New biodegradable polyester-copolymers from commodity chemicals with favorable use properties

Copolyesters composed of aliphatic and aromatic compounds were synthesized by the polycondensation of 1,2-ethanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, sebacic acid, adipic acid, and terephthalic acid. By applying an appropriate ratio of aliphatic to aromatic acids, the synthesized materials proved to be biodegradable, as was verified by several degradation test methods such as aqueous polymer suspension inoculated by a soil eluate (Sturm test), a soil burial test (at ambient temperature), and a composting simulation test at 60°C. The degradability of the polyester-copolymers (measured as weight loss) was investigated with respect to the aliphatic monomer components and the fraction of terephthalic acid. Excellent biodegradability was observed even for copolymers with a content of terephthalic acid up to 56 mol% (of the acid fraction) and melting points in the range up to 140°C. Degradation by chemical hydrolysis of the polyesters was determined independently and was found to facilitate microbial attack significantly only at higher temperatures. The findings demonstrate that biodegradable polymers with advantageous usage properties can easily be manufactured by conventional techniques from commodity chemicals (adipic acid, terephthalic acid, and ethylene glycol or 1,4-butanediol).Dedicated to Prof. J. Klein's 60th birthday.     

Purification and characterization of extracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerases

Five extracellular PHB depolymerases of bacteria isolated from various sources were purified to electrophoretic homogeneity and compared with known extracellular PHB depolymerase fromAlcaligenes faecalis T1. The molecular mass of these enzymes were all around 40–50 kDa. Nonionic detergent, diisopropylfluorophosphate and dithiothreitol inhibited the PHB depolymerase activity of all these enzymes. Trypsin abolished PHB depolymerase activity, but not theD-3-hydroxybutyric acid dimer hydrolase activity of all the enzymes. These results showed that the basic properties of these PHB depolymerases resemble those of theA. faecalis T1 enzyme. Analysis ofN-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified enzymes revealed that these enzymes includingA. faecalis T1 enzyme fall into three groups.     

仪化热电厂提高循环水浓缩倍率的措施

针对仪化热电厂将循环水用作冲灰水，导致浓缩倍率只有1.6，以及凝汽器铜管腐蚀结垢严重等问题，提出了隔断循环水与冲灰水的直接联系，实现闲路循环，对凝汽器铜管进行酸洗，并对循环水实施加缓蚀阻垢荆、杀菌剂和旁流过滤等办法，全部实施后产生了很好的效益，值得借鉴。     

铁屑还原－鼓风氧化－石灰凝沉法脱除硫酸生产废水中的砷

比较了硫酸生产废水的几种除砷方法，认为铁屑还原－鼓风氧化－石灰凝沉工艺是可行的，此法具有处理量大、处理效果好、运行费用低等优点。     

Recovery of biomass wastes by hydrolysis in sub-critical water

The recovery of waste substances is important not only for the prevention of environmental issues, but also for the rational utilization of natural resources. Hydrolysis reaction in sub-critical water is a promising method for the treatment of organic wastes and has been attracting worldwide attention. In this paper, sub-critical water hydrolysis was employed as a method for producing amino acids, reducing sugars, bio-oil and gas fuels from biomass wastes. The current statuses of these useful chemicals production from biomass wastes by hydrolysis in sub-critical water were reviewed. The review indicates that sub-critical water hydrolysis can be an efficient process for recovering useful chemicals from biomass wastes. This method is renewable, sustainable, efficient, and safe for the environment.     

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LAND USES AND RAINWATER QUALITY IN A SOUTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA WATERSHED1

ABSTRACT: Spatial and temporal variability in rainfall concentrations of nutrients, major ions, and herbicides was monitored at 7 locations in or near the Conodoguinet Creek watershed in south-central Pennsylvania from 1991.1993. Results were used to (1) compare precipitation quality in forested, agricultural and urban areas, and (2) assess the practicality of using volunteer citizen monitoring in such a study. As indicated in previous studies, sulfate and nitrogen concentrations in precipitation were linked to sample pH. Concentrations of major ions in precipitation appeared to relate more to regional influences rather than local influences. However, concentrations of herbicides in precipitation may have been influenced by both regional and local use which caused compounds like atrazine, deethylatrazine, propazine, simazine, metolachior, alachlor, ametryn, and prometon to be present in detectable concentrations in rainfall. Seasonality was evident in nitrogen, sulfate, pH, and herbicide data and was suggested in calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, orthophosphate, and chloride data. Agricultural weed control activities were probably responsible for the seasonal pattern in pesticide data which peaked in May and June. Tropical storm Danielle may have caused the apparent seasonal patterns for the other nine parameters. This storm did not follow the typical west to east movement pattern and consequently produced rainfall of relative high quality. A variety of quality assurance checks indicated that trained volunteer citizen monitors were successful participants in this intensive and extensive scientific study, collecting good quality samples in a timely manner. Without this kind of volunteer help, it is extremely difficult to complete studies that require sampling in response to natural events such as rainfall.     

膨润土羟基铝改性及对染料工业废水的处理研究

通过对膨润土的羟基铝改性实验大大提高了膨润土对染料废水的处理效率。实验结果表明:改性膨润土对变色酸有很好的去除效果,对H酸有较好的去除效果,对T酸处理效果一般,对吐氏酸几乎没有效果。