Coproduction of poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) was investigated with Azotobacter chroococcum strain 6B isolated from soil samples. The bacterium was cultured using various carbon sources solely or with 0.1 g/L of ammonium sulfate. Ammonium addition resulted in reduced PHB and EPS production with glucose, fructose, and sucrose media, but cellular mass remained constant except for sucrose. Protein was nearly twofold higher in ammonium-grown cultures. Glucose and fructose alone biosynthesized high amounts of EPS (maximum 2.1 and 1.1 g/L, respectively, at 72 h), whereas PHB was accumulated only in glucose-grown cells. Sucrose almost did not produce EPS. Conversely, PHB content was the highest obtained from all experimented conditions (1.1 g/L at 48 h, 40% cell dry wt). When a complex carbon source such as sugar cane molasses was utilized, PHB was accumulated concomitant with EPS production from the initial time to 48 h (0.75 g/L, 37% cell dry wt and 0.6 g/L, respectively), and then PHB decayed at 72 h (0.2 g/L). On the other hand, EPS continued to be biosynthesized (1.1 g/L, 72 h). PHB fractions of total intra- and extracellular biopolymers were calculated. Sucrose-modified Burk's medium without ammonium addition is suggested as a medium capable of diverting the carbon source for the production of intracellular PHB rather than EPS with A. chroococcum 6B.
Recent advances in analysis of precursors, simulants and degradation products of chemical warfare agents (CWA) are reviewed. Fast and reliable analysis of precursors, simulants and CWA degradation products is extremely important at a time, when more and more terrorist groups and radical non-state organizations use or plan to use chemical weapons to achieve their own psychological, political and military goals. The review covers the open source literature analysis after the time, when the chemical weapons convention had come into force (1997). The authors stated that during last 15 years increased number of laboratories are focused not only on trace analysis of CWA (mostly nerve and blister agents) in environmental and biological samples, but the growing number of research are devoted to instrumental analysis of precursors and degradation products of these substances. The identification of low-level concentration of CWA degradation products is often more important and difficult than the original CWA, because of lower level of concentration and a very large number of compounds present in environmental and biological samples. Many of them are hydrolysis products and are present in samples in the ionic form. For this reason, two or three instrumental methods are used to perform a reliable analysis of these substances.
Micro and nanocomposites of hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB)-based polyurethanes (NPU) were obtained using five mineral fillers and Cloisite 20A nanoclay, respectively. Samples were prepared by the reaction of HTPB polyol and toluene diisocyanate (TDI), and the chain was further extended with glyceryl monoricinoleate to produce the final elastomeric polyurethanes. Mechanical and thermal properties were studied, showing that mineral fillers (20% w/w) significantly increased tensile strength, in particular nanoclay (at 5% w/w). When nanoclay-polymer dispersion was modified with a silane and hydantoin-bond promoter, elongation at break was significantly increased with respect to NPU with C20A. Thermal properties measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were not significantly affected in any case. The molecular structure of prepared micro and nanocomposites was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Interaction of fillers with polymer chains is discussed, considering the role of silanes in compatibilization of hydrophilic mineral fillers and hydrophobic polymer. The functionalization of nanoclay with HMDS silane was confirmed using FTIR. Microstructure of NPU with C20A nanoclay was confirmed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).
In this contribution, we studied mechanical and rheological properties of liners based on hydroxy terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) loaded with titanium dioxide and cured with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) or toluene diisocyanate (TDI). A thixotropic agent (Thixin R) was added, and viscosity was measured as a function of curing time, leading to much lower viscosities and longer pot life values. Mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation at break) were not significantly affected but viscosity was reduced at all tested concentrations. Loss modulus (G'') and storage modulus (G') were measured during cure time at three different temperatures (7, 25 and 60°C) with IPDI, and at 7 and 25°C for TDI. Both curves did not intersect during the cure period studied (120 minutes) for IPDI but did so for TDI at 25°C with the formulation having a thixotropic additive. These results suggested that liner formulations will flow if sprayed onto the inner surface of the rocket case before propellant is casted.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.