Sodium alginate coating of Ginkgo biloba leaves extract containing phenylpropanoids as an ecofriendly preserving agent to maintain the quality of peach fruit

Plant constituents are of great interest in the food processing industry as potential natural preservative agents for controlling foodborne pathogens. In this study, the 95% EtOH/H2 O extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves was separated using polarity extraction solvents with petroleum ether (PE), ethyl acetate (EA), n-butanol (nB), and water (W) by the principle of similarity and compatibility. Through TLC and NMR analysis of these extracts, it can be concluded that the main component of PE extract were organic acids, for EA extract were flavonoids, for nB extract were phenylpropanoids, and water extract were oligosaccharides. Twelve monomer compounds were separated from the extracts to verify the composition of each extraction stage. Results of morphological and molecular identification revealed that Monilinia fructicola and Rhizopus stolonifer were the main fungi causing peach rot. After evaluating the antifungal activity and peach quality of the four extract/sodium alginate coatings, it was found that the n-butanol extract/sodium alginate coating containing phenylpropanoids had the lowest decay index and the best preservation effect, providing a sustainable alternative to reduce the harm to the environment of synthetic preservatives. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The abuse of synthetic preservatives poses a threat to the ecological environment and physical health. Therefore, this study developed sodium alginate coating of Ginkgo biloba leaves extract containing phenylpropanoids, which has good effects on the preservation of peaches. The agent is a promising environmentally friendly alternative for synthetic preservatives.

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) in homes associated with asthma and lung function among adults in Northern Europe

Associations between measured specific VOC reported to be associated with dampness and microbial growth in dwellings and asthma, lung function were investigated in 159 adults (one adult/home) from three North European cities (Reykjavik, Uppsala and Tartu). Spirometry was performed and forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) and FEV₁/FVC were measured. Among 159 participants, 58% were females, 24.5% atopics, 25.8% current smokers and 41% reported dampness or mold at home. Dimethyl disulphide (p = 0.004), ethyl isobutyrate (p = 0.021) and ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (p = 0.035) were associated with asthma. Isobutanol (p = 0.043), 3-methyl-1-butanol (p = 0.020), 2-hexanone (p = 0.033), 1-octen-3-ol (p = 0.027), 2-methyl-1-butanol (p = 0.022) and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (p = 0.045) were associated with lower FEV₁. Isobutanol (p = 0.004), 3-methyl-1-butanol (p = 0.001), 2-heptanone (p = 0.047) and 2-methyl-1-butanol (p = 0.002) were associated with lower FEV₁/FVC. The association between dimethyl disulphide and asthma was more pronounced in females (p for interaction 0.099). The association between 1-butanol and lower FEV₁ was more pronounced in males (p for interaction 0.046). The associations between 3-octanone (p for interaction 0.064), 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (p for interaction 0.049) and lower FEV₁, and between 2-heptanone (p for interaction 0.021), 3-octanone (p for interaction 0.008) and lower FEV₁/FVC were stronger in homes with dampness/mold. Factor analysis identified one VOC factor related to asthma and two VOC factors related to lower lung function. Increased air concentrations of 2-heptanone, ethyl 2-methylbutyrate and ethyl isobutyrate were related to prescence of certain mold species (Aspergillus sp., Cladosporum sp. and Penicillium sp.) or building dampness. Some VOC were associated with type of dwelling, building age and pet keeping. In conclusion, some VOC reported to be associated with dampness and microbial growth can be associated with asthma and lower lung function in adults. Associations between these VOC and respiratory illness can be stronger in homes with dampness/mold. There can be gender differences in respiratory health effects when exposed to indoor VOC.

Fuel effects on PAH formation, toxicity and regulated pollutants: Detailed comparison of biodiesel blends with propanol, butanol and pentanol

Blends of biodiesel and high-carbon alcohols have the potential to increase the rate of biofuel use in diesel engines, while reducing harmful and toxic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Since biodiesel and alcohols do not contain aromatic ingredients in their chemical structures, this study examined biodiesel blends with propanol, n-butanol, and 1-pentanol (5 %, 20 % and 35 % by vol.) and the effects of these aromatic-free fuels on regulated emissions, PAH formation and toxicity as compared to straight diesel fuel in a diesel engine operating at a constant speed and varying engine loads. PAH samples were meticulously processed and extensively analyzed using rigorous analytical chemistry methodology (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)). Biodiesel and biodiesel-alcohol blends significantly reduced NO_x emissions and the level of formation of PAHs and toxicity levels when compared to diesel fuel. Overall, adding 5 % alcohol to biodiesel decreased total PAH emissions. However, with the exception of 20 % propanol, adding 20 % and 35 % alcohol to biodiesel increased total PAH emissions as compared to neat biodiesel. In contrast, all blended fuels resulted in a decrease in the toxicity of PAH compounds (up to 70 %) and the percentage of higher-ring PAHs. Among higher alcohols, propanol blends stood out as reducing PAH formation as compared to n-butanol and pentanol blends. Overall, biodiesel-alcohol blends that emit less carcinogenic pollutants and primarily low-rings PAHs were found to be advantageous for reducing the likelihood of wetstacking in diesel engines under low load or cold operating conditions.

Antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral activity, and gas chromatographic analysis of Varanus griseus oil extracts

There is an urgent need to develop natural antimicrobials for the control of rapidly mutating drug-resistant bacteria and poultry viruses. Five extracts were prepared using diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, methanol, 1-butanol and n-hexane from abdominal fats of Varanus griseus locally known as Indian desert monitor. Antibacterial, antioxidant and antiviral activities from oil extracts were done through disc diffusion method, stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and in ovo antiviral assay, respectively. The gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses were used to determine principal active compounds and chemical profile of each oil extract. n-Hexane extract showed clear zones of inhibition (ZOI) against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (12 ± 0.5 mm, 9 ± 0.5 mm, and 9 ± 0.5 mm) while diethyl ether extract exhibited significant antibacterial activity (11 ± 0.5 mm) against Proteus vulgaris only. In case of drug-resistant strains, methanol extract was active (6 ± 0.5 mm) against Staphylococcus aureus, whereas n-hexane extract has shown ZOI 11 ± 0.5 mm against P. aeruginosa. Range of percentage scavenging activity of V. griseus oil extracts from DPPH free radical assay was 34.9-70.7%. For antiviral potential, growth of new castle disease virus (NDV) was effectively inhibited by all five extracts (HA titer = 0-4). The highest antiviral activity against avian influenza virus (H9N2) was observed from methanol, diethyl ether and 1-Butanol oil extracts with HA titers of 2, 2 and 0, respectively. Methanol, diethyl ether, 1-butanol and n-hexane oil extracts produced best hemagglutination assay (HA) titer values (0, 0, 4 and 0) against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). Ethyl acetate and 1-Butanol extract exhibited good antiviral potential against infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) with indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) titers of 8 and 4, respectively. Main classes of identified compounds through gas chromatography were aldehydes, fatty acids, phenols and esters. GC-MS identified 11 bioactive compounds in V. griseus oil extracts. It is summarized that V. griseus oil has strong antioxidant activity and good antimicrobial potential because of its bioactive compounds.

Direct versus Sequential Analysis of Procyanidin- and Prodelphinidin-Based Condensed Tannins by the HCl-Butanol-Acetone-Iron Assay

In this study, we optimized the HCl-butanol-acetone-iron (HBAI) assay for the analysis of B-linked procyanidin (PC) and prodelphinidin (PD) condensed tannins (CTs) by direct analysis of whole tissue and sequential analysis of acetone-water extracts and insoluble residues prepared from forage, woody plant, food, and food byproduct samples. Yields of anthocyanidins (cyanidin and delphinidin) were optimized by heating ≤0.25 mg mL^-1 CT standards, 1 mg mL^-1 tissue, or 1-2 mg mL^-1 acetone-water fractioned tissue for 3 h at 70 °C in medium containing 5% concentrated HCl, 6.7% total water, 50% acetone, 42% n-butanol, and 0.15% ammonium iron(III) sulfate dodecahydrate. Accurate quantitation required CT standards of known purity sourced from the same tissue being analyzed. Both analysis methods provided comparable estimates of total CTs for most PD-rich samples, but only the sequential method gave good recovery and accurate estimates of CTs in most PC-rich samples.

Search for compounds contributing to onion-like off-flavor in beer and investigation of the cause of the flavor

Onion-like off-flavor is a highly undesirable property in beer. Although several compounds that impart onion-like odors have been identified, the individual contribution of these compounds to the onion-like off-flavor in beer is not clear. In the present study, we searched for compounds that impart an onion-like odor by gas chromatography (GC)-olfactometry. The analysis of several types of beer revealed that 2-mercapto-3-methyl-1-butanol (2M3MB) and 3-mercapto-3-methyl-1-butanol (3M3MB) were possible causative compounds. Based on the difference threshold values in beer (0.13 ng/mL for 2M3MB and 17.5 ng/mL for 3M3MB) and the quantification values of these compounds in beer samples, only 2M3MB was considered to contribute to the onion-like off-flavor in beer. A further formation factor analysis of 2M3MB revealed that 2M3MB was formed in hopped wort after fermentation, and that the concentration of 2M3MB increased following the hot aeration treatment of wort. These results suggest that preventing the hot aeration of wort is a key factor for reducing 2M3MB levels in beer. In a previous report, 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol (3MBol) was speculated to be the precursor of 2M3MB and 3M3MB; however, the results of the present quantification analysis and wort addition tests indicate that 3MBol did not contribute to the formation of 2M3MB in the brewing process and that unknown precursors of 2M3MB originated in wort. Identifying the precursor of 2M3MB may facilitate elucidation of the mechanism of 2M3MB formation.

