Yeast as a Versatile Tool in Biotechnology

Yeasts represent a very diverse group of microorganisms, and even strains that are classified as the same species often show a high level of genetic divergence. Yeasts biodiversity is closely related to their applicability. Biotechnological importance of yeast is almost immeasurable. For centuries, people have exploited its enzymatic potential to produce fermented food as bread or alcoholic beverages. Admittedly, yeasts application was initially instinctual, but with science and technology development, these microorganisms got the object of thorough scientific investigations. It must be recognized that yeast represents an excellent scientific model because of its eukaryotic origin and knowledge of genetics of yeast cells as well as metabolism examined in detail. In 1996, the genome of baker yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been elucidated, what opened the opportunity for the global study of the expression and functioning of the eukaryotic genome. Also, currently, an international team is working on the synthesis of the 16 yeast chromosomes by synthetic biology tools, and the results are expected till the end of the year. Nowadays, yeast is regarded as a versatile tool for biotechnological purposes

Comparative study of fungal cell disruption—scope and limitations of the methods

Simple and effective protocols of cell wall disruption were elaborated for tested fungal strains: Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus fumigatus, Rhodotorula gracilis. Several techniques of cell wall disintegration were studied, including ultrasound disintegration, homogenization in bead mill, application of chemicals of various types, and osmotic shock. The release of proteins from fungal cells and the activity of a cytosolic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, in the crude extracts were assayed to determine and compare the efficacy of each method. The presented studies allowed adjusting the particular method to a particular strain. The mechanical methods of disintegration appeared to be the most effective for the disintegration of yeast, R. gracilis, and filamentous fungi, A. fumigatus and P. citrinum. Ultrasonication and bead milling led to obtaining fungal cell-free extracts containing high concentrations of soluble proteins and active glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase systems

Refinement of CuCr0.6 alloy by means of KoBo and COT methods

Prezentowana praca ma na celu scharakteryzowanie zmian struktury zachodzących w stopie miedzi CuCr0,6 (C18200) po zastosowaniu dwóch metod cyklicznego odkształcania: metody wyciskania z obustronnie skrętną matrycą KoBo oraz ściskania z oscylacyjnym skręcaniem COT. Procesy odkształcania zastosowano na materiale umacnianym roztorowo (po przesycaniu) oraz na materiale umocnionym wydzieleniowo (po przesycaniu i starzeniu). Wykazano, że zastosowanie cyklicznych metod SPD umożliwia rozdrobnienie struktury do poziomu ultradrobnoziarnistego, jednakże efekty rozdrobnienia struktury zależą od zastosowanej metody. W wyniku odkształcania COT większość otrzymanych struktur to podziarna o małych kątach dezorientacji i dużej gęstości dyslokacji wewnątrz ziaren. Natomiast po zastosowaniu KoBo w strukturze obecne są dyslokacje wewnątrz ziaren zrekrystalizowanych. Badania wykonano przy użyciu skaningowo-transmisyjnego mikroskopu elektronowego STEM Hitachi HD-2300A. Do analizy ilościowej skorzystano z programu Metilo. Pomiary mikrotwardości przeprowadzono przy użyciu mikrotwardościomierza Future-Tech FM-700 przy obciążeniu 0,1 kg. Właściwości mechaniczne po zastosowaniu KoBo oceniono w oparciu o statyczną próbę rozciągania przeprowadzoną na maszynie Instron 4505/5500R. Właściwości mechaniczne po zastosowaniu COT określono w oparciu o statyczną próbę rozciągania mikropróbek na urządzeniu MST QTest/10.The paper presents characterize structure of the copper alloy CuCr0.6 (C18200) after applying two methods of cyclic deformation: the method of extrusion with the rotating matrix KoBo and compression with oscillatory torsion. The deformation processes were applied on the material after solution and solution and aging.(after saturation and aging). Shown that applied the SPD metod allows on the fragmentation struture but effects of the framgentation on the structure depends on the method used. As a result of COT deformation, most of the structures obtained are grains with small disorientation angles and high dislocation density inside the grains. After KoBo has been applied to the structure is present in the distribution of recrystallised grains. The test was carried with the use of scanning transmission electron microscope STEM Hitachi HD-2300A. The Metilo programme was used for quantitative analysis. The Future-Tech FM-700 machine was used to perform hardness measurements. The hardness of alloys under a load of 0.1 kg was tested. The mechanical properties after the application of KoBo were evaluated on the basis of a static tensile test carried out on an Instron 4505/5500R machine. Mechanical properties after the application of the COT, the tensile strength of the micro samples was determined on the basis of a static tensile test on the MST QTest/10

