pH Of Water Extract Research Articles

The effect of activator type on physicochemical and sorption properties of nanostructured carbon adsorbents obtained from fennel seed by chemical activation

AbstractIn this study, fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds were used as a precursor for obtaining nanostructured activated carbons by chemical activation with various reagents. The obtained activated carbons were characterized using nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, ash content, Boehm titration and pH of water extracts. It was shown that the choice of activator had an important effect on the physicochemical and sorption properties of the obtained activated carbons. The specific surface area of the obtained adsorbents ranged from 345 to 1052 m2/g. Chemical activation of the starting material with potassium carbonate made it possible to obtain activated carbons with the strongest developed specific surface area and the best sorption capacity against the tested pollutants. 1 g of this carbon is able to adsorb 1215 mg of iodine and 454 mg of methylene blue. The least effective adsorbent turned out to be the carbon obtained by chemical activation of fennel seeds with sodium carbonate, whose sorption capacity toward the pollutants from aqueous solutions was 77 mg/g and 317 mg/g for methylene blue for iodine, respectively. The alkaline pH of the solution promotes effective adsorption of methylene blue on the surface of the obtained adsorbents. The reaction of the dye molecules adsorption on the activated carbons occurs according to the pseudo-second-order model. The Langmuir isotherm best described the process under study. In addition, it was shown that chemical activation of fennel seeds leads to carbon adsorbents with acidic surface character. The negative values of Gibbs free energy indicate the spontaneous character of the process. The study has shown that fennel seeds can be successfully used to obtain low-cost and effective nanostructured carbon adsorbents with good sorption capacity toward organic and inorganic contaminants, from the aqueous phase.

Biocarbons Obtained from Fennel and Caraway Fruits as Adsorbents of Methyl Red Sodium Salt from Water System.

The aim of this study was to prepare biocarbons by biomass activation with carbon(IV) oxide. Fennel and caraway fruits were used as the precursors of bioadsorbents. The impact of the precursor type and temperature of activation on the physicochemical properties of the obtained biocarbons and their interaction with methyl red sodium salt upon adsorption process have been checked. The obtained bioadsorbents were characterized by determination of-low temperature nitrogen adsorption/desorption, elemental analysis, ash content, Boehm titration, and pH of water extracts. The biocarbons have surface area varying from 233-371 m2/g and basic in nature with acidic/basic oxygen-containing functional groups (3.23-5.08 mmol/g). The adsorption capacity varied from 63 to 141 mg/g. The influence of different parameters, such as the effectiveness of methyl red sodium salt adsorption, was evaluated. The adsorption kinetics was well fitted using a pseudo-second-order model. The Freundlich model best represented the equilibrium data. The amount of adsorbed dye was also found to increase with the increasing temperature of the process.

Activated Biocarbons Obtained from Plant Biomass as Adsorbents of Heavy Metal Ions.

This paper deals with the adsorption of heavy metal ions on the surface of carbonaceous materials obtained via the chemical activation of biomass. Waste plum stones, pine sawdust and horsetail herb were used as the precursors of carbonaceous adsorbents. The effect of the precursor type and preparation procedure on the physicochemical properties of activated biocarbons and their sorption abilities towards Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions have been checked. The obtained micro-mesoporous activated biocarbons were characterized by determination of elemental composition and ash content, the number of surface functional groups and pH of water extracts as well as textural study based on low temperature nitrogen adsorption/desorption and scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, the electrokinetic studies including solid surface charge density and zeta potential determination were performed. Moreover, the adsorption data modelling (equilibrium and kinetics), XPS results analysis and comparison of parameters characterizing electrical double layer formed at the solid-liquid interface enabled the specification of the mechanism of heavy metals binding with the activated biocarbons surface. The maximum adsorption capacity towards copper and lead ions (177.5 and 178.1 mg/g, respectively) was found for plum stone-based activated biocarbon. For all carbonaceous materials, better fit to the experimental data was achieved with a Langmuir isotherm than a Freundlich one. In turn, a better fit of the kinetics data was obtained using the pseudo-second order model.

