The potential for using the needle litter of Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) as a raw material for particleboard manufacturing

Particleboard panels were made from various wood particle/needle litter of Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) mixtures bonded with urea formaldehyde resin. Litter was characterized by having higher solubility's in alcohol-benzene, with diluting alkali and hot water, and resulted in lower pH values than those of wood particles. The mechanical properties (modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, and internal bond strength) of boards containing up to 6.25% litter were lower than those of panels made from wood particles. However, needle litter usage improved the physical property (thickness swelling) and decay resistance of the panels, significantly. Panels consist of 6.25% and 12.50% needle litter met the minimum EN standard requirements of mechanical properties for general-purposes. Particleboards contain more than 50% needle litter had the required level of thickness swelling for 24 h immersion.     

Some of the properties of flame retardant medium density fiberboard made from rubberwood and recycled containers containing aluminum trihydroxide

The flame retardancy of medium density fiberboard (MDF) made from mixture of rubberwood fibers and recycled old corrugated containers was studied. Aluminum trihydroxide (ATH) was used as a fire retardant additive and mixed with the fibers to manufacture experimental MDF panels using wet process. Phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin in liquid, 2% based on oven dry weight of fibers, was used along with 0%, 10%, 15% and 20% of ATH. The flame retardant test was done using the limiting oxygen index (LOI) test. The other properties investigated include internal bond strength, thickness swelling and water absorption. The results showed that ATH loading increased as the LOI of MDF increased. This demonstrated that ATH could improved the fire retardant property of MDF at sufficient loading. An increase in concentration of ATH showed an increase in the IB values of MDF made without resin. MDF panels made without resin showed a progressive increase in internal bond as the composition of recycled old corrugated containers fiber increased. Addition of resin improved internal bond strength and reduced thickness swelling, and water absorption. Thickness swelling of panel increased as the composition of recycled old corrugated containers fiber increased. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) showed that there is indication of ATH and resin filling the void space in between fibers.     

Effects of flame retardants on the properties of particle boards prepared from cottonseed hulls

The effects of fire retardants on the properties of particle boards made from cottonseed hulls were studied. The boards were treated with (1) 70% borax + 30% boric acid (FR(1)); (2) 60% borax + 25% boric acid + 15% ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate (FR(2)) and were evaluated for duration of flaming, after-glow, charred area, charred length and per cent loss in weight, along with physico-mechanical properties. Fire retardant properties, water resistance and per cent thickness swelling improved, and bending strength decreased, with increase in concentration of fire retardants. Treatment (2) was found to be the better fire retardants since it served the dual purposes of flame and glow retardation.     

Liquefaction of cornstalk in hot-compressed phenol–water medium to phenolic feedstock for the synthesis of phenol–formaldehyde resin

Cornstalk powders were effectively liquefied in a hot-compressed phenol–water medium (1:4 wt/wt). The optimum liquefaction temperature was around 350 °C, where the liquid yield attained a maximum at about 70 wt%. The addition of sodium carbonate showed negligible effect over the Liquefaction product yields. When liquefied in phenol–water medium, essentially no phenol was combined with the liquid products, and the cornstalk-derived bio-oils were partially degraded monomeric and oligomeric products with a broad molecular distribution. Resol type bio-based phenol formaldehyde resins were readily synthesized from the cornstalk-derived bio-oils catalyzed by sodium hydroxide.     

Possibility of using waste tire composites reinforced with rice straw as construction materials

Agricultural lignocellulosic fiber (rice straw)-waste tire particle composite boards were manufactured for use as insulation boards in construction, using the same method as that used in the wood-based panel industry. The manufacturing parameters were: a specific gravity of 0.8 and a rice straw content (10/90, 20/80 and 30/70 by wt.% of rice straw/waste tire particle). A commercial polyurethane adhesive for rubber was used as the composite binder. The water proof, water absorption and thickness swelling properties of the composite boards were better than those of wood particleboard. Furthermore, the flexibility and flexural properties of the composite boards were superior to those of other wood-based panel products. The composite boards also demonstrated good acoustical insulation, electrical insulation, anti-caustic and anti-rot properties. These boards can be used to prevent impact damage, are easily modifiable and are inexpensive. They are able to be used as a substitute for insulation boards and other flexural materials in construction.     

