Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin -- La Crosse, 1984. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 54-59).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--La Crosse, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

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With additional research on species characteristics and continued work towards cost effective production methods, algae are viewed as a possible alternative biofuel crop to current feedstocks such as corn. Current open pond production methods involve bubbling carbon dioxide (CO_(2)) gas into the media to provide a carbon source for photosynthesis, but this can be very inefficient releasing most CO_(2) back into the atmosphere. This research began by investigating the effect of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO_(3)) in the growth media as an alternative carbon source to bubbling CO_(2) into the cultures. The second part examined if NaHCO_(3) could act as a lipid trigger in higher (10.0 g/L) concentrations. The microalgae species Dunaliella tertiolecta (Chlorophyta), Mayamaea spp. (Baciallariophyta) and Synechoccocus sp. (Cyanophyta) were grown with 0.0 g/L, 0.5g/L, 1.0 g/L, 2.0 g/L and 5.0 g/L dissolved NaHCO_(3) in modified seawater (f/2) media. To investigate effects of NaHCO_(3) on lipid accumulation, growth media cultures were divided into two ―lipid phase‖ medias containing either 0.0g/L (non-boosted) or 10.0 g/L (boosted) NaHCO_(3) treatments. Culture densities were determined using spectrophotometry, which showed both all three species are able to successfully grow in media ameliorated with these high NaHCO_(3) concentrations. Highest growth phase culture densities occurred in NaHCO_(3) concentrations of 2.0 g/L for D. tertiolecta and Mayamaea spp., and the 5.0 g/L treatment for Synechoccocus sp. Highest growth rates occurred in the 5.0 g/L NaHCO_(3) concentration treatments for D. tertiolecta, Mayamaea spp., and Synechoccocus sp. (0.205 d-1 ±0.010, 0.119 d-1 ±0.004, and 0.372 d-1 ±0.003 respectively). As a lipid accumulation trigger two of the three species (D. tertiolecta and Mayamaea spp) had their highest end day oil indices in a 10.0 g/L treatment. Highest oil indices occurred in boosted 5.0 g/L Dunaliella tertiolecta and 2.0 g/L Mayamaea spp. (13136 ± 895 and 62844 ± 8080 respectively (relative units)). The results obtained indicate NaHCO3 could be used as a photosynthetic carbon source for growth in all three species and a lipid trigger for D. tertiolecta and Mayamaea spp.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--La Crosse, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is an important commercial crop. High quality tomatoes for the local and export markets are grown hydroponically. In this study, the effect of electrically activated sodium bicarbonate and non-ionized sodium bicarbonate solutions on productivity and postharvest quality of hydroponically grown tomatoes was tested. Sodium bicarbonate is a ready source of bicarbonate. By using a novel technique obtained from Radical Waters (Pty) Ltd., ionized bicarbonate (anolyte) can be produced from sodium bicarbonate and applied to plants to stimulate photosynthesis, and improve yield and postharvest quality. The effect of ionized and non-ionized bicarbonate solutions on productivity and postharvest quality was studied by measuring the following: (1) Preharvest growth rate (leaf length, stem height and diameter); total yield; starch concentration in leaves; fruit count; leaf chlorophyll content; CO2-uptake; soluble solids and concentration of K+, Na+ and NO3¯ in leaves. (2) Postharvest rate of respiration and transpiration; ethylene production; total soluble solids content; ascorbic acid content; pH; fruit firmness; fruit mass; fruit diameter; longevity; concentration of K+, Na+ and NO3¯ at one-third towards maturity, two-thirds towards maturity, at maturity and during ripening, and rate of ripening at 12 and 23°C. During the preharvest period, plants treated with anolyte showed increased growth rate, starch concentration, chlorophyll content, soluble solids content and improved yield. During the growth period, the concentration of K+ and NO3¯ was higher in plants treated with anolyte than in plants treated with non-ionized sodium bicarbonate. The concentration of Na+ during the preharvest period was higher in plants treated with non-ionized sodium bicarbonate than in plants treated with anolyte. After harvest, fruits from plants treated with anolyte had a reduced rate of ethylene production, rate of respiration and transpiration, total increased soluble solids and ascorbic acid content than fruits from plants treated with non-ionized sodium bicarbonate. Fruits from plants treated with anolyte had reduced rate of ripening and were larger and heavier than fruits from plants treated with non-ionized sodium bicarbonate. Anatomical and ultrastructural studies revealed that treatment with anolyte stimulated cell growth and photosynthesis. These results were confirmed by comparing the CO2-uptake of treated and untreated plants. Application of anolyte stimulated photosynthesis, thus improving yield and fruit quality. Treatment with non-ionized sodium bicarbonate resulted in salt- stress and calcium deficiency. Some of the fruits on plants treated with non-ionized sodium bicarbonate suffered from blossom-end rot due to salt-stress. / Prof. C.S. Whitehead

