Library

Notes: The increasing requirements in wastewater treatment have led to the development of new wastewater treatment processes based on the know-how and experience in reaction and process engineering of the chemical industry. Due to their compactness, closed operation and high flexibility, these new processes show a large potential for process integration and significant cost reduction in particular for highly polluted industrial wastewaters.This paper discusses the HCR (high-performance compact reactor) - process, developed at the Mass Transfer Laboratory of the Technical University of Clausthal within the last decade. This process has been realized in more than 30 technical applications with a volume loading of up to 70 kg COD/m3 d and an energy consumption of about 0.4 kWh per kg CODelim.

Notes: Nitrogen fixing Anabaena azollae strains isolated from four different Azolla cultures were characterized based on their total protein profile and RAPD profile to study the existing variation among them. As expected, the isolates showed almost similar protein banding patterns, but exhibited differences in 40-70 KDa protein subunits. Polymerase chain reaction of the DNA of the isolates, using four different primers, amplified specific sequences of DNA and showed clear polymorphism among the isolates. The RAPD profile generated the fingerprinting pattern characteristic of each strain based on the sequence of the primers used. Common band sharing observed between the strains A. azollae-RS-KK-SK-AM and A. azollae-RS-KK-SK-RP probably represents maternal inheritance of DNA to the progeny. The polymorphic bands were generated specifically for the isolates A. azollae-RS-KK-SK-RP and A. azollae-RS-KK-SK-AM with primers numbered 2 and 4, respectively, which could be developed as possible markers for these isolates.

Notes: Mature seed-derived callus from an elite Chinese japonica rice cv. Eyl 105 was transformed with a plasmid containing the selectable marker hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) and the reporter β-glucuronidase (gusA) genes via particle bombardment. After two rounds of selection on hygromycin (30 mg/l)-containing medium, resistant callus was transferred to hygromycin (30 mg/l)-containing regeneration medium for plant regeneration. Twenty-three independent transgenic rice plants were regenerated from 127 bombarded callus with a transformation frequency of 18.1%. All the transgenic plants contained both gusA and hpt genes, revealed by PCR/Southern blot analysis. GUS assay revealed 18 out of 23 plants (78.3%) proliferated on hygromycin-containing medium had GUS expression at various levels. Genetic analysis confirmed Mendelian segregation of transgenes in progeny. From R2 generations with their R1 parent plants showing 3:1 Mendelian segregation, we identified three independent homozygous transgenic rice lines. The homozygous lines were phenotypically normal and fertile compared to the control plants. We demonstrate that homozygous transgenic rice lines can be obtained via particle bombardment-mediated transformation and through genetic analysis-based selection.

Notes: The GRAM-positive bacterium Rhodococcus erythropolis K2-3 and the GRAM-negative Ochrobactrum anthropi K2-14 are capable of synergistically degrading 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)butyric acid (2,4-DB). The two strais execute this task in a symbiotic manner, but the nature of the interaction involved in the degradation is only partially understood as yet. An essential first step in elucidating the interaction is to be able to monitor the two strans separately, at the cellular level, within mixed populations. Therefore a method exploiting fluorescently labelled lectin probes was developed. Since Concanavalin A (Con A) binds specifically to R. erythropolis K2-3, it was selected and linked to the fluoresent dye Bodipy 630/650, which has an excitation maximum in the red part of the visible light spectrum. Forward light scatter (FSC) and DNA fluorescence from both strains were also measured to obtain simultaneous information about their physiological states. The three parameters were conveniently monitored by dual and triple excitation flow cytometry in conjunction with double fluorescent staining techniques. In addition, the strains were identified using an epifluorescence microscope. These techniques were found powerful tools for the population analysis of this mixed bacterial system.

Notes: A quite unconventional, innovative scientific methodology called “macroscopic pattern analysis” is presented in this paper. This approach is more adequate in the case of complex systems than the well-known microscopic, mechanistic approach. Complex systems are not only attracting more engineering interest, but their scientific treatment is increasingly wanted by society due to the manifold problems in Earth's ecosphere. The macroscopic pattern approach will be explained in depth and illustrated in some case studies from the ecosphere (sustainability, hurricanes and avalanches), where nature serves as a teacher for the solution of the sustainability problem. Then, a series of case studies on macropatterns are described showing the problem-solving capacity for anthropo- and technosphere: sustainability in society with an index of sustainability, the eco-social market economy with eco-tech as an instrument, biokinetics, bioreactor mixing and integrated bioprocessing with models, design of cars and houses and even quality of life as an attempt to quantify macropatterns.The innovations are briefly compared in their problem-solving capacity with known approaches such as the microscopic method in science, technology and society (free market economy), including the evaluation of other indices and cleaner production, industrial ecology and zero emission initiative. Finally, a deeper integration of sciences, ethics, arts and nature will be introduced based on the vision with macroscopic pattern analysis, where the different domains of human life are integratable to effect a reconciliation.

Notes: The dynamic behaviour of biofilters intended to remove toluene and xylene from air was studied during transient states. Laboratory scale biofilters were filled with a mixture of peat, bark and wood and inoculated with a mixed microbial population. Toluene and xylene were applied both as single pollutants and as mixtures. Attention was focused on the evaluation of the following transients: the response of biofilters to step changes and peaks in pollutant concentrations, the effect of changes between single and multiple pollutant loadings and the response to shutdown periods.The biofilters demonstrated a good dynamic stability during transient states induced by change in inlet pollutant concentrations. Their time periods did not exceed three hours. No interaction between xylene and toluene degradation was observed during changes in loading with single pollutants or their mixture. The performance interruptions lasting less than 24 hours were found to have no significant influence on the removal efficiency of biofilters. When the biofilters were reacclimated after longer starvation periods, a short temporary decrease in efficiency whose minimum and duration were proportional to the length of a preceding shutdown period was observed. The longest starvation period (7 days) resulted in a reacclimation lasting 7 hours only. Adaptations of a microbial population to new operating conditions as well as sorption/desorption processes were suggested as the main factors influencing the dynamic reponse characteristics.

Notes: In this paper, the in vivo decolourization of the polymeric dye Poly R-478 by semi-solid-state cultures of Phanerochaete chrysosporium BKM-F-1767 (ATCC 24725) was investigated, employing corncob as a support. In order to stimulate the ligninolytic system of the fungus, the cultures were supplemented with veratryl alcohol (2 mM) or manganese (IV) oxide (1 g/l).Maximum manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP) and lignin peroxidase (LiP) activities of around 2,000 U/l and 400 U/l were attained by the former, whereas the activities reached by the latter were of about 1,500 U/l and 200 U/l, respectively. Furthermore, laccase activity (around 150 U/l) was only detected in manganese (IV) oxide supplemented cultures.The polymeric dye Poly R-478 (0.02 w/v) was added to three-day-old cultures. A percentage of biological decolourization of about 85% was achieved using cultures supplemented with veratryl alcohol, whereas MnO2 cultures showed a rather lower percentage of around 58% after nine days of dye incubation. Moreover, a correlation between MnP activity and Poly R-478 decolourization could be observed, indicating that this enzyme is mainly responsible for dye degradation.In the present work, the in vivo decolourizing capability of the ligninolytic complex secreted by P. chrysosporium was investigated under the above-mentioned cultivation conditions, employing a model compound, such as the polymeric dye Poly R-478.

