Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “DIGESTION”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 793 records · Page 44
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Carbonate clumped isotope analysis (Δ 47 ) of 21 carbonate standards determined via gas‐source isotope‐ratio mass spectrometry on four instrumental configurations using carbonate‐based standardization and multiyear data sets

Rationale Clumped isotope geochemistry examines the pairing or clumping of heavy isotopes in molecules and provides information about the thermodynamic and kinetic controls on their formation. The first clumped isotope measurements of carbonate minerals were first published 15 years ago, and since then, interlaboratory offsets have been observed, and laboratory and community practices for measurement, data analysis, and instrumentation have evolved. Here we briefly review historical and recent developments for measurements, share Tripati Lab practices for four different instrument configurations, test a recently published proposal for carbonate‐based standardization on multiple instruments using multi‐year data sets, and report values for 21 different carbonate standards that allow for recalculations of previously published data sets. Methods We examine data from 4628 standard measurements on Thermo MAT 253 and Nu Perspective IS mass spectrometers, using a common acid bath (90°C) and small‐sample (70°C) individual reaction vessels. Each configuration was investigated by treating some standards as anchors (working standards) and the remainder as unknowns (consistency standards). Results We show that different acid digestion systems and mass spectrometer models yield indistinguishable results when instrument drift is well characterized. For linearity correction, mixed gas‐and‐carbonate standardization or carbonate‐only standardization yields similar results. No difference is observed in the use of three or eight working standards for the construction of transfer functions. Conclusions We show that all configurations yield similar results if instrument drift is robustly characterized and validate a recent proposal for carbonate‐based standardization using large multiyear data sets. Δ 47 values are reported for 21 carbonate standards on both the absolute reference frame (ARF; also refered to as the Carbon Dioxide Equilibrated Scale or CDES) and the new InterCarb‐Carbon Dioxide Equilibrium Scale (I‐CDES) reference frame, facilitating intercomparison of data from a diversity of labs and instrument configurations and restandardization of a broad range of sample sets between 2006, when the first carbonate measurements were published, and the present.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Intensive agricultural management‐induced subsurface accumulation of labile phosphorus in Midwestern agricultural soils dominated by tile lines

Abstract In addition to surface runoff, subsurface P loss through tile lines in agricultural lands has received attention over the last decade. It is not clearly understood how this strong ligand, phosphate, is distributed in subsoils (≤180 cm), contributing to subsurface P loss. We hypothesized that subsurface accumulation of labile P as a result of long‐term intensive agricultural management contributes to subsurface P loss. The depth sequence distribution of P and its speciation and reactivity were investigated in tile‐line‐dominated Midwestern agricultural fields via chemical extraction and digestion, batch desorption experiments, and X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure spectroscopy. The results suggest that labile P in subsoils exceeds the eutrophication‐inducing level (>0.01 mg L –1 ). Because of intensive agricultural management, total P was ∼400 mg kg –1 in surface soils and ∼200‐300 mg kg –1 in subsoils. The depth sequence distribution of P indicated the translocation of P to subsoils. Although phosphate and phytic acid adsorbed by Al or Fe (oxyhydro)oxides and calcite were found in surface soils, phosphate adsorbed to calcite, hydroxyapatite, or both were the dominant P species in subsoils. Phosphate was highest in surface soils and decreased sharply with increasing depth. Slightly alkaline soil in subsoils suppressed the release of P but the process was continuous after 30 d. Subsurface P loss was influenced by the dissolution and desorption process of inorganic P phases and preferentially transported P from surface soils. Subsurface P loss should be considered in strategies to reduce agricultural P loss in the Gulf of Mexico.

Xu, Suwei↗
DOE OSTI2023

Synthesis of Pyrimidine Modified Seleno–DNA as a Novel Approach to Antisense Candidate

Chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) currently in pre–clinical and clinical experiments mainly focus on the 2’–position derivatizations to enhance stability and targeting affinity. Considering the possible incompatibility of 2’–modifications with RNase H stimulation and activity, we have hypothesized that the atom specific modifications on nucleobases can retain the complex structure and RNase H activity, while enhancing ASO's binding affinity, specificity, and stability against nucleases. Herein we report a novel strategy to explore our hypothesis by synthesizing the deoxynucleoside phosphoramidite building block with the seleno–modification at 5–position of thymidine, as well as its Se–oligonucleotides. Via X–ray crystal structural study, we found that the Se–modification was located in the major groove of nucleic acid duplex and didn't cause the thermal and structural perturbations. Surprisingly, our nucleobase–modified Se–DNAs were exceptionally resistant to nuclease digestion, while compatible with RNase H activity. In conclusion, this affords a novel avenue for potential anti–sense modification in the form of Se–antisense oligonucleotides (Se–ASO).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Hythane production from brewery wastewater‐generated biogas using a membrane electrochemical cell

