Synthesis of biodiesel from waste cooking oil using immobilized lipase in fixed bed reactor

Waste cooking oil (WCO) is the residue from the kitchen, restaurants, food factories and even human and animal waste which not only harm people's health but also causes environmental pollution. The production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil to partially substitute petroleum diesel is one of the measures for solving the twin problems of environment pollution and energy shortage. In this project, synthesis of biodiesel was catalyzed by immobilized Candida lipase in a three-step fixed bed reactor. The reaction solution was a mixture of WCO, water, methanol and solvent (hexane). The main product was biodiesel consisted of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), of which methyl oleate was the main component. Effects of lipase, solvent, water, and temperature and flow of the reaction mixture on the synthesis of biodiesel were analyzed. The results indicate that a 91.08% of FAME can be achieved in the end product under optimal conditions. Most of the chemical and physical characters of the biodiesel were superior to the standards for 0(#)diesel (GB/T 19147) and biodiesel (DIN V51606 and ASTM D-6751).

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of biodiesel from acid oil in fixed bed reactor

Acid oil, which is a by-product in vegetable oil refining, mainly contains free fatty acids (FFAs) and acylglycerols and is a feedstock for production of biodiesel fuel now. The transesterification of acid oil and methanol to biodiesel was catalyzed by immobilized Candida lipase in fixed bed reactors. The reactant solution was a mixture of acid oil, water, methanol and solvent (hexane) and the main product was biodiesel composed of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) of which the main component was methyl oleate. The effects of lipase content, solvent content, water content temperature and flow velocity of the reactant on the reaction were analyzed. The experimental results indicate that a maximum FAME content of 90.18% can be obtained in the end product under optimum conditions. Most of the chemical and physical properties of the biodiesel were superior to the standards for 0(#) diesel (GB/T 19147) and biodiesel (DIN V51606 and ASTM D6751).

Conversion of Soybean oil to Biodiesel Fuel with Immobilized Candida Lipase on Textile Cloth

The characteristic of biodiesel fuel production from transesterification of soybean oil is studied. The reactant solution is the mixture of soybean oil, methanol, and solvent. A new lipase immobilization method, textile cloth immobilization, was developed in this study. Immobilized Candida lipase sp. 99-125 was applied as the enzyme catalyst. The effect of flow rate of reaction liquid, solvents, reaction time, and water content on the biodiesel yield is investigated. Products analysis shows that the main components in biodiesel are methyl sterate, methyl hexadecanoate, methyl oleate, methyl linoleate, and methyl linolenate. The test results indicate that the maximum yield of biodiesel of 92% was obtained at the conditions of hexane being the solvent, water content being 20 wt%, and reaction time being 24 h.

Lipase-catalyzed regioselective acylation of diosgenyl saponins

Diosgenyl saponins were regio selectively acylated by Novozyme 435 with vinyl esters as acylating agents in THF to afford the corresponding mono- or diacyl diosgenyl saponins. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

A combined statistical model for multiple motifs search

Transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) play key roles in genebior 6.8 wavelet expression and regulation. They are short sequence segments with de¯nite structure and can be recognized by the corresponding transcription factors correctly. From the viewpoint of statistics, the candidates of TFBS should be quite di®erent from the segments that are randomly combined together by nucleotide. This paper proposes a combined statistical model for ¯nding over- represented short sequence segments in di®erent kinds of data set. While the over-represented short sequence segment is described by position weight matrix, the nucleotide distribution at most sites of the segment should be far from the background nucleotide distribution. The central idea of this approach is to search for such kind of signals. This algorithm is tested on 3 data sets, including binding sites data set of cyclic AMP receptor protein in E.coli, PlantProm DB which is a non-redundant collection of proximal promoter sequences from di®erent species, collection of the intergenic sequences of the whole genome of E.Coli. Even though the complexity of these three data sets is quite di®erent, the results show that this model is rather general and sensible.

