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Potential secondhand exposure of exhaled constituents from e-vapor product (EVP) use is a public health concern. We present a computational modeling method to predict air levels of exhaled constituents from EVP use. We measured select constituent levels in exhaled breath from adult e-vapor product users, then used a validated computational model to predict constituent levels under three scenarios (car, office, and restaurant) to estimate likely secondhand exposure to non-users. The model was based on physical/thermodynamic interactions between air, vapor, and particulate phase of the aerosol. Input variables included space setting, ventilation rate, total aerosol amount exhaled, and aerosol composition. Exhaled breath samples were analyzed after the use of four different e-liquids in a cartridge-based EVP. Nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin, menthol, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein levels were measured and reported based on a linear mixed model for analysis of covariance. The ranges of nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin, and formaldehyde in exhaled breath were 89.44-195.70 µg, 1199.7-3354.5 µg, 5366.8-6484.7 µg, and 0.25-0.34 µg, respectively. Acetaldehyde and acrolein were below detectable limits; thus, no estimated exposure to non-EVP users is reported. The model predicted that nicotine and formaldehyde exposure to non-users was substantially lower during EVPs use compared to cigarettes. The model also predicted that exposure to propylene glycol, glycerin, nicotine and formaldehyde among non-users was below permissible exposure limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Current treatment guidelines for patients with severe TBI (sTBI) are aimed at preventing secondary brain injury targeting specific endpoints of intracranial physiology to avoid the development of metabolic crisis. We sought to identify factors contributing to development of metabolic crisis in the setting of a Multi-modality Monitoring and Goal-Directed Therapy (MM&GDTP) approach to patients with severe TBI. Methods: Prospective monitoring of sTBI patients was performed, with retrospective data analysis. MM&GDTP was targeted to intracranial pressure (ICP) ≤ 20 mmHg, cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) ≥ 60 mmHg, brain tissue oxygen pressure (PbtO2) ≥ 20 mmHg, and cerebral oxygen extraction measured by bi-frontal Near infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) > 55%. Brain flow abnormality was defined by one of the following combinations: CPP < 60 mmHg with NIRS < 55% (Type 1), CPP < 60 mmHg with PbtO2 < 20 mmHg (Type 2), or PbtO2 < 20 mmHg with NIRS < 55% (Type 3). Cerebral micro-dialysate was analyzed hourly for glucose, lactate, pyruvate, glutamate, glycerol, and lactate/pyruvate ratio (LPR). Statistical analysis was performed with student t-test, chi-square and Pearson's tests as applicable. Results: A total of 109,474 consecutive minutes of recorded multimodality monitoring was available for analysis. There was a significant difference in the number of minutes of brain flow abnormalities between survivors and non-survivors: 0.8% (875) versus 7.49% (8,199), respectively (p < 0.05). The duration of Type 1–3 flow abnormality per patient was higher in non-survivors (5.7 ± 2.5 h) compared to survivors (0.7 ± 0.6 h) as well as the duration of metabolic crisis, namely, 5.2 ± 2.2 versus 0.6 ± 1.0 h per patient. The occurrence of severe metabolic crisis was associated with a Type 2 flow abnormality (CPP < 60 mmHg and PbtO2 < 20 mmHg), r = 0.97, p < 0.001, but not with Type 1 and 3. Conclusions: Metabolic crisis can occur despite a MM&GDTP approach aimed at optimizing cerebral blood flow. Severe metabolic crisis is associated to failure to maintain CPP and PbtO2 above 60 and 20 mmHg, respectively. The occurrence of severe metabolic crisis portends a poor prognosis in patients with sTBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic particles have been evaluated for their biomedical applications as a drug delivery system to treat asthma and other lung diseases. In this study, ferromagnetic barium hexaferrite (BaFe12O19) and iron oxide (Fe3O4) particles were suspended in water or glycerol, as glycerol can be 1000 times more viscous than water. The particle concentration was 2.50 mg/mL for BaFe12O19 particle clusters and 1.00 mg/mL for Fe3O4 particle clusters. The magnetic particle cluster crosssectional area ranged from 15 to 1000 _m2, and the particle cluster diameter ranged from 5 to 45 _m. The magnetic particle clusters were exposed to oscillating or rotating magnetic fields and imaged with an optical microscope. The oscillation frequency of the applied magnetic fields, which was created by homemade wire spools inserted into an optical microscope, ranged from 10 to 180 Hz. The magnetic field magnitudes varied from 0.25 to 9 mT. The minimum magnetic field required for particle cluster rotation or oscillation in glycerol was experimentally measured at different frequencies. The results are in qualitative agreement with a simplified model for single-domain magnetic particles, with an average deviation from the model of 1.7 _ 1.3. The observed difference may be accounted for by the fact that our simplified model does not include effects on particle cluster motion caused by randomly oriented domains in multi-domain magnetic particle clusters, irregular particle cluster size, or magnetic anisotropy, among other effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is no uniform definition for cerebral microdialysis (CMD) probe location with respect to focal brain lesions, and the impact of CMD-probe location on measured molecule concentrations is unclear.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of 51 consecutive subarachnoid hemorrhage patients with CMD-monitoring between 2010 and 2016 included in a prospective observational cohort study. Microdialysis probe location was assessed on all brain computed tomography (CT) scans performed during CMD-monitoring and defined as perilesional in the presence of a focal hypodense or hyperdense lesion within a 1-cm radius of the gold tip of the CMD-probe, or otherwise as normal-appearing brain tissue.Results: Probe location was detected in normal-appearing brain tissue on 53/143 (37%) and in perilesional location on 90/143 (63%) CT scans. In the perilesional area, CMD-glucose levels were lower (p = 0.003), whereas CMD-lactate (p = 0.002), CMD-lactate-to-pyruvate-ratio (LPR; p < 0.001), CMD-glutamate (p = 0.002), and CMD-glycerol levels (p < 0.001) were higher. Neuroglucopenia (CMD-glucose < 0.7 mmol/l, p = 0.002), metabolic distress (p = 0.002), and mitochondrial dysfunction (p = 0.005) were more common in perilesional compared to normal-appearing brain tissue. Development of new lesions in the proximity of the CMD-probe (n = 13) was associated with a decrease in CMD-glucose levels, evidence of neuroglucopenia, metabolic distress, as well as increasing CMD-glutamate and CMD-glycerol levels. Neuroglucopenia was associated with poor outcome independent of probe location, whereas elevated CMD-lactate, CMD-LPR, CMD-glutamate, and CMD-glycerol levels were only predictive of poor outcome in normal-appearing brain tissue.Conclusions: Focal brain lesions significantly impact on concentrations of brain metabolites assessed by CMD. With the exception of CMD-glucose, the prognostic value of CMD-derived parameters seems to be higher when assessed in normal-appearing brain tissue. CMD was sensitive to detect the development of new focal lesions in vicinity to the neuromonitoring probe. Probe location should be described in the research reporting brain metabolic changes measured by CMD and integrated in statistical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Meningitis is an inflammation of meninges encircled the brain and spinal cord. Currently it can be treated with second generation cephalosporins which were ended up with an unresolvable problem called Multi