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Ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) was used to extract polysaccharides from black garlic, and the extraction process for UAE of black garlic polysaccharides (BGPs) was optimized via RSM coupled with genetic algorithm. The optimal extraction process parameters were obtained as follows: extraction time of 30 min, liquid‐to‐solid ratio of 29 mL/g, extraction temperature of 51 ℃, and ultrasound power of 418 W, and the yield of BGPs was 10.17% ± 0.14%. Subsequently, the crude BGPs were further purified by DEAE‐52 cellulose and Sephadex G‐100 to obtain a homogeneous fraction (BGPs‐1‐SG with the molecular weight of 1.37 × 106 Da) that was comprised of mannose (Man), glucuronic acid (GlcA), rhamnose (Rha), glucose (Glc), and fucose (Fuc) with a molar ratio of 40.23:71.06:2.96:85.38:7.32. Congo red and circular dichroism spectroscopy indicate that BGPs‐1‐SG has a triple helix structure. Scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope demonstrate that BGPs‐1‐SG showed irregular structures including sheet‐like, rod‐shaped, irregular spherical structures, and aggregated in aqueous solutions. Moreover, BGPs‐1‐SG could increase viability, phagocytic rate, and NO content of RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, BGPs‐1‐SG could promote the secretion and mRNA expression levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α. The findings can provide an important reference for the development of functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygalacturonases (PG) are the enzymes that cause depolymerization of pectin. In current study, bacterial strain was isolated from rotten sample and then purified. It was screened for endo-polygalacturonase activity using PSAM media. It had shown positive response for endo-PG activity. Bacterial DNA was isolated and 16 S rRNA gene amplification was done using universal primer pair of 8 F and 1492 R. Bacterial strain was also amplified by 16 S rRNA gene for sequencing. BLAST of gene sequence on NCBI database had shown that bacterial isolate was identified as Bacillus pumilus. Endo-polygalacturonase enzyme was produced by submerged fermentation to optimize culture conditions by RSM in JMP-12 software. The optimized parameters had shown maximum endo-polygalacturonase activity of 153.2 U/mL/min after using 3 g of orange peels as substrate, 3 mL of inoculum size, 6.5 pH buffer, 40°C temperature and 3 days of incubation. After optimizing fermentation conditions, endo-polygalacturonase was precipitated using 70 % concentration of ammonium sulfate. This partially precipitated sample was dialyzed with dialysis tube and used to find activity of endo-polygalacturonase (1620.6 U/mL/min). This sample was applied to gel filtration chromatography for further purification. Endo-polygalacturonase activity increased many times 2231.44 U/mL/min after gel filtration. The Molecular weight of endo-polygalacturonase was 46 kDa after SDS PAGE characterization. High Vmax value and alkaliphilic nature of endo-polygalacturonase will make it good candidate for food and feed industry near future. [Display omitted] • A bacterial strain was isolated from rotten sample. • Bacillus pumilus was identified through 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. • Maximum enzyme activity of 153.2 U/mL/min was achieved under optimized conditions. • The characterized endo-polygalacturonase has great potential in industrial applications. • Polygalacturonase had shown maximum activity after column chromatography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) is a powerful mitogen used in medical treatment and cosmetics. However, the recovery of hEGF from natural sources is insufficient to meet market demands, thus recombinant protein production technology for recombinant hEGF (rhEGF) was developed. Among the heterologous expression systems used for rhEGF production, Escherichia coli is preferred due to its well-established advantages. In this review, we focus on the development of two rhEGF expression strategies (soluble rhEGF and rhEGF inclusion bodies), and discuss the design of fusion rhEGF protein and its cultivation strategies. We also explore downstream processes for rhEGF isolation and purification methods (with or without a column chromatography system), and the recovery of rhEGF from inclusion bodies through solubilisation and refolding. Lastly, methods of quantification, characterisation, and biological activity assays used to quantify and validate purified rhEGF are also listed. [Display omitted] • Recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) is used for ulcer treatment and cosmetic applications. • rhEGF can be produced via soluble or insoluble (inclusion bodies) protein strategies. • Exploration on differences in fusion protein, cultivation conditions and purification for both rhEGF production strategies. • Method of analysis of produced rhEGF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laccases are enzymes that catalyse oxidation of various aromatic compounds, with potential industrial and environmental applications. Here, a novel laccase, Cb Laccase, was purified to homogeneity from the medicinal wild mushroom Coriolus brevis using standard chromatographic procedures. The overall yield was approximately 11 %. Gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that Cb Laccase is a monomer with a molecular mass of 51 kDa. The optimal reaction pH with 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as a substrate was low (pH 2.5), and the optimal reaction temperature was relatively high (70 °C). The enzyme exhibited very low K m (0.02 mM) and high catalytic efficiency (7.2 × 106) with syringaldazine, and its substrate specificity followed the order: syringaldazine > o -dianisidine > 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) > 2,6-dimethoxyphenol > catechol. Addition of 1 mM Cu2+ enhanced the enzymatic activity, whereas dithiothreitol, sodium azide, and diethyldithiocarbamic acid significantly inhibited it. The enzyme was highly stable at high temperatures, over a wide range of pH values, and in the presence of various detergents. These findings suggest that Cb Laccase is distinct from laccases previously purified from other sources and may be useful for the degradation of environmental pollutants. [Display omitted] • Cb Laccase was purified from Coriolus brevis and then characterized. • It was a 51-kDa monomeric enzyme with varying specificities across substrates. • It was stable at high temperatures, over a wide pH range, and in detergents. • It could potentially be applicable in environmental pollutant degradation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipopeptides have favorable biological activity and thus have great potential to serve as replacements. Whole genome sequencing was used in this work to pinpoint the gene clusters in Bacillus subtilis that code for secondary metabolites that have antibacterial qualities. Afterwards, the metabolic pathways responsible for the production of these compounds were clarified, and the lipopeptides were separated and identified using a combination of chromatography and spectroscopy methods, such as High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). Bacillus subtilis mainly synthesized surfactin homologs with carbon chain lengths ranging from C13 to C16 ([M+H]+: 994.6418; 1008.6586; 1022.6730; 1036.6896) and fengycin homologs with carbon chain lengths of C15 and C16 ([M+H]+: 1449.7937, 1463.8046). The isolated lipopeptides exhibited strong inhibitory effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus , with minimum inhibitory doses of 12.50 mg/L and 6.25 mg/L, respectively. Furthermore, lipopeptides demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of E. coli and S. aureus. The findings from SEM and SYTO 9/PI staining demonstrate that lipopeptides function by compromising the integrity of bacterial cell membranes. