Biomedical subjects

Pradip Kr Ghorai

Publications and source records attributed to Pradip Kr Ghorai.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Existence of a size-dependent diffusivity maximum for uncharged solutes in water and its implications.

Recent studies suggest that there exists a size-dependent diffusivity maximum in binary mixtures interacting via Lennard-Jones potential when the size of one of the two components is varied (Ghorai, P. K.; Yashonath, S. J. Phys. Chem., 2005, 109, 5824). We discuss in the present paper the importance of the existence of a size-dependent maximum for an uncharged solute in liquid or amorphous solid water and its relation to the ionic conductivity maximum in water. We report molecular dynamics investigations into the size dependence of the self-diffusivity, D, of the uncharged solutes in water at low temperatures (30 K) with immobile as well as mobile water. We find that a maximum in self-diffusivity exists as a function of the size of solute diffusing within water at low temperatures but not at high temperatures. This is due to the relatively weak interactions between the solute and the water compared to the kinetic energy at room temperature. Previously, we have shown that a similar maximum exists for guests sorbed in zeolites and is known as the levitation effect (LE). Thus, it appears that the existence of a size-dependent maximum is universal and extends from zeolites to simple liquids to solvents of polyatomic species. We examine the implications of this for the size-dependent maximum in ionic conductivity in polar solvents known for over a hundred years. These results support the view that the size-dependent maximum seen for ions in water has its origin in the LE (see Ghorai, P. Kr.; Yashonath, S.; Lynden-Bell, R. M. J. Phys. Chem. 2005, 109, 8120).

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PubMed2006

Evidence in support of levitation effect as the reason for size dependence of ionic conductivity in water: a molecular dynamics simulation.

We report extensive molecular dynamics simulations of (i) model ions in water at high concentrations as a function of the size and charge of the ion as well as (ii) realistic simulation of Cl- and Br- ions at low concentrations in water at room temperature. We also analyze existing experimental data in light of the results obtained here. The halide ion simulations have been carried out using the interaction potentials of Koneshan et al. (J. Phys. Chem. B 1998, 102, 4193). We compute structural and dynamical properties of ions in water and explore their variation with size and charge of the ion. We find that ions of certain intermediate sizes exhibit a maximum in self-diffusivity in agreement with previous experimental measurements and computer simulations. We analyze molecular dynamics trajectories in light of the previous understanding of the levitation effect (LE) and the recent suggestion that ionic conductivity has its origin in LE (J. Phys. Chem. B 2005, 109, 8120). We report the distribution of void and neck radii that exist amidst water. Our analysis suggests that the ion with maximum self-diffusivity is characterized by a lower activation energy and a single-exponential decay of F(s)(k,t). The behavior of these and other related quantities of the ion with maximum self-diffusivity are characteristic of the anomalous regime of the LE. The simulation results of Br- and Cl- ions in water also yield results in agreement with the predictions of LE. A plot of experimental conductivity data in the literature for alkali ions in water by Kay and Evans (J. Phys. Chem. 1966, 70, 2325) also yields a lower activation energy for the ion with maximum conductivity in excellent agreement with the LE. To the best of our knowledge, none of the existing theories predict a lower activation energy for the ion with maximum conductivity.

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PubMed2005

Diffusion maximum as a function of size in dense liquids.

We study the diffusion of small guest particles of different sizes in a host fluid at liquid densities using molecular dynamics simulations. We observe an enhancement of the diffusivity of guest particles for a size related to the structure of the void space of the host fluid, analogous to the "levitation effect" observed for guest diffusion in porous solids. Friction and activation energy are found to be minimum for the guest size with maximum self-diffusivity. Wavelength dependent self-diffusivity indicates a monotonic and oscillatory dependence on wave number k for anomalous and linear regimes, respectively. These are associated with single and bi-exponential decay of the incoherent intermediate scattering function.

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PubMed2005

Size-dependent maximum in ion conductivity: the levitation effect provides an alternative explanation.

We propose an alternative explanation of the size-dependent maximum in ion mobility in water in terms of the levitation effect, which accounts for the observed size-dependent maximum in the mobility of guest diffusion in porous media. In this explanation, the size at which the maximum occurs is related to the structure of the void space of the water; at the mobility maximum, the diffusant passes smoothly through necks connecting voids, and its potential energy shows minimum fluctuations. Molecular dynamics simulations of charged spheres of varying sizes are used to support this hypothesis. As in the levitation effect, the friction coefficient, the potential energy fluctuations, and the activation energy are found to be minima for particles with maximum self diffusivities similar to the guest diffusion in zeolites. Wavelength-dependent self diffusivities indicate a monotonic and oscillatory dependence, respectively, on wavenumber k for anomalous (AR) and linear regimes (LR). These are associated with single and biexponential decay of the incoherent intermediate scattering function.

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PubMed2005

The Stokes-Einstein relationship and the levitation effect: size-dependent diffusion maximum in dense fluids and close-packed disordered solids.