Drug Resistance (MDR). Hence, there is a need to develop a better herbal molecule to conflict the MDR. Methods: Hot Blanching technique followed by ultra sound assisted extraction using bio-solvent aqueous glycerol was used to extract OLE from olive leaves. QbD tool was applied to predict the interactions between Critical Material Attributes (Ratio of solid Lipid X1, Concentration of Surfactant X2) and Critical Process Parameters (Homogenization Time X3) on Critical Quality Attributes (CQA, Particle Size Y1, Zeta Potential Y2, and Entrapment Efficiency Y3). Particulate characteristics were evaluated and Invivo pharmacokinetic study was done in albino Wistar rats by IV and IN route of administration. Results: Thermal studies reflect the formation of low ordered crystalline structure of lipid matrix which offers higher encapsulation of drug in NLC than physical mixture. CMA and CPP show significant effect on CQA and method operable design range was developed. Histo-pathological studies confirms that there is no signs of toxicity and in-vitro drug release studies reveals a rapid release of a drug initially followed by prolonged release of oleuropein upto 24 h. The absolute bioavailability of drug loaded NLC in brain was higher in IN route compared to NLC administered by IV route. Conclusions: In a nutshell, challenges offered by the hydrophilic OLE for brain targeting can be minimized through lipidic nature of NLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and vape devices have rapidly become the most common tobacco products used by youth, driven in large part by marketing and advertising by e-cigarette companies. There is substantial evidence that adolescent e-cigarette use leads to use of combustible tobacco products. E-cigarette companies commonly advertise that e-cigarettes contain nicotine, flavoring chemicals, and humectants (propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin), but toxicants, ultrafine particles, and carcinogens have also been found in e-cigarette solutions and emissions, many of which are known to cause adverse health effects. Most major e-cigarette brands are owned by big tobacco companies that use similar marketing and advertising strategies to attract youth users as they did with traditional tobacco products. In this review, we provide an overview of e-cigarettes and vape devices with an emphasis on the impact for the pediatric population. We describe the vast array of e-cigarette devices and solutions, concern for nicotine addiction, and the scientific background on the known health harms. There are accompanying visual depictions to assist in identifying these products, including newer e-cigarette products and JUUL. Because current federal regulations are insufficient to protect youth from e-cigarette use, exposure, and nicotine addiction, there are recommendations for pediatricians and pediatric health care providers to counsel and advocate for a tobacco-free lifestyle for patients and families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth has an important promotion effect on the catalytic performance of Pt‐catalyzed oxidation reactions. Herein, the catalyst structure, Bi content, and catalytic performance of Bi‐modified Pt catalysts in the electro‐oxidation of glycerol and formic acid were researched to unravel the essential promotion role of Bi. The Bi‐modification methods included the loading, adsorption, and electrodeposition of Bi on Pt. The electrodeposited Bi‐modified Pt had the best performance among the three methods. In a certain range, the lower electrodeposition potential of Bi resulted in a higher Bi content on the Pt catalyst and better performance. The activity of the Pt catalyst with Bi deposited at −0.15 V was 8.5 times and 27 times that of the monometallic Pt catalyst in the electro‐oxidation of glycerol and formic acid, respectively. The selective distribution of Bi adjacent to Pt and a higher percentage of Bi hydroxide were favorable for the catalytic performance. Ways and means: The Bi‐modification methods of loading, adsorption, and electrodeposition of Bi on a Pt catalyst are systematically researched. The selective distribution of Bi adjacent to Pt and the higher percentage of Bi hydroxide are demonstrated to be favorable for the electro‐oxidation of glycerol and formic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acidified glycerol pretreatment is very effective to deconstruct lignocellulosics for producing glucose. Co‐utilization of pretreated biomass and residual glycerol to bioproducts could reduce the costs associated with biomass wash and solvent recovery. In this study, a novel strain Rhodosporidium toruloides RP 15, isolated from sugarcane bagasse, was selected and tested for coconversion of pretreated biomass and residual glycerol to microbial oils. In the screening trails, Rh. toruloides RP 15 demonstrated the highest oil production capacity on glucose, xylose, and glycerol among the 10 strains. At the optimal C:N molar ratio of 140:1, this strain accumulated 56.7, 38.3, and 54.7% microbial oils based on dry cell biomass with 30 g/L glucose, xylose, and glycerol, respectively. Furthermore, sugarcane bagasse medium containing 32.6 g/L glucose from glycerol‐pretreated bagasse and 23.4 g/L glycerol from pretreatment hydrolysate were used to produce microbial oils by Rh. toruloides RP 15. Under the preliminary conditions without pH control, this strain produced 7.7 g/L oil with an oil content of 59.8%, which was comparable or better than those achieved with a synthetic medium. In addition, this strain also produced 3.5 mg/L carotenoid as a by‐product. It is expected that microbial oil production can be significantly improved through process optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A novel dry washing process based on anion resin is developed. • The process can be effectively applied to remove glycerin from oil phase. • Removal mechanism of glycerin on anion resin is proposed and predicted. Abstract A weakly basic anion exchange resin with hydroxylated tertiary amine groups was successfully synthesized and used for the first time in an adsorption study for glycerin in fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). A kinetic study of glycerin adsorption on the resin demonstrated that the resin exhibited a rapid initial adsorption behavior, and the correlation coefficients (r 2 2) of the pseudo-second order reaction model were all greater than 0.98, which indicated the existence of hydrogen bonds through sharing electrons between glycerin and active sites on the resin. The whole process of glycerin adsorption onto the resin was a combination mechanism involving hydrogen bond sorption and intraparticle diffusion. The thermodynamic experiments showed that the glycerin adsorption onto the resin was a spontaneous exothermic process accompanied with a gradual decrease in entropy. In addition to intraparticle diffusion, the adsorption behaviors of the resin for glycerin also involved hydrogen bond forces between the OH in the glycerin molecule and N atom in the N(CH 3) 2 group, glycerin intermolecular hydrogen bond attraction, the dipole bond forces between glycerin and the N(CH 3) 2 group (90.96%) in the resin, and the dipole bond forces between glycerin and several of the N(CH 3) 3 + groups (9.04%) in the resin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The utilization of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) by the fetus may exceed its capacity to synthesize them from essential fatty acids, so they have to come from the mother. Since adipose tissue lipolytic activity is greatly accelerated under fasting conditions during late pregnancy, the aim was to determine how 24 h fasting in late pregnant rats given diets with different fatty acid compositions affects maternal and fetal tissue fatty acid profiles.Methods: Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were given isoenergetic diets containing 10% palm-, sunflower-, olive- or fish-oil. Half the rats were fasted from day 19 of pregnancy and all were