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of lipopeptides as antibacterial agents against foodborne pathogens, indicating their potential as substitutes for traditional antibiotics. [Display omitted] • Lipopeptides in the secondary metabolites of B. subtilis was predicted by WGS. • Different lipopeptides families were obtained by characterization. • Lipopeptides have antibacterial activity against E. coli and S.aureus. • Lipopeptides has the potential to work as a new type of antibacterial agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reveals the tactic of purification as a form of neo-colonial marginalisation present in contemporary development strategies on Indigenous lands. The research is based on my fieldwork study of exclusive tactics in a contemporary development conflict on Indigenous lands: the Arctic Railway project in Sápmi, in Northern Europe. The tactic of purification works through the selective use of opposites in excluding Indigeneity. On the one hand, 'pure' Indigeneity is an excuse for proponents of extractive development projects to exclude Indigenous knowledge and identities as 'too Indigenous' according to modern standards, denouncing them as 'backward', 'only culture', 'not profitable', or 'without knowledge'. Yet, simultaneously, a resemblance to profitable livelihood practices, beyond culture, the use of several knowledge systems, and multi-ethnicity in communities, is deemed 'too modern', therefore 'not pure enough', thus invalidating Indigeneity. Building on classification systems introduced during colonialism, settler societies employ purification as a tactic to deny Indigenous peoples their right to decolonisation projects, and strengthen their control of Indigenous lands. The purification tactic thereby enables the expansion of the modern-colonial capitalist world order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocellulose has become a vital material with excellent and crucial properties in the field of nanotechnology and advanced materials science. Plant-based traditional Chinese medicines are mostly plant rhizomes, which contain a large amount of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. In this study, carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were prepared from traditional Chinese medicine residues (CMR) by sequential periodate-chlorite oxidation without mechanical treatment. The obtained nanocelluloses were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD); the carboxyl content and specific surface area were also measured, simultaneously. XRD results revealed that the crystallinity index decreased after sequential oxidation; however, the cellulose I structure was maintained. From the morphology analysis, the average length and width of CNCs were 139.3 and 10 nm, respectively. From the FTIR analysis, with the particle size decreasing, hydrogen bonds were broken and recombined. TGA results showed that the thermal property was decreased with a reduction of nanocellulose particle size and crystallinity index. This study is the first to refine utilization of traditional Chinese medicine residues as a potential source of cellulose, that is, to prepare nanocellulose efficiently with high carboxyl content which finds its application in nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nonferrous Metals (Extractive Metallurgy) is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The combined argon plasma melting and directional solidification method (denoted as APDS) was innovatively proposed to enhance the purification efficiency of Tb metal in this work. Theoretical computation and experimental analysis were used to explore the removal behavior of the three impurity groups during APDS, which included high volatility impurities of Ca, Mg, Mn and Cr, medium volatility impurity of Ti, and low volatility impurities of Al and Ni. The evaporation removal ratio of Ca and Mg after APDS process exceeds 99.9%, indicating that Ca and Mg are mainly removed by vacuum volatilization. Mn, Cr, Ti, Ni, and Al had evaporative removal ratios of 49%, 37%, 1.3%, 7%, and 14%, respectively. And the contents of these impurities increases with the increase of solidification fraction. It was shown that Mn and Cr were removed by the combined action of volatilization and directional solidification, and Ti, Ni and Al were primarily removed by the directional solidification. By using the innovative combination approach, the impurities in Tb were removed simultaneously and effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In this study, the polysaccharides isolated from Matthiola longipetala (PSMT) purified by DEAE-Sepharose chromatography. Two fractions of polysaccharides, PSMT1 and PSMT2 were obtained. Methods: The PSMT1 and PSMT2 structures and physicochemical properties were investigated using chemical and instrumental analysis, including Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, spectrum visible UV, nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (1H-NMR and 13C-NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Results: The results of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-MS) showed that the both purified polysaccharides PSMT1 and PSMT2 were mainly composed of rhamnose, arabinose, glucose and galactose in a molar percent in 39.69%, 29.59%, 8.81% and 21.89%, respectively for PSMT1 and 38.5%, 28.71%,15.1% and 17.676%, respectively for PSMT2. The data of thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated that PSMT1 and PSMT2 had relatively high thermal stability. The result of gel permeation chromatography (GPC) showed that PSMT1 and PSMT2 had a relative molecular weight of 9.779 kDa and 115.004 kDa, respectively. Moreover, the in vitro antioxidant activities of PSMT were evaluated by DPPH free radical assay, ferrous iron–chelating, assay and total antioxidant activity. The experimental results showed that PSMT1 and PSMT2 exhibited an appreciable in vitro antioxidant potential. Conclusion: The obtained results revealed that PSMT1 and PSMT2, polysaccharides purified from Matthiola longipetala could be novel active biomolecules with antioxidant properties, which promoting their application in the food and pharmaceutical fields. Highlights: The polysaccharides isolated from Matthiola longipetala (PSMT) purified by DEAE-Sepharose chromatography. Two fractions of polysaccharides, PSMT1 and PSMT2 were obtained. The both purified polysaccharides PSMT1 and PSMT2 were mainly composed of rhamnose, arabinose, glucose and galactose. PSMT1 and PSMT2 had a relative molecular weight of 9.779 kDa and 115.004 kDa, respectively. PSMT1 and PSMT2 exhibited an appreciable in vitro antioxidant potential. Statement of Novelty: M. longipetala is a plant found in the Tunisian desert, considered non-usable and treated as waste. Given the adverse health effects associated with synthetic antioxidants used in the food and pharmaceutical industries, bioactive molecules of natural origin are now preferred. The present study is the first to focus on the purification of polysaccharides extracted from M. longipetala, with the aim of their use in various fields as natural antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activated protein C (APC), a serine protease produced from zymogen protein C (PC), is the key enzyme of the protein C pathway. APC has anticoagulant, anti‐inflammatory, and cytoprotective features. APC has recently been shown to significantly reduce coagulation as well as mortality in patients with severe sepsis. Herein, we aimed to develop an affinity support material that allows the purification of plasma APC for the first time. In this research, a novel APC‐specific DNA aptamer–based poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐glycidyl methacrylate) (poly(HEMA‐GMA/DNA‐Apt)) macroporous cryogel membrane at different molar ratios was prepared using affinity binding method and their potential for purification and identification of APC was investigated. The DNA aptamer–immobilized cryogels were characterized to examine their structural and morphological properties. The effect of pH, initial concentration, temperature, ionic strength difference, and flow rate changes was examined. Selectivity studies were performed in the presence of APC and competitive proteins, and cryogel support materials were shown to have a very high affinity for APC. Adsorption capacity was found to be 89.02 mg/g. Finally, NaCl revealed efficiency for APC desorption and the reuse of cryogels was successfully tested for ten cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The purification of crude glycerol, a byproduct of biodiesel production and grease trap waste, is essential for its utilization in high‐value applications. Achieving exceptionally pure glycerol without relying on energy‐intensive vacuum distillation during transesterification is of substantial economic interest. RESULTS: This investigation focuses on crafting a purification process involving chemical treatment (neutralization), adsorption and extraction. The assessment of the neutralization process using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) revealed their comparative efficacy. Activated carbon adsorption was used to reduce coloration in crude glycerol, with weights set at 4 and 8 wt%. Efficient salt extraction from crude glycerol was explored using solvents such as methanol, ethanol and isopropyl alcohol in varying mass ratios to crude glycerol (1:1 and 2:1). The study also examined the synergistic effects and impact of mixing alcohol solvents. Optimal conditions for achieving high purity (92.44%) were identified as the combination of KOH, 8 wt% activated carbon and a 2:1 ratio of a mixture of the three alcohols. CONCLUSION: The combined effects of employing a mixture of alcohols significantly enhance the extraction process, resulting in the efficient and successful purification of glycerol. These outcomes offer valuable insights into improving the extraction process in industrial settings, leading to the production of high‐quality glycerol products. