Synthesis of Reinforced Polyurethane Composites from a Matrix Composed of Recycled PET Oligomers Incorporating Undeveloped Brazilian Pine-Fruit Seeds

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - The main objective of this research was to set the experimental conditions needed for the successful synthesis of a composite (PU-UBPFS) made from...     

Chemical oxygen demand reduction of various wastewater types using magnetic field-assisted fenton reaction.

Constant magnetic field (CMF) was investigated for its potential to intensify chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in wastewater when applied with a generalized Fenton reaction. Various types of industrial and domestic wastewater were tested in the experiment. A significant dependence was observed between the wastewater type, dose of reacting substances, time of exposure to CMF, effectiveness of COD removal, and the rate of the advanced oxidation process. The use of CMF resulted in the improvement of the treatment process; however, the efficiency depended to a great extent on the type of wastewater and characteristics of the contained organic matter. Domestic wastewater seemed to be most amenable to the applied treatment (82% COD reduction). The least reduction in COD occurred for wood industry wastewater. In the analyzed wastewater, intense oxidation was observed during the first 60 minutes of the process. Longer reaction time did not increase COD reduction, with the exception of wood industry wastewater. The experiment revealed the possibility of applying smaller doses of the Fenton's reagent, thereby keeping up unchanged treatment efficiency, provided that CMFs are applied.     

Tolerance of Mentha crispa L. (garden mint) cultivated in cadmium-contaminated oxisol

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The tolerance of Mentha crispa L. (garden mint) cultivated in cadmium-contaminated oxisol for 120 days was analyzed using plant growth variables such...     

The Impact of the Extreme Amazonian Flood Season on the Incidence of Viral Gastroenteritis Cases

During the Amazonian flood season in 2012, the Negro River reached its highest level in 110 years, submerging residential and commercial areas which appeared associated with an elevation in the observed gastroenteritis cases in the city of Manaus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological water quality of the Negro River basin during this extreme flood to investigate this apparent association between the illness cases and the population exposed to the contaminated waters. Forty water samples were collected and analysed for classic and emerging enteric viruses. Human adenoviruses, group A rotaviruses and genogroup II noroviruses were detected in 100, 77.5 and 27.5% of the samples, respectively, in concentrations of 10³–10⁶ GC/L. All samples were compliant with local bacteriological standards. HAdV2 and 41 and RVA G2, P[6], and P[8] were characterised. Astroviruses, sapoviruses, genogroup IV noroviruses, klasseviruses, bocaviruses and aichiviruses were not detected. Statistical analyses showed correlations between river stage level and reported gastroenteritis cases and, also, significant differences between virus concentrations during this extreme event when compared with normal dry seasons and previous flood seasons of the Negro River. These findings suggest an association between the extreme flood experienced and gastrointestinal cases in the affected areas providing circumstantial evidence of causality between the elevations in enteric viruses in surface waters and reported illness.     

Rose Bengal‐sensitized photooxygenation of chlorohydroxyaromatic contaminants in water: A kinetic study

A kinetic study of the RB‐sensitized photooxygenation of a series of chlorohydroxyaromatic (ClArOH) water contaminants (phenolic and dihydroxybenzene derivatives) has been carried out. In addition, an exhaustive study on the possible interactions of RB electronically excited triplet and singlet states with ClArOH was also developed. The determination of relative rates of oxygen uptake upon sensitized irradiation, employing auxiliar selective quenchers of oxygen active species, indicate the contribution of both singlet molecular oxygen (ca. 71%) and Superoxide ion (ca. 26%) as the reactive pathways for ClArOH degradation. The substitution by chlorine atoms in position meta greatly decrease the photooxygenation rate of the phenolic derivatives. For the dihydroxybenzene series, increase in nuclear chlorination parallels a decrease in the photodegradation rate.

Outdoors sensitized solar irradiation experiments on different ClArOH mixtures leads to measurable levels of oxygen after a few minutes exposure. From the environmental point of view, and ruling out the possibility of direct‐irradiation photoreactions, sensitized photooxygenation appears as an alternative pathway for ClArOH degradation, in competence with other naturally‐occurring photoprocesses involving reactive transient species.     

Nickel-induced blood biochemistry alterations in hens after an experimental peroral administration

The purpose of this study was to determine certain blood biochemical parameters in hens of Isa Brown breed (n = 20) after nickel administration. Animals were divided into four groups (K, P1, P2, P3). Experimental hens (n = 5; in each group) received nickel (NiCl₂) as peroral administration in drinking water in various doses (P1 – 0.02 g NiCl₂/L; P2 – 0.2 g NiCl₂/L; P3 – 2.0 g NiCl₂/L of drinking water) for 28 days. The last group – K (n = 5) was the control, receiving no nickel. Biochemical parameters of mineral profile (calcium; phosphorus; magnesium; sodium; potassium) and of energy and enzymatic profile [(glucose; total cholesterol; total proteins; triglycerides; alanine aminotransferase (ALT) aspartate aminotransferase (AST) gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and glutamatdehydrogenase (GLDH)] were analyzed in blood serum on Day 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 of the experiment. Average levels of mineral metabolism parameters were relatively stable apart from calcium. The evaluation registered a significant decrease in calcium during the experiment mainly in the group with highest nickel concentration in drinking water. No significant differences were detected between groups in energy and enzymatic profile apart from the concentrations of ALT on Day 7. In conclusion, there were significant associations between nickel levels and calcium and ALT in blood serum of the hens. No significant differences were detected in other biochemical parameters of mineral profile (P, Mg, Na, K) and energy and enzymatic profile (glucose, total cholesterol, total proteins, triglycerides, AST, GGT and GLDH) after nickel administration. Our results may contribute to an evaluation of reference levels of analyzed parameters, to monitor the health and nutritional status of hens. In this study also the negative effect of nickel mainly on calcium metabolism was detected.     

Use of contract models to improve environmental outcomes in transport infrastructure construction

The type of contract model may have a significant influence on achieving project objectives, including environmental and climate change goals. This research investigates non-standard contract models impacting greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in transport infrastructure construction in Australia. The research is based on the analysis of two case studies: an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contract and a Design and Construct (D&C) contract with GHG reduction requirements embedded in the contractor selection. Main findings support the use of ECIs for better integrating decisions made during the planning phase with the construction activities, and improve environmental outcomes while achieving financial and time savings.     

The use of life cycle assessment for the comparison of biowaste composting at home and full scale

Environmental impacts and gaseous emissions associated to home and industrial composting of the source-separated organic fraction of municipal solid waste have been evaluated using the environmental tool of life cycle assessment (LCA). Experimental data of both scenarios were experimentally collected. The functional unit used was one ton of organic waste. Ammonia, methane and nitrous oxide released from home composting (HC) were more than five times higher than those of industrial composting (IC) but the latter involved within 2 and 53 times more consumption or generation of transport, energy, water, infrastructures, waste and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emissions than HC. Therefore, results indicated that IC was more impacting than HC for four of the impact categories considered (abiotic depletion, ozone layer depletion, photochemical oxidation and cumulative energy demand) and less impacting for the other three (acidification, eutrophication and global warming). Production of composting bin and gaseous emissions are the main responsible for the HC impacts, whereas for IC the main contributions come from collection and transportation of organic waste, electricity consumption, dumped waste and VOCs emission. These results suggest that HC may be an interesting alternative or complement to IC in low density areas of population.