Biosynthesis of lipids by bovine meibomian glands

Isolated bovine meibomian glands incorporated exogenous [1-¹⁴C] acetate into lipids. Thin layer chromatographic analysis of the lipids showed that wax esters and sterol esters contained 61% of the total label. Radio gas liquid chromatographic analysis of the acid and alcohol moieties of both ester fractions showed the label was distributed equally between the two portions of the ester in both cases. Cholesterol and 5-α-cholest-7-en-3β-ol were the major labeled sterols, and anteiso-C25, anteiso-C27 and anteiso-C23 were the most highly labeled alcohols. The major labeled fatty acids in the wax esters were anteiso-C15,n-C16, anteiso-C17 andn-C18∶1, whereas anteiso-C25 and anteiso-C27 were the major labeled acids in the sterol esters. The diester region with 6% of the total label contained labeled fatty acids and fatty alcohols each with anteiso-C25 as the major component and ω-hydroxy acids in whichn-C32∶1 was the major labeled component. The trigly ceride fraction which contained 8% of the total lipids was composed of labeled fatty acids similar to those found in both sterol and wax ester fractions. Chromatographic analyses of the labeled lipids derived from exogenous labeled isoleucine showed that anteiso-branched products were preferentially labeled. The labeled triglyceride fraction derived from [U-¹⁴C] isoleucine also contained esterified C15, C13, C11, C9, C7 and possibly shorter anteisobranched acids.     

Biosynthesis of (Z,Z)-6,9-heptacosadiene in the American cockroach

The biosynthesis of (Z,Z)-6,9-heptacosadiene, the major cuticular hydrocarbon component of the American cockroach, was examined by radiotracer and¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. Sodium [1-¹⁴C] acetate was incorporated about equally into the saturated and diunsaturated hydrocarbons, whereas [1-¹⁴C] linoleate preferentially labeled the C₂₇ alkadiene and [9,10-³H] oleate labeled the C₂₇ alkadiene almost exclusively.¹³C-NMR demonstrated that [2-¹³C] acetate labeled carbons 25 and 27 but not carbon 3 of the C₂₇ alkadiene. In addition, ozonolysis of the diene labeled from [1-¹⁴C] acetate followed by radio-gas liquid chromatography showed that carbons 1–6 were not labeled, whereas the fragment containing carbons 10–27 was labeled. The data presented in this paper indicate that linoleate from the diet or synthesized de novo is elongated by the addition of acetate units and is then decarboxylated.     

Influence of Serum and Hypoxia on Incorporation of [14C]-d-Glucose or [14C]-l-Glutamine into Lipids and Lactate in Murine Glioblastoma Cells

Glucose and glutamine are essential energy metabolites for brain tumor growth and survival under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Both metabolites can contribute their carbons to lipid biosynthesis. We used uniformly labeled [¹⁴C]‐U‐d ‐glucose and [¹⁴C]‐U‐l ‐glutamine to examine the profile of de novo lipid biosynthesis in the VM‐M3 murine glioblastoma cells. The major lipids synthesized included phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho), phosphatidylethanolamine (EtnGpl), phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns), phosphatidylserine (PtdSer), sphingomyelin (CerP Cho), bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP)/phosphatidic acid (PtdOH), cholesterol (C), cardiolipin (Ptd₂Gro), and gangliosides. Endogenous lipid synthesis, using either glucose or glutamine, was greater in media without fetal bovine serum (FBS) than in media containing 10 % FBS under normoxia. De novo lipid synthesis was greater using glucose carbons than glutamine carbons under normoxia. The reverse was observed for most lipids under hypoxia suggesting an attenuation of glucose entering the TCA cycle. Lactate was produced largely from glucose carbons with minimal lactate derived from glutamine under either normoxia or hypoxia. Accumulation of triacylglycerols (TAG), containing mostly saturated and mono‐unsaturated fatty acids, was observed under hypoxia using carbons from either glucose or glutamine. The data show that the incorporation of labeled glucose and glutamine into most synthesized lipids was dependent on the type of growth environment, and that the VM‐M3 glioblastoma cells could acquire lipids, especially cholesterol, from the external environment for growth and proliferation.     

