Ethanol steam reforming over Ni/ZSM-5 nanosheet for hydrogen production

Compared to reforming reactions using hydrocarbons,ethanol steam reforming(ESR)is a sustainable alternative for hydrogen(H_(2))production since ethanol can be produced sustainably using biomass.This work explores the catalyst design strategies for preparing the Ni supported on ZSM-5 zeolite catalysts to promote ESR.Specifically,two-dimensional ZSM-5 nanosheet and conventional ZSM-5 crystal were used as the catalyst carriers and two synthesis strategies,i.e.,in situ encapsulation and wet impregnation method,were employed to prepare the catalysts.Based on the comparative characterization of the catalysts and comparative catalytic assessments,it was found that the combination of the in situ encapsulation synthesis and the ZSM-5 nanosheet carrier was the effective strategy to develop catalysts for promoting H_(2) production via ESR due to the improved mass transfer(through the 2-D structure of ZSM-5 nanosheet)and formation of confined small Ni nanoparticles(resulted via the in situ encapsulation synthesis).In addition,the resulting ZSM-5 nanosheet supported Ni catalyst also showed high Ni dispersion and high accessibility to Ni sites by the reactants,being able to improve the activity and stability of catalysts and suppress metal sintering and coking during ESR at high reaction temperatures.Thus,the Ni supported on ZSM-5 nanosheet catalyst prepared by encapsulation showed the stable performance with~88% ethanol conversion and~65% H_(2) yield achieved during a 48-h longevity test at 550-C.

Introgression of lac6/tl1/du13 improves the palatability of japonica rice

Amylose content(AC)is a crucial determinant of the eating and cooking quality(ECQ)of rice,with low AC varieties exhibiting a softer texture and greater stickiness-attributes that enhance palatability and are desirable in specific culinary contexts.To harness these traits,significant efforts have been made to manipulate AC to improve rice ECQ.Our research utilized the MutMap+approach to identify LAC6/TL1,a gene that is an allele of Du13,responsible for low AC.LAC6 encodes a C2H2 zinc finger protein,which specifically increases the splicing efficiency of the Wxb allele without affecting the Wxa allele.Functional studies of LAC6 revealed that its proper integration could rectify the undesirable AC phenotype,whereas mutations within this gene led to reduced AC and were associated with shorter grain length and decreased thousand-grain weight.Despite these drawbacks,such mutations positively impact rice palatability,presenting a trade-off between grain size and eating quality.To address the challenges posed by the reduced grain weight associated with LAC6 mutations,we developed a specific molecular marker for LAC6,which has been effectively used in breeding programs to select lac6/tl1/du13 homozygous individuals with larger grain size.Our findings demonstrate that the“small grain”trait associated with lac6/tl1/du13 can be effectively mitigated through combined phenotype-based and marker-assisted selection.This study highlights the potential of lac6/tl1/du13 as a valuable gene for breeding novel,high-quality soft rice varieties through targeted breeding strategies.

Understanding the influence of microwave on the relative volatility used in the pyrolysis of Indonesia oil sands

In this paper, pyrolysis of Indonesian oil sands （lOS） was investigated by two different heating methods to develop a better understanding of the microwave-assisted pyrolysis. Thermogravimetric analysis was conducted to study the thermal decomposition behaviors of lOS, showing that 550 ℃ might be the pyrolysis final temperature. A explanation of the heat-mass transfer process was presented to demonstrate the influence of mi- crowave-assisted pyrolysis on the liquid product distribution. The heat-mass transfer model was also useful to explain the increase of liquid product yield and heavy component content at the same heating rate by two differ- ent heating methods. Experiments were carried out using a fixed bed reactor with and without the microwave irradiation. The results showed that liquid product yield was increased during microwave induced pyrolysis, while the formation of gas and solid residue was reduced in comparison with the conventional pyrolysis. Moreover, the liquid product characterization by elemental analysis and GC-MS indicated the significant effect on the liquid chemical composition by microwave irradiation. High polarity substances （ε 〉 10 at 25 ℃）, such as oxy- organics were increased, while relatively low polarity substances （ε 〈 2 at 25℃）, such as aliphatic hydrocarbons were decreased, suggesting that microwave enhanced the relative volatility of high polarity substances. The yield improvement and compositional variations in the liquid product promoted by the microwave-assisted pyrolysis deserve the further exploitation in the future,

