024ChemInform Abstract The morphology and catalytic activity for the hydrodesulfurization of thiophene of unpromoted MoS2 supported on Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, and ZrO2 are studied. On the SiO2 and Al2O3 supports, MoS2 is present in the form of flakes of up to five layers thickness, located vertically to the surface of the support. In the case of TiO2 and ZrO2, MoS2 is present as "islands" which expand with increasing Mo loading. The reactivity of the catalysts depends on the MoS2 morphology; the specific activity of MoS2 supported on TiO2 and ZrO2 is higher than that of MoS2 on Al2O3 or SiO2.

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A range of bacteria, including the marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas tunicata which produces antifouling compounds, and Escherichia coli were used to investigate methods for immobilising bacteria in gels. Different types of matrices were screened using the survival of barnacle nauplii as a bioassay. A Dupont® polyvinylalcohol (PVOH) 10% gel was found to be the optimal matrix. This non-toxic gel remained stable in seawater while allowing for an outflux of active biological compounds from the bacterial cells. The presence of active bacterial cells in the matrix was tested by CTC-staining, green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing bacteria and a barnacle larvae bioassay. The Dupont® PVOH 10% gels containing P. tunicata cells were inhibitory against larvae for a period of up to 2 weeks. In further studies using gels containing immobilised bacteria, the E. coli strain C600 was employed based on its cell size, stress resistance and the fact that a plasmid for the expression of GFP could be transferred and maintained in the cells. Immobilised E. Coli cells maintained their viability in the Dupont® PVOH 10% gels for as long as 2 months, and the life-span of these "biologically active"; gels was increased to more than 2 months by the incorporation of small beads into the gels. The results indicate that bacteria can be immobilised in coatings for periods of time consistent with the needs of some antifouling and antibacterial applications.

Effect of additives on the starch gelatinization was governed by the processing conditions. The order‐disorder transition of starch in water can occur in more than one way and the effect of polar additives on gelatinization can also be in more than one way. The additives appear to be plasticising thermoplastic starches, resulting in improving rheological properties. The thermoplastic starches with the additives are all biodegradable although the rates of biodegradability are slightly different.

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