Video summarizing Ph.D. dissertation for a non-specialist audience. / Civil and Environmental Engineering / College of Engineering

by Chun-fai Lai. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1991. / Bibliography: leaves 103-116. / ABSTRACT --- p.x / LITERATURE REVIEW / Chapter I. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter II. --- Classification of dyes --- p.1 / Chapter III. --- Adverse effects of dyes in the environment --- p.3 / Chapter IV. --- Dyes removal by physical and chemical treatment processes --- p.7 / Chapter V. --- Biodegradation as anti-pollution measure / Chapter A. --- Removal of dyes by activated sludge --- p.9 / Chapter B. --- Degradation by pure culture --- p.11 / Chapter VI. --- General properties of indigoid dyes --- p.19 / Chapter VII. --- Biosynthesis of indigo --- p.21 / Chapter VIII. --- Indigo as dye in Hong Kong --- p.26 / Chapter IX. --- Purpose of study --- p.29 / MATERIALS AND METHODS / Chapter I. --- Preliminary studies on the stability of indigo carmine --- p.32 / Chapter II. --- Standard curve of indigo carmine --- p.33 / Chapter III. --- Isolation of indigo carmine degrading bacteria --- p.33 / Chapter IV. --- Identification of isolated strains --- p.34 / Chapter V. --- Characterization of batch culture of Micrococcus sp. H-12 / Chapter A. --- Inducibility of decolorization ability --- p.34 / Chapter B. --- Growth and decolorization kinetics in indigo carmine --- p.35 / Chapter C. --- Effect of temperature on growth and decolorization of the bacterial culture --- p.36 / Chapter D. --- Effect of pH on growth and decolorization of the bacterial culture --- p.35 / Chapter E. --- Effect of aeration on the growth and decolorization of the bacterial culture --- p.37 / Chapter F. --- Decolorization of indigo carmine under anaerobic condition --- p.37 / Chapter G. --- Effect of carbon sources on the growth and decolorization of the bacterial culture --- p.37 / Chapter H. --- Utilization of indigo carmine as carbon source --- p.38 / Chapter I. --- Utilization of indigo carmine as nitrogen source --- p.38 / Chapter J. --- Inhibitory effect of indigo carmine to the growth and decolorization of the bacterial culture --- p.39 / Chapter VI. --- Characterization of resting cells of Micrococcus sp. H-12 / Chapter A. --- Effect of incubation temperature --- p.40 / Chapter B. --- Effect of incubation pH --- p.40 / Chapter C. --- Effect of aeration --- p.41 / Chapter VII. --- Decolorization by supernatant and cell-free extract --- p.41 / Chapter VIII. --- Identification of degradation products of indigo carmine / Chapter A. --- Preliminary analysis by spectrophotometric method --- p.42 / Chapter B. --- By thin layer chromatographic method --- p.42 / Chapter C. --- Determination of chemical structure of the degradation products --- p.43 / RESULTS / Chapter I. --- Preliminary studies on the stability of indigo carmine --- p.46 / Chapter II. --- Standard curve of indigo carmine --- p.48 / Chapter III. --- Isolation and identification of indigo carmine degrading strains --- p.48 / Chapter IV. --- Characterization of the batch culture of Micrococcus sp. H-12 / Chapter A. --- Inducibility of decolorization ability --- p.56 / Chapter B. --- Effect of temperature --- p.55 / Chapter C. --- Effect of pH --- p.59 / Chapter D. --- Effect of aeration --- p.59 / Chapter E. --- Growth and decolorization under anaerobic condition --- p.63 / Chapter F. --- Effect of carbon sources --- p.53 / Chapter G. --- Substitution effect of indigo carmine for major carbon source --- p.66 / Chapter H. --- Substitution effect of indigo carmine for major nitrogen source --- p.66 / Chapter I. --- Evaluation of inhibitory effect of indigo carmine --- p.69 / Chapter V. --- Characterization of the resting cells of H-12 / Chapter A. --- Effect of temperature --- p.73 / Chapter B. --- Effect of pH --- p.73 / Chapter C. --- Effect of aeration --- p.73 / Chapter VI. --- Decolorization by supernatant and cell-free extract --- p.77 / Chapter VII. --- Extraction and identification of the degradation products of indigo carmine --- p.77 / DISCUSSIONS / Chapter I. --- Indigo carmine as the model compound --- p.85 / Chapter II. --- Isolation and identification of the degrading strains --- p.87 / Chapter III. --- Characterization of the batch culture --- p.88 / Chapter IV. --- Characterization of the resting cells --- p.93 / Chapter V. --- Decolorization by supernatant and cell-free extract --- p.94 / Chapter VI. --- Extraction and identification of the degradation products --- p.95 / Chapter VII. --- Prospect --- p.97 / REFERENCES --- p.103

