Hydrogen Production from Methanol Using Corona Discharges

Hydrogen production at room temperature from liquid methanol has been conducted using corona discharge.The content of water in methanol solution has a significant effect on this production.When water concentration increases from 1.0% to 16.7,the methanol conversion rate changes from 0.196 to 0.284 mol/h.An important finding in this investigation is the formation of ethylene glycol as a major by-product.The yield of ethylene glycol is ranged from 0.0045 to 0.0075 mol/h based on the water content.     

In Vitro Production of Plant Peroxidases—A Review

In the latest two decades, the interest received by plant enzymes has increased significantly. Plant enzymes such as peroxidases are widely used in medicine as diagnostic tools and in the bioremediation and biobleaching industries, among others. Traditionally, these enzymes have been obtained from a natural source, a process that is sometimes laborious and affected by weather conditions and low yields. To overcome this hurdle, some efforts have been made to establish plant cell cultures in vitro to use the system as a continuous source of plant enzymes. The focus of this review will be the production of plant peroxidases in vitro, including novel approaches such as the use of bioreactors and genetically transformed tissues to enhance the yield of desired enzymes.     

Synthesis Gas Production from Natural Gas on Supported Pt Catalysts

Auto-thermal reforming of methane, combining partial oxidation and reforming of methane with CO2 or steam, was carried out with Pt/Al2O3, Pt/ZrO2 and Pt/CeO2 catalysts, in a temperature range of 300-900℃. The auto-thermal reforming occurs in two simultaneous stages, namely, total combustion of methane and reforming of the unconverted methane with steam and CO2, with the O2 conversion of 100% starting from 450 ℃. For combination with CO2 reforming, the Pt/CeO2 catalyst showed the lowest initial activity at 800 ℃, and the highest stability over 40 h on-stream. This catalyst also presented the best performance for the reaction with steam at 800 ℃. The higher resistance to coke formation of the catalyst supported on ceria is due to the metal-support interactions and the higher mobility of oxygen in the oxide lattice.     

High Production of β-Glucosidase by Aspergillus niger on Corncob

Using low-cost raw material is an effective approach for reducing the cost of cellulolytic enzymes. The farmland waste corncob was found in this study to be the best carbon source for the production of β-glucosidase by Aspergillus niger. The maximum yield of β-glucosidase activity was 48.7 IU ml(-1) by using 50 g?l(-1) of corncob powder as the substrate. It was found that the water-soluble components of the corncob could increase β-glucosidase production significantly only when mixed with Avicel or wheat bran. The soluble components could not enhance the biomass and β-glucosidase production when used alone. On the other hand, the water-insoluble components of the corncob still produced high level of β-glucosidase (30 IU ml(-1)) although lower than that of using whole corncob. The results suggested that the water-insoluble components of corncob were beneficial for β-glucosidase production. It was further demonstrated that the xylan in the water-insoluble parts of corncob was the important factor in producing β-glucosidase by A. niger.     

Yeast Biomass Production in Brewery’s Spent Grains Hemicellulosic Hydrolyzate

Yeast single-cell protein and yeast extract, in particular, are two products which have many feed, food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological applications. However, many of these applications are limited by their market price. Specifically, the yeast extract requirements for culture media are one of the major technical hurdles to be overcome for the development of low-cost fermentation routes for several top value chemicals in a biorefinery framework. A potential biotechnical solution is the production of yeast biomass from the hemicellulosic fraction stream. The growth of three pentose-assimilating yeast cell factories, Debaryomyces hansenii, Kluyveromyces marxianus, and Pichia stipitis was compared using non-detoxified brewery’s spent grains hemicellulosic hydrolyzate supplemented with mineral nutrients. The yeasts exhibited different specific growth rates, biomass productivities, and yields being D. hansenii as the yeast species that presented the best performance, assimilating all sugars and noteworthy consuming most of the hydrolyzate inhibitors. Under optimized conditions, D. hansenii displayed a maximum specific growth rate, biomass yield, and productivity of 0.34 h⁻¹, 0.61 g g⁻¹, and 0.56 g l⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively. The nutritional profile of D. hansenii was thoroughly evaluated, and it compares favorably to others reported in literature. It contains considerable amounts of some essential amino acids and a high ratio of unsaturated over saturated fatty acids.     

A Novel Scheme for Production of Polyclonal Antibody against Estrogenic Bisphenols

A polyclonal antibody against the currently concerned estrogenic bisphenol compounds was produced according to a new scheme. 4,4-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) valeric acid was used to synthesize the complete antigen in which the characteristic bisphenol structure was exposed to the largest extent. The produced polyclonal antibody showed high specificity and affinity for bisphenol A.     

