The effect of substrate on the composition of polyhydroxyalkanoates in enhanced biological phosphorus removal

This paper primarily evaluates the effect of external substrate type on the composition of polyhydroxyalkanoates in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). Two sets of sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) are operated for this purpose, one with acetate and the other with propionate as the sole carbon source at different influent COD/phosphate ratios in the range 6.7–20 mgCOD mg^?1P. Results indicate that propionate is a more efficient substrate for EBPR, enabling total phosphate removal regardless of the change in COD/phosphate ratio. Total polyhydroxyalkanoates formation of 267–291 mgCOD L^?1 with a slight increase at higher influent phosphorus levels is observed for acetate experiments, and a slightly lower level of 250–280 mgCOD L^?1, with a similar trend for propionate experiments. The volatile fatty acid type and composition in the influent induces a significant difference in the polyhydroxyalkanoates composition of the two sets of activated sludge sustained in corresponding SBR systems. Propionate is mostly stored as 3‐hydroxy‐2‐methylvalerate and polyhydroxyvalerate, while acetate is stored as polyhydroxybutyrate. The P uptake rate in SBRs fed with propionate is considerably higher than that in the acetate reactors. Parallel batch experiments yield different results, especially for systems fed with acetate, indicating that the enzymatic system to metabolize propionate is not rapidly established, always yielding a dominant polyhydroxybutyrate fraction in the generated polyhydroxyalkanoates regardless of the level of propionate in the feed. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Clinoptilolite-rich mineral as a novel carrier for the active constituents present in Ginkgo biloba leaf extract

The possible use of clinoptilolite-rich mineral as a novel carrier for the active constituents present in Ginkgo biloba leaf extract solutions was investigated. The flavonoid aglycone constituents were found to be selectively adsorbed on the clinoptilolite surface. The antioxidant activity determinations of the extract solutions were performed by the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) assay. The antioxidant activity measurements performed for the Ginkgo leaf extract solutions showed decreasing antioxidant activities due to adsorption. The decrease in antioxidant activity was attributed to the adsorption of phenolic constituents on the clinoptilolite surface.     

Examination of Dyeing Properties of the Dyed Cotton Fabrics with Barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.)

ABSTRACT

In this study, it was aimed at investing the cotton fabrics dyed with different percentages of the roots of barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) via gall oak (Quercus infectoria Olivier; 10% and 20%) and aluminum sulfate (Al₂(SO₄)₃; 6%) mordants. The dyeing process was performed with the roots of barberry in the range of 10–100%. A reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection method was utilized for the identification of dyes present in the sample extracts. Natural yellow-dyed cotton samples were studied calorimetrically and their color coordinates L*, a*, b*, C*, h, K/S, and ?E* values were given.     

Performance of Airyprime beam in turbulent atmosphere

Photonic Network Communications - In this paper, we present scintillation and bit error rate (BER) behavior of Airyprime beam in turbulent atmosphere. We use numerical setup random phase screen...     

Natural ink production and printability studies for smart food packaging

Versatile smart packages provide information on the freshness of the content and help protect the content from microorganisms. In this sense, in this study both natural antimicrobial properties and pH sensitive natural dyes were obtained from red beet. Inks were prepared and printed using this dye and their suitability for smart packaging was investigated. For this purpose, red beet was cut into small sizes and mixed separately in ethanol and water (1:2) at 200 rpm. The betaine dye was taken up in solvent. These solvents were removed with evaporator and precipitated with centrifugation and dried in a vacuum oven. The chemical structure of the obtained dye was illuminated by Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The color character was determined by UV spectroscopy. Pink colored natural ink was produced by using ink varnish with carboxymethyl cellulose polymer and solid dye. Screen printing was made with this ink and the color, gloss, and lightfastness characters of prints were examined. Antimicrobial effects of the obtained prints were measured against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Mordanting studies were performed with (KAl[SO₄]₂.12H₂O) and change in color character was measured. The prints produced using the red beet extract have a yellow-orange color in the basic state; in acid cases it was determined to have a pink-purple color. In addition, it has been found that the ink prints obtained from red beet have antimicrobial properties against bacteria. Results prove that produced samples have good antimicrobial, pH indicator, and printability properties. This colorant can be used in smart food packaging.     

