Modification of oxidizing activity of Thiobacillus ferroxidans by some particulate solids

Different particulate solids such as glass powder, various types of activated carbon and bentonite suspended in Thiobacillus ferrooxidans cultures produce very different effects on the oxidizing activity of the microorganism. The atmospheric oxygen uptake by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans in Warburg respirometer flasks containing 9K medium with ferrous sulfate as energy source and suspended bentonite is 2.8 times that in the absence of solids. The dissolution rate of pure pyrite in 250 cm³ shake flasks containing 9K medium and bentonite is considerably enhanced over that where the only solid phase is pyrite. Conversely, the oxidizing ability of the microorganism seems to be inhibited by all the activated carbons tested. The effect of ground glass seems to be related to its particle size distribution. Implications for the bioleaching of sulfide ores and coal pyrite are discussed in the light of current knowledge on the adsorption of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans cells on solid surfaces.     

Lipid hydrolysis and oxidation on the surface of milled rice

The changes in milled rice FFA content and composition and in conjugated diene (CD) content and bacterial, yeast, and mold counts were determined at 24, 37, and 50°C and 70% RH over 50 d. There was a rapid rate of FFA formation during the first few days of storage, which was optimal at 37°C, but that slowed after 2, 4, and 5 d at 37, 24, and 50°C, respectively. There was a second increase in FFA after about day 12 that increased with increasing temperature, indicating nonlipase hydrolysis. Linoleic and oleic acids were the main components of the total FFA produced on the surface of milled rice. The pattern of CD development followed that of FFA increase. Bacterial growth correlated with increased FFA levels after 12 d of storage, suggesting that bacterial lipase rather than bran lipase may be responsible for rice lipid hydrolysis     

微生物聚酯的合成和应用研究进展

微生物聚酯是由发酵技术生产、具有生物降解性的热塑性高分子材料。本文介绍了３－羟基丁酯均聚物（ＰＨＢ）和共聚物的基本结构、生物降解性能、生物合成及其应用研究的进展。     

Enzymatic degradation of thermoresponsive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) grafted to carboxymethylcellulose copolymers

The enzymatic degradation of poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) grafted to carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) copolymers with a cellulasic preparation (Trichoderma viride) was studied. The enzymatic activity of the cellulasic preparation against CMC and the grafted copolymers was determined by the Petterson–Porath method, while their reduced viscosity variation in the presence of the same preparation was also followed. It has been shown that the enzymatic degradation behavior depends on the copolymer composition and the reaction temperature. Reducing sugars analysis showed that the experimental values for the grafted copolymers were higher than the calculated ones. At 50°C, the enzymatic reaction is completed in about 20 min for the copolymers, whereas for CMC it takes more than 40 min. It can be concluded that their enzymatic degradation is facilitated by the presence of the PNIPAM grafts. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 1383–1386, 2003     

Biodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene sulfone by Arthrobacter sp. and studies with oxidized Illinois No. 6 coal

A bacterium identified as Arthrobacter sp. was grown on dibenzothiophene (DBT) sulfone as a sole source of sulfur, producing sulfite and sulfate. Sulfur in DBT sulfone (1.0 mM) was nearly quantitatively converted to sulfate by the organism. The organism could also use DBT sulfone as a sole source of carbon and energy. There was evidence for transient accumulation of benzoic acid in the culture medium after growth of the cells slowed. The DBT sulfoxide analogue 9-fluorenone was converted by resting cells to a product identified as 1,10-dihydroxy-1,10-dihydrofluoren-9-one, suggesting that DBT sulfone may be metabolized via an angular hydroxylation resulting in carbon- sulfur bond cleavage. This strain of Arthrobacter showed no ability to desulfurize oxidized Illinois No. 6 coal.     

