A rinse-off composition, such as a shampoo, hair conditioner or shower gel, comprising a rinse-off composition base, lactoyl ethanolamine and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of N-(4-cyanomethylphenyl) p-menthanecarboxamide and N-(2-pyridin-2-ylethyl) p-menthanecarboxamide. The compositions provide a pleasant, long-lasting cooling sensation.

A carbonylation process for making acetic acid using a metallic co-catalyst composition, effective as a rhodium stabilizer and/or rate promoter, at molar ratios of metal/rhodium of about 0.5 to 40. The process includes reacting methanol with carbon monoxide in the presence of a rhodium-based catalytic metal complex with about 1 to 20 weight percent methyl iodide, less than about 8 weight % water and about 0.5 to about 30 weight percent methyl acetate. The crude acetic acid is flashed and further purified.

A method for producing ethanol by which ethanol can be synthesized from less fermentable biomass materials such as plant-derived materials and rice straws and industrial waste biomass materials such as wooden building materials and pulp and which can therefore broaden the range of raw materials for the production of ethanol. Specifically, a method for producing ethanol including reacting a raw material gas obtained by a thermochemical gasification reaction of biomass in the presence of a catalyst containing rhodium, at least one transition metal, and at least one element selected from lithium, magnesium and zinc.

The present invention relates to a novel process for the production of methanol. The process comprises the heterolytic cleavage of hydrogen by a frustrated Lewis pair comprising a Lewis acid and a Lewis base; and the hydrogenation of CO2 with the heterolytically cleaved hydrogen to form methanol.

A biomass gasification gas purification system includes a dust collector for removing dust in biomass gasification gas (containing tar components) acquired by gasifying biomass by a biomass gasification furnace, a desulfurizer for removing sulfur oxide components in the dust-removed biomass gasification gas, a pre-reforming reactor for reforming tar components in the desulfurized biomass gasification gas, a steam feed unit for feeding steam to an upstream side of the pre-reforming reactor, and a natural-gas feed unit for feeding natural gas on an upstream side of the desulfurizer.

A methanol synthesis process includes reacting a process gas containing hydrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide over a catalyst including shaped units formed from a reduced and passivated catalyst powder the powder including copper in the range 10-80% by weight, zinc oxide in the range 20-90% by weight, alumina in the range 5-60% by weight and optionally one or more oxidic promoter compounds selected from compounds of Mg, Cr, Mn, V, Ti, Zr, Ta, Mo, W, Si and rare earths in the range 0.01-10% by weight, to form a product gas, and condensing methanol, water and oxygenate by-products therefrom, wherein the total oxygenate by-product level in the condensate is below 500 ppm.

The invention provides for a method of forming methanol by combining a mixture of methane, water and carbon dioxide under reaction conditions sufficient to form a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Hydrogen and carbon monoxide are reacted under conditions sufficient to form methanol. The molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide is at least two moles of hydrogen to one mole of carbon monoxide and the overall molar ratio between methane, water and carbon dioxide is about 3:2:1. Methane, carbon dioxide and water are bi-reformed over a catalyst. The catalyst includes a single metal, a metal oxide, a mixed catalyst of a metal and a metal oxide or a mixed catalyst of at least two metal oxides.

A process for the synthesis of methanol, comprising the steps of reforming a hydrocarbon source obtaining a make-up gas feed (101), feeding said make up gas to a synthesis loop (L), converting said make up gas to methanol (108) in a substantially isothermal catalytic environment, wherein said catalytic environment comprises a plurality of isothermal catalytic beds (11, 12, 21) preferably arranged in series, and at least a portion of make-up gas (101) is mixed with recycle gas (112) from the loop (L), obtaining a gaseous mixture of fresh gas and recycle gas, and at least a portion of said gaseous mixture is directed between two consecutive catalytic beds acting as a quench gas. A related plant is also disclosed.