Brassinosteroid and gibberellin coordinate rice seed germination and embryo growth by regulating glutelin mobilization

Seed germination is the beginning of a new lifecycle,and involves many complex physiological and biochemical reactions including seed reserve mobilization in the endosperm and nutrient transport and reuse in the embryo.Although glutelin is a dominant storage protein in rice,its contribution to seed germination and its regulatory mechanisms are mostly unknown.Gibberellin (GA) and brassinosteroid (BR),two major growth-promoting phytohormones,also play positive roles in controlling seed germination.However,how GA and BR interact and coordinate seed germination and facilitate glutelin mobilization remains unclear.In the present study,biochemical and physiological analyses of seed germination indicated that both GA and BR promote seed germination and post-germination growth.Exogenous application of GA restored germination defects caused by BR deficiency or insensitivity.Proteomic and q RT-PCR results showed that the expression of several glutelin proteins and their encoding genes was induced by BR and GA in the embryo.Expression assays suggested that the increased accumulation of glutelin protein in the embryo was due to the accelerated degradation of glutelin by a cysteine proteinase (REP-1) in the endosperm.The breakdown of glutelin in the endosperm showed a strict positive correspondence with the length of the shoot.The GluA2 mutation led to reduced degradation rate of glutelin and defects in seed germination,and the promotion effect of GA on seed germination was weakened in the glua2mutant.In vitro culture assay of rice embryos showed that glutelin mobilization functioned downstream of the GA and BR pathways to promote shoot elongation.These findings suggest a mechanism that mediates crosstalk between BR and GA in co-regulating rice seed germination and embryo growth.

Renewable hydrogen production from steam reforming of glycerol(SRG)over ceria-modified Y-alumina supported Ni catalyst

Excess crude glycerol derived as a by-product from biodiesel industry prompts the need to valorise glycerol to value-added chemicals.In this context,catalytic steam reforming of glycerol(SRG) was proposed as a promising and sustainable alternative for producing renewable hydrogen(H2).Herein,the development of nickel(Ni) supported on ceria-modified mesoporous γ-alumina(γ-Al2 O3) catalysts and their applications in catalytic SRG(at550-750℃ atmospheric pressure and weight hourly space velocity,WHSV,of 44,122 ml·g^-1·h^-1(STP)) is presented.Properties of the developed catalysts were characterised using many technique s.The findings show that ceria modification improved Ni dispersion on γ-Al2 O3 catalyst support with highly active small Ni particles,which led to a remarkable catalytic performance with the total glycerol conversion(ca.99%),glycerol conversion into gaseous products(ca.77%) and H2 yield(ca.62%).The formation rate for H2 production(14.4 ×10^(-5)mol·s^-1·g^-1, TOF(H2)=3412 s^-1) was significantly improved with the Ni@12 Ce-Al2 O3 catalyst,representing nearly a 2-fold increase compared with that of the conventional Ni@AI2 O3 catalyst.In addition,the developed catalyst also exhibited comparatively high stability(for 12 h) and coke resistance ability.

Recent advances in non-thermal plasma(NTP)catalysis towards C1 chemistry

C1 chemistrymainly involves the catalytic transformation of C1molecules(i.e.,CO,CO2,CH4 and CH3OH),which usually encounters thermodynamic and/or kinetic limitations.To address these limitations,non-thermal plasma(NTP)activated heterogeneous catalysis offers a number of advantages,such as relatively mild reaction conditions and energy efficiency,in comparison to the conventional thermal catalysis.This review presents the state-of-the-art for the application of NTP-catalysis towards C1 chemistry,including the CO2 hydrogenation,reforming of CH4 and CH3OH,and water-gas shift(WGS)reaction.In the hybrid NTP-catalyst system,the plasma-catalyst interactions aremultifaceted.Accordingly,this reviewalso includes a brief discussion on the fundamental research into themechanisms of NTP activated catalytic C1 chemistry,such as the advanced characterisation methods(e.g.,in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy,DRIFTS),temperatureprogrammed plasma surface reaction(TPPSR),kinetic studies.Finally,prospects for the future research on the development of tailor-made catalysts for NTP-catalysis systems(which will enable the further understanding of its mechanism)and the translation of the hybrid technique to practical applications of catalytic C1 chemistry are discussed.

