Biodegradation of slop wax by Bacillus species isolated from chronic crude oil contaminated soils

Slop wax waste by-product obtained through the lube oil manufacture was subjected to biotreatment using five isolated Bacillus species at 30 °C and various incubation periods, 7, 14 and 21 days. The results obtained from HPLC for the 15 samples showed that the aromatic contents decreased, especially, for that treated with Bacillus sp. MAM-27 which degrade PAHs faster at 1% (w/v) concentration of slop wax waste by-product and exhibited high biodegradation ability within 1 week. Bacillus sp. MAM-27 degraded 99.9% of PAHs, while Bacillus sp. MAM-24 degrades 99.8% of PAHs within 2 weeks and then the degradation ability is slightly increased afterwards. The gas chromatographic analysis of the samples before and after treatment with Bacillus spp. showed that, the aromatics, naphthenes and iso-alkanes were more degradable than saturated n-paraffins. Treatment by Bacillus sp. MAM-27 and Bacillus sp. MAM-24 can be an effective method for biodegradation of slop wax waste by-product leading to paraffin waxes match with plastic paraffin wax according to USSR 1121284 specifications.     

Nitrogen-promoted active carbons as catalytic supports: 2. The influence of Mn promotion on the structure and catalytic properties in SCR

Catalytic properties of active carbons treated with N-compounds and promoted with manganese oxides were studied in selective catalytic reduction of NO with ammonia. The following elements of the preparation had a beneficial effect on activity and selectivity of the catalysts: pre-oxidation of active carbon prior to the introduction of N-species, the choice of N-compound, together with the post-treatment procedure, and the optimisation of the amount of active material. Apart from the introduction of N-surface groups, it was important to control the amount of acidic surface species which in turn determined the distribution of MeO_x and reducibility of the samples, thus influencing the formation of undesired by-product (N₂O).     

Formylation with “Supercritical” CO2: Efficient Ruthenium-Catalyzed Synthesis of N-Formylmorpholine

Formylation of morpholine with supercritical CO₂ using the bidentate ruthenium catalyst RuCl₂(dppe)₂ affords high N-formylmorpholine production rate at almost 100% selectivity. The solventless reaction could be an interesting alternative to the present N-formylmorpholine synthesis routes, which are based on environmentally harmful formylation agents. Video monitoring of the reaction mixture during reaction revealed a complex phase behavior, including the formation of solid carbamate, which was most prominent at low conversion and gradually disappeared with higher conversion, i.e., with the formation of N-formylmorpholine and water as a by-product. Addition of water as an additive suppressed solid carbamate formation and enhanced the reaction rate. Infrared spectroscopy was applied to follow the changes in the liquid and dense gas phase. The ruthenium catalyst was confined to the liquid phase, containing morpholine, N-formylmorpholine, water, dissolved carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Although the solubility of the ruthenium catalyst in the liquid phase decreased with increasing conversion, good performance in the synthesis of N-formylmorpholine could be achieved.     

Utilization of molasses for biosurfactant production by two Bacillus strains at thermophilic conditions

Traditionally, biosurfactants have been produced from hydrocarbons. Some possible substitutes for microbial growth and biosurfactant production include urban wastes, peat hydrolysate, and agro-industrial by-products. Molasses, a nonconventional substrate (agro-industrial by-product) can also be used for biosurfactant production. It has been utilized by two strains of Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 2423 and MTCC1427) for biosurfactant production and growth at 45°C. As a result of biosurfactant accumulation, the surface tension of the medium was lowered to 29 and 31 dynes/cm by the two strains, respectively. This is the first report of biosurfactant production by strains of B. subtilis at 45°C. Potential application of the biosurfactant in microbial enhanced oil recovery is also presented.     

12-Tungstophosphoric acid immobilized on modified macroporous phenol-furfural sulfonic acid resin for tert-butylation of p-cresol.

