Measurement Of pH Changes Research Articles

CO2 Loss into Solution: An Experimental Investigation of CO2 Electrolysis with a Membrane Electrode Assembly Cell.

In pursuit of commercial viability for carbon dioxide (CO2) electrolysis, this study investigates the operational challenges associated with membrane electrode assembly (MEA)-type CO2 electrolyzers, with a focus on CO2 loss into the solution phase through bicarbonate (HCO3 -) and carbonate (CO3 2-) ion formation. Utilizing a silver electrode known for selectively facilitating CO2 to CO conversion, the molar production of CO2, CO, and H2 is measured across a range of current densities from 0 to 600 mA/cm2, while maintaining a constant CO2 inlet flow rate of 58 mL/min. The dynamics of CO2 loss are monitored through measurements of pH changes in the electrolyte and carbon elemental balance analysis. Employing the concept of conservation of elemental carbon, a chemical reaction analysis is conducted, identifying the critical role of the hydroxide (OH-) ion. At lower current densities below 125 mA/cm2, where CO2 reduction predominates, it is observed that CO2 loss is proportional to current density, reaching up to 0.18 mmol/min, and directly correlates with the rate of OH- ion production, indicative of HCO3 -/CO3 2- ion formation. Conversely, at higher current densities above 450 mA/cm2, where hydrogen evolution is the dominant process, CO2 loss is shown to decouple from the OH- ion production rate with a constant limit condition of 0.12 mmol/min, regardless of the current density. This suggests that electrolyte-induced cathode flooding restricts CO2 access to cathode sites. Additionally, pH change in the electrolyte during the electrolysis further infers differing ion populations in the CO2 reduction and hydrogen evolution regimes, and their movement across the membrane. Continued monitoring of the pH change after the cessation of electricity offers insights into the accumulation of HCO3 -/CO3 2- ion at the cathode, influencing salt formation.

Actively Driven Light-Addressable Sensor/Actuator System for Automated pH Control for the Integration in Lab-On-A-Chip (LoC) Platforms.

The miniaturization of microfluidic systems usually comes at the cost of more difficult integration of sensors and actuators inside the channel. As an alternative, this work demonstrates the embedding of semiconductor-based sensor and actuator technologies that can be spatially and temporally controlled from outside the channel using light. The first element is a light-addressable potentiometric sensor, consisting of an Al/Si/SiO2/Si3N4 structure, that can measure pH changes at the Si3N4/electrolyte interface. The pH value is a crucial factor in biological and chemical systems, and besides measuring, it is often important to bring the system out of equilibrium or to adjust and control precisely the surrounding medium. This can be done photoelectrocatalytically by utilizing light-addressable electrodes. These consist of a glass/SnO2:F/TiO2 structure, whereby direct charge transfer between the TiO2 and the electrolyte leads to a pH change upon irradiation. To complement the advantages of both, we integrated a light-addressable sensor with a pH sensitivity of 41.5 mV·pH-1 and a light-addressable electrode into a microfluidic setup. Here, we demonstrated a simultaneous operation with the ability to generate and record pH gradients inside a channel under static and dynamic flow conditions. The results show that dependent on the light-addressable electrode (LAE)-illumination conditions, pH changes up to ΔpH of 2.75 and of 3.52 under static and dynamic conditions, respectively, were spatially monitored by the light-addressable potentiometric sensor. After flushing with fresh buffer solution, the pH returned to its initial value. Depending on the LAE illumination, pH gradients with a maximum pH change of ΔpH of 1.42 were tailored perpendicular to the flow direction. In a final experiment, synchronous LAE illumination led to a stepwise increase in the pH inside the channel.

