The current program to convert biomass into liquid hydrocarbon fuels is an extension of the previous program to ferment marine algae to acetic acid. In that study, it was found that marine algae could be converted to higher aliphatic organic acids and that these acids could be readily removed from the fermentation both by membrane or liquid-liquid extraction. It was then proposed to convert these higher organic acids to aliphatic hydrocarbons via Kolbe Electrolysis, which may be used as a diesel fuel. The accompishments in this program for the first year of work are as follows: a coenzyme M anologue, 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid has been shown to be an effective suppressor of methane in nonsterile anaerobic fermentation of cellulosic substrates; a tapered auger device has been designed and built which has been demonstrated on the bench to be effective for adding substrate and removing residue in a continuous manner from a fixed packed bed fermenter; a solvent extracter system using kerosene as the nonaqueous phase has been constructed and is currently in operation in series with the 300 liter fixed packed bed fermenter; although additional work is required to optimize the electrolysis process the electrolytic oxidation of organic acids produced in …

Although limited, the results of tests evaluating the comparative effects of chlorinated and ozonated thermal discharges on mummichog and white perch indicate that the biological effects of ozonation are much less severe than those of chlorination. The data also show white perch to be more sensitive than mummichog to the tested biocides. The relative effects of ozonation and chlorination in the behavioral studies were similar to those observed in the toxicity studies. Cough rates were higher in chlorinated than in ozonated thermal discharges at similar test concentrations. Avoidance concentrations of white perch were less than those for mummichog and all determined avoidance concentrations were less than lethal levels. The biological effects of any oxidizing biocide on a given species, however, are usually site specific. The chlorine avoidance concentrations of white perch tested at Bergen averaged 0.04 mg/1 total chlorine but averaged 0.06 mg/1 total chlorine when tested in Delaware estuarine waters. Although the amount of data obtained at Bergen is not large, it is indicative of the comparative biological effects in despoiled waters. Assuming such waters will be improved, however, concern then arises over the comparative effects of chlorination and ozonation in waters which support large populations of aquatic organisms. …

Using existing and new biological screening and testing systems, the presence of carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic and physiologic or metabolically toxic agents associated with coal and oil shale extraction, conversion or utilization was identified. The purpose of the study is to further develop and apply the detection of morphologically abnormal mammalian sperm as a rapid, simple, quantitative assay of the pathologic response of the male gonad to toxic agents associated with the recovery, process stream, and emission of nonnuclear sources of energy, with primary attention to substances from in situ coal gasification and in situ oil-shale extraction. Changes in mouse sperm head dimensions following low dose x-ray exposure have been compiled and analyzed.

A brief description and complete listings of the SOC finite-difference computer code and its related family of codes are given.