has shown that lateral steric pressure at membrane surfaces opposes the assembly of membrane domains. Building on these findings, here we report that membrane-bound polymers are potent suppressors of membrane phase separation, which can destabilize lipid domains with substantially greater efficiency than globular domains such as membrane-bound proteins. Specifically, we created giant vesicles with a ternary lipid composition, which separated into coexisting liquid ordered and disordered phases. Lipids with saturated tails and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains conjugated to their head groups were included at increasing molar concentrations. When these lipids were sparse on the membrane surface they partitioned to the liquid ordered phase. However, as they became more concentrated, the fraction of GUVs that were phase-separated decreased dramatically, ultimately yielding a population of homogeneous membrane vesicles. Experiments and physical modeling using compositions of increasing PEG molecular weight and lipid miscibility phase transition temperature demonstrate that longer polymers are the most efficient suppressors of membrane phase separation when the energetic barrier to lipid mixing is low. In contrast, as the miscibility transition temperature increases, longer polymers are more readily driven out of domains by the increased steric pressure. Therefore, the concentration of shorter polymers required to suppress phase separation decreases relative to longer polymers. Collectively, our results demonstrate that crowded, membrane-bound polymers are highly efficient suppressors of phase separation and suggest that the ability of lipid domains to resist steric pressure depends on both their lipid composition and the size and concentration of the membrane-bound polymers they incorporate.

Plackett-Burman experimental design for bacterial cellulose-silica composites synthesis.

PubMed

Guzun, Anicuta Stoica; Stroescu, Marta; Jinga, Sorin Ion; Voicu, Georgeta; Grumezescu, Alexandru Mihai; Holban, Alina Maria

2014-09-01

Bacterial cellulose-silica hybrid composites were prepared starting from wet bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes using Stöber reaction. The structure and surface morphology of hybrid composites were examined by FTIR and SEM. The SEM pictures revealed that the silica particles are attached to BC fibrils and are well dispersed in the BC matrix. The influence of silica particles upon BC crystallinity was studied using XRD analysis. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis showed that the composites are stable up to 300°C. A Plackett-Burman design was applied in order to investigate the influence of process parameters upon silica particle sizes and silica content of BC-silica composites. The statistical model predicted that it is possible for silica particles size to vary the synthesis parameters in order to obtain silica particles deposed on BC membranes in the range from 34.5 to 500 nm, the significant parameters being ammonia concentration, reaction time and temperature. The silica content also varies depending on process parameters, the statistical model predicting that the most influential parameters are water-tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) ratio and reaction temperature. The antimicrobial behavior on Staphylococcus aureus of BC-silica composites functionalized with usnic acid (UA) was also studied, in order to create improved surfaces with antiadherence and anti-biofilm properties. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Novel antifouling nano-enhanced thin-film composite membrane containing cross-linkable acrylate-alumoxane nanoparticles for water softening.

PubMed

Ghaemi, Negin

2017-01-01

A novel thin-film composite (TFC) nanofiltration membrane was prepared using polymerization of pyrrole monomers on the PES ultrafiltration membrane. To improve the characteristics of hydrophobic polypyrrole (PPy) thin-film layer, cross-linkable acrylate-functionalized alumoxane nanoparticles with different concentrations were embedded into the thin-film during polymerization process, and thin-film nanocomposite (TFNC) membranes were prepared. The characteristics and performance of TFC and TFNC membranes were assessed through the morphological analyses (SEM, AFM), measurement of hydrophilicity and solid-liquid interfacial free energy, water permeability and Mg 2+ removal tests. Addition of proper amount of nanoparticles into the polymerization mixture led to the preparation of membranes with more hydrophilic, thinner and smoother active layer as well as higher water permeability compared to TFC control membrane. TFNC membrane prepared with 0.025g of nanoparticles was the most efficient membrane since it exhibited the highest rejection of MgCl 2 and MgSO 4 salts. Antifouling capability of membranes, in terms of flux recovery and fouling parameters, demonstrated the high tolerance of TFNC against fouling. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chitosan and alginate types of bio-membrane in fuel cell application: An overview

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaari, N.; Kamarudin, S. K.

2015-09-01

The major problems of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell technology that need to be highlighted are fuel crossovers (e.g., methanol or hydrogen leaking across fuel cell membranes), CO poisoning, low durability, and high cost. Chitosan and alginate-based biopolymer membranes have recently been used to solve these problems with promising results. Current research in biopolymer membrane materials and systems has focused on the following: 1) the development of novel and efficient biopolymer materials; and 2) increasing the processing capacity of membrane operations. Consequently, chitosan and alginate-based biopolymers seek to enhance fuel cell performance by improving proton conductivity, membrane durability, and reducing fuel crossover and electro-osmotic drag. There are four groups of chitosan-based membranes (categorized according to their reaction and preparation): self-cross-linked and salt-complexed chitosans, chitosan-based polymer blends, chitosan/inorganic filler composites, and chitosan/polymer composites. There are only three alginate-based membranes that have been synthesized for fuel cell application. This work aims to review the state-of-the-art in the growth of chitosan and alginate-based biopolymer membranes for fuel cell applications.

Exploiting lipopolysaccharide-induced deformation of lipid bilayers to modify membrane composition and generate two-dimensional geometric membrane array patterns

DOE PAGES

Adams, Peter G.; Swingle, Kirstie L.; Paxton, Walter F.; ...

2015-05-27

Supported lipid bilayers have proven effective as model membranes for investigating biophysical processes and in development of sensor and array technologies. The ability to modify lipid bilayers after their formation and in situ could greatly advance membrane technologies, but is difficult via current state-of-the-art technologies. Here we demonstrate a novel method that allows the controlled post-formation processing and modification of complex supported lipid bilayer arrangements, under aqueous conditions. We exploit the destabilization effect of lipopolysaccharide, an amphiphilic biomolecule, interacting with lipid bilayers to generate voids that can be backfilled to introduce desired membrane components. We further demonstrate that when usedmore » in combination with a single, traditional soft lithography process, it is possible to generate hierarchically-organized membrane domains and microscale 2-D array patterns of domains. Significantly, this technique can be used to repeatedly modify membranes allowing iterative control over membrane composition. This approach expands our toolkit for functional membrane design, with potential applications for enhanced materials templating, biosensing and investigating lipid-membrane processes.« less

Polyvinylidene fluoride based nanocomposites for the development of energy systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pereira, Joao Pedro Nunes

The economic and environmental costs of current energy resources created the need to develop new methods to generate and store energy. In this sense, the development of polymer materials led to the emergence of a new generation of porous polymers for energy applications, which are typically described as "energy polymers". The specific properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and its copolymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)), such as high dielectric permittivity, high polarity, softness and flexibility, among others, make them excellent choices for energy applications. The incorporation of fillers into these polymeric matrices can also be highly advantageous, since it allows tuning certain properties of the matrices optimizing their characteristics for specific applications. According this, P(VDF-TrFE) based composite membranes with zeolites (Y zeolite, NaY), clays (montmorillonite, MMT), multiwalled-carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and barium titanate (BaTiO3) fillers were prepared by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) for batteries separator applications. PVDF and P(VDF-TrFE) polymers and composites with BaTiO3 were also prepared by electrospinning for energy harvesting systems. P(VDF-TrFE) composite membranes showed suitable morphological, thermal, mechanical and electrochemical properties for the development of lithium ion separator membranes for battery applications. The developed membranes showed high degrees of porosity, ranging from 70 % for the pristine polymer to a maximum of 83 % for MMT filled membrane, excepting NaY membrane which showed the lowest value of 36 %. The porosity increase is reflected in electrolyte solution uptake, which increases markedly for membranes with higher porosity reaching values above 300 % for BaTiO3 and MMT filled membranes, whereas for the pristine polymer is 225 %. The room temperature ionic conductivity showed a strong increase for all composites, from 5.24x10. -7 S/cm for the pristine polymer to a maximumof 9.22x10. -6 S/cm for the BaTiO3/P(VDF-TrFE) membrane. The ionic conductivityvariation with temperature is diminished with the inclusion of fillers, in particular for the MMT and MWCNT filled membranes. The stable operation window is at least 6.0 V for all membranes. Pristine polymer electrospun fibers of PVDF showed the best energy harvesting performance with generated output powers of 0.02 muW and 25 muW, under low and high mechanical deformation conditions, respectively. Pristine P(VDF-TrFE) and BaTiO3/P(VDF-TrFE) composites fibers showed lower output powers. The objectives of the study were successfully achieved, and the overall results are an effective contribute for the development of novel polymer based materials for energy systems applications.

MOFwich: Sandwiched Metal-Organic Framework-Containing Mixed Matrix Composites for Chemical Warfare Agent Removal.

PubMed

Peterson, Gregory W; Lu, Annie X; Hall, Morgan G; Browe, Matthew A; Tovar, Trenton; Epps, Thomas H

2018-02-28

This work describes a new strategy for fabricating mixed matrix composites containing layered metal-organic framework (MOF)/polymer films as functional barriers for chemical warfare agent protection. Through the use of mechanically robust polymers as the top and bottom encasing layers, a high-MOF-loading, high-performance-core layer can be sandwiched within. We term this multifunctional composite "MOFwich". We found that the use of elastomeric encasing layers enabled core layer reformation after breakage, an important feature for composites and membranes alike. The incorporation of MOFs into the core layer led to enhanced removal of chemical warfare agents while simultaneously promoting moisture vapor transport through the composite, showcasing the promise of these composites for protection applications.

Electrospun cellulose acetate composites containing supported metal nanoparticles for antifungal membranes.

PubMed

Quirós, Jennifer; Gonzalo, Soledad; Jalvo, Blanca; Boltes, Karina; Perdigón-Melón, José Antonio; Rosal, Roberto

2016-09-01

Electrospun cellulose acetate composites containing silver and copper nanoparticles supported in sepiolite and mesoporous silica were prepared and tested as fungistatic membranes against the fungus Aspergillus niger. The nanoparticles were in the 3-50nm range for sepiolite supported materials and limited by the size of mesopores (5-8nm) in the case of mesoporous silica. Sepiolite and silica were well dispersed within the fibers, with larger aggregates in the micrometer range, and allowed a controlled release of metals to create a fungistatic environment. The effect was assessed using digital image analysis to evaluate fungal growth rate and fluorescence readings using a viability stain. The results showed that silver and copper nanomaterials significantly impaired the growth of fungi when the spores were incubated either in direct contact with particles or included in cellulose acetate composite membranes. The fungistatic effect took place on germinating spores before hyphae growth conidiophore formation. After 24h the cultures were separated from fungistatic materials and showed growth impairment only due to the prior exposure. Growth reduction was important for all the particles and membranes with respect to non-exposed controls. The effect of copper and silver loaded materials was not significantly different from each other with average reductions around 70% for bare particles and 50% for membranes. Copper on sepiolite was particularly efficient with a decrease of metabolic activity of up to 80% with respect to controls. Copper materials induced rapid maturation and conidiation with fungi splitting in sets of subcolonies. Metal-loaded nanomaterials acted as reservoirs for the controlled release of metals. The amount of silver or copper released daily by composite membranes represented roughly 1% of their total load of metals. Supported nanomaterials encapsulated in nanofibers allow formulating active membranes with high antifungal performance at the same time minimizing the risk of nanoparticle release into the environment. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Moisture Absorption Behaviour of Biopolymer Polycapralactone (PCL) / Organo Modified Montmorillonite Clay (OMMT) biocomposite films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malik, Neetu; Shrivastava, Sharad; Bandhu Ghosh, Subrata

2018-04-01

Bio composite materials were fabricated using mixing biodegradable polymer polycaptalactone (PCL) and Organo Modified Montmorillonite Clay (OMMT) through solution casting. Various samples of bio composite films were prepared by varying the OMMT wt% composition by 0.1%, 0.5%, 1% and 1.5%. Thereafter, the density and water absorption of the composites were investigated with respect to immersion time in water. The moisture absorption results show that with an increase in weight percentage (from 0.1 to wt 1.5%) of OMMT within the bio polymer films, the absorption value of bio-nanocomposite films reduced rapidly from 34.4% to 22.3%. The density of hybrid composites also increased with increase in weight percentage of OMMT. The swelling characteristic of PCL increased with increasing % of OMMT clay. These results indicate that the optimized composition of constituents in composite membrane could effectively reduce the anhydrous conditions of bio-composite film.

