Polyacrylamide-grafted legume starch for wastewater treatment: synthesis and performance comparison

Polyacrylamide as traditional flocculant begins to draw the public awareness because of its non-biodegradable nature which may cause the long-term environmental degradation problems. A new high-efficient flocculant was synthesized by legume starch and acrylamide to satisfy the demand of coalmine wastewater treatment. Grafting acrylamide onto mung bean starch was investigated and the characterizations of elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy, gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer were conducted. The characterization results of the new flocculant prove that acrylamide has grafted onto the mung bean starch molecule chains successfully. Experimental results indicate the optimal synthesis parameters of the new flocculant are: mung bean starch 50 g/L (ethanol solvent), acrylamide 100 g/L, ceric ammonium nitrate 12 g/L, gelatinization temperature 70 °C and copolymerization temperature 70 °C. We also measured and evaluated the performance of the new flocculant on wastewater treatment, and the optimal dosage of the new flocculant is 20 mg/L, with a prominent transmittance of 98.1% and turbidity of 7.82. Experimental results have demonstrated the graft copolymer of acrylamide and mung bean starch owns an outstanding flocculation effect than the traditional polyacrylamide and polyaluminum chloride. The new flocculant has a few features such as environmentally friendly, easy to degrade, fasting sedimentation and low cost, which is especially suitable for the occasions of rigorous environmental requirements and is bound to have broad application prospect for coalmine wastewater treatment.     

Effects of chemical and thermochemical pretreatments on sunflower oil cake in biochemical methane potential assays

BACKGROUND: The effects of chemical and thermochemical pretreatments on the composition and anaerobic biodegradability of sunflower oil cake were studied to compare these pretreatments and to assess their effectiveness. Four reagents (lime, sodium hydroxide, sulphuric acid, and sodium bicarbonate) at concentrations of 25% (w/w) of dry weight of substrate and 20 g L^?1 substrate concentration were used for the chemical pretreatment for 4 h. The same conditions were used for thermochemical pretreatment with heating at 75°C. After the pretreatments, the solid and liquid fractions were separated and subjected to biochemical methane potential tests. RESULTS: The methane yields of the solid fraction obtained with lime, sodium hydroxide, sulphuric acid and bicarbonate were 130±9, 54±4, 61±6 and 88±7 mL CH₄ g^‐1COD_added, respectively, and after thermochemical pretreatment were 26±2, 84±7, 74±7, and 77±6 mL CH₄ g^‐1COD_added, respectively. The methane yields for liquids were 152±13, 2±0, 0±0, 249±19 mL CH₄ g^‐1COD_added, for the chemical pre‐treatment, respectively, and after the thermochemical pretreatment were 273±13, 58±5, 0±0 and 145±12 mL CH₄ g^‐1COD_added, respectively. CONCLUSION: Only the solid fraction obtained after the chemical pretreatment with lime gave a methane yield higher (130 mL CH₄ g^‐1COD_added) than the obtained for the untreated solid material (114 mL CH₄ g^‐1COD_add). No thermochemical pretreatment enhanced the methane yield of the solid or liquid fractions of the untreated material. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of reduction temperature on the preparation of zero-valent iron aerogels for trichloroethylene dechlorination

Zero-valent iron (ZVI) aerogels have been synthesized by sol-gel method and supercritical CO₂ drying, followed by H₂ reduction in the temperature range of 350–500 °C. When applied to trichloroethylene (TCE) dechlorination, the ZVI aerogel reduced at 370 °C showed the highest performance in the conditions employed in this study. Thus, the effect of reduction temperature in preparing ZVI aerogels has been investigated by several characterizations such as BET, XRD, TPR, and TEM analyses. As the reduction temperature decreased from 500 to 350 °C, the BET surface area of the resulting aerogels increased from 6 to 30 m²/g, whereas their Fe⁰ content decreased up to 64%. It was also found that H₂ reduction at low temperatures such as 350 and 370 °C leads to the formation of ZVI aerogel particles consisting of both Fe⁰ and FeO _x in the particle cores with a different amount ratio, where FeO _x is a mixture of maghemite and magnetite. It is, therefore, suggested that reduction at 370 °C for ZVI aerogel preparation yielded particles homogeneously composed of Fe⁰ and FeO _x in the amount ratio of 87/13, resulting in high TCE dechlorination rate. On the other hand, when Pd- and Ni-ZVI aerogels were prepared via cogellation and then applied for TCE dechlorination, we also observed a similar effect of reduction temperature. However, the reduction at 350 or 370 °C produced Pd- or Ni-ZVI aerogel particles in which Fe⁰ and Fe₃O₄ co-exist homogeneously. Since both Fe⁰ and Fe₃O₄ are advantageous in TCE dechlorination, the activities of Pd- and Ni-ZVI aerogels reduced at 350 °C were comparable to those of both aerogels reduced at 370 °C, although the former aerogels have less Fe⁰ content.     