Ma Yong Hong. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-151). / ABSTRACT --- p.vii / Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- History of dyestuffs --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- The classification of dyes --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- The application of dyes --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4 --- Ecological aspects of colour chemistry --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Toxicity to microorganisms --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Toxicity to Mammals --- p.9 / Chapter 1.5 --- Colour contamination --- p.10 / Chapter 1.6 --- Treatment of wastewater containing dyes --- p.11 / Chapter 1.7 --- Studies on the field of biodegradation of dyes --- p.13 / Chapter 1.7.1 --- Current knowledge of biodegradation of azo dyes by bacteria --- p.13 / Chapter 1.7.2 --- Degradation of azo dyes by fungi and helminths --- p.16 / Chapter 1.8 --- Purpose of study --- p.17 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO --- MATERIALS AND METHODS / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Chemicals --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Recipes --- p.22 / Chapter 2.1.2.1 --- Isolating medium (I.M.) --- p.22 / Chapter 2.1.2.2 --- Basal Medium (B.M.) --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1.2.3 --- LB Medium (Luria Broth) --- p.24 / Chapter 2.1.2.4 --- Mineral salt medium (M.S.M.) --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methods --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Isolation of azo-dye decolorization (ADD) strain --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.1.1 --- Sample collection --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.1.2 --- Preparation of inoculum --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.1.3 --- Selection and isolation strain ADD 16-2 --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Optimal growth condition for strain ADD 16-2 --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Assay of decolorization activity --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.3.1 --- Measurement of azo dye concentration --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.3.2 --- Assay of azo dye decolorization activity of strain ADD 16-2 --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.3.3 --- Structural specificity of the decolorization reaction --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Identification of the strain ADD cleavage product(s) --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Degradation of the intermediate(s)-sulfanific acid --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.5.1 --- Enrichment and isolation of sulfanific acid degradation strains (SAD) --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.5.2 --- Optimal sulfanific acid degradation condition of strain SAD M-l --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Complete degradation of a model azo dye (Tropaeolin O) by co-metabolism of strain ADD 16-2 and strain SAD M-l --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Assay for the degradation of the Tropaeolin O by immobilized strain ADD 16-2 and strain SAD M-l --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.7.1 --- Method of immobilizing bacteria in sodium alginate --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.7.2 --- Optimal reaction condition of the immobilized strain ADD 16-2 and strain SAD M-l --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.7.3 --- The decolorization activity of free and immobilized cells for different dye concentration --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Construction of continuous column systems for complete dye degradation --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.8.1 --- A Continuous anaerobic/aerobic pack-bed column system --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.8.2 --- A continuous anaerobic packed-bed column and