Directed Evolution of a Thermophilic β-glucosidase for Cellulosic Bioethanol Production

Characteristics that would make enzymes more desirable for industrial applications can be improved using directed evolution. We developed a directed evolution technique called random drift mutagenesis (RNDM). Mutant populations are screened and all functional mutants are collected and put forward into the next round of mutagenesis and screening. The goal of this technique is to evolve enzymes by rapidly accumulating mutations and exploring a greater sequence space by providing minimal selection pressure and high-throughput screening. The target enzyme was a β-glucosidase isolated from the thermophilic bacterium, Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus that cleaves cellobiose resulting from endoglucanase hydrolysis of cellulose. Our screening method was fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), an attractive method for assaying mutant enzyme libraries because individual cells can be screened, sorted into distinct populations and collected very rapidly. However, FACS screening poses several challenges, in particular, maintaining the link between genotype and phenotype because most enzyme substrates do not remain associated with the cells. We employed a technique where whole cells were encapsulated in cell-like structures along with the enzyme substrate. We used RNDM, in combination with whole cell encapsulation, to create and screen mutant β-glucosidase libraries. A mutant was isolated that, compared to the wild type, had higher specific and catalytic efficiencies (k _cat/K _M) with p-nitrophenol-glucopyranoside and -galactopyranoside, an increased catalytic turnover rate (k _cat) with cellobiose, an improvement in catalytic efficiency with lactose and reduced inhibition (K _i) with galactose and lactose. This mutant had three amino acid substitutions and one was located near the active site.     

β-d-Galactosidase from Enterobacter cloacae: Production and Some Physicochemical Properties

A bacterial strain isolated from soil and identified as Enterobacter cloacae had been found to be capable of producing both intra and extracellular β-d-galactosidase.The intracellular enzyme was thermostable and its optimum temperature, pH and time for enzyme—substrate reaction were found to be 50?°C, 9.0 and 5 min respectively, using ONPG as substrate. The maximum β-galactosidase production in shake flask was achieved at 30?°C, pH 7.0, incubation time 72 h using 50 ml medium in 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask. Only Mg²⁺ stimulated the activity of enzyme. Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide showed stimulatory effect on catalytic activity of the enzyme whereas EDTA inhibited enzyme activity. The enzyme retained its activity upto 55?°C after incubating at that temperature for 1 h.The maximum activity of crude intracellular enzyme was 14.35 IU/mg of protein. The K _m and V _max values of β-galactosidase using ONPG as substrate at 50?°C were 2.805 mM and 37.45?×?10^?3?mM/min/mg, respectively.     

Production of Carbon Nanotubes over Pre-reduced LaCoO_3 Using Fluidized-bed Reactor

A great amount of research on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been carried out since its observation in 19911. It has been predicted that CNTs can be novel materials of semiconductor, electric-field-induced electron emitters, quantum wire, catalysts etc2-5. Nowadays, CNTs can be synthesized by arc discharge6 laser ablation7, and pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases8. In order to make CNTs of practical importance, the criteria for assessing any synthesis technique must include the feasibility and po…     

Production of α-terpineol fromEscherichia coli cells expressing thermostable limonene hydratase

The genes encoding a thermostable limonene hydratase have been located on a cloned fragment inEscherichia coli conferring growth on limonene and production of the monoterpenes perillyl alcohol and α-terpineol. Whole cell bioconversion studies at elevated temperature employing both an aqueous phase and neat limonene phase demonstrated significant production of α-terpineol with additional production of carvone.     

Effect of Aeration and Agitation Regimes on Lipase Production by Newly Isolated Rhodotorula mucilaginosa–MTCC 8737 in Stirred Tank Reactor Using Molasses as Sole Production Medium

The influence of media and process parameters (aeration and agitation) on fermentation broth rheology and biomass formation has been studied in 1.5-l stirred tank reactor for lipase production using Rhodotorula mucilaginosa MTCC 8737. Molasses, as sole production medium, is used for lipase production by varying aeration (1, 2, and 3 vvm) and agitation speeds (100, 200, and 300 rpm). Maximum lipase activity of 72 U/ml was obtained during 96 h of fermentation at 2 vvm, 200 rpm, pH 7, and 25 +/- 2 degrees C temperature. Lipase production kinetics with respect to dry cell weight of biomass showed Y (P/S) of 25.71 U/mg, specific product formation of 10.9 U/mg DC, and Y (X/S) 2.35 mg/mg. Maximum lipase activity (MC 2) of 56 U/ml was observed at 1% molasses, and a further increase in the molasses concentration of (%) 1.5 and 2 inhibited the product formation of lipase with 15 and 8.5 U/ml, respectively. The production kinetics of molasses media showed Y (P/X) was 14 U/mg DC, Y (P/S) 16 U/mg, and Y (X/S) 1.14 mg/mg during 96 h of bioreactor operation. The k(L)a values for all batches (MC 1-MC 4) at 96 h of fermentation were 32, 28, 21, and 19/h, and the |oxygen transfer rate were 54.4, 56, 35.7, and 17.29 mg/l h, respectively. Increase in molasses concentration resulted in decreased lipase activity by increase in viscosity of the fermentation broth.     

