欧洲鹅耳枥幼苗对盐胁迫的生长及生理响应

[目的]探讨欧洲鹅耳枥(Carpinus betulus)对盐胁迫的响应及其耐盐性。[方法]以两年生欧洲鹅耳枥幼苗为材料,用不同浓度NaCl(0%,0.1%,0.2%,0.3%,0.4%,0.5%)溶液处理幼苗,研究不同盐分胁迫对其幼苗生长及生理生化指标的影响。[结果](1)随着盐胁迫的加剧,欧洲鹅耳枥幼苗受到损害程度逐渐加重,相对苗高生长、相对地径生长和总干重均呈下降趋势,而根冠比则逐渐增大;(2)叶片相对含水量随着盐胁迫程度的增加而下降,且盐浓度越高,时间越久,变化幅度越大;(3)叶片叶绿素总量、SOD活性、POD活性、可溶性糖含量和可溶性蛋白含量随着盐胁迫程度的增加表现出先升高后降低的趋势;(4)随着盐浓度的增加和盐害时间的持续,幼苗叶片MDA含量、相对电导率和脯氨酸含量总体上呈增大趋势,并在胁迫末期达到最大值。[结论]欧洲鹅耳枥幼苗在0.1%~0.2%盐胁迫下能通过调节保护酶活性和渗透调节物质来减轻危害;而在0.3%胁迫下,幼苗自我调节能力受影响,0.4%~0.5%胁迫对其造成严重的损害,表明欧洲鹅耳枥耐盐性较弱,不宜在滨海地区生长。     

超声辅助酶解促进草鱼鳞胶原肽水解进程的内在机制解析

为探究超声辅助酶解促进草鱼磷胶原肽水解进程的内在原因，分别研究了超声对底物蛋白（草鱼鳞）的分子结构、表面疏水性、粒径等理化特性和蛋白酶酶解能力的影响机制，在此基础上，对超声酶解进程进行了动力学拟合，从酶解动力学角度进一步评估了促进草鱼鳞胶原肽水解进程的"超声-酶"耦合效应。结果表明，适当的超声强度（300 W、20 min）可以使底物蛋白的结构展开，此时其表面疏水性最大、粒径最小，使之更适合后续酶解，但当超声功率大于300 W时，底物蛋白会重新聚集，其中的部分疏水基团被掩埋，不利于酶解的进行。同时，当超声功率为300 W、时间为20 min时，单酶酶解组和分步酶解组的酶解能力从2.35×105 U/g、3.41×105 U/g分别提高至3.44×105 U/g、3.86×105 U/g，且表现出显著性差异（P<0.05）。通过动力学模型对超声辅助单酶酶解（r2=0.988 8）和分步酶解进程（r2=0.960 7）进行了动力学拟合，依据建立的反应动力学方程，证实了超声辅助分步酶解进程更快，研究结果为超声辅助酶解工艺制备胶原肽提供了一定理论基础。     

NaCl浓度对SBBR同步脱氮及N2O释放的影响

盐度是影响生物脱氮过程的重要因素。盐度增加会导致生物硝化和反硝化过程中N_2O的产生并释放。该文以添加NaCl的生活污水为研究对象,采用固定填料序批式生物膜反应器(sequencing batch biofilm reactor,SBBR),考察了不同NaCl浓度(0、5、10、15和20g/L)对SBBR脱氮性能及N_2O释放的影响。结果表明,试验NaCl浓度范围内,SBBR出水COD稳定在40～60mg/L。硝化过程NO_2~-/NO_3~-随NaCl浓度增加而增加。NaCl浓度≤10g/L时,NH_4~+-N去除率大于95%,N_2O产率由4.08%(NaCl浓度为0)增至6.72%(NaCl浓度为10 g/L)。NaCl浓度为20 g/L时,驯化后SBBR内平均NH_4~+-N去除率为70%,平均N_2O产率为13.60%。无添加NaCl时,N_2O主要产生于硝化阶段的AOB好氧反硝化过程,SBBR内缺氧区有助于减少N_2O释放;高NaCl浓度条件下,N_2O主要产生于AOB好氧反硝化过程和内源同步反硝化过程,高盐度加剧内源反硝化阶段NO_2~-和N_2O之间电子竞争,抑制N_2O还原,其活性抑制性能与电子受体和初始C/N有关。与硝态氮还原速率和亚硝态氮还原速率相比,氧化亚氮还原速率受NaCl抑制最为明显,是导致高盐度条件下N_2O释放量增加的重要因素。     