Round robin test for odour testing of migration waters

For a round robin test for EN 1420-1 (Odour assessment for organic materials in contact with drinking water) with 14 contributing laboratories from 10 European countries segments of a plastic pipe were sent to the laboratories which performed a migration test and an odour analysis of the migration waters (water that had contact with the organic material) according to the procedure described in the standard from 1999. In addition reference substances (Methyl tert-butyl ether, 1-butanol and hexanal) were investigated for their suitability to qualify the panels and the individual panellists. Methyl tert-butyl ether (MtBE) and 1-butanol proved to be suitable for this purpose, whereas hexanal showed a wide distribution of the individual odour threshold concentrations. Both possible testing options (unforced and forced choice) were performed and gave similar results. However, with respect to the qualification of the panellists and the data analysis the unforced choice procedure showed advantages. As human olfactory perception is used for the analysis, the reproducibility and the comparability between laboratories is of particular concern. For the pipe material the TON results of the different laboratories were in a range of ±1.5 dilutions based on a dilution factor of 2. This might be improved by taking the individual sensitivities of the panellists into account more strongly. Appropriate measures for the improvement of the test method appear to be the use of the proposed reference substances for the training of the panellists as well as the auditing and the selection of the panellists. The results of this round robin test are used in the revision process of the standard.

[Guide values for 1-butanol in indoor air. Report of the German Ad Hoc Working Group on Indoor Guidelines of the Indoor Air Hygiene Committee and of the States' Supreme Health Authorities]

The German Ad Hoc Working Group on Indoor Guidelines of the Indoor Air Hygiene Committee and the States' Supreme Health Authorities is issuing indoor air guide values to protect public health. No human studies of sufficient quality are available for the evaluation of 1-butanol in indoor air. In a well-documented oral study on reproduction toxicity in rats, assessed as reliable, impairment of embryo development was observed. Benchmark modeling of the study data by US-EPA revealed a BMDL10 of 26.1 mg/kg b.w. per day. The working group used this BMDL10 as the point of departure for the derivation of the guide value II. Considering a human respiration rate of 20 m(3) per day and a human body weight of 70 kg, this dose was converted into an inhalative concentration. Applying a factor of 0.6 to account for the inhalative absorption rate, an allometric extrapolation factor from rat to human (factor 4), an interspecies factor of 2.5 for toxicodynamics, and a factor of 10 to account for individual differences (intraspecies factor), results in a health hazard guide value (RW II) of 2 mg 1-butanol/m(3). The benchmark dose calculation of the same study generated a BMDL05 of 12.4 mg/kg b.w. per day. Applying the same assessment factors as for RW II, a precautionary guide value (RW I) of 0.7 mg 1-butanol/m(3) indoor air is calculated.

Impact of higher alcohols blended in gasoline on light-duty vehicle exhaust emissions

Certification gasoline was splash blended with alcohols to produce four blends: ethanol (16 vol%), n-butanol (17 vol%), i-butanol (21 vol%), and an i-butanol (12 vol%)/ethanol (7 vol%) mixture; these fuels were tested in a 2009 Honda Odyssey (a Tier 2 Bin 5 vehicle) over triplicate LA92 cycles. Emissions of oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, non-methane organic gases (NMOG), unburned alcohols, carbonyls, and C1-C8 hydrocarbons (particularly 1,3-butadiene and benzene) were determined. Large, statistically significant fuel effects on regulated emissions were a 29% reduction in CO from E16 and a 60% increase in formaldehyde emissions from i-butanol, compared to certification gasoline. Ethanol produced the highest unburned alcohol emissions of 1.38 mg/mile ethanol, while butanols produced much lower unburned alcohol emissions (0.17 mg/mile n-butanol, and 0.30 mg/mile i-butanol); these reductions were offset by higher emissions of carbonyls. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and butyraldehyde were the most significant carbonyls from the n-butanol blend, while formaldehyde, acetone, and 2-methylpropanal were the most significant from the i-butanol blend. The 12% i-butanol/7% ethanol blend was designed to produce no increase in gasoline vapor pressure. This fuel's exhaust emissions contained the lowest total oxygenates among the alcohol blends and the lowest NMOG of all fuels tested.