Notes: Desulfovibrio vulgaris strain PY1 was isolated from a 3-chlorobenzoic acid (3CBA) degrading anaerobic enrichment culture, using anaerobic Percoll density centrifugation. When grown on pyruvate (20 mM), in the absence of sulphate and under strict anaerobic conditions, this organism converted not only the co-substrates benzoate (BA), 3-amino-BA and 3CBA to the corresponding alcohols but also ten other different halogenated benzoic acids, viz., 4-Cl-, 3-Br-, 4-Br-, 3-I-, 3-F-, 4-F-, 2,4-di-Cl-, 2,5-di-Cl-, 3,4-di-Cl- and 3,5-di-Cl-BA. This was verfied with HPLC and GC/MS spectrometric analyses. The yields of the co-substrate converted after 30 days of growth were between 20% and 88%, depending on the compounds which had been added at initial concentrations of 500 μM. Sulphate, sulphite, thiosulphate and disulphite inhibited the formation of 3-Cl-benzyl alcohol (3CBOH), i.e. a 97 to 99% inhibition, and nitrate and sulphur had no effect (a 7-10% inhibition). In cell-free extracts, the reduction of 3CBA to 3CBOH required strict anaerobic conditions, pyruvate or H2 as electron donors and the addition of methylviologen (MV), FAD, FMN or ferredoxin as electron carriers. The specific activity of the reduction of 3CBA to 3CBOH in crude extract was 5.3 nmol/(mg protein min). The reaction was not inhibited by additions of sulphate or sulphite (5 mM), but was completely inhibited at concentrations of 10 mM 3CBA or 50 mM BA. A carboxylic acid reductase (aldehyde dehydrogenase), which acted on non-activated 3CBA and was responsible for the reduction of 3CBA to 3-Cl-benzaldehyde, was found in the solube fraction (94% of the total activity). These results demonstrate that strain PY1 was able to effectively reduce a wide range of halogenated benzoic acids to the corresponding alcohols.

Notes: The recent upsurge in information technology has provided the international community with an easy access to professional journals (e.g. Electronic Journal of Biotechnology at http://www.ejb.org; etc.), discussion groups (e.g. bioenergy@cret.org; digestion@crest.org; etc.) and recently to electronic international conferences (e.g. ICIBS; http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cidbiotech, etc.) as well as a series of biotechnological information material (e.g. http://www.psrast.org, etc.) to stay in contact and receive up-to-date information in biotechnology. There is no doubt that this new technology will be more cost effective in future and reach more people in communities around the globe.This review reports on one such an electronic conference aiming at bridging the communication gap between developed and developing countries. This conference dealt with integrated biosystems and has provided an excellent forum for more than 100 active participants from all regions of the world. As has been demonstrated in this review, the conference was able to show the very different approaches towards the use of biotechnology in developed and developing countries, cold and tropical climate regions owing to their different ecological, economical and societal problems. It also demonstrated very clearly that the field of molecular genetics and/or genetic engineering is not a priority issue in developing countries, but rather the need for clean technologies, multiproduct formation through socio-economic integrated biosystems, e.g. incorporating microbial waste management into agro-industries, in human activities and their roles in creating better health conditions, a better environment and sustain development.It is hoped that this review will lead to a greater use of the electronic facilities available to inform and educate both the northern and the southern communities more readily of their needs and requirements to improve understanding and efforts for a sustainable future.

Notes: The purpose and scope of this article is to introduce capable zeolites into downstream processing of natural compounds, especially flavour compounds like 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furan-3-one (Furaneol®Furaeol is a registered trademark of FIRMENICH, Ch). The synthesis and the recovery of Furaneol from L-rhamnose are presented. Therefore adsorption isotherms of the zeolites ZSM5 and DAY with varying modules have been determined and adsorption experiments using model and reaction mixtures of Furaneol synthesis were performed and will be discussed.

Notes: A fermentation process for manufacturing 1,4-piperazinium-(L,L)-dilactate from renewable raw materials and a method for processing this product into L,L-dilactide are described. Lactic acid fermentation with Lactobacillus paracasei was modified in such a way that pH control occurred by using an aqueous solution of piperazine as a correcting agent instead of sodium hydroxide solution. The production of a stoichiometrically composed piperazinium lactate was possible when the pH was 5.0. From 5.0 kg of glucose and 2.15 kg of piperazine, 6.65 kg of 1,4-piperazinium-(L,L)-dilactate were formed in the fermentation process. Separation from fermentation broth, purification and concentration of the product in aqueous solutions were carried out by means of ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and electrodialysis. Total product retention by the membranes used was about 33%. The crystalline salt was obtained by vacuum evaporation. Processing of the 1,4-piperazinium-(L,L)-dilactate into L,L-dilactide was performed in a special glass reactor. A product yield of 70% was achieved. The purified product was characterized by elementary analysis, as well as solubility behaviour, polarity and spectroscopic data. An overall process consisting of the stages fermentation, purification and concentration of piperazinium dilactate as well as cyclization of the latter to dilactide is described.

Notes: Five different chemical reagents and γ-rays were tested for the sanitization of immobilized biocatalysts with high penicillin G acylase (PGA) activity. The most effective chemical reagents were N-cetyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol (thymol). The optimum concentration of CTAB for the treatment of the immobilized enzyme was 0.25% [w/v] and 1 h, for immobilized cells 0. [w/v] and 3 h. The optimum concentration of thymol for the immobilized enzyme was found to be 0.1% [w/v] and 1 h, for immobilized cells 0.27% [w/v] and 2 h. The optimum dose of γ-rays for the sanitization of the immobilized enzyme was established as 3.2 kGy, for immobilized cells as 4.5 kGy.

Notes: An advanced primary treatment process for a municipal waste water was systematically studied, using a bio-flocculation-adsorption, sedimentation and stabilzation process (BSS). It was shown that the organic removal efficiency was higher than that of the traditional primary treatment processes but lower than that of the traditional secondary treatment processes. Both adsorption and bio-flocculation played an important role in the removal of pollutants. The activated sludge within the bio-flocculation-adsorption tank could be considered a bio-flocculent which improved the quality of the effluent from the primary treatment process. As the effluent of the BSS process did not meet the requirements for a typical secondary effluent, the process may be regarded as an advanced (or enhanced) primary treatment process, suitable for waste water containing a high concentration of suspended solids and colloidal particles.

Notes: The concentration of airborne fungal spores and bacteria as related to room temperature, humidity and occupancy levels within a library building in Singapore was determined. Measurement of indoor air quality with respect to microorganisms is of particular importance in tropical environments due to the extensive use of air-conditioning systems and the potential implications for human health. This study has revealed a number of interesting relationships between the concentrations of fungal spores and bacteria in relation to both environmental and human factors. The levels of fungal spores measured in the indoor environment were approximately fifty times lower than those measured outside, probably because of the lowered humidity caused by air-conditioning in the indoor environment. The variation in fungal spore concentration in the outdoor environment is likely to be due to the diurnal periodicity of spore release and the response to environmental factors such as light temperature and humidity. The indoor concentration of fungal spores in air was not clearly correlated to concentrations measured in air outside of the library building and remained relatively constant, unaffected by the difference in the numbers of occupants in the library. In contrast, the indoor concentrations of bacteria in air were approximately ten times higher than those measured outdoors, indicating a signficant internal source of bacteria. The elevated levels of indoor bacteria were primarily attributed to the number of library occupants. Increased human shedding of skin cells, ejection of microorganisms and particulates from the respiratory tract, and the transport of bacteria on suspended dust particles from floor surfaces probably accounts for the strong positive correlation between occupancy levels and the concentration of bacteria in internal air.

Notes: Preliminary results on the novel use of the bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidans (ATCCJ 3598 and ATCC33020) for the micro-machining (or biomachinig) of metals are reported. Biomachning is a controlled microbiological process to selectively form microstrucutures on a metal work-piece by metal removal (or dissolution) using microorganisms. Applying copper and mild steel as work-pieces, it was shown that the mass removed increased proportionately with machining time. In another experiment, the work-pieces were coated with organic photo-resistive materials to mask (i.e. protect) certain regions of the metlas, thereby defining the microstructure to be formed. The unmasked regions were successfully biomachined; the final machined profile was shown to be similar to the coating image on the original metal. Although biomachining proceeded at a slower rate than chemical machining, the undesired leaching of the metal in the region under the masked area (termed undercutting) was not as severely encountered when compared with the latter. This work demonstrates the potential use of microorganisms for the biomachining of metals. As a “green process”, the innovative use of T. ferrooxidans for the micro-machining of metals opens up the possibility of biomachining as an alternative to conventional metal processing.