Production of β-galactosidase by Trichoderma reesei FTKO-39 in wheat bran

Trichoderma reesei FTKO-39 grown at 35°C for 5 d on wheat bran supplemented with MgCl₂ and lactose as the carbon source produced two isozymes of β-galactosidase: BGT I and BGT II. These isozymes were partially purified on a DEAE-Trisacryl column. Both BGT I and BGT II fractions exhibited optimum activity at 65°C, but the pH optima were 4.0 and 6.5, respectively. The isozymes also showed similar thermal stability. However, BGT I was more stable than BGT II in a pH range of 3.0–10.0. At least two different β-galactosidases are produced by T. reesei, as revealed by the two bands seen on a 6% polyacrylamide gel stained for activity.     

The Catalysis of Vapor-Phase Beckmann Rearrangement for the Production of ε-Caprolactam

Recently, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. developed the vapor-phase Beckmann rearrangement process for the production of -caprolactam. In the process, cyclohexanone oxime is rearranged into -caprolactam using a zeolite as a catalyst instead of sulfuric acid. EniChem in Italy developed the ammoximation process that involves the direct production of cyclohexanone oxime without producing any ammonium sulfate. Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. has commercialized the combined process of vapor-phase Beckmann rearrangement and ammoximation in 2003.In this paper, the authors focus on some aspects of the vapor-phase Beckmann rearrangement catalysis. A solid catalyst that is mainly composed of a high-silica MFI zeolite (Silicalite-1) has been developed for the vapor-phase Beckmann rearrangement. This catalyst does not possess acidity that can be detected by ammonia TPD. Methanol fed into the reactor with cyclohexanone oxime improves the yield of caprolactam. Methanol reacts with terminal silanols on the zeolite surface and converts them to methoxyl groups. The modification of the catalyst by methanol has an important role for the Beckmann rearrangement reaction.Nest silanols located just inside the pore mouth of the MFI zeolite are supposed to be the active sites of the catalyst. We propose that the coordination between the NOH group of cyclohexanone oxime molecule and the nest silanols through hydrogen bonding is responsible for the reaction. The reaction mechanism of Beckmann rearrangement under vapor-phase conditions is the same as in the liquid phase, namely, the alkyl group in anti-position against the hydroxyl group of the oxime migrates to the nitrogen atom's position.     

Syngas Production by Methane Reforming with Carbon Dioxide on Noble Metal Catalysts

A series of noble metal catalysts (Ru, Rh, Ir, Pt, and Pd) supported on alumina-stabilized magnesia (Spinel) were used to produce syngas by methane reforming with carbon dioxide. The synthesized catalysts were characterized using BET, TPR, TPO, TPH, and H2S chemisorption techniques. The activity results showed high activity and stability for the Ru and Rh catalysts. The TPO and TPH analyses indicated that the main reason for lower activity and stability of the Pd catalyst was the formation of the less reactive deposited carbon and sintering of the catalyst.     

Response Surface Methodology Based Optimization of β-Glucosidase Production from Pichia pastoris

The thermotolerant yeast Pichia etchellsii produces multiple cell bound β-glucosidases that can be used for synthesis of important alkyl- and aryl-glucosides. Present work focuses on enhancement of β-glucosidase I (BGLI) production in Pichia pastoris. In the first step, one-factor-at-a-time experimentation was used to investigate the effect of aeration, antifoam addition, casamino acid addition, medium pH, methanol concentration, and mixed feed components on BGLI production. Among these, initial medium pH, methanol concentration, and mixed feed in the induction phase were found to affect BGLI production. A 3.3-fold improvement in β-glucosidase expression was obtained at pH 7.5 as compared to pH 6.0 on induction with 1 % methanol. Addition of sorbitol, a non-repressing substrate, led to further enhancement in β-glucosidase production by 1.4-fold at pH 7.5. These factors were optimized with response surface methodology using Box–Behnken design. Empirical model obtained was used to define the optimum “operating space” for fermentation which was a pH of 7.5, methanol concentration of 1.29 %, and sorbitol concentration of 1.28 %. Interaction of pH and sorbitol had maximum effect leading to the production of 4,400 IU/L. The conditions were validated in a 3-L bioreactor with accumulation of 88 g/L biomass and 2,560 IU/L β-glucosidase activity.     

