Metaproteomic analysis of enzymatic composition in Baobaoqu fermentation starter for Wuliangye baijiu

Wuliangye is one of the most famous brands of baijiu in China. The typical flavours of Wuliangye baijiu are mainly formed by the multifarious enzymes in fermentation starter (Baobaoqu, BBQ). As the enzymes remained poorly understood, the detailed enzymatic composition of BBQ was analysed by metaproteomics for the first time. It is worth noting that the enzymes from plant, animals and micro-organisms were detected together and oxidoreductases were the dominant enzymes. Next, the analysis of function showed that the enzymes were mainly involved in carbon metabolism and the biosynthesis of amino acids. Additionally, the relationship between differential abundant enzymes and formation of typical flavour substances in premium and normal BBQ was established. Furthermore, the activities of classic enzymes in BBQ were examined to verify the reliability of metaproteomic results. This study will provide clues to further improve the manufacturing technology for Wuliangye baijiu.     

Preparation of high-activity coal char-based catalysts from high metals containing coal gangue and lignite for catalytic decomposition of biomass tar

The potential of using high metals containing coal gangue and lignite to prepare high-activity coal char-based catalysts is investigated for effective biomass tar decomposition. Loose structure and rough surface are formed for these char-based catalysts with heterogeneous distribution of a large number of inorganic particles. In the biomass tar decomposition, the performance of the coal char-based catalysts is significantly influenced by the content of the metals in the raw materials and coal gangue char (GC) with the ash content as high as 50.80% exhibits the highest activity in this work. A high biomass tar conversion efficiency of 93.5% is achieved at 800 °C along with a significant increase in the fuel gas product. During the five-time consecutive tests, the catalytic performance of GC increases a little at the second or third times reuse and remains relatively stable, showing the remarkable stability of the catalyst in biomass tar decomposition applications.     

Competitive growth of Al2O3/YAG/ZrO2 eutectic ceramics during directional solidification: Effect of interfacial energy

The microstructure evolution and growth behavior of the Al₂O₃/Y₃Al₅O₁₂(YAG)/ZrO₂ ternary eutectic ceramics during directional solidification were well investigated. During directional solidification of the Al₂O₃/YAG/ZrO₂ ternary eutectic ceramics, {} Al₂O₃ paralleled with {001}ZrO₂ while they did not parallel with {001}YAG at the same time in the competitive growth stage. All of the interfaces parallel to each other finally. The area percentage of the Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ and YAG/ZrO₂ interfaces are 40.4 ± 0.2% and 30.8 ± 0.1%, respectively, higher than that of the Al₂O₃/YAG (28.8 ± 0.2%). The content of Al₂O₃ and YAG phases are 39.9% and 41.1%, respectively, almost double of that of ZrO₂. The interfaces of Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ and YAG/ZrO₂ are shorter and more dispersed than that of the Al₂O₃/YAG. It was found that the interfacial energy of Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ and YAG/ZrO₂ interfaces are lower than that of Al₂O₃/YAG. It can be concluded that interfacial energy plays a decisive role in affecting the crystallographic orientation and interfaces distribution in the Al₂O₃/YAG/ZrO₂ eutectic since the interfaces of Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ and YAG/ZrO₂ with lower interfacial energy can be formed more easily during directional solidification. Therefore, the contents of Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ and YAG/ZrO₂ interfaces are higher. This study can provide theoretical guidance for interface design of multi-phase materials.     

Large electrostrictive effect and high energy storage performance of Pr3+-doped PIN-PMN-PT multifunctional ceramics in the ergodic relaxor phase

The photoluminescence, dielectric relaxation, ferroelectric hysteresis, and field-induced strain properties of Pr³⁺-doped 0.24Pb(In_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃-0.42Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-0.34PbTiO₃ (PIN-PMN-PT:Pr³⁺) multifunctional ceramics have been investigated. It was found that Pr³⁺ doping enhanced the dielectric diffuseness and relaxation behavior of PIN-PMN-PT ceramics. Slim P-E loops and S-E curves appear in PIN-PMN-PT:Pr³⁺ ceramics when the Pr³⁺ doping concentration reaches 1.4 mol%. Local domain configurations associated with phase transitions were investigated by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). Large electrostrictive coefficient Q₃₃ (?0.03 m⁴/C²) and high energy-storage efficiency η (92%) were obtained in 2 mol% Pr³⁺-doped PIN-PMN-PT ceramic in the ergodic relaxor (ER) phase at room temperature. The giant electrostrictive effect and excellent energy-storage performance are related to the field-induced dynamic behavior of polar nanoregions (PNRs). The results show that the PIN-PMN-PT:Pr³⁺ system is an excellent multifunctional material for making electromechanical and energy storage devices.     

