Degradation of Histamine by Lactobacillus plantarum Isolated from Miso Products.

PubMed

Kung, Hsien-Feng; Lee, Yi-Chen; Huang, Ya-Ling; Huang, Yu-Ru; Su, Yi-Cheng; Tsai, Yung-Hsiang

2017-10-01

Histamine is a toxic chemical and is the causative agent of food poisoning. This foodborne toxin may be degraded by the oxidative deamination activity of certain microorganisms. In this study, we isolated four histamine-degrading Lactobacillus plantarum bacteria from miso products. Among them, L. plantarum D-103 exhibited 100% degradation of histamine in de Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) broth containing 50 ppm of histamine after 24 h of incubation at 30°C. The optimal growth, histamine oxidase, and histamine-degrading activity of L. plantarum D-103 were observed in histamine MRS broth at pH 7.0, 3% NaCl, and 30°C. It also exhibited tolerance to broad ranges of pH (4 to 10) and salt concentrations (0 to 12%) in histamine MRS broth. Therefore, the histamine-degrading L. plantarum D-103 might be used as an additive culture to prevent histamine accumulation in miso products during fermentation.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production and Degradation Patterns in Bacillus Species.

PubMed

Ray, Subhasree; Kalia, Vipin Chandra

2017-12-01

Bacteria under stress conditions of excess of carbon (C) and limitations of nutrients divert its metabolism towards C storage as energy reservoir-polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). Different Bacillus species- B. cereus and B. thuringiensis , were monitored to produce PHA from different C sources-glucose, crude glycerol and their combination at 37 °C for period up to 192 h. PHA production and its composition was found to vary with feed and bacterial strains. PHA production on crude glycerol continued to increase up to 120 h, reaching a maximum of 2725 mg/L with an effective yield of 71% of the dry cell mass. Depolymerization of PHA was observe to initiate after 96 h of incubation up to 192 h. PHA degradation products have been envisaged to be applied in medical field: tissue engineering, drug carriers, memory enhancers, antiosteoporosis, biodegradable implants. The PHA production and degradation cycle for 192 h has not been reported previously in literature.

Degradation of chitosan hydrogel dispersed in dilute carboxylic acids by solution plasma and evaluation of anticancer activity of degraded products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chokradjaroen, Chayanaphat; Rujiravanit, Ratana; Theeramunkong, Sewan; Saito, Nagahiro

2018-01-01

Chitosan is a polysaccharide that has been extensively studied in the field of biomedicine, especially its water-soluble degraded products called chitooligosaccharides (COS). In this study, COS were produced by the degradation of chitosan hydrogel dispersed in a dilute solution (i.e., 1.55 mM) of various kinds of carboxylic acids using a non-thermal plasma technology called solution plasma (SP). The degradation rates of chitosan were influenced by the type of carboxylic acids, depending on the interaction between chitosan and each carboxylic acid. After SP treatment, the water-soluble degraded products containing COS could be easily separated from the water-insoluble residue of chitosan hydrogel by centrifugation. The production yields of the COS were mostly higher than 55%. Furthermore, the obtained COS products were evaluated for their inhibitory effect as well as their selectivity against human lung cancer cells (H460) and human lung normal cells (MRC-5).

The sources, fate, and toxicity of chemical warfare agent degradation products.

PubMed Central

Munro, N B; Talmage, S S; Griffin, G D; Waters, L C; Watson, A P; King, J F; Hauschild, V

1999-01-01

We include in this review an assessment of the formation, environmental fate, and mammalian and ecotoxicity of CW agent degradation products relevant to environmental and occupational health. These parent CW agents include several vesicants: sulfur mustards [undistilled sulfur mustard (H), sulfur mustard (HD), and an HD/agent T mixture (HT)]; nitrogen mustards [ethylbis(2-chloroethyl)amine (HN1), methylbis(2-chloroethyl)amine (HN2), tris(2-chloroethyl)amine (HN3)], and Lewisite; four nerve agents (O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothioate (VX), tabun (GA), sarin (GB), and soman (GD)); and the blood agent cyanogen chloride. The degradation processes considered here include hydrolysis, microbial degradation, oxidation, and photolysis. We also briefly address decontamination but not combustion processes. Because CW agents are generally not considered very persistent, certain degradation products of significant persistence, even those that are not particularly toxic, may indicate previous CW agent presence or that degradation has occurred. Of those products for which there are data on both environmental fate and toxicity, only a few are both environmentally persistent and highly toxic. Major degradation products estimated to be of significant persistence (weeks to years) include thiodiglycol for HD; Lewisite oxide for Lewisite; and ethyl methyl phosphonic acid, methyl phosphonic acid, and possibly S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothioic acid (EA 2192) for VX. Methyl phosphonic acid is also the ultimate hydrolysis product of both GB and GD. The GB product, isopropyl methylphosphonic acid, and a closely related contaminant of GB, diisopropyl methylphosphonate, are also persistent. Of all of these compounds, only Lewisite oxide and EA 2192 possess high mammalian toxicity. Unlike other CW agents, sulfur mustard agents (e.g., HD) are somewhat persistent; therefore, sites or conditions involving potential HD contamination should include an

ANALYTICAL METHOD DEVELOPMENT FOR ALACHLOR ESA AND OTHER ACETANILIDE HERBICIDE DEGRADATION PRODUCTS

EPA Science Inventory

In 1998, USEPA published a Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) of 50 chemicals and 10 microorganisms. "Alachlor ESA and other acetanilide herbicide degradation products" is listed on the the 1998 CCL. Acetanilide degradation products are generally more water soluble...

Identification by CI-mass spectrometry of an unexpected benzodiazepine degradation product

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buret, D.; Breton, D.; Clair, P.; Lafosse, M.

2006-01-01

The French Military Health Service (SSA) has developed an innovative drug product, as a treatment against neurotoxic organophosphate poisoning (NOP). It contains three drug substances: an anticholinergic, an anticonvulsant and a cholinesterase reactivator. Testing stability study, in normal conditions, over 18 months, for this speciality, has given unexpected results. Indeed, one of the drug substances, avizafone (pro-drug of diazepam), breaks down partially into a compound which migrates into the plastic container where this degradation product is demethylated after absorption. Mass spectrometry with negative chemical ionisation (negative CI-MS) was used, to monitor decomposition of the drug substance. This method first showed migration of the degradation product and has been used to monitor its evolution during the stability testing study. The demethylation seems to be due to an additive product present in the plastic. The degradation products remain trapped in the container holding the pharmaceutical formulation.

Degradation of net primary production in a semiarid rangeland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jackson, Hasan; Prince, Stephen D.

2016-08-01

Anthropogenic land degradation affects many biogeophysical processes, including reductions of net primary production (NPP). Degradation occurs at scales from small fields to continental and global. While measurement and monitoring of NPP in small areas is routine in some studies, for scales larger than 1 km2, and certainly global, there is no regular monitoring and certainly no attempt to measure degradation. Quantitative and repeatable techniques to assess the extent of deleterious effects and monitor changes are needed to evaluate its effects on, for example, economic yields of primary products such as crops, lumber, and forage, and as a measure of land surface properties which are currently missing from dynamic global vegetation models, assessments of carbon sequestration, and land surface models of heat, water, and carbon exchanges. This study employed the local NPP scaling (LNS) approach to identify patterns of anthropogenic degradation of NPP in the Burdekin Dry Tropics (BDT) region of Queensland, Australia, from 2000 to 2013. The method starts with land classification based on the environmental factors presumed to control (NPP) to group pixels having similar potential NPP. Then, satellite remotely sensing data were used to compare actual NPP with its potential. The difference in units of mass of carbon and percentage loss were the measure of degradation. The entire BDT (7.45 × 106 km2) was investigated at a spatial resolution of 250 × 250 m. The average annual reduction in NPP due to anthropogenic land degradation in the entire BDT was -2.14 MgC m-2 yr-1, or 17 % of the non-degraded potential, and the total reduction was -214 MgC yr-1. Extreme average annual losses of 524.8 gC m-2 yr-1 were detected. Approximately 20 % of the BDT was classified as "degraded". Varying severities and rates of degradation were found among the river basins, of which the Belyando and Suttor were highest. Interannual, negative trends in reductions of NPP occurred in 7 % of the

Forced degradation studies of lansoprazole using LC-ESI HRMS and 1 H-NMR experiments: in vitro toxicity evaluation of major degradation products.

PubMed

Shankar, G; Borkar, R M; Suresh, U; Guntuku, L; Naidu, V G M; Nagesh, N; Srinivas, R

2017-07-01

Regulatory agencies from all over the world have set up stringent guidelines with regard to drug degradation products due to their toxic effects or carcinogenicity. Lansoprazole, a proton-pump inhibitor, was subjected to forced degradation studies as per ICH guidelines Q1A (R2). The drug was found to degrade under acidic, basic, neutral hydrolysis and oxidative stress conditions, whereas it was found to be stable under thermal and photolytic conditions. The chromatographic separation of the drug and its degradation products were achieved on a Hiber Purospher, C18 (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μ) column using 10 mM ammonium acetate and acetonitrile as a mobile phase in a gradient elution mode at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The eight degradation products (DP1-8) were identified and characterized by UPLC/ESI/HRMS with in-source CID experiments combined with accurate mass measurements. DP-1, DP-2 and DP-3 were formed in acidic, DP-4 in basic, DP-5 in neutral and DP-1, DP-6, DP-7 and DP-8 were in oxidation stress condition Among eight degradation products, five were hitherto unknown degradation products. In addition, one of the major degradation products, DP-2, was isolated by using semi preparative HPLC and other two, DP-6 and DP-7 were synthesized. The cytotoxic effect of these degradation products (DP-2, DP-6 and DP-7) were tested on normal human cells such as HEK 293 (embryonic kidney cells) and RWPE-1(normal prostate epithelial cells) by MTT assay. From the results of cytotoxicity, it was found that lansoprazole as well as its degradation products (DP-2, DP-6 and DP-7) were nontoxic up to 50-μM concentrations, and the latter showed slightly higher cytotoxicity when compared with that of lansoprazole. DNA binding studies using spectroscopic techniques indicate that DP-2, DP-6 and DP-7 molecules interact with ctDNA and may bind to its surface. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A study of the degradation of organophosphorus pesticides in river waters and the identification of their degradation products by chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Zhao, Xueheng; Hwang, Huey-Min

2009-05-01

The degradation of selected organophosphorus pesticides (OPs), i.e., malathion and parathion, in river water, has been studied with solar simulator irradiation. The degradation of OPs and formation of degradation products were determined by chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry analysis. The effect of a photosensitizer, i.e., riboflavin, on the photolysis of OPs in a river-water environment was examined. There was no significant increase in the degradation rate in the presence of the photosensitizer. Degradation products of the OPs were identified with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after derivatization by pentafluorobenzyl bromide (PFBB) and with high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) with electrospray (ESI) or atomospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). Malaoxon, paraoxon, 4-nitrophenol, aminoparathion, O,O-dimethylthiophosphoric acid, and O,O-dimethyldithiophosphoric acid, have been separated and identified as the degradation products of malathion and parathion after photolysis in river water. Based on the identified transformation products, a rational degradation pathway in river water for both OPs is proposed. The identities of these products can be used to evaluate the toxic effects of the OPs and their transformation products on natural environments.

Activity of meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba) seed meal glucolimnanthin degradation products against soilborne pathogens.

PubMed

Zasada, Inga A; Weiland, Jerry E; Reed, Ralph L; Stevens, Jan F

2012-01-11

Meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba L.) is a herbaceous winter-spring annual grown as a commercial oilseed crop. The meal remaining after oil extraction from the seed contains up to 4% of the glucosinolate glucolimnanthin. Degradation of glucolimnanthin yields toxic breakdown products, and therefore the meal may have potential in the management of soilborne pathogens. To maximize the pest-suppressive potential of meadowfoam seed meal, it would be beneficial to know the toxicity of individual glucolimnanthin degradation products against specific soilborne pathogens. Meloidogyne hapla second-stage juveniles (J2) and Pythium irregulare and Verticillium dahliae mycelial cultures were exposed to glucolimnanthin as well as its degradation products. Glucolimnanthin and its degradation product, 2-(3-methoxyphenyl)acetamide, were not toxic to any of the soilborne pathogens at concentrations up to 1.0 mg/mL. Two other degradation products, 2-(3-methoxymethyl)ethanethioamide and 3-methoxyphenylacetonitrile, were toxic to M. hapla and P. irregulare but not V. dahliae. The predominant enzyme degradation product, 3-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate, was the most toxic compound against all of the soilborne pathogens, with M. hapla being the most sensitive with EC(50) values (0.0025 ± 0.0001 to 0.0027 ± 0.0001 mg/mL) 20-40 times lower than estimated EC(50) mortality values generated for P. irregulare and V. dahliae (0.05 and 0.1 mg/mL, respectively). The potential exists to manipulate meadowfoam seed meal to promote the production of specific degradation products. The conversion of glucolimnanthin into its corresponding isothiocyanate should optimize the biopesticidal properties of meadowfoam seed meal against M. hapla, P. irregulare, and V. dahliae.

Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline by Ti-MCM-41 prepared at room temperature and biotoxicity of degradation products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Kefu; Xie, Xiao-Dan; Chang, Chang-Tang

2017-09-01

Ti-doped MCM-41 with different Si/Ti molar ratios was prepared at room temperature to degrade tetracycline antibiotics in aqueous solution. The Ti was doped into the skeleton structure of MCM-41. The photocatalytic activity of Ti-doped MCM-41 was investigated. The optimal catalyst had Si/Ti molar ratio of 25 and over 99% removal of oxytetracycline in 150 min, and the removal could maintain 98% after 5 reuses. Ions and soluble organic matters in natural water affected the degradation reaction when Ti-doped MCM-41 was used to treat simulated wastewater of chicken farms. The degradation products of oxytetracycline, tetracycline and chlortetracycline were detected by Escherichia coli DH5α and HPLC-MS/MS. No intermediate product with higher toxicity was detected.

Hydrothermal degradation of lignin: products analysis for phenol formaldehyde adhesive synthesis.

PubMed

Yang, Sheng; Yuan, Tong-Qi; Li, Ming-Fei; Sun, Run-Cang

2015-01-01

Corncob lignin was treated with pressurized hot water in a cylindrical autoclave in current investigation. With the aim of investigating the effect of reaction temperature and retention time on the distribution of degradation products, the products were divided into five fractions including gas, volatile organic compounds, water-soluble oil, heavy oil, and solid residue. It was found that hydrothermal degradation of corncob lignin in pressurized hot water produced a large amount of phenolic compounds with lower molecular weight than the raw lignin. Some phenolic and benzene derivatives monomers such as vanillin, 2-methoxy-phenol, 2-ethyl-phenol, p-xylene, and 1, 3-dimethyl-benzene were also identified in the degradation products. The products were further analyzed by GC-MS, GPC, 2D-HSQC, and (31)P-NMR to investigate their suitability for partial incorporation into phenol formaldehyde adhesive as a substitution of phenol. The results indicated that the reaction temperature had more effect on the products distribution than the retention time. The optimal condition for heavy oil production appeared at 290 °C with retention time 0 min. The compounds of heavy oil had more active sites than the raw lignin, suggesting that the heavy oil obtained from hydrothermal degradation of lignin is a promising material for phenol formaldehyde adhesive synthesis. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Amino Acid Degradations Produced by Lipid Oxidation Products.

PubMed

Hidalgo, Francisco J; Zamora, Rosario

2016-06-10

Differently to amino acid degradations produced by carbohydrate-derived reactive carbonyls, amino acid degradations produced by lipid oxidation products are lesser known in spite of being lipid oxidation a major source of reactive carbonyls in food. This article analyzes the conversion of amino acids into Strecker aldehydes, α-keto acids, and amines produced by lipid-derived free radicals and carbonyl compounds, as well as the role of lipid oxidation products on the reactions suffered by these compounds: the formation of Strecker aldehydes and other aldehydes from α-keto acids; the formation of Strecker aldehydes and olefins from amines; the formation of shorter aldehydes from Strecker aldehydes; and the addition reactions suffered by the olefins produced from the amines. The relationships among all these reactions and the effect of reaction conditions on them are discussed. This knowledge should contribute to better control food processing in order to favor the formation of desirable beneficial compounds and to inhibit the production of compounds with deleterious properties.

Counteraction of antibiotic production and degradation stabilizes microbial communities

PubMed Central

Kelsic, Eric D.; Zhao, Jeffrey; Vetsigian, Kalin; Kishony, Roy

2015-01-01

Summary A major challenge in theoretical ecology is understanding how natural microbial communities support species diversity1-8, and in particular how antibiotic producing, sensitive and resistant species coexist9-15. While cyclic “rock-paper-scissors” interactions can stabilize communities in spatial environments9-11, coexistence in unstructured environments remains an enigma12,16. Here, using simulations and analytical models, we show that the opposing actions of antibiotic production and degradation enable coexistence even in well-mixed environments. Coexistence depends on 3-way interactions where an antibiotic degrading species attenuates the inhibitory interactions between two other species. These 3-way interactions enable coexistence that is robust to substantial differences in inherent species growth rates and to invasion by “cheating” species that cease producing or degrading antibiotics. At least two antibiotics are required for stability, with greater numbers of antibiotics enabling more complex communities and diverse dynamical behaviors ranging from stable fixed-points to limit cycles and chaos. Together, these results show how multi-species antibiotic interactions can generate ecological stability in both spatial and mixed microbial communities, suggesting strategies for engineering synthetic ecosystems and highlighting the importance of toxin production and degradation for microbial biodiversity. PMID:25992546

DETERMINATION OF INTERFERING TRIAZINE DEGRADATION PRODUCTS BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-ION TRAP MASS SPECTROMETRY

EPA Science Inventory

Deethyl atrazine (DEA), along with other triazine degradation products, has been added to the US Environmental Protection Agency's Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL). In its gas chromatographic (GC) analysis, deethyl atrazine, a degradation product of atrazine, can ...

Mechanism driven structural elucidation of forced degradation products from hydrocortisone in solution.

PubMed

Zhang, Fa; Zhou, Jay; Shi, Yiqun; Tavlarakis, Panagiotis; Karaisz, Kenneth

2016-09-05

Hydrocortisone degradation products 1, 2, 3, and 4 along with hemiacetal derivatives 5, 6, 7, and 8 were observed through stressed hydrocortisone in solution. Their structures were identified based on HPLC-UV, HPLC-MS, and HPLC-HRMS (high resolution/high accuracy mass spectrometry) analyses as well as reaction mechanistic investigation and synthesis for structural confirmation. 1 and 2 are a pair of E/Z isomers and they were generated through acid catalyzed tautomerization/dehydration of hydrocortisone. Incorporation of water to 1 and 2 resulted in the formation of 3. We also discovered new degradation product 4 which was converted from 3 by oxidation. The degradation products were synthesized by stressing hydrocortisone under the optimized conditions and their structures were characterized by NMR ((1)H/(13)C, COSY, HMBC, HSQC, NOESY) and HRMS analyses. The degradation pathway of hydrocortisone is postulated. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Activity of Meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba) Seed Meal Glucolimnanthin Degradation Products against Soil-Borne Pathogens

PubMed Central

ZASADA, INGA A; WEILAND, JERRY E; REED, RALPH L; STEVENS, JAN F

2014-01-01

Meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba L.) is a herbaceous winter-spring annual grown as a commercial oil seed crop. The meal remaining after oil extraction from the seed contains up to 4% of the glucosinolate, glucolimnanthin. Degradation of glucolimnanthin yields toxic breakdown products and therefore the meal may have potential in the management of soil-borne pathogens. To maximize the pest suppressive potential of meadowfoam seed meal, it would be beneficial to know the toxicity of individual glucolimnanthin degradation products against specific soil-borne pathogens. Meloidogyne hapla second-stage juveniles (J2) and Pythium irregulare and Verticillium dahliae mycelial cultures were exposed to glucolimnanthin as well as its degradation products. Glucolimnanthin and its degradation product, 2-(3-methoxyphenyl)acetamide, were not toxic to any of the soil-borne pathogens at concentrations up to 1.0 mg/mL. Two other degradation products, 2-(3-methoxymethyl)ethanethioamide and 3-methoxyphenylacetonitrile, were toxic to M. hapla and P. irregulare but not V. dahliae. The predominant enzyme degradation product, 3-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate was the most toxic compound against all of the soil-borne pathogens with M. hapla being the most sensitive with EC50 values (0.0025 ± 0.0001 to 0.0027 ± 0.0001 mg/mL) 20 to 40 times lower than estimated EC50 mortality values generated for P. irregulare and V. dahliae (0.05 and 0.1 mg/mL, respectively). The potential exists to manipulate meadowfoam seed meal to promote the production of specific degradation products. The conversion of glucolimnanthin into its corresponding isothiocyanate should optimize the biopesticidal properties of meadowfoam seed meal against M. hapla, P. irregulare, and V. dahliae. PMID:22142246

Restoring and Enhancing Productivity of Degraded Tephra-Derived Soils

Treesearch

Chuck Bulmer; Jim Archuleta; Mike Curran

2007-01-01

Soil restoration (sometimes termed enhancement) is an important strategy for sustaining the productivity of managed forest landscapes. Tephra-derived soils have unique physical and chemical characteristics that affect their response to disturbance and restoration. A variety of factors reduce forest productivity on degraded soils. Site-specific information on soil...

Degradation product characterization of therapeutic oligonucleotides using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Elzahar, N M; Magdy, N; El-Kosasy, Amira M; Bartlett, Michael G

2018-05-01

Synthetic antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides (PS) have undergone rapid development as novel therapeutic agents. The increasing significance of this class of drugs requires significant investment in the development of quality control methods. The determination of the many degradation pathways of such complex molecules presents a significant challenge. However, an understanding of the potential impurities that may arise is necessary to continue to advance these powerful new therapeutics. In this study, four different antisense oligonucleotides representing several generations of oligonucleotide therapeutic agents were evaluated under various stress conditions (pH, thermal, and oxidative stress) using ion-pairing reversed-phase liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (IP-RPLC-MS/MS) to provide in-depth characterization and identification of the degradation products. The oligonucleotide samples were stressed under different pH values at 45 and 90 °C. The main degradation products were observed to be losses of nucleotide moieties from the 3'- and 5'-terminus, depurination, formation of terminal phosphorothioates, and production of ribose, ribophosphorothioates (Rp), and phosphoribophosphorothioates (pRp). Moreover, the effects of different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide were studied resulting in primarily extensive desulfurization and subsequent oxidation of the phosphorothioate linkage to produce the corresponding phosphodiester. The reaction kinetics for the degradation of the oligonucleotides under the different stress conditions were studied and were found to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics. Differences in rates exist even for oligonucleotides of similar length but consisting of different sequences. Graphical abstract Identification of degradation products across several generations of oligonucleotide therapeutics using LC-MS.

Progress and obstacles in the production and application of recombinant lignin-degrading peroxidases

PubMed Central

Lambertz, Camilla; Ece, Selin; Fischer, Rainer; Commandeur, Ulrich

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Lignin is 1 of the 3 major components of lignocellulose. Its polymeric structure includes aromatic subunits that can be converted into high-value-added products, but this potential cannot yet been fully exploited because lignin is highly recalcitrant to degradation. Different approaches for the depolymerization of lignin have been tested, including pyrolysis, chemical oxidation, and hydrolysis under supercritical conditions. An additional strategy is the use of lignin-degrading enzymes, which imitates the natural degradation process. A versatile set of enzymes for lignin degradation has been identified, and research has focused on the production of recombinant enzymes in sufficient amounts to characterize their structure and reaction mechanisms. Enzymes have been analyzed individually and in combinations using artificial substrates, lignin model compounds, lignin and lignocellulose. Here we consider progress in the production of recombinant lignin-degrading peroxidases, the advantages and disadvantages of different expression hosts, and obstacles that must be overcome before such enzymes can be characterized and used for the industrial processing of lignin. PMID:27295524

Analysis of the Precursors, Simulants and Degradation Products of Chemical Warfare Agents.

PubMed

Witkiewicz, Zygfryd; Neffe, Slawomir; Sliwka, Ewa; Quagliano, Javier

2018-09-03

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.

Identification and in vitro cytotoxicity of ochratoxin A degradation products formed during coffee roasting.

PubMed

Cramer, Benedikt; Königs, Maika; Humpf, Hans-Ulrich

2008-07-23

The mycotoxin ochratoxin A is degraded by up to 90% during coffee roasting. In order to investigate this degradation, model heating experiments with ochratoxin A were carried out, and the reaction products were analyzed by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS/MS. Two ochratoxin A degradation products were identified, and their structure and absolute configuration were determined. As degradation reactions, the isomerization to 14-(R)-ochratoxin A and the decarboxylation to 14-decarboxy-ochratoxin A were identified. Subsequently, an analytical method for the determination of these compounds in roasted coffee was developed. Quantification was carried out by HPLC-MS/MS and the use of stable isotope dilution analysis. By using this method for the analysis of 15 coffee samples from the German market, it could be shown that, during coffee roasting, the ochratoxin A diastereomer 14-(R)-ochratoxin A was formed in amounts of up to 25.6% relative to ochratoxin A. The decarboxylation product was formed only in traces. For toxicity evaluations, first preliminary cell culture assays were performed with the two new substances. Both degradation products exhibited higher IC50 values and caused apoptotic effects with higher concentrations than ochratoxin A in cultured human kidney epithelial cells. Thus, these cell culture data suggest that the degradation products are less cytotoxic than ochratoxin A.

Spectroscopic study of degradation products of ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and lomefloxacin formed in ozonated wastewater.

PubMed

Liu, Chen; Nanaboina, Venkateswarlu; Korshin, Gregory V; Jiang, Wenju

2012-10-15

This study addressed the formation and properties of degradation products of ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and lomefloxacin formed during ozonation of secondary wastewater effluent containing these fluoroquinolone antibiotics. The generation of the degradation products was interpreted in the context of transformations of effluent organic matter (EfOM) tracked via absorbance measurements. The structures of 20 degradation products were elucidated for ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin, respectively. 27 degradation products were identified for lomefloxacin. The prevalent oxidation pathways were suggested based on the structures of the identified products formed in the absence and presence of the hydroxyl radical scavenger t-butanol. These pathways were largely similar for all studied fluoroquinolones and involved attacks on the piperazine ring and the quinolone structure. The quinolone ring remained intact in the presence of t-butanol thus indicating that this functional group could only be oxidized by OH radicals while the piperazine ring was readily oxidized by molecular ozone. The cleavage of the quinolone moiety that resulted in several identified degradation products occurred via the attack by hydroxyl radicals on the carbon-carbon double bond adjacent to the carboxylic acid group. Lomefloxacin had more diverse oxidation products due to the presence of a methyl group on its piperazinyl ring. The concentrations of the identified degradation products behaved non-monotonically as a function of ozone dose or treatment time, yet exhibited interpretable correlations versus changes of EfOM absorbance. Examination of these correlations allowed developing a novel approach for elucidating the transformations of fluoroquinolone antibiotics during ozonation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The bioactivity of dietary anthocyanins is likely to be mediated by their degradation products.

PubMed

Kay, Colin D; Kroon, Paul A; Cassidy, Aedin

2009-05-01

To date the in vitro mechanistic bioactivity of anthocyanins has been exclusively explored using aglycones and glycoside conjugates, despite a lack of evidence establishing these as the biologically available forms. We conducted intestinal epithelial cell (Caco-2 cells) culture experiments, which indicated that after a 4 h incubation of anthocyanins in cell-free culture media (DMEM), 57% of the initial cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) and 96% of cyanidin had degraded. The level of degradation was not statistically different from that of cultured cell incubations, suggesting that degradation was spontaneous. Degradation products were identified as protocatechuic acid (PCA) and phloroglucinaldehyde (PGA), and were confirmed in two other buffer matrices (phosphate and Hank's buffers). In cultured cell media the degradation products PCA and PGA were metabolised to glucuronide and sulphate conjugates, as indicated by both enzyme hydrolysis (sulphatase and glucuronidase treatments) and MS (PCA and PGA m/z = 155; sulphate = 235; glucuronide = 331). These data suggest a significant proportion of intestinal metabolites of anthocyanins are likely to be conjugates of their degradation products. Future efforts to establish the biological activities of anthocyanins should therefore include the investigation of phenolic acid and aldehyde products of degradation, along with their respective metabolites.

Characterization of degradation products of silodosin under stress conditions by liquid chromatography/Fourier transform mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Pandeti, Sukanya; Narender, Tadigoppula; Prabhakar, Sripadi; Reddy, Thota Jagadeswar

2017-03-30

Silodosin (SDN) is a novel α 1 -adrenoceptor antagonist in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The presence of degradation products in a drug affects not only the quality, but also the safety and efficacy of drug formulation. Thus, it is essential to develop an efficient analytical method which could be useful to selectively separate, identify and characterise of all possible degradation products of SDN which is mandatory in drug development processes. SDN was subjected to forced degradation under hydrolytic (acid, base and neutral), oxidative, photolytic and thermal stress conditions. Separation of the drug and degradation products was achieved by a liquid chromatography (LC) method using an Acquity UPLC® BEH C18 (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm; Waters) column with mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid (FA) in water (A) and 0.1% FA in acetonitrile (ACN) and methanol (MeOH) (1:1) (B) as organic modifier at a flow rate of 0.15 mL min -1 in gradient elution mode. Identification and characterization of the degradation products was performed by mass spectrometry methods using an LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometer. A total of five degradation products (DP1 to DP5) were formed under various stress conditions and their structures were proposed with the help of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments and high-resolution mass spectral data. A common degradation product (DP1) was observed under acidic and basic degradation conditions. DP2 was observed under acidic, DP4 and DP5 were observed under basic hydrolytic conditions, whereas DP3 was observed under oxidative conditions. SDN was found to be labile under hydrolytic and oxidative conditions. The structures of all the degradation products were proposed. The most rational mechanisms for the formation of the degradation products under different stress conditions have been established. The proposed method can be effectively used to carry out the determination and detection of SDN and its degradation

Identification of Forced Degradation Products of Itopride by LC-PDA and LC-MS.

PubMed

Joshi, Payal; Bhoir, Suvarna; Bhagwat, A M; Vishwanath, K; Jadhav, R K

2011-05-01

Degradation products of itopride formed under different forced conditions have been identified using LC-PDA and LC-MS techniques. Itopride was subjected to forced degradation under the conditions of hydrolysis, photolysis, oxidation, dry and wet heat, in accordance with the International Conference on Harmonization. The stress solutions were chromatographed on reversed phase C18 (250×4.6 mm, 5 μm) column with a mobile phase methanol:water (55:45, v/v) at a detection wavelength of 215 nm. Itopride degraded in acid, alkali and oxidative stress conditions. The stability indicating method was developed and validated. The degradation pathway of the drug to products II-VIII is proposed.

Identification of Forced Degradation Products of Itopride by LC-PDA and LC-MS

PubMed Central

Joshi, Payal; Bhoir, Suvarna; Bhagwat, A. M.; Vishwanath, K.; Jadhav, R. K.

2011-01-01

Degradation products of itopride formed under different forced conditions have been identified using LC-PDA and LC-MS techniques. Itopride was subjected to forced degradation under the conditions of hydrolysis, photolysis, oxidation, dry and wet heat, in accordance with the International Conference on Harmonization. The stress solutions were chromatographed on reversed phase C18 (250×4.6 mm, 5 μm) column with a mobile phase methanol:water (55:45, v/v) at a detection wavelength of 215 nm. Itopride degraded in acid, alkali and oxidative stress conditions. The stability indicating method was developed and validated. The degradation pathway of the drug to products II-VIII is proposed. PMID:22457552

Persistence of alprazolam in river water according to forced and non-forced degradation assays: adsorption to sediment and long-term degradation products.

PubMed

Jiménez, Juan J; Sánchez, María I; Muñoz, Beatriz E; Pardo, Rafael

2017-08-01

Alprazolam is a pharmaceutical compound that it is detected in surface waters. Some degradation studies in aqueous solutions and pharmaceutical products are available, but there is no reliable information about its stability in river water. Here, assays have been conducted under forced biological, photochemical, and thermal conditions, and under non-forced conditions, to estimate the fate of alprazolam in river water and know its degradation products. The forced assays indicated that the biological and photochemical degradation of alprazolam was negligible; heating at 70°C for a long time barely affected it. The degradation of alprazolam in river water at 100 μg/L was about 5% after 36 weeks, keeping the water under a natural day-night cycle at room temperature and limiting partially the exposure to sunlight as happens inside a body of water; no change in concentration was observed when the monitoring was performed at 2 μg/L. The results suggest the persistence of alprazolam in surface water and a possible accumulation over time. Residues were monitored by ultra-pressure liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight/mass spectrometry after solid-phase extraction; nine degradation products were found and the structures for most of them were proposed from the molecular formulae and fragmentation observed in high-resolution tandem mass spectra. (5-chloro-2-(3-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)phenyl)(phenyl)methanol was the main long-term transformation product in conditions that simulate those in a mass of water. The degradation rate in presence of sediment was equally very low under non-forced conditions; adsorption coefficients of alprazolam and major degradation products were calculated. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[Ligninolytic enzyme production by white rot fungi during paraquat (herbicide) degradation].

PubMed

Camacho-Morales, Reyna L; Gerardo-Gerardo, José Luis; Guillén Navarro, Karina; Sánchez, José E

Paraquat is a widely used herbicide in agriculture. Its inappropriate use and wide distribution represents a serious pollution problem for soil and water. White rot fungi are capable of degrading pollutants having a similar structure to that of lignin, such as paraquat. This study evaluated the degradation effect of paraquat on the production of ligninolytic enzymes by white rot fungi isolated from the South of Mexico. Six fungal strains showed tolerance to the herbicide in solid culture. Three of the six evaluated strains showed levels of degradation of 32, 26 and 47% (Polyporus tricholoma, Cilindrobasidium laeve and Deconica citrispora, respectively) after twelve days of cultivation in the presence of the xenobiotic. An increase in laccase and manganese peroxidase (MnP) activities was detected in the strains showing the highest percentage of degradation. Experiments were done with enzyme extracts from the extracellular medium with the two strains showing more degradation potential and enzyme production. After 24hours of incubation, a degradation of 49% of the initial paraquat concentration was observed for D. citrispora. These results suggest that paraquat degradation can be attributed to the presence of extracellular enzymes from white rot fungi. In this work the first evidence of the biodegradation potential of D. citrispora and Cilindrobasidium leave is shown. Copyright © 2017 Asociación Argentina de Microbiología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

First derivative spectrophotometric and LC determination of benoxinate hydrochloride and its degradation products.

PubMed

El-Gindy, A

2000-03-01

Two methods are presented for the determination of benoxinate HCI and its acid and alkali-induced degradation products using first derivative (1D) spectrophotometry with zero-crossing measurements and liquid chromatography. Benoxinate HCl was determined by measurement of its first derivative amplitude in mcllvaine's-citric acid phosphate buffer pH 7.0 at 268.4 and 272.4 nm in the presence of its alkali- and acid-induced degradation products, respectively. The acid- and alkali-induced, degradation products were determined by measurement of their first derivative amplitude in the same solvent at 307.5 nm. The LC method depends upon using a mu bondapak CN column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water triethylamine (60:40:0.01, v/v) and adjusted to apparent pH 7. Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 310 nm based on peak area. The proposed methods were utilized to investigate the kinetics of the acidic and alkaline degradation processes at different temperatures. The pH-rate profile of degradation of benoxinate HCl in Britton-Robinson buffer solutions was studied.

Solid state compatibility study and characterization of a novel degradation product of tacrolimus in formulation.

PubMed

Rozman Peterka, Tanja; Grahek, Rok; Hren, Jure; Bastarda, Andrej; Bergles, Jure; Urleb, Uroš

2015-06-10

Tacrolimus is macrolide drug that is widely used as a potent immunosuppressant. In the present work compatibility testing was conducted on physical mixtures of tacrolimus with excipients and on compatibility mixtures prepared by the simulation of manufacturing process used for the final drug product preparation. Increase in one major degradation product was detected in the presence of magnesium stearate based upon UHPLC analysis. The degradation product was isolated by preparative HPLC and its structure was elucidated by NMR and MS studies. Mechanism of the formation of this degradation product is proposed based on complementary degradation studies in a solution and structural elucidation data. The structure was proven to be alpha-hydroxy acid which is formed from the parent tacrolimus molecule through a benzilic acid type rearrangement reaction in the presence of divalent metallic cations. Degradation is facilitated at higher pH values. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous production of laccase and degradation of bisphenol A with Trametes versicolor cultivated on agricultural wastes.

PubMed

Zeng, Shengquan; Zhao, Jie; Xia, Liming

2017-08-01

Solid state fermentation with Trametes versicolor was carried out on agricultural wastes containing bisphenol A (BPA). It was found that BPA degradation was along with the occurrence of laccase production, and wheat bran and corn straw were identified as suitable mixed substrates for laccase production. In the process of BPA degradation with T. versicolor, laccase activity increased rapidly at the 6th-10th day after inoculation. Moreover, BPA can enhance the production of laccase. After 10 days of fermentation, degradation rate of BPA exceeded 90% without the usage of mediators ABTS and acetosyringone at pH 4.0-8.0. In addition, metal ions did not affect the BPA degradation with T. versicolor. In vitro, the optimum pH range of BPA degradation with laccase was in the acidic region with the optimal performance of pH 5.0. Metal ions Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ , and Co 2+ showed little effect on BPA degradation. However, Fe 3+ and Fe 2+ substantially inhibited the BPA degradation. Natural mediator acetosyringone showed optimum enhancement on BPA degradation. Greater than 90% of the estrogenic activity of BPA was removed by T. versicolor and its laccase. Compared to in vitro degradation with laccase, this study shows that the process of simultaneous laccase production and BPA degradation with T. versicolor was more advantageous since BPA can enhance the laccase production, mediators were unnecessary, degradation rate was not affected by metal ions, and the applicable pH range was broader. This study concludes that T. versicolor and laccase have great potential to treat industrial wastewater containing BPA.

Treatment of low level radioactive liquid waste containing appreciable concentration of TBP degraded products.

PubMed

Valsala, T P; Sonavane, M S; Kore, S G; Sonar, N L; De, Vaishali; Raghavendra, Y; Chattopadyaya, S; Dani, U; Kulkarni, Y; Changrani, R D

2011-11-30

The acidic and alkaline low level radioactive liquid waste (LLW) generated during the concentration of high level radioactive liquid waste (HLW) prior to vitrification and ion exchange treatment of intermediate level radioactive liquid waste (ILW), respectively are decontaminated by chemical co-precipitation before discharge to the environment. LLW stream generated from the ion exchange treatment of ILW contained high concentrations of carbonates, tributyl phosphate (TBP) degraded products and problematic radio nuclides like (106)Ru and (99)Tc. Presence of TBP degraded products was interfering with the co-precipitation process. In view of this a modified chemical treatment scheme was formulated for the treatment of this waste stream. By mixing the acidic LLW and alkaline LLW, the carbonates in the alkaline LLW were destroyed and the TBP degraded products got separated as a layer at the top of the vessel. By making use of the modified co-precipitation process the effluent stream (1-2 μCi/L) became dischargeable to the environment after appropriate dilution. Based on the lab scale studies about 250 m(3) of LLW was treated in the plant. The higher activity of the TBP degraded products separated was due to short lived (90)Y isotope. The cement waste product prepared using the TBP degraded product was having good chemical durability and compressive strength. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Phosphorus, carbon- and nitrogen interactions in productive and degraded tropical pastures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oberson, A.; Hegglin, D. D.; Nesper, M.; Rao, I.; Fonte, S.; Ramirez, B.; Velasquez, J.; Tamburini, F.; Bünemann, E. K.; Frossard, E.

2011-12-01

Pastures are the main land use in deforested areas of tropical South America. The highly weathered soils of these regions usually have low total and available phosphorus (P) contents. Low P availability can strongly limit plant and animal productivity and other soil ecosystem functions. Most introduced pastures of Brachiaria spp. are grass-alone (GA) while some are grass-legume (GL) pastures. The majority of the introduced pastures, particularly the grass-alone are at some state of degradation (GD). Pasture degradation induces severe loss of plant biomass production, with drastic ecological and economic implications. Although the importance of P deficiency in pasture degradation has been recognized, the knowledge generated on stoichiometry of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and P along pathways of the nutrient cycles of pastures, with different botanical composition and productivity, has been very limited. We will present results of a case study realized during 2010 to 2011 in the forest margins agro-ecosystem of the department of Caquetá, Colombia. Our objectives were to determine: i) whether P availability is lower in degraded compared to productive pastures, and ii) whether the introduction of legumes in the pasture increases P availability through enhanced biological P cycling through plant growth, plant litter decomposition and the soil microbial biomass; and iii) whether pasture types (GA vs GL) and the state of pasture degradation affect the C:N:P ratios in nutrient pools of the soil-plant system. An on-farm study was conducted on nine farms in the department of Caquetá, Colombia. On every farm three different pasture types were studied: degraded grass alone pastures (GD), productive grass-alone pastures (GA) and productive grass-legume pastures (GL). Basic soil characteristics and indicators on soil P status, microbial P cycling, plant biomass production, plant litter deposition and nutrient concentrations in plant tissue were determined. Analysis of P, C and N

Particulate and gas-phase products from the atmospheric degradation of chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-oxon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borrás, Esther; Ródenas, Milagros; Vázquez, Mónica; Vera, Teresa; Muñoz, Amalia

2015-12-01

The phosphorothioate structure is highly present in several pesticides. However, there is a lack of information about its degradation process in air and the secondary pollutants formed. Herein, the atmospheric reactions of chlorpyrifos, one of the most world-used insecticide, and its main degradation product - chlorpyrifos-oxon - are described. The photo-oxidation under the presence of NOx was studied in a large outdoor simulation chamber for both chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-oxon, observing a rapid degradation (Half lifetime < 3.5 h for both compounds). Also, the photolysis reactions of both were studied. The formation of particulate matter (aerosol mass yield ranged 6-59%) and gaseous products were monitored. The chemical composition of minor products was studied, identifying 15 multi-oxygenated derivatives. The most abundant products were ring-retaining molecules such as 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol and ethyl 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-yl hydrogen phosphate. An atmospheric degradation mechanism has been amplified based on an oxidation started with OH-nucleophilic attack to Pdbnd S bond.

Reflectance model for quantifying chlorophyll a in the presence of productivity degradation products

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carder, K. L.; Hawes, S. K.; Steward, R. G.; Baker, K. A.; Smith, R. C.; Mitchell, B. G.

1991-01-01

A reflectance model developed to estimate chlorophyll a concentrations in the presence of marine colored dissolved organic matter, pheopigments, detritus, and bacteria is presented. Nomograms and lookup tables are generated to describe the effects of different mixtures of chlorophyll a and these degradation products on the R(412):R(443) and R(443):R(565) remote-sensing reflectance or irradiance reflectance ratios. These are used to simulate the accuracy of potential ocean color satellite algorithms, assuming that atmospheric effects have been removed. For the California Current upwelling and offshore regions, with chlorophyll a not greater than 1.3 mg/cu m, the average error for chlorophyll a retrievals derived from irradiance reflectance data for degradation product-rich areas was reduced from +/-61 percent to +/-23 percent by application of an algorithm using two reflectance ratios rather than the commonly used algorithm applying a single reflectance ratio.

Herbicides and herbicide degradation products in upper midwest agricultural streams during august base-flow conditions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kalkhoff, S.J.; Lee, K.E.; Porter, S.D.; Terrio, P.J.; Thurman, E.M.

2003-01-01

Herbicide concentrations in streams of the U.S. Midwest have been shown to decrease through the growing season due to a variety of chemical and physical factors. The occurrence of herbicide degradation products at the end of the growing season is not well known. This study was conducted to document the occurrence of commonly used herbicides and their degradation products in Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota streams during base-flow conditions in August 1997. Atrazine, the most frequently detected herbicide (94%), was present at relatively low concentrations (median 0.17 μg L−1). Metolachlor was detected in 59% and cyanazine in 37% of the samples. Seven of nine compounds detected in more than 50% of the samples were degradation products. The total concentration of the degradation products (median of 4.4 μg L−1) was significantly greater than the total concentration of parent compounds (median of 0.26 μg L−1). Atrazine compounds were present less frequently and in significantly smaller concentrations in streams draining watersheds with soils developed on less permeable tills than in watersheds with soils developed on more permeable loess. The detection and concentration of triazine compounds was negatively correlated with antecedent rainfall (April–July). In contrast, acetanalide compounds were positively correlated with antecedant rainfall in late spring and early summer that may transport the acetanalide degradates into ground water and subsequently into nearby streams. The distribution of atrazine degradation products suggests regional differences in atrazine degradation processes.

Dependence of transformation product formation on pH during photolytic and photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin.

PubMed

Salma, Alaa; Thoröe-Boveleth, Sven; Schmidt, Torsten C; Tuerk, Jochen

2016-08-05

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic with five pH dependent species in aqueous medium, which makes its degradation behavior difficult to predict. For the identification of transformation products and prediction of degradation mechanisms, a new experimental concept making use of isotopically labeled compounds together with high resolution mass spectrometry was successfully established. The utilization of deuterated ciprofloxacin (CIP-d8) facilitated the prediction of three different degradation pathways and the corresponding degradation products, four of which were identified for the first time. Moreover, two molecular structures of previously reported transformation products were revised according to the mass spectra and product ion spectra of the deuterated transformation products. Altogether, 18 transformation products have been identified during the photolytic and photocatalytic reactions at different pH values (3, 5, 7 and 9). In this work the influence of pH on both reaction kinetics and degradation mechanism was investigated for direct ultraviolet photolysis (UV-C irradiation) and photocatalysis (TiO2/UV-C). It could be shown that the removal rates strongly depended on pH with highest removal rates at pH 9. A comparison with those at pH 3 clearly indicated that under acidic conditions ciprofloxacin cannot be easily excited by UV irradiation. We could confirm that the first reaction step for both oxidative treatment processes is mainly defluorination, followed by degradation at the piperazine ring of CIP. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Impact of Charcoal Production on Forest Degradation: a Case Study in Tete, Mozambique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sedano, F.; Silva. J. A.; Machoco, R.; Meque, C. H.; Sitoe, A.; Ribeiro, N.; Anderson, K.; Ombe, Z. A.; Baule, S. H.; Tucker, C. J.

2016-01-01

Charcoal production for urban energy consumption is a main driver of forest degradation in sub-Saharan Africa. Urban growth projections for the continent suggest that the relevance of this process will increase in the coming decades. Forest degradation associated to charcoal production is difficult to monitor and commonly overlooked and underrepresented in forest cover change and carbon emission estimates. We use a multi-temporal dataset of very high-resolution remote sensing images to map kiln locations in a representative study area of tropical woodlands in central Mozambique. The resulting maps provided a characterization of the spatial extent and temporal dynamics of charcoal production. Using an indirect approach we combine kiln maps and field information on charcoal making to describe the magnitude and intensity of forest degradation linked to charcoal production, including aboveground biomass and carbon emissions. Our findings reveal that forest degradation associated to charcoal production in the study area is largely independent from deforestation driven by agricultural expansion and that its impact on forest cover change is in the same order of magnitude as deforestation. Our work illustrates the feasibility of using estimates of urban charcoal consumption to establish a link between urban energy demands and forest degradation. This kind of approach has potential to reduce uncertainties in forest cover change and carbon emission assessments in sub-Saharan Africa.

Biological significance of reducing glucose degradation products in peritoneal dialysis fluids.

PubMed

Wieslander, A; Linden, T; Musi, B; Carlsson, O; Deppisch, R

2000-01-01

Carbohydrates are not stable when exposed to energy; they degrade into new molecules. In peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluids, degradation of glucose occurs during the heat sterilization procedure. The biological consequences of this degradation are side effects such as impaired proliferation and impaired host defense mechanisms, demonstrated in vitro for a great variety of cells. Several highly toxic compounds--such as formaldehyde and 3-deoxyglucosone--have been identified in PD fluids. Carbonyl compounds, apart from being cytotoxic, are also well-known promoters of irreversible advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), which might participate in the long-term remodeling of the peritoneal membrane. Various approaches can be used to reduce the formation of glucose degradation products (GDPs) during heat sterilization. Some examples are shortening the sterilization time, lowering the pH, removing catalyzing substances, and increasing glucose concentration. The latter three factors are employed in the multi-compartment bag with a separate chamber containing pure glucose at high concentration and low pH. Gambrosol trio, a PD fluid produced in this way, shows reduced cytotoxicity, normalized host defense reactions, less AGE formation, and reduced concentrations of formaldehyde and 3-deoxyglucosone. Moreover, in the clinical situation, the fluid turns out to be more biocompatible for the patient, causing less mesothelial cell damage, which in the long term could lead to a more intact peritoneal membrane. Glucose degradation products in heat-sterilized fluids for peritoneal dialysis are cytotoxic, promote AGE formation, and cause negative side effects for the patient. Using improved and well-controlled manufacturing processes, it is possible to produce sterile PD fluids with glucose as the osmotic agent but without the negative side effects related to GDPs.

Novel chromatographic separation and carbon solid-phase extraction of acetanilide herbicide degradation products.

PubMed

Shoemaker, Jody A

2002-01-01

One acetamide and 5 acetanilide herbicides are currently registered for use in the United States. Over the past several years, ethanesulfonic acid (ESA) and oxanilic acid (OA) degradation products of these acetanilide/acetamide herbicides have been found in U.S. ground waters and surface waters. Alachlor ESA and other acetanilide degradation products are listed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 1998 Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List. Consequently, EPA is interested in obtaining national occurrence data for these contaminants in drinking water. EPA currently does not have a method for determining these acetanilide degradation products in drinking water; therefore, a research method is being developed using liquid chromatography/negative ion electrospray/mass spectrometry with solid-phase extraction (SPE). A novel chromatographic separation of the acetochlor/alachlor ESA and OA structural isomers was developed which uses an ammonium acetate-methanol gradient combined with heating the analytical column to 70 degrees C. Twelve acetanilide degradates were extracted by SPE from 100 mL water samples using carbon cartridges with mean recoveries >90% and relative standard deviations < or =16%.

Validated stability-indicating spectrophotometric methods for the determination of Silodosin in the presence of its degradation products.

PubMed

Boltia, Shereen A; Abdelkawy, Mohammed; Mohammed, Taghreed A; Mostafa, Nahla N

2018-09-05

Five simple, rapid, accurate, and precise spectrophotometric methods are developed for the determination of Silodosin (SLD) in the presence of its acid induced and oxidative induced degradation products. Method A is based on dual wavelength (DW) method; two wavelengths are selected at which the absorbance of the oxidative induced degradation product is the same, so wavelengths 352 and 377 nm are used to determine SLD in the presence of its oxidative induced degradation product. Method B depends on induced dual wavelength theory (IDW), which is based on selecting two wavelengths on the zero-order spectrum of SLD where the difference in absorbance between them for the spectrum of acid induced degradation products is not equal to zero so through multiplying by the equality factor, the absorption difference is made to be zero for the acid induced degradation product while it is still significant for SLD. Method C is first derivative ( 1 D) spectrophotometry of SLD and its degradation products. Peak amplitudes are measured at 317 and 357 nm. Method D is ratio difference spectrophotometry (RD) where the drug is determined by the difference in amplitude between two selected wavelengths, at 350 and 277 nm for the ratio spectrum of SLD and its acid induced degradation products while for the ratio spectrum of SLD and its oxidative induced degradation products the difference in amplitude is measured at 345 and 292 nm. Method E depends on measuring peak amplitudes of the first derivative of the ratio ( 1 DD) where peak amplitudes are measured at 330 nm in the presence of the acid induced degradation product and measured by peak to peak technique at 326 and 369 nm in the presence of the oxidative induced degradation product. The proposed methods are validated according to ICH recommendations. The calibration curves for all the proposed methods are linear over a concentration range of 5-70 μg/mL. The selectivity of the proposed methods was tested using different

Bacterial secondary production on vascular plant detritus: relationships to detritus composition and degradation rate.

PubMed Central

Moran, M A; Hodson, R E

1989-01-01

Bacterial production at the expense of vascular plant detritus was measured for three emergent plant species (Juncus effusus, Panicum hemitomon, and Typha latifolia) degrading in the littoral zone of a thermally impacted lake. Bacterial secondary production, measured as tritiated thymidine incorporation into DNA, ranged from 0.01 to 0.81 microgram of bacterial C mg of detritus-1 day-1. The three plant species differed with respect to the amount of bacterial productivity they supported per milligram of detritus, in accordance with the predicted biodegradability of the plant material based on initial nitrogen content, lignin content, and C/N ratio. Bacterial production also varied throughout the 22 weeks of in situ decomposition and was positively related to the nitrogen content and lignin content of the remaining detritus, as well as to the temperature of the lake water. Over time, production was negatively related to the C/N ratio and cellulose content of the degrading plant material. Bacterial production on degrading plant material was also calculated on the basis of plant surface area and ranged from 0.17 to 1.98 micrograms of bacterial C cm-2 day-1. Surface area-based calculations did not correlate well with either initial plant composition or changing composition of the remaining detritus during decomposition. The rate of bacterial detritus degradation, calculated from measured production of surface-attached bacteria, was much lower than the actual rate of weight loss of plant material. This discrepancy may be attributable to the importance of nonbacterial organisms in the degradation and loss of plant material from litterbags or to the microbially mediated solubilization of particulate material prior to bacterial utilization, or both. PMID:2802603

Halotolerance, ligninase production and herbicide degradation ability of basidiomycetes strains.

PubMed

Arakaki, R L; Monteiro, D A; Boscolo, M; Dasilva, R; Gomes, E

2013-12-01

Fungi have been recently recognized as organisms able to grow in presence of high salt concentration with halophilic and halotolerance properties and their ligninolytic enzyme complex have an unspecific action enabling their use to degradation of a number of xenobiotic compounds. In this work, both the effect of salt and polyols on growth of the basidiomycetes strains, on their ability to produce ligninolytic enzyme and diuron degradation were evaluated. Results showed that the presence of NaCl in the culture medium affected fungal specimens in different ways. Seven out of ten tested strains had growth inhibited by salt while Dacryopinax elegans SXS323, Polyporus sp MCA128 and Datronia stereoides MCA167 fungi exhibited higher biomass production in medium containing 0.5 and 0.6 mol.L(-1) of NaCl, suggesting to be halotolerant. Polyols such as glycerol and mannitol added into the culture media improved the biomass and ligninases production by D. elegans but the fungus did not reveal consumption of these polyols from media. This fungus degraded diuron in medium control, in presence of NaCl as well as polyols, produced MnP, LiP and laccase.

A test house study of pesticides and pesticide degradation products following an indoor application.

PubMed

Starr, J M; Gemma, A A; Graham, S E; Stout, D M

2014-08-01

Preexisting pesticide degradates are a concern for pesticide biomonitoring studies as exposure to them may result in overestimation of pesticide exposure. The purpose of this research was to determine whether there was significant formation and movement, of pesticide degradates over a 5-week period in a controlled indoor setting after insecticide application. Movement of the pesticides during the study was also evaluated. In a simulated crack and crevice application, commercially available formulations of fipronil, propoxur, cis/trans-permethrin, and cypermethrin were applied to a series of wooden slats affixed to the wall in one room of an unoccupied test house. Floor surface samples were collected through 35 days post-application. Concentrations of the pesticides and the following degradates were determined: 2-iso-propoxyphenol, cis/trans 3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-3-3-dimethyl-(1-cyclopropane) carboxylic acid, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid, fipronil sulfone, fipronil sulfide, and fipronil desulfinyl. Deltamethrin, which had never been applied, and chlorpyrifos, which had been applied several years earlier, and their degradation products, cis-3-(2,2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, and, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, respectively, were also measured. Propoxur was the only insecticide with mass movement away from the application site. There was no measurable formation or movement of the degradates. However, all degradates were present at low levels in the formulated product. These results indicate longitudinal repetitive sampling of indoor degradate levels during short-term studies, is unnecessary. Exposure to preexisting pesticide degradates may inflate estimates of exposure in biomonitoring studies where these compounds are used as biomarkers. To date, there is no published information on formation of pesticide degradates following an indoor application. We found that the study pesticides have low rates of degradation and are unlikely to be a

Industrial hygiene evaluation of thermal degradation products from PVC film in meat-wrapping operations.

PubMed

Cook, W A

1980-07-01

An industrial hygiene evaluation is presented concerning experimental data included in the preceding paper on thermal degradation products from hot-wire and "cool"-rod cutting of PVC film but, in this paper, limited to film used in meat-wrapping operations. Room air concentrations of less than 0.2 ppm HCl and less than 0.05 ppm benzene can be maintained by a number of factors, including minimal dilution ventilation. Estimates of room air concentrations of degradation products are presented using average values of amounts produced per cut. The relation of these concentrations to TLV's is given, together with methods of suggesting TLV's for substances not listed by ACGIH or OSHA. Room air concentrations for the 12 degradation products for which TLV's are assigned, based on average values per cut, were no greater than 0.3% of accepted limits. Room air concentrations of DOA are not determinable from available data but present information does not indicate that exposure to DOA causes airway hyperreactivity. The cool rod, rather than the hot wire, is recommended as good industrial hygiene practice, producing no apparent PVC degradation products, even though similar amounts of DOA are volatilized.

The Inhibitory Effect of Natural Products on Protein Fibrillation May Be Caused by Degradation Products--A Study Using Aloin and Insulin.

PubMed

Lobbens, Eva S; Foderà, Vito; Nyberg, Nils T; Andersen, Kirsten; Jäger, Anna K; Jorgensen, Lene; van de Weert, Marco

2016-01-01

Protein fibrillation is the pathological hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases and also complicates the manufacturing and use of protein drugs. As a case study, the inhibitory activity of the natural compound aloin against insulin fibrillation was investigated. Based on Thioflavin T assays, high-performance liquid chromatography and transmission electron microscopy it was found that a degradation product of aloin, formed over weeks of storage, was able to significantly inhibit insulin fibrillation. The activity of the stored aloin was significantly reduced in the presence of small amounts of sodium azide or ascorbic acid, suggesting the active compound to be an oxidation product. A high-performance liquid chromatography method and a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method were developed to investigate the degradation products in the aged aloin solution. We found that the major compounds in the solution were aloin A and aloin B. In addition, 10-hydroxy aloin and elgonica dimers were detected in smaller amounts. The identified compounds were isolated and tested for activity by means of Thioflavin T assays, but no activity was observed. Thus, the actual fibrillation inhibitor is an as yet unidentified and potentially metastable degradation product of aloin. These results suggest that degradation products, and in particular oxidation products, are to be considered thoroughly when natural products are investigated for activity against protein fibrillation.

A remote sensing protocol for identifying rangelands with degraded productive capacity

Treesearch

Matthew C. Reeves; L. Scott Bagget

2014-01-01

Rangeland degradation is a growing problem throughout the world. An assessment process for com-paring the trend and state of vegetation productivity to objectively derived reference conditions wasdeveloped. Vegetation productivity was estimated from 2000 to 2012 using annual maximum Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from the MODIS satellite platform. Each...

A validated stability-indicating RP-HPLC method for levofloxacin in the presence of degradation products, its process related impurities and identification of oxidative degradant.

PubMed

Lalitha Devi, M; Chandrasekhar, K B

2009-12-05

The objective of current study was to develop a validated specific stability indicating reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method for the quantitative determination of levofloxacin as well as its related substances determination in bulk samples, pharmaceutical dosage forms in the presence of degradation products and its process related impurities. Forced degradation studies were performed on bulk sample of levofloxacin as per ICH prescribed stress conditions using acid, base, oxidative, water hydrolysis, thermal stress and photolytic degradation to show the stability indicating power of the method. Significant degradation was observed during oxidative stress and the degradation product formed was identified by LCMS/MS, slight degradation in acidic stress and no degradation was observed in other stress conditions. The chromatographic method was optimized using the samples generated from forced degradation studies and the impurity spiked solution. Good resolution between the peaks corresponds to process related impurities and degradation products from the analyte were achieved on ACE C18 column using the mobile phase consists a mixture of 0.5% (v/v) triethyl amine in sodium dihydrogen orthophosphate dihydrate (25 mM; pH 6.0) and methanol using a simple linear gradient. The detection was carried out at 294 nm. The limit of detection and the limit of quantitation for the levofloxacin and its process related impurities were established. The stressed test solutions were assayed against the qualified working standard of levofloxacin and the mass balance in each case was in between 99.4 and 99.8% indicating that the developed LC method was stability indicating. Validation of the developed LC method was carried out as per ICH requirements. The developed LC method was found to be suitable to check the quality of bulk samples of levofloxacin at the time of batch release and also during its stability studies (long term and accelerated stability).

Thermal degradation products from PVC film in food-wrapping operations.

