Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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A Flame Retardant Ionic Conductor Additive for Safety-Reinforced Liquid Electrolyte of Lithium Batteries
No full textAn ionic conducting ethyl phosphate-polyethylene glycol based copolymer (abbreviated as EPCP) as a promising flame retardant additive is presented in this study. The flammability tests demonstrate that the liquid electrolyte with 15 wt% EPCP (abbreviated as EPCP15-LE) is totally nonflammable. More importantly, benefitted from the ionic transport capability of EPCP, the ionic conductivity of EPCP15-LE at room temperature is comparable with the liquid electrolyte (shorted as LE). Moreover, the resultant electrolyte possessed wide electrochemical window (4.3 V), which can be matched with relatively high voltage cathode materials. In addition, the cell using EPCP15-LE exhibits superior cycle performance and excellent rate capability. In a word, this flame retardant ionic conductor is a promising additive for safety-reinforced lithium battery. (C) 2017 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved
A long-acting PAI-1 inhibitor reduces thrombus formation
No full textPlasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) is the main inhibitor of tissue-type and urokinase-type plasminogen activators (t/uPA) and plays an important role in fibrinolysis. Inhibition of PAI-1 activity prevents thrombosis and accelerates fibrinolysis, indicating that PAI-1 inhibitors may be used as effective antithrombotic agents. We previously designed a PAI-1 inhibitor (PAltrap) which is a variant of inactivated urokinase protease domain. In the present study, we fused PAltrap with human serum albumin (HSA) to develop a long-acting PAI-1 inhibitor. Unfortunately, the fusion protein PAltrap-HSA lost some potency compared to PAltrap (33 nM vs 10 nM). Guided by computational method, we carried out further optimisation to enhance inhibitory potency for PAI-1. The new PAltrap, denominated PAltrap(H37R)-HSA, which was the H37R variant of PAltrap fused to NSA, gave a six-fold improvement of IC50 (5 nM) for human active PAI-1 compared to PAIt-rap-NSA, and showed much longer plasma half-life (200-fold) compared to PAltrap. We further demonstrated that the PAltrap(H37R)-1 HSA inhibited exogenous or endogenous PAI-1 to promote fibrinolysis in fibrin-clot lysis assay. PAltrap(H37R)-HSA inhibits murine PAI-1 with IC50 value of 12 nM, allowing the inhibitor to be evaluated in murine models. Using an intravital microscopy, we demonstrated that PAIt-rap(H37R)-HSA blocks thrombus formation and platelet accumulation in vivo in a laser-induced vascular injury mouse model. Additionally, mouse tail bleeding assay showed that PAltrap(H37R)-HSA did not affect the global haemostasis. These results suggest that PAltrap(H37R)HSA have the potential benefit to prevent thrombosis and accelerates fibrinolysis
Two Distinct alpha-L-Arabinofuranosidases in Caldicellulosiruptor Species Drive Degradation of Arabinose-Based Polysaccharides
No full textSpecies in the extremely thermophilic genus Caldicellulosiruptor can degrade unpretreated plant biomass through the action of multimodular glycoside hydrolases. To date, most focus with these bacteria has been on hydrolysis of glucans and xylans, while the biodegradation mechanism for arabinose-based polysaccharides remains unclear. Here, putative alpha-L-arabinofuranosidases (AbFs) were identified in Caldicellulosiruptor species by homology to less-thermophilic versions of these enzymes. From this screen, an extracellular XynF was determined to be a key factor in hydrolyzing alpha-1,2-, alpha-1,3-, and alpha-1,5-L-arabinofuranosyl residues of arabinose-based polysaccharides. Combined with a GH11 xylanase (XynA), XynF increased arabinoxylan hydrolysis more than 6-fold compared to the level seen with XynA alone, likely the result of XynF removing arabinofuranosyl side chains to generate linear xylans that were readily degraded. A second AbF, the intracellular AbF51, preferentially cleaved the alpha-1,5-L-arabinofuranosyl glycoside bonds within sugar beet arabinan. beta-Xylosidases, such as GH39 Xyl39B, facilitated the hydrolysis of arabinofuranosyl residues at the nonreducing terminus of the arabinose-branched xylo-oligosaccharides by AbF51. These results demonstrate the separate but complementary contributions of extracellular XynF and cytosolic AbF51 in processing the bioconversion of arabinose-containing oligosaccharides to fer-mentable monosaccharides