studied on day 20. Triacylglycerols (TAG), glycerol and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were analyzed by enzymatic methods and fatty acid profiles were analyzed by gas chromatography.Results: Fasting caused increments in maternal plasma NEFA, glycerol and TAG, indicating increased adipose tissue lipolytic activity. Maternal adipose fatty acid profiles paralleled the respective diets and, with the exception of animals on the olive oil diet, maternal fasting increased the plasma concentration of most fatty acids. This maintains the availability of LCPUFA to the fetus during brain development.Conclusions: The results show the major role played by maternal adipose tissue in the storage of dietary fatty acids during pregnancy, thus ensuring adequate availability of LCPUFA to the fetus during late pregnancy, even when food supply is restricted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solute retention data acquired by gas-liquid chromatography were used to determine the activity coefficients at infinite dilution for 24 organic solutes in the deep eutectic solvent (DES) consisting of tetramethylammonium chloride and glycerol in a molar ratio of 1.001:2. The organic solutes included alk-1-anes, alk-1-enes, alk-1-ynes, cycloalkanes, alkanols, alkylbenzenes, ketones, esters and heterocyclics. The measurements were undertaken at four different temperatures, viz T = (313.15, 323.15, 333.15 and 343.15) K with an estimated uncertainty of ±3.8%. From the experimental infinite dilution activity coefficient data, the values of partial molar excess enthalpy at infinite dilution were calculated using Gibbs Helmholtz relationship. Limiting selectivity and capacity values were also calculated from experimental limiting activity coefficients and compared to those of other separation agents, including other deep eutectic solvents, ionic liquids and industrial molecular agents. Results obtained in this study indicate that tetramethylammonium chloride + glycerol DES can potentially be used as an alternative solvent for nitrogen and sulphur removal from transportation fuels as well as the separation of cycloalkanes, aromatics and esters from light alkanols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, crude glycerol was purified by a combined strategy of physicochemical treatment and semi-continuous membrane filtration using a 5 kDa ultrafiltration tubular membrane. Three parameters – temperature, pressure, and flow rate were studied to see the effect of membrane filtration on glycerol purity. A maximum glycerol purity of 93.7% was obtained from crude glycerol of 40% purity after the physicochemical treatment and membrane filtration at the temperature, pressure, and flow rate of 50 °C, 700 kPa, and 50 mL/min, respectively. Most of the purification occurred during physicochemical treatment. Techno-economic analysis based on a scenario where all the purified glycerol is converted to value added chemicals – solketal and glycerol carbonate - showed that the glycerol purification process is economically feasible. In this scenario (scenario 3), the required capital investment was $2.1 million and the net present value of the project were $6 million (with 10% discounting rate) or $3.65 million (with 15% discounting rate), respectively, over 10 years of operation after start-up with capital investment in the initial three-year period with no returns. The unit cost and revenue of crude glycerol purification was $50.85/kg and $80.36/kg, respectively, making it a promising undertaking. The results of the present work can also be useful for the purification or recovery of other valuable biodiesel by-products such as free fatty acids, soaps, and solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel is an environmental friendly alternative liquid transportation fuel that can be used in diesel engines without major modifications. The scope of this research work is to produce biodiesel from waste fish oil and its purification from the byproducts using a ceramic membrane. Transesterification of waste fish oil was applied for the biodiesel production using methanol in the presence of KOH as a catalyst. Effect of catalyst weight percent, temperature and methanol to oil molar ratio (MR) on the biodiesel yield have been studied and the results show that highest methyl ester yield of 79.2% has been obtained at 60 °C, MR: 6 and 1% KOH. The produced biodiesel purified by a ceramic membrane. Membrane flux and glycerin removal at different operating conditions such as temperature, trans-membrane pressures and cross flow velocities have been measured. Glycerin purity by membrane method is 99.97% by weight at the optimum condition. The highest membrane flux occurred at 50 °C temperature, 1 bar pressure and 3 m/s velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • A facile method for preparing PVA hydrogel with high strength, healing ability and thermoplasticity is purposed. • The PVA hydrogel electrolyte was prepared via the hydrogen bonding and salting-out effect. • The PVA hydrogel performed tensile strength and elongation at break of 0.57 (±0.02) MPa and 575 (±29)%, respectively. • The conductivity of PVA-NaCl-glycerol could reach as high as 92.5 (±0.18) mS/cm. Abstract The facile preparation of hydrogel electrolyte with high strength, healing ability and thermoplasticity is important and still remains a great challenge. In this paper, a novel way for the preparation of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) supramolecular hydrogel electrolyte was presented. The PVA hydrogel electrolyte was prepared via the hydrogen bonding and salting-out effect. The high performance PVA-NaCl-glycerol hydrogel electrolyte could be obtained by the doping of glycerol and NaCl into PVA aqueous solution and storing at room temperature for 2.0 h. The crystallinity, thermal and mechanical properties of PVA-NaCl-glycerol hydrogel electrolyte were characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction measurement and tensile testing, respectively. The hydrogel forming mechanism was discussed. The PVA-NaCl-glycerol hydrogels performed the high toughness with the tensile strength and elongation at break of 0.57 (±0.02) MPa and 575 (±29)%, respectively. The conductivity of PVA-NaCl-glycerol was as high as 92.5 (±0.18) mS/cm. The PVA-NaCl-glycerol hydrogel electrolyte behaved the excellent heat healing ability and thermoplasticity. These properties of PVA-NaCl-glycerol are related to the role of glycerol and NaCl. This paper provides a new preparation method and structure design idea for the high performance hydrogel electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formation of radical intermediates upon photocatalytic (UVA) glycerol transformation in aerated aqueous TiO 2 (P25) suspensions was followed by EPR spin trapping technique. Character and concentration of the spin-adducts generated by the addition of the radical species to 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N -oxide (DMPO) spin trap are significantly affected by the UVA radiation dose and by the initial composition of the photocatalytic system. The DMPO spin-adducts of hydroxyalkyl radicals R1 and R2 detected in the aerated aqueous P25 suspensions containing glycerol are compatible with the H-abstraction processes attributed to the interaction of physisorbed glycerol molecules with the trapped holes or to the reaction of free hydroxyl radicals with glycerol in solution. Addition of fluoride at various concentrations has no effect on the character and concentration of DMPO spin-adducts observed upon in situ UVA photoexcitation of photocatalytic system P25/DMPO/glycerol under given experimental conditions (pH > 7). