Purification Efficiency Research Articles

The influence of metal ions on aqueous dispersions of graphite oxide

ABSTRACT The residual metallic impurities in the graphite oxide (GO) dominate their properties and have a negative influence on the potential applications. The swelling of the GO suspensions is mainly affected by electrostatic forces and special interactions between water molecules, metal ions and hydrophilic groups. Bivalent and trivalent cations give rise to ionic crosslinking of the charged network within the particles. The CaCl2 solution has the best purification effect. A new purification method is proposed in the purification process, the origin metal ions in GO suspensions are replaced by homogeneous metal ions first, and GO suspensions are desalted by electrodialysis device. Free ionic calcium is removed by electrodialysis, and only the calcium that interact with GO particles is remained. The content of fixed calcium is 0.0049 g/g (nearly clear) after washing with 1.5 mmol/L CaCl2 solution and electrodialyzing for 20 min. The new method improves the purification efficiency and save energy.

Efficient Simultaneous Isolation of Pinostrobin and Panduratin A from Boesenbergia rotunda Using Centrifugal Partition Chromatography

The bioactive flavonoids pinostrobin (PN) and panduratin A (PA) from Boesenbergia rotunda are essential for research and therapeutic applications. This study introduces an innovative method utilizing ultrasound-assisted extraction with n-hexane pre-treatment, followed by one-step centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) purification. Extraction efficiency was evaluated using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), and the isolated compounds were characterized through 1H-NMR and liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS), adhering to AOAC validation guidelines. Optimal extraction conditions comprised a particle size of 125 μm, a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:30 g/mL, and a 10 min extraction time, yielding a crude extract of 6.96 ± 0.07%. Using an n-hexane/MeOH/water (5/3.4/1.6, v/v) solvent system in ascending mode, PN (2.16 mg, 98.78% purity) and PA (0.4 mg, 99.69% purity) were isolated from 67 mg of crude extract within 30 min. This streamlined approach enhances purification efficiency, allowing for faster extraction and higher purity, making it a suitable method for commercial applications.

A deep eutectic solvent with bifunctional acid sites treatment to upgrade a bamboo kraft pulp into a cellulose-acetate grade dissolving pulp

Valorization of non-wood pulp, such as bamboo bleached kraft pulp into high-purity cellulose acetate (CA)-grade dissolving pulp is crucial but challenging in China. Herein, a series of metal salt-based deep eutectic solvents (MSDESs) involving various ZnCl2-urea (U), ZnCl2-glycerol (G), and ZnCl2-lactic acid (LA) are comparatively investigated for this purpose. Thanks to the bifunctional acid sites of Lewis acid ZnCl2 and Brønsted acid LA, the ZnCl2-LA MSDES has the highest acidity (2.62) and interaction affinity to bamboo fibers, leading to the highest efficiency in simultaneous pulp purification and activation. As a result, the resultant upgraded pulp from ZnCl2-LA (DES3-F) features remarkable improvements in purity (from 80.8 % to 93.1 %), intrinsic viscosity (from 897 to 419 mg/L), and reactivity (from 18.1 % to 80.8 %). Moreover, the modified acetate product has a high degree of substitution of 2.84 and a yield of 75.5 %. In short, such a proposed MSDES treatment can offer a promising and alternative approach for the manufacture of high-quality dissolving pulp and its derivatives.

A metal–organic frameworks-imprinted emulsion interface with dynamic size- and site-selective recognition for significantly enhanced flavoniods extraction

