Volume 17 (2015): Issue 3 (September 2015)

Vinyl ester resin (VEOCN) was prepared from o-cresol epoxy resin (EOCN) and methacrylic acid in the presence of triphenyl phosphine as catalyst and hydroquinone as inhibitor with acid value of ~ 7 mg of KOH per gram of solid. O-cresol based novolac resin (OCN), OCN based epoxy resin (EOCN) and VEOCN were characterized by Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy (FT-IR), ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR. The thermal and mechanical behavior of the samples prepared at 30°C from VEOCN using styrene and methyl-methacrylate respectively as reactive diluents, in the presence of benzoyl peroxide (2 phr) as initiator was studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Universal Testing Machine (UTM). Chemical resistance of above VER samples was also evaluated as a function of % weight loss and with the help of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), upon immersing the VEOCN samples in different solutions for 90 days.

In presented studies the photocatalytic decomposition of NOx on gypsum plates modified by TiO₂-N,Cphotocatalysts were presented. The gypsum plates were obtained by addition of 10 or 20 wt.% of different types of titanium dioxide, such as: pure TiO₂ and carbon and nitrogen co-modified TiO₂ (TiO₂-N,C) to gypsum. TiO₂-N,C photocatalysts were obtained by heating up the starting TiO₂ (Grupa Azoty Zakłady Chemiczne Police S.A) in the atmosphere of ammonia and carbon at the temperature: 100, 300 i 600ºC. Photocatalyst were characterized by FTIR/DRS, UVVis/DR, BET and XRD methods. Moreover the compressive strength tests of modified gypsum were also done. Photocatalytic activity of gypsum plates was done during NOx decomposition. The highest photocatalytic activity has gypsum with 20 wt.% addition of TiO₂-N,C obtained at 300ºC.

Sweet sorghum juice and traditional ethanol substrate i.e. sugarcane molasses were used for ethanol production in this work. At the end of the fermentation process, the sweet sorghum juice yielded more ethanol with higher ethanol concentration compared to sugarcane molasses in all experiments. The sweet sorghum juice had higher cell viability at high ethanol concentrations and minimum sugar concentration at the end of the fermentation process. The ethanol concentration and yield were 8.9% w/v and 0.45 g/g for sweet sorghum in 80 h and 6.5% w/v and 0.37 g/g for sugarcane molasses in 60 h, respectively. The findings on the physical properties of sweet sorghum juice revealed that it has better physical properties compared to sugarcane molasses, resulting to enhanced performance of sweet sorghum juice for ethanol production

Heavy metals determination in manures provides beneficial information to predict the availability and the potential contamination of environment. Therefore, a study was carried out to investigate heavy metals changes in livestock manure during a co-composting process. The metals were stepwise fractionated into exchangeable, adsorbed, organically bound, carbonate precipitated and residual forms by extracting with 0.5M KNO₃, de-ionized water, 0.5M NaOH, 0.05M Na₂EDTA and 4M HNO₃, respectively. During the extraction process, the amount of metals remained highly dependent on an extraction method and stage of manure composting. Extractions released heavy metals contents in the final composted manure as Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > Cd. Irrespective of the days of composting, extracting agents differed in the order HNO₃ > Na₂EDTA > NaOH > KNO₃ > H₂O for all heavy metals. Higher concentrations of heavy metals were observed during the early stages of composting. Conversely, there was a progressive increase in the concentrations of K, Ca and Mg during composting of manure. Total C in the manure reduced with composting days.

Kraft lignin was hydrothermally depolymerized at low temperature/short time in water for producing value-added phenolics. The effects of residence time (15, 60 min) and reaction temperature (130, 180, 230ºC) on yields of oils and phenolic compounds were studied in detail. Total oil yield was found to range between 7% and 10%. The compositions of oils were analyzed by GC-MS to confirm the main compound to be guaiacol (2-methoxy phenol) in the range of 12–55% of oil depending on different reaction conditions. The most interesting was the finding that maximum value of total oil yield (10% of kraft lignin) and guaiacol amount (55% of oil) was obtained at 130ºC/15, 60 min which is a low reaction temperature/short time, while the residual kraft lignins were analyzed by FTIR with respect to the conversion mechanism of kraft lignin by this process.