Spontaneous formation of nanometer scale tubular vesicles in aqueous mixtures of lipid and block copolymer amphiphiles.

PubMed

Lim, Seng Koon; Wong, Andrew S W; de Hoog, Hans-Peter M; Rangamani, Padmini; Parikh, Atul N; Nallani, Madhavan; Sandin, Sara; Liedberg, Bo

2017-02-08

Many common amphiphiles self-assemble in water to produce heterogeneous populations of discrete and symmetric but polydisperse and multilamellar vesicles isolating the encapsulated aqueous core from the surrounding bulk. But when mixtures of amphiphiles of vastly different elastic properties co-assemble, their non-uniform molecular organization can stabilize lower symmetries and produce novel shapes. Here, using high resolution electron cryomicroscopy and tomography, we identify the spontaneous formation of a membrane morphology consisting of unilamellar tubular vesicles in dilute aqueous solutions of binary mixtures of two different amphiphiles of vastly different origins. Our results show that aqueous phase mixtures of a fluid-phase phospholipid and an amphiphilic block copolymer spontaneously assume a bimodal polymorphic character in a composition dependent manner: over a broad range of compositions (15-85 mol% polymer component), a tubular morphology co-exists with spherical vesicles. Strikingly, in the vicinity of equimolar compositions, an exclusively tubular morphology (L t ; diameter, ∼15 nm; length, >1 μm; core, ∼2.0 nm; wall, ∼5-6 nm) emerges in an apparent steady state. Theory suggests that the spontaneous stabilization of cylindrical vesicles, unaided by extraneous forces, requires a significant spontaneous bilayer curvature, which in turn necessitates a strongly asymmetric membrane composition. We confirm that such dramatic compositional asymmetry is indeed produced spontaneously in aqueous mixtures of a lipid and polymer through two independent biochemical assays - (1) reduction in the quenching of fluorophore-labeled lipids and (2) inhibition in the activity of externally added lipid-hydrolyzing phospholipase A2, resulting in a significant enrichment of the polymer component in the outer leaflet. Taken together, these results illustrate the coupling of the membrane shape with local composition through spontaneous curvature generation under conditions of asymmetric distribution of mixtures of disparate amphiphiles.

The absence of chlorophyll b affects lateral mobility of photosynthetic complexes and lipids in grana membranes of Arabidopsis and barley chlorina mutants.

PubMed

Tyutereva, Elena V; Evkaikina, Anastasiia I; Ivanova, Alexandra N; Voitsekhovskaja, Olga V

2017-09-01

The lateral mobility of integral components of thylakoid membranes, such as plastoquinone, xanthophylls, and pigment-protein complexes, is critical for the maintenance of efficient light harvesting, high rates of linear electron transport, and successful repair of damaged photosystem II (PSII). The packaging of the photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes in the membrane depends on their size and stereometric parameters which in turn depend on the composition of the complexes. Chlorophyll b (Chlb) is an important regulator of antenna size and composition. In this study, the lateral mobility (the mobile fraction size) of pigment-protein complexes and lipids in grana membranes was analyzed in chlorina mutants of Arabidopsis and barley lacking Chlb. In the Arabidopsis ch1-3 mutant, diffusion of membrane lipids decreased as compared to wild-type plants, but the diffusion of photosynthetic complexes was not affected. In the barley chlorina f2 3613 mutant, the diffusion of pigment-protein complexes significantly decreased, while the diffusion of lipids increased, as compared to wild-type plants. We propose that the size of the mobile fractions of pigment-protein complexes in grana membranes in vivo is higher than reported previously. The data are discussed in the context of the protein composition of antennae, characteristics of the plastoquinone pool, and production of reactive oxygen species in leaves of chlorina mutants.

Membrane remodeling, an early event in benzo[alpha]pyrene-induced apoptosis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tekpli, Xavier; Rissel, Mary; Huc, Laurence

2010-02-15

Benzo[alpha]pyrene (B[alpha]P) often serves as a model for mutagenic and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Our previous work suggested a role of membrane fluidity in B[alpha]P-induced apoptotic process. In this study, we report that B[alpha]P modifies the composition of cholesterol-rich microdomains (lipid rafts) in rat liver F258 epithelial cells. The cellular distribution of the ganglioside-GM1 was markedly changed following B[alpha]P exposure. B[alpha]P also modified fatty acid composition and decreased the cholesterol content of cholesterol-rich microdomains. B[alpha]P-induced depletion of cholesterol in lipid rafts was linked to a reduced expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CoA reductase). Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and B[alpha]P-related H{submore » 2}O{sub 2} formation were involved in the reduced expression of HMG-CoA reductase and in the remodeling of membrane microdomains. The B[alpha]P-induced membrane remodeling resulted in an intracellular alkalinization observed during the early phase of apoptosis. In conclusion, B[alpha]P altered the composition of plasma membrane microstructures through AhR and H{sub 2}O{sub 2} dependent-regulation of lipid biosynthesis. In F258 cells, the B[alpha]P-induced membrane remodeling was identified as an early apoptotic event leading to an intracellular alkalinization.« less

Interrelationships between Fatty Acid Composition, Staphyloxanthin Content, Fluidity, and Carbon Flow in the Staphylococcus aureus Membrane.

PubMed

Tiwari, Kiran B; Gatto, Craig; Wilkinson, Brian J

2018-05-17

Fatty acids play a major role in determining membrane biophysical properties. Staphylococcus aureus produces branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) and straight-chain saturated fatty acids (SCSFAs), and can directly incorporate exogenous SCSFAs and straight-chain unsaturated fatty acids (SCUFAs). Many S. aureus strains produce the triterpenoid pigment staphyloxanthin, and the balance of BCFAs, SCSFAs and staphyloxanthin determines membrane fluidity. Here, we investigated the relationship of fatty acid and carotenoid production in S. aureus using a pigmented strain (Pig1), its carotenoid-deficient mutant (Pig1Δ crtM ) and the naturally non-pigmented Staphylococcus argenteus that lacks carotenoid biosynthesis genes and is closely related to S. aureus . Fatty acid compositions in all strains were similar under a given culture condition indicating that staphyloxanthin does not influence fatty acid composition. Strain Pig1 had decreased membrane fluidity as measured by fluorescence anisotropy compared to the other strains under all conditions indicating that staphyloxanthin helps maintain membrane rigidity. We could find no evidence for correlation of expression of crtM and fatty acid biosynthesis genes. Supplementation of medium with glucose increased SCSFA production and decreased BCFA and staphyloxanthin production, whereas acetate-supplementation also decreased BCFAs but increased staphyloxanthin production. We believe that staphyloxanthin levels are influenced more through metabolic regulation than responding to fatty acids incorporated into the membrane.

Modification of Nafion membrane with biofunctional SiO2 nanofiber for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hang; Li, Xiaojie; Zhuang, Xupin; Cheng, Bowen; Wang, Wei; Kang, Weimin; Shi, Lei; Li, Hongjun

2017-02-01

Proton currents are an integral part of the most important energy-converting structures in biology. We prepared a new type of bioinspired Nafion (Bio-Nafion) membrane composited of biofunctional SiO2 (Bio-SiO2) nanofiber and Nafion matrix. SiO2 nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning silica sol prepared from tetraethyl orthosilicate. Meanwhile, Bio-SiO2 nanofibers were synthesized by immobilizing amino acids (cysteine, serine, lysine, and glycine) on SiO2 nanofibers, which acted as efficient proton-conducting pathways that involved numerous H+ transport sites. In our study, the SiO2 nanofibers biofunctionalized with cysteine were further oxidized, and the composite membranes were designated as Nafion-Cys, Nafion-Lys, Nafion-Ser, and Nafion-Gly, respectively. We then investigated the different polar groups (sbnd SO3H, sbnd OH, and sbnd NH2) of the amino acids that contributed to membrane properties of thermal stability, water uptake (WU), dimensional stability, proton conductivity, and methanol permeability. Nafion-Cys exhibited the highest proton conductivity of 0.2424 S/cm (80 °C). Nafion-Gly showed the lowest proton conductivity and WU because glycine contains the least number of hydrophilic groups among the amino acids. Overall, the introduction of Bio-SiO2 nanofiber to composite membranes significantly improved proton conductivity, dimensional stability, and methanol permeability.

Evaluation of the Parameters and Conditions of Process in the Ethylbenzene Dehydrogenation with Application of Permselective Membranes to Enhance Styrene Yield

PubMed Central

Araújo, Paulo Jardel P.; Leite, Manuela Souza; Kakuta Ravagnani, Teresa M.

2016-01-01

Styrene is an important monomer in the manufacture of thermoplastic. Most of it is produced by the catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. In this process that depends on reversible reactions, the yield is usually limited by the establishment of thermodynamic equilibrium in the reactor. The styrene yield can be increased by using a hybrid process, with reaction and separation simultaneously. It is proposed using permselective composite membrane to remove hydrogen and thus suppress the reverse and secondary reactions. This paper describes the simulation of a dehydrogenation process carried out in a tubular fixed-bed reactor wrapped in a permselective composite membrane. A mathematical model was developed, incorporating the various mass transport mechanisms found in each of the membrane layers and in the catalytic fixed bed. The effects of the reactor feed conditions (temperature, steam-to-oil ratio, and the weight hourly space velocity), the fixed-bed geometry (length, diameter, and volume), and the membrane geometry (thickness of the layers) on the styrene yield were analyzed. These variables were used to determine experimental conditions that favour the production of styrene. The simulation showed that an increase of 40.98% in the styrene yield, compared to a conventional fixed-bed process, could be obtained by wrapping the reactor in a permselective composite membrane. PMID:27069982

The Composition and Organization of Cytoplasm in Prebiotic Cells

PubMed Central

Trevors, Jack T.

2011-01-01

This article discusses the hypothesized composition and organization of cytoplasm in prebiotic cells from a theoretical perspective and also based upon what is currently known about bacterial cytoplasm. It is unknown if the first prebiotic, microscopic scale, cytoplasm was initially contained within a primitive, continuous, semipermeable membrane, or was an uncontained gel substance, that later became enclosed by a continuous membrane. Another possibility is that the first cytoplasm in prebiotic cells and a primitive membrane organized at the same time, permitting a rapid transition to the first cell(s) capable of growth and division, thus assisting with the emergence of life on Earth less than a billion years after the formation of the Earth. It is hypothesized that the organization and composition of cytoplasm progressed initially from an unstructured, microscopic hydrogel to a more complex cytoplasm, that may have been in the volume magnitude of about 0.1–0.2 μm3 (possibly less if a nanocell) prior to the first cell division. PMID:21673913

A Study of influence on sulfonated TiO2-Poly (Vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) nano composite membranes for PEM Fuel cell application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

kumar, K. Selva; Rajendran, S.; Prabhu, M. Ramesh

2017-10-01

The present work describes the sulfonated Titania directly blended with Poly (Vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) as a host polymer by solvent casting technique for PEM fuel cell application. Characterization studies such as FT-IR, SEM, EDX, AFM, Proton conductivity, contact angle measurement, IEC, TG, water uptake, tensile strength were performed by for synthesized proton conducting polymer electrolytes. The maximum proton conductivity value was found to be 3.6 × 10-3S/cm for 25 wt% sulfonated Titania based system at 80 °C. The temperature dependent proton conductivity of the polymer electrolyte follows an Arrhenius relationship. Surface morphology of the composite membranes was investigated by tapping mode. Thermal stability of the system was studied by TG analysis. The fabricated composite membranes with high proton conductivity, good water uptake and IEC parameters exhibited a maximum fuel cell power density of 85 Mw/cm2for PEM fuel cell application.