Notes: During the microbial treatment of a sandy model soil artificially contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a large residual pollution was found. The remainig PAHs were sorbed into the micropores of the soil and were therefore not bioavailable. Using a lab-scale precolator, the microbially pretreated soil was subjected to aftertreatment with surfactants with the aim of further degradation of its pollution. Two commercial nonionic surfatants of the polyethoxylate type, Präwozell F1214/5 N and Sapogenat T-300, were used. The surfactants differ both in their physicochemical properties (CMC value, PAH solubilization capacity, adsorption onto soil) and in their microbial degradability. During aftertreatment under permanently aerobic conditions, only a weak PAH accumulation in the liquid phase was observed, which was due to a low solubilization rate as well as to simultaneous microbial degradation of the dissolved PAHs. Temporary anaerobiosis successfully suppressed the microbial degradation of both the surfactant and the solubilized PAHs, resulting in a more intensive PAH accumulation. But the PAH content of the soil - the essential criterion for evaluating the efficiency of surfactant application - was not decreased to a larger extent with surfactants than without them. To find out why the surfactants failed to act, the surfactant and hydrocarbon distribution among the liquid and solid phases was studied in mixtures of phenantherne-spiked solis and Präwozell-containig liquids; at heavy phenanthrene loading, the aqueous phase was saturated with PAH; at weak loading, it was unsaturated. Model-aided data analysis showed that the soil may contain PAH in two fractions: strongly sorbed into soil pores and, in the case of heavy loading, also weakly attached to the soil surface. The latter is easily extractable, resulting in a PAH-saturated liquid, while strongly adsorbed PAH is only partially dissolved due to competition between the micelles and the soil pores for the PAH. The microbially pretreated soil contains only strongly bound PAHs, which are as difficult to extract by surfactants as they are poorly accessible for microbes.

Notes: Autochthonous bacteriocenoses in semiarid soils in Patagonia were found to be capable of rapidly adapting to high contamination with crude oil. This adaptation at community level is due to the selective enrichment of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria always present in these soils. Immediately after a heavy contamination with crude oil, the authochthonous bacteriocenosis contained about 28% hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria which could be classified into eight ecotypes with characteristic metabolic profiles. Mainly n-alkanes were used as growth substrates of representative strains. After seven months' exposure to crude oil, the bacteriocenosis consisted almost entirely of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria. At least fourteen ecotypes were distinguishable, and the majority of representative strains were able to metabolize a broad spectrum of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Corresponding to the significant alteration of the physiological diversity, drastic changes to the taxonomic diversity were also found. Whereas at the beginning of the study the autochthonous bacteriocenoses were dominated by GRAM-positive genera of the Actinomycetales (Dietzia, Gordona, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, Streptomyces) with high ecological potency, after just two months' exposure to crude oil, GRAM- negative bacteria (especially Pseudomonas stutzeri) became predominant within the hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteriocenoses accompanied by some GRAM-positive genera of the Actinomycetales with a significantly lower abundance. These findings underline the importance of Pseudomonas and some genera of Actinomycetales for processes of natural attenuation and the technically supported in situ bioremediation of soil polluted by crude oil in Patagonia.

Notes: Some parameters of the production of an alkaline protease by Rhizopus oryzae in the solid state fermentation of wheat bran were optimized. Using the optimum parameters of an inoculum age of 7 days, an incubation time of 9 days, an amount of CZAPEK-DOX (liquid medium) of 6 ml/g bran and an incubation temperature of 33°C, an activity of 50 U/g bran was achieved. The initial pH of the CZAPEK-DOX medium had little effect. Re-incubation of mouldy bran with only fresh CZAPEK-DOX yielded 3 times total activity compared to single-cycle fermentation. As for the effect of the amount CZAPEK-DOX medium, the water constituent contributed more to activity increase than did the salt component. The ARRHENIUS activation energies were 23 and 7.9 kcal/mole below and above the optimum of 33°C, respectively. In all the studies, along with protease production, variation of protein content and specific activity were also observed. Attempts were made to explain the effects and also gauge their implications for large-scale production.

Notes: Because of the growing utilization of renewable raw materials, the technical use of lignocellulosic fibres from wood and other annual plant materials is becoming increasingly important. The conventional production process of fibreboards is characterized by high-energy consumption and use of ecologically insecure synthetic lesins. Approximately 40 to 45% of the total energy expenditure are used for the thermo-mechanical pulping. Because of high plastication temperatures, an inactive lignin crust on the fibre surface is formed. For that reason, for glueing of the fibres, urea formaldehyde and melamin resins are usually used. The costs for the resin amount to approximately 50% of the entire material costs. In addition, environmental problems are caused. The aim of our investigation is the reduction of energy and resin consumption by enzymatic modification of wood chips and the enzymatic activation of the inherent bonding strength of the material. The first industrial use of fungi for the modification of wood was in the production of “Myco wood”. Pleurothus ostreatus and Trametes versicolor were applied for nonsterile delignification of beech wood. The present investigation of the authors deals with the mycological pre-treatment of wood chips in order to reduce the energy consumption during wood pulping. The screening results favour the brown rotter Gleophyllum trabeum for pinewood (Pinus silvestris) and the white rotter Trametes hirsuta for beech (Fagus silvatica). Both species show resistance against mould fungi. The use of submerged inoculum of these fungi has the advantage over wheat inoculum that the lag phase is less than 12 hours and that the addition of nutrients or fungicides is not necessary. Short-time wood chip incubation results in a 40% decrease of energy consumption during thermo-mechanical pulping and in improved fibreboard properties. Lignin reduction could not be determined by gravimetrical and x-ray microanalysis.Comparative investigations of fibre incubation using laccase, a submerged culture of Trametes versicolor and rape straw fibres show a high increase in bending and tensile strength and an improvement in the hygroscopic properties of glue-free fibre boards for the last two incubation kinds. Similar effects have been obtained incubating pine wood fibres for the production of fibre sheets with enzyme medium of Trichoderma reseei.

Notes: During the 20th century, important relationships developed between the oil industry and both microbiological and biotechnological research. Basic microbiological research has played an important role in both the exploration and production sectors of the oil industry, but as the maturity of the industry has progressed, such contributions have been relegated with respect to their importance. With respect to refining and petrochemicals manufacture, process routes have been extensively researched, but only rarely have the biotechnological solutions developed satisfied the economic criteria that resulted in major investment. In fact, situations exist where investment has occurred, but project life was unrealistically short, suggesting a need for extreme caution when evaluating biotechnological processes for the oil industry. However, as far as engineered processes for both biotreatment and bioremediation are concerned, the fundamental research that has underpinned other areas of hydrocarbon microbiology will finally prove to be of both technical and economic value, in ensuring that the essential needs of treatment, rather than disposal, and restoration, rather than environmental destruction, can be satisfied by the oil and other industries involved in both geochemical manipulation and natural resource exploitation.

Notes: The influence of different growth-limiting factors - namely the sources of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus and the dilution (growth) rate - on the ice-nucleation activity of Pseudomonas syringe CCM 4073 was studied. A higher ice-nucleation activity was observed at a lower dilution (growth) rate (D = 0.1 h-1) than at a higher dilution (growth) rate (D = 0.3 h-1). Remarkable differences in ice-nucleation activity were found in its dependence on the growth-limiting factor. The highest ice-nucleation activity was observed under carbon limitation (T90 = -2.7°C), a medium activity under nitrogen limitation (T90 = -5°C) and lowest activity under phosphorus limitation (T90 = -12.3°C). After the addition of excess nitrogen or phosphorus to steady-state cultures, the ice-nucleation activity was restored.

