The Kinetics of Catalytic Incineration of Dimethyl Sulfide and Dimethyl Disulfide over an MnO/Fe2O3 Catalyst

ABSTRACT

The catalytic incineration of dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide [(CH₃)₂S and (CH₃)₂S₂] over an MnO/Fe₂O₃ catalyst was carried out in a bench-scale catalytic incinerator. Three kinetic models (i.e., the power-rate law, the Mars and Van Krevelen model, and the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model) were used to analyze the results. A differential reactor design was used for best fit of kinetic models in this study. The results show that the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model may be feasible to describe the catalytic incineration of (CH₃)₂S and (CH₃)₂S₂. This suggests that the chemical adsorption of O₂ molecules is important in this incineration.     

Effects of the Ellagic acid on the N‐Acetyltransferase activity and Acetylation of 2‐aminofluorene in the rat

The effects of the ellagic acid on the in vitro and in vivo acetylation of 2‐aminofluorene were investigated in male Sprague‐Dawley rats. For in vitro examination, cytosols with or without ellagic acid co‐treatment showed different percentage of 2‐aminofluorene acetylation. For in vivo examination, pre‐treatment of male rats with ellagic acid (10 mg/kg) 24h prior to the administration of 2‐aminofluorene (50 mg/kg) resulted in a 26% and 29%, respectively, decrease in the urinary and fecal recovery of N‐acetyl‐2‐aminofluorene, and a 37% decrease in the metabolic clearance of 2‐aminofluorene to N‐acetyl‐2‐aminofluorene. This is the first demonstration that ellagic acid decrease the N‐acetylation of carcinogens in vitro and in vivo.     

垃圾堆填区渗出液对干旱季节树苗生长的影响

本试验于１９９４年７月至１月在香港望后石垃圾堆填区进行,研究了垃圾堆填区渗出液浇灌对几种亚热带树种生长及其生理学过程的影响．结果表明,在高温低湿、植物遭受水分亏缺的条件下,应用适当浓度的垃圾堆填区渗出液浇灌同水灌和肥水灌溉类似,可显著地提高树苗的移栽成活率,促进树苗的生长,尤其对耐干旱能力低的树种,其效果更为显著．与对照相比,用适当浓度的渗出液或水浇灌显著地改善植株的水分关系,降低叶片的脱落酸（ＡＢＡ）含量,促进气孔的开放．另外,处理植株叶片的光合特性也得到了不同程度的改善．根据以上结果,作者认为,在干旱季节植物遭受严重水分亏缺的条件下,应用适当浓度的垃圾堆填区渗出液浇灌可显著地缓解干旱对树苗生长的影响,为综合治理垃圾堆填区渗出液提供了一条经济、实用和可行的途径．     

A prototype of proposed treatment plant for sago factory effluent

Sago processing industries discharge wastewater, which poses a threat to water bodies due to their higher organic loading. Concerns about pollution related problems in the global scenario are persuading all the processing industries to adopt cleaner manufacturing practices. Hence, this study was aimed at developing a cost-effective and eco-friendly treatment plant based on microbial system to treat the sago factory effluent effectively in order to reuse the water for industrial purposes. The experimental results showed that, anaerobic treatment with mixed inoculum for 10 days followed by 6 days of fungal treatment was found to be effective in effluent treatment. The fusant showed a higher efficiency in the treatment of sago factory effluent than the parental strains.     

Spectacular Batesian mimicry in ants

The mechanism by which palatable species take advantage of their similarity in appearance to those that are unpalatable, in order to avoid predation, is called Batesian mimicry. Several arthropods are thought to be Batesian mimics of social insects; however, social insects that are Batesian mimics among themselves are rare. In Malaysia we found a possible Batesian mimic in an arboreal ant species, Camponotus sp., which was exclusively observed on foraging trails of the myrmicine ant Crematogaster inflata. The bright yellow and black colouring pattern, as well as the walking behaviour, were very similar in both species. We observed general interactions between the two species, and tested their palatability and the significance of the remarkably similar visual colour patterns for predator avoidance. Prey offered to C. inflata was also eaten by Camponotus workers in spite of their being attacked by C. inflata, indicating that Camponotus sp. is a commensal of C. inflata. An experiment with chicks as potential predators suggests that Camponotus sp. is palatable whereas C. inflata is unpalatable. After tasting C. inflata, the chicks no longer attacked Camponotus sp., indicating that Camponotus sp. is a Batesian mimic of Crematogaster inflata.     

