Membrane cartridges for endotoxin removal from interferon preparations

The suitability of membrane cartridges for the removal of endotoxin from both distilled water and interferon preparations was examined. The endotoxin concentrations were reduced to 4.0 and 7.3 EU/ml, respectively, when about 4000 ml of distilled water with 20 and 28 EU/ml were passed through the deoxycholate and chitosan immobilized membrane cartridges. When 200 ml of interferon preparation with endotoxin concentration more than 80 EU/ml and pH 3.9 were applied to a deoxycholate immobilized membrane cartridge at a flow-rate of 9 ml/min, the endotoxin concentration was reduced to less than 10 EU/ml. However, if an interferon preparation of 450 ml, with more than 80 EU/ml of endotoxin and pH 3.9 was applied to the chitosan immobilized membrane cartridge at a flow-rate of 18 ml/min, the endotoxin concentration was reduced to less than 10 EU/ml. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Changes in nutrient structure of river-dominated coastal waters: stoichiometric nutrient balance and its consequences

We present an analysis of extensive nutrient data sets from two river-dominated coastal ecosystems, the northern Adriatic Sea and the northern Gulf of Mexico, demonstrating significant changes in surface nutrient ratios over a period of 30 years. The silicon:nitrogen ratios have decreased, indicating increased potential for silicon limitation. The nitrogen:phosphorus and the silicon:phosphorus ratios have also changed substantially, and the coastal nutrient structures have become more balanced and potentially less limiting for phytoplankton growth. It is likely that net phytoplankton productivity increased under these conditions and was accompanied by increasing bottom water hypoxia and major changes in community species composition. These findings support the hypothesis that increasing coastal eutrophication to date may be associated with stoichiometric nutrient balance, due to increasing potential for silicon limitation and decreasing potential for nitrogen and phosphorus limitation. On a worldwide basis, coastal ecosystems adjacent to rivers influenced by anthropogenic nutrient loads may experience similar alterations.

Effects of temperature change on water discharge, and sediment and nutrient loading in the lower Pearl River basin based on SWAT modelling

National Natural Science Foundation of China [U0633002, 30670385]

Removal of Cr(III, VI) by quaternary ammonium and quaternary phosphonium ionic liquids functionalized silica materials

A series of silica-based organic–inorganic hybrid materials were prepared by the sol–gel process for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) adsorption. These silica materials generally had high surface areas, good physical–chemical stability and high thermal stability. Trialkylmethylammonium bis 2,4,4-trimethylpentylphosphinate ([A336][C272]) and trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium bis 2,4,4-trimethylpentylphosphinate (Cyphos IL 104) were explored as porogens to prepare porous silica and as extractants to extract chromium ions. Cyphos IL 104 and [A336][C272] functionalized silica sorbents (SG-2, SG-5) can be effectively used for the removal of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions by adjusting pH values, whereas trialkylmethylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336) and bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid (Cyanex 272) functionalized silica sorbents (SG-3, SG-4) can only be used for the removal of the single chromium species, Cr(VI) or Cr(III).

Study on the synthesis of mixed oxide La2CuO4 and the effect on the catalytic activity to catalytic removal of NO

The mixed oxide La2CuO4 was synthesized by four different methods and characterized with XRD, BET, TEM and low angle XRD. The effect of the synthetic method on the crystal structure, crystal size, surface area and catalytic activity to NO - CO reaction were studied. The results showed that the samples derived from different methods exhibited different activity to NO-CO reaction, the reason may be that the concentration and type of oxygen defect were different when the synthetic methods were different.