A Mesopore-Dependent Catalytic Cracking of n-Hexane Over Mesoporous Nanostructured ZSM-5.

Herein, pore size, crystalinity, and Si/Al ratio of mesoporous ZSM-5 (MFI) nanocrystals was controlled by synthesis parameters, such as surfactant concentration ([3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl] hexa-decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride), sodium hydroxide concentrations, synthesis temperature and time. The morphology, surface structure and composition of the MFI particles was systematically investigated. More notably, the mesopore-dependent catalytic activity of ZSM-5 was evaluated by studying the cracking of n-hexane. The findings suggest the porosity has pronounced impact on the catalytic activity, selectivity and stability of ZSM-5 nanocrystals. Critical surface attributes such as nature of acid sites (Brønsted and Lewis), concentration, and strength are obtained by the infrared study of adsorbed probe molecules (pyridine) and the temperature programmed desorption. In spite of being weaker in Si/Al ratio or acidic strength, mesoporous catalysts showed more stable and efficient cracking of n-hexane suggesting that acidity seems not the predominant factor operative in the activity, selectivity and stability.

Rapid effects of red light on the isopentenyladenosine content in scots pine seeds.

Red light (R) stimulates germination in Scots pine seed (Pinus sylvestris L.). The response is far red (FR) reversible. The dynamics of cytokinin changes following light treatment was investigated. Extracts were purified by immunoaffinity and high performance liquid chromatography. N(6)-(Delta(2)-Isopentenyl) adenosine (iPA) and trans-zeatin riboside (ZR) were quantified by both UV-absorbance of high performance liquid chromatography peaks and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Identification of iPA was accomplished by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Levels of cytokinins were low in seeds imbibed in the dark. Exposure of seeds imbibed in the dark for 5 hours to R for 15 minutes induced a strong, immediate but transitory increase in iPA content. This increase was not observed when the R treatment was followed by 10 minutes of FR or by storage in darkness before extraction. No ZR was detected during the first 8 hours of imbibition in any treatment. Addition of iPA via acetone enhanced seed germination in the dark. The results suggest that iPA may be involved in the R-mediated release of dormancy of Scots pine seed.

Phytochrome types in Picea and Pinus. Expression patterns of PHYA-Related types.

Knowledge of the genes in gymnosperms encoding the apoproteins of the plant photoreceptor phytochrome is currently scanty as for gymnosperm nuclear protein coding sequences in general. Here we report two complete cDNA-derived sequences which code for two different types of gymnosperm phytochrome. One sequence stems from Norway spruce (Picea abies) and the other from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). More detailed studies have shown that both types of phytochrome gene are present in Norway spruce. From phylogenetic analyses, these types appear to branch off from progenitors that are also the common ancestors of the angiosperm PHYA/PHYC and PHYB/PHYD/PHYE lineages. Partial phytochrome sequences of other gymnosperms cluster with either the one type or the other of the gymnosperm phytochrome genes characterized here. Southern blot analysis of Picea DNA using probes derived from the full-length Picea gene indicated a family of at least five members. Whether they code for new types may be doubted since only two phylogenetic clusters were found. Studies using RNA-PCR of Picea RNA extracted from either light- or dark-grown seedlings indicated that the steady-state levels of the transcripts of two PHYA/C-related genes were hardly affected by light.