Effects of ionic strength and denaturation time on polyethyleneglycol self-diffusion in whey protein solutions and gels visualized by nuclear magnetic resonance

Pulsed field gradient NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) self-diffusion coefficient (D(PEG)) as a function of NaCl concentration (C(NaCl)) and denaturation time (t(D)) in whey protein solutions and gels. D(PEG) in the gel decreased with increasing C(NaCl) concentrations and increased with increasing t(D); the increase ceased for all PEGs when the gel was fixed. This increase was more pronounced for the 82250 g/mol PEG than the 1080 g/mol PEG. Moreover, the diffusion coefficient of nonaggregated whey protein was measured and an increase for longer t(D) was also observed. Scanning electron microscopy images and (1)H spectra demonstrated that D(PEG) were related to the structure changes and to the percentage of beta-lactoglobulin denaturation.     

Comparative effect of human urine and ammonium nitrate application on maize (Zea mays L.) grown under various salt (NaCl) concentrations

The present study investigates the effect of urine and ammonium nitrate on maize (Zea mays L.) vegetative growth, leaf nutrient concentration, soil electrical conductivity, and exchangeable‐cations contents under various concentrations of NaCl in a soil substrate. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized block design with eight replications under greenhouse conditions. The experimental soil substrate was made from a 1 : 1 : 1 volume‐ratio mixture of compost, quartz sand, and silty‐loam soil. Salinity was induced by adding 0, 15, and 30 mL of 1 M NaCl solution per kg of substrate to achieve an electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.3 (S0), 4.6 (S1), and 7.6 (S2) dS m^–1. Nitrogen sources were urine and ammonium nitrate applied at 180 and 360 mg N (kg soil substrate)^–1. Basal P and K were added as mono potassium phosphate in amounts equivalent to 39 mg P and 47 mg K (kg substrate)^–1, respectively. In the S0 treatment, a 3‐fold increase in EC was measured after urine application compared to an insignificant change in ammonium nitrate–fertilized substrates 62 d after sowing. Under saline conditions, application of 360 mg N (kg soil)^–1 as urine significantly decreased soil pH and maize shoot dry weight. At the highest salt and N dose (S2, N360) 50% of urine‐fertilized plants died. Regardless of salinity there was no significant difference between the two fertilizers for investigated growth factors when N was supplied at 180 mg (kg soil)^–1. Leaf N and Ca contents were higher after urine application than in ammonium nitrate–fertilized plants. At an application rate of 180 mg N (kg soil)^–1, urine was a suitable fertilizer for maize under saline conditions. Higher urine‐N dosages and/or soil salinity exceeding 7.6 dS m^–1 may have a deleterious effect on maize growth.     

Nitrogen nutritional status of young maize plants (Zea mays) is not limited by NaCl stress