Structured hierarchical Mn–Co mixed oxides supported on silicalite-1 foam catalyst for catalytic combustion

Silicalite-1(S1)foam was functionalized by supporting manganese-cobalt(Mn-Co)mixed oxides to develop the structured hierarchical catalyst(Mn-Co@SlF)for catalytic combustion for the first time.The self-supporting S1 foam with hierarchical porosity was prepared via hydrothermal synthesis with polyurethane(PU)foam as the template.Subsequently,Mn-Co oxide nano sheets were uniformly grown on the surface of S1 foams under hydrothermal conditions to prepare the structured hierarchical catalyst with specific surface area of 354 m^2·g^-1,micropore volume of 0.141 cm^3·g^-1 and total pore volume of 0.217 cm3·g^-1,as well as a good capacity to adsorb toluene(1.7 mmol·g^-1 at p/p0=0.99).Comparative catalytic combustion of toluene of over developed structured catalyst Mn-Co@SlF was performed against the control catalysts of bulk Mn-Co@S1(i.e.,the crushed Mn-Co@SlF)and unsupported Mn-Co oxides(i.e.,Mn-Co).Mn-Co@SlF exhibited comparatively the best catalytic performance,that is,complete and stable toluene conversion at 2480 C over 65 h due to the synergy between Mn-Co oxides and S1 foam,which provided a large number of oxygen vacancies,high redox capacity.In addition,the hierarchical porous structure also improved the accessibility of active sites and facilitated the global mass transfer across the catalyst bed,being beneficial to the catalysis and catalyst longevity.

Systematic study of H2 production from catalytic photoreforming of cellulose over Pt catalysts supported on TiO2

Hydrogen(H2)production from photocatalytic reforming of cellulose is a promising way for sustainable H2 to be generated.Herein,we report a systematic study of the photocatalytic reforming of cellulose over Pt/m-TiO2(i.e.mixed TiO2,80%of anatase and 20%of rutile)catalysts in water.The optimum operation condition was established by studying the effect of Pt loading,catalyst concentration,cellulose concentration and reaction temperature on the gas production rate of H2(r(H2))and CO2(r(CO2)),suggesting an optimum operation condition at 40°C with 1.0 g·L^-1of cellulose and 0.75 g·L^-1of 0.16-Pt/m-TiO2 catalyst(with 0.16 wt%Pt loadting)to achieve a relatively sound photocatalytic performance with rH2=9.95μmol·h^-1.It is also shown that although the photoreforming of cellulose was operated at a relatively mild condition(i.e.with an UV-A lamp irradiation at40°C in the aqueous system),a low loading of Pt at^0.16 wt%on m-TiO2 could promote the H2 production effectively.Additionally,by comparing the reaction order expressed from both r(H2)(a1)and r(CO2)(a2)with respect to cellulose and water,the possible mechanism of H2 production was proposed.

Fine Mapping and Candidate Gene Prediction of the Quantitative Trait Locus qPL8 for Panicle Length in Rice

Rice panicle is the sink organ where assimilation product accumulates,and its morphology determines the rice yield.Panicle length has been suggested as a yield-related trait,but the genetic factor for its control is still limited.In this study,we carried out fine-mapping of qPL8,a QTL identified for panicle length in our previous work.Near isogenic line(NIL)with qPL8 exhibited elongated panicle without obvious effect on other panicle elements.With five key recombinants from NIL population,the locus was finally narrowed down to a 278-kb region,where 44 genes are annotated.By comparing the genomic sequence of two parents,17 genes were identified with SNPs or InDels variations in the coding region.Expression analysis showed that eight genes were up-regulated in the NIL with qPL8.Considering both the coding variation and expression status,several candidate genes for the locus were identified,and OsMADS37 was raised as the most possible candidate.Interestingly,an expression QTL(eQTL)also resides in the locus,leading to a cluster of gene expression variation in the region.This study will facilitate the application of qPL8 locus in rice breeding for yield potential.