Characterization of polymer molecular weight distribution by transient viscoelasticity: Polytetrafluoroethylenes

The relationship between the relaxation time spectrum H(τ) in the terminal zone and the volume-fraction differential molecular-weight-distribution function P(M) is derived by considering binary chain contacts for stress transmission, where β and λ are constants for a given chemical type. This is used to determine the molecular-weight-distribution curves from the stress relaxation modulus spectrum (above the crystal melting point) at 370°C for a number of commercial and experimental poly(tetrafluoroethylenes) (PTFEs). It is found that PTFEs typically have bimodal molecular-weight distributions. The lower-molecular-weight peak conforms essentially to the “most-probable” distribution, and the higher-molecular-weight peak to the binary coupling distribution. The entanglement molecular weight M_e is 5490, and the number of main-chain atoms between entanglement points is 110, consistent with a flexible chain. The zero-shear melt viscosity at 370°C is η₀ = 1.79 × 10^?13 M_w^2.94±0.13, where η₀ is in Pa.s and M_w/M_e = 2,000 to 12,000. The monomeric friction coefficient is also determined.     

Simultaneous determination of primary and secondary amino groups in polyamide with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene

In order to determine chemically the amino end groups present in a polyamide, the polymer was treated with a solution of 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (FDNB) in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE). The resulting N^ω-[2,4-dinitrophenyl-(1)]-(DNP-) polyamide was precipitated in water at pH 3, washed free of excess reagent, redissolved in TFE, and the optical density of the solution measured at λ_max = 350 nm (ε₃₅₀: 17300 [1000 cm²/mole]). Both the primary and secondary amino groups could be simultaneously determined by this method, since the absorption maximum of dinitrophenylated secondary amino groups is shifted to 390 nm (ε₃₉₀: 18000 [1000 cm²/mole]). Using this spectroscopic phenomenon a two-component analytical procedure was developed. With known concentrations of dinitrophenylated primary amines, secondary amines, and nylon-6 and nylon-6,6 oligomers, the following analytical equations were derived: (c₁: concentration of primary amino groups in mole/l; c₂: concentration of secondary amino groups in mole/l; D₃₅₀, D₃₉₀: optical density at 350 nm and 390 nm resp.). The coefficients of variation for four different commercially available nylon-6 fibres (unmodified and modified for dyeability) were in the range of 2.7 to 6.0%. The limiting concentration detectable was 6 × 10^?7 mole DNP-amino groups/l TFE. A kinetic analysis was performed for the reaction of FDNB with nylon-6 and with a model compound, ε-aminocaproic acid. Using the “absolute rate theory of Eyring”, it was found that the polymer and monomer both fulfilled the “principle of equal reactivity”. The activation parameters for the reaction were: ΔH^≠ : 15.9 ± 0.9 kcal/mole, ΔG^≠: 22.9 ±0.3 kcal/mole, and ΔS^≠: ?22.1 ± 1.9 e.u./mole.     

Cellulose acetate: Interactions with aqueous phenol and a transition temperature of about 20°C

Sorption of aqueous phenol onto powdered cellulose acetate can be described with the Langmuir equation at phenol concentrations below 0.10M. Unacetylated hydroxyl groups are probably the primary sites where phenol hydrogen bonds. As the phenol concentration is increased (> 0.13M), additional hydrogen bonding may occur with the carbonyl oxygens on the primary acetate groups, followed by secondary acetates and the beta glucosidic oxygens. Sorption at higher concentrations shows a negative slope for the Langmuir equation, perhaps caused by crowding and partial blocking of sites. Extrapolations to higher phenolic concentrations using the equation from the negative slope isotherm and plotting N versus °C reveal two lines with a point of intersection at 0.77M. Because of the increase slope above 0.77M, cellulose acetate may be dissolving in phenol. At concentrations below 0.10M, two processes were identified using a Van't Hoff plot (9.33 ± 0.30) × 10³ and (?1.36 ± 0.18) X 10³ J/mol. The initial moisture present in the polymer appears to be an important experimental variable and a transition temperature of 20.1 ± 0.2°C, probably due to polymer swelling, is reported.     