aerobic airlift-loop reactor --- p.42 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- RESULTS / Chapter 3.1 --- Decolorization of azo dyes --- p.44 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Isolation of ADD strain --- p.44 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Growth condition of strain ADD 16-2 --- p.44 / Chapter 3.1.2.1 --- The effect of aeration on the growth of strain ADD 16-2 --- p.44 / Chapter 3.1.2.2 --- Other factors affecting the growth of strain ADD 16-2 --- p.48 / Chapter 3.1.2.3 --- Effect of carbon source on growth --- p.48 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Decolorization of azo dyes --- p.53 / Chapter 3.1.3.1 --- Determination of dye concentration --- p.53 / Chapter 3.1.3.1.A --- Determination of the wavelengths of the absorption maxima of azo dyes --- p.53 / Chapter 3.1.3.1.B --- Standard concentration curve of azo dyes --- p.53 / Chapter 3.1.3.2 --- Optimal condition for dye decolorization --- p.59 / Chapter 3.1.3.2.A --- Effect of aeration --- p.59 / Chapter 3.1.3.2.B --- Effect of temperature --- p.59 / Chapter 3.1.3.2.C --- Effect of pH --- p.65 / Chapter 3.1.3.1.D --- Effect of different carbon sources --- p.65 / Chapter 3.1.3.3 --- Structural specificity of the azo dye decolorization reaction --- p.68 / Chapter 3.1.3.4 --- Analysis of the biodegradation products from Tropaeolin O --- p.73 / Chapter 3.2 --- Degradation of the intermediate sulfanific acid --- p.79 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Enrichment and isolation of strains that can degrade the azo dye decolorization product(s) --- p.79 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Condition of sulfanific acid degradation --- p.82 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- The effect of the pH --- p.82 / Chapter 3.2.2.2. --- The effect of temperature --- p.82 / Chapter 3.3 --- An attemption of complete degradation of Tropaeolin O by strains ADD 16-2 and SAD M-l with combined anaerobic-aerobic process --- p.86 / Chapter 3.4 --- To study the decolorization potential store stain ADD 16-2 immobilized condition --- p.82 / Chapter 3.4.1. --- Condition of decolorization of Tropaeolin O by the immobilized cell ADD 16-2 --- p.39 / Chapter 3.4.1.1 --- The effect of the alginate gel concentration on the decolorization potential of strain ADD 16-2 --- p.89 / Chapter 3.4.1.2 --- The effect the of cell number entrapped in different size of alginate beads on the decolorization ability of the cell ADD 16-2 --- p.89 / Chapter 3.4.1.3 --- The effect of pH on the decolorization potential of immobilized strain ADD 16-2 --- p.92 / Chapter 3.4.1.4 --- The effect of temperature on the decolorization potential of immobilized cell ADD 16-2 --- p.95 / Chapter 3.4.1.5 --- The effects of Tropaeolin O concentration on the decolorization activity of strain ADD 16-2 --- p.95 / Chapter 3.5 --- Assay for the degradation of sulfanific acid by the immobilized cells SAD M-l --- p.99 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Optimizing the condition of degradation of sulfanific acid by immobilized cells SAD M-l --- p.100 / Chapter 3.5.1.1 --- The effects of alginate gel concentration on the degradation potential of immobilized cells SAD M-l --- p.100 / Chapter 3.5.1.2 --- The effect of the amount of cells entrappedin alginate beads on the degradation of sulfanilic acid --- p.100 / Chapter 3.5.1.3 --- The effect of pH on sulfanific acid degradation by the immobilized bacterial cells SAD M-l --- p.103 / Chapter 3.5.1.4 --- The effect of temperature on degradation potential of the immobilized bacterial cells SAD M-l --- p.103 / Chapter 3.6 --- Degradation of Tropaeolin O by immobilized strains in a continuous anaerobic/aerobic column system --- p.107 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR --- DISCUSSIONS / Chapter 4.1 --- Decolorization of azo dye --- p.112 / Chapter 4.2 --- Mineralization of the decolorization intermediate --- p.112 / Chapter 4.3 --- Two-step azo dye mineralization --- p.121 / Chapter 4.4 --- Functional aspects of immobilized cells --- p.124 / Chapter 4.5 --- Decolorization of Tropaeolin O by a continuous column reactor --- p.128 / REFERENCES --- p.127

by Kat-on So. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1989. / Bibliography: leaves 162-170.

