RDX biodegradation column study: influence of ubiquitous electron acceptors on anaerobic biotransformation of RDX

A series of column studies, with aquifer material from the former Nebraska Ordinance Plant (NOP), were performed to explore the phenomenon of electron competition from ubiquitous inorganic electron acceptors (nitrate and sulfate) present in contaminated groundwater. Acetate was used as a source of readily biodegradable carbon in all of the treatment‐column systems. Influent hexahydro‐1, 3, 5‐trinitro‐1, 3, 5‐triazine (RDX) concentrations (1–1.8 mg dm^?3) were completely removed to below detection levels of 20 µg dm^?3 in all treatment‐column systems without any nitroso‐metabolites. In the control‐column system (with no carbon amendment) significant levels (～30% of the inlet molar RDX) of nitroso‐substituted RDX derivates were observed in the effluent stream. The estimated first‐order biodegradation rate coefficient for RDX was highest (0.79 h^?1) in the treatment‐column system where acetate was the only amendment, about 52 times higher than the rate coefficient (0.015 h^?1) obtained in the control‐column system. The presence of sulfate (100 mg dm^?3) in influent groundwater temporarily delayed the onset of RDX biotransformation without any adverse effects on overall RDX biotransformation. Coexistence of low (100 mg dm^?3) nitrate levels in the influent feed water reduced the first‐order biodegradation rate coefficient obtained in the absence of nitrate by about 80% to 0.16 h^?1. These nitrate levels, however, were low to halt the RDX biodegradation probably because the available carbon levels were high enough to exceed the demands for nitrate reduction. High levels of nitrate (500 mg dm^?3) initially halted RDX removal, and significantly reduced the rate of RDX biotransformation by about 98% to 0.02 h^?1, thereby increasing the half‐life from 0.9 h in the absence of nitrate to about 32 h, with noticeable levels of untreated RDX in the effluent stream. Contrary to the expectations, the presence of ammonium in conjunction with acetate resulted in a lower (0.09 h^?1) biodegradation rate coefficient as compared with the one obtained in the absence of ammonium. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Gas phase oxidation of benzene to phenol using Pd-Cu composite catalysts. Effect of temperature,feeding gas and catalyst composition

Catalytic oxidation of benzene in the gas phase has been studied as a function of the catalyst composition, reaction temperature and the feed conditions of reactant gases, hydrogen, oxygen, benzene as well as diluting inert gas. The catalyst tested is composed of Pd and Cu(I) ions, both of which are supported on silica gel. If one of the two metal species is lacked from the catalyst, no catalytic activity appears. The product is almost exclusively phenol and some accompanying benzoquinone, in particular at lower temperatures, as minor byproduct.On leave from Hua-Dong Institute of Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.     

Silk Fibroin as an Efficient Biomaterial for Drug Delivery,Gene Therapy,and Wound Healing

Silk fibroin (SF), an organic material obtained from the cocoons of a silkworm Bombyx mori, is used in several applications and has a proven track record in biomedicine owing to its superior compatibility with the human body, superb mechanical characteristics, and its controllable propensity to decay. Due to its robust biocompatibility, less immunogenic, non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, and biodegradable properties, it has been widely used in biological and biomedical fields, including wound healing. The key strategies for building diverse SF-based drug delivery systems are discussed in this review, as well as the most recent ways for developing functionalized SF for controlled or redirected medicines, gene therapy, and wound healing. Understanding the features of SF and the various ways to manipulate its physicochemical and mechanical properties enables the development of more effective drug delivery devices. Drugs are encapsulated in SF-based drug delivery systems to extend their shelf life and control their release, allowing them to travel further across the bloodstream and thus extend their range of operation. Furthermore, due to their tunable properties, SF-based drug delivery systems open up new possibilities for drug delivery, gene therapy, and wound healing.     

Effect of gamma irradiation and sulphitation treatments on keeping quality of white button mushroom Agaricus bisporus (J. Lge)

Gamma irradiation, alone and in combination with sulphitation, was tested for preventing the browning and maintaining the quality attributes of the white button mushrooms. Mushrooms were subjected to treatment of gamma irradiation in the dose range of 0.5–2.0 kGy and to combination treatments of sulphitation at a concentration of 0.1% potassium metabisulphite (KMS) and gamma irradiation (dose range 0.5–2.0 kGy) followed by storage at 10 ± 2 °C (RH 85%). A dose of 2.0 kGy significantly reduced the weight loss, prevented browning and mould growth. Cap and veil opening of mushrooms was delayed by 9 days and shelf life was extended by 12 days at a dose level of 2.0 kGy. Sulphitation alone at a concentration of 0.1% KMS was effective in controlling browning only upto 3 days, beyond which both browning and cap opening increased significantly ( P  ≤ 0.05) and the samples were unacceptable after 6 days of storage. No synergistic effect of sulphitation and irradiation was observed with respect to the shelf-life extension of mushroom.     

Moisture Adsorption Isotherms of Watermelon Seed and Kernels

The moisture adsorption isotherms of watermelon seeds and kernels from Citrullus lanatus Cv Mateera and Citrullus vulgaris Cv Sugar baby were obtained using standard static method with saturated salt solutions over a range of water activities from 0.113 to 0.92 at 20-60°C. The adsorption capacity of seeds decreased with the increase in temperature at constant water activity. Sorption models were used to explain the adsorption behavior involving water activity and moisture content (Type I) and also temperature (Type II). Oswin's models gave best fit among Type I with coefficient of determination of 0.953-0.995, standard error of 0.031-0.0571, mean relative error of 0.071-0.152, and scattered residual plots. Modified Oswin was the best fit model among Type II for the seeds and kernels of both the cultivars with coefficient of determination of 0.997-0.999, standard error of 0.151-0.255, mean relative error of 0.018-0.244, and scattered residual plots. The net isoelectric heat of adsorption, estimated from Clausius-Clapeyron decreased from about 27.0 to 0.5 kJ/mol in kernels and 18.0 to 0.5 kJ/mol in seeds of both the cultivars as the moisture content increased from 5 to 25% (dry basis).     

Viscosity and surface tension of p-xylene-ethylacetate liquid mixtures

Experimental density, viscosity and surface tension data are reported for p-xylene-ethylacetate mixtures at 20°. 30° and 40°C. over the entire composition range. The presence of interactions has been studied in the light of excess properties.