Solid state 13C-NMR of cellulose. A relaxation study

Summary The ¹³C spin-lattice relaxation times T₁ of hydrolysed cotton cellulose have been determined in the solid state. T₁ is between 202 and 266 seconds in the crystalline regions of the sample for all the carbons in the anhydroglucose unit and less than 15 seconds in the amorphous part. Based on the relaxation data, spectral assignment of the C2-C3-C5 region is proposed.     

The effect of Mo2C derived carbon pore size on the electrical double-layer characteristics in propylene carbonate-based electrolyte

Carbide-derived carbon (CDC) was synthesised from molybdenum carbide by extracting Mo atoms in a high-temperature chlorine atmosphere. A systematic study of the influence of pore size on the electrical double layer (EDL) performance was carried out with carbons synthesised in the temperature interval of 500-900 °C. Strong effect of chlorination conditions on the pore-size distribution was noticed that gives wide possibilities to vary the pore structure of Mo₂C derived carbons. An average pore size of carbons varied between 1 nm and 2 nm depending on chlorination temperature. The relationships were established between the pore-size distribution and the electrochemical performance of micro/mesoporous carbons. The EDL characteristics of carbon materials in a propylene carbonate solution of triethylmethylammonium tetrafluoroborate were obtained using the cyclic voltammetry at ΔE of 3.8 V and the constant current methods in a 3-electrode test cell. A novel test method was developed to demonstrate the power characteristics of the electrode materials. The results of this study affirmed the great potential of Mo₂C derived carbons, whose EDL capacitance reaches ∼65 F cm⁻³ and 132 F g⁻¹ and the 20-s discharge power density is 2.1 W cm⁻³.     

Surface chemistry of phosphorus-containing carbons of lignocellulosic origin

Activated carbon adsorbents were prepared by phosphoric acid activation of fruit stones in an argon atmosphere at various temperatures in the 400-1000 °C range and at different acid/precursor impregnation ratios (0.63-1.02). The surface chemistry of the carbons was investigated by elemental analysis, cation exchange capacity (CEC, measured by neutralization of NaOH with acidic surface groups), infrared spectroscopy and potentiometric titration. Porous structure was derived from adsorption isotherms (N₂ at −196 °C and CO₂ at 0 °C). It was demonstrated that all carbons show considerable cation exchange capacity, the maximum (CEC = 2.2 mmol g⁻¹) being attained at 800 °C, which coincides with the maximum contents of phosphorus and oxygen. The cation exchange properties of phosphoric acid activated carbons from fruit stones are chemically stable in very acidic and basic solutions. Proton affinity distributions of all carbons show the presence of three types of surface groups with pK at 2.0-3.3, 4.6-5.9 and 7.6-9.1. These pK ranges were ascribed primarily to: (a) phosphorus-containing and carboxylic groups; (b) lactonic groups, and (c) phenolic groups, respectively. Phosphoric acid activated carbons are microporous with a relatively small contribution of mesopores. A maximum BET surface area of 1740 m² g⁻¹ was attained at 400 °C.     

Activated Carbon from Some Agricultural Wastes Under Action of One-Step Steam Pyrolysis

A one-step steam pyrolysis scheme was applied, in the range 600–700°C, for the production of activated carbons from five lignocellulosic materials. The products were characterized by N₂/77 K adsorption for evaluating their surface area and pore volume. Simple carbonization at 700 C resulted in poor adsorbing carbons whereas porosity was remarkably enhanced under action of steam. Carbon precursors derived from date palm wastes (branches, leaves and date pits) proved feasible raw materials that produced good adsorbing carbons. Rice husks and barbecue charcoal developed porosity to a lower extent, due to the inherent ash content. All obtained carbons were essentially microporous due to the limited gasification. Steam is suggested to play a double role: it promotes both the release of volatiles with partial devolatalization, and enhances carbon formation.     

Fatty acid metabolism of the calanoid copepodParacalanus parvus: 2. Palmitate,stearate, oleate and acetate

The de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids in the wild, calanoid copepodParacalanus parvus was studied. The incubation of labeled acetate proved the de novo biosynthesis of saturated and monounsaturated even fatty acids from 14 to 20 carbons and the 22∶1 acid. Saturated and monounsaturated uneven fatty acids from 15 to 21 carbons were also synthesized. The copepod could not synthesize linoleic and α-linolenic acids. By administration of [1-¹⁴C]palmitate, [1-¹⁴C] stearate and [1-¹⁴C]oleate, it was possible to elucidate the general pattern of the de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids in the wildP. parvus.     