Refinement of Al-5%Cu and Al-25%Cu Alloys by Means of KoBo Methods

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of severe plastic deformation (SPD) by extrusion combined with reversible torsion (KoBo) method on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-5Cu and Al-25Cu alloys. The extrusion combined with reversible torsion was carried out using reduction coefficient of λ = 30 and λ = 98. In this work, the microstructure was characterized by light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Compression test and tensile test were performed for deformed alloys. The binary Al-5Cu and Al-25Cu alloys consist of the face cantered cubic (FCC) α phase in the form of dendrites and tetragonal (C16) θ-Al2Cu intermetallic phase observed in interdentritic regions. The increase of Cu content leads to increase of interdentritic regions. The microstructure of the alloys is refined after applying KoB deformation with λ = 30 and λ = 98. Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) of Al-5Cu alloy after KoBo deformation with λ = 30 and λ = 98 reached about 200 MPa. UTS for samples of Al-25Cu with λ = 30 and λ = 98 increased compared to Al-5Cu alloy and exceed 320 MPa and 270 MPa respectively. All samples showed increase of plasticity with increase of reduction coefficient. Independently of reduction coefficient, the compressive strain of Al-5Cu alloys is about 60%. The Al-25Cu alloy with λ = 98 showed the value of compressive strain exceed 60%, although for this same alloy but with λ = 30, the compressive strain is only 35%

Influence of Solid Solution and Aging Treatment Conditions on the Formation of Ultrafine-Grained Structure of CuCr0.6 Alloy Processed by Compression with Oscillatory Torsion

The samples of the CuCr0.6 alloy in the solution treated and additionally in aging states were severely plastically deformed by compression with oscillatory torsion (COT) method to produce ultrafine – grained structure. The samples were processed by using process parameters as: frequency of torsion (f = 1.6 Hz), compression speed (v = 0.04 mm/s), angle torsion (α = ±6°), height reduction (Δh = 7 mm). The total effective strain was εft = 40. The microstructure has been analyzed by scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) Hitachi HD-2300A equipped with a cold field emission gun at an accelerating voltage of 200 kV. The quantitative microstructure investigations as disorientation angles were performed using a FEI INSPECT F scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with a cold field emission gun and a electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) detector. The mechanical properties were determined using MST QTest/10 machine equipped with digital image correlation (DIC). The COT processed alloy previously aged at 500°C per 2h shows high mechanical strength, ultimate tensile strength UTS: 521 MPa and yield tensile strength YS: 488 MP attributed to the high density of coherent precipitates and ultrafine grained structure. Keywords: CuCr0.6 alloy, severe plastic deformation, ultrafine-grains, STE

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-33%Cu eutectic alloy after KoBo deformation

