coniferyl-alcohol and hydroquinone

Having a valid mathematical model for structureless emission band shapes is important when deconvoluting fluorescence spectra of complex molecules. We propose a new asymmetric model for emission spectra of five organic molecules containing aromatic ring: catechol, coniferyl alcohol, hydroquinone, phenylalanine and tryptophan. For each molecule, a series of emission spectra, varying in excitation wavelength, were fitted with the new model as well as with two other analytical expressions: log-normal, described previously in the literature, and sigmoid-exponential. Their deconvolution into two, three and four Gaussian components was also performed, in order to estimate the number of symmetric components needed to obtain a better fitting quality than that of the asymmetric models. Four subtypes of the new model, as well as the log-normal one, did not differ significantly in their fitting errors, while the sigmoid-exponential model showed a significantly worse fit. Spectra of two mixtures: hydroquinone-coniferyl alcohol and hydroquinone-tryptophan were deconvoluted into two asymmetric and four Gaussian components. Positions of asymmetric components of mixtures matched those of separate molecules, while Gaussian did not. Component analysis of a polymer molecule, lignin, was also performed. In this more complex case asymmetric and Gaussian components also grouped in alternating positions.

Topics: Algorithms; Benzene Derivatives; Catechols; Hydroquinones; Luminescent Measurements; Models, Theoretical; Phenols; Phenylalanine; Probability; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Tryptophan

Lignocellulose can be readily hydrolyzed into a mixture of sugars using dilute mineral acids. During hydrolysis, a variety of inhibitors are also produced which include aromatic alcohols from lignin and furfuryl alcohol from pentose destruction. Seven compounds were investigated individually and in binary combinations (catechol, coniferyl alcohol, furfuryl alcohol, guaiacol, hydroquinone, methylcatechol, and vanillyl alcohol). Aromatic alcohols and furfuryl alcohol inhibited ethanol production from xylose in batch fermentations primarily by inhibiting the growth of Escherichia coli LY01, the biocatalyst. The toxicities of these compounds were directly related to their hydrophobicity. Methylcatechol was the most toxic compound tested (MIC = 1.5 g/L). In binary combination, the extent of growth inhibition was roughly additive for most compounds tested. However, combinations with furfuryl alcohol and furfural (furaldehyde) appear synergistic in toxicity. When compared individually, alcohol components which are formed during hemicellulose hydrolysis are less toxic for growth than the aldehydes and organic acids either on a weight basis or a molar basis.

Topics: Alcohols; Catechols; Cell Division; Cell Membrane; Cellulose; Escherichia coli; Ethanol; Fermentation; Furans; Guaiacol; Hydrolysis; Hydroquinones; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Phenols; Xylose