by Chan Cho-Yin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 161-173). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / by Chan Cho-Yin. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstracts --- p.ii / Table of Contents --- p.vi / List of Figures --- p.xii / List of Plates --- p.xv / List of Tables --- p.xvi / Abbreviations --- p.xix / Equations --- p.1 / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Atrazine --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Characteristics of atrazine --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Use of atrazine --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Inhibitory mechanisms --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Global annual consumption --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.5 --- Environmental fate --- p.8 / Chapter 1.1.5.1 --- Major intermediates --- p.10 / Chapter 1.1.6 --- Ecotoxicity --- p.10 / Chapter 1.1.6.1 --- Toxicity towards microorganisms --- p.10 / Chapter 1.1.6.2 --- Toxicity towards invertebrates --- p.12 / Chapter 1.1.6.3 --- Toxicity towards vertebrates --- p.15 / Chapter 1.1.7 --- Environmental regulations --- p.16 / Chapter 1.2 --- Treatments of atrazine --- p.16 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Physical treatments --- p.16 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Chemical treatments --- p.18 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO) --- p.21 / Chapter 1.2.4.1 --- Cyanuric acid --- p.26 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Biological treatments --- p.33 / Chapter 1.2.6 --- Integration of treatment methods --- p.36 / Chapter 2 --- Objectives --- p.38 / Chapter 3 --- Materials and methods --- p.39 / Chapter 3.1 --- Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) reaction --- p.39 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Chemical reagents --- p.39 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Photocatalytic reactor --- p.39 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Determination of atrazine --- p.43 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Optimization of PCO reactions --- p.43 / Chapter 3.1.4.1 --- Effect of initial hydrogen peroxide concentration --- p.49 / Chapter 3.1.4.2 --- Effect of titanium dioxide concentration --- p.49 / Chapter 3.1.4.3 --- Effect of initial pH --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1.4.4 --- Effect of UV intensities --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1.4.5 --- Internal control of parameters --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1.4.6 --- Combination study of parameters: part one --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1.4.7 --- Combination study of parameters: part two --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- Detection methods of atrazine degradation intermediates/products --- p.51 / Chapter 3.1.5.1 --- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry --- p.51 / Chapter 3.1.5.2 --- High performance liquid chromatography --- p.51 / Chapter 3.1.6 --- Investigation of PCO treated solution --- p.54 / Chapter 3.1.6.1 --- Total organic carbon content --- p.54 / Chapter 3.1.6.2 --- Anions content --- p.54 / Chapter 3.1.6.3 --- pH --- p.56 / Chapter 3.1.6.4 --- Hydrogen peroxide content --- p.56 / Chapter 3.1.6.5 --- Toxicity --- p.56 / Chapter 3.1.6.5.1 --- Microtox® test --- p.56 / Chapter 3.1.6.5.2 --- Amphipod survival test --- p.57 / Chapter 3.2 --- Biodegradation reaction --- p.61 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Chemical reagents --- p.61 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Sampling --- p.62 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Enrichment --- p.62 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Isolation --- p.65 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Purification --- p.65 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Identification of bacterial strain --- p.65 / Chapter 3.2.6.1 --- Gram staining --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2.6.2 --- Catalase and oxidase tests --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2.6.3 --- Sherlock Microbial Identification System (MIDI) --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2.6.4 --- Biolog MicroLog´ёØ system (Biolog) --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- Determination of cyanuric acid --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2.8 --- Selection of cyanuric acid degrading bacteria --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2.9 --- Optimization of reaction conditions --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2.9.1 --- Starting medium --- p.68 / Chapter 3.2.9.2 --- Effect of temperatures --- p.68 / Chapter 3.2.9.3 --- Effect of initial pH --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.9.4 --- Effect of agitation rates --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.9.5 --- Effect of initial cyanuric acid and glucose concentrations --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.9.6 --- Investigation of biodegraded solution --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.9.6.1 --- Glucose content --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.9.6.2 --- Biodegradation metabolite(s) of cyanuric acid --- p.70 / Chapter 3.3 --- Integration of photocatalytic oxidation and biodegradation --- p.71 / Chapter 4 --- Results --- p.72 / Chapter 4.1 --- Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) reaction --- p.72 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Determination of atrazine --- p.72 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Effect