Converting organic wastes into hythane, a blend of hydrogen (5% to 25%) and methane (75% to 95%), will not only reduce waste discharge but also maximize energy recovery. Herein, a membrane electrochemical cell was investigated to produce hythane from biogas generated in anaerobic digestion of brewery wastewater (BW). The key parameters including current densities, electrolyte concentrations, and biogas flow rates were examined in batch tests. Under an optimal condition (210 mA, 100 mM electrolyte, 1 mL min −1 of biogas flow), the system achieved the production of hythane containing 70.6% ± 1.1% CH 4 , 27.3% ± 0.5% H 2 , and 2.1% ± 1.6% CO 2 (corresponding to 91.1% ± 6.4% CO 2 removal). Meanwhile, the H 2 S concentration was decreased from 513 to 2 ppm, 99.9% ± 0.2% removal. Energy efficiency of this system was estimated 61.8% ± 10.7%, and energy output increased by 54.4% ± 10.6% with biogas upgrading to hythane. Furthermore, these results encourage further exploration of electrochemical approach for simultaneous biogas upgrading and hythane production.

Rao, Yue [Washington University in St. Louis, MO (↗
DOE OSTI2021

An exploration of benchtop X–ray emission spectroscopy for precise characterization of the sulfur redox state in cementitious materials

The evolution of sulfur chemistry in cements is best known in the bailiwick of failure mechanisms via sulfate attack but is equally important for its contributions to the reduction capacity of cementitious materials often used for immobilizing nuclear waste streams destined for long-term storage, e.g., cementitious waste forms (CWF). The total reduction capacity of CWFs, encompassing contributions from both S and Fe reductants, and its implications toward radionuclide immobilization is most often studied by destructive wet chemistry methods requiring acid digestion in the presence of Ce(IV) and subsequent titration and colorimetric interpretation. Here, we investigate a similarly analytical but nondestructive alternative, benchtop high resolution wavelength-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, most commonly known as x-ray emission spectroscopy (XES), for probing the bulk sulfur oxidation state distribution. We present here an initial investigation of S XES, including an improved experimental protocol for lab XES of inhomogeneous samples, both as a complement to the Ce(IV) test and for new scientific opportunities that it enables for observing changes in sulfur chemistry. We discuss future improvements and opportunities, including: (1) the practical challenges associated with coordinating XES and Ce(IV) liquid extraction for a more comprehensive perspective on reduction capacity and for a high-precision evaluation of uncertainties in the Ce(IV) test; and (2) new opportunities, due to the nondestructive nature of XES, for controlled evolution studies aimed at elucidating specific chemical responses of CWF’s exposed to invasive gas or liquid species or to accelerated aging by radiative dose or thermal treatment.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Chapter 8: Metabolic Engineering of Methanotrophic Bacteria for Industrial Biomanufacturing

CH4 offers a promising, high-volume petroleum replacement for fuel and chemical bioprocesses. Recent advances in gas recovery technologies have facilitated access to previously inaccessible natural gas reserves, while biogas generated from anaerobic digestion of waste streams offers a versatile, renewable CH4 source. Importantly, CH4 is also the second most abundant greenhouse gas (GHG), with nearly 60% of emissions derived from anthropogenic sources. However, the gaseous state of CH4 makes for a lack of compatibility with current transportation and industrial manufacturing infrastructure, limiting its utilization as a transportation fuel and intermediate in biochemical processes. Resurgent interest in CH4 upgrading has pushed microbial conversion of CH4 to fuels and value-added chemicals to the forefront of industrial bioprocessing. CH4 bioconversion offers both CH4 valorization and GHG emission reduction potential and importantly offers a scalable, modular, and selective approach to CH4 utilization compared to conventional physical and chemical conversion strategies. However, as noted above, advances in CH4 biocatalysis have been constrained by limited genetic tractability of natural CH4-consuming microbes. In this chapter, we review recent advances in methanotrophic genetic and genomic tool development and metabolic engineering.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Functional Requirements for Information Resource Provenance on the Web

We provide a means to formally explain the relationship between HTTP URLs and the representations returned when they are requested. According to existing World Wide Web architecture, the URL serves as an identier for a semiotic referent while the document returned via HTTP serves as a representation of the same referent. This begins with two sides of a semiotic triangle; the third side is the relationship between the URL and the representation received. We complete this description by extending the library science resource model Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Resources (FRBR) with cryptographic message and content digests to create a Functional Requirements for Information Resources (FRIR). We show how applying the FRIR model to HTTP GET and POST transactions disambiguates the many relationships between a given URL and all representations received from its request, provides fine-grained explanations that are complementary to existing explanations of web resources, and integrates easily into the emerging W3C provenance standard.