Catalytic Cracking and Heat Sink Capacity of Aviation Kerosene Under Supercritical Conditions

Catalytic cracking of China no. 3 aviation kerosene using a zeolite catalyst was investigated under supercritical conditions. A three-stage heating/cracking system was specially designed to be capable of heating 0.8 kg kerosene to a temperature of 1050 K and pressure of 7.0 MPa with maximum mass flow rate of 80 g/s. Sonic nozzles of different diameters were used to calibrate and monitor the mass flow rate of the cracked fuel mixture. With proper experiment arrangements, the mass flow rate per unit throat area of the cracked fuel mixture was found to well correlate with the extent of fuel conversion. The gaseous products obtained from fuel cracking under different conditions were also analyzed using gas chromatography. Composition analysis showed that the average molecular weight of the resulting gaseous products and the fuel mass conversion percentage were a strong function of the fuel temperature and were only slightly affected by the fuel pressure. The fuel conversion was also shown to depend on the fuel residence time in the reactor, as expected. Furthermore, the heat sink levels due to sensible heating and endothermic cracking were determined and compared at varying test conditions. It was found that at a fuel temperature of similar to 1050 K, the total heat sink reached similar to 3.4 MJ/kg, in which chemical heat sink accounted for similar to 1.5 MJ/kg.

Beam combination of a radial laser array: Flat-topped beam

An analytical expression of a radial laser array for flat-topped beam is derived based on the generalized Collins formula. The intensity distribution of the resulting beam focused by a lens at the focus plane, for phase-locked and nonphase-locked cases, is studied numerically. The effect of the Fresnel number and normalized radius on intensity distribution for phase-locked and nonphase-locked cases is also presented. It is found that intensity distribution for nonphase-locked case is much less sensible to the Fresnel number and normalized radius than that of phase-locked case. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