Substrate temperature effects on the microhardness and adhesion of diamond-like thin films

Diamond-like films were deposited on silicon substrates by r.f. plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition from gas methane. In this study, the substrate temperature, T_S, was varied in a wide range from 20 to 370°C while maintaining fixed other important process parameters such as r.f. power (70 W) or pressure (2.5 Pa). The increase of T_S causes an increase of the sp²/(sp²+sp³) bonded carbon ratio and a decrease of the hydrogen content. These changes produce a great modification of the mechanical properties: microhardness, friction coefficient and adhesion. The variations of mechanical properties with T_S correlate well with the sp²/(sp²+sp³) bonded carbon ratio and the hydrogen content in the films showing a gradual transformation of the diamond-like structure into a more sp²-rich one.     

Simultaneous oxidative conversion and CO2 or steam reforming of methane to syngas over CoO–NiO–MgO catalyst

CO₂ reforming, oxidative conversion and simultaneous oxidative conversion and CO₂ or steam reforming of methane to syngas (CO and H₂) over NiO–CoO–MgO (Co: Ni: Mg=0·5: 0·5:1·0) solid solution at 700–850°C and high space velocity (5·1×10⁵ cm³ g⁻¹ h⁻¹ for oxidative conversion and 4·5×10⁴ cm³ g⁻¹ h⁻¹ for oxy-steam or oxy-CO₂ reforming) for different CH₄/O₂ (1·8–8·0) and CH₄/CO₂ or H₂O (1·5–8·4) ratios have been thoroughly investigated. Because of the replacement of 50 mol% of the NiO by CoO in NiO–MgO (Ni/Mg=1·0), the performance of the catalyst in the methane to syngas conversion process is improved; the carbon formation on the catalyst is drastically reduced. The CoO–NiO–MgO catalyst shows high methane conversion activity (methane conversion >80%) and high selectivity for both CO and H₂ in the oxy-CO₂ reforming and oxy-steam reforming processes at ⩾800°C. The oxy-steam or CO₂ reforming process involves the coupling of the exothermic oxidative conversion and endothermic CO₂ or steam reforming reactions, making these processes highly energy efficient and also safe to operate. These processes can be made thermoneutral or mildly exothermic or mildly endothermic by manipulating the process conditions (viz. temperature and/or CH₄/O₂ ratio in the feed). © 1998 Society of Chemistry Industry     

Effect of adsorption characteristics of a modified cellulase on indigo backstaining

The effect of limited proteolysis (digestion) of a commercial cellulase preparation (Ecostone^® L350) on backstaining with indigo was investigated. The influence of protease (papain) concentration on limited proteolysis of cellulase preparation was studied, applying different ratios of papain/cellulase (w/w). Changes in adsorption on Avicel cellulose of the non‐digested compared with the papain‐digested Ecostone^® L350 were examined using the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The non‐digested Ecostone^® L350 exhibited stronger interaction to Avicel cellulose compared with the digested form, while the maximum efficiency of cellulase adsorption to Avicel cellulose decreased after digestion. When papain‐digested Ecostone^® L350 was applied on cotton fabrics during the dyeing procedure with indigo, a reduction of indigo backstaining was obtained compared with the non‐digested Ecostone^® L350. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

A method for the separation of seed oil steryl esters and free sterols: Application to peanut and corn oils

A method for separating and quantitating seed oil steryl esters and free sterols was developed using a combination of preparative column, thin layer (TLC), and gas liquid chromatography (GLC). Cholesteryl heneicosanoate and cholesterol served as internal standards. The method was applied to corn-oil samples (Mazola, Kroger) obtained from the local market and peanut-oil samples prepared in the laboratory from commercial varieties of peanuts (Florunner, Starr). Concentration (mg/100 g oil; mean ± SD) of steryl esters and free sterols in the 4 oils were: Mazola, 1420±40 and 370±8; Kroger, 950±40 and 320±4; Florunner, 74±0.5 and 150±3; and Starr, 51±0.5 and 130±2. Sitosterol was the major sterol in both the free sterol and steryl ester fractions of all oils and together with campesterol, stigmasterol and Δ⁵-avenasterol made up 90–95% of all sterols. Steryl esters of peanut oil contained higher proportions of linoleic acid and long-chain acids (C₂₀–C₂₄) than did whole oil. Corn-oil steryl esters also contained a higher proportion of linoleic acid than did whole oil. Squalene was the major hydrocarbon of all oils with the remaining hydrocarbon fraction consisting of a mixture of compounds. Presented at the AOCS meeting, Toronto, May 1982.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus benefits from faba bean (Vicia faba L.) residues to subsequent wheat crop in the humid highlands of Ethiopia

