A new version of multi-channel twin conduction type of calorimeter has been designed and tested. This calorimeter is of such the structure that a reference cell holder is inverted to a measuring cell holder. A precisely thermostated air bath can hold up to the 12 calorimeter vessels in the heat sink which can be operated independently of each other. Various kinds of troubles accompanied with simultaneous multi-channel measurements were resolved by use of this calorimeter. Temperature drift in the air bath is within ±5×10^-3K per 24h. The long-term baseline stability of the calorimeter is within 8μW. Test experiments with enthalpy of hydration of cement indicate absence of significant errors. A new information was also obtained from the experimental result of enthalpy of hydration of the cement.

View full abstract

History of combustion calorimetry is briefly reviewed. It is emphasized that the cooperative research between quantum chemistry and combustion calorimetry is forceful in today's chemistry. The latest high-precision micro-combustion calorimetry is introduced. Several applications of combustion calorimetry in the current science are shown.

View full abstract

In the Supplement II to the Japanese Pharmacopoeia 13th (1999), “Thermal Analysis” has been newly adopted as a General tests and Methods. Thus in this text, summary of the method was explained, and then it was considered how the method can be applied to the quality evaluation of materials such as starting materials, intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients.
The quality of drug substance can be specified by various physico-chemical tests and methods. Among many test items, the method can be applied to test items such as “Description”, “Loss on Drying” or “Water Content” and “Purity Test for Related Substances”. In the respective test item it was explained what is the meaning of each test item for the quality evaluation of drug substance and what types of application can be envisaged with, based on appropriate experimental examples.
Furthermore it was also considered how the thermal analysis method is treated in the US Pharmacopeia (USP) and/or European Pharmacopoeia (EP).

View full abstract

Thermodynamic properties of proteins are essential for understanding the mechanism of their folding and stability. We introduce and explain the database, “ProTherm: Thermodynamic Database for Proteins and Mutants”, which was developed in our laboratory and can be searched through WWW on various conditions with different options for output. The database contains more than 7000 numerical data for several important thermodynamic properties, structural information of proteins and mutants, experimental methods and conditions, functional and literature information. The database is cross-linked with PubMed, PDB, PMD, EC, and 3DinSight which is developed in our laboratory. The mutation sites and surrounding residues are automatically mapped on structures and can be directly viewed through 3DinSight. ProTherm can be accessed through the World Wide Web at: http://www.rtc.riken.go.jp/jouhou/protherm/protherm.html.

View full abstract