PubMed

Boettner, E A; Ball, G L

1980-07-01

Thermal degradation products of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) food-wrap films were studied under simulated supermarket conditons using a commercial wrapping machine with either a hot wire or a cool rod cutting device. A sampling hood was constructed around the wire/rod to confine and allow collection of thermal degradation products produced. Compounds analyzed and normal concentration ranges found included hydrogen chloride (1-10 micrograms per cut), plasticizer (1-50 micrograms per cut), benzene and toluene (each < 5-20 ng per cut), acrolein (25-150 ng per cut), and carbon monoxide (2-4 micrograms per cut) using the hot wire. Room air samples, collected during hot-wire cutting without the sampling hood, had < 0.25 ppm hydrogen chloride. Using the cool-rod cutting device hydrogen chloride, benzene, and toluene were not detected. Plasticizer was detected (25-86 micrograms per cut) using the cool rod.

Ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae using lignocellulosic hydrolysate from Chrysanthemum waste degradation.

PubMed

Quevedo-Hidalgo, Balkys; Monsalve-Marín, Felipe; Narváez-Rincón, Paulo César; Pedroza-Rodríguez, Aura Marina; Velásquez-Lozano, Mario Enrique

2013-03-01

Ethanol production derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation of a hydrolysate from floriculture waste degradation was studied. The hydrolysate was produced from Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora) waste degradation by Pleurotus ostreatus and characterized to determine the presence of compounds that may inhibit fermentation. The products of hydrolysis confirmed by HPLC were cellobiose, glucose, xylose and mannose. The hydrolysate was fermented by S. cerevisiae, and concentrations of biomass, ethanol, and glucose were determined as a function of time. Results were compared to YGC modified medium (yeast extract, glucose and chloramphenicol) fermentation. Ethanol yield was 0.45 g g(-1), 88 % of the maximal theoretical value. Crysanthemum waste hydrolysate was suitable for ethanol production, containing glucose and mannose with adequate nutrients for S. cerevisiae fermentation and low fermentation inhibitor levels.

Detection of cephradine through the electrochemical study of the degradation product of cephradine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Qingfeng; Ying, Yibin; Wang, Jianping; Ye, Zunzhong; Li, Yanbin

2005-11-01

The degradation product of cephradine(CEP), a broad spectrum antibiotic, with NaOH was studied in solution by Cyclic Voltammetry and Differential Pulse Voltammetry at a three electrode system (Gold working electrode, Hg/HgCl reference electrode and Platinum counter electrode). Our experiment was based on that the R-SH in degradation product could cause a deoxidization peak at gold working electrode. The response was optimized with respect to accumulation time, ionic strength, drug concentration, reproducibility and other variables. We found that the degradation product of CEP in Na2HPO4-NaH2PO4 buffer could cause a sensitive deoxidization peak at -0.68V. A linear dependence of peak currents on the concentration was observed in the range of 10-7 - 10-6 mol/L, with a detection limit of 0.5*10-7mol/L. This method can achieve satisfactory results in the application of detecting human-made CEP.

Determination of trace amounts of chemical warfare agent degradation products in decontamination solutions with NMR spectroscopy.

PubMed

Koskela, Harri; Rapinoja, Marja-Leena; Kuitunen, Marja-Leena; Vanninen, Paula

2007-12-01

Decontamination solutions are used for an efficient detoxification of chemical warfare agents (CWAs). As these solutions can be composed of strong alkaline chemicals with hydrolyzing and oxidizing properties, the analysis of CWA degradation products in trace levels from these solutions imposes a challenge for any analytical technique. Here, we present results of application of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for analysis of trace amounts of CWA degradation products in several untreated decontamination solutions. Degradation products of the nerve agents sarin, soman, and VX were selectively monitored with substantially reduced interference of background signals by 1D 1H-31P heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) spectrometry. The detection limit of the chemicals was at the low part-per-million level (2-10 microg/mL) in all studied solutions. In addition, the concentration of the degradation products was obtained with sufficient confidence with external standards.

Degradable polyphosphazene/poly(alpha-hydroxyester) blends: degradation studies.

PubMed

Ambrosio, Archel M A; Allcock, Harry R; Katti, Dhirendra S; Laurencin, Cato T

2002-04-01

Biomaterials based on the polymers of lactic acid and glycolic acid and their copolymers are used or studied extensively as implantable devices for drug delivery, tissue engineering and other biomedical applications. Although these polymers have shown good biocompatibility, concerns have been raised regarding their acidic degradation products, which have important implications for long-term implantable systems. Therefore, we have designed a novel biodegradable polyphosphazene/poly(alpha-hydroxyester) blend whose degradation products are less acidic than those of the poly(alpha-hydroxyester) alone. In this study, the degradation characteristics of a blend of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (50:50 PLAGA) and poly[(50% ethyl glycinato)(50% p-methylphenoxy) phosphazene] (PPHOS-EG50) were qualitatively and quantitatively determined with comparisons made to the parent polymers. Circular matrices (14mm diameter) of the PLAGA, PPHOS-EG50 and PLAGA-PPHOS-EG50 blend were degraded in non-buffered solutions (pH 7.4). The degraded polymers were characterized for percentage mass loss and molecular weight and the degradation medium was characterized for acid released in non-buffered solutions. The amounts of neutralizing base necessary to bring about neutral pH were measured for each polymer or polymer blend during degradation. The poly(phosphazene)/poly(lactide-co-glycolide) blend required significantly less neutralizing base in order to bring about neutral solution pH during the degradation period studied. The results indicated that the blend degraded at a rate intermediate to that of the parent polymers and that the degradation products of the polyphosphazene neutralized the acidic degradation products of PLAGA. Thus, results from these in vitro degradation studies suggest that the PLAGA-PPHOS-EG50 blend may provide a viable improvement to biomaterials based on acid-releasing organic polymers.

The effects of grassland degradation on plant diversity, primary productivity, and soil fertility in the alpine region of Asia's headwaters.

PubMed

Wang, Xuexia; Dong, Shikui; Yang, Bing; Li, Yuanyuan; Su, Xukun

2014-10-01

A 3-year survey was conducted to explore the relationships among plant composition, productivity, and soil fertility characterizing four different degradation stages of an alpine meadow in the source region of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, China. Results showed that plant species diversity, productivity, and soil fertility of the top 30-cm soil layer significantly declined with degradation stages of alpine meadow over the study period. The productivity of forbs significantly increased with degradation stages, and the soil potassium stock was not affected by grassland degradation. The vegetation composition gradually shifted from perennial graminoids (grasses and sedges) to annual forbs along the degradation gradient. The abrupt change of response in plant diversity, plant productivity, and soil nutrients was demonstrated after heavy grassland degradation. Moreover, degradation can indicate plant species diversity and productivity through changing soil fertility. However, the clear relationships are difficult to establish. In conclusion, degradation influenced ecosystem function and services, such as plant species diversity, productivity, and soil carbon and nitrogen stocks. Additionally, both plant species diversity and soil nutrients were important predictors in different degradation stages of alpine meadows. To this end, heavy degradation grade was shown to cause shift of plant community in alpine meadow, which provided an important basis for sustaining ecosystem function, manipulating the vegetation composition of the area and restoring the degraded alpine grassland.

[The structure and antimicrobial activity of the partial degradation products of the antibiotic eremomycin].

PubMed

Berdnikova, T F; Lomakina, N N; Olsuf'eva, E N; Aleksandrova, L G; Potapova, N P; Rozynov, B V; Malkova, I V; Orlova, G I

1991-06-01

Antimicrobial activity of partial degradation products of eremomycin, a new glycopeptide antibiotic, was studied. The products formed by eremomycin deglycosylation (deseremosaminyl eremomycin, eremosaminyl aglycone and aglycone) and elimination of the chlorine atom from the molecule aglycone moiety (dechloroeremomycin). The spectral data in favour of the compounds structure are presented. It was found that partial degradation led to a decrease in the antimicrobial activity of the antibiotic. Dechloreremomycin had the highest activity among the products. Its MIC for the methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus was only twice as low as that of the initial antibiotic.

Degradation of tannic acid by cold-adapted Klebsiella sp NACASA1 and phytotoxicity assessment of tannic acid and its degradation products.

PubMed

Jadhav, Umesh; Kadu, Sudhir; Thokal, Nilesh; Padul, Manohar; Dawkar, Vishal; Chougale, Ashok; Salve, Abhay; Patil, Manoj

2011-08-01

The focus of the present study is to know the potential of bacterial isolate for tannic acid degradation at low temperature. Also, we tried to evaluate the suitability of phytotoxicity testing protocol for the determination of tannic acid toxicity. Screening for tannic acid degrading bacterial strains was carried out by using microbial isolation techniques. The 16S rDNA amplicon of the isolate was used to identify the isolate. The effect of different concentrations of tannic acid and its degradation products on germination of Vigna unguiculata was evaluated. The study was carried out to determine total sugar and starch content of the used seeds and even to check the presence of α-amylase activity during seed germination. The isolated bacterium was identified as Klebsiella sp NACASA1 and it showed degradation of tannic acid in 40 (±0.85***) h at 15°C and pH 7.0. A gradual decrease in root/shoot length was observed with increasing concentration of tannic acid. There was 95.11 (±0.24**)% inhibition in α-amylase activity at 20,000 ppm tannic acid, as compared to control. No such effects were observed on germination, root-shoot length, and α-amylase activity with tannic acid degradation products. The results obtained confirmed that tannic acid may act as a toxic agent in plant cells. The simple biodegradation process presented in this study was found to be effective in reducing toxicity of tannic acid. Also, it reveals the potential of soil bacterium to degrade tannic acid at low temperature.

[Degradation Kinetics and Formation of Disinfection By-products During Linuron Chlorination in Drinking Water].

PubMed

Ling, Xiao; Hu, Chen-yan; Cheng, Ming; Gu, Jian

2015-05-01

Chlorination degradation of linuron was studied using the common disinfectant sodium hypochlorite, the effects of chlorine dosage, pH value, bromine ion concentrationand temperature were systematically investigated, and the formation characteristics of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during the chlorination reaction was analyzed. The results showed that the chlorination degradation kinetics of linuron by sodium hypochlorite could be well described by the second-order kinetic model. Moreover, pH values had a great impact on the degradation reaction, and the rate constant reached the maximum level at pH 7, and the base elementary reaction rate constants of HOCl and OCl- with linuron were 4.84 x 10(2) L · (mol · h)(-1) and 3.80 x 10(2) L · (mol · h)(-1), respectively. The reaction rate decreased with the addition of bromide ion and increased with increasing temperature. Furthermore, many kinds of disinfection by- products were produced during the chlorination degradation of linuron, including CF, DCAN, TCNM and halogen acetone. Under conditions of different solution pH and different bromide ion concentrations, there would be significant difference in the types and concentrations of disinfection by-products.

MS2/TOF and LC-MS/TOF studies on toremifene to characterize its forced degradation products.

PubMed

Bansal, Gulshan; Maddhesia, Pawan K; Bansal, Yogita

2011-12-21

The present study was designed to characterize the possible degradation products of toremifene under varied conditions as prescribed by ICH guidelines Q1A(R2). The forced degradation studies were conducted on toremifene citrate under the conditions of hydrolysis (acidic, basic and neutral), photolysis, oxidation and dry heat. The drug was found unstable to photolysis and hydrolysis in water and acidic media but stable to alkaline hydrolysis, peroxide oxidation and thermal degradation. In total fifteen degradation products (I-XV) were formed, which were resolved from each other and the drug on a C-18 column employing an isocratic elution method. A complete mass fragmentation pattern of the drug was established with the help of LC/ESI-MS/TOF to assist characterization of the degradation products. Of the fifteen products, six products III, IV, VII, VIII, XIV and XV were detected in LC-MS. The molecular masses of III, IV, VII and VIII were found to be the same i.e., 387, while those of XIV and XV were 389 and 403, respectively. Structures of these products were elucidated through comparison of their mass fragmentation patterns with the drug, which were proposed on the basis of accurate masses of the parent and fragment ions. These were characterized as (Z)-2-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-4-(4-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylbut-1-enyl)phenol (III), (E)-2-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-4-(4-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylbut-1-enyl)phenol (IV), (E)-4-(4-(2-(dimethylamino)ethoxy)phenyl)-3,4-diphenylbut-3-en-1-ol (VII), (Z)-4-(4-(2-(dimethylamino)ethoxy)phenyl)-3,4-diphenylbut-3-en-1-ol (VIII), 2-(4-(10-(2-chloroethyl)phenanthren-9-yl)phenoxy)-N-methylethanamine (XIV), and 2-(4-(10-(2-chloroethyl)phenanthren-9-yl)phenoxy)-N,N-dimethylethanamine (XV). Finally, a most plausible mechanistic explanation for degradation of the drug in different chemical environments is also proposed. The results of the study disclose six new degradation related impurities of the drug.

The Production of Solid Dosage Forms from Non-Degradable Polymers.

PubMed

Major, Ian; Fuenmayor, Evert; McConville, Christopher

2016-01-01

Non-degradable polymers have an important function in medicine. Solid dosage forms for longer term implantation require to be constructed from materials that will not degrade or erode over time and also offer the utmost biocompatibility and biostability. This review details the three most important non-degradable polymers for the production of solid dosage forms - silicone elastomer, ethylene vinyl acetate and thermoplastic polyurethane. The hydrophobic, thermoset silicone elastomer is utilised in the production of a broad range of devices, from urinary catheter tubing for the prevention of biofilm to intravaginal rings used to prevent HIV transmission. Ethylene vinyl acetate, a hydrophobic thermoplastic, is the material of choice of two of the world's leading forms of contraception - Nuvaring® and Implanon®. Thermoplastic polyurethane has such a diverse range of building blocks that this one polymer can be hydrophilic or hydrophobic. Yet, in spite of this versatility, it is only now finding utility in commercialised drug delivery systems. Separately then one polymer has a unique ability that differentiates it from the others and can be applied in a specific drug delivery application; but collectively these polymers provide a rich palette of material and drug delivery options to empower formulation scientists in meeting even the most demanding of unmet clinical needs. Therefore, these polymers have had a long history in controlled release, from the very beginning even, and it is pertinent that this review examines briefly this history while also detailing the state-of-the-art academic studies and inventions exploiting these materials. The paper also outlines the different production methods required to manufacture these solid dosage forms as many of the processes are uncommon to the wider pharmaceutical industry.

Evaluation of anaerobic degradation, biogas and digestate production of cereal silages using nylon-bags.

PubMed

Negri, Marco; Bacenetti, Jacopo; Fiala, Marco; Bocchi, Stefano

2016-06-01

In this study, the degradation efficiency and the biogas and digestate production during anaerobic digestion were evaluated for the cereal silages most used to feed biogas plants. To this purpose, silages of: maize from the whole plant, maize from the ear, triticale and wheat were digested, inside of nylon bags, in laboratory scale digesters, for 75days. Overall, the test involved 288 nylon bags. After 75days of digestion, the maize ear silage shows the highest degradation efficiency (about 98%) while wheat silage the lowest (about 83%). The biogas production ranges from 438 to 852Nm(3)/t of dry matter for wheat and ear maize silage, respectively. For all the cereal silages, the degradation as well as the biogas production are faster at the beginning of the digestion time. Digestate mass, expressed as percentage of the fresh matter, ranges from 38% to 84% for wheat and maize ear silage, respectively. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Modeling Degradation Product Partitioning in Chlorinated-DNAPL Source Zones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boroumand, A.; Ramsburg, A.; Christ, J.; Abriola, L.

2009-12-01

Metabolic reductive dechlorination degrades aqueous phase contaminant concentrations, increasing the driving force for DNAPL dissolution. Results from laboratory and field investigations suggest that accumulation of cis-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) may occur within DNAPL source zones. The lack of (or slow) degradation of cis-DCE and VC within bioactive DNAPL source zones may result in these dechlorination products becoming distributed among the solid, aqueous, and organic phases. Partitioning of cis-DCE and VC into the organic phase may reduce aqueous phase concentrations of these contaminants and result in the enrichment of these dechlorination products within the non-aqueous phase. Enrichment of degradation products within DNAPL may reduce some of the advantages associated with the application of bioremediation in DNAPL source zones. Thus, it is important to quantify how partitioning (between the aqueous and organic phases) influences the transport of cis-DCE and VC within bioactive DNAPL source zones. In this work, abiotic two-phase (PCE-water) one-dimensional column experiments are modeled using analytical and numerical methods to examine the rate of partitioning and the capacity of PCE-DNAPL to reversibly sequester cis-DCE. These models consider aqueous-phase, nonaqueous phase, and aqueous plus nonaqueous phase mass transfer resistance using linear driving force and spherical diffusion expressions. Model parameters are examined and compared for different experimental conditions to evaluate the mechanisms controlling partitioning. Biot number, a dimensionless number which is an index of the ratio of the aqueous phase mass transfer rate in boundary layer to the mass transfer rate within the NAPL, is used to characterize conditions in which either or both processes are controlling. Results show that application of a single aqueous resistance is capable to capture breakthrough curves when DNAPL is distributed in porous media as low

Microbial surface displayed enzymes based biofuel cell utilizing degradation products of lignocellulosic biomass for direct electrical energy.

PubMed

Fan, Shuqin; Hou, Chuantao; Liang, Bo; Feng, Ruirui; Liu, Aihua

2015-09-01

In this work, a bacterial surface displaying enzyme based two-compartment biofuel cell for the direct electrical energy conversion from degradation products of lignocellulosic biomass is reported. Considering that the main degradation products of the lignocellulose are glucose and xylose, xylose dehydrogenase (XDH) displayed bacteria (XDH-bacteria) and glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) displayed bacteria (GDH-bacteria) were used as anode catalysts in anode chamber with methylene blue as electron transfer mediator. While the cathode chamber was constructed with laccase/multi-walled-carbon nanotube/glassy-carbon-electrode. XDH-bacteria exhibited 1.75 times higher catalytic efficiency than GDH-bacteria. This assembled enzymatic fuel cell exhibited a high open-circuit potential of 0.80 V, acceptable stability and energy conversion efficiency. Moreover, the maximum power density of the cell could reach 53 μW cm(-2) when fueled with degradation products of corn stalk. Thus, this finding holds great potential to directly convert degradation products of biomass into electrical energy. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biodegradation of the alkaline cellulose degradation products generated during radioactive waste disposal.

PubMed

Rout, Simon P; Radford, Jessica; Laws, Andrew P; Sweeney, Francis; Elmekawy, Ahmed; Gillie, Lisa J; Humphreys, Paul N

2014-01-01

The anoxic, alkaline hydrolysis of cellulosic materials generates a range of cellulose degradation products (CDP) including α and β forms of isosaccharinic acid (ISA) and is expected to occur in radioactive waste disposal sites receiving intermediate level radioactive wastes. The generation of ISA's is of particular relevance to the disposal of these wastes since they are able to form complexes with radioelements such as Pu enhancing their migration. This study demonstrates that microbial communities present in near-surface anoxic sediments are able to degrade CDP including both forms of ISA via iron reduction, sulphate reduction and methanogenesis, without any prior exposure to these substrates. No significant difference (n = 6, p = 0.118) in α and β ISA degradation rates were seen under either iron reducing, sulphate reducing or methanogenic conditions, giving an overall mean degradation rate of 4.7 × 10(-2) hr(-1) (SE ± 2.9 × 10(-3)). These results suggest that a radioactive waste disposal site is likely to be colonised by organisms able to degrade CDP and associated ISA's during the construction and operational phase of the facility.

Evaluating the Potential Importance of Monoterpene Degradation for Global Acetone Production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelp, M. M.; Brewer, J.; Keller, C. A.; Fischer, E. V.

2015-12-01

Acetone is one of the most abundant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere, but estimates of the global source of acetone vary widely. A better understanding of acetone sources is essential because acetone serves as a source of HOx in the upper troposphere and as a precursor to the NOx reservoir species peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN). Although there are primary anthropogenic and pyrogenic sources of acetone, the dominant acetone sources are thought to be from direct biogenic emissions and photochemical production, particularly from the oxidation of iso-alkanes. Recent work suggests that the photochemical degradation of monoterpenes may also represent a significant contribution to global acetone production. We investigate that hypothesis using the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model. In this work, we calculate the emissions of eight terpene species (α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, Δ3-carene, myrcene, sabinene, trans-β-ocimene, and an 'other monoterpenes' category which contains 34 other trace species) and couple these with upper and lower bound literature yields from species-specific chamber studies. We compare the simulated acetone distributions against in situ acetone measurements from a global suite of NASA aircraft campaigns. When simulating an upper bound on yields, the model-to-measurement comparison improves for North America at both the surface and in the upper troposphere. The inclusion of acetone production from monoterpene degradation also improves the ability of the model to reproduce observations of acetone in East Asian outflow. However, in general the addition of monoterpenes degrades the model comparison for the Southern Hemisphere.

Degradation of β-casomorphins and identification of degradation products during yoghurt processing using liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Nguyen, Duc Doan; Busetti, Francesco; Johnson, Stuart Keith; Solah, Vicky Ann

2018-04-01

Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) was used to investigate the degradation of β-casomorphin 5 (β-CM5) and β-casomorphin 7 (β-CM7) by Streptococcus thermophilus and/or Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, and to identify the degradation products forming during yoghurt processing. Bovine UHT milk was fermented with: (i) a single strain of L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, (ii) a single strain of S. thermophilus and (iii) the mixture of S. thermophilus and L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus to pH4.5 and then stored at 4°C for 1 and 7days. Results showed that L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and/or S. thermophilus completely degraded β-CM5 and β-CM7 upon fermentation to pH4.5 and degradation products were significantly influenced by bacteria strains and storage time. Four peptides, β-CNf60-61 (YP), β-CNf62-63 (FP), β-CNf64-66 (GPI) and β-CNf62-66 (FPGPI) were tentatively identified through high resolution MS/MS experiments; however, it was not possible to confirm if either milk protein or β-casomorphins was a source releasing these peptides. Nonetheless, in this study peptides YP and GPI were released by L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus. This is the first time GPI has been identified and thus future investigation of its bioactivity is warranted. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Identification, Characterization, and Quantification of Impurities of Safinamide Mesilate: Process-Related Impurities and Degradation Products.

PubMed

Zou, Liang; Sun, Lili; Zhang, Hui; Hui, Wenkai; Zou, Qiaogen; Zhu, Zheying

2017-07-01

The characterization of process-related impurities and degradation products of safinamide mesilate (SAFM) in bulk drug and a stability-indicating HPLC method for the separation and quantification of all the impurities were investigated. Four process-related impurities (Imp-B, Imp-C, Imp-D, and Imp-E) were found in the SAFM bulk drug. Five degradation products (Imp-A, Imp-C, Imp-D, Imp-E, and Imp-F) were observed in SAFM under oxidative conditions. Imp-C, Imp-D, and Imp-E were also degradation products and process-related impurities. Remarkably, one new compound, identified as (S)-2-[4-(3-fluoro-benzyloxy) benzamido] propanamide (i.e., Imp-D), is being reported here as an impurity for the first time. Furthermore, the structures of the aforementioned impurities were characterized and confirmed via IR, NMR, and MS techniques, and the most probable formation mechanisms of all impurities proposed according to the synthesis route. Optimum separation was achieved on an Inertsil ODS-3 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm), using 0.1% formic acid in water (pH adjusted to 5.0) and acetonitrile as the mobile phase in gradient mode. The proposed method was found to be stability-indicating, precise, linear, accurate, sensitive, and robust for the quantitation of SAFM and its process-related substances, including its degradation products.

Identification of a new degradation product of the antifouling agent Irgarol 1051 in natural samples

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ferrer, I.; Barcelo, D.

2001-01-01

A main degradation product of Irgarol [2-(methylthio)-4-(tert-butylamino)-6-(cyclopropylamino)-s-triazine], one of the most widely used compounds in antifouling paints, was detected at trace levels in seawater and sediment samples collected from several marinas on the Mediterranean coast. This degradation product was identified as 2-methylthio-4-tert-butylamino-s-triazine. The unequivocal identification of this compound in seawater samples was carried out by solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled on-line with liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS). SPE was carried out by passing 150 ml of seawater sample through a cartridge containing a polymeric phase (PLRP-s), with recoveries ranging from 92 to 108% (n=5). Using LC-MS detection in positive ion mode, useful structural information was obtained by increasing the fragmentor voltage, thus permitting the unequivocal identification of this compound in natural samples. Method detection limits were in the range of 0.002 to 0.005 ??g/l. Overall, the combination of on-line SPE and LC-APCI-MS represents an important advance in environmental analysis of herbicide degradation products in seawater, since it demonstrates that trace amounts of new polar metabolites may be determined rapidly. This paper reports the LC-MS identification of the main degradation product of Irgarol in seawater and sediment samples. ?? 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural characterization of chemical warfare agent degradation products in decontamination solutions with proton band-selective (1)H-(31)P NMR spectroscopy.

PubMed

Koskela, Harri; Hakala, Ullastiina; Vanninen, Paula

2010-06-15

Decontamination solutions, which are usually composed of strong alkaline chemicals, are used for efficient detoxification of chemical warfare agents (CWAs). The analysis of CWA degradation products directly in decontamination solutions is challenging due to the nature of the matrix. Furthermore, occasionally an unforeseen degradation pathway can result in degradation products which could be eluded to in standard analyses. Here, we present the results of the application of proton band-selective (1)H-(31)P NMR spectroscopy, i.e., band-selective 1D (1)H-(31)P heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) and band-selective 2D (1)H-(31)P HSQC-total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY), for ester side chain characterization of organophosphorus nerve agent degradation products in decontamination solutions. The viability of the approach is demonstrated with a test mixture of typical degradation products of nerve agents sarin, soman, and VX. The proton band-selective (1)H-(31)P NMR spectroscopy is also applied in characterization of unusual degradation products of VX in GDS 2000 solution.

By-products formation during degradation of isoproturon in aqueous solution. II: Chlorination.

PubMed

Mascolo, G; Lopez, A; James, H; Fielding, M

2001-05-01

After a previous study in which the considered oxidant was ozone (Part I), a laboratory investigation has been carried out to study the degradation of the herbicide isoproturon during its reaction with another oxidant, i.e. chlorine, in aqueous solution (Part II; this paper). The specific aim was to identify the by-products formed. The effects of pH and the presence of bromide ions were studied. Reactions have been carried out at room temperature, in phosphate buffered aqueous solutions, at four pHs (6, 7, 8 and 9). By-products identification was first performed using relatively high initial reagent concentrations which were analytically convenient ([isoproturon] = 40 mg/l, [HClO + ClO-] = 160 mg Cl/l, [Br-] = 80 mg/l). In follow-up studies, the by-products identified during this preliminary step were searched for when using concentration values closer to those actually encountered at real water treatment plants ([isoproturon] = 0.4 and 0.004 mg/l, [HClO + ClO-] = 1.6 mg Cl/l, [Br-] = 0.8 and 0.008 mg/l). Under all of the studied conditions, the results showed that isoproturon is completely degraded and that it decays much faster in the presence of bromide. The pH has a negligible influence when bromide ions are absent. On the contrary, if bromide ions are present, the isoproturon decay is slower at higher pH values. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analyses have led to the identification of several by-products as a result of simultaneous oxidation and substitution reactions, both occurring on the aromatic ring of the herbicide. However, the more abundant by-products are those resulting from the oxidation of the isoproturon aromatic ring. As far as halogenated by-products are concerned, the higher the bromide ion concentration the higher the ratio of brominated to chlorinated by-products. On the basis of the analytical results, a pathway for isoproturon degradation under the studied conditions is proposed.

Thermal degradation products formed from carotenoids during a heat-induced degradation process of paprika oleoresins (Capsicum annuum L.).

PubMed

Pérez-Gálvez, Antonio; Rios, José J; Mínguez-Mosquera, María Isabel

2005-06-15

The high-temperature treatment of paprika oleoresins (Capsicum annuum L.) modified the carotenoid profile, yielding several degradation products, which were analyzed by HPLC-APCI-MS. From the initial MS data, compounds were grouped in two sets. Set 1 grouped compounds with m/z 495, and set 2 included compounds with m/z 479, in both cases for the protonated molecular mass. Two compounds of the first set were tentatively identified as 9,10,11,12,13,14,19,20-octanor-capsorubin (compound II) and 9,10,11,12,13,14,19,20-octanor-5,6-epoxide-capsanthin (compound IV), after isolation by semipreparative HPLC and analysis by EI-MS. Compounds VII, VIII, and IX from set 2 were assigned as 9,10,11,12,13,14,19,20-octanor-capsanthin and isomers, respectively. As these compounds were the major products formed in the thermal process, it was possible to apply derivatization techniques (hydrogenation and silylation) to analyze them by EI-MS, before and after chemical derivatization. Taking into account structures of the degradation products, the cyclization of polyolefins could be considered as the general reaction pathway in thermally induced reactions, yielding in the present study xylene as byproduct and the corresponding nor-carotenoids.

Screening of nitrogen mustards and their degradation products in water and decontamination solution by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Chua, Hoe-Chee; Lee, Hoi-Sim; Sng, Mui-Tiang

2006-01-13

Analysing nitrogen mustards and their degradation products in decontamination emulsions posed a significant challenge due to the different phases present in such matrices. Extensive sample preparation may be required to isolate target analytes. Furthermore, numerous reaction products are formed in the decontamination emulsion. A fast and effective qualitative screening procedure was developed for these compounds, using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This eliminated the need for additional sample handling and derivatisation that are required for gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis. A liquid chromatograph with mixed mode column and isocratic elution gave good chromatography. The feasibility of applying this technique for detecting these compounds in spiked water and decontamination emulsion was demonstrated. Detailed characterisation of the degradation products in these two matrices was carried out. The results demonstrated that N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), N-ethyldiethanolamine (EDEA) and triethanolamine (TEA) are not the major degradation products of their respective nitrogen mustards. Degradation profiles of nitrogen mustards in water were also established. In verification analysis, it is important not only to develop methods for the identification of the actual chemical agents; the methods must also encompass degradation products of the chemical agents as well so as to exclude false negatives. This study demonstrated the increasingly pivotal role that LC-MS play in verification analysis.

Method for determination of methyl tert-butyl ether and its degradation products in water

USGS Publications Warehouse

Church, C.D.; Isabelle, L.M.; Pankow, J.F.; Rose, D.L.; Tratnyek, P.G.

1997-01-01

An analytical method is described that can detect the major alkyl ether compounds that are used as gasoline oxygenates (methyl tert-butyl ether, MTBE; ethyl tert-butyl ether, ETBE; and tert-amyl methyl ether, TAME) and their most characteristic degradation products (tert-butyl alcohol, TBA; tert-butyl formate, TBF; and tert-amyl alcohol, TAA) in water at sub-ppb concentrations. The new method involves gas chromatography (GC) with direct aqueous injection (DAI) onto a polar column via a splitless injector, coupled with detection by mass spectrometry (MS). DAI-GC/MS gives excellent agreement with conventional purge-and-trap methods for MTBE over a wide range of environmentally relevant concentrations. The new method can also give simultaneous identification of polar compounds that might occur as degradation products of gasoline oxygenates, such as TBA, TBF, TAA, methyl acetate, and acetone. When the method was applied to effluent from a column microcosm prepared with core material from an urban site in New Jersey, conversion of MTBE to TBA was observed after a lag period of 35 days. However, to date, analyses of water samples from six field sites using the DAI-GC/MS method have not produced evidence for the expected products of in situ degradation of MTBE.An analytical method is described that can detect the major alkyl ether compounds that are used as gasoline oxygenates (methyl tert-butyl ether, MTBE; ethyl tert-butyl ether, ETBE; and tert-amyl methyl ether, TAME) and their most characteristic degradation products (tert-butyl alcohol, TBA; tert-butyl formate, TBF; and tert-amyl alcohol, TAA) in water at sub-ppb concentrations. The new method involves gas chromatography (GC) with direct aqueous injection (DAI) onto a polar column via a splitless injector, coupled with detection by mass spectrometry (MS). DAI-GC/MS gives excellent agreement with conventional purge-and-trap methods for MTBE over a wide range of environmentally relevant concentrations. The new method

Degradation Products of Benzophenone-3 in Chlorinated Seawater Swimming Pools.

PubMed

Manasfi, Tarek; Storck, Veronika; Ravier, Sylvain; Demelas, Carine; Coulomb, Bruno; Boudenne, Jean-Luc

2015-08-04

Oxybenzone (2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenone, benzophenone-3) is one of the UV filters commonly found in sunscreens. Its presence in swimming pools and its reactivity with chlorine has already been demonstrated but never in seawater swimming pools. In these pools, chlorine added for disinfection results in the formation of bromine, due to the high levels of bromide in seawater, and leads to the formation of brominated disinfection byproducts, known to be more toxic than chlorinated ones. Therefore, it seems important to determine the transformation products of oxybenzone in chlorinated seawater swimming pools; especially that users of seawater swimming pools may apply sunscreens and other personal-care products containing oxybenzone before going to pools. This leads to the introduction of oxybenzone to pools, where it reacts with bromine. For this purpose, the reactivity of oxybenzone has been examined as a function of chlorine dose and temperature in artificial seawater to assess its potential to produce trihalomethanes and to determine the byproducts generated following chlorination. Increasing doses of chlorine and increasing temperatures enhanced the formation of bromoform. Experiments carried out with excess doses of chlorine resulted in the degradation of oxybenzone and allowed the determination of the degradation mechanisms leading to the formation of bromoform. In total, ten transformation products were identified, based on which the transformation pathway was proposed.

Fate of products of degradation processes: consequences for climatic change.

PubMed

Slanina, J; ten Brink, H M; Khlystov, A

1999-03-01

The end products of atmospheric degradation are not only CO2 and H2O but also sulfate and nitrate depending on the chemical composition of the substances which are subject to degradation processes. Atmospheric degradation has thus a direct influence on the radiative balance of the earth not only due to formation of greenhouse gases but also of aerosols. Aerosols of a diameter of 0.1 to 2 micrometer, reflect short wave sunlight very efficiently leading to a radiative forcing which is estimated to be about -0.8 watt per m2 by IPCC. Aerosols also influence the radiative balance by way of cloud formation. If more aerosols are present, clouds are formed with more and smaller droplets and these clouds have a higher albedo and are more stable compared to clouds with larger droplets. Not only sulfate, but also nitrate and polar organic compounds, formed as intermediates in degradation processes, contribute to this direct and indirect aerosol effect. Estimates for the Netherlands indicate a direct effect of -4 watt m-2 and an indirect effect of as large as -5 watt m-2. About one third is caused by sulfates, one third by nitrates and last third by polar organic compounds. This large radiative forcing is obviously non-uniform and depends on local conditions.

Receptor for advanced glycation end products is targeted by FBXO10 for ubiquitination and degradation.

PubMed

Evankovich, John; Lear, Travis; Mckelvey, Alison; Dunn, Sarah; Londino, James; Liu, Yuan; Chen, Bill B; Mallampalli, Rama K

2017-09-01

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a highly expressed cell membrane receptor serving to anchor lung epithelia to matrix components, and it also amplifies inflammatory signaling during acute lung injury. However, mechanisms that regulate its protein concentrations in cells remain largely unknown. Here we show that RAGE exhibits an extended life span in lung epithelia ( t ½ 6 h), is monoubiquitinated at K374, and is degraded in lysosomes. The RAGE ligand ODN2006, a synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide resembling pathogenic hypomethylated CpG DNA, promotes rapid lysosomal RAGE degradation through activation of protein kinase Cζ (PKCζ), which phosphorylates RAGE. PKCζ overexpression enhances RAGE degradation, while PKCζ knockdown stabilizes RAGE protein levels and prevents ODN2006-mediated degradation. We identify that RAGE is targeted by the ubiquitin E3 ligase subunit F-box protein O10 (FBXO10), which associates with RAGE to mediate its ubiquitination and degradation. FBXO10 depletion in cells stabilizes RAGE and is required for ODN2006-mediated degradation. These data suggest that modulation of regulators involved in ubiquitin-mediated disposal of RAGE might serve as unique molecular inputs directing RAGE cellular concentrations and downstream responses, which are critical in an array of inflammatory disorders, including acute lung injury.-Evankovich, J., Lear, T., Mckelvey, A., Dunn, S., Londino, J., Liu, Y., Chen, B. B., Mallampalli, R. K. Receptor for advanced glycation end products is targeted by FBXO10 for ubiquitination and degradation. © FASEB.

Derivatization of organophosphorus nerve agent degradation products for gas chromatography with ICPMS and TOF-MS detection.

PubMed

Richardson, Douglas D; Caruso, Joseph A

2007-06-01

Separation and detection of seven V-type (venomous) and G-type (German) organophosphorus nerve agent degradation products by gas chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (GC-ICPMS) is described. The nonvolatile alkyl phosphonic acid degradation products of interest included ethyl methylphosphonic acid (EMPA, VX acid), isopropyl methylphosphonic acid (IMPA, GB acid), ethyl hydrogen dimethylamidophosphate sodium salt (EDPA, GA acid), isobutyl hydrogen methylphosphonate (IBMPA, RVX acid), as well as pinacolyl methylphosphonic acid (PMPA), methylphosphonic acid (MPA), and cyclohexyl methylphosphonic acid (CMPA, GF acid). N-(tert-Butyldimethylsilyl)-N-methyltrifluroacetamide with 1% TBDMSCl was utilized to form the volatile TBDMS derivatives of the nerve agent degradation products for separation by GC. Exact mass confirmation of the formation of six of the TBDMS derivatives was obtained by GC-time of flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS). The method developed here allowed for the separation and detection of all seven TBDMS derivatives as well as phosphate in less than ten minutes. Detection limits for the developed method were less than 5 pg with retention times and peak area precisions of less than 0.01 and 6%, respectively. This method was successfully applied to river water and soil matrices. To date this is the first work describing the analysis of chemical warfare agent (CWA) degradation products by GC-ICPMS.

Gas-phase and particulate products from the atmospheric degradation of the organothiophosphorus insecticide chlorpyrifos-methyl.

PubMed

Borrás, Esther; Tortajada-Genaro, Luis Antonio; Ródenas, Milagros; Vera, Teresa; Coscollá, Clara; Yusá, Vicent; Muñoz, Amalia

2015-11-01

The phosphorothioate structure is highly present in several organophosphorus pesticides. However, there is insufficient information about its degradation process after the release to the atmosphere and the secondary pollutants formed. Herein, the atmospheric reaction of chlorpyrifos-methyl (o,o-dimethyl o-(3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-yl) phosphorothioate), is described for semi-urban or rural locations. The photo-oxidation under low NOx conditions (5-55 ppbV) was reproduced in a large outdoor simulation chamber, observing a rapid degradation (lifetime<3.5 h). The formation of gaseous products and particulate matter (aerosol yield 2-8%) was monitored. The chemical composition of minor products (gaseous and particulate) was studied, identifying 15 multi-oxygenated derivatives. The most abundant products were ring-retaining molecules such as o,o-dimethyl o-(3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-yl) phosphorothioate, dimethyl 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-yl phosphate, o-methyl o-(3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-yl) hydrogen phosphorothioate, 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-yl dihydrogen phosphate, 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol, and 3,5,6-trichloropyridine-2,4-diol. An atmospheric degradation mechanism has been proposed based on an oxidation started with OH-nucleophilic attack to P=S bond. The results have been extrapolated to other organothiophosphorus molecules, such as malathion, parathion, diazinon and methidathion, among many others, to estimate their photo-oxidative degradation and the expected products. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

pH-Dependent stability of azithromycin in aqueous solution and structure identification of two new degradation products.

PubMed

Saita, Maria Grazia; Aleo, Danilo; Melilli, Barbara; Mangiafico, Sergio; Cro, Melina; Sanfilippo, Claudia; Patti, Angela

2018-05-28

The degradation profile of azithromycin in buffered solutions was investigated using HPLC and found to be pH dependent in the range of 6.0-7.2. Desosaminylazitromycin, derived from hydrolytic loss of cladinose of the parent molecule, was the major degradation product at pH 6.0 but its amount progressively decreased moving toward pH 7.2. Two additional unreported degradation products were also observed and their structures were fully elucidated by MS- and NMR-spectroscopy to be associated with opening of the macrocyclic lactone ring. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Effects of cellulose degradation products on the mobility of Eu(III) in repositories for low and intermediate level radioactive waste.

PubMed

Diesen, Veronica; Forsberg, Kerstin; Jonsson, Mats

2017-10-15

The deep repository for low and intermediate level radioactive waste SFR in Sweden will contain large amounts of cellulosic waste materials contaminated with radionuclides. Over time the repository will be filled with water and alkaline conditions will prevail. In the present study degradation of cellulosic materials and the ability of cellulosic degradation products to solubilize and thereby mobilise Eu(III) under repository conditions has been investigated. Further, the possible immobilization of Eu(III) by sorption onto cement in the presence of degradation products has been investigated. The cellulosic material has been degraded under anaerobic and aerobic conditions in alkaline media (pH: 12.5) at ambient temperature. The degradation was followed by measuring the total organic carbon (TOC) content in the aqueous phase as a function of time. After 173days of degradation the TOC content is highest in the anaerobic artificial cement pore water (1547mg/L). The degradation products are capable of solubilising Eu(III) and the total europium concentration in the aqueous phase was 900μmol/L after 498h contact time under anaerobic conditions. Further it is shown that Eu(III) is adsorbed to the hydrated cement to a low extent (<9μmol Eu/g of cement) in the presence of degradation products. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A stability indicating HPLC method for determination of mebeverine in the presence of its degradation products and kinetic study of its degradation in oxidative condition

PubMed Central

Souri, E.; Aghdami, A. Negahban; Adib, N.

2014-01-01

An HPLC method for determination of mebeverine hydrochloride (MH) in the presence of its degradation products was developed. The degradation of MH was studied under hydrolysis, oxidative and photolysis stress conditions. Under alkaline, acidic and oxidative conditions, degradation of MH was observed. The separation was performed using a Symmetry C18 column and a mixture of 50 mM KH2PO4, acetonitrile and tetrahydrfuran (THF) (63:35:2; v/v/v) as the mobile phase. No interference peaks from degradation products in acidic, alkaline and oxidative conditions were observed. The linearity, accuracy and precision of the method were studied. The method was linear over the range of 1-100 μg/ml MH (r2>0.999) and the CV values for intra-day and inter-day variations were in the range of 1.0-1.8%. The limit of quantification (LOQ) and the limit of detection (LOD) of the method were 1.0 and 0.2 μg/ml, respectively. Determination of MH in pharmaceutical dosage forms was performed using the developed method. Furthermore the kinetics of the degradation of MH in the presence of hydrogen peroxide was investigated. The proposed method could be a suitable method for routine quality control studies of mebeverine dosage forms. PMID:25657790

A stability indicating HPLC method for determination of mebeverine in the presence of its degradation products and kinetic study of its degradation in oxidative condition.

PubMed

Souri, E; Aghdami, A Negahban; Adib, N

2014-01-01

An HPLC method for determination of mebeverine hydrochloride (MH) in the presence of its degradation products was developed. The degradation of MH was studied under hydrolysis, oxidative and photolysis stress conditions. Under alkaline, acidic and oxidative conditions, degradation of MH was observed. The separation was performed using a Symmetry C18 column and a mixture of 50 mM KH2PO4, acetonitrile and tetrahydrfuran (THF) (63:35:2; v/v/v) as the mobile phase. No interference peaks from degradation products in acidic, alkaline and oxidative conditions were observed. The linearity, accuracy and precision of the method were studied. The method was linear over the range of 1-100 μg/ml MH (r(2)>0.999) and the CV values for intra-day and inter-day variations were in the range of 1.0-1.8%. The limit of quantification (LOQ) and the limit of detection (LOD) of the method were 1.0 and 0.2 μg/ml, respectively. Determination of MH in pharmaceutical dosage forms was performed using the developed method. Furthermore the kinetics of the degradation of MH in the presence of hydrogen peroxide was investigated. The proposed method could be a suitable method for routine quality control studies of mebeverine dosage forms.

Validated stability-indicating spectrophotometric methods for the determination of cefixime trihydrate in the presence of its acid and alkali degradation products.

PubMed

Mostafa, Nadia M; Abdel-Fattah, Laila; Weshahy, Soheir A; Hassan, Nagiba Y; Boltia, Shereen A

2015-01-01

Five simple, accurate, precise, and economical spectrophotometric methods have been developed for the determination of cefixime trihydrate (CFX) in the presence of its acid and alkali degradation products without prior separation. In the first method, second derivative (2D) and first derivative (1D) spectrophotometry was applied to the absorption spectra of CFX and its acid (2D) or alkali (1D) degradation products by measuring the amplitude at 289 and 308 nm, respectively. The second method was a first derivative (1DD) ratio spectrophotometric method where the peak amplitudes were measured at 311 nm in presence of the acid degradation product, and 273 and 306 nm in presence of its alkali degradation product. The third method was ratio subtraction spectrophotometry where the drug is determined at 286 nm in laboratory-prepared mixtures of CFX and its acid or alkali degradation product. The fourth method was based on dual wavelength analysis; two wavelengths were selected at which the absorbances of one component were the same, so wavelengths 209 and 252 nm were used to determine CFX in presence of its acid degradation product and 310 and 321 nm in presence of its alkali degradation product. The fifth method was bivariate spectrophotometric calibration based on four linear regression equations obtained at the wavelengths 231 and 290 nm, and 231 and 285 nm for the binary mixture of CFX with either its acid or alkali degradation product, respectively. The developed methods were successfully applied to the analysis of CFX in laboratory-prepared mixtures and pharmaceutical formulations with good recoveries, and their validation was carried out following the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. The results obtained were statistically compared with each other and showed no significant difference with respect to accuracy and precision.

Fate of CL-20 in sandy soils: degradation products as potential markers of natural attenuation.

PubMed

Monteil-Rivera, Fanny; Halasz, Annamaria; Manno, Dominic; Kuperman, Roman G; Thiboutot, Sonia; Ampleman, Guy; Hawari, Jalal

2009-01-01

Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) is an emerging explosive that may replace the currently used explosives such as RDX and HMX, but little is known about its fate in soil. The present study was conducted to determine degradation products of CL-20 in two sandy soils under abiotic and biotic anaerobic conditions. Biotic degradation was prevalent in the slightly acidic VT soil, which contained a greater organic C content, while the slightly alkaline SAC soil favored hydrolysis. CL-20 degradation was accompanied by the formation of formate, glyoxal, nitrite, ammonium, and nitrous oxide. Biotic degradation of CL-20 occurred through the formation of its denitrohydrogenated derivative (m/z 393 Da) while hydrolysis occurred through the formation of a ring cleavage product (m/z 156 Da) that was tentatively identified as CH(2)=N-C(=N-NO(2))-CH=N-CHO or its isomer N(NO(2))=CH-CH=N-CO-CH=NH. Due to their chemical specificity, these two intermediates may be considered as markers of in situ attenuation of CL-20 in soil.

HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS AFFECTING THE TROPOSPHERIC FLUX OF VINCLOZOLIN AND ITS DEGRADATION PRODUCTS

EPA Science Inventory

A laboratory chamber was used to determine hydrologic conditions that lead to the tropospheric flux of a suspected anti-androgenic dicarboximide fungicide, vinclozolin (3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-5-methyl-5-vinyl-oxzoli-dine-2,4-dione) and three degradation products from sterilized...

Global sensitivity analysis for UNSATCHEM simulations of crop production with degraded waters

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

One strategy for maintaining irrigated agricultural productivity in the face of diminishing resource availability is to make greater use of marginal quality waters and lands. A key to sustaining systems using degraded irrigation waters is salinity management. Advanced simulation models and decision ...

A New Platform for Profiling Degradation-Related Impurities Via Exploiting the Opportunities Offered by Ion-Selective Electrodes: Determination of Both Diatrizoate Sodium and Its Cytotoxic Degradation Product.

PubMed

Riad, Safaa M; Abd El-Rahman, Mohamed K; Fawaz, Esraa M; Shehata, Mostafa A

2018-05-01

Although the ultimate goal of administering active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is to save countless lives, the presence of impurities and/or degradation products in APIs or formulations may cause harmful physiological effects. Today, impurity profiling (i.e., the identity as well as the quantity of impurity in a pharmaceutical) is receiving critical attention from regulatory authorities. Despite the predominant use of spectroscopic and chromatographic methods over electrochemical methods for impurity profiling of APIs, this work investigates the opportunities offered by electroanalytical methods, particularly, ion-selective electrodes (ISEs), for profiling degradation-related impurities (DRIs) compared with conventional spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. For a meaningful comparison, diatrizoate sodium (DTA) was chosen as the anionic X-ray contrast agent based on its susceptibility to deacetylation into its cytotoxic and mutagenic degradation product, 3,5-diamino-2,4,6 triiodobenzoic acid (DTB). This cationic diamino compound can be also detected as an impurity in the final product because it is used as a synthetic precursor for the synthesis of DTA. In this study, four novel sensitive and selective sensors for the determination of both DTA and its cytotoxic degradation products are presented. Sensors I and II were developed for the determination of the anionic drug, DTA, and sensors III and IV were developed for the determination of the cationic cytotoxic impurity. The use of these novel sensors not only provides a stability-indicating method for the selective determination of DTA in the presence of its degradation product, but also permits DRI profiling. Moreover, a great advantage of these proposed ISE systems is their higher sensitivity for the quantification of DTB relative to other spectroscopic and chromatographic methods, so it can measure trace amounts of DTB impurities in DTA bulk powder and pharmaceutical formulation without a need for

Composition analysis and application of degradation products of whole feathers through a large scale of fermentation.

PubMed

Cao, Zhang-Jun; Lu, Dan; Luo, Lai-Sheng; Deng, Yun-Xia; Bian, Yong-Gang; Zhang, Xing-Qun; Zhou, Mei-Hua

2011-08-01

Feathers are one of the most abundant bioresources. They are discarded as waste in most cases and could cause environmental pollution. On the other hand, keratin constituted by amino acids is the main component of feathers. In this article, we reported on biorefined feathers and integrants and application of degraded products. The fermentation of whole chicken feathers with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia DHHJ in a scale-up of a 5-L bioreactor was investigated in this article. The fermentation process was controlled at 0.08 MPa pressure, 2.5 L/min airflow, and 300 rpm as 100% oxygen saturation level, 40°C, and pH 7.8. Feathers were almost completely degraded in the tested fermentation reaction with the following conditions: 80 g of whole feathers in 3 L fermentation broth for 72 h, seed age of 16 h, 100 mL inoculation amount, and 50% oxygen saturation level. The degraded products contain 397.1 mg/L soluble protein that has mass weight ranging from 10 to 160 kD, 336.9 mg/L amino acids, and many kinds of metal ions. The fermentation broth was evaluated as leaf fertilizer and found to increase plant growth to 82% or 66% for two- or fourfold dilutions, respectively. In addition, in a hair care assay, the broth showed a hair protective function by increasing weight, flexibility, and strength of the treated hair. The whole feathers were degraded completely by S. maltophilia DHHJ. The degraded product includes many factors to life, such as peptides, amino acids, and mineral elements. It could be applied as leaf fertilizer and hair care product.

Stability indicating methods for the analysis of cefprozil in the presence of its alkaline induced degradation product

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Attia, Khalid A. M.; Nassar, Mohammed W. I.; El-Zeiny, Mohamed B.; Serag, Ahmed

2016-04-01

Three simple, specific, accurate and precise spectrophotometric methods were developed for the determination of cefprozil (CZ) in the presence of its alkaline induced degradation product (DCZ). The first method was the bivariate method, while the two other multivariate methods were partial least squares (PLS) and spectral residual augmented classical least squares (SRACLS). The multivariate methods were applied with and without variable selection procedure (genetic algorithm GA). These methods were tested by analyzing laboratory prepared mixtures of the above drug with its alkaline induced degradation product and they were applied to its commercial pharmaceutical products.

Interconnections between mRNA degradation and RDR-dependent siRNA production in mRNA turnover in plants.

PubMed

Tsuzuki, Masayuki; Motomura, Kazuki; Kumakura, Naoyoshi; Takeda, Atsushi

2017-03-01

Accumulation of an mRNA species is determined by the balance between the synthesis and the degradation of the mRNA. Individual mRNA molecules are selectively and actively degraded through RNA degradation pathways, which include 5'-3' mRNA degradation pathway, 3'-5' mRNA degradation pathway, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase-mediated mRNA degradation pathway. Recent studies have revealed that these RNA degradation pathways compete with each other in mRNA turnover in plants and that plants have a hidden layer of non-coding small-interfering RNA production from a set of mRNAs. In this review, we summarize the current information about plant mRNA degradation pathways in mRNA turnover and discuss the potential roles of a novel class of the endogenous siRNAs derived from plant mRNAs.

Degradation and metabolite production of tylosin in anaerobic and aerobic swine-manure lagoons.

PubMed

Kolz, A C; Moorman, T B; Ong, S K; Scoggin, K D; Douglass, E A

2005-01-01

Watershed contamination from antibiotics is becoming a critical issue because of increased numbers of confined animal-feeding operations and the use of antibiotics in animal production. To understand the fate of tylosin in manure before it is land-applied, degradation in manure lagoon slurries at 22 degrees C was studied. Tylosin disappearance followed a biphasic pattern, where rapid initial loss was followed by a slow removal phase. The 90% disappearance times for tylosin, relomycin (tylosin D), and desmycosin (tylosin B) in anaerobically incubated slurries were 30 to 130 hours. Aerating the slurries reduced the 90% disappearance times to between 12 and 26 hours. Biodegradation and abiotic degradation occur, but strong sorption to slurry solids was probably the primary mechanism of tylosin disappearance. Dihydrodesmycosin and an unknown degradate with molecular mass of m/z 934.5 were detected. Residual tylosin remained in slurry after eight months of incubation, indicating that degradation in lagoons is incomplete and that residues will enter agricultural fields.

Different Spectrophotometric Methods for Simultaneous Determination of Trelagliptin and Its Acid Degradation Product.

PubMed

Mowaka, Shereen; Ayoub, Bassam M; Hassan, Mostafa A; Zaghary, Wafaa A

2018-01-01

New spectrophotometric and chemometric methods were carried out for the simultaneous assay of trelagliptin (TRG) and its acid degradation product (TAD) and applied successfully as a stability indicating assay to recently approved Zafatek® tablets. TAD was monitored using TLC to ensure complete degradation. Furthermore, HPLC was used to confirm dealing with one major acid degradation product. The proposed methods were developed by manipulating zero-order, first-derivative, and ratio spectra of TRG and TAD using simultaneous equation, first-derivative, and mean-centering methods, respectively. Using Spectra Manager II and Minitab v.14 software, the absorbance at 274 nm-260.4 nm, amplitudes at 260.4 nm-274.0 nm, and mean-centered values at 287.6 nm-257.2 nm were measured against methanol as a blank for TRG and TAD, respectively. Linearity and the other validation parameters were acceptable at concentration ranges of 5-50  μ g/mL and 2.5-25  μ g/mL for TRG and TAD, respectively. Using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), the optimized methods were compared and proved to be accurate for the simultaneous assay of TRG and TAD.

Products from the incomplete metabolism of pyrene by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kazunga, C.; Aitken, M.D.

Pyrene is a regulated pollutant at sites contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). It is mineralized by some bacteria but is also transformed to nonmineral products by a variety of other PAH-degrading bacteria. The authors examined the formation of such products by four bacterial strains and identified and further characterized the most apparently significant of these metabolites. Pseudomonas stutzeri strain P16 and Bacillus cereus strain P21 transformed pyrene primarily to cis-4,5-dihydro-4,5-dihydroxypyrene (PYRdHD), the first intermediate in the known pathway for aerobic bacterial mineralization of pyrene. Sphingomonas yanoikuyae strain R1 transformed pyrene to PYRdHD and pyrene-4,5-dione (PYRQ). Both strain R1 andmore » Pseudomonas saccharophila strain P15 transform PYRdHD to PYRQ nearly stoichiometrically, suggesting that PYRQ is formed by oxidation of PYRdHD to 4,5-dihydroxypyrene and subsequent autoxidation of this metabolite. A pyrene-mineralizing organism, Mycobacterium strain PYR-1, also transforms PYRdHD to PYRQ at high initial concentrations of PYRdHD. However, strain PYR-1 is able to use both PYRdHD and PYRQ as growth substrates. PYRdHD strongly inhibited phenanthrene degradation by strains P15 and R1 but had only a minor effect on strains P16 and P21. At their aqueous saturation concentrations, both PYRdHD and PYRQ severely inhibited benzo[a]pyrene mineralization by strains P15 and R1. Collectively, these findings suggest that products derived from pyrene transformation have the potential to accumulate in PAH-contaminated systems and that such products can significantly influence the removal of other PAH. However, these products may be susceptible to subsequent degradation by organisms able to metabolize pyrene more extensively if such organisms are present in the system.« less

Enhanced Mass Defect Filtering To Simplify and Classify Complex Mixtures of Lignin Degradation Products.

PubMed

Dier, Tobias K F; Egele, Kerstin; Fossog, Verlaine; Hempelmann, Rolf; Volmer, Dietrich A

2016-01-19

High resolution mass spectrometry was utilized to study the highly complex product mixtures resulting from electrochemical breakdown of lignin. As most of the chemical structures of the degradation products were unknown, enhanced mass defect filtering techniques were implemented to simplify the characterization of the mixtures. It was shown that the implemented ionization techniques had a major impact on the range of detectable breakdown products, with atmospheric pressure photoionization in negative ionization mode providing the widest coverage in our experiments. Different modified Kendrick mass plots were used as a basis for mass defect filtering, where Kendrick mass defect and the mass defect of the lignin-specific guaiacol (C7H7O2) monomeric unit were utilized, readily allowing class assignments independent of the oligomeric state of the product. The enhanced mass defect filtering strategy therefore provided rapid characterization of the sample composition. In addition, the structural similarities between the compounds within a degradation sequence were determined by comparison to a tentatively identified product of this compound series. In general, our analyses revealed that primarily breakdown products with low oxygen content were formed under electrochemical conditions using protic ionic liquids as solvent for lignin.

Anaerobic degradation of renewable biomass for production of methane

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rajoka, M.I.; Tabassum, R.; Malik, K.A.

1996-12-31

Anaerobic degradation of renewable biomass namely kallar grass (KG) (Leptochloafusca L. Kunth), Atriplex sp, wheat straw, cotton stalk, cotton lint and molasses was carried out at 37{degrees}C in a 15 litre fermentor, using laboratory enriched co-culture of fermentative, acetogenic and methanogenic organisms. Maximum reduction of volatile solids (VS) was from causticized KG, and cotton lint, followed by causticized wheat straw and Atriplex sp. followed by causticized wheat straw and Atriplex sp. Maximum production of methane was obtained from NaOH-pretreated KG with a process product yield (Y{sub p/s}) of 0.9 m{sup 3}/kg VS with a volumetric productivity (Q{sub p}) of 4.24more » L/day after 19 days of fermentation. Maximum methane content in the gas mixture was 96% with average of 78.6{+-}21.6. The Y{sub p/s} in 1000 litre digestor was 0.7 m{sup 3}/kg VS from a 3% suspension of uncaustisized kallar grass.« less

Biological studies on the degradation products of 3-[(S)-1'-phenylethylamino]propylaminobleomycin: a novel analog (pepleomycin).

PubMed

Takahashi, K; Ekimoto, H; Aoyagi, S; Koyu, A; Kuramochi, H; Yoshioka, O; Matsuda, A; Fujii, A; Umezawa, H

1979-01-01

Pepleomycin (PEP), 3-[(S)-1'-phenylethylamino]propylaminobleomycin has potent activity and is less pulmonary toxic than bleomycin (BLM). Biological activity and toxicity of the following degradation products of PEP have been studied in detail: the product of carbamoyl migration (ISO), the product of decarbamylation (DC), the product of ring closure of the side chain on the pyrimidine moiety (RC), the depyruvamide product (DP) and the product of an enzymatic inactivation (DA). These degradation products showed much lower activity than PEP in vitro: antimicrobial and anti-HeLa activities, inhibition of DNA synthesis in AH66 cells and the DNA strand cleavage. Acute toxicity and pulmonary toxicity were tested in mice. Results indicated much lower acute toxicity corresponding to the decreased in vitro activity when compared to PEP. DP and RC did not cause lung fibrosis in mice, while ISO and DC showed 1/2.6 and 1/5.7 degree of pulmonary toxicity, respectively, in comparison with PEP.

Persistence assessment of cyclohexyl- and norbornyl-derived ketones and their degradation products in different OECD screening tests.