The effect of sulfur evolution on the properties of high-temperature carbons—I. Thianthrene and thianthrene-anthracene precursors

The carbonization (525°C) and graphitization (up to 2500°C) of thianthrene, anthracene and a 17% wt thianthrene-83% wt anthracene mixture were investigated. The thianthrene carbons were found to be non-graphitizable and of low density. Upon heat-treatment from 1200–2500°C sulfur was evolved continuously and there was a further decrease in density due to an increase in closed porosity. The carbons produced from the mixture were found to be graphitizable and possessed similar crystal parameters to those carbons derived from anthracene after heat treatment to the same temperature. In contrast to the anthracene carbons, the mixed carbons showed a sharp decrease in density with heat treatment temperature. The principal reduction in sulfur content occurred between 1400–1600°C. The density change appears to be produced through the disruption of crystallite alignment which substantially increases the open pore volume for pores of less than 200 nm diameter. The behavior of the mixed carbon is similar to that reported for high sulfur petroleum cokes which can undergo an irreversible expansion (puffing) during graphitization.     

Comparisons of pore properties and adsorption performance of KOH-activated and steam-activated carbons

Carbonaceous adsorbents with controllable pore sizes derived from carbonized pistachio shells (i.e., char) were prepared by the KOH activation and steam activation methods in this work. The pore properties including the BET surface area, pore volume, pore size distribution, and pore diameter of these activated carbons were characterized by the t-plot method based on N₂ adsorption isotherms. Through varying the KOH/char ratios from 0.5 to 3, the KOH-activated carbons exhibited BET surface areas ranging from 731 to 1687 m²/g with a similar micropore content (80–92%). The carbons activated by steam at 830 °C for 2 h had a BET surface area of 821 m²/g with the micropore content of 42%. The micropore/total pore volume ratio (V_micro/V_pore) and average pore size (D_pore) were independent of the KOH/char ratio, revealing that KOH activation is a powerful method in developing and controlling the number of micropores with a very similar pore size distribution. The adsorption equilibria and kinetics of methylene blue, basic brown 1, acid blue 74, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol, and phenol from water on all activated carbons at 30 °C were investigated to demonstrate the fact that adsorption of organics is not only dependent upon the BET surface area but is also determined by the relative size between pores and molecules. The adsorption isotherms were subjected to the model fitting according to Langmuir and Freudlich equations. By comparing the projected area of adsorbates, the surface coverage of phenols is about 3.6 times of that of dyes (based on unit gram of activated carbon). The Elovich equation was found to suitably describe the adsorption process of all KOH-activated carbons while the adsorption behavior on the steam-activated carbon was reasonably fitted with the intraparticle diffusion model.     

Synthesis and characterization of activated carbons prepared from benzene CVD on zeolite Y

Microporous activated carbons were prepared using zeolite NaY as the template and benzene as the carbon precursor. Chemical vapor deposition of benzene was conducted in the temperature range of 600–950 °C and under different flow rates of benzene. The structural properties of the derived carbons were characterized with various experimental techniques. It was found that the CVD temperature of 650 °C results in carbons with the highest surface area of 1,511 m²/g, a pore volume of 0.93 cm³/g, and a good structural regularity. The higher CVD temperatures (e.g. ~900 °C) were found to result in carbons with lower surface area and poor structural regularity. The increased benzene flow rate will result in carbons with lower surface area and larger pore sizes.     

Activated carbon from jackfruit peel waste by H3PO4 chemical activation: Pore structure and surface chemistry characterization

The effects of activation temperature and impregnation ratio on the pore structure and surface chemistry of activated carbons derived from jackfruit peel with chemical activation method using phosphoric acid as activating agent were studied. Activated carbons with well-developed pore sizes were produced at activation temperatures of 450 and 550 °C. The BET surface areas and total pore volumes of the carbons produced at these temperatures are in the range of 907–1260 m²/g and 0.525–0.733 cm³/g, respectively.     

