Biofuel production by liquefaction of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) biomass.

In this study, kenaf biomass, its dried hydrolysate residue (solid residue left after removing water from hydrolysate) and non-hydrolyzed kenaf residue (solid residue left after hydrolysis process) were liquefied at various temperatures. Hydrolysis of biomass was performed in subcritical water condition. The oil+gas yield of biomass materials increased as the temperature increased from 250 to 300°C. Increasing temperature to 350°C resulted in decreases in oil+gas contents for all biomass feeds studied. On the other hand, preasphaltene+asphaltene (PA+A) and char yields significantly decreased with increasing the process temperature. The use of carbon or activated carbon supported Ru catalyst in the process significantly decreased char and PA+A formations. Oils produced from liquefaction of kenaf, dried kenaf hydrolysate and non-hydrolyzed kenaf residue consist of fuel related components such as aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene and benzene derivative compounds, indane and trans/cis-decalin.

Effect of support materials on supported platinum catalyst prepared using a supercritical fluid deposition technique and their catalytic performance for hydrogen-rich gas production from lignocellulosic biomass.

A number of supported Pt catalysts have been prepared by supercritical carbon dioxide deposition technique using various supports. The reduction of Pt precursor to metal performed by heat treatment under nitrogen flow. The prepared catalysts were evaluated for gasification of wheat straw biomass hydrolysates and glucose solution for hydrogen-rich gas production. The activities of the catalysts were highly affected by distribution, amount and particle sizes of platinum on the support. In general carbon-based supported Pt catalysts exhibited better catalytic activity compared to other supports to be used. Compared to biomass hydrolysate feed, gasification of glucose always resulted in higher volume of gas mixture, however, hydrogen selectivity was decreased in all catalyst except multi-walled carbon nanotube. The deposition of Pt particles inner side of that support makes the large organic substrates inaccessible to reach and react with those metal particles.

Degradations of model compounds representing some phenolics in olive mill wastewater via electro-Fenton and photoelectro-Fenton treatments.

The electrochemical oxidation of vanillic acid, o-coumaric acid and protocatechuic acid, three representative toxic phenolics in olive mill wastewater, was studied using carbon felt cathode in the electro-Fenton system. Results obtained, in the presence or absence of UV support, were compared throughout the degradation processes up to mineralization. It was demonstrated that all three phenolic compounds reacted completely with hydroxyl radicals and degraded efficiently. It was shown in the photoelectro-Fenton process that the degradation and mineralization efficiency of the phenolic compounds were enhanced by the effect of UV light, especially at the later stages of the degradation processes.

Immunostimulatory activity of polysaccharide-poly(I:C) nanoparticles.

Immunostimulatory properties of mushroom derived polysaccharides (PS) as stand-alone agents were tested. Next, PS were nanocomplexed with polyI:C (pIC) to yield stable nanoparticles around 200 nm in size evidenced by atomic force microscopy and dynamic light scattering analyses. PSs were selectively engaged by cells expressing TLR2 and initiated NFκB dependent signaling cascade leading to a Th1-biased cytokine/chemokine secretion in addition to bactericidal nitric oxide (NO) production from macrophages. Moreover, cells treated with nanoparticles led to synergistic IL6, production and upregulation of TNFα, MIP3α, IFNγ and IP10 transcript expression. In mice, PS-Ovalbumin-pIC formulation surpassed anti-OVA IgG responses when compared to either PS-OVA or pIC-OVA mediated immunity. Our results revealed that signal transduction initiated both by TLR2 and TLR3 via co-delivery of pIC by PS in nanoparticle depot delivery system is an effective immunization strategy. The present work implicate that the PS and nucleic acid based nanoparticle approach along with protein antigens can be harnessed to prevent infectious diseases.

Degradation of 17beta-estradiol and bisphenol A in aqueous medium by using ozone and ozone/UV techniques.

Decomposition and complete degradation of two endocrine disrupters, namely 17beta-estradiol (E2) and bisphenol A (BPA) in aqueous medium by using ozone (O3) only and O3/UV advanced oxidation techniques (AOT) has been studied. The efficiency of the O3 systems used were determined based on the initial conversion and complete degradation of the substrates. Within the limits of the O3 dosages used, coupling of UV decreased the O3 consumption by 22.5% in converting the same amount of E2. Also the time to convert the same amount of E2 was considerably decreased. It was observed that there is no significant difference in O3 amount consumed for complete conversion of BPA by O3 and O3/UV systems. However, when O3 dosage decreased the amount of BPA conversion exhibits significant differences between two processes. The intermediate products formed during the oxidation of E2 were determined to be formed by oxidation of aromatic side of E2 with O3/*OH radical.

Comparison of the treatment methods efficiency for decolorization and mineralization of Reactive Black 5 azo dye.

