The production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) from excess sludge was conducted in batch fermentation tests at different pH values ranging from 4.0 to 11.0. Experimental results of the impacts of different pHs on SCFAs production showed that during the first 8-day fermentation time the total SCFAs production at either pH 9.0 or pH 10.0 was much greater than that at acidic or neutral pH, and the maximal yield of 256.2 mg SCFAs-COD per gram of volatile suspended solids (VSS) was at pH 10.0, which was, respectively, over3 and 4times that at pH 5.0 and uncontrolled pH. Clearly, SCFAs production from excess sludge could be significantly improved and maintained stable by controlling the fermentation pH at 10.0. The composition of SCFAs and the percent distribution of individual SCFAs accounting for total SCFAs at pH 10.0 were analyzed. The SCFAs consisted of acetic, propionic, iso-butyric, n-butyric, iso-valeric, and n-valeric acids, and acetic acid was the most prevalent product with a fraction of 40-55%. Because the results of this study were differentfrom those of previous studies of SCFAs production, the mechanism of increased SCFAs production under alkaline conditions was investigated. Results showed that as soluble COD increased, more soluble protein was provided as the substrate for producing SCFAs. In addition, less or even no SCFAs were consumed by methanogens at alkaline pH, so the SCFAs production was therefore remarkably improved. Further investigation revealed thatthe formation of SCFA at pH 10.0 was dominated by biological effects rather than by chemical hydrolysis.

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A highly efficient Rh(III)-catalyzed oxidative C−H/C−H cross-coupling of [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines (TAP) with indoles and pyrroles has been developed, which provides an opportunity to rapidly assemble a large library of novel excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) fluorophores. The resulting 7-(pyrrol-2-yl)TAPs only show the enol-form emission, while 7-(indol-2-yl)TAPs would undergo an ESIPT process and mainly exhibit the keto-form emission. In highly polar solvents, the enol-form emission of 7-(indol-2-yl)TAPs is enhanced significantly, thus showing the dual emission of enol and keto forms.

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A highly efficient palladium-catalyzed direct C-H functionalization/annulation of BODIPYs with alkynes has been developed for the first time to construct a series of unsymmetrical benzo[ b]-fused BODIPYs from readily available starting materials. These unsymmetrical benzo[ b]-fused BODIPYs exhibit remarkably red-shifted emissions and larger Stokes shifts than classical BODIPY dyes. Cell imaging experiments and cytotoxicity assays demonstrate that BODIPYs 4c and 4d have specific lysosome-labeling capacities, turn-on fluorescence emissions in cells, and low cytotoxicity.

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