Biological protection of hardwood logs destined for panel manufacturing using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gliocladium roseum</Emphasis> against biodegradation

The objective of the present study was to develop a biological technology that would protect logs destined for oriented strand board (OSB) manufacturing from biodegradation. Aspen, red maple, and yellow birch trees were felled in one summer and the logs either debarked or not debarked, and either treated or not treated with a biological product of Gliocladium roseum. The logs were piled in different treatment groups and stored in a yard for 5 months and 1 year before evaluation. The results showed that all untreated logs, with or without bark, were seriously degraded by moulds, stain and decay fungi after a summer storage period of 5 months. The logs with bark were more degraded than the debarked logs, and the log ends were more degraded than the middle sections. After 5 months, 55–83% of the surface area of the wood discs was degraded in untreated logs. The biological treatment was effective, and only 4–16% of the surface area of the wood discs in treated logs was infected by various fungi. Strands cut from untreated logs consisted of 50–75% grey- or blue-stained strands, whereas those cut from biologically treated logs consisted of 10–25% such strands. Panels made using biologically treated logs had a lower thickness swelling and water absorption values compared to panels made using freshly cut logs and untreated stored logs. The other physical and mechanical properties of the various panels made in this test were comparable. In terms of mould resistance, all panels made from fungal-treated logs had a better mould resistance than those made from freshly cut and untreated logs.     

Evaluation of the mechanical, physical properties and decay resistance of particleboard made from particles impregnated with Pinus brutia bark extractives

The mechanical, physical properties and decay resistances of particleboard made from particles impregnated with Pinus brutia bark extractives were examined. Properties included were modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, internal bond, thickness swelling, and weight loss according to European standards. The results showed that particleboards made from particles impregnated with bark extractives had significantly lower mechanical values than those made from unimpregnated particles. Impregnating wood particles with bark extractives improved the decay resistance and thickness swelling of particleboard. Increasing concentration of the extractives decreased the mechanical properties and improved the thickness swelling and decay resistance of the panels. Particleboards made from 1% P. brutia bark extractives met the specifications for modulus of rupture and internal bond strength for general purposes.     

纸浆废液中有机物资源的利用

将硫酸盐纸浆废液浓缩后,100%用作生产木材胶粘剂的原料.对废液中木素进行活化处理,用酚醛树脂、PAPI增强废液胶的效果.结果表明,在废液中加入甲醛后,可提高废液中木素的反应活性;用30%甲阶酚醛树脂或20%PAPI作增强剂,可使废液混合胶代替纯酚醛树脂生产Ⅰ类胶合板;原料成本比纯酚醛树脂分别降低了55.5%和49.0%.该法充分利用了废液中的有机物资源,减少了环境污染,具有较好的经济、社会和生态效益.文中还运用红外光谱分析了废液制胶粘剂方法的可行性.     

A new bioreactor with a semi-fixed packing: investigation of degradation of phenol

A new bioreactor using a semi-fixed packing of frames with “sacks” made of a fabric of “Raschell” type stretched on them is proposed. The construction provides not only a large surface area of the biofilm carrier per unit volume of the apparatus, but also the possibility for an easy removal of the biomass after reaching a certain thickness of the biofilm increasing the gas velocity. Aerobic degradation of phenol in the new bioreactor, using microorganisms of the strain Pseudomonas putida, was studied. The experiments are carried out using water containing 0.7?g/l of phenol at a temperature of 27–30?°C. Different specific surface area of the packing (within 176 and 387?m²/m³) are studied. Degradation rates from 60 to 140?mg/(1?h) are attained. A retardation of the process at the end is observed, probably due to inhibition effect. This rate is 5–6 times higher than the rate observed when using free cells. At air velocity of 0.03–0.035?m/s (related to the total cross section of the bioreactor) the vibrations of the packing material lead to destruction and removal of the old biomass.     

Restrictions on rotational and translational diffusion of pigment in the membranes of a rhabdomeric photoreceptor

Individual, isolated rhabdoms from dark-adapted crayfish (Orconectes, Procambarus) were studied with a laterally incident microbeam that could be placed in single stacks of microvilli. Concentration gradients of metarhodopsin along the lengths of microvilli were produced by local bleaches, accomplished by irradiation with small spots of orange light at pH 9 in the presence of glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde. No subsequent redistribution of pigment was observed in the dark, indicating an absence of translational diffusion. On the basis of comparison with other systems, glutaraldehyde, but not formaldehyde (0.75%), would be expected to prevent diffusion of protein in the membrane. Under the same conditions photodichroism is observed, indicating an absence of free Brownian rotation. Photodichroism is larger in glutaraldehyde than in formaldehyde, suggesting that the bifunctional reagent quiets some molecular motion that is present after treatment with formaldehyde. Quantitative comparison of photodichroism with mathematical models indicates that the pigment absorption vectors are aligned within +/- 50 degrees of the microvillar axes and are tilted into the surface of the membrane at an average value of about 20 degrees. The photoconversion of rhodopsin to metarhodopsin is accompanied by an increase in molar extinction of about 20% at the lambda maxand a reorientation of the absorption vector by several degrees. The transition moment either tilts further into the membrane or loses some of its axial orientation, or both. The change in orientation is 3.5 time larger in formaldehyde than in glutaraldehyde.     

