Sequestration of biogenic amines by alginic and fulvic acids

The interaction of natural (alginic and fulvic acids) and synthetic (polyacrylic acid 2.0 kDa) polyelectrolytes with some protonated polyamines [diamines: ethylendiamine, 1,4-diaminobutane (or putrescine), 1,5-diaminopentane (or cadaverine); triamines: N-(3-aminopropyl)-1,4-diaminobutane (or spermidine), diethylenetriamine; tetramine: N,N'-bis(3-aminopropyl)-1,4-diaminobutane (or spermine); pentamine: tetraethylene-pentamine; hexamine: pentaethylenehexamine] was studied at T=25 degrees C by potentiometry and calorimetry. Measurements were performed without supporting electrolyte, in order to avoid interference, and results were reported at I=0 mol L(-)(1). For all the systems, the formation of (am)L(2)H(i) species was found (am=amine; L=polyelectrolyte; i=1...4, depending on the amine considered). The stability of polyanion-polyammonium cation complexes is always significant, and for high-charged polycations, we observe a stability comparable to that of strong metal complexes. For example, by considering the formation reaction (am)H(i)+2L=(am)L(2)H(i) we found log K(i)=6.0, 6.5 and 10.8 for i=1, 2 and 3, respectively, in the system alginate-spermidine. Low and positive formation DeltaH(degrees) values indicate that the main contribution to the stability is entropic in nature. The sequestering ability of polyelectrolytes toward amines was modelled by a sigmoid Boltzman type equation. Some empirical relationships between stability, charges and DeltaG(degrees) and TDeltaS(degrees) are reported. Mean values per salt bridge of formation thermodynamic parameters (DeltaX(degrees) (n)) are DeltaG(degrees) (n)=-5.8+/-0.4, DeltaH degrees (n)=0.7+/-0.5 and TDeltaS(degrees) (n)=6.5+/-0.5 kJmol(-)(1) for all the systems studied in this work.