Papers by Angel Berenguer
Aplicación de la evaluación formativa en ciencias experimentales: proyectos de laboratorio personalizados [Póster]
Experience on a First Year General Chemistry Subject in the New Degrees on Chemistry and Geology at the University of Alicante
ICERI2012 Proceedings, 2012
Formative Evaluation Through Project-Based Learning: Connecting the Dots Between Higher Education and Applied Research
ICERI2012 Proceedings, 2012
Semihydrogenation of Phenylacetylene Catalyzed by Palladium Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Materials
Journal of Physical Chemistry C, Feb 19, 2008
Palladium catalysts were prepared supporting palladium colloids on three types of carbon supports... more Palladium catalysts were prepared supporting palladium colloids on three types of carbon supports: multiwall carbon nanotubes (NTs), carbon black (CB), and an activated carbon (AC). These catalysts were tested in a reaction of great industrial interest such as the partial hydrogenation of phenylacetylene. The liquid-phase hydrogenation reaction of phenylacetylene was performed under very mild conditions (323 K, flow of H2 of 30 mL/min, 1 bar of pressure). The catalytic activities are very close to that of the homogeneous catalyst. A total conversion was achieved in all the Pd/C catalysts and also with very high selectivity toward styrene (higher than 95%). The carbon support produces differences between the catalysts. The AC provokes a Pd particle agglomeration, and the catalyst has the lowest activity and selectivity. The highest selectivity is obtained for the Pd/NT sample. The ease of manipulation of the Pd/NT catalysts is noteworthy, facilitating its recovery by filtration and its subsequent reutiliz...
Frontiers in Chemistry, Mar 27, 2019
Different functionalized Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotube and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesiz... more Different functionalized Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotube and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized as biosensor electrodes. These materials have been applied to the detection of the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). The synthesis of AuNPs was carried out using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as protecting agent. The PVP/Au molar ratio (0.5 and 50) controls the nanoparticle size distribution, obtaining a wide and narrow distribution with an average diameter of 9.5 nm and 6.6 nm, respectively. Nanoparticle size distribution shows an important effect in the electrochemical performance of the biosensor, increasing the electrochemical active surface area (EASA) and promoting the electron-transfer from the redox probe (Ferrocene/Ferrocenium) to the electrode. Furthermore, a narrow and small nanoparticle size distribution enhances the amount of antibodies immobilized on the transducer material and the performance during the detection of the PSA. Significant results were obtained for the quantif...
Catalysis Science & Technology, 2020
This review mainly focuses on the use of glucose oxidase in the production of D-gluconic acid, wh... more This review mainly focuses on the use of glucose oxidase in the production of D-gluconic acid, which is a reactant of undoubtable interest in different industrial areas. The enzyme has been used in numerous instances as a model reaction to study the problems of oxygen supply in bioreactors. One of the main topics in this review is the problem of the generated side product, hydrogen peroxide, as it is an enzymeinactivating reagent. Different ways to remove hydrogen peroxide have been used, such as metal catalysts and use of whole cells; however, the preferred method is the coupling glucose oxidase with catalase. The different possibilities of combining these enzymes have been discussed (use of free enzymes, independently immobilized enzymes or co-immobilized enzymes). Curiously, some studies propose the addition of hydrogen peroxide to this co-immobilized enzyme system to produce oxygen in situ. Other cascade reactions directed toward the production of gluconic acid from polymeric substrates will be presented; these will mainly involve the transformation of polysaccharides (amylases, cellulases, etc.) but will not be limited to those (e.g., gluconolactonase). In fact, glucose oxidase is perhaps one of most successful enzymes, and it is involved in a wide range of cascade reactions. Finally, other applications of the enzyme have been reviewed, always based on the production of D-gluconic acid, which produces a decrease in the pH, a decrease in the oxygen availability or the production of hydrogen peroxide; in many instances, cascade reactions are also utilized. Thus, this review presents many different cascade reactions and discusses the advantages/drawbacks of the use of co-immobilized enzymes.