ТРАНСФОРМАЦИЯ ЧЕРНОЗЕМА ОБЫКНОВЕННОГО ПРИ ДЛИТЕЛЬНОМ ОРОШЕНИИ СЛАБОМИНЕРАЛИЗОВАННОЙ ВОДОЙ СУЛЬФАТНО-НАТРИЕВОГО СОСТАВА

Purpose: to determine the impact of low-mineralized sulfate-sodium water on ordinary chernozem properties in the Miusskaya irrigation system under various conditions of land reclamation. Materials and methods. The studies were carried out in Neklinovsky district Rostov region on ordinary chernozems. Three plots have been selected: non-irrigated, irrigated grain fodder crop rotation with annual irrigation rates of 1500–2500 m³/ha and irrigated vegetable crop rotation with annual irrigation rates of 3000–4000 m³/ha. Irrigation of these crop rotations has been carried out for more than 20 years. Irrigation source is the Miussky liman. Soil samples were taken in autumn, and the composition of water-soluble salts, pH of water extract, absorbed bases, aggregate water resistance, and humus were determined in them. The selection of soil samples, their analysis and evaluation were carried out according to generally accepted methods. Results. Long-term irrigation with low-mineralized (1.3–1.7 g/dm³) sulfate-sodium water adversely affects the ordinary chernozem properties (the chemistry of salinity from sulfate transforms into chloride-sulfate). According to the degree of salinity, chernozems remain non-saline, but the amount of salts increases by almost 2 times over the entire soil profile due to their washing deep into the autumn-winter precipitation. Non salt soils are transformed into solonetsous ones with varying degrees of absorbed sodium content in the 0–60 cm layer: 5 % (grain forage crop rotation) and 7–12 % of the total soil absorption complex (vegetable crop rotation). Calcium loss in the 0–60 cm layer is from 14 to 18–22 %, respectively. Conclusions. The alkalinity of chernozem, which occurs during long-term irrigation with low-mineralized sulfate-sodium water, generally affects soil fertility. This is evidenced by the close relationship between humus and the amount of exchangeable sodium in soil (R² = 0.84), between the aggregate water resistance and the amount of exchangeable sodium in soil (R² = 0.89).

Сравнение методик анализов ОЖ, выполняемых различными масляными лабораториями

The article presents a comparison of methods for analyzing fire-resistant oils carried out in the following companies: the central chemical laboratory of energy company No. 1, the Teplotekhnik testing center of OAO VTI, the laboratory of CHPP-A of energy company No. 1, the laboratory of CHPP-B of energy company No. 1, the TPP-B and TPP-G laboratories, central chemical laboratory of the energy company No. 3, testing laboratory of MITs GSM LLC. Methods for determining the deaeration time, foam formation, varnish formation potential, acid number, demulsification time, kinematic viscosity, content of water-soluble acids and alkalis, corrosion on steel plates, mass fraction of dissolved sludge, flash point in an open crucible, industrial purity class, water content, pH of water extract, water according to KF, mass fraction of mechanical impurities.

Peculiarities of formation the grain productivity of spring barley depending on terms and norms of foliar fertilization.