Faba bean–wheat rotation is one of the traditional cropping systems in most parts of the temperate, Mediterranean and tropical highland areas. However, the net contribution of legumes to soil nutrient balance is determined by the extent to which crop residue is removed from the field. Therefore, we assessed two possible faba bean residue management scenarios and their role in the faba bean–wheat rotation system in a two-phase field experiment. We further tested to what extent high N₂-fixing and P efficient faba bean varieties could benefit subsequently grown wheat. In the first phase, three improved faba bean varieties (Degaga, Moti, Obse) were grown at four levels of P fertilization (0, 10, 20 and 30 kg P ha^?1) along with local faba bean and reference wheat but without any fertilization. N₂-fixation, soil N balance and P uptake were determined for the faba beans. The N balance was determined via two possible residue management scenarios: scenario-I assumed that all the aboveground biomass is exported from the fields; scenario-II assumed that all the above ground biomass except grains and empty pods is incorporated to the soil. In the second phase, the N and P benefits of faba beans to rotational wheat were assessed. Scenario-I gave a negative net N balance (kg N ha^?1) in the range of ?86.5 ± 5.8 (Degaga) to ?9.4 ± 8.7 (Moti) with significant differences between varieties. Scenario-II showed that all balances were significantly (P < 0.01) improved and the varieties were positively contributing N to the system in the range of 50.6 ± 13.4 (Degaga) to 168.3 ± 13.7 (Moti) kg N ha^?1, which is equivalent to 110–365 kg N ha^?1 in the form of urea (46 % N). In the second crop phase, biomass and grain yield of wheat grown after the faba beans improved significantly (P < 0.05) by 112 and 82 %, respectively compared to the yield of wheat after wheat. Phosphorus application to the preceding faba bean varieties significantly improved total biomass and grain yield of the succeeding wheat (R² = 0.97). The incorporated legume root, nodule and straw clearly played a role in improving wheat yield through N addition via BNF and straw P. The study demonstrates the prospects and importance of improved faba bean germplasm and management as a key component for sustainable wheat based cropping systems in the humid tropical highlands.     

Highly (100)‐Oriented Bi(Ni1/2Hf1/2)O3‐PbTiO3 Relaxor‐Ferroelectric Films for Integrated Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting and Storage System

Highly (100)‐oriented 0.38Bi(Ni_1/2Hf_1/2)O₃‐0.62PbTiO₃ relaxor‐ferroelectric films were fabricated on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO₂/Si(111) substrates by introducing a lead oxide seeding layer. A moderate relative permittivity , a low dissipation factor (tan δ < 5%), and strong relaxor‐like behavior (γ = 0.74) over a broad temperature region were observed. The energy storage density of approximately 45.1 ± 2.3 J/cm³ was achieved for films with (100) preferential orientation, which is much higher than the value ~33.5 ± 1.7 J/cm³ obtained from films with random orientation. Furthermore, the PbO‐seeded films are more capable of providing larger piezoelectric response (~113 ± 10 pm/V) compared to the films without seeds (~85 ± 8 pm/V). These excellent features indicate that the highly (100)‐oriented 0.38Bi(Ni_1/2Hf_1/2)O₃‐0.62PbTiO₃ films could be promising candidates for applications in high‐energy storage capacitors, high‐performance MEMS devices, and particularly for potential applications in the next‐generation integrated multifunctional piezoelectric energy harvesting and storage system.     

Performance of different process additives on the properties of mango powder obtained by drum drying

The use of process additives was evaluated in the drum drying of commercial mango pulp, using corn starch, maltodextrin 10/20 DE, and glyceryl monostearate (GMS). The mass flow rate (MFR) and some powder properties were analyzed: moisture content, vitamin C, total phenolic compounds, carotenoids, β-carotene, glass transition temperature (T_g), hygroscopicity, solubility, color, rheological behavior and color of reconstituted pulp. The pulps presented non-Newtonian and pseudoplastic fluid behavior, while T_g values ranged from 29°C to 38°C. The process performed with 3% corn starch and 0.5% GMS (dry basis) resulted in greater MFR (8.0?±?0.2?kg/h?m²) and vitamin C retention (61.0?±?0.7%).     