The boronic acid suspended Cr based MIL-100 (MIL-100-B) sorbents have been widely used to separation of cis-diol containing molecules. However, it’s still challenging in fabrication of high performance metal organic frameworks (MOFs) due to its irregular size and low content of functional groups. For improving identification efficiency, the emulsion microreactor were firstly designed to purify MIL-100-B prior to their use. Herein, a highly ordered MOFs-imprinted polymer microsphere was synthesized by O/W Pickering emulsion template, which can highly selective separation of MIL-100-B via the synergistic effect of boronic acid sites and imprinted cavities. The obtained purified H-MIL-100-B exhibited the uniform size and abundant boronic acid groups (B elements ratio up to 27.37 %). The emulsion imprinted microsphere (EIMs) showed the good selectivity towards MIL-100-B. Additionally, the obtained MOF-imprinted microsphere exhibited green, convenient, sustainable separation process towards the purification and recycle of MIL-100-B. The purified MOFs (H-MIL-100-B) were used to specific bind with cis-diol flavoniods naringin (NRG). Satisfactorily, H-MIL-100-B show high adsorption amount (43.69μmol/g at 308 K), fast capture kinetics (160 min), high selectivity and excellent regenerability (up to seven cycles). Remarkably, the purified NRG solutions displayed lasting antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) with inhibition zone of 13.47 mm. More importantly, the H-MIL-100-B could effectively promote the specific recognition ability of NRG by reducing matrix interference and improving purification efficiency (93.93 %) from complex natural extracts. A high score (0.75) was predicted via analytical GREEnness (AGREE) approaches, demonstrating environmentally friendly and greenness of separation process. The MOFs-imprinted emulsion microspheres possessed dynamic recognition properties towards target MOFs, thus opening new direction for the development of convenient and efficient microreactor for the purification of other functional MOFs.

A novel passive method to regulate the performance of photocatalytic-Trombe wall by horizontal fins

Constrained by the inadequate percentage of ultraviolet in solar irradiation and the low transmittance of photocatalytic layer, the purification and thermal performance of photocatalytic-Trombe wall (PC-TW) need to be improved urgently. To address this, a novel passive method to regulate PC-TW performance using horizontal fins was proposed. Aiming at this innovation, by numerical method, a three dimensional model was constructed to investigate the impact of relative fins height h* and spacing s*, and the mechanism about how these parameters affect the performance was also discussed. The results indicate that: under natural ventilation strategy, compared with PC-TW without fins, the thermal efficiency ηth, purification efficiency ηHCHO and total efficiency ηtotal are improved to some extent and there exist optimal fins parameters. However, horizontal fins will instead lower the efficiencies when h* exceeds 0.4. Under forced ventilation strategy, the increase in h* contributes to all efficiencies, making ηHCHO increasing monotonically, while ηth and ηtotal present a parabolic trend. In addition, the increase in s* lowers the improved efficiencies but can still keep them in a high range. For different ventilation strategies, considering the performance and manufacturing cost, the suggested h* and s* are 0.2 and 2.5. h* and s* respectively regulate the performance by affecting the size and amount of vortex between adjacent fins, and h* has a greater impact on the performance than s*. This study not only paves a new approach for performance regulation of PC-TW, but also provides theoretical basis for structural design and operation of PC-TW with fins.

A Bio-Inspired Magnetic Soft Robotic Fish for Efficient Solar-Energy Driven Water Purification.

Solar-driven water evaporation is a promising solution for global water scarcity but is still facing challenges due to its substantial energy requirements. Here, a magnetic soft robotic bionic fish is developed by combining magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), and carboxymethyl chitosan. This bionic fish can release liquid water through hydrophilic/hydrophobic phase transition and dramatically reduce energy consumption. The introduced Fe3O4 nanoparticles endow the bionic fish with magnetic actuation capability, allowing for remote operation and recovery. Additionally, the magnetic actuation process accelerates the water absorption rate of the bionic fish as confirmed by the finite element simulations. The results demonstrate that bionic fish can effectively remove not only organic molecular dyes dissolved in water but also harmful microbes and insoluble microparticles from natural lakes. Moreover, the bionic fish maintains a good purification efficiency even after five recycling cycles. Furthermore, the bionic fish possesses other functions, such as salt purification and salt rejection. Finally, the mechanism of water purification is explained in conjunction with molecular dynamics calculations. This work provides a new approach for efficient solar-energy water purification by phase transition behavior in soft robotics.