Bioremediation is the removal of heavy-metals such as nickel (Ni) using microorganisms and has been considered as an important field in the biotechnology. Isolation and characterization of microorganisms exhibiting bioremediation activities and their optimization to treat polluted wastewaters is a vital and difficult task in remediation technologies. In this study, investigation was carried out to isolate Ni (II) remediating microbial strains from soils contaminated with municipal solid waste leachate. Furthermore, Taguchi design of experiments were used to evaluate the influence of concentration, pH, temperature, and time on bioremediation of Ni (II) using isolated bacteria. This study concluded that Bacillus sp. KL1 is a Ni (II)-resistant strain and had Ni (II) bioremediation activity. The highest bioremediation of Ni (II) was observed as 55.06% after 24 h at 30ºC, pH 7, and 100 ppm concentration. Moreover, it was also observed that concentration is the most effective factor in the bioremediation process. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that bacteria isolated from soils contaminated with garbage leachate have the Bacillus sp. KL1 bacteria which can efficiently uptake and eliminate Ni (II) from contaminated sites and thus makes it possible to treat heavy-metal containing wastewaters in industry by using this microorganism at optimized conditions.

In this work the physicochemical and biological properties of nanocrystalline TiO₂ thin films were investigated. Thin films were prepared by magnetron sputtering method. Their properties were examined by X-ray diffraction, photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, optical transmission method and optical profiler. Moreover, surface wettability and scratch resistance were determined. It was found that as-deposited coatings were nanocrystalline and had TiO₂-anatase structure, built from crystallites in size of 24 nm. The surface of the films was homogenous, composed of closely packed grains and hydrophilic. Due to nanocrystalline structure thin films exhibited good scratch resistance. The results were correlated to the biological activity (in vitro) of thin films. Morphological changes of mouse fibroblasts (L929 cell line) after contact with the surface of TiO₂ films were evaluated with the use of a contrast-phase microscope, while their viability was tested by MTT colorimetric assay. The viability of cell line upon contact with the surface of nanocrystalline TiO₂ film was comparable to the control sample. L929 cells had homogenous cytoplasm and were forming a confluent monofilm, while lysis and inhibition of cell growth was not observed. Moreover, the viability in contact with surface of examined films was high. This confirms non-cytotoxic effect of TiO₂ film surface on mouse fibroblasts.

A laboratory experiment of two-stage mesophilic, low-dry mass, anaerobic digestion was carried out, focused on verifying the benefit of processing the biscuit meal EKPO-EB instead of triticale silage Agostino (GPS) and corn silage LG3266 in a regular batch for the agricultural biogas station in Pustějov. While anaerobic digestion of ensilages is largely difficult due to the content of lignocellulose, biscuit meal provides a high yield of biogas or methane, respectively, thanks to its high content of simple saccharides and lipids. When the original GPS (or the replacement EKPO-EB, respectively) represented 0.81% of weight of the daily input mixture dose for the first stage, the rise in volumetric methane production was 20% which is significant. The biscuit meal EKPO-EB decomposes almost completely in the first stage. Later, when the EKPO-EB represented 1.63% of weight of the daily input mixture dose for the first stage, the rise in volumetric methane production was 54% in the first stage and 16% in the second stage.

Various siliceous agriculture waste (SAW) such as rice husk, wheat husk and bagasse have been investigated to study their thermal degradation behavior using Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA) technique. The focus of this research is to conduct TGA of raw and acid treated (20% HCl & 1M H2SO4) SAW at heating rate 10°C/min in the atmosphere of nitrogen. The results were analyzed on the basis of thermograms and it was inferred that 24 hours soaking with 20% HCl prior to thermal degradation enhanced the percent weight loss. The process also improved the percentage of residual weight of SAW indicating the extraction of amorphous silica with increased purity. The effect of acid treatment was verified by determining chemical composition of SAW samples before and after soaking with 20% HCl. Proximate analysis, thermal degradation temperature ranges and percentage of residual weight at 800°C for each of rice husk, wheat husk and bagasse were also quantified to observe the thermal degradation behavior. XRF analysis was performed to observe the effect of acid treatment for extraction of pure silica.