One of the ways to improve the nutritional conditions of plants and therefore increase the productivity of agrocenoses of spring cereals, is the use of mineral fertilizers, both in their main application and in the spring fertilization of vegetative plants. And that is why the purpose of study was to improve agro-technical measures for growing spring barley, which would be based on the use of biological potential of the crop and the use of resource-saving technologies in the Northern Steppe of Ukraine. The study was conducted at the Erastivka Experimental Station of SI Institute of Grain Crops of NAAS during 2017–2019, according to generally known methods. Soil of experimental field – ordinary chernozem, low-humic, loamy. The humus content in arable soil layer (0–30 cm) – 4,0–4,5 %, total nitro-gen – 0,23–0,26 %, phosphorus – 0,11–0,16 %, potassium – 2,0–2,5 %, pH of water extract – 6,5–7,0. Field experiments were laid in six-field crop rotation after predecessor winter wheat. In experi-ments seeded spring barley of variety Stalker with seeding rate 4,5 million of grains/ha. Soil prepara-tion, sowing, care of crops and harvesting were carried out strictly according to the zonal recommendations. Variants in a field experiment designed systematically, with three replications. Accounting plots area – 25 m2. Arid conditions of Ukraine’s Steppe zone is quite complex. Two-thirds of land in Ukraine referred to zone of risky agriculture, but even here you can use 30–50 % and more of varieties capacity, in consideration of importance the local gene pool in creating highly adapted varieties based on local varieties and using the developed agrotechnical growing measures, that promotes plants to be resistant to dry conditions of Steppe zone of Ukraine. Weather conditions during the investigation were different, which made it possible to fully assess its impact on grain productivity potential of spring small cereals. Phenological observations, analysis of yield structure elements and grain productivity of spring barley of variety Stalker when grown without fertilizers and fertilizing with N30P30K30 as well as the use of different terms and doses of foliar fertilization of plants with ammonium nitrate and humic preparation humisol plus in conditions of Steppe zone of Ukraine are presented. It was found that the growth, development and formation of productivity elements of spring barley plants were significantly influenced by the timing and dosing of fertilization. Earlier fertilization of plants with ammonium nitrate and humisol plus, carried out on seedlings and in the tillering phase, contributed to better plant growth and development, formation of productive tillering and yield structure elements, compared with fertilization in the phase of stem elongation as in the variant of fertilized background (N30P30K30), as in the variant without the using of mineral fertilizers. Key words: spring barley, mineral fertilizers, foliar fertilization of plants, elements of head structure, grain yield.

Experimental substantiation of new criteria for silage quality evaluation

Purpose. To substantiate new criteria for evaluation of corn silage quality with bio-preservatives. Methods. Zootechnical method to determine feed digestibility in animal experiments. It is incorporated in amphorae of 1.8 tons of corn silage mass of the beginning of wax ripeness. The first amphora was without preservative, the second was with bio preservative No. 1 and the third one was with bio preservative No. 2. The silo of 3 amphorae according to the standard was evaluated. In all 3 amphorae, the silo was of good quality, but the digestibility of dry matter in the balance experiments on the rams was different. Results. The most commonly accepted criteria for evaluating silo quality are its pH value and the solids content. The high quality silo has a pH of water extract in the range of 3.6—3.9. Such pH values are created by the high content of lactic acid and low ammonia content. Under these conditions, the nutrient retention in the silage feed is the highest compared to other acidity parameters. Thus, under pH higher than 4.4 and dry matter content of 30 %, the fermentation in the silo process takes place by the proteolytic type and, as a result, butyric acid, amines and ammonia, not lactic acid, are formed. Due to the fact that butyric acid is much weaker than lactic acid and thus has a low preservative capacity, the silo is of poor quality. Therefore, high levels of ammonia, amines and butyric acid cause poor quality of the silo. High quality silo contains up to 20 % free acids (2/3 – lactic acid and 1/3 acetic acid). Our research has shown that silage packed with bio-preservatives based on lactic and propionic acid bacteria has a higher digestibility of nutrients than the same starting mass (raw material), which is ensiled without a bio-preservative. Lactic acid bacteria synthesize B vitamins (B1, B2, B5 and B7) and essential amino acids, and propionic bacteria further synthesize vitamin B12, forming mucus and giving the silage a specific, pleasant taste, providing better feed for animals, e.g. cows, substances, which is a consequence of the higher productive action of the feed. Digestibility of dry matter of silage, which was incorporated without a biological preservative, was at the rate of 53.9 %, and it was 8.8 % higher with bio-preservative No. 1. Studies conducted with an air-dry matter of 3 silos to obtain a suspension have provided the basis for evaluating bacterial preservatives for their ability to stimulate the growth of microbial protein in the silage. Conclusions. On the basis of the conducted researches new criteria for evaluation of corn silage quality were experimentally substantiated. Indicators of high-quality silage, namely, pH, total acidity, lactic, content of acetic and butyric acids and ammonia, include the digestibility of dry matter in animals, and the determination of bacterial protein as an important factor in the influence of lactic and propionic acid bacteria of bio-preservatives on the biological value of feed protein, which is a criterion for evaluating biological preservatives for the ability to stimulate bacterial protein gain in silage.

