A comprehensive review on microbial production of 1,2-propanediol: micro-organisms, metabolic pathways, and metabolic engineering.

1,2-Propanediol is an important building block as a component used in the manufacture of unsaturated polyester resin, antifreeze, biofuel, nonionic detergent, etc. Commercial production of 1,2-propanediol through microbial biosynthesis is limited by low efficiency, and chemical production of 1,2-propanediol requires petrochemically derived routes involving wasteful power consumption and high pollution emissions. With the development of various strategies based on metabolic engineering, a series of obstacles are expected to be overcome.

Ion adsorption components in liquid/solid systems.

Experiments on Zn2+ and Cd2+ adsorptions on vermiculite in aqueous solutions were conducted to investigate the widely observed adsorbent concentration effect on the traditionally defined adsorption isotherm in the adsorbate range 25-500 mg/L and adsorbent range 10-150 g/L. The results showed that the equilibrium ion adsorption density did not correspond to a unique equilibrium ion concentration in liquid phase. Three adsorbate/adsorbent ratios, the equilibrium adsorption density, the ratio of equilibrium adsorbate concentration in liquid phase to adsorbent concentration, and the ratio of initial adsorbate concentration to adsorbent concentration, were found to be related with unique values in the tested range.