[Characteristics and evaluation of volatile organic compounds discharge in typical enterprise wastewater in Hangzhou City]

Totally 77 kinds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in inlet/outlet wastewater of 10 typical enterprises in Hangzhou City were determined by headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, then the discharge characteristics of VOCs were analyzed, and the monitoring results were evaluated. The results indicated that 22 kinds of VOCs were detected in inlet wastewater, the range of VOCs concentrations was 7-3.39 x 10(6) microg x L(-1), while 14 kinds of VOCs were detected in outlet wastewater, the range of VOCs concentrations was 16- 6.82 x 10(4) microg x L(-1). The concentrations of VOCs in inlet/outlet wastewater of flavors and fragrances manufacturing enterprises were much higher than those of other industries. When using the third class discharge standard of "integrated wastewater discharge standard" (GB 8978-1996) as the evaluation criteria, the toluene concentration detected in outlet wastewater of enterprise 1 was 2.45 x 10(3), microg x L(-1), which exceeded the standard limit. In addition. When the discharge multimedia environmental goals (DMEG(WH)) of VOCs in water was used as the evaluation criteria, the concentrations of n-butyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone in outlet wastewater of enterprise 3 exceeded their respective discharge multimedia environmental goals.

Ethanol production from syngas by Clostridium strain P11 using corn steep liquor as a nutrient replacement to yeast extract

The feasibility of replacing yeast extract (YE) by corn steep liquor (CSL), a low cost nutrient source, for syngas fermentation to produce ethanol using Clostridium strain P11 was investigated. About 32% more ethanol (1.7 g L(-1)) was produced with 20 g L(-1) CSL media in 250-mL bottle fermentations compared to media with 1 g L(-1) YE after 360 h. Maximum ethanol concentrations after 360 h of fermentation in a 7.5-L fermentor with 10 and 20 g L(-1) CSL media were 8.6 and 9.6 g L(-1), respectively, which represent 57% and 60% of the theoretical ethanol yields from CO. Only about 6.1 g L(-1) of ethanol was obtained in the medium with 1 g L(-1) YE after 360 h, which represents 53% of the theoretical ethanol yield from CO. The use of CSL also enhanced butanol production by sevenfold compared to YE in bottle fermentations. These results demonstrate that CSL can replace YE as the primary medium component and significantly enhance ethanol production by Clostridium strain P11.

Solvent composition of one-step self-etch adhesives and dentine wettability

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to determine the wettability of dentine by four commercial self-etch adhesives and evaluate their spreading rate on the dentine surface. Any correlation with chemical composition was sought, particularly with the amount of solvent or HEMA present in the adhesive. The adhesives used were AdheSE One, Optibond All.In.One, Adper Easy Bond and XenoV.

METHODS

Chemical compositions were determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of the adhesives dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide. Apparent contact angles for sessile drops of adhesives were measured on dentine slices as a function of time for up to 180s. The water contact angles were determined for fully polymerised adhesives.

RESULTS

All adhesives were water-based with total solvent contents ranging from 27% to 73% for HEMA-free adhesives, and averaging 45% for HEMA containing adhesives. The contents in hydrophobic groups decreased as water contents increased. No differences were found in the adhesive contact angles after 180s even though the spreading rates were different for the products tested.

CONCLUSION

Water contact angles differed significantly but were not correlated with HEMA or solvent presence. Manufacturers use different approaches to stabilise acid co-monomer ingredients in self-etch adhesives. Co-solvents, HEMA, or acrylamides without co-solvents are used to simultaneously etch and infiltrate dentine. A large proportion of water is necessary for decalcification action.

Effects of ethanol-based fuel contamination: microbial community changes, production of regulated compounds, and methane generation