Homogeneous catalysts for methane oxidation are of a particular interest from scientific and economic points of view. The results show a great potential for activation and functionalization of CH bonds of unreactive methane. There are still gaps in the knowledge of how to rationally design catalysts for this process. In this paper state-of-the-art. in methane oxidation homogenous catalysis is presented.

This article presents the results of the statistical modeling of copper losses in the silicate slag of the sulfide concentrates smelting process. The aim of this study was to define the correlation dependence of the degree of copper losses in the silicate slag on the following parameters of technological processes: SiO₂, FeO, Fe₃O₄, CaO and Al₂O₃ content in the slag and copper content in the matte. Multiple linear regression analysis (MLRA), artificial neural networks (ANNs) and adaptive network based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) were used as tools for mathematical analysis of the indicated problem. The best correlation coefficient (R² = 0.719) of the final model was obtained using the ANFIS modeling approach.

This article presents the feasibility for the removal of Aniline Blue dye (AB dye) from aqueous solution using a low cost biosorbent material Zizyphus oenoplia seeds. In this study, a batch mode experiments of the adsorption process were carried out as a function of pH, contact time, concentration of dye, adsorbent dosage and temperature. The experimental data were fitted with Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm equations. The feasibility of the isotherm was evaluated with dimensionless separation factor (R_L). The kinetic data of sorption process are evaluated by using pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order equations. The mode of diffusion process was evaluated with intra-particle diffusion model. The thermodynamic parameters like change in enthalpy (ΔHº); change in entropy (ΔSº) and Gibbs free energy change (ΔGº) were calculated using Van’t Hoff plot. The biosorbent material was characterized with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and the morphology was identified with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) in before and after adsorption of AB dye.

A linear triblock copolymer, poly(styrene-b-etylene/butylene-b-styrene)(SEBS) thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) grafted with maleic anhydride was used for compatibilization of PP/PBT blends. PP/PBT blends of different mass ratios 60/40, 50/50, 40/60 were mixed with 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 wt.% of SEBS copolymer in a twin screw extruder. Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis were performed to define the phase structure of PP/PBT blends. TPE with a rubbery mid-block shifted the glass transition of PP/PBT blend towards lower temperatures, and significant decrease the crystallization temperature of a crystalline phase of PP component was observed. The influence of the amount of compatibilizer and the blend composition on the mechanical properties (tensile and flexural strengths, toughness and moduli) was determined. Addition of 5 wt.% of a triblock TPE led to a three-fold increase of PP/PBT toughness. A significant increase of impact properties was observed for all materials compatibilized with the highest amount of SEBS copolymer.

This work reports the effects of some culture conditions on the production of glucose isomerase by Bacillus licheniformis. The bacterium was selected based on the release of 3.62 mg/mL fructose from the fermentation of glucose. Enzyme was produced using a variety of carbon substrates but the highest enzyme activity was detected in a medium containing 0.5% xylose and 1% glycerol (specific activity = 6.88 U/mg protein). Media containing only xylose or glucose gave lower enzyme productivies (specific activities= 4.60 and 2.35 U/mg protein respectively). The effects of nitrogen substrates on glucose isomerase production showed that yeast extract supported maximum enzyme activity (specific activity = 5.24 U/mg protein). Lowest enzyme activity was observed with sodium trioxonitrate (specific activity = 2.44 U/mg protein). In general, organic nitrogen substrates supported higher enzyme productivity than inorganic nitrogen substrates. Best enzyme activity was observed in the presence of Mg²⁺ (specific activity = 6.85 U/mg protein) while Hg²⁺ was inhibitory (specific activity = 1.02 U/mg protein). The optimum pH for best enzyme activity was 6.0 while optimum temperature for enzyme production was 50ºC.

This study proposes a method for the production of ethanol from wheat straw lignocellulose where the raw material is chemically processed before hydrolysis and fermentation. The usefulness of wheat straw delignification was evaluated with the use of a 4:1 mixture of 95% ethanol and 65% HNO₃ (V). Chemically processed lignocellulose was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis to produce reducing sugars, which were converted to ethanol in the process of alcoholic fermentation. Chemical processing damages the molecular structure of wheat straw, thus improving ethanol yield. The removal of lignin from straw improves fermentation by eliminating lignin’s negative influence on the growth and viability of yeast cells. Straw pretreatment facilitates enzymatic hydrolysis by increasing the content of reducing sugars and ethanol per g in comparison with untreated wheat straw.