The influence of crops on the agrochemical properties of alluvial soils of the central floodplain of the Moksha River

Studies have shown that long-term cultivation of agricultural crops is influenced the agrochemical properties of alluvial soils. The perennial herbs affect the content of humus in the soil. In the sod layer under them is being 6,4–6,8 % of organic matter, in the subsurface – 5,3–5,9 %. Down the profile is reduced to 2.2–3.8 %. With long-term cultivation of potatoes, which after itself contains a little amount of root residues, the processes of decomposition of organic substances in the soil prevail over the processes of their synthesis. depends on Accordingly the content of humus is much lower (0.5–4.6 %). Alluvial soils under crops of the perennial herbs were characterized by neutral and slightly acidic active reaction of soil solution (pH of water extract is 6.5–7.5, pH of salt extract is 5.5–6.8). Under potatoes, the pH of the aqueous extract is reduced to 5,9–6,9, salt to 5,4–6,7, which is probably due to an increase in the pH of the upper horizons as a result of mineral fertilizers. Hydrolytic acidity of floodplain soils is rather low in all variants (1,1–2,7 mg/100 g of soil), it is characterized as neutral. The index of the sum of the exchange bases to a greater extent depends on the particle size distribution. Accordingly, it is high both under the perennial herbs and under potatoes. The studied alluvial soils are almost completely filled with bases. The value of this indicator is quite high: 91-97 %. Moreover, under the perennial herbs the index is 1-3 % in arable and 1-4 % in sub-arable horizons higher than under potatoes. The soils of the floodplain of The Moksha river are low in phosphorus and potassium in all variants of the experiment. Just above these figures were under the potatoes due to greater cultivation. With an increase in the level of agricultural technology, saturation of crop turnover with perennial grasses, a justified system of fertilization, the agrochemical properties of alluvial soils of the Central floodplain of The Moksha river are favorable for the stable harvest yields of vegetable and field crops.

Purification of the Ester Phase by Water Extraction in Biodiesel Production

AbstractWater extraction is an effective method for removal of impurities from the post‐transesterification reaction product in biodiesel production. It is commonly used in downstream processing alongside evaporation/distillation and filtration. The effects of process parameters on biodiesel purity, biodiesel loss, and capacity of water extraction were investigated. Soaps were found to be key impurities, which significantly influenced the process and are the only emulsifier species that have an impact on the process. The acid value of biodiesel after water extraction was dependent on the initial soap content. Difficulties with soaps can be solved by adding an adequate amount of citric acid (0.01–0.10%) in wash water. The effects of temperature, pH of water extract, and mixing were investigated. Higher temperature (>25 °C) and higher pH (>7.0) increased biodiesel loss during the extraction. Higher pH and lower temperature increased the ester content. With an optimal amount of citric acid in the wash water, high intensity mixing (>1.0 kW m−3) is desired for the most effective purification. Correlation for calculation of an optimal amount of citric acid based on the desired pH of extract, the ratio of wash water to ester, and the initial soap content in ester was found. Excess hydrolysis of biodiesel during extraction was not observed. For the first time, engineering aspects of process‐settling time, and mixing parameters and their influence on removal of impurities and subsequent separation were determined. Optimal mixing power per unit of volume was 2.25 kW m−3, mixing time 2.5 min, and settling time 30 min. From the results and data obtained, an optimal system for water extraction of crude biodiesel was also proposed.