Maize plants (Zea mays L. cv. Pioneer 3906) were grown in hydroponics with four different NaCl treatments (control, 50, 100, 150 mM NaCl). Nitrogen (N) was supplied as 2 mM Ca(NO₃)₂ in the fully concentrated nutrient solution. Plants of half of the pots were treated with additional 1 mM NH₄NO₃ 2 d after start of the NaCl application. After 23 d, the maize plants were harvested and contents and concentrations of nitrate, reduced N as well as chloride were determined in shoots and roots. With increasing NaCl stress net nitrate uptake and net root‐to‐shoot translocation of total N decreased significantly. Under salt stress, decreased nitrate concentrations in shoots probably caused substrate limitation of nitrate reductase. However, the concentrations of reduced N in shoots were not affected by salt stress and no N deficiency was observed. Additional N application to the 100 and 150 mM NaCl treatments did not improve plant growth. A Cl^?/NO antagonism was only weakly pronounced, probably because of the Cl^? exclusion ability of maize. Thus, although net uptake and net translocation of total N were markedly decreased by NaCl application, the smaller maize plants nevertheless took up enough N to meet their demand pointing to other growth‐limiting factors than N nutrition.     

低浓度NaCl对水培韭菜生长、产量及品质的影响

NaCl一直以来被认为是一个胁迫因子,且是造成植物盐害的主要因素,而低浓度NaCl对植物生长不仅没有危害,反而具有促进植物生长,提高品质的作用。韭菜营养液水培作为一种新型的栽培方式,很好的解决了韭蛆等病虫的为害。为了探究低浓度NaCl添加到营养液中对韭菜生长、品质和产量的影响,试验设定了0 mmol·L-1(对照)、5 mmol·L-1、10 mmol·L-1、20 mmol·L-1、30 mmol·L-1 5个NaCl浓度,研究不同浓度NaCl处理下韭菜生长、生理和产量的变化。研究结果表明,韭菜的株高、假茎粗和叶长均以20 mmol·L-1 NaCl处理下最高,各处理的叶片数均多于对照,叶片宽度随着NaCl浓度的增加呈现下降趋势。低浓度NaCl增加了韭菜的光合色素含量,10 mmol·L-1处理下叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素和叶绿素a+b含量最高。NaCl处理能有效降低韭菜中硝酸盐的积累,各NaCl处理硝酸盐含量分别比对照下降12.42%、13.17%、15.16%和26.76%。Vc含量随添加NaCl浓度的增加表现出先上升后下降的趋势,其中各NaCl处理含量分别比对照高12.2%、12.8%、5.1%、-15.4%,可溶性糖与粗纤维均在10 mmol·L-1时达到最大值。产量以10 mmol·L-1处理最高,3茬产量及总产量分别比对照处理增加6.7%、6.6%、6.9%、6.7%。综合分析认为,韭菜营养液中添加10 mmol·L-1的NaCl,在促进韭菜生长,降低硝酸盐,改善品质和提高产量上综合表现最佳。     

Effects of Sodium Chloride-Induced Salinity on Mineral Nutrients and Soluble Sugars in Three Commercial Cultivars of Pomegranate

Abstract

The effect of sodium chloride (NaCl)-induced salinity on concentration and translocation of ions and soluble sugars in three commercial cultivars, ‘Alak Torsh,’ ‘Malas Torsh,’ ‘Malas Shirin,’ of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) was studied. After rooting of cuttings, they were planted in the plastic pots contained sand:perlite (1:1) medium and irrigated with complete Hoagland^’s solution immediately. After three weeks, plants were treated with different concentration (0, 40, 80, and 120 mM) of NaCl solution. These treatments continued during 80 days with irrigation water. Finally, uptake and transport of ions [Na, potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), nitrogen (N), and Cl) and soluble sugars in these three cultivars were measured. With increasing NaCl concentration in irrigation water, the amount of Na, Cl, and K of the tissues increased, but amount of Ca, Mg, and N of the tissues decreased. No cultivar differences were observed in the rate of uptake of tested minerals. Soluble sugars decreased as NaCl concentrations in irrigation water increased.     

Kinetics of the surface hydrolysis of raw starch by glucoamylase

The hydrolysis of raw starch catalyzed by glucoamylase has been studied with starch granules of different sizes by use of an amperometric glucose sensor by which the direct and continuous observation of the concentration of glucose can be achieved even in a thick raw starch suspension. The initial rate of the enzymatic hydrolysis in the raw starch suspension increased with increasing concentration of the enzyme to approach a saturation value and was proportional to the amount of substrate. Also, the rate was proportional to the specific surface area of the substrate. The experimental results can be explained well by the rate equations derived from a three-step mechanism, which consists of adsorption of the free enzyme onto the surface of the substrate, reaction of the adsorbed enzyme with the substrate, and liberation of the product.     