Efficient ibuprofen removal using enzymatic activated ZIF-8-PVDF membranes

This study investigated the development of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) hybrid ultrafiltration membranes, where ZIF-8 nanocrystals are synthesized in situ within the membrane pores. These ZIF-8 embedded membranes are specifically designed for the treatment of emerging pollutants, such as ibuprofen. The optimized membrane, characterized by a higher concentration of ZIF-8 and greater surface coverage, exhibited significantly enhanced performance and improved properties, including increased hydrophobicity and mechanical strength. By increasing the zinc concentration from 0.2 to 0.3 M during the preparation of the ZIF-8 coated membrane, hydrophobicity was enhanced, as indicated by an increase in the contact angle from 60.3° to 87.2°, along with improved porosity from 41.3% to 60.5%. Further performance enhancements were achieved by encapsulating enzymes, specifically laccase and peroxidase, within the ZIF-8 coated membrane. A comparison of ibuprofen removal by these enzymes showed that peroxidase was slightly more effective, reaching a maximum removal efficiency of approximately 45% within 2 h. The biocatalytic membranes demonstrated a high stability and reusability, underscoring their potential for efficient ibuprofen removal. These findings highlight the efficacy of ZIF-8-coated PVDF membranes as advanced tools for water purification, offering significant improvements in both purification efficiency and membrane stability.

Isolation and purification of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts based on a multi-channel magnetic flow device and rapid qualitative and quantitative detection

Rapid isolation and identification of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts during fermentation is of great significance for quality control and regulation of fermented foods. In this study, we prepared a multi-channel magnetic flow device for rapid separation and purification of lactic acid bacteria and yeast, and based on SERS spectrum, we made rapid qualitative and quantitative analysis of Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactococcus lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The results showed that the synthesized Synthesized Fe3O4-Van antibiotic magnetic beads are paramagnetic; Fe3O4-Van antibiotic magnetic beads achieved capture efficiencies of more than 98.5 % for both L. plantarum and L. lactis at 102–104 CFU/mL, respectively. Separation and purification efficiency of single S. cerevisiae, L. plantarum and L. lactis by multi-channel magnetic flow device all reached more than 98 % with good isolation and purification results. The SERS spectra of the three microorganisms were classified and analyzed using linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and the accuracy of the established LDA model was 100 %, which completely differentiated the SERS spectra of the three microorganisms,and realized the qualitative identification of L. plantarum, L. lactis, and S. cerevisiae, and finally, quantitative model was established with the logarithmic values (lg C) of different concentrations of L. plantarum, L. lactis, and S. cerevisiae as the horizontal coordinates, and the Raman intensities at their strongest characteristic peaks of 512 cm−1, 1669 cm−1, and 1125 cm−1, respectively, were used as vertical coordinates to establish a quantitative model, with the lowest detection limit of 10 CFU/mL, and the digital quantification of lactic acid bacteria and yeast were achieved. It provided an effective means for real-time monitoring and tracking of the dynamics of lactic acid bacteria and yeast in the fermentation process and the quality control of fermented foods.

Low cost fabrication of continuous flow optofluidic microreactor for efficient dye degradation using graphene QDs@MOF (Ti) photocatalyst

The optofluidic microreactor, a convergence of optics and microfluidics, offers advanced functionalities that can be pivotal in the rapid assessment of nanocatalysts for tackling environmental contamination issues. This article presents an efficient approach for degrading Methylene blue (MB) dye, commonly used in the textile industry, within a cost-effective polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based continuous flow optofluidic microreactor. This microreactor combines graphene quantum dots (QDs) and NH2-MIL-125 (MOF(Ti)) as a highly effective photocatalyst coating within its microchannels. By directly incorporating graphene QDs@MOF(Ti) into the microchannels, the photocatalytic medium is brought into close proximity with the flowing MB dye solutions, thereby reducing the necessary interaction time and enhancing purification efficiency. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate an impressive degradation efficiency of ∼99% for MB dye at a flow rate of 50 μL min−1 under visible light irradiation, achieved in a single pass. Additionally, the microfluidic reactor exhibits prolonged stability of the photocatalyst, enabling its reuse without significant efficiency loss. In addition, a comparative analysis highlights the advantages of microreactor-based photocatalysis over traditional methods. These advancements in the features of the graphene QDs@MOF(Ti) nanocomposite substantiate their demonstrated superiority in degradation efficiency.