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advancements in the utilization of naturally derived nanocellulose and nanochitin/chitosan have opened new avenues for self‐cleaning and purification applications to address environmental challenges. This review highlights the unique structural properties of bio‐based nanofibers, which are typically rich in hydroxyl groups that enhance their functionality in various industrial sectors. Through appropriate chemical modification, they can perform specific functions facilitated by carboxylic acids or amine groups. We explored the mechanisms by which these materials facilitate oil/water separation, ultrafiltration, and self‐cleaning processes, including the incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles, such as TiO2, to improve hydrophilicity and oleophobicity. Furthermore, this review discusses innovative fabrication techniques, such as spray‐assisted layer‐by‐layer assembly, which enhance the performance of nanofiber‐based coatings. We examined the potential of these materials for diverse applications, including food packaging, wastewater treatment, and personal protective equipment, emphasizing their role in promoting sustainable industrial practices. As the global emphasis on eco‐friendly solutions intensifies, continued research and development of nanocellulose and nanochitin is expected to drive significant advancements in materials science, paving the way for greener technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphite has been a critical raw material in recent years due to its high economic importance and high risk of supply disruptions. The traditional source of graphite is natural graphite ores; however, the production of natural graphite ores is controlled by few countries. It is thus important to find an alternative source of graphite, and steelmaking byproducts, such as dust and slag, can be considered because of their high potential for the recovery of kish graphite. The original kish graphite normally has a low carbon content and large amounts of impurities, and purification is necessary before using kish graphite in industry. The purpose of this study was to recover kish graphite from steelmaking dust by combining multi-stage froth flotation and acid leaching processes. The conditions of acid leaching were examined, and physical auxiliary methods (heating, microwave irradiation, and ultrasonication) were studied. After the multi-stage froth flotation process, the carbon content of the kish graphite was approximately 84 wt%, and Fe, Ca, Al, Na, K, Si, and Mg were the major elements of impurities. The acid leaching process was useful for enhancing the carbon content of the kish graphite and removing the impurities, particularly when using HCl and HBF4. However, HCl should be a more appropriate selection for acid leaching when considering the price of acids. The carbon content of the kish graphite reached ~ 95 wt% when using 1.0 N HCl with ≥ 30 min of reaction time and a ≥ 5 L kg−1 liquid-to-solid ratio. The physical auxiliary methods can further increase the carbon content of the kish graphite. The kish graphite purified by heating 1.0 N HCl at 80 °C for 5 min had the highest carbon content of approximately 97 wt%. The purified kish graphite and the natural graphite had similar crystallinity and lamellar structures, but the purified kish graphite had more structural defects. The recovery of kish graphite from steelmaking dust can obtain valuable materials and should have benefits for the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many bioactive compounds are reported from marine organisms, which are significantly different from those found in terrestrial organisms regarding their chemical structures and pharmacological activities. Marine glycoproteins (MGs) have aroused increasing attention as a good nutrient source owing to their potential applications in medicine, cosmetics and food. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive study on MGs to help readers understand the current state of research on marine-derived glycoproteins. The current review compiles the recent progress made on the structures and functions of MGs with future perspectives to maximize their value and applications via bibliometric analysis methods for the first time. The current research on MGs appears mostly limited to the laboratory, with no large-scale production of marine glycoproteins developed. The sugar chains are bound to proteins through covalent bonds that can readily be cleaved leading to difficultly in their separation and purification. Health effects attributed to MGs include treatment of inflammatory diseases, as well as anti-oxidant, immune modulation, anti-tumor, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, anti-bacterial and anti-freeze activities. This review can not only deepen the understanding of the functions of MGs, but also lay an important foundation for the further development and utilization of marine resources. HIGHLIGHTS: Overview on isolation, structural and functional properties of marine glycoproteins (MGs) via bibliometric analysis methods for the first time. Marine glycoproteins (MGs) have various biological activities and potential health applications. glycoproteins from marine organisms (MGs) significantly enhanced anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a method to enrich forsythiaside A (FA) from the ball-milled powder of Forsythia suspensa leaves was established. Forsythiaside A was extracted by heating and stirring, and the extraction process was optimized by response surface methodology using the independent variables of extraction temperature, extraction time, liquid-to-material ratio, ethanol concentration, and pH value of the solution, respectively. Then five types of macroporous resins with different polarities were studied to explain the adsorption mechanism by static adsorption and desorption experiments. Different models were used to study the static adsorption thermodynamics and kinetic process of AB-8 resin on FA extracts, and optimal conditions of the process were optimized. Finally, the antioxidant abilities of purified FA were evaluated. The results showed that the optimum extraction conditions were 2.2 h, 53.4 °C, 45.7 mL/g, 60% ethanol, and pH 6, and the extraction efficiency of forsythiaside A could achieve 120.96 mg/g. The AB-8 macroporous resin was the most suitable resin with high adsorption and desorption rates. It was found that the Temkin model was able to calculate the adsorption parameters accurately. The adsorption kinetic process of the resin was in accordance with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The optimal process conditions were as follows: the optimum loading concentration of 5.83 mg/mL, the loading rate of 1 BV/h, and the loading volume of 7.51 BV; in the desorption process, deionized water was used to remove impurities first, and then, 30% ethanol was used with an elution rate of 1 BV/h. The purity of FA increased from 20.52 to 81.58%. The purified FA exhibited superior scavenging ability for DPPH radicals and ABTS radicals. Cytotoxicity experiments proved that it was safe and nontoxic and was capable of promoting cell growth. In conclusion, the present study provides a theoretical basis for industrially extracting and purifying FA on a reliable basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hazardous synthetic dye wastes have become a growing threat to the environment and public health. Fungal enzymes are eco-friendly, compatible and cost-effective approach for diversity of applications. Therefore, this study aimed to screen, optimize fermentation conditions, and characterize laccase from fungal endophyte with elucidating its ability to decolorize several wastewater dyes. Results: A new fungal endophyte capable of laccase-producing was firstly isolated from cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica and identified as T. harzianum AUMC14897 using ITS-rRNA sequencing analysis. Furthermore, the response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to optimize several fermentation parameters that increase laccase production. The isolated laccase was purified to 13.79-fold. GFC, SDS-PAGE revealed laccase molecular weight at 72 kDa and zymogram analysis elucidated a single band without any isozymes. The peak activity of the pure laccase was detected at 50 °C, pH 4.5, with thermal stability up to 50 °C and half life span for 4 h even after 24 h retained 30% of its activity. The Km and Vmax values were 0.1 mM, 22.22 µmol/min and activation energy (Ea) equal to 5.71 kcal/mol. Furthermore, the purified laccase effectively decolorized various synthetic and real wastewater dyes. Conclusion: Subsequently, the new endophytic strain produces high laccase activity that possesses a unique characteristic, it could be an appealing candidate for both environmental and industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development in hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) that may be used as alternatives to donated blood requires an extensive supply of highly pure hemoglobin (Hb) preparations. Therefore, it is essential to fabricate inexpensive, stable and highly selective absorbents for Hb purification. Molecular imprinting is an attractive technology for preparing such materials for targeted molecular recognition and rapid separations. In this case study, we developed human fetal hemoglobin (HbF)-imprinted polymer