PubMed

Seyfried, M; van Ginkel, C G; Boschung, A; Miffon, F; Fantini, P; Tissot, E; Baroux, L; Merle, P; Chaintreau, A

2015-07-01

The persistence of synthetic cyclohexyl- and norbornyl-derived ketones was assessed by using OECD 301F and 301D biodegradation tests. While cyclohexyl-derived ketones either reached or came close to the pass level (60%) after 60 d, the corresponding norbornyl derivatives yielded significantly less biodegradation (<40%). By analyzing extracts at 60 d, the key degradation products of four norbornyl derivatives were identified. Consistently, 2-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane carboxylic acid was found as a principal degradation product with minor quantities of bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one and 2-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane acetic acid. When the three degradation products were re-synthesized and tested individually for biodegradability, the former two were found to be ultimately biodegradable after 60 d in OECD 301D tests, thus proving non-persistence. Similarly, 2-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane acetic acid was found to be degraded significantly, albeit with long lag phases exceeding 60 d in the case of freshwater inoculum, then ultimately reaching the pass level. On the other hand, norbornyl ketones were still only partially biodegradable in the same test. We conclude that despite the potential for ultimate biodegradation of norbornyl-derived ketones, current screening tests yield an incomplete picture of their biodegradability, particularly when applying strict OECD criteria. The appearance of long lag phases when re-testing norbornyl ketone degradation products underlines the importance of extending tests to well beyond 28 and even 60 d in the case of freshwater inocula. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Teratogenicity of Ochratoxin A and the Degradation Product, Ochratoxin α, in the Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryo Model of Vertebrate Development

PubMed Central

Haq, Mehreen; Gonzalez, Nelson; Mintz, Keenan; Jaja-Chimedza, Asha; De Jesus, Christopher Lawrence; Lydon, Christina; Welch, Aaron Z.; Berry, John P.

2016-01-01

Ochratoxins, and particularly ochratoxin A (OTA), are toxic fungal-derived contaminants of food and other agricultural products. Growing evidence supports the degradation of OTA by chemical, enzymatic and/or microbial means as a potential approach to remove this mycotoxin from food products. In particular, hydrolysis of OTA to ochratoxin α (OTα) and phenylalanine is the presumptive product of degradation in most cases. In the current study, we employed the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo, as a model of vertebrate development to evaluate, the teratogenicity of OTA and OTα. These studies show that OTA is potently active in the zebrafish embryo toxicity assay (ZETA), and that toxicity is both concentration- and time-dependent with discernible and quantifiable developmental toxicity observed at nanomolar concentrations. On the other hand, OTα had no significant effect on embryo development at all concentrations tested supporting a decreased toxicity of this degradation product. Taken together, these results suggest that ZETA is a useful, and highly sensitive, tool for evaluating OTA toxicity, as well as its degradation products, toward development of effective detoxification strategies. Specifically, the results obtained with ZETA, in the present study, further demonstrate the toxicity of OTA, and support its degradation via hydrolysis to OTα as an effective means of detoxification. PMID:26861395

Teratogenicity of Ochratoxin A and the Degradation Product, Ochratoxin α, in the Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryo Model of Vertebrate Development.

PubMed

Haq, Mehreen; Gonzalez, Nelson; Mintz, Keenan; Jaja-Chimedza, Asha; De Jesus, Christopher Lawrence; Lydon, Christina; Welch, Aaron; Berry, John P

2016-02-05

Ochratoxins, and particularly ochratoxin A (OTA), are toxic fungal-derived contaminants of food and other agricultural products. Growing evidence supports the degradation of OTA by chemical, enzymatic and/or microbial means as a potential approach to remove this mycotoxin from food products. In particular, hydrolysis of OTA to ochratoxin α (OTα) and phenylalanine is the presumptive product of degradation in most cases. In the current study, we employed the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo, as a model of vertebrate development to evaluate, the teratogenicity of OTA and OTα. These studies show that OTA is potently active in the zebrafish embryo toxicity assay (ZETA), and that toxicity is both concentration- and time-dependent with discernible and quantifiable developmental toxicity observed at nanomolar concentrations. On the other hand, OTα had no significant effect on embryo development at all concentrations tested supporting a decreased toxicity of this degradation product. Taken together, these results suggest that ZETA is a useful, and highly sensitive, tool for evaluating OTA toxicity, as well as its degradation products, toward development of effective detoxification strategies. Specifically, the results obtained with ZETA, in the present study, further demonstrate the toxicity of OTA, and support its degradation via hydrolysis to OTα as an effective means of detoxification.

Preparation and characterization of two new forced degradation products of letrozole and development of a stability-indicating RP-LC method for its determination.

PubMed

Elkady, Ehab Farouk; Fouad, Marwa Ahmed

2015-11-01

Two new hydrolytic products of letrozole were identified and proved to be true degradation products obtained by alkaline and acidic degradation of the drug. The acid and amide forms of the nitrile groups of letrozole were prepared and identified by IR and mass spectroscopic techniques. Subsequently, a simple, precise and selective stability-indicating RPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of letrozole in the presence of its degradation products. Letrozole was subjected to alkali and acid hydrolysis, oxidation, thermal degradation and photo-degradation. The degradation products were well isolated from letrozole. The chromatographic method was achieved using gradient elution of the drug and its degradation products on a reversed phase Zorbax Eclipse C18 column (100mm x 4.6mm, 3.5 μm) using a mobile phase consisting of 0.01M KH₂PO₄and methanol at a flow rate of 1 mL min⁻¹. Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 230 nm. Linearity, accuracy and precision were found to be acceptable over the concentration range of 0.01-80 μgmL⁻¹. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of letrozole in bulk, plasma and in its pharmaceutical preparation.

Accelerated azo dye degradation and concurrent hydrogen production in the single-chamber photocatalytic microbial electrolysis cell.

PubMed

Hou, Yanping; Zhang, Renduo; Yu, Zebin; Huang, Lirong; Liu, Yuxin; Zhou, Zili

2017-01-01

The single-chamber microbial electrolysis cell constructed with a TiO 2 -coated photocathode, termed photocatalytic microbial electrolysis cell (PMEC), was developed to accelerate methyl orange (MO) degradation and concurrent hydrogen (H 2 ) recovery under UV irradiation. Results showed that faster MO decolorization rates were achieved from the PMEC compared with those without UV irradiation or with open circuit. With increase of MO concentrations (acetate as co-substrate) from 50 to 300mg/L at an applied voltage of 0.8V, decolorization efficiencies decreased from 98% to 76% within 12h, and cyclic H 2 production declined from 113 to 68mL. As the possible mechanism of MO degradation, bioelectrochemical reduction, co-metabolism reduction, and photocatalysis were involved; and degradation intermediates (mainly sulfanilic acid and N,N-dimethylaniline) were further degraded by OH generated from photocatalysis. This makes MO mineralization be possible in the single-chamber PMEC. Hence, the PMEC is a promising system for dyeing wastewater treatment and simultaneous H 2 production. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Thermal stability, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin and its degradation product 4-vinyl guaiacol.

PubMed

Esatbeyoglu, Tuba; Ulbrich, Katrin; Rehberg, Clemens; Rohn, Sascha; Rimbach, Gerald

2015-03-01

Curcumin is a secondary plant metabolite present in Curcuma longa L. Since curcumin is widely used as a food colorant in thermally processed food it may undergo substantial chemical changes which in turn could affect its biological activity. In the current study, curcumin was roasted at 180 °C up to 70 minutes and its kinetic of degradation was analyzed by means of HPLC-PDA and LC-MS, respectively. Roasting of curcumin resulted in the formation of the degradation products vanillin, ferulic acid, and 4-vinyl guaiacol. In cultured hepatocytes roasted curcumin as well as 4-vinyl guaiacol enhanced the transactivation of the redox-regulated transcription factor Nrf2, known to be centrally involved in cellular stress response and antioxidant defense mechanisms. The antioxidant enzyme paraoxonase 1 was induced by roasted curcumin and 4-vinyl guaiacol. Furthermore, roasted curcumin and 4-vinyl guaiacol decreased interleukin-6 gene expression in lipopolysaccharide stimulated murine macrophages. Current data suggest that curcumin undergoes degradation due to roasting and its degradation product exhibit significant biological activity in cultured cells.

Chemical nature and immunotoxicological properties of arachidonic acid degradation products formed by exposure to ozone

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Madden, M.C.; Friedman, M.; Hanley, N.

1993-06-01

Ozone (O3) exposure in vivo has been reported to degrade arachidonic acid (AA) in the lungs of rodents. The O3-degraded AA products may play a role in the responses to this toxicant. To study the chemical nature and biological activity of O3-exposed AA, we exposed AA in a cell-free, aqueous environment to air, 0.1 ppm O3, or 1.0 ppm O3 for 30-120 min. AA exposed to air was not degraded. All O3 exposures degraded > 98% of the AA to more polar products, which were predominantly aldehydic substances (as determined by reactivity with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and subsequent separation by HPLC) andmore » hydrogen peroxide. The type and amount of aldehydic substances formed depended on the O3 concentration and exposure duration. A human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B, S6 subclone) exposed in vitro to either 0.1 ppm or 1.0 ppm O3 for 1 hr produced AA-derived aldehydic substances, some of which eluted with similar retention times as the aldehydic substances derived from O3 degradation of AA in the cell-free system. In vitro, O3-degraded AA induced an increase in human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) polarization, decreased human peripheral blood T-lymphocyte proliferation in response to mitogens, and decreased human peripheral blood natural killer cell lysis of K562 target cells. The aldehydic substances, but not hydrogen peroxide, appeared to be the principal active agents responsible for the observed effects. O3-degraded AA may play a role in the PMN influx into lungs and in decreased T-lymphocyte mitogenesis and natural killer cell activity observed in humans and rodents exposed to O3.« less

Strategies to alleviate poverty and grassland degradation in Inner Mongolia: intensification vs production efficiency of livestock systems.

PubMed

Briske, David D; Zhao, Mengli; Han, Guodong; Xiu, Changbai; Kemp, David R; Willms, Walter; Havstad, Kris; Kang, Le; Wang, Zhongwu; Wu, Jianguo; Han, Xingguo; Bai, Yongfei

2015-04-01

Semi-nomadic pastoralism was replaced by sedentary pastoralism in Inner Mongolia during the 1960's in response to changes in land use policy and increasing human population. Large increases in numbers of livestock and pastoralist households (11- and 9-fold, respectively) during the past 60 yrs have variously degraded the majority of grasslands in Inner Mongolia (78 M ha) and jeopardize the livelihoods of 24 M human inhabitants. A prevailing strategy for alleviating poverty and grassland degradation emphasizes intensification of livestock production systems to maintain both pastoral livelihoods and large livestock numbers. We consider this strategy unsustainable because maximization of livestock revenue incurs high supplemental feed costs, marginalizes net household income, and promotes larger flock sizes to create a positive feedback loop driving grassland degradation. We offer an alternative strategy that increases both livestock production efficiency and net pastoral income by marketing high quality animal products to an increasing affluent Chinese economy while simultaneously reducing livestock impacts on grasslands. We further caution that this strategy be designed and assessed within a social-ecological framework capable of coordinating market expansion for livestock products, sustainable livestock carrying capacities, modified pastoral perceptions of success, and incentives for ecosystem services to interrupt the positive feedback loop that exists between subsistence pastoralism and grassland degradation in Inner Mongolia. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Characterization of Volatile Nylon 6.6 Thermal-Oxidative Degradation Products by Selective Isotopic Labeling and Cryo-GC/MS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Jonell N.; V. White, Gregory; White, Michael I.; Bernstein, Robert; Hochrein, James M.

2012-09-01

Aged materials, such as polymers, can exhibit modifications to their chemical structure and physical properties, which may render the material ineffective for its intended purpose. Isotopic labeling was used to characterize low-molecular weight volatile thermal-oxidative degradation products of nylon 6.6 in an effort to better understand and predict changes in the aged polymer. Headspace gas from aged (up to 243 d at 138 °C) nylon 6.6 monomers (adipic acid and 1,6-hexanediamine) and polymer were preconcentrated, separated, and detected using cryofocusing gas chromatography mass spectrometry (cryo-GC/MS). Observations regarding the relative concentrations observed in each chromatographic peak with respect to aging time were used in conjunction with mass spectra for samples aged under ambient air to determine the presence and identity of 18 degradation products. A comparison of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library, unlabeled, and isotopically labeled mass spectra (C-13 or N-15) and expected fragmentation pathways of each degradation product were used to identify the location of isotopically labeled atoms within the product's chemical structure, which can later be used to determine the exact origin of the species. In addition, observations for unlabeled nylon 6.6 aged in an O-18 enriched atmosphere were used to determine if the source of oxygen in the applicable degradation products was from the gaseous environment or the polymer. Approximations for relative isotopic ratios of unlabeled to labeled products are reported, where appropriate.

Different Spectrophotometric Methods for Simultaneous Determination of Trelagliptin and Its Acid Degradation Product

PubMed Central

Hassan, Mostafa A.; Zaghary, Wafaa A.

2018-01-01

New spectrophotometric and chemometric methods were carried out for the simultaneous assay of trelagliptin (TRG) and its acid degradation product (TAD) and applied successfully as a stability indicating assay to recently approved Zafatek® tablets. TAD was monitored using TLC to ensure complete degradation. Furthermore, HPLC was used to confirm dealing with one major acid degradation product. The proposed methods were developed by manipulating zero-order, first-derivative, and ratio spectra of TRG and TAD using simultaneous equation, first-derivative, and mean-centering methods, respectively. Using Spectra Manager II and Minitab v.14 software, the absorbance at 274 nm–260.4 nm, amplitudes at 260.4 nm–274.0 nm, and mean-centered values at 287.6 nm–257.2 nm were measured against methanol as a blank for TRG and TAD, respectively. Linearity and the other validation parameters were acceptable at concentration ranges of 5–50 μg/mL and 2.5–25 μg/mL for TRG and TAD, respectively. Using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), the optimized methods were compared and proved to be accurate for the simultaneous assay of TRG and TAD. PMID:29629213

Toxicology of atmospheric degradation products of selected hydrochlorofluorocarbons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaminsky, Laurence S.

1990-01-01

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is a liquid with a sharp biting odor. It has been proposed as the product of environmental degradation of the hydrochlorofluorocarbons HCFC-123, HCFC-124, HFC-134a, and HFC-125. Compounds HCFC-141b and HCFC-142b could yield mixed fluorochloroacetic acids, for which there is no available toxicologic data. The release of hydrochlorofluorocarbons into the environment could also give rise to HF, but the additional fluoride burden (1 to 3 ppb) in rainwater is trivial compared to levels in fluoridated drinking water (1 ppm), and would provide an insignificant risk to humans. Thus, in this paper only the toxocologic data on TFA is reviewed to assess the potential risks of environmental exposure.

Stability-indicating spectrophotometric methods for determination of the anticoagulant drug apixaban in the presence of its hydrolytic degradation product

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tantawy, Mahmoud A.; El-Ragehy, Nariman A.; Hassan, Nagiba Y.; Abdelkawy, Mohamed

2016-04-01

Apixaban (a novel anticoagulant agent) was subjected to a stress stability study including acid, alkali, oxidative, photolytic, and thermal degradation. The drug was found to be only liable to acidic and alkaline hydrolysis. The degradation product was then isolated and identified by IR and GC-mass spectrometry. Four spectrophotometric methods, namely; first derivative (D1), derivative ratio (DR), ratio difference (RD) and mean centering of ratio spectra (MCR), have been suggested for the determination of apixaban in presence of its hydrolytic degradation product. The proposed methods do not require any preliminary separation step. The accuracy, precision and linearity ranges of the proposed methods were determined, and the methods were validated as per ICH guidelines and the specificity was assessed by analyzing synthetic mixtures containing different percentages of the degradation product with the drug. The developed methods were successfully applied for the determination of apixaban in bulk powder and its tablet dosage form.

Stability-indicating spectrophotometric methods for determination of the anticoagulant drug apixaban in the presence of its hydrolytic degradation product.

PubMed

Tantawy, Mahmoud A; El-Ragehy, Nariman A; Hassan, Nagiba Y; Abdelkawy, Mohamed

2016-04-15

Apixaban (a novel anticoagulant agent) was subjected to a stress stability study including acid, alkali, oxidative, photolytic, and thermal degradation. The drug was found to be only liable to acidic and alkaline hydrolysis. The degradation product was then isolated and identified by IR and GC-mass spectrometry. Four spectrophotometric methods, namely; first derivative (D(1)), derivative ratio (DR), ratio difference (RD) and mean centering of ratio spectra (MCR), have been suggested for the determination of apixaban in presence of its hydrolytic degradation product. The proposed methods do not require any preliminary separation step. The accuracy, precision and linearity ranges of the proposed methods were determined, and the methods were validated as per ICH guidelines and the specificity was assessed by analyzing synthetic mixtures containing different percentages of the degradation product with the drug. The developed methods were successfully applied for the determination of apixaban in bulk powder and its tablet dosage form. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biosurfactant production by Pseudomonas fluorescens growing on molasses and its application in phenol degradation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suryantia, Venty; Marliyana, Soerya Dewi; Wulandari, Astri

2015-12-01

A molasses based medium for the biosurfactant production by Pseudomonas fluorescens was developed, where the effect of pre-treated of molasses and medium composition were evaluated. Biosurfactant production was followed by measuring optical density (OD), surface tension and emulsifying index (E24) over 12 days of fermentation. The optimum condition for the biosurfactant production was obtained when a medium containing of 8 g/L nutrient broth, 5 g/L NaCl, 1 g/L NH4NO3 and 5% v/v pre-treated molasses with centrifugation was used as media with 3 days of fermentation. The biosurfactant was identified as a rhamnolipid type biosurfactant which had critical micelle concentration (CMC) value of 801 mg/L and was able to reduce the surface tension of the water from 80 mN/m to 51 mN/m. The biosurfactants had water in oil (w/o) emulsion type. Biosurfactant was able to emulsify various hydrocarbons, which were able to decrase the interfacial tension about 50-75% when benzyl chloride, anisaldehyde and palm oil were used as immiscible compounds. The biosurfactant exhibited the E24 value of about 50% and the stable emulsion was reached up to 30 days when lubricant was used as an immiscible compound. Up to 68% of phenol was degraded in the presence of biosurfactant within 15 days, whereas only 56% of phenol was degraded in the absence of biosurfactant. Overall, the results exhibited that molasses are recommended for the rhamnolipids production which possessed good surface-active properties and had potential application in the enhancement of phenol degradation.

Investigation of relationships between removals of tetracycline and degradation products and physicochemical parameters in municipal wastewater treatment plant.

PubMed

Topal, Murat; Uslu Şenel, Gülşad; Öbek, Erdal; Arslan Topal, E Işıl

2016-05-15

Determination of the effect of physicochemical parameters on the removal of tetracycline (TC) and degradation products is important because of the importance of the removal of antibiotics in Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between removals of TC and degradation products and physicochemical parameters in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant (MWWTP). For this aim, (i) the removals of physicochemical parameters in a MWWTP located in Elazığ city (Turkey) were determined (ii) the removals of TC and degradation products in MWWTP were determined (iii) the relationships between removals of TC and degradation products and physicochemical parameters were investigated. TC, 4-epitetracycline (ETC), 4-epianhydrotetracycline (EATC), anhydrotetracycline (ATC), and physicochemical parameters (pH, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), suspended solids (SS), BOD5, COD, total organic carbon (TOC), NH4(+)-N, NO2(-)-N, NO3(-)-N and O-PO4(-3)) were determined. The calculation of the correlation coefficients of relationships between the physicochemical parameters and TC, EATC, ATC showed that, among the investigated parameters, EATC and SS most correlated. The removals of other physicochemical parameters were not correlated with TC, EATC and ATC. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Degradation behavior and products of malathion and chlorpyrifos spiked in apple juice by ultrasonic treatment.

PubMed

Zhang, Yuanyuan; Xiao, Zhiyong; Chen, Fang; Ge, Yiqiang; Wu, Jihong; Hu, Xiaosong

2010-01-01

Apple juice (13 degrees Brix) spiked with malathion and chlorpyrifos (2-3 mg l(-1) of each compound) was treated under different ultrasonic irradiations. Results showed that ultrasonic treatment was effective for the degradation of malathion and chlorpyrifos in apple juice, and the output power and treatment time significantly influenced the degradation of both pesticides (p<0.05). The maximum degradations were achieved for malathion (41.7%) and chlorpyrifos (82.0%) after the ultrasonic treatment at 500 W for 120 min. The degradation kinetics of both pesticides were fitted to the first-order kinetics model well (R(2)>or=0.90). The kinetics parameters indicated that chlorpyrifos was much more labile to ultrasonic treatment than malathion. Furthermore, malaoxon and chlorpyrifos oxon were identified as the degradation products of malathion and chlorpyrifos by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively. The oxidation pathway through the hydroxyl radical attack on the P=S bond of pesticide molecules was proposed.

Activity of meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba) seed meal glucolimnanthin degradation products against soilborne pathogens

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba L.) is a herbaceous winter-spring annual grown as a commercial oilseed crop. The meal remaining after oil extraction from the seed contains up to 4% of the glucosinolate glucolimnanthin. Degradation of glucolimnanthin yields toxic breakdown products, and therefore the mea...

Chemical Degradation of the Cathodic Electrical Contact Between Carbon and Cast Iron in Aluminum Production Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brassard, Martin; Désilets, Martin; Soucy, Gervais; Bilodeau, Jean-François; Forté, Martin

2017-06-01

The cathodic carbon to cast iron electrical contact degradation is one of the factors to consider in the cathode voltage drop (CVD) increase over the lifetime of aluminum production cells. Lab-scale experiments were carried out to study the cast iron to carbon interface chemical degradation and the impact of important cell parameters like temperature and bath chemistry. Laboratory degradation results were compared with industrial samples. A thermoelectric Ansys numerical model was then used to predict the effect of cast iron surface degradation over CVD. Results show that the aluminum formation on the cast iron surface and its subsequent diffusion creates an immiscible mixture of Fe-Al metal alloy and electrolytic bath. Disparities were also observed between industrial samples taken from two different technologies, suggesting that the degradation can be slowed down. Thermoelectric calculations finally revealed that the impact of the contact resistance augmentation is by far greater than the cast iron degradation.

Optimization of liquid-state fermentation conditions for the glyphosate degradation enzyme production of strain Aspergillus oryzae by ultraviolet mutagenesis.

PubMed

Fu, Gui-Ming; Li, Ru-Yi; Li, Kai-Min; Hu, Ming; Yuan, Xiao-Qiang; Li, Bin; Wang, Feng-Xue; Liu, Cheng-Mei; Wan, Yin

2016-11-16

This study aimed to obtain strains with high glyphosate-degrading ability and improve the ability of glyphosate degradation enzyme by the optimization of fermentation conditions. Spore from Aspergillus oryzae A-F02 was subjected to ultraviolet mutagenesis. Single-factor experiment and response surface methodology were used to optimize glyphosate degradation enzyme production from mutant strain by liquid-state fermentation. Four mutant strains were obtained and named as FUJX 001, FUJX 002, FUJX 003, and FUJX 004, in which FUJX 001 gave the highest total enzyme activity. Starch concentration at 0.56%, GP concentration at 1,370 mg/l, initial pH at 6.8, and temperature at 30°C were the optimum conditions for the improved glyphosate degradation endoenzyme production of A. oryzae FUJX 001. Under these conditions, the experimental endoenzyme activity was 784.15 U/100 ml fermentation liquor. The result (784.15 U/100 ml fermentation liquor) was approximately 14-fold higher than that of the original strain. The result highlights the potential of glyphosate degradation enzyme to degrade glyphosate.

Isolation of oxidative degradation products of atorvastatin with supercritical fluid chromatography.

PubMed

Klobčar, Slavko; Prosen, Helena

2015-12-01

The isolation of four oxidative degradation products of atorvastatin using preparative high-performance liquid chromatography applying at least two chromatographic steps is known from the literature. In this paper it is shown that the same four impurities could be isolated from similarly prepared mixtures in only one step using supercritical fluid chromatography. The methods for separation were developed and optimized. The preparation of the mixtures was altered in such a way as to enhance the concentration of desired impurities. Appropriate solvents were applied for collection of separated impurities in order to prevent degradation. The structures of the isolated impurities were confirmed and their purity determined. The preparative supercritical fluid chromatography has proven to be superior to preparative HPLC regarding achieved purity of standards applying fewer chromatographic as well as isolation steps. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The effects of the antibiotics ampicillin, florfenicol, sulfamethazine, and tylosin on biogas production and their degradation efficiency during anaerobic digestion.

PubMed

Mitchell, Shannon M; Ullman, Jeffrey L; Teel, Amy L; Watts, Richard J; Frear, Craig

2013-12-01

The impacts of four common animal husbandry antibiotics (ampicillin, florfenicol, sulfamethazine, and tylosin) on anaerobic digestion (AD) treatment efficiency and the potential for antibiotic degradation during digestion were evaluated. Sulfamethazine and ampicillin exhibited no impact on total biogas production up to 280 and 350 mg/L, respectively, although ampicillin inhibited biogas production rates during early stages of AD. Tylosin reduced biogas production by 10-38% between 130 and 913 mg/L. Florfenicol reduced biogas by ≈ 5%, 40% and 75% at 6.4, 36 and 210 mg/L, respectively. These antibiotic concentrations are higher than commonly seen for mixed feedlot manure, so impacts on full scale AD should be minimal. Antibiotic degradation products were found, confirming AD effectively degraded ampicillin, florfenicol, and tylosin, although some products were persistent throughout the process. Contamination of AD solid and liquid effluents with sulfamethazine and antibiotic transformation products from florfenicol and tylosin could present an environmental concern. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Estrogen Degraders and Estrogen Degradation Pathway Identified in an Activated Sludge.

PubMed

Chen, Yi-Lung; Fu, Han-Yi; Lee, Tzong-Huei; Shih, Chao-Jen; Huang, Lina; Wang, Yu-Sheng; Ismail, Wael; Chiang, Yin-Ru

2018-05-15

The environmental release and fate of estrogens are becoming an increasing public concern. Bacterial degradation has been considered the main process for eliminating estrogens from wastewater treatment plants. Various bacterial isolates are reportedly capable of aerobic estrogen degradation, and several estrogen degradation pathways have been proposed in proteobacteria and actinobacteria. However, the ecophysiological relevance of estrogen-degrading bacteria in the environment is unclear. In this study, we investigated the estrogen degradation pathway and corresponding degraders in activated sludge collected from the Dihua Sewage Treatment Plant, Taipei, Taiwan. Cultivation-dependent and cultivation-independent methods were used to assess estrogen biodegradation in the collected activated sludge. Estrogen metabolite profile analysis revealed the production of pyridinestrone acid and two A/B-ring cleavage products in activated sludge incubated with estrone (1 mM), which are characteristic of the 4,5- seco pathway. PCR-based functional assays detected sequences closely related to alphaproteobacterial oecC , a key gene of the 4,5- seco pathway. Metagenomic analysis suggested that Novosphingobium spp. are major estrogen degraders in estrone-amended activated sludge. Novosphingobium sp. strain SLCC, an estrone-degrading alphaproteobacterium, was isolated from the examined activated sludge. The general physiology and metabolism of this strain were characterized. Pyridinestrone acid and the A/B-ring cleavage products were detected in estrone-grown strain SLCC cultures. The production of pyridinestrone acid was also observed during the aerobic incubation of strain SLCC with 3.7 nM (1 μg/liter) estrone. This concentration is close to that detected in many natural and engineered aquatic ecosystems. The presented data suggest the ecophysiological relevance of Novosphingobium spp. in activated sludge. IMPORTANCE Estrogens, which persistently contaminate surface water

Simulation chamber studies of the atmospheric degradation of xylene oxidation products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clifford, G.; Rea, G.; Thuener, L.; Wenger, J.

2003-04-01

Aromatic compounds are emitted to the atmosphere from their use in automobile fuels and solvents. In addition to being important primary pollutants, many aromatics, including the xylenes, possess high photochemical reactivity and make a major contribution to the formation of oxidants, such as ozone and nitrates, in the troposphere. The atmospheric oxidation of aromatics produces a wide variety of products and the atmospheric reactivity of many of these species is unknown. The aim of this work was to study the atmospheric degradation processes for dimethylphenols, tolualdehydes and dicarbonyl compounds which are produced from the hydroxyl radical initiated oxidation of the xylenes. Experiments on the hydroxyl (OH) and nitrate radical initiated oxidation of dimethylphenols and tolualdehydes have been performed in a large atmospheric simulation chamber in our laboratory. The chamber is made of FEP foil and has a volume of about 4750 litres. It is equipped with gas chromatography, GC-MS, and in situ FTIR spectroscopy for chemical analysis and a scanning mobility particle sizer for aerosol measurements. Rate coefficients have been determined for the reactions of hydroxyl and nitrate radicals with dimethylphenols and tolualdehydes. Gas-phase products and the yield of secondary organic aerosol have also been determined for the OH-initiated oxidation of these compounds. Mechanisms for the formation of the products are proposed. The photolysis of the unsaturated dicarbonyls, butenedial and 4-oxo-pent-2-enal, has been studied using real sunlight at the European Photoreactor (EUPHORE) in Valencia, Spain. Photolysis rates were measured and indicate that photolysis by sunlight is the major atmospheric degradation process for these compounds. Product studies show the formation of a ketene intermediate that decays to form five membered ring compounds such as furanones and maleic anhydride. Mechanisms for the formation of the products are proposed. Finally, the data obtained in

Surface Analysis of Nerve Agent Degradation Products by ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Report This sampling and analytical procedure was developed and applied by a single laboratory to investigate nerve agent degradation products, which may persist at a contaminated site, via surface wiping followed by analytical characterization. The performance data presented demonstrate the fitness-for-purpose regarding surface analysis in that single laboratory. Surfaces (laminate, glass, galvanized steel, vinyl tile, painted drywall and treated wood) were wiped with cotton gauze wipes, sonicated, extracted with distilled water, and filtered. Samples were analyzed with direct injection electrospray ionization liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-LC/MS/MS) without derivatization. Detection limit data were generated for all analytes of interest on a laminate surface. Accuracy and precision data were generated from each surface fortified with these analytes.

New approach for determination of the degradation products of fenspiride hydrochloride found in oral liquid formulations.

PubMed

Cioroiu, Bogdan I; Caba, Ioana C; Prisăcaru, Irina; Cioroiu, Mona E; Lazar, Mihai I; Niculaua, Marius

2018-05-01

Fenspiride hydrochloride (FNS) is used in treating chronic inflammatory diseases, most commonly as a liquid oral solution. FNS produces degradation products along with fenspiride N-oxide (FNO) and 1-phenylethyl-4-hydroxy-4-aminomethyl piperidine hydrochloride (PHAP). We aimed to develop and validate a chromatographic method in order to identify the main degradation products in the presence of other compounds from a liquid preparation. The method used a dual gradient using two buffer solutions: the first with pH 4.5 (buffer 1, pH 4.5-MeOH 90:10%, v/v) and the second with pH 2.9 (buffer 2, pH 2.9-acetronitrile-methanol, 65:15:10%, v/v/v). As mentioned, there was a modification of the organic mixture, starting with 10% methanol and ending with a mixture of acetonitrile-methanol (15:10%, v/v). The flow-rate was 1.5 mL/min. According to the elution program, experimental conditions started with 100% solution S1, which decreased to 0% and, simultaneously, solution S2 increased to 100% during the first 10 min and was maintained for a further 5 min. After 15 min, initial conditions were re-established. The linearity interval was 0.5-2 μg/mL and the minimum correlation coefficient was 0.999. The recovery factor was 100.47-103.17% and the limit of quantification was 0.19-0.332 μg/mL. Intra-day maximum precision was 4.08% for FNS and 2.65% for PHAP. This double-gradient mobile phase produced good specificity in relation to the degradation products of FNS and other constituents of the oral liquid formulation. Forced degradation studies revealed other related substances that were confirmed in mass balance analyses. Degradation products were confirmed in acidic, basic and oxidative media. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effects of Climate Warming on Organic Carbon Degradation and Methylmercury Production in an Arctic Tundra Soil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, B.; Yang, Z.; Lu, X.; Liang, L.; Graham, D. E.; Wullschleger, S. D.

2016-12-01

Climate warming increases microbial activity and stimulates the degradation of stored soil organic carbon (SOC) in Arctic tundra. Studies have shown that the rates of SOC degradation are affected by the substrate quality or chemical composition of SOC, but it remains unclear which pools of SOC are the most vulnerable to rapid breakdown and what mechanisms are involved. Additionally, little is known concerning the effects of warming on microbial mercury methylation and how it is coupled to SOC degradation. Using a suite of analytical techniques, we examined the dynamic consumption and production of labile SOC compounds, including reducing sugars, alcohols, and low-molecular-weight organic acids during an 8-month anoxic incubation with a high-centered polygon trough tundra soil from Barrow, Alaska. We show that reducing sugars and alcohols in thawed permafrost largely account for the initial rapid release of CO2 and CH4 through anaerobic fermentation, whereas the fermentation products such as acetate and formate are subsequently utilized as primary substrates for methanogenesis. Degradation of labile SOC is also found to rapidly fueling the biosynthesis of methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin in tundra soil. Mercury methylation is positively correlated to the production of CH4 and ferrous ion, suggesting the linkages among microbial pathways of methanogenesis, iron reduction, and mercury methylation. Additionally, we found that freshly amended mercury is more bioavailable and susceptible to microbial methylation than preexisting Hg, particularly in the deep mineral soil. These observations suggest that climate warming and permafrost thaw not only impact on the decomposition of stored SOC and emission of greenhouse gases but also increase production of toxic methylmercury in Arctic tundra.

Sorption and degradation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in soils.

PubMed

Yu, Yong; Liu, Yin; Wu, Laosheng

2013-06-01

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are one class of the most urgent emerging contaminants, which have drawn much public and scientific concern due to widespread contamination in aquatic environment. Most studies on the environmental fate and behavior of PPCPs have focused on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Some other compounds with high concentrations were less mentioned. In this study, sorption and degradation of five selected PPCPs, including bisphenol A (BPA), carbamazepine (CBZ), gemfibrozil (GFB), octylphenol (OP), and triclosan (TCS) have been investigated using three different soils. Sorption isotherms of all tested PPCPs in soils were well described by Freundlich equation. TCS and OP showed moderate to strong sorption, while the sorption of GFB and CBZ in soils was negligible. Degradation of PPCPs in three soils was generally fitted first-order exponential decay model, with half-lives (t 1/2) varying from 9.8 to 39.1 days. Sterilization could prolong the t 1/2 of PPCPs in soil, indicating that microbial activity played an important role in the degradation of these chemicals in soils. Degradation of PPCPs in soils was also influenced by the soil organic carbon (f oc) contents. Results from our data show that sorption to the soils varied among the different PPCPs, and their sorption affinity on soil followed the order of TCS > OP > BPA > GFB > CBZ. The degradation of the selected PPCPs in soil was influenced by the microbial activity and soil type. The poor sorption and relative persistence of CBZ suggest that it may pose a high leaching risk for groundwater contamination when recycled for irrigation.

Effect of exogenous xylanase on rumen in vitro gas production and degradability of wheat straw.

PubMed

Togtokhbayar, Norovsambuu; Cerrillo, María A; Rodríguez, Germán Buendía; Elghandour, Mona M M Y; Salem, Abdelfattah Z M; Urankhaich, Chuluunbaatar; Jigjidpurev, Sukhbaatar; Odongo, Nicholas E; Kholif, Ahmed E

2015-08-01

The objective of this study was to determine effects of xylanase on in vitro gas production (GP) and in sacco degradability of wheat straw. Rumen fluid was obtained from three Mongolian native goats fitted with permanent rumen cannulas. The trial consisted of five doses (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 μL/g of substrate) of a commercial xylanase (Dyadic® xylanase PLUS, Dyadic International, Inc., Jupiter, FL, USA). For the in sacco degradability, different levels of xylanase enzyme were added directly onto 2 g of wheat straw in nylon bags and incubated in the rumen for 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h to estimate degradability of wheat straw. Total GP increased (P < 0.001) at all times of incubation at intermediate levels of xylanase. Methane production had a similar pattern at 3 and 12 h of incubation; increased linearly at 24 h of incubation, and was unaffected at 6 and 48 h of incubation. Rumen NH3 -N concentration increased linearly at 3 h and the highest values were observed with intermediate enzyme levels. All ruminal volatile fatty acids increased linearly with intermediate levels of the fibrolytic enzyme. The in sacco rate of dry matter degradation decreased linearly (P = 0.020) with increasing enzymes. Intermediate levels of xylanase improved rumen kinetic fermentation and degradability. The outcome of this research indicated that the application of xylanase enzyme could improve in vitro GP fermentation of wheat straw. © 2015 Japanese Society of Animal Science.

Compendium of photovoltaic degradation rates: Photovoltaic degradation rates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jordan, Dirk C.; Kurtz, Sarah R.; VanSant, Kaitlyn

Published data on photovoltaic (PV) degradation measurements were aggregated and re-examined. The subject has seen an increased interest in recent years resulting in more than 11 000 degradation rates in almost 200 studies from 40 different countries. As studies have grown in number and size, we found an impact from sampling bias attributable to size and accuracy. Because of the correlational nature of this study we examined the data in several ways to minimize this bias. We found median degradation for x-Si technologies in the 0.5-0.6%/year range with the mean in the 0.8-0.9%/year range. Hetero-interface technology (HIT) and microcrystalline siliconmore » (..mu..c-Si) technologies, although not as plentiful, exhibit degradation around 1%/year and resemble thin-film products more closely than x-Si. Several studies showing low degradation for copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) have emerged. Higher degradation for cadmium telluride (CdTe) has been reported, but these findings could reflect a convolution of less accurate studies and longer stabilization periods for some products. Significant deviations for beginning-of-life measurements with respect to nameplate rating have been documented over the last 35 years. Therefore, degradation rates that use nameplate rating as reference may be significantly impacted. Studies that used nameplate rating as reference but used solar simulators showed less variation than similar studies using outdoor measurements, even when accounting for different climates. This could be associated with confounding effects of measurement uncertainty and soiling that take place outdoors. Hotter climates and mounting configurations that lead to sustained higher temperatures may lead to higher degradation in some, but not all, products. Wear-out non-linearities for the worst performing modules have been documented in a few select studies that took multiple measurements of an ensemble of modules during the lifetime of the system. However, the

Reaction kinetics and oxidation product formation in the degradation of acetaminophen by ferrate (VI).

PubMed

Wang, Hongyu; Liu, Yibing; Jiang, Jia-Qian

2016-07-01

This paper investigates the degradation of acetaminophen (AAP) in aqueous solutions by ferrate (VI), aiming to propose the kinetics, pathways and the oxidation products' formation in the AAP degradation. A series of jar tests were undertaken over ferrate (VI) dosages (molar ratios of ferrate (VI):AAP, 5:1 to 25:1) and pH values (4-11). The effects of co-existing ions (0.2-5 mM) and humic acid (10-50 mg l(-1)) on the AAP removal were investigated. Ferrate (VI) can remove 99.6% AAP (from 1000 μg l(-1)) in 60 min under study conditions when majority of the AAP reduction occurred in the first 5 min. The treatment performance depended on the ferrate(VI) dosage, pH and the type and strength of co-existing ions and humic acid. Raising ferrate (VI) dosage with optimal pH 7 improved the AAP degradation. In the presence of humic acid, the AAP degradation by ferrate (VI) was promoted in a short period (<30 min) but then inhibited with increasing in humic acid contents. The presence of Al(3+), CO3(2-) and PO4(3-) ions declined but the existence of K(+), Na(+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) ions can improve the AAP removal. The catalytic function of Al(3+) on the decomposition of ferrate (VI) in aqueous solution was found. The kinetics of the reaction between ferrate (VI) and AAP was pseudo first-order for ferrete (VI) and pseudo second-order for AAP. The pseudo rate constant of ferrate (VI) with AAP was 1.4 × 10(-5) L(2) mg(-2) min(-1). Three oxidation products (OPs) were identified and the AAP degradation pathways were proposed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Magnesium degradation products: effects on tissue and human metabolism.

PubMed

Seitz, J-M; Eifler, R; Bach, Fr-W; Maier, H J

2014-10-01

Owing to their mechanical properties, metallic materials present a promising solution in the field of resorbable implants. The magnesium metabolism in humans differs depending on its introduction. The natural, oral administration of magnesium via, for example, food, essentially leads to an intracellular enrichment of Mg(2+) . In contrast, introducing magnesium-rich substances or implants into the tissue results in a different decomposition behavior. Here, exposing magnesium to artificial body electrolytes resulted in the formation of the following products: magnesium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, and magnesium chloride, as well as calcium and magnesium apatites. Moreover, it can be assumed that Mg(2+) , OH(-) ions, and gaseous hydrogen are also present and result from the reaction for magnesium in an aqueous environment. With the aid of physiological metabolic processes, the organism succeeds in either excreting the above mentioned products or integrating them into the natural metabolic process. Only a burst release of these products is to be considered a problem. A multitude of general tissue effects and responses from the Mg's degradation products is considered within this review, which is not targeting specific implant classes. Furthermore, common alloying elements of magnesium and their hazardous potential in vivo are taken into account. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

An assessment of potential degradation products in the gas-phase reactions of alternative fluorocarbons in the troposphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Niki, Hiromi

1990-01-01

Tropospheric chemical transformations of alternative hydrofluorocarbons (HCF's) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC's) are governed by hydroxyl radical initiated oxidation processes, which are likely to be analogous to those known for alkanes and chloroalkanes. A schematic diagram is used to illustrate plausible reaction mechanisms for their atmospheric degradation, where R, R', and R'' denote the F- and/or Cl-substituted alkyl groups derived from HCF's and HCFC's subsequent th the initial H atom abstraction by HO radicals. At present, virtually no kinetic data exist for the majority of these reactions, particularly for those involving RO. Potential degradation intermediates and final products include a large variety of fluorine- and/or chlorine-containing carbonyls, acids, peroxy acids, alcohols, hydrogen peroxides, nitrates and peroxy nitrates, as summarized in the attached table. Probably atmospheric lifetimes of these compounds were also estimated. For some carbonyl and nitrate products shown in this table, there seem to be no significant gas-phase removal mechanisms. Further chemical kinetics and photochemical data are needed to quantitatively assess the atmospheric fate of HCF's and HCFC's, and of the degradation products postulated in this report.

Development and Validation of a Stability-Indicating Assay of Etofenamate by RP-HPLC and Characterization of Degradation Products

PubMed Central

Peraman, Ramalingam; Nayakanti, Devanna; Dugga, Hari Hara Theja; Kodikonda, Sudhakara

2013-01-01

A validated stability-indicating RP-HPLC method for etofenamate (ETF) was developed by separating its degradation products on a C18 (250 mm × 4.6 mm 5 μm) Qualisil BDS column using a phosphate buffer (pH-adjusted to 6.0 with orthophosphoric acid) and methanol in the ratio of 20:80 % v/v as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The column effluents were monitored by a photodiode array detector set at 286 nm. The method was validated in terms of specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, detection limit, quantification limit, and robustness. Forced degradation of etofenamate was carried out under acidic, basic, thermal, photo, and peroxide conditions and the major degradation products of acidic and basic degradation were isolated and characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and mass spectral studies. The mass balance of the method varied between 92–99%. PMID:24482770

Degradation of a lyophilized formulation of BMS-204352: identification of degradants and role of elastomeric closures.

PubMed

Nassar, Munir N; Nesarikar, Vishwas V; Lozano, Ruben; Huang, Yande; Palaniswamy, Venkatapuram

2005-01-01

The purpose of this study was to identify two degradation products formed in the parenteral lyophilized formulation of BMS-204352, investigate the possible role of elastomeric closures in their formation, and develop a strategy to minimize/control their formation. The first degradant was identified as the hydroxymethyl derivative (formaldehyde adduct, BMS-215842) of the drug substance formed by the reaction of BMS-204352 with formaldehyde. Structure confirmation was based on liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC/MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and chromatographic comparison to an authentic sample of the hydroxymethyl degradation product, BMS-215842. To confirm the hypothesis that formaldehyde originated from the rubber closure, migrated into the product, and reacted with BMS-204352 drug substance to form the hydroxymethyl degradant, lyophilized drug product was manufactured, the vials were stoppered with two different rubber closure formulations, and its stability was monitored. The formaldehyde adduct degradant was observed only in the drug product vials stoppered with one of the rubber closures that was evaluated. Although formaldehyde has not been detected historically as leachable and is not an added ingredient in the rubber formulation, information obtained from the stopper manufacturer indicated that the reinforcing agent used in the stopper formulation may be a potential source of formaldehyde. The second degradant was identified as the desfluoro hydroxy analog (BMS-188929) based on LC/MS, NMR, and chromatographic comparison to an authentic sample of the desfluoro hydroxy degradation product.

The effect of poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates degradation rate on nitrous oxide production in a denitrifying phosphorus removal system.

PubMed

Wei, Yan; Wang, Shuying; Ma, Bin; Li, Xiyao; Yuan, Zhiguo; He, Yuelan; Peng, Yongzhen

2014-10-01

Poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and free nitrous acid (FNA) have been revealed as significant factors causing nitrous oxide (N2O) production in denitrifying phosphorus removal systems. In this study, the effect of PHA degradation rate on N2O production was studied at low FNA levels. N2O production always maintained at approximately 40% of the amount of nitrite reduced independent of the PHA degradation rate. The electrons distributed to nitrite reduction were 1.6 times that to N2O reduction. This indicated that electron competition between these two steps was not affected by the PHA degradation rate. Continuous feed of nitrate was proposed, and demonstrated to reduce N2O accumulation by 75%. While being kept low, a possible compounding effect of a low-level FNA could not be ruled out. The sludge used likely contained both polyphosphate- and glycogen-accumulating organisms, and the results could not be simply attributed to either group of organisms. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Degradation products from naturally aged paper leaves of a 16th-century-printed book: a spectrochemical study.

PubMed

Bronzato, Maddalena; Calvini, Paolo; Federici, Carlo; Bogialli, Sara; Favaro, Gabriella; Meneghetti, Moreno; Mba, Miriam; Brustolon, Marina; Zoleo, Alfonso

2013-07-15

In this work, we present a wide-range spectrochemical analysis of the degradation products from naturally aged paper. The samples obtained from wash waters used during the de-acidification treatment of leaves from a 16th-century-printed book were analysed through NMR, IR, Raman UV/Vis, EPR and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy and HPLC-MS and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis. By these methods we also studied some of the previous samples treated by acidification (sample AP) and catalytic hydrogenation (sample HP). Crossing all the data, we obtained precise indications about the main functional groups occurring on the degraded, water-soluble cellulose oligomers. These results point out that the chromophores responsible for browning are conjugated carbonyl and carboxyl compounds. As a whole, we show that the analysis of wash waters, used in the usual conservation treatments of paper de-acidification, gives much valuable information about both the conservation state of the book and the degradation reactions occurring on the leaves, due to the huge amount of cellulose by-products contained in the samples. We propose therefore this procedure as a new very convenient general method to obtain precious and normally unavailable information on the cellulose degradation by-products from naturally aged paper. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Developmental disorders in embryos of the frog Xenopus laevis induced by chloroacetanilide herbicides and their degradation products.

PubMed

Osano, Odipo; Admiraal, Wim; Otieno, Dismas

2002-02-01

Pesticides are known to transform in the environment, but so far the study of their effects in the environment has concentrated on the parent compounds, thereby neglecting the effects of the degradation products. The embryotoxic, developmental, and teratogenic effects of chloroacetanilide herbicides and their environmentally stable aniline degradation products were investigated in this study in view of the massive application of alachlor and metolachlor. Embryos at midblastula to early gastrula stages of a locally abundant African clawed frog Xenopus laevis were used as test organisms. The embryos were exposed to the test chemicals for 96 h in each experiment. Alachlor is more embryotoxic (the concentration causing 50% embryo lethality, 96-h LC50 = 23 microM [6.1 mg/L]) and teratogenic (teratogenic index [TI] = 1.7) than metolachlor (96-h LC50 = 48 microM [13.6 mg/L], TI = 0.2). The degradation products of alachlor and metolachlor, respectively, 2,6-diethylaniline (96-h LC50 = 13 microM [19.4 mg/L], TI = 2.1) and 2-ethyl-6-methyaniline (96-h LC50 = 509 microM [68.8 mg/L], TI = 2.7), are less embryotoxic but more teratogenic than their parent compounds. The most common teratogenic effects observed were edema for alachlor as opposed to axial flexures and eye abnormalities for 2,6-diethylaniline and 2-ethyl-6-methylaniline. Metolachlor is found to be an example of a nonteratogenic herbicide that upon degradation loses toxicity but gains teratogenicity, and both the herbicides, metolachlor and alachlor, are potential sources of teratogenic transformation products.

Photochemical fate and photocatalysis of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, degradation product of chlorpyrifos.

PubMed

Žabar, Romina; Sarakha, Mohamed; Lebedev, Albert T; Polyakova, Olga V; Trebše, Polonca

2016-02-01

In this study we have focused on 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP), degradation product of chlorpyrifos. Photolysis experiments were conducted in order to elucidate its degradation mechanism. Identification of products was performed using the LC-MS technique. To evaluate the mineralization efficiency, TiO2 photocatalytic study was performed. Under photolytic experimental conditions, the concentration of TCP after 120 min of irradiation reached 5.9 ± 1.5% of the initial concentration, while chloride concentration reached approximately 73% of total chloride concentration. The TOC measurements after 120 min of photocatalytic degradation experiment revealed high mineralization rate, i.e. 53.6 ± 1.9%, while chloride concentration reached 26.6 mg L(-1) what means almost quantitative transformation of organic chlorine into chloride. TIC chromatogram (ESI, negative ion mode) of the reaction mixture after 30 min of irradiation revealed the presence of several peaks. One of them has already been reported previously. Two other products have been identified in this study for the first time. They have been formed by radical attack of the reactive OH(•) species on the carbonyl group followed by the corresponding N-C or C-C bond cleavages and recyclization with formation of the pyrrol structures substituted with carboxylic groups. Both deprotonated molecules easily lose CO2 in ESI conditions. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analysis of neem oils by LC-MS and degradation kinetics of azadirachtin-A in a controlled environment. Characterization of degradation products by HPLC-MS-MS.

PubMed

Barrek, Sami; Paisse, Olivier; Grenier-Loustalot, Marie-Florence

2004-02-01

Since it was first isolated, the oil extracted from seeds of neem (Azadirachtin indica A juss) has been extensively studied in terms of its efficacy as an insecticide. Several industrial formulations are produced as emulsifiable solutions containing a stated titer of the active ingredient azadirachtin-A (AZ-A). The work reported here is the characterization of a formulation of this insecticide marketed under the name of Neem-azal T/S and kinetic studies of the major active ingredient of this formulation. We initially performed liquid-liquid extraction to isolate the neem oil from other ingredients in the commercial mixture. This was followed by a purification using flash chromatography and semi-preparative chromatography, leading to (13)C NMR identification of structures such as azadirachtin-A, azadirachtin-B, and azadirachtin-H. The neem extract was also characterized by HPLC-MS using two ionization sources, APCI (atmospheric pressure chemical ionization) and ESI (electrospray ionization) in positive and negative ion modes of detection. This led to the identification of other compounds present in the extract-azadirachtin-D, azadirachtin-I, deacetylnimbin, deacetylsalannin, nimbin, and salannin. The comparative study of data gathered by use of the two ionization sources is discussed and shows that the ESI source enables the largest number of structures to be identified. In a second part, kinetic changes in the main product (AZ-A) were studied under precise conditions of pH (2, 4, 6, and 8), temperature (40 to 70 degrees C), and light (UV, dark room and in daylight). This enabled us to determine the degradation kinetics of the product (AZ-A) over time. The activation energy of the molecule (75+/-9 kJ mol(-1)) was determined by examining thermal stability in the range 40 to 70 degrees C. The degradation products of this compound were identified by use of HPLC-MS and HPLC-MS-MS. The results enabled proposal of a chemical degradation reaction route for AZ-A under

Impact of higher-order heme degradation products on hepatic function and hemodynamics.

PubMed

Seidel, Raphael A; Claudel, Thierry; Schleser, Franziska A; Ojha, Navin K; Westerhausen, Matthias; Nietzsche, Sandor; Sponholz, Christoph; Cuperus, Frans; Coldewey, Sina M; Heinemann, Stefan H; Pohnert, Georg; Trauner, Michael; Bauer, Michael

2017-08-01

Biliverdin and bilirubin were previously considered end products of heme catabolism; now, however, there is evidence for further degradation to diverse bioactive products. Z-BOX A and Z-BOX B arise upon oxidation with unknown implications for hepatocellular function and integrity. We studied the impact of Z-BOX A and B on hepatic functions and explored their alterations in health and cholestatic conditions. Functional implications and mechanisms were investigated in rats, hepatocytic HepG2 and HepaRG cells, human immortalized hepatocytes, and isolated perfused livers. Z-BOX A and B were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in acute and acute-on-chronic liver failure and hereditary unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Z-BOX A and B are found in similar amounts in humans and rodents under physiological conditions. Serum concentrations increased ∼20-fold during cholestatic liver failure in humans (p<0.001) and in hereditary deficiency of bilirubin glucuronidation in rats (p<0.001). Pharmacokinetic studies revealed shorter serum half-life of Z-BOX A compared to its regio-isomer Z-BOX B (p=0.035). While both compounds were taken up by hepatocytes, Z-BOX A was enriched ∼100-fold and excreted in bile. Despite their reported vasoconstrictive properties in the brain vasculature, BOXes did not affect portal hemodynamics. Both Z-BOX A and B showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity, affected the glutathione redox state, and differentially modulated activity of Rev-erbα and Rev-erbβ. Moreover, BOXes-triggered remodeling of the hepatocellular cytoskeleton. Our data provide evidence that higher-order heme degradation products, namely Z-BOX A and B, impair hepatocellular integrity and might mediate intra- and extrahepatic cytotoxic effects previously attributed to hyperbilirubinemia. Degradation of the blood pigment heme yields the bile pigment bilirubin and the oxidation products Z-BOX A and Z-BOX B. Serum concentrations of these bioactive molecules

Determination of bifonazole and identification of its photocatalytic degradation products using UPLC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Kryczyk, Agata; Żmudzki, Paweł; Hubicka, Urszula

2017-09-01

The main goal of the presented work was to investigate the effect of ZnO or/and TiO 2 on the stability of bifonazole in solutions under UVA irradiation. To this end, a simple and reproducible UPLC method for the determination of bifonazole in the presence of its photocatalytic degradation products was developed. Linearity was studied in the range of 0.0046-0.15 mg mL -1 with a determination coefficient of 0.9996. Bifonazole underwent a photocatalytic degradation process under the experimental conditions used. Comparative studies showed that combination of TiO 2 /ZnO (1:1 w/w) was a more effective catalyst than TiO 2 or ZnO with a degradation rate of up to 67.57% after 24 h of irradiation. Further, kinetic analyses indicated that the photocatalytic degradation of bifonazole in the mixture of TiO 2 /ZnO can be described by a pseudo-first order reaction. Statistical comparison clearly indicated that the presence of TiO 2 /ZnO also affected the stability of bifonazole from a cream preparation after 15 h of UVA exposure (p < 0.05). Ten photodegradation products of bifonazole were identified for the first time and their plausible fragmentation pathways, derived from MS/MS data, were proposed. The main pathway in the photocatalytic transformation of bifonazole in the presence of ZnO or/and TiO 2 involves hydroxylation of the methanetriyl group and/or adjacent phenyl rings and cleavage of the imidazole moiety. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Bivariate versus multivariate smart spectrophotometric calibration methods for the simultaneous determination of a quaternary mixture of mosapride, pantoprazole and their degradation products.

PubMed

Hegazy, M A; Yehia, A M; Moustafa, A A

2013-05-01

The ability of bivariate and multivariate spectrophotometric methods was demonstrated in the resolution of a quaternary mixture of mosapride, pantoprazole and their degradation products. The bivariate calibrations include bivariate spectrophotometric method (BSM) and H-point standard addition method (HPSAM), which were able to determine the two drugs, simultaneously, but not in the presence of their degradation products, the results showed that simultaneous determinations could be performed in the concentration ranges of 5.0-50.0 microg/ml for mosapride and 10.0-40.0 microg/ml for pantoprazole by bivariate spectrophotometric method and in the concentration ranges of 5.0-45.0 microg/ml for both drugs by H-point standard addition method. Moreover, the applied multivariate calibration methods were able for the determination of mosapride, pantoprazole and their degradation products using concentration residuals augmented classical least squares (CRACLS) and partial least squares (PLS). The proposed multivariate methods were applied to 17 synthetic samples in the concentration ranges of 3.0-12.0 microg/ml mosapride, 8.0-32.0 microg/ml pantoprazole, 1.5-6.0 microg/ml mosapride degradation products and 2.0-8.0 microg/ml pantoprazole degradation products. The proposed bivariate and multivariate calibration methods were successfully applied to the determination of mosapride and pantoprazole in their pharmaceutical preparations.

Production of 5'-phosphodiesterase by Catharanthus roseus cells promoted by heat-degraded products generated from uronic acid.

PubMed

Akimoto-Tomiyama, Chiharu; Aoyagi, Hideki; Ozawa, Tetsuo; Tanaka, Hideo

2002-01-01

Polyalginate was autoclaved at 121 degrees C for 20 min and its molecular weight distribution was analyzed. The autoclaved alginate yielded alginate polymer, oligomer and heat degraded products (HDPs). Each of the separated substances promoted 5'-phosphodiesterase (5'-PDase) production in suspension culture of Catharanthus roseus cells. HDPs could also be generated from other uronic acids (galacturonic acid and glucuronic acid) by autoclave treatment. The most effective substance in the HDPs was isolated and characterized as trans-4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one (DHCP). The optimal conditions for DHCP production were also established (autoclaving 1 mg/ml monogalacturonic acid [pH 2] at 121 degrees C for 2 h). A combination of oligo-alginate (below 4 kDa) and HDPs significantly promoted the production of 5'-PDase in C. roseus. Based on the above results, a novel alginate complex that gave a 44-fold increase in 5'-PDase production by C. roseus was developed.

Characterization of intermediate products of solar photocatalytic degradation of ranitidine at pilot-scale.

PubMed

Radjenović, Jelena; Sirtori, Carla; Petrović, Mira; Barceló, Damià; Malato, Sixto

2010-04-01

In the present study the mechanisms of solar photodegradation of H(2)-receptor antagonist ranitidine (RNTD) were studied in a well-defined system of a pilot plant scale Compound Parabolic Collector (CPC) reactor. Two types of heterogeneous photocatalytic experiments were performed: catalysed by titanium-dioxide (TiO(2)) semiconductor and by Fenton reagent (Fe(2+)/H(2)O(2)), each one with distilled water and synthetic wastewater effluent matrix. Complete disappearance of the parent compounds and discreet mineralization were attained in all experiments. Furthermore, kinetic parameters, main intermediate products, release of heteroatoms and formation of carboxylic acids are discussed. The main intermediate products of photocatalytic degradation of RNTD have been structurally elucidated by tandem mass spectrometry (MS(2)) experiments performed at quadrupole-time of flight (QqToF) mass analyzer coupled to ultra-performance liquid chromatograph (UPLC). RNTD displayed high reactivity towards OH radicals, although a product of conduction band electrons reduction was also present in the experiment with TiO(2). In the absence of standards, quantification of intermediates was not possible and only qualitative profiles of their evolution could be determined. The proposed TiO(2) and photo-Fenton degradation routes of RNTD are reported for the first time. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Degradation of fluoroquinolone antibiotics during ionizing radiation treatment and assessment of antibacterial activity, toxicity and biodegradability of the products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tegze, Anna; Sági, Gyuri; Kovács, Krisztina; Homlok, Renáta; Tóth, Tünde; Mohácsi-Farkas, Csilla; Wojnárovits, László; Takács, Erzsébet

2018-06-01

This work aimed at investigating the ionizing radiation induced degradation of two fluoroquinolone antibiotics: norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. At 0.1 mmol dm-3 concentration a low dose, 2 kGy was sufficient to degrade the initial molecules. However, despite of the high removal efficiency the degrees of both the mineralization and the oxidation were low, ∼10% and ∼25%, respectively. (The difference between the results obtained in norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin solutions was not statistically significant.) Broth microdilution tests carried out on Staphylococcus aureus evidenced removal of antibacterial activity in samples irradiated with 2 kGy. Acute toxicity determined on Vibrio fischeri bacteria showed increased toxicity at low doses indicating that the early degradation products were more toxic than the initial molecules. The results of biodegradation experiments performed in activated sludge have shown that the degradation products have become available to the metabolic processes of the microorganisms.

Detection of aqueous phase chemical warfare agent degradation products by negative mode ion mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry [IM(tof)MS].