Additive manufacturing of sodalite monolith for continuous heavy metal removal from water sources

Herein,we present a simple strategy for preparing monolithic sodalite adsorbents via sequential additive manufacturing and post-treatments.In detail,the method includes(i)3D printing of cylindrical monoliths using clay as the base material;(ii)thermal activation of the 3D-printed clay monoliths by calcination(to produce reactive alumina and silica species and enable mechanical stabilization);(iii)conversion of the activated clay monoliths to hierarchical porous sodalite monoliths via hydrothermal alkaline treatment.Parametric studies on the effect of calcination temperature,alkaline concentration and hydrothermal treatment time on the property of the resulting materials(such as phase composition and morphology)at different stages of preparation was conducted.Under the optimal conditions(i.e.,calcination temperature of 850℃,NaOH concentration of 3.3 mol·L^(-1),reaction temperature of 150℃,and reaction time of 6 h),a high-quality pure sodalite monolith was obtained,which possesses a relatively high BET surface area(58 m^(2)·g^(-1))and hierarchically micro-meso-macroporous structure.In the proposed application of continuous removal of heavy metals(chromium ion as the model)from wastewater,the developed 3D-printed sodalite monolith showed excellent Cr^(3+)removal performance and fast kinetics(~98%removal efficiency within 25 cycles),which outperformed the packed bed using sodalite pellets(made by extrusion).

Adsorption desalination:Advances in porous adsorbents

With the continuous growth of the world population,the demand for fresh water is ever increasing.Water desalination is a means of producing fresh water from saline water,and one of the proposed solutions in the scientific community for solving the current global freshwater shortage.Adsorption is foreseen as a promising technology for desalination due to its relatively low energy requirements,low environmental impact,low cost and high salt removal efficiency.More importantly,chemicals are not required in adsorption processes.Active carbons,zeolites,carbon nanostructures,graphene and coordination framework materials are amongst the most investigated adsorbents for adsorption desalination,which show different performances regarding adsorption rate,adsorption capacity,stability and recyclability.In this review,the latest adsorbent materials with their features are assessed(using metrics)and commented critically,and the current trend for their development is discussed.The adsorption mode is also reviewed,which can provide guidance for the design of adsorbents from the engineering application point of view.

Catalytic conversion of bioethanol to value-added chemicals and fuels:A review

Bioethanol produced via valorisation of renewable biomass is of great interest to many industries.The increased availability and decreased cost of bioethanol make it a promising platform molecule to produce a wide range of value-added chemicals and fuels via the catalytic conversions.This paper provides a comprehensive review of catalytic conversions of bioethanol to a variety of chemicals/fuels such as hydrogen,C_(2)-C_(4)olefins,gasoline and small oxygenates.Specifically,the focus was placed on the relationship between the catalyst property(such as pore structure,acidity,active metal sites,and catalyst supports)and the catalytic performance(including catalyst activity and stability),as well as the reaction mechanisms involved.Future research avenues on the catalyst design for improving catalytic valorisation of bioethanol are also discussed.

Exploration and Validation of the Potential Downstream Genes Underlying ipa1-2D Locus for Rice Panicle Branching

In recent years,some super hybrid rice varieties were bred with strong culms and large panicles,which are mainly contributed by the ipa1-2D locus.A gain-of-function allele of OsSPL14 is the ipa1-2D and it can greatly increase the panicle primary branch number.However,the key downstream genes mediating this trait variation are not fully explored.In this study,we developed high-quality near-isogenic lines(NILs)with a difference of only 30 kb chromosomal segment covering the ipa1-2D locus.Using the NILs,we explored the impact of ipa1-2D on five sequential stages of early inflorescence development,and found that the locus can greatly enhance the initiation of primary branch meristems.A transcriptomic analysis was performed to unveil the downstream molecular network of ipa1-2D,and 87 genes were found differentially expressed,many of which are involved in metabolism and catalysis processes.In addition,transgenic lines of overexpression and RNA interference were generated to shape different levels of OsSPL14.They were also used to validate the expression variation explored by transcriptome.Based on the gene annotation,twelve potential downstream targets of ipa1-2D were selected,and their expression variation was confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis both in NILs and transgenic lines.This research expands the molecular network underlying ipa1-2D and provides novel gene information which might be involved in the control of panicle branching.We discussed the potential function of identified genes and highlighted their values for future function exploration and breeding application.