Adsorption of Hg(II) ions from aqueous chloride solutions using powdered activated carbons

Activated carbons were developed from Casurina equisetifolia leaves, by chemically treating with sulfuric acid (1:1) or zinc chloride (25%), at low (425 °C) and high (825 °C) temperatures. The resulting powdered activated carbons were applied for removing mercuric ions from aqueous solution at different agitation times and mercuric ion concentrations. The equilibrium data fitted well the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The Langmuir adsorption capacities were 12.3 and 20.3 mg g⁻¹ for low temperature carbons and 43.9 and 38.5 mg g⁻¹ for high temperature carbons impregnated with H₂SO₄ and ZnCl₂, respectively. Studies of the effects of carbon dosage, NaCl concentrations and solution pH values were carried out for the more effective, high temperature carbons. Increasing NaCl concentration resulted in a significant decrease in the adsorption efficiency. Adsorption was high from solutions with low and neutral pH values and lower for solutions with alkaline pH values for the high temperature carbons.     

L-脯氨酰-L-亮氨酰-甘氨酰胺(PLG)三肽合成

L-脯氨酰-L-亮氨酰-甘氨酰胺三肽,具有重要的生理药理作用,可用于治疗帕金森病。以L-脯氨酸、L-亮氨酸和甘氨酰胺为原料,采用混合酸酐法,以苄氧羰基（cbz）为氨基保护基,以氯甲酸异丁酯为成酸酐试剂,以Pd/C催化氢解脱除cbz基合成了L-脯氨酰-L-亮氨酰-甘氨酰胺三肽,并进一步优化了合成条件：L-cbz-pro的最佳工艺条件为n(cbz)/n(L-pro)=2.6/1,反应温度－5 ℃,反应时间2 h;L-cbz-prolyl-L-leu的最佳工艺条件为,反应温度－10 ℃。在上述工艺条件下产品总收率38.5％,光学纯度98.7％,熔点 120～122 ℃,[α]D20=－46.3°。     

天然焦基活性炭的制备及其电化学性能

以永城天然焦为前驱体,KOH为活化剂制备高比表面积活性炭,并将其作为超级电容器的电极材料.采用N2吸附和X射线衍射(XRD)对活性炭的比表面积、孔结构及微晶结构进行了表征,用恒流充放电、循环伏安和交流阻抗等电化学测试手段评价了其电化学特性.在碱炭比为4∶1,800 ℃活化1 h的条件下制备出比表面积2 441 m2/g,孔容1.5 cm3/g,中孔率67 %的活性炭.该活性炭电极在3 M KOH水溶液及1 M (C2H5)4NBF4/碳酸丙烯酯(PC)电解液中具有高的比电容(分别达到252 F/g,163 F/g),低的扩散阻抗(分别为0.5 Ω和6.8 Ω).     

Porous properties of activated carbon produced from Eucalyptus and Wattle wood by carbon dioxide activation

This work focused on the preparation of activated carbon from eucalyptus and wattle wood by physical activation with CO₂. The preparation process consisted of carbonization of the wood samples under the flow of N₂ at 400°C and 60 min followed by activating the derived chars with CO₂. The activation temperature was varied from 600 to 900°C and activation time from 60 to 300 min, giving char burn-off in the range of 20/2-83%. The effect of CO₂ concentration during activation was also studied. The porous properties of the resultant activated carbons were characterized based on the analysis of N2 adsorption isotherms at −196°C. Experimental results showed that surface area, micropore volume and total pore volume of the activated carbon increased with the increase in activation time and temperature with temperature exerting the larger effect. The activated carbons produced from eucalyptus and wattle wood had the BET surface area ranging from 460 to 1,490 m²/g and 430 to 1,030 m²/g, respectively. The optimum activation conditions that gave the maximum in surface area and total pore volume occurred at 900°C and 60 min for eucalyptus and 800°C and 300 min for wattle wood. Under the conditions tested, the obtained activated carbons were dominated with micropore structure (∼80% of total pore volume).     