玉米农田水热碳通量动态及其环境控制机理研究

陆地生态系统与大气之间的水热碳交换是物质、能量循环的关键过程，一直以来都为研究者们所关注。进入20 世纪以来，特别是随着人们对全球气候变暖的逐步认识，气候变化对水热碳交换过程的影响及其对气候变化的响应研究更加备受关注。本研究以2004~2006 年近三年的涡度相关系统连续观测数据为依托，分析了雨养玉米农田水热碳通量的动态及其影响因子。研究表明，玉米农田水热通量(WHF) 呈显著的单峰型日变化， 日最大值出现在正午12:00~13:00，WHF 变化同步。潜热通量(LE)的季节变化规律与日变化相似，冬季小夏季大，年最大值与最小值分别出现在7 月和1 月。显热通量(Hs) 季节变化也呈单峰型，但年最大值出现在5 月，这主要与降水以及作物生长有关。半小时尺度上，WHF 主要受辐射控制，而日峰值受辐射峰值以及植被生长的双重影响；日尺度上，只要有降水过程，Hs 就会随土壤水分的增大而减小，降水停止后逐渐恢复。而降水对LE 的影响受到可用能量(AE)的干扰，表现出复杂的变化趋势。总的来说，降水持续时间越长AE 越少，对LE 的抑制越大；季节尺度上，WHF 受热量与水分的双重制约。Hs 随着天气回暖后第一次较大降水过程的出现呈现明显下降，而LE 则呈现相反的变化趋势。随着雨季到来和作物的生长，Hs 在7 月出现低谷，而LE 呈现相反的趋势随着降水量的增加而增大；年际间WHF 的分布规律大体一致，但因气象条件等的差异，特别是降水的差异造成年际间WHF 略有不同。在不同水文年型下，水分因子的影响作用有显著差异，且WHF 对热量与水分条件变化的敏感程度也不相同。欠水年，水分因子的作用更显著，是制约WHF 变化的主要控制因子，WHF 对水分的变化更敏感；而丰水年，水分因子的影响减弱，热量的盈亏决定着WHF 变化的主要方向。在不同水文年型下，水热碳通量对水热条件的变化表现出不同的响应方式，为研究生态系统对气候变化的响应提供了参考。 净碳(C)吸收期，玉米农田净碳交换(NEE)呈显著的日变化，在日出以后由CO2 释放转变为CO2 吸收，12:30 左右达到一天中的吸收峰值，日落前出现相反的转换。而净C 释放期内，NEE 均为正值且无明显日变化。NEE 季节变化也呈单峰型二次曲线，在7 月下旬或8 月上旬达到年最大吸收率。根据NEE 的正负，一年分为三个阶段：两个C 排放期与一个C 吸收期。一般C 吸收期从6月开始到9 月结束，此前此后均为C 排放期。在半小时、日时间尺度上，光通量密度(PPFD)与NEE 有着相似的变化规律，是控制NEE 的主要因子；在日、季节尺度上，叶面积指数(LAI)和气孔导度(gs)是影响NEE 的主要生物因子，且gs 的影响程度随着发育期的变化而变化，而不同年份间LAI 对NEE 的影响没有显著的差异。几乎在所有时间步长上，土壤温度(Ts)均为生态系统呼吸(Re)的主要控制因子，时间尺度愈短，二者的相关性愈好。总的来说，在较短时间尺度上，高PPFD 与夏季低温将会促进C 的吸收，有利于C 累积。 玉米农田日最大净C 吸收速率(NEEmax, daily)以及吸收释放转换点(NEE=0)均受PPFD 控制。NEEmax, daily 出现时间与PPFDmax, daily 出现时间几乎完全一致，当PPFD 达到1 日内极大值时，净C 吸收也相应达到了日最大值。但NEEmax, daily的量值还受到其它因子的影响。当水分条件充足时，还将受到LAI、gs 等生物因子的控制。NEE 由正转为负的转换点也是由PPFD 决定。当PPFD 稳定大于PPFD*( PPFD*=100 μmol•m-2s -1)时，净C 吸收开始；当PPFD 稳定小于PPFD*时，净C 吸收由此结束。1 日内，PPFD 稳定通过PPFD*之间的时间间隔决定了日净C 吸收的时间长度。日净C 吸收的时间越长，吸收量也越大，且有明显的季节变化，7 月最长9 月最短。 按照热量水分状况将三年分组，分为I 组(水分状况相似，热量条件不同)与II 组(热量条件相似，水分状况不同)。 I 组年际间PPFD 波动是造成C 交换格局变化的关键原因。而II 组年际间C 交换格局不同是由降水量及其不同分布引起的土壤含水量(SWC)变化是造成。SWC 可以解释年际间NEE 变异的97%，而大气水汽压亏缺(VPD)可以解释30.7%；温度因子通过影响C 收支中的呼吸项，间接影响着生态系统的NEE，它可以解释年际间NEE 变异的73.9%，也是造成年际间C 交换格局不同的原因之一；另外，PPFD 和发育期早晚以及净C吸收期长度等也同样影响着C 交换格局的变化。综合两组情况来看，由水分条件年际变化引起的NEE 的波动大于能量年际变化引起的波动。总之，在较长时间尺度上，NEE 对SWC 变化比其对PPFD 变化更敏感，说明在半干旱地区土壤水分条件仍然是决定C 交换格局的主导因子。 NEE 与LE 呈线性相关，它们之间的相关性主要受温度和NEE 的控制，温度越高，二者的相关性越弱，而NEE 越大二者相关性越好。同时，作物蒸腾与土壤蒸发的比例也是影响NEE 与LE 之间关系的主要因素。蒸腾作用所占的比例越大，二者的线性关系越显著，而土壤蒸发比例越大，二者的相关性越弱。总的来说，NEE 与LE 之间的线性关系有明显的季节变化，生长季好于非生长季，夏天好于冬天。 总之，雨养玉米农田水热碳通量既具有其它农田生态系统共有的动态特征，也具有其特有特征。

