Modeling for local dynamic behaviors of phenol biodegradation in bubble columns

A coupled three-dimensional (3-D) model, combining hydrodynamics with biochemical reactions, was developed to simulate the local transient flow patterns and the dynamic behaviors of cell growth and phenol biodegradation by yeast Candida tropicalis in the bubble-column bioreactor, using the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method. In order to validate this proposed model effectively, the validation of the local hydrodynamic characteristics of the gas-mineral salt solution (gas-liquid) two-phase system, with the phenol concentration of 1200 mg/L, and with the absence of cells, was performed in a square-sectioned bubble column bioreactor using the LDA system and conductivity probe. Furthermore, the validation of phenol biodegradation behaviors by yeast Candida tropicalis at different initial concentrations of phenol and cell was also carried out in the above bubble-column bioreactor. The results indicated that the model simulations had a satisfying agreement with the experimental data. Finally, the local instantaneous flow and phenol biodegradation features including gas holdup, gas velocity, liquid velocity, cell concentration and phenol concentration inside the bioreactor were successfully predicted in different-scale bubble columns by the proposed model. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006     

Assignment of most genes encoding major peroxisomal polypeptides to chromosomal band V of the asporogenic yeast Candida tropicalis

The peroxisomes of the asporogenic yeast Candida tropicalis contain about 20 major polypeptides (PXPs). We have isolated a number of genes encoding them; 11 POX genes encoded independent PXPs and three POY genes were likely to encode three other PXPs. To locate these genes on the chromosomes, chromosomes of C. tropicalis were separated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Eight chromosomal bands were observed over the range of 1.0 Mbp (band 1) to 2.8 Mbp (band VIII); the genome size was estimated to be about 20 Mbp. Southern blot analysis showed that ten genes were on band V, three genes were on band IV, and the other gene was on band VI. Three genes gave hybridization signals of nearly equal intensity on two different chromosomal bands: POX6A and POX8B, on bands V and VII; and POX8A, on bands IV and VI. Ribosomal RNA genes also hybridized to two bands, VI and VII. Most genes assigned to only one band hybridized to two restriction fragments produced by either NotI or SfiI endonuclease. The results suggested that C. tropicalis was diploid and that restriction sites were conserved little between homologues. The three POX genes that were found on two chromosomal bands hybridized to not more than two restriction fragments, implying that the allelic genes were present on different chromosomal bands.     

Nitrogen fixation associated with grasses and cereals: Recent progress and perspectives for the future

Over the last 20 years many new species of N₂-fixing bacteria have been discovered in association with grasses, cereals and other non-nodulating crops. Virtually all of these bacteria are microaerophylic, fixing N₂ only in the presence of low partial pressures of oxygen. Until a few years ago much attention was focussed on members the genusAzospirillum and it was assumed that N₂ fixation was restricted to the rhizosphere or rhizoplane of the host plants. Through the use of N balance and¹⁵N techniques it has been shown that in the case of lowland rice, several tropical pasture grasses and especially sugar cane, the contributions of biological N₂ fixation (BNF) are of agronomic significance.More detailed study of the N₂-fixing bacteria associated with sugar cane (Acetobacter diazotrophicus andHerbaspirillum spp.) has shown that they occur in high numbers not only in roots of this crop but also in the stems, leaves and trash but are rarely found in the soil. Some of these endophytic diazotrophs have now also been found in forage grasses, cereals, sweet potato and cassava, although evidence of significant BNF contributions is still lacking.The identification of these endophytic diazotrophs as the organisms probably responsible for the high contributions of N₂ fixation observed in sugar cane suggests that it may be possible to attain significant BNF contributions in some other gramineae and perhaps root crops.     

The Peculiar Structure of Acetobacter pasteurianus CIP103108 LPS Core Oligosaccharide

Acetobacter pasteurianus, a member of the Alphaproteobacteria, is an acetic acid-producing bacterium present on sugar-rich substrates such as such as fruits, flowers and vegetables and traditionally used in the production of fermented food. The preferred living habitat associated with acid conditions makes the structure of the bacterial cell wall interesting to study, due to expected uncommon features. We have used a combination of chemical, analytical and NMR spectroscopy approaches to define the complete structure of the core oligosaccharide from A. pasteurianus CIP103108 LPS. Interestingly, the core oligosaccharide displays a high concentration of negatively charged groups, structural features that might contribute to reinforcing the bacterial membrane.     

