Bioconversion of cellulose into ethanol by nonisothermal simultaneous saccharification and fermentation

The kinetic characteristics of cellulase and beta-glucosidase during hydrolysis were determined. The kinetic parameters were found to reproduce experimental data satisfactorily and could be used in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) system by coupling with a fermentation model. The effects of temperature on yeast growth and ethanol production were investigated in batch cultures. In the range of 35-45 degrees C, using a mathematical model and a computer simulation package, the kinetic parameters at each temperature were estimated. The appropriate forms of the model equation for the SSF considering the effects of temperature were developed, and the temperature profile for maximizing the ethanol production was also obtained. Briefly, the optimum temperature profile began at a low temperature of 35 degrees C, which allows the propagation of cells. Up to 10 h, the operating temperature increased rapidly to 39 degrees C, and then decreased slowly to 36 degrees C. In this nonisothermal SSF system with the above temperature profile, a maximum ethanol production of 14.87 g/L was obtained.     

Selective oxidation using catalyst electrodes supported on solid electrolyte

The major oxygenated products of the selective oxidation of 1-butene by using a catalyst electrode were maleic anhydride on V₂O₅/YSZ/Ag and butadiene on MoO₃–Bi₂O₃–Ag/YSZ/Ag. Their selectivities were enhanced as compared with the non-electrochemical system.     

Redispersible rutile TiO2 nanocrystals in organic media by surface chemical modification with an inorganic barium hydroxide

The present paper describes the synthesis of the redispersible rutile TiO2 nanocrystals in organic media by surface chemical modification reaction in an aqueous barium hydroxide solution. In our facile surface modification reactions, the surfaces of the TiO2 nanocrystals are coated by bimetallic TiOBa spices and saturated with BaOH terminal groups. The inherent characteristics such as morphology, size, crystallinity, and color of the nanocrystals remained almost unchanged after surface-treatment, but their dispersibility in organic media such as methanol and DMF were remarkably enhanced. It is ascribed that BaOH groups in the surface of the TiO2 nanocrystals prevented the formation of covalently bound agglomerates through Ti-O-Ti condensation reaction among the nanocrystals during the purification and water-elimination procedures.     

Effect of polyether diamine on gas permeation properties of organic-inorganic hybrid membranes

The quantitative incorporation and high dispersion of platinum nanoparticles into MCM-41 has been carried out by the coordination between Pt(IV) ion and APTMS-anchored MCM-41. Before and after calcination of Pt/APTMS/MCM41 samples, the Pt content in samples was evaluated from home-made photoacoustic spectrometer (PAS). The PAS bands at 350 nm and 450 nm can be assigned to d–d transition bands of Pt complexes. By increasing the concentration of Pt solution, the PAS intensity of Pt/APTMS/MCM41 was increased proportionally up to 1.0×10⁻² M, and remained constant above 1.0×10⁻² M. It can be attributed to the saturation of Pt content within Pt/APTMS/MCM41. The Pt content in the saturated Pt/APTMS/MCM41 was 8.5 wt% (the theoretical value), 9.7 wt% (measured by EDX) and 9.2 wt% (measured by ESCA), respectively. This indicates that the content of Pt precursor within MCM-41 could be controlled by the concentration of Pt precursor solution. The PAS intensity of calcined Pt/APTMS/MCM41's in H₂ flow was increased up to 1.0×10⁻² M and remained nearly constant above 1.0×10⁻² M. Therefore, we suggest that the formation of Pt complexes with APTMS-anchored MCM-41 made it possible to incorporate quantitatively Pt nanoparticles in the range of 0.5–9.2 wt% within MCM-41 channels.     

Poly(3-methylthiophene)-based porous silicon substrates as a urea-sensitive electrode