Composite oxygen transport membrane

DOEpatents

Christie, Gervase Maxwell; Lane, Jonathan A.

2014-08-05

A method of producing a composite oxygen ion membrane and a composite oxygen ion membrane in which a porous fuel oxidation layer and a dense separation layer and optionally, a porous surface exchange layer are formed on a porous support from mixtures of (Ln.sub.1-xA.sub.x).sub.wCr.sub.1-yB.sub.yO.sub.3-.delta. and a doped zirconia. In the porous fuel oxidation layer and the optional porous surface exchange layer, A is Calcium and in the dense separation layer A is not Calcium and, preferably is Strontium. Preferred materials are (La.sub.0.8Ca.sub.0.2).sub.0.95Cr.sub.0.5Mn.sub.0.5O.sub.3-.delta. for the porous fuel oxidation and optional porous surface exchange layers and (La.sub.0.8Sr.sub.0.2).sub.0.95Cr.sub.0.5Fe.sub.0.5O.sub.3-.delta. for the dense separation layer. The use of such materials allows the membrane to sintered in air and without the use of pore formers to reduce membrane manufacturing costs. The use of materials, as described herein, for forming the porous layers have application for forming any type of porous structure, such as a catalyst support.

Evaluation of asymmetric polydimethylsiloxane-polyvinylidene fluoride composite membrane and incorporated with acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation for butanol recovery.

PubMed

Xue, Chuang; Du, Guang-Qing; Chen, Li-Jie; Ren, Jian-Gang; Bai, Feng-Wu

2014-10-20

The polydimethylsiloxane-polyvinylidene fluoride (PDMS-PVDF) composite membrane was studied for its pervaporation performance to removal of butanol from butanol/ABE solution, fermentation broth as well as incorporated with acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation. The total flux and butanol titer in permeate through the PDMS-PVDF membrane were up to 769.6 g/m(2)h and 323.5 g/L at 80 °C, respectively. The butanol flux and total flux increased with increasing the feed temperature as well as the feed butanol titer. The butanol separation factor and butanol titer in permeate decreased slightly in the presence of acetone and ethanol in the feed due to their preferential dissolution and competitive permeation through the membrane. In fed-batch fermentation incorporated with pervaporation, butanol titer and flux in permeate maintained at a steady level with the range of 139.9-154.0 g/L and 13.3-16.3 g/m(2)h, respectively, which was attributed to the stable butanol titer in fermentation broth as well as the excellent hydrophobic nature of the PDMS-PVDF matrix. Therefore, the PDMS-PVDF composite membrane had a great potential in the in situ product recovery with ABE fermentation, enabling the economic production of biobutanol. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Composite oxygen transport membrane

DOEpatents

Christie, Gervase Maxwell; Lane, Jonathan A.

2016-11-15

A method of producing a composite oxygen ion membrane and a composite oxygen ion membrane in which a porous fuel oxidation layer and a dense separation layer and optionally, a porous surface exchange layer are formed on a porous support from mixtures of (Ln.sub.1-xA.sub.x).sub.wCr.sub.1-yB.sub.yO.sub.3-.delta. and a doped zirconia. In the porous fuel oxidation layer and the optional porous surface exchange layer, A is Calcium and in the dense separation layer A is not Calcium and, preferably is Strontium. Preferred materials are (La.sub.0.8Ca.sub.0.2).sub.0.95Cr.sub.0.5Mn.sub.0.5O.sub.3-.delta. for the porous fuel oxidation and optional porous surface exchange layers and (La.sub.0.8Sr.sub.0.2).sub.0.95Cr.sub.0.5Fe.sub.0.5O.sub.3-.delta. for the dense separation layer. The use of such materials allows the membrane to sintered in air and without the use of pore formers to reduce membrane manufacturing costs. The use of materials, as described herein, for forming the porous layers have application for forming any type of porous structure, such as a catalyst support.

Controlling Cargo Trafficking in Multicomponent Membranes.

PubMed

Curk, Tine; Wirnsberger, Peter; Dobnikar, Jure; Frenkel, Daan; Šarić, Anđela

2018-04-27

Biological membranes typically contain a large number of different components dispersed in small concentrations in the main membrane phase, including proteins, sugars, and lipids of varying geometrical properties. Most of these components do not bind the cargo. Here, we show that such "inert" components can be crucial for the precise control of cross-membrane trafficking. Using a statistical mechanics model and molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that the presence of inert membrane components of small isotropic curvatures dramatically influences cargo endocytosis, even if the total spontaneous curvature of such a membrane remains unchanged. Curved lipids, such as cholesterol, as well as asymmetrically included proteins and tethered sugars can, therefore, actively participate in the control of the membrane trafficking of nanoscopic cargo. We find that even a low-level expression of curved inert membrane components can determine the membrane selectivity toward the cargo size and can be used to selectively target membranes of certain compositions. Our results suggest a robust and general method of controlling cargo trafficking by adjusting the membrane composition without needing to alter the concentration of receptors or the average membrane curvature. This study indicates that cells can prepare for any trafficking event by incorporating curved inert components in either of the membrane leaflets.

Tethered bilayer lipid membranes (tBLMs): interest and applications for biological membrane investigations.

PubMed

Rebaud, Samuel; Maniti, Ofelia; Girard-Egrot, Agnès P

2014-12-01

Biological membranes play a central role in the biology of the cell. They are not only the hydrophobic barrier allowing separation between two water soluble compartments but also a supra-molecular entity that has vital structural functions. Notably, they are involved in many exchange processes between the outside and inside cellular spaces. Accounting for the complexity of cell membranes, reliable models are needed to acquire current knowledge of the molecular processes occurring in membranes. To simplify the investigation of lipid/protein interactions, the use of biomimetic membranes is an approach that allows manipulation of the lipid composition of specific domains and/or the protein composition, and the evaluation of the reciprocal effects. Since the middle of the 80's, lipid bilayer membranes have been constantly developed as models of biological membranes with the ultimate goal to reincorporate membrane proteins for their functional investigation. In this review, after a brief description of the planar lipid bilayers as biomimetic membrane models, we will focus on the construction of the tethered Bilayer Lipid Membranes, the most promising model for efficient membrane protein reconstitution and investigation of molecular processes occurring in cell membranes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Swelling and morphology of the skin layer of polyamide composite membranes: an atomic force microscopy study.

PubMed

Freger, Viatcheslav

2004-06-01

The paper introduces a new methodology for studying polyamide composite membranes for reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) in liquid environments. The methodology is based on atomic force microscopy of the active layer, which had been separated from the support and placed on a solid substrate. The approach was employed to determine the thickness, interfacial morphology, and dimensional changes in solution (swelling) of polyamide films. The face (active) and back (facing the support) surfaces of the RO films appeared morphologically similar, in agreement with the recently proposed model of skin formation. Measured thickness and swelling data in conjunction with the intrinsic permeability of the membranes suggest that the selective barrier in RO membrane constitutes only a fraction of the polyamide skin, whereas NF membranes behave as nearly uniform films. For NF membranes, there was reasonable correlation between the changes in the swelling and in the permeability of the membrane and the salinity and pH of the feed.

Hydrophilicity and antifouling property of membrane materials from cellulose acetate/polyethersulfone in DMAc.

PubMed

Sun, Zhonghua; Chen, Fushan

2016-10-01

In this study, cellulose acetate (CA) was blended with polyethersulfone (PES) to endow the ultrafiltration membrane with the improved hydrophilicity and antifouling property by using N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) as the solvent. The effects of blend composition and evaporation time on the mechanical strength and pure water flux were investigated. It was found that the optimal composition of the casting solution was: 18wt% (PES), 4wt% (Polyvinylpyrrolidone K30), 3wt% (CA) and 20s (Evaporation time). The characteristics of CA-PES blend membranes were investigated through the methods of contact angle goniometer, antifouling property, compatibility, thermo gravimetric analysis and SEM. The results showed that the hydrophilicity and antifouling property of CA-PES ultrafiltration membranes were enhanced in comparison with the pure PES membranes. The CA-PES membranes exhibited semi-compatibility and good thermal stability below 270°C. This study provided a potential industrial application prospect of CA-PES membranes prepared in DMAc. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A layer model of ethanol partitioning into lipid membranes.

PubMed

Nizza, David T; Gawrisch, Klaus

2009-06-01

The effect of membrane composition on ethanol partitioning into lipid bilayers was assessed by headspace gas chromatography. A series of model membranes with different compositions have been investigated. Membranes were exposed to a physiological ethanol concentration of 20 mmol/l. The concentration of membranes was 20 wt% which roughly corresponds to values found in tissue. Partitioning depended on the chemical nature of polar groups at the lipid/water interface. Compared to phosphatidylcholine, lipids with headgroups containing phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, and sphingomyelin showed enhanced partitioning while headgroups containing phosphatidylethanolamine resulted in a lower partition coefficient. The molar partition coefficient was independent of a membrane's hydrophobic volume. This observation is in agreement with our previously published NMR results which showed that ethanol resides almost exclusively within the membrane/water interface. At an ethanol concentration of 20 mmol/l in water, ethanol concentrations at the lipid/water interface are in the range from 30-15 mmol/l, corresponding to one ethanol molecule per 100-200 lipids.

Structurally stable graphene oxide-based nanofiltration membranes with bioadhesive polydopamine coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chongbin; Li, Zhiyuan; Chen, Jianxin; Yin, Yongheng; Wu, Hong

2018-01-01

Graphene oxide (GO)-based membranes possess promising potential in liquid separation for its high flux. The state-of-art GO-based membranes need to be supported by a substrate to ensure that the ultra-thin GO layer can withstand transmembrane pressure in practical applications. The interfacial compatibility of this kind of composite membrane remains a great challenge due to the intrinsic difference in chemical/physical properties between the GO sheets and the substrate. In this paper, a structurally stable GO-based composite nanofiltration membrane was fabricated by coupling the mussel-inspired adhesive platform and filtration-assisted assembly of GO laminates. The water flux for the prepared GO-based nanofiltration membrane reached up to 85 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 with a high retention above 95% and 100% for Orange G and Congo Red, respectively. The membrane exhibited highly stable structure owing to the covalent and noncovalent interactions between GO separation layer and dopamine adhesive platform.

Selective growth of MoS2 for proton exchange membranes with extremely high selectivity.

