Two-step upflow anaerobic sludge bed system for sewage treatment under subtropical conditions with posttreatment in waste stabilization ponds

A pilot-scale sewage treatment system consisting of two upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactors followed by five waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) in series was studied under subtropical conditions. The first UASB reactor started up in only 1 mo (stable operation, high chemical oxygen demand [COD] removal efficiency, low volatile fatty acids concentration in the effluent, alkalinity ratio above 0.7, biogas production above 0.1 Nm3/kg of CODremoved). Removal efficiencies up to 90% were obtained in the anaerobic steps at a hydraulic retention time of 6 + 4 h (80% removal in the first step). Fecal coliform removal in the whole system was 99.9999% (99.94% in anaerobic steps and 99.98% in WSPs). COD balances over UASB reactors are provided. A minimum set of data necessary to build COD balances is proposed. Intermittent sludge washout was detected in the reactors with the COD balances. Sludge washout from single-step UASB reactors should be monitored and minimized in order to ensure constant compliance with discharge standards, especially when no posttreatment is provided. The system combined high COD and fecal coliform removal efficiency with an extremely low effluent concentration, complying with discharge standards, and making it an attractive option for sewage treatment in subtropical regions.     

Comprehensive study of the methyl effect on the solvolysis rates of bridgehead derivatives

The effect of a bridgehead methyl group on the hydride ion affinity in the gas phase of bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl (1+), 1-norbornyl (3+), cubyl (5+), 1-adamantyl (7+), bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-1-yl (9+),and bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-1-yl (11+) cations has been studied using density functional theory and ab initio methods. It is concluded that the methyl group always increases the stability of the substituted cations. The effect of the solvent on the stability of methyl-substituted cations in relation to the unsubstituted cations has been studied using the polarizable continuum model of the self-consistent reaction field theory. In the case of rearranging cations, the nucleophilic assistance of the solvent is determined by means of the interaction energy of the corresponding water complexes. It is concluded that the solvent causes the relative stabilization of the parent cations. As a consequence, most of the methyl-substituted bridgehead derivatives show a lower solvolysis rate than the corresponding unsubstituted compounds. A nonqualitative explanation of the methyl effect on the relative stability of bridgehead cations in both gas phase and solution is given for the first time. The ratios of solvolysis products in the case of rearranging bridgehead cations have also been computed from the relative stability of the intermediate water complexes.     

Conformation of glycomimetics in the free and protein-bound state: structural and binding features of the C-glycosyl analogue of the core trisaccharide alpha-D-Man-(1 --> 3)-[alpha-D-Man-(1 --> 6)]-D-Man

The conformational properties of the C-glycosyl analogue of the core trisaccharide alpha-D-Man-(1 --> 3)-[alpha-D-Man-(1 --> 6)]-D-Man in solution have been carefully analyzed by a combination of NMR spectroscopy and time-averaged restrained molecular dynamics. It has been found that both the alpha-1,3- and the alpha-1,6-glycosidic linkages show a major conformational averaging. Unusual Phi ca. 60 degrees orientations for both Phi torsion angles are found. Moreover, a major conformational distinction between the natural compound and the glycomimetic affects to the behavior of the omega(16) torsion angle around the alpha-1 --> 6-linkage. Despite this increased flexibility, the C-glycosyl analogue is recognized by three mannose binding lectins, as shown by NMR (line broadening, TR-NOE, and STD) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) methods. Moreover, a process of conformational selection takes place, so that these lectins probably bind the glycomimetic similarly to the way they recognize the natural analogue. Depending upon the architecture and extension of the binding site of the lectin, loss or gain of binding affinity with respect to the natural analogue is found.     

FIA-fluorimetric determination of adrenaline in pharmaceutical formulations by oxidation with molecular oxygen

The fluorimetric determination of adrenaline is carried out in a continuous-flow assembly and by means of the molecular dissolved oxygen. The sample solution merges with an NaOH stream, then the resulting mixture is heated at 73 °C and led to the flow-cell of the fluorimeter. The flow-assembly is very simple and the procedure is quick (107 samples h^–1) reproducible (R.S.D. 0.6%), selective and suitable to be applied to determination of adrenaline in formulations. Calibrations graph are linear over the ranges 0.05–15 and 20–40 mgl^–1.     

Application of gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to the analysis of pesticides in fruits and vegetables

A new analytical method was devised using gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) for the routine analysis of 31 multi-class pesticide residues and approximately 8000 fresh fruit and vegetable samples (green bean, cucumber, pepper, tomato, eggplant, watermelon, melon, and marrow). Extraction of the pesticides with dichloromethane was carried out. The optimal ionization mode, either electron impact or chemical ionization, was selected for each pesticide in the same run. Carbofrit was used in the liner and combined with the selectivity of the detector this avoided additional clean-up. Thus, not only was money and time saved, the uncertainty of the method was decreased in its application to routine analysis. The average recoveries in cucumber obtained for each pesticide ranged between 71 and 119% at two different fortification levels (n=10 each) that ranged between 7 and 300 ng g(-1) (depending on the pesticide). The relative standard deviation was lower than 19% for all compounds tested. The calculated limits of detection and quantification were typically <1 ng g(-1) which were much lower than the maximum residue levels established by European legislations.     