12-Tungstophosphoric acid (HPW) had been immobilized on phenol-furfural sulfonic acid resin (PFuSR) using γ-aminopropyltriethoxy silane (KH). FT-IR spectra indicate that the immobilized HPW on KH modified PFuSR (PFuSR-KH) keeps its Keggin structure and IR subtraction spectra confirm the immobilization of HPW on PFuSRKH through the interaction between amino groups of KH and bridge oxygen atom of W₃O₁₃. XRD patterns of the HPW illustrate that its second-order structure is changed greatly after being immobilized. The immobilized HPW on KH-modified PFuSR not only maintains its selectivity but also possesses high acidic activity in catalyzing t-butylation of p-cresol with t-butanol, though the by-product water hindered the reaction. The PFuSR-KH-immobilized HPW loses only half of its activity after being reused five times, while the PFuSR-supported one has no catalytic activity in the second run.     

A novel industrial process for -aspartic acid production using an ultrafiltration-membrane

A novel industrial process for the production of -aspartic acid was developed. This process is characterized by the use of intact cells of a coryneform bacterium, Brevibacterium flavum MJ-233, which does not undergo autolysis, and by the use of an ultrafiltration-membrane for the separation and recycling of the cells. Unwanted formation of by-product, -malic acid, was selectively eliminated by heat treating cells prior to reaction. Improvement of the process is in progress based on genetic engineering techniques.     

An integrated criterion of efficiency for Pt catalysts in the dehydrogenation of higher <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-paraffins

The deactivation of catalysts by coke-forming structures in the dehydrogenation of higher n-paraffins is discussed. The patterns of coke formation on a catalyst subject to process conditions are presented. A mathematical model of the process is described to show its adequacy. A calculation algorithm for the optimum mode of operation of a dehydrogenation catalyst is constructed, and the calculation results are given. Dehydrogenation catalysts of different brands are compared with respect to several parameters (coke formation on catalysts, the yield of the reaction by-product, and the dynamics of temperature rise in the reactor). The model can be used to estimate the efficiencies of catalysts in a cycle and to compare them.     

Cis-Trans isomerization of oleic acid by nitrous acid

Oleic acid wascis-trans isomerized by HNO₂ generatedin situ by reacting NaNO₂ with a mineral acid. The influence on the reaction of time, temp, agitation, solvent, amt of catalyst and type of mineral acid was investigated. Optimum reaction conditions were defined for achieving equilibrium isomerization in 30 min with minimum by-product formation. After isomerization, nitrogenous by-products were efficiently removed using silicic acid. The active species causingcis-trans isomerization was tentatively identified as free radical nitrogen dioxide. Presented at the AOCS Meeting in New Orleans, 1964.     

Effect of Addition of Ammonia on theBromate Formation During Ozonation

Continuous ozonation experiments of bromide solutions have been conducted in the presence of ammonia. Solutions were prepared with phosphate-buffered NOM-free water (pH = 8) spiked with high levels of bromide and ammonium ions according variable molar ratio R= NH₄ ⁺/Br^?. Our results have shown that in the presence of tertbutanol, the bromate formation presents a delay increasing with the value of R. Bromate formation occurs when total bromine measured by the DPD colorimetric method presents a minimum level and when total bromine measured by the DPD + KI colorimetric method reaches a maximum level. The hypothesis that dibromamine was not quantitatively measured by DPD alone was first made, but unconfirmed, by complementary experiments. So we assumed that, in our experimental conditions, an unknown by-product measured by DPD + KI could be formed by ozonation of bromide in the presence of ammonia. The nitrate formation was found to be lower than expected, probably due to autonomous bromamine decomposition into nitrogen.     