PubMed

Feng, Kai; Tang, Beibei; Wu, Peiyi

2013-12-26

Proton conductivity and methanol permeability are the most important transport properties of proton exchange membranes (PEMs). The ratio of proton conductivity to methanol permeability is usually called selectivity. Herein, a novel strategy of in situ growth of MoS2 is employed to prepare MoS2/Nafion composite membranes for highly selective PEM. The strong interactions between the Mo precursor ((NH4)2MoS4) and Nafion's sulfonic groups in a suitable solvent environment (DMF) probably lead to a selective growth of MoS2 flakes mainly around the ionic clusters of the resultant MoS2/Nafion composite membrane. Therefore, it would significantly promote the aggregation and hence lead to a better connectivity of these ionic clusters, which favors the increase in proton conductivity. Meanwhile, the existence of MoS2 in the ionic channels effectively prevents methanol transporting through the PEM, contributing to the dramatic decrease in the methanol permeability. Consequently, the MoS2/Nafion composite membranes exhibit greatly increased selectivity. Under some severe conditions, such as 50 °C with 80 v/v% of methanol concentration, an increase in the membrane selectivity by nearly 2 orders of magnitude compared with that of the recast Nafion membrane could be achieved here, proving our method as a very promising way to prepare high-performance PEMs. All these conclusions are confirmed by various characterizations, such as (FE-) SEM, TEM, AFM, IR, Raman, TGA, XRD, etc.

A Study on Anti – Fouling Behaviour and Mechanical Properties of PVA/Chitosan/TEOS Hybrid membrane in The Treatment of Copper Solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sulaiman, N. A.; Kassim Shaari, N. Z.; Rahman, N. Abdul

2018-05-01

In a wastewater treatment by using membrane filtration, fouling has been one of the major problems. In this study, the anti-fouling behaviour of the fabricated thin-film composite membrane were studied during the treatment of water containing copper ion. The membranes were prepared from a polymer blend of 2wt.% chitosan with 10 wt.% poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and then it was cross – linked with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) through sol-gel method. The membrane had been evaluated for its resistance against organic fouling where humic acid had been chosen as organic foulant model which represent the natural organic matter (NOM) in water or wastewater. The dead-end filtration experiments were carried out by using 50 ppm of copper solution with and without the presence of humic acid as feed solution, which was passed through two types of thin film composite membranes. The possible reversible fouling was evaluated by using relative flux decay (RFD) and relative flux recovery (RFR) calculations. The percentage of copper ion removal was evaluated by using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Based on the results, with the presence of humic acid, the membrane incorporated with silica precursor (TEOS) showed lower flux decay (3%) and higher flux recovery (76%), which show that the formulated hybrid membrane possesses the anti fouling property. The same trend was observed in the mechanical properties of hybrid membrane, where the presence of TEOS has improved the tensile strength and flexibility of the membrane. Therefore, the fabricated thin film composite with the anti-fouling properties and good physical flexibility has potential to be used in the treatment of wastewater containing heavy metal as it could result in good saving in term of operational cost.

Effect of elevated temperature on membrane lipid saturation in Antarctic notothenioid fish.

PubMed

Malekar, Vanita C; Morton, James D; Hider, Richard N; Cruickshank, Robert H; Hodge, Simon; Metcalf, Victoria J

2018-01-01

Homeoviscous adaptation (HVA) is a key cellular response by which fish protect their membranes against thermal stress. We investigated evolutionary HVA (long time scale) in Antarctic and non-Antarctic fish. Membrane lipid composition was determined for four Perciformes fish: two closely related Antarctic notothenioid species ( Trematomus bernacchii and Pagothenia borchgrevinki ); a diversified related notothenioid Antarctic icefish ( Chionodraco hamatus ); and a New Zealand species ( Notolabrus celidotus ). The membrane lipid compositions were consistent across the three Antarctic species and these were significantly different from that of the New Zealand species. Furthermore, acclimatory HVA (short time periods with seasonal changes) was investigated to determine whether stenothermal Antarctic fish, which evolved in the cold, stable environment of the Southern Ocean, have lost the acclimatory capacity to modulate their membrane saturation states, making them vulnerable to anthropogenic global warming. We compared liver membrane lipid composition in two closely related Antarctic fish species acclimated at 0 °C (control temperature), 4 °C for a period of 14 days in T. bernacchii and 28 days for P. borchgrevinki, and 6 °C for 7 days in both species. Thermal acclimation at 4 °C did not result in changed membrane saturation states in either Antarctic species. Despite this, membrane functions were not compromised, as indicated by declining serum osmolality, implying positive compensation by enhanced hypo-osmoregulation. Increasing the temperature to 6 °C did not change the membrane lipids of P. borchgrevinki. However, in T. bernacchii, thermal acclimation at 6 °C resulted in an increase of membrane saturated fatty acids and a decline in unsaturated fatty acids. This is the first study to show a homeoviscous response to higher temperatures in an Antarctic fish, although for only one of the two species examined.

Skeletal muscle membrane lipid composition is related to adiposity and insulin action.

PubMed Central

Pan, D A; Lillioja, S; Milner, M R; Kriketos, A D; Baur, L A; Bogardus, C; Storlien, L H

1995-01-01

The cellular basis of insulin resistance is still unknown; however, relationships have been demonstrated between insulin action in muscle and the fatty acid profile of the major membrane structural lipid (phospholipid). The present study aimed to further investigate the hypothesis that insulin action and adiposity are associated with changes in the structural lipid composition of the cell. In 52 adult male Pima Indians, insulin action (euglycemic clamp), percentage body fat (pFAT; underwater weighing), and muscle phospholipid fatty acid composition (percutaneous biopsy of vastus lateralis) were determined. Insulin action (high-dose clamp; MZ) correlated with composite measures of membrane unsaturation (% C20-22 polyunsaturated fatty acids [r= 0.463, P < 0.001], unsaturation index [r= -0.369, P < 0.01]), a number of individual fatty acids and with delta5 desaturase activity (r= 0.451, P < 0.001). pFAT (range 14-53%) correlated with a number of individual fatty acids and delta5 desaturase activity (r= -0.610, P < 0.0001). Indices of elongase activity (r= -0.467, P < 0.001), and delta9 desaturase activity (r= 0.332, P < 0.05) were also related to pFAT but not insulin action. The results demonstrate that delta5 desaturase activity is independently related to both insulin resistance and obesity. While determining the mechanisms underlying this relationship is important for future investigations, strategies aimed at restoring "normal" enzyme activities, and membrane unsaturation, may have therapeutic importance in the "syndromes of insulin resistance." PMID:8675650

Proton exchange membranes for application in fuel cells: grafted silica/SPEEK nanocomposite elaboration and characterization.

PubMed

Reinholdt, Marc X; Kaliaguine, Serge

2010-07-06

Hydrogen technologies and especially fuel cells are key components in the battle to find alternate sources of energy to the highly polluting and economically constraining fossil fuels in an aim to preserve the environment. The present paper shows the synthesis of surface functionalized silica nanoparticles, which are used to prepare grafted silica/SPEEK nanocomposite membranes. The nanoparticles are grafted either with hexadecylsilyl or aminopropyldimethylsilyl moieties or both. The synthesized particles are analyzed using XRD, NMR, TEM, and DLS to collect information on the nature of the particles and the functional groups, on the particle sizes, and on the hydrophilic/hydrophobic character. The composite membranes prepared using the synthesized particles and two SPEEK polymers with sulfonation degrees of 69.4% and 85.0% are characterized for their proton conductivity and water uptake properties. The corresponding curves are very similar for the composites prepared with both polymers and the nanoparticles bearing the two functional groups. The composites prepared with the nanoparticles bearing solely the aminopropyldimethylsilyl moiety exhibit lower conductivity and water uptake, possibly due to higher interaction of the polymer sulfonic acid sites with the amine groups. The composites prepared with the nanoparticles bearing solely the hexadecylsilyl moiety were not further investigated because of very high particles segregation. A study of the proton conductivity as a function of temperature was performed on selected membranes and showed that nanocomposites made with nanoparticles bearing both functional moieties have a higher conductivity at higher temperatures.

Comparison of the lipid composition of oat root and coleoptile plasma membranes: lack of short-term change in response to auxin

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sandstrom, R. P.; Cleland, R. E.

1989-01-01

The total lipid composition of plasma membranes (PM), isolated by the phase partitioning method from two different oat (Avena sativa L.) tissues, the root and coleoptile, was compared. In general, the PM lipid composition was not conserved between these two organs of the oat seedling. Oat roots contained 50 mole percent phospholipid, 25 mole percent glycolipid, and 25 mole percent free sterol, whereas comparable amounts in the coleoptile were 42, 39, and 19 mole percent, respectively. Individual lipid components within each lipid class also showed large variations between the two tissues. Maximum specific ATPase activity in the root PM was more than double the activity in the coleoptile. Treatment of coleoptile with auxin for 1 hour resulted in no detectable changes in PM lipids or extractable ATPase activity. Differences in the PM lipid composition between the two tissues that may define the limits of ATPase activity are discussed.

A dendrite-suppressing composite ion conductor from aramid nanofibres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tung, Siu-On; Ho, Szushen; Yang, Ming; Zhang, Ruilin; Kotov, Nicholas A.

2015-01-01

Dendrite growth threatens the safety of batteries by piercing the ion-transporting separators between the cathode and anode. Finding a dendrite-suppressing material that combines high modulus and high ionic conductance has long been considered a major technological and materials science challenge. Here we demonstrate that these properties can be attained in a composite made from Kevlar-derived aramid nanofibres assembled in a layer-by-layer manner with poly(ethylene oxide). Importantly, the porosity of the membranes is smaller than the growth area of the dendrites so that aramid nanofibres eliminate ‘weak links’ where the dendrites pierce the membranes. The aramid nanofibre network suppresses poly(ethylene oxide) crystallization detrimental for ion transport, giving a composite that exhibits high modulus, ionic conductivity, flexibility, ion flux rates and thermal stability. Successful suppression of hard copper dendrites by the composite ion conductor at extreme discharge conditions is demonstrated, thereby providing a new approach for the materials engineering of solid ion conductors.

Fuel-Cell Electrolytes Based on Organosilica Hybrid Proton Conductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Narayan, Sri R.; Yen, Shiao-Pin S.

2008-01-01

A new membrane composite material that combines an organosilica proton conductor with perfluorinated Nafion material to achieve good proton conductivity and high-temperature performance for membranes used for fuel cells in stationary, transportation, and portable applications has been developed. To achieve high proton conductivities of the order of 10(exp -1)S/cm over a wide range of temperatures, a composite membrane based on a new class of mesoporous, proton-conducting, hydrogen-bonded organosilica, used with Nafion, will allow for water retention and high proton conductivity over a wider range of temperatures than currently offered by Nafion alone. At the time of this reporting, this innovation is at the concept level. Some of the materials and processes investigated have shown good proton conductivity, but membranes have not yet been prepared and demonstrated.

Remodeling of the postsynaptic plasma membrane during neural development.

PubMed

Tulodziecka, Karolina; Diaz-Rohrer, Barbara B; Farley, Madeline M; Chan, Robin B; Di Paolo, Gilbert; Levental, Kandice R; Waxham, M Neal; Levental, Ilya

2016-11-07

Neuronal synapses are the fundamental units of neural signal transduction and must maintain exquisite signal fidelity while also accommodating the plasticity that underlies learning and development. To achieve these goals, the molecular composition and spatial organization of synaptic terminals must be tightly regulated; however, little is known about the regulation of lipid composition and organization in synaptic membranes. Here we quantify the comprehensive lipidome of rat synaptic membranes during postnatal development and observe dramatic developmental lipidomic remodeling during the first 60 postnatal days, including progressive accumulation of cholesterol, plasmalogens, and sphingolipids. Further analysis of membranes associated with isolated postsynaptic densities (PSDs) suggests the PSD-associated postsynaptic plasma membrane (PSD-PM) as one specific location of synaptic remodeling. We analyze the biophysical consequences of developmental remodeling in reconstituted synaptic membranes and observe remarkably stable microdomains, with the stability of domains increasing with developmental age. We rationalize the developmental accumulation of microdomain-forming lipids in synapses by proposing a mechanism by which palmitoylation of the immobilized scaffold protein PSD-95 nucleates domains at the postsynaptic plasma membrane. These results reveal developmental changes in lipid composition and palmitoylation that facilitate the formation of postsynaptic membrane microdomains, which may serve key roles in the function of the neuronal synapse. © 2016 Tulodziecka et al. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). Two months after publication it is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).