Ethanol-based fuels are becoming more heavily used, increasing the likelihood of ethanol-based fuel spills during transportation and storage. Although ethanol is well-known to be readily biodegradable, very little is known about the effects that such a spill might have on an indigenous microbial community. Of particular concern is that ethanol contamination could stimulate the growth of organisms that can generate regulated compounds and/or produce explosive quantities of methane gas. A column-based study was performed to elucidate the potential impacts of ethanol-based fuel (E85) on the indigenous microbial community during a simulated fuel spill. A continuous dilute supply of E85 resulted in profound shifts in both the bacterial and archaeal communities. The shift was accompanied by the production of high concentrations of volatile fatty acids and butanol, a compound that is regulated in groundwater by some states. Results also indicated that a continuous feed of dilute E85 generated explosive levels of methane within one month of column operation. Quantitative PCR data showed a statistically significant increase in methanogenic populations when compared to a control column. The elevated population numbers correlated to areas of the column receiving a sustained carbon load. Toxicity data indicated that microbial growth was completely inhibited (as evidenced by absence of ethanol breakdown products) at ethanol levels above 6% (v/v). These data suggest that ethanol from ethanol-based fuel can be readily degraded, but can also produce metabolic products that are regulated as well as explosive levels of methane. The core of an E85 spill may serve as a long-term source of contamination as it cannot be degraded until significant dilution has occurred.

Impact of soil organic matter on the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils

The knowledge on the distribution of hydrophobic organic contaminants in soils can provide better understanding for their fate in the environment. In the present study, the n-butanol extraction and humic fractionation were applied to investigate the impact of SOM on the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results indicated that 80.5%-94.8% of the target PAHs could be extracted by n-butanol and 63.1%-94.6% of PAHs were associated with fulvic acid (FA). Concentrations of un-extracted PAHs increased significantly with the increasing soil organic matter (SOM), however, such an association was absent for the extractable fractions. The results suggested that the sequestration played a critical role in the accumulation of PAHs in soils. SOM also retarded the diffusion of PAHs into the humin fractions. It implied that sequestration in SOM was critical for PAH distribution in soils, while the properties of PAH compounds also had great influences.

Flavonoid glycosides from the leaves of Cissus ibuensis hook (vitaceae)

The bioactive N-butanol fraction of the ethanol extract of the leaves of Cissus ibuensis was fractionated over silica Gel column to give Quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (I) and mixtures of Flavonoids (A2). A2 was fractionated using reverse phase HPLC to give Kaempferol 3-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl (1→6)-β-D-galactopyranoside (II), Kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside(III) and Kaempferol3-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl (1→6)-α-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)-β-D-galactopyranoside (IV). The structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and compared with literature.

Novel method for identification and quantification of methanol and ethanol in alcoholic beverages by gas chromatography-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and horizontal attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Numerous methods are being used to identify and quantify methanol and ethanol in alcoholic beverages, including country liquors. Some of the known methods are density and refractive index measurements, and spectrophotometric measurements using Schiff's reagent or chromatropic acid. Other advanced techniques involve head space gas chromatography (GC), GC-flame ionization detection, high-performance liquid chromatography, enzymatic reactions, and biosensors. However, identification and quantification of methanol and ethanol in beverages can be accurately done using GC-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and horizontal attenuated total reflectance (HATR)-FTIR. Identification of alcohols is possible from library matching of the IR spectra obtained from GC-FTIR. In water, methanol and ethanol show a very strong peak for C-O, stretching at 1015.3 and 1044.2 cm(-1), respectively. The strong absorption of vibrational stretching frequency of C-O present in alcohols was used for quantification purposes. The absorptions of C-O group frequency of alcohols in water mixtures were measured using HATR-FTIR with a zinc-selenide crystal. Samples were placed directly on the HATR crystal, with alcohol concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 50.0% (v/v). The plot of absorptions against concentrations of methanol and ethanol obeyed Beer's law (r2 = 0.9998 and 0.9987, respectively), from which alcohol in the mixtures was quantified. Propan-2-ol and n-butanol showed no interference. The method is validated from absorption measurements of known mixtures of standard ethanol in water. This is a simple, specific, rapid, accurate, and nondestructive method of identification and quantification of methanol and ethanol in mixtures. It can be used to ascertain methanol contamination in alcoholic beverages that can lead to death or methanol poisoning by alcohol consumption.

Quantitative determination of L-DOPA in tablets by high performance thin layer chromatography

A densitometric high performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method was developed and validated for quantitative analysis of L-DOPA in tablets. Chromatographic separation was achieved on precoated silica gel F 254 HPTLC plates using a mixture of acetone-chloroform-n-butanol-acetic acid glacial-water (60:40:40:40:35 v/v/v/v/v) as mobile phase. Quantitative analysis was carried out at a wavelength of 497 nm. The method was linear between 100 and 500 ng/microL, with a correlation coefficient of 0.999. The intra-assay variation was between 0.26 and 0.65% and the interassay was between 0.52 and 2.04%. The detection limit was 1.12 ng/microL, and the quantification limit was 3.29 ng/microL. The accuracy ranged from 100.40 to 101.09%, with a CV not higher than 1.40%. The method was successfully applied to quantify L-DOPA in real pharmaceutical samples, including the comparison with HPLC measurements. The method was fast, specific, with a good precision, and accurate for the quantitative determination of L-DOPA in tablets.