Notes: Studies were carried out to evaluate the feasibility of using coffee industry residues, viz. coffee husk, coffee leaves and spent coffee ground as substrates in solid state fermentation (SSF) to cultivate edible mushrooms Pleurotus. Eight strains of Pleurotus ostreatus and two strains of Pleurotus sajor-caju were screened on a medium prepared from aqueous extract of coffee husk and agar. Based on best mycelial growth (9.68 mm/day) and biomass production (43.4 mg/plate in 9 days at 24°C), the strain P. ostreatus LPB 09 was selected for detailed studies. SSF was carried out using these substrates under different moisture conditions (45-75%) and spawn rates (2.5-25%). In general, although a 25% spawn rate appeared superior, the 10% spawn rate was recommended for all the three substrates in view of the process economics, as there was not any significant difference in the increase with 10 to 15%. The ideal moisture content for mycelial growth was 60-65% for coffee husk and spent coffee ground, and 60-70% for coffee leaves. The biological efficiency (BE), which is defined as the ratio of the weight of fresh fruiting bodies to the weight of dry substrate, multiplied by 100, and which indicates the fructification ability of the fungus for utilizing the substrate, was best with coffee husk. With coffee husk as the substrate, the first fructification occurred after 20 days of inoculation, and the biological efficiency reached about 97% after 60 days. When coffee leaves were used as the substrate, no fructification was observed even upon prolonged cultivation. With spent ground as the substrate, the first fructification occurred 23 days after inoculation and the biological efficiency reached about 90% in 50 days. There was a significant decrease in the caffeine and tannin contents (61 and 79%, respectively) of coffee husk after 60 days. It was remarkable to observe that caffeine was adsorbed onto the fruiting body (0.157%), indicating that it was not completely degraded by the fungal culture. However, no tannins were found in the fruiting body, indicating that the fungal strain was capable of degrading them. The results showed the feasibility of using coffee husk and spent coffee ground as substrates without any pre-treatment for the cultivation of edible fungi in SSF, and provided one of the first steps towards an economical utilization of these otherwise unutilized or poorly utilized residues.

Notes: Serratia marcescens biovar A2/A6 is able to produce a red pigment as a secondary metabolite which has antimicrobial activity. This paper describes its growth and biopigment formation in batch cultures, in media containing different concentrations of lactic acid and beef extract as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. An unstructured model has also been developed to describe its growth, lactic acid uptake and biopigment formation. The comparison of simulated and experimental data shows that the proposed model predicts reasonably well the system behaviour over a range of conditions.

Notes: The impact of hydrocarbon remediation on several enzyme activities (catalase, dehydrogenase, lipase, protease, urease, alkaline phosphomonoesterase, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis) and microbial properties (biomass-C, respiration, N-mineralization, qCO2, microbial counts) was evaluated in a laboratory study over a period of 10 weeks. A pristine soil was contaminated with diesel oil (10 mg/g soil) or with a mixture of phenanthrene and naphthalene (total amount 1 mg/g soil) and supplemented with inorganic nutrients to give a C:N ratio of 20:1. The corresponding controls consisted of uncontaminated nutrient-supplemented soil. Oil contamination caused a significant initial increase of all biological parameters measured. In the presence of PAHs, biomass-C, respiration, protease activity and heterotrophic counts were significantly enhanced, while urease activity was depressed. N-mineralization was initially, however, reversibly inhibited in the presence of oil and PAHs.The measured parameters behaved differently over time: Biomass-C, respiration and alkaline phosphomonoesterase activity reached a maximum activity after about 2-5 weeks, corresponding to the period during which the majority of hydrocarbons disappeared, and declined thereafter to the background level. Activities of catalase and dehydrogenase also followed this pattern, however, were characterized by fluctuations. Activities of lipase, protease, urease and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis increased and remained almost constant throughout the incubation period.

Notes: The action resonance theory (ART), a hypothesis based on a logical extension of EINSTEIN's theory of Brownian movement, suggests that the genotype × environment interaction can be modelled as forceful encounters of the gene-products of an organism with its environment. This model has implications for molecular and cell biology, morphogenesis, evolutionary development via mutation, the mechanism of natural selection and overall function of ecosystems, extending SCHRÖDINGER's programme for molecular biology. Action, a thermodynamic property with the same physical dimensions as angular momentum and PLANCK's quantum of action, is proposed to be reversibly generated as a result of the molecular exchange of quanta, which become resonant at equilibrium, corresponding to an optimum degree of entropy and action for living systems. Because the theory can potentially predict solutions to unsolved problems such as the folding of proteins it has strong implications for successful genetic modification of organisms and for biotechnology in general; the design of a programme of research to test this theory is proposed. A key element in this research programme, improving productivity and sustainability, would be the need to select genetically modified strains in the ecological environment or niche in which they are required to function.

Notes: Continuous counter-current chromatographic processes have been successfully used in the petrochemical and sugar industry over the last 30 years. Only recently has simulated moving bed (SMB)-technology attracted widespread interest in the pharmaceutical industry, mainly as a very efficient system for chromatographic enantioseparation. The application of this technique to the downstream processing of biotechnological products requires some specific changes to meet the special demands of bioproduct isolation. Production processes are set up on an multi-ton scale, for example, for the purification of fructose with both yield and purity higher than 90%. Examples for other mono- and oligosaccharides are reported. In the purification of fatty acids or fat soluble vitamins, SMB technology under supercritical fluid conditions gives additional benefits and increases the productivity by a factor of four when a pressure gradient is applied. Another field of operation is the isolation of drug compounds from natural sources where different batch- and SMB-chromatographic steps could be successfully combined. First examples are reported for cyclosporine A and paclitaxel isolation. Finally, step-gradient elution modes can be used continuously, as demonstrated for the isolation of monoclonal antibodies.

Notes: During recent years attempts have been made to formulate a viscosity-concentration relationship. The method of Huggins, in introducing a factor k′ as a hydrodynamic correction factor is examined, and in particular the attempts to draw conclusions relating k′ to the thermodynamic properties of the solution. An explanation is offered to correlate the experimental viscosity-concentration relationship and the change of solvent. A possible method for the actual calculation of concentration effects has been applied to the case of a suspension of spherical particles, for which, as a first approximation, a value of 10.6 for the coefficient of the c2 term has been obtained.

Notes: Tensile strengths of natural rubber samples quantitatively crosslinked with decamethylene dis-methyl azodicarboxylate have been determined. The proportion of the azo vulcanizing agent was varied 80-fold, the fraction p of cross-linked units in the products ranging from 0.10x 10-2 to 8.0 x 10-2. In spite of the small dimensions of the test specimen (cross section 0.10 in. by about 0.005 in.), the average error for a single observation is similar to that obtained in conventional testing procedures applied to specimens vulcanized with sulfur and accelerators. Deviations from the mean for 262 tests on 15 different cures are well represented by a Gaussian error function; a slight intimation of skewness is evident only at the extremities of the distribution of deviations. These results are incompatible with the commonly held view that rupture of the sample takes place at the “weakest link” in the series of flaws inevitably occurring along the specimen. It would appear that the ability to withstand tensile stress (applied in a specified manner) is an inherent characteristic of the bulk material. The rapid increase in tensile strength with the degree of crosslinking p for small values of this quantity is consistent with the conclusion, previously reached in the investigation of the physical properties of butyl rubber (6) that the tensile strength is directly related to the fraction of the structure which is permanently oriented by stretching. At higher degrees of cross-linking (at ρ x 100 = 1.0 to 1.5, depending on the molecular weight of the rubber) the tensile strength passes through a maximum and then declines steadily to quite low values for higher ρ's. This adverse effect of higher degrees of cross-linking is believed to result from the diminished elongation at which crystallization sets in and, hence, the smaller fraction of the network elements sufficiently oriented to participate in crystallite formation. Modification of up to 7% of the isoprene units of the rubber with the monofunctional compound, ethyl azodicarboxylate, depresses the tensile strength of the disazo vulcanized rubber relatively little. Evidently, the limited extent to which these modified (or copolymer) chains may enter into crystallization is adequate to bring about high tensile strength. Lack of direct correlation between modulus and tensile strength for rubbers vulcanized with various sulfur-accelerator combinations can only be explained by assuming that conventional vulcanization processes are accompanied to varying degrees by chain scission reactions. When vulcanized rubber is “over-cured,” or heat aged, chain scission becomes excessive.