TECHNOLOGICAL AND ANALYTICAL STUDY OF THE WATER EXTRACTS FROM THE LEAVES OF LINGONBERRY

In urological practice there is a sufficient demand for herbal medicinal preparations, of which the most widely used drugs are derived from arbutin-containing herbs. These medicines have diuretic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity.
 Currently, in connection with the decrease in number of production departments and pharmacies, water extraction can be made by the consumer at home from powdered medicinal herbs in filter bags and from packaged shredded medicinal plant raw materials in batches according to the instructions on the package.
 The object of the study was the aqueous extract obtained from the leaves of lingonberry.
 The article presents the study of manufacturing technology of water extracts from lingonberry leaves with the establishment of quality indicators in them. Investigated water extract obtained from raw materials packaged in bundles according to the instructions on the package, filter packages according to the instructions on the packaging of packaged raw materials in batches according to the method of State Pharmacopea XIII. The following were analyzed in the obtained water extracts: description, authenticity, dry residue, pH, content of phenolglucoside - arbutin. The research results were processed statistically.
 All of the studied aqueous extracts were transparent dark brown liquid that had a bitter, astringent taste characteristic of leaves of lingonberry. Dry residue in an aqueous extract, depending on the composition and technology was 0,65, 0,8% and of 1,93%. The content of arbutin was 0,43, 0,39 and 0,99%, pH of water extracts made from the crushed leaves of lingonberry, had close values of 5,03, 4,95 and, while in the extracts from powdered of lingonberry leaves in filter bags had pH value of 5,35, which may be attributed to the influence of the material of the filter bag. For the first time technologo-analytical study of the water extracts obtained at different technologies, established indicators of quality.

Effect of Coal Fly Ash Leachate on the Bioluminescence Intensity of Vibrio fischeri

Coal fly ash is a residue of coal-fired thermoelectric power plants (TPPs) and is mostly dumped in ash ponds or landfill sites, even though it potentially contains significant amounts of water-soluble hazardous contaminants. Bioassay using the bioluminescent bacterium *Vibrio fischeri* is known to be applicable for assessing the short-term and sublethal toxicity of complex mixtures without the need for precise chemical characterization. However, this type of bioassay is potentially adversely influenced by the pH-induced protein denaturation of cells. Because coal fly ash leachates often have alkaline or acidic properties, when applying the *V. fischeri*-based bioassay to the samples, we need to know potential effect of the leachates on the bioluminescence of the bacteria. This study accordingly aimed to investigate the feasibility of applying the *V. fischeri* bioassay to coal fly ash leachate as a screening method. Fly ash samples were collected from 12 TPPs located in three East European countries: Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia. The fly ash samples were prepared in sterilized distilled water by ultrasonic extraction and filtration using 0.45-MGRmPHI membrane filters. The filtrates were then mixed with a solution of the test bacterium. The bioluminescence intensity was measured using a luminometer. The results showed the ostensible influence of pH on bioluminescence intensity pronounced when following the typical protocol using a 5.0-g/L solid:liquid ratio. Accordingly, the pH of water extracts should be adjusted to within a range of 6 to 9 by dilution to observe the inhibition of bioluminescence by coal fly ash leachate as the objective endpoint.

Chemical composition and size distribution of wintertime aerosols in the atmosphere of Mt. Hua in central China