Dynamic Lipid-dependent Modulation of Protein Topology by Post-translational Phosphorylation.

PubMed

Vitrac, Heidi; MacLean, David M; Karlstaedt, Anja; Taegtmeyer, Heinrich; Jayaraman, Vasanthi; Bogdanov, Mikhail; Dowhan, William

2017-02-03

Membrane protein topology and folding are governed by structural principles and topogenic signals that are recognized and decoded by the protein insertion and translocation machineries at the time of initial membrane insertion and folding. We previously demonstrated that the lipid environment is also a determinant of initial protein topology, which is dynamically responsive to post-assembly changes in membrane lipid composition. However, the effect on protein topology of post-assembly phosphorylation of amino acids localized within initially cytoplasmically oriented extramembrane domains has never been investigated. Here, we show in a controlled in vitro system that phosphorylation of a membrane protein can trigger a change in topological arrangement. The rate of change occurred on a scale of seconds, comparable with the rates observed upon changes in the protein lipid environment. The rate and extent of topological rearrangement were dependent on the charges of extramembrane domains and the lipid bilayer surface. Using model membranes mimicking the lipid compositions of eukaryotic organelles, we determined that anionic lipids, cholesterol, sphingomyelin, and membrane fluidity play critical roles in these processes. Our results demonstrate how post-translational modifications may influence membrane protein topology in a lipid-dependent manner, both along the organelle trafficking pathway and at their final destination. The results provide further evidence that membrane protein topology is dynamic, integrating for the first time the effect of changes in lipid composition and regulators of cellular processes. The discovery of a new topology regulatory mechanism opens additional avenues for understanding unexplored structure-function relationships and the development of optimized topology prediction tools. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Physical characteristics of chitosan-silica composite of rice husk ash

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sumarni, Woro; Sri Iswari, Retno; Marwoto, Putut; Rahayu, Endah F.

2016-02-01

Some previous studies showed that the characteristics of chitosan membranes have a very rigid and non-porous structure so that its utilization is not maximized, particularly in the filtration process. Hence, it needs modification to improve the quality of the chitosan membranes. Adding the silica into the chitosan membranes is one of the offered solutions to overcome the problems of physical and mechanical properties of chitosan. This study aims to investigate the effect of variations in the silica composition to the physical characteristics of the chitosan-silica membranes of rice husk ash that were synthesized. The chitosan used is derived from the chitin of Vannamei shrimps’ shell with 82% degree of de-acetylation, while the silica was synthesized from rice husk ash with rendering of silica (SiO2) by 5% and the results of XRD analysis showed an amorphous phase. Membrane synthesis was performed using the phase inversion method with chitosan-silica mass ratios of rice husk ash, which were 1:0.0; 1:0.5; 1:1.0; 1:1.5 and 1:2.0. The results showed that the addition of silica increases the swelling index and the membrane permeability. The results of the analysis, FTIR spectra, obtained a new functional group after the addition of silica, they are Si-OH, Si-O-Si, and CO- NH2. The morphology test using CCD Microscope MS-804 results in the very tight chitosan membranes without the silica surface, it has no pores, smooth and homogeneous, while the chitosan-silica composite membrane of rice husk ash obviously has cracks and small cavities that seemed to spread out.

Bench Scale Thin Film Composite Hollow Fiber Membranes for Post-Combustion Carbon Dioxide Capture

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Glaser, Paul; Bhandari, Dhaval; Narang, Kristi

2015-04-01

GE Global Research, Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), and Western Research Institute (WRI) proposed to develop high performance thin film polymer composite hollow fiber membranes and advanced processes for economical post-combustion carbon dioxide (CO 2) capture from pulverized coal flue gas at temperatures typical of existing flue gas cleanup processes. The project sought to develop and then optimize new gas separations membrane systems at the bench scale, including tuning the properties of a novel polyphosphazene polymer in a coating solution and fabricating highly engineered porous hollow fiber supports. The project also sought to define themore » processes needed to coat the fiber support to manufacture composite hollow fiber membranes with high performance, ultra-thin separation layers. Physical, chemical, and mechanical stability of the materials (individual and composite) towards coal flue gas components was considered via exposure and performance tests. Preliminary design, technoeconomic, and economic feasibility analyses were conducted to evaluate the overall performance and impact of the process on the cost of electricity (COE) for a coal-fired plant including capture technologies. At the onset of the project, Membranes based on coupling a novel selective material polyphosphazene with an engineered hollow fiber support was found to have the potential to capture greater than 90% of the CO 2 in flue gas with less than 35% increase in COE, which would achieve the DOE-targeted performance criteria. While lab-scale results for the polyphosphazene materials were very promising, and the material was incorporated into hollow-fiber modules, difficulties were encountered relating to the performance of these membrane systems over time. Performance, as measured by both flux of and selectivity for CO 2 over other flue gas constituents was found to deteriorate over time, suggesting a system that was more dynamic than initially hypothesized. These phenomena are believed to be associated with the physical and mechanical properties of the separation material, rather than chemical degradation by flue gas or one of its constituents. Strategies to improve the composite systems via alternate chemistries and processing techniques were only partially successful in creating a more robust system, but the research provided critical insight into the barriers to engineering sophisticated composite systems for gas separation. Promising concepts, including a re-engineering of the separation material with interpenetrating polymer networks were identified which may prove useful to future efforts in this field.« less

Studies on Molecular and Ion Transport in Silicalite Membranes and Applications as Ion Separator for Redox Flow Battery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Ruidong

Microporous zeolite membranes have been widely studied for molecular separations based on size exclusion or preferential adsorption-diffusion mechanisms. The MFI-type zeolite membranes were also demonstrated for brine water desalination by molecular sieving effect. In this research, the pure silica MFI-type zeolite (i.e. silicalite) membrane has been for the first time demonstrated for selective permeation of hydrated proton (i.e. H3O+) in acidic electrolyte solutions. The silicalite membrane allows for permeation of H 3O+ ions, but is inaccessible to the large hydrated multivalent vanadium ions due to steric effect. The silicalite membrane has been further demonstrated as an effective ion separator in the all-vanadium redox flow battery (RFB).The silicalite is nonionic and its proton conductivity relies on the electric field-driven H3O+ transport through the sub nanometer-sized pores under the RFB operation conditions. The silicalite membrane displayed a significantly reduced self-discharge rate because of its high proton-to-vanadium ion transport selectivity. However, the nonionic nature of the silicalite membrane and very small diffusion channel size render low proton conductivity and is therefore inefficient as ion exchange membranes (IEMs) for practical applications. The proton transport efficiency may be improved by reducing the membrane thickness. However, the zeolite thin films are extremely fragile and must be supported on mechanically strong and rigid porous substrates. In this work, silicalite-Nafion composite membranes were synthesized to achieve a colloidal silicalite skin on the Nafion thin film base. The "colloidal zeolite-ionic polymer" layered composite membrane combines the advantages of high proton-selectivity of the zeolite layer and the mechanical flexibility and low proton transport resistance of the ionic polymer membrane. The composite membrane exhibited higher proton/vanadium ion separation selectivity and lower electrical resistance than the commercial Nafion 117 membrane. The high proton transport selectivity is a result of the molecular sieving effect between the H3O+ and multivalent vanadium ions by the zeolitic pores; thus the zeolite particles significantly reduced the effective membrane surface area for vanadium ion permeation. The low resistance of the composite membrane can be attributed to the reduced thickness of the Nafion base film and the thinness of the colloidal silicalite top layer. The composite membrane outperformed the Nafion 117 membrane in the vanadium RFB operation in terms of the overall charge-discharge energy efficiency. Efforts have been made in further investigation of ion and molecular transport diffusivity in the polycrystalline silicalite film using zeolite-coated optical fiber interferometers. A physical model has been established for analyzing the molecular diffusivity in the zeolite layer based on the temporal responses of the optical interferometric signals during the transient process of molecular sorption. Experiments were first carried out to study the diffusivity of isobutane to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed optical method. The isobutane diffusivities in silicalite measured by this method were in good agreement with the values reported in literature. The zeolite coated fiber optic interferometer was however ineffective in monitoring ion sorption or ion exchange in the silicalite films. It is suggested that more sensitive fiber optic devices are needed for studying the ion diffusion.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumar, Sumit; Srivastava, Subodh; Agrawal, Shweta

The composite membranes of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) were prepared by solution cast method. The MWCNT was dispersing a very low concentration (0.1 wt %) in PMMA matrix. Alignment of MWCNT in PMMA matrix has been performed by inducing a DC electric field at different voltage parameter varying from 350 V/cm to 1250 V/cm. The MWCNT/PMMA composites were characterized by gas permeation and electrical measurement before and after electric field alignment. The effect of electric field alignment has been studied on gas permeation measurements for gas purification applications. These measurements indicate the enhancement in gas permeability duemore » to the aligned of MWCNT in PMMA matix as compare to randomly dispersed MWCNT. I-V characteristics measurement also indicates that aligned MWCNT/PMMA composite membrane exhibits electron tunneling conductivity.« less

Investigation of Free-Standing Plasmonic Mesoporous Ag/CMK-8-Nafion Composite Membrane for the Removal of Organic Pollutants with 254-nm UV Irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tseng, Chuan Ming; Chen, Hsin Liang; Lai, Sz Nian; Chen, Ming Shiung; Peng, Chien Jung; Li, Chia Jui; Hung, Wei Hsuan

2017-05-01

"Carbon-based material" has demonstrated a great potential on water purification due to its strong physical adsorption to organic pollutants in the water. Three-dimensional cubic ordered mesoporous carbon (CMK-8), one of the well-known ordered mesoporous carbons, was prepared by using nanocasting method with mesoporous silica (KIT-6) as the template. In this study, CMK-8 blended with Nafion polymer to form a free-standing mesoporous CMK-8-Nafion composite membrane. The synthesis of high crystallinity CMK-8 was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). More than 80% methyl orange (MO) removal efficiency was observed under 254-nm UV irradiation after 120 min. Ninety-two percent recycling performance was remained after four recycling tests, which indicated a reliable servicing lifetime for the water purification. Furthermore, an additional layer of plasmonic silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was integrated into this CMK-8-Nafion membrane for higher pollutant removal efficiency, attributing from the generation of plasmon-resonance hot electrons from Ag NPs. A 4-in. CMK-8-Nafion composite membrane was also fabricated for the demonstration of potential large-scale utilization.

Thioether-functionalized mesoporous fiber membranes: sol-gel combined electrospun fabrication and their applications for Hg2+ removal.

PubMed

Teng, Minmin; Wang, Hongtao; Li, Fengting; Zhang, Bingru

2011-03-01

Mesoporous polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/SiO(2) composite nanofiber membranes functionalized with thioether groups have been fabricated by a combination method of sol-gel process and electrospinning. The precursor sol was synthesized by one-step co-condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and 1,4-bis(triethoxysilyl)propane tetrasulfide (BTESPTS, (CH(3)CH(2)O)(3)Si(CH(2))(3)S-S-S-S(CH(2))(3)Si-(OCH(2)CH(3))(3)), with the triblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (P123, EO(20)PO(70)EO(20)) as template. After the addition of PVP, nanofiber membranes were prepared by electrospinning. The membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), N(2) adsorption-desorption isotherms, and an Elementar Vario EL analyzer. The composites were used as highly selective adsorbents for Hg(2+) due to the modification with thioether groups (-S-), and were conveniently separated from the waste water. The composite could be regenerated through acidification. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Modulation of the Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 lipidome by different growth conditions.

