Ooids are one of the common constituents of ancient carbonate rocks, yet the role that microbial communities may or may not play in their formation remains unresolved. To search for evidence of microbial activity in modern and Holocene ooids, samples collected from intertidal waters, beaches and outcrops in the Bahamas and in Shark Bay in Western Australia were examined for their contents of li...

A gram-negative aliphatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium SJTD-1 isolated from oil-contaminated soil was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa by comparative analyses of the 16S rRNA sequence, phenotype, and physiological features. SJTD-1 could efficiently mineralize medium- and long-chain n-alkanes (C12-C30) as its sole carbon source within seven days, showing the most optimal growth on n-hexad...

In order to facilitate the demonstration of the structure dependent stabilizing or destabilizing energy effects characterizing the individual hydrocarbons it is suggested to replace graphite . and hydrogen as reference substances (used in calculating the heats of formation) by the series of n-alkanes. This can be achieved by converting the heats of formation into relative enthalpies (HreJ). The...

In a simple phosphate buffer or a sodium chloride solution resting cells of Pseudomonas spec. DSM 2874 produced up to 15 g/l of different rhamnolipids. The rhamnolipid composition of the organic crude extract depended on the temperature during the cultivation and on the C-source. The optimal sodium chloride concentration for rhamnolipid formation was about 100 mM/l and the optimal phosphate buf...

An efficient extraction and analysis method was developed for the isolation and quantification of n-alkanes from bell peppers of different geographical locations. Five extraction techniques, i.e., accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), ball mill extraction, ultrasonication, rinsing, and shaking, were quantitatively compared using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Rinsing o...

Onset of asphaltene precipitation is the key parameter in dealing with asphaltene problems because it is the starting point of the asphaltene separation from the solution. In this study, a new technique is provided based on the experimental observations for the determination of the onset of asphaltene precipitation using accurate density measurements of the crude oils upon titration with precip...

This study presents a hydroclimatic reconstruction from Crvena Stijena (Montenegro, Balkan Peninsula), rock shelter that has yielded evidence for Middle Paleolithic human occupation. The integration of lipid biomarkers, hydrogen (δD) isotopic compositions n -alkanes, and organic elemental geochemistry in the 7-m deep vertical sedimentary sequence enables main hydrological environmental changes ...

The coverage dependent phase behavior of molecular films of n-alkanes (CH3CHn22CH3 , denote Cn) on mercury was studied for lengths 10<n<50, using surface tensiometry and surface x-ray diffraction methods. In contrast with Langmuir films on water, where roughly surface-normal molecular orientation is invariably found, alkanes on mercury are always oriented surface-parallel, and show no long-rang...

Pt clusters within [Fe]ZSM-5 channels provide active and stable sites for the selective catalytic dehydrogenation of n-alkanes to n-alkenes. Cs and Na cations titrate acid sites and inhibit skeletal isomerization and cracking side reactions.

The temperature dependent phase behavior of Langmuir films of n-alkanes [CH3(CH2)(n-2)CH3, denote Cn] on mercury was studied for chain lengths 19< or =n< or =22 and temperatures 15< or =T< or =44 degrees C, using surface tensiometry and surface x-ray diffraction methods. In contrast with Langmuir films on water, where molecules invariably orient roughly surface normal, alkanes on mercury are al...