In this paper, we report the catalytic cracking of soybean oil for biofuel over γ-Al2O3/CaO composite catalysts. The influence of catalysts, cracking temperature and weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) on the products distribution were investigated. The maximum yield (70.0 wt.%) of biofuel with low acid value (6.7 mg KOH g-1) and oxygen content (5.6%), as well as high calorific value (44.2 MJ kg-1) was achieved over 35 wt.% γ-Al2O3/CaO at 480 ºC and 3.72 h-1. The paper focused on the variation of biofuel composition and cracking pathway caused by γ-Al2O3/CaO composite catalysts via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. Calcium oxide would react with fatty acid to yield calcium carboxylates at 300-350 ºC, which were subsequently decomposed into hydrocarbons (57.9 wt.%) and ketones (22.6 wt.%) at 415-510 ºC. As for 35 wt.% γ-Al2O3/CaO, the addition of γ-Al2O3 was beneficial to generate alkenes (38.2 wt.%), arenes (10.6 wt.%) and alcohols (12.3 wt.%) with ketones decreasing (16.5 wt.%) via γ-hydrogen transfer reaction and disproportination.

Weaning results in intestinal dysfunction, mucosal atrophy, transient anorexia, and intestinal barrier defects. In this study, the effect of prodigiosin (PG) on the intestinal inflammation of weaned rats was investigated by using 1H-NMR spectroscopy and biochemistry indexes to regulate the intestinal metabolism. After administration for 14 days, the body mass of the PG group was increased by 1.29- and 1.26-fold compared with those of the control and alcohol groups, respectively, using a dose of 200 µg PG·kg-1 body weight per day. PG increased organic acid content and decreased moisture, pH values, and free ammonia in feces. In addition, PG alleviated the intestinal inflammation of weaned rats. The analysis of 1H-NMR signal peak attribution and the model validation of metabolic data of feces contents showed that PG significantly affected the metabolism of small molecular compounds in the intestinal tract of weaned rats. This study presents the promising alternative of using PG to alleviate intestinal inflammation effectively in the intestinal tract of weaned rats.

Abstract: The “scatter degree” method is an objective evaluation method based on a “difference drive*”. However, it is currently perceived as incapable of properly reflecting the subjective information of the evaluator. In order to reflect the objective law of raw data and assist decision-makers to control major factors of the water environmental carrying capacity (WECC), this paper proposes a method to process the weight of the indicator by combining the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the vertical “scatter degree” method. The computing results of this improved method are virtually identical to those of the old method, but the former is more scientific and reliable.

Resumen: El método de “grado de dispersión” vertical es un método de evaluación objetiva; sin embargo, actualmente se percibe como incapaz de reflejar de forma adecuada la información subjetiva del evaluador. Con el fin de reflejar la ley objetiva de datos brutos y ayudar a los tomadores de decisiones a controlar los principales factores de la capacidad de carga ecológica del agua (WECC), este trabajo propone un método para procesar la ponderación del indicador al combinar el proceso de jerarquía analítica (AHP) y el método de “grado de dispersión” vertical. Los resultados de este método mejorado son prácticamente idénticos a los obtenidos con el antiguo método, pero el primero es más científico y confiable.

2-Tosiloxi-1,3-propanodiol (TPD), um potencial precursor para produção de 1,3-propanodiol (1,3-PD), é produzido através da tosilação do glicerol com a ajuda de uma técnica de proteção de grupos. Neste trabalho, discutiu-se a hidrogenólise do TPD em 1,3-PD sobre catalisador de Raney Ni através de diferentes parâmetros de reação para otimizar as condições de reação para formação seletiva do 1,3-PD. O mecanismo de hidrogenólise do TPD e reações laterais também foram confirmados pela técnica de cromatografia em fase gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas (GC-MS).

2-Tosyloxy-1,3-propanediol (TPD), a potential precursor for 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) production, is produced by the tosylation of glycerol with the help of protecting group techniques. In this work, the hydrogenolysis of TPD into 1,3-PD over Raney Ni catalyst is discussed at different reaction parameters to optimize the reaction conditions for selective formation of 1,3-PD. The mechanisms of the hydrogenolysis of TPD and the side reactions were also confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique.

Cinco derivados naturais [ácido ferúlico (FA), polifenol de chá lipidio-solúvel (LTP), polifenol de chá solúvel em água (WTP), sesamol (SE) e ácido cafeico (CA)] foram avaliados como aditivos antioxidantes para melhorar a estabilidade da oxidação de biodiesel de óleo de soja (SBO-BD). Verificou-se que WTP, LTP, SE e CA podem melhorar significativamente a estabilidade de SBO-BD. CA apresentou o melhor desempenho no intervalo de concentração de 500 a 1500 ppm, enquanto que WTP mostrou atividade mais elevada a uma concentração de 200 ppm. Para comparação, o efeito estabilizador de três antioxidantes sintéticos [α-tocoferol (α-T), butilhidroxitolueno (BHT) e butilhidroxianisol (BHA)] foi avaliado simultaneamente. Os resultados mostraram que o efeito de alguns aditivos naturais (WTP, LTP, SE e CA) foi melhor que de aditivos sintéticos (α-T, BHT e BHA) na estabilidade da oxidação de SOB-BD. Uma explicação possível para os efeitos diferentes entre os antioxidantes testados foi elaborada levando em conta sua estrutura molecular.

Five natural derivatives [ferulic acid (FA), lipid-soluble tea polyphenol (LTP), water-soluble tea polyphenol (WTP), sesamol (SE) and caffeic acid (CA)] were evaluated as antioxidative additives for enhancing the oxidation stability of soybean oil based biodiesel (SBO-BD). It was found that WTP, LTP, SE and CA could significantly improve the oxidation stability of SBO-BD. CA displayed the best performance in the concentration range from 500 to 1500 ppm, whereas WTP displayed the highest activeness at a concentration of 2000 ppm. For comparison, the stabilizing effect of three synthetic anti-oxidants [α-tocopherol (α-T), butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylhydroxyanisol (BHA)] was simultaneously evaluated. The results showed that the effect of some natural additives (WTP, LTP, SE and CA) was better than that of synthetic additives (α-T, BHT and BHA) on the oxidation stability of SBO-BD. A possible explanation for the different effects among the tested antioxidants was given based on their molecular structures.