Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrochar and Bio-oil from Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sargassum sp. using Choline Chloride (ChCl) Catalyst

The purpose of this study is to alter the biomass of Sargassum sp. into elective fills and high valuable biomaterials in a hydrothermal process at 200oC for 90 minutes, using ZnCl2 and CaCl2 activating agents, withChClas a catalyst. This method generatedthree primaryoutputs: hydrochar, bio-oil, and gasproducts. ChCl to water ratio varies from 1:3, 1:1, and 3:1. The hydrochar yield improved when the catalyst ratio was increased, but the bio-oil and gas yield declined. The highest hydrochar yields were 76.95, 63.25, and 44.16 percent in ZnCl2, CaCl2, and no activating agent samples, respectively.The porosity analysis observed mesopore structures with the most pore diameters between 3.9-5.2 nm with a surface area between44.71-55.2. The attribute of interaction between activator and catalyst plays a role in pore formation. The hydrochar products with CaCl2 showed the best thermal stability. From the whole experiment, the optimum hydrochar yield (76.95%), optimum surface area (55.42 m2 g-1), and the increase in carbon content from 21.11 to 37.8% were achieved at the ratio of ChCl to water was three, and the activating agent of ZnCl2. The predominant bio-oil components were hexadecane, hexadecanoic, and 9-octadecenoic acids, with a composition of 51.65, 21.44, and 9.87%, respectively the remaining contained aromatic alkanes and other fatty acids. The findings of this study reported that adding activating agents and catalysts improve hydrochar yield and characteristics of hydrochar and bio-oil products, suggesting the potential of hydrochar as a solid fuel or biomaterial and bio-oil as liquid biofuel

Metabolomics Studies into The Role of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. in Lipid Metabolism

In an earlier study, we had demonstrated ameliorative effects of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. on dyslipidemia and fatty liver in mouse fed a high fat diet. In the present study, we have examined the effect of D. nobile on the lipid metabolism in normal healthy rats after intragastric treatment for four times a day for five days. The treatment followed a metabolomics analysis of the plasma samples for metabolites by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy and the expression levels of genes for lipid metabolism. The metabolite profiles were substantially altered by D. nobile. Through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways enrichment analysis, metabolic pathways were ranked first in terms of the number of referenced metabolites. There were 112 metabolites that were changed significantly in the pathways. The results revealed that D. nobile increased the content of epoxy-octadecenoic acids in plasma more than 19-folds. Moreover, the expression of genes Cyp1a2, Cyp2e1, Cyp2j2, Cyp3a1, Pparγ, Lpl, Acsl1, and Hmgcs2 were all induced in D. nobile treatment group (P < 0.05). Our results supported that D. nobile has a significant role in regulating lipid metabolism in healthy rats. Therefore, it is tempting to speculate that D. nobile would be beneficial in protecting human against the disorders of lipid metabolism.

BiOBr-photocatalyzedcis–transisomerization of 9-octadecenoic acids in different atmospheres

Investigating systematically BiOBr photocatalyzed oleic acid isomerization in different (air, N2, and O2) atmospheres and thecis–transisomerization mechanism for the first time.

Can concentrations of trans octadecenoic acids in milk fat be used to predict methane yields of dairy cows?