Conformational and photophysical studies on porphyrin-containing donor-bridge-acceptor compounds. Charge separation in micellar nanoreactors

Photophysical studies with semi-rigid, 1, and flexible, 2, donor-bridge-acceptor (D-b-A2+) molecules with D a porphyrin and A2+ a methyl viologen moiety, were performed in neat polar solvents as well as included in surfactant (DTAB) aqueous and in reverse AOT/n-alkane micelles. The micelles acted as nanoreactors for the photoinduced electron transfer reaction upon laser excitation. In spite of the longer lifetime of the charge separated (CS) state in the semi-rigid tetrad 1(ca. 200 ns vs. ca. 100 ns for the flexible dyad 2), the CS formation quantum yield, for example in acetonitrile, was lower for the former (phi(CS) = 0.13) than for the latter (0.58). Comparison of the time-resolved fluorescence data in neat solvent and in the micelles yielded the phi(CS) values in the dilute micellar solutions. Application of laser-induced optoacoustic spectroscopy at various temperatures to 1 dissolved in a polar organic solvent (benzonitrile, BZN) included in aqueous DTAB nanoreactors afforded structural volume changes for the production in hundreds of ps of the CS state upon excitation of a polar molecule. The contraction during CS formation upon excitation of the collapsed conformer in BZN is attributed to the entering of solvent into the open molecular cavity. The opening upon formation of the CS state due to photoinduced electron transfer in the 1 collapsed conformation arises from the repulsion of the two positively charged ends in this state, as previously calculated. Inclusion of 1 in reverse AOT micelles in various n-alkanes also led to a contraction upon excitation, but the data had much more error due to the limited range of variability of the ratio of thermoelastic parameters. The data obtained with the more flexible "supermolecule" 2 showed the predicted large conformation flexibility of these molecules.     

Ab initio excited-state dynamics of the photoactive yellow protein chromophore

The photoisomerization mechanism of the neutral form of the photoactive yellow protein (PYP) chromophore is investigated using ab initio quantum chemistry and first-principles nonadiabatic molecular dynamics (ab initio multiple spawning or AIMS). We identify the nature of the two lowest-lying excited states, characterize the short-time behavior of molecules excited directly to S2, and explain the origin of the experimentally observed wavelength-dependent photoisomerization quantum yield.     

Sensitive spectrophotometric determination of vanadium with hydrogen peroxide and 2-(5-chloro-2-pyridylazo)-5-dimethylaminophenol after extraction with N-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine

A selective and precise spectrophotometric determination of vanadium(V) is performed after preceding extraction with N-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine (BPHA). The color is developed in a water-ethanol solution with hydrogen peroxide and 2-(5-chloro-2-pyridylazo)-5-dimethylaminophenol (5-Cl-DMPAP). The molar absorptivity at 588 nm is (6.57 ± 0.05) × 10⁴ L mol^–1 cm^–1 at pH 2.1. The method permits the determination of vanadium (V) at trace levels in the presence of large amounts of other ions. It is applied to the determination of vanadium in aluminium (analytical reagent grade) and in human hair. High accuracy and precision is obtained.     

Comparison of different sample preparation treatments for the analysis of wine phenolic compounds in human plasma by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Phenolic compounds are common constituents of wine. Due to their healthy properties the analysis in human fluids is interesting within bioavailability evaluation. They have been reported not to be stable in human plasma, particularly at room temperature. Most sample treatments have been reported for a single compound. Our aim in this paper is to study sample handling control conditions and improve phenolic stability in human plasma samples. We tested various sample treatments to determine whether they could be used for analysing a set of phenolic compounds usually present in wines.The compounds studied were six phenolic acids, five flavonoids, trans-resveratrol and tyrosol. The effect of the following factors was explored: temperature, pH, the addition of antioxidants and the addition of anticoagulants.The results suggest that the plasma samples should be kept at temperatures below −20 °C before analysis and that 1% ascorbic acid plus 10 μl/ml o-phosphoric acid should be added. Anticoagulants (heparin or EDTA) do not play a significant role in the stability of polyphenolic compounds.The recovery values of a number of sample treatments (solid phase extraction, extraction with methanol, deproteinization, inhibition of enzymatic plasma activity) were compared. The recovery values for most phenolic compounds were better if the enzymatic plasma activity was inhibited and acidified ethanol was used for deproteinization.     

Headspace solid-phase microextraction method for determining 3-alkyl-2-methoxypyrazines in musts by means of polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene fibres

A method for determining 2-methoxypyrazine, 3-methyl-, 3-ethyl-, 3-isopropyl-, 3-sec.-butyl- and 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine in musts is described. It involves headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and determination by capillary gas chromatography using nitrogen–phosphorous detection. Pyrazines were satisfactorily separated under isothermal conditions, and quantification was carried out using 3-isopropyl-2-ethoxypyrazine as the internal standard. Ionic strength, time and temperature were studied in order to make SPME as efficient as possible. The developed method enabled detection limits at the 0.1 ng l⁻¹ levels for some of the analytes. The method was successfully applied to identify and quantify different 3-alkyl-2-methoxypyrazines in experimental musts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Their evolution during the ripening was also monitored.