Application of Rosette Quorum Sensing Inhibitor in Fish Preservation

This study screened fish derived spoilage bacteria as the research object, and a development approach was used to determine the inhibitory effect of rose polyphenols on the secretion of the quorum sensing (QS) signal molecule N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHLs) by fish spoilage bacteria. The effect of rose QS inhibitors applied to fish preservation coatings on the putrefaction of spoilage bacteria was studied by measuring the changes in texture, pH, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) during the storage process of fish. The findings demonstrated that the dominant strain causing fish spoilage was Sphingomonaspaucimobilis, and rose polyphenols could significantly inhibit the ability of the spoilage bacteria to secrete AHLs. The application of different concentrations (1 and 2 mg/mL) of rose polyphenols in fish preservation coatings can slow down the growth of TBARS, and 2 mg/mL of rose polyphenols has a better inhibitory effect on the oxidation of fish fat, By measuring the L*, a*, and b* values of different treatment groups, it was found that the addition of rose polyphenols delayed the decrease of L* and the increase of a* value in fish meat, but had no significant effect on b* value, The 2 mg/mL rose polyphenol coating treatment group had the slightest pH change, according on tracking measurements of pH changes during fish storage. The sensory assessment results of fish meat from different treatment groups during storage showed that the 2 mg/mL rose polyphenol treatment group decreased the least among all treatment groups, which means applying it to the fish meat preservation coating can effectively delay the rate of quality decline during storage. The findings of this work may serve as a theoretical foundation for the use of naturally occurring rose polyphenols, a QS inhibitor, in the preservation of fish.

A colour sensor integrated into a microcontroller platform as a reliable tool for measuring pH changes in biochemistry applications.

Colorimetry is a widely used technique for optical detection in point-of-care testing and on-site detection. Although some studies employ a multiplex approach to analyse coloured solutions, many still analyse one sample at a time. We have prepared a simple and affordable colorimetric assay based on a TCS34725 colour sensor (ams-OSRAM) integrated into an M5Stack module and an RGB LED module both inserted into a 3D printed frame. We found that the colorimetric assay can be easily transferred to a colour sensing platform, and the signal range obtained using the prepared colorimeter is more than 200 times larger than that obtained using digital image colorimetry (DIC) for the same samples containing cholinesterase or urease as a model enzyme providing a change in pH of the processed solution. The assay appears to be ready for practical use.

Overlimiting mechanisms of heterogeneous cation- and anion-exchange membranes: A side-by-side comparison

Overlimiting ionic transfer attainable at ion-exchange membranes is a potential way to intensify electromembrane separation processes, such as electrodialysis. The primary mechanisms responsible for overlimiting current are electroconvection, natural convection, and water splitting. For the first time, the present study experimentally investigates all three mechanisms on heterogeneous anion- and cation-exchange membranes, using direct membrane observation and indirect measurement of pH changes in 0.01 M KCl solution. Although the anion- and cation-exchange systems are designed to exhibit the same behavior with different counterions, our results indicate significant differences in the overlimiting ionic transfer. The strong polarization of cation-exchange membranes produced an intensive electroconvective vortex with characteristic velocities in hundreds of μm/s superimposed by an upward electrolyte motion caused by natural convection. No pH changes associated with the water-splitting reaction were observed. The same conditions applied to the anion-exchange membrane resulted in profound pH changes, weaker electroconvection, and natural convection, reaching similar characteristic velocities to the other studied system. Generally, anion-exchange systems were characterized by more significant fluctuations in measured characteristics and were susceptible to fouling by one of the negatively charged markers. The obtained data provide a unified description of phenomena that may occur in the electrodialysis of low-concentrated ionic solutions.

Multimodal CMOS Biosensor for Microbial Growth Monitoring

This paper describes a new biosensor prototype that uses microscale electrodes to measure impedance, pH, and temperature changes caused by bacterial growth <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">in-vitro</i> . The prototype uses multiple sensor geometries to optimize sensitivity, and employs custom circuits including an integrated CMOS lock-in amplifier (LIA) for multi-frequency impedance measurement. The gold-plated interdigitated electrodes (AuIDEs), iridium oxide (IrO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> )-based pH electrodes, and snake-shaped gold resistance-temperature detectors (RTDs) electrodes are implemented on a flexible PCB. The custom integrated LIA is designed and fabricated in a 0.18-μm CMOS technology with 1.8 V supply voltage. The overall sensitivity of the LIA is 240 mV/nA with a current detection sensitivity down to 1 pA. A pH measuring circuit is designed using an operational amplifier with a very low input-bias-current. A Wheatstone bridge circuit with a network of resistors and RTD electrode is used to measure RTD resistance changes caused by temperature fluctuations. The whole system is enclosed into a self-contained platform developed to monitor bacterial growth by measuring the impedance as well as the environmental growth parameters such as pH and temperature. The fabricated multi-frequency LIA was employed to test the impedance of <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">E. coli</i> cells with different concentrations at multiple frequencies. The results showed that the IDE can measure the impedance variation caused by the bacterial activity with sensitivities of 36.62%, 34.37%, 33.29% and 20.23% at 1, 2, 4, and 10 kHz frequency, respectively. The fabricated pH electrodes showed linearity with a linear regression (R <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> ) value of 0.99 and can measure pH changes ranging from 4 to 10, with a sensitivity of 36, 52, and 68 mV/pH for sensing areas of 4 mm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> , 9 mm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> , and 16 mm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> , respectively. The temperature sensor measurements showed that the 4 mm × 4 mm RTD gold-printed temperature electrodes had a linear relationship between resistance and temperature with a R <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> value of 0.996, and the higher sensitivity of 36 (Ω/°C) compared to other tested RTD geometries. The prototype was successfully used to perform bacterial growth measurements <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">in-vitro</i> .