Special issue on progress in advanced energy technologies and materials

This special issue of the Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering(CJCh E)concerns with the current progress in advanced energy technologies and materials related to chemical science and technology,especially the work in the field of renewable energy,energy storage,clean and efficient utilization of energy,aligning well to the scope of this Journal.The world is moving towards a sustainable,clean and low-carbon future via‘Energy Transition',i.e..

Pharmacological mechanisms of Yishen Xingyang capsule in the treatment of oligoasthenospermia in rats

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effects and pharmacological mechanisms of Yishen Xingyang capsule(YXC)in oligoasthenospermia(OA)rats.Methods:Forty-eight male SpragueeDawley rats were randomly divided into eight groups of six rats each:normal control(NC);model control(MC);three different positive drug(PD);and low-,medium-,and high-dose YXC groups.A rat model of OA was established by administering glucosides of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.F(GTW).After YXC administration,penile erectile function was observed.The epididymis,blood,and testes of the rats were harvested for analysis of sperm quality,sex hormone levels,mitochondrial membrane potential,and the transforming growth factor(TGF)-b1/Smad signaling pathway.Results:Compared with that in the MC group,penile erectile function in the YXC groups and three PD groups increased(all P<.01).Moreover,sperm quality in the YXC groups and three PD groups improved(all P<.001).The levels of testosterone,follicle stimulating hormone,and luteinizing hormone in the three PD and YXC groups increased(all P<.05).The mitochondrial membrane potential in the three PD and YXC groups significantly improved(all P<.001).Furthermore,the YXC and three PD groups showed decreased TGF-b1 expression(all P<.05)compared with the MC group.The high-dose YXC group and three PD groups improved Smad2 and Smad4 expression(all P<.05).Conclusion:YXC improved penile erectile function and sperm quality in OA rats,and the underlying mechanism included increase in sex hormones,inhibition of sperm apoptosis,and regulation of the TGFb1/Smad signaling pathway.Meanwhile,this study provides a new effective drug option for the treatment of OA,which is beneficial to male reproductive health and social harmony.

Siliceous mesocellular foam supported Cu catalysts for promoting non-thermal plasma activated CO_(2) hydrogenation toward methanol synthesis

Electrified non-thermal plasma (NTP) catalytic hydrogenation is the promising alternative to the thermal counterparts, being able to be operated under mild conditions and compatible with green electricity/hydrogen. Rational design of the catalysts for such NTP-catalytic systems is one of the keys to improve the process efficiency. Here, we present the development of siliceous mesocellular foam (MCF) supported Cu catalysts for NTP-catalytic CO_(2) hydrogenation to methanol. The findings show that the pristine MCF support with high specific surface area and large mesopore of 784 m2·g−1 and ~8.5 nm could promote the plasma discharging and the diffusion of species through its framework, outperforming other control porous materials (viz., silicalite-1, SiO_(2), and SBA-15). Compared to the NTP system employing the bare MCF, the inclusion of Cu and Zn in MCF (i.e., Cu1Zn1/MCF) promoted the methanol formation of the NTP-catalytic system with a higher space-time yield of methanol at ~275 μmol·g_(cat)^(−1)·h^(−1) and a lower energy consumption of 26.4 kJ^(−1)·mmol_(CH_(3)OH)^(-1) (conversely, ~225 μmol·g_(cat)^(−1)·h^(−1) and ~71 kJ^(−1)·mmol_(CH_(3)OH)^(-1), respectively, for the bare MCF system at 10.1 kV). The findings suggest that inclusion of active metal sites (especially Zn species) could stabilize the CO_(2)/CO-related intermediates to facilitate the surface reaction toward methanol formation.

