Xiu Zhilong

Separation of 1,3-propanediol from glycerol-based fermentations of Klebsiella pneumoniae by alcohol precipitation and dilution crystallization

The separation of 1,3-propanediol from the glycerol-based fermentation broth of Klebsiella pneumoniae plays an important role during the microbial production of 1,3-propanediol. In this paper, the separation of 1,3-propanediol from fermentative broth by a combination of ultrafiltration and alcohol dilution crystallization was investigated. The broth was first filtered by ultrafiltration, and 99% of cells, 89.4% of proteins and 69% of nucleic acids were removed. The obtained broth was further condensed by vacuum distillation, and then alcohol was added. The macromolecular impurities, such as nucleic acids, polysaccharides and proteins, were precipitated, and inorganic and organic salts were crystallized. The optimal volume ratio of alcohol added to the condensed fermentation broth was determined to be 2:1. As a result, proteins, nucleic acids and electric conductivity decreased by 97.4%, 89.7% and 95.8%, respectively, compared with the fermentative broth. The influences of pH and water content in condensed broth on alcohol precipitation and dilution crystallization were also investigated. The experimental results indicated that alcohol precipitation and dilution crystallization was feasible and effective for the separation of 1,3-propanediol from actual fermentation broth.

Comparison of Yeast Inactivation Treated in He, Air and N2 DBD Plasma

In this paper, the mechanism of yeast inactivation in low temperature atmospheric pressure helium, nitrogen and air plasmas generated by dielectric barrier discharge is analysed and compared. The results show that all the three gas plasmas have a high germicidal efficiency. The morphology of the yeast is observed by scanning electron microscopy, which reveals that the yeast treated in helium plasma is ruptured completely but there are only some flaws on the cell walls in the nitrogen and air plasma treated samples. Also, the flaws on the cell walls treated by air plasma are more significant than that by nitrogen treatment. Simultaneously, the pH values of the samples after 5 min nitrogen and air plasma treatment have no remarkable change either, while the sample treated with helium plasma descends below 4.0, which is beyond the optimum one for the yeasts living environment. The difference in pH values may be caused by the treatment effect and the degree of the cells rupture when the gas discharge plasma treatment is applied.

Extraction and Purification of Anthocyanins from the Fruit Residues of Vaccinium uliginosum Linn

An aqueous two-phase system was developed to extract anthocyanins present in the fruit residue during juice production from the fruit of Vaccinium uliginosum Linn. A maximum partition coefficient of 10.67 and a recovery of 96.09% for anthocyanins could be obtained using an extraction system consisted of 30% (w/w) ethanol and 19% ammonium sulfate. Compared with the traditional extraction using acidified ethanol, the novel aqueous two-phase extraction could not only yield a much higher concentration of anthocyanins, save more ethanol, energy, and time, but also decrease impurities in extract, e.g. proteins and sugars by 58% and 66%, respectively. AB-8 macroporous resin was applied to the purification of anthocyanins. A novel and simple separation technique for anthocyanins was developed by integrating aqueous two-phase extraction and macroporous resin column chromatography. This new technology might be a suitable for other bioactive natural products on industrial scale.

Optimizing Synchronizability of Scale-Free Networks in Geographical Space

We investigate the relationship between the structure and the synchronizability of scale-free networks in geographical space. With an optimization approach, the numerical results indicate that when the network synchronizability is improved, the geographical distance becomes larger while the maximal load decreases. Thus the maximal betweenness can be a candidate factor that affects the network synchronizability both in topological space and in geographical space.

Improved Ethanol Production from Xylose by Candida shehatae Induced by Dielectric Barrier Discharge Air Plasma

Xylose fermentation is essential for ethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass. Exposure of the xylose-fermenting yeast Candida shehatae (C. shehatae) CICC1766 to atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) air plasma yields a clone (designated as C81015) with stability, which exhibits a higher ethanol fermentation rate from xylose, giving a maximal enhancement in ethanol production of 36.2% compared to the control (untreated). However, the biomass production of C81015 is lower than that of the control. Analysis of the NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)- and NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate)-linked xylose reductases and NAD+-linked xylitol dehydrogenase indicates that their activities are enhanced by 34.1%, 61.5% and 66.3%, respectively, suggesting that the activities of these three enzymes are responsible for improving ethanol fermentation in C81015 with xylose as a substrate. The results of this study show that DBD air plasma could serve as a novel and effective means of generating microbial strains that can better use xylose for ethanol fermentation.

Plasma-Induced Degradation of Polypropene Plastics in Natural Volatile Constituents of Ledum palustre Herb

Polypropene (PP) plastics can be effectively degraded by natural volatile constituents from Ledum palustre catalyzed by atmospheric air dielectric barrier (DBD) plasma. The electron spin resonance (ESR) result indicates that the volatile constituents produce radicals in aerobic condition energized by power sources such as light, UV, plasma and so on. The degradation is a novel chemically oxidative way and it is initiated by a series of radical reactions. Lots of active and oxidative species, radicals, products and high energy electromagnetic field in plasma aggravate the degradation process. The results about PP maximum tensile strength (σbmax) confirm this conclusion. PP plastic heavily loses its extensibility, mechanical integrity and strength in a short time after suffering a synergetic treatment of the herb extract and air DBD plasma with no toxic residues left. The components of herb extract keep almost unchanged and may be reused. This study offers a new approach to manage and recycle typical plastics.

A new way for chemical degradation of plastic by natural volatile constituents of Ledum palustre

A novel phenomenon of degradation of polypropylene plastic by volatile constituents of Ledum palustre is reported in this study. The characteristic of degradation is described by tensile strength, melting point, and scanning electron micrographs as well as optical micrographs. The chemical composition of volatile oil of Ledum palustre is analyzed by gas chrography and mass spectrometry. The mechanism of degradation and problems needed to be solved are also discussed.

An integrative model and analysis of cell cycle in fission yeast

According to the recent investigation on cell cycle of fission yeast, a mathematical dynamic model is formulated. Four cyclins, e.g. Puc1, Cig1, Cig2 and Cdc13, are investigated here. The interacting networks between the cyclins and the process of cell cycle are mathematically described. The functions of these cyclins are particularly analyzed. Comparison among different mutants indicates that the cyclins play an important role in cell cycle.