Feasibility of honeycomb monolith supported sugar catalyst to produce biodiesel from palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD)

Carbon coated monolith was prepared by sucrose solution 65 wt.% via dip-coating method. Sulfonation of incomplete carbonized carbon coated monolith was carried out in order to synthesize solid acid catalyst. The textural structure characteristics of the solid acid catalyst demonstrated a low surface area and pore volume. Palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD), a by-product of palm oil refineries, was utilized as oil source in biodiesel production. The esterification reaction subjected to different reaction conditions was performed by using the sulfonated carbon coated monolith as heterogeneous catalyst. The sulfonation process had been performed by using vapour of concentrated H₂SO₄ that was much easier and efficient than liquid phase sulfonation. Total acidity value of carbon coated monolith was measured for unsulfonated sample (0.5 mmol/g) and sulfonated sample (4.2 mmol/g). The effect of methanol/oil ratio, catalyst amount and reaction time were examined. The maximum methyl ester content was 89% at the optimum condition, i.e. methanol/oil molar ratio (15:1), catalyst amount (2.5 wt.% with respect to PFAD), reaction time (240 min) and temperature 80 °C. The sugar catalyst supported on the honeycomb monolith showed comparable reactivity compared with the sugar catalyst powder. However, the catalyst reusability studies showed decrease in FFA% conversion from 95.3% to 68.8% after four cycles as well as the total acidity of catalyst dropped from the value 4.2 to 3.1 mmol/g during these cycles. This might be likely due to the leaching out of SO₃H group from the sulfonated carbon coated monolith surface. The leaching of active species reached a plateau state after fourth cycle.     

Safety assessment of the film boiling chemical vapor infiltration (FB-CVI) process through a system-theoretic accident model and process (STAMP)

Film boiling chemical vapor infiltration (FB-CVI) is considered as one of the fastest process methodologies for manufacturing carbon-carbon (C–C) composite products and possesses various advantages compared to conventional methodologies. However, there are safety concerns associated with this process for large-scale manufacturing, mainly owing to the intrinsic nature of the precursor and the process conditions. Considering the multifunctional interactions of the various systems during the process, a system-theoretic process analysis (STPA)/system theoretic accident model and process (STAMP) model is used to perform a safety analysis of the hazardous states of the FB-CVI process at the system level. As a case study, the FB-CVI process equipment employed for the manufacturing of C–C composites is considered. The safety constraints present in the system are assessed for adequacy through a hazard analysis by STPA/STAMP. The analysis through STPA/STAMP demonstrated the capability to create proactive strategies for the design and realization of process equipment that can be employed to manufacture C–C composite products through the FB-CVI process.     

Review: recent advances in biogas purifying technologies

Biomethane production through biogas upgrading is a promising renewable energy for some industries which could be part of the equilibrium needed with fossil fuels consumption to achieve a sustainable society. This paper presents a comprehensive list of biogas upgrading technologies focused on carbon dioxide removal as well as recent advances reported by researcher with wide expertise in this topic. Additionally, an extensive costs–performance comparison among the technologies studied is discussed. Among the different alternatives, chemical scrubbing stood out to achieve high biomethane purities while cryogenic technologies proved to be effective against methane losses. Regarding the different costs, water scrubbing and membrane separation seem to be the most affordable techniques.     

Exoautometabolic regulation of transgenes in microorganisms

Data on the existence of a specific system regulating the growth, size, and structure of enterobacterial populations are first summarized in terms of the chemical ecology concept formulated by S.S. Shvarts. The role of this system in transgene functioning is described using the example of the lux operon integrated into Escherichia coli. A relatively simple test for estimating such interactions is proposed.Translated from Ekologiya, No. 2, 2005, pp. 91–96.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Pshenichnov, Maslennikova, Nikitina.     

Is the alkaloid in 2spot ladybirds (Adalia bipunctata) a defence against ant predation?

Garden black ants,Lasius niger L., in a laboratory colony, attacked three species of live ladybirds found near their nest, killing the smaller two species. A second colony was offered artificial diets containing crushed ladybirds of two species, and the ants' choice of feeding site noted. Both the diets were aversive compared to control, but that containing 7spot,Coccinella septempunctata L., was more aversive than the diet containing 2spot,Adalia bipunctata L. The implications of this lesser protection for 2spots in terms of the chemical defence of the species are discussed.     