Carbonation of alkali-activated and hybrid mortars manufactured from slag: Confocal Raman microscopy study and impact on wear performance

This work aims to contribute to reducing environmental damage caused by the manufacturing of Portland cements (PC), through in-depth exploration into the durability of two mortars manufactured from blast furnace slag: an alkaline-activated one (AAS) and a hybrid cement (HS) with less than 20% clinker. The carbonation resistance of these eco-friendly mortars is compared to that of a mortar based on Portland IV cement. From a mineralogical point of view, DTA-TG and confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) tests have been carried out, along with measurement of pH changes, compression strength and total porosity. Böhme tests have been performed to evaluate changes due to carbonation in the wear behavior of the mortars under study. Using the CRM technique, it has been possible to establish a relationship between the carbonation of the systems with the unbound carbon content, as well as identify the different polymorphic phases of CaCO3 formed. The results obtained reveal that alternative AAS and HS mortars are more difficult to carbonate than Portland cement mortars, and that the effect of this process on the porosity depends on the nature of the hydroxides previously present in the pore solution. The carbonation of the surfaces also improves the abrasive wear resistance of the mortars under study.

How agarose gels surrounding PLGA implants limit swelling and slow down drug release

The aim of this study was to better understand to which extent and in which way the presence of an agarose gel (mimicking living tissue) around a PLGA [poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)] implant affects the resulting drug release kinetics. Ibuprofen-loaded implants were prepared by hot melt extrusion. Drug release was measured upon exposure to phosphate buffer pH 7.4 in Eppendorf tubes, as well as upon inclusion into an agarose gel which was exposed to phosphate buffer pH 7.4 in an Eppendorf tube or in a transwell plate. Dynamic changes in the implants' dry & wet mass and dimensions were monitored gravimetrically and by optical macroscopy. Implant erosion and polymer degradation were observed by SEM and GPC. Different pH indicators were used to measure pH changes in the bulk fluids, gels and within the implants during drug release. Ibuprofen release was bi-phasic in all cases: A zero order release phase (~20% of the dose) was followed by a more rapid, final drug release phase. Interestingly, the presence of the hydrogel delayed the onset of the 2nd release phase. This could be attributed to the sterical hindrance of implant swelling: After a certain lag time, the degrading PLGA matrix becomes sufficiently hydrophilic and mechanically instable to allow for the penetration of substantial amounts of water into the system. This fundamentally changes the conditions for drug release: The latter becomes much more mobile and is more rapidly released. A gel surrounding the implant mechanically hinders system swelling and, thus, slows down drug release. These observations also strengthen the hypothesis of the “orchestrating” role of PLGA swelling for the control of drug release and can help developing more realistic in vitro release set-ups.

Fabrication of an Immobilized Polyelectrolite Complex (PEC) Membrane from Pectin-Chitosan and Chromoionophore ETH 5294 for pH-Based Fish Freshness Monitoring

Considering the significance of its demand around the world, the accurate determination of fish freshness with a simple and rapid procedure has become an interesting issue for the fishing industry. Hence, we aimed to fabricate a new optical pH sensor based on a polyelectrolyte (PEC) membrane of pectin–chitosan and the active material chromoionophore ETH 5294. A trial-and-error investigation of the polymer compositions revealed that the optimum ratio of pectin to chitosan was 3:7. With an optimum wavelength region (λ) at 610 nm, the constructed sensor was capable of stable responses after 5 min exposure to phosphate-buffered solution. Furthermore, the obtained sensor achieved optimum sensitivity when the PBS concentration was 0.1 M, while the relative standard deviation values ranged from 2.07 to 2.34%, suggesting good reproducibility. Further investigation revealed that the sensor experienced decreased absorbance of 16.67–18.68% after 25 days of storage. Employing the optimum conditions stated previously, the sensor was tested to monitor fish freshness in samples that were stored at 4 °C and ambient temperature. The results suggested that the newly fabricated optical sensor could measure pH changes on fish skin after 25 h storage at room temperature (pH 6.37, 8.91 and 11.02, respectively) and 4 °C (pH 6.8, 7.31 and 7.92, respectively).