Fire-retardant-treated low-formaldehyde-emission particleboard made from recycled wood-waste

The objective of this study was to manufacture fire-retardant-treated low-formaldehyde-emission particleboard from recycled wood-waste particles using polymeric 4,4'-methylenediphenyl isocyanate (PMDI) and phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins. The influence of the PMDI/PF ratio (ratio of particles sprayed with PMDI to particles sprayed with PF, w/w) after fire retardant treatment on formaldehyde emissions, mechanical properties, and surface fire resistant performance of the manufactured particleboard was investigated. The experimental results showed that the formaldehyde emissions linearly decreased with an increasing PMDI/PF ratio. Moreover, the bending strength, internal bond strength, and screw holding strength increased with an increasing PMDI/PF ratio. The thickness swelling of the particleboard was improved by using an increasing PMDI/PF ratio. Furthermore, the fire-retardant-treated low-formaldehyde-emission particleboards fabricated in our study could pass the third grade standard of surface fire resistant performance as specified by CNS 6532.     

Swelling of the collagen-keratocyte matrix of the bovine corneal stroma ex vivo in various solutions and its relationship to tissue thickness

AIM: The mammalian corneal stroma, like some other connective tissues, can absorb fluid, swell and become oedematous. Since studies on the corneal stroma have been carried out with different types of preparations and solutions, inter-study comparisons are very difficult. A study was thus undertaken on a standardised preparation to assess the relative magnitude of this swelling and its relationship to thickness of the preparations. METHODS: From selected recent post-mortem eyes of adult cattle, stroma preparations were cut from the central part of the cornea. These preparations were immersed in various solutions of known pH and osmolality, and the time-dependent changes in wet mass were assessed over 9 h at 37 degrees C. The relative rates and magnitude of the swelling of the tissue were then compared. RESULTS: A reference value for stromal swelling was obtained by incubation in a 35 mM bicarbonate-buffered mixed salts solution equilibrated with 5% CO2-air (pH 7.60) where a 3.39-fold increase in wet mass and a 4.58-fold increase in thickness was realised in 9 h, at an initial rate of 76 +/- 3%/h. The swelling was essentially the same in an organic buffer-mixed salt solution (pH 7.5) but progressively greater in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.5), a range of phosphate buffers (10-67 mM, pH 7.5), NaCl solutions (0.025-1%) and with gross swelling observed in water (where a 15.9-fold increase in wet mass occurred along with a 25-fold increase in thickness, at an initial rate of 643 +/- 62%/h). Overall, the wet mass changes were strongly related to thickness (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm that the selection of solution(s) for studies on corneal stromal swelling is critical. The swelling (oedema) is lower in a physiologically-relevant solution (similar to the aqueous humour of the eye). This indicates that the swelling tendency of the corneal stroma has been overestimated in the past, and that a similar discrepancy may also exist for studies on other connective tissues ex vivo when non-physiological experimental solutions are used.     

The manufacture of particleboards using mixture of peanut hull (Arachis hypoqaea L.) and European Black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) wood chips

This research was conducted to investigate the suitability of peanut hull to produce general purpose particleboards. A series of panels were produced using peanut hull and mixture of peanut hull and European Black pine wood chips. Particleboards were manufactured using various hull ratios in the mixture (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%). Urea formaldehyde adhesive was utilized in board production and boards were produced to target panel's density of 0.7 g/cm3. Panels were tested for some physical (water absorption and thickness swelling), chemical (holocellulose content, lignin content, alcohol-benzene solubility, 1% NaOH solubility, hot water solubility and cold water solubility) and mechanical (modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity and internal bond) properties. The main observation was that increase in peanut hull in the mixture resulted in a decrease in mechanical and physical properties of produced panels and panel including 25% hull in the mixture solely met the standard required by TS-EN 312 standard. Conclusively, a valuable renewable natural resource, peanut hull could be utilized in panel production while it has been mixed to the wood chips.     

Degradation of phenol by Rhodococcus erythropolis UPV-1 immobilized on Biolite in a packed-bed reactor

A strain of Rhodococcus erythropolis has been isolated and identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Cells acclimated to phenol can be adsorbed on the external surface of beads of the ceramic support Biolite where they grow forming a network of large filaments. Exponentially-growing cells were adsorbed faster than their stationary-phase counterparts. Immobilization resulted in a remarkable enhancement of the respiratory activity of cells and a shorter lag phase preceding the active phenol degradation. Under optimum operation conditions, the immobilized cells in a laboratory-scale column reactor packed with support beads were able to degrade completely phenol in defined mineral medium at a maximum rate of 18 kg phenol m(-3) per day. The performance of the bioreactor in long-term continuous operation was characterized by pumping defined mineral medium which contained different concentrations of phenol at different flow-rates. Once phenol biodegradation in defined mineral medium was well established, an industrial wastewater from a resin manufacturing company, which contained both phenol and formaldehyde, was tested. In this case, after wastewater conditioning (i.e. pH, nitrogen source and micronutrient amendments) the immobilized cells were able to remove completely formaldehyde and to partly biodegrade phenols at a rate of 1 kg phenol m(-3) per day.     

Aquaporin deletion in mice reduces corneal water permeability and delays restoration of transparency after swelling

Two aquaporin (AQP)-type water channels are expressed in mammalian cornea, AQP1 in endothelial cells and AQP5 in epithelial cells. To test whether these aquaporins are involved in corneal fluid transport and transparency, we compared corneal thickness, water permeability, and response to experimental swelling in wild type mice and transgenic null mice lacking AQP1 and AQP5. Corneal thickness in fixed sections was remarkably reduced in AQP1 null mice and increased in AQP5 null mice. By z-scanning confocal microscopy, corneal thickness in vivo was (in microm, mean +/- S.E., n = 5 mice) 123 +/- 1 (wild type), 101 +/- 2 (AQP1 null), and 144 +/- 2 (AQP5 null). After exposure of the external corneal surface to hypotonic saline (100 mosm), the rate of corneal swelling (5.0 +/- 0.3 microm/min, wild type) was reduced by AQP5 deletion (2.7 +/- 0.1 microm/min). After exposure of the endothelial surface to hypotonic saline by anterior chamber perfusion, the rate of corneal swelling (7.1 +/- 1.0 microm/min, wild type) was reduced by AQP1 deletion (1.6 +/- 0.4 microm/min). Base-line corneal transparency was not impaired by AQP1 or AQP5 deletion. However, the recovery of corneal transparency and thickness after hypotonic swelling (10-min exposure of corneal surface to hypotonic saline) was remarkably delayed in AQP1 null mice with approximately 75% recovery at 7 min in wild type mice compared with 5% recovery in AQP1 null mice. Our data indicate that AQP1 and AQP5 provide the principal routes for corneal water transport across the endothelial and epithelial barriers, respectively. The impaired recovery of corneal transparency in AQP1 null mice provides evidence for the involvement of AQP1 in active extrusion of fluid from the corneal stroma across the corneal endothelium. The up-regulation of AQP1 expression and/or function in corneal endothelium may reduce corneal swelling and opacification following injury.     

酚、氰在凤眼莲-水体系统中的迁移、积累及净化

利用高等水生植物净化污水具有成本低、花工少、简单易行等特点,便于在工厂中应用和推广。国内,在实验条件下,利用高等水生植物净化污水已见有报道,但具体应用于生产条件下尚少见有关报道。本研究着重于在工厂生产条件下,了解高等水生植物凤眼莲(Eichhornia crassipes)对钢铁厂焦化车间直接排放出的含酚、氰污水的净化效应,以及酚、氰在植物——水体系统中的吸收、运转和积累情况。     

Formation of tyrosine from glycine, formaldehyde and phenol under the action of a partially purified preparation of tyrosine phenol lyase: The participation of a different enzyme

In the presence of a partially purified preparation of tyrosine phenol lyase, tyrosine is formed in solutions containing glycine, formaldehyde and phenol. The enzyme preparation also catalysed the splitting of allothreonine to glycine and acetaldehyde. An enzyme which is different from tyrosine phenol lyase was shown to be responsible for this aldolase reaction. When an enzyme preparation with a higher specific activity of tyrosine phenol lyase, but without aldolase activity, was used the formation of tyrosine from glycine, formaldehyde and phenol was not observed. It is assumed that the first stage of the process is the formation of serine from glycine and formaldehyde catalysed by the enzyme responsible for the aldolase reaction. Serine in its turn is converted to tyrosine by tyrosine phenol lyase.     