Tolerance of calluna vulgaris and peatland plant communities to sulphuric acid deposition

Critical loads offer a unique way of evaluating impacts of acid deposition by quantifying environmental sensitivity. The critical loads of acidity for UK peat soils have been based upon an arbitrary reduction in pH of 0.2 units. This chemical shift needs to be better related to adverse effects on sensitive biological receptors. It is known that effective precipitation pH equates closely to soil solution pH, and the latter is directly linkable to biotic effects of pH change. On continuation of a long-term experiment assessing impacts of simulated acid rain on peat microcosms in a realistic outdoor environment, Calluna vulgaris continued to flourish at acid deposition loads well above the existing critical load. Calluna plants were harvested and analysed, and acid deposition treatments to the microcosms continued to allow natural vegetation to regenerate. A diverse mixture of moorland plants and bryophytes established at acidity treatments well above the existing critical load, and only a very high acid load resulted in no natural regeneration. A critical effective rain pH value of 3.6 is suggested as a basis for setting critical loads. At this pH, Calluna grows well, and a healthy diverse vegetation community re-establishes when harvested. It is suggested that the peat critical load should be set at the acid load that, at any specific site, would result in a mean effective precipitation pH of 3.6.     

羽序灯心草作为酸性矿山废弃地先锋植物潜力

生态复垦是当前世界各国酸性矿山废弃地修复的主要方法.通过研究云南来利山锡矿区废弃地土壤pH值、肥力特征及重金属含量,以及矿区生长的羽序灯心草形态特征和植株体内重金属的分布特征,分析植株耐酸性、对废弃地土壤肥力的适应性及对Zn和Cu等重金属污染的耐性,探讨其作为酸性矿山废弃地先锋植物的潜力.结果表明,研究区域根际土壤pH值均值范围为3.46～4.01,呈酸性;土壤中有机质、全钾、全磷和速效磷含量分别为10.28～25.75g·kg~(-1)、 8.84～9.32g·kg~(-1)、 0.56～0.63g·kg~(-1)和1.82～5.72mg·kg~(-1),处于较低水平;土壤中Zn、Cu和Fe含量均值范围分别为54.93～114.49、 92.53～127.59和47 133.60～112 259.63 mg·kg~(-1),其中重金属Cu含量超出风险筛选值1.85～2.55倍;研究区域羽序灯心草株高均值范围为43.77～55.42 cm,对照组植株高度为51.38～57.66 cm,无显著差异,表明羽序灯心草具有耐酸性及对重金属污染具有耐性.进一步分析对重金属Cu和Zn的富集能力和转移特征,发现对Cu和Zn都具有富集能力,且对Zn具有运转能力,具有一定的富集吸收潜力.株高与根际土壤中速效磷的含量显著相关,后期羽序灯心草作为先锋植物在矿山废弃地进行种植时,可针对性地补充含速效磷的肥料改善土壤肥力条件.综合分析结果表明,羽序灯心草作为先锋植物修复酸性矿山废弃地具有巨大潜力.     

MnO2/Al2O3催化剂-微气泡臭氧体系催化降解喹啉及其机理

制备了纳米MnO₂,并以Al₂O₃为载体制备了掺杂型MnO₂/Al₂O₃颗粒催化剂.催化剂焙烧温度和时间分别为500℃和4 h、MnO₂质量分数为8%时,催化剂具有最高的臭氧催化氧化活性.SEM分析表明,纳米MnO₂均匀分布于Al₂O₃载体表面.MnO₂/Al₂O₃催化剂的比表面积（BET）为183.22 m²·g^-1,平均孔容为0.27 cm³·g^-1,平均孔径为4.87 nm.建立了MnO₂/Al₂O₃催化剂-微气泡臭氧催化反应体系,研究了该体系对喹啉的降解去除效果及其机理.臭氧微气泡的平均粒径为61.7 μm.微气泡臭氧投量为30 mg·L^-1时,反应60 min后喹啉去除率能达到95%以上;反应20 min后,MnO₂/Al₂O₃催化剂-微气泡臭氧体系对实际煤化工废水二级出水的TOC去除率可达到55%以上.以叔丁醇作为分子探针,证明了羟基自由基（·OH）氧化作用在臭氧微气泡催化氧化体系中对喹啉的降解起到主导作用.     

中国集成电路制造行业VOCs排放特征及控制对策

中国电子信息产业发展迅速,集成电路等电子器件产量不断增加.在集成电路制造的过程中,大量有机溶剂的使用导致VOCs的产生和排放,从而对大气环境造成影响.为掌握集成电路制造行业VOCs的排放特征,系统分析了其工艺流程和产排污环节,分析了行业废气收集和治理现状,通过对典型企业VOCs的排放监测,获得VOCs排放水平;采用排放因子法核算行业VOCs历史排放量,并基于行业排放特征及减排潜力分析,提出了相应的污染防治对策.结果表明：在集成电路制造中,VOCs排放环节主要集中在光刻、清洗、去胶等过程,1 m²集成电路产量约使用87 g有机溶剂,VOCs产生量较大;通过采取高效的VOCs治理技术,集成电路制造行业有组织排放水平较低,平均浓度为2.1 mg·m^-3,但厂界无组织排放浓度相对较高,平均浓度为0.78 mg·m^-3,接近国家标准的排放限值.根据排放量核算结果,2011—2016年中国集成电路制造行业VOCs排放量呈逐年上升的趋势,主要受产量增加而相应污染控制技术水平提升有限的影响,无组织排放量比重大,占排放总量的38.1%~45.1%.