The microstructure and permeability of rehydrated 20-100 microm thick partially coalesced (vinyl-actetate acrylic copolymer) SF091 latex coatings and a 118 microm thick model trilayer biocatalytic coating consisting of two sealant SF091 layers containing a middle layer of viable E. coli HB101 + latex were studied as delaminated films in a diffusion apparatus with KNO(3) as the diffussant. The permeability of the hydrated coatings is due to diffusive transport through the pore space between the partially coalesced SF091 latex particles. Coating microstructure was visualized by fast freeze cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM). The effective diffusion coefficient of SF091 latex coatings (diffusive permeability/film thickness) was determined as the ratio of the effective diffusivity of KNO(3) to its diffusivity in water (D(eff)/D). Polymer particle coalescence was arrested by two methods to increase coating permeability. The first used glycerol with coating drying at 4 degrees C, near the glass transition temperature (T(g)). The second method used sucrose or trehalose as a filler to arrest coalescence; the filler was then dissolved away. D(eff)/D was measured as a function of film thickness; content of glycerol, sucrose, and trehalose; drying time; and rehydration time. D(eff)/D varied from 3 x 10(-4) for unmodified SF091 coatings to 6.8 x 10(-2) for coatings containing sucrose. D(eff)/D was reduced by the flattening of latex particles against the surface of the solid substrate, as well as by the presence of the colloid stabilizer hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC). When corrected for the flattened particle layer, D(eff)/D of HEC-free coatings was as high as 0.20, which agreed with the value predicted from analysis of cryo-SEM images of the coat surface. D(eff)/D decreased by one-half in approximately 5 days in rehydrated SF091 coatings, indicating that significant wet coalescence occurs after glycerol, sucrose, or trehalose are leached from the films. D(eff)/D of SF091 latex trilayer coatings containing viable E. coli HB101 cells decreased as cell loading was increased from 2.2 x 10(-2) for 64 g dry cell weight per liter of coat volume to 5 x 10(-3) for 151 g DCW/L of coat volume. The reduction in coating permeability with increasing cell loading is predicted by Maxwell's equation for D(eff)/D in periodic composites.

No abstract

No abstract

Thermostable polymers cast as thin, porous coatings or membranes may be useful for concentrating and stabilizing hyperthermophilic microorganisms as biocatalysts. Hydrogel matrices can be unstable above 65 degrees C. Therefore a 55-microm thick, two layer (cell coat + polymer top coat) bimodal, adhesive latex coating of partially coalesced polystyrene particles was investigated at 80 degrees C using Thermotoga maritima as a model hyperthermophile. Coating permeability (pore structure) was critical for maintaining T. maritima viability. The permeability of bimodal coatings generated from 0.8 v/v of a suspension of non-film-forming 800 nm polystyrene particles with high glass transition temperature (T(g) = 94 degrees C, 26.9% total solids) blended with 0.2 v/v of a suspension of film-forming 158 nm polyacrylate/styrene particles (T(g) approximately -5 degrees C, 40.9% total solids) with 0.3 g sucrose/g latex was measured in a KNO3 diffusion cell. Diffusivity ratio remained above 0.04 (D(eff)/D) when incubated at 80 degrees C in artificial seawater (ASW) for 5 days. KNO3 permeability was corroborated by cryogenic-SEM images of the pore structure. In contrast, the permeability of a mono-dispersed acrylate/vinyl acetate latex Rovace SF091 (T(g) approximately 10 degrees C) rapidly decreased and became impermeable after 2 days incubation in ASW at 80 degrees C. Thermotoga maritima were entrapped in these coatings at a cell density of 49 g cell wet weight/liter of coating volume, 25-fold higher than the density in liquid culture. Viable T. maritima were released from single-layer coatings at 80 degrees C but accurate measurement of the percentage of viable entrapped cells by plate counting was not successful. Metabolic activity could be measured in bilayer coatings by utilization of glucose and maltose, which was identical for latex-entrapped and suspended cells. Starch was hydrolyzed for 200 h by latex-entrapped cells due to the slow diffusion of starch through the polymer top coat compared to only 24 h by suspended T. maritima. The observed reactivity and stability of these coatings was surprising since cryo-SEM images suggested that the smaller low T(g) polyacrylate/styrene particles preferentially bound to the T. maritima toga-sheath during coat formation. This model system may be useful for concentrating, entrapment and stabilization of metabolically active hyperthermophiles at 80 degrees C.

No abstract

In this present work, the effect of anode electrocatalyst materials is investigated by adding NiTiO 3 with Pt/C and Pt-Ru/C for the performance enhancement of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The supportive material NiTiO 3 /C has been synthesized first by wet chemical method followed by incorporation of Pt and Pt-Ru separately. Experiments are conducted with the combination of four different electrocatalyst materials on the anode side (Pt/C, Pt-NiTiO 3 /C, PtRu/C, Pt-Ru-NiTiO 3 /C) and with commercial 20 wt. % Pt/C on the cathode side; 0.5 mg pt /cm 2 loading is maintained on both sides. The performance tests of the above catalysts are conducted on 5 cm 2 active area with various operating conditions like cell operating temperatures, methanol/water molar concentrations and reactant flow rates. Best performing operating conditions have been optimized. The maximum peak power densities attained are 13.30 mW/cm 2 (26.6 mW/mg pt) and 14.60 mW/cm 2 (29.2 mW/mg pt) for Pt-NiTiO 3 /C and Pt-Ru-NiTiO 3 /C at 80 , respectively, with 0.5 M concentration of methanol and fuel flow rate of 3 ml/min (anode) and oxygen flow rate of 100 ml/min (cathode). Besides, 5 h short term stability tests have been conducted for PtRu/C and Pt-NiTiO 3 /C. The overall results suggest that the incorporation of NiTiO 3 /C supportive material to Pt and Pt-Ru appears to make a promising anode electrocatalysts for the enhanced DMFC performances.

No abstract

No abstract