MgO Dispersed on Activated Carbon as Water Tolerant Catalyst for the Conversion of Ethanol into Butanol

MgO supported on activated carbon (AC) with a load ranging from 10% to 30% has been investigated as catalyst for the conversion of ethanol into butanol at 400 °C in a fixed bed reactor at different GHSV. Catalysts have been characterized by XRD, SEM/EDX, and N2 physisorption at 77 K. The high dispersion of MgO into the pores of the support provides strongly enhanced performance with respect to bulk MgO. MgO/AC catalysts have been also tested under wet feed conditions showing high water tolerance and significantly larger butanol yield with respect to an alumina supported Ru/MgO catalyst. After wet operation, the increased surface area of the catalyst leads to better performance once dry feed conditions are restored.</jats:p

MgO Dispersed on Activated Carbon as Water Tolerant Catalyst for the Conversion of Ethanol into Butanol

MgO supported on activated carbon (AC) with a load ranging from 10% to 30% has been investigated as catalyst for the conversion of ethanol into butanol at 400 &deg;C in a fixed bed reactor at different GHSV. Catalysts have been characterized by XRD, SEM/EDX, and N2 physisorption at 77 K. The high dispersion of MgO into the pores of the support provides strongly enhanced performance with respect to bulk MgO. MgO/AC catalysts have been also tested under wet feed conditions showing high water tolerance and significantly larger butanol yield with respect to an alumina supported Ru/MgO catalyst. After wet operation, the increased surface area of the catalyst leads to better performance once dry feed conditions are restored

Efficient acetaldehyde production and recovery upon selective Cu/TiO2-photocatalytic oxidation of ethanol in aqueous solution

The depletion of fossil chemicals and energy sources led to develop processes allowing the conversion of renewable feedstocks into useful products. Bioethanol production is a typical case of biomass conversion into chemical species with attractive uses, such as fuel, fuel additives, or chemical intermediates. In the present work, the possibility to produce acetaldehyde through Cu/TiO2 photocatalytic oxidation in liquid phase with aqueous mixtures at ethanol concentrations comparable to those of biorefinery outlet streams was assessed for the first time. The effect of cupric ion concentration on acetaldehyde selectivity was investigated. A nearly unit value of acetaldehyde selectivity was observed for a starting cupric ion concentration of 120 mM. The recovery and purification of acetaldehyde were performed by removing acetaldehyde from the solution through an inert gas bubbling and feeding the outgoing gaseous mixture to an absorber, in which acetaldehyde was captured by an aqueous stream. The possibility to regenerate the photocatalytic system in situ via zerovalent copper reoxidation was evaluated. In view of full-scale implementations, a careful flammability analysis of the resulting ternary mixture (ethanol/oxygen/nitrogen) along with a feasible process flow sheet were proposed. The possibility to employ bioethanol streams from biorefinery, sunlight irradiation as energy source, water as solvent, mild operating conditions, and low-cost, non-toxic, and reusable photocatalyst, makes the process investigated an attractive example of the eco-green synthesis of valuable commodity chemicals

Drugs and combinations tested <i>in vitro</i>.

Drugs and combinations tested in vitro.</p

Cancer Stem Cells Sensitivity Assay (STELLA) in Patients with Advanced Lung and Colorectal Cancer: A Feasibility Study

<div><p>Background</p><p>Cancer stem cells represent a population of immature tumor cells found in most solid tumors. Their peculiar features make them ideal models for studying drug resistance and sensitivity. In this study, we investigated whether cancer stem cells isolation and in vitro sensitivity assay are feasible in a clinical setting.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Cancer stem cells were isolated from effusions or fresh cancer tissue of 23 patients who progressed after standard therapy failure. Specific culture conditions selected for immature tumor cells that express markers of stemness. These cells were exposed in vitro to chemotherapeutic and targeted agents.</p><p>Results</p><p>Cancer stem cells were extracted from liver metastases in 6 cases (25%), lung nodules in 2 (8%), lymph node metastases in 3 (12.5%) and pleural/peritoneal/pericardial effusion in 13 (54%). Cancer stem cells were successfully isolated in 15 patients (63%), including 14 with lung cancer (93.3%). A sensitivity assay was successfully performed in 7 patients (30.4%), with a median of 15 drugs/combinations tested (range 5-28) and a median time required for results of 51 days (range 37-95).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>The approach used for the STELLA trial allowed isolation of cancer stem cells in a consistent proportion of patients. The low percentage of cases completing the full procedure and the long median time for obtaining results highlights the need for a more efficient procedure.</p><p>Trial Registration</p><p>ClinalTrials.gov <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01483001?term=NCT01483001&rank=1" target="_blank">NCT01483001</a></p></div

Phenotypical characterization of immature tumor cells isolated from tumor samples with immunofluorescence assay.

The following panel of images refers to the characterization of cells isolated from the sample of a patient enrolled in the study. Green labelling is typical of positive cells. All markers of stemness (CD133, CD166, Oct 3/4, ALDH1, CD90) are positive in this CSC sample.</p

Flow chart of the study.

<p>Flow chart of the study.</p

Individual patients characteristics.

<p>Individual patients characteristics.</p

Sensitivity assay results and patients treatment.

<p>Sensitivity assay results and patients treatment.</p