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among enhanced oil recovery chemical methods, the use of surfactants is cited in many field studies. Microemulsions are systems composed of surfactants that aim to decrease the interfacial tensions between water and oil facilitating their flow in the porous medium. This paper proposes the use of a new microemulsion formulation, based on glycerin as the polar phase for improved oil recovery. The aim is to evaluate if the microemulsion composed of glycerin in the polar phase is as efficient as the microemulsion containing water. The proposed microemulsion was composed of commercial surfactants (DBB-7107 and DBB-7191), isopropyl alcohol, pine oil, and glycerin in substitution of distilled water. The microemulsion was characterized and the recovery tests were conducted with samples of sandstone rock in a core holder. The results showed that the formulation generated a well-defined microemulsion region and presented characteristics typical of microemulsion systems of the water-in-oil type. Recovery tests have shown that microemulsions containing glycerin in the polar phase achieved a recovery factor up to 49% of the residual oil while microemulsions containing water recovered about 36% of the residual oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of low frequency ultrasound (US) offers a straightforward and powerful tool for the production of nanostructured materials, in particular for structurally stable, highly crystalline, and shape-controlled catalytic materials. Herein, we report an unconventional strategy for the synthesis of CuO nanoleaves within 5 min of US irradiation. The as-obtained CuO nanoleaves were found to be selective in the base-free aqueous oxidation of glycerol to dicarboxylic acids (78% yield of tartronic and oxalic acids), in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and under mild reaction conditions. Density Functional Theory (DFT) investigations revealed a synergy between the CuO catalyst and H2O2 in maintaining the structural integrity of the catalyst during the reaction, creating alternative efficient pathways for the selective formation of dicarboxylic acids. Isotope labeling experiments using H218O2 further confirmed that oxygen from hydrogen peroxide, not from CuO, was preferentially incorporated into the dicarboxylic acid, significantly preserving the monoclinic structure of the CuO catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Activation energy of steam reforming over cobalt ex LaCoO 3 is higher than over Ni ex LaNiO 3. • Hydrogen selectivity increases with increasing temperature in the tested range. • The product distribution determined by the relative rate of C O bond cleavage to C C bond cleavage. • Nickel, in comparison to cobalt, favours C C bond cleavage. Catalytic steam reforming of glycerol, a by-product of biodiesel production, to form hydrogen was carried out over nickel and cobalt generated in-situ ex perovskite nano-crystallites, LaNiO 3 and LaCoO 3 , respectively. These materials were prepared using a reverse microemulsion. The glycerol conversion over these materials was modelled as a 1st order reaction and has a lower activation energy (28 kJ/mol) over the sample ex LaNiO 3 than the glycerol conversion over the sample ex LaCoO 3 (40 kJ/mol). The hydrogen selectivity increases with increasing temperature as expected from a thermodynamic analysis and is higher in the glycerol conversion over LaNiO 3 (106.5H-% implying some conversion of water as well) compared to LaCoO 3 (80H-%) The obtained distribution of organic product compounds is rationalized based on the higher rate of C C bond cleavage relative to the rate of C O bond cleavage for nickel in comparison to cobalt. It is further noted that cobalt ex LaCoO 3 is more stable than nickel ex LaNiO 3 possibly due to the lower tendency to form carbon deposition over the former sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have evaluated the long-term stability of activities and physicochemical properties for nickel nanoparticles supported on Mg-promoted γ-Al 2 O 3 (MgAl 2 O 4 -Al 2 O 3 ), α-Al 2 O 3 , and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for supercritical water gasification (SCWG) in a continuous flow reactor at 425 °C, 25.2 MPa, using 9 wt.% glycerol as the feed. Ni/CNT achieved the lowest H 2 yields but produced consistent carbon gasification efficiencies (CGEs) ∼80% during 48 h of operation at steady state, whereas the CGEs from Ni/α-Al 2 O 3 and Ni/MgAl 2 O 4 -Al 2 O 3 decreased to <80% when the gasification was extended to 48 h. Characterization results indicated that CNTs showed stable pore structures and Ni/CNT showed the best dissolution resistance of Ni in SCW. Persistent loss of Al into SCW probably contributed to the deactivation of Al 2 O 3 -supported Ni catalyst beds. Results also suggest that enhanced interaction of Ni and the supports may be beneficial for reducing dissolution of Ni in SCW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The current study was conducted to isolate the marine bioluminescent bacteria from the blue swimmer crab Portunus pelagicus along the Thondi Coast. Morphological, biochemical and molecular characterization techniques including 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analyses confirmed that the isolated strain was Vibrio harveyi . Experiments were further carried out at different temperatures and various time intervals and the results revealed a significant effects of high temperature and extended time duration on elimination of V. harveyi . Hence, high temperature treatments could facilitate the suppression of V. harveyi from sea food and thereby, preventing food borne infections during human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycerol carbonate (4-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one, shortly GC) is a dense, viscous, water soluble solvent. The high dielectric constant and dipole moment make it a suitable non-aqueous green solvent for several salts in different applications. GC dissolves significant amounts of inorganic salts such as KF. The saturation of GC with KF leads to the formation of a viscous liquid at room temperature. In this paper, we report on conductivity, rheology, differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy experiments that indicate the formation of a glassy liquid where GC molecules and KF ion pairs are intercalated in a firm and ordered tridimensional structure, stabilized by hydrogen bonding and strong ion-dipole interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A vanadium‐catalysed deoxydehydration (DODH) of neat glycerol has been developed. Cheap and readily available ammonium metavanadate (NH4VO3) affords higher yields of allyl alcohol than the well‐established catalyst methyltrioxorhenium. A study in which deuterium‐labelled glycerol was used was undertaken to further elucidate the dual role of glycerol as both an oxidant and reductant. This study led to the proposal of a metal‐catalysed DODH mechanism for the production of allyl alcohol and a deeper understanding of the formation of the byproducts acrolein and propanal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods for determination of glycerol and its electrooxidation products (neutral diols and carboxylates) by capillary electrophoresis (CE) with dual capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detectors (C 4 D) are presented. Glycerol, dihydroxyacetone and glyceraldehyde were detected as anionic borate complexes in less than 3 min under counter Electroosmotic Flow (EOF) mode (resolution of the critical pair of 1.8). Limits of detection (LODs) of 15, 15 and 10 µmol L −1 were obtained for glycerol, dihydroxyacetone and glyceraldehyde, respectively. Two methods of separation were used for the separation of carboxylates. The first one used the same Back Ground Electrolyte (BGE) containing borate, and the second used a BGE (pH 6.1) composed by 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES), L -Histidine and a flow modifier. Better separation and LODs for carboxylates were obtained using Mes/Histidine as BGE. However, along with the non-applicability of this BGE to the determination of neutral diols, observation of the C 4 D signals at two different points of the capillary (10 and 50 cm apart from the injection tip) revealed interaction of the flow modifier