Orthokinetic flocculation of caseinate-stabilized emulsions: influence of calcium concentration, shear rate, and protein content

Calcium-induced flocculation of caseinate-stabilized soybean oil-in-water emulsions in conditions of Couette flow was studied. A concentrated emulsion (20% oil, 0.5-2.0% sodium caseinate in 20 mM imidazole, pH 7) was diluted 20 times in buffer containing concentrations of CaCl(2) between 9 and 17 mM and sheared at rates between 335 and 1340 s(-)(1). The average particle size (d(43)), measured by integrated light scattering, increased in a sigmoidal manner with shearing time. An increased shear rate resulted in an increased flocculation rate, because of the increased number of collisions between particles, but a decreased value of the maximum d(43), because higher shear rates increasingly disrupted the flocs. The flocculation rate was increased by increasing the calcium concentration, indicating an increased collision efficiency. The orthokinetic stability of the emulsions was increased with increased protein content, and it is postulated that the increased surface coverage and hydrodynamic thickness of the adsorbed protein layer increased steric repulsion between droplets, so that higher calcium concentrations were necessary to induce sufficient conformational change of the proteins to allow flocculation. At high caseinate concentrations, calcium may also induce precipitation of unadsorbed caseins from the serum to the oil-water interface, thereby increasing steric repulsion and hence increasing orthokinetic stability.     

Steady-state kinetics and thermodynamics of the hydrolysis of beta-lactoglobulin by trypsin

Hydrolysis of beta-lactoglobulin (in an equimolar mixture of the A and B variant) by trypsin in neutral aqueous solution [pH 7.7 at 25 degrees C, ionic strength 0.08 (NaCl)] was followed by capillary electrophoresis and thermodynamic parameters derived from a Michaelis-Menten analysis of rate data obtained at 10, 20, 30, and 40 degrees C for disappearance of beta-lactoglobulin. Enthalpy of substrate binding to the enzyme and the energy of activation for the catalytic process were found to have the values, DeltaH(bind) = -28 +/- 4 kJ mol(-)(1) and E(a) = 51 +/- 18 kJ mol(-)(1), respectively. Thus, beta-lactoglobulin shows an enthalpy of activation for free substrate reacting with free enzyme of about 21 kJ mol(-)(1), corresponding to a transition state stabilization of 60 kJ mol(-)(1) when compared to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. The catalytic efficiency of trypsin in hydrolysis of beta-lactoglobulin is increased significantly by temperature; however, this effect is partly counteracted by a weaker substrate binding resulting in an increase by only 25%/10 degrees C in overall catalytic efficiency.     

Nicosulfuron: alcoholysis, chemical hydrolysis, and degradation on various minerals.

Alcoholysis (methanol or ethanol) and hydrolysis (pH ranging from 4 to 11) of the herbicide nicosulfuron at 30 degrees C principally involves the breakdown of the urea part of the molecule. A high yield of the corresponding carbamate was obtained along with aminopyrimidine during alcoholysis. Hydrolysis led to both aminopyrimidine and pyridylsulfonamide. The latter compound may be easily cyclized (pH > or = 7). First-order kinetics describe the rates of alcoholysis and hydrolysis well. The rate constants (0.44 days(-1) for methanolysis) decreased from 0.50 to 0.002 days(-1) as pH increased from 4 to 8, then remained stable under alkaline conditions. In acidic or neutral solution, the hydrolysis path appeared prevalent (> or =70%), whereas in an alkaline medium it decreased when pH increased. The chemical degradation of nicosulfuron on various dry minerals (calcium bentonite, kaolinite, silica gel, H(+) bentonite, montmorillonite K10, and alumina) was investigated at 30 degrees C. The best conditions for the degradation are obtained on acidic minerals after herbicide deposition using the liquid method. Under these conditions an acceptable correlation with pseudo-first-order kinetics was observed, and the major degradation path is similar to that proposed for chemical hydrolysis. Conversely, alumina seemed to favor other unknown degradation processes. The hydrolysis paths of nicosulfuron and rimsulfuron appeared to be different.     