TSP, PM10 and size-segregated aerosols were collected at the summit (2060 m, a.s.l.) of Mt. Hua in central China during the winter of 2009, and determined for organic (OC) and elemental carbon (EC), pH of water-extracts and inorganic ions. OC in TSP and PM10 are 6.9 ± 2.9 and 5.9 ± 2.5 μg m−3, while EC in TSP and PM10 are 0.9 ± 0.6 and 0.9 ± 0.5 μg m−3, respectively. SO42−, NO3−, NH4+ and Ca2+ are major ions in PM10 with concentrations of 5.8 ± 3.7, 2.7 ± 1.6, 1.6 ± 0.9 and 1.5 ± 0.7 μg m−3, respectively. OC/EC ratios (8.2 ± 3.1 in TSP and 6.6 ± 1.8 in PM10) at the mountaintop are 2–4 times higher than those in lowland surface, suggesting an enhanced transformation of organics from gas- to solid- phase because of an increased photochemical oxidation and/or an increased condensation due to lower temperature, as well as an increased organic input from mountain plant emission. Air mass backward trajectories showed that compared with those derived from north/northwest China aerosols transported from the south contained higher concentrations of SO42− and NH4+ and lower concentrations of Ca2+. Size distributions of NH4+ and K+ presented as an accumulation mode with a peak at 0.7–1.1 μm, in contrast to Ca2+ and Mg2+, which maximized at the size 4.7–5.8 μm as a coarse mode. SO42− and NO3− showed a bimodal pattern with a large peak at the range 0.7–1.1 μm and a small peak at the size of 4.7–5.8 μm, whereas Na+ and Cl− displayed a bimodal pattern with two equivalent peaks in the fine (<2.1 μm) and coarse (≥2.1 μm) ranges. pH values of the water-extracts demonstrate that aerosols originate from southern China are more acidic than those from the north/northwest, and the particles with a diameter of 0.7–1.1 μm are most acidic.

Haloalkaliphilic diazotrophs in soda solonchak soils

Nitrogen fixation (NF) potential was measured in more than 40 samples of soda solonchak soils with the pH of water extract between 9.5 and 11.0 collected in several locations of Central Asia and in Egypt, using the acetylene reduction method. NF was detected in most of the samples. Maximal rates were observed under microaerophilic-anaerobic conditions with glucose as a substrate. In most cases, the NF negatively correlated with salt content and alkalinity. Five enrichments at pH 10 under micro-oxic conditions with glucose resulted in stable haloalkaliphilic mixed cultures, with diazotrophic component(s) active up to 2.0-3.0 M total Na(+). The cultures were dominated by Gram-positive spore-forming bacteria. Molecular cloning of nifH genes demonstrated the presence of two phylogenetic lineages of diazotrophs in the enrichments affiliated with the low-GC Gram-positive bacteria (in rRNA groups 1 and 6 of bacilli and in Clostridiales). Isolation of pure cultures of haloalkaliphilic diazotrophs from micro-oxic enrichments yielded nine strains, comprising two phylogenetic lineages. Most of the isolates (eight) were affiliated with the aerotolerant fermentative haloalkaliphilic bacterium Amphibacillus tropicus and a single strain clustered with the obligately anaerobic haloalkaliphile Bacillus arseniciselenatis. Diazotrophy has never been recognized previously in these groups of Gram-positive bacteria. Overall, the results demonstrated the existence, in soda solonchak soils, of a novel group of free-living fermentative diazotrophic bacteria active at extremely haloalkaline conditions.

Proposal for Germination Test of Animal Waste Compost That Reflects the Rate of Application and Reduces the Effect of EC and pH of Water Extract

Proposal for Germination Test of Animal Waste Compost That Reflects the Rate of Application and Reduces the Effect of EC and pH of Water Extract

