Bacteria-mediated degradation of toxins has been reported as a practical technique for the innocuous removal of toxic organic compounds from water. Specifically, immobilized and pre-acclimatized Pseudomonas putida has been shown to clear low levels of contaminants (less than 2000 mg/L) from wastewater, wherein the bacteria consumes toxic aromatic compounds as the only source of carbon and energ...

A comparative experimental study of shear-flow rheological properties of thermotropic polymer liquid crystals by eight different laboratories is described. The materials involved four different liquid-crystalline polyesters (LCPs), a glassfiber-filled liquid-crystalline polyester, hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), and two non-liquid-crystalline high-temperature polymers, a poly(etheretherketone) (...

Post modification of biodegradable polyesters as dispersants.

Thermoplastic polymers are currently prepared almost exclusively from fossil feedstocks. In view of the limited availability of such feedstocks, alternative renewable resources are desirable in the long term.[1.2] Polymer production from a renewable resource ideally allows for a complete molecular utilization of the feedstock and carries its molecular structure over into the resulting polymers,...

Biobased omega-carboxy fatty acid monomers 1,18-cis-9-octadecenedioic, 1,22-cis-9-docosenedioic, and 1,18-cis-9,10-epoxy-octadecanedioic acids were synthesized in high conversion yields from oleic, erucic and epoxy stearic acids by whole-cell biotransformations catalyzed by C. tropicalis ATCC20962. Maximum volumetric yields in shake-flasks were 17.3, 14.2, and 19.1 g/L after 48 h conversion for...

Numerous microorganisms accumulate polyesters classified as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) as carbon and energy storage material when the growth condition is unfavorable in the presence of excess carbon source. Natural PHAs typically consist of various (R)-hydroxycarboxylic acids, and exhibit different material properties depending on the monomer composition. Such diversity comes from different m...

Aliphatic polyesters constitute an important class of polymers because of their biodegradability1,2 and biocompatability,2,3 which enable their use in drug delivery systems,2 artificial tissues,3 and commodity materials.4 Polyesters such as poly(butylene succinate) are commonly produced through condensation polymerization; however, this method is energy intensive, requiring high temperature and...