Microbiota’s role in health and diseases

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The microbiome is a term that usually refers to the community of various microorganisms that inhabit/live inside human/animal bodies or on their skin....     

Biodesulfurization of refractory sulfur compounds in petro-diesel by a novel hydrocarbon tolerable strain Paenibacillus glucanolyticus HN4

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - One of the main precursors of air pollution and acid rains is the presence of the recalcitrant thiophenic compounds, for example dibenzothiophene...     

Behaviour of Rice-Byproducts and Optimizing the Conditions for Production of High Performance Natural Fiber Polymer Composites

This present study deals with evaluating some available rice by-products, such as rice straw and rice husks, as a fiber component in manufacturing of high performance natural fiber polymer composites (NFPC). The utilization of these undesirable wastes will contribute to the reduction of the environmental impact of waste disposal by burning. Two matrices (thermoset and thermoplastic) were used. Optimization of manufacture conditions of polyester-based thermosetting polymer composites was carried out through examine the effects of fibers to polymer ratio, amounts of catalyzed and initiator, fraction size of fibers and substituting one fibers by another, as well as time, temperature and pressure of pressing. The possibility of styrene containing polyester solution on improving the fiber interface via in situ grafting and enhancing the strength and water resistance of the produced NFPC was also evaluated, in comparison with that produced from using thermoplastic matrix (polypropylene) in presence of coupling agent. The production of this valuable product (NFPC) by this simple procedure, which not needs special devices (twin extrusion with heater), and chemicals to improve the compatibility between fibers and polymer matrix, will ensure reasonable profits and direct impacts on the Egyptian economy in general and rice growers in particular.     

New treatment of stabilized leachate by ozone/Fenton in the advanced oxidation process

Ozonation, combined with the Fenton process (O(3)/H(2)O(2)/Fe(2+)), was used to treat matured landfill leachate. The effectiveness of the Fenton molar ratio, Fenton concentration, pH variance, and reaction time were evaluated under optimum operational conditions. The optimum removal values of chemical oxygen demand (COD), color, and NH(3)-N were found to be 65%, 98%, and 12%, respectively, for 90 min of ozonation using a Fenton molar ratio of 1 at a Fenton concentration of 0.05 mol L(-1) (1700 mg/L) H(2)O(2) and 0.05 mol L(-1) (2800 mg/L) Fe(2+) at pH 7. The maximum removal of NH(3)-N was 19% at 150 min. The ozone consumption for COD removal was 0.63 kg O(3)/kg COD. To evaluate the effectiveness, the results obtained in the treatment of stabilized leachate were compared with those obtained from other treatment processes, such as ozone alone, Fenton reaction alone, as well as combined Fenton and ozone. The combined method (i.e., O(3)/H(2)O(2)/Fe(2+)) achieved higher removal efficiencies for COD, color, and NH(3)-N compared with other studied applications.     

The regional economic impact of reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Western Australia

This study analyses the general-equilibrium impacts of an international climate change response policy on the economy of Western Australia (WA), one of the most mining-based and energy-intensive states of Australia. It finds that emissions would fall by up to 11% from the base level in WA. However, such environmental benefits emanate at some costs to the state economy; in terms of foregone gross state product, the costs are up to 3% of the base level. Indeed, the actual costs and benefits depend on the precise design of the climate change response policy as well as on the other policies within which it operates. For example, when emission quota permits are sold to industries and no tradeable carbon credits (i.e. credits for the carbon sequestrated in Kyoto forests) are granted, emissions decline by about 8% and GSP falls by about 3% of the base levels. If carbon credits are tradeable, however, the environmental benefits could be increased and the GSP cost could be reduced substantially. Also, the reduced economic activity caused by emission abatement results in a modest fall in net government revenue, despite the additional revenue from permit sales in some cases. Accordingly, government’s fiscal package surrounding the emission permits would influence the emission abatement impacts on the economy. With regard to the effects on the structure of the state economy, the oil and gas industry suffers only a slight contraction but the energy-supplying sector as a whole contracts substantially. It is therefore not surprising that the impacts on the WA economy of curbing emissions by energy and transport industries alone are quite significant when compared to those resulted from all industries’ compliance with the abatement scheme. It needs to be noted that the model projections analysed in the paper are based on simplifying assumptions and tentative scenarios, and hence should be viewed with caution and not be understood as unconditional forecasts.     

Developing the first halophytic turfgrasses for the urban landscape from native Arabian desert grass

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Climate change is occurring and is influencing biological systems through augmented temperatures, more inconstant precipitation, and rising CO2 in the...     

Performance improvement of modified tubular solar still by employing vertical and inclined pin fins and external condenser: an experimental study

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The current experimental work aims to improve an accumulative yield of tubular solar distillers. This was achieved by utilizing the pin fins and...     

Quantification of hourly variability in NO(x) emissions for baseload coal-fired power plants

The objectives of this paper are to (1) quantify variability in hourly utility oxides of nitrogen (NO(x)) emission factors, activity factors, and total emissions; (2) investigate the autocorrelation structure and evaluate cyclic effects at short and long scales of the time series of total hourly emissions; (3) compare emissions for the ozone (O3) season versus the entire year to identify seasonal differences, if any; and (4) evaluate interannual variability. Continuous emissions monitoring data were analyzed for 1995 and 1998 for 32 units from nine baseload power plants in the Charlotte, NC, airshed. Unit emissions have a strong 24-hr cycle attributable primarily to the capacity factor. Typical ranges of the coefficient of variation for emissions at a given hour of the day were from 0.2 to 0.45. Little difference was found when comparing weekend emissions with the entire week or when comparing the O3 season with the entire year. There were substantial differences in the mean and standard deviation of emissions when comparing 1995 and 1998 data, indicative of the effect of retrofits of control technology during the intervening time. The wide range of variability and its autocorrelation should be accounted for when developing probabilistic utility emission inventories for analysis of near-term future episodes.