Effect of water temperature on the growth performance and digestive enzyme activities of Chinese longsnout catfish (Leiocassis longirostris Gunther)

The present study was carried out to investigate the influence of water temperature on the growth performance and digestive enzyme (pepsin, trypsin and lipase) activities of Chinese longsnout catfish. Triplicate groups of Chinese longsnout catfish (35.6 +/- 0.48 g, mean +/- SE) were reared at different water temperatures (20, 24, 28 and 32 degrees C). The feeding rate (FR), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed efficiency ratio (FER) were significantly affected by water temperatures and regression relationships between water temperature and FI, SGR as well as FER were expressed as FR=-0.016T2+0.91T-10.88 (n=12, R2=0.8752), SGR=-0.026T2+1.39T-17.29 (n=12, R2=0.7599) and FER=-0.013T2+0.70T-8.43 (n=12, R2=0.7272). Based on these, the optimum temperatures for FR, SGR and FER were 27.66, 26.69 and 26.44 degrees C respectively. The specific activities of digestive enzymes at 24 or 28 degrees C were significantly higher than that at 20 or 32 degrees C. In addition, there was a significant linear regression between FR or SGR and specific activities of pepsin and lipase, which indicated that pepsin and lipase played important roles in regulating growth through nutrient digestion in Chinese longsnout catfish.

Effect of dietary linolenic acid/linoleic acid ratio on growth performance, hepatic fatty acid profiles and intermediary metabolism of juvenile yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary linolenic acid (LNA)linoleic acid (LA) ratio on growth performance, hepatic fatty acid profile and intermediary metabolism of juvenile yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco. Six isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated to contain incremental levels of LNA from 0 to 5% at the expense of corn oil (rich in LA), resulting in six dietary treatments with LNA to LA ratios ranging from 0.35 to 14.64. The experiment continued for 7 weeks. Best growth and feed intake were obtained in the fish fed the diets containing the LNA/LA ratios of 1.17 and 2.12 (P<0.05). In contrast, feed conversion ratio was the lowest for fish fed the diets containing the LNA/LA ratios of 1.17 and 2.12 (P<0.05). Dietary LNA to LA ratios significantly influenced viscerosomatic index and hepatosomatic index (P<0.05), but not condition factor (P>0.05). Body composition was also significantly influenced by dietary LNA to LA ratios (P<0.05). Generally, liver FA compositions reflected dietary FA profiles. Declining LA and increasing LNA contents in liver were observed with the increasing dietary LNA/LA ratios (P<0.05). Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) increased with the increasing LNA to LA ratios, suggesting that yellow catfish could elongate and desaturate C18 polyunsaturated fatty acids into highly unsaturated fatty acids. As a consequence, the n-6 fatty acids (FA) declined, and total n-3 FA and n-3/n-6 ratios increased with the dietary ratios of LNA/LA (P<0.05). Dietary LNA to LA ratios significantly influenced several enzymatic activities involved in liver intermediary metabolism (P<0.05), such as lipoprotein lipase, hepatic lipase, pyruvate kinase, succinate dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase, suggesting that dietary LNA/LA ratios had significant effects on nutrient metabolism in the liver. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of the effects of dietary LNA to LA ratios on the enzymatic activities of liver in fish, which provides information on diet quality and utilization, and can also be used as an indicator of the nutritional status of this fish. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Staphylococcus aureus lipoproteins trigger human corneal epithelial innate response through toll-like receptor-2