beads through the fusion of surface imprinting and Pickering emulsion polymerization. HbF was firstly covalently coupled to silica nanoparticles through its surface-exposed amino groups. The particle-supported HbF molecules were subsequently employed as templates for the synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with high selectivity for Hb. After removing the silica support and HbF, the resulting MIPs underwent equilibrium and kinetic binding experiments with both adult Hb (HbA) and HbF. These surface-imprinted MIPs exhibited excellent selectivity for both HbA and HbF, facilitating the one-step isolation of recombinant Hb from crude biological samples. The saturation capacities of HbA and HbF were found to be 15.4 and 17.1 mg/g polymer, respectively. The present study opens new possibilities for designed resins for tailored protein purification, separation and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are considered a potent source of prebiotics for humans. The global prebiotic market is expanding in size, was valued at USD 6.05 billion in 2021, and is expected to grow at a 14.9% compound annual growth rate between 2022 and 2030, indicating a huge demand. These XOS are non‐digestible pentose sugar oligomers comprising mainly xylose. Xylose is naturally present in the lignocellulosic biomass (LCB), fruits and vegetables. Apart from the prebiotic effect, these XOS have been reported to reduce blood cholesterol, possess antioxidant effects, increase calcium absorption, reduce colon cancer risk, and benefit diabetic patients. The primary use of XOS is reported in the feed industry followed by health, medical use, food and drinks. LCB mainly contains glucan, xylan and lignin. After glucan, xylan is the second‐highest available sugar on the globe composed of xylose. Therefore, the xylan fraction of LCB has great significance in producing food, feed and energy. Glucan has been exploited for the commercial production of ethanol, xylitol, furfural, hydroxymethyl furfural and glucose. As of now, xylan has limited applications. Therefore, xylan can be exploited to convert to XOS. The production of XOS from LCB fraction not only helps to produce these at a very low price, but also helps in the reduction of greenhouse gases. Its use in food and drinks is increasing as it can be derived from the abundantly and cheaply available LCB. The article provides a review on the production, purification and characterization of XOS in view of their use as nutraceuticals. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review explores the research work on diverse cellulase purification approaches. Cellulase is an industrial biocatalyst applied to cellulosic breakdown. This biocatalyst has numerous applications in paper, food, fermentation, detergent, pharmaceuticals, textile, and distilling industries. Purification is an important prerequisite for any biocatalyst before the development of any enzyme-based effective applications. Cellulase purification is a multistep process selected on the basis of its biochemical and biophysical characteristics such as solubility, charge, size, and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity. The success of any purification strategy employed for enzyme is evaluated on the basis of its purification fold, recovery percentage, reproducibility, economical feasibility, and time. Mostly, the pre-purification strategies involve fractionation, precipitation and ultrafiltration to attain high enzyme concentrate at the start of the purification process. The highly specific, secondary purification is achieved via chromatographic techniques, such as gel-filtration, ion exchange, adsorption, and affinity chromatography having different types of stationary and mobile phases. Certain unique purification techniques like isoelectric focusing, and electroendosmotic preparative electrophoresis have been also used. This review elaborates about various purification techniques and approaches available for the cellulase enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chimeric antigen receptor cell therapy is a successful immunotherapy for the treatment of blood cancers. However, hurdles in their manufacturing remain including efficient isolation and purification of the T-cell starting material. Herein, we describe a one-step separation based on inertial spiral microfluidics for efficient enrichment of T-cells in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient's samples. In healthy donors used to optimize the process, the lymphocyte purity was enriched from 65% (SD ± 0.2) to 91% (SD ± 0.06) and T-cell purity was enriched from 45% (SD ± 0.1) to 73% (SD ± 0.02). Leukemic samples had higher starting B-cells compared to the healthy donor samples. Efficient enrichment and recovery of lymphocytes and T-cells were achieved in ALL samples with B-cells, monocytes and leukemic blasts depleted by 80% (SD ± 0.09), 89% (SD ± 0.1) and 74% (SD ± 0.09), respectively, and a 70% (SD ± 0.1) T-cell recovery. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia samples had lower T-cell numbers, and the separation process was less efficient compared to the ALL. This study demonstrates the use of inertial microfluidics for T-cell enrichment and depletion of B-cell blasts in ALL, suggesting its potential to address a key bottleneck of the chimeric antigen receptor-T manufacturing workflow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EkINV and BsINV are two invertases from Enterobacter kobei and Bacillus subtillis, respectively. The two enzymes were produced extracellularly at pH 3.0 and former at 45 °C while latter at 25 °C. The Km values were observed to be 1.7 mol/L (EkINV) and 1.9 mol/L (BsINV). Purification and characterization analysis revealed trimer structure EkINV having subunit molecular mass as 87.14, 42.98 and 29.0 kDa. Unlike, BsINV was monomer with molecular mass of 55.1 kDa. The invertases beside hydrolytic activity exhibited transfructolysation which is used in preparation of low calorie Ready To Serve mango juice and muffins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have become fundamental across various sectors, with growing demands in both therapeutic and non-therapeutic applications. For the antibodies capture step, precipitation stands out as an alternative or precursor method to chromatographic techniques. However, research on unconventional precipitants, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and ZnCl2, for diluted non-therapeutic mAbs is still scarce. This study evaluates the potential and challenges of combining PEG 6000 kDA and ZnCl2 as precipitants to capture anti-human IgG1 mAbs from highly diluted cell culture supernatants. We established mAbs solubility curves, identified optimal conditions for batch precipitation, fine-tuned the resolubilization step and conducted a viscosity analysis for the precipitates. We achieved 100% yield and 59% purity for the redissolution step, after using a 12% PEG 6000/3 mmol L−1 ZnCl2 precipitation condition with a 1:1 dilution ratio at pH 6.0 for resolubilization. Nevertheless, results also indicate that the resolubilization step potentially leads to mAb fragmentation and that protein aggregates might impact mAb viscosity and flow behavior. In conclusion, the combination of these agents is promising for mAbs capture, however, pre-concentration techniques are advised for severely diluted systems and caution toward ZnCl2 is recommended, especially concerning the pH of the system and ZnCl2 concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystallization via nucleation can isolate active pharmaceutical ingredients from their crudes. While chemical engineering textbooks provide theoretical knowledge on crystallization and nucleation theories, they often fall short in providing provide practical insights on the nucleation mechanism. To bridge this gap, we introduced a virtual experiment on nucleation in second-year chemical engineering classrooms. The main goal is to educate students on crystallization procedures in research and process industries, teaching them how to analyse and manage collected data while integrating theoretical knowledge. This includes conveying the kind of information that can be obtained from a crystallisation process and instructing students on how to analyse and manage the data collected in the light of the theories learned. We devised an original chemical engineering problem on nucleation, derived directly from the raw data collected in the classroom from virtual experiments. This method differs from the conventional approach of solving standard textbook problems. The textbook problems, regrettably often lack crucial information on how nucleation rate or surface free energy are directly obtained from raw data. By the conclusion of the virtual experiment, students have acquired a comprehensive understanding encompassing both practical and theoretical aspects of crystallization, with a particular focus on nucleation. The methodologies elucidated in this study can be applied across a spectrum of chemical engineering modules, including process engineering, unit operations in chemical engineering, mass transfer, and