Butane monooxygenases of butane-grown Pseudomonas butanovora, Mycobacterium vaccae JOB5, and an environmental isolate, CF8, were compared at the physiological level. The presence of butane monooxygenases in these bacteria was indicated by the following results. (i) O(2) was required for butane degradation. (ii) 1-Butanol was produced during butane degradation. (iii) Acetylene inhibited both but...

Chloroform (CF) degradation by a butane-grown enrichment culture, CF8, was compared to that by butane-grown Pseudomonas butanovora and Mycobacterium vaccae JOB5 and to that by a known CF degrader, Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. All three butane-grown bacteria were able to degrade CF at rates comparable to that of M. trichosporium. CF degradation by all four bacteria required O(inf2). Butane i...

Molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out in order to investigate the adsorption and permeation phenomena of butane isomers through ZSM-5 membranes. Using the VT ensemble configurational-bias Monte Carlo technique, we are able to determine the preferred locations of the butane isomers in the ZSM-5 channels. In permeation simulations, using the VT ensemble non-equilibrium molecular dy...

We used temperature programmed reaction spectroscopy (TPRS) and molecular beam reflectivity measurements to investigate the initial dissociation of n-butane isotopologues on PdO(101) and determine kinetic parameters governing the selectivity of initial C-H(D) bond cleavage. We observe differences in the reactivity of the n-butane isotopologues on PdO(101) due to kinetic isotope effects, and fin...

Batch kinetic and inhibition studies were performed for the aerobic cometabolism of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA), 1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE), and 1,1-dichloroethane (1,1-DCA) by a butane-grown mixed culture. These chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) are often found together as cocontaminants in groundwater. The maximum degradation rates (k(max)) and half-saturation coefficients (...

The involvement of two primary alcohol dehydrogenases, BDH and BOH, in butane utilization in Pseudomonas butanovora (ATCC 43655) was demonstrated. The genes coding for BOH and BDH were isolated and characterized. The deduced amino acid sequence of BOH suggests a 67-kDa alcohol dehydrogenase containing pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) as cofactor and in the periplasm (29-residue leader sequence). ...

Volatile substances are commonly misused with easy-to-obtain commercial products, such as glue, shoe polish, nail polish remover, butane lighter fluid, gasoline and computer duster spray. This report describes a case of sudden death of a 29-year-old woman after presumably inhaling gas cartridge butane from a plastic bag. Autopsy, pathological and toxicological analyses were performed in order t...

Promoted sulfated zirconia samples were prepared by the incipient wetness technique to produce isomerization catalysts which were active for the conversion of n-butane to isobutane at 338K (up to 10% conversion of 1% n-butane, 1atm., 0.25 h(-1) WHSV). The local structure of Fe and Mn in promoted sulfated zirconia was investigated using fluorescence yield XAS. Spectra were taken of calcined samp...

In recent years the household compressor manufacturers have reduced the energy losses inside the compressors resulting in a positive effect on the energy consumption in the cabinets. In the following, N-butane, which is a natural and non ozone depletion refrigerant, is compared to refrigerants presently used in household compressors.

Performance of Ni/Al2O3 catalysts (10 wt.% Ni) in steam reforming of n-butane was investigated in terms of n-butane conversion, selectivity to hydrogen and hydrogen yield. The process was carried out in a fixed-bed tubular reactor at 650 °C and atmospheric pressure. The volumetric flow rates of n-butane and steam were 0.1 mL/min and 0.6 mL/min, respectively. The catalysts were prepared by preci...