热带假丝酵母发酵生产长链二元酸的节能减排措施

热带假丝酵母发酵生产长链二元酸在菌体、空气、烃类(油)和水的四相发酵体系中完成,发酵过程需氧量大、放热量高,提纯过程多处存在升温、降温过程,生产成本高。采用"倒推法"分析了装置公用工程消耗的主要影响因素,通过节能改造,余热、废汽与废水回收,正常生产每年可节省生产成本390余万元。     

利用椰子水生物合成CMC改性细菌纤维素

以椰子水为培养基,于培养基中添加羧甲基纤维素(CMC)后培养木醋杆菌可制备羧甲基纤维素改性细菌纤维素(CMC-BC)。当添加6g/LCMC时,CMC-BC产量达到最大(10.41g/L),是纯BC产量(4.73g/L)的2.2倍。采用FTIR表征了产物结构;通过SEM、XRD、TGA研究了产物性能;并测试了产物的特性黏度与含水率。结果显示,利用椰子水所制备的CMC-BC缩短了培养时间(3d)。适量添加CMC〔ρ(CMC)=2～18g/L〕时,CMC-BC的聚合度增大,且具有较好热稳定性及较高含水率。CMC-BC还表现出较好的溶解性能。     

十三碳二元酸发酵与肉毒碱乙酰基转移酶酶活动力学研究

在利用热带假丝酵母发酵生产十三碳二元酸(DCA13)的过程中,建立了用荧光法测定酵母体内肉毒碱乙酰基转移酶(CAT)酶活的方法,方法简单,重现性高,测量精确。研究了热带假丝酵母中CAT酶活动力学与产酸速率的关系,结果表明:代谢前期细胞以生长为主,CAT酶活较高可提供更多的生长动力,而代谢后期细胞进入产酸期,CAT酶活与产酸速率的变化趋势成反比,即产酸速率高时,CAT的酶活较低。     

采用响应面法优化木糖醇发酵培养基

将Plackett-Burman和响应面设计相结合,对木糖醇发酵培养基进行了优化。结果表明,初始木糖浓度、酵母膏添加量以及MgSO4.7H2O浓度是影响木糖醇转化率的主要因素。优化得到的培养基组成为(g/L)木糖100.7,酵母膏5.302,NaCl6.0,MgSO4.7H2O0.379,KH2PO43,(NH4)2HPO44;通气条件为装液量100mL/250mL。此条件下木糖醇的转化率为0.784g/g。     

热带假丝酵母发酵生产木糖醇的研究

对热带假丝酵母 (C tropicalis )As2 1 776发酵木糖醇的营养条件进行了初步研究。初始木糖浓度在 80g/L附近时木糖醇转化率较高 ,限制性供氧条件下有利于木糖醇积累。酵母膏和蛋白胨是比较适合产木糖醇的有机氮源 ,而酵母膏更利于酵母细胞生长。培养基中添加 2 g/L的(NH4 ) 2 HPO4 、2～ 6g/L的NaCl、1～ 3g/L的KH2 PO4 、0 1～ 0 3 g/L的MgSO4 ·7H2 O能提高木糖醇的转化率     

固定化细胞提高热带假丝酵母菌的噻吩耐受性及降解效率

利用固定化细胞技术提高热带假丝酵母降解高浓度噻吩的效率,考察了固定化包埋的载体类型及固定化的方法,优化了固定化微球降解噻吩的实验条件。实验结果表明:用2%的海藻酸钠固定化热带假丝酵母,微球表面可形成一层致密的薄膜,将大量细胞包埋在微球里,菌体密度达到5×1010 CFU/g微球;噻吩降解实验中较佳条件为:微球接种量7 g/100 mL、培养基初始pH 8.5~9.0、培养温度30℃。在500 mg/L噻吩的培养液中,培养16 h时降解可达62.3%。