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The stochastic growth of homogeneous bacterial populations in the wells of a microtiter plate was studied as a function of the random initial cell number and their random individual lag times. These significantly affected the population growth in the well, while the maximum specific growth rate of the population was constant (or its variance was negligible) for each well. We showed the advantages of the mathematical assumption that a transformation of the single cell lag time, called the single cell physiological state (or, more accurately, that of the sub-population generated by the single cell) follow the Beta distribution. Simulations demonstrated what patterns would such assumption generate for the distribution of the detection times observed in the wells. An estimation procedure was developed, based on the beta-assumption, that resulted in an explicit expression for the expected value of the single cell physiological state as a function of measured "time to detection" values using turbidity experiments. The method was illustrated using laboratory data with Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica strains. The results gave a basis to quantify the difference between the studied organisms in terms of their single-cell kinetics.

Predictive microbiology methods were used to study the effect of carvacrol on the bacterial resistance to antimicrobials. Our objective was to estimate the optimum dose of carvacrol at concentrations below its MIC value (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration). As a fluorescent marker, ethidium bromide (EtBr) was applied to Escherichia coli to acquire raw data. The accumulation of EtBr was measured by its fluorescence signal (Fs), in the unit of RFU (Relative Fluorescence Unit). The temporal change of the fluorescence values, at a constant concentration of carvacrol, was described by a saturation curve (primary model). The difference, within the observation interval, between the fitted initial and maximum fluorescent values was chosen as the primary parameter to be fitted in the secondary model: a convex, asymmetric, bi-linear function of the carvacrol concentration changing between 0 and 0.5 MIC. Its breakpoint is the optimum value of the carvacrol, a cardinal parameter of the secondary model, where the chosen primary parameter assumes its highest value. This optimum was estimated with high uncertainty for individual experiments, but F-test showed that, with appropriate experimental and numerical procedure, its existence and value can be claimed with confidence. Our results demonstrate that the estimation of the optimum of the secondary model can be robust even if the full secondary model is uncertain.

In this study, the goal was to find lower temperature for separating the Zn and Fe content of ZnFe2O4 by sulfation reaction than previously achieved and to study the various reaction steps of sulfation. Hence, the reaction of ZnFe2O4 with Mohr’s salt containing iron(II), i.e., (NH4)2Fe(SO4)2·6H2O, and ammonium iron alum containing Fe(III), i.e., NH4Fe(SO4)2·12H2O, was studied. At first, the thermal decomposition of precursor salts in air was studied by TG/DTA-MS to find the proper temperature for sulfation. Then ZnFe2SO4/precursor salt mixtures with ratios 1:2 and 1:5 were prepared and annealed at 400, 425 and 450 °C. The solubility of the products obtained at different annealing temperatures in water (e.g., ZnSO4, FeSO4, Fe2(SO4)3) and in HCl (Fe2O3, ZnO, Fex(OH)ySO4, Znv(OH)wSO4 basic sulfates) was studied. The morphology and structure of the starting materials was investigated by SEM, XRD and FTIR, the crystalline phases after each annealing and washing step were studied by XRD. The Fe in the starting materials and the products obtained at 425 °C was measured by Mossbauer. Based on the obtained results, it was demonstrated that the sulfation reaction with ammonium iron sulfates could be performed at lower temperatures than with iron sulfates. It was possible to detect the reaction intermediates and to obtain information about the reaction intermediates. With our sulfation reaction, depending on the reaction conditions, it is possible to obtain Fe2O3 as final product, but the Zn and Fe metals can be obtained also as sulfates. Our results open up further possibilities to recycle the ZnFe2O4 waste material.

[NH4Cu(OH)MoO4] as active photocatalyst in the decomposition of Congo Red when irradiated by UV or visible light has been prepared in an unusual ammonia/water ligand exchange reaction of [tetraamminecopper(II)] molybdate, [Cu(NH3)4]MoO4. [Cu(NH3)4]MoO4 was subjected to moisture of open air at room temperature. Light blue orthorhombic [Cu(NH3)(H2O)3]MoO4 was formed in 2 days as a result of an unexpected solid/gas phase ammonia-water ligand exchange reaction. This complex does not lose its last ammonia ligand on further standing in open air; however, a slow quasi-intramolecular (self)-protonation reaction takes place in 2-4 weeks, producing a yellowish-green microcrystalline material, which has been identified as a new compound, [NH4Cu(OH)MoO4], ( a = 10,5306 A, b = 6.0871 A, c = 8.0148 A, β = 64,153°, C2, Z = 4). Mechanisms are proposed for both the sequential ligand exchange and the self-protonation reactions supported by ab initio quantum-chemical calculations and deuteration experiments as well. The [Cu(NH3)(H2O)3]MoO4 intermediate transforms into NH4Cu(OH)(H2O)2MoO4, which loses two waters and yields [NH4Cu(OH)MoO4]. Upon heating, both [Cu(NH3)4]MoO4 and [Cu(NH3)(H2O)3]MoO4 decompose, losing three NH3 and three H2O ligands, respectively, and stable [Cu(NH3)MoO4] is formed from both. The latter can partially be hydrated in boiling water into [NH4Cu(OH)MoO4. This compound can also be prepared in pure form by boiling the saturated aqueous solution of [Cu(NH3)4]MoO4. All properties of [NH4Cu(OH)MoO4] match those of the active photocatalyst described earlier in the literature under the formulas (NH4)2[Cu(MoO4)2] and (NH4)2Cu4(NH3)3Mo5O20.

A widely used oxidizing agent in organic chemistry with an assumed structure of “[Ag(py)2]MnO4” and its perchlorate and perrhenate analogues are studied. Their synthesis in pure form is challenging...

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Non-sedimentation nanoparticles containing alkaline wastewater as effluent from the cleaning process of car-painting lines can be purified by sedimentation after adding of mineral acids to adjust the pH below 5. Using 10 % aq. sulfuric acid to coagulate and filtrate the colloid particles, and adjusting the effluent pH with 10 wt. % aq. NaOH to the original value (~9), the wastewater can be recycled with ca. 0.3 % salt content into the cleaning process of the painting line (rinsing) technology.