PubMed

Steiner, Wes E; Harden, Charles S; Hong, Feng; Klopsch, Steve J; Hill, Herbert H; McHugh, Vincent M

2006-02-01

The use of negative ion monitoring mode with an atmospheric pressure ion mobility orthogonal reflector time-of-flight mass spectrometer [IM(tof)MS] to detect chemical warfare agent (CWA) degradation products from aqueous phase samples has been determined. Aqueous phase sampling used a traditional electrospray ionization (ESI) source for sample introduction and ionization. Certified reference materials (CRM) of CWA degradation products for the detection of Schedule 1, 2, or 3 toxic chemicals or their precursors as defined by the chemical warfare convention (CWC) treaty verification were used in this study. A mixture of six G-series nerve related CWA degradation products (EMPA, IMPA, EHEP, IHEP, CHMPA, and PMPA) and their related collision induced dissociation (CID) fragment ions (MPA and EPA) were found in each case to be clearly resolved and detected using the IM(tof)MS instrument in negative ion monitoring mode. Corresponding ions, masses, drift times, K(o) values, and signal intensities for each of the CWA degradation products are reported.

Identification of pesticide transformation products in food by liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry via "fragmentation-degradation" relationships.

PubMed

García-Reyes, Juan F; Molina-Díaz, Antonio; Fernandez-Alba, Amadeo R

2007-01-01

The identification of transformation products of pesticides in foodstuffs is a crucial task difficult to tackle, due to the lack of standards and scarce information available. In this work, we describe a methodology for the identification and structural elucidation of pesticide transformation products in food. The proposed strategy is based on the use of liquid chromatography electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/TOFMS): accurate mass measurements of (molecule and fragment) ions of interest are used in order to establish relationships between fragmentation of the parent pesticides in the instrument (in-source CID fragmentation) and possible degradation products of these pesticides in food. Examples of this strategy showing the potential of LC/TOFMS to determine unknown pesticides in food are described in two different real samples, suggesting that pesticides often are transformed into degradation products in the same fashion that they are fragmented in the instrument. Using the proposed approach and without using standards a priori, based solely on accurate mass measurements of ions and "fragmentation-degradation" relationships, we have identified two parent pesticides (amitraz and malathion) along with six degradation products, m/z 253 (N,N'-bisdimethylphenylformamidine), 163 (N-2,4-dimethylphenyl-N-methyl formamidine), 150 (2,4-dimethylformamidine), and 122 (2,4-dimethylaniline) from amitraz, and m/z 317 and 303, due to ether hydrolysis of methyl and ethyl groups from malathion. Structures for these species were proposed, and the potential of the proposed approach was critically discussed.

Degradation and adsorption of selected pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in agricultural soils.

PubMed

Xu, Jian; Wu, Laosheng; Chang, Andrew C

2009-11-01

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are emerging contaminants in the environment, which have drawn popular concerns recently. Most studies on the environmental fate of PPCPs have focused on their behaviors during wastewater treatment processes, in aquatic environments, and in the sludge, however, little is known about their behavior in agricultural soils. In this study, adsorption and degradation of six selected PPCPs, including clofibric acid, ibuprofen, naproxen, triclosan, diclofenac and bisphenol A have been investigated in the laboratory using four US agricultural soils associated with reclaimed wastewater reuse. Adsorption test using a batch equilibrium method demonstrated that adsorption of all tested chemicals in soils could be well described with Freundlich equation, and their adsorption affinity on soil followed the order of triclosan>bisphenol A>clofibric acid>naproxen>diclofenac>ibuprofen. Retardation factor (R(F)) suggested that ibuprofen had potential to move downward with percolating water, while triclosan and bisphenol A were readily retarded in soils. Degradation of selected PPCPs in soils generally followed first-order exponential decay kinetics, with half-lives ranging from 0.81 to 20.44 d. Degradation of PPCPs in soils appeared to be influenced by the soil organic matter and clay contents. Sterilization generally decreased the degradation rates, indicating microbial activity played a significant role in the degradation in soils. The degradation rate constant decreased with increasing initial chemical concentrations in soil, implying that the microbial activity was inhibited with high chemical loading levels.

Detection of the spectroscopic signatures of explosives and their degradation products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Florian, Vivian; Cabanzo, Andrea; Baez, Bibiana; Correa, Sandra; Irrazabal, Maik; Briano, Julio G.; Castro, Miguel E.; Hernandez-Rivera, Samuel P.

2005-06-01

Detection and removal of antipersonnel and antitank landmines is a great challenge and a worldwide enviromental and humanitarian problem. Sensors tuned on the spectroscopic signature of the chemicals released from mines are a potential solution. Enviromental factors (temperature, relative humidity, rainfall precipitation, wind, sun irradiation, pressure, etc.) as well as soil characteristics (water content, compaction, porosity, chemical composition, particle size distribution, topography, vegetation, etc), have a direct impact on the fate and transport of the chemicals released from landmines. Chemicals such as TNT, DNT and their degradation products, are semi-volatile, and somewhat soluble in water. Also, they may adsorb strongly to soil particles, and are susceptible to degradation by microorganisms, light, or chemical agents. Here we show an experimental procedure to quantify the effect of the above variables on the spectroscopic signature. A number of soil tanks under controlled conditions are used to study the effect of temperature, water content, relative humidity and light radiation.

Fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products in children with renal disease

PubMed Central

Uttley, W. S.; Maxwell, Heather; Cash, J. D.

1974-01-01

Fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) were measured in the serum and urine of children with various forms of renal disease. Serum FDP was raised both with nephrosis and with active proliferative nephritis. Urine FDP was rarely present in nephrosis but was significantly increased during the active phase of proliferative nephritis and also in urinary tract infection with frank haematuria. Urinary FDP correlated with total urinary protein in proliferative nephritis but not in nephrosis, nor did it correlate with serum FDP in either condition. The major application of urinary FDP determination in clinical practice is as an indicator of activity and possible response to treatment in the management of active proliferative nephritis. PMID:4817446

Stability-indicating UPLC method for determination of Valsartan and their degradation products in active pharmaceutical ingredient and pharmaceutical dosage forms.

PubMed

Krishnaiah, Ch; Reddy, A Raghupathi; Kumar, Ramesh; Mukkanti, K

2010-11-02

A simple, precise, accurate stability-indicating gradient reverse phase ultra-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-UPLC) method was developed for the quantitative determination of purity of Valsartan drug substance and drug products in bulk samples and pharmaceutical dosage forms in the presence of its impurities and degradation products. The method was developed using Waters Aquity BEH C18 (100 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.7 microm) column with mobile phase containing a gradient mixture of solvents A and B. The eluted compounds were monitored at 225 nm, the run time was within 9.5 min, which Valsartan and its seven impurities were well separated. Valsartan was subjected to the stress conditions of oxidative, acid, base, hydrolytic, thermal and photolytic degradation. Valsartan was found to degrade significantly in acid and oxidative stress conditions and stable in base, hydrolytic and photolytic degradation conditions. The degradation products were well resolved from main peak and its impurities, proving the stability-indicating power of the method. The developed method was validated as per international conference on harmonization (ICH) guidelines with respect to specificity, linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, accuracy, precision and robustness. This method was also suitable for the assay determination of Valsartan in pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Determination of degradation products and process related impurities of asenapine maleate in asenapine sublingual tablets by UPLC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Nitin; Sangeetha, D.; Kalyanraman, L.

2017-11-01

For determination of process related impurities and degradation products of asenapine maleate in asenapine sublingual Tablets, a reversed phase, stability indicating UPLC method was developed. Acetonitrile, methanol and potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer with tetra-n- butyl ammonium hydrogen sulphate as ion pair (pH 2.2; 0.01 M) at flow rate of 0.2 ml/min were used in gradient elution mode. Separation was achieved by using acquity BEH Shield RP18 column (1.7 μm, 2.1 mm×100 mm) at 35 ºC. UV detection was performed at 228 nm. Subsequently the liquid chromatography method was validated as per ICH. The drug product was exposed to the stress conditions of acid hydrolysis, base hydrolysis, water hydrolysis, oxidative, thermal, and photolytic. In oxidative stress and thermal stress significant degradation was observed. All the degradation products were well separated from analyte peak and its impurities. Stability indicating nature of the method was proved by demonstrating the peak purity of Asenapine peak in all the stressed samples. The mass balance was found >95% for all the stress conditions. Based on method validation, the method was found specific, linear, accurate, precise, rugged and robust.

Production of rhamnolipids and diesel oil degradation by bacteria isolated from soil contaminated by petroleum.

PubMed

Leite, Giuseppe G F; Figueirôa, Juciane V; Almeida, Thiago C M; Valões, Jaqueline L; Marques, Walber F; Duarte, Maria D D C; Gorlach-Lira, Krystyna

2016-03-01

Biosurfactants are microbial secondary metabolites. The most studied are rhamnolipids, which decrease the surface tension and have emulsifying capacity. In this study, the production of biosurfactants, with emphasis on rhamnolipids, and diesel oil degradation by 18 strains of bacteria isolated from waste landfill soil contaminated by petroleum was analyzed. Among the studied bacteria, gram-positive endospore forming rods (39%), gram positive rods without endospores (17%), and gram-negative rods (44%) were found. The following methods were used to test for biosurfactant production: oil spreading, emulsification, and hemolytic activity. All strains showed the ability to disperse the diesel oil, while 77% and 44% of the strains showed hemolysis and emulsification of diesel oil, respectively. Rhamnolipids production was observed in four strains that were classified on the basis of the 16S rRNA sequences as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Only those strains showed the rhlAB gene involved in rhamnolipids synthesis, and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, P. aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Erwinia carotovora, and Ralstonia solanacearum. The highest production of rhamnolipids was 565.7 mg/L observed in mineral medium containing olive oil (pH 8). With regard to the capacity to degrade diesel oil, it was observed that 7 strains were positive in reduction of the dye 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (2,6-DCPIP) while 16 had the gene alkane mono-oxygenase (alkB), and the producers of rhamnolipids were positive in both tests. Several bacterial strains have shown high potential to be explored further for bioremediation purposes due to their simultaneous ability to emulsify, disperse, and degrade diesel oil. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:262-270, 2016. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Restoration of Degraded Salt Affected Lands to Productive Forest Ecosystem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Yash; Singh, Gurbachan; Singh, Bajrang; Cerdà, Artemi

2017-04-01

Soil system determines the fluxes of energy and matter in the Earth and is the source of goods, services and resources to the humankind (Keesstra et al., 2012; Brevik et al., 2015; Keesstra et al., 2016). To restore and rehabilitate the soil system is a key strategy to recover the services the soils offers (Celentano et al., 2016; Galati et al., 2016; Parras-Alcantara et al., 2016). Transformation of degraded sodic lands in biodiversity rich productive forest ecosystem is a challenging task before the researchers all over the world. The soils of the degraded sites remain almost unfavorable for the normal growth, development and multiplication of organisms; all our attempts tend to alleviate the soil constraints. Land degradation due to presence of salts in the soil is an alarming threat to agricultural productivity and sustainability, particularly in arid and semiarid regions of the world (Tanji, 1990; Qadir et al., 2006). According to the FAO Land and Nutrition Management Service (2008), over 6% of the world's lands are affected by salinity, which accounts for more than 800 million ha in 100 countries. This is due to natural causes, extensive utilization of land (Egamberdieva et al., 2008), poor drainage systems and limited availability of irrigation water which causes salinization in many irrigated soils (Town et al., 2008).In India, about 6.73 million ha are salt affected which spread in 194 districts out of 584 districts in India and represents 2.1% of the geographical area of the country (Mandal et al., 2009).Out of these, 2.8 million ha are sodic in nature and primarily occurring in the Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains. These lands are degraded in structural, chemical, nutritional, hydrological and microbiological characteristics. The reclamation of salt affected soils with chemical amendments like gypsum and phospho-gypsum are in practice for the cultivation field crops under agricultural production. Forest development on such lands although takes considerable

Identification and formation mechanism of individual degradation products in lithium-ion batteries studied by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and atmospheric solid analysis probe mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Takeda, Sahori; Morimura, Wataru; Liu, Yi-Hung; Sakai, Tetsuo; Saito, Yuria

2016-08-15

Improvement of lithium ion batteries (LIBs) in terms of performance and robustness requires good understanding of the reaction processes. The analysis of the individual degradation products in LIB electrolytes and on the surface of the electrodes provides vital information in this regard. In this study, mass spectrometric analytical methods were utilized for the identification of the individual degradation products. The degradation products in the electrolytes recovered from cycle-tested cells were separated by liquid chromatography (LC) and their mass spectrometric analysis was conducted by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). For identification of degradation products on the surface of electrodes, atmospheric solid analysis probe (ASAP)-MS analysis was conducted by time-of-flight mass spectrometry with an ASAP probe and an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source. The degradation products in the electrolytes, namely carbonate oligomers and organophosphates, were identified simultaneously by LC/ESI-MS. Their formation mechanisms were estimated, which explain their different compositions at different temperatures. One degradation product was found on the anode surface by ASAP-MS, and its formation mechanism was explained similarly to those in the electrolyte. The results suggest that the electrolyte degradation is correlated with the formation of a solid electrolyte interphase, which is an important factor in the performance of LIBs. We expect that further investigation of the degradation products by LC/ESI-MS and ASAP-MS will be helpful for studying their degradation processes in LIBs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[Microbial degradation of 3-phenoxybenzoic acid--A review].

PubMed

Deng, Weiqin; Liu, Shuliang; Yao, Kai

2015-09-04

3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) with estrogen toxicity is one of the intermediate products of most pyrethroid pesticides. 3-PBA is difficult to degrade in the natural environment, and threatens food safety and human health. Microbial degradation of pyrethroids and their intermediate product (3-PBA) has become a hot topic in recent years. Here, we reviewed microbial species, degrading enzymes and degradation genes, degradation pathways of 3-PBA degrading and the application of 3-PBA degradation strains. This article provides references for the study of 3-PBA degradation by microorganisms.

ESI-MSn and LC-ESI-MS studies to characterize forced degradation products of bosentan and a validated stability-indicating LC-UV method.

PubMed

Bansal, Gulshan; Singh, Ranjit; Saini, Balraj; Bansal, Yogita

2013-01-01

The present study reports the characterization of forced degradation products of bosentan and a validated stability-indicating HPLC method for the stability testing of bosentan tablets. The forced degradation was carried out under the conditions of hydrolysis, oxidation, dry heat and photolysis. The drug was found unstable in acid, alkali and oxidative media whereas stable to the hydrolysis in water, to dry heat and to photolysis. In total, six degradation products were formed in all conditions which were resolved in a single run on a C-18 column with gradient elution using ammonium acetate buffer (pH 4.5, 5.0mM), methanol and acetonitrile. Structures of all the degradation products were characterized through +ESI-MS(n) and LC-ESI-MS spectral data of bosentan as well as LC-ESI-MS spectral data of the products. The products II-VI were characterized as 6-amino-[2,2']bipyrimidinyl-4,5-diol, 6-amino-5-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-[2,2']-bipyrimidinyl-4-ol, 2-[6-amino-5-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-[2,2']-bipyrimidinyl-4-yloxy]-ethanol, 4-tert-butyl-N-[6-(1-methoxyethoxy)-5-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-[2,2']-bipyrimidinyl-4-yl]-benzenesulfonamide and 4-tert-butyl-N-[6-hydroxy-5-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-[2,2']bipyrimidinyl-4-yl]-benzenesulfonamide, respectively. The peak of the product I was found to be due to two secondary degradation products which co-eluted and were characterized as β-hydroxyethyl p-tert-butylphenylsulfonate (Ia) and 2-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-phenoxy]-ethanol (Ib). These products were formed due to hydrolysis of sulfonamide and alkylaryl ether and the diaryl ether linkages as well as dehydration of the primary alcohol group. The most probable degradation mechanisms were proposed. The HPLC method was found to be stability-indicating, linear (2-100 μg ml(-1)), accurate, precise, sensitive, specific, rugged and robust for quantitation of the drug. The method was applied to the stability testing of the commercially available bosentan tablets successfully. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All

Sorption and degradation of wastewater-associated pharmaceuticals and personal care products in agricultural soils and sediment.

PubMed

Zhang, Ting; Wu, Bo; Sun, Na; Ye, Yong; Chen, Huaixia

2013-01-01

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have drawn popular concerns recently as an emerging class of aquatic contaminants. In this study, adsorption and degradation of four selected PPCPs, metronidazole, tinidazole, caffeine and chloramphenicol, have been investigated in the laboratory using two agricultural soils in China and sediment from Changjiang River. Adsorption tests using a batch equilibrium method demonstrated that adsorption of all tested chemicals in soils could be well described with Freundlich equation, and their adsorption affinity on soil followed the order of chloramphenicol > caffeine > tinidazole > metronidazole. Generally, higher Kf value was associated with soils which had higher organic matter contents (except for caffeine acid in this study). Degradation of selected PPCPs in soils generally followed first-order exponential decay kinetics, and half-lives ranging from 0.97 to 10.21 d. Sterilization generally decreased the degradation rates, indicating that microbial activity played a significant role in the degradation in soils. The degradation rate constant decreased with increasing initial chemical concentrations in soil, implying that the microbial activity was inhibited with high chemical loading levels.

Degradation and transformation products of acetaminophen in soil.

PubMed

Li, Juying; Ye, Qingfu; Gan, Jay

2014-02-01

Acetaminophen is the most widely used human medicine. Trace levels of acetaminophen are frequently detected in treated wastewater and the impacted surface or groundwater resources. However, even though soil is a primary receiving compartment, the fate of acetaminophen in soil is poorly known, including in particular the potential for the formation of incomplete degradation products that may have altered biological activity and mobility. In this study, using both (14)C-labeling and LC-MS/MS techniques, we evaluated the dissipation routes and transformation pathways of acetaminophen in soils under a range of conditions. Throughout 120-d aerobic incubation, up to 17.0 ± 0.8% of (14)C-acetaminophen was mineralized, but mineralization was greatly inhibited after sterilization or amendment of biosolids. Immediately after treatment, the majority of (14)C-residue became non-extractable or bound, with the level accounting for 73.4-93.3% of the applied amount at the end of incubation. A total of 8 intermediates were identified, including 3-hydroxyacetaminophen, hydroquinone, 1, 4-benzoquinone, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine, p-acetanisidide, 4-methoxyphenol, 2-hexenoic acid, and 1, 4-dimethoxybenzene. Mineralization and rapid conversion to bound residues suggest that acetaminophen is quickly detoxified in soil, decreasing the potential for off-site transport such as leaching or runoff. On the other hand, the formation of a large number of degradation intermediates, and their potential biological activity, may pose unknown risks, such as accumulation into edible plants. This risk warrants further investigation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pesticides and pesticide degradation products in stormwater runoff: Sacramento River Basin, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Domagalski, Joseph L.

1996-01-01

Pesticides in stormwater runoff, within the Sacramento River Basin, California, were assessed during a storm that occurred in January 1994. Two organophosphate insecticides (diazinon and methidathion), two carbamate pesticides (molinate and carbofuran), and one triazine herbicide (simazine) were detected. Organophosphate pesticide concentrations increased with the rising stage of the hydrographs; peak concentrations were measured near peak discharge. Diazinon oxon, a toxic degradation product of diazinon, made up approximately 1 to 3 percent of the diazinon load. The Feather River was the principal source of organophosphate pesticides to the Sacramento River during this storm. The concentrations of molinate and carbofuran, pesticides applied to rice fields during May and June, were relatively constant during and after the storm. Their presence in surface water was attributed to the flooding and subsequent drainage, as a management practice to degrade rice stubble prior to the next planting. A photodegradation product of molinate, 4-keto molinate, was in all samples where molinate was detected and made up approximately 50 percent of the total molinate load. Simazine, a herbicide used in orchards and to control weeds along the roadways, was detected in the storm runoff, but it was not possible to differentiate the two sources of that pesticide to the Sacramento River.

Mechanistic studies of the photocatalytic degradation of methyl green: an investigation of products of the decomposition processes.

PubMed

Chen, Chiing-Chang; Lu, Chung-Shin

2007-06-15

The methyl green (MG) dye dissolves into an alkaline solution when the pH value is too high (pH 9). The cationic MG dye molecules are converted into the colorless carbinol base (CB) and produce crystal violet (CV) dye and ethanol by hydroxide anion. Thirty-three intermediates of the process were separated, identified, and characterized by HPLC-ESI-MS technique in this study and their evolution during the photocatalytic reaction is presented. Moreover, the other intermediates formed in the photocatalytic degradation MG processes were separated and identified by HPLC-PDA technique. The results indicated that the N-de-methylated degradation of CV dye took place in a stepwise manner to yield N-de-methylated CV species, and the N-de-alkylated degradation of CB also took place in a stepwise manner to yield N-de-alkylated CB species generated during the processes. Moreover, the oxidative degradation of the CV dye (or CB) occurs to yield 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenol (DAP), 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)-4'-(N',N'-dimethylamino)benzophenone (DDBP) and their N-de-methylated products [or to yield 4-(N-ethyl-N,N-dimethyl)aminophenol (EDAP), DDBP, 4-(N-ethyl-N,N-dimethylamino)-4'-(N',N'-dimethylamino)benzophenone (EDDBP), DAP, and their N-de-alkylated products], which were found for the first time. A proposed degradation pathway of CV and CB is presented, involving mainly the N-de-alkylation and oxidation reaction.

Possible atmospheric lifetimes and chemical reaction mechanisms for selected HCFCs, HFCs, CH3CCl3, and their degradation products against dissolution and/or degradation in seawater and cloudwater

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wine, P. H.; Chameides, W. L.

1990-01-01

For a wide variety of atmospheric species including CO2, HNO3, and SO2, dissolution in seawater or cloudwater followed by hydrolysis or chemical reaction represents a primary pathway for removal from the atmosphere. In order to determine if this mechanism can also remove significant amounts of atmospheric chlorofluorocarbons (HCFC's), fluorocarbons (HFC's), and their degradation products, an investigation was undertaken as part of the Alternative Fluorocarbons Environmental Acceptability Study (AFEAS). In this investigation, the rates at which CHCl2CF3 (HCFC-123), CCl2FCH3 (HCFC-141b), CClF2CH3 (HCFC-142b), CHClF2 (HCFC-22), CHClFCF3 (HCFC-124) CH2FCF3 (HFC-134a) CHF2CH3 (HFC-152a), CHF2CF3 (HFC-125), and CH3CCl3 can be dissolved in the oceans and in cloudwater were estimated from the species' thermodynamic and chemical properties using simple mathematical formulations to simulate the transfer of gases from the atmosphere to the ocean or cloudwater. The ability of cloudwater and rainwater to remove gas phase degradation products of these compounds was also considered as was the aqueous phase chemistry of the degradation products. The results of this investigation are described.

A Structure Identification and Toxicity Assessment of the Degradation Products of Aflatoxin B₁ in Peanut Oil under UV Irradiation.

PubMed

Mao, Jin; He, Bing; Zhang, Liangxiao; Li, Peiwu; Zhang, Qi; Ding, Xiaoxia; Zhang, Wen

2016-11-12

Aflatoxins, a group of extremely hazardous compounds because of their genotoxicity and carcinogenicity to human and animals, are commonly found in many tropical and subtropical regions. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is proven to be an effective method to reduce or detoxify aflatoxins. However, the degradation products of aflatoxins under UV irradiation and their safety or toxicity have not been clear in practical production such as edible oil industry. In this study, the degradation products of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) in peanut oil were analyzed by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatograph-Thermo Quadrupole Exactive Focus mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (UPLC-TQEF-MS/MS). The high-resolution mass spectra reflected that two main products were formed after the modification of a double bond in the terminal furan ring and the fracture of the lactone ring, while the small molecules especially nitrogen-containing compound may have participated in the photochemical reaction. According to the above results, the possible photodegradation pathway of AFB₁ in peanut oil is proposed. Moreover, the human embryo hepatocytes viability assay indicated that the cell toxicity of degradation products after UV irradiation was much lower than that of AFB₁, which could be attributed to the breakage of toxicological sites. These findings can provide new information for metabolic pathways and the hazard assessment of AFB₁ using UV detoxification.

Antifoam degradation testing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lambert, D. P.; Zamecnik, J. R.; Newell, D. D.

2015-08-20

This report describes the results of testing to quantify the degradation products resulting from the dilution and storage of Antifoam 747. Antifoam degradation is of concern to the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) due to flammable decomposition products in the vapor phase of the Chemical Process Cell vessels, as well as the collection of flammable and organic species in the offgas condensate. The discovery that hexamethyldisiloxane is formed from the antifoam decomposition was the basis for a Potential Inadequacy in the Safety Analysis declaration by the DWPF.

Separation and detection of VX and its methylphosphonic acid degradation products on a microchip using indirect laser-induced fluorescence.

PubMed

Heleg-Shabtai, Vered; Gratziany, Natzach; Liron, Zvi

2006-05-01

The application of indirect LIF (IDLIF) technique for on-chip electrophoretic separation and detection of the nerve agent O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothiolate (VX) and its major phosphonic degradation products, ethyl methylphosphonic acid (EMPA) and methylphosphonic acid (MPA) was demonstrated. Separation and detection of MPA degradation products of VX and the nerve agent isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate (GB) are presented. The negatively charged dye eosin was found to be a good fluorescent marker for both the negatively charged phosphonic acids and the positively charged VX, and was chosen as the IDLIF visualization fluorescent dye. Separation and detection of VX, EMPA, and MPA in a simple-cross microchip were completed within less than a minute, and consumed only a 50 pL sample volume. A characteristic system peak that appeared in all IDLIF electropherograms served as an internal standard that increased the reliability of peak identification. The negative peak of both VX and the MPAs is in agreement with indirect detection theory and with previous reports in the literature. The LOD of VX and EMPA by IDLIF was 30 and 37 microM, respectively. Despite the fact that the detection sensitivity is relatively low, the rapid simultaneous on-chip analysis of both VX and its degradation products as well as the separation and detection of the MPA degradation products of both VX and GB, increases detection reliability and may present a choice when sensitivity is not critical compared with speed and simplicity of the assay.

The interactive effect of the degradation of cotton clothing and decomposition fluid production associated with decaying remains.

PubMed

Ueland, Maiken; Nizio, Katie D; Forbes, Shari L; Stuart, Barbara H

2015-10-01

Textiles are a commonly encountered source of evidence in forensic cases. In the past, most research has been focused on how textiles affect the decomposition process while little attention has been paid to how the decomposition products interact with the textiles. While some studies have shown that the presence of remains will have an effect on the degradation of clothing associated with a decaying body, very little work has been carried out on the specific mechanisms that prevent or delay textile degradation when in contact with decomposing remains. In order to investigate the effect of decomposition fluid on textile degradation, three clothed domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) carcasses were placed on a soil surface, textile specimens were collected over a period of a year and were then analysed using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and GC-MS. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to analyse the data. Cotton specimens not associated with remains degraded markedly, whereas the samples exposed to decomposition fluids remained relatively intact over the same time frame. An investigation of the decomposition by-products found that the protein-related bands remained stable and unchanged throughout the experiment. Lipid components, on the other hand, demonstrated a significant change; this was confirmed with the use of both ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and GC-MS. Through an advanced statistical approach, information about the decomposition by-products and their characteristics was obtained. There is potential that the lipid profile in a textile specimen could be a valuable tool used in the examination of clothing located at a crime scene. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Techniques used for limiting degradation products of polymeric materials for use in the space environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vest, C. E.; Park, J. J.

1978-01-01

Techniques are discussed for limiting or controlling the degradation products (outgassing) of polymeric materials in the space environment. One technique, now ASTM E-595-77, is used to screen out those materials which lose greater than 1% Total Mass Loss when in vacuum for 24 hours at 125 C and which have more than 0.10% Collected Volatile Condensable Materials condensing on a collector surface at 25 C. Examples of silicone materials which are high and low in outgassing are given. The numerous mechanical motions in spacecraft experiments require liquid lubricants which also might degrade in space. Labyrinth seals and barrier films are utilized to limit the degradation of or from these lubricants. A recoverable in-flight experiment has been proposed for making definitive measurements of how effective these techniques are in limiting the amounts and escape paths of outgassed molecules.

Studies of the structure-antioxidant activity relationships and antioxidant activity mechanism of iridoid valepotriates and their degradation products

PubMed Central

Wang, Feifei; Zhang, Yumei; Wu, Shouhai; He, Yi; Dai, Zhong; Liu, Bin

2017-01-01

Oxidative stress has been associated with diverse diseases, including obesity, cancer and neurodegeneration. In fact, Valeriana jatamansi Jones (valerian) and its extracts possess strong antioxidant activities that extend their application in clinical practice to the treatment of these illnesses, even though the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Iridoid valepotriate, a characteristic iridoid ester in valerian with poor chemical stability, possesses considerable antioxidant components. The original compounds and their degradation products have been found to exhibit strong antioxidant activities. However, the relationship between their structure and antioxidant effects and the mechanism underlying their oxidation resistance remain unclear. A forced degradation study using three iridoid valepotriates (valtrate, acevaltrate and 1-β acevaltrate) was performed in this work, and the structures of their degradation products were estimated by TLC-MS and LC-MS. Comparison of the antioxidant activities of the iridoid valepotriates before and after forced degradation revealed that degradation reduced the activities of the iridoid valepotriates in free radical scavenging and cytotoxic and cell apoptosis tests. The results suggested that the oxirane nucleus is important for defining the antioxidant profile of iridoid valepotriate. We uncovered possible mechanisms that could explain the antioxidant activities, including the generation of two hydroxyl groups through intramolecular transfer of an H• from an oxirane ring and a reduction in ROS levels through interactions with GABAergic signalling pathways. PMID:29232391

Role of nutrients and illuminance in predicting the fate of fungal mediated petroleum hydrocarbon degradation and biomass production.

PubMed

Ali Khan, Aqib Hassan; Tanveer, Sundus; Anees, Mariam; Muhammad, Yousaf Shad; Iqbal, Mazhar; Yousaf, Sohail

2016-07-01

Biodegradation and biomass production are affected by numerous environmental factors including pH, oxygen availability and presence of pollutants. The present study, for the first time, elucidated the effects of nutrients and light on mycodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in diesel oil. Seven fungal strains (Aspergillus terreus FA3, Aspergillus niger FA5, Aspergillus terreus FA6, Penicillium chrysogenum FP4, Aspergillus terreus FP6, Aspergillus flavus FP10, and Candida sp. FG1) were used for hydrocarbon degradation under static conditions, in four combinations of nutrient media and illuminance for 45 days. Highest degradation was achieved by Aspergillus terreus FA6 and Candida sp. FG1 under both conditions of light and dark, with nutrient deprived HAF (Hydrocarbon adopted fungi) broth. Under HAF/Dark diesel oil degradation by FA6 and FG1 was 87.3% and 84.3% respectively, while under HAF/Light both FA6 and FG1 performed 84.3% biodegradation. The highest biomass was produced by Aspergillus flavus FP10 in PDB (Potato dextrose broth)/Dark (109.3 mg). Fungal degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons was negatively affected by the presence of other simpler-to-degrade carbon sources in the medium. The biomass production was enhanced by improved nutrient availability and diminished by illuminance. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stability-indicating methods for the determination of racecadotril in the presence of its degradation products.

PubMed

Mohamed, Afaf O; Fouad, Manal M; Hasan, Mona M; Abdel Razeq, Sawsan A; Elsherif, Zeinab A

2009-12-01

Three stability-indicating methods were developed for the determination of racecadotril (RCT) in the presence of its alkaline degradation products. The first was an HPLC method in which efficient chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 analytical column and a mobile phase of acetonitrile-methanol-water-acetic acid (52:28:20:0.1, v/v/v/v). Linearity was obtained in the range of 4-40 microg/mL with mean accuracy of 99.5 +/- 0.88%. The second method was a densitometric evaluation of thin-layer chromatograms of the drug using a mobile phase of isopropanol-ammonia (33%)-n-hexane (9:0.5:20, v/v/v). The chromatograms were scanned at 232 nm, a wavelength at which RCT can be readily separated from its degradation products and determined in the range of 2-20 microg per spot with mean accuracy of 99.5 +/- 0.56%. The third method is based on the use of first-derivative spectrophotometry (D1) at 240 nm, and the drug was determined in the range of 5-40 microg/mL with mean accuracy of 99.2 +/- 1.02%. The three methods provided satisfactory recovery of the intact drug (100.8 +/- 0.82, 100.4 +/- 0.55, and 99.9 +/- 0.72%, respectively) in the presence of up to 90% of its degradation products. Determination was also successful when analyzing RCT in a formulation in the form of acetorphan packets. Results were statistically analyzed and found to be in accordance with those given by a reported method.

Photolytic and photocatalytic degradation of quinclorac in ultrapure and paddy field water: identification of transformation products and pathways.

PubMed

Pareja, Lucía; Pérez-Parada, Andrés; Agüera, Ana; Cesio, Verónica; Heinzen, Horacio; Fernández-Alba, Amadeo R

2012-05-01

Quinclorac (QNC) is an effective but rather persistent herbicide commonly used in rice production. This herbicide presents a mean persistence in the environment so its residues are considered of environmental relevance. However, few studies have been conducted to investigate its environmental behavior and degradation. In the present work, direct photolysis and TiO(2) photocatalysis of the target compound in ultrapure and paddy field water were investigated. After 10h photolysis in ultrapure water, the concentration of QNC declined 26% and 54% at 250 and 700 W m(-2), respectively. However, the amount of quinclorac in paddy field water remained almost constant under the same irradiation conditions. QNC dissipated completely after 40 min of TiO(2) photocatalysis in ultrapure water, whereas 130 min were necessary to degrade 98% of the initial concentration in paddy field water. Possible QNC photolytic and photocatalytic degradation pathways are proposed after structure elucidation of the main transformation products, through liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and exact mass measurements. Pyridine ring hydroxylation at C-9 followed by ring opening and/or oxidative dechlorination were the key steps of QNC degradation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization and degradation potential of diesel-degrading bacterial strains for application in bioremediation.

PubMed

Balseiro-Romero, María; Gkorezis, Panagiotis; Kidd, Petra S; Van Hamme, Jonathan; Weyens, Nele; Monterroso, Carmen; Vangronsveld, Jaco

2017-10-03

Bioremediation of polluted soils is a promising technique with low environmental impact, which uses soil organisms to degrade soil contaminants. In this study, 19 bacterial strains isolated from a diesel-contaminated soil were screened for their diesel-degrading potential, biosurfactant (BS) production, and biofilm formation abilities, all desirable characteristics when selecting strains for re-inoculation into hydrocarbon-contaminated soils. Diesel-degradation rates were determined in vitro in minimal medium with diesel as the sole carbon source. The capacity to degrade diesel range organics (DROs) of strains SPG23 (Arthobacter sp.) and PF1 (Acinetobacter oleivorans) reached 17-26% of total DROs after 10 days, and 90% for strain GK2 (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus). The amount and rate of alkane degradation decreased significantly with increasing carbon number for strains SPG23 and PF1. Strain GK2, which produced BSs and biofilms, exhibited a greater extent, and faster rate of alkane degradation compared to SPG23 and PF1. Based on the outcomes of degradation experiments, in addition to BS production, biofilm formation capacities, and previous genome characterizations, strain GK2 is a promising candidate for microbial-assisted phytoremediation of diesel-contaminated soils. These results are of particular interest to select suitable strains for bioremediation, not only presenting high diesel-degradation rates, but also other characteristics which could improve rhizosphere colonization.

New Carbon Source From Microbial Degradation of Pre-Production Resin Pellets from the North Pacific Gyre

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neal, A.; Mielke, R.; Stam, C. N.; Gonsior, M.; Tsapin, A. I.; Lee, G.; Leftwich, B.; Narayan, R.; Coleman, H.; Argyropoulos, N.; Sheavly, S. B.; Gorby, Y. A.

2011-12-01

Numerous pollutants are transported through the world's oceans that impact oceanic health. Diffuse sources include land-based runoff, atmospheric depositions, shipping industry wastes, and others. Synthetic polymer marine debris is a multi-faceted problem that includes interactions with environmental toxins, carbon cycling systems, ocean surface chemistry, fine minerals deposition, and nano-particles. The impact that synthetic polymer-microbe interactions have on carbon input into the open ocean is poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that both biotic and abiotic processes contribute to degradation of pre-production resin pellets (PRPs), in open ocean environments and new methodologies to determine carbon loss from this synthetic polymer debris. Our data shows that material degradation of environmental polyethylene PRPs can potentially deposit 13 mg/g to 65 mg/g of carbon per PRP into our marine environments. Environmental pre-production resin pellets were collected on the S/V Kaisei cruise in 2009 which covered over 3,000 nautical miles and sampled over 102,000 m3 of the first 15cm of the water column in the Subtropical Convergence Zone of the North Pacific Gyre. Environmental PRP degradation and the role microbial communities play in this was evaluated using a combination of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, X-ray microtomography, and ArcGIS mapping. More research is needed to understand the environmental impact of this new carbon source arising from synthetic polymers as they degrade in oceanic environments.

Enhancement in multiple lignolytic enzymes production for optimized lignin degradation and selectivity in fungal pretreatment of sweet sorghum bagasse.

PubMed

Mishra, Vartika; Jana, Asim K; Jana, Mithu Maiti; Gupta, Antriksh

2017-07-01

The objective of this work was to study the increase in multiple lignolytic enzyme productions through the use of supplements in combination in pretreatment of sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) by Coriolus versicolor such that enzymes act synergistically to maximize the lignin degradation and selectivity. Enzyme activities were enhanced by metallic salts and phenolic compound supplements in SSF. Supplement of syringic acid increased the activities of LiP, AAO and laccase; gallic acid increased MnP; CuSO 4 increased laccase and PPO to improve the lignin degradations and selectivity individually, higher than control. Combination of supplements optimized by RSM increased the production of laccase, LiP, MnP, PPO and AAO by 17.2, 45.5, 3.5, 2.4 and 3.6 folds respectively for synergistic action leading to highest lignin degradation (2.3 folds) and selectivity (7.1 folds). Enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated SSB yielded ∼2.43 times fermentable sugar. This technique could be widely applied for pretreatment and enzyme productions. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of Boric Acid on Volatile Products of Thermooxidative Degradation of Epoxy Polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nazarenko, O. B.; Bukhareva, P. B.; Melnikova, T. V.; Visakh, P. M.

2016-01-01

The polymeric materials are characterized by high flammability. The use of flame retardants in order to reduce the flammability of polymers can lead to the formation of toxic gaseous products under fire conditions. In this work we studied the effect of boric acid on the volatile products of thermooxidative degradation of epoxy polymers. The comparative investigations were carried out on the samples of the unfilled epoxy resin and epoxy resin filled with a boric acid at percentage 10 wt. %. The analysis of the volatile decomposition products and thermal stability of the samples under heating in an oxidizing medium was performed using a thermal mass-spectrometric analysis. It is found that the incorporation of boric acid into the polymer matrix increases the thermal stability of epoxy composites and leads to a reduction in the 2-2.7 times of toxic gaseous products

Effect of protein degradability on milk production of dairy ewes.

PubMed

Mikolayunas-Sandrock, C; Armentano, L E; Thomas, D L; Berger, Y M

2009-09-01

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of protein degradability of dairy sheep diets on milk yield and protein utilization across 2 levels of milk production. Three diets were formulated to provide similar energy concentrations and varying concentrations of rumen-degradable protein (RDP) and rumen-undegradable protein (RUP): 12% RDP and 4% RUP (12-4) included basal levels of RDP and RUP, 12% RDP and 6% RUP (12-6) included additional RUP, and 14% RDP and 4% RUP (14-4) included additional RDP. Diets were composed of alfalfa-timothy cubes, whole and ground corn, whole oats, dehulled soybean meal, and expeller soybean meal (SoyPlus, West Central, Ralston, IA). Estimates of RDP and RUP were based on the Small Ruminant Nutrition System model (2008) and feed and orts were analyzed for Cornell N fractions. Eighteen multiparous dairy ewes in midlactation were divided by milk yield (low and high) into 2 blocks of 9 ewes each and were randomly assigned within block (low and high) to 3 pens of 3 ewes each. Dietary treatments were arranged in a 3 x 3 Latin square within each block and applied to pens for 14-d periods. We hypothesized that pens consuming high-RUP diets (12-6) would produce more milk and milk protein than the basal diet (12-4) and pens consuming high-RDP diets (14-4) would not produce more milk than the basal diet (12-4). Ewes in the high-milk-yield square consumed more dry matter and produced more milk, milk fat, and milk protein than ewes in the low-milk-yield square. There was no effect of dietary treatment on dry matter intake. Across both levels of milk production, the 12-6 diet increased milk yield by 14%, increased milk fat yield by 14%, and increased milk protein yield by 13% compared with the 14-4 and 12-4 diets. Gross N efficiency (milk protein N/intake protein N) was 11 and 15% greater in the 12-6 and 12-4 diets, respectively, compared with the 14-4 diet. Milk urea N concentration was greater in the 12-6 diet and tended to be

Effect of enzyme additions on methane production and lignin degradation of landfilled sample of municipal solid waste.

PubMed

Jayasinghe, P A; Hettiaratchi, J P A; Mehrotra, A K; Kumar, Sunil

2011-04-01

Operation of waste cells as landfill bioreactors with leachate recirculation is known to accelerate waste degradation and landfill gas generation. However, waste degradation rates in landfill bioreactors decrease with time, with the accumulation of difficult to degrade materials, such as lignin-rich waste. Although, potential exists to modify the leachate quality to promote further degradation of such waste, very little information is available in literature. The objective of this study was to determine the viability of augmenting leachate with enzymes to increase the rate of degradation of lignin-rich waste materials. Among the enzymes evaluated MnP enzyme showed the best performance in terms of methane yield and substrate (lignin) utilization. Methane production of 200 mL CH(4)/g VS was observed for the MnP amended reactor as compared to 5.7 mL CH(4)/g VS for the control reactor. The lignin reduction in the MnP amended reactor and control reactor was 68.4% and 6.2%, respectively. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Degradation and metabolism of synthetic plastics and associated products by Pseudomonas sp.: capabilities and challenges.

PubMed

Wilkes, R A; Aristilde, L

2017-09-01

Synthetic plastics, which are widely present in materials of everyday use, are ubiquitous and slowly-degrading polymers in environmental wastes. Of special interest are the capabilities of microorganisms to accelerate their degradation. Members of the metabolically diverse genus Pseudomonas are of particular interest due to their capabilities to degrade and metabolize synthetic plastics. Pseudomonas species isolated from environmental matrices have been identified to degrade polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene succinate, polyethylene glycol and polyvinyl alcohol at varying degrees of efficiency. Here, we present a review of the current knowledge on the factors that control the ability of Pseudomonas sp. to process these different plastic polymers and their by-products. These factors include cell surface attachment within biofilms, catalytic enzymes involved in oxidation or hydrolysis of the plastic polymer, metabolic pathways responsible for uptake and assimilation of plastic fragments and chemical factors that are advantageous or inhibitory to the biodegradation process. We also highlight future research directions required in order to harness fully the capabilities of Pseudomonas sp. in bioremediation strategies towards eliminating plastic wastes. © 2017 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

Pulmonary effects of acute exposure to degradation products of sulphur hexafluoride during electrical cable repair work.

PubMed Central

Kraut, A; Lilis, R

1990-01-01

Six electrical workers accidentally exposed to degradation products of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) during electrical repair work were followed up for one year. One degradation product, sulphur tetrafluoride (SF4), was identified from worksite measurements. Unprotected exposure in an underground enclosed space occurred for six hours over a 12 hour period. Initial symptoms included shortness of breath, chest tightness, productive cough, nose and eye irritation, headache, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms subsided when exposure was interrupted during attempts to identify the cause of the problem. Although exposure ended after several hours, four workers remained symptomatic for between one week and one month. Pulmonary radiographic abnormalities included several discrete areas of transitory platelike atelectasis in one worker, and a slight diffuse infiltrate in the left lower lobe of another. One worker showed transient obstructive changes in tests of pulmonary function. Examination at follow up after one year showed no persistent abnormalities. Preliminary data from this paper were presented at the VIIth international pneumoconioses conference. Pittsburgh, PA, August 1988. PMID:2271390

Hotspots of human-induced biomass productivity decline and their social-ecological types toward supporting national policy and local studies on combating land degradation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vu, Quyet Manh; Le, Quang Bao; Vlek, Paul L. G.

2014-10-01

Identification and social-ecological characterization of areas that experience high levels of persistent productivity decline are essential for planning appropriate management measures. Although land degradation is mainly induced by human actions, the phenomenon is concurrently influenced by global climate changes that need to be taken into account in land degradation assessments. This study aims to delineate the geographic hotspots of human-induced land degradation in the country and classify the social-ecological characterizations of each specific degradation hotspot type. The research entailed a long-term time-series (1982-2006) of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index to specify the extents of areas with significant biomass decline or increase in Vietnam. Annual rainfall and temperature time-series were then used to separate areas of human-induced biomass productivity decline from those driven by climate dynamics. Next, spatial cluster analyses identified social-ecological types of degradation for guiding further investigations at regional and local scales. The results show that about 19% of the national land mass experienced persistent declines in biomass productivity over the last 25 years. Most of the degraded areas are found in the Southeast and Mekong River Delta (17,984 km2), Northwest Mountains (14,336 km2), and Central Highlands (13,504 km2). We identified six and five social-ecological types of degradation hotspots in agricultural and forested zones, respectively. Constraints in soil nutrient availability and nutrient retention capability are widely spreading in all degradation hotspot types. These hotspot types are different from each other in social and ecological conditions, suggesting that region-specific strategies are needed for the formulation of land degradation combating policy.

Photolysis of nonylphenol ethoxylates: the determination of the degradation kinetics and the intermediate products.

PubMed

Chen, Ling; Zhou, Hai-Yun; Deng, Qin-Ying

2007-06-01

The photolysis of nonylphenol ethoxylates with an average oligomers length of ten ethoxylate units (NPEO(10)) in aqueous solution under UV, as well as the influence of humic acid (HA) on the photolysis was studied. A 125W high-pressure mercury lamp was employed as the light source. The intermediate products from the photolysis were determined by LC-MS. The results indicated that NPEO(10) underwent direct photolysis upon exposed to UV. The degradation pathway was complex. Besides the generally proposed degradation pathway of ethylene oxide (EO) side chains shortening, the oxidation of alkyl chain and EO chain led to intermediates having both a carboxylated (as well as carbonylated) ethoxylate and alkyl chain of varying lengths. The hydrogenation of benzene ring was also detected. The kinetics data showed that the first order reaction kinetics could be well used to describe the kinetics of NPEO(10) degradation. In the presence of dissolved organic matter by HA addition, the performance of NPEO(10) photodegradation was reduced. The photolysis rate decreased with increased HA concentration.

Mass spectrometric identification and toxicity assessment of degraded products of aflatoxin B1 and B2 by Corymbia citriodora aqueous extracts

PubMed Central

Iram, Wajiha; Anjum, Tehmina; Iqbal, Mazhar; Ghaffar, Abdul; Abbas, Mateen

2015-01-01

This study explores the detoxification potential of Corymbia citriodora plant extracts against aflatoxin B1 and B2 (AFB1; 100 μg L−1 and AFB2; 50 μg L−1) in In vitro and In vivo assays. Detoxification was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by TLC and HPLC, respectively. The study was carried out by using different parameters of optimal temperature, pH and incubation time period. Results indicated that C. citriodora leaf extract(s) more effectively degrade AFB1 and AFB2 i.e. 95.21% and 92.95% respectively than C. citriodora branch extract, under optimized conditions. The structural elucidation of degraded toxin products was done by LCMS/MS analysis. Ten degraded products of AFB1 and AFB2 and their fragmentation pathways were proposed based on molecular formulas and MS/MS spectra. Toxicity of these degraded products was significantly reduced as compared to that of parent compounds because of the removal of double bond in the terminal furan ring. The biological toxicity of degraded toxin was further analyzed by brine shrimps bioassay, which showed that only 17.5% mortality in larvae was recorded as compared to untreated toxin where 92.5% mortality was observed after 96hr of incubation. Therefore, our finding suggests that C. citriodora leaf extract can be used as an effective tool for the detoxification of aflatoxins. PMID:26423838

Progressive Degradation of Crude Oil n-Alkanes Coupled to Methane Production under Mesophilic and Thermophilic Conditions

PubMed Central

Cheng, Lei; Shi, Shengbao; Li, Qiang; Chen, Jianfa; Zhang, Hui; Lu, Yahai

2014-01-01

Although methanogenic degradation of hydrocarbons has become a well-known process, little is known about which crude oil tend to be degraded at different temperatures and how the microbial community is responded. In this study, we assessed the methanogenic crude oil degradation capacity of oily sludge microbes enriched from the Shengli oilfield under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. The microbial communities were investigated by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of 16S rRNA genes combined with cloning and sequencing. Enrichment incubation demonstrated the microbial oxidation of crude oil coupled to methane production at 35 and 55°C, which generated 3.7±0.3 and 2.8±0.3 mmol of methane per gram oil, respectively. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that crude oil n-alkanes were obviously degraded, and high molecular weight n-alkanes were preferentially removed over relatively shorter-chain n-alkanes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the concurrence of acetoclastic Methanosaeta and hydrogenotrophic methanogens but different methanogenic community structures under the two temperature conditions. Candidate divisions of JS1 and WWE 1, Proteobacteria (mainly consisting of Syntrophaceae, Desulfobacteraceae and Syntrophorhabdus) and Firmicutes (mainly consisting of Desulfotomaculum) were supposed to be involved with n-alkane degradation in the mesophilic conditions. By contrast, the different bacterial phylotypes affiliated with Caldisericales, “Shengli Cluster” and Synergistetes dominated the thermophilic consortium, which was most likely to be associated with thermophilic crude oil degradation. This study revealed that the oily sludge in Shengli oilfield harbors diverse uncultured microbes with great potential in methanogenic crude oil degradation over a wide temperature range, which extend our previous understanding of methanogenic degradation of crude oil alkanes. PMID:25409013

Interactions between F-111 Fuselage Fuel Tank Sealants. Part I. Characterisation of Polyester Sealants and their Hydrolytic Degradation Products,

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-12-01

maleic acid , adipic acid , azelaic acid and suberic acid . To ensure complete esterification during the exhaustive degradation reactions, an...spectroscopic techniques. Major components were shown to be sebacic acid and neopentyl glycol. The most significant difference between the two polyester...and acid equivalent weights of the prepolymers, their hydrolysis products and hydrolysed cured sealants were determined to assess extent of degradation

Production and characterization of multi-polysaccharide degrading enzymes from Aspergillus aculeatus BCC199 for saccharification of agricultural residues.

PubMed

Suwannarangsee, Surisa; Arnthong, Jantima; Eurwilaichitr, Lily; Champreda, Verawat

2014-10-01

Enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars is a key step in the conversion of agricultural by-products to biofuels and value-added chemicals. Utilization of a robust microorganism for on-site production of biomass-degrading enzymes has gained increasing interest as an economical approach for supplying enzymes to biorefinery processes. In this study, production of multi-polysaccharide-degrading enzymes from Aspergillus aculeatus BCC199 by solid-state fermentation was improved through the statistical design approach. Among the operational parameters, yeast extract and soybean meal as well as the nonionic surfactant Tween 20 and initial pH were found as key parameters for maximizing production of cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes. Under the optimized condition, the production of FPase, endoglucanase, β-glucosidase, xylanase, and β-xylosidase was achieved at 23, 663, 88, 1,633, and 90 units/g of dry substrate, respectively. The multi-enzyme extract was highly efficient in the saccharification of alkaline-pretreated rice straw, corn cob, and corn stover. In comparison with commercial cellulase preparations, the BCC199 enzyme mixture was able to produce remarkable yields of glucose and xylose, as it contained higher relative activities of β-glucosidase and core hemicellulases (xylanase and β-xylosidase). These results suggested that the crude enzyme extract from A. aculeatus BCC199 possesses balanced cellulolytic and xylanolytic activities required for the efficient saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks, and supplementation of external β-glucosidase or xylanase was dispensable. The work thus demonstrates the high potential of A. aculeatus BCC199 as a promising producer of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes for the biomass conversion industry.

Degradation of Lignin by Cyathus Species

PubMed Central

Abbott, Thomas P.; Wicklow, Donald T.

1984-01-01

The ability of 12 Cyathus species to degrade 14C-labeled lignin in kenaf was studied. The sum of 14C released into solution plus 14C released into the gas phase over a 32-day fermentation period was used to determine average daily rates of lignin biodegradation. Cyathus pallidus. C. africanus, and C. berkeleyanus delignified kenaf most rapidly. C. canna showed the greatest preference for lignin degradation over other plant components, and its rate of lignin degradation was only slightly lower than the three most active species. The apparent ability of fungi to metabolize low-molecular-weight lignin breakdown products correlated well with their overall delignification rates. C. stercoreus metabolized degradation products of lignin from wheat straw better than those from kenaf lignin, based on the amount of low-molecular-weight products left in solution. PMID:16346497

Degradation of diclofenac by UV-activated persulfate process: Kinetic studies, degradation pathways and toxicity assessments.

PubMed

Lu, Xian; Shao, Yisheng; Gao, Naiyun; Chen, Juxiang; Zhang, Yansen; Xiang, Huiming; Guo, Youluo

2017-07-01

Diclofenac (DCF) is the frequently detected non-steroidal pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment. In this study, the degradation of DCF was evaluated by UV-254nm activated persulfate (UV/PS). The degradation of DCF followed the pseudo first-order kinetics pattern. The degradation rate constant (k obs ) was accelerated by UV/PS compared to UV alone and PS alone. Increasing the initial PS dosage or solution pH significantly enhanced the degradation efficiency. Presence of various natural water constituents had different effects on DCF degradation, with an enhancement or inhibition in the presence of inorganic anions (HCO 3 - or Cl - ) and a significant inhibition in the presence of NOM. In addition, preliminary degradation mechanisms and major products were elucidated using LC-MS/MS. Hydroxylation, decarbonylation, ring-opening and cyclation reaction involving the attack of SO 4 • - or other substances, were the main degradation mechanism. TOC analyzer and Microtox bioassay were employed to evaluate the mineralization and cytotoxicity of solutions treated by UV/PS at different times, respectively. Limited elimination of TOC (32%) was observed during the mineralization of DCF. More toxic degradation products and their related intermediate species were formed, and the UV/PS process was suitable for removing the toxicity. Of note, longer degradation time may be considered for the final toxicity removal. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Nitenpyram degradation in finished drinking water.

PubMed

Noestheden, Matthew; Roberts, Simon; Hao, Chunyan

2016-07-15

Neonicotinoid pesticides and their metabolites have been indicated as contributing factors in the decline of honey bee colonies. A thorough understanding of neonicotinoid toxicity requires knowledge of their metabolites and environmental breakdown products. This work investigated the rapid degradation of the neonicotinoid nitenpyram in finished drinking water. Nitenpyram reaction products were characterized using liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/QTOFMS). A software algorithm that compared degraded and control samples was utilized to facilitate efficient data reduction. Fragmentation pathways for six reaction products and nitenpyram were proposed using predictive software and manual product ion analysis. This study showed that nitenpyram degradation in unpreserved finished drinking water was likely the result of oxidation, hydrolysis and reaction with Cl2 . Structures for six nitenpyram reaction products were proposed that suggest the C9/C11 olefin as the key reactive site. Similarities between the identified nitenpyram reaction products and imidacloprid metabolites highlight the importance of this study, as the toxicity of neonicotinoids to pollinators has been linked to their metabolites. Based on the proposed reaction mechanisms, the identified nitenpyram reaction products in finished drinking water could also be present in the environment and water treatment facilities. As such, identifying these degradation products will aid in evaluating the environmental impact of neonicotinoid pesticides. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Infusion fluids contain harmful glucose degradation products

PubMed Central

Bryland, Anna; Broman, Marcus; Erixon, Martin; Klarin, Bengt; Lindén, Torbjörn; Friberg, Hans; Wieslander, Anders; Kjellstrand, Per; Ronco, Claudio; Carlsson, Ola

2010-01-01

Purpose Glucose degradation products (GDPs) are precursors of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that cause cellular damage and inflammation. We examined the content of GDPs in commercially available glucose-containing infusion fluids and investigated whether GDPs are found in patients’ blood. Methods The content of GDPs was examined in infusion fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. To investigate whether GDPs also are found in patients, we included 11 patients who received glucose fluids (standard group) during and after their surgery and 11 control patients receiving buffered saline (control group). Blood samples were analyzed for GDP content and carboxymethyllysine (CML), as a measure of AGE formation. The influence of heat-sterilized fluids on cell viability and cell function upon infection was investigated. Results All investigated fluids contained high concentrations of GDPs, such as 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG). Serum concentration of 3-DG increased rapidly by a factor of eight in patients receiving standard therapy. Serum CML levels increased significantly and showed linear correlation with the amount of infused 3-DG. There was no increase in serum 3-DG or CML concentrations in the control group. The concentration of GDPs in most of the tested fluids damaged neutrophils, reducing their cytokine secretion, and inhibited microbial killing. Conclusions These findings indicate that normal standard fluid therapy involves unwanted infusion of GDPs. Reduction of the content of GDPs in commonly used infusion fluids may improve cell function, and possibly also organ function, in intensive-care patients. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00134-010-1873-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. PMID:20397009

PEGylated single-walled carbon nanotubes activate neutrophils to increase production of hypochlorous acid, the oxidant capable of degrading nanotubes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vlasova, Irina I., E-mail: irina.vlasova@yahoo.com; Vakhrusheva, Tatyana V.; Sokolov, Alexey V.

Perspectives for the use of carbon nanotubes in biomedical applications depend largely on their ability to degrade in the body into products that can be easily cleared out. Carboxylated single-walled carbon nanotubes (c-SWCNTs) were shown to be degraded by oxidants generated by peroxidases in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. In the present study we demonstrated that conjugation of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to c-SWCNTs does not interfere with their degradation by peroxidase/H{sub 2}O{sub 2} system or by hypochlorite. Comparison of different heme-containing proteins for their ability to degrade PEG-SWCNTs has led us to conclude that the myeloperoxidase (MPO) product hypochlorous acidmore » (HOCl) is the major oxidant that may be responsible for biodegradation of PEG-SWCNTs in vivo. MPO is secreted mainly by neutrophils upon activation. We hypothesize that SWCNTs may enhance neutrophil activation and therefore stimulate their own biodegradation due to MPO-generated HOCl. PEG-SWCNTs at concentrations similar to those commonly used in in vivo studies were found to activate isolated human neutrophils to produce HOCl. Both PEG-SWCNTs and c-SWCNTs enhanced HOCl generation from isolated neutrophils upon serum-opsonized zymosan stimulation. Both types of nanotubes were also found to activate neutrophils in whole blood samples. Intraperitoneal injection of a low dose of PEG-SWCNTs into mice induced an increase in percentage of circulating neutrophils and activation of neutrophils and macrophages in the peritoneal cavity, suggesting the evolution of an inflammatory response. Activated neutrophils can produce high local concentrations of HOCl, thereby creating the conditions favorable for degradation of the nanotubes. -- Highlights: ► Myeloperoxidase (MPO) product hypochlorous acid is able to degrade CNTs. ► PEGylated SWCNTs stimulate isolated neutrophils to produce hypochlorous acid. ► SWCNTs are capable of activating neutrophils in blood samples. ► Activation of

Degradation kinetics of organic chloramines and formation of disinfection by-products during chlorination of creatinine.

PubMed

Zhang, Tianyang; Xu, Bin; Wang, Anqi; Cui, Changzheng

2018-03-01

Organic chloramines can interfere with the measurement of effective combined chlorine in chlorinated water and are potential intermediate products of highly toxic disinfection by-products (DBPs). In order to know more about the degradation and transformation of organic chloramines, a typical organic chloramine precursor creatinine was selected for investigation and a corresponding individual organic chloramine chlorocreatinine was prepared in this study. The preparation condition of chlorocreatinine by chlorination was established as chlorine/creatinine = 1 M/M, reaction time = 2 h and pH = 7.0. Then the degradation kinetics of chlorocreatinine during further chlorination was studied, and a second-order rate constant of 1.16 (±0.14) M -1 s -1 was obtained at pH 7.0. Solution pH significantly influenced the degradation rate, and the elementary rate constants of chlorocreatinine with HOCl+H + , HOCl, OCl - and chlorocreatinine - with OCl - were calculated as 2.43 (±1.55) × 10 4  M -2  s -1 , 1.05 (±0.09) M -1 s -1 , 2.86 (±0.30) M -1 s -1 and 3.09 (±0.24) M -1 s -1 , respectively. Besides, it was found that chlorocreatinine could be further converted into several C-DBPs (chloroform and trichloroacetone) and N-DBPs (dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN) and trichloronitromethane (TCNM)) during chlorination. The total yield of DBPs increased obviously with increasing pH, especially for TCNM. In addition, the presence of humic acid in creatinine solution could increase the formation of DCAN obviously during chlorination. Based on the UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis, the conversion pathways of chlorocreatinine were proposed. Several kinds of intermediate products were also identified as organic chloramines and some of them could even exist stably during the further chlorination. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chromatographic determination of itopride hydrochloride in the presence of its degradation products.