Notes: The infrared and ultraviolet absorption spectra of Koresin are very similar to those of an acid-catalyzed p-tert-butylphenol-acetal- dehyde polymer. This is believed to be evidence that Koresin has Structure I. A variety of phenol-aldehyde resins have been prepared for comparison with Koresin. The ratings of some of these materials as tackifiers have been reported. These furnish further evidence that the molecular weight of a phenol-aldehyde resin is important in its tackifying action. An alkaline-catalyzed condensation product of acetylene and p-tert-butylphenol shows no tackifying action and has no free hydroxyl in the polymer as judged by its infrared pattern.

Notes: The paper deals with a tentative plan to extend quantitative x-ray measurements for determining the degree of crystallinity of polymers (as used earlier in cellulose determinations), to the investigation of rubber, polythene, and a polyamide. Strictly monochromatized copper radiation was used. The results show that further work along these lines may be promising. The raw rubber sample used was identical with one of those investigated by Goppel and by Arlman. It yielded a crystallinity figure higher than that reported by Goppel, but conformed with that found by Arlman. The figures obtained for polythene at different temperatures are compared with those derived from density and heat capacity measurements by other workers. The degree of crystallinity of polythene at room temperature is found to be ∼ 55%, and in samples of polyhexamethylene sebacamide, previously treated in different ways, figures between ∼50 and 70% are obtained. It is shown that the possibility of using the background intensity as a measure of the disordered fraction is confined to not too high angles of diffraction. A method is described (and experimentally checked) allowing for reducing the curves of intensity distribution as a function of 2θ as observed in various polymers to a comparable scale. It is further emphasized that, in polymers where hydrogen bonds play a decisive role in intermolecular cohesion, the x-ray results suggest that the “crystalline” or ordered fraction may to a considerable extent involve states of two-dimensional order.

Notes: o-Hydroxystyrene did not copolymerize with styrene and butadiene in GR-S-type systems. A terpolymer of these three monomers was obtained by copolymerizing o-acetoxystyrene, styrene and butadiene in carbon tetrachloride solution by the action of stannic chloride followed by hydrolysis of the acetate groups in the polymer with dilute hydrochloric acid in dioxane solution. The polymer thus obtained did not improve the tack of GR-S.

Notes: During a definite polymerization time the rate of uncatalyzed polymerization of styrene may be decreased by the use of activated carbon. The intrinsic viscosities of the polymers formed may be either increased or decreased by the addition of active carbon, depending upon the activity of the carbon sample used.

Notes: Refractive index-temperature and volume-temperature data for polyvinyl acetate and polybutyl acrylate have been determined and used to calculate the specific refractivity as a function of temperature by the Lorentz-Lorentz and the Eyckman equations. The results show a variation of specific refractivity with temperature which exceeds experimental error. The variation is evident as an increase of specific refractivity with temperature above Tm and suggests experiments which will show the increase more clearly. A theoretical justification for the increase of specific refractivity with temperature in polymers is discussed.

Notes: Various mechanisms which have been proposed for the reaction between ferrous iron and hydrogen peroxide are reviewed. Two of these mechanisms appear equally satisfactory on the basis of present evidence: that of Bray and Gorin, involving formation of tetravalent (ferryl) iron, and that of Haber and Weiss, involving formation ofhydroxyl and perhydroxyl radicals. Mechanisms involving these intermediates have been developed for the ferric iron-catalyzed decomposition of hydrogen peroxide; the mechanism of Bray and Gorin appears satisfactory, while that of Haber and Weiss leads to certain inconsistencies. A mechanism with ferrous iron and hydroxyl and perhydroxyl radicals as intermediates is presented, which accounts for the experimental observations in the ferric iron-catalyzed decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The reaction between hydrogen peroxide and ferrous iron induces the reaction between hydrogen peroxide and various organic compounds; this induced reaction (termed a Fenton reaction) is a chain reaction which is initiated by the active intermediates (ferryl iron or hydroxyl radical) formed in the primary reaction. The determination of hydrogen peroxide by reaction with ferrous iron, if carried out in the presence of various organic compounds (termed promoters), gives incorrect results, due to induced oxidation of the promoters; other compounds, termed suppressors, reduce the extent of this induced oxidation of promoters. It appears that both types of compounds react with ferryl iron or hydroxyl radical to form radicals, which if formed from promoters, reduce ferric iron or hydrogen peroxide, while the radicals formed from suppressors oxidize ferrous iron. These considerations are of particular importance in the determination of organic hydroperoxides. The reaction between hydrogen peroxide or organic peroxides and ferrous iron can induce, or initiate, the polymerization of vinyl monomers; this is an example of redox polymerization, which is of considerable practical importance at present.

Notes: Cellobiose wird als Glykolsäure-glykosid nach der Azid-methode mit Protein kondensiert. Ferner werden aus Lacto-bionsäure und Proteinen nach der Azid-methode Lacto-bionyl-proteine synthetisiert.

Notes: 2-Chlorbutadien-1,3 (Chloropren) bildet schon bei niedrigen Temperaturen mit molekularem Sauerstoff ein Peroxyd. Die Bildungsgeschwindigkeit dieses Peroxyds ist so groß, daß es schwierig ist, peroxydfreies Chloropren herzustellen. Dies gelingt durch sorgfältige Destillation unter reinstem Stickstoff.Die Versuche zur Isolierung des Chloroprenperoxyds ergaben wegen seiner leichten Zersetzlichkeit keine befriedigenden Ergebnisse. Die quantitative Bestimmung des Peroxyds in Chloropren gelingt nach den üblichen Methoden nicht oder nur sehr schwierig. Chloroprenperoxyd oxydiert Antioxydantien, wie z. B. Phenyl-β-naphthylamin, zu gefärbten Produkten. Da Phenyl-β-naphthylamin die weitere Autoxydation des Chloroprens unterbindet, kann auf dieser Grundlage eine photometrische Bestimmung des Peroxyds durchgeführt werden.Die Geschwindigkeit der Sauerstoffaufnahme von Chloropren bei 0°C wurde volumetrisch gemessen. Die Sauerstoffaufnahme ist ein autokatalytischer, gleichförmig beschleunigter Vorgang. Er wird von Tetralinperoxyd stark beschleunigt, nicht aber von Benzoylperoxyde. Es wurden andere katalytisch wirkende Stoffe und der Einfluß des Lichtes untersucht.Da Chloroprenperoxyd die Polymerisation des Chloroprens auslöst und stark beschleunigt, ist es zweckmäßig, für die Stabilisierung dieser ungesättigten Verbindung solche Stoffe anzuwenden, die nicht nur die Polymerisation, sondern auch die Autoxydation hemmen. Die stabilisierende Wirkung der Antioxydantien wird bei Anwesenheit von Chloroprenperoxyd und Chlorwasserstoff nach einer Induktionsperiode durchbrochen. Dies kann dadurch erklärt werden, daß Phenyl-β-naphthylamin im Falle des Chloroprenperoxyds durch Oxydation, im Falle des Chlorwasserstoffs als Salz unwirksam gemacht wird.

Notes: Es wird ein einfaches Verfahren angegeben, den Transport von Wasser durch Textilfaserschichten zu messen, die einerseits in Wasser tauchen und andererseits an Luft mittlerer relativer Feuchtigkeit grenzen. Proteinfasern transportieren das Wasser langsam, Baumwolle rascher und Viskosekunstfasern sehr rasch.