A method for producing methanol from a synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon oxides with a high content of inert components includes passing the synthesis gas through a synthesis reactor so as to catalytically convert a part of the carbon oxides to methanol. The methanol is separated from the obtained mixture from the reactor. The mixture liberated from methanol is separated into a cycle stream and a purge stream. The cycle stream is recirculated so as to form a synthesis circle and combined with a fresh gas stream including hydrogen and carbon oxides before being charged into the synthesis reactor. The purge stream is supplied to a secondary reactor so as to catalytically convert a further part of the hydrogen and carbon oxides to methanol. Further methanol is separated the obtained mixture including synthesis gas, inert components and methanol vapor.

A catalyst including: a support, the support including a mixture of SiO2 and ZrO2; an active ingredient including copper; a first additive including a metal, an oxide thereof, or a combination thereof; and a second additive including Li, Na, K, or a combination thereof. The metal is Mg, Ca, Ba, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Mo, La, or Ce. Based on the total weight of the catalyst, the weight percentages of the different components are as follows: SiO2=50-90 wt. %; ZrO2=0.1-10 wt. %; copper=10-50 wt. %; the first additive=0.1-10 wt. %; and the second additive=0.1-5 wt. %.

Catalysts and processes for forming catalysts for use in hydrogenating acetic acid to form ethanol. In one embodiment, the catalyst comprises a first metal, a silicaceous support, and at least one metasilicate support modifier. Preferably, the first metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, titanium, zinc, chromium, rhenium, molybdenum, and tungsten. In addition the catalyst may comprise a second metal preferably selected from the group consisting of copper, molybdenum, tin, chromium, iron, cobalt, vanadium, tungsten, palladium, platinum, lanthanum, cerium, manganese, ruthenium, rhenium, gold, and nickel.

Systems for treating biomass for the production of ethanol are disclosed. The systems are configured to treat a liquid component separated from biomass to yield sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product. The systems comprise a filter configured to remove particulate matter to provide a filtered component and an apparatus configured to remove inhibitors from the filtered liquid component provide a treated liquid component comprising sugars available for fermentation. Methods for treating for treating biomass useful in the production of a fermentation product are also disclosed. The methods include the steps of filtering a liquid component to remove particulate matter thereby yielding a filtered liquid component, and treating the filtered liquid component to remove inhibitors thereby yielding a treated liquid component comprising sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product.

A $500 million methanol plant with the capacity to produce 1,000 tonnes a day of the chemical could begin operating by 2024 in the Darwin Harbour.

Bacterial biofilms are cellular communities that produce an adherent matrix. Exopolysaccharides are key structural components of this matrix and are required for the assembly and architecture of biofilms produced by a wide variety of microorganisms. The human bacterial pathogens Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica produce a biofilm matrix composed primarily of the exopolysaccharide phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) cellulose. Once thought to be composed of only underivatized cellulose, the pEtN modification present in these matrices has been implicated in the overall architecture and integrity of the biofilm. However, an understanding of the mechanism underlying pEtN derivatization of the cellulose exopolysaccharide remains elusive. The bacterial cellulose synthase subunit G (BcsG) is a predicted inner membrane–localized metalloenzyme that has been proposed to catalyze the transfer of the pEtN group from membrane phospholipids to cellulose. Here we present evidence that the C-terminal domain of BcsG from E. coli (EcBcsGΔN) functions as a phosphoethanolamine transferase in vitro with substrate preference for cellulosic materials. Structural characterization of EcBcsGΔN revealed that it belongs to the alkaline phosphatase superfamily, contains a Zn2+ ion at its active center, and is structurally similar to characterized enzymes that confer colistin resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. Informed by our structural studies, we present a functional complementation experiment in E. coli AR3110, indicating that the activity of the BcsG C-terminal domain is essential for integrity of the pellicular biofilm. Furthermore, our results established a similar but distinct active-site architecture and catalytic mechanism shared between BcsG and the colistin resistance enzymes.