PubMed

Hansen, Marie-Louise R W; Clausen, Anders; Ejsing, Christer S; Risbo, Jens

2015-10-01

Probiotics are bacteria used in the food industry due to their potential health benefits. In this study, the plasma membrane of the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 was investigated using state-of-the-art high-resolution shotgun lipidomics. Comparisons of the lipidome of the plasma membrane were done after altering the fatty acid composition by supplementing L. acidophilus La-5 with saturated, mono-, di- and tri-unsaturated fatty acids during fermentation. The plasma membrane with the highest degree of saturation resulted in a lipid composition with the highest proportion of cardiolipin (CL) and lowest proportion of monolysocardiolipin (MLCL). No significant changes were found for other lipid classes. The bacteria grown with di- and tri-unsaturated fatty acids were expected to have more unsaturated plasma membranes than bacteria grown with mono-unsaturated fatty acids. This was also the case for MLCL, but the numbers of double bonds for CL were quite similar for these three samples. The results indicate that L. acidophilus La-5 possesses a molecular mechanism for remodelling and optimizing the fatty acid composition of CL and MLCL species and the molar ratio of CL and MLCL. This study contributes new knowledge on the previously uninvestigated lipidome of L. acidophilus La-5.

Reverse-osmosis membranes by plasma polymerization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hollahan, J. R.; Wydeven, T.

1972-01-01

Thin allyl amine polymer films were developed using plasma polymerization. Resulting dry composite membranes effectively reject sodium chloride during reverse osmosis. Films are 98% sodium chloride rejective, and 46% urea rejective.

Chitin nanowhisker-supported sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) proton exchange for fuel cell applications.

PubMed

Zhang, Chan; Zhuang, Xupin; Li, Xiaojie; Wang, Wei; Cheng, Bowen; Kang, Weimin; Cai, Zhanjun; Li, Mengqin

2016-04-20

To balance the relationship among proton conductivity and mechanic strength of sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) (SPES) membrane, chitin nanowhisker-supported nanocomposite membranes were prepared by incorporating whiskers into SPES. The as-prepared chitin whiskers were prepared by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO) mediated oxidation of α-chitin from crab shells. The structure and properties of the composite membranes were examined as proton exchange membrane (PEM). Results showed that chitin nanowhiskers were dispersed incompactly in the SPES matrix. Thermal stability, mechanical properties, water uptake and proton conductivity of the nanocomposite films were improved from those of the pure SPES film with increasing whisker content, which ascribed to strong interactions between whiskers and between SPES molecules and chitin whiskers via hydrogen bonding. These indicated that composition of filler and matrix got good properties and whisker-supported membranes are promising materials for PEM. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Inactivation of bacteria by electric current in the presence of carbon nanotubes embedded within a polymeric membrane.

PubMed

Zhu, Anna; Liu, Harris K; Long, Feng; Su, Erzheng; Klibanov, Alexander M

2015-01-01

Uniform conductive composite membranes were prepared using a phase inversion method by blending carboxyl-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with a polysulfone polymer. At 6 % of the embedded CNTs, the membrane pore size measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was approximately 50 nm. Electric current in the presence of the composite membranes markedly inactivated the model pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with the extent of bacterial inactivation rising when the current was increased. Over 99.999 % inactivation of both bacteria was observed in deionized water after 40 min at 5 mA direct current (DC); importantly, no appreciable inactivation occurred in the absence of either the electric field or the CNTs within the membranes under otherwise the same conditions. A much lower, although still pronounced, inactivation was seen with alternating current (AC) in a 25 mM NaCl aqueous solution.

Preparation and characterization of antibacterial electrospun chitosan/poly (vinyl alcohol)/graphene oxide composite nanofibrous membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Shuai; Lei, Peng; Shan, Yujuan; Zhang, Dawei

2018-03-01

In this paper, chitosan (CS)/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/graphene oxide (GO) composite nanofibrous membranes were prepared via electrospinning. Such nanofibrous membranes have been characterized and investigated for their morphological, structural, thermal stability, hydrophilic and antibacterial properties. SEM images showed that the uniform and defect-free nanofibers were obtained and GO sheets, shaping spindle and spherical, were partially embedded into nanofibers. FTIR, XRD, DSC and TGA indicated the good compatibility between CS and PVA. There were strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the chitosan and PVA molecules. Contact angle measurement indicated that while increasing the content of GO, the distance between fibers increased and water drop showed wetting state on the surface of nanofibrous membranes. As a result, the contact angle decreased significantly. Meanwhile, good antibacterial activity of the prepared nanofibrous membranes were exhibited against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus.

Theoretical investigation of Lamb wave characteristics in AlN/3C-SiC composite membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Chih-Ming; Chen, Yung-Yu; Pisano, Albert P.

2010-11-01

Cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) layer can provide advantages of high frequency and high quality factor for Lamb wave devices due to the superior properties of high acoustic velocity and low acoustic loss. In this study, Lamb wave propagation characteristics in composite membranes consisting of a c-axis oriented aluminum nitride (AlN) film and an epitaxial 3C-SiC (100) layer are investigated by theoretical calculation. The lowest symmetric mode Lamb wave propagating along the [011] direction exhibits a phase velocity higher than 10 000 m/s and an electromechanical coupling coefficient above 2% in the AlN/3C-SiC multilayered membranes.

Fabrication of Monolithic Sapphire Membranes for High Tc Bolometer Array Development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pugel, D. E.; Lakew, B.; Aslam, S.; Wang, L.

2003-01-01

This paper examines the effectiveness of Pt/Cr thin film masks for the architecture of monolithic membrane structures in r-plane sapphire. The development of a pinhole-free Pt/Cr composite mask that is resistant to hot H2SO4:H3PO4 etchant, will lead to the fabrication of smooth sapphire membranes whose surfaces are well-suited for the growth of low-noise high Tc films. In particular, the relationship of thermal annealing conditions on the Pt/Cr composite mask system to: (1) changes in the surface morphology and elemental concentration of the Pt/Cr thin film layers and (2) etch pit formation on the sapphire surface will be presented.

Composite hydrogen separation element and module

DOEpatents

Edlund, D.J.

1996-03-12

There are disclosed improvements in multicomponent composite metal membranes useful for the separation of hydrogen, the improvements comprising the provision of a flexible porous intermediate layer between a support layer and a nonporous hydrogen-permeable coating metal layer, and the provision of a textured coating metal layer. 15 figs.

Metal/ceramic composites with high hydrogen permeability

DOEpatents

Dorris, Stephen E.; Lee, Tae H.; Balachandran, Uthamalingam

2003-05-27

A membrane for separating hydrogen from fluids is provided comprising a sintered homogenous mixture of a ceramic composition and a metal. The metal may be palladium, niobium, tantalum, vanadium, or zirconium or a binary mixture of palladium with another metal such as niobium, silver, tantalum, vanadium, or zirconium.

PRODUCTION OF BIOBUTANOL FROM BIOMASS USING NOVEL MEMBRANE REACTOR

EPA Science Inventory

Food Waste Composition
Team REFUSE first performed sugar and starch assays on food waste from an on-campus cafeteria to determine its composition. The testing of the Chartwells food waste indicated the waste contained approximately 10% sugar and 25-30% starch co...

Zinc-based electrolyte compositions, and related electrochemical processes and articles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kniajanski, Sergei; Soloveichik, Grigorii Lev

An aqueous electrolyte composition is described, including a zinc salt based on zinc acetate or zinc glocolate. The saturation concentration of zinc in the electrolyte composition is in the range of about 2.5M to about 3.5M. The composition also contains at least one salt of a monovalent cation. The molar ratio of zinc to the monovalent cation is about 1:2. An aqueous zinc electroplating bath, containing the aqueous electrolyte composition, is also disclosed, along with a method for the electrochemical deposition of zinc onto a substrate surface, using the electroplating bath. Related flow batteries are also described, including a catholyte,more » as well as an anolyte based on the aqueous electrolyte composition, with a membrane between the catholyte and the anolyte.« less

TiO2 activity enhancement through synergistic effect of photons localization of photonic crystals and the sensitization of CdS quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Ping; Wang, Yuan; Wang, Ai-Jun; Chen, Sheng-Li

2017-02-01

In this work, the enhancement of TiO2 photocatalytic activity was studied through synergistic effect of the photons localization of photonic crystals and the sensitization of CdS quantum dots (CdS QDs). CdS QDs sensitized TiO2 membrane (denoted as CdS QDs/TiO2) was synthesized through doping the TiO2 membrane with CdS QDs by chemical bath deposition method (CBD). After TiO2 was sensitized with CdS QDs, the edge of light absorption of TiO2 was red-shifted to 470 nm and the light absorption in the range of 400 600 nm was higher than that of plain TiO2 membrane. Another type of composite membrane, CdS QDs/TiO2/SiO2 opal composite membrane was prepared by coupling SiO2 opal (a kind of photonic crystal) layer onto the CdS QDs/TiO2 membrane, and the photonic band gap of the SiO2 opal photonic crystal layer was deliberately planned at the electronic band gap of the CdS QDs. The photodegradation of gaseous CH3CHO (acetaldehyde) was used as probe reaction to test the photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared membranes, and the results showed that the CdS QDs sensitization can significantly improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 membrane under visible light irradiation, with the acetaldehyde degradation rate constant (k) on CdS QDs/TiO2 membranes being 1.59 times of that on plain TiO2 membranes. The acetaldehyde degradation rate constant on CdS QDs/TiO2/SiO2 opal composite membrane reached 4 times of that on plain TiO2 membrane. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 membrane can be improved through synergistic effect of the photons localization of photonic crystals and the sensitization of CdS QDs.

Water free proton conducting membranes based on poly-4-vinylpyridinebisulfate for fuel cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Narayanan, Sekharipuram R. (Inventor); Yen, Shiao-Pin S. (Inventor)

2007-01-01

Disclosed are methods for forming a water-free electrolyte membrane useful in fuel cells. Also provided is a water-free electrolyte membrane comprising a quaternized amine salt including poly-4-vinylpyridinebisulfate, a poly-4-vinylpyridinebisulfate silica composite, and a combination thereof and a fuel cell comprising the membrane.

Triclosan-immobilized polyamide thin film composite membranes with enhanced biofouling resistance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Sang-Hee; Hwang, Seon Oh; Kim, Taek-Seung; Cho, Arah; Kwon, Soon Jin; Kim, Kyoung Taek; Park, Hee-Deung; Lee, Jung-Hyun

2018-06-01

We report on a strategy to improve biofouling resistance of a polyamide (PA) thin-film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane via chemically immobilizing triclosan (TC), known as a common organic biocide, on its surface. To facilitate covalent attachment of TC on the membrane surface, TC was functionalized with amine moiety to prepare aminopropyl TC. Then, the TC-immobilized TFC (TFC-TC) membranes were fabricated through a one-step amide formation reaction between amine groups of aminopropyl TC and acyl chloride groups present on the PA membrane surface, which was confirmed by high-resolution XPS. Strong stability of the immobilized TC was also confirmed by a hydraulic washing test. Although the TFC-TC membrane showed slightly reduced separation performance compared to the pristine control, it still maintained a satisfactory RO performance level. Importantly, the TFC-TC membrane exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against both gram negative (E. coli and P. aeruginosa) and gram positive (S. aureus) bacteria along with greatly enhanced resistance to biofilm formation. Our immobilization approach offers a robust and relatively benign strategy to control biofouling of functional surfaces, films and membranes.