Indoor Emissions from Conversion Varnishes

ABSTRACT

Conversion varnishes are two-component, acid-catalyzed varnishes that are commonly used to finish cabinets. They are valued for their water and stain resistance, as well as their appearance. They have been found, however, to contribute to indoor emissions of organic compounds. For this project, three commercially available conversion varnish systems were selected. A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 24 analysis was performed to determine total volatile content, and a sodium sulfite titration method was used to determine uncombined (free) formaldehyde content of the varnish components. The resin component was also analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) (EPA Method 311 with an MS detector) to identify individual organic compounds. Dynamic small chamber tests were then performed to identify and quantify emissions following application to coupons of typical kitchen cabinet wood substrates, during both curing and aging. Because conversion varnishes cure by chemical reaction, the compounds emitted during curing and aging are not necessarily the same as those in the formulation. Results of small chamber tests showed that the amount of formaldehyde emitted from these coatings was 2.3–8.1 times the amount of free formaldehyde applied in the coatings. A long-term test showed a formaldehyde emission rate of 0.17 mg/m²/hr after 115 days.     

Association between tofu intake and serum polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the elderly Taiwanese

Age and gender are related to human dietary habits, which affect serum levels of dioxin-like compounds via body fat content. This study examined whether different dietary patterns and body fat content were associated with serum polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) concentrations for different age groups of Taiwanese subjects. In total, 1165 volunteers completed a semi-quantitative food-consumption frequency questionnaire for serum PCDD/Fs analysis. In the elderly (age, >45 years), a significant positive multivariate-adjusted association was identified between serum PCDD/F levels and sea fish intake. Additionally, consumption of tofu was negatively correlated with serum PCDD/F levels. This study also found a negative correlation between tofu intake and body fat content in the elderly. It seems that when elderly people ingested considerable amounts of soybean protein, such as tofu, they typically had low serum PCDD/Fs levels in relation to reduced body fat content and induction of metabolic enzymes. The relationship between tofu intake, metabolic enzymes, and serum PCDD/F accumulations warrants further investigated previously to recommend how to prevent PCDD/F accumulations via intake of soybean products.     

Effects of ellagic acid on arylamine N‐acetyltransferase activity in human colon tumor cells

The inhibition of arylamine N‐acetyltransferase (NAT) activity by ellagic acid was determined in a human colon tumor (adenocarcinoma) cell line. Two assay systems were performed, one with cellular cytosols (9000g supernatant), the other with intact colon tumor cell suspensions. The NAT activity in a human colon tumor cell line was inhibited by ellagic acid in a dose‐dependent manner in both types of examined systems: i.e. the greater the concentration of ellagic acid in the reaction, the greater the inhibition of NAT activities in both systems. The data also indicated that ellagic acid decreased the apparent K _m and V _max of NAT enzymes from human colon tumor cells in both the systems examined. This report is the first demonstration which showed ellagic acid affect human colon tumor cell NAT activity.     

Paeonol promotes arylamine N‐acetyltransferase activity in human bladder tumor cells

Paeonol was used to determine effects of arylamine N‐acetyltransferase (NAT) activity in human bladder tumor cells. The NAT activity was measured by high performance liquid chromatography assaying for the amounts of N‐acetyl‐2‐aminofluorene (2‐AAF) and N‐acetyl‐p‐amino‐benzoic acid (N‐Ac‐PABA) and remaining 2‐aminofluorene (2‐AF) and p‐aminobenzoic acid (PABA). The NAT activity in human bladder tumor cells was promoted by paeonol in a dose‐dependent manner, i.e. the higher the concentration of paeonol, the higher the promotion of NAT activity. The data also indicated that paeonol increases the apparent values of K_m and K_max from human bladder tumor cells in cytosols and intact cells. This report is the first demonstration to show paeonol did promote human bladder tumor cell NAT activity.