Exploring the Trait Plasticity of ipa1-2D and qPL6 under Different Nitrogen Treatments and Heading Periods

Panicle size is one of the important factors in shaping yield potential in rice,but it shows plasticity in different environments,which leads to yieldfluctuation.Variations in panicle size among varieties are largely determined by quantitative trait loci(QTLs).QTL analysis could elaborate on the environmental impact on trait plasticity using nearly isogenic lines(NILs)of different QTLs.Two QTLs,ipa1-2D and qPL6 are identified to have pleio-tropic contributions to panicle size and plant architecture,but their responses to different growth conditions are still unclear.In this study,we developed NILs harboring a single locus or both loci of ipa1-2D and qPL6 and sub-sequently evaluated these QTL effects under different nitrogen treatments or heading periods.Trait comparison showed that panicle length was highly responsive to the high nitrogen treatment independent of qPL6.At the same time,ipa1-2D reduced the response of plant height,panicle number,and grain yield to the treatment.The background of long heading periods decreased the stem diameter for any genotype combinations but enhanced the performance of ipa1-2D for the panicle primary branch number.Moreover,the middle heading background could better balance the pleiotropic effect of the two QTLs and showed the highest yield potential.In-parallel analysis of the QTL contributions under different nitrogen treatments or heading periods confirmed the significant effect of ipa1-2D in increasing stem diameter,panicle primary branch number,and spikelet number per panicle.We proved that the two individual QTLs had a stable effect in increasing the yield potential but com-peted to decrease the panicle secondary branch number,panicle number,and yield potential when they were pyr-amided.This work provides a full view of the plasticity of two QTLs in shaping yield-related traits and lays the foundation for the rational design of rice breeding in the future.

miR172-AP2模块调控植物生长发育及逆境响应的研究进展

MicroRNA(miRNA)是一类具有调控能力的非编码小分子RNA,通过与靶基因mRNA特异或非特异性结合,诱导靶基因mRNA降解或抑制其翻译,从而调控植物的生长发育。其中,miR172的靶基因AP2所编码的转录因子为植物所特有,miR172在转录后或翻译水平对AP2进行表达调控,进而调控植物的花发育、时序转换、小穗形态、块茎和果实发育、结瘤(豆科)以及逆境响应等过程。该文综述了近年来miR172-AP2模块在植物生长发育调控方面的最新研究进展。

Wx^lv、the Ancestral Allele of Rice Waxy Gene

In rice grains,the Waxy (Wx) gene is responsible for the synthesis of amylose,the most important determinant for eating and cooking quality.The effects of several Wx alleles on amylose content and the taste of cooked rice have been elucidated.However,the relationship between artificial selection and the evolution of various Wx alleles as well as their distribution remain unclear.Here we report the identification of an ancestral allele,Wx^lv,which dramatically affects the mouthfeel of rice grains by modulating the size of amylose molecules.We demonstrated that WF originated directly from wild rice,and the three major Wx alleles in cultivated rice (Wx^b,Wx^a,and Wx^in) differentiated after the substitution of one base pair at the functional sites.These data indicate that the Wx^lv allele played an important role in artificial selection and domestication.The findings also shed light on the evolution of various Wx alleles,which have greatly contributed to improving the eating and cooking quality of rice.

A rare Waxy allele coordinately improves rice eating and cooking quality and grain transparency

In rice(Oryza sativa), amylose content(AC) is the major factor that determines eating and cooking quality(ECQ). The diversity in AC is largely attributed to natural allelic variation at the Waxy(Wx)locus. Here we identified a rare Wx allele, Wx^(mw) ,which combines a favorable AC, improved ECQ and grain transparency. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of Wx genomic sequences from 370 rice accessions, we speculated that Wx^(mw) may have derived from recombination between two important natural Wx alleles, Wx^(in) and Wx^(b). We validated the effects of Wx^(mw) on rice grain quality using both transgenic lines and near-isogenic lines(NILs). When introgressed into the japonica Nipponbare(NIP) background, Wx^(mw) resulted in a moderate AC that was intermediate between that of NILs carrying the Wx^(b)allele and NILs with the Wx^(mp) allele. Notably, mature grains of NILs fixed for Wx^(mw) had an improved transparent endosperm relative to soft rice. Further, we introduced Wx^(mw) into a high-yielding japonica cultivar via molecular marker-assisted selection: the introgressed lines exhibited clear improvements in ECQ and endosperm transparency. Our results suggest that Wx^(mw) is a promising allele to improve grain quality, especially ECQ and grain transparency of high-yielding japonica cultivars, in rice breeding programs.