Abstract: A process for producing chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs) involves contacting a chitinous material with a sufficient amount of an inorganic persulfate to produce chitin nanocrystals from the chitinous material. The process permits one-spot production of ChNCs from biomasses such as crustaceans, fungi, mushrooms, insects or mixtures thereof. Chitin nanocrystals produced by the process comprise surface carboxylic groups and are not initially deacetylated.

Abstract: A process for producing chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs) involves contacting a chitinous material with a sufficient amount of an inorganic persulfate to produce chitin nanocrystals from the chitinous material. The process permits one-spot production of ChNCs from biomasses such as crustaceans, fungi, mushrooms, insects or mixtures thereof. Chitin nanocrystals produced by the process comprise surface carboxylic groups and are not initially deacetylated.

Abstract: A process for producing cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) involves providing a cellulosic material, contacting the cellulosic material with an inorganic persulfate at an elevated temperature to produce CNCs, and recovering the CNCs. The process permits one-step production of CNCs from vegetative biomasses such as flax and hemp. Cellulose nanocrystals produced by the process with carboxylic groups are more uniform and have higher aspect ratios than CNCs produced by prior art processes.

Abstract: A process for producing cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) involves providing a cellulosic material, contacting the cellulosic material with an inorganic persulfate at an elevated temperature to produce CNCs, and recovering the CNCs. The process permits one-step production of CNCs from vegetative biomasses such as flax and hemp. Cellulose nanocrystals produced by the process with carboxylic groups are more uniform and have higher aspect ratios than CNCs produced by prior art processes.

Abstract: Gold nanoparticles having a particle size of 4-15 nM are synthesized by the reduction of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate (III) trihydrate using a suitable reducing agent such as sodium citrate in the presence of unmodified ?, ? or ?-cyclodextrin. The particle size is dependent upon the type and concentration of cyclodextrin and the reducing agent concentration. Gold nanoparticles having a particle size of 2-4 nM are produced by the reduction of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate (III) trihydrate using sodium borohydride in the presence of cyclodextrins.

Abstract: Ferricinium or ferricinium-based compounds are useful as blue redox dyes suitable for monitoring various enzymatic oxidation processes. A process for preparing such dyes is proposed which involves complexing ferrocene or its derivative with a cyclodextrin. The resulting yellow inclusion complex, an intermediate of the redox dye, is then oxidized electrochemically or by a reaction with bilirubin oxidase to form blue redox dyes which exhibit absorption peaks at 620 or 650 nm. Both the reduced form and the oxidized form of the dye are water-soluble.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring glutamine and glucose in certain cell cultures and body fluids in the presence of interfering endogenous compounds e.g. ascorbic acid, uric acid or glutamic acid. Prior to enzymatic degradation and amperometric detection of the products or elements resulting from the degradation, the interfering substances are retained by an anion exchanger disposed upstream of the enzymatic degradation site. The conditions of the method are controlled to utilize the difference of isoelectric points of the measured biosubstance and of the interfering compounds respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the degree of freshness of raw, frozen and processed edible fish by monitoring the degradation of adenine triphosphate to inosine monophosphate, inosine and hypoxanthine. This method comprises simultaneously determining, by use of a suitable amperometric electrode such as platinum vs. silver/silver chloride polarized at 0.7 V, the amount of uric acid and hydrogen peroxide resulting from the degradation of hypoxanthine by xanthine oxidase, the degradation of inosine by the combined action of nucleoside phosphorylase and xanthine oxidase and the degradation of inosine monophosphate by the combined action of nucleotidase, nucleoside phosphorylase and xanthine oxidase. Also within the scope of this invention is a method for the immobilization of nucleotidase on the walls of a polymeric tube such as polystyrene tube and the co-immobilization of nucleoside phosphorylase and xanthine oxidase on a porous polymeric membrane such as a nylon membrane.

Abstract: A water soluble ligand bound polymer has been synthesized and used for purification and stabilization of trypsin, an easily autodigestible enzyme. The affinity polymer was formed by copolymerizing N-acryloyl-m-amino-benzamidine, and acrylamide in the absence of oxygen. Bound trypsin could be easily eluted by either arginine or benzamidine. At low temperature (<5.degree. C.), the polymer solution was very stable and retained its high capacity for trypsin binding after 6 months of storage. Trypsin can also be stored in this system for extended periods. Combining the principles of affinity chromatography and ultrafiltration, a process has been developed, using this polymer, for purification of trypsin. The purification process also features provisions for the recirculation of the eluant as well as the macroligand.