Cryptosporidium Log-inactivation with Ozone Using Effluent CT10, Geometric Mean CT10, Extended Integrated CT10 and Extended CSTR Calculations

The draft Long-Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR) contains Cryptosporidium log-inactivation CT tables (ozone-in-water concentration [residual], “C” times contact time, T). Depending on water temperature, Cryptosporidium CT values that are listed are 15 to 25 times greater than CT values for equivalent Giardia log-inactivation credit. The elevated operating dose required for Cryptosporidium log-inactivation credit has the potential to increase disinfection by-product (DBP) formation (e.g., bromate). Calculating CT value accurately will minimize ozone dose, which will decrease operating cost and lower DBP formation, and at the same time maintain disinfection protection through implementation of scientifically based safety factors. Various methods are available for calculating CT value. The method chosen depends largely on the available information concerning ozone residual characteristics and hydrodynamic features of the ozone contactor, plus local regulatory requirements. Four methods are discussed in this paper. Each method can be used to calculate Giardia, virus, and Cryptosporidium log-inactivation credit.     

New utilization of vegetable oils

Energy crisis and growing fuel shortage is a global concern. This phenomenon is more conspicuous in the populous, developing countries. In order to look for alternatives and extenders to the conventional fuels, studies were performed on the seed oil of some relatively unknownPutranjiva roxburghii, a plant that is abundantly available in the Indian tropical subcontinent. In a prototype experiment, the physicochemical properties of theP. roxburghii seed oil were found to be suitable for blending with diesel up to 50% without any sacrifice in performance of an internal combustion engine. Another industrially useful material, factice (vulcanized oil), was also prepared from the same oil. It was found to be suitable for blending with rubber, improving its strength, hardness, viscosity, and scorch time, and also increased its degradation temperature. This oil is not commercially traded in the market and has not yet been recommended as edible; hence industrial exploitation will not affect consumer market directly. A few more preliminary experiments indicated that the by-product oilcake is a good plant nutrient and the oil exerts profound antifungal activity. These properties need to be investigated more extensively. This plant and its oilseed deserve further attention and investigation, particularly in the tropical, coastal developing countries.     

Enzymatic Production of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters by Hydrolysis of Acid Oil Followed by Esterification

Acid oil, a by-product of vegetable oil refining, was enzymatically converted to fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). Acid oil contained free fatty acids (FFA), acylglycerols, and lipophilic compounds. First, acylglycerols (11 wt%) were hydrolyzed at 30 °C by 20 units Candida rugosa lipase/g-mixture with 40 wt% water. The resulting oil layer containing 92 wt% FFA was used for the next reaction, methyl esterification of FFA to FAME by immobilized Candida antarctica lipase. A mixture of 66 wt% oil layer and 34 wt% methanol (5 mol for FFA) were shaken at 30 °C with 1.0 wt% lipase. The degree of esterification reached 96% after 24 h. The resulting reaction mixture was then dehydrated and subjected to the second esterification that was conducted with 2.2 wt% methanol (5 mol for residual FFA) and 1.0 wt% immobilized lipase. The degree of esterification of residual FFA reached 44%. The degree increased successfully to 72% (total degree of esterification 99%) by conducting the reaction in the presence of 10 wt% glycerol, because water in the oil layer was attracted to the glycerol layer. Over 98% of total esterification was maintained, even though the first and the second esterification reactions were repeated every 24 h for 40 days. The enzymatic process comprising hydrolysis and methyl esterification produced an oil containing 91 wt% FAME, 1 wt% FFA, 1 wt% acylglycerols, and 7 wt% lipophilic compounds.     

Response ofNp mutant of pea (Pisum sativum L.) to pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum L.) oviposition and extracts

