Oktay Erbatur

Comparison of the fatty acid composition of the freshwater fish larvae Tilapia zillii, the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus, and the microalgae Scenedesmus abundans, Monoraphidium minitum and Chlorella vulgaris in the algae-rotifer-fish larvae food chains

Abstract The proximate and the fatty acid analysis of the warm freshwater fish, Tilapia zillii larvae, the freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus and the microalgae Scenedesmus abundans , Monoraphidium minitum and Chlorella vulgaris each constituting a different food chain with B. calyciflorus and T. zillii larvae have been carried out. C. vulgaris had significantly higher lipid content than the other two microalgae and this was also reflected in the lipid content of B. calyciflorus fed each of the microalgae separately. Five fatty acids dominated in all the microalgae, namely 18:3 n −3, 18:2 n −6, 18:0, 18:1 and 16:0 though there were significant differences both in quantitative distribution of these acids and the total fatty acid content. The content of 18:3 n −3, 18:2 n −6 and 16:0 and the total fatty acid content of C. vulgaris were considerably higher than the corresponding values in the other two microalgae. But interestingly, these strong differences were not reflected in B. calyciflorus samples fed these microalgae separately though the one fed C. vulgaris had slightly higher total fatty acid content than the other two rotifer samples. One can consider that the freshwater rotifer B. calyciflorus is capable of creating its own characteristic fatty acid content up to a sufficient level even when cultured with a fatty acid deficient algae probably by consuming excessive amounts of this algae compared to other algae of relatively high fatty acid content. The proximate and fatty acid analysis results of the three T. zillii larvae fed the three B. calyciflorus samples obtained by culturing with three different microalgae were very similar. This was an expected result because the three B. calyciflorus samples did not differ much from each other. The low 18:2 n −6 (1.66–3.53 mg g −1 DM) and 18:3 n −3 (1.14–1.22 mg g −1 DM) content and the relatively high 22:6 n −3 (10.72–14.38 mg g −1 DM) content of the T. zillii larvae samples indicated that they were capable of elongating and desaturating both linoleic and linolenic acids of the B. calyciflorus samples.

Biofuel production by liquefaction of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) biomass.

In this study, kenaf biomass, its dried hydrolysate residue (solid residue left after removing water from hydrolysate) and non-hydrolyzed kenaf residue (solid residue left after hydrolysis process) were liquefied at various temperatures. Hydrolysis of biomass was performed in subcritical water condition. The oil+gas yield of biomass materials increased as the temperature increased from 250 to 300°C. Increasing temperature to 350°C resulted in decreases in oil+gas contents for all biomass feeds studied. On the other hand, preasphaltene+asphaltene (PA+A) and char yields significantly decreased with increasing the process temperature. The use of carbon or activated carbon supported Ru catalyst in the process significantly decreased char and PA+A formations. Oils produced from liquefaction of kenaf, dried kenaf hydrolysate and non-hydrolyzed kenaf residue consist of fuel related components such as aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene and benzene derivative compounds, indane and trans/cis-decalin.

Reaction of dinaphthyl and diphenyl ethers at liquefaction conditions

The reactions of 2,2′-dinaphthyl ether and diphenyl ether were studied at 375–425°C using 6.9 MPa (cold) hydrogen or nitrogen, 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (DHP) and decalin as solvents, and a molybdenum sulfide catalyst. We chose to examine these compounds as models for the cleavage of diaryl ether bridges during coal liquefaction. The molybdenum sulfide was added to the reaction as MoS3, which should transform to the active MoS2 catalyst. Cleavage of the CarO in 2,2′-dinaphthyl ether, at reaction temperatures of 375 and 400°C, proceeded in the sequence H2 < DHPN2 < DHPH2 < DHPMoS3N2 < DHPMoS3H2 < MoS3H2 < Dec.MoS3H2. At 425°C, the MoS3H2 and Dec.MoS3H2 systems exchange places in this order. Diphenyl ether is less reactive than dinaphthyl ether toward hydrogenolysis reactions under these conditions. The conversion rate of diphenyl ether increases in the order H2 < DHPH2 < DHPMoS3N2 < DHPMoS3H2 < Dec.MoS3H2 < MoS3H2. Although the rates of conversion of the two ethers are different, the relative effects of using a reactive gaseous atmosphere, donor solvent, catalyst - or some combination of these factors - are the same for both compounds. In liquefaction experiments, hydrogen donor solvent or hydrogen shuttling solvent seems necessary to reduce retrogressive reactions. However, a solvent interacting strongly with catalyst and scavenging hydrogen atoms can reduce the activity of catalysts in hydrocracking reactions.

Immunostimulatory activity of polysaccharide-poly(I:C) nanoparticles.

Immunostimulatory properties of mushroom derived polysaccharides (PS) as stand-alone agents were tested. Next, PS were nanocomplexed with polyI:C (pIC) to yield stable nanoparticles around 200 nm in size evidenced by atomic force microscopy and dynamic light scattering analyses. PSs were selectively engaged by cells expressing TLR2 and initiated NFκB dependent signaling cascade leading to a Th1-biased cytokine/chemokine secretion in addition to bactericidal nitric oxide (NO) production from macrophages. Moreover, cells treated with nanoparticles led to synergistic IL6, production and upregulation of TNFα, MIP3α, IFNγ and IP10 transcript expression. In mice, PS-Ovalbumin-pIC formulation surpassed anti-OVA IgG responses when compared to either PS-OVA or pIC-OVA mediated immunity. Our results revealed that signal transduction initiated both by TLR2 and TLR3 via co-delivery of pIC by PS in nanoparticle depot delivery system is an effective immunization strategy. The present work implicate that the PS and nucleic acid based nanoparticle approach along with protein antigens can be harnessed to prevent infectious diseases.

