A biological process for the reclamation of flue gas desulfurization gypsum using mixed sulfate-reducing bacteria with inexpensive carbon sources

A combined chemical and biological process for the recycling of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum into calcium carbonate and elemental sulfur is demonstrated. In this process, a mixed culture of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) utilizes inexpensive carbon sources, such as sewage digest or synthesis gas, to reduce FGD gypsum to hydrogen sulfide. The sulfide is then oxidized to elemental sulfur via reaction with ferric sulfate, and accumulating calcium ions are precipitated as calcium carbonate using carbon dioxide. Employing anaerobically digested municipal sewage sludge (AD-MSS) medium as a carbon source, SRBs in serum bottles demonstrated an FGD gypsum reduction rate of 8 mg/L/h (10⁹ cells)^-1. A chemostat with continuous addition of both AD-MSS media and gypsum exhibited sulfate reduction rates as high as 1.3 kg FGD gypsum/m³d. The increased biocatalyst density afforded by cell immobilization in a columnar reactor allowed a productivity of 152 mg SO₄ ^-2/Lh or 6.6 kg FGD gypsum/m³d. Both reactors demonstrated 100% conversion of sulfate, with 75–100% recovery of elemental sulfur and chemical oxygen demand utilization as high as 70%. Calcium carbonate was recovered from the reactor effluent on precipitation using carbon dioxide. It was demonstrated that SRBs may also use synthesis gas (CO, H₂, and CO₂ in the reduction of gypsum, further decreasing process costs. The formation of two marketable products—elemental sulfur and calcium carbonate—from FGD gypsum sludge, combined with the use of a low-cost carbon source and further improvements in reactor design, promises to offer an attractive alternative to the landfilling of FGD gypsum.

     

Cation recognition by new diester- and diamide-calix[4]arenediquinones and a diamide-benzo-15-crown-5-calix[4]arene

The synthesis, metal, ammonium and alkyl ammonium cation coordination chemistry and electrochemical recognition studies of new diester-and diamide-calix[4]arenediquinone receptors are described. In addition the synthesis and coordination properties of a novel diamide benzo-15-crown-5-calix[4]arene molecule is reported.This paper is dedicated to the commemorative issue on the 50th anniversary of calixarenes.     

Perturbational analysis of the regioselectivity in the acrolein dimerization

Using intermolecular SCF-perturbation theory, the controlling factors determining the regioselectivity in the acrolein dimerization are derived by a rigorous decomposition of the interaction energy. This partitioning of the interaction energy is performed up to a level where a comparison with frontier orbital models is possible. The regioselectivity is found to be determined by orbital interactions occuring via the terminal atoms and atoms involved in secondary Woodward-Hoffmann interactions.     

Hydrogen bonding between solvation shells around gd3+ from cooperative vibronic spectra

Cooperative vibronic spectra involving Gd³⁺ electronic transitions and the vibrational transitions of nearby water molecules are used to determine the stretching spectrum for isotopically dilute OH in a solution of GdCl₃ in D₂O. The OH stretching spectrum of water molecules in the first hydration sphere is shifted to lower energy than that of the bulk liquid.     

The isomerization of optically-active propargyl alcohols to terminal acetylenes.

The isomerization of optically-active secondary propargyl alcohols, RCHOHCC(CH₂)_nCH₃, to terminal acetylenic alcohols, RCHOH(CH₂)_n+1 C=CH, by potassium 3-aminopropylamide (KAPA) proceeds without loss of configuration at the hydroxy center.     