Data Management↗
DOE OSTI2019

Quantitative Determination of Heavy Metal Contamination in Horse Mackerel and Whiting Caught in the Sea of Marmara

In this study, the concentrations of lead, cadmium and manganese were determined in horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus) and whiting (Merlangius merlangus euxinus) that were caught in the Sea of Marmara. These are commonly consumed fish species in this region. Fish were provided by a fishermen quarterly between March 2013 and December 2013 and, separated according to size (small, medium and large). Pb(II), Cd(II) and Mn(II) levels were determined using the wet digestion method by Graphite furnace atomic atomic absorption spectrophotometer. According to this study, for horse mackerel, the highest concentration of lead, cadmium, and manganese was 6.69 µg kg{sup −1} (September), 5.24 µg kg{sup −1} (March) and 9.24 µg kg{sup −1} (June), respectively. For whiting, the highest concentration of lead, cadmium, and manganese was 2.25 µg kg{sup −1} (June), 0.263 µg kg{sup −1} (September) and 10.4 µg kg{sup −1} (June), respectively. These heavy metal levels in fish were found to be acceptable for human consumption according to World Health Organization border values.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Evaluating the structural complexity of isomeric bile acids with ion mobility spectrometry

Bile acids (BAs) play an integral role in digestion through the absorption of nutrients, emulsification of fats and fat-soluble vitamins, and maintenance of cholesterol levels. Metabolic disruption, diabetes, colorectal cancer, and numerous other diseases have been linked with BA disruption, making improved BA analyses essential. To date, most BA measurements are performed using liquid chromatography separations in conjunction with mass spectrometry measurements (LC-MS). However, 10–40 min LC gradients are often used for BA analyses and these may not even be sufficient for distinguishing all the important isomers present in the human body. Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is a promising tool for BA evaluations due to its ability to quickly separate isomeric molecules with subtle structural differences. In this study, we utilized drift tube IMS (DTIMS) coupled with MS to characterize 56 different unlabeled BA standards and 16 deuterated versions. In the DTIMS-MS analyses of 12 isomer groups, BAs with smaller m/z values were easily separated in either their deprotonated or sodiated forms (or both). However, as the BAs grew in m/z value, they became more difficult to separate with two isomer groups being inseparable. Metal ions such as copper and zinc were then added to the overlapping BAs, and due to different binding sites, the resulting complexes were separable. Thus, the rapid structural measurements possible with DTIMS-MS show great potential for BAs measurements with and without prior LC separations.

Zheng, Xueyun↗
DOE OSTI2019

Development of a shuttle plasmid without host restriction sites for efficient transformation and heterologous gene expression in Clostridium cellulovorans

Clostridium cellulovorans capable of producing large amounts of acetate and butyrate from cellulose is a promising candidate for biofuels and biochemicals production from lignocellulosic biomass. However, the restriction modification (RM) systems of C. cellulovorans hindered the application of existing shuttle plasmids for metabolic engineering of this organism. To overcome the hurdle of plasmid digestion by host, a new shuttle plasmid (pYL001) was developed to remove all restriction sites of two major RM systems of C. cellulovorans , Cce 743 I and Cce 743 II. The pYL001 plasmid remained intact after challenge by C. cellulovorans cell extract. Post-electroporation treatments and culturing conditions were also modified to improve cell growth and colony formation on agar plates. With the improvements, the pYL001 plasmid, without in-vivo methylation, was readily transformed into C. cellulovorans with colonies of recombinant cells formed on agar plates within 24 h. Three pYL001-derived recombinant plasmids free of Cce 743 I/ Cce 743 II restriction sites, after synonymous mutation of the heterologous genes, were constructed and transformed into C. cellulovorans . Functional expression of these genes was confirmed with butanol and ethanol production from glucose in batch fermentations by the transformants. In conclusion, the pYL001 plasmid and improved transformation method can facilitate further metabolic engineering of C. cellulovorans for cellulosic butanol production.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Gastrostomy Tube Placement Without Nasogastric Tube: A Retrospective Evaluation in 85 Patients