Gaseous TCE and PCE removal by an activated carbon biofilter

Gaseous trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) are emitted in the treatment of contaminated groundwaters with air stripping and/or the remediation of contaminated soils using vapor extraction techniques. This study investigated the application of biofiltration using cometabolic process to remediate gaseous TCE and PCE that are highly recalcitrant to biodegradation. The investigation was conducted using two specially built stainless steel columns, one for TCE and the other for PCE, packed with granular activated carbon (GAC) coated with phenol-oxidizing microorganisms at residence times of 1.5–7 min. Two activated carbon biofilters were fed with phenol at a specific concentration along with a nutrient solution to optimize the various catalyzed biochemical reactions. The removal efficiency of gaseous TCE was 100% at a residence time of 7 min and average inlet concentration of 85 ppm. For gaseous PCE, 100% removal efficiency was obtained at residence times of 4–7 min and average concentrations of 47–84 ppm. It was found that phenol fed to the biofilters was completely utilized by the phenol-oxidizing microorganisms, as an indirect indicator of the microorganisms growth in the biofilters, throughout the period of the biofilter operation. Transformation yields of gaseous TCE and PCE were about 8–48 g of TCE/g of phenol and 6–25 g of PCE/g of phenol, depending on different residence times. It was found that adsorption by GAC and absorption by the influent nutrient solution were a minor negligible mechanism for TCE and PCE removal in the activated carbon biofilters.     

浑河河水及其沿岸地下水污染特征

选择沈阳地区重要河流浑河及其沿岸地下水进行定量分析,研究并探讨了包括无机物和有机物在内的水质综合污染特征。结果表明,浑河河水中氨氮、硝氮、亚硝氮和酚超过了地表水环境质量标准,最大超标倍数分别为15.8、1.5、82.4和1.8倍,检测出的11种卤代烃、氯苯和六六六等有机物均未超标。浑河沿岸地下水中氨氮、硝氮、亚硝氮、化学需氧量、酚和铅超过地下水质量标准,超标率分别为31.6%、10.5%、26.3%、36.8%、47.4%和26.8%,检测出的4种卤代烃和六六六等有机物均未超标。河水及其沿岸地下水中的污染物,尤其是有机污染物种类和浓度高值基本出现在城西的谟家—大祝断面之间。浑河水质主要受城市工业废水、居民生活污水排放的影响,沿岸地下水的污染来源包括工业生产或农村居民生活造成的地表污染物垂直入渗式的点源污染、浑河水侧向渗透补给式的线源污染以及农药化肥使用产生的面源污染,而有机污染物主要通过点源污染地下水。浑河各区段的使用功能、包气带岩性及沿岸水源地开采井布局等因素都为受污染的河水对沿岸几百米范围内的浅层地下水的补给提供了条件,造成浅层地下水的污染,对当地生态系统及人类健康构成潜在威胁。     

快速膨胀片层多孔壳聚糖止血海绵的制备及生物相容性研究

目的:探索快速膨胀片层多孔壳聚糖止血海绵的制备工艺,评价止血海绵的理化性能及生物相容性,并探讨原料脱乙酰度对止血海绵性能的影响。方法:考察止血海绵的理化性质,包括扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察表观形貌,检测力学性能、吸水率、快速吸水膨胀时间和膨胀率,研究其体内外的生物相容性,包括体外细胞毒性实验、动物皮内刺激实验和皮下植入实验。结果:确定了止血海绵的制备工艺,采用该工艺制备的止血海绵均具有片层多孔结构,且具有较高的力学强度和快速膨胀的特点。证实高脱乙酰度原料(DD=95.14%)制备的止血海绵力学性能、吸水率、膨胀率均优于低脱乙酰度原料(DD=69.70%)制备的止血海绵。脱乙酰度69.70%和脱乙酰度95.14%的壳聚糖止血海绵,拉伸强度分别为10.1 N和15.4 N,吸水率分别为1904%和2131%,吸水膨胀时间分别为13.4 s和14.0 s,膨胀率分别为8.4倍和10.8倍。体外细胞毒性实验表明脱乙酰度为95.14%的壳聚糖止血海绵更有利于细胞的增殖,皮内刺激和皮下植入实验结果表明脱乙酰度为95.14%的壳聚糖海止血海绵表现出更小的组织炎性反应。结论:脱乙酰度为95.14%的壳聚糖止血海绵具有优良的力学性能、优异的吸水膨胀能力以及良好的生物相容性,在临床止血特别是腔隙止血方面具有广阔的应用前景。