Effect of Sequential Mixing and Compounding Conditions on Cellulose Acetate/Layered Silicate Nanocomposites

Injection molded nanocomposites have been successfully fabricated from cellulose acetate (CA), eco-friendly triethyl citrate (TEC) plasticizer, and organically modified clay with and without maleic anhydride grafted cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB-g-MA) as a compatibilizer. The effects of processing conditions such as mixing methods, pre-plasticizing times, extruder retention times (RT) and addition of compatibilizer on the performance of these nanocomposites have been evaluated. The cellulosic plastic with CA/TEC (80/20 wt%) was used as the polymer matrix for nanocomposite fabrication. The morphologies of these nanocomposites were evaluated through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were measured and have been correlated with the XRD and TEM observations. From all of the sequential mixing methods used, powder–powder mixing leads to the most transparent nanocomposites. Cellulosic plastic-based nanocomposites obtained using increased pre-plasticizing times and RT showed better exfoliated structures. In the system containing compatibilizer, the minimum retention time required for obtaining almost completely exfoliated hybrid nanocomposites was shorter than in the system without compatibilizer.     

Functional Properties of Extruded Starch Acetate Blends

Starch acetate, with degree of substitution of 2, was blended with 0, 7.5 and 15% polylactic acid (PLA), Eastar Bio Copolyester 14766 (EBC) or Mater-Bi ZF03U (MBI) and 10%, 13%, or 16% (d.b.) ethanol and twin-screw extruded at 160°C barrel temperature. Physical characteristics of the extrudates, such as radial expansion ratio, unit and bulk densities, and of the mechanical properties, including unit spring index and bulk spring index, were measured. Type of polymer, polymer content, and ethanol content significantly affected the physical characteristics and mechanical properties. The sample extruded with 7.5% PLA and 13% ethanol had the highest expansion ratio and bulk spring index. The sample with 15% MBI and 16% ethanol had the lowest unit density, while the sample with 7.5% PLA and 16% ethanol had lowest bulk denisty. The highest unit spring index was expressed in the sample containing 7.5% PLA and 10% ethanol.     

Cellulose acetate biodegradability upon exposure to simulated aerobic composting and anaerobic bioreactor environments

Cellulose acetate (CA) films with degree of substitution (d.s.) values of 1.7 and 2.5 were exposed to biologically active in-laboratory composting test vessels maintained at approximately 53 °C. The CA 1.7- and 2.5-d.s. films (thickness values of 0.5–1.0 and 2.0 mil, respectively) had completely disappeared by the end of 7- and 18-day exposure time periods in the biologically active bioreactors, respectively. The relatively small CA film weight loss observed in the poisoned control test vessels allows the conclusion that CA film erosion during the composting exposures resulted, at least in part, from biologically mediated processes. Under strictly anaerobic conditions, an active methanogenic inoculum was developed by acclimation of a sewage sludge to a synthetic municipal solid waste (SMSW) mixture at 42°C. The CA 1.7-d.s. film samples (0.5- to 1.0-mil thickness) were exposed in anaerobic serum bottles containing a 25% solids loading of SMSW in which methanogenic activity was rapidly established after introducing of the developed inoculum. For exposures of 30 days only small visually distinguishable fragments of the CA 1.7-d.s. films were recovered. In contrast, exposure of the CA 1.7-d.s. film to a poisoned control test vessel resulted in negligible weight loss. Therefore, degradation of the CA 1.7-d.s. films upon exposure to the anaerobic bioreactors was due, at least in part, to biologically mediated processes.Guest Editor: Dr. Graham Swift, Rohm & Haas.     

菌株EA41对醋酸酯类化合物的生物降解

利用醋酸乙酯为能源和碳源从土壤中分离到一株菌。在生理生化试验的基础上,利用16S rDNA的方法鉴定这株菌为假单胞菌属细菌。底物特异性试验表明,假单胞菌EA41菌株可代谢多种醋酸酯类化合物。休眠细胞反应试验表明,这株菌的水解酶能水解口香糖的主要成分聚醋酸乙烯酯产生醋酸。     

Sex pheromones and their potential role in the evolution of reproductive isolation in small ermine moths (Yponomeutidae)

Summary Sex pheromone communication in the nine European species of small ermine moths (Yponomeuta) is reviewed in regard to the potential role of pheromones in the speciation process. Six of the nine species studied (viz.,Y. evonymellus, Y. cagnagellus, Y. padellus, Y. irrorellus, Y. plumbellus, andY. vigintipunctatus) use a mixture of (E)-11-and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate in different ratios as primary pheromone components, with combinations of tetradecyl acetate, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate and the corresponding alcohols of the acetates as additional pheromone components. Analysis of (Z)- to (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate ratios produced by individual females of these species demonstrated significant variation among females of all species. However, the ranges of ratios produced byY. cagnagellus, Y. irrorellus, andY. plumbellus, sharing the same host-plant species, spindle tree, did not overlap. Niche separation of all six species mentioned required consideration of at least one additional pheromone component or of temporal aspects. The remaining three species,i.e. Y. malinellus, Y. mahalebellus andY. rorellus, have pheromones that differ qualitatively.Biosynthetic routes to the pheromone components identified are proposed on the basis of fatty acid pheromone precursors found in the pheromone glands. A phylogenetic tree for the genus is constructed based on allozyme frequency data and changes in pheromone composition are superimposed on this tree. We suggest that the ancestral ermine moth pheromone is a mixture of (Z)-11- and (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate and the corresponding alcohols, and a scenario of how present-day patterns evolved is outlined. The pheromone differences among the three species using spindle tree as their host-plant might have evolved throughreproductive character displacement upon secondary contact between populations that had already diverged genetically in allopatry. Pheromone differences within the so-calledpadellus-complex (includingY. cagnagellus, Y. mahalebellus, Y. malinellus, Y. padellus, andY. rorellus) in which species might have originated sympatrically, may have evolved byreinforcing selection as these species still hybridise and produce viable offspring when confined in cages. The role of pheromones in reproductive isolation amongYponomeuta species is emphasised by (1) the function of pheromone components of some of the species as behavioural antagonists to other species, (2) the cross-attraction under experimental conditions between allochronic species with similar pheromones, and (3) the formation of hybrids in the laboratory between species that are isolated in nature by pheromone differences.     