Delamination of MXene using biomolecule: An effective strategy toward the utilization of delaminated MXene as fillers in polymer composites

AbstractWith the emergence of two‐dimensional (2D) materials analogous to graphene, transition metal carbides and carbonitrides with unique desirable characteristics known as MXenes have turned out to be a hot research topic. Recent studies increasingly focus on the structure–property relationships of MXenes and their hybrid formations with other materials. The exfoliation and delamination of MXenes using various agents is gaining attention, while their application in functional composites presents another exciting research direction. However, the exfoliation of multi‐layered MXene into few‐layered nanosheets using bio‐based agents remains underexplored. In this study, tannic acid (TA) is employed as a bio‐exfoliating agent to delaminate Ti3C2Tx MXene, while optimizing the ratio of TA to achieve efficient exfoliation and dye adsorption. The MXene/TA composites demonstrated a maximum adsorption capacity of 187.264 mg/g and a removal efficiency of 93.69% for methylene blue (MB) in water, in accordance with the Langmuir isotherm model. Furthermore, MB adsorption caused MXene to coagulate into floccules, enabling easy removal via filtration. The study highlights the trifold role of tannic acid in MXene as a delaminating, antimicrobial, and adsorption‐enhancing agent, creating a multifunctional MXene‐tannic acid system. It introduces a new class of hybrid materials with effective applications in water purification. Additionally, incorporating this hybrid material into polymers can fine‐tune their properties, leveraging the synergistic effects of the trio to develop high‐performance smart polymer composites for diverse applications.Highlights Synthesis of MXene from Ti3C2Tx Optimization of the delamination efficiency of the biomolecule tannic acid Characterization of tannic acid‐MXene delaminated composites Analysis of the antibacterial efficiency of tannic acid delaminated MXene Investigation of water purification efficiency of delaminated MXene

Enhanced methylene blue degradation and miniralization through activated persulfate coupled with magnetic field

In this work, for the first time, the effectiveness of the degradation and mineralization process of methylene blue) MB) was investigated using activated persulfate (PS) with a magnetic field. The effect of various operating parameters, including pH, PS (5–20 mg/L), intensity of the magnetic field (1–4 A), initial concentration of methylene blue dye (25–100 mg/L), and contact time (30–120 min), was evaluated. Process optimization was conducted via the Taguchi model, and the optimal values of these factors were found to be pH = 5, PS = 10 mg/L, MFs = 4 A, reaction time = 30 min, and the initial concentration of methylene blue dye = 50 mg/L. Under optimal conditions, the methylene blue removal efficiency and TOC destruction efficiency reached 91.8% and 88%, respectively. The kinetics of the process followed pseudo-second order (R2 = 0.9723). According to the promising results of the research, the efficiency of dye purification using a magnetic field has increased by about three times compared to the state without this factor. It can be suggested that this system be used as a wastewater treatment process for the textile industry to reduce the toxicity of wastewater and total organic carbon (TOC).

Comparison and Optimization of Three Extraction Methods for Epimedium polysaccharides