Characterization of microemulsion structures in the pseudoternary phase diagram of isopropyl palmitate/water/Brij 97:1-butanol

This research was aimed to characterize microemulsion systems of isopropyl palmitate (IPP), water, and 2:1 Brij 97 and 1-butanol by different experimental techniques. A pseudoternary phase diagram was constructed using water titration method. At 45% wt/wt surfactant system, microemulsions containing various ratios of water and IPP were prepared and identified by electrical conductivity, viscosity, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), cryo-field emission scanning electron microscopy (cryo-FESEM) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results from conductivity and viscosity suggested a percolation transition from water-in-oil (water/oil) to oil-in-water (oil/water) microemulsions at 30% wt/wt water. From DSC results, the exothermic peak of water and the endothermic peak of IPP indicated that the transition of water/oil to oil/water microemulsions occurred at 30% wt/wt water. Cryo-FESEM photomicrographs revealed globular structures of microemulsions at higher than 15% wt/wt water. In addition, self-diffusion coefficients determined by NMR reflected that the diffusability of water increased at higher than 35% wt/wt water, while that of IPP was in reverse. Therefore, the results from all techniques are in good agreement and indicate that the water/oil and oil/water transition point occurred in the range of 30% to 35% wt/wt water.

Continuous fermentative hydrogen production using a two-phase reactor system with recycle

The effects of effluent recycle were examined in a two-phase anaerobic system where the first phase was operated for fermentative hydrogen production and the second for methanogenesis. The hydrogen reactor was operated as a chemostat at 35 degrees C and pH 5.5 with a 10 h hydraulic retention time, and the methane reactor was operated as an up-flow reactor at 28 degrees C and pH between 6.9 and 7.2. Two recycle ratios were examined: 0 and 0.98. Effluent recycle reduced the required alkalinity for pH control by approximately 40%. The H2 productivity metric, with a basis in electrons and incorporating both gaseous and dissolved H2, was developed as a more fundamental reporting method than the molar H2 yield. Without recycle, the H2 productivity was 0.115 g of H2 COD/g of feed COD, but decreased to 0.015 q of H2 COD/g of feed COD with recycle (COD = chemical oxygen demand). Mass balances indicated the lower H2 productivity during recycle was due to electrons being partitioned to methane and less-oxidized soluble constituents such as propionic acid, ethanol, and butanol. The results indicated that achieving high H2 productivity with nonsterile wastewaters will be challenging and membrane filtration of the recycle liquid may be required to exclude the return of hydrogen-consuming organisms.

[Treatment of mix gas containing butyl acetate, n-butyl alcohol and phenylacetic acid from pharmaceutical factory by bio-trickling filter]

The bio-trickling filter packed with ZX02 stuffing is used to treat the mix gases containing butyl acetate, n-butyl alcohol and phenylacetic acid(BBP), which are discharged from Penicillin workshop of Pharmaceutical Factory. The reactor was operated for 110 days to investigate the effect of influent load, retention time and spray water on the removal of BBP and the biodegradation characteristics. The reactor displayed preferential utilization of BBP, when the maximum influent load of BBP were 229.5g/(m3 x h), 275.4 g/(m3 x h) and 42.5g/(m3 x h), the removal efficiencies were 96%, 95% and 100% respectively. The results show that the bio-trickling filter can effectively treat the mix gases and the optimum parameters were as followed: retention time was 31.2 s, the volume of spray water was 4 L/(L x d). The bio- trickling reactor has strong ability to resist shock of high influent load and resistance is maintained at low value, what's more, it doesn't need to carry out back washing frequently. With all these advantages it can be operated steadily for long time.

Use of n-butanol as an odorant to standardize the organoleptic scale of breath odour judges

OBJECTIVE

The alcohol n-butanol has been recommended for use as a standard odorant by various groups for the training or standardization of breath odour judges and sensory evaluation panels. The objective of this study is to assess the use of n-butanol as a suitable odorant for organoleptic training of breath judges.