Relationship among the composition, synthesis conditions, and surface acid-basic properties of xerogel particles based on zirconium dioxide

ZrO2–Y2O3–CeO2, ZrO2–Y2O3 and ZrO2–CeO2 xerogels were prepared by coprecipitation of the corresponding hydroxides followed by the precipitate processing using different procedures involving maturation in the mother liquor within 24 h, freezing and ultrasonic treatment. The surface acid-base properties of the prepared xerogel particles were studied by measuring pH changes upon their suspension in water. The obtained results allow the analysis of relationships among the xerogel synthesis conditions, behavior of xerogel particles in the aqueous medium and their agglomeration, thus providing the adjustment and prediction of the properties of ceramic materials prepared from the studied powders.

Miniature multiplexed label-free pH probe in vivo

Correlating in-brain pH fluctuations with the pathophysiology has been impeded by the lack of in vivo techniques to precisely determine local pH changes. Here, we developed an all-in-one pH probe for spatially-resolved and label-free pH sensing in vivo, based on a field-effect pH sensor, i.e., a light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS), coupled to a flexible multimodal fiber. A readout photocurrent from the LAPS, elicited from a modulated light source, registers the localized surface potential change, proportional to the pH change. Upon simultaneous illuminations at multi-spot by a plurality of light sources with different modulation frequencies, pH changes at multiple designated spots are obtained via demultiplexing this photocurrent. To enable its in vivo applications, we combined the LAPS with a multimodal fiber fabricated by the convergence thermal drawing. Such fiber seamlessly integrates a multicore optical waveguide in the center for the light delivery, surrounded by electrodes for leading out photocurrent and serving as a pseudo-reference electrode, respectively. Such hybrid all-in-one pH probes can measure pH changes at 14 pixels simultaneously with a spatial resolution of 250 μm and a temporal resolution of 30 Hz. The pH sensitivity was characterized as 57.5 ± 2.2 mV/pH homogeneously across all measurable pixels. Such probes have been implanted into the hippocampal formation of rats and their capabilities to capture pH changes at multiple pixels were evaluated at both physiological and pathological conditions. Technologies developed here represents a new class of in vivo chemical sensing technologies enabling the spatially-resolved investigation of intrinsic chemical signals in deep brain structures with high spatial and temporal resolutions.

Equine saliva components during mastication, and in vivo pH changes in the oral biofilm of sound and carious tooth surfaces after sucrose exposure

BackgroundThe role of saliva composition and dietary sugar in development of infundibular caries in equine cheek teeth is not fully understood. This study analysed electrolyte and urea concentrations in saliva in relation to different forage and measured pH changes after sucrose application in vivo in sound and carious cheek teeth.ResultsForage type had no effect on the equine saliva electrolyte concentrations, which varied considerably both intra- and inter-individually. Chewing resulted in increased values for all electrolytes except bicarbonate. Compared with stimulated human saliva, horse saliva after mastication, contained higher amounts of potassium, calcium and bicarbonate, and less phosphate. The in vivo pH measurements showed a lower resting pH and a more pronounced pH drop after sucrose application in carious teeth compared to sound teeth.ConclusionsNo large differences were found between the composition of equine saliva and human saliva. A more pronounced acidogenicity was found for the carious than sound teeth. Thus, the caries process in equine cheek teeth seems to follow the same pattern as in human teeth, caused by acid production by oral microorganisms after sugar consumption.

Real-Time Measurements of pH Changes in Single, Acoustically Levitated Droplets Due to Atmospheric Multiphase Chemistry

We demonstrate the application of direct absorption spectroscopy to measure multiphase chemical reactions taking place in single, acoustically-levitated droplets. Acidification reactions are monito...