There is a need to develop simple, accurate methods for predicting methane emissions, yields and intensities of dairy cows. Several studies have focussed on the relationship between the concentrations of trans-10 plus trans-11 C18:1 fatty acids in milk fat and methane yield. The aim of the present study was to perform a meta-analysis to quantify relationships between the concentrations of various trans isomers of C18:1 in milk fat and methane emissions (g/day), methane yield (g/kg dry-matter intake) and methane intensity (g/kg energy-corrected milk yield). Data were from seven experiments encompassing 23 different diets and 220 observations of milk fatty acid concentrations and methane emissions. Univariate linear mixed-effects regression models were fitted to the data with the linear term as a fixed effect and with experiment and observation within experiment as random effects. Concentrations of trans-9, trans-10, trans-11 and trans-10 plus trans-11 isomers of C18:1 were poorly related to methane emissions, yields and intensities, with the best relationships being between trans-10 C18:1 and methane emissions (R2 = 0.356), trans-10 C18:1 and methane yield (R2 = 0.265) and trans-10 plus trans-11 C18:1 and methane intensity (R2 = 0.124). The data indicated that the relationships between trans-10 C18:1 and methane metrics were not linear, but were biphasic and better described by an exponential model. However, even exponential models poorly fitted the data. It is concluded that the concentrations of trans isomers of C18:1 have limited potential to accurately predict methane emissions, yields or intensities of dairy cows.

Enzymatic Synthesis of α-Propylene glycol with (9Z)-Octadecenoic Acid by Lipolytic Enzyme

Enzymatic synthesis of bio-lubricant from (9Z)-octadecenoic acid with α-propylene glycol has been investigated in this article and the purpose of this study has been to find out the optimum reaction conditions of esterification. Lipolytic enzyme (Lipolase ®100L) has been used to catalyze esterification reaction in solvent-free systems. The optimum reaction conditions of esterification process were achieved. The assessment of the bio-lubricant production options was studied. Tribological properties of α-propylene glycol esters of (9Z)-octadecenoic acids as bio-lubricants were assessed.

Adipose tissuetrans-fatty acids and changes in body weight and waist circumference

Previous studies have suggested that the intake oftrans-fatty acids (TFA) plays a role in the development of obesity. The proportions of adipose tissue fatty acids not synthesised endogenously in humans, such as TFA, usually correlate well with the dietary intake. Hence, the use of these biomarkers may provide a more accurate measure of habitual TFA intake than that obtained with dietary questionnaires. The objective of the present study was to investigate the associations between the proportions of specific TFA in adipose tissue and subsequent changes in weight and waist circumference (WC). The relative content of fatty acids in adipose tissue biopsies from a random sample of 996 men and women aged 50–64 years drawn from a Danish cohort study was determined by GC. Baseline data on weight, WC and potential confounders were available together with information on weight and WC 5 years after enrolment. The exposure measures were totaltrans-octadecenoic acids (18 : 1t), 18 : 1 Δ6-10t, vaccenic acid (18 : 1 Δ11t) and rumenic acid (18 : 2 Δ9c, 11t). Data were analysed using multiple regression with cubic spline modelling. The median proportion of total adipose tissue 18 : 1twas 1·52 % (90 % central range 0·98, 2·19) in men and 1·47 % (1·01, 2·19) in women. No significant associations were observed between the proportions of total 18 : 1t, 18 : 1 Δ6-10t, vaccenic acid or rumenic acid and changes in weight or WC. The present study suggests that the proportions of specific TFA in adipose tissue are not associated with subsequent changes in weight or WC within the exposure range observed in this population.

Chemical Compounds from the Preanal Gland Secretions of the Male Tree Agama (Acanthocercus atricollis) (Fam. Agamidae)

Chemical signals have an important role in the reproductive behaviour of many lizards. However, the compounds secreted by their femoral or preanal glands, which may be used as sexual signals, are mainly known for lizard species within the Scleroglossa clade, whereas compounds in secretions of lizards within the Iguania clade are much less studied. Based on mass spectra, obtained by GC-MS, we found 60 lipophilic compounds in preanal gland secretions of the male tree agama (Acanthocercus atricollis) (fam. Agamidae), including steroids (mainly cholesterol, cholest-3-ene, and some of their derivatives), fatty acids ranging between n-C12 and n-C18 (mainly hexadecanoic and octadecenoic acids), ketones from n-C17 to n-C25, and other minor compounds, such as tocopherol, squalene, waxy esters, and furanones. We compare the compounds found with those present in other lizard species and discuss their potential function in social behaviour