Ozone Production in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge with Ultrasonic Irradiation

Ozone production has been investigated using an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge in pure O₂ at room temperature with and without ultrasonic irradiation. It was driven at a frequency of either 15 kHz or ～40 kHz. The ozone production was highly dependent on the O₂ flow rate and the discharge power. Furthermore, powerful ultrasonic irradiation at a fundamental frequency of ～30 kHz with the sound pressure level of ～150 dB into the discharge can improve the ozone production efficiency, particularly when operated at the frequency of 15 kHz at the flow rate of 15 L/min.     

Changes in pore properties of phenol formaldehyde-based carbon with carbonization and oxidation conditions

Porous carbon beads were prepared by carbonizing at 700 and 1000 °C under N₂ (NN-series) or CO₂ atmospheres (CO-series) and a subsequent oxidization with boiling nitric acid solution (13%, v/v) for 3 h (ANN- and ACO-series). BET surface area of both CO- and NN-series samples tends to increase with increasing carbonization temperature, but CO-series samples show higher BET surface areas (700 °C: 610 m²/g, 1000 °C: 780 m²/g) compared with those of NN-series samples (700 °C: 380 m²/g, 1000 °C: 580 m²/g). After acid oxidation, BET surface areas of NN-series samples increased from 580 to 650 m²/g, whereas those of CO-series samples decreased from 780 to 600 m²/g. On subsequent acid oxidation, acidic surface functional groups increased in both CO- and NN-series samples, but the CO-series samples tend to have much more acidic surface functional groups. Adsorption of halogenated methanes, such as tetra-, tri- and dichloromethanes, onto the samples of CO-, NN-, ACO- and ANN-series was thought to be driven initially by the basicity, but the acidic functional groups that could attract adsorbates via dipole-dipole interaction might hinder the adsorption of subsequently incoming adsorbates.     

In vitro skin permeation and cellular protective effects of flavonoids isolated from Suaeda asparagoides extracts

The objective of this study was to compare astragalin (kaempferol-3-O-glucoside) isolated from Suaeda asparagoides extract with kaempferol, an aglycone of astragalin showing the anti-oxidative activity, the cellular protective effect, and skin permeability. Kaempferol was superior to (+)-α-tocopherol and l-ascorbic acid known as strong antioxidants in the antioxidative activity by DPPH method and chemiluminescence assay. Astragalin and kaempferol exhibited more prominent cellular protective effect than the lipid peroxidation chain blocker, (+)-α-tocopherol. In this in vitro permeation experiment of astragalin and kaempferol through the ICR mouse skin, kaempferol permeated deeper into the skin than astragalin. These results indicate that kaempferol and astragalin can function as antioxidants in biological systems, particularly skin exposed to solar radiation, and protect cellular membranes against reactive oxygen species.     

Novel conventional and chelating anion exchange resins with amino ligands for sorption of silver

ABSTRACT

The polymeric resins containing diethylenetriamine, tetraethylenepentamine, 2-(diethylamino)ethanol, 1-methylimidazole, and 1,2-dimethylimidazole ligands have been synthesized from vinylbenzyl chloride-divinylbenzene copolymers and used in the removal of Ag(I) from chloride solution. The best Ag(I) sorption was reached in the case of 1-methylimidazole resin. Resins retain their capacity towards Ag(I) in five consecutive sorption/desorption cycles. The resins with imidazole ligands were highly selective for Ag(I) from synthetic chloride solution and they did not sorb chloride complexes of Cu(II). Additionally, the recovery of Ag(I) was tested from real chloride solution coming from leaching of the copper concentrate from Lubin Concentrator (KGHM Polska Mied? S.A.).     

Al-Tolerant Barley Mutant hvatr.g Shows the ATR-Regulated DNA Damage Response to Maleic Acid Hydrazide

ATR, a DNA damage signaling kinase, is required for cell cycle checkpoint regulation and detecting DNA damage caused by genotoxic factors including Al³⁺ ions. We analyzed the function of the HvATR gene in response to chemical clastogen-maleic acid hydrazide (MH). For this purpose, the Al-tolerant barley TILLING mutant hvatr.g was used. We described the effects of MH on the nuclear genome of hvatr.g mutant and its WT parent cv. “Sebastian”, showing that the genotoxic effect measured by TUNEL test and frequency of cells with micronuclei was much stronger in hvatr.g than in WT. MH caused a significant decrease in the mitotic activity of root cells in both genotypes, however this effect was significantly stronger in “Sebastian”. The impact of MH on the roots cell cycle, analyzed using flow cytometry, showed no differences between the mutant and WT.     