Poly(3-methylthiophene) (P3MT)-based porous silicon (PS) substrates were fabricated and characterized by cyclic voltammetry, scanning electron microscopy, and auger electron spectroscopy. After doping urease (Urs) into the polymeric matrix, sensitivity and physicochemical properties of the P3MT-based PS substrate was investigated compared to planar silicon (PLS) and bulk Pt substrates. PS substrate was formed by electrochemical anodization in an etching solution composed of HF, H₂O, and ethanol. Subsequently, Ti and Pt thin-films were sputtered on the PS substrate. Effective working electrode area (A_eff) of the Pt-deposited PS substrate was determined from a redox reaction of Fe(CN)₆³⁻/Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻ redox couple in which nearly reversible cyclic voltammograms were obtained. The i_p versus v^1/2 plots showed that A_eff of the PS-based Pt thin-film electrode was 1.62 times larger than that of the PLS-based electrode.Electropolymerization of P3MT on both types of electrodes were carried out by the anodic potential scanning under the given potential range. And then, urease molecules were doped to the P3MT film by the chronoamperometry. Direct electrochemistry of a Urs/P3MT/Pt/Ti/PS electrode in an acetonitrile solution containing 0.1 mol/L NaClO₄ was introduced compared to a P3MT/Pt/Ti/PS electrode at scan rates of 10 mV s⁻¹, 50 mV s⁻¹, and 100 mV s⁻¹.Amperometric sensitivity of the Urs/P3MT/Pt/Ti/PS electrode was ca. 1.67 μA mM⁻¹ per projected unit square centimeter, and that of the Urs/P3MT/Pt/Ti/PLS electrode was ca. 1.02 μA mM⁻¹ per projected unit square centimeter in a linear range of 1-100 mM urea concentrations. 1.6 times of sensitivity increase was coincident with the results from cyclic voltammetrc analysis.Surface morphology from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of Pt-deposited PS electrodes before and after the coating of Urs-doped P3MT films showed that pore diameter and depth were 2 μm and 10 μm, respectively. Multilayered-film structures composed of metals and organics for both electrodes were also confirmed by auger electron spectroscopy (AES) depth profiles.     

Gas Permeation Properties of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Membranes Prepared from Hydroxyl-Terminated Polyether and 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane

Organic-inorganic hybrid materials were prepared by reacting 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (IPTS) with hydroxyl terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) and poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol) (PEPG), followed by hydrolysis and condensation with acid catalysis. Composite membranes have been obtained by casting hybrid sol on the microporous polysulfone substrate. The membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), ¹³C NMR and ²⁹Si NMR. The permeability coefficients of N₂, O₂, CH₄ and CO₂ were measured by variable volume method. The gas permeability coefficients increase with increasing molecular weight of the polyethers. For the membranes containing PEG and PEPG, the higher values of CO₂ permeability coefficients and CO₂/N₂ separation factors are due to the presence of ethylene oxide segments. In case of PEPG membranes, molecular weight has more influence on CO₂ permeability than the effect of facilitation by ethylene oxide. The addition of TEOS into hybrid sol results in the decrease of all the gas permeability and does not affect the gas selectivity. PEG2000 membrane display the most performance among the hybrid membranes investigated here. The best values observed are CO₂ permeability of 94.2 Barrer with selectivity of 38.3 for CO₂/N₂ and 15.6 for CO₂/CH₄.     

Coating and Gas Permeation Properties of Urushiol-Based Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Films

The silica and urushiol based organic/inorganic hybrid was prepared with TEOS and urushiol by sol-gel process. GLYMO, as a silane-coupling agent, was used to obtain crack-free homogeneous films in various molar ratios, and to improve the adhesion between corona-treated BOPP substrate and the coatings. Two kinds of coating solutions were prepared; one was composed of TEOS and urushiol, the other was a mixture of TEOS, GLYMO and urushiol. Urushiol created less cracks on the film in a narrow range of molar ratios. As the amounts of urushiol were increased, the coating solutions quickly became heterogeneous. GLYMO was sufficient to prevent microcracks on the coated film and provided homogeneous coating solution. TEOS/urushiol and TEOS/GLYMO/urushiol coating solution gave insignificant effect on the permeability coefficients of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, because the unsaturated alkyl side chain of urushiol might retard the formation of a dense structure between the inorganic silicate and the organic urushiol phase. From the antibacterial test of uncoating PP substrate and the coated film with hybrid solution, the reduction of bacteria of coating film was calculated to be 99.8%.     

Core/shell silica-based in-situ microencapsulation: a self-templating method

Core/shell SiO2 and (RSiO1.5)(1-x)-(SiO2)x (R = alkyl) microcapsules were synthesized via a single-step O/W emulsion system using a self-templating method; the facile synthetic process provides an in-situ encapsulation route for a wide range of lipophilic functional compounds.