Purpose: Our study evaluated techniques for percutaneous gastrostomy (G)-tube placement without the use of a nasogastric (NG) tube. Instead, direct puncture of a physiologic air bubble or effervescent-enhanced gastric bubble distention was performed in patients with upper digestive tract obstruction (UDTO) or psychological objections to NG tubes. Materials and Methods: A total of 886 patients underwent G-tube placement in our department during a period of 7 years. We present our series of 85 (9.6%) consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous G-tube placement without use of an NG tube. Results: Of these 85 patients, fluoroscopic guided access was attempted by direct puncture of a physiologically present gastric air bubble in 24 (28%) cases. Puncture of an effervescent-induced large gastric air bubble was performed in 61 (72%) patients. Altogether, 82 (97%) of 85 G tubes were successfully placed in this fashion. The three failures comprised refusal of effervescent, vomiting of effervescent, and one initial tube misplacement when a deviation from our standard technique occurred. Conclusion: The described techniques compare favorably with published large series on G-tube placement with an NG tube in place. The techniques are especially suited for patients with UDTO due to head, neck, or esophageal malignancies, but they should be considered as an alternative in all patients. Direct puncture of effervescent-enhanced gastric bubble distention is a safe, patient-friendly and effective technique.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Engineering Yarrowia lipolytica for poly-3-hydroxybutyrate production

In this study, strains of Yarrowia lipolytica were engineered to express the poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) biosynthetic pathway. The genes for β-ketothiolase, NADPH-dependent acetoacetyl-CoA reductase, and PHB synthase were cloned and inserted into the chromosome of Y. lipolytica. In shake flasks, the engineered strain accumulated PHB to 1.50 and 3.84% of cell dry weight in complex medium supplemented with glucose and acetate as carbon source, respectively. In fed-batch fermentation using acetate as sole carbon source, 7.35 g/l PHB (10.2% of cell dry weight) was produced. Selection of Y. lipolytica as host for PHB synthesis was motivated by the fact that this organism is a good lipids producer, which suggests robust acetyl-CoA supply also the precursor of the PHB pathway. Lastly, acetic acid could be supplied by gas fermentation, anaerobic digestion, and other low-cost supply route.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2013

Controlled Dispensing and Mixing of Pico- to Nanoliter Volumes Using On-Demand Droplet-Based Microfluidics

We present an integrated droplet-on-demand microfluidic platform for dispensing, mixing, incubating, extracting and analyzing by mass spectrometry pico- to nanoliter sized droplets. Droplet generation is accomplished using computer-controlled pneumatic valves. Controlled actuation of valves for different aqueous streams enables controlled dosing and rapid mixing of reagents within droplets in the droplet generation area or in a region with widening channel cross-section. Following incubation, which takes place while droplets travel in the oil stream, the droplet contents are extracted to an aqueous channel for subsequent ionization at an integrated nanoelectrospray emitter. As an initial demonstration of the platform, rapid enzymatic digestions of a model protein are performed in droplets and detected on-line by nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗
DOE OSTI2011

Proteomic and targeted qPCR analyses of subsurface microbial communities for presence of methane monooxygenase

The Test Area North (TAN) site at the Idaho National Laboratory near Idaho Falls, ID, USA, sits over a trichloroethylene (TCE) contaminant plume in the Snake River Plain fractured basalt aquifer. Past observations have provided evidence that TCE at TAN is being transformed by biological natural attenuation that may be primarily due to co-metabolism in aerobic portions of the plume by methanotrophs. TCE co-metabolism by methanotrophs is the result of the broad substrate specificity of microbial methane monooxygenase which permits non-specific oxidation of TCE in addition to the primary substrate, methane. Arrays of experimental approaches have been utilized to understand the biogeochemical processes driving intrinsic TCE co-metabolism at TAN. In this study, aerobic methanotrophs were enumerated by qPCR using primers targeting conserved regions of the genes pmoA and mmoX encoding subunits of the particulate MMO (pMMO) and soluble MMO (sMMO) enzymes, respectively, as well as the gene mxa encoding the downstream enzyme methanol dehydrogenase. Identification of proteins in planktonic and biofilm samples from TAN was determined using reverse phase ultraperformance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with a quadrupole-time-of-flight (QToF) mass spectrometer to separate and sequence peptides from trypsin digests of the protein extracts. Detection of MMO in unenriched water samples from TAN provides direct evidence of intrinsic methane oxidation and TCE co-metabolic potential of the indigenous microbial population. Mass spectrometry is also well suited for distinguishing which form of MMO is expressed in situ either soluble or particulate. Using this method, pMMO proteins were found to be abundant in samples collected from wells within and adjacent to the TCE plume at TAN.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2016

