Exploring buoyancy-driven effects in chemo-hydrodynamic oscillations sustained by bimolecular reactions.

Exotic dynamics, previously associated only with reactions involving complex kinetics, have been observed even with simple bimolecular reactions A + B → C, when coupled with hydrodynamical flows. Numerical studies in two-dimensional reactors have shown that oscillatory dynamics can emerge from an antagonistic coupling between chemically-driven buoyancy and Marangoni convective flows, induced by changes in density and surface tension, respectively, as the reaction occurs. Here, we investigate reactions increasing both surface tension and density, leading to a cooperative coupling between the flows and show how, in this configuration, buoyancy-driven contribution dampens spatio-temporal oscillations of concentration.

Transport-driven chemical oscillations: a review.

Chemical oscillators attract transversal interest not only as useful models for understanding and controlling (bio)chemical complexity far from the equilibrium, but also as a promising means to design smart materials and power synthetic functional behaviors. We review and classify oscillatory phenomena in systems where a periodic variation in the concentration of the constitutive chemical species is induced by transport instabilities either triggered by simple reactions or without any reactive process at play. These phenomena, where the origin of the dynamical complexity is shifted from chemical to physical nonlinearities, can facilitate a variety of processes commonly encountered in chemistry and chemical engineering.

Exploring Gas Evolution Oscillators: Mechanisms and Applications.

We review an iconic class of chemical oscillators driven by phase transition instabilities, namely Gas Evolution Oscillators (GEOs). These systems show oscillatory dynamics in the delivery of gas sustained simple reactions yielding gaseous products in a liquid mixture, due to nucleation and supersaturation phenomena. After presenting the main features and properties of these systems, we deepen the underlying mechanism through a unified picture of the various models that have been proposed to describe this kind of oscillations.

Polyphenolic Content and Antimicrobial Effects of Plant Extracts as Adjuncts for Craft Herbal Beer Stabilization.

Extracts from locally grown aromatic plants can enhance the geographical characteristics and microbial stability of craft beers, which are often not pasteurized or filtered. Here, the chemical and antimicrobial properties of aqueous extracts from leaves of L., L.

Specific anion effects on urease activity: A Hofmeister study.

The effects of a range of electrolytes on the hydrolysis of urea by the enzyme urease is explored. The autocatalytic behavior of urease in unbuffered solutions and its pH clock reactions are studied. The concentration dependence of the experimental variables is analyzed in terms of specific ion-enzyme interactions and hydration.