Responses of barley to hypoxia and salinity during seed germination,nutrient uptake,and early plant growth in solution culture

The resistance of most plants to salt can be impaired by concurrent waterlogging. However, few studies have examined this interaction during germination and early seedling growth and its implications for nutrient uptake. The aim of the study was to examine the response of germination, early growth, and nutrient uptake to salt (NaCl) and hypoxia applied to barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Stirling), in solution culture. Hypoxia, induced by covering seeds with water, lowered the germination from 94% to 28% but salinity and hypoxia together lowered it further to 13% at 120 mM NaCl. While the germination was 75% at 250 mM NaCl in aerated solution, it was completely inhibited at this NaCl concentration under hypoxia. Sodium ion (Na⁺) concentrations in germinated seedlings increased with increasing salinity under both aerated and hypoxic conditions during germination, while K⁺ and Mg⁺ concentrations were decreased with increasing salinity in 6 d old seedlings. After 20 d, control seedlings had the same dry weights of the roots and shoots with and without hypoxia but at 10 mM NaCl and higher, shoot and root dry weight was depressed with hypoxia. Sodium ion increased in roots and shoots with increased NaCl under both aerated and hypoxic conditions while K⁺ was depressed when salinity and hypoxia were applied together and Ca²⁺ was mostly decreased by NaCl. In general, hypoxia had greater effects on nutrient concentrations than NaCl by decreasing N, P, S, Mg, Mn, Zn, and Fe in shoots and by increasing B concentrations. The threshold salinity levels decreased markedly for germination, uptake of a range of nutrients, and for seedling growth of barley under hypoxic compared to well‐aerated conditions.     

Cd Zn交互作用对金针菇富集重金属的影响

以金针菇为试验材料,在基质中分别单独添加和同时添加不同浓度的Cd、Zn,采用栽培袋接种培养法研究了食用菌富集Cd、Zn以及Cd、Zn交互作用对食用菌累积重金属的影响。结果表明,低浓度的Cd（〈1mg·kg^-1）、Zn（〈600mg·kg^-1）能够促进金针菇的生长,但是高浓度的Cd、Zn对金针菇生长会产生抑制作用。随着栽培基质中Cd、Zn处理浓度的增高,金针菇子实体中的Cd、Zn浓度也随之增加。Cd—Zn之间表现为互相拈抗作用,金针菇子实体内的Cd含量随着培养基质中Zn浓度的增加而显著降低（P〈0．05）,Cd浓度降低比例与Zn／Cd比值之间呈显著的正相关（P〈0．01）。在Zn处理浓度为600mg·kg^-1,Cd处理浓度分别为1mg·kg^-1和10时,与不加Zn相比,金针菇子实体Cd含量分别降低29％和11％。Cd对Zn也表现出一定的拮抗作用,但是除在Zn为0和Cd为10mg·kg^-1处理时拈抗作用显著（P〈0．05）外,其余处理没有达到显著水平。而在10mg·kg^-1 Cd和600mg·kg^-1 Zn处理条件下,金针菇生物量显著下降,可能是由于Cd—Zn协同作用,造成毒害作用的结果。     

Combined influence of NaCl and sucrose on heat-induced gelation of bovine serum albumin