Catalysis Today, Feb 1, 2021
This review intends to present some of the latest studies on the lipase A from Candida antarctica... more This review intends to present some of the latest studies on the lipase A from Candida antarctica (CALA). This lipase is among the most stable ones and has some capability to attack the sn-2 position of triglycerides. This makes it a very interesting lipase, especially considering that it is commercially available. The cloning and production of the enzyme together with some structural facts and applications will be discussed in this review. Special focus will be put on the immobilization of the enzyme. The use of the commercially available crosslinked enzyme aggregates of this enzyme will be explained, together with the use of the enzyme in some new trends in enzyme immobilization, such as bio-imprinting of the open form of CALA by detergents and the fixation of the open structure, the design of heterofunctional supports able to take full advantage of the immobilization via interfacial activation but preventing enzyme release, or the design of strategies for the preparation of multiple layers of lipase enzymes (using just CALA or combining CALA with other lipases).
Use of Alcalase in the production of bioactive peptides: A review
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Dec 1, 2020
This review aims to cover the uses of the commercially available protease Alcalase in the product... more This review aims to cover the uses of the commercially available protease Alcalase in the production of biologically active peptides since 2010. Immobilization of Alcalase has also been reviewed, as immobilization of the enzyme may improve the final reaction design enabling the use of more drastic conditions and the reuse of the biocatalyst. That way, this review presents the production, via Alcalase hydrolysis of different proteins, of peptides with antioxidant, angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory, metal binding, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities (among other bioactivities) and peptides that improve the functional, sensory and nutritional properties of foods. Alcalase has proved to be among the most efficient proteases for this goal, using different protein sources, being especially interesting the use of the protein residues from food industry as feedstock, as this also solves nature pollution problems. Very interestingly, the bioactivities of the protein hydrolysates further improved when Alcalase is used in a combined way with other proteases both in a sequential way or in a simultaneous hydrolysis (something that could be related to the concept of combi-enzymes), as the combination of proteases with different selectivities and specificities enable the production of a larger amount of peptides and of a smaller size.
Catalysis Science & Technology, 2019
Novozym 435 (N435) is a commercially available immobilized lipase produced by Novozymes. It is ba... more Novozym 435 (N435) is a commercially available immobilized lipase produced by Novozymes. It is based on the immobilization via interfacial activation of the lipase B from Candida antarctica on a resin, Lewatit VP OC 1600. This resin is a macroporous support formed by poly(methyl methacrylate) crosslinked with divinylbenzene. N435 is perhaps the most widely used commercial biocatalyst in both academy and industry. Here, we review some of the success stories of N435 (in chemistry, energy and lipid manipulation), but we focus on some of the problems that the use of this biocatalyst may generate. Some of these problems are just based on the mechanism of immobilization (interfacial activation) that may facilitate enzyme desorption under certain conditions. Other problems are specific to the support: mechanical fragility, moderate hydrophilicity that permits the accumulation of hydrophilic compounds (e.g., water or glycerin) and the most critical one, support dissolution in some organic media. Finally, some solutions (N435 coating with silicone, enzyme physical or chemical crosslinking, use of alternative supports) are proposed. However N435 history, even with these problems, may continue in the coming future due to its very good properties if some simpler alternative biocatalyst is not developed.
ポリエチレンイミン:固定化酵素生体触媒の設計における非常に有用なイオン性高分子【Powered by NICT】
Journal of materials chemistry. B: materials for biology and medicine, 2017
ChemInform Abstract: Amination of Enzymes to Improve Biocatalyst Performance: Coupling Genetic Modification and Physicochemical Tools
ChemInform, Nov 20, 2014
Review: 206 refs.
Matlab Gamification of Reaction Kinetics for Chemical Engineers
Lab-On-A-Screen: Gamification of Inorganic Chemistry Experiments
Catalysts, Sep 28, 2022
Photocatalysis represents a promising technology that might alleviate the current environmental c... more Photocatalysis represents a promising technology that might alleviate the current environmental crisis. One of the most representative photocatalysts is graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) due to its stability, cost-effectiveness, facile synthesis procedure, and absorption properties in visible light. Nevertheless, pristine g-C3N4 still exhibits low photoactivity due to the rapid recombination of photo-induced electron-hole (e−-h+) pairs. To solve this drawback, Z-scheme photocatalysts based on g-C3N4 are superior alternatives since these systems present the same band configuration but follow a different charge carrier recombination mechanism. To contextualize the topic, the main drawbacks of using g-C3N4 as a photocatalyst in environmental applications are mentioned in this review. Then, the basic concepts of the Z-scheme and the synthesis and characterization of the Z-scheme based on g-C3N4 are addressed to obtain novel systems with suitable photocatalytic activity in environmental ...