Epimedium is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Epimedium polysaccharides have a variety of physiological properties. This study compared three different processes for the extraction of polysaccharides from Epimedium spp., including ultrasonic, aqueous enzymatic, and microwave extraction, to optimize the extraction conditions and determine the optimal extraction method. The optimal parameters for each method were analyzed. The results showed that the optimal process for ultrasonic extraction was an ultrasonic power of 250 W, an extraction time of 60 min, a temperature of 50 °C, and a solid–liquid ratio of 1:35. The optimal conditions for the aqueous enzymatic method were a papain concentration of 70 U/mL, extraction time of 70 min, a temperature of 50 °C, and a material-to-liquid ratio of 1:30, while those for microwave extraction were a microwave power of 650 W, an extraction time of 50 min, a temperature of 40 °C, and a material-to-liquid ratio of 1:25. The polysaccharide yields were 4.85%, 4.72%, and 3.98% for the three methods, respectively, indicating that ultrasonic extraction resulted in the highest yield of polysaccharides from Epimedium brevicornum. After purification with DEAE-cellulose, the polysaccharide yields were 4.13%, 3.67%, and 3.12%, respectively. A comprehensive comparison demonstrated the superiority of the ultrasonic extraction method in terms of both extraction yield and purification efficiency. Characterization of the extracted Epimedium polysaccharides showed the presence of five monosaccharides, i.e., glucose, galactose, mannose, galacturonic acid, and rhamnose, and a number average molecular weight Mn of 1.65 × 105 Da and weight average molecular weight Mw of 6.61 × 105 Da. These results provide a scientific basis for the in-depth study and application of Epimedium polysaccharides.

Research on energy utilization of electron beam melting for silicon purification

As a key material for solar photovoltaic power generation, the purity of silicon plays a crucial role in the photovoltaic conversion efficiency and performance. The electron beam melting (EBM), which is irreplaceable metallurgical methods, has been widely used for silicon purification. However, high energy consumption result in relatively high cost, which limits its widespread application in melting industry. This study was centered on the energy distribution that proposes a new approach to reducing energy consumption during EBM. The scanning form of electron beam is most important factor concerning energy consumption. Different scanning forms can affect the characteristics of molten pool which is closely correlated with the purification process. In this study, efficient and energy-saving preparation processes of EBM are being explored through the numerical model and experimental. The relationship of energy distribution form and purification efficiency is studied. The research results indicate that electron beam scanning under uniform distribution can achieve more uniform temperature and flow field distribution in the molten pool, which has a higher energy utilization rate during silicon purification by EBM. The mathematical model established in this study can effectively predict the energy consumption level under different melting parameters, providing important reference for the optimization and energy conservation of EBM process for other materials. In addition, evaporation characteristics of volatile impurity, migration of the second phase particles in the melt, controlling of melt pool characteristics and the crystal growth control all can be conducted based on this study.

Industrial Testing of a Hybrid Technology for Water Purification from the Oka River Using the Method of Charcoalization with Powdered Sorbent

The development of the industrial sector and the increase in production capacity have a positive effect on the economic situation of the country, but not on environmental safety. Insufficiently purified and polluted wastewater is constantly discharged into water sources, the amount of which directly depends on the industrial development of the region. Thus, the anthropogenic load on the Oka River affects the composition of water in the source, there are often bursts of instantaneous emissions, as well as the flowering of phytoplankton in the summer. The latter further significantly reduce the efficiency of water purification to drinking quality. Therefore, the development of technologies that will be able to maintain purification at the required level is an urgent task. The article presents the method of charcoalization, which allows to neutralize pollution in a short time and improve the water treatment quality. An industrial experiment of the developed technology was carried out at an operating water treatment plant with testing of two extreme do-sages of sorption material. The optimal dose of coal pulp was determined, the impact on significant purification performance was described, and the technological solutions have been developed to determine the point of coal pulp input and the dosage multiplicity. The conducted research has made it possible to expand knowledge in the field of drinking water preparation and to determine significant water parameters that are affected by the sorption purification method.

Recent Progress in Photocatalytic Applications of Electrospun Nanofibers: A Review.

Electrospun fiber-based photocatalysts demonstrate significant potential in addressing global environmental and energy challenges, primarily due to their high specific surface areas and unique properties. This review examines recent advances in the application of these materials in photocatalytic processes, with a particular focus on water splitting and hydrogen production. The principles of the electrospun method are described in detail, along with the operating parameters, material characteristics, and environmental conditions that affect the fiber formation. Additionally, the review discusses the challenges, advantages, and future prospects of photocatalysts incorporating carbon materials, metals, semiconductors, and hybrid structures with improved performance. These materials have the potential to significantly improve the efficiency of hydrogen energy production, water purification, and CO2 recovery, highlighting their importance in engineering sciences.