Improved methods for evaluating the molar mass distributions of cellulose in kraft pulp

Multi‐angle laser light scattering (MALLS) was used to characterize birch kraft pulps with respect to their absolute molecular mass distributions (MMDs). The pulps were dissolved in lithium chloride/N,N‐dimethylacetamide and separated by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The weight‐average and number‐average molecular masses of the cellulose fractions of the pulps obtained from the absolute MALLS measurements were compared with the molar masses obtained by direct‐standard‐calibration relative pullulan standards. Discrepancies between the two detection methods were found, and two ways of correlating the relative pullulan molar masses to the absolute molar masses were examined. In the first method, the correlation was made over a large range of molecular masses. The second method correlated the molecular masses of the standards to the molecular masses of samples by the calculation of fictitious, cellulose‐equivalent molar masses of the standards. With the preferred second method, a more correct MMD of kraft pulp samples could, therefore, be obtained from an SEC system calibrated with narrow standards. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 1170–1179, 2003     

微生物絮凝剂的研究及发展前景

对微生物絮凝剂的现状与发展趋势做了全面综述,包括合成絮凝剂的微生物种类,微生物絮凝剂的絮凝机理及其影响因素,微生物絮凝剂的提取方法等,并阐述了微生物絮凝剂的性质、特点等.     

Enzyme catalyzed durable and authentic oriental lacquer: a natural microgel-printable coating by polysaccharide–glycoprotein–phenolic lipid complexes

The chemistry and technology of oriental lacquer, proof of long-term durability by a laboratory test, and morphological features of the closely packed shell (polysaccharides–glycoproteins)–core (polymerized urushiol) microgel particles, which are chiefly responsible for degradation due to efflorescence outdoors, are described. The dimerization mechanism of urushiol was demonstrated by separation of over 20 urushiol dimer derivatives. Physiological dimerization of urushiol in the lacquer is very much influenced by the humidity in drying, and the interaction of semiquinone radicals with metal ions, hydrophilic polysaccharides and amphipathic glycoproteins contained in the lacquer. A mechanism for renewable oriental lacquer is proposed, involving harmony of technology and nature within the lacquer tree plantations in south-east Asia. A brief review of studies of lacquer chemistry and synthetic coatings is given.     

五氯酚在厌氧生物体系中的降解及反馈作用

为探讨厌氧系统降解五氯酚(PCP)能力及PCP对厌氧系统的毒性影响,采用UASB反应器进行了PCP模拟污水连续流试验,考察了不同PCP浓度及负荷条件下系统对PCP和COD的降解去除规律,揭示了PCP对系统产酸相和产甲烷相影响状况.结果表明,在进水PCP含量从无到开始加入、PCP浓度提高以及PCP负荷提高3个冲击变化阶段,厌氧系统对PCP和COD的去除率均表现出先迅速降低后缓慢升高的变化趋势,运行稳定后PCP和COD的去除率分别达91.2%和83.5%以上.PCP对厌氧系统中微生物种群产生影响,使系统产酸菌由丁酸型菌群为主逐渐演替为丙酸型菌群为主,PCP对系统产甲烷菌活性产生明显抑制,甲烷产量由PCP加入前的12.1L/d降低至加入后的2.5L/d.     

Characterization of konjac glucomannan–quaternized poly(4‐vinyl‐N‐butyl) pyridine blend films and their preservation effect

Novel polymer blends were prepared from a mixture of 2 wt % konjac glucomannan and 4 wt % quaternized poly(4‐vinyl‐N‐butyl) pyridine (QPVP) in aqueous solution and dried at room temperature for 72 h. Their structure and properties were studied by infrared, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. Thermal stability in the dry state was reduced with increasing content of QPVP. Compared with QPVP film, the tensile strength of the films was improved in the dry state. The maximum value of 12.74% tensile break elongation was reached when the content of QPVP was 30%. Structural analysis indicated that clear phase separation was observed when the content of QPVP was only 50%. Results from the filmcoating preservation experiments with lychee showed that this blend film had water‐holding ability. The fruit weight loss rate and rot rate both decreased in various degrees. The potential uses of these novel polymer films could be as preservative films. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1868–1875, 2004