TheNp mutant of pea (Pisum sativum L.) is characterized by two physiological responses: growth of callus under pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum L., Coleoptera: Bruchidae) oviposition on pods, and formation of neoplastic callus on pods of indoor-grown plants. Although these two responses are conditioned byNp, they are anatomically and physiologically distinguishable, based on sites of origin, distribution pattern, and sensitivity to plant hormones. Further characterization of the response to extracts of pea weevil showed that response of excised pods, measured by callus formation, was log-linear, and treatment with as little as 10^–4 weevil equivalents produced a detectable response. Mated and unmated females contained similar amounts of callus-inducing compound(s), and immature females contained significantly less of the compound(s). Female vetch bruchids (Bruchus brachialis F., Coleoptera: Bruchidae), a related species, contained callus-inducing compound(s), but usually less than pea weevils on a per weevil basis. Males of both species contained less than 10% of the activity of the mature females. Extracts of female black vine weevils, a nonbruchid species, did not stimulate callus formation. Based on partitioning and TLC analysis, the biologically active constitutent(s) was stable and nonpolar. Thus, theNp allele probably conditions sensitivity to a nonpolar component of pea weevil oviposition as a mechanism of resistance to the weevil.     

Production of bacterial cellulose by a static cultivation using the waste from beer culture broth

Bacterial cellulose (BC) was produced by using the waste from beer culture fermentation instead of a chemically defined medium. Static cultivation was superior to the shaking cultivation on the basis of the BC production. The amount of BC produced during 120 hrs of cultivation using the waste from beer fermentation broth (WBFB) by a static cultivation was 4.52 g/L on the dry weight basis and much higher than 0.45 g/L produced from a Buffered Schramm and Hestrin (BSH) chemically-defined medium. The addition of 1% industrial-grade glucose to WBCB increased the production of bacterial cellulose from 8.46 to 13.95 g/L after 336 hrs of cultivation. Water soluble oligosaccharide (WSOS), the by-product obtained during BC cultivation increased to 5.05 g/L at 192 hrs of cultivation and then decreased to 2.18 g/L at 336 hrs. This work was presented at 13 ^th YABEC symposium held at Seoul, Korea, October 20–22, 2007.     

Physico-chemical properties of by-product gypsum

Four samples of by-product gypsum were analysed by chemical and physical methods and subjected to comparable degrees of calcination in a special rotary furnace. The hydration characteristics of the resulting calcium sulphate hemihydrates were determined in terms of three basic parameters viz. α₀, a measure of heterogeneous nucleation in the system; k, a measure of self-acceleration of the reaction; and θ, the period of induction. Measurements were made of the size distribution of particles, pH, water requirement, the colour and compressive strength of cast gypsums made from the hemihydrates, and comparisons were made with two samples of calcined natural gypsum. Additions of calcium oxide were also made to the by-product gypsums and the same procedures followed. Hydration of the calcined products resulted in considerable differences in the kinetic parameters. Both differences in nucleation and transport of calcium sulphate from the grains of hemihydrate to the growing crystals of the dihydrate seemed to contribute to variations in reactivity. The by-product gypsums calcined alone, or in the presence of calcium oxide, yielded hemihydrates with water requirements greater than those of the calcined natural gypsums. The compressive strengths of cast gypsums made from these hemihydrates were somewhat less than those made from the calcined natural gypsums. The colour co-ordinates were about the same. After treatment with calcium oxide, the by-product gypsum appears to be suitable for making plaster of Paris.     

对苯二甲酸（PTA）间歇酯化反应计算机模拟

为了研究不同的工艺操作参数对ＰＴＡ转化率和副产物形成的影响，针对ＰＴＡ间歇酯化建立了一较完善的反应模型．模拟过程中考虑了重要工艺参数如乙二醇（ＥＧ）与ＰＴＡ配比、温度等的影响，对既能达到最高生产效率又能最小限度减少副产物的工艺参数范围提出了建议．     

Insights into the formation of microporous materials by in situ X-ray scattering techniques

Here we demonstrate the power of in situ scattering techniques in the understanding of formation of nanoporous aluminosilicate and aluminophosphate materials. We utilised a number of X-ray techniques, in particular, in situ energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXRD) and small angle and wide angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) techniques for this purpose. The in situ SAXS measurements show the formation of homogeneous precursors in the size of ca. 10 nm, prior to the crystallization of LTA. The crystal size is estimated by fitting the SAXS patterns with an equation for a cubic particle, and it is revealed that the final crystal size of the LTA depends on the synthesis temperature. Whereas, the crystallisation of CoAlPO-5, occurs through the formation of poly-dispersed particles with an average size of the precursor particle of ca. 50 nm. Also shown the effect of temperature and structure directing organic cations on the production of CoAlPO-5 materials.     