Degradation of Reactive Black 5 (RB5), a well-known non-biodegradable disazo dye, has been studied using UV/TiO2, wet-air oxidation (WAO), electro-Fenton (EF) and UV/electro-Fenton (UV/EF) advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). The efficiency of substrate decolorization and mineralization in each process has been comparatively discussed by decreases in concentration and total organic carbon content of RB5 solutions. The most efficient method on decolorization and mineralization was observed to be WAO process. Mineralization efficiency was observed in the order of WAO>UV/TiO2>UV/EF>EF. Final solutions of AOPs applications after 90 min treatment can be disposed safely to environment. Photocatalytic degradation kinetics of RB5 successfully fitted to Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) kinetics model. The values of second order degradation rate constant (k'') and adsorption constant (K) were determined as 5.085 mg L(-1)min(-1) and 0.112 L mg(-1), respectively.

Comparison of several advanced oxidation processes for the decolorization of Reactive Red 120 azo dye in aqueous solution.

In this study UV/TiO2, electro-Fenton (EF), wet-air oxidation (WAO), and UV/electro-Fenton (UV/EF) advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been applied to degrade Reactive Red 120 (RR120) dye in aqueous solution. The most efficient method on decolorization and mineralization of RR120 was observed to be WAO process. Photocatalytic degradation of RR120 by UV/TiO2 have been studied at different pH values. At pH 3 photocatalytic degradation kinetics of RR120 successfully fitted to Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) kinetics model. The values of second order degradation rate (k") constant and adsorption constant (K) were determined as 4.525 mg L(-1) min(-1) and 0.387 L mg(-1), respectively. Decolorization efficiency observed in the order of WAO > UV/TiO2 = UV/EF > EF while WAO > UV/TiO2 > UV/EF > EF order was observed in TOC removal (mineralization). For all AOPs, it was found that degradation products in reaction mixture can be disposed safely to environment after 90 min treatment.

Degradation of aldrin in adsorbed system using advanced oxidation processes: comparison of the treatment methods.

In this study, Fenton, UV/Fenton, UV/H2O2, UV/Fe2+ advanced oxidation processes have been applied for degradation of aldrin adsorbed on Na-montmorillonitte and activated carbon. Aldrin adsorbed on Na-montmorillonitte was degraded more efficiently than that of on activated carbon. For example, in UV/Fenton technique 95% of aldrin was removed from Na-montmorillonitte while 50% degradation was observed on activated carbon. Degradation of aldrin adsorbed on Na-montmorillonitte has also been achieved effectively using UV/Fe2+ technique despite the absence of H2O2. All AOPs but Fenton have been observed nearly equally effective for degradation of aldrin on Na-montmorillonitte sorbent. Fenton reaction exhibited least activity in degradation aldrin adsorbed on Na-montmorillonitte. The experiments with activated carbon sorbent indicated that phenyl groups in activated carbon structure and aldrin molecules exhibited competitive behavior on reaction with OH* radicals. The results of infrared spectroscopy support this assumption. The degradation efficiency of aldrin using activated carbon sorbent was determined in the following order: UV/Fenton > UV/H2O2 > Fenton > UV/Fe2+.

Indirect electrochemical treatment of bisphenol A in water via electrochemically generated Fenton's reagent.

Bisphenol A (BPA) has been treated with electrochemically generated Fenton's reagent in aqueous medium. Hydroxyl radicals that were formed in Fenton's reagent reacted with the organic substrate producing two different isomers of monohydroxylated product and, upon successive hydroxylation, mainly one dihydroxylated product. Further hydroxylation first degraded one of the aromatic rings, and the side chain thus formed was then cleaved off the other aromatic ring. The second aromatic ring was also degraded upon successive hydroxylations. Small saturated and unsaturated aliphatic acids were the last products prior to mineralization. It was found that use of cuprous/cupric ion pair resulted a faster conversion of BPA and faster mineralization when compared using ferrous/ferric ions, but this happened at the expence of excess electrical charge utilized for an equivalent conversion or mineralization. Degradation by using ferrous/ferric ions was more efficient than cuprous/cupric ions case in terms of total mineralization versus charge utilized, and a mineralization of 82% had been achieved by applying 107.8 mF of charge to a 0.7 mM BPA solution of 0.200 dm3. The rate constant of the monohydroxylation of BPA in the presence of ferrous/ferric ions had been determined as 1.0 x 10(10) M(-1) s(-1) where BPA and salicylic acid competitively reacted with hydroxyl radicals in aqueous medium with the initial concentrations of Fe2+, BPA, and SA of 1.0, 0.5, and 0.5 mM, respectively. In a similar experiment where the initial concentrations of Cu2+, BPA, and SA were 1.0, 0.5, and 0.5 mM, respectively, the corresponding rate constant was determined to be the same as the rate constant obtained for Fe2+ (i.e., 1.0 x 10(10) M(-1) s(-1)). While the use of Cu2+ cannot be advised for processing BPA and similar substrates by using the electro-Fenton technique for both technical and economical reasons, the use of [Fe2+]/[BPA]0 values in the range 3-4 will be sufficient to achieve an efficient mineralization of BPA and similar substrates by the electro-Fenton process in aqueous medium.