Przedmiotem badań mikrostruktury i właściwości mechanicznych był eutektyczny stop Al-33%Cu poddany odkształcaniu metodą KoBo. Stop bezpośrednio po odlaniu został przetoczony do średnicy 49 mm, a następnie wyciskany metodą KoBo do średnicy 9 mm. Proces prowadzono przy kącie obrotu matrycy 8°. Badania mikrostruktury wykonano na mikroskopie świetlnym Olympus GX71. Obserwacji mikrostruktury cienkich folii dokonano na skaningowo-transmisyjnym mikroskopie elektronowym (STEM) Hitachi HD-2300A z działem typu FEG, który jest wyposażony w detektor EDS, umożliwiający analizę składu chemicznego. Analizy przełomów dokonano na skaningowym mikroskopie elektronowym (SEM) Hitachi S-340N. Próbę ściskania przeprowadzono na maszynie Zwick/Roell Z100. Próba została wykonana w temperaturze otoczenia na próbkach w kształcie walców o średnicy 6 mm i wysokości 9 mm, zastosowano siłę nacisku 100 kN. Do wykonania pomiarów twardości użyto mikrotwardościomierza Future-Tech FM-700. Badano twardość stopów pod obciążeniem 0,1 kg. Pomiary przewodności elektrycznej właściwej przeprowadzono na urządzeniu SIGMATEST 2.096 firmy FOERSTER. Udowodniono, że zastosowana metoda KoBo pozwala na fragmentację mikrostruktury badanego stopu, w wyniku czego otrzymuje się fazy o globularnej morfologii. Mimo zastosowanego procesu SPD nie dochodzi do całkowitego ujednorodnienia struktury: obserwuje się zróżnicowaną wielkość faz jako pozostałość po procesie odlewania, a także obserwuje się mikroobszary nieodkształcone. Odkształcenie stopu metodą KoBo przyczynia się do wzrostu właściwości wytrzymałościowych i plastycznych. Proces KoBo może być zastosowany do rozdrabniania struktury stopu o składzie eutektycznym.Recent investigations are focused on microstructure and mechanical properties characterization of Al-33%Cu eutectic alloy after application KoBo method. Samples after casting and turning to 49 mm in diameter were extruded to 9 mm in diameter. Process was performed at torsion angle 8°. Microstructural investigations were performed by using light microscopy Olympus GX71, and scaning electron microscopy (SEM) Hitachi S-340N, and scaning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) Hitachi HD-2300A equipped with FEG gun, allowing analysis of chemical composition. Compression tensile strength were performed on the machine Zwick/Roell Z100. The test was carried out at ambient temperature on the Samales in the shape of cylinders with a diameter of 6 mm and a height of 9 mm, a pressure force of 100 kN was applied. The Future-Tech FM-700 machine was used to perform hardness measurements. The hardness of alloys under a load of 0.1 kg was tested. The electrical conductivity measurements were carried out on the SIGMATEST 2.096 FOERSTER device. The results shows that the KoBo method allows to grain fragmentation and improve plastic properties and mechanical properties of alloy. It was observed differentiation in the size of the phases obtained during casting process and additionally, after KoBo deformation were observed non-deformed microareas. After KoBo deformation increase the strength and plastic properties of alloy. KoBo method can be used to fragmentation eutectic alloys Al-33Cu

Microstructural Features and Mechanical Properties after Applying Rolling with Cyclic Movement of Rolls of an Al-Li Alloys

Two strength-age hardening aluminum-lithium alloys: Al-2.3wt%Li and Al-2.2wt%Li-0.1wt%Zr in two different heat treatment conditions: solution state (S) and additionally in aging state (A) were severely plastically deformed by rolling with cyclic movement of rolls (RCMR) method to produce ultrafine - grained structure. Two thermo-mechanical treatments were used: (S+A+RCMR) and (S+RCMR+A+RCMR). To investigate the combined effect of plastic deformation and heat treatment, tensile tests were performed. Microstructural observations were undertaken using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and scanning transmission electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with electron backscattering diffraction detector (EBSD). Based on the obtained results, it can be deduced that maximum mechanical properties as: yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) couldbe achieved when the microstructure of alloys is in (S+A+RCMR) state. For samples in (S+RCMR+A+RCMR) state, ductility is higher than for (S+A+RCMR) state. The microstructural results shows that the favourable conditions for decreasing grain size of alloys is (S+A+RCMR) state. Additionally, in this state is much greater dislocation density than for (S+RCMR+A+RCMR) state. The microstructure of alloys in (S+RCMR+A+RCMR) state is characterized by grains/subgrains with higher average diameter and with higher misorientation angles compared with (S+A+RCMR) state

Crystallographic Texture and Grain Refinement in the CuCr Alloy Deformed by SPD Method

Microstructure and texture of the CuCr0.6 alloy processed by rolling with cyclic movement of rolls (RCMR) at room temperature were investigated. The RCMR processing was applied for the samples in different initial conditions in the solid solution followed by quenching into iced water at 1000°C for 3 h and in aging treatment conditions performed at 500°C for 2 h and at 700°C for 24 h. Application of the solution and aging processes prior to RCMR deformation results in the partial dissolution of Cr particles into the Cu matrix and precipitation of the second phase particles. RCMR processing with value of the total effective strain (εft) of 5 was introduced to the material. It was found that the RCMR method is effective in texture weakening. The obtained results revealed that there is a large similarity in texture orientations after RCMR processing independently of heat treatment conditions. Cyclic character of deformation leads to an incomplete transition of LAB to HAB

Biocatalytic Resolution of Enantiomeric Mixtures of 1-Aminoethanephosphonic Acid

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