can even be integrated into specialized courses dedicated to crystallization. • Problems were developed in classroom based on experimental data from virtual lab. • Virtual experiments on nucleation deployed in third year chemical engineering classrooms. • Example problems on crystal nucleation developed in collaboration with students in the classroom. • Students solve the example problems developed by them in the classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical application of collagen-based biomaterials is expanding rapidly, especially in tissue engineering and cosmetics. While oral supplements and injectable skin boosters are popular for enhancing skin health, clinical evidence supporting their effectiveness remains limited. Injectable products show potential in revitalizing skin, but safety concerns persist due to challenges in sterilization and the risk of biological contamination. Traditional methods of sterilization (heat and irradiation) can denature collagen. This study addresses these issues by introducing a novel technique: the double filtration and low-temperature steam sterilization of a collagen gel. In vitro tests documented the sterility and confirmed that the collagen did not show cytotoxicity, degradation, integrity, and viscosity characteristics changes after the processing and sterilization. The collagen gel induced new collagen expression and the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts when the cells were cultured with the collagen gel. An in vivo study found no adverse effects in rats or significant lesions at the implantation site over 13 weeks. These results suggest that this novel method to process collagen gels is a safe and effective skin booster. Advanced processing methods are likely to mitigate the safety risks associated with injectable collagen products, though further research is needed to validate their biological effectiveness and clinical benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orthogonal array design method was used to optimize ultrasonic-assisted extraction of resveratrol from peanut sprouts. The results showed that the highest extraction yield of resveratrol using ultrasonic-assisted extraction could be up to 1.1%. The optimal extraction conditions were liquid to solid ratio of 30:1 (mL/g) and ethanol concentration of 80% (v/v) as solvent for 40 min at the temperature of 70 °C. AB-8 macroporous adsorption resin was used to purify the crude extract and the resveratrol content increased to 47.5% after one treatment run. The optimal adsorption parameters were initial concentrations in the sample solution of 2 mg/mL, a pH of 5.0, a flow rate of 2 mL/min, and a temperature of 25 °C. The optimal desorption parameters were 60% ethanol and a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The chemical composition of the peanut sprout's resveratrol sample was investigated via HPLC, and the predominant constituents were found to be protocatechuic acid, catechins, caffeic acid, epicatechuic acid, resveratrol, and rutin. The antioxidant activities of the resveratrol were measured via the following different analytical methods: reducing power, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhdrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl radical-scavenger activity, superoxide radical-scavenger activity, the β-carotene bleaching test, and the scavenging nitrite test. The results indicated that the resveratrol in peanut sprouts have significant antioxidant activities and can be used as a source of potential antioxidant. And peanut sprout's resveratrol has the potential and valuable application to be used as a new type of resveratrol resource. The finding of this study can provide some theoretical reference for the comprehensive utilization of peanut resources in the development of antioxidant health foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycerol, defined simply as a colorless, sweet syrupy liquid extracted from fatty substances through saponification, is an alcohol with three hydroxyl (OH–) groups in its structure. Glycerol has many uses in the consumer market. It is used primarily in personal care products, as an adhesive and sealing agent and many applications. Glycerol, whose name is propane‐1,2,3‐triol, standardized by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), CHO open formula CH2OH–CHOH–CH2OH. It can be said that glycerol, a by‐product of biodiesel, is produced in very high quantities. Retention of the produced glycerol will lead to cost increases and environmental problems that may directly affect the development of the biodiesel market. Due to the supply of glycerol to the market in large quantities, glycerol prices have hit the bottom, and therefore, the income and profitability of biodiesel production factories from the sale of glycerol have decreased. This situation clearly shows that the excess of glycerol now poses an obstacle to developing the biodiesel market. This article aims to list the valuable chemicals into which glycerol, produced in large quantities as a biodiesel by‐product, can be converted under a single heading and to detail the studies carried out on this subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar evaporators have demonstrated huge potential in sewage purification and clean water supply based on their cost‐effective and sustainable merits. However, it remains challenging to realize the stable purification of high‐concentration dye sewage over the long term. Here, by incorporating a heterojunction photocatalyst, a photothermal/catalytic integrated solar evaporator is conceived to stabilize the purification of high‐concentration dye sewage. It is composed of g‐C3N4@TiO2 heterojunction as the photocatalyst, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as the photothermal materials, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) network as water transportation material. The high photocatalytic activity of heterojunction enables the g‐C3N4@TiO2/CNTs/PVA (CTCP) evaporator to photodegrade the accumulated dye molecules on its evaporation surface under light irradiation during purifying dye sewage. More remarkably, the integrated CTCP evaporator achieves a stable evaporation rate of 2.30 kg m−2 h−1 in 1 mg mL−1 RhB solution with continuous light irradiation for 100 h, exhibiting preeminent long‐term stability. With the capacities of long‐term stable and high‐rate purification of high‐concentration dye sewage, it is expected that this CTCP evaporator provides an effective alternative to treat high‐concentration dye sewage and has direct implications in engineering multifunctional solar evaporators for complex wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the decades, the production, transport, and use of fossil fuels have led to numerous environmental concerns. Crude oil has caused catastrophic accidents after its spillage into the aqueous environment and accumulation on coastal sediments. To tackle this problem in a sustainable manner, researchers have used alternative remediation agents to extract these crude oil spills from the sediments. In this study, the biodiesels fatty acid methyl, ethyl, and butyl esters (FAME, FAEE, and FABE, respectively) were synthesized via transesterification reaction from waste cooking oil and corresponding alcohol in the presence of a catalyst, potassium hydroxide, and used as remediation agents for crude oil extraction. The influence of different experimental conditions on the crude-oil removal efficiency was studied (time of 1, 2, or 4 h; mass ratio of biodiesel to crude oil of 0.5:1, 1:1, or 2:1), with a simulation of coastal effects using a shaker. UV/Vis spectrophotometry was used to determine crude-oil separation efficiency based on the correlation of the residual crude-oil mass fraction and corresponding absorbance. The results show that FAME and FAEE were most effective in the removal of crude oil from sand (removing 88–89%), while FAEE and FABE extracted the most crude oil from gravel (removing 74–77%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to clarify the inhibition of total flavonoids purified extract (TFSE) of sea buckthorn peel residue on pancreatic lipase, this research optimized the purification condition of total flavonoids crude extract (TFCE) of sea buckthorn peel residue using AB-8 macroporous resin by means of static and dynamic adsorption and desorption experiment. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-MS) was used to analyze the component of TFSE. In addition, the inhibitory effect and types of TFSE on pancreatic lipase were explored through the method of nitrophenyl butyrate combined with enzymatic reaction kinetics. The results showed that the optimal purification conditions for AB-8 macroporous resin were a sample concentration of 2.2 mg/mL, a sample pH of 5.0, a sample volume of 140 mL, and a sample flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The volume fraction of ethanol was 75% with the eluent being 120 mL and the elution flow rate being 1.5 mL/min. After separation and purification under these conditions, the purity of TFSE increased from 9.786% to 50.204%. The total of 39 phenolic compounds were identified from TFSE with flavonoids like rutin, catechins, and quercetin-3-O-glucoside being the main compounds. TFSE had a strong inhibition on pancreatic lipase with the IC50 being 12.46 mg/mL. In addition, the inhibition type was determined to be non-competitive inhibition by using double reciprocal plot method of Lineweaver-Burk with an inhibition constant Ki being 10.21 mg/mL. TFSE has better inhibitory activity on pancreatic lipase, which is of great significance for improving the added value of sea buckthorn peel residue products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to investigate the antioxidant activity of buckwheat bee pollen polysaccharides (BWPP) during the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The crude polysaccharides were purified using DEAE-52 cellulose column and their antioxidant activity during in vitro simulated gastric and intestinal digestion was studied. The results showed that after purification by DEAE-52 cellulose column chromatography, the highest total sugar content component BWPP-1 was obtained, which was mainly composed of Glc, Xyl, Ara, etc. The infrared spectrum showed that BWPP-1 had obvious polysaccharide characteristic absorption peaks. During the simulated in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, the ABTS+· scavenging rates of BWPP and BWPP-1 reached their maximum values at 60 minutes of simulated gastric juice digestion, which were 86.39%±1.28% and 90.38%±2.78%, respectively. There was a significant difference compared to other digestion times (P<0.05). The DPPH· clearance rates reached their maximum values at 60 minutes, which were 86.86%±0.11% and 89.58%±1.67%, respectively, and the difference between the two was not significant (P>0.05). When simulating intestinal digestion, the maximum clearance rates of ABTS+· by BWPP and BWPP-1 reached 88.67%±0.40% and 91.82%±2.77% at 60 minutes, and the difference between the two was not significant (P>0.05). The DPPH· scavenging rates reached their peak values at 240 minutes of 57.11%±0.06% and 65.67%±3.67%, with significant difference (P<0.05). During the digestion process, the ability to reduce iron ions was relatively weak. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that BWPP and BWPP-1 have good ABTS+· and DPPH· scavenging abilities, and the DPPH· scavenging ability during gastric digestion is slightly higher than that during intestinal digestion, while the ABTS+· scavenging ability during intestinal digestion is slightly higher than that during gastric digestion. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of functional products based on buckwheat bee pollen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost all cell types naturally secret extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the extracellular space with variable metabolic cargo facilitating intracellular communication, posing immune‐modulation capacity. Thus, "bacterial extracellular vesicles" (BEVs), with their great immunoregulatory, immune response stimulation and disease condition‐altering potential, have gained importance in the medical and therapeutic industry. Various subtypes of BEVs were observed and reported in the literature, such as exosomes (30–150 nm), microvesicles (100–1000 nm), apoptotic bodies (1000–5000 nm), and oncosomes (1000–10,000 nm). As biological systems are complex entities, inserting BEVs requires extra high purity. Various techniques for BEV isolation have been employed alone or with other strategies, such as ultracentrifugation, precipitation, size‐exclusion chromatography, affinity‐based separation, ultrafiltration, and field‐flow fractionation. But to date, no BEV isolation method is considered perfect as the lack of standard protocols limits their scale‐up. Medical research has focused on BEVs to explore their diverse therapeutic potential. This review particularly focused on the recent advancements in the potential medical application of BEVs, current challenges, and prospects associated with their scale‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heiyai (Elaeagnus latifolia L.) is an underutilized semi-wild berry which is found in Manipur during the mid of March and April. In the present study, Heiyai fruit was explored for the extraction of lycopene using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using CO2 and the conventional solvent extraction (CSE) method. An experimental design based on response surface methodology was used for SFE with independent variables (pressure, temperature, and time) and CSE (temperature, time, and solid-to-liquid ratio) to investigate the effect on the extraction yield (%) and lycopene content (mg/100 g) from Heiyai. An empirical model was developed for correlating independent and response variable with a good fit which was obtained. The optimum conditions for SFE were pressure (20 MPa), extraction time (90 min), and temperature (40 °C) resulting into extraction yield of 3.35% and 69.78 mg/100 g of lycopene content. The optimum conditions for CSE were temperature (30 °C), time (15 min), and solid-to-liquid ratio (70 g/mL) resulting into extraction yield of 1.318% and lycopene content of 29.983 mg/100 g. Furthermore, lycopene was isolated and purified using the column chromatography method, and its chemical structure was studied using FT-IR and a visible spectrophotometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tannase-producing filamentous fungi residing alongside tannin-rich ambient in the Northwest Himalayas were isolated at laboratory conditions and further identified by 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Five most potent tannase producing strains (EI ≥ 2.0), designated Aspergillus fumigatus AN1, Fusarium redolens AN2, Penicillium crustosum AN3, Penicillium restrictum AN4, and Penicillium commune AN5, were characterized. The strain Penicillium crustosum AN3 exhibited a maximum zone dia (25.66 mm ± 0.38). During solid-state fermentation, a maximal amount of tannase was attained with Penicillium crustosum AN3 using pine needles (substrate) by adopting response surface methodology for culture parameter optimization. Gel filtration chromatography yielded 46.48% of the partially purified enzyme with 3.94-fold of tannase purification. We found two subunits in enzyme-117.76 KDa and 88.51 KDa, respectively, in the SDS-PAGE. Furthermore, the characterization of partially purified tannase revealed a maximum enzyme activity of 8.36 U/mL at 30 °C using a substrate concentration (methyl gallate) of 10 mM. To broaden the knowledge of crude enzyme application, dye degradation studies were subjected to extracellular crude tannase from Penicillium crustosum AN3 where the maximum degradation achieved at a low enzyme concentration (5 ppm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is an antioxidant enzyme that prevents lipid oxidation by hydrolysing lipid peroxides in the oxidised low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) structure, bound to high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) in serum, and exhibits esterase and lactonase activity. In this work, the hPON1 enzyme was purified from human serum using a hydrophobic gel with Sepharose 4B‐L‐tyrosine‐naphthylamine, and the affinity of some steroid derivatives previously isolated from fungal steroid biotransformations was examined on the pure hPON1 enzyme. The results indicate that all these derivaties activate the hPON1 enzyme to a different extent. Additionally, the binding potential of the most active five steroid derivatives to the PON1 enzyme to form a stable complex was explored through molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The compounds with the highest potency in the enzymatic assay, S‐8 and S‐20, had the highest binding potential to the enzyme. The stability of the complexes formed by the two compounds was assessed and compared to the stability of the unbound enzyme structure. The enzyme‐compound complexes generally had similar stability to the unbound enzyme structure. Together with this, the MD simulation revealed that compound S‐8 would remain inside the enzyme's binding site during the simulation period, unlike compound S‐20. This situation varies according to the respective derivatives' functional groups and hydrophobic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary This study aimed to isolate and characterise zinc‐chelating peptides from tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) protein hydrolysate. The hydrolysate was fractionated using a multi‐ultrafiltration technique, yielding peptide fractions with molecular weights between 0.5 and 5 kDa. These fractions were further purified using immobilised metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC‐Zn2+) and reverse high‐performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC). Among the fractions obtained, the peptide fraction F211 exhibited a zinc‐binding capacity of 76.26 ± 2.46 mg g−1. Sequence analysis indicated that zinc binding occurred at amino acids on the F21 peptide and at valine or glutamate residues on the F22 peptide fraction. Structural characterisation revealed that amino nitrogen and oxygen atoms from carboxylate groups were the primary binding sites for Zn2+. Additionally, the zinc–peptide complex demonstrated strong thermal stability, which is significant for potential applications in food processing and storage, where maintaining the integrity of nutritional supplements under varying temperature conditions is crucial. These findings provide a feasible approach for the separation and purification of zinc‐binding peptides from tilapia protein hydrolysates and contribute to the understanding of the binding mechanisms between zinc and peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inulin, a polysaccharide predominantly composed of fructose molecules, possesses a linear chain structure with β-(2 → 1) linkages between fructose units and usually has a glucose molecule at one end of the chain. It is not only an edible natural functional polysaccharide, but also a soluble dietary fiber, with a variety of physiological functions such as antioxidant, promoting the growth of gut flora and maintaining its homeostasis, enhancing gut immune function, promoting nutrient absorption, lowering glycemia, as well as providing anti-carcinogenic, weight loss and constipation relief. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research advances in the extraction, purification, structural characterization, and bioactivities. It is intended to lay the theoretical and research foundations to enable further exploration and effective progress in the advancement towards the production of inulin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platycodon grandiflorum is a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine in China, containing saponins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, volatile oils, polysaccharides, and other active ingredients. It has the effects of regulating immunity, anti‐inflammatory, expectorant, lowering blood lipids, antioxidation, etc., and can be used to treat symptoms such as cough, sore throat, lung pain, and expectoration. Polysaccharides are one of the important bioactive substances in P. grandiflorum, which have better anti‐tumor and enhancing immune activity, and are widely used in medicine, health food, and other fields. P. grandiflorum polysaccharide (PGP) has various biological activities and is the main component and key bioactive substance of P. grandiflorum. It has various biological effects, including immune regulation, antioxidant, anti‐tumor, liver protection, hypoglycemic, and gastrointestinal protection. This paper systematically reviews the research progress on the extraction, separation and purification, structural characteristics, and biological activity of P. grandiflorum polysaccharides in recent years both domestically and internationally, to provide the theoretical basis for improving the utilization of P. grandiflorum polysaccharides and further studying the structure–activity relationship of P. grandiflorum polysaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lanthanide contraction involves a reduction in atomic radius among f‐block elements below the expected level. A similar contraction is observed in group‐16 elements. The atomic radius of Se (117 pm) is slightly larger than that of S (104 pm) arising from the presence of d electrons, compared to the significant increase in atomic radius from O (73 pm) to S. This lanthanide‐like contraction contributes to Se's robust oxidative resistance. Here we report a selective oxidation strategy utilizing Se's strong antioxidative property to remove coexisting narrow‐band gap Te impurities from Se feedstocks. This strategy selectively oxidizes volatile Te impurities into involatile TeO2 that remains in the evaporation source, while only volatile Se deposits onto the substrate during the thermal‐evaporation deposition process. This enables the fabrication of high‐purity Se films possessing a wide band gap of 1.88 eV, ideally suited to the optimal band gap for indoor photovoltaics (IPVs). The resulting Se photovoltaics exhibit an efficiency of 20.1 % under 1000‐lux indoor illumination, outperforming market‐dominant amorphous silicon and all types of lead‐free perovskite IPVs. Unencapsulated Se devices show no efficiency degradation after 20,000 hours of storage in ambient atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C-reactive protein (CRP) plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and monitoring of the non-specific acute phase response in humans. In contrast, rat CRP (rCRP) is an atypical acute-phase protein that possesses unique features, such as a possible incapacity to trigger the complement system and markedly elevated baseline plasma concentrations. To facilitate in vitro studies on these unique characteristics, obtaining high-quality pure rCRP is essential. Here we explored various strategies for rCRP purification, including direct isolation from rat plasma and recombinant expression in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. Our study optimized the recombinant expression system to enhance the secretion and purification efficiency of rCRP. Compared to traditional purification methods, we present a streamlined and effective approach for the expression and purification of rCRP in the Pichia pastoris system. This refined methodology offers significant improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of rCRP purification, thereby facilitating further structural and functional studies on rCRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetable tannins are environmentally friendly tanning agents. However, they generally impart a dark colour to the tanned leather and highly contribute to the organic load in wastewaters. In this study, we employed a purification protocol separately on chestnut tannin (CT) and sulfited quebracho tannin (QT) to obtain the purified fractions (PCT and PQT). These samples were characterised by GPC, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR, and HPLC–DAD techniques and applied for tanning tests. Through the purification process, non-tannin components and smaller molecules such as gallic acid, glucopyranose, and catechin were effectively removed from CT and QT, which consequently led to the reduced moisture content, pH value, and lighter colour of purified fractions. The crust leathers processed with PCT and PQT showed desirable light shades. Moreover, the organic loads in PCT and PQT tanning wastewater were reduced by 13.5% and 19.1%, respectively, when compared to those in traditional CT and QT tanning wastewater. Additionally, the physical and mechanical characteristics of crust leathers processed with PCT and PQT were comparable to those processed with CT and QT. Thus, purification of vegetable tannins may serve as a feasible strategy for producing light-colored vegetable-tanned leather while minimizing organic pollutant discharge during the vegetable tanning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, UiO‐66 was employed for the first time as an adsorbent to separate phenolic acid analogues, specifically 4‐hydroxyisophthalic acid and salicylic acid, from impurities. Synthesized in‐house, UiO‐66 was shown to exhibit high selectivity towards 4‐HIPA/4‐HBA and SA/4‐HBA when a molar equivalent of acetic acid modulator to terephthalic acid was set at 44. The adsorption capacities for 4‐HBA, 4‐HIPA, and SA were determined to be 56.34, 55.02, and 60.34 mg/g, respectively. Furthermore, it was observed that after six regeneration cycles, the adsorption capacity for 4‐HBA remained nearly unchanged, whereas those for 4‐HIPA and SA decreased by 5.6% and 2.6%, respectively. FTIR and XPS analyses revealed that all three compounds were adsorbed at the same dominant Zr cluster site on UiO‐66, primarily through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction. Dynamic adsorption experiments revealed that 4‐HBA was the first to elute, maintaining the residual contents of 4‐HIPA and SA below 0.1 wt%. Compared to traditional separation techniques, this paper provided a simple and effective method to purify industrial grade 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of bacteria to recycle exogenous amino acid-based peptides and amino sugars for peptidoglycan biosynthesis was extensively investigated using optical imaging. In particular, fluorescent AeK–NBD was effectively utilized to study the peptidoglycan recycling pathway in Gram-negative bacteria. Based on these promising results, we were inspired to develop the radioactive AeK conjugate [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AeK for the in vivo localization of bacterial infection using PET/CT. An easy-to-implement radiolabeling procedure for DOTA-AeK with [68Ga]GaCI3 followed by solid-phase purification was successfully established to obtain [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AeK with a radiochemical purity of ≥95%. [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AeK showed good stability over time with less protein binding under physiological conditions. The bacterial incorporation of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AeK and its fluorescent Aek-NBD analog were investigated in live