Steam gasification of German hard coal using alkaline catalysts: Effects of carbon burn-off and ash content

Laboratory-scale experiments were performed on chars from German hard coals with potassium carbonate addition. The steam gasification rate at 4 MPa and 700 °C as a function of the amount of catalyst added is described for a low-and high-ash char. From the burn-off behaviour the reaction order relative to carbon was determined. For the low-ash char a uniform reaction order was found but the high-ash char indicated a complex interaction of catalytic gasification, catalyst deactivation, and the development of the reacting surface.     

Application of K2CO3 catalysts in the coal gasification process using nuclear heat

Conventional gasification processes use coal not only as feedstock to be gasified but also for supply of energy for reaction heat, steam production, and other purposes. With a nuclear high temperature reactor (HTR) as a source for process heat, it is possible to transform the whole of the coal feed into gas. This concept offers advantages over existing gasification processes: saving of coal, as more gas can be produced from coal; less emission of pollutants, as the HTR is used for the production of steam and electricity instead of a coal-fired boiler; and a lower production cost for the gas. However, the process has the disadvantage that the temperature is limited to the outlet temperature (950 °C max) of the helium cooling gas of the HTR. Therefore the possibility of catalytic steam gasification was examined. Model calculations based on experimental results show that use of 3–4 wt% relative to coal of K²CO³ catalyst increases the throughput of a large scale nuclear gasification plant by ≈65%, while gas production costs decrease by ≈15%. Corrosion by catalysts is not significant at low concentration (< 5 wt%) and low temperature (< 900 °C).     

Changes in lipid content and composition during germination of groundnuts

The cotyledons of two varieties of germinating groundnut seeds (Runner and Bunch) were analysed periodically for their lipid content and fatty acid composition over a period of 132 h. The lipid content decreased drastically during germination. More drastic changes in lipid constituents were observed for light-grown seedlings than for dark-grown ones. In general, the non-polar lipids (NPL) were metabolised faster than the polar ones (P > 0.05) especially in those seeds grown in the dark. The rate of decrease in NPL content almost paralleled that of increase in glycolipid (GL) content. Triacyl glycerol content decreased noticeably during germination while other NPL tended to increase. Among the GL, sterylglucoside increased rapidly during early germination under darkness, only to decrease steadily thereafter. A converse effect was observed for acyl sterylglucoside which, in the dark, decreased rapidly at early germination only to increase equally rapidly later on. Among the phospholipids (PL), only phosphatidic acid showed a marked increase during germination, under both growth conditions, while others tended to decrease in varying degrees. The changing patterns of GL and PL during germination seem to follow the pattern of the formation of photosynthetic tissues and the metabolic conversion of PL. The major fatty acids of the three lipid groups, which more or less decreased or increased in varying degrees with germination in light-grown seeds were oleic, linoleic, palmitic, stearic, arachidic and lignoceric acids in decreasing order of prominence at early germination.     

Evaluation of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy for predicting stover quality trait in semi-exotic populations of maize

Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) analysis was investigated as a means of predicting quality parameters in semi-exotic maize stover. These parameters included crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). Samples of semi-exotic maize stover were collected during three growing seasons (1989, 1990, 1991) from three locations in Catalonia, Spain. Calibration equations were obtained by multiple linear regression of conventional laboratory values on NIRS data from 84 samples and verified with 20 additional samples. Separate NIRS calibration were developed also within year (1989 and 1990, respectively). A Bran + Luebbe InfraAnalyzer model 450 was used for the study. In the multi-year calibration the coefficients of squared multiple correlation (R²) ranged from 0–81 for IVDMD to 0–92 for CP and the standard errors of calibration (SEC) ranged from 0–35 for CP to 1–46 for IVDMD. The study showed that NIRS analysis can be used to evaluate the quality of semi-exotic maize in breeding programmes.     

Bestimmung niedermolekular gebundener Purin- und Pyrimidinbasen in Lebensmitteln nach gelchromatographischer Isolierung und hydrolytischem Druckaufschlu?

Zusammenfassung Die gelchromatographisch abgetrennten und isolierten niedermolekularen Purin- und Pyrimidinverbindungen wurden nach hydrolytischem Druckaufschluß an einem Kationenaustauscher als freie Basen bestimmt. Diese Daten werden auch im Verhältnis zu den Gesamtgehalten der Basen des Substrates mitgeteilt. Es zeigte sich, daß bei unbehandelten Proben der Anteil der niedermolekular gebundenen Basen 5–15% (je nach Base und Lebensmittel) der jeweiligen Gesamtbasenmenge beträgt. Bei frischen, nicht erhitzten Lebensmittelproben findet ein schneller Abbau von Adeninnucleotiden zu Inosinnucleotiden und zu Hypoxanthin statt, so daß nur geringe Adeningehalte aus niedermolekularen Verbindungen angetroffen werden. Bei erhitzten Lebensmitteln ist der Anteil niedermolekular gebundener Purin- und Pyrimidinbasen durch Teilhydrolyse von Nucleinsüren höher. Er beträgt dann 30–50% (je nach Base und Lebensmittel) der jeweiligen Gesamtbasenmenge.