Integrated analysis of transcriptome and metabolites reveals an essential role of metabolic flux in starch accumulation under nitrogen starvation in duckweed
No full textBackground: Duckweed is considered a promising source of energy due to its high starch content and rapid growth rate. Starch accumulation in duckweed involves complex processes that depend on the balanced expression of genes controlled by various environmental and endogenous factors. Previous studies showed that nitrogen starvation induces a global stress response and results in the accumulation of starch in duckweed. However, relatively little is known about the mechanisms underlying the regulation of starch accumulation under conditions of nitrogen starvation
国家发布“扩大生物燃料乙醇生产方案”将带动纤维素乙醇技术突破
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国家发展改革委、国家能源局、财政部等15个部门联合印发《关于扩大生物燃料乙醇生产和推广使用车用乙醇汽油的实施方案》：到2020年，全国范围内推广使用车用乙醇汽油，基本实现全覆盖，纤维素燃料乙醇5万吨级装置实现示范运行，生物燃料乙醇产业发展整体达到国际先进水平。到2025年，力争纤维素乙醇实现规模化生产，先进生物液体燃料技术、装备和产业整体达到国际领先水平。</p>
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《方案》强调：着力处理超期超标粮食，增强粮食市场调控能力和提升质量安全水平；着力提高农林废弃物资源综合利用技术水平，<strong>推动先进生物能源产业发展</strong>。</p>
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我国生物燃料乙醇产业规模世界三，但去年约300万吨的实际消费量不到全国成品油消费的1%。全球已有超过40个国家和地区推广生物燃料乙醇和车用乙醇汽油。上马了诸多项目，如美国“能源农场计划”，巴西“生物燃料乙醇和生物柴油计划”，法国“生物质发展计划”，日本“新阳光计划”，印度“绿色能源”工程等。去年，美国生物燃料乙醇总产量达4554万吨。通过立法，车用乙醇汽油在美国应用已实现全覆盖，年减排二氧化碳超过4350万吨，增加就业岗位40万个。</p>
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东北三省和内蒙古的玉米库存超储总计约2.3亿吨。据测算，国内每年有可利用的秸秆和林业废弃物超过4亿吨，其中的30%就可以生产燃料乙醇2000万吨。专家表示，全生命周期里，大概一吨玉米基燃料乙醇可以减排34%，如果2025年纤维素乙醇商业化运行并得到快速发展，那么环保效益更加明显，可达75%以上。</p>
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编者：国家纤维素乙醇政策的落地将强劲带动玉米基燃料乙醇技术及其他纤维素乙醇技术创新突破！</p
An alternative laser driven photodissociation mechanism of pyrrole via (1)pi sigma*/S-0 conical intersection
No full textA first principles quantum dynamics study of N-H photodissociation of pyrrole on the S-0 -(1)pi sigma* ((1)A(2)) coupled electronic states is carried out with the aid of an optimally designed UV-laser pulse. A new photodissociation path, as compared to the conventional barrier crossing on the (1) pi sigma* state, opens up upon electronic transitions under the influence of pump-dump laser pulses, which efficiently populate both the dissociation channels. The interplay of electronic transitions due both to vibronic coupling and the laser pulse is observed in the control mechanism and discussed in detail. The proposed control mechanism seems to be robust, and not discussed in the literature so far, and is expected to trigger future experiments on the (1)pi sigma* photochemistry of molecules of chemical and biological importance. The design of the optimal pulses and their application to enhance the overall dissociation probability is carried out within the framework of optimal control theory. The quantum dynamics of the system in the presence of pulse is treated by solving the time-dependent Schrodinger equation in the semi-classical dipole approximation. Published by AIP Publishing
Crab Chitin-Based 2D Soft Nanomaterials for Fully Biobased Electric Devices
No full text2D nanomaterials have various size/morphology-dependent properties applicable in electronics, optics, sensing, and actuating. However, intensively studied inorganic 2D nanomaterials are frequently hindered to apply in some particular and industrial fields, owing to harsh synthesis, high-cost, cytotoxicity, and nondegradability. Endeavor has been made to search for biobased 2D nanomaterials with biocompatibility, sustainability, and biodegradability. A method of hydrophobization-induced interfacial-assembly is reported to produce an unprecedented type of nanosheets from marine chitin. During this process, two layers of chitin aggregations assemble into nanosheets with high aspect ratio. With super stability and amphiphilicity, these nanosheets have super ability in creating highly stable Pickering emulsions with internal phase up to 83.4% and droplet size up to 140 m, in analogue to graphene oxide. Combining emulsifying and carbonization can further convert these 2D precursors to carbon nanosheets with thickness as low as approximate to 3.8 nm. Having biologic origin, conductivity, and dispersibility in various solvents, resultant carbon nanosheets start a new scenario of exploiting marine resources for fully biobased electric devices with sustainability and biodegradability, e.g., supercapacitor, flexible circuits, and electronic sensors. Hybrid films of chitin and carbon nanosheets also offer low-cost and environment-friendly alternative of conductive components desirable in green electronics, wearable electronics, biodegradable circuits, and biologic devices