PubMed

Kaul, Neeraj; Agrawal, Himani; Maske, Pravin; Rao, Janhavi Ramchandra; Mahadik, Kakasaheb Ramoo; Kadam, Shivajirao S

2005-08-01

Two sensitive and reproducible methods are described for the quantitative determination of itopride hydrochloride (IH) in the presence of its degradation products. The first method is based on HPLC separation on a reversed phase Kromasil column [C18 (5-microm, 25 cm x 4.6 mm, ID)] at ambient temperature using a mobile phase consisting of methanol and water (70:30, v/v) adjusted to pH 4.0 with orthophosphoric acid with UV detection at 258 nm. The flow rate was 1.0 mL per min with an average operating pressure of 180 kg/cm2. The second method is based on HPTLC separation on silica gel 60 F254 using toluene:methanol:chloroform:10% ammonia (5.0:3.0:6.0:0.1, v/v/v/v) as mobile phase at 270 nm. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student's t-test were applied to correlate the results of IH determination in dosage form by means of HPLC and HPTLC methods. The drug was subjected to acid and alkali hydrolysis, oxidation, dry heat, wet heat treatment, UV, and photodegradation. The proposed HPLC method was utilized to investigate the kinetics of the acidic, alkaline, and oxidative degradation processes at different temperatures and the apparent pseudo-first-order rate constant, half-life, and activation energy were calculated. In addition the pH-rate profile of degradation of IH in constant ionic strength buffer solutions in the pH range 2-11 was studied.

Microbial Degradation of Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane

PubMed Central

Grümping, R.; Michalke, K.; Hirner, A. V.; Hensel, R.

1999-01-01

The microbial degradation of low-molecular-weight polydimethylsiloxanes was investigated through laboratory experiments. Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane was found to be biodegraded under anaerobic conditions in composted sewage sludge, as monitored by the occurrence of the main polydimethylsiloxane degradation product, dimethylsilanediol, compared to that found in experiments with sterilized control samples. PMID:10224038

A Structure Identification and Toxicity Assessment of the Degradation Products of Aflatoxin B1 in Peanut Oil under UV Irradiation

PubMed Central

Mao, Jin; He, Bing; Zhang, Liangxiao; Li, Peiwu; Zhang, Qi; Ding, Xiaoxia; Zhang, Wen

2016-01-01

Aflatoxins, a group of extremely hazardous compounds because of their genotoxicity and carcinogenicity to human and animals, are commonly found in many tropical and subtropical regions. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is proven to be an effective method to reduce or detoxify aflatoxins. However, the degradation products of aflatoxins under UV irradiation and their safety or toxicity have not been clear in practical production such as edible oil industry. In this study, the degradation products of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in peanut oil were analyzed by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatograph-Thermo Quadrupole Exactive Focus mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (UPLC-TQEF-MS/MS). The high-resolution mass spectra reflected that two main products were formed after the modification of a double bond in the terminal furan ring and the fracture of the lactone ring, while the small molecules especially nitrogen-containing compound may have participated in the photochemical reaction. According to the above results, the possible photodegradation pathway of AFB1 in peanut oil is proposed. Moreover, the human embryo hepatocytes viability assay indicated that the cell toxicity of degradation products after UV irradiation was much lower than that of AFB1, which could be attributed to the breakage of toxicological sites. These findings can provide new information for metabolic pathways and the hazard assessment of AFB1 using UV detoxification. PMID:27845743

Results of analyses of the fungicide Chlorothalonil, its degradation products, and other selected pesticides at 22 surface-water sites in five Southern states, 2003-04

USGS Publications Warehouse

Scribner, Elisabeth A.; Orlando, James L.; Battaglin, William A.; Sandstrom, Mark; Kuivila, Kathryn; Meyer, Michael T.

2006-01-01

In accordance with the mission of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, a pesticide study was conducted during 2003-04 to determine the occurrence of the fungicide chlorothalonil and its degradation products at 22 surface-water sites in five Southern States. Water-quality samples were collected during the peanut-growing season (June-September) in 2003. During the peanut-growing season in 2004, samples were collected after large storms. An analytical method was developed at the USGS Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory in Lawrence, Kansas, to measure chlorothalonil and its degradation products by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Chlorothalonil was detected in 4 of the 113 surface-water samples. The primary degradation product of chlorothalonil, 4-hydroxy-chlorothalonil, was detected in 26 of the 113 samples with concentrations ranging from 0.002 to 0.930 microgram per liter. The chlorothalonil degradation products, 1-amide-4-hydroxy-chorothalonil and 1,3-diamide-chlorothalonil, were detected in one water sample each at 0.020 and 0.161 microgram per liter, respectively. The USGS Methods and Research Development Group, Lakewood, Colorado, developed a custom method for chlorothalonil using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in an effort to achieve a lower laboratory reporting level (LRL) than the USGS National Water-Quality Laboratory (NWQL) schedule 2060, which analyzes the compound chlorothalonil at a LRL of 0.035 ?g/L. The group succeeded in achieving a lower GC/MS reporting level of 0.01 ?g/L. Chlorothalonil was detected in 5 of 68 water samples analyzed using the custom GC/MS method, whereas chlorothalonil was detected in 2 of 21 water samples analyzed using NWQL schedule 2060. In addition to analysis of chlorothalonil and its degradation products, samples were analyzed using the USGS NWQL schedules 2001 and 2060 for about 114 pesticides and their degradation products. Samples also were analyzed for

Biogeochemical Cycles in Degraded Lands

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davidson, Eric A.; Vieira, Ima Celia G.; ReisdeCarvalho, Claudio Jose; DeanedeAbreuSa, Tatiana; deSouzaMoutinho, Paulo R.; Figueiredo, Ricardo O.; Stone, Thomas A.

2004-01-01

The objectives of this project were to define and describe the types of landscapes that fall under the broad category of "degraded lands" and to study biogeochemical cycles across this range of degradation found in secondary forests. We define degraded land as that which has lost part of its capacity of renovation of a productive ecosystem, either in the context of agroecosystems or as native communities of vegetation. This definition of degradation permits evaluation of biogeochemical constraints to future land uses.

Wood Products Thermal Degradation and Fire

Treesearch

Mark Dietenberger; Laura Hasburgh

2016-01-01

As wood reaches elevated temperatures, the different chemical components undergo thermal degradation that affect the performance of wood. The extent of these changes depends on the temperature level and length of time under exposure conditions. Permanent reductions in strength and modulus of elasticity can occur at temperatures >65 °C, with the amount depending...

Chemical Composition, In vitro Gas Production, Ruminal Fermentation and Degradation Patterns of Diets by Grazing Steers in Native Range of North Mexico

PubMed Central

Murillo, M.; Herrera, E.; Carrete, F. O.; Ruiz, O.; Serrato, J. S.

2012-01-01

The objective of the study was to quantify annual and seasonal differences in the chemical composition, in vitro gas production, in situ degradability and ruminal fermentation of grazing steers’ diets. Diet samples were collected with four esophageal cannulated steers (350±3 kg BW); and four ruminally cannulated heifers (342±1.5 kg BW) were used to study the dry matter degradation and fermentation in rumen. Data were analyzed with repeated measurements split plot design. The crude protein, in vitro dry matter digestibility and metabolizable energy were higher during the first year of trial and in the summer (p<0.01). The values of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and copper were higher in summer (p<0.05). The gas produced by the soluble and insoluble fractions, as well as the constant rate of gas production were greater in summer and fall (p<0.01). The ammonia nitrogen (NH3N) and total volatile fatty acids concentrations in rumen, the soluble and degradable fractions, the constant rate of degradation and the effective degradability of DM and NDF were affected by year (p<0.05) and season (p<0.01). Our study provides new and useful knowledge for the formulation of protein, energetic and mineral supplements that grazing cattle need to improve their productive and reproductive performance. PMID:25049495

Enhancement of organic matter degradation and methane gas production of anaerobic granular sludge by degasification of dissolved hydrogen gas.

PubMed

Satoh, Hisashi; Bandara, Wasala M K R T W; Sasakawa, Manabu; Nakahara, Yoshihito; Takahashi, Masahiro; Okabe, Satoshi

2017-11-01

A hollow fiber degassing membrane (DM) was applied to enhance organic matter degradation and methane gas production of anaerobic granular sludge process by reducing the dissolved hydrogen gas (D-H 2 ) concentration in the liquid phase. DM was installed in the bench-scale anaerobic granular sludge reactors and D-H 2 was removed through DM using a vacuum pump. Degasification improved the organic matter degradation efficiency to 79% while the efficiency was 62% without degasification at 12,000mgL -1 of the influent T-COD concentration. Measurement of D-H 2 concentrations in the liquid phase confirmed that D-H 2 was removed by degasification. Furthermore, the effect of acetate concentrations on the organic matter degradation efficiency was investigated. At acetate concentrations above 3gL -1 , organic matter degradation deteriorated. Degasification enhanced the propionate and acetate degradation. These results suggest that degasification reduced D-H 2 concentration and volatile fatty acids concentrations, prevented pH drop, and subsequent enhanced organic matter degradation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pemetrexed degradation by photocatalytic process: Kinetics, identification of transformation products and estimation of toxicity.

PubMed

Secrétan, Philippe-Henri; Karoui, Maher; Levi, Yves; Sadou-Yayé, Hassane; Tortolano, Lionel; Solgadi, Audrey; Yagoubi, Najet; Do, Bernard

2018-05-15

This study employed a UV-A/visible/TiO 2 system to investigate the degradation of pemetrexed, an antifolate agent used in chemotherapy. The laboratory-scale method employed a photostability chamber that could be used to study multiple samples. Reversed-phase HPLC coupled with high-resolution ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry was used to determine the transformation products (TPs) of PEME. Based on the identified TPs and existing chemical knowledge, the mechanism of degradation of the target compound was proposed. Concentrations were monitored as a function of time, and the degradation kinetics were compared. The structures of seven TPs, four of which have not been described to date, were proposed. Most of the TPs stemmed from OH radical additions to the dihydropyrrole moiety and oxidative decarboxylation of the glutamate residue. Based on the elucidated structures, a computational toxicity assessment was performed, showing that the TPs with higher log D values than the parent compound are more toxic than the PEME itself. To support these findings, the toxicities of irradiated samples on Vibrio fischeri were monitored over time. The experimental results corresponded well with the results of previous computational studies. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization of coffee (Coffea arabica) husk lignin and degradation products obtained after oxygen and alkali addition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

de Carvalho Oliveira, Fernanda; Srinivas, Keerthi; Helms, Gregory L.

The full use of biomass in future biorefineries has stimulated studies on utilization of lignin from agricultural crops, such as coffee husk, a major residue from coffee processing. This study focuses on characterizing the lignin obtained from coffee husk and its further wet oxidation products as a function of alkali loading, temperature and residence time. The lignin fraction after diluted acid and alkali pretreatments is composed primarily of p-hydroxylphenyl units (≥ 49%), with fewer guaiacyl and syringyl units. Linkages appear to be mainly β-O-4 ether linkages. Thermal degradation of pretreated lignin occurred in two stages. Carboxylic acids were the mainmore » degradation product. Due to the condensed structure of this lignin, relatively low yields of aromatic aldehydes were achieved, except from conditions with temperatures over 210 °C, 5 min residence time and 11.7wt% NaOH. Optimization of the pretreatment and oxidation parameters are important to maximizing yield of higher-value bioproducts from lignin.« less

Degradation of Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapies Under Tropical Conditions.

PubMed

Hall, Zoe; Allan, Elizabeth Louise; van Schalkwyk, Donelly Andrew; van Wyk, Albert; Kaur, Harparkash

2016-05-04

Poor quality antimalarials, including falsified, substandard, and degraded drugs, are a serious health concern in malaria-endemic countries. Guidelines are lacking on how to distinguish between substandard and degraded drugs. "Forced degradation" in an oven was carried out on three common artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) brands to detect products of degradation using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and help facilitate classification of degraded drugs. "Natural aging" of 2,880 tablets each of ACTs artemether/lumefantrine and artesunate/amodiaquine was undertaken to evaluate their long-term stability in tropical climates. Samples were aged in the presence and absence of light on-site in Ghana and in a stability chamber (London), removed at regular intervals, and analyzed to determine loss of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) over time and detect products of degradation. Loss of APIs in naturally aged tablets (both in Ghana and the pharmaceutical stability chamber) was 0-7% over 3 years (∼12 months beyond expiry) with low levels of degradation products detected. Using this developed methodology, it was found that a quarter of ACTs purchased in Enugu, Nigeria (concurrent study), that would have been classified as substandard, were in fact degraded. Presence of degradation products together with evidence of insufficient APIs can be used to classify drugs as degraded. © The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Fractionation and analysis of veterinary antibiotics and their related degradation products in agricultural soils and drainage waters following swine manure amendment.

PubMed

Solliec, Morgan; Roy-Lachapelle, Audrey; Gasser, Marc-Olivier; Coté, Caroline; Généreux, Mylène; Sauvé, Sébastien

2016-02-01

The fate of antimicrobial active compound residues in the environment, and especially antibiotics used in swine husbandry are of particular interest for their potential toxicity and contribution to antibiotic resistance. The presence of relatively high concentrations of bioactive compounds has been reported in agricultural areas but few information is available on their degradation products. Veterinary antibiotics reach terrestrial environments through many routes, including application of swine manure to soils. The objectives of this project were first, to develop an analytical method able to quantify and identify veterinary antibiotics and their degradation products in manure, soil and water samples; and second, to study the distribution of these target compounds in soils and drainage waters. A brief evaluation of their potential toxicity in the environment was also made. In order to achieve these objectives, liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry was used for its ability to quantify contaminants with sensitivity and selectivity, and its capacity to identify degradation products. Samples of manure, soil and water came from a long-term experimental site where swine manure containing veterinary antibiotics has been applied for many years. In this study, tetracycline antibiotics were found at several hundred μg L(-1) in the swine manure slurry used for fertilization, several hundred of ng L(-1) in drainage waters and several ng g(-1) in soils, while degradation products were sometimes found at concentrations higher than the parent compounds. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Anthracycline antibiotics derivate mitoxantrone-Destructive sorption and photocatalytic degradation.

PubMed

Štenglová-Netíková, Irena R; Petruželka, Luboš; Šťastný, Martin; Štengl, Václav

2018-01-01

Nanostructured titanium(IV) oxide was used for the destructive adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of mitoxantrone (MTX), a cytostatic drug from the group of anthracycline antibiotics. During adsorption on a titania dioxide surface, four degradation products of MTX, mitoxantrone dicarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydroxy-5-((2-((2-hydroxyethyl)amino)ethyl)amino)-8-((2-(methylamino)ethyl)amino)anthracene-9,10-dione, 1,4-dihydroxy-5,8-diiminoanthracene-9,10(5H,8H)-dione and 1,4-dihydroxy-5-imino-8-(methyleneamino)anthracene-9,10(5H,8H)-dione, were identified. In the case of photocatalytic degradation, only one degradation product after 15 min at m/z 472 was identified. This degradation product corresponded to mitoxantrone dicarboxylic acid, and complete mineralization was attained in one hour. Destructive adsorbent manganese(IV) oxide, MnO2, was used only for the destructive adsorption of MTX. Destructive adsorption occurred only for one degradation product, mitoxantrone dicarboxylic acid, against anatase TiO2.

WEATHERABILITY OF ENHANCED DEGRADABLE PLASTICS

EPA Science Inventory

The main objective of this study was to assess the performance and the asociated variability of several selected enhanced degradable plastic materials under a variety of different exposure conditions. Other objectives were to identify the major products formed during degradation ...

Oxidative degradation of triclosan by potassium permanganate: Kinetics, degradation products, reaction mechanism, and toxicity evaluation.

PubMed

Chen, Jing; Qu, Ruijuan; Pan, Xiaoxue; Wang, Zunyao

2016-10-15

In this study, we systematically investigated the potential applicability of potassium permanganate for removal of triclosan (TCS) in water treatment. A series of kinetic experiments were carried out to study the influence of various factors, including the pH, oxidant doses, temperature, and presence of typical anions (Cl(-), SO4(2-), NO3(-)), humic acid (HA), and fulvic acid (FA) on triclosan removal. The optimal reaction conditions were: pH = 8.0, [TCS]0:[KMnO4]0 = 1:2.5, and T = 25 °C, where 20 mg/L of TCS could be completely degraded in 120 s. However, the rate of TCS (20 μg/L) oxidation by KMnO4 ([TCS]0:[KMnO4]0 = 1:2.5) was 1.64 × 10(-3) mg L(-1)·h(-1), lower than that at an initial concentration of 20 mg/L (2.24 × 10(3) mg L(-1)·h(-1)). A total of eleven products were detected by liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS) analysis, including phenol and its derivatives, benzoquinone, an organic acid, and aldehyde. Two main reaction pathways involving CO bond cleavage (-C(8)O(7)-) and benzene ring opening (in the less chlorinated benzene ring) were proposed, and were further confirmed based on frontier electron density calculations and point charges. Furthermore, the changes in the toxicity of the reaction solution during TCS oxidation by KMnO4 were evaluated by using both the luminescent bacteria Photobacterium phosphoreum and the water flea Daphnia magna. The toxicity of 20 mg/L triclosan to D. magna and P. phosphoreum after 60 min was reduced by 95.2% and 43.0%, respectively. Phenol and 1,4-benzoquinone, the two representative degradation products formed during permanganate oxidation, would yield low concentrations of DBPs (STHMFP, 20.99-278.97 μg/mg; SHAAFP, 7.86 × 10(-4)-45.77 μg/mg) after chlorination and chloramination. Overall, KMnO4 can be used as an effective oxidizing agent for TCS removal in water and wastewater treatment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

First derivative ratio spectrophotometric, HPTLC-densitometric, and HPLC determination of nicergoline in presence of its hydrolysis-induced degradation product.

PubMed

Ahmad, Abdel Kader S; Kawy, M Abdel; Nebsen, M

2002-10-15

Three methods are presented for the determination of Nicergoline in presence of its hydrolysis-induced degradation product. The first method was based on measurement of the first derivative of ratio spectra amplitude of Nicergoline at 291 nm. The second method was based on separation of Nicergoline from its degradation product followed by densitometric measurement of the spots at 287 nm. The separation was carried out on HPTLC silica gel F(254) plates, using methanol-ethyl acetate-glacial acetic acid (5:7:3, v/v/v) as mobile phase. The third method was based on high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separation and determination of Nicergoline from its degradation product on a reversed phase, nucloesil C(18) column using a mobile phase of methanol-water-glacial acetic acid (80:20:0.1, v/v/v) with UV detection at 280 nm. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride was used as internal standard. Laboratory prepared mixtures containing different percentages of the degradation product were analysed by the proposed methods and satisfactory results were obtained. These methods have been successfully applied to the analysis of Nicergoline in Sermion tablets. The validities of these methods were ascertained by applying standard addition technique, the mean percentage recovery +/- R.S.D.% was found to be 99.47 +/- 0.752, 100.01 +/- 0.940, 99.75 +/- 0.740 for the first derivative of ratio spectra method, the HPTLC method and the HPLC method, respectively. The proposed methods were statistically compared with the manufacturer's HPLC method of analysis of Nicergoline and no significant difference was found with respect to both precision and accuracy. They have the advantage of being stability indicating. Therefore, they can be used for routine analysis of the drug in quality control laboratories. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.

MEASURING THE TRANSPORT OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING DICARBOXIMIDES AND DEGRADATION PRODUCTS FROM THE SOIL TO THE LOWER TROPOSPHERE

EPA Science Inventory

A method for measuring the atmospheric flux of a dicarboximide and its degradation products was investigated. A volatile gas laboratory chamber was modified to measure the flux of semi-volatile fungicides. Pesticide application systems and soil incorporation systems were desig...

Stability behaviour of antiretroviral drugs and their combinations. 5: Characterization of novel degradation products of abacavir sulfate by mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry.

PubMed

Kurmi, Moolchand; Sahu, Archana; Singh, Saranjit

2017-02-05

In the present study, degradation behaviour of abacavir sulfate was evaluated in solution and solid stress conditions. Solution state studies resulted in formation of eleven degradation products; of which two were also formed on solid stress. The same were separated by high performance liquid chromatography. They were characterized using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-multistage mass spectrometry and hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry data. Additionally, seven degradation products were isolated and subjected to 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance studies for their structural confirmation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cysteine degradation gene yhaM, encoding cysteine desulfidase, serves as a genetic engineering target to improve cysteine production in Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Nonaka, Gen; Takumi, Kazuhiro

2017-12-01

Cysteine is an important amino acid for various industries; however, there is no efficient microbial fermentation-based production method available. Owing to its cytotoxicity, bacterial intracellular levels of cysteine are stringently controlled via several modes of regulation, including cysteine degradation by cysteine desulfhydrases and cysteine desulfidases. In Escherichia coli, several metabolic enzymes are known to exhibit cysteine degradative activities, however, their specificity and physiological significance for cysteine detoxification via degradation are unclear. Relaxing the strict regulation of cysteine is crucial for its overproduction; therefore, identifying and modulating the major degradative activity could facilitate the genetic engineering of a cysteine-producing strain. In the present study, we used genetic screening to identify genes that confer cysteine resistance in E. coli and we identified yhaM, which encodes cysteine desulfidase and decomposes cysteine into hydrogen sulfide, pyruvate, and ammonium. Phenotypic characterization of a yhaM mutant via growth under toxic concentrations of cysteine followed by transcriptional analysis of its response to cysteine showed that yhaM is cysteine-inducible, and its physiological role is associated with resisting the deleterious effects of cysteine in E. coli. In addition, we confirmed the effects of this gene on the fermentative production of cysteine using E. coli-based cysteine-producing strains. We propose that yhaM encodes the major cysteine-degrading enzyme and it has the most significant role in cysteine detoxification among the numerous enzymes reported in E. coli, thereby providing a core target for genetic engineering to improve cysteine production in this bacterium.

D-Galacturonic acid as a highly reactive compound in nonenzymatic browning. 1. Formation of browning active degradation products.

PubMed

Bornik, Maria-Anna; Kroh, Lothar W

2013-04-10

Thermal treatment of an aqueous solution of D-galacturonic acid at pH 3, 5, and 8 led to rapid browning of the solution and to the formation of carbocyclic compounds such as reductic acid (2,3-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one), DHCP (4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one), and furan-2-carbaldehyde, as degradation products in weak acidic solution. Studies on their formation revealed 2-ketoglutaraldehyde as their common key intermediate. Norfuraneol (4-hydroxy-5-methyl-3-(2H)-furanone) is a typical alkaline degradation product and formed after isomerization. Further model studies revealed reductic acid as an important and more browning active compound than furan-2-carbaldehyde, which led to a red color of the model solution. This red-brown color is also characteristic of thermally treated uronic acid solutions.

Nanobiocatalytic Degradation of Acid Orange 7

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hastings, Jason

The catalytic properties of various metal nanoparticles have led to their use in environmental remediation applications. However, these remediation strategies are limited by their ability to deliver catalytic nanoparticles and a suitable electron donor to large treatment zones. Clostridium pasteurianum BC1 cells, loaded with bio-Pd nanoparticles, were used to effectively catalyze the reductive degradation and removal of Acid Orange 7 (AO7), a model azo compound. Hydrogen produced fermentatively by the C. pasteurianum BC1 acted as the electron donor for the process. Pd-free bacterial cultures or control experiments conducted with heat-killed cells showed limited reduction of AO7. Experiments also showed that the in situ biological production of H2 by C. pasteurianum BC1 was essential for the degradation of AO7, which suggests a novel process where the in situ microbial production of hydrogen is directly coupled to the catalytic bio-Pd mediated reduction of AO7. The differences in initial degradation rate for experiments conducted using catalyst concentrations of 1ppm Pd and 5ppm Pd and an azo dye concentration of 100ppm AO7 was 0.39 /hr and 1.94 /hr respectively, demonstrating the importance of higher concentrations of active Pd(0). The degradation of AO7 was quick as demonstrated by complete reductive degradation of 50ppm AO7 in 2 hours in experiments conducted using a catalyst concentration of 5ppm Pd. Dye degradation products were analyzed via Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GCMS), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), UltraViolet-Visible spectrophotometer (UV-Vis) and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI) spectrometry. The presence of 1-amino 2-naphthol, one of the hypothesized degradation products, was confirmed using mass spectrometry.

PccD Regulates Branched-Chain Amino Acid Degradation and Exerts a Negative Effect on Erythromycin Production in Saccharopolyspora erythraea.

PubMed

Xu, Zhen; Liu, Yong; Ye, Bang-Ce

2018-04-15

Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) degradation is a major source of propionyl coenzyme A (propionyl-CoA), a key precursor of erythromycin biosynthesis in Saccharopolyspora erythraea In this study, we found that the bkd operon, responsible for BCAA degradation, was regulated directly by PccD, a transcriptional regulator of propionyl-CoA carboxylase genes. The transcriptional level of the bkd operon was upregulated 5-fold in a pccD gene deletion strain (Δ pccD strain) and decreased 3-fold in a pccD overexpression strain (WT/pIB- pccD ), demonstrating that PccD was a negative transcriptional regulator of the operon. The deletion of pccD significantly improved the Δ pccD strain's growth rate, whereas pccD overexpression repressed WT/pIB- pccD growth rate, in basic Evans medium with 30 mM valine as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. The deletion of gdhA1 and the BcdhE1 gene (genes in the bkd operon) resulted in lower growth rates of Δ gdhA1 and ΔBcdhE1 strains, respectively, on 30 mM valine, further suggesting that the bkd operon is involved in BCAA degradation. Both bkd overexpression (WT/pIB- bkd ) and pccD inactivation (Δ pccD strain) improve erythromycin production (38% and 64%, respectively), whereas the erythromycin production of strain WT/pIB- pccD was decreased by 48%. Lastly, we explored the applications of engineering pccD and bkd in an industrial high-erythromycin-producing strain. pccD deletion in industrial strain S. erythraea E3 (E3 pccD ) improved erythromycin production by 20%, and the overexpression of bkd in E3Δ pccD (E3Δ pccD /pIB- bkd ) increased erythromycin production by 39% compared with S. erythraea E3 in an industrial fermentation medium. Addition of 30 mM valine to industrial fermentation medium further improved the erythromycin production by 23%, a 72% increase from the initial strain S. erythraea E3. IMPORTANCE We describe a bkd operon involved in BCAA degradation in S. erythraea The genes of the operon are repressed by a Tet

UV/chlorine as an advanced oxidation process for the degradation of benzalkonium chloride: Synergistic effect, transformation products and toxicity evaluation.

PubMed

Huang, Nan; Wang, Ting; Wang, Wen-Long; Wu, Qian-Yuan; Li, Ang; Hu, Hong-Ying

2017-05-01

Benzalkonium chlorides (BACs), as typical cationic surfactants and biocides widely applied in household and industrial products, have been frequently detected as micropollutants in many aquatic environments. In this study, the combination of UV irradiation and chlorine (UV/chlorine), a newly interested advanced oxidation process, was used to degrade dodecylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride (DDBAC). UV/chlorine showed synergistic effects on DDBAC degradation comparing to UV irradiation or chlorination alone. Radical quenching experiments indicated that degradation of DDBAC by UV/chlorine involved both UV photolysis and radical species oxidation, which accounted for 48.4% and 51.6%, respectively. Chlorine dosage and pH are essential parameters affecting the treatment efficiency of UV/chlorine. The pseudo first order rate constant (k obs, DDBAC ) increased from 0.046 min -1 to 0.123 min -1 in response to chlorine dosage at 0-150 mg/L, and the degradation percentage of DDBAC within 12 min decreased from 81.4% to 56.6% at pH 3.6-9.5. Five main intermediates were identified and semi-quantified using HPLC-MS/MS and a possible degradation pathway was proposed. The degradation mechanisms of DDBAC by UV/chlorine included cleavage of the benzyl-nitrogen bond and hydrogen abstraction of the alkyl chain. Trichloromethane (TCM), chloral hydrate (CH), trichloropropanone (TCP), dichloropropanone (DCP) and dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN) were detected using GC-ECD. The formation of chlorinated products increased rapidly initially, then decreased (TCM, TCP, DCP and DCAN) or remained stable (CH) with extended treatment. The actual formation of TCM peaked at 30 min (50.3 μg/L), while other chlorinated products did not exceed 10 μg/L throughout the process. Based on the luminescent bacterial assay, DDBAC solution underwent almost complete detoxification subjected to UV/chlorine treatment for 120 min, which is more effective than UV irradiation or chlorination alone. Copyright �

Determination of fluorotelomer alcohols and their degradation products in biosolids-amended soils and plants using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Zhang, Hongna; Wen, Bei; Hu, Xiaoyu; Wu, Yali; Luo, Lei; Chen, Zien; Zhang, Shuzhen

2015-07-24

Degradation of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) was recognized as an additional source of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs). Quantification of FTOHs and their degradation products can help shed light on the sources and fates of PFCAs in the environment. In this study, an analytical method was developed for the determination of 6:2 and 8:2 FTOHs, and their degradation products of poly- and perfluorinated acids, including fluorotelomer saturated and unsaturated carboxylic acids (FTCAs and FTUCAs), secondary polyfluorinated alcohols and PFCAs in biosolids-amended soils and plants using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The extract efficiencies of different methods including ethyl acetate and methanol (MeOH) for FTOHs and acetonitrile, MeOH, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), NaOH-MeOH and NaOH-MTBE for poly- and perfluorinated acids were tested. The results showed that 6:2 and 8:2 FTOHs and their degradation products could be simultaneously and satisfactorily extracted by MeOH, cleaned up by Envi-Carb graphitized carbon and solid phase extraction, respectively, and determined by UPLC-MS/MS separately. NaOH in the extractant caused the conversion of 6:2 FTCA and 8:2 FTCA into the corresponding FTUCAs. The selected methods have matrix recoveries ranged from 52% to 102%, and detection limits of 0.01-0.46ng/g dry weight for FTOHs and their degradation products in soil and plant. The optimized method was applied successfully to quantify FTOHs and their degradation products in two biosolids-amended soils and plants. The total concentrations of FTOHs in the soils were 44.1±5.8 and 82.6±7.1ng/g, and in plants tissues 3.58±0.25 and 8.33±0.66ng/g. The total concentrations of poly- and perfluorinated acids in the soils were 168.0±13.2 and 349.6±11.2ng/g, and in plants tissues 78.0±6.4 and 75.5±5.3ng/g. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microbial Enzymatic Degradation of Biodegradable Plastics.

PubMed

Roohi; Bano, Kulsoom; Kuddus, Mohammed; Zaheer, Mohammed R; Zia, Qamar; Khan, Mohammed F; Ashraf, Ghulam Md; Gupta, Anamika; Aliev, Gjumrakch

2017-01-01

The renewable feedstock derived biodegradable plastics are important in various industries such as packaging, agricultural, paper coating, garbage bags and biomedical implants. The increasing water and waste pollution due to the available decomposition methods of plastic degradation have led to the emergence of biodegradable plastics and biological degradation with microbial (bacteria and fungi) extracellular enzymes. The microbes utilize biodegradable polymers as the substrate under starvation and in unavailability of microbial nutrients. Microbial enzymatic degradation is suitable from bioremediation point of view as no waste accumulation occurs. It is important to understand the microbial interaction and mechanism involved in the enzymatic degradation of biodegradable plastics under the influence of several environmental factors such as applied pH, thermo-stability, substrate molecular weight and/or complexity. To study the surface erosion of polymer film is another approach for hydrolytic degradation characteristion. The degradation of biopolymer is associated with the production of low molecular weight monomer and generation of carbon dioxide, methane and water molecule. This review reported the degradation study of various existing biodegradable plastics along with the potent degrading microbes (bacteria and fungi). Patents available on plastic biodegradation with biotechnological significance is also summarized in this paper. This paper assesses that new disposal technique should be adopted for the degradation of polymers and further research is required for the economical production of biodegradable plastics along with their enzymatic degradation. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Effect of fiber and dye degradation products (FDP) on burn wound healing.

PubMed

Knox, F S; Wachtel, T L; McCahan, G R; Knapp, S C

1979-10-01

Upon exposure to the thermal environment of an aircraft fire, many fire retardant fabrics off-gas fiber and dye degradation products (FDP). Condensation of these products on human skin raises questions concerning possible deleterious effects on burn wound healing. A porcine bioassay was used to study the physiological effects of FDP. Selected areas of living skin, protected by dyed aromatic polyamides and polybenzimidazole fabrics, were exposed to a thermal source adjusted to simulate a postcrash JP-4 fuel fire. Burn sites contaminated with FDP were evaluated by clinical observation ane to begin epithelialization, time to closure of an open wound, and the amount and type of cicatrix formation. The experiment showed that each fabric has unique off-gasing products. The greatest amount of FDP was deposited on the skin when the skin was covered by a single layer of shell fabric separated by a 6.35-mm air gap. The presence of an intervening cotton T-shirt decreased the amount of FDP deposited on the skin. We found no evidence that FDP caused alterations in wound healing.

Effects of fungal degradation on the CuO oxidation products of lignin: A controlled laboratory study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hedges, John I.; Blanchette, Robert A.; Weliky, Karen; Devol, Allan H.

1988-11-01

Duplicate samples of birch wood were degraded for 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks by the white-rot fungus, Phlebia tremellosus, and for 12 weeks by 6 other white-rot and brown-rot fungi. P. tremellosus caused progressive weight losses and increased the H/C and O/C of the remnant wood by preferentially degrading the lignin component of the middle lamellae. This fungus increased the absolute (weight loss-corrected) yield of the vanillic acid CuO reaction product above its initial level and exponentially decreased the absolute yields of all other lignin-derived phenols. Total yields of syringyl phenols were decreased 1.5 times as fast as total vanillyl phenol yields. Within both phenol families, aldehyde precursors were degraded faster than precursors of the corresponding ketones, which were obtained in constant proportion to the total phenol yield. Although two other white-rot fungi caused similar lignin compositional trends, a fourth white-rot species, Coriolus versicolor, simultaneously eroded all cell wall components and did not concentrate polysaccharides in the remnant wood. Wood degraded by the three brown-rot fungi exhibited porous cell walls with greatly reduced integrity. The brown-rot fungi also preferentially attacked syringyl structural units, but degraded all phenol precursors at a much slower rate than the white-rotters and did not produce excess vanillic acid. Degradation by P. tremellosus linearly increased the vanillic acid/vanillin ratio, (Ad/Al)v, of the remnant birch wood throughout the 12 week degradation study and exponentially decreased the absolute yields of total vanillyl phenols, total syringyl phenols and the syringyl/vanillyl phenol ratio, S/V. At the highest (Ad/Al)v of 0.50 (12 week samples), total yields of syringyl and vanillyl phenols were decreased by 65% and 80%, respectively, with a resulting reduction of 40% in the original S/V. Many of the diagenetically related compositional trends that have been previously reported for lignins in natural

High-performance liquid chromatography/high-resolution multiple stage tandem mass spectrometry using negative-ion-mode hydroxide-doped electrospray ionization for the characterization of lignin degradation products.

PubMed

Owen, Benjamin C; Haupert, Laura J; Jarrell, Tiffany M; Marcum, Christopher L; Parsell, Trenton H; Abu-Omar, Mahdi M; Bozell, Joseph J; Black, Stuart K; Kenttämaa, Hilkka I

2012-07-17

In the search for a replacement for fossil fuel and the valuable chemicals currently obtained from crude oil, lignocellulosic biomass has become a promising candidate as an alternative biorenewable source for crude oil. Hence, many research efforts focus on the extraction, degradation, and catalytic transformation of lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose. Unfortunately, these processes result in the production of very complex mixtures. Further, while methods have been developed for the analysis of mixtures of oligosaccharides, this is not true for the complex mixtures generated upon degradation of lignin. For example, high-performance liquid chromatography/multiple stage tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS(n)), a tool proven to be invaluable in the analysis of complex mixtures derived from many other biopolymers, such as proteins and DNA, has not been implemented for lignin degradation products. In this study, we have developed an HPLC separation method for lignin degradation products that is amenable to negative-ion-mode electrospray ionization (ESI doped with NaOH), the best method identified thus far for ionization of lignin-related model compounds without fragmentation. The separated and ionized compounds are then analyzed by MS(3) experiments to obtain detailed structural information while simultaneously performing high-resolution measurements to determine their elemental compositions in the two parts of a commercial linear quadrupole ion trap/Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. A lignin degradation product mixture was analyzed using this method, and molecular structures were proposed for some components. This methodology significantly improves the ability to analyze complex product mixtures that result from degraded lignin.

Quantitating protein synthesis, degradation, and endogenous antigen processing.

PubMed

Princiotta, Michael F; Finzi, Diana; Qian, Shu-Bing; Gibbs, James; Schuchmann, Sebastian; Buttgereit, Frank; Bennink, Jack R; Yewdell, Jonathan W

2003-03-01

Using L929 cells, we quantitated the macroeconomics of protein synthesis and degradation and the microeconomics of producing MHC class I associated peptides from viral translation products. To maintain a content of 2.6 x 10(9) proteins, each cell's 6 x 10(6) ribosomes produce 4 x 10(6) proteins min(-1). Each of the cell's 8 x 10(5) proteasomes degrades 2.5 substrates min(-1), creating one MHC class I-peptide complex for each 500-3000 viral translation products degraded. The efficiency of complex formation is similar in dendritic cells and macrophages, which play a critical role in activating T cells in vivo. Proteasomes create antigenic peptides at different efficiencies from two distinct substrate pools: rapidly degraded newly synthesized proteins that clearly represent defective ribosomal products (DRiPs) and a less rapidly degraded pool in which DRiPs may also predominate.

Application of isotopic labeling, and gas chromatography mass spectrometry, to understanding degradation products and pathways in the thermal-oxidative aging of Nylon 6.6

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

White, Gregory Von; Clough, Roger L.; Hochrein, James M.

2013-12-01

Nylon 6.6 containing 13C isotopic labels at specific positions along the macromolecular backbone has been subjected to extensive thermal-oxidative aging at 138 °C for time periods up to 243 days. In complementary experiments, unlabeled Nylon 6.6 was subjected to the same aging conditions under an atmosphere of 18O 2. Volatile organic degradation products were analyzed by cryofocusing gas chromatography mass spectrometry (cryo-GC/MS) to identify the isotopic labeling. The labeling results, combined with basic considerations of free radical reaction chemistry, provided insights to the origin of degradation species, with respect to the macromolecular structure. A number of inferences on chemical mechanismsmore » were drawn, based on 1) the presence (or absence) of the isotopic labels in the various products, 2) the location of the isotope within the product molecule, and 3) the relative abundance of products as indicated by large differences in peak intensities in the gas chromatogram. The overall degradation results can be understood in terms of free radical pathways originating from initial attacks on three different positions along the nylon chain which include hydrogen abstraction from: the (CH 2) group adjacent to the nitrogen atom, at the (CH 2) adjacent the carbonyl group, and direct radical attack on the carbonyl. Understanding the pathways which lead to Nylon 6.6 degradation ultimately provides new insight into changes that can be leveraged to detect and reduce early aging and minimize problems associated with material degradation.« less

Structural Analysis and Biological Toxicity of Aflatoxins B1 and B2 Degradation Products Following Detoxification by Ocimum basilicum and Cassia fistula Aqueous Extracts

PubMed Central

Iram, Wajiha; Anjum, Tehmina; Iqbal, Mazhar; Ghaffar, Abdul; Abbas, Mateen; Khan, Abdul Muqeet

2016-01-01

This study showed the comparison between Ocimum basilicum and Cassia fistula (leaves and branch) aqueous extracts for their ability to detoxify of aflatoxins B1 and B2 (AFB1; 100 μg L-1 and AFB2; 50 μg L-1) by In Vitro assays and decontamination studies. Results indicated that O. basilicum leaves extract was found to be highly significant (P < 0.05) in degrading AFB1 and AFB2, i.e., 90.4 and 88.6%, respectively. However, O. basilicum branch, C. fistula leaves and branch extracts proved to be less efficient in degrading these aflatoxins, under optimized conditions, i.e., pH 8, temperature 30°C and incubation period of 72 h. Moreover the antifungal activity of these plants extracts were also tested. The findings depicted that O. basilicum leaves extract showed maximum growth inhibition of aflatoxigenic isolates, i.e., 82–87% as compared to other tested plants extracts. The structural elucidation of degraded toxin products by LCMS/MS analysis showed that nine degraded products of AFB1 and AFB2 were formed. MS/MS spectra showed that most of the products were formed by the removal of double bond in the terminal furan ring and modification of lactone group indicating less toxicity as compared to parent compounds. Brine shrimps bioassay further confirmed the low toxicity of degraded products, showing that O. basilicum leaves extract can be used as an effective tool for the detoxification of aflatoxins. PMID:27471501

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry study of forced degradation of azilsartan medoxomil potassium.

PubMed

Swain, Debasish; Patel, Prinesh N; Palaniappan, Ilayaraja; Sahu, Gayatri; Samanthula, Gananadhamu

2015-08-15

Azilsartan medoxomil potassium (AZM) is a new antihypertensive drug introduced in the year 2011. The presence of degradation products not only affects the quality, but also the safety aspects of the drug. Thus, it is essential to develop an efficient analytical method which could be useful to selectively separate and identify the degradation products of azilsartan medoxomil potassium. AZM was subjected to forced degradation under hydrolytic (acid, base and neutral), oxidative, photolytic and thermal stress conditions. Separation of the drug and degradation products was achieved by a liquid chromatography (LC) method using an Acquity UPLC(®) C18 CSH column with mobile phase consisting of 0.02% trifluoroacetic acid and acetonitrile using a gradient method. Identification and characterization of the degradation products was carried out using LC/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-QTOFMS). A total of five degradation products (DP 1 to DP 5) were formed under various stress conditions and their structures were proposed with the help of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments and accurate mass data. A common degradation product (DP 4) was observed under all the degradation conditions. DP 1, DP 2 and DP 5 were observed under acid hydrolytic conditions whereas DP 3 was observed under alkaline conditions. AZM was found to degrade under hydrolytic, oxidative and photolytic stress conditions. The structures of all the degradation products were proposed. The degradation pathway for the formation of degradation products was also hypothesized. A selective method was developed to quantify the drug in the presence of degradation products which is useful to monitor the quality of AZM. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Production of low-molecular weight soluble yeast β-glucan by an acid degradation method.

PubMed

Ishimoto, Yuina; Ishibashi, Ken-Ichi; Yamanaka, Daisuke; Adachi, Yoshiyuki; Kanzaki, Ken; Iwakura, Yoichiro; Ohno, Naohito

2018-02-01

β-glucan is widely distributed in nature as water soluble and insoluble forms. Both forms of β-glucan are utilized in several fields, especially for functional foods. Yeast β-glucan is a medically important insoluble particle. Solubilization of yeast β-glucan may be valuable for improving functional foods and in medicinal industries. In the present study, we applied an acid degradation method to solubilize yeast β-glucan and found that β-glucan was effectively solubilized to low-molecular weight β-glucans by 45% sulfuric acid treatment at 20°C. The acid-degraded soluble yeast β-glucan (ad-sBBG) was further fractionated into a higher-molecular weight fraction (ad-sBBG-high) and a lower-molecular weight fraction (ad-sBBG-low). Since ad-sBBG-high contained mannan, while ad-sBBG-low contained it only scarcely, it was possible to prepare low-molecular weight soluble β-glucan with higher purity. In addition, ad-sBBG-low bound to dectin-1, which is an innate immunity receptor of β-glucan, and showed antagonistic activity against reactive oxygen production and cytokine synthesis by macrophages. Thus, this acid degradation method is an important procedure for generating immune-modulating, low-molecular weight, soluble yeast β-glucan. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of resource addition on recovery of production and plant functional composition in degraded semiarid grasslands.

PubMed

Chen, Qing; Hooper, David U; Li, Hui; Gong, Xiao Ying; Peng, Fei; Wang, Hong; Dittert, Klaus; Lin, Shan

2017-05-01

Degradation of semiarid ecosystems from overgrazing threatens a variety of ecosystem services. Rainfall and nitrogen commonly co-limit production in semiarid grassland ecosystems; however, few studies have reported how interactive effects of precipitation and nitrogen addition influence the recovery of grasslands degraded by overgrazing. We conducted a 6-year experiment manipulating precipitation (natural precipitation and simulated wet year precipitation) and nitrogen (0, 25 and 50 kg N ha -1 ) addition at two sites with different histories of livestock grazing (moderately and heavily grazed) in Inner Mongolian steppe. Our results suggest that recovery of plant community composition and recovery of production can be decoupled. Perennial grasses provide long-term stability of high-quality forage production in this system. Supplemental water combined with exclosures led, in the heavily grazed site, to the strongest recovery of perennial grasses, although widespread irrigation of rangeland is not a feasible management strategy in many semiarid and arid regions. N fertilization combined with exclosures, but without water addition, increased dominance of unpalatable annual species, which in turn retarded growth of perennial species and increased inter-annual variation in primary production at both sites. Alleviation of grazing pressure alone allowed recovery of desired perennial species via successional processes in the heavily grazed site. Our experiments suggest that recovery of primary production and desirable community composition are not necessarily correlated. The use of N fertilization for the management of overgrazed grassland needs careful and systematic evaluation, as it has potential to impede, rather than aid, recovery.

Characterization of a low-level unknown isomeric degradation product using an integrated online-offline top-down tandem mass spectrometry platform.

PubMed

Yu, Xiang; Warme, Christopher; Lee, Dinah; Zhang, Jing; Zhong, Wendy

2013-10-01

An integrated online-offline platform was developed combining automated online LC-MS fraction collection, continuous accumulation of selected ions (CASI), and offline top-down electron capture dissociation (ECD) tandem mass spectrometry experiments to identify a low-level, unknown isomeric degradant in a formulated drug product during an accelerated stability study. By identifying the diagnostic ions of the isoaspartic acid (isoAsp), the top-down ECD experiment showed that the Asp9 in exenatide was converted to isoAsp9 to form the unknown isomeric degradant. The platform described here provides an accurate, straightforward, and low limit of detection method for the analysis of Asp isomerization as well as other potential low-level degradants in therapeutic polypeptides and proteins. It is especially useful for unstable and time-sensitive degradants and impurities.

Nanoparticles from Degradation of Biodegradable Plastic Mulch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flury, Markus; Sintim, Henry; Bary, Andy; English, Marie; Schaefer, Sean

2017-04-01

Plastic mulch films are commonly used in crop production. They provide multiple benefits, including control of weeds and insects, increase of soil and air temperature, reduction of evaporation, and prevention of soil erosion. The use of plastic mulch film in agriculture has great potential to increase food production and security. Plastic mulch films must be retrieved and disposed after usage. Biodegradable plastic mulch films, who can be tilled into the soil after usage offer great benefits as alternative to conventional polyethylene plastic. However, it has to be shown that the degradation of these mulches is complete and no micro- and nanoparticles are released during degradation. We conducted a field experiment with biodegradable mulches and tested mulch degradation. Mulch was removed from the field after the growing season and composted to facilitate degradation. We found that micro- and nanoparticles were released during degradation of the mulch films in compost. This raises concerns about degradation in soils as well.

Characterization of coffee (Coffea arabica) husk lignin and degradation products obtained after oxygen and alkali addition.

PubMed

de Carvalho Oliveira, Fernanda; Srinivas, Keerthi; Helms, Gregory L; Isern, Nancy G; Cort, John R; Gonçalves, Adilson Roberto; Ahring, Birgitte Kiær

2018-06-01

The full use of biomass in future biorefineries has stimulated studies on utilization of lignin from agricultural crops, such as coffee husk, a major residue from coffee processing. This study focuses on characterizing the lignin obtained from coffee husk and its further wet oxidation products as a function of alkali loading, temperature and residence time. The lignin fraction after diluted acid and alkali pretreatments is composed primarily of p-hydroxylphenyl units (≥49%), with fewer guaiacyl and syringyl units. Linkages appear to be mainly β-O-4 ether linkages. Thermal degradation of pretreated lignin during wet oxidation occurred in two stages. Carboxylic acids were the main degradation product. Due to the condensed structure of this lignin, relatively low yields of aromatic aldehydes were achieved, except with temperatures over 210 °C, 5 min residence time and 11.7 wt% NaOH. Optimization of the pretreatment and oxidation parameters are important to maximizing yield of high-value bioproducts from lignin. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

D-Galacturonic Acid: A Highly Reactive Compound in Nonenzymatic Browning. 2. Formation of Amino-Specific Degradation Products.

PubMed

Wegener, Steffen; Bornik, Maria-Anna; Kroh, Lothar W

2015-07-22

Thermal treatment of aqueous solutions of D-galacturonic acid and L-alanine at pH 3, 5, and 8 led to rapid and more intensive nonenzymatic browning reactions compared to similar solutions of other uronic acids and to Maillard reactions of reducing sugars. The hemiacetal ring structures of uronic acids had a high impact on browning behavior and reaction pathways. Besides reductic acid (1,2-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one), 4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one (DHCP), furan-2-carboxaldehyde, and norfuraneol (4-hydroxy-5-methyl-3-(2H)-furanone) could be detected as typical products of nonenzymatic uronic acid browning reactions. 2-(2-Formyl-1H-pyrrole-1-yl)propanoic acid (FPA) and 1-(1-carboxyethyl)-3-hydroxypyridin-1-ium (HPA) were identified as specific reaction products of uronic acids with amine participation like l-alanine. In contrast, the structurally related D-galacturonic acid methyl ester showed less browning activity and degradation under equal reaction conditions. Pectin-specific degradation products such as 5-formyl-2-furanoic acid and 2-furanoic acid were found but could not be verified for d-galacturonic acid monomers alone.

Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production from aqueous sulfide/sulfite solution by ZnO0.6S0.4 with simultaneous dye degradation under visible-light irradiation.

PubMed

Chu, Ka Him; Ye, Liqun; Wang, Wei; Wu, Dan; Chan, Donald Ka Long; Zeng, Cuiping; Yip, Ho Yin; Yu, Jimmy C; Wong, Po Keung

2017-09-01

Photocatalytic hydrogen (H 2 ) production was performed by visible-light-driven (VLD) ternary photocatalyst, zinc oxysulfide (ZnO 0.6 S 0.4 ) in the presence of sulfide/sulfite (S 2 2- /SO 3 2- ) sacrificing system, with simultaneous azo-dye Reactive Violet 5 (RV5) degradation. Enhancement in both RV5 degradation and H 2 production was achieved, with the promotion of H 2 production after decolorization of RV5. The effect of initial concentration of RV5 was found to be influential on the enhancement of H 2 during the simultaneous processes, with a maximum of 110% increase of H 2 produced. The mechanism of the simultaneous system was investigated by scavenger study and intermediate analysis, including Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and total organic carbon (TOC) analysis. It was confirmed that the partial degradation of RV5 and presence of dynamic organic intermediates contributed to the enhancement in H 2 production. The present study revealed the feasibility of developing VLD photocatalysis as a sustainable and environmentally friendly technology for concurrent organic pollutant degradation with energy generation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cometabolic Degradation of Dibenzofuran and Dibenzothiophene by a Naphthalene-Degrading Comamonas sp. JB.

PubMed

Ji, Xiangyu; Xu, Jing; Ning, Shuxiang; Li, Nan; Tan, Liang; Shi, Shengnan

2017-12-01

Comamonas sp. JB was used to investigate the cometabolic degradation of dibenzofuran (DBF) and dibenzothiophene (DBT) with naphthalene as the primary substrate. Dehydrogenase and ATPase activity of the growing system with the presence of DBF and DBT were decreased when compared to only naphthalene in the growing system, indicating that the presence of DBF and DBT inhibited the metabolic activity of strain JB. The pathways and enzymes involved in the cometabolic degradation were tested. Examination of metabolites elucidated that strain JB cometabolically degraded DBF to 1,2-dihydroxydibenzofuran, subsequently to 2-hydroxy-4-(3'-oxo-3'H-benzofuran-2'-yliden)but-2-enoic acid, and finally to catechol. Meanwhile, strain JB cometabolically degraded DBT to 1,2-dihydroxydibenzothiophene and subsequently to the ring cleavage product. A series of naphthalene-degrading enzymes including naphthalene dioxygenase, 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene dioxygenase, salicylaldehyde dehydrogenase, salicylate hydroxylase, and catechol 2,3-oxygenase have been detected, confirming that naphthalene was the real inducer of expression the degradation enzymes and metabolic pathways were controlled by naphthalene-degrading enzymes.

Optical Detection of Degraded Therapeutic Proteins.

PubMed

Herrington, William F; Singh, Gajendra P; Wu, Di; Barone, Paul W; Hancock, William; Ram, Rajeev J

2018-03-23

The quality of therapeutic proteins such as hormones, subunit and conjugate vaccines, and antibodies is critical to the safety and efficacy of modern medicine. Identifying malformed proteins at the point-of-care can prevent adverse immune reactions in patients; this is of special concern when there is an insecure supply chain resulting in the delivery of degraded, or even counterfeit, drug product. Identification of degraded protein, for example human growth hormone, is demonstrated by applying automated anomaly detection algorithms. Detection of the degraded protein differs from previous applications of machine-learning and classification to spectral analysis: only example spectra of genuine, high-quality drug products are used to construct the classifier. The algorithm is tested on Raman spectra acquired on protein dilutions typical of formulated drug product and at sample volumes of 25 µL, below the typical overfill (waste) volumes present in vials of injectable drug product. The algorithm is demonstrated to correctly classify anomalous recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) with 92% sensitivity and 98% specificity even when the algorithm has only previously encountered high-quality drug product.

Transformation efficiency and formation of transformation products during photochemical degradation of TCE and PCE at micromolar concentrations

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene are the most common pollutants in groundwater and two of the priority pollutants listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In previous studies on TCE and PCE photolysis and photochemical degradation, concentration ranges exceeding environmental levels by far with millimolar concentrations of TCE and PCE have been used, and it is not clear if the obtained results can be used to explain the degradation of these contaminants at more realistic environmental concentration levels. Methods Experiments with micromolar concentrations of TCE and PCE in aqueous solution using direct photolysis and UV/H2O2 have been conducted and product formation as well as transformation efficiency have been investigated. SPME/GC/MS, HPLC/UV and ion chromatography with conductivity detection have been used to determine intermediates of degradation. Results The results showed that chloride was a major end product in both TCE and PCE photodegradation. Several intermediates such as formic acid, dichloroacetic acid, dichloroacetaldehyede, chloroform, formaldehyde and glyoxylic acid were formed during both, UV and UV/H2O2 treatment of TCE. However chloroacetaldehyde and chloroacetic acid were only detected during direct UV photolysis of TCE and oxalic acid was only formed during the UV/H2O2 process. For PCE photodegradation, formic acid, di- and trichloroacetic acids were detected in both UV and UV/H2O2 systems, but formaldehyde and glyoxylic acid were only detected during direct UV photolysis. Conclusions For water treatment UV/H2O2 seems to be favorable over direct UV photolysis because of its higher degradation efficiency and lower risk for the formation of harmful intermediates. PMID:24401763

Transformation efficiency and formation of transformation products during photochemical degradation of TCE and PCE at micromolar concentrations.

PubMed

Dobaradaran, Sina; Lutze, Holger; Mahvi, Amir Hossein; Schmidt, Torsten C

2014-01-08

Trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene are the most common pollutants in groundwater and two of the priority pollutants listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In previous studies on TCE and PCE photolysis and photochemical degradation, concentration ranges exceeding environmental levels by far with millimolar concentrations of TCE and PCE have been used, and it is not clear if the obtained results can be used to explain the degradation of these contaminants at more realistic environmental concentration levels. Experiments with micromolar concentrations of TCE and PCE in aqueous solution using direct photolysis and UV/H2O2 have been conducted and product formation as well as transformation efficiency have been investigated. SPME/GC/MS, HPLC/UV and ion chromatography with conductivity detection have been used to determine intermediates of degradation. The results showed that chloride was a major end product in both TCE and PCE photodegradation. Several intermediates such as formic acid, dichloroacetic acid, dichloroacetaldehyede, chloroform, formaldehyde and glyoxylic acid were formed during both, UV and UV/H2O2 treatment of TCE. However chloroacetaldehyde and chloroacetic acid were only detected during direct UV photolysis of TCE and oxalic acid was only formed during the UV/H2O2 process. For PCE photodegradation, formic acid, di- and trichloroacetic acids were detected in both UV and UV/H2O2 systems, but formaldehyde and glyoxylic acid were only detected during direct UV photolysis. For water treatment UV/H2O2 seems to be favorable over direct UV photolysis because of its higher degradation efficiency and lower risk for the formation of harmful intermediates.

Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid increase the degradation of amyloid-β by affecting insulin-degrading enzyme.

PubMed

Grimm, Marcus O W; Mett, Janine; Stahlmann, Christoph P; Haupenthal, Viola J; Blümel, Tamara; Stötzel, Hannah; Grimm, Heike S; Hartmann, Tobias

2016-12-01

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been proposed to be highly beneficial in Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD pathology is closely linked to an overproduction and accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides as extracellular senile plaques in the brain. Total Aβ levels are not only dependent on its production by proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), but also on Aβ-clearance mechanisms, including Aβ-degrading enzymes. Here we show that the omega-3 PUFAs eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) increase Aβ-degradation by affecting insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), the major Aβ-degrading enzyme secreted into the extracellular space of neuronal and microglial cells. The identification of the molecular mechanisms revealed that EPA directly increases IDE enzyme activity and elevates gene expression of IDE. DHA also directly stimulates IDE enzyme activity and affects IDE sorting by increasing exosome release of IDE, resulting in enhanced Aβ-degradation in the extracellular milieu. Apart from the known positive effect of DHA in reducing Aβ production, EPA and DHA might ameliorate AD pathology by increasing Aβ turnover.

Megalanthine, a bioactive sesquiterpenoid from Heliotropium megalanthum, its degradation products and their bioactivities.

PubMed

Macías, Francisco A; Simonet, Ana M; D'Abrosca, Brigida; Maya, Claudia C; Reina, Matías; González-Coloma, Azucena; Cabrera, Raimundo; Giménez, Cristina; Villarroel, Luis

2009-01-01

The new bioactive sesquiterpenoid (3R,6E)-2,6,10-trimethyl-3-(3-p-hydroxyphenylpropanoyloxy)-dodeca-6,11-diene-2,10-diol, named megalanthine, was isolated from the resinous exudates of Heliotropium megalanthum. The degradation products of this compound were identified. Several plant-defensive properties (insecticidal, antifungal, and phytotoxic) were evaluated after obtaining positive results in a preliminary etiolated wheat coleoptile bioassay. This bioassay showed the need to have both the phenolic and sesquiterpene moieties of the natural product present to achieve a biological effect. This result was confirmed in phytotoxicity bioassays. Megalanthine was ruled out as a significant plant-plant defense agent because of its lack of stability. The positive results recorded in the antifungal and antifeedant tests suggest, however, that this chemical is relevant in several ecological interactions involving H. megalanthum.

Fatty Acid Structure and Degradation Analysis in Fingerprint Residues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pleik, Stefanie; Spengler, Bernhard; Schäfer, Thomas; Urbach, Dieter; Luhn, Steven; Kirsch, Dieter

2016-09-01

GC-MS investigations were carried out to elucidate the aging behavior of unsaturated fatty acids in fingerprint residues and to identify their degradation products in aged samples. For this purpose, a new sample preparation technique for fingerprint residues was developed that allows producing N-methyl- N-trimethylsilyl-trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA) derivatives of the analyzed unsaturated fatty acids and their degradation products. MSTFA derivatization catalyzed by iodotrimethylsilane enables the reliable identification of aldehydes and oxoacids as characteristic MSTFA derivatives in GCMS. The obtained results elucidate the degradation pathway of unsaturated fatty acids. Our study of aged fingerprint residues reveals that decanal is the main degradation product of the observed unsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, oxoacids with different chain lengths are detected as specific degradation products of the unsaturated fatty acids. The detection of the degradation products and their chain length is a simple and effective method to determine the double bond position in unsaturated compounds. We can show that the hexadecenoic and octadecenoic acids found in fingerprint residues are not the pervasive fatty acids Δ9-hexadecenoic (palmitoleic acid) and Δ9-octadecenoic (oleic acid) acid but Δ6-hexadecenoic acid (sapienic acid) and Δ8-octadecenoic acid. The present study focuses on the structure identification of human sebum-specific unsaturated fatty acids in fingerprint residues based on the identification of their degradation products. These results are discussed for further investigations and method developments for age determination of fingerprints, which is still a tremendous challenge because of several factors affecting the aging behavior of individual compounds in fingerprints.

Fatty Acid Structure and Degradation Analysis in Fingerprint Residues.