William R. Morrison
Oct 1, 1964; 5:600-608
Articles

Bacterial biofilms are cellular communities that produce an adherent matrix. Exopolysaccharides are key structural components of this matrix and are required for the assembly and architecture of biofilms produced by a wide variety of microorganisms. The human bacterial pathogens Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica produce a biofilm matrix composed primarily of the exopolysaccharide phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) cellulose. Once thought to be composed of only underivatized cellulose, the pEtN modification present in these matrices has been implicated in the overall architecture and integrity of the biofilm. However, an understanding of the mechanism underlying pEtN derivatization of the cellulose exopolysaccharide remains elusive. The bacterial cellulose synthase subunit G (BcsG) is a predicted inner membrane–localized metalloenzyme that has been proposed to catalyze the transfer of the pEtN group from membrane phospholipids to cellulose. Here we present evidence that the C-terminal domain of BcsG from E. coli (EcBcsGΔN) functions as a phosphoethanolamine transferase in vitro with substrate preference for cellulosic materials. Structural characterization of EcBcsGΔN revealed that it belongs to the alkaline phosphatase superfamily, contains a Zn2+ ion at its active center, and is structurally similar to characterized enzymes that confer colistin resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. Informed by our structural studies, we present a functional complementation experiment in E. coli AR3110, indicating that the activity of the BcsG C-terminal domain is essential for integrity of the pellicular biofilm. Furthermore, our results established a similar but distinct active-site architecture and catalytic mechanism shared between BcsG and the colistin resistance enzymes.

Purified RNA may need to be concentrated by precipitation for downstream applications. Precipitation of RNA with ethanol (or isopropanol) is the standard method to recover RNA from aqueous solutions.

The Obama administration is set to pledge $100 million Friday to expand the use of special fuel pumps that allow drivers to blend more ethanol into their gasoline, according to people briefed on the announcement.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has long championed these so-called blender pumps, may unveil the plan on the same day that the Environmental Protection Agency announces quotas for the use of renewable fuels. With ethanol makers facing a possible cut in their quota below the statutory level of 15 billion gallons, the grant program will let the administration of President Barack Obama demonstrate that it still supports the fuel, which in the U.S. is produced mostly from corn.

“Blender pumps are a huge part of the equation when it comes to the deployment of the second generation biofuels, because investors need a market to invest in,” said Brooke Coleman, the executive director of the Advanced Ethanol Council. “It allows the consumer to choose based on price.”

The grant program would be fast-tracked to states to help defray the cost of installing the pumps, which allow drivers to choose how much ethanol they want to mix with gasoline pumped into their tanks, said the people, who asked not to be identified before the formal announcement.

The USDA, which in 2011 said it wanted to get 10,000 blender pumps installed, has scheduled an announcement Friday on biofuels infrastructure. USDA spokesman Cullen Schwarz said he couldn’t comment on the announcement.

Quotas Overdue

The EPA is scheduled to issue renewable fuel quotas for 2014, 2015 and 2016 before June 1, and the two people said that announcement will also come Friday. The EPA abandoned its proposal for quotas last year, after ethanol makers bristled at the attempt to cut quotas based on the argument that more than 10 percent ethanol couldn’t be absorbed by the domestic market.

Separately, production of cellulosic ethanol -- a fuel made from wood, grass and other plant material -- is far below the 3 billion gallons set in the legislation for this year. Taken together EPA will have to propose some cuts, analysts say.

“The statutory volume targets of the RFS are now totally implausible, so something has to give,” Jeremy Martin, a senior scientist the Union of Concerned Scientists, wrote in a report released Thursday. “Whatever they do will likely be challenged in court, so the final answer to these questions may take some time to shake out.”

--With assistance from Alan Bjerga in Washington.

An Obama administration proposal last month to cut quotas for renewable fuels led to a rout in ethanol credits and handcuffed the industry’s growth, biofuel groups said Thursday.

