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Comparative studies in carbonization behaviors of petroleum pitch (SS70 pitch) and SS70-pitch–additive mixtures were conducted to develop a better understanding of the modified mechanisms of additives. The carbonization of solvent fractions in SS70 pitch was also investigated to reveal the relationships among solvent fractions and the additives. The characterization of resultant solid products by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope analysis showed that samples obtained from co-carbonization of SS70–aromatic oil (P1) and SS70–aromatics enriched fractions of FCC slurry (P2) mixtures respectively had higher stacking layer numbers of mesogens and flatter morphology than those of specimens produced by carbonization of SS70 pitch and SS70–deasphalt oil (P3) mixtures. Adding additives P1 and P2 into SS70 pitch lowered not only the rates of carbonization but also the aromaticity and size of aromatic molecules in toluene insolubles formed in the early stage of carbonization, both jointly contributing to the formation of well-developed mesophase. The asphaltenes of SS70 pitch were prone to forming the poorly developed mesophase due to its high reactivity and also interfered with the carbonized performance of maltenes. Additives P1 and P2 played the “dominant partner effect” on mesophase development by providing physical fluidity of the reaction system and some chemical stability for asphaltenes via their dilution effect and H-transfer reactions.

Studies have indicated that high levels of ethanol exposure impaired spermatogenesis in mice. However, the effects of chronic and low‐dose alcohol consumption on susceptible populations remain unclear. The previous studies have confirmed that Immp2l mutant mice (Immp2lTg(Tyr)979Ove or Immp2l−/−) suffered from increased levels of oxidative stress(OS) and male infertility, heterozygous lmmp2l mice (Immp2l+/−) showed no altered ROS levels under physiological condition. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) significantly scavenge oxygen free radicals and enhance antioxidant enzyme activity. The objectives of present study were to research the effects of chronic and low‐dose alcohol‐induced damage on Immp2l+/−, explore the protective function of LBP and possible mechanism. The results indicated that chronic ethanol exposure leads to spermatogenic impairment and triggered a toxic effect on germ cell, 10 mg/kg LBP administration improved the quality of spermatozoon, decreased the ratio of apoptotic germ cells and the expression of Col1a1 and Col1a2, while increased the level of TNP2 and RPL31. In conclusion, the study may provide basic knowledge about LBP’s important role against ethanol‐induced spermiotoxicity and testicular degeneration in Immp2l+/− mice, and the mechanism may be that LBP influenced the state of the spermatogenic epithelium by decreasing the expression of Collagen level leading to alterations in protein biosynthesis during the process of spermatogenesis.

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