The cultivation of chrysanthemums originated in China more than 2000 years ago. Today this flower is regarded as one of the most popular cut flowers in the world. It is, therefore, important to ensure that high quality flowers are produced consistently for the local and export markets. Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. ‘Sunny Reagan’ flowers were grown in a greenhouse sprayed with an electro-activated sodium bicarbonate solution (anolyte) in an attempt to improve productivity and postharvest quality. A non-activated sodium bicarbonate solution was also used to determine the overall effect of sodium bicarbonate on chrysanthemum plants. Sodium bicarbonate acts to enrich the environment of the plant with CO₂ thereby increasing its photosynthetic activity. Anolyte showed a positive preharvest effect on the chrysanthemum plant by increasing the leaf size and overall quality. On the other hand, sodium bicarbonate produced low quality plants with fewer flowers than the control. These plants also exhibited necrotic leaf edges, which is a sign of salt stress. Anolyte-treated plants exhibited no significant increase in postharvest longevity. Anolyte treated plants showed an increase in leaf cell size and density and a decrease in the size of intercellular air spaces, indicating an improved ability for photosynthesis, whereas, treatment with sodium bicarbonate resulted in thinner leaves with a smaller midrib and a less developed vascular system when compared to the control. The chloroplasts in anolyte-treated plants exhibited an increase in starch grains, also an indication of enhanced photosynthesis. Anolyte-treated plants also showed an increase in chlorophyll concentration and an improved CO₂ uptake. It is clear from this study that anolyte stimulated photosynthesis in chrysanthemum plants, thus resulting in longer stems with more and larger flowers and leaves. / Prof. C.S. Whitehead

This research report investigated the ruthenium-catalyzed hydrogenation of aqueous sodium bicarbonate. Subjects of the investigation included: the "blank" effect of the 316 stainless steel reactor in the batch mode; the catalytic activities at 150°C for unsupported ruthenium, including ruthenium purge and the metal produced from the in situ reduction of RuCl3·1-3H2O and Ru(IV)O2·H2O; the catalytic activities at 150°C for supported ruthenium including 4.05% w/w ruthenium on alumina, 5.25 and 20.85%w/w ruthenium on molecular sieve SK-41 (ammonium - substituted Y-type), 3.34 and 17.48% w/w ruthenium on SK-41 (prepared by the in situ reduction of the RuCl3·1-3H2O exchange sieve); orders of reaction rate with respect to hydrogen, bicarbonate, and catalyst at 150°C; activity as a function of temperature; and susceptibility to deactivation. The reaction appears to be zero order in both hydrogen and bicarbonate and first order in catalyst at 150°C in the concentration ranges examined; saturation of an assumed limited number of active catalyst sites is assumed to cause the observed zero orders. Conversion was negligible below 150°C, and optimum in the 150°C-200°C range, with product distribution at 150°C heavily favoring methane; e.g. 99% v/v. The stainless steel reactor was found not to catalyze the reaction at 150°C during a two hour reaction. Catalytic activity for unsupported ruthenium paralleled metal surface area (as determined by BET adsorption), while the inverse was found to be true for sieve-supported metal; mass transfer impedance and electronic effects are assumed to be contributing factors. The reaction on alumina-supported ruthenium produced an undesirable white coating, composition as yet undetermined, which strongly adhered to the support and to the reactor walls. Although the reaction investigated is even more exothermic than the Fischer-Tropsch production of methane, and the ruthenium catalyst was also found to be subject to deactivation, the reaction of interest may have an economic advantage over the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, in that it is less expensive to decompose a bicarbonate species using hydration energy and then hydrogenate directly, then to thermally decompose the ore and hydrogenate the CO2 produced.

BACKGROUND:The glycolytic nature of malignant tumors contributes to high levels of extracellular acidity in the tumor microenvironment. Tumor acidity is a driving force in invasion and metastases. Recently, it has been shown that buffering of extracellular acidity through systemic administration of oral bicarbonate can inhibit the spread of metastases in a mouse model for metastatic breast cancer. While these findings are compelling, recent assessments into the use of oral bicarbonate as a cancer intervention reveal limitations.METHODS:We posited that safety and efficacy of bicarbonate could be enhanced by dichloroacetate (DCA), a drug that selectively targets tumor cells and reduces extracellular acidity through inhibition of glycolysis. Using our mouse model for metastatic breast cancer (MDA-MB-231), we designed an interventional survival study where tumor bearing mice received bicarbonate, DCA, or DCA-bicarbonate (DB) therapies chronically.RESULTS:Dichloroacetate alone or in combination with bicarbonate did not increase systemic alkalosis in mice. Survival was longest in mice administered bicarbonate-based therapies. Primary tumor re-occurrence after surgeries is associated with survival rates. Although DB therapy did not significantly enhance oral bicarbonate, we did observe reduced pulmonary lesion diameters in this cohort. The DCA monotherapy was not effective in reducing tumor size or metastases or improving survival time. We provide in vitro evidence to suggest this outcome may be a function of hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment.CONCLUSIONS:DB combination therapy did not appear to enhance the effect of chronic oral bicarbonate. The anti-tumor effect of DCA may be dependent on the cancer model. Our studies suggest DCA efficacy is unpredictable as a cancer therapy and further studies are necessary to determine the role of this agent in the tumor microenvironment.

Class of 2015 Abstract / Objectives: To determine if a change in the amount of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) in 5 different IV solutions will help prevent phenytoin from falling out of solution (i.e. precipitating). Our working hypothesis is that the stability of the phenytoin solution will change with different IV solutions and will increase with increasing the amount of sodium bicarbonate. Methods: A constant amount of phenytoin injection solution was mixed with a constant amount of one IV solution per beaker. Different amounts of alkalizing agents were then added to each phenytoin and IV mixture. Precipitation of the mixtures was observed every 30 minutes for 4 hours, then again in 24 hours. Results: When different IV solutions were added to the phenytoin and alkalizing agent mixture , the pH of the mixture dropped from 10 to 9 independent of the amount of alkalizing agent present in the mixture. All phenytoin mixtures precipitated within 60 minutes; 0.9% NaCl and phenytoin mixture being the one with the most delayed precipitation. Conclusions: Based on the result of this experiment, we rejected both of our specific aim hypotheses. Our hypothesis is rejected because the stability of the phenytoin solution will not change by using different IV solutions or by changing the amount of sodium bicarbonate.