Performance of a composite membrane bioreactor treating toluene vapors: inocula selection, reactor performance and behavior under transient conditions.

PubMed

Kumar, Amit; Dewulf, Jo; Vercruyssen, Aline; Van Langenhove, Herman

2009-04-01

In this study, a membrane biofilm reactor performance for toluene as a model pollutant is presented. A composite membrane consisting of a porous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) support layer coated with a very thin (0.3 microm) dense polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) top layer was used. Batch experiments were performed to select an appropriate inocula (slaughterhouse wastewater treatment sludge with a specific toluene consumption rate of 118+/-23 microg g(-1) VSS L(-1)) among the three available sources of inoculums. The maximum elimination capacity gas-side reactor volume based (EC)v and membrane based (EC)(m, max) obtained were 609 g m(-3) h(-1) and 1.2 g m(-2) h(-1) respectively, which is much higher than other membrane bioreactors. Further experiments involved the study of the membrane biofilm reactor flexibility when operational parameters as temperature, loading rate etc. were modified. In all cases, the membrane biofilm reactor showed a rapid adaptation and new steady-states were obtained within hours. Overall, the results illustrate that membrane bioreactors can potentially be a good option for treatment of air pollutants such as toluene.

Efficient replacement of plasma membrane outer leaflet phospholipids and sphingolipids in cells with exogenous lipids

PubMed Central

Kim, JiHyun; Huang, Zhen; St. Clair, Johnna R.; Brown, Deborah A.; London, Erwin

2016-01-01

Our understanding of membranes and membrane lipid function has lagged far behind that of nucleic acids and proteins, largely because it is difficult to manipulate cellular membrane lipid composition. To help solve this problem, we show that methyl-α-cyclodextrin (MαCD)-catalyzed lipid exchange can be used to maximally replace the sphingolipids and phospholipids in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane of living mammalian cells with exogenous lipids, including unnatural lipids. In addition, lipid exchange experiments revealed that 70–80% of cell sphingomyelin resided in the plasma membrane outer leaflet; the asymmetry of metabolically active cells was similar to that previously defined for erythrocytes, as judged by outer leaflet lipid composition; and plasma membrane outer leaflet phosphatidylcholine had a significantly lower level of unsaturation than phosphatidylcholine in the remainder of the cell. The data also provided a rough estimate for the total cellular lipids residing in the plasma membrane (about half). In addition to such lipidomics applications, the exchange method should have wide potential for investigations of lipid function and modification of cellular behavior by modification of lipids. PMID:27872310

Efficient replacement of plasma membrane outer leaflet phospholipids and sphingolipids in cells with exogenous lipids.

PubMed

Li, Guangtao; Kim, JiHyun; Huang, Zhen; St Clair, Johnna R; Brown, Deborah A; London, Erwin

2016-12-06

Our understanding of membranes and membrane lipid function has lagged far behind that of nucleic acids and proteins, largely because it is difficult to manipulate cellular membrane lipid composition. To help solve this problem, we show that methyl-α-cyclodextrin (MαCD)-catalyzed lipid exchange can be used to maximally replace the sphingolipids and phospholipids in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane of living mammalian cells with exogenous lipids, including unnatural lipids. In addition, lipid exchange experiments revealed that 70-80% of cell sphingomyelin resided in the plasma membrane outer leaflet; the asymmetry of metabolically active cells was similar to that previously defined for erythrocytes, as judged by outer leaflet lipid composition; and plasma membrane outer leaflet phosphatidylcholine had a significantly lower level of unsaturation than phosphatidylcholine in the remainder of the cell. The data also provided a rough estimate for the total cellular lipids residing in the plasma membrane (about half). In addition to such lipidomics applications, the exchange method should have wide potential for investigations of lipid function and modification of cellular behavior by modification of lipids.

Precursor polymer compositions comprising polybenzimidazole

DOEpatents

Klaehn, John R.; Peterson, Eric S.; Orme, Christopher J.

2015-07-14

Stable, high performance polymer compositions including polybenzimidazole (PBI) and a melamine-formaldehyde polymer, such as methylated, poly(melamine-co-formaldehyde), for forming structures such as films, fibers and bulky structures. The polymer compositions may be formed by combining polybenzimidazole with the melamine-formaldehyde polymer to form a precursor. The polybenzimidazole may be reacted and/or intertwined with the melamine-formaldehyde polymer to form the polymer composition. For example, a stable, free-standing film having a thickness of, for example, between about 5 .mu.m and about 30 .mu.m may be formed from the polymer composition. Such films may be used as gas separation membranes and may be submerged into water for extended periods without crazing and cracking. The polymer composition may also be used as a coating on substrates, such as metal and ceramics, or may be used for spinning fibers. Precursors for forming such polymer compositions are also disclosed.

Polymer compositions, polymer films and methods and precursors for forming same

DOEpatents

Klaehn, John R; Peterson, Eric S; Orme, Christopher J

2013-09-24

Stable, high performance polymer compositions including polybenzimidazole (PBI) and a melamine-formaldehyde polymer, such as methylated, poly(melamine-co-formaldehyde), for forming structures such as films, fibers and bulky structures. The polymer compositions may be formed by combining polybenzimidazole with the melamine-formaldehyde polymer to form a precursor. The polybenzimidazole may be reacted and/or intertwined with the melamine-formaldehyde polymer to form the polymer composition. For example, a stable, free-standing film having a thickness of, for example, between about 5 .mu.m and about 30 .mu.m may be formed from the polymer composition. Such films may be used as gas separation membranes and may be submerged into water for extended periods without crazing and cracking. The polymer composition may also be used as a coating on substrates, such as metal and ceramics, or may be used for spinning fibers. Precursors for forming such polymer compositions are also disclosed.

Heatable carbon nanotube composite membranes for sustainable recovery from biofouling

EPA Science Inventory

Membrane filtration is one of the most reliable methods for water and wastewater treatment, however wider application is limited due to biofouling caused by the accumulation of microorganisms on the membrane’s surface. Here we report a water filtration membrane with self-cl...

Cell-autonomous defense, re-organization and trafficking of membranes in plant-microbe interactions.

PubMed

Dörmann, Peter; Kim, Hyeran; Ott, Thomas; Schulze-Lefert, Paul; Trujillo, Marco; Wewer, Vera; Hückelhoven, Ralph

2014-12-01

Plant cells dynamically change their architecture and molecular composition following encounters with beneficial or parasitic microbes, a process referred to as host cell reprogramming. Cell-autonomous defense reactions are typically polarized to the plant cell periphery underneath microbial contact sites, including de novo cell wall biosynthesis. Alternatively, host cell reprogramming converges in the biogenesis of membrane-enveloped compartments for accommodation of beneficial bacteria or invasive infection structures of filamentous microbes. Recent advances have revealed that, in response to microbial encounters, plasma membrane symmetry is broken, membrane tethering and SNARE complexes are recruited, lipid composition changes and plasma membrane-to-cytoskeleton signaling is activated, either for pre-invasive defense or for microbial entry. We provide a critical appraisal on recent studies with a focus on how plant cells re-structure membranes and the associated cytoskeleton in interactions with microbial pathogens, nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and mycorrhiza fungi. © 2014 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2014 New Phytologist Trust.

Ca2+-induced phase separation in black lipid membranes and its effect on the transport of a hydrophobic ion.

PubMed

Miller, A; Schmidt, G; Eibl, H; Knoll, W

1985-03-14

Voltage jump-current relaxation studies have been performed with dipicrylamine-doped black membranes of binary lipid mixtures. As in the case of the carrier-mediated ion transport (Schmidt, G., Eibl, H. and Knoll, W. (1982) J. Membrane Biol. 70, 147-155) no evidence was found that the neutral lipid phosphatidylcholine (DPMPC) and the charged phosphatidic acid (DPMPA) are heterogeneously distributed in the membrane over the whole range of composition. However, besides a continuous dilution of the surface charges of DPMPA by the addition of DPMPC molecules, different structural properties of mixed membranes influence the kinetics of the dipicrylamine transport. The addition of Ca2+ to the electrolyte induces a lipid phase separation within the membrane into two fluid phases of distinctly different characteristics of the translocation of hydrophobic ions. Thus, it is possible to determine a preliminary composition phase diagram for the DPMPA/DPMPC mixtures as a function of the Ca2+ concentration.

A Layer Model of Ethanol Partitioning into Lipid Membranes

PubMed Central

Nizza, David T.; Gawrisch, Klaus

2013-01-01

The effect of membrane composition on ethanol partitioning into lipid bilayers was assessed by headspace gas chromatography. A series of model membranes with different compositions have been investigated. Membranes were exposed to a physiological ethanol concentration of 20 mmol/l. The concentration of membranes was 20 wt% which roughly corresponds to values found in tissue. Partitioning depended on the chemical nature of polar groups at the lipid-water interface. Compared to phosphatidylcholine, lipids with headgroups containing phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, and sphingomyelin showed enhanced partitioning while headgroups containing phosphatidylethanolamine resulted in a lower partition coefficient. The molar partition coefficient was independent of a membrane’s hydrophobic volume. This observation is in agreement with our previously published NMR results which showed that ethanol resides almost exclusively within the membrane-water interface. At an ethanol concentration of 20 mmol/l in water, ethanol concentrations at the lipid/water interface are in the range from 30 – 15 mmol/l, corresponding to one ethanol molecule per 100–200 lipids. PMID:19592710

Conversion of hydrophilic SiOC nanofibrous membrane to robust hydrophobic materials by introducing palladium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Nan; Wan, Lynn Yuqin; Wang, Yingde; Ko, Frank

2017-12-01

Hydrophobic ceramic nanofibrous membranes have wide applications in the fields of high-temperature filters, oil/water separators, catalyst supports and membrane reactors, for their water repellency property, self-cleaning capability, good environmental stability and long life span. In this work, we fabricated an inherently hydrophobic ceramic nanofiber membrane without any surface modification through pyrolysis of electrospun polycarbosilane nanofibers. The hydrophobicity was introduced by the hierarchical microstructure formed on the surface of the nanofibers and the special surface composition by the addition of trace amounts of palladium. Furthermore, the flexible ceramic mats demonstrated robust chemical resistance properties with consistent hydrophobicity over the entire pH value range and effective water-in-oil emulsion separation performance. Interestingly, a highly cohesive force was found between water droplet and the ceramic membranes, suggesting their great potentials in micro-liquid transportation. This work provides a new route for adjusting the composition of ceramic surface and flexible, recyclable and multifunctional ceramic fibrous membranes for utilization in harsh environments.

Microbial Adhesion and Biofilm Formation on Microfiltration Membranes: A Detailed Characterization Using Model Organisms with Increasing Complexity

PubMed Central

Vanysacker, L.; Denis, C.; Declerck, P.; Piasecka, A.; Vankelecom, I. F. J.

2013-01-01

Since many years, membrane biofouling has been described as the Achilles heel of membrane fouling. In the present study, an ecological assay was performed using model systems with increasing complexity: a monospecies assay using Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Escherichia coli separately, a duospecies assay using both microorganisms, and a multispecies assay using activated sludge with or without spiked P. aeruginosa. The microbial adhesion and biofilm formation were evaluated in terms of bacterial cell densities, species richness, and bacterial community composition on polyvinyldifluoride, polyethylene, and polysulfone membranes. The data show that biofouling formation was strongly influenced by the kind of microorganism, the interactions between the organisms, and the changes in environmental conditions whereas the membrane effect was less important. The findings obtained in this study suggest that more knowledge in species composition and microbial interactions is needed in order to understand the complex biofouling process. This is the first report describing the microbial interactions with a membrane during the biofouling development. PMID:23986906

Polymer electrolytes based on sulfonated polysulfone for direct methanol fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lufrano, F.; Baglio, V.; Staiti, P.; Arico', A. S.; Antonucci, V.

