Search

Abstract: A new selective brominating system Br2/SO2Cl2/zeolite, has been discovered. Partially cation-exchanged Ca2+-Y zeolite efficiently catalyzes the selective para-bromination of neat chlorobenzene (CB) by Br2/SO2Cl2 affording a CB conversion of ∼89% and a para-selectivity of ∼97%. During the bromination reaction, SO2Cl2 oxidizes HBr, prevents its accumulation within the zeolite pores and yields a more active brominating species. The Ca2+-Y catalyst was found to be stable under the bromination conditions, and can easily be regenerated by calcination. The Br2/SO2Cl2/Ca2+-Y brominating system could be applicable to other activated aromatic compounds such as o-xylene, toluene and fluorobenzene. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The use of high-value fatty acids (FA), omega-3 (n-3), and omega-6 (n-6) from seaweed could relieve the pressure from natural wild fish sources and reduce overfishing worldwide. This research is designed to explore how the harvest season (winter, spring, and summer) and culture period influence the biomass production yield, lipid content, and FA composition in the green seaweed Ulva sp. The studied seaweed was grown in plastic sleeves with flowthrough seawater in Mikhmoret (East Mediterranean, Israel) from July 2019 to December 2020. The Ulva species was identified as Ulva lactuca Linnaeus by DNA barcoding using rbcL, ITS, and tufA markers. No detectable genetic variability in U. lactuca samples was found throughout the research period. A quantitative examination of the lipid and FA content in U. lactuca in different harvest seasons revealed that the maximum content of lipids was in the summer, and that of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was in the winter. The PUFA profile included eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, n-3, and n-6, where the n-6/n-3 ratio was comparable with the desired range for a balanced nutritional diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of abiotic impact on seaweed chemical composition is required for their use as crops and feedstock for biorefinery. This study investigated how seasonality and the culture age of Ulva lactuca grown in plastic sleeves in a marine photobioreactor with flow-through seawater in Mikhmoret onshore (East Mediterranean, Israel), affected the composition of the amino acids and monosaccharides. Fresh samples of young (14 days) and old (21 days) U. lactuca were sampled from the photobioreactor cultivation system from January to December 2020. DNA sequences of all studied seaweed samples, which corresponded to the U. lactuca sequence, were identified using the rbcL and ITS markers as well as phylogenetic analysis. In addition, the protein and carbohydrate contents as well as the amino acid and monosaccharide profiles were determined and quantified by thermal acid hydrolysis, silyl-based derivatization, and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) analysis. The biomass components of U. lactuca were more influenced by season than by their culture age. The total protein in the dry weight of U. lactuca was significantly higher in winter (170–237 mg g−1) than in summer (64–123 mg g−1), whereas the monosaccharide content was significantly higher in summer (117–182 mg g−1) than in winter (88–98 mg g−1). These findings indicated that seasonality is an important parameter that must be considered to predict the best time to harvest U. lactuca biomass for biorefinery and food processing. Finally, an in-vitro digestibility study indicated that U. lactuca has the potential to compete with plants as a suitable protein source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The avocado processing industry produces up to 1.3M tons of agro-waste annually. Chemical analysis of avocado seed waste (ASW) revealed that it is rich in carbohydrates (464.7 ± 21.4 g kg−1) and proteins (37.2 ± 1.5 g kg−1). Optimized microbial cultivation of Cobetia amphilecti using an acid hydrolysate of ASW, generated poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) in a 2.1 ± 0.1 g L−1 concentration. The PHB productivity of C. amphilecti cultivated on ASW extract was 17.5 mg L−1 h−1. The process in which a novel ASW substrate was utilized has been further augmented by using ethyl levulinate as a sustainable extractant. This process achieved 97.4 ± 1.9 % recovery yield and 100 ± 1 % purity (measured by TGA, NMR, and FTIR) of the target PHB biopolymer, along with a high and relatively uniform PHB molecular weight (M w = 1831 kDa, M n = 1481 kDa, M w /M n = 1.24) (measured by gel permeation chromatography), compared to PHB polymer extracted by chloroform (M w = 389 kDa, M n = 297 kDa, M w /M n = 1.31). This is the first example of ASW utilization as a sustainable and inexpensive substrate for PHB biosynthesis and ethyl levulinate as an efficient and green extractant of PHB from a single bacterial biomass. [Display omitted] • Avocado seed waste (ASW) was found to be a novel carbohydrate-rich source. • ASW was found as an efficient substrate for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) production. • Ethyl levulinate is a novel, cost-effective, and sustainable PHB extraction solvent. • High PHB recovery yield (~97 %) and purity (~100 %) were obtained. • High and uniform M w (1830 kDa, M w /M n = 1.23) PHB polymer was recovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Various mechanisms for ultrasound-mediated targeted drug delivery have been investigated in the past several decades. Cyclodextrins are already known for their ability to encapsulate various drugs in their lipophilic cavity; this paper reports evaluation of the potential of a cyclodextrin-based nanocarrier as a drug delivery vehicle, using cell monolayers in vitro in conjunction with ultrasound as the release mechanism. The application of ultrasound to the cell monolayers results in both thermal and mechanical effects; a current challenge is to differentiate between these effects. In this study, the cell uptake routes of doxorubicin encapsulated in the cyclodextrin-based carrier were investigated, examining individually the thermal and the mechanical effects of focused ultrasound for drug release. Exploiting mechanical effects, the uptake of encapsulated doxorubicin into cancer cells was increased by a factor of up to 5.5 when ultrasound was applied. Thermal application of FUS increased the cellular uptake of encapsulated doxorubicin by a factor of up to 9.6. Hyperthermia without focused ultrasound resulted in an increase by a factor of up to 5.7. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The random development of small-scale industrial and workshop activities in residential areas of Arab municipalities in Israel is causing environmental nuisances such as noise, air, water and soil pollution, and heat emissions. These nuisances are both harmful to the environment and local populations. The aim of this research is to investigate this issue by environmental monitoring and a residential survey in one such municipality, Baqa el Garbiah. Data collection was carried out based on mapping of industrial activities and workshops in residential and industrial areas of Baqa el Garbiah. Air and noise pollution were monitored using settled dust and noise samples collected from various sites in the municipality during periods of plant and workshop operation. The experience of residents in relation to these activities was explored using questionnaires and interviews with workshop owners and residents living within the vicinity of these workshops. We found significant levels of environmental nuisances in residential areas and the residential survey indicated that the activities negatively affect the quality of life of the local population. In light of our findings, solutions and ways to reduce the environmental nuisances arising from industrial activities located in residential areas should be sought after. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]