Assembly of Eosin Y in-situ intercalated Zr-MOF composite for decontaminating Cr(VI) and reactive dyes via physical capture and photochemical purification

Post-modification based on highly water stable Zr-MOF introduces a novel dimension of functional regulation, offering a fresh perspective for the advancement of pragmatic photocatalysts in the water treatment field. In this study, an entirely novel Zr-MOF (NU-1400-py), featuring a topological network identical to that of NU-1400, has been assembled. The main difference is the replacement of TPTC's central benzene ring with a pyrimidine ring. Utilizing the inherent porosity and semiconducting properties, this Zr-MOF possesses the capability to physically trap Cr2O72- ions (136.43 mg/g), achieving photochemical purification of Cr(VI) and K-, X-, M-type reactive dyes from water. Moreover, another novel heterojunction material EY@Zr-MOF, has been fabricated via in-situ intercalation of luminescent Eosin Y (EY) species within Zr-MOF. Due to the sensitization of embedded EY molecules, EY@Zr-MOF exhibits significantly optimized interface resistance, transient photocurrent intensity and carrier migration efficiency compared to pristine Zr-MOF. Notably, the photochemical purification efficiencies of EY@Zr-MOF towards Cr2O72- (99.66 %, 30 min), RB13 (90.18 %, 120 min), RR2 (92.40 %, 300 min) and RR11 (84.80 %, 90 min) have been dramatically elevated, offering the considerably accelerated reaction kinetics of 1.24, 4.82, 2.48 and 6.23 times, respectively, compared to pristine Zr-MOF, the photochemical purification efficiencies of Zr-MOF towards Cr2O72- (97.88 %, 30 min), RB13 (85.55 %, 450 min), RR2 (71.38 %, 450 min) and RR11 (53.16 %, 240 min). Additionally, its photocatalytic REDOX mechanisms in eliminating target contaminants were proposed tentatively. This contribution offers a viable pathway for designing multi-functional materials aimed at solving some intractable environmental issues caused by Cr(VI) and reactive dyes.

Accurate and stable detection of p-phenylenediamine antioxidants and their transformation products in aquatic products using antioxidant protection – Analysis of actual aquatic products

Given the high toxicity of N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) derivatives, such as 6PPD quinone (6PPDQ) to salmon, as well as their ubiquitous presence in the environment, the contaminant of aquatic food products has drawn significant attention. However, analytical methods for p-Phenylenediamines (PPDs) and their transformation products (TPs) in aquatic products remain underdeveloped. In particular, the degradation of some compounds and strong matrix effects complicate detection. In this study, we present a stable, rapid, and sensitive method combining salt-out assisted extraction, antioxidant protection, and multi-plug filtration clean-up (m-PFC) to detect two PPDs and five TPs in aquatic products. Crucially, the appropriate selection of antioxidants prevented the degradation of the easily oxidized target compounds. Further, the m-PFC method significantly enhanced the purification efficiency, achieving satisfactory recoveries (62.1–115 %), and method detection limits (MDLs) ranging from 0.00300 to 0.400 μg/kg. Subsequently, the method was applied to monitor PPDs and their TPs in aquatic products systematically, revealing the presence of 6PPD and N-isopropyl-N′-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine (IPPD) in white shrimp from aquafarms, whereas none of the seven target analytes were detected in fish and crab samples. These findings contribute to the detection of PPDs, their TPs and other unstable chemicals in aquatic products, thereby providing insights into their concentrations in these products.

