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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Plant Polymer Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #254178

Title: Thermodynamics of Potassium Ferricyanide Diffusion through B-1355N Exopolysaccharide Films

Author
item Bucur, Claudiu
item Cote, Gregory
item Finkenstadt, Victoria

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2010
Publication Date: 10/15/2010
Citation: Bucur, C.B., Cote, G.L., Finkenstadt, V.L. 2010. Thermodynamics of potassium ferricyanide diffusion through B-1355N exopolysaccharide films [abstract]. Electrochemical Society Meeting. Abstract #2096.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Biological polymers (biopolymers) offer a degree of functionality not available in most synthetic polymers. Carbohydrate polymers (polysaccharides) are produced with great frequency in nature. Starch, cellulose and chitin are some of the most abundant natural polymers on earth. We examine here for the first time a thermodynamic perspective to diffusion of potassium ferricyanide through B-1355N exopolysaccharide films deposited on gold electrodes. Films were built from various polymer concentrations and diffusion measurements were conducted at several temperatures in order to extract free Gibbs thermodynamic information about the diffusion process in order to determine structure-function properties in applications such as biosensors, environmentally sensitive membranes, artificial muscles, actuators, corrosion protection, electronic shielding, visual displays, solar materials, and components in high-energy batteries. NRRL B-1355 was shown to exhibit anticorrosive behavior in a recent study. Our goal was to thermodynamically describe the formation of the exopolysaccharide film.