Bacterial lipoproteins (LP) are a family of cell wall components found in a wide variety of bacteria. In this study, we characterized the response of HUCL, a telomerase-immortalized human corneal epithelial cell (HCEC) line, to LP isolated from Staphylococcus (S) aureus. S. aureus LP (saLP) prepared by Triton X-114 extraction stimulated the activation of NF-kappa B, JNK, and P38 signaling pathways in HUCL cells. The extracts failed to stimulate NF-kappa B activation in HUCL cells after lipoprotein lipase treatment and in cell lines expressing TLR4 or TLR9, but not TLR2, indicating lipoprotein nature of the extracts. saLP induced the up-regulation of a variety of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines (IL-6, IL-8, ICAM-1). antimicrobial molecules (hBD-2, LL-37, and iNOS), and homeostasis genes (Mn-SOD) at both the mRNA level and protein level. Similar inflammatory response to saLP was also observed in primarily cultured HCECs using the production of IL-6 as readout. Moreover, TLR2 neutralizing antibody blocked the saLP-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8 and hBD2 in HUCL cells. Our findings suggest that saLP activates TLR2 and triggers innate immune response in the cornea to S. aureus infection via production of proinflammatory cytokines and defense molecules. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Studies on the toxic effects of La3+ to Tetrahymena thermophila by microcalorimetry

The toxic effects of La3+ on Tetrahymena thermophila have been studied by microcalorimetry at 28 degrees C. The metabolic rate constant (r) and peak time were linked to the concentration of La3+. The changes of metabolic rate constant indicated that low-concentration La3+ (0-75 mg/L) had no significant effects on the metabolism of Tetrahymena cells but high-concentration La3+ (100-175 mg/L) could inhibit their metabolism. From the results obtained by cell counting and fluorescence depolarization measurements, the inhibition of metabolism resulted from the decrease in cell number and the reduction in cell membrane fluidity. According to the results, it is clear that the metabolic mechanism of Tetrahymena cells has been changed with the addition of high-concentration La3+. In addition, microcalorimetry of Tetrahymena could be a sensible, easy-to-use, and convenient method for monitoring the potential effects of rare earth elements on cells and the freshwater ecosystem.

Cell surface display of functionally active lipases from Yarrowia lipolytica in Pichia pastoris

The lipase genes of Yarrowia lipolytica, LIPY7 and LIPY8, fused with FLO-flocculation domain sequence from Saccharomyces cerevisiae at their N-termini, were expressed in Pichia pastoris KM71. Following the induction with methanol, the recombinant proteins were displayed on the cell surface of P. pastoris, as confirmed by the confocal laser scanning microscopy. The LipY7p and LipY8p were anchored on P. pastoris via the flocculation functional domain of Flo 1 p. The surface-displayed lipases were characterized for their application as the whole-cell biocatalyst. These lipases can also be cleaved off from their anchor by enterokinase treatment to yield functionally active proteins in the supernatant offering an alternative purification method for LipY7p and LipY8p. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Zingiber officinalis an herbal appetizer in the tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon (Fabricius) larviculture

Penaeus monodon postlarvae were fed with different percentages (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) of the herbal appetizer Zingiber officinalis enriched Artemia. After 30 days of culture (i.e. PL-1-30), a very positive result was found in Z. officinalis-enriched Artemia-fed postlarvae. The unenriched Artemia-fed postlarvae consumed 91.0 mg/animal/30 days of feed, whereas the Z. officinalis-enriched Artemia increased their consumption to 127.9 mg/animal/30 days. A similar pattern was noticed in feed absorbed (110.2 mg), dry weight growth (26.7 mg) and feed catabolized (83.2 mg) in Z. officinalis-enriched Artemia because of enzymatic activities. The conversion efficiency of unenriched postlarva was 17.19%, whereas in 100% Z. officinalis-enriched Artemia, the maximum conversion efficiency was 20.85%. The net production efficiency increased significantly (P < 0.05) to 22% from that of the unenriched Artemia-fed postlarvae. The administration of Z. officinalis in all levels produced significantly (P < 0.05) higher weight gain and specific growth rate. The utilization efficiency of feed increased proportionately to the percentages of Z. officinalis. Digestive enzyme activity (amylase, protease and lipase) increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the 50%, 75% and 100% enrichment. Among the different percentages of enrichment, the 100% Z. officinalis-enriched Artemia-fed postlarvae performed better in the overall status.