(<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z,Z</Emphasis>)-11,13-Hexadecadienyl acetate and (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z,E</Emphasis>)-11,13,15-hexadecatrienyl acetate: synergistic sex pheromone components of oak processionary moth,Thaumetopoea processionea (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae)

Summary. Our objective was to identify sex pheromone components of the oak processionary moth, Thaumetopoea processionea (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae), whose larvae defoliate oak, Quercus spp., forests in Eurasia and impact human health. Coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and GC-mass spectrometric (MS) analyses of pheromone gland extract of female T. processionea revealed two consistently EAD-active compounds. They were identified as (Z,Z)-11,13-hexadecadienyl acetate (Z11,Z13-16:OAc) and (Z,E)-11,13,15-hexadecatrienyl acetate (Z11,E13,15-16:OAc) by comparative GC, GC-MS and GC-EAD analyses of insect-produced compounds and authentic standards. In replicated field experiments (2000, 2001) in Nordbaden, Südbaden and Sachsen-Anhalt (Germany), Z11,Z13-16:OAc and Z11,E13,15-16:OAc in combination, but not singly, attracted significant numbers of male moths. It will now be intriguing to investigate whether Z11,E13,15-16:OAc, or its corresponding alcohol or aldehyde, serves as a pheromone component also in other species of the Thaumetopoeidae.     

沼泽产甲烷能力和途径差异的机制

土壤中甲烷的形成有 2条途径 :乙酸发酵和H2 /CO2 还原。比较而言 ,乙酸发酵产甲烷的能力强于H2 /CO2 还原。在特定环境中 ,何种产甲烷途径占优势取决于底物尤其是活性有机碳含量 ,而新形成的有机碳尤为重要。活性有机碳含量丰富的沼泽 ,甲烷主要由乙酸发酵形成 ,因此产甲烷能力较强。导致沼泽产甲烷能力异同的原因就是有效底物含量差异 ,从而使不同类型沼泽环境中产甲烷菌菌种不同 ,正是底物含量的高低和由此引起的产甲烷菌菌种的不同决定了不同类型沼泽产甲烷潜能的差异     

应用POMS复合膜分离去除废气中挥发性有机污染物

依靠POMS平板单层膜或POMS卷式膜上选择性分离层的选择性溶解和渗透作用,常温负压分离回收废气中乙酸乙酯等挥发性有机污染物(VOC)组分.结果表明,膜两侧操作压差和原料气流量对乙酸乙酯分离效率影响较大;当原料气处理量为1.770 0～2.810 0 m3/(m2·h)、膜两侧操作压差为0.08 MPa,POMS卷式膜乙酸乙酯渗透速率可达7.86 × 10-7 mol/(s·m2·Pa);乙酸乙酯为1 500～4 500 mg/m3时,其去除率可达80%.测得几种VOC组分在POMS复合膜中的溶解吸附量都比较可观,由此预测该膜处理废气中VOC可取得很好的净化效果.甲苯在POMS复合膜中的溶解吸附量低于乙酸乙酯,其实验测得渗透速率也小于乙酸乙酯.甲苯去除率也能达到80%.     

Low toxicant concentrations decrease the frequency of fast-growing seedlings at high densities of annual baby's breath (Gypsophila elegans)

Very low toxicant concentrations reduce the frequency of most vital seedlings in dense stands in vitro.     

基于针铁矿强化乙酸产甲烷过程的ADM1模型修正与模拟研究

为探究针铁矿对乙酸产甲烷途径的调控作用,利用ADM1模型（厌氧消化1号模型）对添加针铁矿的产甲烷过程进行模拟研究.首先引入氧化还原介质作为新变量,模拟SAO（syntrophic acetate oxidation,互营乙酸氧化）过程中的种间电子转移,进而建立包含DIET（direct interspecies electron transfer,直接种间电子传递）产甲烷过程的ADM1修正模型,最后利用该模型对各产甲烷途径的贡献进行评价.结果表明:①c（乙酸）分别为12和20 mmol/L时,添加40~2 000 mg/L针铁矿明显提高了乙酸体系的产甲烷速率.②修正的ADM1模型能够有效地模拟针铁矿强化乙酸产甲烷过程.③12、20 mmol/L乙酸体系的敏感性参数km_Xst（最大比乙酸氧化速率）校准值分别从1.02、1.46升至1.76、2.03,km_DIET（最大比电子消耗速率）校准值分别从0.78、1.48升至2.44、3.99,表明添加针铁矿提高了互营体系的种间电子传递速率.修正的ADM1模型对各产甲烷途径贡献的计算结果显示,针铁矿对DIET过程的强化作用与其添加量呈正相关,添加2 000 mg/L针铁矿试验组[c（乙酸）为12 mmol/L]中DIET和SAO产甲烷的贡献率相比对照组分别提升了117.99%和130.73%.研究显示,修正的ADM1模型能够有效地模拟针铁矿对乙酸产甲烷过程的强化作用,并且能用于评价各产甲烷途径的贡献.