Guest sorption and desorption in the metal-organic framework [Co(INA)(2)] (INA=isonicotinate)--evidence of intermediate phases during desorption

The metal-organic framework [Co(INA)(2)]x0.5EtOH (INA = isonicotinate, NC(5)H(4)-4-CO(2)(-)), was synthesised under solvothermal conditions. Its X-ray crystal structure shows channels containing ethanol guests which are hydrogen-bonded to carboxylate oxygens of the framework. The pyridyl rings of the framework alternate between 'open' and 'closed' positions along the channels resulting in large variation in the channel cross-sectional area from ca. 1.4 by 2.3 A at the narrowest point to 4.9 by 5.3 A at the widest. Despite the very small windows, the ethanol guests (of van der Waals diameter ca. 4.2-6.1 A) may be reversibly desorbed and sorbed into the structure quantitatively, as shown by in situ variable-temperture IR spectroscopy and XRPD. The single-crystal structure of the desolvated form [Co(INA)(2)] shows that there is no change in the overall connectivity on desolvation, but the rotational positions of the pyridine rings are altered. This suggests that pyridyl rotation may occur to allow guests to pass in and out. When the synthesis was conducted in 1-propanol solvent [Co(INA)(2)]x0.5Pr(n)OHxH(2)O, was obtained, and a single-crystal X-ray structure revealed the same overall connectivity as in but with pyridine rings disordered over closed and open positions. There was no evidence of included guests from X-ray crystallography, suggesting that they are also highly disordered. Variable-temperature XRPD performed on bulk samples showed peaks which were unsymmetrical and exhibited shoulders, suggesting that for each pattern obtained the material actually consisted of several closely-related phases. The movements of the peaks during desolvation showed the presence of intermediate phases before the final desolvated product was formed. The peak positions of the intermediate phases matched more closely with the calculated pattern for than with or, suggesting that they may have disordered structures similar to. The results also suggest that the intermediate phase represents an initial increase in volume before a larger decrease in volume occurs to give the final desolvated material.     

Gradient of the ZAPT2 energy

 An explicit expression for the analytical first derivative of the Z-averaged perturbation theory taken to second order energy, due to Lee and Jayatilaka, is presented for application to high-spin systems described by a restricted open-shell Hartree–Fock wavefunction. The use of frozen core orbitals is incorporated into the derivation. Received: 23 April 2001 / Accepted: 31 August 2001 / Published online: 9 January 2002     

Effect of excess sodium on the excitation of potassium in an air-acetylene flame: a steady state kinetic model which takes into account collisional excitation

Summary The effects of excess Na on the ionization and excitation of K in an air-acetylene flame were studied using absorbance signal and emission signal ratios, A/A and E/E respectively, as probes, where A and E are the line absorbance and line emission readings in the presence of excess Na interferent, and unprimed quantities represent readings in the absence of the interferent. An emission signal enhancement which increases exponentially as the ratio of interferent to analyte increases (up to about 2000), was observed irrespective of whether measurements were made from the primary or secondary reaction zones of the flame, while a similar line absorbance signal enhancement was observed only when measurements were made from the primary reaction zone. For both line emission and line absorbance, the maximum enhancements observed are in excess of those predicted on the basis of complete suppression of ionization of analyte atoms as a result of the increased partial pressure of electrons. A steady state kinetic model is presented, which takes into account radiative recombination collisional excitation of K⁺ ions and collisional charge transfer between the heavy particles, and whose predictions are consistent with the observed interference effects.     

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography of proteins

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) of proteins is a high resolution capillary electrophoretic (CE) analysis method that utilizes the hydrophobic and electrostatic interaction of protein analytes with surfactant micelles present in the buffer medium to facilitate separation. Through the manipulation of the protein-micelle interaction by the adjustment of variables such as surfactant concentration, solution pH, ionic strength, the presence of an organic modifier and the use of coated capillaries, MECC analyses of a wide variety of proteins have been optimized. MECC has been demonstrated to provide resolution of mixtures consisting of proteins with minor structural variations and also has provided the successful quantitative analysis of protein present in complex matrices. The adoption of protein MECC as a routine analytical technique may be dependent upon the successful interface of MECC with detection methodology, such as mass spectrometry, which can provide analyte characterization information.     

High temperature polymer blends: an overview of the literature

A review of work which has been performed on high temperature polymer blends is presented. The discussion is divided into miscible and immiscible blends. It is pointed out that one problem with miscible polymer blends is that of processing in the miscible state. In the case of immiscible blends, particularly ones containing liquid crystal polymers, the issue of adhesion of the two phases is discussed. Finally, the need for better theoretical models for predicting miscibility in polymer blends is highlighted.