Demethylation and Nitration of Lignin

Abstract

The formation of methanol during treatment of wood meal with nitrogen dioxide is favored by the presence of oxygen and suppressed by addition of sodium sulfate. With 0.5% of added nitrogen dioxide large amounts of methanol were produced at 70°C when kraft lignin was impregnated with 0.5M nitric acid. A markedly increased formation of methanol and nitro groups in the lignin occurred when sodium nitrate was added. At low acidity the effect of sodium nitrate was insignificant. In a solution which was 0.5 molal with respect to nitric acid and 0.8 molal with respect to sodium nitrate, appreciable amounts of methanol and nitro groups were produced even when no nitrogen dioxide was added. This is explained by a generation of nitrogen dioxide from nitric acid in a autocatalytic process favored by high concentrations of nitrate and hydrogen ions.     

Dislocation‐Free and Atomically Flat GaN Hexagonal Microprisms for Device Applications

III‐nitrides are considered the material of choice for light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) and lasers in the visible to ultraviolet spectral range. The development is hampered by lattice and thermal mismatch between the nitride layers and the growth substrate leading to high dislocation densities. In order to overcome the issue, efforts have gone into selected area growth of nanowires (NWs), using their small footprint in the substrate to grow virtually dislocation‐free material. Their geometry is defined by six tall side‐facets and a pointed tip which limits the design of optoelectronic devices. Growth of dislocation‐free and atomically smooth 3D hexagonal GaN micro‐prisms with a flat, micrometer‐sized top‐surface is presented. These self‐forming structures are suitable for optical devices such as low‐loss optical cavities for high‐efficiency LEDs. The structures are made by annealing GaN NWs with a thick radial shell, reforming them into hexagonal flat‐top prisms with six equivalents either m‐ or s‐facets depending on the initial heights of the top pyramid and m‐facets of the NWs. This shape is kinetically controlled and the reformation can be explained with a phenomenological model based on Wulff construction that have been developed. It is expected that the results will inspire further research into micron‐sized III‐nitride‐based devices.     

Electron Tomography Reveals the Droplet Covered Surface Structure of Nanowires Grown by Aerotaxy

For the purpose of functionalizing III‐V semiconductor nanowires using n‐doping, Sn‐doped GaAs zincblende nanowires are produced, using the growth method of Aerotaxy. The growth conditions used are such that Ga droplets, formed on the nanowire surface, increase in number and concentrations when the Sn‐precursor concentration is increased. Droplet‐covered wires grown with varying Sn concentrations are analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and electron tomography, which together establish the positioning of the droplets to be preferentially on {?111}B facets. These facets have the same polarity as the main wire growth direction, [?1?1?1]B. This means that the generated Ga particles can form nucleation sites for possible nanowire branch growth. The concept of azimuthal mapping is introduced as a useful tool for nanowire surface visualization and evaluation. It is demonstrated here that electron tomography is useful in revealing both the surface and internal morphologies of the nanowires, opening up for applications in the analysis of more structurally complicated systems like radially asymmetrical nanowires. The analysis also gives a further understanding of the limits of the dopants which can be used for Aerotaxy nanowires.     

Formation of aldonic acid end groups during NO2/O2 treatment and alkali cooking of wood meal

Summary The increased carbohydrate yield after NaOH cooking of wood resulting from NO₂/O₂ pretreatment is related to the oxidation of reducing sugar end groups to aldonic acid groups during both the pretreatment and the subsequent alkali cook. This leads to a suppressed end-wise degradation during the alkali cook, reflected in a lowered formation of 3-deoxyaldonic and 2-C-methylglyceric acid end groups in competing reactions.     

Comparison of linear and nonlinear models for human population dynamics

Population projections are usually based on 1-sex linear models of the Lotka-Leslie type. This paper explores the inconsistencies of 1-sex models and shows that projections based solely on time-invariant, age-specific male fertilities and mortalities are not compatible with those based on female fertilities and mortalities. This incompatibility is found even in the unusual case where male and female fertility functions are equal and generate equal ultimate rates of growth. In any time period the incompatibility becomes apparent except for populations which are already in a state of balanced exponential growth. Mathematical development of a nonlinear system whose true rate of ultimate growth is correctly bracketed by the male and female rates of growth is given. Analysis of more general 2-sex models shows that the 2 1-sex growth rates, calculated for arbitrary male and female initial age distributions, need not bracket the true rate. Models do exist that, with appropriate choices of initial conditions, will show such bracketing. Mathematical documentation is included.     

Interest scores in identifying the potential trade school dropout.

Mean Kuder Preference Record Scores were compared for 55 trade-school dropouts and 48 students who completed their programs. The average profiles of the two groups were about the same, and only one mean difference was significant, and that only at the .05 level. It is concluded that "1. The present use of the Kuder Preference Record in these trade training departments of this vocational school is of very limited value in helping students evaluate their decisions to become mechanics… [and] 2… . the Kuder is not helpful in distinguishing between those who will complete mechanical courses and those who will not. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Valence band splitting in wurtzite InP nanowires observed by photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy

We have investigated individual bulk-like wires of wurtzite InP using photoluminescence, photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Using two different methods we find that the top of the valence band is split, as expected theoretically. This splitting of the valence band is peculiar to wurtzite InP and does not occur in zinc blende InP. We find the energy difference between the two bands to be 40 meV.     

Response of Holstein and Brown Swiss cows fed alfalfa hay-based diets to supplemental methionine at two stages of lactation

In this study, we evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation at two stages of lactation with various levels of Mepron85 (M85) and M85 plus DL-methionine (DL-Met) on milk production and composition of Holstein and Brown Swiss cows fed an alfalfa-hay and corn grain-based diet. In experiment 1, control diets were formulated to supplement, in early lactation [days in milk (DIM) = 73.2], concentrations of metabolizable methionine at 104% of the estimated requirements based on the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System. Treatment groups were fed the control diet plus 10, 20, or 30 g/d of M85 at 116, 128, or 139% of the estimated requirements for metabolizable methionine. The supplementation with 10 g/d in Brown Swiss and 30 g/d of M85 in Holstein cows increased milk yields and fat percentage, but had no effects on protein percentage. These data suggested that the estimated postruminal supply of metabolizable methionine in the control ration was limiting for maximum milk fat synthesis. Conversely, in experiment 2, the cosupplementation with M85 (15 g/d) plus DL-Met (15 g/d) to cows in midlactation (DIM = 140.5) did not influence fat percentage, but increased protein yield and percentage (+0.1%) in both Holstein and Brown Swiss, and lactose percentage (+0.18%) in Holstein cows. The supplementation with 15 g/d of M85 reduced milk and protein yields, whereas 15 g/d of DL-Met reduced protein percentage in four of the five experimental weeks for Holstein cows. We conclude that supplementation with M85, alone or in combination with DL-Met, may be used to influence milk composition, but these effects are influenced by dosage and type of supplemental methionine, breed, and stage of lactation.