of aeration and mixing --- p.72 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Effect of initial hydrogen peroxide concentrations --- p.72 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- Effect of titanium dioxide concentrations --- p.78 / Chapter 4.1.5 --- Effect of initial pH --- p.78 / Chapter 4.1.6 --- Effect of UV intensities --- p.78 / Chapter 4.1.7 --- Effect of different internal controls --- p.85 / Chapter 4.1.8 --- "Combination of UV intensities, initial hydrogen peroxide and titanium dioxide concentrations" --- p.85 / Chapter 4.1.9 --- "Combination of initial pH, atrazine concentrations and UV intensities" --- p.94 / Chapter 4.1.10 --- Degradation products detected by GC/MS --- p.94 / Chapter 4.1.11 --- Degradation products detected by HPLC --- p.94 / Chapter 4.1.12 --- Total organic carbon removal --- p.104 / Chapter 4.1.13 --- Anions content --- p.104 / Chapter 4.1.14 --- Solution pH --- p.104 / Chapter 4.1.15 --- Hydrogen peroxide content --- p.108 / Chapter 4.1.16 --- Microtox® test --- p.108 / Chapter 4.1.17 --- Amphipod survival test --- p.114 / Chapter 4.2 --- Biodegradation reaction --- p.118 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Isolation of bacterial colonies --- p.118 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Identification and characterization of the isolated bacteria --- p.118 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Selection of cyanuric acid degrading species --- p.118 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Effect of temperatures --- p.128 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Effect of initial pH --- p.128 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Effect of agitation rates --- p.128 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Effect of cyanuric acid and glucose concentrations --- p.132 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- Glucose content --- p.132 / Chapter 4.2.9 --- Biodegradation metabolites of cyanuric acid --- p.132 / Chapter 4.2.10 --- Proposed pathway of atrazine degradation by biodegradation enhanced by PCO --- p.138 / Chapter 4.3 --- Integration of photocatalytic oxidation and biodegradation --- p.138 / Chapter 5 --- Discussion --- p.141 / Chapter 5.1 --- Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) reaction --- p.141 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Determination of atrazine --- p.141 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Effect of aeration and mixing --- p.141 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Effect of initial hydrogen peroxide concentrations --- p.141 / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Effect of titanium dioxide concentrations --- p.143 / Chapter 5.1.5 --- Effect of initial pH --- p.143 / Chapter 5.1.6 --- Effect of UV intensities --- p.144 / Chapter 5.1.7 --- Effect of different internal controls --- p.145 / Chapter 5.1.8 --- "Combination of UV intensities, initial hydrogen peroxide and titanium dioxide concentrations" --- p.145 / Chapter 5.1.9 --- "Combination of initial pH, atrazine concentrations and UV intensities" --- p.146 / Chapter 5.1.10 --- Degradation products detected by GC/MS --- p.146 / Chapter 5.1.11 --- Degradation products detected by HPLC --- p.147 / Chapter 5.1.12 --- Total organic carbon removal --- p.147 / Chapter 5.1.13 --- Anions content --- p.148 / Chapter 5.1.14 --- Solution pH --- p.149 / Chapter 5.1.15 --- Hydrogen peroxide content --- p.149 / Chapter 5.1.16 --- Microtox® test --- p.149 / Chapter 5.1.17 --- Amphipod survival test --- p.150 / Chapter 5.2 --- Biodegradation reaction --- p.151 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Isolation of bacterial colonies --- p.151 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Identification and characterization of the isolated bacteria --- p.151 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Selection of cyanuric acid degrading species --- p.152 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Effect of temperatures --- p.152 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Effect of initial pH --- p.153 / Chapter 5.2.6 --- Effect of agitation rates --- p.153 / Chapter 5.2.7 --- Effect of cyanuric acid and glucose concentrations --- p.154 / Chapter 5.2.8 --- Glucose content --- p.154 / Chapter 5.2.9 --- Biodegradation metabolites of cyanuric acid --- p.155 / Chapter 5.2.10 --- Proposed degradation pathway of atrazine by biodegradation enhanced by PCO --- p.155 / Chapter 5.3 --- Integration of photocatalytic oxidation and biodegradation --- p.155 / Chapter 6 --- Conclusions --- p.159 / Chapter 7 --- References --- p.161 / Appendix1 --- p.174 / Appendix2 --- p.175

Lam Hiu Fung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Chinese Abstract --- p.ii / Acknowledgement --- p.iii / Table of Content --- p.vi / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Differential refractometry --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Nature of refractive index --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Concentration dependence of refractive index --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Wavelength dependence of refractive index --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Temperature and pressure dependence of refractive index / Chapter 1.3 --- Types of differential refractometer --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Deflection type / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Fresnel type --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Interferometric type --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4 --- Reference --- p.9 