Notes: Es wird der Einfluß von Seitenketten auf die Höhe der Viskositätszahl Zη von niedermolekularen Estern untersucht. Bei Dicetylmalonestern und Dicetylessigestern hat die Länge der Estergruppe keinen Einfluß auf die Höhe der Viskositätszahl. Bei substituierten Malonsäuredicetylestern resp. Disterylestern ändert sich dagegen die Viskositätszahl mit der Länge der in die CH2-Gruppe substituierten Alkylreste, und zwar ist sie bei kurzkettigen Substituenten kleiner, bei langgliedrigen größer als bei den unsubstituierten Verbindungen gleicher Kettenlänge. Das gleiche Verhalten zeigen β-alkylsubstituierte Stearinsäureester. Es wird weiter versucht, inwieweit das Einsteinsche Viskositätsgesetz in veränderter Fassung zur Klärung dieses Viskositätsverhaltens herangezogen werden kann.

Notes: Da nach den üblichen technischen Verfahren die Isolierung von Pektinen unvermeidlich mit einem gewissen Abbau verbunden ist, wurden die schonendsten Bedingungen festgestellt, unter denen es noch möglich ist, Pektin aus dem Fruchtfleisch von Äpfeln in ausreichender Menge zu gewinnen. Durch Wahl des günstigsten Reifezustandes, Ausschaltung einer Enzymtätigkeit, Einhaltung möglichst neidriger Extraktionstemperaturen und eines geeigneten pH konnte ein wenig abgebautes Pektin crhalten werden, dessen Methoxylgehalt dem für eine vollständig veresterte Polygalakturonsäure berechneten sehr nahe kommt. Die Molekulargröße wurde viskosimetrisch an einem aus diesem Material gewonnenen Pektinnitrat bestimmt, das nach einer schonenderen Nitrierungsmethode als der bisher üblichen hergestellt war. Die erhaltenen Werte liegen über den bisher beobachteten. Das im Apfelsaft vorhandene „freie Pektin“ wurde als niedriger molekular befunden.

Notes: Aus einer Zusammenstellung von Viskositätsmessungen an niedermolekularen Kettenmolekülen mit Doppelbindungen geht hervor, daß die trans-Formen eine höhere und die cis-Formen eine niedrigere Viskosität haben als die analogen gesättigten Verbindungen. Die verschiedene Viskosität von trans-, cis- und gesättigten Verbindungen kann mit der verschiedenen Form und Elastizität der Kettenmoleküle erklärt werden. Maleinsäureester und Maleinsäurepolyester lassen sich mit Brom als Katalysator in die entsprechenden Fumarester umlagern.

Notes: Es wurde die Polymerisationsgeschwindigkeit des Vinylchlorids bei 50° unter Zusatz verschiedener Mengen Benzoylperoxyd als Katalysator untersucht, indem der Umsatz das Molekulargewicht und die Zeitdauer beginnender Trübung durch Ausfallen des Polymerisats bestimmt wurde.Der Umsatz steigt zunächst langsam, dann schneller mit der Zeit an; über 80 - 90% nimmt er nur noch sehr langsam zu, so daß die letzten 1 - 2% praktisch nicht mehr polymerisieren. Mit sinkender Katalysatorkonzentration wird die Reaktion langsamer, derart, daß sich die Umsatzzeitkurven durch Dehnung der Zeitachse proportional der Wurzel aus der ursprünglichen Katalysatorkonzentration zur Deckung bringen lassen. Bis zu 70 - 80% läßt sich der Umsatz durch die Gl. u = (eat  -  1)b gut darstellen, wobei b = 0,1 und a = 0,240 · √c20 zu setzen ist.  -  Gegen Ende der Reaktion ließ sich im restlichen Monomeren Salzsäure nachweisen.Das Molekulargewicht nimmt mit steigender Menge Benzoylperoxyd und Sauerstoff deutlich ab; bei mäßigen Peroxydkonzentrationen wird dieser Effekt in der Streuung der Versuchswerte nicht sichtbar.  -  Die Zeit bis zur beginnenden Trübung ändert sich umgekehrt proportional der Wurzel aus der Katalysatorkonzentration und ist ferner unter reinem Sauerstoff größer, unter Stickstoff kleiner als unter Luft.Der Katalysator verschwindet während der Polymerisation, und zwar in um so stärkerem Maße, je höher seine ursprüngliche Konzentration, und um so weniger, je größer die Menge an Sauerstoff ist.  -  Mit Kaliumpersulfat erfolgt die Polymerisation nur in der wäßrigen Phase.Mit den Beobachtungen im Einklang steht das folgende Reaktionsschema (B = Benzoylperoxyd, M = monomeres Vinylchlorid). Die Hemmung der Polymerisation durch eine Anzahl von dritten Stoffen wurde orientierend, etwas eingehender die durch Styrol untersucht. Schwache Reduktionsmittel, Vinylderivate und einige anorganische Stoffe hemmen die Polymerisation, während chemisch indifferente Stoff sie nicht beeinflussen. Die Hemmung beruht vermutlich auf vorzeitigem Kettenabbruch.

Notes: Der bei Pektinpräparaten festzustellende P2O5-Gehalt in der Asche stammt teils von anorganischen und organischen Begleitstoffen (Phosphatiden), teils aber auch von Veresterungen der Pektinketten durch H3PO4; im Protopektin der Pflanzen hat man Vernetzungen der Pektinketten durch H3PO4-Brücken zu „Übermolekülen“ anzunehmen, die zahlenmäßig jedoch gegenüber den Vernetzungen durch mehrwertige Metallionen über die Karboxylgruppen zurücktreten.

Notes: 1Die Untersuchungen von Ohara (1933) über das polarisationsoptische Verhalten des Seidenfibroins wurden einer kritischen Betrachtung unterzogen und dabei Abweichungen von der Wienerschen Theorie festgestellt.2Die Hauptbrechungsindizes von Fibroinfäden, die 40 Stunden bei 100°C über P2O5 getrocknet worden waren, wurden nach der Immersionsmethode von Becke gemessen und zu für eine Wellenlänge von 589 mμ gefunden. Daraus resultiert eine Doppelbrechung von 0,0506 und für den Schwerpunkt des weißen Lichtes bei 550 mμ eine solche von 0,0514.3Imbibitionsversuche an trockenem und feuchtem Fibroin ergeben eindeutig das Fehlen eines Stäbchendoppelbrechungseffektes. Dies steht im Gegensatz zu den Untersuchungen von Ohara. Der mit Hilfe der Imbibitionsmethode gefundene Wert der Doppelbrechung stimmt mit dem der Immersionsmethode gut überein.4Die Abweichungen von diesem Wert in Wasser und wäßrigen Gemischen als Imbibitionsmedien lassen sich weitgehend mit Hilfe der Quellung erklären.5Durch Quellung und nachfolgende Imbibition kann keine Verstärkung eines etwa nur schwach entwickelten Stäbchendoppelbrechungseffektes erreicht werden.6Elektronenoptische Aufnahmen vermitteln Einblick in den Feinbau des Fibroins, welches aus feinen Fibrillen mit ganz verschiedenen Durchmessern besteht, die sehr fest und dicht gepackt sind.

