Nitrogen use efficiency by maize as affected by a mucuna short fallow and P application in the coastal savanna of West Africa

Maize is the primary food crop grown by farmers in the coastal savanna region of Togo and Benin on degraded (rhodic ferralsols), low in soil K-supplying capacity, and non-degraded (plinthic acrisols) soils. Agronomic trials were conducted during 1999–2002 in southern Togo on both soil types to investigate the impact of N and P fertilization and the introduction of a mucuna short fallow (MSF) on yield, indigenous N supply of the soil, N recovery fraction and internal efficiency of maize. In all plots, an annual basal dose of 100 kg K ha^–1 was applied to the maize crop. Maize and mucuna crop residues were incorporated into the soil during land preparation. Treatment yields were primarily below 80% of CERES-MAIZE simulated weather-defined maize yield potentials, indicating that nutrients were more limiting than weather conditions. On degraded soil (DS), maize yields increased from 0.4 t ha^–1 to 2.8 t ha^–1 from 1999 to 2001, without N or P application, in the absence of MSF, with annual K application and incorporation of maize crop residues. Application of N and P mineral fertilizer resulted in yield gains of 1–1.5 t ha^–1. With MSF, additional yield gains of between 0.5 and 1.0 t ha^–1 were obtained at low N application rates. N supply of the soil increased from 10 to 42 kg ha^–1 from 1999 to 2001 and to 58 kg N ha^–1 with MSF. Application of P resulted in significant improvements in N recovery fraction, and greatest gains were obtained with MSF and P application. MSF did not significantly affect internal N efficiency, which averaged 45 kg grain (kg N uptake)^–1. On non-degraded soils (NDS) and without N or P application, in the absence of MSF, maize yields were about 3 t ha^–1 from 1999 to 2001, with N supply of the soil ranging from 55 to 110 kg N ha^–1. Application of 40 kg P ha^–1 alone resulted in significant maize yield gains of between 1.0 (1999) and 1.5 (2001) t ha^–1. Inclusion of MSF did not significantly improve maize yields and even reduced N recovery fraction as determined in the third cropping year (2001). Results illustrate the importance of site-specific integrated soil fertility management recommendations for the southern regions of Togo and Benin that consider indigenous soil nutrient-supplying capacity and yield potential. On DS, the main nutrients limiting maize growth were N and probably K. On NDS, nutrients limiting growth were mainly N and P. Even on DS rapid gains in productivity can be obtained, with MSF serving as a means to allow farmers with limited financial means to restore the fertility of such soils. MSF cannot be recommended on relatively fertile NDS.     

Surface modification of henequen (Agave fourcroydes) fibers by ultraviolet curing with 2‐hydroxyethylacrylate and ethylacrylate: Effect of additives on degradable properties

Henequen fibers were grafted with a double impregnating monomer 2‐hydroxyethylacrylate (HEA) and ethylacrylate (EA) to improve the physicomechanical properties. The fibers soaked in different concentration (1–10%) of monomer + MeOH solution along with photoinitiator Irgacure 907 [2%] were cured under ultraviolet (UV) lamp at different UV radiation intensities (2–14 passes). Concentration of monomer at different radiation intensities was optimized with extent of mechanical properties such as polymer loading, tensile strength, and elongation at break. Enhanced tensile strength (268%) and elongation at break (110%) were achieved by the polymer treated fibers than untreated virgin fibers. We observed that, henequen fibers treated by 3% EA showed better physico‐mechanical properties than those treated by 5% HEA. The tensile properties of henequen fibers treated by 3% EA can be enhanced by adding aloxysilane; 3‐(trimethoxysilyl) propylmethacrylate additives with bulk monomer EA (3%). The degradability of the treated and untreated fibers due to accelerated weathering were also studied and it has been found that surface modified henequen fibers produced more resistivity towards different weathering conditions than untreated fibers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 4000–4006, 2006     

SIS-g-AN热降解性能的研究

采用热重分析法和差示热重分析法研究丙烯腈(AN)接枝热塑性弹性体SIS(SIS g AN)的热降解性能。结果得出,SIS g AN的平衡起始降解温度、平衡最大降解速率温度和平衡终止降解温度分别为659. 17, 713. 94 和740.05 K;热降解反应活化能为195.2 kJ·mol-1;热降解机理是Deceleration中的D3 降解机理;不同质量损失率下的热寿命与温度呈线性关系。     

分子生物技术在石油降解微生物研究中的应用

总结了生物法治理石油污染的局限性,介绍了几种在石油降解微生物研究中广泛应用的分子生物技术,并对该研究领域未来的发展趋势进行了预测。     

Polymer waste recycling over “used” catalysts

Catalytic degradation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) was carried out under nitrogen using a laboratory fluidised bed reactor operating at 360 °C with catalyst to polymer feed ratio of 2:1 and at 450 °C with catalyst to polymer feed ratio of 6:1 under atmospheric pressure. The catalysts used in this study were ZSM-5, US-Y, ASA, fresh FCC (fluid catalytic cracking) commercial catalyst (Cat-A) and equilibrium FCC catalysts with different levels of metal poisoning were studied. The initial results for polymer degradation at 360 °C (catalyst to polymer ratio of 2:1) in a fluidised bed reactor in terms of the yield of volatile hydrocarbon products were: model catalysts>commercial FCC catalyst>E-Cats. However, when the process conditions more closely resembled to FCC conditions, the fresh commercial FCC catalyst was more favourable in terms of the yield of volatile hydrocarbon products. The degradation of HDPE over E-Cats although reduced was similar to ASA in product selectivity and yield, and the level of metal contamination did not affect the product stream generated. A simple economic evaluation of polymer recycling process is reported showing that a catalytic system based on E-Cats appears comparable in costs to a commercial thermal cracking plant.     