Preparation of microporous sorbents from cedar nutshells and hydrolytic lignin

Carbon nutshells and hydrolytic lignin were used as starting materials for the preparation of microporous active carbons. Optimum parameters for cedar nutshell carbonization have been selected (temperature of carbonization 700-800 °C, rate of heating less than 3 °C/min) for the preparation of microporous carbons (average pore width 0.56 nm). The textural characteristics of microporous carbons made from nutshell are similar to those of a ‘Coconut’ carbon molecular sieve, but the latter has both a higher CO₂ adsorption capacity and a higher coefficient of N₂/O₂ separation. The influence of carbonization and steam-activation parameters on the microtexture and molecular-sieve properties of granular carbons made from hydrolytic lignin was also investigated. A low rate of heating (less 3 °C/min) promotes the formation of micropores with average sizes around 0.56-0.58 nm at carbonization temperature 700 °C. At the same carbonization temperature the average sizes of micropores were 0.7-0.78 nm at rates of heating more than 3 °C/min. The activation of lignin-char with steam at 800 °C resulted in the formation of active carbons with more developed micropore volume (0.3-0.35 cm³ g⁻¹) and with micropores of widths around 0.6-0.66 nm which are able to separate He from a He-CH₄ mixture. The size of the micropores was varied as a function of burn off value.     

S-enriched porous polymer derived N-doped porous carbons for electrochemical energy storage and conversion

Porous polymers have been recently recognized as one of the most important precursors for fabrication of heteroatom-doped porous carbons due to the intrinsic porous structure, easy available heteroatom-containing monomers and versatile polymerization methods. However, the heteroatom elements in as-produced porous carbons are quite relied on monomers. So far, the manipulating of heteroatom in porous polymer derived porous carbons are still very rare and challenge. In this work, a sulfur-enriched porous polymer, which was prepared from a diacetylene-linked porous polymer, was used as precursor to prepare S-doped and/or N-doped porous carbons under nitrogen and/or ammonia atmospheres. Remarkably, S content can sharply decrease from 36.3% to 0.05% after ammonia treatment. The N content and specific surface area of as-fabricated porous carbons can reach up to 1.32% and 1508 m²·g⁻¹, respectively. As the electrode materials for electrical double-layer capacitors, as-fabricated porous carbons exhibit high specific capacitance of up to 431.6 F·g⁻¹ at 5 mV·s⁻¹ and excellent cycling stability of 99.74% capacitance retention after 3000 cycles at 100 mV·s⁻¹. Furthermore, as the electrochemical catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction, as-fabricated porous carbons presented ultralow half-wave-potential of 0.78 V versus RHE. This work not only offers a new strategy for manipulating S and N doping features for the porous carbons derived from S-containing porous polymers, but also paves the way for the structure-performance interrelationship study of heteroatoms co-doped porous carbon for energy applications.     

Small angle X-ray scattering studies on carbons derived from polyfurfuryl alcohol and polyfurfuryl alcohol-ferrocene copolymers

Small angle X-ray scattering techniques have been used to characterize the porous nature of glassy carbons derived from polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA) and from PFA-ferrocene derivative copolymers. Samples were prepared under controlled heating conditions within the temperature range 970–2500°C. For carbons produced only from PFA it is shown that each contains micropores of a narrow size distribution. As heat treatment temperature increases there is a progressive development of both pore structure and of order within the carbon matrix. A comparison is made of specific surface area results for PF'A carbons as measured by small angle X-ray procedures and by CO₂ at ?78°C. The small angle X-ray results for the materials produced from the iron-containing precursors indicate the presence of two distinct regions of heterogeneity in the carbon matrix. One is microporous and the other is of larger pores of a much wider size distribution. It is also suggested that these larger pores account for these carbons having lower tensile strength and higher electrical resistivity than a corresponding PFA carbon.     

Capacitive performance of mesoporous carbons derived from the citrates in ionic liquid

Mesoporous carbons with different pore structures are prepared via a simple pyrolysis process using citrate salts as precursors. BaC-T carbons derived from barium citrate possess large pore volume and typical multimodal pore size distribution (PSD), while MgC-T carbons derived from magnesium citrate possess high specific surface areas due to their dominant small mesopores and micropores. The capacitive performance of the prepared carbons is investigated in ionic liquid and high specific capacitances (maximum of 180.3 F g⁻¹ for MgC-700) are achieved. Experimental data demonstrate that porosity and surface chemistry corporately determine the capacitive performance. BaC-700 and BaC-800 present good rate performance, and exhibit energy densities of about 50 Wh kg⁻¹. The good capacitive performance of these carbons is attributed to their bimodal PSD with large pore size and appropriate surface properties. The MgC-800 and BaC-800 carbons present good durability of capacitance during three thousand of charge/discharge cycles.