Notes: Die molekulare Ultraschallgeschwindigkeit ist eine additive Eigenschaft für substanzen mit niedrigem Molekulargewicht und ergibt sich mit großer Annäherung aus der Summe der Geschwindigkeiten der verschiedenen Radikale, die das Molekül bilden.Die Übereinstimmung zwischen der experimentell festgestellten Geschwindigkeit und der auf Grund der Geschwindigkeiten der Radikale berechneten scheint besser zu sein als die auf Grund der Bindungsgeschwindigkeiten nach Lagemann und Corry berechneten. Wie schon von diesen Forschern angegeben, liefern die Bindungsgeschwindigkeiten zufriedenstellende Ergebnisse nur für unverzweigte Verbindungen.In den Verbindungen mit niedrigen Molekulargewichten führt die Gegenwart von Verzweigungen in den Molekülen zu einer Erniedrigung der molekularen Ultraschallgeschwindigkeit, die jedoch sehr geringfügig ist (12 Einheiten für die Methyl- und 20 für die Äthylgruppe in anderen Stellungen als  - 1 und  - 2).Für Verbindungen mit hohem Molekulargewicht und unverzweigter Kette stimmt der Wert der grundmolekularen Ultraschallgeschwindigkeit, d. h. bezogen auf die Grundgruppe, mit den auf Grund der Bindungsgeschwindigkeiten und auch mit den auf Grund der Radikalgeschwindigkeiten berechneten überein. Für verzweigte Moleküle ist die Übereinstimmung für die Radikalgeschwindigkeit besser, wobei die Erniedrigung der grundmolekularen Geschwindigkeit infolge der Verzweigungen höher ist im Falle von Verbindungen mit hohem als mit niedrigem Molekulargewicht.Die Bestimmung des Verhältnisses zwischen der experimentellen und berechneten Geschwindigkeit kann ein Mittel darstellen, um Anzahl und Größe der Verzweigungen zu bestimmen. Diesem Verhältnis ist die Bezeichnung „Formfaktor“ gegeben worden.Der Formfaktor ist gleich 1 oder etwas höher für die unverzweigten oder wenig verzweigten Verbindungen mit hohem Molekulargewicht (Paraffine, Polyäthylene, Polyäthylenoxyd, Nylon), niedriger als 1 für die verzweigten Verbindungen: 0,90 im Naturgummi, der eine Methylverzweigung an jedem vierten Kohlenstoffatom in den langen Ketten trägt, und 0,79-0,80 in den Polyisobutylenen mit zwei Methylverzweigungen an jedem zweiten Kohlenstoffatom in der Kette.Niedrigere Werte als der Naturgummi und unwesentlich höhere als die Polyisobutylene weisen die Formfaktoren des Polyalfabutylens und des Polystyrols auf (0,82), die eine äthylische, bzw, eine phenylische Gruppe auf jedes zweite Kohlenstoffatom in der langen Kette besitzen; dies beweist auch einen Einfluß der Länge der Verzweigungen auf den Formfaktor in dem Sinne, daß letzterer um so mehr erniedrigt wird, je größer die Verzweigung ist.Der Einfluß der Häufigkeit der Verzweigungen und ihrer Länge auf den Formfaktor wird beim Polymethylmetakrylat bestätigt, da diese Verbindung den niedrigsten von uns festgestellten Formfaktor aufweist; diese Verbindung besitzt nämlich zwei Verzweigungen an jedem zweiten Kohlenstoffatom der Kette, und zwar eine Methylgruppe und eine methylierte Karboxylgruppe.Die Übereinstimmung der Formfaktoren des Buna und des hydrierten Buna mit dem des Polyalfabutylens ist ein weiterer Beweis, daß die nicht bei niedriger Temperatur ausgeführte Polymerisierung des Butadiens in den Stellungen 1 - 2 oder 2 - 3 und nicht in der Stellung 1 - 4 stattfindet. Dies steht im Einklang mit den kürzlich mitgeteilten Versuchsergebnissen von Hanson und Halverson bei gestrecktem Buna.Der niedrige Formfaktor des Polyvinylisobutyläthers (0,79) kann ein Zeichen für den Einfluß der sekundären Verzweigungen auf den Formfaktor sein.Schließlich bestätigt die Unveränderlichkeit des Formfaktors für alle untersuchten Polyisobutylene mit verschiedenen Molekulargewichten, daß für hochmolekulare Verbindungen die grundmolekulare Ultraschallgeschwindigkeit und demzufolge der Formfaktor vom Molekulargewicht unabhängig ist.

Notes: Durch Untersuchung der Kettenlängenverteilung von oxydative in Kupferoxydammoniaklösung abgebauten Buchen- und Fichtencellulosen wird gezeigt, daß ebenso wie bei Baumwoll- und Ramiecellulosen eine Vereinheitlichung bei Polymerisationsgraden zwischen 400 und 500 eintritt. Auch bei hydrolytisch abgebauten Produkten ist dieser Effekt zu bemerken, läßt sich jedoch wegen der Viskositätsanomalien nicht quantitativ auswerten. Aus den Befunden wird geschlossen, daß auch in Holzcellulosen im Abstand von ca. 500 Glucoseresten Lockerstellen vorhanden sind, die durch Oxydationsmittel und Säuren erheblich schneller gespalten werden als die β-glucosidischen Bindungen. Diese periodische Struktur ist für alle bisher untersuchten Cellulosearten im Abstand der Lockerstellen identisch, jedoch unterschieden durch das Verhältnis der Spaltungsgeschwindigkeiten. Aus elektronenmikroskopischen Aufnahmen wird geschlossen, daß die Lockerstellen in Ebenen senkrecht zur Faserrichtung angeordnet sind.

Notes: The conductance of a series of salts made by the addition of n-butyl bromide to 4-vinylpyridine-styrene copolymers (1.5 to 90 mole per cent vinylpyridine) has been measured in dioxane (∊′ = 2.2), ethylene dichloride (∊′ = 10.2), and a series of nitromethane-dioxane mixtures (16.0 ≤ ∊′ ≤ 39.4). Three independent arguments deduced from the data show that ionic association under the influence of interionic electrostatic forces must occur in solutions of polyelectrolytes in such a way that a certain average fraction of the counter ions accompany the large polycation and contribute nothing to conductance. First, the conductance at fixed copolymer composition and fixed salt concentration decreases with decreasing dielectric constant of the solvent medium. Second, at a given counter ion concentration in a given solvent, the conductance decreases with increasing pyridonium content of the chain. Third, for a given salt and solvent, the conductance decreases with increasing salt concentration at a rate much slower than that characteristic of simple electrolytes.

Notes: The method for the evaluation of the percentage crystallinity in cellulose preparations from x-ray intensity measurements, previously described in detail (J. Appl. Phys., in press) is reviewed briefly and new material presented consisting of crystallinity percentages between 8% and 70%. Cotton, flax, and ramie possess equal crystallinity (70%) and so do the majority of rayons, independent of their degree of orientation and including cuprammonium and Lilienfeld rayons. Cellulose acetates saponified under varying conditions also yield almost the same value as rayon (40%). The New product Fiber G (du Pont) holds an exceptional position with 53% crystalline substance. In the series of native celluloses, wood pulp has about 65%, Valonia 65-70%, and bacterial cellulose about 40%. By dry grinding of rayon, a powder was obtained containing only slightly less than 10% crystalline substance, which on recrystallization in water, yields 2 product having the same crystallinity as rayon. The difference between the heats of wetting of the criginal and the recrystallized powder affords additional support of the results obtained.

Notes: The discrepancies in the published work on the interaction of acetone and cellulose nitrate are discussed and explained. Vapor phase adsorption isotherms for the adsorption of acetone by cellulose nitrate have been determined with an adsorption balance. They have been shown to be independent of the crystalline-amorphous ratio of the polymer but dependent upon its nitrogen content. In cellulose nitrates which are completely soluble in acetone, no limiting adsorption has been found. Adsorption analysis (a modification of chromatography) has been applied to the determination of the liquid phase adsorption by cellulose nitrate of acetone from mixtures with petroleum ether. In terms of the liquid mixture concentrations, there appears to be limited adsorption, but this is shown to be due to the nonideal nature of the solutions of acetone and petroleum ether. When allowance is made for this, the liquid and vapor phase isotherms are the same within experimental error and do not support the existence of compounds of acetone and cellulose nitrate.

Notes: By means of chain transfer agents such as dodecyl mercaptan, polyisoprenes whose number-average molecular weights range between 300-1200 and which are liquid at room temperature have been prepared. The structure and physical properties of these substances have been investigated. Vulcanization of these liquids to rubberlike materials at room temperature and above is described.

Notes: The construction of a thermostated osmometer of the Fuoss-Mead pattern is described. The technique of preparation of bacterial cellulose membranes for osmotic measurements on high polymer systems is given. The permeability of such membranes may be controlled by growth to a thickness of 4-5 mm., drying in contact with a stainless steel surface, and reswelling in water or alcohol-water mixtures. The degree of reswelling required to give membranes suitable for use with polymers of a range of molecular weights is given. The factors affecting the behaviour of the membranes in the osmometer are discussed.

