MDPI - Publisher of Open Access Journals

10 pages, 1676 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Continuous Biodiesel Production from Waste Soybean Oil Using a Nano-Fe₃O₄ Microwave Catalysis

by Ching-Hsing Lin, Yi-Tang Chang, Mei-Chou Lai, Tai-Ying Chiou and Chien-Sen Liao

Processes 2021, 9(5), 756; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9050756 - 26 Apr 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3019

In this study, we conducted an efficient microwave-assisted transesterification process combining homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic phases to produce biodiesel from waste soybean oil. A cylindrical quartz reactor packed with nanoparticles of Fe₃O₄ as a co-catalyst was applied to improve the reaction. The process was carried out with a methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 6:1, power of 560 W, and residence time of 30 s. The specifications of the biodiesel produced in this study were compared with two standards, i.e., ASTM D6751 and EN 14214. We found that the continuous conversion of waste soybean oil to methyl ester was approximately 95%. The biodiesel showed a higher flash point and a higher carbon residue content than that of both standards, and the viscosity (5.356 mm²/s) and density (898.1 kg/m³) were both at a high level. Compared to a conventional heating plate, the energy consumption was significantly reduced by nearly 93%. It is expected that these findings will provide useful information for green and sustainable processes for the regeneration and reuse of oil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Chemical Pretreatment Methods for Biofuel Production Processes)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1222 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impacts of Endocrine Disruptor di-n-Butyl Phthalate Ester on Microalga Chlorella vulgaris Verified by Approaches of Proteomics and Gene Ontology

by Chien-Sen Liao, Yong-Han Hong, Yoshikazu Nishikawa, Eriko Kage-Nakadai, Tai-Ying Chiou and Chien-Chang Wu

Molecules 2020, 25(18), 4304; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25184304 - 19 Sep 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3002

Abstract

Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) is an extensively used plasticizer. Most investigations on DBP have been concentrated on its environmental distribution and toxicity to humans. However, information on the effects of plasticizers on algal species is scarce. This study verified the impacts of endocrine disruptor di-n-butyl phthalate ester on microalga Chlorella vulgaris by approaches of proteomics and gene ontology. The algal acute biotoxicity results showed that the 24h-EC50 of DBP for C. vulgaris was 4.95 mg L⁻¹, which caused a decrease in the chlorophyll a content and an increase in the DBP concentration of C. vulgaris. Proteomic analysis led to the identification of 1257 C. vulgaris proteins. Sixty-one more proteins showed increased expression, compared to proteins with decreased expression. This result illustrates that exposure to DBP generally enhances protein expression in C. vulgaris. GO annotation showed that both acetolactate synthase (ALS) and GDP-L-fucose synthase 2 (GER2) decreased more than 1.5-fold after exposure to DBP. These effects could inhibit both the valine biosynthetic process and the nucleotide-sugar metabolic process in C. vulgaris. The results of this study demonstrate that DBP could inhibit growth and cause significant changes to the biosynthesis-relevant proteins in C. vulgaris. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds Isolated from Microalgae)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

10 pages, 1624 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Conversion and Hydrothermal Decomposition of Major Components of Mint Essential Oil by Small-Scale Subcritical Water Treatment

by Tai-Ying Chiou, Shiori Nomura, Masaaki Konishi, Chien-Sen Liao, Yasutaka Shimotori, Miki Murata, Naofumi Ohtsu, Yoshihito Kohari, Wei-Ju Lee, Tsung-Yu Tsai, Yuichi Nagata and Tohru Saitoh

Molecules 2020, 25(8), 1953; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25081953 - 22 Apr 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4103

Abstract

Thermal stabilities of four major components (l-menthol, l-menthone, piperitone, and l-menthyl acetate) of Japanese mint essential oil were evaluated via subcritical water treatment. To improve experimental throughput for measuring compound stabilities, a small-scale subcritical water treatment method using ampoule bottles was developed and employed. A mixture of the four major components was treated in subcritical water at 180–240 °C for 5–60 min, and then analyzed by gas chromatography. The results indicated that the order of thermal resistance, from strongest to weakest, was: l-menthyl acetate, l-menthol, piperitone, and l-menthone. In individual treatments of mint flavor components, subsequent conversions of l-menthyl acetate to l-menthol, l-menthol to l-menthone, l-menthone to piperitone, and piperitone to thymol were observed in individual treatments at 240 °C for 60 min. As the mass balance between piperitone and thymol was low, the hydrothermal decomposition of the components was considered to have occurred intensely during, or after the conversion. These results explained the degradation of mint essential oil components under subcritical water conditions and provided the basis for optimizing the extraction conditions of mint essential oils using subcritical water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Subcritical Water Extraction of Bioactive Compounds)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 852 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Control of Rice Blast Disease by the Novel Biofungicide Formulations

by Wen-Ching Chen, Tai-Ying Chiou, Aileen L. Delgado and Chien-Sen Liao

Sustainability 2019, 11(12), 3449; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123449 - 23 Jun 2019

