Morphological analysis of mercury in solid wastes from natural gas processing plants: optimization of a temperature-programmed decomposition and desorption method.

Determination of mercury species over solid waste from natural gas processing plants is a prerequisite for solid waste decontamination and mercury recycling. The temperature-programmed decomposition and desorption method (TPDD) is a promising technique to determine the mercury species over solid waste. Mercury species over solid wastes with complex components and similar desorption temperature, however, cannot always be determined using only the TPDD method.

Metabolic engineering of Bacillus subtilis for redistributing the carbon flux to 2,3-butanediol by manipulating NADH levels.

Background: Acetoin reductase (Acr) catalyzes the conversion of acetoin to 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD) with concomitant oxidation of NADH to NAD(+). Therefore, intracellular 2,3-BD production is likely governed by the quantities of rate-limiting factor(s) Acr and/or NADH. Previously, we showed that a high level of Acr was beneficial for 2,3-BD accumulation.