Critical Influence of Mn on Low-Temperature Catalytic Activity of Mn/Na2WO4/SiO2 Catalyst for Oxidative Coupling of Methane

Oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) was investigated in the temperature range 370-775 °C over Mn/Na₂WO₄/SiO₂ catalysts with different loadings of manganese in integral-mode conditions. Na₂WO₄/SiO₂ shows no activity at low temperature (370 °C), whereas Mn-doped catalyst exhibits 14% C²⁺ yield under similar reaction conditions, indicating that manganese plays a critical role in low-temperature methane coupling reaction. Partial pressure of oxygen in the feed also influences the low-temperature OCM activity of the catalysts.     

Kinetic Study of the Photoexcited Triplet State of Free Base Porphyrins by EPR

An electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study of the photoexcited triplet state of four free base porphyrins is presented. The zero field splitting parameters (ZFS) |D| and |E| were calculated from the EPR spectra of the porphyrins dissolved in n-octane matrices at 80°K. |D| = 0.0359 cm^?1, |E| = 0.0079 cm^?1 for tetra phenyl porphyrin (H₂ TPP), |D| = 0.0432 cm^?1, |E| = 0.0037 cm^?1 for tetra (per-fluoro) phenyl porphyrin H₂T (per-F) PP, |D| = 0.0366 cm^?1, |E| = 0.0078 cm^?1 for tetra (para-chloro) phenyl porphyrin H₂T(P-Cl)PP, |D| = 0.0369 cm^?1, |E| = 0.0076 cm^?1 for tetra (para-methyl) phenyl porphyrin H₂T(P-Me)PP. The transient behavior of the EPR signal intensities in the last two porphyrins is discussed. The depopulation rate constants of the triplet sublevels k_p, the ratio between the population rate constants A_p (at zero field, p = x,y,z), and the spin lattice relaxation rate W within the triplet manifold, were calculated. k_x = (12 ± 2) × 10² sec^?1, k_y = (0.5 ± 0.1) × 10² sec^?1, k_z = (1.2 ± 0.4) × 10² sec^?1, A_x:A_y:A_z ? 0.63:0.01:0.33, W = (0.4 ± 0.1) × 10⁴ sec^?1 for H₂T(P-Cl)PP, k_x = (7 ± 2) × 10² sec^?1, k_y = (4 ± 1) × 10² sec^?1, k_z = (1.5 ± 0.5) × 10² sec^?1, A_x:A_y:A_z ? 0.56:0.31:0.13, W = (1.7 ± 0.4) × 10³ sec^?1 for H₂T(P-Me)PP.     

Removal of simple hydrocarbons from a rare gas by a 70%Zr-25%V-5%Fe getter

The properties of a 70%Zr-25%V-5%Fe getter in a fixed bed configuration designed to remove small quantities of methane and ethylene from argon and its application to a point of use purifier are reported. To characterize the getter, breakthrough profiles of the hydrocarbon concentration were measured and analysed in the constant pattern regime. The mechanism for the sorption of CH₄ and C₂H₄ appears to be dissociation on the surface followed by diffusion of the hydrogen and carbon into the alloy. Hydrogen may be desorbed from the alloy, but carbon sorption is irreversible and limits the getter lifetime. The saturation loading of carbon is found to be 160 μmol per gram of alloy. Diffusion of carbon into the alloy controls the rate of sorption, with a diffusion coefficient of 6.4 ± 1.6 × 10⁻⁸ cm²s⁻¹ at 700°C. This information has been used to design a two-zone purifier to remove methane and hydrogen from argon. Tests of this purifier show that the mole fractions of hydrogen and methane in argon can be reduced to 50 and less than 20 ppb, respectively.     