METHODS

One judge with full smell acuity was trained in the method of organoleptic assessment using odorant solutions of main chemical classes (acids, amines, indole and sulphides) with the exception of alcohols. The subject was proficient in scoring odorant solutions, standard gas mixtures and human breath using the Rosenberg 0-5 organoleptic scale. A wide range of n-butanol solutions were prepared from 0 to 90 000 ppm and dispensed as replicate 12-ml volumes in Universal bottles (24 ml) leaving a headspace of 12 ml. Sets of odorants were prepared, labelled by code, randomized and presented to the judge in a completely blind fashion. The judge scored each concentration. This process was repeated on 32 occasions over a period of 12 weeks. Mean values of data for each determination for each concentration series were plotted against the log concentrations of odorant. Linear regression slope analysis was used to measure slope, the 95% CI of slope and the scatter of points (R2 value). Headspace concentrations of odorant were determined using gas chromatography (GC) analysis.

RESULTS

The n-butanol regression slope gave a high R(2) value (0.971) and low scatter. However, the data did not correspond to other published work using an ASTM method where the range of recommended butanol concentrations was insufficient at both the high and low ends to determine the top and threshold. Moreover, headspace analysis using GC confirmed the published gas concentrations to be in error by a factor of 100. It was also observed that high concentrations of odorants were irritant causing desensitization if used for prolonged periods.

CONCLUSION

The published method had erroneous headspace calculations listed and n-butanol could not be recommended as a training odorant because of its irritancy.

[GC-MS analysis of supercritical carbon dioxide extraction products from Rhodiola tibetica]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the chemical constituents of supercritical carbon dioxide extraction products from Rhodiola tibetica.

METHOD

The chemical constituents were separated and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

RESULT

26 Components were identified, and their relative contents were determined by normalization method of area.

CONCLUSION

This study provides foundation for the exploitation of the resources of R. tibetica.

Variability and repeatability of olfactometric results of n-butanol, pig odour and a synthetic gas mixture

For the purposes of a research project for the Flemish authorities, olfactometric measurements were carried out at six closed pig farms and six fattener farms. The results of these olfactometric measurements were compared with the olfactometric results of n-butanol samples and samples of a synthetic gas mixture of ethanethiol, methylacetate and 2-propanol in nitrogen, both analysed on the same days as the air samples from the pig farms. The results of the n-butanol tests for all panellists showed that nobody was qualified according to the CEN criteria, and that, consequently, these criteria are rather stringent. Comparing the variability of the results for the three different odours showed that the mean and standard deviation of the mean variance were not significantly different for the three odour types, which means that the repeatability of the panellist results was equal for the examined odour types. The principle of traceability was checked by comparing the variance of the n-butanol, pig odour and synthetic mixture ratio. For the complete dataset, the principle of traceability could not been proven for n-butanol. For the restricted dataset, the principle of traceability was more valid for n-butanol than for the mixture, but differences were small. Finally, normalization was looked for with regard to olfactometric measurements of air samples from pig arms based either on n-butanol or on the synthetic mixture. Both models had low determination coefficients, but the model based on the synthetic mixture gave better results than the one based on n-butanol.

A review of the environmental fate and aquatic effects of a series of C4 and C8 oxo-process chemicals

Environmental fate and aquatic effects data were examined for a series of C4 (butyl acetate, 1-butanol, isobutyl alcohol) and C8 (2-ethylhexanol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid) oxo-process chemicals. Manufacturing of these chemicals requires enclosed equipment, so environmental releases are generally limited to volatilization during their use, handling or transport. C4 compounds are more soluble and volatile, and would bind to soil and sediment to a lesser extent than C8 compounds. All five compounds were readily biodegradable based on OECD and APHA tests conducted up to 28 days. Atmospheric photo-oxidation half-lives range from 0.43 to 3.8 days. Toxicity data show that all five compounds pose generally low concern to fish, invertebrates, algae, and microorganisms. Overall, the data show that inadvertent releases of these compounds into the environment would be rapidly biodegraded in soil and water, volatilize to the atmosphere subject to photo-oxidation, while any residues remaining in water would pose a negligible threat to aquatic life.

Chemical investigation of gamma-irradiated saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

Changes in aroma and coloring properties of saffron (Crocus sativus) after gamma-irradiation at doses of 2.5 and 5 kGy (necessary for microbial decontamination) were investigated. The volatile essential oil constituents responsible for aroma of the spice were isolated by steam distillation and then subsequently analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). No significant qualitative changes were observed in these constituents upon irradiation, although a trained sensory panel could detect slight quality deterioration at a dose of 5 kGy. Carotene glucosides that impart color to the spice were isolated by solvent extraction and then subjected to thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fractionation of the above pigments into aglycon and glucosides was achieved by using ethyl acetate and n-butanol, respectively. Analysis of these fractions by HPLC revealed a decrease in glucosides and an increase in aglycon content in irradiated samples. The possibility of degradation of pigments during gamma irradiation is discussed.