We report a molecular dynamics study of a binary mixture consisting of a large (host) particle and a smaller (guest) particle whose radius is varied over a range. These simulations investigate the possible existence of a diffusion anomaly or levitation effect in dense fluids, previously seen for guest molecules diffusing within porous solids. The voids in the larger component have been characterized in terms of void and neck distributions by means of Voronoi polyhedral analysis. Four different mixtures with differing ratios of guest to host diffusivities (D) have been studied. The results suggest that the diffusion anomaly is seen in both close-packed solids with disorder and dense fluids. In the latter, the void network is constantly and dynamically changing and possesses a considerable degree of disorder. The two regimes, viz., the linear regime (LR) and the anomalous regime (AR), found for porous solids are shown to exist for a dense medium as well. The linear regime is characterized by D(g) proportional to 1/sigma(gg)(2), where sigma(gg) is the diameter of the guest. The anomalous regime exhibits a maximum in D up to rather high temperatures (T = 1.663), even though in porous solids the maximum disappears at higher temperatures. In agreement with previous studies on porous solids, a particle in the AR is associated with lower activation energy, lower friction, and less backscattering in the velocity autocorrelation function when compared to a particle in the LR. Wavevector dependent self-diffusivity, Delta, and decay of the intermediate scattering function, F(s)(k, t), exhibit contrasting behaviors for the LR and AR. For LR, Delta exhibits a minimum at values of k at which there are spatial correlations in S(k) while a smooth decrease with k is seen for AR. For LR, F(s)(k, t) shows a biexponential decay corresponding to two different time scales of motion. Probably, the fast decay is associated with motion within the first shell of solvent neighbors and the slow decay with motion past these shells. For AR, a single-exponential decay is seen. The results indicate a breakdown of the Stokes-Einstein (SE) relationship. The relevant quantity that determines the validity of the SE relationship is the levitation parameter which is indirectly related to the solute/solvent radius ratio and not either the size of the solute or the solvent alone.

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PubMed2005

Levitation effect: Distinguishing anomalous from linear regime of guests sorbed in zeolites through the decay of intermediate scattering function and wavevector dependence of self-diffusivity.

Previous work investigating the dependence of self-diffusivity, D, on the size of the guest diffusing within the porous solid such as zeolite has reported the existence of an anomalous maximum in the diffusion coefficient (J. Phys. Chem. 1994, 98, 6368). Two distinct regimes of dependence of D on sigma(gg), diameter of the guest were reported. D proportional to 1/sigma(gg)2, often referred to as linear regime (LR), is found when sigma(gg) is smaller than sigma(v), the diameter of the void. A maximum in D has been observed when sigma(gg) is comparable to sigma(v) and this regime is referred to as anomalous regime (AR). Here we report the intermediate scattering function for a particle from LR and AR in zeolite faujasite. A particle from LR exhibits a biexponential decay while a particle from AR exhibits a single-exponential decay at small k. Variation with k of the full width at half-maximum of the self-part of the dynamic structure factor is nonmonotonic for a particle in the linear regime. In contrast, this variation is monotonic for a particle in the anomalous regime. These results can be understood in terms of the existence of energetic barrier at the bottleneck, the 12-ring window, in the path of diffusion. They provide additional signatures for the linear regime and anomalous regimes and therefore for levitation effect (LE).

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PubMed2004

Translational and rotational diffusion of SF6 in zeolite NaY.

Temperature dependence of equilibrium as well as dynamical properties of SF(6) in zeolite NaY have been investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. By about 200 K, SF(6) begins to have increased mobility. Strong orientational preference is exhibited by SF(6) during its passage through the 12-ring window, the bottleneck for diffusion. The preference is for orientation with C(3) followed by C(2) and then C(4) molecular symmetry axis perpendicular to the window plane. Translational motion is diffusive with an activation energy of 5.5 kJ/mol. Rotational-diffusion coefficient has an activation energy of 2.83 kJ/mol. Rotational motion is facile within the alpha-cage. Translational motion is hindered during passage through the 12-ring window when C(4) is perpendicular to the window plane. Orientational correlation functions P(1) and P(2) around C(2), C(3) and C(4) are reported. Only the long time decay of C(4) shows oscillations. This is attributed to the hindered rotation during intercage migration while passing through the 12-ring window.

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PubMed2003

Adsorption isotherm and other properties of methane in zeolite A from an intermolecular potential derived from ab initio calculations.

A classical Lennard-Jones potential is derived from a fit to the ab initio energies obtained from an all-electron mixed-basis calculation for methane in zeolite LTA. The potential predicts the heat of adsorption, adsorption isotherm, and self-diffusivity of methane in excellent agreement with experiment. This study suggests, for the first time, that ab initio energies-in addition to experimental data-can form a good basis for derivation of accurate classical potentials between organic and inorganic elements.

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PubMed2003

Diffusion anomaly as a function of molecular length of linear molecules: levitation effect.

Previous work on monatomic spherical sorbates has shown the existence of an anomalous peak in self-diffusivity (D) when plotted as a function of size of the diffusant. Molecular dynamics studies on linear molecules of different lengths l in zeolite NaY at 140 and 200 K are reported. It is seen that there is a peak in D as a function of l, suggesting that the levitation effect exists for linear molecules, the simplest member of polyatomics. This is confirmed by the lowering of the activation energy for the molecule whose length l exhibits highest D. Related quantities of interest such as the guest-host interaction energy and preexponential factor are discussed.

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