Catalytic carbon deposition-oxidation over Ni, Fe and Co catalysts : a new indirect route to store and transport gas hydrocarbon fuels.

In this work, a new two-step route to store and transport associated natural gas, promoted by Ni, Fe and Co supported catalyst was presented. Initially, CH4 is converted into carbon deposits (M/C composite), being Fe catalyst the most active catalyst. In Step 2, M/C composite reacts with H2O producing H2, CO and CH4. TPO experiments showed that efficiency and selectivity of oxidation depends on the metal. Ni catalyst produced mainly H2 and CO, while Fe system was more selective to convert carbon into CH4. The formation of C2 and C3 compounds suggests the presence of a Fischer Tropsch like process

The Quality of Eggs from Japanese Quail, Coturnix japonica, Fed Rations Containing Aflatoxin B1 and Fumonisin B1

In the present study, the individual and combined effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) on the quality of quail eggs were investigated. To this end, 288 8-week-old Japanese quail were randomly distributed into six experimental groups (48 birds per group) and fed the following diets for 140 days (five 28-day laying periods) : 1) 0 (control) ; 2) 10mg FB1/kg ; 3) 50μg AFB1/kg ; 4) 50μg AFB1/kg+10mg FB1/kg ; 5) 200μg AFB1/kg ; and 6) 200μg AFB1/kg+10mg FB1/kg feed. Each treatment consisted of four replicates of twelve quail. Eggs laid in the last day of each 28-d laying period were collected and submitted for individual analysis for specific gravity, Haugh units and percentage shell. Results showed that by the end of the 4th cycle, average egg weight was lower (P<0.05) in groups fed 50 or 200μg AFB1/kg+10mg FB1/kg combination diets. Specific gravity decreased (P<0.05) in the group fed 200μg AFB1/kg+10mg FB1/kg by the 5th cycle. Feed intake and Haugh units were not affected (P> 0.05) by AFB1 and/or FB1. Only birds receiving the 200μg AFB1/kg+10mg FB1/kg diet had decreased (P<0.05) percent eggshell by the 4th cycle. Data indicated that AFB1 and FB1 in combination have primarily additive effects on quail egg weight, specific gravity and percent eggshell at the concentrations used

Application of Al2O3/AlNbO4 in the oxidation of aniline to azoxybenzene.

Al2O3/AlNbO4 powder was fabricated by a facile high-energy milling process. The precursor materials, Al2O3 and Nb2O5, are readily available and have very attractive properties. Moreover, the catalytic activity of the sample in the liquid phase oxidation of aniline (OA) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide as oxidant was evaluated. The catalyst was found to be highly efficient and selective in the oxidation of aniline to azoxybenzene under mild conditions. When mixed with 28% AlNbO4 the alumina-based catalyst achieved high conversion and selectivity and very similar to the pure Nb2O5