Notes: Le cas le plus simple pour calculer l'écart quadratique moyen entre les extrémités d'une chaǐne macromoléculaire est celui oùtoutes les rotations sont libres. Mais cette condition n'est généralement pas réalisée, aussi avons nous examiné dans cet article les résultats obtenus en introduisant une fonction de répartition symétrique pour les positions de chaque atome de la chaîne sur le cercle de base du cǒne de valence. Nous comparons les formules proposées jusqu'ici en représentant graphiquement leurs résultats (figs. 2 et 3). Cette comparaison montre que la formule de Kuhn et Taylor (8,9) est une approximation de celle que nous avons établié dans un article précédent (7) et a, de ce fait, un domaine de validité plus restreint. Ce domaine augmente avec le nombre des chaǐnons de la chaîne. En utilisant les fonctions de répartition proposées par Taylor nous représentons les valeurs de l'écart quadratique moyen en fonction de l'énergie d'interaction (figs. 6 et 7). Nous montrons ensuite que cette énergie d'interaction ne peut avoir la valeur calculée pour les vapeurs de carbures aliphatiques normaux mais est la somme de plusieurs termes et doit varier avec la nombre de chaǐnons et la température. Les formules établies permettent de prévoir deux aspects différents de la précipitation suivant qu'elle est effectuée par abaissement de la température ou adjonction d'un précipitant. Enfin, lorsque dans leurs rotations les atomes de la chaîne doivent passer par dessus des barrières de potentiel on peut prévoir des anomalies dans son comportement.

Notes: The strong ultraviolet absorption in the wave-length region 280-330 mμ shown by copolymers of acenaphthylene with styrene or methyl methacrylate is due to acenaphthylene residues. The spectra of samples of copolymer containing a small percentage of acenaphthylene are different from the spectrum of polyacenaphthylene. As a result of the comparison of the spectra of these copolymers with the spectra of acenaphthene and with the two forms of 1,1′-biacenaphthyl it is concluded that spectra of the copolymers can be explained as arising from the presence of pairs of acenaphthylene groups. Finally it is shown that the spectra can be used to estimate the acenaphthylene contents of the copolymers.

Notes: Es werdenn für cine Reihe von Erscheinungen bei Lösungen mit Fadenmolekülen, wie die künstliche Doppelbrechung, die Viskosität, den Depolarisationsgrad des molekularen Streulichtes, die Abhängigkeit vom Polymerisationsgrad und von der Form (Stäbchenform und statistische Grenzfälle) angegeben. Ferner werden Methoden zur Untersuchung von Verzweigungen und zur Betimmung der Mikroform mitgeteilt.

Notes: The osmotic pressures of two samples of poly-4-vinyl-N-n-butylpyridonium bromide (average D. P. 730 and 1900) were measured in 93% ethanol in the concentration range 0.02-0.20 g./100 cc. The osmotic pressures were higher than those of the corresponding parent polymers, due to partial dissociation of bromide ions. Because of the low dielectric constant ( ε′ = 28) of the solvent and the high concentration of positive charge in the polycations, however, a large fraction of the bromide ions (≥ 95%) were bound by electrostatic attraction to the cations and contributed neither to osmotic pressure nor to conductance. Unlike neutral polymers, the ratio (osmotic pressure over concentration) increases with dilution, due to increasing dissociation with dilution. Addition of an excess of a simple one-one electrolyte (lithium bromide) almost completely suppressed the dissociation of the polysalt and gave osmotic pressures of the same order of magnitude as those of the neutral polymers. The resulting curves were linear, with a considerably smaller slope than for the parent polymer. Combining the results on osmotic pressure with conductance data, the transference numbers of the polycations were estimated to be 0.28 and 0.52 for degrees of polymerization 730 and 1900 respectively. The conductance of lithium bromide is decreased by the addition of these polyelectrolytes, possible due to the association of an excess of anions to the polycations under the influence of their electrostatic fields.

Notes: The production of monomer during degradation of polystyrene in vacuo below 310°C. has been investigated. A mechanism has been proposed which explains the dependence of monomer formation on the initial breaks in the chain. The degradation in presence of oxygen has been studied. A mechanism for this reaction has been proposed which accounts for the type of curves obtained experimentally. The role of antioxidants has been briefly indicated. The elementary steps for the degradation in vacuo and in the presence of oxygen have been discussed.

Notes: Measurement of the infrared absorption spectrum of the lowmolecular liquid polymer formed at room temperature from gaseous isobutene using BF3 as a catalyst and D2O as a cocatalyst indicates that the dominant end groups in the final polymer are (CH3)3C and , and that the cocatalyst D2O undergoes partial conversation to H2O during reaction. These results substantiate the mechanism advanced by Polanyi and others, namely: (a) initiation through formation of the trimethyl carbonium ion by acceptance by isobutene of a proton (or deuteron) from the catalyst-cocatalyst complex, and (b) termination by explusion of a proton from a methyl group to the anionic complex fragment, with corresponding catalyst regeneration, i.e.:

Notes: An apparatus has been constructed which enables one to follow continuously the formation of monomer during degradation in vacuum. Experimental results are presented on the degradation of fractionated and unfractionated polystyrene over a range of temperatures from 340-400°C. in vacuum. A mechanism has been proposed which accounts satisfactorily for the apparent zero-order reaction and for the dependence of the rate of degradation on chain length. This mechanism allows one to estimate relative number average molecular weights and the number of weak points per original chain. The influence of a platinum surface on degradation has been indicated. The degradation of poly-alpha-methylstyrene has been investigated over a range of temperatures from 281 to 363°C. in vacuum. The mechanism of the degradation of branched polymer chains has been discussed. The degradation of cross-linked polystyrene containing various amount of m-divinylbenzene has been studied at 364°C. in vacuum. The reaction shows long induction periods depending on the amount of m-divinylbenzene and on the presence of benzoyl peroxide during polymerization. The degradation of polyethylene shows this polymer to be more heat resistant than polystyrene. Various grades of different average molecular weight have been investigated over a range of temperatures from 375 to 436°C. in vacuum. The energy of activation has been found dependent on chain length. A mechanism has been suggested to account for the observed experimental results.

Notes: Quantum yields for the inactivation of crystalline swine pepsin have been determined as a function of pH at 2537 A. The quantum yield is near a minimum at pH 4.08, at which point a value of 0.0019 was found, rises rapidly above pH 6, and shows a slight maximum near pH 2.7. The maximum is more pronounced with polychromatic light. The quantum yield (at pH 2.01) was found to be the same with either hemoglobin or casein as a substrate. Urea had no effect on the quantum yield although urea alone, 7 M, inactivates pepsin at an appreciable rate. Urea and light denaturation do not modify the absorption spectrum of pepsin in the same way. The data of Gates has been recalculated; it shows an increase of quantum yields with decreasing wave length. It has been concluded, from experiments with model substances, that inactivation can occur by the absorption of a quantum by any aromatic group in pepsin.

Notes: A relationship between tack temperature and molecular weight has been deduced and illustrated with polyvinyl acetate polymers. Provided the molecular weight is high enough to prevent cohesive failure, the adhesion of polyvinyl acetate to cellulose and aluminum is independent of molecular weight. The influence of humidity on adhesion of polymers to cellulose is shown. The influence of polymer composition on adhesion is illustrated with copolymers of vinyl acetate and methyl vinyl ketone and with styrene and methyl vinyl ketone. Above a mole fraction of ketone of 0.8, adhesion increases rapidly. The interdependence of tack temperature and composition on adhesion is exemplified with ethylene - vinyl chloride copolymers. A temperature dependence of adhesion is cited for copolymers containing maleic acid.

Notes: A number of equations are suggested for estimating intrinsic viscosity from one measurement of relative viscosity at a convenient concentration. Experimental data illustrate the validity of the equations.