Solubility, pH change, and calcium ion release of low solubility endodontic mineral trioxide aggregate

BackgroundInsolubility is the main requirement for ideal root end filling material to provide perfect sealing ability. Moreover, alkalinity and bioactivity provide great chance for tissues healing and remineralization. So, the aim of this work was to evaluate the chemical composition, solubility, pH change, and calcium ion release of recently introduced commercial mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) endodontic repair cement (Harvard, Universal HandMix MTA) compared with ProRoot MTA repair material.MethodsSolubility was evaluated after 7- and 14-day immersion time of specimens in phosphate buffer saline solution (PBS); the mean weight loss was evaluated and solubility was calculated as a percentage of the weight loss. For assessment of pH change and calcium ion release polyethylene tubes filled with the materials were soaked in distilled water for 7 and 14 days. Measurement of pH change was done by analytical pH meter. Concentrations of calcium ion release were measured using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Data were statistically analyzed by independent sample t test and paired sample t test at 5% significance level.ResultsHarvard MTA endodontic cement showed significant lower solubility and higher pH values compared with that of ProRoot MTA. ProRoot MTA exhibited significant higher calcium ion release value after 14 days (P value ≤ 0.05).ConclusionHarvard, Universal HandMix MTA repair cement with its different chemical composition; exhibits a low solubility with enhanced alkaline pH value compared to ProRoot MTA repair material.

Mediator-Free SECM for Probing the Diffusion Layer pH with Functionalized Gold Ultramicroelectrodes.

Probing pH gradients during electrochemical reactions is important to better understand reaction mechanisms and to separate the influence of pH and pH gradients from intrinsic electrolyte effects. Here, we develop a pH sensor to measure pH changes in the diffusion layer during hydrogen evolution. The probe was synthesized by functionalizing a gold ultramicroelectrode with a self-assembled monolayer of 4-nitrothiophenol (4-NTP) and further converting it to form a hydroxylaminothiophenol (4-HATP)/4-nitrosothiophenol (4-NSTP) redox couple. The pH sensing is realized by recording the tip cyclic voltammetry and monitoring the Nernstian shift of the midpeak potential. We employ a capacitive approach technique in our home-built Scanning Electrochemical Microscope (SECM) setup in which an AC potential is applied to the sample and the capacitive current generated at the tip is recorded as a function of distance. This method allows for an approach of the tip to the electrode that is electrolyte-free and consequently also mediator-free. Hydrogen evolution on gold in a neutral electrolyte was studied as a model system. The pH was measured with the probe at a constant distance from the electrode (ca. 75 μm), while the electrode potential was varied in time. In the nonbuffered electrolyte used (0.1 M Li2SO4), even at relatively low current densities, a pH difference of three units is measured between the location of the probe and the bulk electrolyte. The time scale of the diffusion layer transient is captured, due to the high time resolution that can be achieved with this probe. The sensor has high sensitivity, measuring differences of more than 8 pH units with a resolution better than 0.1 pH unit.

In Situ Determination of pH at Nanostructured Carbon Electrodes Using IR Spectroscopy

Changes in pH at electrode surfaces can occur when redox reactions involving the production or consumption of protons take place. Many redox reactions of biological or analytical importance are proton-coupled, resulting in localized interfacial pH changes as the reaction proceeds. Other important electrochemical reactions, such as hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions, can likewise result in pH changes near the electrode. However, it is very difficult to measure pH changes located within around 100 µm of the electrode surface. This paper describes the use of in situ attenuated total reflectance (ATR) infrared (IR) spectroscopy to determine the pH of different solutions directly at the electrode interface, while a potential is applied. Changes in the distinctive IR bands of solution phosphate species are used as an indicator of pH change, given that the protonation state of the phosphate ions is pH-dependent. We found that the pH at the surface of an electrode modified with carbon nanotubes can increase from 4.5 to 11 during the hydrogen evolution reaction, even in buffered solutions. The local pH change accompanying the hydroquinone–quinone redox reaction is also determined.

R1ρ sensitivity to pH and other compounds at clinically accessible spin-lock fields in the presence of proteins.