The combined influence of a strongly interacting cosolvent (NaCl) and a weakly interacting cosolvent (sucrose) on the heat-induced gelation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied. The dynamic shear rheology of 4 wt % BSA solutions containing 0 or 20 wt % sucrose and 0-200 mM NaCl was monitored as they were heated from 30 to 90 degrees C at 1.5 degrees C min(-)(1), held at 90 degrees C for 120 min, and then cooled back to 30 degrees C at -1.5 degrees C min(-)(1). The turbidity of the same solutions was monitored as they were heated from 30 to 95 degrees C at 1.5 degrees C min(-)(1) or held isothermally at 90 degrees C for 10 min. NaCl had a similar effect on BSA solutions that contained 0 or 20 wt % sucrose, with the gelation temperature decreasing and the final gel strength increasing with increasing salt concentration and the greatest changes occurring between 25 and 100 mM NaCl. Nevertheless, the presence of sucrose did lead to an increase in the gelation temperature and final gel strength and a decrease in the final gel turbidity. The impact of NaCl on gel characteristics was attributed primarily to its ability to screen electrostatic interactions between charged protein surfaces, whereas the impact of sucrose was attributed mainly to its ability to increase protein thermal stability and strengthen the attractive forces between proteins through a preferential interaction mechanism.     

盐胁迫下草麻黄电阻抗图谱参数的变化及离子平衡机制

为探讨草麻黄对盐胁迫的适应性,以2年生草麻黄苗为试验材料,采用盆栽法测定在不同NaCl浓度、不同胁迫时间下草麻黄苗各项电阻抗图谱参数(EIS)变化及5种矿质离子含量,并分析各电阻抗参数、相对电导率及矿质离子含量之间的相关性。结果表明,随着NaCl浓度的增加和胁迫时间的延长,草麻黄地上部相对电导率逐渐升高,其中200 mmol·L^-1NaCl胁迫28 d以上时的相对电导率显著高于对照,200、300、400 mmol·L^-1盐胁迫下的相对电导率分别为对照的1.43、1.52、1.65倍;电阻抗图谱参数高频电阻率(r)、低频电阻率(r₁)、胞内电阻率(r_i)、胞外电阻率(r_e)、弛豫时间(τ)及弛豫时间分布系数(Ψ)均呈先下降后上升再下降或先下降后上升的变化趋势,其中r、r₁、r_e、r_i、Ψ均在NaCl浓度超过200 mmol·L^-1时出现再次下降,且呈不可逆的下降趋势。随着胁迫天数的增加,草麻黄地上部和根中Na⁺含量逐渐增加,K⁺含量逐渐下降,K⁺/Na⁺显著降低。盐胁迫下,草麻黄地上部Zn、Fe、Mg含量均有不同程度的降低。相关性分析结果表明,K⁺/Na⁺与r_e、r、r₁均呈极显著正相关,与r_i呈显著正相关,其中 K⁺/Na⁺ 与r_e的相关性最高,相关系数为0.985;5种阳离子总量与r_e、r、r₁均呈显著负相关。盐胁迫影响了草麻黄体内离子的运输和平衡,细胞内外离子浓度的变化引发电阻抗参数的变化,分析相对电导率电阻抗图谱参数的变化发现NaCl胁迫下,草麻黄的忍耐极限浓度为200 mmol·L^-1,表明草麻黄具有较高的耐盐能力。本研究结果为盐碱地区草麻黄的推广栽培提供了理论依据。     

Kinetic study of the thermal hydrolysis of Agave salmiana for mezcal production

The kinetics of the thermal hydrolysis of the fructans of Agave salmiana were determined during the cooking step of mezcal production in a pilot autoclave. Thermal hydrolysis was achieved at different temperatures and cooking times, ranging from 96 to 116 °C and from 20 to 80 h. A simple kinetic model of the depolymerization of fructans to monomers and other reducing sugars and of the degradation of reducing sugars to furans [principally 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural, HMF] was developed. From this model, the rate constants of the reactions were calculated, as well as the pre-exponential factors and activation energies of the Arrhenius equation. The model was found to fit the experimental data well. The tradeoff between a maximum fructan hydrolysis and a critical furan concentration in allowing for the best ethanol yield during fermentation was investigated. The results indicated that the thermal hydrolysis of agave was optimal, from the point of view of ethanol yield in the ensuing fermentation, in the temperature range of 106-116 °C and the cooking range time of 6-14 h. The optimal conditions corresponded to a fructan hydrolysis of 80%, producing syrups with furan and reducing sugar concentrations of 1 ± 0.1 and 110 ± 10 g/L, respectively.     