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- A new laser differential refractomter for real-time measurement of refractive index variation / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2 --- Experiment / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Experimental setup --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Light source / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Thermostatic cuvutte --- p.16 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Thermoelectric module --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Inlet and outlet --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Position sensitive detector --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3 --- Basic principles of differential refractometer --- p.23 / Chapter 2.4 --- Materials --- p.25 / Chapter 2.5 --- Results and discussion --- p.25 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Instrument calibration / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Dynamic range of instrument --- p.26 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- "Instrument stability, noise and resolution" --- p.28 / Chapter 2.5.4 --- Specific refractive index increment measurement --- p.31 / Chapter 2.5.5 --- Temperature effect of refractive index increment --- p.35 / Chapter 2.5.6 --- Wavelength effect of refractive index increment / Chapter 2.6 --- Conclusion --- p.36 / Chapter 2.7 --- Reference --- p.37 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Enzymatic degradation studies of poly(ethylene oxide)- b-poly(ε-caprolactone) copolymer nanoparticles by differential refractometer / Chapter 3.1 --- Abstract / Introduction --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2 --- Experimental --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Material and sample preparation --- p.41 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Differential refractometer / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Laser light scattering --- p.41 / Results and dicussion --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3 --- Conclusion --- p.43 / Chapter 3.4 --- Acknowledgement --- p.47 / Chapter 3.5 --- References and notes --- p.48 / Chapter 3.6 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Figures captions --- p.50 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Table and Figures --- p.55 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Appendix - Fundamentals of light scattering and instrumentation --- p.56 / Chapter 4.1 --- Static laser light scattering --- p.57 / Chapter 4.2 --- Dynamic light scattering --- p.58 / Chapter 4.3 --- Correlation function profile analysis --- p.60 / Chapter 4.4 --- Molar mass distribution and conformation of polymers --- p.62 / Chapter 4.5 --- Instrumentation --- p.63 / Chapter 4.6 --- Reference --- p.66

Orientador: Jonas Contiero / Banca: Cassiana Maria Reganhan Coneglian / Banca: Elisabeth Loshchagin Pizzolitto / Resumo: A cepa bacteriana Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBI, isolada de solo contaminado com hidrocarbonetos, foi inoculada visando promover a degradação dos hidrocarbonetos através da capacidade de produção de biossurfactantes. Como matéria prima alternativa de baixo custo para produção biossurfactantes utilizou-se a borra oleosa proveniente do fundo de tanques de estocagem da REPLAN-PETROBRAS. Os ensaios foram realizados em triplicatas a 30C, 200 rpm, durante 168 horas e o acompanhamento foi realizado por amostra a cada 24 horas para quantificar o biossurfactantes e o crescimento celular. A tensão superficial, PH e os estudos de estabilidade e emulsificação foram realizados com o sobrenadante do cultivo de 168 horas. A cepa bacteriana mostrou-se capaz de se desenvolver e produzir biossurfactantes em querosene, óleo diesel, petróleo e borra oleosa. Apenas benzeno e tolueno não apresentam resultados positivos / Abstract: Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBI isolated from hydrocarbon contaminated soil and potential producer of biosurfactant was used for hydrocarbon biodegradation. The petroleum waste from REPLAN-PETROBRAS, alternative source of low cost to biosurfactante synthesis was utilized on medium culture. These studies were done at 30C with shaking at 200 rpm, during 168 hours, in triplicate. The samples were withdrawn daily for growth studies and biosurfactante production. The surface tension, PH and stability studies were done with the cell-free broth after 168 hours of incubation. The strain was able to produce biosurfactantes and to grow on the analyzed carbon sources, except benzene and toluene. When cultivated on diesel oil 30%, the strain produced higher quantities of biosurfactante. The biosurfactante was able to emulsifier all analyzed hidrocarbons. Stability studies of the product on the culture broth indicate that the biosurfactante is stable in extreme conditions. Therefore the strain Pseudomonas aeruginosas LBI and the biosurfactante produced have potential applications in bioremediation of site hydrocarbon contaminated, and possible application in enhanced oil recuperation / Mestre

Bibliography: leaves 134-148. The objectives of this study are to determine if and how inorganic matrices influence organic matter decomposition with particular emphasis on the biochemical changes which occur as decomposition progresses. The influence of inorganic matrices (sand, sand + kaolin and loamy sand) on the decomposition of straw and Eucalyptus litter during incubations was followed by various chemical and spectroscopic methods to aid in the understanding of the mechanism of physical protection of organic matter in soils.