Identification of Novel Hydrogen-Substituted Polyfluoroalkyl Ether Sulfonates in Environmental Matrices near Metal-Plating Facilities
No full textEnvironmental occurrence and behaviors of 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate (Cl-6:2 PFESA, with trade name F-53B) have been receiving increased attention recently. Nevertheless, its potential fates under diversified conditions remain concealed. In this study, susceptibility of Cl-6:2 PFESA to reductive dehalogenation was tested in an anaerobic super-reduced cyanocobalamin assay. A rapid transformation of dosed Cl-6:2 PFESA was observed, with a hydrogen-substituted polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate (1H-6:2 PFESA) identified as the predominant product by a nontarget screening workflow. With the aid of laboratory-purified standards, hydrogen-substituted PFESA analogues (i.e., 1H-6:2 and 1H-8:2 PFESA) were further found in river water and sediment samples collected from two separate regions near metal-plating facilities. Geometric mean concentrations of 560 pg/L (river water) and 11.1 pg/g (sediment) for 1H-6:2 PFESA and 11.0 pg/L (river water) and 7.69 pg/g (sediment) for 1H-8:2 PFESA were measured, and both analytes consisted average compositions of 1% and 0.1% among the 18 monitored per- and polyfluoroalkyl sulfonate and carboxylate pollutants, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first to report existence of polyfluoroalkyl sulfonates with both hydrogen and ether functional group in the environment
Oxygen Transport Membrane for Thermochemical Conversion of Water and Carbon Dioxide into Synthesis Gas
No full textConversion of CO, and H2O into synthesis gas via the solar thermochemical process is usually carried out at a high temperature of above 1500 degrees C and requires long-term durability of metal oxide catalysts during frequent heating cooling cycles. Herein, a dual-phase Ce0.9Pr0.1O2-delta-Pr0.6Sr0.4FeO3-delta oxygen transport membrane made of mixed metal oxides was employed for the one-step thermochemical conversion of CO, and H2O to synthesis gas with a F12/ CO ratio of 2:1. Benefitting from the in situ removal of the generated oxygen through the highly oxygen-ion permeable membrane, the effective splitting of CO2 and H2O was achieved at the relatively low temperature of <1000 degrees C. A synthesis gas production rate of 1.3 mL min-lcm-2 was obtained at 930 C for a H2O/CO2 feed ratio of 5:1 with a H2O conversion of above 1.7% and a CO2 conversion of above 4.2%. Compared with the discontinuous two-step thermochemical decomposition, the combination of solar energy, catalytic thermolysis, and oxygen transport membrane reactor as proposed in this work offers a new perspective and an alternative route to convert H2O and CO, into synthesis gas
Amphiphilic-Polymer-Coated Carbon Nanotubes as Promoters for Methane Hydrate Formation
No full textDespite being a good promoter for methane hydrate formation, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) aggregate easily, which weakens their promotion effect. In this work, highly dispersed carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared by coating the nanotube surface with an amphiphilic copolymer, namely, poly(styrene-co-sodium styrenesulfonate) (PSCS), to accelerate methane hydrate formation. In the presence of functionalized CNTs (f-CNTs), the hydrate storage capacity increased from 46 +/- 8 to 138 +/- 8 v/v when the PSCS/CNT mass ratio (R) was increased from 0 to 20. In addition, the hydrate formation period gradually shortened as the R value was increased from 5 to 20. The methane uptake was also enhanced from 68 to 135 mmol of gas/(mol of water) as the f-CNT loading was changed from 10 to 150 ppm. Meanwhile, hydrate formation could be completed within 100 min in f-CNT dispersions with high concentrations. Compared with those formed using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as the promoter, the hydrates formed with f-CNTs as the promoter mainly aggregated at the reactor bottom and generated no foams during the dissociation process. Moreover, the f-CNTs showed excellent recycling performance in eight repeated hydrate formation-dissociation processes with high gas storage capacities of 120-132 v/v, which therefore is of great significance for hydrate-based gas storage and transportation