Optimization of the enzymatic production of isoamyl acetate with novozym 435 from candida antarctica

In this study the production of isoamyl acetate by esterification of isoamyl alcohol and acetic acid was carried out using immobilized C . antarctica lipase (Novozym 435) as a catalyst without any organic solvent. The esterification yield was optimized with response surface methodology. This method was used with four parameters to evaluate the effects of important variables on the esterification yield. The parameters are acid/alcohol mole ratio (0.2-0.8), enzyme amount (4-12%, w/w), temperature (30-50 °C), and reaction time (4-8 hr). It was found that the most effective parameter was acid/alcohol mole ratio. As acid/alcohol mole ratio increased at any given reaction time and amount of enzyme, ester concentration, C p (mmol ester/g mixture), increased up to an acid/alcohol mole ratio of 0.7 and thereafter decreased. The model indicated the optimum conditions for maximum esterification (3.45 mmol ester/g mixture) in the acid/alcohol mole ratio of 0.52 for 8.15% enzyme at 43.2 °C and after 5.27 hr, which were in good agreement with the experimental value (3.5 mmol ester/g mixture).     

Determination of hydroquinone using poly(3‐methylthiophene) synthesized electrochemically on pt electrode in methylene chloride

Poly(3‐methylthiophene) (P3MT) film was synthesized by potentiodynamic method on Pt electrode in methylene chloride solution containing 0.10M tetrabuthlammonium perchlorate supporting electrolyte and used for the determination of hydroquinone (HQ) with amperometric I–t method in solution consisting of NaHSO₄/Na₂SO₄ (SBS; pH 2.0). This modified electrode has a lower working potential and good operational stability due to reducing electrode fouling when compared with the direct oxidation of HQ at the bare Pt electrode. Limit of detection, limit of quantification, and the linear response range were found to be 1.32 × 10^?5 mM, 4.41 × 10^?5 mM, and between 4.41 × 10^?5 – 50.0 mM (R² = 0.997), at 0.50 V versus saturated calomel electrode, respectively. HQ determination in complex matrix was checked using real samples to demonstrate the applicability of modified electrode. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40859.     

Effects of pectin and guar gum on creaming stability, microstructure and rheology of egg yolk plasma-stabilized emulsions

The influence of pectin and guar gum on the creaming stability, microstructure and rheological properties of 1.0% (w/v) egg yolk plasma (EYP)-stabilized 25.0% (v/v) soybean oil-in-water emulsions was studied at pH 7.0. Addition of pectin/guar gum decreased creaming percentage, and no creaming was detected in the presence of 0.5% (w/v) pectin/guar gum as a result of increasing viscosity. At the end of 10 h, creaming percentage decreased from 61 to 57% with the addition of 0.05% (w/v) guar gum and to 39% with the addition of 0.2% (w/v) guar gum. Microscopic observations represented the droplet aggregation arising from the presence of nonabsorbing biopolymers. At \mathop g^. \mathop \gamma \limits^{.}  = 10 s⁻¹, a tenfold increase in viscosity was observed in the presence of 0.5% (w/v) guar gum compared to the presence of 0.1% guar gum due to the thickening effect of polysaccharide. Increasing gum concentrations enhanced the viscosity and hence the consistency index. All emulsions, except for those containing 0.5% (w/v) guar gum, reflect the near-Newtonian behaviour with flow behaviour index, n, of 0.9–1.0. All emulsions exhibited a liquid-like behaviour at low frequencies (<7.0 Hz) where G″ values were higher than G′. Both G′ and G″ showed a frequency dependency and these two moduli crossed each other at higher frequencies (>7.0 Hz), G′ became greater than G″ and the system behaved like an elastic solid. Addition of pectin at all levels cause no significant change in G′ and G″ values, whereas addition of guar gum, especially at a concentration of 0.5% (w/v), significantly improved these values.