The primary purpose of this study was to (1) develop methods for the analysis of and (2) provide information on the chemical nature of reducing ends in typical cellulose substrates used for the study of cellulolytic enzymes. The studies were designed such that values obtained for cellulose substrates were compared with those obtained for a series of soluble cellooligosaccharides. The initial phase of the study tested the validity of using established colorimetric reducing sugar assays, developed for the measurement of reducing sugars in solution, for the quantification of reducing ends on insoluble substrates. The results demonstrate that published methods give widely differing values for the number of reducing ends per unit weight cellulose. The Cu⁺⁺-based assay, using bicinchoninic acid (BCA) as a color yielding chelator of Cu⁺, is shown to provide values that appear most consistent the properties of the substrates. A method was developed using the Cu⁺⁺-BCA reagent, following a mild sodium borohydride treatment, to provide an estimate of the number of solvent accessible reducing ends on insoluble substrates. The kinetics of sodium borohydride reduction of reducing ends on crystalline cellulose, amorphous cellulose and soluble cellooligosaccharides were compared in order to ascertain the relative reactivity of these reducing ends. The apparent second order rate constants for the reduction of reducing ends associated with the crystalline celluloses were significantly lower than those for the reduction of reducing ends associated with either the insoluble amorphous celluloses or the soluble cellooligosaccharides. These results indicate the reducing ends associated with crystalline celluloses are not extended out from the surface as though mimicking solution phase reducing ends. The relevance of this, as well as the other results, to the behavior of cellulolytic enzymes is discussed. The final phase of the study was the demonstration of both a reducing sugar-based and a viscositybased assay for the detection of a prototypical polysaccharide depolymerizing glycosyl hydrolase, polygalacturonase. / Graduation date: 2004

The addition of exogenously supplied hydrogen stimulates PCP reductive dechlorination and increases bacterial growth. While research focuses mainly on pure cultures, few exist capable of aryl reductive dechlorination, and few markers exist to identify reductively dechlorinating bacteria within mixed cultures. Furthermore, most active bioremediation projects stimulate mixed cultures of native biota. This work describes a method to estimate reductively dechlorinating bacterial growth within a mixed soil culture under controlled environmental conditions. The experiments discussed in this paper were performed in a fed-batch reactor. The reactor was operated in a way to maintain environmental conditions such as pH, E[subscript H], headspace concentration, and temperature constant while substrate is allowed to degrade without the corruption of additional changes. Substrate utilization and cell growth were examined under an array of environmental conditions. This dissertation examined the correlation between hydrogen concentration and the growth rate of reductively dechlorinating bacteria. Under low hydrogen partial pressures, between 9.4 x 10������ and 2.9 x 10������ atm, the growth rate of reductively dechlorinating bacteria increased as predicted by dual Monod kinetics with respect to hydrogen and chlorophenol concentration; however, studies showed that the relationship was more complex. At higher concentrations of hydrogen, the observed growth rate of reductively dechlorinating bacteria declined. A dual Monod kinetics model with hydrogen substrate inhibition approximates experimental data. Reductive dechlorination of 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorophenol and 3,4,5-trichlorophenol were also studied. Pentachlorophenol reductive dechlorination primarily produces 3,4,5-trichlorophenol via 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorophenol. The reductive dechlorination of 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorophenol parallels that of pentachlorophenol, and the estimated growth rates based on pentachlorophenol and 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorophenol are very similar. Reductive dechlorination of 3,4,5-trichlorophenol was catalyzed by the PCP reductively dechlorinating bacterial culture after a lag period. 3,4,5-Trichlorophenol was not maintained for extended periods, and multiple additions of 3,4,5-trichlorophenol did not result in measurable growth. / Graduation date: 2001