On 8 October 2019, the Government announced changes to the UK’s temporary tariff regime for certain products in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Under the proposals, which were first published on 13 March 2019 , the Government intended to introd...

Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine are two major phospholipid classes in eukaryotes. Each biosynthesis pathway starts with the phosphorylation of choline (Cho) or ethanolamine (Etn) catalyzed by either choline or ethanolamine kinase (CEK). Arabidopsis contains four CEK isoforms, but their isozyme-specific roles in metabolism and development are poorly described. Here, we showed that these four CEKs have distinct substrate specificities in vitro. While CEK1 and CEK2 showed substrate preference for Cho over Etn, CEK3 and CEK4 had clear substrate specificity for Cho and Etn, respectively. In vivo, CEK1, CEK2, and CEK3 exhibited kinase activity for Cho but not Etn, although the latter two isoforms showed rather minor contributions to total Cho kinase activity in both shoots and roots. The knockout mutants of CEK2 and CEK3 both affected root growth, and these isoforms had nonoverlapping cell-type-specific expression patterns in the root meristematic zone. In-depth phenotype analysis, as well as chemical and genetic complementation, revealed that CEK3, a Cho-specific kinase, is involved in cell elongation during root development. Phylogenetic analysis of CEK orthologs in Brassicaceae species showed evolutionary divergence between Etn kinases and Cho kinases. Collectively, our results demonstrate the distinct roles of the four CEK isoforms in Cho/Etn metabolism and plant development.

Scarlet J. Park and William W. Ja

Factors that mediate ethanol preference in Drosophila melanogaster are not well understood. A major confound has been the use of diverse methods to estimate ethanol consumption. We measured fly consumptive ethanol preference on base diets varying in nutrients, taste, and ethanol concentration. Both sexes showed ethanol preference that was abolished on high nutrient concentration diets. Additionally, manipulating total food intake without altering the nutritive value of the base diet or the ethanol concentration was sufficient to evoke or eliminate ethanol preference. Absolute ethanol intake and food volume consumed were stronger predictors of ethanol preference than caloric intake or the dietary caloric content. Our findings suggest that the effect of the base diet on ethanol preference is largely mediated by total consumption associated with the delivery medium, which ultimately determines the level of ethanol intake. We speculate that a physiologically relevant threshold for ethanol intake is essential for preferential ethanol consumption.

It's been a while since a good poo-power story has come down the pipe, but here's an interesting one: Massachusetts-based biofuels company Qteros and wastewater recyclers Applied Clean Tech have announced that they

New Environmental Protection Agency requirements for its Renewable Fuel Standards program have been released which raise an issue which has sat dormant for a little while: How to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions of a

Two new pieces in NRDC's Switchboard blog remind us that the debate over corn ethanol subsidies is alive and well; and illustrate, through two new reports, the benefits of ditching Federal support altogether. The first, from the

This week USEPA announced that the maximum ethanol content of motor fuel sold in the USA would be allowed to rise from 10% to 15%. Positives of the Agency's decision are: reduced dependence on foreign

Photo: World Economic Forum, Flickr, CC BY-SA Corn ethanol has turned out to be a bad idea -- there's little disagreement about that, especially in environmental circles. For starters, it's an inefficient fuel source, consuming tons of water to produce

Germans rate respect for having a national identity as eco-conscious people. Should it therefore come as a surprise that Germans are not embracing the advent of E10, a 10% ethanol-gasoline mixture, which has

Few industrialists in recent times have done more to imperil environmental protections and public health than the Koch brothers. The force behind Americans for Prosperity and Koch Industries have galvanized

A measure that would remove roughly $6 billion in annual ethanol subsidies just passed the U.S. Senate, signaling, among other things, a shift in public attitude towards the once-heralded alternative fuel. It

If it seems like you've read a variation of the above headline before you're not wrong, and as much as anything it's a sign of the rock road cellulosic ethanol and biofuels in general have had in the past few years. The details: The Department of

Kidney failure is killing sugarcane workers in Central America who supply sugar for both our sweet tooth and demand for ethanol.