Effects of NaCl concentration on the thermal conductivity of sand and glass beads with moisture contents at levels below field capacity

Abstract

Soil thermal conductivity is a key factor governing its thermal regime. In the present study, we measured the thermal conductivity of Toyoura sand and glass beads using a heat probe method to clarify the effects of gravimetric water content (w) and NaCl concentration (C) and to evaluate the estimation effectiveness of four models (Mochizuki, de Vries, Noborio and Kasubuchi). The de Vries and Kasubuchi models predict the effect of w on soil thermal conductivity, whereas the Noborio model describes the effects of solute concentration and the Mochizuki model describes both parameters. With or without NaCl, the thermal conductivity of both samples increased with increasing w, and the increase could be grouped into three ranges based on w. The upper and lower limits of each water content range were constant, even at varying NaCl concentrations, but the width of the range differed among the three ranges and between the sand and glass bead samples. Although soil thermal conductivity has previously been reported to generally decrease with increasing C, the thermal conductivities of some glass beads increased in the present study, particularly at moisture contents close to field capacity. The change in thermal conductivity as a function of C was linear in all cases. This trend was similar to that of a non-swelling clay in a previous study. The Mochizuki model, which regressed measured thermal conductivity on C and w, predicted the thermal conductivity of sand as well as previous models, but the calculations were easier and the method offers more flexibility for soils with different textures.     

Hydrolysis kinetics of astaxanthin esters and stability of astaxanthin of Haematococcus pluvialis during saponification

The reaction kinetics for the hydrolysis of astaxanthin esters and the degradation of astaxanthin during saponification of the pigment extract from the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis were investigated. Different concentrations of sodium hydroxide in methanol were used for the saponification under nitrogen in darkness at ambient temperature (22 degrees C) followed by the analysis of astaxanthins and other carotenoids using an HPLC method. The concentration of methanolic NaOH solution was important for promoting the hydrolysis of astaxanthin esters and minimizing the degradation of astaxanthin during saponification. With a higher concentration of methanolic NaOH solution, the reaction rate of hydrolysis was high, but the degradation of astaxanthin occurred significantly. The rate constants of the hydrolysis reaction (first order) of astaxanthin esters and the degradation reaction (zero-order) of astaxanthin were directly proportional to the concentration of sodium hydroxide in the saponified solution. Although the concentration of sodium hydroxide in the saponified solution was 0.018 M, complete hydrolysis of astaxanthin esters was achieved in 6 h for different concentrations (10-100 mg/L) of pigment extracts. Results also indicated that a higher temperature should be avoided to minimize the degradation of astaxanthin. In addition, during saponification, no loss of lutein, beta-carotene, and canthaxanthin was found.     

Effect of hydrodynamic dispersion on phosphatase reactions in a soil column

Columns of artificially-prepared soil crumbs were perfused with solutions of p-nitrophenyl phosphate and rates of hydrolysis of this substrate as catalyzed by soil phosphatase were measured. Hydrolysis proceeded by a zero-order or by a first-order reaction at high and low concentrations of substrate, respectively. Steady-state concentrations of substrate and products from the columns can be described essentially in terms of plug flow kinetics with but minor corrections for hydrodynamic dispersion. Values of the zero and first-order rate constants corrected for dispersion are 3 and 9 per cent greater, respectively, than those assuming plug flow kinetics. The apparent value of the first-order rate constant is about 70 percent higher than the true value because of electrostatic repulsion between the negatively-charged substrate and the soil particles.