Ion‐exchange resins. II. Acrylamide crosslinked copolymers as precursors for some ion exchangers

Crosslinked copolymers of acrylamide (AA) and ethylacrylate and some ion exchangers derived from them containing either primary amine groups, obtained by the Hofmann degradation of the amide groups, or carboxylic groups, obtained by the alkaline hydrolysis of the ester groups, were studied. Divinylbenzene and N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide were used as crosslinkers. The starting copolymers and the corresponding ion exchangers were characterized by IR spectroscopy, swelling behavior, and thermogravimetric analysis. The ion‐exchanger properties were correlated with the crosslinker nature and the chemical reactions performed on the AA copolymers. The average molecular weight between two crosslinks, determined from the swelling data in water, was compared with that calculated on the basis of the copolymerization stoichiometry only for the carboxylic cation exchangers. In this way, the preservation of the crosslink density after the hydrolysis was revealed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2701–2707, 2003     

Reactive‐extrusion route for the closed‐loop recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

The effectiveness of the reactive extrusion technique was investigated for poly(ethylene terephthalate) to promote the concept of closed‐loop recycling, that is, the reuse of waste material in the initial application. More specifically, a chain‐extender system, consisting of pyromellitic dianhydride, polyol, and a catalyst, was employed, and its efficiency regarding the improvement of the recyclate quality was evaluated. Accordingly, rheological and thermal characterizations were performed and used as criteria of the modification induced in the polymer molecular structure during processing due to the counteracting degradation and chain‐extension reactions. In particular, the molecular weight, related to intrinsic viscosity and melt flow rate measurements, of modified poly(ethylene terephthalate) samples was found to increase with the additive content. Simultaneously, a decrease in the crystallinity was observed, attributed to the branching effect of the chain extender, which restricted the ability of the macromolecules to organize in the crystal structure. Beyond a critical concentration of the additive system, the molecular weight of the treated samples started to decrease again, and this was accompanied by a small increase in the crystallinity. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1671–1678, 2007     

难降解有机污染物的生物治理技术进展

针对废水中难降解有机污染物的生物治理技术进展状况，进行较为全面的介绍。总结了国内外该领域的研究成果，重点介绍了目前较为活跃的几种生物新技术,厌氧水解酸化，高效菌种技术，固定化微生物技术，利用微生物共代谢作用降解污染物，对其发展趋势进行了分析预测，提出目前存在的主要问题，并对实际运行处理设计提出了若干建议。     

纳米氧化锆/氧化锌光催化降解酸性红B的研究

以醋酸锌和氯氧化锆为原料，采用化学沉淀法制备了纳米氧化锆／氧化锌光催化剂。在中性条件下研究了催化剂煅烧温度，锆复合量，催化剂用量，染料初始质量浓度，过氧化氢质量浓度，各种阴、阳离子等条件对酸性红B脱色反应的影响。结果表明，该催化剂最佳制备条件为煅烧温度350℃，锆复合量2．5％（物质的量分数）。催化剂最佳用量0．9g／L。提高染料初始质量浓度会降低反应脱色率。适量过氧化氢可提高反应脱色率，当其质量浓度超过300mg／L会起负作用。NO3^-对反应影响不大；Fe^3＋和Ag^＋对反应起促进作用；SO4^2-，Cl^-，NO2^-等阴离子和Fe^2＋，Mn^2＋等阳离子对反应起抑制作用。     

Study on pH‐sensitive and thermosensitive polymer networks containing polyacetal segments

A series of pH‐sensitive and thermosensitive polymer networks were first obtained by copolymerization of telechelic poly(1,3‐dioxolane) (PDXL) with acrylic acid (AA), acrylamide (AM), and N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), respectively. The copolymerization of PDXL diacrylate (PDXLDA) with AA, AM, or NIPAM is expected to lead to polymer networks in which homopolymeric segments of the monomer are connected by polyacetal segments. As a combination of these two parts, these polymer networks can have some interesting physical properties. For example, the copolymer networks of poly(AA‐b‐DXL) showed pH sensitivity, and both the copolymer networks of poly(AM‐b‐DXL) and poly(NIPAM‐b‐DXL) showed temperature sensitivity. Moreover, because of the low ceiling temperature of polyDXL, the networks containing polyacetal segments (PDXL) can degrade by treatment with a trace of appropriate cationic initiator. The polymer networks prepared were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, and swelling data. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 3002–3006, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.2329