Bacterial surface reactivity can influence the movement of contaminants in the environment. Understanding the intricacies of adsorption mechanisms is essential for better elucidating how the bacterial surface interacts with natural and anthropogenic dissolved species in the environment. Quantifying adsorption with thermodynamic parameters provides a framework for achieving a more mechanistic understanding of reactions occurring at the bacterial surface. While surface complexation modeling provides a mechanistic framework for quantifying adsorption reactions, combining surface complexation modeling with isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) measurements of adsorption reactions gives one the means to probe the thermodynamics of adsorption reactions further. ITC data alone provides bulk enthalpies of adsorption that capture the overall endothermic, exothermic, or thermoneutral nature of the reaction. Combining ITC data with surface complexation models of adsorption allows for the derivation of site-specific enthalpies and entropies of adsorption.  Characterizing surface complexes (e.g., inner sphere versus outer sphere or monodentate versus bidentate) is aided by the interpretation of site-specific parameters derived from surface complexation modeling and ITC data. These measurements provide molecular-level information on the coordination environment and thermodynamic driving force of the reaction.  This information is essential for a better understanding of adsorption reactions occurring at bacterial surfaces.

Probing reactions on bacterial surfaces with isothermal titration calorimetry and surface complexation modeling

246th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.