PubMed

Pleik, Stefanie; Spengler, Bernhard; Schäfer, Thomas; Urbach, Dieter; Luhn, Steven; Kirsch, Dieter

2016-09-01

GC-MS investigations were carried out to elucidate the aging behavior of unsaturated fatty acids in fingerprint residues and to identify their degradation products in aged samples. For this purpose, a new sample preparation technique for fingerprint residues was developed that allows producing N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyl-trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA) derivatives of the analyzed unsaturated fatty acids and their degradation products. MSTFA derivatization catalyzed by iodotrimethylsilane enables the reliable identification of aldehydes and oxoacids as characteristic MSTFA derivatives in GCMS. The obtained results elucidate the degradation pathway of unsaturated fatty acids. Our study of aged fingerprint residues reveals that decanal is the main degradation product of the observed unsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, oxoacids with different chain lengths are detected as specific degradation products of the unsaturated fatty acids. The detection of the degradation products and their chain length is a simple and effective method to determine the double bond position in unsaturated compounds. We can show that the hexadecenoic and octadecenoic acids found in fingerprint residues are not the pervasive fatty acids Δ9-hexadecenoic (palmitoleic acid) and Δ9-octadecenoic (oleic acid) acid but Δ6-hexadecenoic acid (sapienic acid) and Δ8-octadecenoic acid. The present study focuses on the structure identification of human sebum-specific unsaturated fatty acids in fingerprint residues based on the identification of their degradation products. These results are discussed for further investigations and method developments for age determination of fingerprints, which is still a tremendous challenge because of several factors affecting the aging behavior of individual compounds in fingerprints. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Land Husbandry: Biochar application to reduce land degradation and erosion on cassava production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuniwati, E. D.

2017-12-01

This field experiment was carried out to examine the effect of increasing crop yield on land degradation and erosion in cassava-based cropping systems. The experiment was also aimed at showing that with proper crop management, the planting of cassava does not result in land degradation, and therefore, a sustainable production system can be obtained. The experiment was done in a farmer's fields in Batu, about 15 km south east of Malang, East Java, Indonesia. The soils are Alfisols with a surface slope of about 8%. There were 8 experimental treatments with two replications. The experiment results show that biochar applications reduce of soil erosion rate of the cassava field were not necessarily higher than those of maize in terms of crop yield and crop management. At low-to-medium yield, also observed the nutrient uptake of cassava was lower than that of maize. At high yield, only the K uptake of cassava was higher than that of maize, whereas the N and P uptake was more or less similar. Soil erosion on the cassava field was significantly higher than that on the maize field; however, this only occurred when there was no suitable crop management. Simple crop managements, such as ridging, biochar application, or manure application could significantly reduce soil erosion. The results also revealed that proper management could prevent land degradation and increase crop yield. In turn, the increase in crop yield could decrease soil erosion and plant nutrient depletion.

Forced degradation, LC-UV, MS(n) and LC-MS-TOF studies on azilsartan: Identification of a known and three new degradation impurities.

PubMed

Kaushik, Dhiraj; Kaur, Jasmeen; Paul Kaur, Vaneet; Saini, Balraj; Bansal, Yogita; Bansal, Gulshan

2016-02-20

In the present study, Azilsartan (AZL) was subjected to ICH recommended forced degradation conditions of hydrolysis, oxidation, dry heat and photolysis. The drug degraded to four degradation products (I-IV) under acidic, alkaline and water hydrolysis and photolysis. All the four degradation products were resolved in a single run on a C-18 column (250mm×4.6mm; 5μ) with isocratic elution using mobile phase composed of ammonium formate (20mM, pH 3.0), methanol and acetonitrile (40:5:40% v/v), at a flow rate of 0.8mlmin(-1) at ambient temperature. The products were characterized through +ESI-MS(n) spectra of AZL and LC-MS-TOF studies as 2-ethoxy-3H-benzo-imidazole-4-carboxylic acid (I), 2-hydroxy-3-[2'-(5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-4-ylmethyl]-3H-benzoimidazole-4-carboxylic acid (II, deethylated AZL), 3-[2'-(1H-diazirin-3-yl)-biphenyl]-4-ylmethyl]-2-ethoxy-3H-benzoimidazole-4-carboxylic acid (III), and 3-[4'-(2-ethoxy-benzo-imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-biphenyl-2-yl]-4H-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-5-one (IV, decarboxylated AZL). Product I was found to be a known process related impurity whereas the products II-IV were identified as new degradation impurities. The most probable mechanisms for formation of these degradation products were proposed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Analytical tools for the analysis of β-carotene and its degradation products

PubMed Central

Stutz, H.; Bresgen, N.; Eckl, P. M.

2015-01-01

Abstract β-Carotene, the precursor of vitamin A, possesses pronounced radical scavenging properties. This has centered the attention on β-carotene dietary supplementation in healthcare as well as in the therapy of degenerative disorders and several cancer types. However, two intervention trials with β-carotene have revealed adverse effects on two proband groups, that is, cigarette smokers and asbestos-exposed workers. Beside other causative reasons, the detrimental effects observed have been related to the oxidation products of β-carotene. Their generation originates in the polyene structure of β-carotene that is beneficial for radical scavenging, but is also prone to oxidation. Depending on the dominant degradation mechanism, bond cleavage might occur either randomly or at defined positions of the conjugated electron system, resulting in a diversity of cleavage products (CPs). Due to their instability and hydrophobicity, the handling of standards and real samples containing β-carotene and related CPs requires preventive measures during specimen preparation, analyte extraction, and final analysis, to avoid artificial degradation and to preserve the initial analyte portfolio. This review critically discusses different preparation strategies of standards and treatment solutions, and also addresses their protection from oxidation. Additionally, in vitro oxidation strategies for the generation of oxidative model compounds are surveyed. Extraction methods are discussed for volatile and non-volatile CPs individually. Gas chromatography (GC), (ultra)high performance liquid chromatography (U)HPLC, and capillary electrochromatography (CEC) are reviewed as analytical tools for final analyte analysis. For identity confirmation of analytes, mass spectrometry (MS) is indispensable, and the appropriate ionization principles are comprehensively discussed. The final sections cover analysis of real samples and aspects of quality assurance, namely matrix effects and method

Formation of chlorinated breakdown products during degradation of sunscreen agent, 2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate in the presence of sodium hypochlorite.

PubMed

Gackowska, Alicja; Przybyłek, Maciej; Studziński, Waldemar; Gaca, Jerzy

2016-01-01

In this study, a new degradation path of sunscreen active ingredient, 2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC) and 4-methoxycinnamic acid (MCA) in the presence of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), was discussed. The reaction products were detected using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Since HOCl treatment leads to more polar products than EHMC, application of polar extracting agents, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate/n-hexane mixture, gave better results in terms of chlorinated breakdown products identification than n-hexane. Reaction of EHMC with HOCl lead to the formation of C=C bridge cleavage products such as 2-ethylhexyl chloroacetate, 1-chloro-4-methoxybenzene, 1,3-dichloro-2-methoxybenzene, and 3-chloro-4-methoxybenzaldehyde. High reactivity of C=C bond attached to benzene ring is also characteristic for MCA, since it can be converted in the presence of HOCl to 2,4-dichlorophenole, 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone, 1,3-dichloro-2-methoxybenzene, 1,2,4-trichloro-3-methoxybenzene, 2,4,6-trichlorophenole, and 3,5-dichloro-2-hydroxyacetophenone. Surprisingly, in case of EHMC/HOCl/UV, much less breakdown products were formed compared to non-UV radiation treatment. In order to describe the nature of EHMC and MCA degradation, local reactivity analysis based on the density functional theory (DFT) was performed. Fukui function values showed that electrophilic attack of HOCl to the C=C bridge in EHMC and MCA is highly favorable (even more preferable than phenyl ring chlorination). This suggests that HOCl electrophilic addition is probably the initial step of EHMC degradation.

Degradation and polymerization of monolignols by Abortiporus biennis, and induction of its degradation with a reducing agent.

PubMed

Hong, Chang-Young; Park, Se-Yeong; Kim, Seon-Hong; Lee, Su-Yeon; Choi, Won-Sil; Choi, In-Gyu

2016-10-01

This study was carried out to better understand the characteristic modification mechanisms of monolignols by enzyme system of Abortiporus biennis and to induce the degradation of monolignols. Degradation and polymerization of monolignols were simultaneously induced by A. biennis. Whole cells of A. biennis degraded coniferyl alcohol to vanillin and coniferyl aldehyde, and degraded sinapyl alcohol to 2,6-dimethoxybenzene- 1,4-diol, with the production of dimers. The molecular weight of monolignols treated with A. biennis increased drastically. The activities of lignin degrading enzymes were monitored for 24 h to determine whether there was any correlation between monolignol biomodification and ligninolytic enzymes. We concluded that complex enzyme systems were involved in the degradation and polymerization of monolignols. To degrade monolignols, ascorbic acid was added to the culture medium as a reducing agent. In the presence of ascorbic acid, the molecular weight was less increased in the case of coniferyl alcohol, while that of sinapyl alcohol was similar to that of the control. Furthermore, the addition of ascorbic acid led to the production of various degraded compounds: syringaldehyde and acid compounds. Accordingly, these results demonstrated that ascorbic acid prevented the rapid polymerization of monolignols, thus stabilizing radicals generated by enzymes of A. biennis. Thereafter, A. biennis catalyzed the oxidation of stable monolignols. As a result, ascorbic acid facilitated predominantly monolignols degradation by A. biennis through the stabilization of radicals. These findings showed outstanding ability of A. biennis to modify the lignin compounds rapidly and usefully.

Screening of Toxic Effects of Bisphenol A and Products of Its Degradation: Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryo Test and Molecular Docking.

PubMed

Makarova, Katerina; Siudem, Pawel; Zawada, Katarzyna; Kurkowiak, Justyna

2016-10-01

Bisphenol A (BPA) acts as an endocrine-disrupting compound even at a low concentration. Degradation of BPA could lead to the formation of toxic products. In this study, we compare the toxicity of BPA and seven intermediate products of its degradation. The accuracy of three molecular docking programs (Surflex, Autodock, and Autodock Vina) in predicting the binding affinities of selected compounds to human (ERα, ERβ, and ERRγ) and zebrafish (ERα, ERRγA, and ERRγB) estrogen and estrogen-related receptors was evaluated. The docking experiments showed that 4-isopropylphenol could have similar toxicity to that of BPA due to its high affinity to ERRγ and ERRγB and high octanol-water partitioning coefficient. The least toxic compounds were hydroquinone and phenol. Those compounds as well as BPA were screened in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo test. 4-isopropylphenol had the strongest toxic effect on zebrafish embryos and caused 100% lethality shortly after exposure. BPA caused the delay in development, multiple deformations, and low heartbeats (30 bps), whereas hydroquinone had no impact on the development of the zebrafish embryo. Thus, the results of zebrafish screening are in good agreement with our docking experiment. The molecular docking could be used to screen the toxicity of other xenoestrogens and their products of degradation.

Determination of trace levels of herbicides and their degradation products in surface and ground waters by gas chromatography/ion-trap mass spectrometry

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pereira, W.E.; Rostad, C.E.; Leiker, T.J.

1990-01-01

A rapid, specific and highly sensitive method is described for the determination of several commonly used herbicides and their degradation products in surface and ground waters by using gas chromatography/ion-trap mass spectrometry. The compounds included atrazine, and its degradation products desethylatrazine and desisopropylatrazine; Simazine; Cyanazine; Metolachlor; and alachlor and its degradation products, 2-chloro-2', 6'-diethylacetanilide, 2-hydroxy-2', 6'-diethylacetanilide and 2,6-diethylaniline. The method was applied to surface-water samples collected from 16 different stations along the lower Mississippi River and its major tributaries, and ground-water samples beneath a cornfield in central Nebraska. Average recovery of a surrogate herbicide, terbuthylazine, was greater than 99%. Recoveries of the compounds of interest from river water spiked at environmental levels are also presented. Full-scan mass spectra of these compounds were obtained on 1 ng or less of analyte. Data were collected in the full-scan acquisition mode. Quantitation was based on a single characteristic ion for each compound. The detection limit was 60 pg with a signal-to-noise ratio of greater than 10:1.

Degradation and resilience of soils

PubMed Central

Lal, R.

1997-01-01

Debate on global soil degradation, its extent and agronomic impact, can only be resolved through understanding of the processes and factors leading to establishment of the cause-effect relationships for major soils, ecoregions, and land uses. Systematic evaluation through long-term experimentation is needed for establishing quantitative criteria of (i) soil quality in relation to specific functions; (ii) soil degradation in relation to critical limits of key soil properties and processes; and (iii) soil resilience in relation to the ease of restoration through judicious management and discriminate use of essential input. Quantitative assessment of soil degradation can be obtained by evaluating its impact on productivity for different land uses and management systems. Interdisciplinary research is needed to quantify soil degradation effects on decrease in productivity, reduction in biomass, and decline in environment quality throught pollution and eutrophication of natural waters and emission of radiatively-active gases from terrestrial ecosystems to the atmosphere. Data from long-term field experiments in principal ecoregions are specifically needed to (i) establish relationships between soil quality versus soil degradation and soil quality versus soil resilience; (ii) identify indicators of soil quality and soil resilience; and (iii) establish critical limits of important properties for soil degradation and soil resilience. There is a need to develop and standardize techniques for measuring soil resilience.

Productivity, fertilizer responses and nutrient balances of farming systems in central Tigray, Ethiopia: a multi-perspective view in relation to degradation.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kraaijvanger, Richard; Veldkamp, Tom; Nyssen, Jan

2014-05-01

In many rural livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa, crop productivity plays an important role since it links with food insecurity, which again is a major constraining factor in livelihood development. Sustainable livelihood development and land degradation are closely connected: lacking sustainability often results in land degradation, whereas the incidence of land degradation frequently frustrates sustainable development. Important forms of land degradation are soil erosion and nutrient depletion, both often being attributed to exhaustive land use practices and both having a direct and major impact on crop productivity. Application of nutrients is an important way to increase productivity. In our study area, central Tigray, development agents recommend the application of fertilizers at high rates in order to boost productivity and to deal with nutrient depletion. In the discussion about the use of fertilizers different perspectives can be taken, in which especially responses and nutrient balances are important issues, linking respectively with socio-economic and agro-ecological livelihood aspects. Ethiopian soils for example are, based on large scale nutrient balances, considered to be depleted, at field scale fertilizer responses are frequently disappointing and achieving sustainable nutrient balances at farm level seems difficult. At a temporal scale however, agricultural systems remained almost unchanged for over 2500 years, suggesting at least some degree of sustainability. With respect to productivity data resulting from on-farm experimentation with natural and artificial fertilizers in 26 sites, we took four perspectives, different in ownership and scale, on nutrient related land degradation and its assumed impact on crop productivity. Taking a farmer perspective we found no significant difference between responses to recommended and current farmer based practices. Taking a more scientific perspective highlighted that, based on the positive correlation between

Enrofloxacin degradation in broiler chicken manure under various laboratory conditions.

PubMed

Slana, Marko; Sollner-Dolenc, Marija

2016-03-01

The rate of degradation of enrofloxacin in broiler chicken manure has been characterized in the laboratory according to the CVMP guideline on determining the fate of veterinary medicinal products in manure. Degradation was followed in a flow-through system under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, in the dark and in the presence of light. The rate of degradation of enrofloxacin and the formation of its degradation products are dependent on laboratory conditions. A rapid degradation of enrofloxacin in the dark was noticed, where a shorter degradation half-life under aerobic (DT50 = 59.1 days), comparing to anaerobic conditions (DT50 = 88.9 days), was determined. The presence of light slowed down the enrofloxacin degradation half-life, which was significantly shorter under aerobic (DT50 = 115.0 days), comparing to anaerobic conditions (DT50 = 190.8 days). Desethylene-enrofoxacin was the only degradation product formed, its concentrations ranged from 2.5 to 14.9 %. The concentration of the degradation product was approximately 2.5-fold higher under aerobic conditions. Enrofloxacin degradation in sterile manure incubated under sterile conditions was marginal comparing to non-sterile conditions; after 120 days of incubation, approximately 80 % of enrofloxacin was still present in manure and only 1 % of desethylene-enrofloxacin was formed. The present work demonstrates that enrofloxacin degradation in chicken manure is relatively fast when incubated in the dark under aerobic conditions which is the recommended incubation system for chicken manure according to CVMP guideline.

[Control on products of NDMA degradation by UV/O3].

PubMed

Xu, Bing-bing; Chen, Zhong-lin; Qi, Fei; Yang, Lei; Huang, Lu-xi

2008-12-01

Comparison experiments of two advanced oxidation processes, UV/O3 and UV/H2O2, were carried out to evaluate their degradation effect of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and controlling effect of dimethylamine (DMA) formation. The results showed that UV/H2O2 could enhance NDMA degradation, but could not control on the formation of DMA. UV/O3 was not only effective for NDMA degradation, but also was good at controlling on DMA formation. Furthermore, factors affecting the formation of DMA during degradation of NDMA by UV/O3 were studied. The formation of DMA decreased with O3 dosage increasing and DMA was 0.98 mg x L(-1) with 7.7 mg x L(-1) NDMA and 6.64 mg x L(-1) O3 dose. Solution pH had obvious effect on controlling of DMA formation during degradation of NDMA by UV/O3 . The formation of DMA lightly increased with pH increasing from acid to neutral but dramatically decreased in basic aqueous solution. The formation of DMA was only 0.3 mg x L(-1) when the initial concentration of NDMA was 7.7 mg x L(-1) under pH = 11.0 condition. UV/O3 had better controlling of DMA formation with lesser initial concentration of NDMA.

Two Synthetic Methods for Preparation of Chiral Stationary Phases Using Crystalline Degradation Products of Vancomycin: Column Performance for Enantioseparation of Acidic and Basic Drugs.

PubMed

Abdollahpour, Assem; Heydari, Rouhollah; Shamsipur, Mojtaba

2017-07-01

Two chiral stationary phases (CSPs) based on crystalline degradation products (CDPs) of vancomycin by using different synthetic methods were prepared and compared. Crystalline degradation products of vancomycin were produced by hydrolytic loss of ammonia from vancomycin molecules. Performances of two chiral columns prepared with these degradation products were investigated using several acidic and basic drugs as model analytes. Retention and resolution of these analytes on the prepared columns, as two main parameters, in enantioseparation were studied. The results demonstrated that the stationary phase preparation procedure has a significant effect on the column performance. The resolving powers of prepared columns for enantiomers resolution were changed with the variation in vancomycin-CDP coverage on the silica support. Elemental analysis was used to monitor the surface coverage of silica support by vancomycin-CDP. The results showed that both columns can be successfully applied to chiral separation studies.

Acid-degradable polyurethane particles for protein-based vaccines

PubMed Central

Bachelder, Eric M.; Beaudette, Tristan T.; Broaders, Kyle E.; Paramonov, Sergey E.; Dashe, Jesse; Fréchet, Jean M. J.

2009-01-01

Acid-degradable particles containing a model protein antigen, ovalbumin, were prepared from a polyurethane with acetal moieties embedded throughout the polymer, and characterized by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The small molecule degradation by-product of the particles was synthesized and tested in vitro for toxicity indicating an LC50 of 12,500 μg/ml. A new liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technique was developed to monitor the in vitro degradation of these particles. The degradation by-product inside RAW macrophages was at its highest level after 24 hours of culture and was efficiently exocytosed until it was no longer detectable after four days. When tested in vitro, these particles induced a substantial increase in the presentation of the immunodominant ovalbumin-derived peptide SIINFEKL in both macrophages and dendritic cells. In addition, vaccination with these particles generated a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response that was superior to both free ovalbumin and particles made from an analogous but slower-degrading acid-labile polyurethane polymer. Overall, we present a fully degradable polymer system with non-toxic by-products, which may find use in various biomedical applications including protein-based vaccines. PMID:18710254

Improvement of ethanol productivity and energy efficiency by degradation of inhibitors using recombinant Zymomonas mobilis (pHW20a-fdh).

PubMed

Dong, Hong-Wei; Fan, Li-Qiang; Luo, Zichen; Zhong, Jian-Jiang; Ryu, Dewey D Y; Bao, Jie

2013-09-01

Toxic compounds, such as formic acid, furfural, and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) generated during pretreatment of corn stover (CS) at high temperature and low pH, inhibit growth of Zymomonas mobilis and lower the conversion efficiency of CS to biofuel and other products. The inhibition of toxic compounds is considered as one of the major technical barriers in the lignocellulose bioconversion. In order to detoxify and/or degrade these toxic compounds by the model ethanologenic strain Z. mobilis itself in situ the fermentation medium, we constructed a recombinant Z. mobilis ZM4 (pHW20a-fdh) strain that is capable of degrading toxic inhibitor, formate. This is accomplished by cloning heterologous formate dehydrogenase gene (fdh) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and by coupling this reaction of NADH regeneration reaction system with furfural and HMF degradation in the recombinant Z. mobilis strain. The NADH regeneration reaction also improved both the energy efficiency and cell physiological activity of the recombinant organism, which were definitely confirmed by the improved cell growth, ethanol yield, and ethanol productivity during fermentation with CS hydrolysate. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Gene Encoding the Hydrolase for the Product of the meta-Cleavage Reaction in Testosterone Degradation by Comamonas testosteroni

PubMed Central

Horinouchi, Masae; Hayashi, Toshiaki; Koshino, Hiroyuki; Yamamoto, Takako; Kudo, Toshiaki

2003-01-01

In a previous study we isolated the meta-cleavage enzyme gene, tesB, that encodes an enzyme that carries out a meta-cleavage reaction in the breakdown of testosterone by Comamonas testeroni TA441 (M. Horinouchi et al., Microbiology 147:3367-3375, 2001). Here we report the isolation of a gene, tesD, that encodes a hydrolase which acts on the product of the meta-cleavage reaction. We isolated tesD by using a Tn5 mutant of TA441 that showed limited growth on testosterone. TesD exhibited ca. 40% identity in amino acid sequence with BphDs, known hydrolases of biphenyl degradation in Pseudomonas spp. The TesD-disrupted mutant showed limited growth on testosterone, and the culture shows an intense yellow color. High-pressure liquid chromatography analysis of the culture of TesD-disrupted mutant incubated with testosterone detected five major intermediate compounds, one of which, showing yellow color under neutral conditions, was considered to be the product of the meta-cleavage reaction. The methylation product was analyzed and identified as methyl-4,5-9,10-diseco-3-methoxy-5,9,17-trioxoandrosta-1(10),2-dien-4-oate, indicating that the substrate of TesD in testosterone degradation is 4,5-9,10-diseco-3-hydroxy-5,9,17-trioxoandrosta-1(10),2-dien-4-oic acid. 4,5-9,10-Diseco-3-hydroxy-5,9,17-trioxoandrosta-1(10),2-dien-4-oic acid was transformed by Escherichia coli-expressed TesD. Downstream of tesD, we identified tesE, F, and G, which encode for enzymes that degrade one of the products of 4,5-9,10-diseco-3-hydroxy-5,9,17-trioxoandrosta-1(10),2-dien-4-oic acid converted by TesD. PMID:12676694

Development of novel assays for lignin degradation: comparative analysis of bacterial and fungal lignin degraders.

PubMed

Ahmad, Mark; Taylor, Charles R; Pink, David; Burton, Kerry; Eastwood, Daniel; Bending, Gary D; Bugg, Timothy D H

2010-05-01

Two spectrophotometric assays have been developed to monitor breakdown of the lignin component of plant lignocellulose: a continuous fluorescent assay involving fluorescently modified lignin, and a UV-vis assay involving chemically nitrated lignin. These assays have been used to analyse lignin degradation activity in bacterial and fungal lignin degraders, and to identify additional soil bacteria that show activity for lignin degradation. Two soil bacteria known to act as aromatic degraders, Pseudomonas putida and Rhodococcus sp. RHA1, consistently showed activity in these assays, and these strains were shown in a small scale experiment to breakdown lignocellulose, producing a number of monocyclic phenolic products. Using milled wood lignin prepared from wheat straw, pine, and miscanthus, some bacterial lignin degraders were found to show specificity for lignin type. These assays could be used to identify novel lignin degraders for breakdown of plant lignocellulose.

Production of Biomass-Degrading Multienzyme Complexes under Solid-State Fermentation of Soybean Meal Using a Bioreactor

PubMed Central

Vitcosque, Gabriela L.; Fonseca, Rafael F.; Rodríguez-Zúñiga, Ursula Fabiola; Bertucci Neto, Victor; Couri, Sonia; Farinas, Cristiane S.

2012-01-01

Biomass-degrading enzymes are one of the most costly inputs affecting the economic viability of the biochemical route for biomass conversion into biofuels. This work evaluates the effects of operational conditions on biomass-degrading multienzyme production by a selected strain of Aspergillus niger. The fungus was cultivated under solid-state fermentation (SSF) of soybean meal, using an instrumented lab-scale bioreactor equipped with an on-line automated monitoring and control system. The effects of air flow rate, inlet air relative humidity, and initial substrate moisture content on multienzyme (FPase, endoglucanase, and xylanase) production were evaluated using a statistical design methodology. Highest production of FPase (0.55 IU/g), endoglucanase (35.1 IU/g), and xylanase (47.7 IU/g) was achieved using an initial substrate moisture content of 84%, an inlet air humidity of 70%, and a flow rate of 24 mL/min. The enzymatic complex was then used to hydrolyze a lignocellulosic biomass, releasing 4.4 g/L of glucose after 36 hours of saccharification of 50 g/L pretreated sugar cane bagasse. These results demonstrate the potential application of enzymes produced under SSF, thus contributing to generate the necessary technological advances to increase the efficiency of the use of biomass as a renewable energy source. PMID:23365723

Effect of two non-synonymous ecto-5'-nucleotidase variants on the genetic architecture of inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) and its degradation products in Japanese Black beef.

PubMed

Uemoto, Yoshinobu; Ohtake, Tsuyoshi; Sasago, Nanae; Takeda, Masayuki; Abe, Tsuyoshi; Sakuma, Hironori; Kojima, Takatoshi; Sasaki, Shinji

2017-11-13

Umami is a Japanese term for the fifth basic taste and is an important sensory property of beef palatability. Inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) contributes to umami taste in beef. Thus, the overall change in concentration of IMP and its degradation products can potentially affect the beef palatability. In this study, we investigated the genetic architecture of IMP and its degradation products in Japanese Black beef. First, we performed genome-wide association study (GWAS), candidate gene analysis, and functional analysis to detect the causal variants that affect IMP, inosine, and hypoxanthine. Second, we evaluated the allele frequencies in the different breeds, the contribution of genetic variance, and the effect on other economical traits using the detected variants. A total of 574 Japanese Black cattle were genotyped using the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip and were then used for GWAS. The results of GWAS showed that the genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on BTA9 were detected for IMP, inosine, and hypoxanthine. The ecto-5'-nucleotidase (NT5E) gene, which encodes the enzyme NT5E for the extracellular degradation of IMP to inosine, was located near the significant region on BTA9. The results of candidate gene analysis and functional analysis showed that two non-synonymous SNPs (c.1318C > T and c.1475 T > A) in NT5E affected the amount of IMP and its degradation products in beef by regulating the enzymatic activity of NT5E. The Q haplotype showed a positive effect on IMP and a negative effect on the enzymatic activity of NT5E in IMP degradation. The two SNPs were under perfect linkage disequilibrium in five different breeds, and different haplotype frequencies were seen among breeds. The two SNPs contribute to about half of the total genetic variance in IMP, and the results of genetic relationship between IMP and its degradation products showed that NT5E affected the overall concentration balance of IMP and its degradation products

Degradation of chloroacetanilide herbicides by anodic fenton treatment.

PubMed

Friedman, Carey L; Lemley, Ann T; Hay, Anthony

2006-04-05

Anodic Fenton treatment (AFT) is an electrochemical treatment employing the Fenton reaction for the generation of hydroxyl radicals, strong oxidants that can degrade organic compounds via hydrogen abstraction. AFT has potential use for the remediation of aqueous pesticide waste. The degradation rates of chloroacetanilides by AFT were investigated in this work, which demonstrates that AFT can be used to rapidly and completely remove chloroacetanilide herbicides from aqueous solutions. Acetochlor, alachlor, butachlor, metolachlor, and propachlor were treated by AFT, and parent compound concentrations were analyzed over the course of the treatment time. Degradation curves were plotted and fitted by the AFT kinetic model for each herbicide, and AFT model kinetic parameters were used to calculate degradation rate constants. The reactivity order of these five active ingredients toward hydroxyl radical was acetochlor approximately metolachlor > butachlor approximately alachlor > propachlor. Treatment of the chloroacetanilides by AFT removed the parent compounds but did not completely mineralize them. However, AFT did result in an increase in the biodegradability of chloroacetanilide aqueous solutions, as evidenced by an increase in the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand to chemical oxygen demand ratio (BOD5/COD) to >0.3, indicating completely biodegradable solutions. Several degradation products were formed and subsequently degraded, although not always completely. Some of these were identified by mass spectral analyses. Among the products, isomers of phenolic and carbonyl derivatives of parent compounds were common to each of the herbicides analyzed. More extensively oxidized products were not detected. Degradation pathways are proposed for each of the parent compounds and identified products.

Degradation of [Dha7]MC-LR by a Microcystin Degrading Bacterium Isolated from Lake Rotoiti, New Zealand

PubMed Central

Somdee, Theerasak; Ruck, John; Lys, Isabelle; Allison, Margaret; Page, Rachel

2013-01-01

For the first time a microcystin-degrading bacterium (NV-3 isolate) has been isolated and characterized from a NZ lake. Cyanobacterial blooms in New Zealand (NZ) waters contain microcystin (MC) hepatotoxins at concentrations which are a risk to animal and human health. Degradation of MCs by naturally occurring bacteria is an attractive bioremediation option for removing MCs from drinking and recreational water sources. The NV-3 isolate was identified by 16S rRNA sequence analysis and found to have 100% nucleotide sequence homology with the Sphingomonas MC-degrading bacterial strain MD-1 from Japan. The NV-3 isolate (concentration of 1.0 × 108 CFU/mL) at 30°C degraded a mixture of [Dha7]MC-LR and MC-LR (concentration 25 μg/mL) at a maximum rate of 8.33 μg/mL/day. The intermediate by-products of [Dha7]MC-LR degradation were detected and similar to MC-LR degradation by-products. The presence of three genes (mlrA, mlrB, and mlrC), that encode three enzymes involved in the degradation of MC-LR, were identified in the NV-3 isolate. This study confirmed that degradation of [Dha7]MC-LR by the Sphingomonas isolate NV-3 occurred by a similar mechanism previously described for MC-LR by Sphingomonas strain MJ-PV (ACM-3962). This has important implications for potential bioremediation of toxic blooms containing a variety of MCs in NZ waters. PMID:23936728

MEASURING AND MODELING THE TRANSPORT OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING DICARBOXIMIDES AND DEGRADATION PRODUCTS FROM THE SOIL TO THE LOWER TROPOSPHERE

EPA Science Inventory

This research addresses the environmental fate, transport, exposure and potential risks from dicarboximides, a widely used class of agricultural fungicides. Certain dicarboximide fungicides and degradation products have been found to be anti-androgenic; i. e., exposure to these...

Physiology, biochemistry and possible applications of microbial caffeine degradation.

PubMed

Gummadi, Sathyanarayana N; Bhavya, B; Ashok, Nandhini

2012-01-01

Caffeine, a purine alkaloid is a constituent of widely consumed beverages. The scientific evidence which has proved the harm of this alkaloid has paved the way for innumerable research in the area of caffeine degradation. In addition to this, the fact that the by-products of the coffee and tea industry pollute the environment has called for the need of decaffeinating coffee and tea industry's by-products. Though physical and chemical methods for decaffeination are available, the lack of specificity for removal of caffeine in these techniques and their non-eco-friendly nature has opened the area of microbial and enzymatic degradation of caffeine. Another important application of microbial caffeine degradation apart from its advantages like specificity, eco-friendliness and cost-effectiveness is the fact that this process will enable the production of industrially and medically useful components of the caffeine degradation pathway like theobromine and theophylline. This is a comprehensive review which mainly focuses on caffeine degradation, large-scale degradation of the same and its applications in the industrial world.

Thermal Degradation Studies of Polyurethane/POSS Nanohybrid Elastomers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lewicki, J P; Pielichowski, K; TremblotDeLaCroix, P

2010-03-05

Reported here is the synthesis of a series of Polyurethane/POSS nanohybrid elastomers, the characterization of their thermal stability and degradation behavior at elevated temperatures using a combination of Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Thermal Volatilization Analysis (TVA). A series of PU elastomers systems have been formulated incorporating varying levels of 1,2-propanediol-heptaisobutyl-POSS (PHIPOSS) as a chain extender unit, replacing butane diol. The bulk thermal stability of the nanohybrid systems has been characterized using TGA. Results indicate that covalent incorporation of POSS into the PU elastomer network increase the non-oxidative thermal stability of the systems. TVA analysis of the thermal degradation ofmore » the POSS/PU hybrid elastomers have demonstrated that the hybrid systems are indeed more thermally stable when compared to the unmodified PU matrix; evolving significantly reduced levels of volatile degradation products and exhibiting a {approx}30 C increase in onset degradation temperature. Furthermore, characterization of the distribution of degradation products from both unmodified and hybrid systems indicate that the inclusion of POSS in the PU network is directly influencing the degradation pathways of both the soft and hard block components of the elastomers: The POSS/PU hybrid systems show reduced levels of CO, CO2, water and increased levels of THF as products of thermal degradation.« less

Triggerable Degradation of Polyurethanes for Tissue Engineering Applications.

PubMed

Xu, Cancan; Huang, Yihui; Wu, Jinglei; Tang, Liping; Hong, Yi

2015-09-16

Tissue engineered and bioactive scaffolds with different degradation rates are required for the regeneration of diverse tissues/organs. To optimize tissue regeneration in different tissues, it is desirable that the degradation rate of scaffolds can be manipulated to comply with various stages of tissue regeneration. Unfortunately, the degradation of most degradable polymers relies solely on passive controlled degradation mechanisms. To overcome this challenge, we report a new family of reduction-sensitive biodegradable elastomeric polyurethanes containing various amounts of disulfide bonds (PU-SS), in which degradation can be initiated and accelerated with the supplement of a biological product: antioxidant-glutathione (GSH). The polyurethanes can be processed into films and electrospun fibrous scaffolds. Synthesized materials exhibited robust mechanical properties and high elasticity. Accelerated degradation of the materials was observed in the presence of GSH, and the rate of such degradation depends on the amount of disulfide present in the polymer backbone. The polymers and their degradation products exhibited no apparent cell toxicity while the electrospun scaffolds supported fibroblast growth in vitro. The in vivo subcutaneous implantation model showed that the polymers prompt minimal inflammatory responses, and as anticipated, the polymer with the higher disulfide bond amount had faster degradation in vivo. This new family of polyurethanes offers tremendous potential for directed scaffold degradation to promote maximal tissue regeneration.

Degradation products from consumer nanocomposites: a case study on quantum dot lighting.

PubMed

Liu, Jingyu; Katahara, John; Li, Guanglai; Coe-Sullivan, Seth; Hurt, Robert H

2012-03-20

Most nanomaterials enter the natural environment as nanoenabled products, which are typically composites with primary nanoparticles bound on substrates or embedded in liquid or solid matrices. The environmental risks associated with these products are expected to differ from those associated with the as-produced particles. This article presents a case study on the end-of-life emission of a commercial prototype polymer/quantum-dot (QD) composite used in solid-state lighting for homes. We report the extent of cadmium release upon exposure to a series of environmental and biological simulant fluids, and track the loss of QD-characteristic fluorescence as a marker for chemical damage to the CdSe/ZnS nanoparticles. Measured cadmium releases after 30-day exposure range from 0.007 to 1.2 mg/g of polymer, and the higher values arise for low-pH simulants containing nitric or gastric acid. Centrifugal ultrafiltration and ICP was used to distinguish soluble cadmium from particulate forms. The leachate is found to contain soluble metals with no evidence of free QDs or QD-containing polymeric debris. The absence of free nanoparticles suggests that this product does not raise nanotechnology-specific environmental issues associated with degradation and leaching, but is more usefully regarded as a conventional chemical product that is a potential source of small amounts of soluble cadmium.

Degradation products from consumer nanocomposites - a case study on quantum dot lighting

PubMed Central

Liu, Jingyu; Katahara, John; Li, Guanglai; Coe-Sullivan, Seth; Hurt, Robert H.

2012-01-01

Most nanomaterials enter the natural environment as nano-enabled products, which are typically composites with primary nanoparticles bound on substrates or embedded in liquid or solid matrices. The environmental risks associated with these products are expected to differ from those associated with the as-produced particles. This article presents a case study on the end-of-life emission of a commercial prototype polymer/quantum-dot (QD) composite used in solid-state lighting for homes. We report the extent of cadmium release upon exposure to a series of environmental and biological simulant fluids, and track the loss of QD-characteristic fluorescence as a marker for chemical damage to the CdSe/ZnS nanoparticles. Measured cadmium releases after 30-day exposure range from 0.007-1.2 mg/g of polymer, and the higher values arise for low-pH simulants containing nitric or gastric acid. Centrifugal ultrafiltration and ICP was used to distinguish soluble cadmium from particulate forms. The leachate is found to contain soluble metals with no evidence of free QDs or QD-containing polymeric debris. The absence of free nanoparticles suggests that this product does not raise nanotechnology-specific environmental issues associated with degradation and leaching, but is more usefully regarded as a conventional chemical product that is a potential source of small amounts of soluble cadmium. PMID:22352378

Continuous flow stable isotope methods for study of δ13C fractionation during halomethane production and degradation

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kalin, Robert M.; Hamilton, John T.G.; Harper, David B.; Miller, Laurence G.; Lamb, Clare; Kennedy, James T.; Downey, Angela; McCauley, Sean; Goldstein, Allen H.

2001-01-01

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/MS/IRMS) methods for δ13C measurement of the halomethanes CH3Cl, CH3Br, CH3I and methanethiol (CH3SH) during studies of their biological production, biological degradation, and abiotic reactions are presented. Optimisation of gas chromatographic parameters allowed the identification and quantification of CO2, O2, CH3Cl, CH3Br, CH3I and CH3SH from a single sample, and also the concurrent measurement of δ13C for each of the halomethanes and methanethiol. Precision of δ13C measurements for halomethane standards decreased (±0.3, ±0.5 and ±1.3‰) with increasing mass (CH3Cl, CH3Br, CH3I, respectively). Given that carbon isotope effects during biological production, biological degradation and some chemical (abiotic) reactions can be as much as 100‰, stable isotope analysis offers a precise method to study the global sources and sinks of these halogenated compounds that are of considerable importance to our understanding of stratospheric ozone destruction. 

Heterologous Expression of Plant Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes for Effective Production of Cellulosic Biofuels

PubMed Central

Jung, Sang-Kyu; Parisutham, Vinuselvi; Jeong, Seong Hun; Lee, Sung Kuk

2012-01-01

A major technical challenge in the cost-effective production of cellulosic biofuel is the need to lower the cost of plant cell wall degrading enzymes (PCDE), which is required for the production of sugars from biomass. Several competitive, low-cost technologies have been developed to produce PCDE in different host organisms such as Escherichia coli, Zymomonas mobilis, and plant. Selection of an ideal host organism is very important, because each host organism has its own unique features. Synthetic biology-aided tools enable heterologous expression of PCDE in recombinant E. coli or Z. mobilis and allow successful consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) in these microorganisms. In-planta expression provides an opportunity to simplify the process of enzyme production and plant biomass processing and leads to self-deconstruction of plant cell walls. Although the future of currently available technologies is difficult to predict, a complete and viable platform will most likely be available through the integration of the existing approaches with the development of breakthrough technologies. PMID:22911272

Enhanced agarose and xylan degradation for production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by co-culture of marine bacterium, Saccharophagus degradans and its contaminant, Bacillus cereus

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sawant, Shailesh S.; Salunke, Bipinchandra K.; Taylor, II, Larry E.

Over reliance on energy or petroleum products has raised concerns both in regards to the depletion of their associated natural resources as well as their increasing costs. Bioplastics derived from microbes are emerging as promising alternatives to fossil fuel derived petroleum plastics. The development of a simple and eco-friendly strategy for bioplastic production with high productivity and yield, which is produced in a cost effective manner utilising abundantly available renewable carbon sources, would have the potential to result in an inexhaustible global energy source. Here we report the biosynthesis of bioplastic polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in pure cultures of marine bacterium, Saccharophagusmore » degradans 2-40 ( Sde 2-40), its contaminant, Bacillus cereus, and a co-culture of these bacteria ( Sde 2-40 and B. cereus) degrading plant and algae derived complex polysaccharides. Sde 2-40 degraded the complex polysaccharides agarose and xylan as sole carbon sources for biosynthesis of PHAs. The ability of Sde 2-40 to degrade agarose increased after co-culturing with B. cereus. The association of Sde 2-40 with B. cereus resulted in increased cell growth and higher PHA production (34.5% of dry cell weight) from xylan as a carbon source in comparison to Sde 2-40 alone (22.7% of dry cell weight). Lastly, the present study offers an innovative prototype for production of PHA through consolidated bioprocessing of complex carbon sources by pure and co-culture of microorganisms.« less

Enhanced agarose and xylan degradation for production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by co-culture of marine bacterium, Saccharophagus degradans and its contaminant, Bacillus cereus

DOE PAGES

Sawant, Shailesh S.; Salunke, Bipinchandra K.; Taylor, II, Larry E.; ...

2017-02-28

Over reliance on energy or petroleum products has raised concerns both in regards to the depletion of their associated natural resources as well as their increasing costs. Bioplastics derived from microbes are emerging as promising alternatives to fossil fuel derived petroleum plastics. The development of a simple and eco-friendly strategy for bioplastic production with high productivity and yield, which is produced in a cost effective manner utilising abundantly available renewable carbon sources, would have the potential to result in an inexhaustible global energy source. Here we report the biosynthesis of bioplastic polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in pure cultures of marine bacterium, Saccharophagusmore » degradans 2-40 ( Sde 2-40), its contaminant, Bacillus cereus, and a co-culture of these bacteria ( Sde 2-40 and B. cereus) degrading plant and algae derived complex polysaccharides. Sde 2-40 degraded the complex polysaccharides agarose and xylan as sole carbon sources for biosynthesis of PHAs. The ability of Sde 2-40 to degrade agarose increased after co-culturing with B. cereus. The association of Sde 2-40 with B. cereus resulted in increased cell growth and higher PHA production (34.5% of dry cell weight) from xylan as a carbon source in comparison to Sde 2-40 alone (22.7% of dry cell weight). Lastly, the present study offers an innovative prototype for production of PHA through consolidated bioprocessing of complex carbon sources by pure and co-culture of microorganisms.« less

Bacteria-mediated bisphenol A degradation.

PubMed

Zhang, Weiwei; Yin, Kun; Chen, Lingxin

2013-07-01

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an important monomer in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics, food cans, and other daily used chemicals. Daily and worldwide usage of BPA and BPA-contained products led to its ubiquitous distribution in water, sediment/soil, and atmosphere. Moreover, BPA has been identified as an environmental endocrine disruptor for its estrogenic and genotoxic activity. Thus, BPA contamination in the environment is an increasingly worldwide concern, and methods to efficiently remove BPA from the environment are urgently recommended. Although many factors affect the fate of BPA in the environment, BPA degradation is mainly depended on the metabolism of bacteria. Many BPA-degrading bacteria have been identified from water, sediment/soil, and wastewater treatment plants. Metabolic pathways of BPA degradation in specific bacterial strains were proposed, based on the metabolic intermediates detected during the degradation process. In this review, the BPA-degrading bacteria were summarized, and the (proposed) BPA degradation pathway mediated by bacteria were referred.

Synergistic effect of co-digestion to enhance anaerobic degradation of catering waste and orange peel for biogas production.

PubMed

Anjum, Muzammil; Khalid, Azeem; Qadeer, Samia; Miandad, Rashid

2017-09-01

Catering waste and orange peel were co-digested using an anaerobic digestion process. Orange peel is difficult to degrade anaerobically due to the presence of antimicrobial agents such as limonene. The present study aimed to examine the feasibility of anaerobic co-digestion of catering waste with orange peel to provide the optimum nutrient balance with reduced inhibitory effects of orange peel. Batch experiments were conducted using catering waste as a potential substrate mixed in varying ratios (20-50%) with orange peel. Similar ratios were followed using green vegetable waste as co-substrate. The results showed that the highest organic matter degradation (49%) was achieved with co-digestion of catering waste and orange peel at a 50% mixing ratio (CF4). Similarly, the soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) was increased by 51% and reached its maximum value (9040 mg l -1 ) due to conversion of organic matter from insoluble to soluble form. Biogas production was increased by 1.5 times in CF4 where accumulative biogas was 89.61 m 3 t -1 substrate compared with 57.35 m 3 t -1 substrate in the control after 80 days. The main reason behind the improved biogas production and degradation is the dilution of inhibitory factors (limonene), with subsequent provision of balanced nutrients in the co-digestion system. The tCOD of the final digestate was decreased by 79.9% in CF4, which was quite high as compared with 68.3% for the control. Overall, this study revealed that orange peel waste is a highly feasible co-substrate for anaerobic digestion with catering waste for enhanced biogas production.

Spectrofluorometry, thin layer chromatography, and column high-performance liquid chromatography determination of rabeprazole sodium in the presence of its acidic and oxidized degradation products.

PubMed

Osman, Afaf Osman; Osman, Afaf; Osman, Mohamed

2009-01-01

The objective of this study is to develop validated stability-indicating spectrofluorometric, TLC-densitometric, and HPLC methods for the determination of rabeprazole sodium and its degradation products. The first method was based on measuring the fluorescence intensity of the drug at 416 and 311 nm for the emission and at 320 and 274 nm for the excitation for acid and oxidized solutions, respectively. The second method was based on the separation of the drug from its acidic and oxidized degradation products followed by densitometric measurement of the intact drug spot at 284 nm. The separation was carried out on Fluka TLC sheets of silica gel 60 F254 using isopropyl alcohol--30% ammonia (80 + 2, v/v) mobile phase. The third method was based on HPLC separation of rabeprazole sodium from its acidic and oxidized degradation products on a reversed-phase Waters Nova-Pak C18 column using 0.05 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate-methanol-acetonitrile (5 + 3 + 2, v/v/v) pH 7 +/- 0.2 mobile phase. The proposed procedures were successfully applied for the determination of rabeprazole sodium in pure form, laboratory-prepared mixtures, tablet, and expired batch. The obtained results were statistically compared with those of a reported method and validated according to United States Pharmacopeia guidelines. Two main acidic degradation products of the drug were separated and subjected to IR spectrometry and MS to confirm their structures, and the schemes for their formation were elucidated.

ST2 suppresses IL-6 production via the inhibition of I{kappa}B degradation induced by the LPS signal in THP-1 cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Takezako, Naoki; Hayakawa, Morisada; Hayakawa, Hiroko

2006-03-10

LPS induces the production of inflammatory cytokines via the stimulation of Toll-like receptors. In this study, we demonstrated that a soluble secreted form of the ST2 gene product (ST2), a member of the interleukin-1 receptor family, suppressed the production of IL-6 in an LPS-stimulated human monocytic leukemia cell line, THP-1. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy revealed the binding of ST2 to the surface of the THP-1 cells, in which ST2 led to decreased binding of nuclear factor-{kappa}B to the IL-6 promoter. Furthermore, the degradation of I{kappa}B in the cytoplasm after LPS stimulation was reduced by pretreatment with ST2. These results demonstrated thatmore » ST2 negatively regulates LPS-induced IL-6 production via the inhibition of I{kappa}B degradation in THP-1 cells.« less

Abiotic Degradation and Toxicological Impacts of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in Surface Waters: Roles of Mineral Sediments and Solar Radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rubasinghege, G. R. S.; Rijal, H.; Maldonado-Torres, S.; Gurung, R.; Rogelj, S.; Piyasena, M.

2017-12-01

The growing medical and personal needs of human populations have escalated release of pharmaceuticals and personal care products into surface waters. This work investigates abiotic degradation pathways of a particular PPCP, ibuprofen, in the presence of a major mineral component of sedimentation (kaolinite clay), as well as the health effects of the primary compound and its degradation products. Results from these studies showed that the rate and extent of ibuprofen degradation is greatly influenced by the presence of sedimentation particles and solar radiation. In the absence of solar radiation, the dominant reaction mechanism was observed to be the adsorption of ibuprofen onto sedimentation particle surface where surface silanol groups play a key role. In contrast, under solar radiation and in the presence of clay particles, ibuprofen breaks down to several fractions. The decay rates were at least 6-fold higher for irradiated samples compared to those of dark conditions. Toxicity of primary ibuprofen and its secondary residues were tested on three microorganisms: Bacillus megaterium, Pseudoaltermonas atlantica; and algae from the Chlorella genus. The results from the biological assays show that primary PPCP is more toxic than the mixture of secondary products. Overall, however, biological assays carried out using only 4-acetylbenzoic acid, the most abundant secondary product, show a higher toxic effect on algae compared to its parent compound.

Restoration of degraded arid farmland at Project Wadi Attir: Impact of conservation on biological productivity and soil organic matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mor-Mussery, Amir; Helman, David; Ben Eli, Michael; Leu, Stefan

2017-04-01

The Israeli Negev Desert, as most Mediterranean drylands, is profoundly degraded. We have been documenting degradation and successful rehabilitation approaches in recent research, aiming at maximizing environmental and economic benefits while restoring healthy dryland soils and perennial vegetation to act as carbon sinks. These methods have been implemented for rehabilitation of Project Wadi Attir's. 50 hectares of heavily degraded farmland suffering from intensive soil erosion (expressed in dense gullies net and massive overland flow). Project Wadi Attir is a groundbreaking initiative of the Bedouin community in the Negev, for establishing a model sustainable agricultural operation. The project was initiated by the US-based Sustainability Laboratory and the Hura Municipal Council. The project is designed to demonstrate implementation of holistic sustainability principles developed by The Lab. The project's ecosystem restoration component involves site development, erosion control, soil conservation and improvement, planting of native and agroforestry trees, together with conservation and protection of biodiversity hotspots and avoiding grazing have, within three years, revealed the high biodiversity and productivity potential of this arid/semi-arid landscape. A number of shrublands and loess plots were subject to strict conservation, avoiding tilling and grazing. Soil fertility, productivity and biodiversity of these conserved plots inside the farm boundaries was compared to similar unprotected plots outside the farm fences by sampling in the field and by using satellite imaging. Our findings indicate a gradual improvement of SOM content specifically in the conserved shrubland area. Water infiltration, herbaceous biomass productivity and ants' activity of the protected plots also significantly increased within 3 years compared to the unprotected control areas. Starting from similar soil organic matter content in 2013 (3.3%) in the rocky slopes, in 2016 1% higher

Submicron sized water-stable metal organic framework (bio-MOF-11) for catalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products.

PubMed

Azhar, Muhammad Rizwan; Vijay, Periasamy; Tadé, Moses O; Sun, Hongqi; Wang, Shaobin

2018-04-01

Water-stable and active metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are important materials for mitigation of water contaminants via adsorption and catalytic reactions. In this study, a highly water-stable Co-based MOF, namely bio-MOF-11-Co, was synthesized by a simplified benign method. Moreover, it was used as a catalyst in successful activation of peroxymonsulfate for catalytic degradation of sulfachloropyradazine (SCP) and para-hydroxybenzoic acid (p-HBA) as representatives of pharmaceuticals and personal care products, respectively. The bio-MOF-11-Co showed rapid degradation of both p-HBA and SCP and could be reused multiple times without losing the activity by simply water washing. The effects of catalyst and PMS loadings as well as temperature were further studied, showing that high catalyst and PMS loadings as well as temperature produced faster kinetic degradation of p-HBA and SCP. The generation of highly reactive and HO radicals during the degradation was investigated by quenching tests and electron paramagnetic resonance. A plausible degradation mechanism was proposed based on the functionalities in the bio-MOF-11-Co. The availability of electron rich nucleobase adenine reinforced the reaction kinetics by electron donation along with cobalt atoms in the bio-MOF-11-Co structure. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Lignocellulose degradation and enzyme production by Irpex lacteus CD2 during solid-state fermentation of corn stover.

PubMed

Xu, Chunyan; Ma, Fuying; Zhang, Xiaoyu

2009-11-01

The white rot fungus Irpex lacteus CD2 was incubated on corn stover under solid-state fermentation conditions for different durations, from 5 days up to 120 days. Lignocellulose component loss, enzyme production and Fe3+-reducing activity were studied. The average weight loss ranged from 1.7% to 60.5% during the period of 5-120 days. In contrast to lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose were degraded during the initial time period. After 15 days, 63.0% of hemicellulose was degraded. Cellulose was degraded the most during the first 10 days, and 17.2% was degraded after 10 days. Lignin was significantly degraded and modified, with acid insoluble lignin loss being nearly 80% after 60 days. That weight loss, which was lower than the total component loss, indicated that not all of the lost lignocellulose was converted to carbon dioxide and water, which was indicated by the increase in soluble reducing sugars and acid soluble lignin. Filter paper activity, which corresponds to total cellulase activity, peaked at day 5 and remained at a high level from 40 to 60 days. High hemicellulase activity appeared after 30 days. No ligninases activity was detected during the incipient stage of lignin removal and only low lignin peroxidase activity was detected after 25 days. Apparently, neither of the enzymatic peaks coincided well with the highest amount of component loss. Fe3+-reducing activity could be detected during all the decay periods, which might play an important role in lignin biodegradation by I. lacteus CD2.

Chemical Potency and Degradation Products of Medications Stored Over 550 Earth Days at the International Space Station.

PubMed

Wotring, Virginia E

2016-01-01

Medications degrade over time, and degradation is hastened by extreme storage conditions. Current procedures ensure that medications aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are restocked before their expiration dates, but resupply may not be possible on future long-duration exploration missions. For this reason, medications stored on the ISS were returned to Earth for analysis. This was an opportunistic, observational pilot-scale investigation to test the hypothesis that ISS-aging does not cause unusual degradation. Nine medications were analyzed for active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) content and degradant amounts; results were compared to 2012 United States Pharmacopeia (USP) requirements. The medications were two sleep aids, two antihistamines/decongestants, three pain relievers, an antidiarrheal, and an alertness medication. Because the samples were obtained opportunistically from unused medical supplies, each medication was available at only 1 time point and no control samples (samples aged for a similar period on Earth) were available. One medication met USP requirements 5 months after its expiration date. Four of the nine (44% of those tested) medications tested met USP requirements 8 months post expiration. Another three medications (33%) met USP guidelines 2-3 months before expiration. One compound, a dietary supplement used as a sleep aid, failed to meet USP requirements at 11 months post expiration. No unusual degradation products were identified. Limited, evidence-based extension of medication shelf-lives may be possible and would be useful in preparation for lengthy exploration missions. Only analysis of flight-aged samples compared to appropriately matched ground controls will permit determination of the spaceflight environment on medication stability.

Polysaccharide Degradation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stone, Bruce A.; Svensson, Birte; Collins, Michelle E.; Rastall, Robert A.

An overview of current and potential enzymes used to degrade polysaccharides is presented. Such depolymerases are comprised of glycoside hydrolases, glycosyl transferases, phosphorylases and lyases, and their classification, active sites and action patterns are discussed. Additionally, the mechanisms that these enzymes use to cleave glycosidic linkages is reviewed as are inhibitors of depolymerase activity; reagents which react with amino acid residues, glycoside derivatives, transition state inhibitors and proteinaceous inhibitors. The characterization of various enzymes of microbial, animal or plant origin has led to their widespread use in the production of important oligosaccharides which can be incorporated into food stuffs. Sources of polysaccharides of particular interest in this chapter are those from plants and include inulin, dextran, xylan and pectin, as their hydrolysis products are purported to be functional foods in the context of gastrointestinal health. An alternative use of degraded polysaccharides is in the treatment of disease. The possibility exists to treat bacterial exopolysaccharide with lyases from bacteriophage to produce oligosaccharides exhibiting bioactive sequences. Although this area is currently in its infancy the knowledge is available to investigate further.

Degradation of degradable starch-polyethylene plastics in a compost environment.

PubMed

Johnson, K E; Pometto, A L; Nikolov, Z L

1993-04-01

The degradation performance of 11 types of commercially produced degradable starch-polyethylene plastic compost bags was evaluated in municipal yard waste compost sites at Iowa State University (Ames) and in Carroll, Dubuque, and Grinnell, Iowa. Masterbatches for plastic production were provided by Archer Daniels Midland Co. (Decatur, Ill.), St. Lawrence Starch Co. Ltd. (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada), and Fully Compounded Plastics (Decatur, Ill.). Bags differed in starch content (5 to 9%) and prooxidant additives (transition metals and a type of unsaturated vegetable oil). Chemical and photodegradation properties of each material were evaluated. Materials from St. Lawrence Starch Co. Ltd. and Fully Compounded Plastics photodegraded faster than did materials from Archer Daniels Midland Co., whereas all materials containing transition metals demonstrated rapid thermal oxidative degradation in 70 degrees C-oven (dry) and high-temperature, high-humidity (steam chamber) treatments. Each compost site was seeded with test strips (200 to 800 of each type) taped together, which were recovered periodically over an 8- to 12-month period. At each sampling date, the compost row temperature was measured (65 to 95 degrees C), the location of the recovered test strip was recorded (interior or exterior), and at least four strips were recovered for evaluation. Degradation was followed by measuring the change in polyethylene molecular weight distribution via high-temperature gel permeation chromatography. Our initial 8-month study indicated that materials recovered from the interior of the compost row demonstrated very little degradation, whereas materials recovered from the exterior degraded well. In the second-year study, however, degradation was observed in several plastic materials recovered from the interior of the compost row by month 5 at the Carroll site and almost every material by month 12 at the Grinnell site. The plastic bags collected from each community followed a

Degradation of Three Aromatic Dyes by White Rot Fungi and the Production of Ligninolytic Enzymes

PubMed Central

Jayasinghe, Chandana; Imtiaj, Ahmed; Lee, Geon Woo; Im, Kyung Hoan; Hur, Hyun; Lee, Min Woong; Yang, Hee-Sun

2008-01-01

This study was conducted to evaluate the degradation of aromatic dyes and the production of ligninolytic enzymes by 10 white rot fungi. The results of this study revealed that Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, Pleurotus pulmonarius, Ganoderma lucidum, Trametes suaveolens, Stereum ostrea and Fomes fomentarius have the ability to efficiently degrade congo red on solid media. However, malachite green inhibited the mycelial growth of these organisms. Therefore, they did not effectively decolorize malachite green on solid media. However, P. cinnabarinus and P. pulmonarius were able to effectively decolorize malachite green on solid media. T. suaveolens and F. rosea decolorized methylene blue more effectively than any of the other fungi evaluated in this study. In liquid culture, G. lucidum, P. cinnabarinus, Naematoloma fasciculare and Pycnoporus coccineus were found to have a greater ability to decolorize congo red. In addition, P. cinnabarinus, G. lucidum and T. suaveolens decolorized methylene blue in liquid media more effectively than any of the other organisms evaluated in this study. Only F. fomentarius was able to decolorize malachite green in liquid media, and its ability to do so was limited. To investigate the production of ligninolytic enzymes in media containing aromatic compounds, fungi were cultured in naphthalene supplemented liquid media. P. coccineus, Coriolus versicolor and P. cinnabarinus were found to produce a large amount of laccase when grown in medium that contained napthalene. PMID:23990745

The Sustainable Release of Vancomycin and Its Degradation Products From Nanostructured Collagen/Hydroxyapatite Composite Layers.

