Biodegradation of Phenol with Wastewater as a Cosubstrate in Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket

Anaerobic degradation of phenol mixed with a readily degradable synthetic wastewater (DSWW) as a cosubstrate was studied in a 12?L upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor at 30±2°C over a period of 632?days. DSWW was prepared by diluting sugar cane based molasses. The biomass was acclimatized to high phenol concentration by gradually decreasing the DSWW chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 4,000?mg/L. Feed made up of phenol COD and DSWW COD in the ratio of 7:3 (phenol concentration = 1,176?mg/L) was successfully treated at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12?h and organic loading rate (OLR) of 8?g?COD/L?day. Phenol removal ranged from 99.9 to 84% at phenol COD varying from 10 to 70% in the feed. During the entire operation, COD removal varied from about 74 to 91.3%. The influent COD was distributed into CH4–COD ( ～ 72%), effluent COD ( ～ 17%), and sludge and unaccounted COD ( ～ 11%). The process failure occurred at 4:1 phenol COD: DSWW COD. Specific methanogenic activity of granular sludge exhibited uniform activity up to phenol COD of 70%. The performance of the reactor could not be maintained beyond 70% phenol COD even by reducing the sludge loading rate, increasing HRT, or decreasing OLR.     

Ru(III)/Os(VIII) Catalysed Oxidation of Gabapentin (Neurotin) Drug by Diperiodatoargentate(III) in Aqueous Alkaline Medium (Stopped Flow Technique): A Comparative Study

The kinetics of ruthenium(III) (Ru(III)) and osmium(VIII) (Os(VIII)) catalysed oxidation of neuroleptic drug, gabapentin (GBP) by diperiodatoargentate(III) (DPA) in alkaline medium at 27 °C and a constant ionic strength of 0.60 mol dm^?3 was studied spectrophotometrically. The oxidation products in both the cases are 1-(hydroxymethyl) cyclohexane acetic acid and Ag(I). The stoichiometry is the same in both the catalysed reactions i.e. [gabapentin]:[DPA] = 1:1. The reaction is of first order in Os(VIII)/Ru(III) and [DPA] and has less than unit order in both [GBP] and [alkali]. The oxidation reaction in alkaline medium has been shown to proceed via a Os(VIII)/Ru(III)-gabapentin complex, which further reacts with one mole of monoperiodatoargentate(III) (MPA) species in a rate determining step followed by other fast steps to give the products. The main products were identified by spot test and spectroscopic studies. The reaction constants involved in the different steps of the mechanism are calculated. The catalytic constant (K _c) was also calculated for both catalysed reactions at different temperatures. From the plots of log K _c versus 1/T, values of activation parameters with respect to the catalyst have been evaluated. The activation parameters with respect to slow step of the mechanism are computed and discussed and thermodynamic quantities are also determined. It has been observed that the catalytic efficiency for the present reaction is in the order of Os(VIII)>Ru(III). The probable active species of catalyst and oxidant have been identified.     

Evaluation of Wear Behaviour of Metal Injection Moulded Nickel Based Metal Matrix Composite

Silicon - Metal injection moulding (MIM) is a near-net shape manufacturing technology for producing intricate parts, cost-effectively. MIM comprises combined techniques of plastic injection...     

Insight into microbial hemicellulases other than xylanases: a review

Hemicellulases responsible for depolymerization of hemicellulose, including α‐glucuronidase, α‐arabinofuranosidase, arabinase, endo‐mannanase, β‐mannosidase, acetyl xylan esterase and feruloyl xylan esterase, were reviewed. They usually exist as multimers with a modified (β/α)₈ Tim barrel fold. In a few cases they possess a substrate binding domain which helps them bind to the substrates bringing efficient hydrolysis. Post‐translational modifications are the major reasons leading to enzyme multiplicities to adapt the heterogeneous nature of hemicellulose. Glycosylation is one of the most important post translational modifications and contributes multiple functions to the protein such as stability, multiplicity and in a few cases enzyme activity. Advances in recombinant DNA technology have made it feasible to clone, improve and functionally express them in various hosts. Hemicellulases are traditionally applied in food, feed, detergent and paper industries, but their applications in hydrolysis of hemicellulose to release sugars is expected to increase, driven by the rapid development of lignocellulose biorefineries. Screening more powerful hemicellulases from nature, mining their coding genes from various sources and engineering them genetically are recommended for broadening their applications. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Treatment of phenol and cresols in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) process: a review

Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) process has been successfully applied in the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewaters. Several researchers have investigated the suitability of the process for the treatment of phenols and phenolic wastewaters. The anaerobic treatment of phenols is still at an investigative stage. With increasing recognition of the UASB process, feasibility studies on the treatment of wastewater containing phenol and cresols (o-, m- and p- isomers) in UASB have been reviewed. It is reported that phenol concentration up to a range of 500-750 mg/L is generally not inhibitory to the UASB process. Phenol concentrations greater than 500 mg/L can be effectively treated with acclimatization of inocula, recirculation of the treated effluent and/or supplementing with co-substrates such as glucose, VFA and dilute molasses. The degradability of phenol is more than p-cresol, which in turn is more than m- and o-cresol.     

Cuticular Hydrocarbons of the Dampwood Termite, Zootermopsis nevadensis: Caste Differences and Role of Lipophorin in Transport of Hydrocarbons and Hydrocarbon Metabolites

The epicuticular and internal hydrocarbons (HC) from different castes of the dampwood termite Zootermopsis nevadensis were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The epicuticular HC profiles of workers and alates contained large proportions of n-heneicosane (n-C21), 5-methylheneicosane (5-MeC21), and 5,17- and 5,15-dimethylheneicosane (5,17-, 5,15-diMeC21). Sixty-three HC peaks were identified as normal-, monomethyl-, dimethyl-, and trimethylalkanes up to 41 carbons long. The HC content of the internal tissues was significantly greater than on the epicuticle in all castes examined (2.8-fold in female alates, 5.7-fold in male alates, and 13.7-fold in workers). The hemolymph of all castes, including workers, soldiers, nymphs, and female and male alates, contained large amounts of HC and all hemolymph samples had nearly identical HC profiles. However, the hemolymph profile was remarkably different from the cuticular profile. KBr equilibrium gradient ultracentrifugation of worker hemolymph showed that all HC were associated with a high-density lipophorin (density of 1.12 ± 0.005 g/ml) consisting of two subunits, apolipophorin-I (220 kDa) and apolipophorin-II (82 kDa). After topical application of radiolabeled 3,11-dimethylnonacosane, a HC that is closely related to a native HC, all the internalized HC and radiolabeled lipid metabolites that were recovered from the hemolymph were associated with lipophorin. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that lipophorin transports HC and some HC metabolites through the hemolymph from the sites of synthesis to the integument and from the integument to metabolic and excretory tissues. In many social insects, different castes have different relative proportions of the same HC and lipophorin appears to play an important role in regulation of the externalization and internalization of HC and, therefore, in the attainment of caste-specific chemical profiles.     

Pervaporation separation of isopropanol–water mixtures using mixed matrix blend membranes of poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) loaded with phosphomolybdic acid

Mixed matrix membranes of poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl pyrrilidone) blends were prepared by loading with phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) and their pervaporation (PV) properties were investigated for the PV separation of isopropanol. Membrane performance shown a dependence on the extent of PMA loading. The 4 wt % PMA‐loaded blend membrane had the highest separation factor of 29991, which declined considerably at higher loading. The flux of 4 wt % PMA‐loaded membrane was lower than that of nascent blend membrane. Feed water composition and temperature influenced the PV performance. Solubility selectivity was higher than diffusion selectivity. Degree of swelling was smaller after PMA loading exhibiting better separation ability. The PV results were analyzed using the Flory‐Huggins theory and sorption was dominated by Langmuir's mode. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011