and heat-killed Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Unfortunately, no conclusive in vitro intracellular uptake of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AeK was observed for E. coli or S. aureus live and heat-killed bacterial strains (p > 0.05). In contrast, AeK-NBD showed significantly higher intracellular incorporation in live bacteria compared to the heat-killed control (p < 0.05). Preliminary biodistribution studies of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AeK in a dual-model of chronic infection and inflammation revealed limited localization at the infection site with non-specific accumulation in response to inflammatory markers. Finally, our study demonstrates proof that the intracellular incorporation of AeK is necessary for successful bacteria-specific imaging using PET/CT. Therefore, Ga-68 was not a suitable radioisotope for tracing the bacterial uptake of AeK tripeptide, as it required chelation with a bulky metal chelator such as DOTA, which may have limited its active membrane transportation. An alternative for optimization is to explore diverse chemical structures of AeK that would allow for radiolabeling with 18F or 11C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is devoted to the development of methods for obtaining raw materials and coagulants based on Auminzatau kaolin at the Zarkuduk site and the treatment of highly coloured wastewater from the production of paper from rice and wheat straw. The yield of kaolin, treated with a 30 % hydrochloric acid solution at an optimum calcination temperature of 500°C for 90 min, was 97.5 %. The optimum temperature for the interaction of hydrochloric acid is 25 - 30°C for 30 - 45 min. The efficiency of the coagulant application is 97.5 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combination of different physio‐chemical treatment steps was applied to purify industrially derived crude glycerol at laboratory scale. The full process included acid–base treatments, phase separation, and adsorption, and the glycerol purity and recovery were optimized by varying the pH during saponification and acidification, the solvent‐to‐glycerol ratio, and type of base used in the process to enhance both. The testing campaign resulted in a final purity of up to 87% wt starting from a very low‐quality 'end‐of‐life' waste glycerol sampled from different refineries. The net glycerol recovery at laboratory scale reached 42% of the initial glycerol in the feedstock and the maximum ash removal exceeded 90% given the low quality of the feedstock and high content of impurities and the attempt to achieve high glycerol recovery. The experiment showed that mild operations such as saponification with KOH (pH of 8), acidification with H3PO4 (pH of 6), an ideal 2‐propanol to glycerol volume ratio equal to 3 and potassium hydroxide as a base for the neutralisation step were the optimum conditions despite the differences between samples. The sequence of the processes proposed was therefore considered a viable option to treat any kind of crude glycerol to make it profitable for fuel and chemical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The available prophylactic vaccines for human papillomavirus (HPV) in the market are only effective against specific types of HPV, rendering them ineffective for other types of HPV infections. The objective of this research is to investigate the stability of the recombinant protein constructed, namely chimeric L1/L2 protein from HPV type 52, with improved cross-neutralization ability. The 3D model, predicted using Alphafold, Robetta, I-Tasser, and refined with Galaxy Refinement, is validated using Ramachandran plot analysis. The stability is verified through molecular dynamics simulations, considering parameters such as RMSD, RMSF, Rg, and SASA, where stable conditions are observed. The chimeric L1/L2 protein from HPV type 52 is purified using affinity chromatography, and the His-tag is cleaved using SUMO protease to obtain pure chimeric protein with the size of ~ 55 kDa. Western blot analysis confirms binding to anti-L1 HPV type 52 polyclonal antibody. The obtained vaccine candidate can be utilized as an effective prophylactic vaccine against HPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The efficient separation and purification of proteins like C‐phycocyanin (C‐PC) from Spirulina platensis are essential for their commercialization, yet they remain challenging. This study investigated three chromatographic methods for C‐PC purification: weak anion exchange chromatography (DEAE), strong anion exchange chromatography (Q Sepharose), and hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC). RESULTS: Weak anion exchange chromatography achieved a recovery of 36.80 mg unit (57.08%) with a purity of 3.23, outperforming Q Sepharose (yield: 23.21 mg unit means that 46.33%, purity: 2.76) and HIC (yield: 22.95 mg unit means that 17.57%, purity: 3.02). The purified C‐PC consisted of α and β subunits with molecular masses of 16 kDa and 17 kDa, respectively. Further assessment revealed its antioxidant capacity through a 2,2'‐Azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay. The stability of C‐phycocyanin was tested at different pH levels and temperatures. Maximum stability was observed at pH 7, and pH 4 showed the lowest stability. Glutaraldehyde‐treated C‐PC (GC‐PC) demonstrated gradual degradation up to 50 °C, retaining 73.25% after 30 min. Notably, GC‐PC exhibited stability even at higher temperatures, with degradation rates of 57.32% at 70 °C and 50.96% at 80 °C. CONCLUSION: Weak anion exchange chromatography proved superior for C‐PC purification, offering higher yields and purity than Q Sepharose and HIC. The purified C‐PC showed promising antioxidant capacity and stability, particularly GC‐PC, which exhibited resistance to degradation, even at elevated temperatures. These findings underscore the potential of C‐PC as a valuable compound for various applications, with DEAE chromatography being an efficient method for its production and commercialization. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chronic accumulation of phosphogypsum (PG) has resulted in significant environmental contamination issues within the wet-process phosphoric acid (WPPA) industry. An innovative technical route for transforming PG into a resource has been achieved through the introduction of floc flotation and acid cleaning in WPPA. The floc flotation using cationic polyacrylamide as a flocculant and micro lotion, which is composed of dioctyl phthalate, polyoxyethylene(10)nonylphenyl ether, kerosene, and n-octanol as a collector, has been performed. The effect of floc flotation on product quality and the underlying mechanisms were investigated by XRF, FT-IR, SEM, and 2-dimensional fractal dimension analysis. The optimal parameters were determined through a factor experiment, which yielded the following results: floc flotation temperature 65 °C, cationic polyacrylamide 180 g/Mg, collector 1.08 kg/Mg, and flushing sulfuric acid concentration 20%. The resulting PG exhibited a high grade of 95.01%, whiteness of 70.8%, and gypsum recovery of 93.52%. Furthermore, the soluble phosphorus and soluble fluorine levels are below 0.1%. In the flotation process, the combination of polyacrylamide and collector effectively separated fine organic matter and siliceous material with a hydrophobic bubble, facilitating their upward movement and subsequent separation from PG. The new WPPA, which exhibits enhanced product quality and reduced production costs, can be utilized extensively within the WPPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanodiamonds (NDs) offer immense potential in various fields, but graphitic or metal-based impurities hinder their widespread adoption. Conventional purification methods often employ harsh chemicals or high temperatures, raising concerns about ND integrity and surface properties. Herein, we compared various strategies to purify and tailor the surface functional groups in the detonation-derived NDs. A facile 2-step purification strategy combining salt-assisted air oxidation (SAAO) and Fenton chemistry is particularly interesting for efficient and selective removal of graphitic impurities while preserving the diamond lattice structure. SAAO selectively burns off graphitic impurities at 450 °C under controlled oxygen flow, minimizing damage to the diamond core. Subsequently, Fenton's reagent (H2O2/Fe2+) introduces hydrophilic functional groups onto the ND surface, further enhancing diamond purity and promoting subsequent functionalization. This synergistic approach enables (i) highly efficient removal of graphitic impurities while preserving ND morphology and crystal structure, (ii) controlled introduction of surface functionalities, and (iii) improved colloidal stability of purified NDs. This green and efficient purification protocol is beneficial for tailoring ND properties and unlocking their full potential in diverse applications ranging from biomedicine and electronics to catalysis and quantum technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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