Phenol removal from aqueous solutions by peroxidase-catalyzed reaction using additives

Peroxidase-catalyzed phenol removal, in which phenol is polymerized to form insoluble precipitates, was investigated in order to reduce the amount of peroxidase required. Apparent inactivation of peroxidase during phenol polymerizing reaction was found to be mainly caused by adsorption of peroxidase by polymerized phenol. Additives, such as gelatin and polyethylene glycol, suppressed this adsorption, allowing a reduction in the amount of peroxidase to 1/200. The method using gelatin as an additive was applicable to solutions containing up to 30 g/l phenol and it was successfully used to dephenolize actual wastewater containing phenol, 2-propanol and 2-butanone.     

Synthesis and luminescent properties of low oxygen contained Eu2+-doped Ca-α-SiAlON phosphor from calcium cyanamide reduction

A new convenient calcium cyanamide (CaCN2) reduction route was developed to synthesize the Eu2 activated Ca-α-SiAlON phosphors containing low oxygen content. The luminescence properties of the obtained products were investigated for white LEDs application. The critical Eu2 concentration in various hosts and its effect on the photoluminescence properties were studied. The optimized sample (10at.% Eu2 vs. Ca2 ) could be efficiently excited by the current GaN/InGaN blue LED chips and provided emission intensity competitive with that of YAG:Ce3 (P46-Y3) standard, revealing that this phosphor was a potential candidate for phosphor-converted white LEDs.     

One-pot fermentation of pladienolide D by Streptomyces platensis expressing a heterologous cytochrome P450 gene

Pladienolide D is a 16-hydroxylated derivative of pladienolide B, produced by Streptomyces platensis. To facilitate the production of pladienolide D, the gene encoding a pladienolide B 16-hydroxylase from S. bungoensis was introduced into S. platensis. The recombinant produced pladienolide D at a production level comparable to that of pladienolide B.     

A grid-based assessment of global water scarcity including virtual water trading

A 0.5-degree grid-based assessment of the scarcity of global water resources including virtual water trading has been made. The three components of water availability considered for each grid were local runoff, routed flow from upstream and virtual water trading. Several assumptions were postulated to convert country-base estimations of virtual water trading to grid values. The results show that unequal spatial distribution of global water resources had been considerably neutralized by virtual water trading. A large proportion of people in the Middle-East, North-Africa and Sub-Sahara region are able to relieve their water stress through virtual water import. The paper also reports two hypothetical scenarios with extremes of natural flow availability based on the presence and absence of routed upstream flow.     

Ca-Containing Mesoporous Silica as a Solid Base Catalyst for the Knoevenagel Condensation Reaction

Abstract  

We synthesized Ca-containing FSM-16 (Ca-FSM-16) for use as a solid base catalyst for the Knoevenagel condensation reaction. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) results indicated that Ca species were introduced as a calcium silicate-like phase with distorted tetrahedral coordination into the pore walls of FSM-16. Compared with conventional aminopropyl-functionalized mesoporous silica, Ca-FSM-16 showed higher activity as a solid-base catalyst for the Knoevenagel condensation reaction.     

Canadian Bridge Design Code Provisions for Fiber-Reinforced Structures

This paper presents a synthesis of the design provisions of the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code for fiber-reinforced structures. These include structures reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer and fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC). The provisions apply to fully, or partially, prestressed concrete beams and slabs, non-prestressed concrete beams, slabs, and deck slabs, FRC deck slabs of slab-on-girder bridges, stressed wood decks, and barrier walls. Test methods to confirm the tensile strength of fiber-reinforced polymer and the postcracking strength of FRC are given.     

Fading of azo dyes with sodium sulphite

The fading behaviour of a variety of naphthol azo dyes with an excess of sodium sulphite was investigated spectrophotometrically at 30°C in the pH range from 3 to 10. The fading occurred most efficiently under neutral conditions. The azo dyes employed were grouped distinctly into the following three types on basis of the observed spectroscopic characteristics: addition type (A-type), in which the dyes had relatively faster rates had isosbestic points at near 440 nm; reduction type (R-type), in which the dyes had slower fading rates and no clear isosbestic point; and no reaction type (N-type), in which the dyes showed no fading under the experimental conditions. The results suggested that the fading of the azo dyes with sodium sulphite occurred through a Michael addition of a sulphite ion to a conjugate active enone moiety in the hydrazone tautomer (A-type), or to a conjugate iminone moiety in the same tautomer (R-type).     

Catalytic NO–H2–CO–O2 reactions over Pt-supported mesoporous yttrium oxide

Catalytic light-off of a stream of NO, H₂, CO in an excess O₂ has been studied over various metal oxides loading 1 wt% Pt. Because a low-surface area Y₂O₃ (<5 m² g⁻¹) was found to exhibit the highest de-NO_x activity, a mesoporous Y₂O₃ was then synthesized from an yttrium-based surfactant mesophase templated by dodecyl sulfate , which was anion-exchanged by acetate (AcO = CH₃COO⁻). The product showed a 3-D mesoporosity with a large surface area (396 m² g⁻¹) and the Pt-supported catalyst achieved much improved light-off characteristics suitable for the low-temperature de-NO_x in the presence of CO and excess O₂.     

Recent Japanese research activities on probabilistic fracture mechanics for pressure vessel and piping of nuclear power plant

This paper describes a review of recent Japanese activities on probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) analyses. Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA: previously JAERI) had sponsored research committees on PFM organized by Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME) and Japan Welding Engineering Society (JWES) for more than a decade. This work still continues with the same members in JWES. The purpose of the continuous activity is to provide probabilistic approaches in several fields of integrity problems of nuclear power plant. This paper shows some of the newest results of the JWES research committee. First topic is evaluation of the new JSME code case with rules of Fitness-For-Service from the view of PFM, including reactor pressure vessel subject to pressurized thermal shock loading, piping with a crack of the allowable size and effect of sizing accuracy for piping integrity. The next one is development of new PFM techniques including reliability assessment of piping with domestic (Japanese) SCC data and maintenance optimization of LWRs based on risk and economic models. The last topic is the international round robin program just starting from 2008.