In this study, we proposed a new concept of utilizing the biological electrons produced from a microbial fuel cell (MFC) to power an E-Fenton process to treat wastewater at neutral pH as a bioelectro-Fenton (Bio-E-Fenton) process. This process can be achieved in a dual-chamber MFC from which electrons were generated via the catalyzation of Shewanella decolorationis S12 in its anaerobic anode chamber and transferred to its aerated cathode chamber equipped with a carbon nanotube (CNT)/gamma-FeOOH composite cathode. In the cathode chamber, the Fenton's reagents including hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and ferrous irons (Fe(2+)) were in situ generated. This Bio-E-Fenton process led to the complete decolorization and mineralization of Orange II at pH 7.0 with the apparent first-order rate constants, k(app) = 0.212 h(-1) and k(TOC) = 0.0827 h(-1), respectively, and simultaneously produced a maximum power output of 230 mW m(-2) (normalized to the cathode surface area). The apparent mineralization current efficiency was calculated to be as high as 89%. The cathode composition was an important factor in governing system performance. When the ratio of CNT to gamma-FeOOH in the composite cathode was 1:1, the system demonstrated the fastest rate of Orange II degradation, corresponding to the highest amount of H(2)O(2) formed.

The lespedeza stalks with steam pretreatment were fermented to lactic acid by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) in this study. Orthogonal design methodology was used to evaluate the optimum SSF conditions that give maximum lactic acid yield. We have investigated the following relative factors, such as temperature, loading of cellulase, calcium carbonate and concentration of substrate. The optimum operating conditions were found to be temperature of 43 °C, cellulase loading of 30 FPU/g substrate, calcium carbonate of 3 % and substrate of 6 %. Comparisons of different steam pretreated conditions on lactic acid yield from lespedeza stalks were also made. The results showed that lactic acid yields from lespedeza stalks with 4 min pretreatment at pressure of 1.0, 1.25, 1.5 and 2.0 Mpa were 41.8 %, 42.5 %, 50.6 % and 64.0 % of the theoretical, respectively. The lactic acid yield from steam pretreated lespedeza stalks was much higher than that of lespedeza stalks without pretreatment (23.9 %). It can be concluded that the lactic acid yield was remarkably improved by steam pretreatment. The yield of lactic acid from steam pretreated lespedeza stalks was 1.68 times higher than that of untreated ones. Additionally, the lactic acid yield could be further promoted from 64.0 % to 89.4 % by washing pretreated stalks with water, which suggested that water processing is a promising method to remove inhibitors in broth to improve lactic acid yield.

The galactomannan from endosperm of G. sinensis seeds was used as sustained release material in the matrix tablets prepared at different concentration of 5, 10 and 15 % corresponding to formulations of G5, G10 and G15, for the release of theophylline. The drug release behaviors of the systems were investigated, including the swelling and morphological studies and texture analysis. The dissolution tests were conducted in 0.1 M hydrochloric acid and pH 6.8 phosphate buffered saline. The results of release studies demonstrated that G10 with 10 % galactomannan concentration showed a better control of the drug release profiles. The percents of cumulative drug released in 24 h were 98.8, 90.2 and 83.4 % for G5, G10 and G15, respectively. All the systems exhibited the typical morphological behavior of a swellable matrix. Results of texture analysis on the swollen tablets confirmed that diffusion drug release mechanism played the major role in G10 and G15 systems while the drug delivery kinetic towards an erosion/relaxation mechanism for G5 matrix tablets.