The application of Py-GC/MS for the catalytic upgrading of oil separated from summer food waste leachate

The catalytic cracking of oil fractions separated from summer food waste leachate was investigated over BEA zeolite and Al-SBA-15 catalysts. In this study, a mixture of food waste oil fractions and catalyst was directly introduced to pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), with the resulting vapor phase products being simultaneously analyzed. Various acid compounds, including oleic acid, produced by the non-catalytic pyrolysis of food waste leachate were reformed into valuable compounds, such as oxygenates, hydrocarbons, and aromatics. The BEA zeolite catalyst showed higher selectivity for hydrocarbon compounds, especially aromatics, within the gasoline range due to its superior cracking ability originating from its highly acidic sites. Conversely, the cracking performance of the Al-SBA-15 catalyst, possessing mild acidic sites, was lower than that of the BEA zeolite. Increasing the amount of Al-SBA-15 catalyst enhanced the cracking activity and resulted in higher selectivity for hydrocarbons.     

Enrichment of Magnesium Isotopes by N3O2 Azacrown Ion Exchange Resin

The elution chromatographic separation of magnesium isotopes was investigated by chemical ion exchange with the synthesized 1,7-dioxa-4,10,13-triazacyclopentadecane-4,10,13-trimerrifield peptide resin [N₃O₂·3M]. The capacity of novel N₃O₂ azacrown ion exchanger was 0.21 meq/g dry resin. The heavier isotopes of magnesium concentrated in the resin phase, while the lighter isotopes are enriched in the solution phase. The glass ion exchange column used in our experiment was 30 cm long with inner diameter of 0.2 cm, and the 2.0M NH₄Cl solution was used as an eluent. The separation factors of ²⁴Mg-²⁵Mg, ²⁵Mg-²⁶Mg, and ²⁴Mg-²⁶Mg were 1.030, 1.009, and 1.027, respectively.     

Enhancement of CO2 sorption uptake on hydrotalcite by impregnation with K2CO3

The awareness of symptoms of global warming and its seriousness urges the development of technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon dioxide (CO(2)) is a representative greenhouse gas, and numerous methods to capture and storage CO(2) have been considered. Recently, the technology to remove high-temperature CO(2) by sorption has received lots of attention. In this study, hydrotalcite, which has been known to have CO(2) sorption capability at high temperature, was impregnated with K(2)CO(3) to enhance CO(2) sorption uptake, and the mechanism of CO(2) sorption enhancement on K(2)CO(3)-promoted hydrotalcite was investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to measure equilibrium CO(2) sorption uptake and to estimate CO(2) sorption kinetics. The analyses based on N(2) gas physisorption, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, Raman spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were carried out to elucidate the characteristics of sorbents and the mechanism of enhanced CO(2) sorption. The equilibrium CO(2) sorption uptake on hydrotalcite could be increased up to 10 times by impregnation with K(2)CO(3), and there was an optimal amount of K(2)CO(3) for a maximum equilibrium CO(2) sorption uptake. In the K(2)CO(3)-promoted hydrotalcite, K(2)CO(3) was incorporated without changing the structure of hydrotalcite and it was thermally stabilized, resulting in the enhanced equilibrium CO(2) sorption uptake and fast CO(2) sorption kinetics.     

Aspirin attenuates the anti-inflammatory effects of theophylline via inhibition of cAMP production in mice with non-eosinophilic asthma

Theophylline is commonly used to treat severe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) characterized by non-eosinophilic inflammation. Acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) is one of the most widely used medications worldwide, but up to 20% of patients with asthma experience aggravated respiratory symptoms after taking ASA. Here we evaluated the adverse effect of ASA on the therapeutic effect of theophylline in mice with non-eosinophilic asthma. A non-eosinophilic asthma mouse model was induced by airway sensitization with lipopolysaccharide-containing allergen and then challenged with allergen alone. Therapeutic intervention was performed during allergen challenge. Theophylline inhibited lung inflammation partly induced by T_h1 immune response. ASA attenuated the beneficial effects of theophylline. However, co-administration of the ASA metabolite salicylic acid (SA) showed no attenuating effect on theophylline treatment. The therapeutic effect of theophylline was associated with increase in cAMP levels, which was blocked by co-treatment of theophylline and ASA. ASA co-treatment also attenuated the anti-inflammatory effects of a specific phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor. These results demonstrate that ASA reverses anti-inflammatory effects of theophylline, and that ASA exerts its adverse effects through the inhibition of cAMP production. Our data suggest that ASA reverses lung inflammation in patients taking theophylline, although clinical evidence will be needed.     

Design of molecular two-photon probes for in vivo imaging. 2H-Benzo[h]chromene-2-one derivatives

2H-Benzo[h]chromene-2-one derivatives showing appreciable water solubility, significant two-photon cross sections, high photostability, cell permeability, low toxicity, and ability to be converted to a protein TP probe have been developed by incorporating all of the needed functions within a small molecule.     

Capillary and microchip gel electrophoresis for simultaneous detection of Salmonella pullorum and Salmonella gallinarum by rfbS allele-specific PCR

We report the use of capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE) based on a rfbS allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the analysis and simultaneous detection of Salmonella pullorum and Salmonella gallinarum, which are the major bacterial pathogens in poultry. rfbS allele-specific PCR was used to concurrently amplify two specific 147- and 187-bp DNA fragments for the simultaneous detection of S. pullorum and S. gallinarum at an annealing temperature of 54 ± 1 °C and an MgCl₂ concentration of 2.8-5.6 mM. Under an electric field of 333.3 V/cm and a sieving matrix of 1.0% poly(ethyleneoxide) (M_r 600 000), the amplified PCR products were analyzed within 6 min by CGE separation. This CGE assay could be translated to microchip format using programmed field strength gradients (PFSG). In the microchip gel electrophoresis with PFSG, both of the Salmonella analyses were completed within 30 s, without decreasing the resolution efficiency. rfbS allele-specific PCR-microchip gel electrophoresis with the PFSG technique might be a new tool for the simultaneous detection of both S. pullorum and S. gallinarum, due to its ultra-speed and high efficiency.     

Open‐Pore Two‐Dimensional MFI Zeolite Nanosheets for the Fabrication of Hydrocarbon‐Isomer‐Selective Membranes on Porous Polymer Supports

Two‐dimensional zeolite nanosheets that do not contain any organic structure‐directing agents were prepared from a multilamellar MFI (ML‐MFI) zeolite. ML‐MFI was first exfoliated by melt compounding and then detemplated by treatment with a mixture of H₂SO₄ and H₂O₂ (piranha solution). The obtained OSDA‐free MFI nanosheets disperse well in water and can be used for coating applications. Deposits made on porous polybenzimidazole (PBI) supports by simple filtration of these suspensions exhibit an n‐butane/isobutane selectivity of 5.4, with an n‐butane permeance of 3.5×10^?7 mol m^?2 s^?1 Pa^?1 (ca. 1000 GPU).