Tunable microwave absorption properties of nickel-carbon nanofibers prepared by electrospinning

The nickel-carbon nanofibers (Ni-C NFs) were fabricated by the electrospinning of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and nickel acetate tetrahydrate (NiAc) solution precursor with succedent PVA pyrolyzation and calcination process. The microwave absorption performance and electromagnetic (EM) parameters of the NFs were researched over the frequency range of 2.0–18.0?GHz. Both the impedance matching and EM wave absorption properties of the Ni-C NFs were improved by changing the carbonization temperature. The effect of graphitization degree on reflection loss (RL) and the possible loss mechanisms were directly displayed in the comparative study of each sample. The optimal RL value of ??44.9?dB and an effective frequency bandwidth of 3.0?GHz under a thickness of 3.0?mm can be reached by a sample calcined at 650?°C. These lightweight Ni-C NFs composites can be promising candidates for EM wave absorbers due to the combination of multiple loss mechanisms, nano-size effect and good impedance matching between Ni nanoparticles and CNFs.     

Simulation and exploration of cavitation process during microalgae oil extracting with ultrasonic-assisted for hydrogen production

Microalgae is promising to be used as feedstock resources for hydrogen production due to its high oil and grease contents. This promotes the development of extraction technology of microalgae oil. In this study, based on the Rayleigh-Plesset equation, the effects of temperature, pressure, ultrasonic power and frequency on the bubble motion of ethanol ultrasound cavitation are investigated. Subsequently, the effects of different process parameters on the extraction rate are studied using Schizochytrium sp. as raw material by stirring or ultrasonic-assisted extraction. And the composition of algae extraction oil is analyzed. The results show that the amplitude of cavitation bubbles increases with the increase of ultrasonic power and decrease of ultrasonic frequency. The extraction rate of algae oil reaches 93.76 ± 0.48% when the ultrasonic power is 150 W, the reaction time is 30 min, the temperature is 50 °C and the liquid-solid ratio is 10:1.     

Application of Non-Destructive Testing for Condition Analysis,Repair of Damages and Integrity Assessment of Vital Steel Structures

Russian Journal of Nondestructive Testing - Loads at vital steel structures occur during their production and assembly (residual stresses), during the execution of functional tasks in exploitation...     

Highly efficient two-stage ring-opening of epichlorohydrin with carboxylic acid in a microreaction system

Ring-opening of epoxides with carboxylic acids has been widely used to prepare many high value intermediates in the polymer and pharmaceutical industries. Most of conventional processes proceeded in batch stirred reactors. As such they always suffer from low productivity and selectivity. Here we developed an advanced technology to perform the ring-opening reaction of epichlorohydrin with neodecanoic acid (NDA) for continuous production of 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl neodecanoate in a more efficient and safer way. A microreaction system where a microreactor connected to a stirred reactor was established. When the conversion of NDA rapidly reaching around 90% in a microreactor at 110°C, the reaction solution was transferred to a stirred reactor at 90°C. This two-stage operating mode can reduce the reaction time and improve the selectivity through free switching of temperature in the consecutive two reactors, thus substantially reducing the consumption of energy and materials.     

Template-free synthesis of novel Co3O4 micro-bundles assembled with flakes for high-performance hybrid supercapacitors

In this paper, a novel Co₃O₄ micro-bundles structure (Co₃O₄ MBs) was obtained at 120 °C after a hydrothermal reaction for 24 h and followed by an annealing treatment at 300 °C in air. The unique Co₃O₄ MBs are constructed by many adjacent flakes with 0.4 μm in thickness, and exhibit a large surface area of 81.2 m² g^?1 and a mean pore diameter of 6.14 nm, which may facilitate a sufficient contact with electrolyte and then shorten the diffusion pathway of ions. A remarkable electrochemical behavior including specific capacity of 282.3 C g^?1 at 1 A g^?1 and 205.9 C g^?1 at 10 A g^?1, and an excellent cycling performance with 74.6% capacity retention after 4000 charge-discharge process at 5 A g^?1 are achieved when the test of Co₃O₄ MBs-modified electrode is performed using three-electrode configuration. Additionally, a hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) was fabricated with the obtained Co₃O₄ MBs as positive electrode and commercial activated carbon (AC) as negative electrode. The HSC exhibits a specific capacity of 144.1 C g^?1 at 1 A g^?1 and 126.4% capacity retention after 5000 cycles at 5 A g^?1. An energy density of 38.5 W h kg^?1 can be obtained at a power density of 962.0 W kg^?1, and 29.5 W h kg^?1 is still retained at 8532.5 W kg^?1. The simple synthetic strategy can be applicable to the synthesis of other transition metal oxides with superior electrochemical performance.