Glycidyl esters. IV. Hydration of glycidyl stearate

The acid-catalyzed conversion of glycidyl stearate to monostearin has been investigated. By use of au essentially nonaqueous reaction medium and a two-step procedure, high yields of monostearin were obtained at 15–20C in brief reaction periods, while avoiding ester hydrolysis. Distearin was found to be a by-product. The influence of solvent, reaction temperature, and type of acid catalyst upon the relative amounts of monostearin and distearin produced were studied. A possible reaction path leading to the formation of distearin is proposed. Part III in press. Part II, JAOCS,38, 194 (1961). A laboratory of the E. Utiliz. Res. & Dev. Div., ARS, U.S.D.A.     

Effect of temperature on linolenic acid loss and 18:3 Δ9-cis, Δ12-cis, Δ15-trans formation in soybean oil

Oil was extracted from soybeans, degummed, alkalirefined and bleached. The oil was heated at 160, 180, 200, 220 and 240°C for up to 156 h. Fatty acid methyl esters were prepared by boron trifluoride-catalyzed transesterification. Gas-liquid chromatography with a cyanopropyl CPSil88 column was used to separate and quantitate fatty acid methyl esters. Fatty acids were identified by comparison of retention times with standards and were calculated as area % and mg/g oil based on 17:0 internal standard. The rates of 18:3ω3 loss and 18:3 Δ9-cis, Δ12-cis, Δ15-trans (18:3c,c,t) formation were determined, and the activation energies were calculated from Arrhenius plots. Freshly prepared soy oil had 10.1% 18:3ω3 and no detectable 18:3c,c,t. Loss of 18:3ω3 followed apparent first-order kinetics. The first-order rate constants ranged from .0018±.00014 min⁻¹ at 160°C to .083±.0033 min⁻¹ at 240°C. The formation of 18:3c,c,t did not follow simple kinetics, and initial rates were estimated. The initial rates (mg per g oil per h) of 18:3c,c,t formation ranged from 0.0031±0.0006 at 160°C to 2.4±.24 at 240°C. The Arrhenius activation energy for 18:3ω3 loss was 82.1±7.2 kJ mol⁻¹. The apparent Arrhenius activation energy for 18:3c,c,t formation was 146.0±13.0 kJ mol⁻¹. The results indicate that small differences in heating temperature can have a profound affect on 18:3c,c,t formation. Selection of appropriate deodorization conditions could limit the amount of 18:3c,c,t produced.     

Extreme sensitivity of grandisal to acids

Attempted purification of synthetic racemic grandisal1 by silica gel chromatography resulted in severe decomposition. The nature of this reaction was studied on silica gel and in an ether solution ofp-toluenesulfonic acid. The same products resulted from both reaction systems, although in different ratios. Five racemic, rearrangement products were isolated by preparative GC and identified as follows: (1RS, 3SR, 6RS)-1-methyl-5-methylenebicyclo[4.2.0]octan-3-ol (4); (1RS, 3RS, 6RS)-1-methyl-5-methylenebicyclo[4.2.0]octan-3-ol (5); (1RS,3RS,6RS)-1,5-dimethylbicyclo[4.2.0]oct-4-en-3-ol (6); (1RS,3SR,6RS)-1,5-dimethylbicyclo[4.2.0]oct-4-en-3-ol(7); and 3-methyl-7-methylenecyclooct-3-en-l-ol (8). The stereochemical assignments are based on our proposed mechanism, which also accounts for all products observed. The racemic bicyclic enone (3) was a by-product of grandisol (2) oxidation.