Numerous human diseases involve abnormal metabolism, and proton exchange is an effective source of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast for assessing metabolism. One MRI technique that capitalizes on proton exchange is R1 relaxation in the rotating frame (R1ρ ). Here, we investigated the sensitivity of R1ρ to various proton-exchange mechanisms at spin-lock pulses within Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety guidelines for radiofrequency-induced heating. We systematically varied pH known to change the rate of proton exchange as well as the glucose and lysine concentrations, thus changing the number of amide, hydroxyl and amine exchangeable sites in a series of egg-white albumin phantoms. The resulting effects on quantitative relaxation time measurements of R1ρ , R1 and R2 were observed at 3T. Using spin-lock amplitudes available for human imaging (less than 23.5 μT) at near physiologic temperatures, we found R1ρ was more sensitive to physiologic changes in pH than to changes in glucose and lysine concentrations. In addition, R1ρ was more sensitive to pH changes than R1 and R2 . Models of proton exchange fitted to the relaxation measurements suggest that amide groups were the primary source of pH sensitivity. Together, these experiments suggest an optimal spin-lock amplitude for measuring pH changes while not exceeding FDA-subject heating limitations.

Selective Immobilization of Fluorescent Proteins for the Fabrication of Photoactive Materials.

The immobilization of fluorescent proteins is a key technology enabling to fabricate a new generation of photoactive materials with potential technological applications. Herein we have exploited superfolder green (sGFP) and red (RFP) fluorescent proteins expressed with different polypeptide tags. We fused these fluorescent proteins to His-tags to immobilize them on graphene 3D hydrogels, and Cys-tags to immobilize them on porous microparticles activated with either epoxy or disulfide groups and with Lys-tags to immobilize them on upconverting nanoparticles functionalized with carboxylic groups. Genetically programming sGFP and RFP with Cys-tag and His-tag, respectively, allowed tuning the protein spatial organization either across the porous structure of two microbeads with different functional groups (agarose-based materials activated with metal chelates and epoxy-methacrylate materials) or across the surface of a single microbead functionalized with both metal-chelates and disulfide groups. By using different polypeptide tags, we can control the attachment chemistry but also the localization of the fluorescent proteins across the material surfaces. The resulting photoactive material formed by His-RFP immobilized on graphene hydrogels has been tested as pH indicator to measure pH changes in the alkaline region, although the immobilized fluorescent protein exhibited a narrower dynamic range to measure pH than the soluble fluorescent protein. Likewise, the immobilization of Lys-sGFP on alginate-coated upconverting nanoparticles enabled the infrared excitation of the fluorescent protein to be used as a green light emitter. These novel photoactive biomaterials open new avenues for innovative technological developments towards the fabrication of biosensors and photonic devices.

The first evidence of Acidithiobacillus albertensis in weathered ore samples from active gold mine Hodruša-Hámre (Slovakia)

Abstract Sulphur-oxidising autotrophic bacterial communities in deep biosphere from weathered ore samples from active gold mine Hodruša-Hámre, Slovakia were analysed using cultivation approach followed by DNA extraction, PCR amplification and 16S rRNA gene analyses. Indirect measurement of pH changes in cultivation media evidenced the presence of acidophilic bacteria with active production of acids. The decrease of pH was observed at the beginning of isolation and later pH in range of 1.5 – 2 was maintained in both, sulphuric acid and thiosulphate, media. The presence of homogenous population of gram-negative rods was proved by Gram staining. Molecular analyses have revealed that the population of sulphur-oxidising bacteria in gold mine is dominated by a single species of Aciditiobacillus genus, identified as A. albertensis, suggesting the low level of autotrophic bacteria diversity in deep deposits. For the first time this species was isolated from weathered rocks of a gold mine subsurface environment.

Potentiometric performance of flexible pH sensor based on polyaniline nanofiber arrays

We report potentiometric performance of a polyaniline nanofiber array-based pH sensor fabricated by combining a dilute chemical polymerization and low-cost and simple screen printing process. The pH sensor had a two-electrode configuration consisting of polyaniline nanofiber array sensing electrode and Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Measurement of electromotive force between sensing and reference electrodes provided various electrochemical properties of pH sensors. The pH sensor show excellent sensor performances of sensitivity of 62.4 mV/pH, repeatability of 97.9% retention, response time of 12.8 s, and durability of 3.0 mV/h. The pH sensor could also measure pH changes as the milk is spoiled, which is similar to those of a commercial pH meter. The pH sensors were highly flexible, and thus can measure the fruit decay on the curved surface of an apple. This flexible and miniature pH sensor opens new opportunities for monitoring of water, product process, human health, and chemical (or bio) reactions even using small volumes of samples.