with some species (mesoxalate and glyoxylate). The electrooxidation of a glycerol sample in alkaline media on an 8 cm 2 gold working electrode was evaluated by the developed methods. After 16 h of electrolysis, 87% of the glycerol had been oxidized and formate, glycolate, hydroxypyruvate and glycerate were detected as the main products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crucial role of water in the engine of life have encouraged many researchers in studying, both theoretically and experimentally, the possible “structure” of water. Many properties of water have been related to the interplay between two distinct and interconverting structural species, namely the low-density water (LDW) and the high-density water (HDW). Supported by the results obtained with other aqueous solutions, this paper deals with the possibility of using the ultra-weak delayed luminescence (DL) to investigate water structuring in a mixture with glycerol, characterized only by hydrogen bonds between the various molecules. Spectral and temporal characteristics of DL decays give information on the two components of the mixture, by evidencing the contribution of water at glycerol concentrations close to the values used in cryopreservation. DL results have shown a correlation with LDW clusters size as determined by other researchers on the basis of neutron diffraction experiments and computational modelling, as reported in Literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, mesoporous silica supported heteropolyacid salts were studied systematically for glycerol acetalization with formaldehyde. Attention was focused on finding an appropriate loading of Cs 2.5 H 0.5 PW 12 O 40 (Cs 2.5 ) on mesoporous silica supports and studying the influence of the architecture of mesoporous silica on activity. Supported Cs 2.5 H 0.5 PW 12 O 40 on 2D (SBA-15) and 3D (KIT-6 and SBA-16) pore lattice mesoporous silicas have been compared. The activity of all supported Cs 2.5 catalysts was found superior to that of bulk Cs 2.5 owing to the high surface area of the mesoporous supports. While the activity difference between 2D and 3D supports did not meet expectations, mesopore volume had a significant impact on activity, which is attributed to a good access to Cs 2.5 H 0.5 PW 12 O 40 acid sites. The catalysts could be reused for three times (24 h each time), loosing only 10% glycerol conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth plays important roles in promoting the oxidation of alcohols towards high-value-added chemicals over a noble metal loading catalyst. Herein, Mg-Al hydrotalcite-supported platinum-bismuth nanoparticles (Pt-Bi/HT) were prepared by the co-impregnation method and used in the selective oxidation of glycerol towards dihydroxyacetone (DHA). The incorporation of Bi species into Pt/HT significantly enhances the conversion of glycerol and the selectivity of DHA. The high selectivity of DHA with 80.6% could be achieved at 25.1% conversion of glycerol. The Bi species of the Pt-Bi/HT catalyst mainly exist in the form of BiOCl and Bi metal, which is different from the previous Pt-Bi based catalyst, confirmed by a combination of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). A plausible mechanism is proposed to elucidate the promoting role of Bi species on the Pt/HT catalyst in the selective oxidation of glycerol towards DHA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A solution mixing and ultrasonic dispersion method as a green, the fast, inexpensive and effective technique was utilized to prepare glycerol plasticized-starch (GPS)/ascorbic acid (AA)-MWCNTs nanocomposites (NCs) via the introduction of various amounts of AA-MWCNTs (3, 6 and 9 wt%) as filler into GPS matrix. The GPS was synthesized by addition of glycerol (50%) as a plasticizer to starch which enhances its flexibility. Characterization of the obtained GPS/AA-MWCNTs NCs was accomplished by different techniques. The optimum filler content for the generation of fine electrical conductivity and good mechanical properties was found to be about 3 wt%. The distribution of AA-MWCNTs at the low content (3 wt%) in the GPS matrix was better due to the strong linkage between nanofiller and GPS in GPS/AA-MWCNTs NC. The results of adsorption studies showed that the fabricated NC can be a good adsorbent for removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blending process is a key step in the production of dry powder inhaler formulations, but only little is known about the influence of process parameters. This is especially true for high shear blending of ternary formulations. For this reason, this study aims to investigate the influence of high shear mixing process parameters (mixing time and rotation speed) on the fine particle fraction (FPF) of ternary mixtures when using budesonide as model drug, two different carrier materials and two different mixing orders. Prolonged mixing time and higher rotation speeds led to lower FPFs, possibly due to higher press-on forces acting on the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). In addition, a clear correlation between the energy consumption of the blender (the energy input into the blend) and the reduction of the FPF could be shown. Furthermore blending the carrier and the fines before adding the API was also found to be favorable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work investigates the catalytic potential of a Ni-promoted Fe/Mg containing metallurgical waste for sustainable hydrogen production by glycerol steam reforming (GSR). The catalyst (Ni-UGS) was prepared through solid-state impregnation of Ni into the structure of metallurgical residue. Ni incorporation led to the formation of (Ni,Mg)O solid solution, (NiFe 2 O 4 ) and/or a nickel iron mixed oxide (Ni x Fe 1-x O). GSR performed in a fixed bed reactor at T = 580 °C, P = 1 atm, steam to carbon ratio (S/C) of 3, and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 20,600 cm 3 (STP) g cat −1 h −1 led to a glycerol conversion to gaseous (X g ) of 87%, H 2 yield (Y H2 ) of 79%, and H 2 /CO molar ratio of 5.5. The catalytic performance of Ni-UGS containing 11.7 wt.% Ni was found to be superior to that of an alumina supported Ni-based commercial steam reforming catalyst with higher Ni content (29.8 wt.%): X g = 86%, Y H2 = 71%, and H 2 /CO molar ratio of 4.1. A stable performance during 48 h on stream was also obtained by using the Ni-UGS catalyst. Characterization of the used catalyst confirmed the low formation rate (∼2.7 mg coke g cat −1 h −1 ) of filamentous type carbon. The promising obtained results were mainly attributed to (i) superior dispersion of Ni particles due to the formation of (Ni,Mg)O solid solution and (ii) the presence of active magnesium and iron oxide species (e.g., MgO, Fe 3 O 4, MgFe 2 O 4 and (MgO)(FeO) solid solution) in the Ni-UGS catalyst which stimulate the water gas shift reaction and coke gasification. Regeneration by an oxidative treatment of the used catalyst in air was examined and analysis of the regenerated catalyst revealed complete coke removal together with recovery of initial crystalline phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Iridium (III) complex [Ir(ppy) 2 (Hppip)]PF 6 ( 1 ) has been synthesized and characterized. The complex exhibits strong phosphorescence emission in high viscosity solvent glycerol and aggregation-induced phosphorescence emission in hexane solution. The high viscosity of glycerol and aggregation may restrict intramolecular rotation so that the compound exhibits stronger phosphorescence emission in glycerol and aggregated state. Compound 1 can also be a pH chemosensor to monitor pH changes in PBS buffer solution because of two successive protonation processes of pyridyl and imidazole moieties in acidic condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioethanol production from lignocellulose biomass offers a solution to current environmental challenges caused by fossil fuel energy resources, while satisfying the biorefinery concept. In this study, two-stage