Effect of support materials on supported platinum catalyst prepared using a supercritical fluid deposition technique and their catalytic performance for hydrogen-rich gas production from lignocellulosic biomass.

A number of supported Pt catalysts have been prepared by supercritical carbon dioxide deposition technique using various supports. The reduction of Pt precursor to metal performed by heat treatment under nitrogen flow. The prepared catalysts were evaluated for gasification of wheat straw biomass hydrolysates and glucose solution for hydrogen-rich gas production. The activities of the catalysts were highly affected by distribution, amount and particle sizes of platinum on the support. In general carbon-based supported Pt catalysts exhibited better catalytic activity compared to other supports to be used. Compared to biomass hydrolysate feed, gasification of glucose always resulted in higher volume of gas mixture, however, hydrogen selectivity was decreased in all catalyst except multi-walled carbon nanotube. The deposition of Pt particles inner side of that support makes the large organic substrates inaccessible to reach and react with those metal particles.

Chemical composition of SCG extracts obtained from coal and maceral concentrates

Five Turkish coals and macerals were subjected to supercritical toluene extraction at 400°C and 100 atm. The extracts were separated into three fractions, namely preasphaltene, asphaltene and oil. Oil fractions were further separated into paraffinic, aromatic and polar sub-fractions. This paper discusses the spectroscopic and chromatographic analysis of these paraffinic, aromatic and polar sub-fractions obtained from the supercritical extraction of whole coals and of their corresponding maceral concentrates.

Investigation of pyridine extracts and residues of coals by solid-state 13C n.m.r. spectroscopy

Abstract The 13C n.m.r. technique of cross polarization with magic angle spinning was applied to seven coals in their original states and the components obtained after pyridine extraction. It was observed that for the higher rank coals, short and straight alkyl groups are preferentially transferred to the extracts, while long-chain alkyl groups, branched alkyl groups or alicyclic structures are concentrated in the residues. Aliphatic ether or ester moieties were also observed to be concentrated in the residues. For all coals the computer-generated composite extract-residue spectra differed appreciably from the spectra of the original coals, indicating that some structures may be lost or that some structural conversion may occur during the extraction procedure. It was concluded that caution should be used in trying to determine detailed organic structural information of a coal from data obtained on its pyridine extract.

Temperature-staged liquefaction of selected Turkish coals

Abstract Four Turkish coals, along with two American coals for comparison, were liquefied at various temperature-staged conditions in bench-scale microautoclave reactors. 9,10-Dihydrophenanthrene was used as a strong donor solvent, and ammonium tetrathiomolybdate was added to some reactions as a catalyst precursor for the in situ generation of a hydrogenation catalyst. The combination of a potent hydrogen donor and good catalyst were sufficient to provide conversions ⩾90% (d.a.f. basis) for all coals in this study. The most important role of the solvent is in the initial breakdown of the coal. A catalyst is important for upgrading of the initial products, but it is also active in promoting hydrogen transfer from the solvent to the coal. For reactions of Can lignite in the absence of catalyst, most of the hydrogen transferred to the coal derives from the solvent; when a sulfided molybdenum catalyst is added, most of the hydrogen consumed comes from gas-phase H 2 . Oil (hexane-solubles) yield increases linearly with increasing hydrogen consumption. The best results in the present study were a 98.8% conversion with 72.2% oil yield, which were obtained with Seyit Omer lignite with 2:1 solvent:coal ratio, added catalyst, and 30 minutes each at 275 and 425°C.

Investigation of the chemical structures of coking and non-coking coals in original and reductively alkylated solid states via 13C n.m.r. and i.r. spectroscopies

Abstract Chemical structures of four Turkish coals in original and reductively alkylated forms were investigated in the solid state by CP/MAS 13C n.m.r. and i.r. spectroscopies. Dilatation properties of these samples were also determined. It was observed that, while the aliphatic parts of the coking coals are mainly composed of short and straight alkyl groups and alicyclic structures, the aliphatic parts of the non-coking coals are to a larger extent composed of branched chains and/or alicyclic structures. It was concluded that ether bonds linking aromatic units are more prominent in the coking coals, whereas in the non-coking coals aromatic-O-aliphatic and/or alicyclic ethers dominate. The degree of condensation of aromatic structures was found to be higher in the coking coals, and the extent of reductive alkylations was higher in comparison with the non-coking coals. Non-coking coals were found to be alkylated preferentially at their phenolic oxygens. Difference spectra were found to be very useful in following organic chemical structural changes that accompany reductive alkylation.

Reductive ethylation in ethereal solvents

Abstract Organic compounds, in particular anthracene and naphthalene, and two coals have been reductively ethylated in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and diglyme using alkali metals to form anions and ethyl iodide to produce ethylates. Product distributions were sensitive to experimental conditions. The rate of anion formation was controlled by their rate of desorption, probably as contact ion pairs, from the alkali metal surface. The enthalpy of formation of a solvated contact ion pair was ≈500 kJ mole −1 mainly due to dipole-solvent interaction. 18-crown-6 ether was used to diagnose that, when treated with potassium in THF, anthracepe gave solvated contact ion pairs and probably di-anions whose reactions were characterized by the formation of ethyldihydroanthracene. Naphthalene under identical conditions gave loosely solvated mono-anions which reacted by electron transfer to give diethyldihydronaphthalene. With other alkali metals anthracene and naphthalene gave similar product distributions. The behaviour of other polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and of two coals was classified in the same way. It is suggested that when coals are readily solubilized by reductive alkylation mono-alkyldihydro products will predominate.