The effects of surface modification of nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) with specific chelating agents on photocatalytic degradation of nitrobenzene (NB) was investigated in order to design a selective and effective catalyst for removal of nitroaromatic compounds from contaminated waste streams. Mechanisms of NB adsorption and photodecomposition were investigated using infrared absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Liquid chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were used for byproduct analyses. Arginine, lauryl sulfate, and salicylic acid were found to bind to TiO 2 via their oxygen-containing functional groups. Modification of the TiO 2 surface with arginine resulted in enhanced NB adsorption and photodecomposition, and compared to unmodified TiO 2 . The initial quantum yield for photodegradation of NB in this system was found to be Φ init ) 0.31 as compared to the one obtained for Degussa P25 of Φ init ) 0.18. NB degradation followed a reductive pathway over arginine-modified TiO 2 and was enhanced upon addition of methanol. No degradation of arginine was detected under the experimental conditions. Arginine improved the coupling between NB and TiO 2 and facilitated the transfer of photogenerated electrons from the TiO 2 conduction band to the adsorbed NB. These results indicate that surface modification of nanocrystalline TiO 2 with electron-donating chelating agents is an effective route to enhance photodecomposition of nitroaromatic compounds.

BackgroundMore than 2,500 breeds of chicken are reared throughout the world as a source of eggs or meat and as pets. The primary ancestor of the present domestic chicken is widely believed to be the red junglefowl, although genetic contributions from other junglefowls cannot be excluded entirely. The reference genome for chicken was obtained from a red junglefowl, the genetic purity of which has been debated. There is, at present, insufficient data to resolve these interesting issues.ResultsIn this study, we performed whole-genome sequencing to compare various species and breeds of chicken, including wild red and green junglefowl, as well as the Indonesian native chickens Sumatera and Kedu Hitam and their respective descendants, the American Black Sumatra and Black Java. The data indicate that wild junglefowls have retained their genetic identity, but the Indonesian and American breeds have not. The Black Sumatra and Black Java are now closely related to each other, suggesting loss of genetic identity after export to the United States. In addition, the results indicate that the red junglefowl used as reference genome is more closely related to domestic chickens and apparently different from other wild red junglefowls.ConclusionsThis study illuminates the genetic and phylogenetic relationships among these species. It provides a framework for genetic studies in wild junglefowls and native and domestic chicken breeds.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-2652-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The effects of an aromatics cofeed on paraffin hydroisomerization and hydrocracking over Pt/ mordenite are studied as an example of competitive reaction in intrazeolitic medium. Preferential adsorption by the aromatic (benzene) modifies catalytic site distributions available for the paraffin (n-hexane) reaction and also affects diffusional characteristics in the one-dimensional channel structure of the zeolite. A significant inhibition of the hexane reaction is observed. The hexane isomer distribution in the presence of the aromatic is rationalized using concepts of coreactant induced size and shape selectivity modifications.