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 12513

Abstract

The study aims to develop novel biofungicide formulations against rice blast disease. A total of 300 rhizobacteria strains were isolated from rice field soil and were examined for the inhibition of Magnaporthe oryzae growth in a vitro test. Among them, only six rhizobacteria showed inhibition against M. oryzae. The three strains that showed the highest inhibition were Bacillus subtilis 5, B. cereus 3S5, and Pseudomonas fluorecens 10S2. A rice hull mixture and liquid medium were mixed with the above-mentioned bacterial suspensions into three bacterial formulas and tested separately on the rice cultivar UPLRi-5 after infection by M. oryzae under a controlled condition. The three novel biofungicide formulas significantly inhibited rice blast disease intensity with a mean disease control rate being approximately 31% higher than the control. The formulas proved to be effective and should be considered as promising novel treatments for rice blast disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability of Microbial Ecosystems: Soil and Aquatic Microbial Diversity)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Immunomodulatory Activity of Polysaccharide-Protein Complex of Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) Pulp

by Yang Yi, Sen-Tai Liao, Ming-Wei Zhang, Rui-Fen Zhang, Yuan-Yuan Deng, Bao Yang and Zhen-Cheng Wei

Molecules 2011, 16(12), 10324-10336; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules161210324 - 13 Dec 2011

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 7307

Abstract

The immunomodulatory function of longan pulp polysaccharide-protein complex (LP3) was investigated in immunosuppressed mice models. Compared with the model control, peroral administration of 100 mgkg⁻¹d⁻¹ LP3 could significantly increase/enhance antibody production against chicken red blood cell (CRBC), concanavalin A (ConA)-induced splenocyte proliferation, macrophage phagocytosis, NK cell cytotoxicity against YAC-1 lymphoma cell, and interferon-gamma (INF-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion in serum (P < 0.05). The immunomodulatory effects, except for those on splenocytes and macrophages (P > 0.05), were also observed in mice administered with 50 or 200 mgkg⁻¹d⁻¹ LP3 (P < 0.05). The beneficial effects of 50–200 mgkg⁻¹d⁻¹ LP3 were comparable to those of 50 mgkg⁻¹d⁻¹ ganoderan. The strong immunomodulatory activity of LP3 confirmed its good potential as an immunotherapeutic adjuvant. Full article

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 406 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physicochemical Characteristics and Immunomodulatory Activities of Three Polysaccharide-Protein Complexes of Longan Pulp

by Yang Yi, Sen Tai Liao, Ming Wei Zhang, John Shi, Rui Fen Zhang, Yuan Yuan Deng and Zhen Cheng Wei

Molecules 2011, 16(7), 6148-6164; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules16076148 - 21 Jul 2011

Cited by 67 | Viewed by 9104

Abstract

Three polysaccharide-protein complexes of longan pulp (LP1-3) were isolated in this work. Their physicochemical characteristics and immunomodulatory effects on splenocytes, natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages in vitro were investigated. The carbohydrate portions of LP1-3 were principally composed of glucose, arabinose and mannose. LP3 displayed the maximal moisture absorption, and the thermal stability of LP2 was obviously higher than that of LP1 and LP3. All of them showed the characteristic polysaccharide and protein bands in the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrum. For a certain dose, all the fractions could significantly stimulate splenocyte proliferation, macrophage phagocytosis against neutral red, and NK cell cytotoxicity against YAC-1 lymphoma cell (P < 0.05). The results demonstrated that the polysaccharide-protein complexes of longan pulp have medical potential as immunotherapeutic adjuvants due to their immunomodulatory activities. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Search Results (6)

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI

Saved Queries

Search Filter Reset All

Years

Feature Papers

Subjects

Journals

Article Types

Countries / Regions

Search Results (6)

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI