This study investigated the microbial degradation of (14)C-labelled hexadecane, octacosane, phenanthrene and pyrene and considered how degradation might be optimised in three genuinely hydrocarbon-contaminated soils from former petroleum refinery sites. Hydrocarbon mineralisation by the indigenous microbial community was monitored over 23 d. Hydrocarbon mineralisation enhancement by nutrient am...

UNLABELLED As a potential source of biofuel, the green colonial microalga Botryococcus braunii produces large amounts of hydrocarbons that are accumulated in the extracellular matrix. Generally, pretreatment such as drying or heating of wet algae is needed for sufficient recoveries of hydrocarbons from B. braunii using organic solvents. In this study, the Showa strain of B. braunii was cultured...

Hybrid surfactants were generated through the simple mixing of fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon gemini surfactants in aqueous solutions at 25°C. Disulfide exchange between the disulfide in the spacer chain occurred in the mixed micelles. However, the generation of hybrid gemini surfactants was particularly inhibited by the addition of salt. The suppression of the electrostatic repulsion between the...

In social insects, colonies have exclusive memberships and residents promptly detect and reject non-nestmates. Blends of epicuticular hydrocarbons communicate colony affiliation, but the question remains how social insects use the complex information in the blends to discriminate between nestmates and non-nestmates. To test this we altered colony odor by simulating interspecific nest usurpation...

Hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant agent was used for desulfurization of a petroleum hydrocarbon fraction (C10-C22) with boiling range of 175-375 ℃, (light fuel oil) in the presence of acetic acid as catalyst. The oxidation was performed in an ultrasonic bath. It is found that increasing the amount of hydrogen peroxide lead to increase the oxidation rate and so desulfurizatio...

The presence of specific hydrocarbon gas molecules in various types of water cavities in natural gas hydrates (NGHs) are governed by the relative stabilities of these encapsulated guest molecule-water cavity combinations. Using molecular quantum chemical dispersion-corrected hybrid density functional computations, the interaction (ΔE(host--guest)) and cohesive energies (ΔE(coh)), enthalpies, an...

In order to determine hydrocarbon contamination of drinking water in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata and to identify its source, we sampled water and subaqueous surface sediments from Lake Pertusillo, a fresh-water, highly dynamic, artificial reservoir located entirely within the largest oil field in Italy (Val d'Agri, Basilicata). Monitoring by the Basilicata Agency for Environmental...

Direct catalytic conversion of ethanol to hydrocarbon blend-stock can increase biofuels use in current vehicles beyond the ethanol blend-wall of 10-15%. Literature reports describe quantitative conversion of ethanol over zeolite catalysts but high C2 hydrocarbon formation renders this approach unsuitable for commercialization. Furthermore, the prior mechanistic studies suggested that ethanol co...

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase is present and is inducible in mouse skin. 7,8-Benzoflavone, an inhibitor of the enzyme, markedly inhibits tumorigenesis by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, but has either no effect on or stimulates benzo(a)pyrene tumorigenesis. Thus, the role of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase appears highly specific for each polycyclic hydrocarbon, in respect to detoxification and/or ...