fractionation (autohydrolysis (AH) followed by glycerol organosolv delignification (GOD)) of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was studied as a function of temperature, time, glycerol content and liquid-to-solid ( LSR ) ratio using experimental designs. The effect of three different AH pretreatment severities on delignification extents ( DE ) of the solid fractions were also evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the changes in the surface of SCB pretreated by AH. Energy balances of four fractionation conditions were estimated, and the use of pure and crude glycerol in GOD was evaluated based on DE and lignin contents. A DE of ∼64% was obtained at 210.3 °C, 40 min, LSR of 6.5 (v/w) and 80% (v/v) pure glycerol for GOD of SCB pretreated by AH at 175.8 °C, 49 min and LSR of 5.3 (v/w), which resulted in an energetic profitability ( EP ) of 141.48 MJ/kg SCB . The use of crude glycerol at 80% (v/v) under the same process conditions optimized for pure glycerol also proved to be feasible ( DE of ∼64% and EP of 142.67 MJ/kg SCB ), widening the possibilities for its direct use in GOD of SCB pretreated by AH in a 2G bioethanol integrated plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crude glycerol (CG), a byproduct of the biodiesel process, was converted through a one-pot thermo-chemical process to produce desirable bio-polyols (CG-polyols) which is suitable for polyurethane (PU) wood adhesives application in this study. The operating parameters (molar ratio of crude glycerol to fatty acid (R CG/FA ), temperature, and reaction time) were optimized to obtain bio-based CG-polyols with preferred properties (hydroxyl number, acid number, and viscosity) for the production of PU-wood adhesives. The hydroxyl number of CG-polyols was greatly affected by the molar ratio R CG/FA and temperature, while the acid number was strongly dependent on temperature and time, and viscosity was associated with all three experimental factors. Reliable quantitative prediction models of hydroxyl number, acid number, and viscosity were then established, affording accurate prediction with the differences between predicted and measured data less than 2%. CG-polyols (hydroxyl number of 322 mg KOH/g, acid number of 1.7 mg KOH/g, and viscosity of 25 Pas) suitable for PU adhesives application was produced under the optimized reaction conditions (molar ratio R CG/FA of 1.5, temperature at 220 °C, and reaction time of 5 h). PU wood adhesives with maximum lap shear strength of 36.8 MPa were achieved from the above optimized bio-polyols through the reaction with isocyanate at a NCO/OH ratio (R NCO/OH ) of 1.3. Properties of resulting PU wood adhesives presented good thermal stability, comparable lap shear strength and chemical resistance to petroleum based analogies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The replacement of synthetic surface-active compounds (SACs) by their microbial counterparts is carving out a niche for themselves in the field of bioremediation. However, the high cost of microbial products has limited their application at a realistic scale. In the current study, several hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms were assayed as potential SAC producers in low-cost liquid media. Only the strain CC10, placed within the class Actinobacteria, was able to produce emulsifying molecules by using a combination of sugarcane vinasse or crude glycerol (as cheap carbon substrates) with urea or peptone (as nitrogen sources). The emulsifying activity of the supernatants and the stability of emulsions formed with motor oil depended on the carbon and nitrogen sources. However, the biodegradability of these metabolites was only associated with the carbon substrate, and it was always higher than the two tested synthetic surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulfate and Triton X-100. Also, a positive linear association between emulsifying and lipase activities of the CC10 supernatants was detected ( r = 0.781; p = 0.219), with the maximum activities detected in the glycerol-peptone supernatant. Interestingly, this supernatant was able to emulsify different oily substrates, a property that could be used to increase the efficiency of the treatment of effluents with high fat content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioenergy is the only renewable carbon energy source and can contribute to future sustainable energy. This paper presents: I) the whole Jatropha curcas seed liquefaction to produce bio-crude oil, using (Na 2 CO 3 ) as conventional catalyst; and II) co-liquefaction of glycerol and whole Jatropha curcas seed to produce bio-crude oil, using deep eutectic solvents (choline chloride-p-toluene sulphonic acid) as novel catalyst. The effects of process parameters, including reaction temperature, catalyst concentration, and biomass loading were observed. Temperature was the predominant factor. High yield of bio-crude oil (32.87 wt%) was obtained for the liquefaction (I) as compared to yield of bio-crude oil (8.99 wt%) for the co-liquefaction (II). The optimum glycerol addition was 30 wt%. The bio-crude oil I had moisture (6.47 ± 0.27 wt%) and bio-crude oil II was (6.04 ± 0.42 wt%). The oxygen content in bio-crude oil I was (28.15 ± 0.88 wt%) while bio-crude oil II had reduced (21.58 ± 0.70 wt%) oxygen content. The HHV of the bio-crude oil II (31.73 ± 0.69 MJ/kg) is higher than that of bio-crude oil I (28.80 ± 1.32 MJ/kg). Acidic deep eutectic solvents deterred co-liquefaction yield. In conclusion, co-liquefaction decreased the product yield but improved its quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crude glycerol has been widely investigated as a renewable carbon source for biodiesel production. In the present study, this feedstock was supplemented by various inducers: surfactants and oils to enhance lipid and lipase production by the newly isolated yeast, Yarrowia lipolytica . Results have shown that a culture medium composed of olive oil could enhance lipase activity at 25 U/mL and lipid content up to 35% (w/w). The fortification of the medium with crustacean waste increased the lipase activity up to 38 U/mL. The hydrolytic activity of the extracellular lipases produced in mentioned medium was satisfactory and opened avenues for other biotechnological processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The proposal of suitable processes for glycerin removal from crude biodiesel is an important task for making the overall biodiesel production process environmentally friendly and economically viable. In this article, we propose a dry purification process for biodiesel treatment with different polymeric materials [chitosan, cellulose acetate, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and sulfonated PVA]. Except for pure PVA, all of the proposed materials were able to reduce the free glycerin content of crude biodiesel from 0.03 wt % to values lower than 0.02 wt %. When the PVA was sulfonated, the glycerin removal increased from 12 to 82% compared that of pure PVA. The glycerin content in the biodiesel sample treated with sulfonated PVA was 0.0055 wt %. Mid-IR spectrometric analysis showed that the sulfonation of PVA increased the band due to HOH stretching vibrations; this enabled greater hydrogen bonding between glycerol and the SO3 groups of the sulfonated adsorbent. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45330. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic activity of Pt-loaded TiO 2 nanotube arrays (Pt-TNTA) in the presence of glycerol as a sacrificial agent to produce H 2 has been studied. The effects of Pt loading and the methods by which it is deposited on TNTA (chemical reduction and photo-assisted deposition) were carefully examined. Intermediate products were also identified in order to scrutinise the reaction pathways of hydrogen generation in this particular system. FESEM imaging confirmed the formation of nantotubular structures of TiO 2 with average inner diameter of 80 nm, wall thickness of 20 nm, and length of approximately 2.5 μm. The generated nanotube arrays were of anatase structure with crystallite size within the range of 22–30 nm. Pt was successfully deposited on the surface of TNTA, as corroborated by EDX spectra, elemental mapping and TEM analysis. Band gap narrowing upon Pt loading was implied by UV–Vis DRS analysis, resulting in a band gap value of 2.93 eV, notably lower than a typical value of 3.2 eV associated with anatase. The photocatalyst sample with Pt deposited via a photo-assisted deposition method (Pt-TNTA-PDC) evidently outperformed its bare TNTA counterpart in producing hydrogen by 4.7 times, while that with Pt deposited by chemical reduction could improve H 2 production by 3.8 times. During photocatalytic operations, glycerol served an important purpose in suppressing electron-hole recombination by providing holes an oxidative target which is less energy-demanding than water. It is proposed that glycerol underwent dehydrogenation and decarbonylation processes producing ethylene glycol, followed by dehydration and oxidation towards acetic acid, before transforming into H 2 and CO 2 , eventually. We suggest that Pt plays a role not only in the enhancement of H 2 photoproduction, but also in governing the direction of reactions, hence the intermediates and final products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on surface plasmon resonance sensing theory, composite films of gold (Au) and silver (Ag) are used to improve sensing properties. A differential intensity detection method is also presented. Composite films with different thicknesses of Au and Ag are used for detection. Two light sources are used for differential detection, and the reference light path is determined to eliminate fluctuation of the light source. Detection theory is analyzed, and experiments are conducted to detect the refractive indices of glycerin solutions. The sensitivity of the differential-wavelength and single-wavelength methods is simulated. Results show that the use of composite film and the differential-wavelength method can enhance detection sensitivity. The rotating angle detection device and the spectrometer are not used in the experiments. The proposed detection device is small and cheap. The detecting range can be adjusted on the basis of the incident angles and wavelengths of the light sources. Thus, the proposed system can be extensively applied to detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of semicrystalline vitrimer was prepared via the incorporation of glycerol into the amorphous phase of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) by solid-state (co)polymerization (SSP). A near quantitative incorporation of the glycerol was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and temperature-modulated DSC showed that the PBT/glycerol-based vitrimers maintain the crystallization characteristics of normal PBT. By a change in the cross-link density of the PBT/glycerol-based vitrimers, a wide range of thermal, rheological and mechanical properties were obtained; e.g., the rubbery plateau modulus at 270 °C could be tuned from 0.07 to 3 MPa. The characteristic vitrimer behavior was demonstrated by stress relaxation and oscillatory frequency sweep experiments. In addition, these semicrystalline vitrimers can be recycled multiple times by compression molding without a substantial loss in dynamic mechanical and thermal properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a numerical study of air bubble formation and detachment in water (S-1) and in glycerin solutions (S-2 and S-3) was investigated using the volume of fluid (VOF) method. The full formation process was studied under the effect of operating conditions such as wettability of the orifice plate (static contact angle θ S ), orifice diameter and orifice air velocity. In addition, the influence of the viscosity of the liquid phase was examined. The numerical simulations were carried out for different orifice velocities satisfying the quasi-static bubble growth condition at low Capillary and Bond numbers. Under such conditions, the surface tension effect is dominant over viscous drag and buoyancy effects. The bubble growth at different instants predicted by the VOF simulation was experimentally validated in water. During the expansion/elongation stage significant bubble shape oscillations have been observed by the simulation. In water, bubble shape is mainly dominated by inertial and surface tension forces, and the influence caused by the viscous drag force could be neglected. However, when the viscosity of the solution increases, the bubble shape oscillations can be reduced due to the effect of viscous drag force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1,3-Propanediol (1,3-PDO) is an important three-carbon compound widely used in new polyester polymer materials. Natural organisms that can produce 1,3-PDO from glycerol were well studied. However, no natural microorganisms found could directly convert glucose to 1,3-PDO due to its insufficient glycerol synthesis pathway. In this study, two essential glycerol synthesis genes, CgGPD gene (encoding glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from Candida glycerinogenes) and ScGPP2 gene (encoding glycerol-3-phosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae), were expressed in wild-type Klebsiella pneumoniae, a natural 1,3-PDO producers with reduction pathway for 1,3-PDO synthesis from glycerol. The results of fermentation, key enzyme activities, and metabolites analysis confirmed that recombinant K. pneumoniae now possessed a metabolic pathway capable of converting glucose to 1,3-PDO. The strain could produce 1,3-PDO from glucose with a final titer of 17.27 g/L with 40 g/L glucose in the medium, showing a 1.26-fold increase compared with 30 g/L glucose. Also, adding certain concentrations of glycerol could quickly initiate the 1,3-PDO synthetic pathway and promote the accumulation of 1,3-PDO, which could shorten the fermentation cycle. These results have important implications for further studies involving the use of one strain for bioconversion of glucose to 1,3-PDO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present a device for determination of the thermal diffusivity using the oblique reflection of a thermal wave within a solid slab that is in contact with the medium to be characterized. By using the reflection near a critical angle under the assumption that thermal waves obey Snell's law of refraction with the square root of the thermal diffusivities, the unknown thermal diffusivity is obtained by simple formulae. Experimentally, the sensor response is measured using the photothermal beam deflection technique within a slab that results in a compact device with no contact of the laser probing beam with the sample. We describe the theoretical basis and provide experimental results to validate the proposed method. We determine the thermal diffusivity of tridistilled water and glycerin solutions with an error of less than 0.