Specific cationic photoinitiators for near UV and visible LEDs: Iodonium versus ferrocenium structures

Two iodonium salts based on a coumarin chromophore are investigated for polymerization upon light emitting diode irradiations (LEDs). They work as one‐component photoinitiators. They initiate the cationic polymerization of epoxides (under air) and vinylethers (laminate) upon exposure to violet LEDs (385 and 405 nm). Excellent polymerization profiles are recorded. Their efficiency is quite similar to that of a ferrocenium salt. Interpenetrating polymer networks can also be obtained through a concomitant cationic/radical photopolymerization of an epoxy/acrylate blend monomer. The light absorption properties of these new salts as well as the involved photochemical mechanisms are investigated for the first time through electron spin resonance, laser flash photolysis, steady state photolysis experiments. Molecular orbital calculations are also used to shed some light on the initiation mechanisms. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42759.     

Improved reutilization of industrial crude lysine to 1,5-diaminopentane by enzymatic decarboxylation using various detergents and organic solvents

World-wide production of l-lysine has rapidly increased in recent years. In the industrial scale production, it is cost effective to minimize waste as many waste materials are generated during downstream processing. Therefore, the conversion of crude lysine to a more valuable product reduces waste emission. In this study, 1,5-diaminopentane (DAP, trivial name: cadaverine) was produced by l-lysine decarboxylation using Hafnia alvei. The conditions of enzymatic reaction were determined. In particular, the addition of specific detergent (Brij 56) was significantly affected in the bioconversion system. Addition of hydrophobic organic solvent improved the mixing of the reactants. Finally, an industrial crude form of lysine served as a substrate. The DAP conversion by analytical, feed and industrial crude l-lysine was 93.9%, 90.3%, and 63.8%, respectively.     

Development of modified stokes expression to model the behavior of expanded beds containing polydisperse resins for protein adsorption

Expanded bed behavior was modeled by using the Richardson-Zaki correlation between the superficial velocity of the feed stream and the void fraction of the bed. A polydisperse material, Chelating excellose® (70-210 Μm in diameter, 1.21 g/cm³ in density), which has Ni²⁺ ions for the selective binding of histidine-tagged proteins, was used as the resin. A method to modify the Stokes expression to express the terminal settling velocity of the resins by introducing two empirical parameters, the effective diameter of the resins and an exponent for(ρ _p -ρ)/Μ term, was developed. Combined use of the Richardson-Zaki correlation and the modified Stokes expression was successful in modeling the bed expansion by incorporating physical properties of feed streams and the resins.     

Selective decomposition of isopropanol using as prepared and oxidized graphite nanofibers

Three types of as prepared and treated graphite nanofibers (GNFs) were used as catalysts in the decomposition of isopropanol to propene and acetone in the presence of oxygen to evaluate the surface chemistry of the fibers. As prepared herringbone fibers were found to produce higher selectivity for propene compared to the as prepared platelet and ribbon fibers at all temperatures explored. Herringbone fibers that had undergone oxidative treatment with nitric acid, phosphoric acid, ruthenium tetroxide or potassium permanganate were also evaluated at a 290 °C. Effects of oxidation treatments on fiber structure were evaluated using a host of analytical techniques including BET, SEM/EDS, TGA, XPS, and fluorescence labeling of surface species. Selectivity for acetone dehydrogenation product or propene dehydration product could be achieved by the appropriate surface treatment. Nitric acid was the mildest treatment and the treated fibers showed minimal changes. (Potassium permanganate was a harsh treatment that almost completely degraded fiber structure, creating amorphous carbon.) Phosphoric acid treated fibers were found to produce very high conversions and almost pure selectivity for propene. Ruthenium tetroxide did not appear to have a large affect on fiber morphology; however, selectivity for acetone was much higher when GNFs were treated with ruthenium tetroxide.