Removal of penicillin has been investigated using decaffeinated tea waste (DCTW). Decaffeination of tea waste was investigated using different methods. Results indicate that ozonation was the most effective process for removal of penicillin. Batch adsorption experiments were completed at various temperatures (20, 30, and 40°C), DCTW dosages (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 g per 250 mL), penicillin concentrations (4, 10, and 14 mg/L), and pH (3, 7, and 10) conditions. Studies showed that adsorption reaches equilibrium within 40 min. The main factor affecting adsorption of penicillin was the solution pH, with maximum adsorption occurring at pH 3. Higher adsorbent dosages and lower penicillin concentrations also resulted in higher percentages of penicillin removal. Results show that data obeyed the pseudo-first-order kinetic and Freundlich isotherm models. This process proves that low-cost DCTW could be used as a high performance adsorbent for removing penicillin from aqueous solutions.

This paper reports the application of poly(azomethinethioamide) (PATA) resin having the pendent chlorobenzylidine ring for the removal of heavy metal ions such as Zn(II) and Ni(II) ions from the aqueous solutions by adsorption technology. Kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic models for Zn(II) and Ni(II) ions adsorption were applied by considering the effect of contact time, initial metal ion concentration and temperature data, respectively. The adsorption influencing parameters for the maximum removal of metal ions were optimized. Adsorption kinetic results followed the pseudo-second order kinetic model based on the correlation coefficient (R²) values and closed approach of experimental and calculated equilibrium adsorption capacity values. The removal mechanism of metal ions by PATA was explained with the Boyd kinetic model, Weber and Morris intraparticle diffusion model and Shrinking Core Model (SCM). Adsorption equilibrium results followed the Freundlich model based on the R² values and error functions. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of PATA for Zn(II) and Ni(II) ions removal were found to be 105.4 mg/g and 97.3 mg/g, respectively. Thermodynamic study showed the adsorption process was feasible, spontaneous, and exothermic in nature.

The aim of the study presented was to experimentally analyze an effect of the nutrient type and its concentration on the variability of rheological properties of the baker’s yeast suspensions for different time periods. Aqueous suspensions of the baker’s yeast of various concentration (solution I, without nutrient) and yeasts suspended in aqueous solution of sucrose or honey as nutrients with different concentration (solution II or solution III) were tested. Experiments were carried out using rotational rheoviscometer of type RT10 by a company HAAKE. The measurements were conducted for different time periods (from 1 h up to 144 h) at given fluid temperature. On the basis of the obtained data, rheological characteristics of the aqueous solution of baker’s yeast suspensions without and with nutrients of different sucrose or honey concentration were identified and mathematically described.

The overall gas hold-up of a pilot plant scale internal loop airlift reactor was studied in presence of different alcohols in varied concentration. It has been observed that these simple alcohols can enhance overall gas hold-up of the airlift assembly possibly due to formation of protective thin layer over smaller gas bubbles thereby reducing chance of their coalescence. As the alcohols can be used as food source for the micro organisms present in the system, this green and environment friendly process have potential to replace usage of hazardous surfactants often used for enhancing overall hold-up in order to obtain desired mass transfer characteristics. An empirical relationship encompassing overall gas hold-up of the reactor as a function of superficial gas velocity and alcohol concentration is also developed.

Gallium (Ga) is considered an important element in the semiconducting industry and as the lifespan of electronic products decrease annually Ga-containing effluent has been increasing. The present study investigated the use of biodegradable polymer powders, crab shell and chitosan, in the removal of Ga(III) ions from aqueous solution. Ga(III) biosorption was modeled to Lagergren-first, pseudo-second order and the Weber-Morris models. Equilibrium data was modeled to the Langmuir, Freundlich and Langmuir-Freundlich adsorption isotherms to determine the probable biosorption behavior of Ga(III) with the biosorbents. The biosorbents were investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive Spectra analysis.