PubMed

Suchý, Tomáš; Šupová, Monika; Klapková, Eva; Horný, Lukáš; Rýglová, Šárka; Žaloudková, Margit; Braun, Martin; Sucharda, Zbyněk; Ballay, Rastislav; Veselý, Jan; Chlup, Hynek; Denk, František

2016-03-01

Infections of the musculoskeletal system present a serious problem with regard to the field of orthopedic and trauma medicine. The aim of the experiment described in this study was to develop a resorbable nanostructured composite layer with the controlled elution of antibiotics. The layer is composed of collagen, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, and vancomycin hydrochloride (10 wt%). The stability of the collagen was enhanced by means of cross-linking. Four cross-linking agents were studied, namely an ethanol solution, a phosphate buffer solution of N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride/N-hydroxysuccinimide, genipin, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid. High performance liquid chromatography was used so as to characterize the in vitro release rates of the vancomycin and its crystalline degradation antibiotically inactive products over a 21-day period. The maximum concentration of the released active form of vancomycin (approximately 265 mg/L) exceeded the minimum inhibitory concentration up to an order of 17 times without triggering the burst releasing effect. At the end of the experiment, the minimum inhibitory concentration was exceeded by up to 6 times (approximately 100 mg/L). It was determined that the modification of collagen with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles does not negatively influence the sustainable release of vancomycin. The balance of vancomycin and its degradation products was observed after 14 days of incubation. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Why do forest products become less available?A pan-tropical comparison of drivers of forest-resource degradation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hermans-Neumann, Kathleen; Gerstner, Katharina; Geijzendorffer, Ilse R.; Herold, Martin; Seppelt, Ralf; Wunder, Sven

2016-12-01

Forest products provide an important source of income and wellbeing for rural smallholder communities across the tropics. Although tropical forest products frequently become over-exploited, only few studies explicitly address the dynamics of degradation in response to socio-economic drivers. Our study addresses this gap by analyzing the factors driving changes in tropical forest products in the perception of rural smallholder communities. Using the poverty and environment network global dataset, we studied recently perceived trends of forest product availability considering firewood, charcoal, timber, food, medicine, forage and other forest products. We looked at a pan-tropical sample of 233 villages with forest access. Our results show that 90% of the villages experienced declining availability of forest resources over the last five years according to the informants. Timber and fuelwood together with forest foods were featured as the most strongly affected, though with marked differences across continents. In contrast, availability of at least one main forest product was perceived to increase in only 39% of the villages. Furthermore, the growing local use of forest resources is seen as the main culprit for the decline. In villages with both growing forest resource use and immigration—vividly illustrating demographic pressures—the strongest forest resources degradation was observed. Conversely, villages with little or no population growth and a decreased use of forest resources were most likely to see significant forest-resource increases. Further, villages are less likely to perceive resource declines when local communities own a significant share of forest area. Our results thus suggest that perceived resource declines have only exceptionally triggered adaptations in local resource-use and management patterns that would effectively deal with scarcity. Hence, at the margin this supports neo-Malthusian over neo-Boserupian explanations of local resource

Biosurfactant production from marine hydrocarbon-degrading consortia and pure bacterial strains using crude oil as carbon source

PubMed Central

Antoniou, Eleftheria; Fodelianakis, Stilianos; Korkakaki, Emmanouela; Kalogerakis, Nicolas

2015-01-01

Biosurfactants (BSs) are “green” amphiphilic molecules produced by microorganisms during biodegradation, increasing the bioavailability of organic pollutants. In this work, the BS production yield of marine hydrocarbon degraders isolated from Elefsina bay in Eastern Mediterranean Sea has been investigated. The drop collapse test was used as a preliminary screening test to confirm BS producing strains or mixed consortia. The community structure of the best consortia based on the drop collapse test was determined by 16S-rDNA pyrotag screening. Subsequently, the effect of incubation time, temperature, substrate and supplementation with inorganic nutrients, on BS production, was examined. Two types of BS – lipid mixtures were extracted from the culture broth; the low molecular weight BS Rhamnolipids and Sophorolipids. Crude extracts were purified by silica gel column chromatography and then identified by thin layer chromatography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results indicate that BS production yield remains constant and low while it is independent of the total culture biomass, carbon source, and temperature. A constant BS concentration in a culture broth with continuous degradation of crude oil (CO) implies that the BS producing microbes generate no more than the required amount of BSs that enables biodegradation of the CO. Isolated pure strains were found to have higher specific production yields than the complex microbial marine community-consortia. The heavy oil fraction of CO has emerged as a promising substrate for BS production (by marine BS producers) with fewer impurities in the final product. Furthermore, a particular strain isolated from sediments, Paracoccus marcusii, may be an optimal choice for bioremediation purposes as its biomass remains trapped in the hydrocarbon phase, not suffering from potential dilution effects by sea currents. PMID:25904907

Radiolytic degradation scheme for 60Co-irradiated corticosteroids

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kane, M.P.; Tsuji, K.

The cobalt 60 radiolytic degradation products have been identified in the following corticosteroids: cortisone, cortisone acetate, hydrocortisone, hydrocortisone acetate, hydrocortisone sodium succinate, isoflupredone acetate, methylprednisolone, methylprednisolone acetate, prednisolone, prednisolone acetate, and prednisone. Two major types of degradation processes have been identified: loss of the corticoid side chain on the D-ring to produce the C-17 ketone and conversion of the C-11 alcohol, if present, to the C-11 ketone. Minor degradation products derived from other changes affecting the side chain are also identified in several corticosteroids. These compounds are frequently associated in corticosteroids as process impurities or degradation compounds. No new radiolyticmore » compounds unique to 60Co-irradiation have been found. The majority of corticosteroids have been shown to be stable to 60Co-irradiation. The rates of radiolytic degradation ranged from 0.2 to 1.4%/Mrad.« less

Degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid by a halotolerant strain of Penicillium chrysogenum: antibiotic production.

PubMed

Ferreira-Guedes, Sumaya; Mendes, Benilde; Leitão, Ana Lúcia

2012-01-01

The extensive use of pesticides in agriculture has prompted intensive research on chemical and biological methods in order to protect contamination of water and soil resources. In this paper the degradation of the pesticide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid by a Penicillium chrysogenum strain previously isolated from a salt mine was studied in batch cultures. Co-degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid with additives such as sugar and intermediates of pesticide metabolism was also investigated. Penicillium chrysogenum in solid medium was able to grow at concentrations up to 1000 mg/L of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) with sucrose. Meanwhile, supplementation of the solid medium with glucose and lactose led to fungal growth at concentrations up to 500 mg/L of herbicide. Batch cultures of 2,4-D at 100 mg/L were developed under aerobic conditions with the addition of glucose, lactose and sucrose, showing sucrose as the best additional carbon source. The 2,4-D removal was quantified by liquid chromatography. The fungus was able to use 2,4-D as the sole carbon and energy source under 0%, 2% and 5.9% NaCl. The greatest 2,4-D degradation efficiency was found using alpha-ketoglutarate and ascorbic acid as co-substrates under 2% NaCl at pH 7. Penicillin production was evaluated in submerged cultures by bioassay, and higher amounts of beta-lactam antibiotic were produced when the herbicide was alone. Taking into account the ability of P. chrysogenum CLONA2 to degrade aromatic compounds, this strain could be an interesting tool for 2,4-D herbicide remediation in saline environments.

Ensiling Characteristics and the In situ Nutrient Degradability of a By-product Feed-based Silage.

PubMed

Kim, Y I; Oh, Y K; Park, K K; Kwak, W S

2014-02-01

This study was conducted to evaluate the ensiling characteristics and the in situ degradability of a by-product feed (BF)-based silage. Before ensilation, the BF-based mixture was composed of 50% spent mushroom substrate, 21% recycled poultry bedding, 15% ryegrass straw, 10.8% rice bran, 2% molasses, 0.6% bentonite, and 0.6% microbial inoculant on a wet basis and ensiled for up to 4 weeks. The BF-based silage contained on average 39.3% moisture, 13.4% crude protein (CP), and 52.2% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 49% total digestible nutrient, and 37.8% physically effective NDF1.18 on a dry matter (DM) basis. Ensiling the BF-based silage for up to 4 weeks affected (p<0.01) the chemical composition to a small extent, increased (p<0.05) the lactic acid and NH3-N content, and decreased (p<0.05) both the total bacterial and lactic acid bacterial counts from 10(9) to 10(8) cfu/g when compared to that before ensiling. These parameters indicated that the silage was fermented and stored well during the 4-week ensiling period. Compared with rice or ryegrass straws, the BF-based silage had a higher (p<0.05) water-soluble and filterable fraction, a lower insoluble degradable DM and CP fraction (p<0.05), a lower digestible NDF (p<0.05) fraction, a higher (p<0.05) DM and CP disappearance and degradability rate, and a lower (p<0.05) NDF disappearance and degradability rate. These results indicated that cheap, good-quality BF-based roughage could be produced by ensiling SMS, RPB, rice bran, and a minimal amount of straw.

Urea plus nitrate pretreatment of rice and wheat straws enhances degradation and reduces methane production in in vitro ruminal culture.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiumin; Wang, Min; Wang, Rong; Ma, Zhiyuan; Long, Donglei; Mao, Hongxiang; Wen, Jiangnan; Bernard, Lukuyu A; Beauchemin, Karen A; Tan, Zhiliang

2018-04-10

Urea pretreatment of straw damages fiber structure, while nitrate supplementation of ruminal diets inhibits enteric methane production. The study examined the combined effects of these treatments on ruminal substrate biodegradation and methane production using an in vitro incubation system. Rice and wheat straws were pretreated with urea (40 g kg -1 straw dry matter, DM) and urea + ammonium nitrate (34 + 6 g kg -1 dry matter (DM), respectively), and each straw (control, urea, urea+nitrate) was used in batch culture incubations in three replications (runs). Urea pretreatment increased (P < 0.05) neutral-detergent solubles (NDS) content (+17%) and in vitro DM degradation of rice straw, in comparison with control. Urea+nitrate pretreatment of rice and wheat straws had higher (P < 0.05) NDS content, in vitro DM degradation and propionate molar proportion, and lower (P < 0.05) acetate:propionate ratio and lower methane production with a decline of methanogens, in comparison to control. Urea+nitrate pretreatment combines positive effects of urea pretreatment and nitrate supplementation, and can be a potential strategy to improve ruminal biodegradation, facilitate propionate production and reduce methane production from lignified straws. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Production of a biodegradable plastic-degrading enzyme from cheese whey by the phyllosphere yeast Pseudozyma antarctica GB-4(1)W.

PubMed

Watanabe, Takashi; Shinozaki, Yukiko; Suzuki, Ken; Koitabashi, Motoo; Yoshida, Shigenobu; Sameshima-Yamashita, Yuka; Kuze Kitamoto, Hiroko

2014-08-01

Cheese whey is a by-product of cheese production and has high concentrations of lactose (about 5%) and other nutrients. Pseudozyma antarctica produces a unique cutinase-like enzyme, named PaE, that efficiently degrades biodegradable plastics. A previous study showed that a combination of 1% oil and 0.5% lactose increased cutinase-like enzyme production by another species of yeast. In this study, to produce PaE from cheese whey, we investigated the effects of soybean oil on PaE production (expressed as biodegradable plastic-degrading activity) by P. antarctica growing on lactose or cheese whey. In flask cultures, the final PaE activity was only 0.03 U/ml when soybean oil was used as the sole carbon source, but increased to 1.79 U/ml when a limited amount of soybean oil (under 0.5%) was combined with a relatively high concentration of lactose (6%). Using a 5-L jar fermentor with lactose fed-batch cultivation and periodic soybean oil addition, about 14.6 U/ml of PaE was obtained after 5 days of cultivation. When the lactose was replaced with cheese whey, PaE production was 10.8 U/ml after 3 days of cultivation. Copyright © 2014 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Legume-Cereal Intercropping Improves Forage Yield, Quality and Degradability.

PubMed

Zhang, Jie; Yin, Binjie; Xie, Yuhuai; Li, Jing; Yang, Zaibin; Zhang, Guiguo

2015-01-01

Intercropping legume with cereal is an extensively applied planting pattern in crop cultivation. However, forage potential and the degradability of harvested mixtures from intercropping system remain unclear. To investigate the feasibility of applying an intercropping system as a forage supply source to ruminants, two consecutive experiments (experiments 1 and 2) involving a field cultivation trial and a subsequent in vivo degradable experiment were conducted to determine the forage production performance and the ruminally degradable characteristics of a harvested mixture from an alfalfa/corn-rye intercropping system. In experiment 1, the intercropping system was established by alternating alfalfa and corn or rye with a row ratio of 5:2. Dry matter (DM) and nutrient yields were determined. In experiment 2, forages harvested from the different treatments were used as feedstuff to identify nutrient degradation kinetics and distribution of components between the rapidly degradable (a), potentially degradable (b) and the degradation rate constant (c) of 'b' fraction by in sacco method in Small-Tail Han wether Sheep. The intercropping system of alfalfa and corn-rye provided higher forage production performance with net increases of 9.52% and 34.81% in DM yield, 42.13% and 16.74% in crude protein (CP) yield, 25.94% and 69.99% in degradable DM yield, and 16.96% and 5.50% in degradable CP yield than rotation and alfalfa sole cropping systems, respectively. In addition, the harvest mixture from intercropping system also had greater 'a' fraction, 'b' fraction, 'c' values, and effective degradability (E value) of DM and CP than corn or rye hay harvested from rotation system. After 48-h exposure to rumen microbes, intercropping harvest materials were degraded to a higher extent than separately degraded crop stems from the sole system as indicated by visual microscopic examination with more tissues disappeared. Thus, the intercropping of alfalfa and corn-rye exhibited a greater

Introduction of atrazine degrader to enhance rhizodegradation of atrazine

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Introducing atrazine (ATR) degraders into riparian vegetative buffer strips (VBS) can be a promising bioremediation approach to accelerate the degradation of ATR and its degradation products deposited into VBS by surface runoff. A growth chamber study was conducted to investigated the synergistic ef...

African land degradation in a world of global atmospheric change: fertilization conceals degradation?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le, Lulseged Tamene, Paul L. G. Vlek, Quang Bao

2009-04-01

Land degradation is one of the most widespread environmental problems worldwide. The sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is one of the most seriously affected regions with huge implications on food security and economic development. To plan plausible management measures, understanding the magnitude of the problem and identification of hotspot areas are necessary. Analysis of remote sensing and climate data observed from space for the period 1982 - 2003 showed significant improvement in vegetation productivity across 30% of SSA with decline on 5% of the subcontinent. Global change in atmospheric chemistry is likely responsible for the observed increasing trend in vegetation productivity. Such widespread greening observed from space could mask anthropogenic land degradation processes such as land conversion, selective logging, and soil nutrient mining. To assess this possible masking effect, a re-analysis of the vegetation productivity dynamics, taking into account atmospheric fertilization, was conducted. This was performed by analyzing the long-term trend in vegetation productivity of pristine lands (areas with minimum human- and climate- related impacts) identified across different biomes in SSA. The baseline slope values of biomass accrual calculated for those pristine lands were estimated and used to re-calculate the long-term trend of green biomass with and without the impact of atmospheric fertilization. This ultimately enabled to delineate the areas that would have experienced significant loss in vegetation productivity had the atmospheric chemistry not changed. The result suggests that seven times more than the area of actual productivity decline in SSA is affected by land degradation processes that are concealed by atmospheric fertilization. With this rate of surreptitious loss of vital land attributes and with the current rate of population growth (3%), the SSA subcontinent may soon lack the land resources necessary to foster economic development. Spatially

MEASUREMENT AND MODELING OF THE TRANSPORT OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING DICARBOXIMIDES AND DEGRADATION PRODUCTS FROM THE SOIL TO THE LOWER TROPOSPHERE

EPA Science Inventory

This research addresses the environmental fate, transport, exposure and potential risks from dicarboximides, a widely used class of agricultural fungicides. Certain dicarboximide fungicides and degradation products have been found to be anti-androgenic; i. e., exposure to these...

Degradation of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol and hydrogen production simultaneously by TiO2 nanotubes/graphene composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slamet, Raudina

2017-11-01

Industrial waters in coal pyrolysis process, synthetic chemicals and oil and gas process contain phenol derivatives that are dangerous to the environment and needs to be removed, one of them is 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol. Degradation of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol and hydrogen production simultaneously have been investigated using TiNT/Graphene composite at various graphene loading and initial concentration of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol. Optimal graphene loading of 0.6 wt% was obtained in the simultaneous system with 89% elimination of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol and 986 µmol of hydrogen production. Test results showed that addition of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol would subsequently increased 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol conversion and enhanced hydrogen production linearly. 2.7 times greater hydrogen production was found in addition of 50 ppm 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol.

ANALYSIS OF THE FLUX OF AN ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING DICARBOXIMIDE AND ITS DEGRADATION PRODUCTS FROM THE SOIL TO THE LOWER TROPOSPHERE

EPA Science Inventory

A method for measuring the atmospheric flux of the antiandrogenic dicarboxirnide, vinclozolin, and its degradation products was investigated. A nitric oxide laboratory chamber was modified to measure the flux of semi-volatile compounds. Pesticide application systems and soil in...

Degradation of malathion by salt-marsh microorganisms.

PubMed Central

Bourquin, A W

1977-01-01

Numerous bacteria from a salt-marsh environment are capable of degrading malathion, an organophosphate insecticide, when supplied with additional nutrients as energy and carbon sources. Seven isolates exhibited ability (48 to 90%) to degrade malathion as a sole carbon source. Gas and thin-layer chromatography and infrared spectroscopy confirmed malathion to be degraded via malathion-monocarboxylic acid to the dicarboxylic acid and then to various phosphothionates. These techniques also identified desmethyl-malathion, phosphorthionates, and four-carbon dicarboxylic acids as degradation products formed as a result of phosphatase activity. PMID:192147

Role of RNase MRP in viral RNA degradation and RNA recombination.

PubMed

Jaag, Hannah M; Lu, Qiasheng; Schmitt, Mark E; Nagy, Peter D

2011-01-01

RNA degradation, together with RNA synthesis, controls the steady-state level of viral RNAs in infected cells. The endoribonucleolytic cleavage of viral RNA is important not only for viral RNA degradation but for RNA recombination as well, due to the participation of some RNA degradation products in the RNA recombination process. To identify host endoribonucleases involved in degradation of Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae model host, we tested eight known endoribonucleases. Here we report that downregulation of SNM1, encoding a component of the RNase MRP, and a temperature-sensitive mutation in the NME1 gene, coding for the RNA component of RNase MRP, lead to reduced production of the endoribonucleolytically cleaved TBSV RNA in yeast. We also show that the highly purified yeast RNase MRP cleaves the TBSV RNA in vitro, resulting in TBSV RNA degradation products similar in size to those observed in yeast cells. Knocking down the NME1 homolog in Nicotiana benthamiana also led to decreased production of the cleaved TBSV RNA, suggesting that in plants, RNase MRP is involved in TBSV RNA degradation. Altogether, this work suggests a role for the host endoribonuclease RNase MRP in viral RNA degradation and recombination.

Biodegradation of the Organophosphate Trichlorfon and Its Major Degradation Products by a Novel Aspergillus sydowii PA F-2.

PubMed

Tian, Jiang; Dong, Qiaofeng; Yu, Chenlei; Zhao, Ruixue; Wang, Jing; Chen, Lanzhou

2016-06-01

Trichlorfon (TCF) is an important organophosphate pesticide in agriculture. However, limited information is known about the biodegradation behaviors and kinetics of this pesticide. In this study, a newly isolated fungus (PA F-2) from pesticide-polluted soils was identified as Aspergillus sydowii on the basis of the sequencing of internal transcribed spacer rDNA. This fungus degraded TCF as sole carbon, sole phosphorus, and sole carbon-phosphorus sources in a mineral salt medium (MSM). Optimal TCF degradation conditions were determined through response surface methodology, and results also revealed that 75.31% of 100 mg/L TCF was metabolized within 7 days. The degradation of TCF was accelerated, and the mycelial dry weight of PA F-2 was remarkably increased in MSM supplemented with exogenous sucrose and yeast extract. Five TCF metabolic products were identified through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. TCF could be initially hydrolyzed to dichlorvos and then be degraded through the cleavage of the P-C bond to produce dimethyl hydrogen phosphate and chloral hydrate. These two compounds were subsequently deoxidized to produce dimethyl phosphite and trichloroethanal. These results demonstrate the biodegradation pathways of TCF and promote the potential use of PA F-2 to bioremediate TCF-contaminated environments.

Removal of organics and degradation products from industrial wastewater by a membrane bioreactor integrated with ozone or UV/H₂O₂ treatment.

PubMed

Laera, G; Cassano, D; Lopez, A; Pinto, A; Pollice, A; Ricco, G; Mascolo, G

2012-01-17

The treatment of a pharmaceutical wastewater resulting from the production of an antibacterial drug (nalidixic acid) was investigated employing a membrane bioreactor (MBR) integrated with either ozonation or UV/H(2)O(2) process. This was achieved by placing chemical oxidation in the recirculation stream of the MBR. A conventional configuration with chemical oxidation as polishing for the MBR effluent was also tested as a reference. The synergistic effect of MBR when integrated with chemical oxidation was assessed by monitoring (i) the main wastewater characteristics, (ii) the concentration of nalidixic acid, (iii) the 48 organics identified in the raw wastewater and (iv) the 55 degradation products identified during wastewater treatment. Results showed that MBR integration with ozonation or UV/H(2)O(2) did not cause relevant drawbacks to both biological and filtration processes, with COD removal rates in the range 85-95%. Nalidixic acid passed undegraded through the MBR and was completely removed in the chemical oxidation step. Although the polishing configuration appeared to give better performances than the integrated system in removing 15 out of 48 secondary organics while similar removals were obtained for 19 other compounds. The benefit of the integrated system was however evident for the removal of the degradation products. Indeed, the integrated system allowed higher removals for 34 out of 55 degradation products while for only 4 compounds the polishing configuration gave better performance. Overall, results showed the effectiveness of the integrated treatment with both ozone and UV/H(2)O(2).

Human-Induced Vegetation Degradation in a Semi-Arid Rangeland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jackson, Hasan

Current assessments of anthropogenic land degradation and its impact on vegetation at regional scales are prone to large uncertainties due to the lack of an objective, transferable, spatially and temporally explicit measure of land degradation. These uncertainties have resulted in contradictory estimates of degradation extent and severity and the role of human activities. The uncertainties limit the ability to assess the effects on the biophysical environment and effectiveness of past, current, and future policies of land use. The overall objective of the dissertation is to assess degradation in a semi-arid region at a regional scale where the process of anthropogenic land degradation is evident. Net primary productivity (NPP) is used as the primary indicator to measure degradation. It is hypothesized that land degradation resulting from human factors on the landscape irreversibly reduces NPP below the potential set by environmental conditions. It is also hypothesized that resulting reductions in NPP are distinguishable from natural, spatial and temporal, variability in NPP. The specific goals of the dissertation are to (1) identify the extent and severity of degradation using productivity as the primary surrogate, (2) compare the degradation of productivity to other known mechanisms of degradation, and (3) relate the expression of degradation to components of vegetation and varying environmental conditions. This dissertation employed the Local NPP Scaling (LNS) approach to identify patterns of anthropogenic degradation of NPP in the Burdekin Dry Tropics (BDT) region of Queensland (14 million hectares), Australia from 2000 to 2013. The method started with land classification based on the environmental factors presumed to control NPP to group pixels having similar potential NPP. Then, satellite remotely sensing data were used to compare actual NPP with its potential. The difference, in units of mass of carbon fixed in NPP per unit area per monitoring interval and

EXPOSURE OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN TO CHLORPYRIFOS AND ITS DEGRADATION PRODUCT 3,5,6-TRICHLORO-2-PYRIDINOL IN THEIR EVERYDAY ENVIRONMENTS

EPA Science Inventory

As part of the Children's Total Exposure to Persistent Pesticides and Other Persistent Organic Pollutants (CTEPP) study, we investigated the exposures of preschool children to chlorpyrifos and its degradation product 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) in their everyday environment...

Development and application of a validated stability-indicating HPLC method for simultaneous determination of granisetron hydrochloride, benzyl alcohol and their main degradation products in parenteral dosage forms.

PubMed

Hewala, Ismail; El-Fatatre, Hamed; Emam, Ehab; Mubrouk, Mokhtar

2010-06-30

A simple, rapid and sensitive reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic method using photodiode array detection was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of granisetron hydrochloride, benzyl alcohol, 1-methyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxylic acid (the main degradation product of granisetron) and benzaldehyde (the main degradation product of benzyl alcohol) in granisetron injections. The separation was achieved on Hypersil BDS C8 (250 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 microm particle diameter) column using a mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile:0.05 M KH(2)PO(4):triethylamine (22:100:0.15) adjusted to pH 4.8. The column was maintained at 25 degrees C and 20 microL of solutions was injected. Photodiode array detector was used to test the peak purity and the chromatograms were extracted at 210 nm. Naphazoline hydrochloride was used as internal standard. The method was validated with respect to specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of quantitation and limit of detection. The validation acceptance criteria were met in all cases. Identification of the pure peaks was carried out using library match programmer and wavelengths of derivative optima of the spectrograms of the peaks. The method was successfully applied to the determination of the investigated drugs and their degradation products in different batches of granisetron injections. The method was proved to be sensitive for the determination down to 0.03 and 0.01% of granisetron degradation product and benzaldehyde, respectively, which are far below the compendia limits for testing these degradation products in their corresponding intact drugs. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Degradation of fluoroquinolone antibiotics and identification of metabolites/transformation products by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Maia, Alexandra S; Ribeiro, Ana R; Amorim, Catarina L; Barreiro, Juliana C; Cass, Quezia B; Castro, Paula M L; Tiritan, Maria Elizabeth

2014-03-14

Antibiotics are a therapeutic class widely found in environmental matrices and extensively studied due to its persistence and implications for multi-resistant bacteria development. This work presents an integrated approach of analytical multi-techniques on assessing biodegradation of fluorinated antibiotics at a laboratory-scale microcosmos to follow removal and formation of intermediate compounds. Degradation of four fluoroquinolone antibiotics, namely Ofloxacin (OFL), Norfloxacin (NOR), Ciprofloxacin (CPF) and Moxifloxacin (MOX), at 10 mg L(-1) using a mixed bacterial culture, was assessed for 60 days. The assays were followed by a developed and validated analytical method of LC with fluorescence detection (LC-FD) using a Luna Pentafluorophenyl (2) 3 μm column. The validated method demonstrated good selectivity, linearity (r(2)>0.999), intra-day and inter-day precisions (RSD<2.74%) and accuracy. The quantification limits were 5 μg L(-1) for OFL, NOR and CPF and 20 μg L(-1) for MOX. The optimized conditions allowed picturing metabolites/transformation products formation and accumulation during the process, stating an incomplete mineralization, also shown by fluoride release. OFL and MOX presented the highest (98.3%) and the lowest (80.5%) extent of degradation after 19 days of assay, respectively. A representative number of samples was selected and analyzed by LC-MS/MS with triple quadrupole and the molecular formulas were confirmed by a quadruple time of flight analyzer (QqTOF). Most of the intermediates were already described as biodegradation and/or photodegradation products in different conditions; however unknown metabolites were also identified. The microbial consortium, even when exposed to high levels of FQ, presented high percentages of degradation, never reported before for these compounds. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Three-year study of fast-growing trees in degraded soils amended with composts: Effects on soil fertility and productivity.

PubMed

Madejón, Paula; Alaejos, Joaquin; García-Álbala, José; Fernández, Manuel; Madejón, Engracia

2016-03-15

Currently, worries about the effects of intensive plantations on long-term nutrient supply and a loss of productivity have risen. In this study two composts were added to degraded soils where this type of intensive crops were growing, to avoid the soil fertility decrease and try to increase biomass production. For the experiment, two degraded soils in terms of low organic carbon content and low pH were selected in South-West Spain: La Rábida (RA) and Villablanca (VI) sites. Both study sites were divided into 24 plots. In RA, half of the plots were planted with Populus x canadensis "I-214"; the other half was planted with Eucalyptus globulus. At the VI site, half of the plots were planted with Paulownia fortunei, and the other plots were planted with Eucalyptus globulus. For each tree and site, three treatments were established (two organic composts and a control without compost), with four replications per treatment. The organic amendments were "alperujo" compost, AC, a solid by-product from the extraction of olive oil, and BC, biosolid compost. During the three years of experimentation, samples of soils and plants were analyzed for studying chemical and biochemical properties of soil, plant growth and plant nutritional status and biomass production. The composts increased total organic carbon, water-soluble carbon, nutrients and pH of soil only in the most acidic soil. Soil biochemical quality was calculated with the geometric mean of the enzymatic activities (Dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, Phosphatase and Urease activities) determined in soils. The results showed a beneficial improvement in comparison with soils without compost. However, the best results were found in the growth and biomass production of the studied trees, especially in Eucalyptus. Nutritional levels of leaves of the trees were, in general, in the normal established range for each species, although no clear effect of the composts was observed. The results of this study justify the addition of

Characterization and Degradation of Pectic Polysaccharides in Cocoa Pulp.

PubMed

Meersman, Esther; Struyf, Nore; Kyomugasho, Clare; Jamsazzadeh Kermani, Zahra; Santiago, Jihan Santanina; Baert, Eline; Hemdane, Sami; Vrancken, Gino; Verstrepen, Kevin J; Courtin, Christophe M; Hendrickx, Marc; Steensels, Jan

2017-11-08

Microbial fermentation of the viscous pulp surrounding cocoa beans is a crucial step in chocolate production. During this process, the pulp is degraded, after which the beans are dried and shipped to factories for further processing. Despite its central role in chocolate production, pulp degradation, which is assumed to be a result of pectin breakdown, has not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, this study provides a comprehensive physicochemical analysis of cocoa pulp, focusing on pectic polysaccharides, and the factors influencing its degradation. Detailed analysis reveals that pectin in cocoa pulp largely consists of weakly bound substances, and that both temperature and enzyme activity play a role in its degradation. Furthermore, this study shows that pulp degradation by an indigenous yeast fully relies on the presence of a single gene (PGU1), encoding for an endopolygalacturonase. Apart from their basic scientific value, these new insights could propel the selection of microbial starter cultures for more efficient pulp degradation.

Graded substitution of grains with bakery by-products modulates ruminal fermentation, nutrient degradation, and microbial community composition in vitro.

PubMed

Humer, E; Aditya, S; Kaltenegger, A; Klevenhusen, F; Petri, R M; Zebeli, Q

2018-04-01

A new segment of feed industry based on bakery by-products (BBP) has emerged. Yet, information is lacking regarding the effects of inclusion of BBP in ruminant diets on ruminal fermentation and microbiota. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the gradual replacement of grains by BBP on ruminal fermentation, nutrient degradation, and microbial community composition using the rumen-simulation technique. All diets consisted of hay and concentrate mixture with a ratio of 42:58 (dry matter basis), but differed in the concentrate composition with either 45% cereal grains or BBP, whereby 15, 30, or 45% of BBP were used in place of cereal grains. The inclusion of increasing levels of BBP in the diet linearly enhanced ruminal degradation of starch from 84% (control) to 96% (45% BBP), while decreasing degradation of crude protein and fiber. The formation of methane was lowered in the 45% BBP diet compared with all other diets. Whereas the ammonia concentration was similar in the control and 15% BBP, a significant decrease was found in 30% BBP (-23%) and 45% BBP (-33%). Also, BBP feeding shifted fermentation profile toward propionate at the expense of acetate. Moreover, isobutyrate linearly decreased with increasing BBP inclusion. Bacterial 16S rRNA Illumina MiSeq (Microsynth AG, Balach, Switzerland) sequencing revealed a decreased microbial diversity for the 45% BBP diet. Furthermore, the replacement of cereal grains with BBP went along with an increased abundance of the genera Prevotella, Roseburia, and Megasphaera, while decreasing Butyrivibrio and several OTU belonging to Ruminococcaceae. In conclusion, the inclusion of BBP at up to 30% of the dry matter had no detrimental effects on pH, fiber degradability, and microbial diversity, and enhanced propionate production. However, a higher replacement level (45%) impaired ruminal fermentation traits and fiber degradation and is not recommended. Copyright © 2018 American Dairy Science Association

Transfer of the high-GC cyclohexane carboxylate degradation pathway from Rhodopseudomonas palustris to Escherichia coli for production of biotin.

PubMed

Bernstein, Jeffrey R; Bulter, Thomas; Liao, James C

2008-01-01

This work demonstrates the transfer of the five-gene cyclohexane carboxylate (CHC) degradation pathway from the high-GC alphaproteobacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris to Escherichia coli, a gammaproteobacterium. The degradation product of this pathway is pimeloyl-CoA, a key metabolite in E. coli's biotin biosynthetic pathway. This pathway is useful for biotin overproduction in E. coli; however, the expression of GC-rich genes is troublesome in this host. When the native R. palustris CHC degradation pathway is transferred to a DeltabioH pimeloyl-CoA auxotroph of E. coli, it is unable to complement growth in the presence of CHC. To overcome this expression problem we redesigned the operon with decreased GC content and removed stretches of high-GC intergenic DNA which comprise the 5' untranslated region of each gene, replacing these features with shorter low-GC sequences. We show this synthetic construct enables growth of the DeltabioH strain in the presence of CHC. When the synthetic degradation pathway is overexpressed in conjunction with the downstream genes for biotin biosynthesis, we measured significant accumulation of biotin in the growth medium, showing that the pathway transfer is successfully integrated with the host metabolism.

Lignocellulose-Degrading Microbial Communities in Landfill Sites Represent a Repository of Unexplored Biomass-Degrading Diversity.

PubMed

Ransom-Jones, Emma; McCarthy, Alan J; Haldenby, Sam; Doonan, James; McDonald, James E

2017-01-01

The microbial conversion of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production represents a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. However, the discovery of new microbial enzymes with high activity is critical for improving biomass conversion processes. While attempts to identify superior lignocellulose-degrading enzymes have focused predominantly on the animal gut, biomass-degrading communities in landfill sites represent an unexplored resource of hydrolytic enzymes for biomass conversion. Here, to address the paucity of information on biomass-degrading microbial diversity beyond the gastrointestinal tract, cellulose (cotton) "baits" were incubated in landfill leachate microcosms to enrich the landfill cellulolytic microbial community for taxonomic and functional characterization. Metagenome and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing demonstrated the dominance of Firmicutes , Bacteroidetes , Spirochaetes , and Fibrobacteres in the landfill cellulolytic community. Functional metagenome analysis revealed 8,371 carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) belonging to 244 CAZyme families. In addition to observing biomass-degrading enzymes of anaerobic bacterial "cellulosome" systems of members of the Firmicutes , we report the first detection of the Fibrobacter cellulase system and the Bacteroidetes polysaccharide utilization locus (PUL) in landfill sites. These data provide evidence for the presence of multiple mechanisms of biomass degradation in the landfill microbiome and highlight the extraordinary functional diversity of landfill microorganisms as a rich source of biomass-degrading enzymes of potential biotechnological significance. IMPORTANCE The microbial conversion of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production represents a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. However, the discovery of new microbial enzymes with high activity is critical for improving biomass conversion processes. While attempts to identify superior lignocellulose-degrading enzymes have focused

Lignocellulose-Degrading Microbial Communities in Landfill Sites Represent a Repository of Unexplored Biomass-Degrading Diversity

PubMed Central

Ransom-Jones, Emma; McCarthy, Alan J.; Haldenby, Sam; Doonan, James

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT The microbial conversion of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production represents a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. However, the discovery of new microbial enzymes with high activity is critical for improving biomass conversion processes. While attempts to identify superior lignocellulose-degrading enzymes have focused predominantly on the animal gut, biomass-degrading communities in landfill sites represent an unexplored resource of hydrolytic enzymes for biomass conversion. Here, to address the paucity of information on biomass-degrading microbial diversity beyond the gastrointestinal tract, cellulose (cotton) “baits” were incubated in landfill leachate microcosms to enrich the landfill cellulolytic microbial community for taxonomic and functional characterization. Metagenome and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing demonstrated the dominance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetes, and Fibrobacteres in the landfill cellulolytic community. Functional metagenome analysis revealed 8,371 carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) belonging to 244 CAZyme families. In addition to observing biomass-degrading enzymes of anaerobic bacterial “cellulosome” systems of members of the Firmicutes, we report the first detection of the Fibrobacter cellulase system and the Bacteroidetes polysaccharide utilization locus (PUL) in landfill sites. These data provide evidence for the presence of multiple mechanisms of biomass degradation in the landfill microbiome and highlight the extraordinary functional diversity of landfill microorganisms as a rich source of biomass-degrading enzymes of potential biotechnological significance. IMPORTANCE The microbial conversion of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production represents a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. However, the discovery of new microbial enzymes with high activity is critical for improving biomass conversion processes. While attempts to identify superior lignocellulose-degrading enzymes have

Cause and Effects of Fluorocarbon Degradation in Electronics and Opto-Electronic Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Predmore, Roamer E.; Canham, John S.

2002-01-01

Trace degradation of fluorocarbon or halocarbon materials must be addressed in their application in sensitive systems. As the dimensions and/or tolerances of components in a system decrease, the sensitivity of the system to trace fluorocarbon or halocarbon degradation products increases. Trace quantities of highly reactive degradation products from fluorocarbons have caused a number of failures of flight hardware. It is of utmost importance that the risk of system failure, resulting from trace amounts of reactive fluorocarbon degradation products be addressed in designs containing fluorocarbon or halocarbon materials. Thermal, electrical, and mechanical energy input into the system can multiply the risk of failure.

Degradation Kinetics of VX

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gary S. Groenewold

2010-12-01

O-ethyl S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl)phosphonothiolate (VX) is the most toxic of the conventional chemical warfare agents. It is a persistent compound, an attribute derived from its relative involatility and slow rates of hydrolysis. These properties suggest that VX can linger in an exposed environment for extended periods of time long after the air has cleared. Concern over prolonged risk from VX exposure is exacerbated by the fact that it poses a dermal contact hazard. Hence a detailed understanding of volatilization rates, and degradation pathways and rates occurring in various environments is needed. Historically, volatilization has not been considered to be an important mechanismmore » for VX depletion, but recent studies have shown that a significant fraction of VX may volatilize, depending on the matrix. A significant body of research has been conducted over the years to unravel VX degradation reaction pathways and to quantify the rates at which they proceed. Rigorous measurement of degradation rates is frequently difficult, and thus in many cases the degradation of VX has been described in terms of half lives, while in fewer instances rate constants have been measured. This variable approach to describing degradation kinetics reflects uncertainty regarding the exact nature of the degradation mechanisms. In this review, rates of VX degradation are compared on the basis of pseudo-first order rate constants, in order to provide a basis for assessing likelihood of VX persistence in a given environment. An issue of specific concern is that one VX degradation pathway produces S-2-(diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothioic acid (known as EA2192), which is a degradation product that retains much of the original toxicity of VX. Consequently degradation pathways and rates for EA2192 are also discussed.« less

Prediction of HPLC retention times of tebipenem pivoxyl and its degradation products in solid state by applying adaptive artificial neural network with recursive features elimination.

PubMed

Mizera, Mikołaj; Talaczyńska, Alicja; Zalewski, Przemysław; Skibiński, Robert; Cielecka-Piontek, Judyta

2015-05-01

A sensitive and fast HPLC method using ultraviolet diode-array detector (DAD)/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (Q-TOF-MS/MS) was developed for the determination of tebipenem pivoxyl and in the presence of degradation products formed during thermolysis. The chromatographic separations were performed on stationary phases produced in core-shell technology with particle diameter of 5.0 µm. The mobile phases consisted of formic acid (0.1%) and acetonitrile at different ratios. The flow rate was 0.8 mL/min while the wavelength was set at 331 nm. The stability characteristics of tebipenem pivoxyl were studied by performing stress tests in the solid state in dry air (RH=0%) and at an increased relative air humidity (RH=90%). The validation parameters such as selectivity, accuracy, precision and sensitivity were found to be satisfying. The satisfied selectivity and precision of determination were obtained for the separation of tebipenem pivoxyl from its degradation products using a stationary phase with 5.0 µm particles. The evaluation of the chemical structure of the 9 degradation products of tebipenem pivoxyl was conducted following separation based on the stationary phase with a 5.0 µm particle size by applying a Q-TOF-MS/MS detector. The main degradation products of tebipenem pivoxyl were identified: a product resulting from the condensation of the substituents of 1-(4,5-dihydro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-3-azetidinyl]sulfanyl and acid and ester forms of tebipenem with an open β-lactam ring in dry air at an increased temperature (RH=0%, T=393 K) as well as acid and ester forms of tebipenem with an open β-lactam ring at an increased relative air humidity and an elevated temperature (RH=90%, T=333 K). Retention times of tebipenem pivoxyl and its degradation products were used as training data set for predictive model of quantitative structure-retention relationship. An artificial neural network with adaptation protocol and extensive feature selection process

Evaluation of Fuel Cell Operation and Degradation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Williams, Mark; Gemmen, Randall; Richards, George

The concepts of area specific resistance (ASR) and degradation are developed for different fuel cell operating modes. The concepts of exergetic efficiency and entropy production were applied to ASR and degradation. It is shown that exergetic efficiency is a time-dependent function useful describing the thermal efficiency of a fuel cell and the change in thermal efficiency of a degrading fuel cell. Entropy production was evaluated for the cases of constant voltage operation and constant current operation of the fuel cell for a fuel cell undergoing ohmic degradation. It was discovered that the Gaussian hypergeometric function describes the cumulative entropy andmore » electrical work produced by fuel cells operating at constant voltage. The Gaussian hypergeometric function is found in many applications in modern physics. This paper builds from and is an extension of several papers recently published by the authors in the Journal of The Electrochemical Society (ECS), ECS Transactions, Journal of Power Sources, and the Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology.« less

Cytotoxicity of corrosion products of degradable Fe-based stents: relevance of pH and insoluble products.

PubMed

Fagali, Natalia S; Grillo, Claudia A; Puntarulo, Susana; Fernández Lorenzo de Mele, Mónica A

2015-04-01

Fe-based biodegradable metallic materials (Fe-BMMs) have been proposed for cardiovascular applications and are expected to disappear via corrosion after an appropriate period. However, in vivo studies showed that Fe ions release leads to accumulation of orange and brownish insoluble products at the biomaterial/cell interface. As an additional consequence, sharp changes in pH may affect the biocompatibility of these materials. In the present work, the experimental protocols were designed with the aim of evaluating the relative importance that these factors have on biocompatibility evaluation of BMMs. Mitochondrial activity (MTT assay) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay on mammalian cells, exposed to 1-5 mM of added Fe3+ salt, were assessed and compared with results linked exclusively to pH effects. Soluble Fe concentration in culture medium and intracellular Fe content were also determined. The results showed that: (i) mitochondrial activity was affected by pH changes over the entire range of concentrations of added Fe3+ assayed, (ii) at the highest added Fe3+ concentrations (≥3 mM), precipitation was detected and the cells were able to incorporate the precipitate, that seems to be linked to cell damage, (iii) the extent of precipitation depends on the Fe/protein concentration ratio; and (iv) lipid peroxidation products were detected over the entire range of concentrations of added Fe3+. Hence, a new approach opens in the biocompatibility evaluation of Fe-based BMMs, since the cytotoxicity would not be solely a function of released (and soluble) ions but of the insoluble degradation product amount and the pH falling at the biomaterial/cell interface. The concentration of Fe-containing products at the interface depends on diffusional conditions in a very complex way that should be carefully analyzed in the future. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Identification of Unsaturated and 2H Polyfluorocarboxylate Homologous Series and Their Detection in Environmental Samples and as Polymer Degradation Products

EPA Science Inventory

A pair of homologous series of polyfluorinated degradation products have been identified, both having structures similar to perfluorocarboxylic acids but (i) having a H substitution for F on the α carbon for 2H polyfluorocarboxylic acids (2HPFCAs) and (ii) bearing a double ...

Inhalation toxicology. III., Evaluation of thermal degradation products from aircraft and automobile engine oils, aircraft hydraulic fluid, and mineral oil.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1983-04-01

A malfunctioning seal in the gear-reduction box of a turboprop aircraft engine could allow oil to enter the turbine's compressor section, which is the source of bleed air used to pressurize the cabin. Oil, or its degradation products, could have a de...

Degradation of Degradable Starch-Polyethylene Plastics in a Compost Environment †

PubMed Central

Johnson, Kenneth E.; Pometto, Anthony L.; Nikolov, Zivko L.

1993-01-01

The degradation performance of 11 types of commercially produced degradable starch-polyethylene plastic compost bags was evaluated in municipal yard waste compost sites at Iowa State University (Ames) and in Carroll, Dubuque, and Grinnell, Iowa. Masterbatches for plastic production were provided by Archer Daniels Midland Co. (Decatur, Ill.), St. Lawrence Starch Co. Ltd. (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada), and Fully Compounded Plastics (Decatur, Ill.). Bags differed in starch content (5 to 9%) and prooxidant additives (transition metals and a type of unsaturated vegetable oil). Chemical and photodegradation properties of each material were evaluated. Materials from St. Lawrence Starch Co. Ltd. and Fully Compounded Plastics photodegraded faster than did materials from Archer Daniels Midland Co., whereas all materials containing transition metals demonstrated rapid thermal oxidative degradation in 70°C-oven (dry) and high-temperature, high-humidity (steam chamber) treatments. Each compost site was seeded with test strips (200 to 800 of each type) taped together, which were recovered periodically over an 8- to 12-month period. At each sampling date, the compost row temperature was measured (65 to 95°C), the location of the recovered test strip was recorded (interior or exterior), and at least four strips were recovered for evaluation. Degradation was followed by measuring the change in polyethylene molecular weight distribution via high-temperature gel permeation chromatography. Our initial 8-month study indicated that materials recovered from the interior of the compost row demonstrated very little degradation, whereas materials recovered from the exterior degraded well. In the second-year study, however, degradation was observed in several plastic materials recovered from the interior of the compost row by month 5 at the Carroll site and almost every material by month 12 at the Grinnell site. The plastic bags collected from each community followed a similar degradation

Mechanisms of Glucagon Degradation at Alkaline pH

PubMed Central

Caputo, Nicholas; Castle, Jessica R.; Bergstrom, Colin P.; Carroll, Julie M.; Bakhtiani, Parkash A.; Jackson, Melanie A.; Roberts, Charles T.; David, Larry L.; Ward, W. Kenneth

2014-01-01

Glucagon is unstable and undergoes degradation and aggregation in aqueous solution. For this reason, its use in portable pumps for closed loop management of diabetes is limited to very short periods. In this study, we sought to identify the degradation mechanisms and the bioactivity of specific degradation products. We studied degradation in the alkaline range, a range at which aggregation is minimized. Native glucagon and analogs identical to glucagon degradation products were synthesized. To quantify biological activity in glucagon and in the degradation peptides, a protein kinase A-based bioassay was used. Aged, fresh, and modified peptides were analyzed by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LCMS). Oxidation of glucagon at the Met residue was common but did not reduce bioactivity. Deamidation and isomerization were also common and were more prevalent at pH 10 than 9. The biological effects of deamidation and isomerization were unpredictable; deamidation at some sites did not reduce bioactivity. Deamidation of Gln 3, isomerization of Asp 9, and deamidation with isomerization at Asn 28 all caused marked potency loss. Studies with molecular-weight-cutoff membranes and LCMS revealed much greater fibrillation at pH 9 than 10. Further work is necessary to determine formulations of glucagon that minimize degradation and fibrillation. PMID:23651991

Mechanisms of glucagon degradation at alkaline pH.

PubMed

Caputo, Nicholas; Castle, Jessica R; Bergstrom, Colin P; Carroll, Julie M; Bakhtiani, Parkash A; Jackson, Melanie A; Roberts, Charles T; David, Larry L; Ward, W Kenneth

2013-07-01

Glucagon is unstable and undergoes degradation and aggregation in aqueous solution. For this reason, its use in portable pumps for closed loop management of diabetes is limited to very short periods. In this study, we sought to identify the degradation mechanisms and the bioactivity of specific degradation products. We studied degradation in the alkaline range, a range at which aggregation is minimized. Native glucagon and analogs identical to glucagon degradation products were synthesized. To quantify biological activity in glucagon and in the degradation peptides, a protein kinase A-based bioassay was used. Aged, fresh, and modified peptides were analyzed by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LCMS). Oxidation of glucagon at the Met residue was common but did not reduce bioactivity. Deamidation and isomerization were also common and were more prevalent at pH 10 than 9. The biological effects of deamidation and isomerization were unpredictable; deamidation at some sites did not reduce bioactivity. Deamidation of Gln 3, isomerization of Asp 9, and deamidation with isomerization at Asn 28 all caused marked potency loss. Studies with molecular-weight-cutoff membranes and LCMS revealed much greater fibrillation at pH 9 than 10. Further work is necessary to determine formulations of glucagon that minimize degradation and fibrillation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Derivative spectrophotometry for the determination of faropenem in the presence of degradation products: an application for kinetic studies.

PubMed

Cielecka-Piontek, Judyta

2013-07-01

A simple and selective derivative spectrophotometric method was developed for the quantitative determination of faropenem in pure form and in pharmaceutical dosage. The method is based on the zero-crossing effect of first-derivative spectrophotometry (λ = 324 nm), which eliminates the overlapping effect caused by the excipients present in the pharmaceutical preparation, as well as degradation products, formed during hydrolysis, oxidation, photolysis, and thermolysis. The method was linear in the concentration range 2.5-300 μg/mL (r = 0.9989) at λ = 341 nm; the limits of detection and quantitation were 0.16 and 0.46 μg/mL, respectively. The method had good precision (relative standard deviation from 0.68 to 2.13%). Recovery of faropenem ranged from 97.9 to 101.3%. The first-order rate constants of the degradation of faropenem in pure form and in pharmaceutical dosage were determined by using first-derivative spectrophotometry. A statistical comparison of the validation results and the observed rate constants for faropenem degradation with these obtained with the high-performance liquid chromatography method demonstrated that both were compatible.

Practical Approaches to Forced Degradation Studies of Vaccines.

PubMed

Hasija, Manvi; Aboutorabian, Sepideh; Rahman, Nausheen; Ausar, Salvador F

2016-01-01

During the early stages of vaccine development, forced degradation studies are conducted to provide information about the degradation properties of vaccine formulations. In addition to supporting the development of analytical methods for the detection of degradation products, these stress studies are used to identify optimal long-term storage conditions and are part of the regulatory requirements for the submission of stability data. In this chapter, we provide detailed methods for forced degradation analysis under thermal, light, and mechanical stress conditions.

Colourful parrot feathers resist bacterial degradation

PubMed Central

Burtt, Edward H.; Schroeder, Max R.; Smith, Lauren A.; Sroka, Jenna E.; McGraw, Kevin J.

2011-01-01

The brilliant red, orange and yellow colours of parrot feathers are the product of psittacofulvins, which are synthetic pigments known only from parrots. Recent evidence suggests that some pigments in bird feathers function not just as colour generators, but also preserve plumage integrity by increasing the resistance of feather keratin to bacterial degradation. We exposed a variety of colourful parrot feathers to feather-degrading Bacillus licheniformis and found that feathers with red psittacofulvins degraded at about the same rate as those with melanin and more slowly than white feathers, which lack pigments. Blue feathers, in which colour is based on the microstructural arrangement of keratin, air and melanin granules, and green feathers, which combine structural blue with yellow psittacofulvins, degraded at a rate similar to that of red and black feathers. These differences in resistance to bacterial degradation of differently coloured feathers suggest that colour patterns within the Psittaciformes may have evolved to resist bacterial degradation, in addition to their role in communication and camouflage. PMID:20926430

Substitution of common concentrates with by-products modulated ruminal fermentation, nutrient degradation, and microbial community composition in vitro.

PubMed

Ertl, P; Knaus, W; Metzler-Zebeli, B U; Klevenhusen, F; Khiaosa-Ard, R; Zebeli, Q

2015-07-01

A rumen simulation technique was used to evaluate the effects of the complete substitution of a common concentrate mixture (CON) with a mixture consisting solely of by-products from the food industry (BP) at 2 different forage-to-concentrate ratios on ruminal fermentation profile, nutrient degradation, and abundance of rumen microbiota. The experiment was a 2×2 factorial arrangement with 2 concentrate types (CON and BP) and 2 concentrate levels (25 and 50% of diet dry matter). The experiment consisted of 2 experimental runs with 12 fermentation vessels each (n=6 per treatment). Each run lasted for 10d, with data collection on the last 5d. The BP diets had lower starch, but higher neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and fat contents compared with CON. Degradation of crude protein was decreased, but NDF and nonfiber carbohydrate degradation were higher for the BP diets. At the 50% concentrate level, organic matter degradation tended to be lower for BP and CH4 formation per unit of NDF degraded was also lower for BP. The BP mixture led to a higher concentration of propionate and a lower acetate-to-propionate ratio, whereas concentrations of butyrate and caproate decreased. Concentrate type did not affect microbial community composition, except that the abundance of bacteria of the genus Prevotella was higher for BP. Increasing the concentrate level resulted in higher degradation of organic matter and crude protein. At the higher concentrate level, total short-chain fatty acid formation increased and concentrations of isobutyrate and valerate decreased. In addition, at the 50% concentrate level, numbers of protozoa increased, whereas numbers of methanogens, anaerobic fungi, and fibrolytic bacteria decreased. No interaction was noted between the 2 dietary factors on most variables, except that at the higher concentrate level the effects of BP on CH4 and CO2 formation per unit of NDF degraded, crude protein degradation, and the abundance of Prevotella were more prominent. In

Bacterial methylmercury degradation in Florida Everglades peat sediment

USGS Publications Warehouse

Marvin-DiPasquale, M. C.; Oremland, R.S.

1998-01-01

Methylmercury (MeHg) degradation was investigated along an eutrophication gradient in the Florida Everglades by quantifying 14CH4 and 14CO2 production after incubation of anaerobic sediments with [14C]MeHg. Degradation rate constants (k) were consistently ???0.1 d-1 and decreased with sediment depth. Higher k values were observed when shorter incubation times and lower MeHg amendment levels were used, and k increased 2-fold as in-situ MeHg concentrations were approached. The average floc layer k was 0.046 ?? 0.023 d-1 (n = 17) for 1-2 day incubations. In-situ degradation rates were estimated to be 0.02-0.5 ng of MeHg (g of dry sediment)-1 d-1, increasing from eutrophied to pristine areas. Nitrate-respiring bacteria did not demethylate MeHg, and NO3- addition partially inhibited degradation in some cases. MeHg degradation rates were not affected by PO43- addition. 14CO2 production in all samples indicated that oxidative demethylation (OD) was an important degradation mechanism. OD occurred over 5 orders of magnitude of applied MeHg concentration, with lowest limits [1-18 ng of MeHg (g of dry sediment)-1] in the range of in-situ MeHg levels. Sulfate reducers and methanogens were the primary agents of anaerobic OD, although it is suggested that methanogens dominate degradation at in-situ MeHg concentrations. Specific pathways of OD by these two microbial groups are proposed.Methylmercury (MeHg) degradation was investigated along an eutrophication gradient in the Florida Everglades by quantifying 14CH4 and 14CO2 production after incubation of anaerobic sediments with [14C]MeHg. Degradation rate constants (k) were consistently ???0.1 d-1 and decreased with sediment depth. Higher k values were observed when shorter incubation times and lower MeHg amendment levels were used, and k increased 2-fold as in-situ MeHg concentrations were approached. The average floc layer k was 0.046??0.023 d-1 (n = 17) for 1-2 day incubations. In-situ degradation rates were estimated to be 0

Identification of degradation products in loxoprofen sodium adhesive tapes by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and dynamic pressurized liquid extraction-solid-phase extraction coupled to liquid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

PubMed

Murakami, Tomonori; Kawasaki, Takao; Takemura, Akira; Fukutsu, Naoto; Kishi, Naoyuki; Kusu, Fumiyo

2008-10-24

Rapid and unambiguous identification of three degradation products (DP-1, DP-2 and DP-3) found in heat-stressed loxoprofen sodium adhesive tapes (Loxonin tapes) was achieved by LC-MS and dynamic pressurized liquid extraction (PLE)-solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled to LC-NMR without complicated isolation or purification processes. The molecular formulae of the degradation products were determined by accurate mass measurements and product ion analyses and on-line hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange experiments provided information about changes in the degradation of loxoprofen. To compensate for the low sensitivity of NMR, on-line dynamic PLE-SPE was employed and higher concentrations of degradation products trapped on the SPE column were afforded in a shorter time than they would be in such time-consuming sample preparations as pre-concentration after extraction. The loop-storage procedure was used in the LC-NMR analysis to allow the acquisition of the (1)H spectra of the three degradation products in one chromatographic run without affecting the peak separation and to avoid the carry-over of previously eluted DP-1 of high concentration by washing the NMR detection cell prior to the measurement of the DP-2 spectrum. Based on the resulting (1)H NMR spectra in combination with the MS results, DP-1 was successfully identified as an oxidation product having an oxodicarboxylic acid structure formed by the cleavage of the cyclopentanone ring of loxoprofen, DP-2 as a cyclopentanone ring-hydroxylated loxoprofen and DP-3 as a loxoprofen l-menthol ester.

Trace level determination of selected organophosphorus pesticides and their degradation products in environmental air samples by liquid chromatography-positive ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Raina, Renata; Sun, Lina

2008-05-01

This paper describes a new analytical method for determination of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) along with their degradation products involving liquid chromatography (LC) positive ion electrospray (ESI+) tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) with selective reaction monitoring (SRM). Chromatography was performed on a Gemini C6-Phenyl (150 mmx2.0 mm, 3 microm) with a gradient elution using water-methanol with 0.1% formic acid, 2 mM ammonium acetate mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.2 mL min(-1). The LC separation and MS/MS operating conditions were optimized with a total analysis time less than 40 minutes. Method detection limits of 0.1-5 microg L(-1) for selected organophosphorus pesticides (OP), OP oxon degradation products, and other degradation products: 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP); 2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidol (IMP); and diethyl phosphate (DEP). Some OPs such as fenchlorphos are less sensitive (MDL 30 microg L(-1)). Calibration curves were linear with coefficients of correlation better than 0.995. A three-point identification approach was adopted with area from first selective reaction monitoring (SRM) transition used for quantitative analysis, while a second SRM transition along with the ratio of areas obtained from the first to second transition are used for confirmation with sample tolerance established by the relative standard deviation of the ratio obtained from standards. This new method permitted the first known detection of OP oxon degradation products including chlorpyrifos oxon at Bratt's Lake, SK and diazinon oxon and malathion oxon at Abbotsford, BC in atmospheric samples. Atmospheric detection limits typically ranged from 0.2-10 pg m(-3).

Always cleave up your mess: targeting collagen degradation to treat tissue fibrosis.

PubMed

McKleroy, William; Lee, Ting-Hein; Atabai, Kamran

2013-06-01

Pulmonary fibrosis is a vexing clinical problem with no proven therapeutic options. In the normal lung there is continuous collagen synthesis and collagen degradation, and these two processes are precisely balanced to maintain normal tissue architecture. With lung injury there is an increase in the rate of both collagen production and collagen degradation. The increase in collagen degradation is critical in preventing the formation of permanent scar tissue each time the lung is exposed to injury. In pulmonary fibrosis, collagen degradation does not keep pace with collagen production, resulting in extracellular accumulation of fibrillar collagen. Collagen degradation occurs through both extracellular and intracellular pathways. The extracellular pathway involves cleavage of collagen fibrils by proteolytic enzyme including the metalloproteinases. The less-well-described intracellular pathway involves binding and uptake of collagen fragments by fibroblasts and macrophages for lysosomal degradation. The relationship between these two pathways and their relevance to the development of fibrosis is complex. Fibrosis in the lung, liver, and skin has been associated with an impaired degradative environment. Much of the current scientific effort in fibrosis is focused on understanding the pathways that regulate increased collagen production. However, recent reports suggest an important role for collagen turnover and degradation in regulating the severity of tissue fibrosis. The objective of this review is to evaluate the roles of the extracellular and intracellular collagen degradation pathways in the development of fibrosis and to examine whether pulmonary fibrosis can be viewed as a disease of impaired matrix degradation rather than a disease of increased matrix production.

Always cleave up your mess: targeting collagen degradation to treat tissue fibrosis

PubMed Central

McKleroy, William; Lee, Ting-Hein

2013-01-01

Pulmonary fibrosis is a vexing clinical problem with no proven therapeutic options. In the normal lung there is continuous collagen synthesis and collagen degradation, and these two processes are precisely balanced to maintain normal tissue architecture. With lung injury there is an increase in the rate of both collagen production and collagen degradation. The increase in collagen degradation is critical in preventing the formation of permanent scar tissue each time the lung is exposed to injury. In pulmonary fibrosis, collagen degradation does not keep pace with collagen production, resulting in extracellular accumulation of fibrillar collagen. Collagen degradation occurs through both extracellular and intracellular pathways. The extracellular pathway involves cleavage of collagen fibrils by proteolytic enzyme including the metalloproteinases. The less-well-described intracellular pathway involves binding and uptake of collagen fragments by fibroblasts and macrophages for lysosomal degradation. The relationship between these two pathways and their relevance to the development of fibrosis is complex. Fibrosis in the lung, liver, and skin has been associated with an impaired degradative environment. Much of the current scientific effort in fibrosis is focused on understanding the pathways that regulate increased collagen production. However, recent reports suggest an important role for collagen turnover and degradation in regulating the severity of tissue fibrosis. The objective of this review is to evaluate the roles of the extracellular and intracellular collagen degradation pathways in the development of fibrosis and to examine whether pulmonary fibrosis can be viewed as a disease of impaired matrix degradation rather than a disease of increased matrix production. PMID:23564511

The Role of Benzoate in Anaerobic Degradation of Terephthalate

PubMed Central

Kleerebezem, Robbert; Pol, Look W. Hulshoff; Lettinga, Gatze

1999-01-01

The effects of acetate, benzoate, and periods without substrate on the anaerobic degradation of terephthalate (1,4-benzene-dicarboxylate) by a syntrophic methanogenic culture were studied. The culture had been enriched on terephthalate and was capable of benzoate degradation without a lag phase. When incubated with a mixture of benzoate and terephthalate, subsequent degradation with preference for benzoate was observed. Both benzoate and acetate inhibited the anaerobic degradation of terephthalate. The observed inhibition is partially irreversible, resulting in a decrease (or even a complete loss) of the terephthalate-degrading activity after complete degradation of benzoate or acetate. Irreversible inhibition was characteristic for terephthalate degradation only because the inhibition of benzoate degradation by acetate could well be described by reversible noncompetitive product inhibition. Terephthalate degradation was furthermore irreversibly inhibited by periods without substrate of only a few hours. The inhibition of terephthalate degradation due to periods without substrate could be overcome through incubation of the culture with a mixture of benzoate and terephthalate. In this case no influence of a period without substrate was observed. Based on these observations it is postulated that decarboxylation of terephthalate, resulting in the formation of benzoate, is strictly dependent on the concomitant fermentation of benzoate. In the presence of higher concentrations of benzoate, however, benzoate is the favored substrate over terephthalate, and the culture loses its ability to degrade terephthalate. In order to overcome the inhibition of terephthalate degradation by benzoate and acetate, a two-stage reactor system is suggested for the treatment of wastewater generated during terephthalic acid production. PMID:10049877

Recognizing Potential Buprenorphine Medication Misuse: Product Packaging Does Not Degrade With Laundering.