Hydrolysis of granular starch at sub-gelatinization temperature using a mixture of amylolytic enzymes

Native granular starches (corn, cassava, mung bean, and sago) were hydrolyzed using a mixture of alpha-amylase and glucoamylase at 35 °C for 24 h. Hydrolyzed starches were analyzed for the degree of hydrolysis and for physicochemical and functional properties. Corn starch showed the highest degree of hydrolysis, as evidenced by the presence of distinct pores penetrating deep into the granules. Enzymatic erosion occurred mainly at the surface for cassava, whereas isolated porous structures were observed in hydrolyzed mung bean and sago starch. The amylose content was significantly lower in all starches except for sago starch. The powder X-ray diffraction of all starches showed no significant changes after hydrolysis, but hydrolyzed starches showed a more crystalline nature. The action of enzymes caused significant changes in some pasting properties and in the swelling/solubility of starches. Evidently, enzymes were able to hydrolyze granular starches to a variable degree at sub-gelatinization temperature, and produced a relatively high degree of conversion.     

Sustained release of CIP from TiO2-PVDF/starch nanocomposite mats with potential application in wound dressing

Electrospinning is an economical and alluring method to fabricate wound dressing mats from a variety of natural and synthetic materials. In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and starch composite mats containing ciprofloxacin (CIP) loaded on titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂) were prepared. Fourier Transform Infrared spectra of CIP, synthesized TiO₂ NPs, TiO₂/CIP, and PVDF/starch composite mats are analyzed. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the fiber diameter of PVDF nanofibers thickens by increasing starch, which varies between 180 nm and 550 nm. Strain at break of PVDF, starch, PVDF/starch (2:1 w:w; P2S1), PVDF/starch (1:1 w:w; P1S1), PVDF/starch (1:2 w:w; P1S2), and nanofibers were 103 ± 11, 3 ± 0.6, 27 ± 4, 52 ± 5.2, 7.7 ± 1%, respectively. Based on strain at break and young modulus, P2S1 was selected as a suitable candidate for wound dressing to which load TiO₂/CIP as a bioactive agent. The release rate of CIP showed that about 40% of the drug is released in the first 2 days. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of dressings was investigated using Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus microorganisms and zones of clearance were obvious around the specimen on the agar plate. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48916.     

Restriction of linoleic acid inhibition of methanization of piggery wastewater and enhancement of its mineralization by adding calcium ions

BACKGROUND: Linoleic acid, which is a major derivative generated from hydrolysis of vegetable oils, is often found at high concentration in food processing and kitchen wastes. This fatty acid could be introduced into an anaerobic system treating piggery wastewater via co‐digestion strategy. In this study, the effect of CaCl₂ on the inhibitory behavior of linoleic acid in the anaerobic digestion of piggery wastewater was investigated. RESULTS: Linoleic acid exerted strong inhibitory effects on methanization of piggery wastewater with IC₅₀ of 376 mg L^?1 and 568 mg L^?1 for ISR (inoculum substrate ratio) 0.38 and 2.0, respectively. Among tested cations (Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺), only Ca²⁺ effectively reversed linoleic acid inhibition. In addition, it was found that CaCl₂ restricted linoleic acid inhibition only when it was added before or immediately after linoleic acid addition. Without CaCl₂, linoleic acid was stoichiometrically transformed to oleic acid, which persisted for a prolonged period. In the presence of CaCl₂, however, linoleic acid was completely converted to methane without accumulation of oleic acid. It was also found that oleic acid was self‐inhibitory to its oxidation to acetate, and CaCl₂ removed this inhibition. CONCLUSION: From these findings, it was concluded that calcium ion not only mitigated linoleic acid inhibition in the anaerobic digestion of piggery wastewater, but also enhanced its mineralization to methane. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Investigations on esterification reactions of starches in 1‐N‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride and resulting substituent distribution

The ionic liquid (IL) 1‐N‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([C₄mim]⁺Cl^?) was used as solvent for different esterification reactions of the biopolymer starch. Therefore, maize starches with varying content of amylose were used. Different carboxylic acid anhydrides were applied to esterify starch with a degree of substitution (DS) in the range of 0.7–3.0. For example, starch acetates with the mentioned DS are accessible within 30 min at a 105°C‐reaction temperature. The DS distribution of starch acetates synthesized in IL was compared with the common starch acetate synthesis of Mark and Mehltretter. Also, a consideration of starch acetates and cellulose acetates synthesized in [C₄mim]⁺Cl^? is given. The starch esters were characterized by means of Raman spectroscopy for qualitative‐ and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for quantitative determination of the functionalization pattern. Moreover, the molecular mass distribution was determined after saponification by means of GPC‐MALLS. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009