Coupling Chemical Modification and Immobilization to Improve the Catalytic Performance of Enzymes
Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis, Jul 14, 2011
Chemical modification and immobilization of enzymes have been usually considered unrelated tools ... more Chemical modification and immobilization of enzymes have been usually considered unrelated tools to improve biocatalyst features. However, there are many examples where a chemically modified enzyme is finally used in an immobilized form, and that exemplifies how both tools may be complementary resulting in a synergism in the final results. In this review we present some of the strategies that may give that result. For example, the chemical modification of soluble enzymes may be used to improve their immobilization (reinforcing adsorption or improving multipoint covalent attachment), or just to improve enzyme stability and facilitate the selection of the immobilization conditions. Chemical modification of previously immobilized enzymes benefits from solid‐phase chemistry due to the nature of enzymes (e.g., prevention of inactivation, aggregation, etc.). The use of different targets for chemical modifications with small molecules or multifunctional polymers are also discussed: intramolecular or intersubunit cross‐linking, one‐point modification, generation of artificial microenvironments, etc.
Biocatalytic production of biolubricants: Strategies, problems and future trends
Biotechnology Advances, Nov 1, 2023
Journal of CO2 utilization, Dec 1, 2021
Different photocatalysts based on the combination of TiO 2 and Cu x O have been prepared by simpl... more Different photocatalysts based on the combination of TiO 2 and Cu x O have been prepared by simple and reproducible procedures. The synthesized systems have been applied in the photoreduction of CO 2 to yield CH 4 inside a 2-dimensional flow reactor in which the gas stream was passed over a thin layer of the catalyst under UV irradiation. Analysis of the photocatalysts reveals that the oxidation state of Cu changes throughout the reaction, thus modifying the physicochemical properties of the catalysts. The combination of core-level and valence-band level spectroscopies allowed us to draw the band diagram for the best catalyst, showing a Z-scheme structure. The reactor design and the photocatalyst developed can produce CH 4 at a very high production rate with extreme efficiency. After further optimization through suppression of side reactions, we obtained one of the highest values reported for any type of reactor or catalytic system with a CH 4 formation rate over 100 μmol CH4 ⋅g cat -1 h -1 using low power LED lighting.
Journal of environmental chemical engineering, Oct 1, 2019
In this study, we present a photo-microreactor illuminated with a low power LED light as a highly... more In this study, we present a photo-microreactor illuminated with a low power LED light as a highly efficient system to achieve the total oxidation of propene using a TiO2 photocatalyst. This abatement system (photo-microreactor) consists in an immobilized benchmark photocatalyst (TiO2, P25) inside a commercial glass microchannel chip (UV transparent microfluidic chips, internal volume of 9.5 μL) using a packed-bed configuration without any previous treatment. The P25 inside the microreactor shows a nearly homogenous filling of the particles resulting in a low pressure drop throughout the system. In terms of propene abatement (Catalytic activity), the P25 inside the commercial microreactor reaches total propene conversion (100%) under flow conditions at low concentrations (100 ppmv) due to shorter diffusion distances, large surface-to-volume ratios, efficient heat transfer , and the improved light penetration inside the microchannel. Moreover, the prepared microreactor uses a low consumption power (LED), low residence time and presents a relatively low pressure drop making this device (P25 inside a commercial microreactor) very interesting for the abatement of volatile organic compounds at low concentration for example at indoor ambient due to its small size ( x 15 mm).
A review on the immobilization of pepsin: A Lys-poor enzyme that is unstable at alkaline pH values
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Jun 1, 2022
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Papers by Angel Berenguer