PubMed

Gunderson, Erik W

2015-01-01

Expanded office-based buprenorphine opioid dependence treatment is associated with medication misuse and diversion consequences. Recurrent early refill requests may indicate misuse or diversion, although further research is needed on how to effectively recognize and address the issue in clinical practice. In the current study, patient report of damaged medication from laundering prompted evaluation of laundering on degradation of buprenorphine-containing product packages and contents. Four buprenorphine product packaging approaches were assessed: 3 buprenorphine/naloxone placebo demonstration products (Suboxone and Bunavail film in foil wrappers and Zubsolv tablet in a blister pack) and Rexam-manufactured Screw-Loc closure pill container filled with a chewable aspirin as a surrogate for generic buprenorphine and buprenorphine/naloxone products. Two experimental laundering conditions, wash machine alone (W) and washer/dryer (W+D), were compared with unlaundered control (C) condition. Standard laundering settings were based on patient presentation. Products from the 2 experimental conditions and the control condition were labeled A, B, or C with counterbalanced assignment prior to visual examination of packaging and contents by the investigator who was blinded to condition. Packaging and contents remained intact for all products across experimental conditions, with only minor cosmetic effects compared with control. The W+D Suboxone film had 1-2 mm curling of the wrapper corners. Zubsolv blister packs had slight paper label fading (W+D > W). Bunavail W+D foil had an indentation outlining the inner film. The W+D bottle tablet had a ˜1 mm nick on one edge. No other differences were noted. After implementing more structured treatment and reviewing the results with the patient, he endorsed fabricating the laundering story to get additional medication. Laundering is an unlikely cause of damaged buprenorphine-containing medication packaged in foil wrappers (Suboxone

Analysis of stability to cheaters in models of antibiotic degrading microbial communities.

PubMed

Szilágyi, András; Boza, Gergely; Scheuring, István

2017-06-21

Antibiotic resistance carried out by antibiotic degradation has been suggested recently as a new mechanism to maintain coexistence of microbial species competing on a single limiting resource, even in well-mixed homogeneous environments. Species diversity and community stability, however, critically depend on resistance against social cheaters, mutants that do not invest in production, but still enjoy the benefits provided by others. Here we investigate how different mutant cheaters affect the stability of antibiotic producing and degrading microbial communities. We consider two cheater types, production and degradation cheaters. We generalize the mixed inhibition-zone and chemostat models introduced previously [Kelsic, E. D., Zhao, J., Vetsigian, K., Kishony, R., 2015. Counteraction of an tibiotic production and degradation stabilizes microbial communities. Nature521, 516-519.] to study the population dynamics of microbial communities in well-mixed environment, and analyze the invasion of different cheaters in these models. We show that production cheaters, mutants that cease producing antibiotics, always destroy coexistence whenever there is a cost of producing these antibiotics. Degradation cheaters, mutants that loose their function of producing extracellular antibiotic degrading molecules, induce community collapse only if the cost of producing the degradation factors is above a critical level. Our analytical studies, supported by numerical simulations, highlight the sensitivity of antibiotic producing and degrading communities to loss-of-function mutants. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Multivariate Analysis for Online Monitoring of Dibutyl Phosphate Degradation Product in Tributyl Phosphate/n-Dodecane/Nitric Acid Solvent

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tatiana G. Levitskaia; James M. Peterson; Emily L. Campbell

2013-12-01

In liquid–liquid extraction separation processes, accumulation of organic solvent degradation products is detrimental to the process robustness, and frequent solvent analysis is warranted. Our research explores the feasibility of online monitoring of the organic solvents relevant to used nuclear fuel reprocessing. This paper describes the first phase of developing a system for monitoring the tributyl phosphate (TBP)/n-dodecane solvent commonly used to separate used nuclear fuel. In this investigation, the effect of extraction of nitric acid from aqueous solutions of variable concentrations on the quantification of TBP and its major degradation product dibutylphosphoric acid (HDBP) was assessed. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)more » spectroscopy was used to discriminate between HDBP and TBP in the nitric acid-containing TBP/n-dodecane solvent. Multivariate analysis of the spectral data facilitated the development of regression models for HDBP and TBP quantification in real time, enabling online implementation of the monitoring system. The predictive regression models were validated using TBP/n-dodecane solvent samples subjected to high-dose external ?-irradiation. The predictive models were translated to flow conditions using a hollow fiber FTIR probe installed in a centrifugal contactor extraction apparatus, demonstrating the applicability of the FTIR technique coupled with multivariate analysis for the online monitoring of the organic solvent degradation products.« less

Assessment of contribution of Australia's energy production to CO2 emissions and environmental degradation using statistical dynamic approach.

PubMed

Sarkodie, Samuel Asumadu; Strezov, Vladimir

2018-10-15

Energy production remains the major emitter of atmospheric emissions, thus, in accordance with Australia's Emissions Projections by 2030, this study analyzed the impact of Australia's energy portfolio on environmental degradation and CO 2 emissions using locally compiled data on disaggregate energy production, energy imports and exports spanning from 1974 to 2013. This study employed the fully modified ordinary least squares, dynamic ordinary least squares, and canonical cointegrating regression estimators; statistically inspired modification of partial least squares regression analysis with a subsequent sustainability sensitivity analysis. The validity of the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis proposes a paradigm shift from energy-intensive and carbon-intensive industries to less-energy-intensive and green energy industries and its related services, leading to a structural change in the economy. Thus, decoupling energy services provide better interpretation of the role of the energy sector portfolio in environmental degradation and CO 2 emissions assessment. The sensitivity analysis revealed that nonrenewable energy production above 10% and energy imports above 5% will dampen the goals for the 2030 emission reduction target. Increasing the share of renewable energy penetration in the energy portfolio decreases the level of CO 2 emissions, while increasing the share of non-renewable energy sources in the energy mix increases the level of atmospheric emissions, thus increasing climate change and their impacts. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electron degradation and yields of initial products. VII. Subexcitation electrons in gaseous and solid H sub 2 O

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ishii, M.A.; Kimura, M.; Inokuti, M.

1990-12-01

A comparative study of electron degradation spectra and yields for various species in gaseous and solid H{sub 2}O is carred out by using the rigorous Spencer-Fano theory and the continuous-slowing-down approximation (CSDA). As input we use cross-section data given by Hayashi (in {ital Atomic} {ital and} {ital Molecular} {ital Data} {ital for} {ital Radiotherapy}, Proceedings of an IAEA Advisory Group Meeting, Vienna, June 1988, Report No. IAEA-TECDOC-506 (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1989), p. 193) for the gas and by Michaud and Sanche (Phys. Rev. 36, 4672 (1987)) for the solid. Vibrational excitation is the dominant mechanism of the slowingmore » down of the electron in both gas and solid phases at intermediate energies of 8--2 eV. Rotational excitation for the gas and phonon excitation for the solid, which share the same origin of dynamics, are the second important mechanism. The general trends of the electron degradation spectra are similar in the two phases. However, details of the spectra differ notably from one another. Because the energy dependence of some of the cross sections is complex, the CSDA fails to reproduce even a local average of the Spencer-Fano degradation spectrum, and gives yields of various products appreciably different from those evaluated from the Spencer-Fano degradation spectrum.« less

Understanding paper degradation: identification of products of cellulosic paper decomposition at the wet-dry "tideline" interface using GC-MS.

PubMed

Sladkevich, Sergey; Dupont, Anne-Laurence; Sablier, Michel; Seghouane, Dalila; Cole, Richard B

2016-11-01

Cellulose paper degradation products forming in the "tideline" area at the wet-dry interface of pure cellulose paper were analyzed using gas chromatography-electron ionization-mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS) and high-resolution electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS, LTQ Orbitrap) techniques. Different extraction protocols were employed in order to solubilize the products of oxidative cellulose decomposition, i.e., a direct solvent extraction or a more laborious chromophore release and identification (CRI) technique aiming to reveal products responsible for paper discoloration in the tideline area. Several groups of low molecular weight compounds were identified, suggesting a complex pathway of cellulose decomposition in the tidelines formed at the cellulose-water-oxygen interface. Our findings, namely the appearance of a wide range of linear saturated carboxylic acids (from formic to nonanoic), support the oxidative autocatalytic mechanism of decomposition. In addition, the identification of several furanic compounds (which can be, in part, responsible for paper discoloration) plus anhydro carbohydrate derivatives sheds more light on the pathways of cellulose decomposition. Most notably, the mechanisms of tideline formation in the presence of molecular oxygen appear surprisingly similar to pathways of pyrolytic cellulose degradation. More complex chromophore compounds were not detected in this study, thereby revealing a difference between this short-term tideline experiment and longer-term cellulose aging.

Development of the HS-SPME-GC-MS/MS method for analysis of chemical warfare agent and their degradation products in environmental samples.

PubMed

Nawała, Jakub; Czupryński, Krzysztof; Popiel, Stanisław; Dziedzic, Daniel; Bełdowski, Jacek

2016-08-24

After World War II approximately 50,000 tons of chemical weapons were dumped in the Baltic Sea by the Soviet Union under the provisions of the Potsdam Conference on Disarmament. These dumped chemical warfare agents still possess a major threat to the marine environment and to human life. Therefore, continue monitoring of these munitions is essential. In this work, we present the application of new solid phase microextraction fibers in analysis of chemical warfare agents and their degradation products. It can be concluded that the best fiber for analysis of sulfur mustard and its degradation products is butyl acrylate (BA), whereas for analysis of organoarsenic compounds and chloroacetophenone, the best fiber is a co-polymer of methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate (MA/MMA). In order to achieve the lowest LOD and LOQ the samples should be divided into two subsamples. One of them should be analyzed using a BA fiber, and the second one using a MA/MMA fiber. When the fast analysis is required, the microextraction should be performed by use of a butyl acrylate fiber because the extraction efficiency of organoarsenic compounds for this fiber is acceptable. Next, we have elaborated of the HS-SPME-GC-MS/MS method for analysis of CWA degradation products in environmental samples using laboratory obtained fibers The analytical method for analysis of organosulfur and organoarsenic compounds was optimized and validated. The LOD's for all target chemicals were between 0.03 and 0.65 ppb. Then, the analytical method developed by us, was used for the analysis of sediment and pore water samples from the Baltic Sea. During these studies, 80 samples were analyzed. It was found that 25 sediments and 5 pore water samples contained CWA degradation products such as 1,4-dithiane, 1,4-oxathiane or triphenylarsine, the latter being a component of arsine oil. The obtained data is evidence that the CWAs present in the Baltic Sea have leaked into the general marine environment. Copyright �

Kinetic study and mechanism of Niclosamide degradation.

PubMed

Zaazaa, Hala E; Abdelrahman, Maha M; Ali, Nouruddin W; Magdy, Maimana A; Abdelkawy, M

2014-11-11

A spectrophotometric kinetic study of Niclosamide alkaline degradation as a function of drug concentration, alkaline concentration and temperature has been established utilizing double divisor-ratio spectra spectrophotometric method. The developed method allowed determination of Niclosamide in presence of its alkaline degradation products; namely; 2-chloro-4-nitro aniline (DEG I) and 5-chloro salicylic acid (DEG II) with characterization of its degradation mechanism. It was found that degradation kinetic of Niclosamide followed pseudo-first order under the established experimental conditions with a degradation rate constant (k) of 0.0829 mol/h and half life (t1/2) of 8.35 h. The overall degradation rate constant as a function of the temperature under the given conditions obeyed Arrhenius equation where the activation energy was calculated to be 3.41 kcal/mol. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Degradation of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) by UV/chlorine oxidation: Radical roles, influencing factors, and degradation pathway.

PubMed

Ye, Bei; Li, Yue; Chen, Zhuo; Wu, Qian-Yuan; Wang, Wen-Long; Wang, Ting; Hu, Hong-Ying

2017-11-01

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is widely used in industry but is difficult to degrade. In this study, the synergistic effect of UV irradiation and chlorination on degradation of PVA was investigated. UV irradiation or chlorination alone did not degrade PVA. By contrast, UV/chlorine oxidation showed good efficiency for PVA degradation via generation of active free radicals, such as OH and Cl. The relative importance of these two free radicals in the oxidation process was evaluated, and it was shown that OH contributed more to PVA degradation than Cl did. The degradation of PVA followed pseudo first order kinetics. The rate constant k increased linearly from 0 min -1 to 0.3 min -1 with increasing chlorine dosage in range of 0 mg/L to 20 mg/L. However, when the chlorine dosage was increased above 20 mg/L, scavenging effect of free radicals occurred, and the degradation efficiency of PVA did not increase much more. Acidic media increased the degradation efficiency of PVA by UV/chlorine oxidation more than basic or neutral media because of the higher ratio of [HOCl]/[OCl - ], higher free radical quantum yields, and the lower free radical quenching effect under acidic conditions. Results of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy showed that carbonyl groups in degradation products were formed during UV/chlorine oxidation, and a possible degradation pathway via alcohol to carbonyl was proposed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Suppression of type I interferon production by porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and degradation of CREB-binding protein by nsp1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Qingzhan; Shi, Kaichuang; Yoo, Dongwan, E-mail: dyoo@illinois.edu

Type I interferons (IFN-α/β) are the major components of the innate immune response of hosts, and in turn many viruses have evolved to modulate the host response during infection. We found that the IFN-β production was significantly suppressed during PEDV infection in cells. To identify viral IFN antagonists and to study their suppressive function, viral coding sequences for the entire structural and nonstructural proteins were cloned and expressed. Of 16 PEDV nonstructural proteins (nsps), nsp1, nsp3, nsp7, nsp14, nsp15 and nsp16 were found to inhibit the IFN-β and IRF3 promoter activities. The sole accessory protein ORF3, structure protein envelope (E),more » membrane (M), and nucleocapsid (N) protein were also shown to inhibit such activities. PEDV nsp1 did not interfere the IRF3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation but interrupted the enhanceosome assembly of IRF3 and CREB-binding protein (CBP) by degrading CBP. A further study showed that the CBP degradation by nsp1 was proteasome-dependent. Our data demonstrate that PEDV modulates the host innate immune responses by degrading CBP and suppressing ISGs expression. - Highlights: • PEDV modulates the host innate immune system by suppressing the type I interferon production and ISGs expression. • Ten viral proteins were identified as IFN antagonists, and nsp1 was the most potent viral IFN antagonist. • PEDV nsp1 did not interfere the IRF3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation but interrupted the enhanceosome assembly of IRF3 and CREB-binding protein (CBP). • PEDV nsp1 caused the CBP degradation in the nucleus, which may be the key mechanism for PEDV-mediated IFN downregulation.« less

Biocide Runoff from Building Facades: Degradation Kinetics in Soil.

PubMed

Bollmann, Ulla E; Fernández-Calviño, David; Brandt, Kristian K; Storgaard, Morten S; Sanderson, Hans; Bester, Kai

2017-04-04

Biocides are common additives in building materials. In-can and film preservatives in polymer-resin render and paint, as well as wood preservatives are used to protect facade materials from microbial spoilage. Biocides leach from the facade material with driving rain, leading to highly polluted runoff water (up to several mg L -1 biocides) being infiltrated into the soil surrounding houses. In the present study the degradation rates in soil of 11 biocides used for the protection of building materials were determined in laboratory microcosms. The results show that some biocides are degraded rapidly in soil (e.g., isothiazolinones: T 1/2 < 10 days) while others displayed higher persistence (e.g., terbutryn, triazoles: T 1/2 ≫ 120 days). In addition, mass balances of terbutryn and octylisothiazolinone were determined, including nine (terbutryn) and seven (octylisothiazolinone) degradation products, respectively. The terbutryn mass balance could be closed over the entire study period of 120 days and showed that relative persistent metabolites were formed, while the mass balances for octylisothiazolinone could not be closed. Octylisothiazolinone degradation products did not accumulate over time suggesting that the missing fraction was mineralized. Microtox-tests revealed that degradation products were less toxic toward the bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri than their parent compounds. Rain is mobilizing these biocides from the facades and transports them to the surrounding soils; thus, rainfall events control how often new input to the soil occurs. Time intervals between rainfall events in Northern Europe are shorter than degradation half-lives even for many rapidly degraded biocides. Consequently, residues of some biocides are likely to be continuously present due to repeated input and most biocides can be considered as "pseudo-persistent"-contaminants in this context. This was verified by (sub)urban soil screening, where concentrations of up to 0.1 μg g -1 were

Isolation, identification and characterization of Paenibacillus polymyxa CR1 with potentials for biopesticide, biofertilization, biomass degradation and biofuel production.

PubMed

Weselowski, Brian; Nathoo, Naeem; Eastman, Alexander William; MacDonald, Jacqueline; Yuan, Ze-Chun

2016-10-18

Paenibacillus polymyxa is a plant-growth promoting rhizobacterium that could be exploited as an environmentally friendlier alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Various strains have been isolated that can benefit agriculture through antimicrobial activity, nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, plant hormone production, or lignocellulose degradation. However, no single strain has yet been identified in which all of these advantageous traits have been confirmed. P. polymyxa CR1 was isolated from degrading corn roots from southern Ontario, Canada. It was shown to possess in vitro antagonistic activities against the common plant pathogens Phytophthora sojae P6497 (oomycete), Rhizoctonia solani 1809 (basidiomycete fungus), Cylindrocarpon destructans 2062 (ascomycete fungus), Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 (bacterium), and Xanthomonas campestris 93-1 (bacterium), as well as Bacillus cereus (bacterium), an agent of food-borne illness. P. polymyxa CR1 enhanced growth of maize, potato, cucumber, Arabidopsis, and tomato plants; utilized atmospheric nitrogen and insoluble phosphorus; produced the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA); and degraded and utilized the major components of lignocellulose (lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose). P. polymyxa CR1 has multiple beneficial traits that are relevant to sustainable agriculture and the bio-economy. This strain could be developed for field application in order to control pathogens, promote plant growth, and degrade crop residues after harvest.

Iohexol degradation in wastewater and urine by UV-based Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs): Process modeling and by-products identification.

PubMed

Giannakis, Stefanos; Jovic, Milica; Gasilova, Natalia; Pastor Gelabert, Miquel; Schindelholz, Simon; Furbringer, Jean-Marie; Girault, Hubert; Pulgarin, César

2017-06-15

In this work, an Iodinated Contrast Medium (ICM), Iohexol, was subjected to treatment by 3 Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) (UV, UV/H 2 O 2 , UV/H 2 O 2 /Fe 2+ ). Water, wastewater and urine were spiked with Iohexol, in order to investigate the treatment efficiency of AOPs. A tri-level approach has been deployed to assess the UV-based AOPs efficacy. The treatment was heavily influenced by the UV transmittance and the organics content of the matrix, as dilution and acidification improved the degradation but iron/H 2 O 2 increase only moderately. Furthermore, optimization of the treatment conditions, as well as modeling of the degradation was performed, by step-wise constructed quadratic or product models, and determination of the optimal operational regions was achieved through desirability functions. Finally, global chemical parameters (COD, TOC and UV-Vis absorbance) were followed in parallel with specific analyses to elucidate the degradation process of Iohexol by UV-based AOPs. Through HPLC/MS analysis the degradation pathway and the effects the operational parameters were monitored, thus attributing the pathways the respective modifications. The addition of iron in the UV/H 2 O 2 process inflicted additional pathways beneficial for both Iohexol and organics removal from the matrix. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Degradation of α-Naphthol by Plasma in Aqueous Solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Jin-zhang; Hu, Zhong-ai; Wang, Xiao-yan; Hou, Jing-guo; Lu, Xiao-quan; Kang, Jing-wan

2001-02-01

Degradation of α-naphthol induced by plasma in aqueous solution was investigated in different initial concentration with contact glow discharge electrolysis (CGDE). The results showed that the degradation of α-naphthol obeyed the first-rate law. Some of predominant products were analyzed by a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A path of α-naphthol disappearance caused by plasma was proposed according to the detected intermediate products.

Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey Organic Geochemistry Research Group : determination of selected herbicides and their degradation products in water using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kish, J.L.; Thurman, E.M.; Scribner, E.A.; Zimmerman, L.R.

2000-01-01

A method for the extraction and analysis of eight herbicides and five degradation products using solid-phase extraction from natural water samples followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is presented in this report. This method was developed for dimethenamid; flufenacet; fluometuron and its degradation products, demethylfluometuron (DMFM), 3-(trifluromethyl)phenylurea (TFMPU), 3-(trifluromethyl)-aniline (TFMA); molinate; norflurazon and its degradation product, demethylnorflurazon; pendamethalin; the degradation product of prometryn, deisopropylprometryn; propanil; and trifluralin. The eight herbicides are used primarily in the southern United States where cotton, rice, and soybeans are produced. The exceptions are dimethenamid and flufenacet, which are used on corn in the Midwest. Water samples received by the U.S. Geological Survey's Organic Geochemistry Research Group in Lawrence, Kansas, are filtered to remove suspended particulate matter and then passed through disposable solid-phase extraction columns containing octadecyl-bonded porous silica (C-18) to extract the compounds. The herbicides and their degradation products are removed from the column by ethyl acetate elution. The eluate is evaporated under nitrogen, and components then are separated, identified, and quantified by injecting an aliquot of the concentrated extract into a high-resolution, fused-silica capillary column of a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer under selected-ion mode. Method detection limits ranged from 0.02 to 0.05 ?g/L for all compounds with the exception of TFMPU, which has a method detection limit of 0.32 ?g/L. The mean absolute recovery is 107 percent. This method for the determination of herbicides and their degradation products is valuable for acquiring information about water quality and compound fate and transport in water.

Degradation kinetics and transformation products of chlorophene by aqueous permanganate.

PubMed

Xu, Xinxin; Chen, Jing; Wang, Siyuan; Ge, Jiali; Qu, Ruijuan; Feng, Mingbao; Sharma, Virender K; Wang, Zunyao

2018-07-01

This paper evaluates the oxidation of an antibacterial agent, chlorophene (4-chloro-2-(phenylmethyl)phenol, CP), by permanganate (Mn(VII)) in water. Second-order rate constant (k) for the reaction between Mn(VII) and CP was measured as (2.05 ± 0.05) × 10 1  M -1  s -1 at pH 7.0 for an initial CP concentration of 20.0 μM and Mn(VII) concentration of 60.0 μM. The value of k decreased with increasing pH in the pH range of 5.0-7.0, and then increased with an increase in solution pH from 7.0 to 10.0. The presence of MnO 2 and Fe 3+ in water generally enhanced the removal of CP, while the effect of humic acid was not obvious. Fourteen oxidation products of CP were identified by an electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometer, and direct oxidation, ring-opening, and decarboxylation were mainly observed in the reaction process. The initial reaction sites of CP by Mn(VII) oxidation were rationalized by density functional theory calculations. Toxicity changes of the reaction solutions were assessed by the luminescent bacteria P. phosphoreum, and the intermediate products posed a relatively low ecological risk during the degradation process. The efficient removal of CP in secondary clarifier effluent and river water demonstrated the potential application of this Mn(VII) oxidation method in water treatment. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Identification of the specified impurities of silver sulfadiazine using a screening of degradation products in different stress physico-chemical media.

PubMed

Cioroiu, Bogdan I; Lazar, Mihai I; Bello-López, Miguel A; Fernandez-Torres, Rut

2013-11-15

Determination of silver sulfadiazine degradation products in several stress media was carried out by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detector (DAD) and hybrid mass spectrometer triple quadrupole-linear trap. The optimal chromatographic method used a Hypercarb column with a stationary phase 100% carbon, a mobile phase composed by a mixture 45:55 formic acid 1% solution and acetonitrile and detection at 275 nm. Structure elucidation was carried out on the mass spectrometry system using same chromatographic conditions and based on MS/MS techniques. Under these conditions up to 9 possible impurities were demonstrated to be degradation products respecting silver sulfadiazine evolution under different stress conditions: temperature, acid, basic, oxidation, reduction and catalyzed photodegradation. Sulfacetamide, sulfanilic acid (4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid), aniline, pyrimidin-2-amine, 4-aminobenzenesulfonamide, 4-methylidenesulfanilaniline, 4-aminophenol, 4-amino-n-methyl benzenesulfonamide and benzenesulfonic acid were identified by mass spectrometry in order to cover the possible degradation paths of silver sulfadiazine. Kinetics were also evaluated to obtain the prediction of shelf life of the substance. The linearity domain for the method was between 0.0005 mg/ml and 0.25mg/ml for each compound. Recovery factors in accuracy determination were between 95 and 105% relative to target concentrations of silver sulfadiazine and the quantitation limit was 0.00025 mg/ml. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Degradation of acrylamide by the UV/chlorine advanced oxidation process.

PubMed

Gao, Ze-Chen; Lin, Yi-Li; Xu, Bin; Pan, Yang; Xia, Sheng-Ji; Gao, Nai-Yun; Zhang, Tian-Yang; Chen, Ming

2017-11-01

The degradation of acrylamide (AA) during UV/chlorine advanced oxidation process (AOP) was investigated in this study. The degradation of AA was negligible during UV irradiation alone. However, AA could be effectively degraded and mineralized during UV/chlorination due to the generation of hydroxyl radicals (OH). The degradation kinetics of AA during UV/chlorination fitted the pseudo-first order kinetics with the rate constant between AA and OH radicals being determined as 2.11 × 10 9  M -1  s -1 . The degradation rate and mineralization of AA during UV/chlorination were significantly promoted at acidic conditions as well as increasing chlorine dosage. The volatile degradation products of AA during UV/chlorination were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and the degradation pathways were then proposed accordingly. The formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in Milli-Q water and tap water during UV/chlorination of AA was also investigated. The DBPs included chloroform, dichloroacetonitrile, trichloroacetonitrile, 2,2-dichloroacetamide and 2,2,2-trichloroacetamide. Furthermore, the variations of AA degradation during UV/chlorination in different real water samples were evaluated. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mass production of bacterial communities adapted to the degradation of volatile organic compounds (TEX).

PubMed

Lapertot, Miléna; Seignez, Chantal; Ebrahimi, Sirous; Delorme, Sandrine; Peringer, Paul

2007-06-01

This study focuses on the mass cultivation of bacteria adapted to the degradation of a mixture composed of toluene, ethylbenzene, o-, m- and p-xylenes (TEX). For the cultivation process Substrate Pulse Batch (SPB) technique was adapted under well-automated conditions. The key parameters to be monitored were handled by LabVIEW software including, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and turbidity. Other parameters, such as biomass, ammonium or residual substrate concentrations needed offline measurements. SPB technique has been successfully tested experimentally on TEX. The overall behavior of the mixed bacterial population was observed and discussed along the cultivation process. Carbon and nitrogen limitations were shown to affect the integrity of the bacterial cells as well as their production of exopolymeric substances (EPS). Average productivity and yield values successfully reached the industrial specifications, which were 0.45 kg(DW)m(-3) d(-1) and 0.59 g(DW)g (C) (-1) , respectively. Accuracy and reproducibility of the obtained results present the controlled SPB process as a feasible technique.

Photocatalytic degradation of 4-amino-6-chlorobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide stable hydrolysis product of hydrochlorothiazide: Detection of intermediates and their toxicity.

PubMed

Armaković, Sanja J; Armaković, Stevan; Četojević-Simin, Dragana D; Šibul, Filip; Abramović, Biljana F

2018-02-01

In this work we have investigated in details the process of degradation of the 4-amino-6-chlorobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide (ABSA), stable hydrolysis product of frequently used pharmaceutical hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), as one of the most ubiquitous contaminants in the sewage water. The study encompassed investigation of degradation by hydrolysis, photolysis, and photocatalysis employing commercially available TiO 2 Degussa P25 catalyst. The process of direct photolysis and photocatalytic degradation were investigated under different type of lights. Detailed insights into the reactive properties of HCTZ and ABSA have been obtained by density functional theory calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. Specifically, preference of HCTZ towards hydrolysis was confirmed experimentally and explained using computational study. Results obtained in this study indicate very limited efficiency of hydrolytic and photolytic degradation in the case of ABSA, while photocatalytic degradation demonstrated great potential. Namely, after 240 min of photocatalytic degradation, 65% of ABSA was mineralizated in water/TiO 2 suspension under SSI, while the nitrogen was predominantly present as NH 4 + . Reaction intermediates were studied and a number of them were detected using LC-ESI-MS/MS. This study also involves toxicity assessment of HCTZ, ABSA, and their mixtures formed during the degradation processes towards mammalian cell lines (rat hepatoma, H-4-II-E, human colon adenocarcinoma, HT-29, and human fetal lung, MRC-5). Toxicity assessments showed that intermediates formed during the process of photocatalysis exerted only mild cell growth effects in selected cell lines, while direct photolysis did not affect cell growth. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluating the degradation, sorption, and negative mass balances of pharmaceuticals and personal care products during wastewater treatment.

PubMed

Blair, Benjamin; Nikolaus, Adam; Hedman, Curtis; Klaper, Rebecca; Grundl, Timothy

2015-09-01

Conventional activated sludge (CAS) wastewater treatment processes are insufficient at removing many pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) from wastewater. In addition, negative mass balances, where the effluent concentration is greater than the influent concentration, have been observed in wastewater treatment studies and a further understanding of these results is needed. In this study, the fate and occurrence of 57 PPCPs and hormones were evaluated in an activated sludge process and the mass balances were determined. The goal of the project was to understand the PPCPs biological degradation and the extent of sorption to solids. The samples containing in situ PPCPs (i.e. samples were not spiked with additional PPCPs) were evaluated. Forty-eight of the PPCPs were detected in the soluble form and 29 were detected sorbed to solids. Two notable results were found. First, the results of this study indicate a subset of the highly biodegradable PPCPs stop being degraded at low, yet notable, concentrations. Second, the results revealed that negative mass balances were present for a subset of the PPCPs when evaluating both the soluble and sorbed concentration, for example carbamazepine and ofloxacin. Desorption from solids was not found to attribute to negative mass balances. Overall, the results from this study provide new insights into the fate of PPCPs during CAS wastewater treatment by evaluating the degradation kinetics and sorption and the results may explain the consistent levels of highly degradable PPCPs being emitted from WWTPs worldwide. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reconnaissance data for glyphosate, other selected herbicides, their degradation products, and antibiotics in 51 streams in nine midwestern states, 2002

USGS Publications Warehouse

Scribner, Elisabeth A.; Battaglin, William A.; Dietze, Julie E.; Thurman, E.M.

2003-01-01

Since 1989, the U.S. Geological Survey has conducted periodic reconnaissance studies of streams in the Midwestern United States to determine the geographic and seasonal distribution of herbicide compounds. These studies have documented that large amounts of acetochlor, alachlor, atrazine, cyanazine, metolachlor, and their degradation products are flushed into streams during post-application runoff. Additional studies show that peak herbicide concentrations tend to occur during the first runoff after herbicide application and that herbicide flushes can occur during runoff for several weeks to months following application. Since the first stream study conducted in 1989, several significant changes in herbicide use have occurred. The most substantial change is the tripling in the use of glyphosate during the past 5 years. Over this same time period (1997-2001), usage of acetochlor and atrazine increased slightly, whereas alachlor, cyanazine, and metolachlor usage decreased. During 2002, 154 samples were collected from 51 streams in nine Midwestern States during three periods of runoff. This report provides a compilation of the analytical results of five laboratory methods. Results show that glyphosate was detected in 55 (36 percent) of the samples, and aminomethylphosphonic acid (a degradation product of glyphosate) was detected in 107 (69 percent) of the samples. Atrazine, the most frequently detected herbicide, was found in 93 percent of the samples, followed by metolachlor, found in 73 percent of the samples; metolachlor ethanesulfonic acid (ESA) and oxanilic acid (OXA) were the most frequently detected herbicide degradation products, both being found in more than 95 percent of the samples. The data presented here are valuable for comparison with results from the earlier reconnaissance studies.

Isolation and characterization of an ether-type polyurethane-degrading micro-organism and analysis of degradation mechanism by Alternaria sp.

PubMed

Matsumiya, Y; Murata, N; Tanabe, E; Kubota, K; Kubo, M

2010-06-01

To degrade ether-type polyurethane (ether-PUR), ether-PUR-degrading micro-organism was isolated. Moreover, ether-PUR-degrading mechanisms were analysed using model compounds of ether-PUR. A fungus designated as strain PURDK2, capable of changing the configuration of ether-PUR, has been isolated. This isolated fungus was identified as Alternaria sp. Using a scanning electron microscope, the grid structure of ether-PUR was shown to be melted and disrupted by the fungus. The degradation of ether-PUR by the fungus was analysed, and the ether-PUR was degraded by the fungus by about 27.5%. To analyse the urethane-bond degradation by the fungus, a degraded product of ethylphenylcarbamate was analysed using GC/MS. Aniline and ethanol were detected by degradation with the supernatant, indicating that the fungus secreted urethane-bond-degrading enzyme(s). PURDK2 also degraded urea bonds when diphenylmethane-4,4'-dibutylurea was used as a substrate. The enzyme(s) from PURDK2 degraded urethane and urea bonds to convert the high molecular weight structure of ether-PUR to small molecules; and then the fungus seems to use the small molecules as an energy source. Ether-PUR-degrading fungus, strain PURDK2, was isolated, and the urethane- and urea-bonds-degrading enzymes from strain PURDK2 could contribute to the material recycling of ether-PUR.

Microbial degradation of chloroethenes: a review.

PubMed

Dolinová, Iva; Štrojsová, Martina; Černík, Miroslav; Němeček, Jan; Macháčková, Jiřina; Ševců, Alena

2017-05-01

Contamination by chloroethenes has a severe negative effect on both the environment and human health. This has prompted intensive remediation activity in recent years, along with research into the efficacy of natural microbial communities for degrading toxic chloroethenes into less harmful compounds. Microbial degradation of chloroethenes can take place either through anaerobic organohalide respiration, where chloroethenes serve as electron acceptors; anaerobic and aerobic metabolic degradation, where chloroethenes are used as electron donors; or anaerobic and aerobic co-metabolic degradation, with chloroethene degradation occurring as a by-product during microbial metabolism of other growth substrates, without energy or carbon benefit. Recent research has focused on optimising these natural processes to serve as effective bioremediation technologies, with particular emphasis on (a) the diversity and role of bacterial groups involved in dechlorination microbial processes, and (b) detection of bacterial enzymes and genes connected with dehalogenation activity. In this review, we summarise the different mechanisms of chloroethene bacterial degradation suitable for bioremediation and provide a list of dechlorinating bacteria. We also provide an up-to-date summary of primers available for detecting functional genes in anaerobic and aerobic bacteria degrading chloroethenes metabolically or co-metabolically.

Pathways for degradation of plastic polymers floating in the marine environment.

PubMed

Gewert, Berit; Plassmann, Merle M; MacLeod, Matthew

2015-09-01

Each year vast amounts of plastic are produced worldwide. When released to the environment, plastics accumulate, and plastic debris in the world's oceans is of particular environmental concern. More than 60% of all floating debris in the oceans is plastic and amounts are increasing each year. Plastic polymers in the marine environment are exposed to sunlight, oxidants and physical stress, and over time they weather and degrade. The degradation processes and products must be understood to detect and evaluate potential environmental hazards. Some attention has been drawn to additives and persistent organic pollutants that sorb to the plastic surface, but so far the chemicals generated by degradation of the plastic polymers themselves have not been well studied from an environmental perspective. In this paper we review available information about the degradation pathways and chemicals that are formed by degradation of the six plastic types that are most widely used in Europe. We extrapolate that information to likely pathways and possible degradation products under environmental conditions found on the oceans' surface. The potential degradation pathways and products depend on the polymer type. UV-radiation and oxygen are the most important factors that initiate degradation of polymers with a carbon-carbon backbone, leading to chain scission. Smaller polymer fragments formed by chain scission are more susceptible to biodegradation and therefore abiotic degradation is expected to precede biodegradation. When heteroatoms are present in the main chain of a polymer, degradation proceeds by photo-oxidation, hydrolysis, and biodegradation. Degradation of plastic polymers can lead to low molecular weight polymer fragments, like monomers and oligomers, and formation of new end groups, especially carboxylic acids.

BACTERIAL METHYLMERCURY DEGRADATION IN FLORIDA EVERGLADES PEAT SEDIMENT

EPA Science Inventory

Methylmercury (MeHg) degradation was investigated along an eutrophication gradient in the Florida Everglades by quantifying 14CH4 and 14CO2 production after incubation of anaerobic sediments with [14C]MeHg. Degradation rate constants (k) were consistently <=0.1 d-1 and decreased ...

Degradation of curcumin: From mechanism to biological implications

PubMed Central

Schneider, Claus; Gordon, Odaine N.; Edwards, Rebecca L.; Luis, Paula B.

2016-01-01

Curcumin is the main bioactive ingredient in turmeric extract and widely consumed as part of the spice mix curry or as dietary supplement. Turmeric has a long history of therapeutic application in traditional Asian medicine. Biomedical studies conducted in the past two decades have identified a large number of cellular targets and effects of curcumin. In vitro curcumin rapidly degrades in an autoxidative transformation to diverse chemical species, formation of which has only recently been appreciated. We discuss how degradation and metabolism of curcumin, through products and their mechanism of formation, provide a basis for the interpretation of preclinical data and clinical studies. We suggest that the previously unrecognized diversity of its degradation products could be an important factor in explaining the polypharmacology of curcumin. PMID:25817068

Application of normal fluorescence and stability-indicating derivative synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy for the determination of gliquidone in presence of its fluorescent alkaline degradation product

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-ghobashy, Mohamed R.; Yehia, Ali M.; Helmy, Aya H.; Youssef, Nadia F.

2018-01-01

Simple, smart and sensitive normal fluorescence and stability-indicating derivative synchronous spectrofluorimetric methods have been developed and validated for the determination of gliquidone in the drug substance and drug product. Normal spectrofluorimetric method of gliquidone was established in methanol at λ excitation 225 nm and λ emission 400 nm in concentration range 0.2-3 μg/ml with LOD equal 0.028. The fluorescence quantum yield of gliquidone was calculated using quinine sulfate as a reference and found to be 0.542. Stability-indicating first and third derivative synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy were successfully utilized to overcome the overlapped spectra in normal fluorescence of gliquidone and its alkaline degradation product. Derivative synchronous methods are based on using the synchronous fluorescence of gliquidone and its degradation product in methanol at Δ λ50 nm. Peak amplitude in the first derivative of synchronous fluorescence spectra was measured at 309 nm where degradation product showed zero-crossing without interference. The peak amplitudes in the third derivative of synchronous fluorescence spectra, peak to trough were measured at 316,329 nm where degradation product showed zero-crossing. The different experimental parameters affecting the normal and synchronous fluorescence intensity of gliquidone were studied and optimized. Moreover, the cited methods have been validated as per ICH guidelines. The peak amplitude-concentration plots of the derivative synchronous fluorescence were linear over the concentration range 0.05-2 μg/ml for gliquidone. Limits of detection were 0.020 and 0.022 in first and third derivative synchronous spectra, respectively. The adopted methods were successfully applied to commercial tablets and the results demonstrated that the derivative synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy is a powerful stability-indicating method, suitable for routine use with a short analysis time. Statistical comparison between

Hydrolytic degradation of alkaline lignin in hot-compressed water and ethanol.

PubMed

Yuan, Zhongshun; Cheng, Shuna; Leitch, Mathew; Xu, Chunbao Charles

2010-12-01

Alkaline lignin of a very high molecular weight was successfully degraded into oligomers in a hot-compressed water-ethanol medium with NaOH as the catalyst and phenol as the capping agent at 220-300 degrees C. Under the optimal reaction conditions, i.e., 260 degrees C, 1 h, with the lignin/phenol ratio of 1:1 (w/w), almost complete degradation was achieved, producing <1% solid residue and negligible gas products. The obtained degraded lignin had a number-average molecular weight M(n) and weight-average molecular weight M(w) of 450 and 1000 g/mol respectively, significantly lower than the M(n) and M(w) of 10,000 and 60,000 g/mol of the original lignin. A higher temperature and a longer reaction time favoured phenol combination, but increased the formation of solid residue due to the condensation reactions of the degradation intermediates/products. The degraded lignin products were soluble in organic solvents (such as THF), and were characterized by HPLC/GPC, IR and NMR. A possible mechanism for lignin hydrolytic degradation was also proposed in this study. 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Production of plant cell wall degrading enzymes by monoculture and co-culture of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus terreus under SSF of banana peels.

PubMed

Rehman, Shazia; Aslam, Hina; Ahmad, Aqeel; Khan, Shakeel Ahmed; Sohail, Muhammad

2014-01-01

Filamentous fungi are considered to be the most important group of microorganisms for the production of plant cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDE), in solid state fermentations. In this study, two fungal strains Aspergillus niger MS23 and Aspergillus terreus MS105 were screened for plant CWDE such as amylase, pectinase, xylanase and cellulases (β-glucosidase, endoglucanase and filterpaperase) using a novel substrate, Banana Peels (BP) for SSF process. This is the first study, to the best of our knowledge, to use BP as SSF substrate for plant CWDE production by co-culture of fungal strains. The titers of pectinase were significantly improved in co-culture compared to mono-culture. Furthermore, the enzyme preparations obtained from monoculture and co-culture were used to study the hydrolysis of BP along with some crude and purified substrates. It was observed that the enzymatic hydrolysis of different crude and purified substrates accomplished after 26 h of incubation, where pectin was maximally hydrolyzed by the enzyme preparations of mono and co-culture. Along with purified substrates, crude materials were also proved to be efficiently degraded by the cocktail of the CWDE. These results demonstrated that banana peels may be a potential substrate in solid-state fermentation for the production of plant cell wall degrading enzymes to be used for improving various biotechnological and industrial processes.

Production of plant cell wall degrading enzymes by monoculture and co-culture of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus terreus under SSF of banana peels

PubMed Central

Rehman, Shazia; Aslam, Hina; Ahmad, Aqeel; Khan, Shakeel Ahmed; Sohail, Muhammad

2014-01-01

Filamentous fungi are considered to be the most important group of microorganisms for the production of plant cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDE), in solid state fermentations. In this study, two fungal strains Aspergillus niger MS23 and Aspergillus terreus MS105 were screened for plant CWDE such as amylase, pectinase, xylanase and cellulases (β-glucosidase, endoglucanase and filterpaperase) using a novel substrate, Banana Peels (BP) for SSF process. This is the first study, to the best of our knowledge, to use BP as SSF substrate for plant CWDE production by co-culture of fungal strains. The titers of pectinase were significantly improved in co-culture compared to mono-culture. Furthermore, the enzyme preparations obtained from monoculture and co-culture were used to study the hydrolysis of BP along with some crude and purified substrates. It was observed that the enzymatic hydrolysis of different crude and purified substrates accomplished after 26 h of incubation, where pectin was maximally hydrolyzed by the enzyme preparations of mono and co-culture. Along with purified substrates, crude materials were also proved to be efficiently degraded by the cocktail of the CWDE. These results demonstrated that banana peels may be a potential substrate in solid-state fermentation for the production of plant cell wall degrading enzymes to be used for improving various biotechnological and industrial processes. PMID:25763058

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Multivariate Analysis for Online Monitoring of Dibutyl Phosphate Degradation Product in Tributyl Phosphate /n-Dodecane/Nitric Acid Solvent

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Levitskaia, Tatiana G.; Peterson, James M.; Campbell, Emily L.

2013-11-05

In liquid-liquid extraction separation processes, accumulation of organic solvent degradation products is detrimental to the process robustness and frequent solvent analysis is warranted. Our research explores feasibility of online monitoring of the organic solvents relevant to used nuclear fuel reprocessing. This paper describes the first phase of developing a system for monitoring the tributyl phosphate (TBP)/n-dodecane solvent commonly used to separate used nuclear fuel. In this investigation, the effect of extraction of nitric acid from aqueous solutions of variable concentrations on the quantification of TBP and its major degradation product dibutyl phosphoric acid (HDBP) was assessed. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopymore » (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to discriminate between HDBP and TBP in the nitric acid-containing TBP/n-dodecane solvent. Multivariate analysis of the spectral data facilitated the development of regression models for HDBP and TBP quantification in real time, enabling online implementation of the monitoring system. The predictive regression models were validated using TBP/n-dodecane solvent samples subjected to the high dose external gamma irradiation. The predictive models were translated to flow conditions using a hollow fiber FTIR probe installed in a centrifugal contactor extraction apparatus demonstrating the applicability of the FTIR technique coupled with multivariate analysis for the online monitoring of the organic solvent degradation products.« less

Hemoglobin fructation promotes heme degradation through the generation of endogenous reactive oxygen species

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goodarzi, M.; Moosavi-Movahedi, A. A.; Habibi-Rezaei, M.; Shourian, M.; Ghourchian, H.; Ahmad, F.; Farhadi, M.; Saboury, A. A.; Sheibani, N.

2014-09-01

Protein glycation is a cascade of nonenzymatic reactions between reducing sugars and amino groups of proteins. It is referred to as fructation when the reducing monosaccharide is fructose. Some potential mechanisms have been suggested for the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by protein glycation reactions in the presence of glucose. In this state, glucose autoxidation, ketoamine, and oxidative advance glycation end products (AGEs) formation are considered as major sources of ROS and perhaps heme degradation during hemoglobin glycation. However, whether fructose mediated glycation produces ROS and heme degradation is unknown. Here we report that ROS (H2O2) production occurred during hemoglobin fructation in vitro using chemiluminescence methods. The enhanced heme exposure and degradation were determined using UV-Vis and fluorescence spectrophotometry. Following accumulation of ROS, heme degradation products were accumulated reaching a plateau along with the detected ROS. Thus, fructose may make a significant contribution to the production of ROS, glycation of proteins, and heme degradation during diabetes.

In silico prediction of pharmaceutical degradation pathways: a benchmarking study.

PubMed

Kleinman, Mark H; Baertschi, Steven W; Alsante, Karen M; Reid, Darren L; Mowery, Mark D; Shimanovich, Roman; Foti, Chris; Smith, William K; Reynolds, Dan W; Nefliu, Marcela; Ott, Martin A

2014-11-03

Zeneth is a new software application capable of predicting degradation products derived from small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients. This study was aimed at understanding the current status of Zeneth's predictive capabilities and assessing gaps in predictivity. Using data from 27 small molecule drug substances from five pharmaceutical companies, the evolution of Zeneth predictions through knowledge base development since 2009 was evaluated. The experimentally observed degradation products from forced degradation, accelerated, and long-term stability studies were compared to Zeneth predictions. Steady progress in predictive performance was observed as the knowledge bases grew and were refined. Over the course of the development covered within this evaluation, the ability of Zeneth to predict experimentally observed degradants increased from 31% to 54%. In particular, gaps in predictivity were noted in the areas of epimerizations, N-dealkylation of N-alkylheteroaromatic compounds, photochemical decarboxylations, and electrocyclic reactions. The results of this study show that knowledge base development efforts have increased the ability of Zeneth to predict relevant degradation products and aid pharmaceutical research. This study has also provided valuable information to help guide further improvements to Zeneth and its knowledge base.

Phenol Is the Initial Product Formed during Growth and Degradation of Bromobenzene by Tropical Marine Yeast, Yarrowia lipolytica NCIM 3589 via an Early Dehalogenation Step.

PubMed

Vatsal, Aakanksha A; Zinjarde, Smita S; RaviKumar, Ameeta

2017-01-01

Bromobenzene (BrB), a hydrophobic, recalcitrant organic compound, is listed by the environmental protection agencies as an environmental and marine pollutant having hepatotoxic, mutagenic, teratogenic, and carcinogenic effects. The tropical marine yeast Yarrowia lipolytica 3589 was seen to grow aerobically on BrB and displayed a maximum growth rate (μ max ) of 0.04 h -1 . Furthermore, we also observed an increase in cell size and sedimentation velocity for the cells grown on BrB as compared to the glucose grown cells. The cells attached to the hydrophobic bromobenzene droplets through its hydrophobic and acid-base interactions. The BrB (0.5%, 47.6 mM) was utilized by the cells with the release of a corresponding amount of bromide (12.87 mM) and yielded a cell mass of 1.86 g/L after showing 34% degradation in 96 h. Maximum dehalogenase activity of 16.16 U/mL was seen in the cell free supernatant after 24 h of growth. Identification of metabolites formed as a result of BrB degradation, namely, phenol, catechol, cis, cis muconic acid, and carbon dioxide were determined by LC-MS and GC-MS. The initial attack on bromobenzene by Y. lipolytica cells lead to the transient accumulation of phenol as an early intermediate which is being reported for the first time. Degradation of phenol led to catechol which was degraded by the ortho- cleavage pathway forming cis, cis muconic acid and then to Krebs cycle intermediates eventually leading to CO 2 production. The study shows that dehalogenation via an extracellular dehalogenase occurs prior to ring cleavage with phenol as the preliminary degradative compound being produced. The yeast was also able to grow on the degradative products, i.e., phenol and catechol, to varying degrees which would be of potential relevance in the degradation and remediation of xenobiotic environmental bromoaromatic pollutants such as bromobenzene.

Impact of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Degradation Products on Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity for Platinum Electrocatalysts

DOE PAGES

Christ, J. M.; Neyerlin, K. C.; Wang, H.; ...

2014-10-30

The impact of model membrane degradation compounds on the relevant electrochemical parameters for the oxygen reduction reaction (i.e. electrochemical surface area and catalytic activity), was studied for both polycrystalline Pt and carbon supported Pt electrocatalysts. Model compounds, representing previously published, experimentally determined polymer electrolyte membrane degradation products, were in the form of perfluorinated organic acids that contained combinations of carboxylic and/or sulfonic acid functionality. Perfluorinated carboxylic acids of carbon chain length C1 – C6 were found to have an impact on electrochemical surface area (ECA). The longest chain length acid also hindered the observed oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance, resultingmore » in a 17% loss in kinetic current (determined at 0.9 V). Model compounds containing sulfonic acid functional groups alone did not show an effect on Pt ECA or ORR activity. Lastly, greater than a 44% loss in ORR activity at 0.9V was observed for diacid model compounds DA-Naf (perfluoro(2-methyl-3-oxa-5-sulfonic pentanoic) acid) and DA-3M (perfluoro(4-sulfonic butanoic) acid), which contained both sulfonic and carboxylic acid functionalities.« less

[Determination of sennosides and degraded products in the process of sennoside metabolism by HPLC].

PubMed

Sun, Yan; Li, Xuetuo; Yu, Xingju

2004-01-01

A method for the separation and determination of sennosides A and B and the main composition (sennidins A and B) in degraded products of sennosides by linear gradient high performance liquid chromatography has been developed. Separation conditions were as follows: column, a Spherisorb C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 10 microm); column temperature, 40 degrees C; detection wavelength, 360 nm; mobile phase A, 1.25% acetic acid aqueous solution; mobile phase B, methanol; linear gradient, 100% A --> (20 min) 100% B. The method is effective, quick, accurate and reproducible. The satisfactory results show that this new method has certain practical values as an approach of real-time analysis in the process of sennoside metabolism.

Degradation of trimethoprim by gamma irradiation in the presence of persulfate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zhonglei; Yang, Qi; Wang, Jianlong

2016-10-01

The degradation and mineralization of trimethoprim (TMP) by gamma irradiation was investigated in the presence of persulfate (PS). The TMP was degraded at initial concentration of 20 mg/L in aqueous solution with addition of 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 mM persulfate respectively. The effect of pH values (6.5, 7.5 and 8.5) on TMP degradation was also determined. The experimental results showed that the degradation and mineralization of TMP could be significantly enhanced by persulfate at acidic condition (pH=6.5). Several intermediate products generated during gamma irradiation process through hydroxylation, demethylation and cleavage were identified using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). The degradation pathway of TMP was tentatively proposed based on the identification of intermediate products.

Plasma Induced Degradation of Benzidine in Aqueous Solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Jinzhang; Gai, Ke; Yang, Wu; Dong, Yanjie

2003-10-01

The degradation of benzidine in aqueous solution by the low temperature plasma was examined. The results showed that the concentration of medium and the value of pH have an appreciable effect on the degradation of benzidine. What is more important is that iron ions acting as a catalyst play an important role in this reaction. For exploring the degradation mechanism of benzidine, some of the intermediate products were recorded by HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography).

[Impact factors and degradation mechanism for the ozonation of acetaminophen in aqueous solution].

PubMed

Cao, Fei; Yuan, Shou-Jun; Zhang, Meng-Tao; Wang, Wei; Hu, Zhen-Hu

2014-11-01

The effect and mechanism of O3 on the degradation of acetaminophen in aqueous solution were studied by the batch experiment. The results showed that acetaminophen could be degraded effectively by ozone and degradation of acetaminophen fitted well with the pseudo-first-order kinetics model (R2 > 0.992). The degradation of acetaminophen was promoted with the increase of pH, the concentration of bicarbonate and ozone. The results of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ion chromatography analysis showed that degradation products such as hydroquinone and a series of carboxylic acids were firstly formed during ozonation of acetaminophen. Then, the products were further oxidized. The degradation pathways of acetaminophen were also discussed by the identified products. The result of TOC showed that the mineralization of acetaminophen was ultimately lower. When the initial concentration of acetaminophen was 20 mg x L(-1) and the concentration of ozone was 9.10 mg x L(-1), the mineralization was only 16.42% after 130 min.

Effects of 1,3-Butadiene, Isoprene, and Their Photochemical Degradation Products on Human Lung Cells

PubMed Central

Doyle, Melanie; Sexton, Kenneth G.; Jeffries, Harvey; Bridge, Kevin; Jaspers, Ilona

2004-01-01

Because of potential exposure both in the workplace and from ambient air, the known carcinogen 1,3-butadiene (BD) is considered a priority hazardous air pollutant. BD and its 2-methyl analog, isoprene (ISO), are chemically similar but have very different toxicities, with ISO showing no significant carcinogenesis. Once released into the atmosphere, reactions with species induced by sunlight and nitrogen oxides convert BD and ISO into several photochemical reaction products. In this study, we determined the relative toxicity and inflammatory gene expression induced by exposure of A549 cells to BD, ISO, and their photochemical degradation products in the presence of nitric oxide. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analyses indicate the initial and major photochemical products produced during these experiments for BD are acrolein, acetaldehyde, and formaldehyde, and products for ISO are methacrolein, methyl vinyl ketone, and formaldehyde; both formed < 200 ppb of ozone. After exposure the cells were examined for cytotoxicity and interleukin-8 (IL-8) gene expression, as a marker for inflammation. These results indicate that although BD and ISO alone caused similar cytotoxicity and IL-8 responses compared with the air control, their photochemical products significantly enhanced cytotoxicity and IL-8 gene expression. This suggests that once ISO and BD are released into the environment, reactions occurring in the atmosphere transform these hydrocarbons into products that induce potentially greater adverse health effects than the emitted hydrocarbons by themselves. In addition, the data suggest that based on the carbon concentration or per carbon basis, biogenic ISO transforms into products with proinflammatory potential similar to that of BD products. PMID:15531432

Degradation and biocompatibility of multi-stage nanovectors in physiological systems

PubMed Central

Martinez, Jonathan O.; Evangelopoulos, Michael; Chiappini, Ciro; Liu, Xuewu; Ferrari, Mauro; Tasciotti, Ennio

2014-01-01

The careful scrutiny of drug delivery systems is essential to evaluate and justify their potential for the clinic. Among the various studies necessary for pre-clinical testing, the impact of degradation is commonly overlooked. In this paper, we investigate the effect of fabrication (porosity and nucleation layer) and environment (buffer and pH) factors on the degradation kinetics of multi-stage nanovectors (MSV) composed of porous silicon. The degradation by-products of MSV were exposed to endothelial cells and analyzed for detrimental effects on cellular internalization, architecture, proliferation, and cell cycle. Increases in porosity resulted in accelerated degradation exhibiting smaller sized particles at comparable times. Removal of the nucleation layer (thin layer of small pores formed during the initial steps of etching) triggered a premature collapse of the entire central porous region of MSV. Variations in buffers prompted a faster degradation rate yielding smaller MSV within faster time frames while increases in pH stimulated erosion of MSV and thus faster degradation. In addition, exposure to these degradation by-products provoked negligible impact on the proliferation and cell cycle phases on primary endothelial cells. Here, we propose methods that lay the foundation for future investigations towards understanding the impact of the degradation of drug delivery platforms. PMID:25269799

Angelica archangelia Prevented Collagen Degradation by Blocking Production of Matrix Metalloproteinases in UVB-exposed Dermal Fibroblasts.

PubMed

Sun, Zhengwang; Hwang, Eunson; Park, Sang Yong; Zhang, Mengyang; Gao, Wei; Lin, Pei; Yi, Tae-Hoo

2016-07-01

Angelica archangelia (AA), a traditional herb, has attracted attention as an agent with potential for use in the prevention of chronic skin diseases. This study examined the photoprotective effects of AA on the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and collagen degradation in UVB-irradiated normal human dermal fibroblasts. Our results showed that AA markedly blocked collagen degradation by restraining the production of MMPs in UVB-exposed fibroblasts. We also investigated the underlying mechanism behind the effects of AA. AA attenuated UVB-triggered interleukin-6 (IL-6) and promoted the expression of transforming growth factor β1. Application of AA extract (10, 100 μg mL(-1) ) significantly diminished UVB-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase and Jun-N-terminal kinase phosphorylation, which consequently reduced phosphorylated c-Fos and c-Jun. Our results indicated that AA inhibited the UVB-induced expression of MMPs by inhibiting mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways and activator protein-1 activation. Our results suggest that AA is a promising botanical agent for use against skin photoaging. © 2016 The American Society of Photobiology.

Memantine inhibits degradation of the articular cartilage extracellular matrix induced by advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

PubMed

Zhao, Jijun; Yu, Yinghao; Wu, Zhaofeng; Wang, Ling; Li, Wei

2017-07-01

The accumulation of inflammation and cartilage damage induced by advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are important hallmarks of osteoarthritis (OA). Memantine is a clinically licensed drug used for the treatment of moderate and severe Alzheimer's disease. To date, little information has been reported regarding the effects of memantine on cartilage destruction. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of memantine on AGE-induced degradation of collagen II and aggrecans in human SW1353 chondrocytes. Our results indicate that memantine ameliorated AGE-induced degradation of collagen II and aggrecan at the post-translational level in SW1353 cells, which were mediated by matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) and A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 4 (ADAMTS-4), respectively. Mechanistically, memantine was found to attenuate the upregulation of the transcriptional factor interferon response factor-1 (IRF-1) induced by AGEs, as well as activation of the JAK2/STAT1 pathway. Our findings suggest that memantine may have a potential therapeutic effect in OA. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

5-Hydroxytryptophan, a major product of tryptophan degradation, is essential for optimal replication of human parainfluenza virus.

PubMed

Rabbani, M A G; Barik, Sailen

2017-03-01

Interferon (IFN) exerts its antiviral effect by inducing a large family of cellular genes, named interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs). An intriguing member of this family is indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), which catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step of the main branch of tryptophan (Trp) degradation, the kynurenine pathway. We recently showed that IDO strongly inhibits human parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3), a significant respiratory pathogen. Here, we show that 5-hydoxytryptophan (5-HTP), the first product of an alternative branch of Trp degradation and a serotonin precursor, is essential to protect virus growth against IDO in cell culture. We also show that the apparent antiviral effect of IDO on PIV3 is not due to the generation of the kynurenine pathway metabolites, but rather due to the depletion of intracellular Trp by IDO, as a result of which this rare amino acid becomes unavailable for the alternative, proviral 5-HTP pathway. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Degradation of atrazine by microwave-assisted electrodeless discharge mercury lamp in aqueous solution.