Combining Genome Shuffling and Interspecific Hybridization Among Streptomyces Improved ε-Poly-l-Lysine Production

Here we first improved the ε-PL productivity in five species of wild-type strains in Streptomyces (Streptomyces padanus, Streptomyces griseofuscus, Streptomyces graminearus, Streptomyces hygroscopicus, and Streptomyces albulus) by genome shuffling. Then all the shuffled strains were suffered from an interspecific hybridization through stochastic protoplast fusion. One hybrid designated FEEL-1 was selected by morphology and spore color with ε-PL production of 1.12 g/L in shake flask, about 2.75-fold higher than that in wild types. The ε-PL production of FEEL-1 was then obtained as 24.5 g/L in fed-batch fermentation, which was 63–81 % higher than those in shuffled strains. Random amplified polymorphic DNA revealed that FEEL-1 was probably hybridized from S. padanus, S. griseofuscus, and S. albulus. Activities of several enzymes in FEEL-1 (hexokinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, aspartokinase, and citrate synthase) were more active than those in shuffled strains, which was a possible reason for the enhancement of ε-PL production. This research highlights the importance of genome shuffling along with interspecific hybridization as a new breeding strategy for improving phenotype of industrial strains.     

Production of High Purity Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes from Catalytic Decomposition of Methane

Acid-based purification process of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) produced via catalytic decomposition of methane with NiO/TiO2 as a catalyst is described. By combining the oxidation in air and the acid refluxes, the impurities, such as amorphous carbon, carbon nanoparticles, and the NiO/TiO2 catalyst, are eliminated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images confirm the removal of the impurities. The percentage of the carbon nanotubes purity was analyzed using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Using this process, 99.9 wt% purity of MWNTs was obtained.     

Metal Coordination Induced π-Extension and Triplet State Production in Diketopyrrolopyrrole Chromophores

Triplet state photophysics has been generated in two distinct diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) chromophores terminated with either phenyl (1) or thienyl (2) spacers, when sandwiched between two Ir(III) complexes using bipyridyl linkers. Upon coordination of the bpy-DPP-bpy subunit resulting in its planarization, the π-conjugation in the DPP chromophore formally extends and was manifested as a substantial red shift in the absorption and fluorescence profiles of 1 and 2. Low energy excitation of these dinuclear metal complexes produced strongly quenched singlet fluorescence, generated quite intense long-lived (τ ～ 3 μs) absorption transients in the red, sensitized (1)O(2) photoluminescence centered at 1270 nm in aerated solutions, and yielded low temperature near-IR phosphorescence in 1 centered at 950 nm.     

Production and Characterization of β-Glucanase Secreted by the Yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus

An extracellular β-glucanase secreted by Kluyveromyces marxianus was identified for the first time. The optimal conditions for the production of this enzyme were evaluated by response surface methodology. The optimal conditions to produce β-glucanase were a glucose concentration of 4 % (w/v), a pH of 5.5, and an incubation temperature of 35 °C. Response surface methodology was also used to determine the pH and temperature required for the optimal enzymatic activity. The highest enzyme activity was obtained at a pH of 5.5 and a temperature of 55 °C. Furthermore, the enzyme was partially purified and sequenced, and its specificity for different substrates was evaluated. The results suggest that the enzyme is an endo-β-1,3(4)-glucanase. After optimizing the conditions for β-glucanase production, the culture supernatant was found to be effective in digesting the cell wall of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, showing the great potential of β-glucanase in the biotechnological production of soluble β-glucan.     

Production of Zinc-Doped Yttrium Ferrite Nanopowders by the Sol–Gel Method

Zinc-doped yttrium orthoferrite nanocrystals having the perovskite structure were prepared by coprecipitation of yttrium, zinc, and iron hydroxides. The limiting zinc doping level of the yttrium ferrite to yield a ZnFe₂O₄ spinel second phase was determined. The yttrium orthoferrite particle size was found to be a nonmonotone function of dopant concentration. The specific magnetization of yttrium ferrite nanocrystals increases with increasing zinc doping level from 0.242 A m²/kg (in undoped YFeO₃) to 1.327 A m²/kg (the ratio (1–x)YFeO₃: xZn (x = 0.4)) at Т = 300 K in 1250-kA/m field. A zinc ferrite impurity in samples enhances the ferromagnetism of the material.