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Determination of purine and pyrimidine bases, bound in compounds of low-molecular weight after isolation by gelpermeation-chromatography and hydrolytic digestion under pressure

Summary Compounds with purine and pyrimidine bases of low-molecular weight were separated and isolated by gelpermeation-chromatography. After acid hydrolysis of nucleotides to free bases in a pressure digestion vessel the bases were separated on cation exchange resins. The data obtained are also reported in relation to the total base content of the substrate. It could be demonstrated that in untreated samples the portion of combined bases of low-molecular weight results in 5 to 15% of the corresponding total base content, depending on base and kind of food. In fresh unheated food samples adenine nucleotides are con verted rapidly to inosine nucleotides and hypoxanthine; therefore only a small share of adenine is found from compounds of low-molecular weight. In heated food the portion of combined low-molecular weight purine and pyrimidine bases proves to be much higher, due to partial hydrolysis of nucleic acids. It amounts to 30 to 50% of the total base content, depending on base and kind of food.

     

Functional properties of meal products of the nigerian ‘red skin’ groundnut (arachis hypogaea L.)

Three products were prepared from the Nigerian red skin groundnuts; undefatted flour (UGF), hexane-extracted defatted flour (DGF), and a protein concentrate made by isoelectric centrifuging (GPC). Their functional properties were examined and compared with those of egg white powder and yolk to characterise their potential use in food preparations. The GPC performed better in functional properties than DGF and UGF. Emulsification capacity was higher than that of UGF and DGF but comparable to that of egg yolk. A 5% dispersion whipped better than egg white powder and produced more stable foams over a 3-h period. Both water and fat absorption capacities were better and a 10% aqueous dispersion of the GPC was more viscous than similar dispersions of DGF and UGF respectively. Least gelation concentrations were 5, 3 and 4% for GPC, DGF and UGF. The high emulsification capacity, water and fat absorption capacities suggest that the GPC could be used in processed meat products, confections and beverages while the good whipping properties point to its potential use in products like meringue, bread and hot cakes.     

Tribromopyrrole,brominated acids,and other disinfection byproducts produced by disinfection of drinking water rich in bromide

Using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), we investigated the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) from high bromide waters (2 mg/L) treated with chlorine or chlorine dioxide used in combination with chlorine and chloramines. This study represents the first comprehensive investigation of DBPs formed by chlorine dioxide under high bromide conditions. Drinking water from full-scale treatment plants in Israel was studied, along with source water (Sea of Galilee) treated under carefully controlled laboratory conditions. Select DBPs (trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, aldehydes, chlorite, chlorate, and bromate) were quantified. Many of the DBPs identified have not been previously reported, and several of the identifications were confirmed through the analysis of authentic standards. Elevated bromide levels in the source water caused a significant shift in speciation to bromine-containing DBPs; bromoform and dibromoacetic acid were the dominant DBPs observed, with very few chlorine-containing compounds found. Iodo-trihalomethanes were also identified, as well as a number of new brominated carboxylic acids and 2,3,5-tribromopyrrole, which represents the first time a halogenated pyrrole has been reported as a DBP. Most of the bromine-containing DBPs were formed during pre-chlorination at the initial reservoir, and were not formed by chlorine dioxide itself. An exception wasthe iodo-THMs, which appeared to be formed by a combination of chlorine dioxide with chloramines or chlorine (either added deliberately or as an impurity in the chlorine dioxide). A separate laboratory study was also conducted to quantitatively determine the contribution of fulvic acids and humic acids (from isolated natural organic matter in the Sea of Galilee) as precursor material to several of the DBPs identified. Results showed that fulvic acid plays a greater role in the formation of THMs, haloacetic acids, and aldehydes, but 2,3,5-tribromopyrrole was produced primarily from humic acid. Because this was the first time a halopyrrole has been identified as a DBP, 2,3,5-tribromopyrrole was tested for mammalian cell cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. In comparison to other DBPs, 2,3,5-tribromopyrrole was 8x, 4.5x, and 16x more cytotoxic than dibromoacetic acid, 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2-[5H]-furanone [MX], and potassium bromate, respectively. 2,3,5-Tribromopyrrole also induced acute genomic damage, with a genotoxic potency (299 microM) similar to that of MX.     

Sorption versus biomineralization of Pb(II) within Burkholderia cepacia biofilms

X-ray spectroscopy measurements have been combined with macroscopic uptake data and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results to show that Pb(II) uptake by Burkholderia cepacia is due to simultaneous sorption and biomineralization processes. X-ray microprobe mapping of B. cepacia biofilms formed on alpha-Al2O3 surfaces shows that Pb(II) is distributed heterogeneously throughout the biofilms because of the formation of Pb "hot spots". EXAFS data and TEM observations show that the enhanced Pb accumulation is due to the formation of nanoscale crystals of pyromorphite (Pb5(PO4)3(OH)) adjacent to the outer-membrane of a fraction of the total population of B. cepacia cells. In contrast, B. cepacia cell suspensions or biofilms that were heat-killed or pretreated with X-rays do not form pyromorphite, which suggests that metabolic activity is required. Precipitation of pyromorphite occurs over several orders of magnitude in [H-] and [Pb] and accounts for approximately 90% of the total Pb uptake below pH 4.5 but only 45-60% at near-neutral pH because of the formation of additional Pb(II) adsorption complexes. Structural fits of Pb L(III) EXAFS data collected for heat-treated cells at near-neutral pH suggest that Pb(II) forms inner-sphere adsorption complexes with carboxyl functional groups in the biofilms.     

水刺非织造布通过粘合剂加固和热熔加固来提升等级

介绍了对水刺非织造布进行后整理和加固以提高其使用性能的工艺方法。