Acid research needs

Conference, West Virginia University. Neculita, C-M, Zagury, G, Bussiere, Bruno 2007. Passive Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage in Bioreactors, using Sulphate Reducing Bacteria Critical Review and Research Needs. Journal of Environmental Quality, 36, 1-16... 

Fig. 13.14. The energy conversion efficiency of different technologies as a function of scale. PAFC, phosphoric acid fuel cell. (Reprinted from Assessment of Research Needs for Advanced Fuel Cells, S. S. Penner, ed., Pergamon Press,...

Biobased polymers from renewable materials have received increased attention recently. Lactate is a building block for bio-based polymers. In the United States, production of lactic acid is greater than 50,000 metric tons/yr and projected to increase exponentially to replace petroleum-based polymers. Domestic lactate is currently manufactured from corn starch using the filamentous fungus Rhizopus oryzae and selected species of lactic acid bacteria. The produced lactic acid can then be polymerized into polylactic acid (PLA) which has many applications (Hatti-Kaul et al., 2007). However, so far, no facility is built to use biomass derived sugars for lactic acid production. More research needs to be done to develop microbes using biomass derived sugars for lactate production. 

The detection of one zinc atom per zinc finger sequence (or to a related zinc-binding sequence) docs not necessarily mean that the protein actually requires zinc for activity. The researcher needs to determine that the zinc actually /unctions to support activity to support a regulatoiy property, or to stabilize the structure of the protein before claiming that the pn>lein is a zinc metalloprotein. The simplest method used to assess if a protein requires zinc for activity is to men sure the activity in the presence and absence of a chelator, such as ethyle-nediaminctetrancetic acid (EDTA). fiowever, one should be cautioned that the... 

Reeves (1997) has discussed the current recommendations of the American Institute of Nutrition (AIN) for assembling rat diets. Issues discussed include the use of sugar versus starch as the source of carbohydrate, methionine versus cystine as the source of cysteine, and the best oil for providing the essential fatty acids. In embarking on any study, the researcher needs to reevaluate the role of each of the recommended nutrients to make sure that their quantities suit the purposes of the planned experiment. For example, although the AIN recommends using casein as the source of protein, researchers interested in the interactions of calcium and phosphate need to take into accoimt the fact that casein contains significant amounts of phosphate. 

Research Needs. Over the years L-ascorbic acid has been shown to be an essential nutrient for many insects including species of Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Coleoptera, and Diptera. Others such as cockroaches, houseflies, and mealworms are reared on simple diets without added ascorbic acid. Perhaps those insects require very low levels of vitamin C in their diets. A sensitive analytical method is needed to measure levels of L-ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid in insect tissue and food. Such a method, which is likely to be developed using HPLC with electrochemical detection, could be used to monitor vitamin C levels in feed ingredients as well as in tissues during an insect s life cycle. This information is needed to determine whether ascorbic acid is used to... 

In Lewis acid-mediated reactions of C=N groups, many Lewis acids are deactivated or sometimes decomposed by the nitrogen atoms of the starting materials or products. Furthermore, even when the desired reactions proceed, more than stoichiometric amounts of the Lewis acids are needed in most cases, because the acids are trapped by the nitrogen atoms. It is desirable from a synthetic point of view that nitrogen-containing compounds are activated by Lewis acids catalyti-cally. Here we summarize our research efforts on catalytic activation of C=N groups in water. 

Given the urgency of these research needs and the magnitude of the task required, it is recommended that an FAO/WHO coordinated international research program be established immediately to assist in the determination of human amino acid needs. 

This paper reviews the emerging issue of acid aerosols, primarily from an American perspective. Emission sources, ambient levels, measurement methods, and health effects are discussed, as well as the background of the issue in the United States. Ambient acidity levels are seen to depend on both oxidants and sulfur oxides. Identified research needs include better characterization of population exposures and reconciliation of the exposures used for health effects research with realistic ambient concentrations, exposure times, and aerosol composition. 

CASAC (1988), Subcommittee on Acid Aerosols, Report on Acid Aerosol Research Needs, EPA-SAB/CASAC-89-002, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. Oct. 19, 1988. 

Lippmann, M. (1989), Progress, prospects, and research needs on the health effects of acid aerosols, Envir. Health Perspect. 79 203-205. 

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