Composite coal fly ash solid acid catalyst in synergy with chloride for biphasic preparation of furfural from corn stover hydrolysate.

A solid acid catalyst SO/SnO-AlO-CFA was synthesized based on industrial waste coal fly ash (CFA) as carrier and applied in the conversion of oxalic acid pretreated corn stover hydrolysate to produce furfural. Physical properties of the solid acid catalyst were characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, BET, EDAX, and NH-TPD. Highly wrinkled structure of SO/SnO-AlO-CFA could provide more specific surface area for the covalent linkage between SiO and SnO.

Detoxification of furfural residues hydrolysate for butanol fermentation by Clostridium saccharobutylicum DSM 13864.

The toxicity of furfural residues (FRs) hydrolysate is a major obstacle in its application. This work focused on the detoxification of FRs hydrolysate and its application in butanol fermentation. Combination of activated carbon and resin 717 was appropriate for the detoxification of hydrolysate.

Enhanced curdlan production with nitrogen feeding during polysaccharide synthesis by Rhizobium radiobacter.

Curdlan is a secondary metabolite synthesized by Agrobacterium sp. and some other bacteria. A newly isolated exopolysaccharide-producing strain was identified to be Rhizobium radiobacter CGMCC 12099.

Arginine deiminase: recent advances in discovery, crystal structure, and protein engineering for improved properties as an anti-tumor drug.

Arginine deiminase (ADI) is an important arginine-degrading enzyme with wide applications, in particular as an anti-cancer agent for the therapy of arginine-auxotrophic tumors. In recent years, novel ADIs with excellent properties have been identified from various organisms, and crystal structures of ADI were investigated. To satisfy the requirements of potential therapeutic applications, protein engineering has been performed to improve the activity and properties of ADIs.

Characterization and Soluble Expression of D-Hydantoinase from Pseudomonas fluorescens for the Synthesis of D-Amino Acids.

An active D-hydantoinase from Pseudomonas fluorescens was heterogeneously overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) and designated as D-PfHYD. Sequence and consensus analysis suggests that D-PfHYD belongs to the dihydropyrimidinase/hydantoinase family and possesses catalytic residues for metal ion and hydantoin binding. D-PfHYD was purified to homogeneity by nickel affinity chromatography for characterization.

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of dilute alkaline-pretreated corn stover for enhanced butanol production by Clostridium saccharobutylicum DSM 13864.

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process was applied for biobutanol production by Clostridium saccharobutylicum DSM 13864 from corn stover (CS). The key influential factors in SSF process, including corn steep liquor concentration, dry biomass and enzyme loading, SSF temperature, inoculation size and pre-hydrolysis time were optimized. In 5-L bioreactor with SSF process, butanol titer and productivity of 12.

Enhancing cellulose accessibility of corn stover by deep eutectic solvent pretreatment for butanol fermentation.

In this study, an effective corn stover (CS) pretreatment method was developed for biobutanol fermentation. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs), consisted of quaternary ammonium salts and hydrogen donors, display similar properties to room temperature ionic liquid. Seven DESs with different hydrogen donors were facilely synthesized.

Cloning, Expression, and Characterization of budC Gene Encoding meso-2,3-Butanediol Dehydrogenase from Bacillus licheniformis.

The budC gene encoding a meso-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase (BlBDH) from Bacillus licheniformis was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). Sequence analysis reveals that this BlBDH belongs to short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) superfamily. In the presence of NADH, BlBDH catalyzes the reduction of diacetyl to (3S)-acetoin (97.

Succinic acid production from corn stover by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation using Actinobacillus succinogenes.

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) technique was applied for succinic acid production by Actinobacillus succinogenes in a 5-l stirred bioreactor with corn stover as the raw material. The process parameters of SSF, including corn stover pretreatment condition, substrate concentration, enzyme loading and fermentation temperature were investigated. Results indicated that pretreating corn stover with diluted alkaline was beneficial for the succinic acid production, and succinic acid yield could be significantly increased when adding the cellulase supplemented with cellobiase.

Fermentative production of succinic acid from straw hydrolysate by Actinobacillus succinogenes.

In this work, straw hydrolysates were used to produce succinic acid by Actinobacillus succinogenes CGMCC1593 for the first time. Results indicated that both glucose and xylose in the straw hydrolysates were utilized in succinic acid production, and the hydrolysates of corn straw was better than that of rice or wheat straw in anaerobic fermentation of succinic acid. However, cell growth and succinic acid production were inhibited when the initial concentration of sugar, which was from corn straw hydrolysate (CSH), was higher than 60 g l(-1).

Economical succinic acid production from cane molasses by Actinobacillus succinogenes.

In this work, production of succinic acid by Actinobacillus succinogenes CGMCC1593 using cane molasses as a low cost carbon source was developed. In anaerobic bottles fermentation, succinic acid concentration of 50.6+/-0.

Meniscal tear configurations: categorization with MR imaging.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of MR imaging for categorizing the configuration of meniscal tears of the knee.

Materials And Methods: Fast spin-echo MR images obtained at 1.5 T from 110 patients who had meniscal tears identified at arthroscopy were retrospectively and independently classified by two reviewers into five configurations: horizontal, longitudinal, radial, oblique, and complex.