An integrated spectroscopic and wet chemical approach to investigate grass litter decomposition chemistry

The chemical transformations that occur during litter decomposition are key processes for soil organic matter formation and terrestrial biogeochemistry; yet we still lack complete understanding of these chemical processes. Thus, we monitored the chemical composition of Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem grass) litter residue over a 36 month decomposition experiment in a prairie ecosystem using: traditional wet chemical fractionation based upon digestibility, solid state 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The goals of this study were to (1) determine the chemical changes occurring during A. gerardii litter decomposition, and (2) compare the information obtained from each method to assess agreement. Overall, we observed a 97 % mass loss of the original litter, through a two-stage decomposition process. In the first stage, within 12 months, non-structural, cellulose and hemicellulose fractions not encrusted in lignin were preferentially and rapidly lost, while the acid unhydrolyzable residue (AUR) and microbial components increased. During the second stage, 12–36 months, all wet chemical fraction masses decreased equivalently and slowly with time, and the AUR and the lignin-encrusted cellulose fractions decomposition rates were comparable to each other. Method comparisons revealed that wet chemical fractionation did not accurately follow the initial litter structures, particularly lignin, likely because of chemical transformations and accumulation of microbial biomass. FTIR and NMR were able to determine bulk structural characteristics, and aid in elucidating chemical transformations but lacked the ability to measure absolute quantities of structural groups. As a result, we warn from the sole use of wet chemical methods, and strongly encourage coupling them with spectroscopic methods. Our results overall support the traditional chemical model of selective preservation of lignin, but shows that this is limited to the early stages of decomposition, while lignin is not selectively preserved at subsequent stages. Finally, our study also provides important evidence regarding the impact of chemically different litter structures on decomposition rates and pathways.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Defatted microalgae ( Nannochloropsis sp.) from biorefinery as a potential feed protein source to replace fishmeal in European sea bass diets

Here, the present work focuses on the use of defatted biomass of the microalga Nannochloropsis sp. from the biodiesel industry, as a partial substitute of fish meal (FM) in diets for European sea bass. The effects of increasing inclusion levels of microalgal meal on growth performance, body composition, nutrient utilization, gut morphology, and innate immunity were evaluated after 93 days. A reference alga-free diet was the control (CTRL) diet, and the three experimental diets contained 5 (MA5), 10 (MA10), and 15% (MA15) of the microalgal meal. The microalga-rich diets were supplemented with DL-methionine to assure sea bass dietary requirement. Overall, nutrient apparent digestibilities (ADCs) of the diets were not altered by the microalgal inclusion, but energy ADC was highest in fish fed the CTRL diet (90% vs 88%). At the end of the trial, fish growth performance was similar among dietary treatments (DGI of 1.0), but fish fed MA10 had a significantly higher feed conversion ratio than those fed CTRL and MA5. Final whole body composition and nutrient gain of fish fed the different diets were similar. No significant differences were detected in gut morphology among treatments. Innate immune parameters (lysozyme, alternative complement pathway—ACH50, and peroxidase) were examined, and ACH50 of the fish fed MA15 was significantly lower than those fed MA10, suggesting a dose-dependent stimulation of the innate immune response. The present results indicate that defatted microalgal meal can replace fishmeal in European sea bass diets—at inclusion levels of up to 15%—contributing to a circular economy approach.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Partial Least Squares Regression Calibration of an Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometer for Measurements of Chemical Oxygen Demand in Dye Wastewater

Wastewater from the dye industry is typically analyzed using a standard method for measurement of chemical oxygen demand (COD) or by a single-wavelength spectroscopic method. To overcome the disadvantages of these methods, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy was combined with principal component regression (PCR) and partial least squares regression (PLSR) in this study. Unlike the standard method, this method does not require digestion of the samples for preparation. Experiments showed that the PLSR model offered high prediction performance for COD, with a mean relative error of about 5% for two dyes. This error is similar to that obtained with the standard method. In this study, the precision of the PLSR model decreased with the number of dye compounds present. It is likely that multiple models will be required in reality, and the complexity of a COD monitoring system would be greatly reduced if the PLSR model is used because it can include several dyes. UV-Vis spectroscopy with PLSR successfully enhanced the performance of COD prediction for dye wastewater and showed good potential for application in on-line water quality monitoring.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