Selection programs for fleece rot resistance in Merino sheep

Midside wool samples can be measured for predictive colour (PC colour, acetone extract colour after incubation), incubated colour (IYZ colour, yellowness reflectance of wool after incubation; IY colour, brightness), average fibre diameter (FD), FD variability (FDCV, coefficient of variation; FDSD, standard deviation), potassium (K) content of water extract, and pH of water extract. These characteristics were assessed for their potential as indirect selection criteria for fleece rot (FR) resistance on midside wool samples from 2095 Merino hoggets representing the progeny from 84 sires in 7 sire evaluation schemes. Indirect selection can be superior to direct selection, in terms of increasing FR resistance, when FR incidence is low. The indirect traits with the highest phenotypic correlations with hogget FR liability, calculated from a 2-category (incidence) model, were clean fleece weight (CFW), FDCV, and FD. Based on combined estimates of the heritability of the indirect trait and its genetic correlation with FR score (0-5), the traits that showed the highest relative potential (RP, the estimated gain from selecting on the indirect trait relative to the gain from direct selection at the same selection intensity) were FD, pH, FDSD, and CFW. The RP value, however, takes no account of the responses in other economic traits or the costs of selection. As FR score increased, there was a linear increase in mean CFW and FDCV and a decrease in FD. Changes in other trait means with FR score followed inconsistent pat terns. By calculating selection indices, it was shown that the use of indirect criteria in ram selection increased the response in breeding objective in a self-replacing flock by $0.01-0 15/ ewe lifetime. year (based on selecting 5% of hogget rams/year). These increases were restricted by the undesirable correlations of FR score with the main economic traits, i.e. sheep with high CFW and low FD were predicted to breed sheep more susceptible to FR. Selection programs based on CFW, FD, FDSD, and FDCV with or without FR score were the most economic single-stage selection options studied. There was a lower but positive estimated net financial benefit, after 10 years of selection, when all ram hoggets were measured for CFW, FD, FDSD, FDCV, and IYZ colour and assessed for FR score in a single-stage selection program. As expected, 2-stage selection was more cost-effective than single-stage selection. The most economic 2-stage option studied was to measure CFW, FD, FDSD, and FDCV and assess FR score on all hoggets at stage 1 then measure the best 7-10% (on Index) for IYZ colour. The best 5% of all hoggets were then selected at stage 2 for joining on the basis of an index that included CFW, FD, FDSD, FDCV, HFS, and IYZ colour.

FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH FOMES IGNIARIUS VAR. POPULINUS IN LIVING POPLAR TREES AND THEIR PROBABLE SIGNIFICANCE IN DECAY

Poplar trees with decay typical of that caused by Fomes igniarius, or with extensive stain, were dissected and several hundred platings made from each. Sixty-three different fungi were isolated, as many as 20 from a single tree. Most of the fungi were widely distributed in the tree with no consistent association with any stage of decay. Different zones of decay yielded 19 to 36 fungi each, the zone of early incipient decay giving the largest number. Bacteria were isolated from every zone.Trees with stain but no decay yielded 24 fungi, 15 of which were also found in the decayed trees. Many of these were clearly precursors of F. igniarius. Several pockets of typical decay did not yield F. igniarius, suggesting that it had been killed out by competition.The pH of water extracts of wood from various zones of decay was highly variable, the minimum range for a zone being pH 4.8 to pH 8.8, and the maximum range pH 3.8 to pH 9.4. The implications of these variations are discussed.Effects of various media, and of frozen storage prior to making isolations, were studied.

The Influence of Weathering Prior to Harvest on Certain Properties of Cotton Fibers

Most of the.commercial cotton fiber produced in the United States is subjected to a period of from one to many weeks of exposure to the weather before it is harvested from the plant. Such weathering has been shown in prior work to be a cause of changes in the wax on the fiber [19], in the fiber's swelling behavior in alkali [22]. and, under humid conditions, in the pH of water extracts of the fiber [21]. Subsequent investigation now has revealed that a number of other fiber properties also may undergo change during preharvest weathering. These properties include moisture regain at constant relative humidity, dye absorption, content of water-soluble reducing substances, browning tendency, rate of wetting in a water-alcohol mixture, length, strength, and susceptibility to enzymatic decomposition. As might have been expected, the X-ray angle, as defined by Berkley and co-workers [4], showed little if any alteration. Several of the fiber properties which change during weathering have been measured on commercial fiber samples and the results found to show a relationship to the grade of the fiber. Further work is in progress to analyze the nature of the above fiber property changes and to detect other changes which may occur. A rapid and practical test for measuring the water-soluble copper-reducing constituents in raw cotton fiber is described.

高周波のたばこ化学成分に及ぼす影響に就て

1) High-frequency wave length which influences the tobacco aroma and taste seems to lie from 50 Mc to 100 Mc or more over. 2) Nicotine, protein, and amide are decreased, while ammonia and nitrate increased. 3) Organic acid soluble sugar are increased by means of 50 Mc treating, while insoluble sugar increased by means of 100 Mc treating. 4) In this work, ether extract and total resin seemed to be, influenced more by heat than by high frequency wave. 5) The pH of water extract did not changed.