ANAEROBICALLY DIGESTED BOVINE BIOFIBER AS A SOURCE OF FIBER FOR PARTICLEBOARD MANUFACTURING: AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

This paper explores the physical and economic potential to substitute anaerobically digested bovine biofiber (ADBF) for wood in the making of particleboard. Laboratory tests indicated that replacement of one-half the wood in particleboard with ADBF produced panels that compared favorably to the requirements for commercial particleboard performance (specified by ANSI Standard A208.1–1999). The economic question hinges on the opportunity costs of alternative uses for ADBF. The current use is primarily animal bedding, and prices appear to be greater than those paid by particleboard plants for sawdust and planer shavings but less than for chips. ADBF is most similar in size to, thus most likely to be substitutable for, sawdust and shavings. At current bedding values, use for particleboard appears a less favorable alternative. However, this could be overcome by large-volume, long-term contractual arrangements that provide a secure long-term outlet for excess ADBF fiber that may otherwise not have value. For a particleboard operation, the opportunity for fiber diversification and the incorporation of post-industrial waste in the process offer strategic advantages

Saving Money: The Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation Medicaid Benefit: A Policy Paper

In the United States, about 70% of smokers want to quit and 50% make a quit attempt each year. Unfortunately, only a small percent are successful, due in part to the lack of easy access to tobacco dependence treatments that have been proven effective. In light of the societal costs of tobacco-related illness, government must do everything it can to encourage and enable smokers to quit. The tobacco use landscape in this country has changed in recent years -- people with lower income and education levels have a much higher probability of smoking. For instance, the smoking rate for those with a college degree is under 10%, but for those insured by Medicaid it is over 35%. Unfortunately, Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation treatment depends on the state in which you live. While federal health reform guarantees nationwide coverage for pregnant women, it does not for all other Medicaid beneficiaries. Some states have made this a public health priority, but others have not

Manganese-Catalyzed Selective Oxidation of Aliphatic C-H groups and Secondary Alcohols to Ketones with Hydrogen Peroxide

An efficient and simple method for selective oxidation of secondary alcohols and oxidation of alkanes to ketones is reported. An in situ prepared catalyst is employed based on manganese(II) salts, pyridine-2-carboxylic acid, and butanedione, which provides good-to-excellent conversions and yields with high turnover numbers (up to 10 000) with H2O2 as oxidant at ambient temperatures. In substrates bearing multiple alcohol groups, secondary alcohols are converted to ketones selectively and, in general, benzyl C-H oxidation proceeds in preference to aliphatic C-H oxidation.

Anaerobic Digestion of Biobased Plastics

The presentation was given at the 2012 Got Manure Tradeshow and Conference, where the opportunity was given to participants to learn about anaerobic digestion and other viable manure management, handling and treatment options. Softcover copies of the entire conference proceedings may be purchased at http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/dm/proceedings_orders.html or by calling (607) 255-4285

Kinetics and mechanisms of the oxidation of alcohols and hydroxylamines by hydrogen peroxide, catalyzed by methyltrioxorhenium, MTO, and the oxygen binding properties of cobalt Schiff base complexes

Primary and secondary alcohols were oxidized using hydrogen peroxide as an oxygen donor and methyltrioxorhenium (MTO) as a catalyst. The methylrhenium bis-peroxide, CH3Re(O)(eta2-O2)2(H 2O), was the dominant and reactive form of the catalyst. A hydride abstraction mechanism was proposed for this reaction based on a number of isotopic labeling experiments and a linear free energy relationship correlation. This H 2O2/MTO oxidation system was also used in the oxidation of secondary hydroxylamines to form nitrones or oxoammonium, ions. A mechanism was proposed where the nitrogen lone pair performs a nucleophilic attack on the rhenium bound peroxo-oxygen. This mechanism is supported by isotopic and steric effects. Co-catalytic systems were explored for the oxidation of alcohols using sodium bromide or oxoammonium. ions with the H2O2/MTO system;The molecular oxygen binding rate constant for a variety of Co(III)salen derivatives was explored. The rate constant was determined using flash photolysis to dissociate oxygen from the pre-made Co(III)-O2. complex. A new twist to the rate constant determination of these reactions was also explored where in flash photolysis severs a cobalt-carbon bond of a Co(III)-alkyl complex, producing the Co(II) complex in the presence of O 2 and a radical scavenger.</p

Implementing Change: Development of Campus Department Chair Training

People go to conferences every year and become excited about how to implement change within their own little world. But how often do people actually make that change? This presentation will discuss how a team of five department chairs developed a year-long department chair training for a campus after attending the Academic Chairpersons Conference