Aspects of manufacture, composition and safety of orubisi: a traditional alcoholic beverage in the north-western region of Tanzania

The processing technology and characteristics of orubisi/amarwa, an opaque beer commonly consumed in Kagera region in the north-western part of Tanzania is described in detail. The protein content of orubisi increased from 2.0 to 2.7% after 120 hours of fermentation. The maximum alcohol content of orubisi as determined by specific gravity method was 2.5%. The alcohol profile of orubisi analysed by gas liquid chromatography (GLC) was found to contain ethanol and iso-butanol. The test for methanol was negative. Orubisi was characterised as product with relatively high acidity ranging from 0.35-0.89 g/100 ml and a final pH of 3.7. The levels of fermentable sugars--sucrose, maltose, glucose and fructose--were 0.5, 0.7, 1.8 and 0.6 g/100 ml after 120 hours of fermentation, respectively. High microbial counts were encountered in orubisi. The viable counts included yeasts: 2.0 x 10(7) cfu/ml, moulds 7.4 x 10(6) cfu/ml, coliforms 1.18 x 10(2) cfu/ml, lactic acid bacteria 6.5 x 10(7) cfu/ml and total aerobic count 2.95 x 10(7) cfu/ml. Based on these results, orubisi poses a serious danger to public health due to the presence of high numbers of total count and coliforms. In order to improve the safety of orubisi the pasteurisation step is recommended in the process of preparing orubisi. Hygienic handling of the final product is necessary in order to avoid contamination before consumption. The presence of trace amount of iso-butanol can lead to irritation of mucous membranes and depression of central nervous system.

[Investigation on the changing regularity of the relationship between retention index and temperature of the GDX series stationary phases]

A systematical measure of the polarity scale of the Chinese porous polymer beads of this series of stationary phase has been carried out, including the McReynolds constant at 120 degrees C by using squalane as non-polar stationary phase and the relative constant to GDX-103 at 180 degrees C. Based on the above work, two kinds stationary phases GDX-101 and GDX-103 were selected, on which the changing regularity of the relationship between retention index and temperature of the five "probes" of stationary polarity determination, including benzene, butanol, 1-nitropropane, 2-pentanone and pyridine were investigated. At the same time, the changing regularity with temperature of the relative McReynolds constant delta I of GDX-101 to GDX-103 was studied. It is found that Ip-theta c curve and delta I-theta c curve all showed a turning point at the temperature of 180 degrees C and that there was a maximum value of delta I at the temperature of 180 degrees C. So we think that the retention mechanism of this kind of stationary phase changed at 180 degrees C.

Preprimed artificial lung for emergency use

We investigated the possibility of preprimed storage of an artificial lung (AL), aiming at facilitating its emergency use. Test ALs, consisting of a special microporous hollow fiber membrane made of polyolefin in which direct blood-gas contact was completely eliminated, were preprimed with saline solution, sterilized by gamma-ray irradiation, and evaluated after 1-3 months of storage at room temperature. A small amount of bubble was noted in the priming solution after storage in some ALs, which most likely originated from the air dissolved in the priming solution or persisted in the liquid compartment at priming. Although the preprimed solution contained several polyolefin-breakdown products due to irradiation, including ethyl alcohol, n- and t-butyl alcohol, acetone, and carbon dioxide, the levels of these substances were at concentrations known to be not toxic. Endotoxin concentration was negligible. In SEM observation, no perceptible microstructural change was observed in the hollow fibers after preprimed storage. Maximum tensile stress and ultimate elongation of the hollow fiber in the test ALs were reduced by approximately 20% and 3%, respectively, from those of the control AL. The influence of preprimed storage on gas-exchange function was examined in a venoarterial bypass animal study using a goat. Oxygen transfer function was well preserved whereas carbon dioxide removal function was slightly lowered according to the storage term in the stored ALs compared with those of a nonpreprimed control AL. On the basis of these results, we conclude that preprimed storage of the AL with gamma-ray sterilization is basically feasible and realistic.

[Application of derivative technique in the signal processing of gas chromatography]

An application of derivative technique in the signal processing of gas chromatography(GC) is described. TCD's sensitivity of the derivative GC was 270 kV.L/kg, and its susceptibility was 0.3 microgram/L In comparison with the conventional GC, there was a 7-40 fold increase in sensitivity and a 24-40 fold decrease in susceptibility. The noise of the derivative GC was equal to or smaller than the conventional one. The minimum resolution for a pair of substances most difficulty to be separated in conventional GC, which was separated completely in the derivative GC, was 2.8. The linear range of n-butanol was 10(2) and the peak area correlation coefficient of the derivative GC was 0.9991.