There is an election coming up and the farm vote matters.

Just a quick one on ethanol and Southeast Asia: Chinaview.cn is reporting that Cambodia has opened the nation’s first ethanol production facility. Using cassava as a feedstock, at least initially all of the

Ed. note: This post, about ethanol is now the third post (read about biodiesel and compost to catch up) in the Green Basics series of posts that TreeHugger is writing to provide basic information about important ideas, materials and technologies for new

The researchers have found a simple way to create an energy source for fuel cells using CO2 in the air.

POET, based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has re-engineered systems to make pharmaceutical grade hand sanitizer.

Jeff Broin, founder & CEO of POET, the world's largest producer of ethanol, says production is down by half, but two plants are being turned into hand sanitizer facilities, a new revenue stream the company plans to keep.

A cooperative sugar mill in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra has taken the lead in producing fuel-grade ethanol directly from sugarcane juice in the state, a senior official said on Thursday. The Centre had in July last year allowed sugar mills to manufacture ethanol directly from sugarcane juice or an intermediate product called B-molasses.

The decision was taken to help mills divert cane juice for ethanol manufacturing during surplus years. Maharashtra sugar commissionerate's joint director Sanjay Bhosale told PTI that Kolhapur's Tatyasaheb Kore Warana Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd is the only cooperative sugar mill in the state which has started making ethanol from sugarcane juice.

Traditionally, in India ethanol is made from 'C-Heavy' molasses, but in July last year, the government gave permission to make ethanol from sugarcane juice and 'B-Heavy' molasses or B-grade molasses, he said.

"A miller can do a minimum modification in the equipment to make ethanol from B-Heavy molasses. But in case of ethanol from sugarcane juice, the mill would have to go for changes in the machinery. That is why no sugar mill was ready to go into that direction, but Warana has shown the courage," Bhosale said.

The fuel grade ethanol that is produced directly from cane juice is fetching Rs 59 per litre. This is going to be beneficial for the sugar industry that is facing crisis of excess stock of sugar, Warana co-operative group chairman and former minister Vinay Kore said.

The Kolhapur-based sugar mill is producing 70,000 litres of ethanol per day, another factory official said. The government allowed fuel-grade ethanol production from sugarcane juice with an aim to increase the earnings of sugar mills and help them in making full and timely payments to farmers.

Cane-based ethanol can be produced in three different ways directly from cane juice, from B-grade and C-grade molasses. Molasses is a viscous product obtained from raw sugar during the refining process.

Maharashtra is one of the leading sugarcane producing states. Sugar mills in the country were incurring losses as prices fell below the production cost on account of record output as against the annual domestic demand.

Exports of Methanol CMLV in Russia increased to 67.10 USD Million in February from 23.70 USD Million in January of 2020. Exports of Methanol CMLV in Russia averaged 159.62 USD Million from 1994 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 601.81 USD Million in December of 2018 and a record low of 0 USD Million in January of 2000. Russia accounts for Exports of Methanol using cumulative values for each year (CMLV). This page includes a chart with historical data for Russia Exports of Methanol CMLV.

Ethanol decreased 0.31 USD/GAL or 21.98% since the beginning of 2020, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Historically, Ethanol reached an all time high of 4.33 in June of 2006. The ethanol market is growing rapidly, particularly due to the governments mandate for renewable fuels. Ethanol is largely produced through fermenting starch or sugar-based feedstocks. In the United States, corn is the principal raw material; in Brazil, the world's leading ethanol producer, sugar cane is widely used. In the United States, Ethanol Futures are available for Trading in The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT® ). The market prices displayed in Trading Economics are based on over-the-counter (OTC) and contract for difference (CFD) financial instruments. Our market prices are intended to provide you with a reference only, rather than as a basis for making trading decisions. Trading Economics does not verify any data and disclaims any obligation to do so.

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