Ultraviolet/dielectric barrier discharge enhanced ultrafiltration for treating natural water: Performance, mechanism and iodinated disinfection by-product fate

This study employed ultraviolet (UV)/ dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) pre-treatment to mitigate ultrafiltration membrane fouling and enhance the purification efficiency of natural surface water. Moreover, as an emerging contaminant, the iodinated disinfection by-products’ fate and degradation performance were discussed. The investigation revealed that the generation of numerous active species (⋅OH, ⋅O2−, 1O2, etc) under high input voltage and low pH conditions were advantageous for augmenting membrane flux, with sodium sulfate electrolyte playing a role in promoting the formation of selective sulfate radicals. Fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy indicated that the UV/DBD system at 5.5 kV can effectively degrade proteins and humic substances in surface water, leading to an enhancement in water quality. With the assistance of UV radiation, macromolecular organic matter underwent extensive decomposition into smaller molecules, thus creating an ideal environment for controlling membrane fouling in the UV/DBD system. Additionally, it was identified the intermediate products and degradation pathways during iopamidol degradation by UV/DBD. It also affirmed the minimal risk of disinfection by-product generation with this strategy. The study provides a viable and efficient pre-treatment approach for mitigating membrane fouling and purifying water.

Enrichment of low-abundance osteopontin in bovine milk via reciprocating free-flow isoelectric focusing.

Osteopontin (OPN) in milk plays an important role in intestinal and brain development in early infancy, and great attention has been focused on OPN isolation to add extra OPN in infant formula. However, large-scale OPN isolation is limited by the low efficiency of sample pretreatment. Herein, we utilized preparative reciprocating free-flow isoelectric focusing (RFFIEF) to showcase the enrichment of low-abundance OPN in bovine milk, which contained an extremely high concentration of unwanted proteins. The reciprocating IEF format and the design of the multi-channel collector allowed us to enrich OPN in 1 L milk within 6h. We removed 97.5% of unwanted proteins and obtained an enrichment factor of 11. Thus, our RFFIEF method can be applied to the preparative pretreatment of the large-scale milk sample and potentially improve the efficiency of downstream OPN purification.

B-022 A New DNA Size-Selection Technology:Methods for Isolating, Capturing, and Recovery of Target Macromolecules by Gel Electrophoresis

Abstract Background The ability to recover DNA fragments in high quantity and purity from agarose gel is an important need for researchers in molecular biology laboratories for downstream applications such as testing and sequencing. There are multiple established methods and corresponding commercial products available at researchers’ disposal. Despite the availability of many methods, researchers often face a trade-off decision between fast and simple methods with low yield and poor DNA quality, and time-consuming and expensive methods with higher yields and better purity. Methods Gene Stix (ElectroSep) is a new system for recovery of DNA/RNA from an electrophoresis gel. Using the power of electrophoresis to separate nucleic acids based on size (a well-known technique), the Gene Stix, for the first time, allows one to recover nucleic acids directly from the gel. Gene Stix consisted of a cationic membrane which is inserted (in front of the nucleic acid of interest) into the electrophoresis gel after the nucleic acids are resolved from other contaminants in a separate step. After the Gene Stix is inserted in front of the DNA, the gel is re-run for a short period of time, binding the DNA to the Gene Stix. The Gene Stix is removed from the gel (carrying the DNA) and the DNA is recovered by elution using a special buffer. Results Electro-Sep technology allows DNA recovery around 85% and may lead up to 35% process efficiency for purification. It maximizes the process efficiency by not requiring damaging UV sensitive dyes in samples or cutting gel bands and allowing multiple Gene Stix used with one sample. Unique serial numbering system provides unambiguous sample identification. Conclusions The yield from different methods varies, however, it is typically at around 60-70%. Many of the commercially available DNA purification kits require around 25-30 minutes for purification. Moreover, the process with available methods could be laborious requiring cutting the gel bands, using UV dyes in sample, or simply requiring specialized gel electrophoresis equipment. Electro-Sep technology (and Gene Stix product using the technology), designed to recover size-selected DNA from agarose gel, provides a viable option that is rapid, easy-to-use yet resulting in high DNA recovery.