Analysis of poly-ß-hydroxyalkonates (PHA) during the enhanced biological phosphorus removal process using FTIR spectroscopy.

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) is the main phosphorus removal technique for wastewater treatment. During the anaerobic-aerobic alternative process, the activated sludge experienced the anaerobic storage of polyhydroxy-ß-alkonates (PHA) and aerobic degradation, corresponding the infrared peak intensity of sludge at 1 740 cm(-1) increased in the aerobic phase and declined in the anaerobic phase. Compared with PHA standard, this peak was indentified to attribute the carbonyl of PHA. The overlapping peaks of PHA, protein I and II bands were separated using Gaussian peak fitting method. The infrared peak area ratios of PHA versus protein I had a good relationship with the PHA contents measured by gas chromatography, and the correlation coefficient was 0.873. Thus, the ratio of the peak area of PHA versus protein I can be considered as the indicator of the PHA content in the sludge. The infrared spectra of 1 480-1 780 cm(-1) was selected, normalized and transferred to the absorption data. Combined with the chromatography analysis of PHA content in the sludge sample, a model between the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ETIR) spectra of the sludge and PHA content was established, which could be used for the prediction of the PHA content in the unknown sample. The PHA content in the sludge sample could be acquired by the infrared spectra of the sludge sample and the established model, and the values fitted well with the results obtained from chromatograph. The results would provide a novel analysis method for the rapid characterization and quantitative determination of the intracellular PHA content in the activated sludge.

Solubility of silybin in aqueous poly(ethylene glycol) solution.

Silybin is a main component in silymarin, which is an antihepatotoxic polyphenolic substance isolated from the milk thistle plant, Silybum marianum. A major problem in the development of an oral solid dosage form of this drug is the extremely poor aqueous solubility. In present work, the solubility of silybin in aqueous poly(ethylene glycol) 6,000 (PEG 6,000) solution at the temperature range from 293.15 to 313.15K was measured by a solid liquid equilibrium method. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible effect of poly(ethylene glycol) concentration and temperature on the solubility of the drug, and to reveal the solubilization capacity of the polymer for the drug. Experimental results reveal that the solubility of silybin increases with the increase both in PEG's concentration and temperature. With the increase in PEG's concentration, the transfer enthalpy and entropy for silybin from water to aqueous PEG solution increases first in a positive region, and then decreases to a negative region. The transfer enthalpy is lower than the entropy term. A modified Universal Quasi Chemical (UNIQUAC) model was used to correlate solubility data.

Viscosity B-coefficients and activation parameters for viscous flow of a solution of heptanedioic acid in aqueous sucrose solution.

Viscosity and density data for the system of heptanedioic acid dissolved in aqueous sucrose solution at temperature range from 288.15 to 313.15 K have been measured. The viscosity B-coefficients for heptanedioic acid in aqueous sucrose solution has been calculated. The effect of temperature and sucrose concentration on the B-coefficients is discussed. On the basis of the Feakins equation, the activation parameters (Deltamu3++, DeltaH3++, DeltaS3++, DeltaG12(0)++, DeltaH12(0)++ and DeltaS12(0)++) for viscous flow of the solution have been evaluated, together with the Gibbs energy of transfer for the solute from the ground state solvent to the hypothetical viscous transition state solvent (DeltaG3++(1-1')). The effect of sucrose concentration and temperature on the activation parameters has been discussed.