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased awareness and demand for green energy sources, such as biodiesel (BD), have impelled an increase in the production of its byproduct, glycerol, which is now considered an oversupplied commodity. However, the excessive supply and physicochemical properties of glycerol render this compound as an attractive material for fine chemical synthesis, which can boost the BD market. Pathways for synthesis of fine chemicals from glycerol have been proposed by a number of researchers by using different heterogeneous or homogeneous catalysts, with the former being more environmentally benign. Glycerol acetylation pathway with acetic acid has received increased research attention because of the vast potential applications of its products. Therefore, studies were conducted to propose kinetic models for acetylation reaction and catalyst deactivation and determine parameters influencing acetylation rate. This study also provides insights into assumptions of pseudo first-order rate, PSSH, mass transfer, and diffusion limitation and discusses the future trends of catalytic acetylation of glycerol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a study was conducted on the influence of soil and extraction solvent on the active ingredient content of extracts from fat grass - Portulaca Oleracea L - indigenous species, in this case especially the content in organic silicon - element of great importance in the antioxidant, anti-wrinkle, repairing, moisturizing and emollient properties of cosmetic products containing active ingredients of natural plant rich in it. For the study, both fresh and dry plants were used, which was shredded and selected as superior in terms of qualitative and quantitative composition the extract of Portulaca Oleracea L (dry) in Glycerin 20%, with significant content in organic silicon. To determine the organic silicon content, the atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) method from the 9th European Pharmacopoeia, the current edition was used. Pharmacotoxicological studies performed on cosmetics with this active ingredient confirmed the safety of application to the human body. The results obtained from the physico-chemical, microbiological and biological complex study show that the activity of capitalizing on the plant called "Fat Grass" as an organic silicon source can become a profitable, economically beneficial activity, but especially from the point of view of cosmetic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at improving photocatalytic hydrogen production with TiO 2 , a series of TiO 2 coupled with metal oxide nanoparticles have been prepared by a sol-gel method with a fixed molar ratio in various compositions. The photocatalysts were characterized by surface and bulk techniques (XRD, FESEM, HRTEM etc.) and UV–vis DRS method was employed to understand the optical properties. The as-prepared TiO 2 coupled with metal oxide was mainly present as anatase, and the anatase grain sizes were reduced comparing to that in bare TiO 2 , as evidenced by XRD analysis. By analyzing FESEM and DLS results, aggregations of all samples occurred in both dry powder and water suspension. H 2 TPR analysis revealed H 2 reduction properties of the samples. Among those, Ag 2 O-TiO 2 presented better dispersion stability in different environmental phases. Improved adsorption of the TiO 2 for UV–vis light was confirmed. Photoreforming H 2 production was improved by the addition of those metal oxides mainly due to the promotion of heterostructure formation where the generated heterostructures could enhance the separation of electrons and holes under UV–vis light. In particular, Ag 2 O-TiO 2 among the samples exhibited the best hydrogen production activities with the maximum quantum efficiency and light-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of 3.02% and 1.15‰, respectively. Considering the effect of glycerol concentration for photoreforming over Ag 2 O-TiO 2 , the obtained hydrogen evolution rate fitted a typical kind of Langmuirian catalytic behavior. Langmuir-Hinshelwood-type kinetic model was employed to calculate the corresponding reaction rate constant and glycerol adsorption constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, a comparative study of Ni catalysts supported on commercially available alumina and lanthana-alumina carriers was undertaken for the glycerol steam reforming reaction (GSR). The supports and/or catalysts were characterized by PZC, BET, ICP, XRD, NH 3 -TPD, CO 2 -TPD, TPR and SEM. Carbon deposited on the catalytic surface was characterized by SEM, TPO and Raman. Concerning the Ni/LaAl sample it can be concluded that the presence of lanthana by: (a) facilitating the active species dispersion, (b) strengthening the interactions between nickel species and support, (c) increasing of the basic sites' population and redistributing the acid ones in terms of strength and density, provides a catalyst with improved performance for the GSR reaction, in terms of activity, H 2 production and long term stability. TPO and Raman indicate that the carbon on the Ni/LaAl catalyst was mostly amorphous and was deposited mainly on the support surface. For the Ni/Al catalyst, graphitic carbon was prevalent and likely covered its active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the bioproduction of 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) from biodiesel derived raw glycerol with free and immobilized cells of Clostridium butyricum DSMZ 10702. The cultures were carried out under continuous conditions in a stirred tank bioreactor with suspended cells and a fluidized-bed bioreactor with immobilized cells. The microorganisms were immobilized by entrapment in calcium alginate gel beads. The effect of dilution rate and glycerol concentration in the feed on 1,3-PD production was investigated for both bioreactor configurations. Results showed that 1,3-PD concentration and glycerol uptake decreased when dilution rate increased. Maximum product concentration was similar in both bioreactors, 24.3 g/L and 20.5 g/L for suspended cells and Ca-alginate immobilized cells, respectively, for a glycerol feed concentration of 50 g/L and a dilution rate of 0.05 h−1. The higher productivities were observed for a dilution rate of 0.15 h−1 for the suspended culture bioreactor and 0.2 h−1 for the immobilized cell bioreactor. Although maximum productivity was similar in both systems, 2.8 g 1,3-PD/(L · h), cell immobilization was shown to be more resistant to washout at higher dilution rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the feasibility of frontal polymerization (FP) as an alternative and convenient technique for the preparation of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks made of methyl cellulose (MC) and cross-linked polyacrylamide (PAAm) is demonstrated. FP was performed in water and glycerol, as largely available, nontoxic solvents. Although FP occurred in both media, differences were found by comparing the samples made in the two solvents. In particular, those prepared in water are characterized by larger inhomogeneity and less reproducibility, thus accounting for the boiling effects that influence propagating polymerization fronts when water was used. The effects of the ratio among MC and PAAm, the amount of cross-linker and solvent medium were studied in terms of influence on temperature and velocity of FP fronts, glass transition temperature (dried samples), swelling behavior, dynamic-mechanical properties (gels swollen in both water or glycerol), and tensile behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the properties of copolymer films made from cassava starch and jellyfish gelatine with glycerol or sorbitol as a plasticizer. The concentrations of gelatine used were 1 and 3% (wt/vol). The prepared copolymer of cassava starch solution (5%) and gelatine solution (1:1 (vol/vol)) was mixed with glycerol or sorbitol (30%) prior to extrusion. The feeding rate of solution was 1 kg/h and the extruder screw speed was 30 rpm. The films were dried by an infared dryer. All extruded films had the thickness of 0.10-0.30 mm. At 1% jellyfish gelatine, the glycerol plasticized copolymer film yielded higher tensile strength, water vapor transmission rate, oxygen transmission rate and %solubility than the sorbitol plasticized film. As the concentration of jellyfish gelatine increased to 3%, the elongation of glycerol plasticized film increased approximately five times compared to two times for sorbitol plasticized films. Practical Applications Gelatine, a denatured form of collagen protein, can be derived from pig, beef or fisheries products such as fish, squid and jellyfish. The application of gelatine is widely used for food and biomedical aspect. The film copolymer of cassava starch and gelatine can be formed by a single screw extruder with glycerol or sorbitol as a plasticizer. The copolymer film with glycerol showed noticeable elongation property, which could be benefit for the development of edible film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]