Mercury emissions during cofiring of sub-bituminous coal and biomass (chicken waste, wood, coffee residue, and tobacco stalk) in a laboratory-scale fluidized bed combustor.

Four types of biomass (chicken waste, wood pellets, coffee residue, and tobacco stalks) were cofired at 30 wt % with a U.S. sub-bituminous coal (Powder River Basin Coal) in a laboratory-scale fluidized bed combustor. A cyclone, followed by a quartz filter, was used for fly ash removal during tests. The temperatures of the cyclone and filter were controlled at 250 and 150 degrees C, respectively. Mercury speciation and emissions during cofiring were investigated using a semicontinuous mercury monitor, which was certified using ASTM standard Ontario Hydra Method. Test results indicated mercury emissions were strongly correlative to the gaseous chlorine concentrations, but not necessarily correlative to the chlorine contents in cofiring fuels. Mercury emissions could be reduced by 35% during firing of sub-bituminous coal using only a quartz filter. Cofiring high-chlorine fuel, such as chicken waste (Cl = 22340 wppm), could largely reduce mercury emissions by over 80%. When low-chlorine biomass, such as wood pellets (Cl = 132 wppm) and coffee residue (Cl = 134 wppm), is cofired, mercury emissions could only be reduced by about 50%. Cofiring tobacco stalks with higher chlorine content (Cl = 4237 wppm) did not significantly reduce mercury emissions. This was also true when limestone was added while cofiring coal and chicken waste because the gaseous chlorine was reduced in the freeboard of the fluidized bed combustor, where the temperature was generally below 650 degrees C without addition of the secondary air. Gaseous speciated mercury in flue gas after a quartz filter indicated the occurrence of about 50% of total gaseous mercury to be the elemental mercury for cofiring chicken waste, but occurrence of above 90% of the elemental mercury for all other cases. Both the higher content of alkali metal oxides or alkali earth metal oxides in tested biomass and the occurrence of temperatures lower than 650 degrees C in the upper part of the fluidized bed combustor seemed to be responsible for the reduction of gaseous chlorine and, consequently, limited mercury emissions reduction during cofiring. This study identified the important impacts of temperature profile and oxides of alkali metal (alkali earth metal) on mercury emissions during cofiring in the fluidized bed combustor.

[The antitumor activities of the extracts from Stellera chamaejasmel L. in vitro by means of systematic solvent extraction].

OBJECTIVE: To screen the antitumor extract from Stellera chamaejasmel L.. METHODS: The means of systematic solvent extraction was used to separate the 95% ethanol extract. The antitumor activities of the different extracts in vitro were analyzed with MTT assay. RESULTS: The petroleum ether extract and the chloroform extract strongly inhibited cell proliferation of human cancer cell lines such as leukemia HL-60, stomach cancer SGC-7901 and hepatocarcinoma BEL-7402, and showed significant dose-dependent response while the n-butanol extract and the methanol extract exhibited low antitumor activities in vitro. The petroleum ether extract was most active. CONCLUSION: The petroleum ether extract is the principal antitumor extract from Stellera chamaejasmel L..

[Application of chromatograph-digitized fingerprint spectrum in identification of indigenous medicinal materials Radix et Rhizoma Rhei from Gansu province].

OBJECTIVE: To establish HPLC-Digitized fingerprint spectrum (HPLC-DFPS) of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei from Gansu province. METHODS: HPLC method was applied. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A group of characteristic peaks suggested that HPLC-DFPS can be used for identification of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei from Gansu province.

[Studies on fingerprint spectrum of Ephedra sinica from Gansu province].

OBJECTIVE: To set up the fingerprint spectrum of Ephedra sinica from Gansu province and its extract for controlling the quality. METHODS: HPLC with UV detector was used to analyze the patterns of Ephedra sinica from Gansu province. RESULTS: The fingerprint spectrum of Ephedra sinica from Gansu province was set up. Furthermore, the fingerprint spectrum showed an excellent correlation, and all the parameters of the main co-peaks met the requirements for State Drug Administration's technical regulations on the herb. CONCLUSION: The studies are useful for the quality control of Ephedra sinica from Gansu province.