This paper reports the development and characterization of sulfonated polysulfone (SPSf) polymer electrolytes for direct methanol fuel cells. The synthesis of sulfonated polysulfone was performed by a post sulfonation method using trimethyl silyl chlorosulfonate as a mild sulfonating agent. Bare polysulfone membranes were prepared with two different sulfonation levels (60%, SPSf-60 and 70%, SPSf-70), whereas, a composite membrane of SPSf-60 was prepared with 5 wt% silica filler. These membranes were investigated in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) operating at low (30-40 °C) and high temperatures (100-120 °C). DMFC power densities were about 140 mW cm -2 at 100 °C with the bare SPSf-60 membrane and 180 mW cm -2 at 120 °C with the SPSf-60-SiO2 composite membrane. The best performance achieved at ambient temperature using a membrane with high degree of sulfonation (70%, SPSf-70) was 20 mW cm -2 at atmospheric pressure. This makes the polysulfone-based DMFC suitable for application in portable devices.

Effect of crumb-rubber particle size on mechanical response of polyurethane foam composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanjay, Omer Sheik

The compression properties of foam are governed by by three factors: i) cell edge bending ii) compression of cell fluid iii) membrane stresses in the cell faces. The effect of reinforcement, granular form of scrap tire rubber on contribution of each of these effects along with the physical properties of polyurethane foam is investigated. It is seen that the addition of crumb-rubber hinders the formation of cell membranes during the foaming process. Four different sizes of particles were chosen to closely study the effect of particle size on the physical properties of the foam composite. There is a definite pattern seen in each of the physical property of the composite with change in the particle size. Addition of crumb-rubber decreases the compressive strength but in turn increases the elastic modulus of the composite. The rubber particles act as the sites for stress concentration and hence the inclusion of rubber particles induces the capability to transfer the axial load laterally along the surface of the foam. Also, the filler material induces porosity into the foam, which is seen in the SEM images, and hence the addition of rubber particles induces brittleness, which makes the foam composites extensively applicable for structural application in sandwich components. The lightweight composite therefore is a potential substitute to the heavier metal foams and honeycombs as a protective layer.

Distinct membrane properties are differentially influenced by cardiolipin content and acyl chain composition in biomimetic membranes.

PubMed

Pennington, Edward Ross; Fix, Amy; Sullivan, E Madison; Brown, David A; Kennedy, Anthony; Shaikh, Saame Raza

2017-02-01

Cardiolipin (CL) has a critical role in maintaining mitochondrial inner membrane structure. In several conditions such as heart failure and aging, there is loss of CL content and remodeling of CL acyl chains, which are hypothesized to impair mitochondrial inner membrane biophysical organization. Therefore, this study discriminated how CL content and acyl chain composition influenced select properties of simple and complex mitochondrial mimicking model membranes. We focused on monolayer excess area/molecule (a measure of lipid miscibility), bilayer phase transitions, and microdomain organization. In monolayer compression studies, loss of tetralinoleoyl [(18:2) 4 ] CL content decreased the excess area/molecule. Replacement of (18:2) 4 CL acyl chains with tetraoleoyl [(18:1) 4 ] CL or tetradocosahexaenoyl [(22:6) 4 ] CL generally had little influence on monolayer excess area/molecule; in contrast, replacement of (18:2) 4 CL acyl chains with tetramyristoyl [(14:0) 4 ] CL increased monolayer excess area/molecule. In bilayers, calorimetric studies showed that substitution of (18:2) 4 CL with (18:1) 4 CL or (22:6) 4 CL lowered the phase transition temperature of phosphatidylcholine vesicles whereas (14:0) 4 CL had no effect. Finally, quantitative imaging of giant unilamellar vesicles revealed differential effects of CL content and acyl chain composition on microdomain organization, visualized with the fluorescent probe Texas Red DHPE. Notably, microdomain areas were decreased by differing magnitudes upon lowering of (18:2) 4 CL content and substitution of (18:2) 4 CL with (14:0) 4 CL or (22:6) 4 CL. Conversely, exchanging (18:2) 4 CL with (18:1) 4 CL increased microdomain area. Altogether, these data demonstrate that CL content and fatty acyl composition differentially target membrane physical properties, which has implications for understanding how CL regulates mitochondrial activity and the design of CL-specific therapeutics. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Property Enhancement Effects of Side-Chain-Type Naphthalene-Based Sulfonated Poly(arylene ether ketone) on Nafion Composite Membranes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells.

PubMed

Wang, Baolong; Hong, Lihua; Li, Yunfeng; Zhao, Liang; Zhao, Chengji; Na, Hui

2017-09-20

Nafion/SNPAEK-x composite membranes were prepared by blending raw Nafion and synthesized side-chain-type naphthalene-based sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone) with a sulfonation degree of 1.35 (SNPAEK-1.35). The incorporation of SNPAEK-1.35 polymer with ion exchange capacity (IEC) of 2.01 mequiv·g -1 into a Nafion matrix has the property enhancement effects, such as increasing IECs, improving proton conductivity, enhancing mechanical properties, reducing methanol crossover, and improving single cell performance of Nafion. Morphology studies show that Nafion/SNPAEK-x composite membranes exhibit a well-defined microphase separation structure depending on the contents of SNPAEK-1.35 polymer. Among them, Nafion/SNPAEK-7.5% with a bicontinuous morphology exhibits the best comprehensive properties. For example, it shows the highest proton conductivities of 0.092 S cm -1 at 25 °C and 0.163 S cm -1 at 80 °C, which are higher than those of recast Nafion with 0.073 S cm -1 at 25 °C and 0.133 S cm -1 at 80 °C, respectively. Nafion/SNPAEK-5.0% and Nafion/SNPAEK-7.5% membranes display an open circuit voltage of 0.77 V and a maximum power density of 47 mW cm -2 at 80 °C, which are much higher than those of recast Nafion of 0.63 V and 24 mW cm -2 under the same conditions. Nafion/SNPAEK-5.0% membrane also has comparable tensile strength (12.7 MPa) to recast Nafion (13.7 MPa), and higher Young's modulus (330 MPa) than that of recast Nafion (240 MPa). By combining their high proton conductivities, comparable mechanical properties, and good single cell performance, Nafion/SNPAEK-x composite membranes have the potential to be polymer electrolyte materials for direct methanol fuel cell applications.

The membrane pacemaker hypothesis: novel tests during the ontogeny of endothermy.

PubMed

Price, Edwin R; Sirsat, Tushar S; Sirsat, Sarah K G; Curran, Thomas; Venables, Barney J; Dzialowski, Edward M

2018-03-29

The 'membrane pacemaker' hypothesis proposes a biochemical explanation for among-species variation in resting metabolism, based on the positive correlation between membrane docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and metabolic rate. We tested this hypothesis using a novel model, altricial red-winged blackbird nestlings, predicting that the proportion of DHA in muscle and liver membranes should increase with the increasing metabolic rate of the nestling as it develops endothermy. We also used a dietary manipulation, supplementing the natural diet with fish oil (high DHA) or sunflower oil (high linoleic acid) to alter membrane composition and then assessed metabolic rate. In support of the membrane pacemaker hypothesis, DHA proportions increased in membranes from pectoralis muscle, muscle mitochondria and liver during post-hatch development. By contrast, elevated dietary DHA had no effect on resting metabolic rate, despite causing significant changes to membrane lipid composition. During cold challenges, higher metabolic rates were achieved by birds that had lower DHA and higher linoleic acid in membrane phospholipids. Given the mixed support for this hypothesis, we conclude that correlations between membrane DHA and metabolic rate are likely spurious, and should be attributed to a still-unidentified confounding variable. © 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Novel structure design of composite proton exchange membranes with continuous and through-membrane proton-conducting channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hang; Tang, Chenxiao; Zhuang, Xupin; Cheng, Bowen; Wang, Wei; Kang, Weimin; Li, Hongjun

2017-10-01

The primary goal of this study is to develop a high-performanced proton exchange membrane with the characteristics of through-membrane and continuous solution blown nanofibers as proton-conducting channels. The curled sulfonated phenolphthalein poly (ether sulfone) and poly (vinylidene fluoride) nanofibers were separately fabricated through the solution blowing process which is a new nanofiber fabricating method with high productivity, then they were fabricated into a sandwich-structured mat. Then this sandwich-structured mat was hot-pressed to form the designed structure using different melting temperatures of the two polymers by melting and making poly (vinylidene fluoride) flow into the phenolphthalein poly (ether sulfone) nanofiber mat. The characteristics of the composite membrane, such as morphology and performance of the membrane, were investigated. The characterization results proved the successful preparation of the membrane structure. Performance results showed that the novel structured membrane with through-membrane nanofibers significantly improved water swelling and methanol permeability, though its conductivity is lower than that of Nafion, the cell performance showed comparable results. Therefore, the novel structure design can be considered as a promising method for preparing of proton exchange membranes.

Research into topology optimization and the FDM method for a space cracked membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Qingxi; Li, Wanyuan; Zhang, Haiguang; Liu, Dali; Peng, Fujun; Duan, Yongchao

2017-07-01

The problem that the space membranes are easily torn open is the main focus in this paper, and a bionic strengthening-ribs structure is proposed for a space membrane based on interdisciplinary strengths, such as topology optimization, composite materials, and rapid prototyping. The optimization method and modeling method of membranes with bionic strengthening-ribs was studied. The PEEK and SCF/PEEK composite material which are applied to the space environment are chosen, and FDM technology is used. Through topology optimization, bionic strengthening-ribs with good tensile and tear capacities were obtained. Cracked membranes, cracked membranes with PEEK strengthening-ribs and SCF/PEEK strengthening-ribs were tested and test data were obtained. An extension situation and tension fracture were compared for three cases. The experimental results showed that membranes with the bionic strengthening-ribs structure have better mechanical properties, and the strength of the membranes with PEEK and SCF/PEEK strengthening-ribs were raised, respectively, up to 266.9% and 185.9%. The strengthening-ribs structure greatly improves the capacity to halt membrane crack-growth, which has an important significance to avoid membrane tear, and to ensure the spacecraft orbital lifetime.

COMPOSITION OF CELLULAR MEMBRANES IN THE PANCREAS OF THE GUINEA PIG

PubMed Central

Meldolesi, J.; Jamieson, J. D.; Palade, G. E.

1971-01-01

The lipid composition of rough and smooth microsomal membranes, zymogen granule membranes, and a plasmalemmal fraction from the guinea pig pancreatic exocrine cell has been determined. As a group, membranes of the smooth variety (i.e., smooth microsomes, zymogen granule membranes, and the plasmalemma) were similar in their content of phospholipids, cholesterol and neutral lipids, and in the ratio of total lipids to membrane proteins. In contrast, rough microsomal membranes contained much less sphingomyelin and cholesterol and possessed a smaller lipid/protein ratio. All membrane fractions were unusually high in their content of lysolecithin (up to ∼20% of the total phospholipids) and of neutral lipids, especially fatty acids. The lysolecithin content was shown to be due to the hydrolysis of membrane lecithin by pancreatic lipase; the fatty acids, liberated by the action of lipase on endogenous triglyceride stores, are apparently scavenged by the membranes from the suspending media. Similar artifactually high levels of lysolecithin and fatty acids were noted in hepatic microsomes incubated with pancreatic postmicrosomal supernatant. E 600, an inhibitor of lipase, largely prevented the appearance of lysolecithin and fatty acids in pancreatic microsomes and in liver microsomes treated with pancreatic supernatant. PMID:5555573