Oils and grease (O&G) have low affinity for water and represent a class of pollutants present in the dairy industry. Enzyme-mediated bioremediation using biocatalysts, such as lipases, has shown promising potential in biotechnology, as they are versatile catalysts with high enantioselectivity and regioselectivity and easy availability, being considered a clean technology (white biotechnology). Specially in the treatment of effluents from dairy industries, these enzymes are of particular importance as they specifically hydrolyze O&G. In this context, the objective of this work is to prospect filamentous fungi with the ability to synthesize lipases for application in a high-fat dairy wastewater environment. We identified and characterized the fungal species Aspergillus sclerotiorum as a good lipase producer. Specifically, we observed highest lipolytic activity (20.72 U g−1) after 96 h of fermentation using sunflower seed as substrate. The fungal solid fermented was used in the bioremediation in dairy effluent to reduce O&G. The experiment was done in kinetic from 24 to 168 h and reduced over 90% of the O&G present in the sample after 168 h. Collectively, our work demonstrated the efficiency and applicability of fungal fermented solids in bioremediation and how this process can contribute to a more sustainable wastewater pretreatment, reducing the generation of effluents produced by dairy industries.
This paper presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) comparing three forms of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) disposal: mechanical recycling, chemical recycling and composting. The LCA data was taken from lab scale experiments for composting and hydrolysis steps. Polymerization data in chemical recycling was obtained from computer simulation. Mechanical recycling data from lab scale were combined with the data from a plastics commercial mechanical recycling plant. The analysis considered two different product systems based on the input of the recycled PLA in the product system. Considering the categories: climate change, human toxicity and fossil depletion, the LCA showed that mechanical recycling presented the lowest environmental impact, followed by chemical recycling and composting. Among the forms of recycling, the most important input was the electricity consumption. 相似文献
Land use and hunting are 2 major pressures on biodiversity in the tropics. Yet, their combined impacts have not been systematically quantified at a large scale. We estimated the effects of both pressures on the distributions of 1884 tropical mammal species by integrating species’ range maps, detailed land-use maps (1992 and 2015), species-specific habitat preference data, and a hunting pressure model. We further identified areas where the combined impacts were greatest (hotspots) and least (coolspots) to determine priority areas for mitigation or prevention of the pressures. Land use was the main driver of reduced distribution of all mammal species considered. Yet, hunting pressure caused additional reductions in large-bodied species’ distributions. Together, land use and hunting reduced distributions of species by 41% (SD 30) on average (year 2015). Overlap between impacts was only 2% on average. Land use contributed more to the loss of distribution (39% on average) than hunting (4% on average). However, hunting reduced the distribution of large mammals by 29% on average; hence, large mammals lost a disproportional amount of area due to the combination of both pressures. Gran Chaco, the Atlantic Forest, and Thailand had high levels of impact across the species (hotspots of area loss). In contrast, the Amazon and Congo Basins, the Guianas, and Borneo had relatively low levels of impact (coolspots of area loss). Overall, hunting pressure and human land use increased from 1992 to 2015 and corresponding losses in distribution increased from 38% to 41% on average across the species. To effectively protect tropical mammals, conservation policies should address both pressures simultaneously because their effects are highly complementary. Our spatially detailed and species-specific results may support future national and global conservation agendas, including the design of post-2020 protected area targets and strategies. 相似文献
The electrodialytic separation process (ED) was applied to sewage sludge ash (SSA) aiming at phosphorus (P) recovery. As the SSA may have high heavy metals contents, their removal was also assessed. Two SSA were sampled, one immediately after incineration (SA) and the other from an open deposit (SB). Both samples were ED treated as stirred suspensions in sulphuric acid for 3, 7 and 14 days. After 14 days, phosphorus was mainly mobilized towards the anode end (approx. 60% in the SA and 70% in the SB), whereas heavy metals mainly electromigrated towards the cathode end. The anolyte presented a composition of 98% of P, mainly as orthophosphate, and 2% of heavy metals. The highest heavy metal removal was achieved for Cu (ca. 80%) and the lowest for Pb and Fe (between 4% and 6%). The ED showed to be a viable method for phosphorus recovery from SSA, as it promotes the separation of P from the heavy metals. 相似文献
Electric arc furnace (EAF) steel slag can be used as an alternative high-quality material in road construction. Although asphalts with slag aggregates have been recognized as environmentally acceptable, there is a lack of data concerning the potential leaching of toxic Cr(VI) due to the highly alkaline media of EAF slag. Leaching of selected water extractable metals from slag indicated elevated concentrations of total chromium and Cr(VI). To estimate the environmental impacts of asphalt mixes with slag, leachability tests based on diffusion were performed using pure water and salt water as leaching agents. Compact and ground asphalt composites with natural aggregates, and asphalt composites in which the natural aggregates were completely replaced by slag were prepared. The concentrations of total chromium and Cr(VI) were determined in leachates over a time period of 6 mo. After 1 and 6 mo, the concentrations of some other metals were also determined in the leachates. The results indicated that chromium in leachates from asphalt composites with the addition of slag was present almost solely in its hexavalent form. However, the concentrations were very low (below 25 μg L) and did not represent an environmental burden. The leaching of other metals from asphalt composites with the addition of slag was negligible. Therefore, the investigated EAF slag can be considered as environmentally safe substitute for natural aggregates in asphalt mixes. 相似文献
Riparian forests are important for the structure and functioning of stream ecosystems, providing structural components such
as large woody debris (LWD). Changes in these forests will cause modifications in the LWD input to streams, affecting their
structure. In order to assess the influence of riparian forests changes in LWD supply, 15 catchments (third and fourth order)
with riparian forests at different conservation levels were selected for sampling. In each catchment we quantified the abundance,
volume and diameter of LWD in stream channels; the number, area and volume of pools formed by LWD and basal area and tree
diameter of riparian forest. We found that riparian forests were at a secondary successional stage with predominantly young
trees (diameter at breast height <10 cm) in all studied streams. Results showed that basal area and diameter of riparian forest
differed between the stream groups (forested and non-forested), but tree density did not differ between groups. Differences
were also observed in LWD abundance, volume, frequency of LWD pools with subunits and area and volume of LWD pools. LWD diameter,
LWD that form pools diameter and frequency of LWD pools without subunits did not differ between stream groups. Regression
analyses showed that LWD abundance and volume, and frequency of LWD pools (with and without subunits) were positively related
with the proportion of riparian forest. LWD diameter was not correlated to riparian tree diameter. The frequency of LWD pools
was correlated to the abundance and volume of LWD, but characteristics of these pools (area and volume) were not correlated
to the diameter of LWD that formed the pools. These results show that alterations in riparian forest cause modifications in
the LWD abundance and volume in the stream channel, affecting mainly the structural complexity of these ecosystems (reduction
in the number and structural characteristics of LWD pools). Our results also demonstrate that riparian forest conservation
actions must consider not only its extension, but also successional stage to guarantee the quantity and quality of LWD necessary
to enable the structuring of stream channels. 相似文献
Nine individuals of shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus, were tracked in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, off northern Chile, by means of pop-up satellite archival tags. No common
pattern was observed in their trajectories, apart from a movement onshore of all the fish tracked during June–August. The
average estimated rate of movement was of c. 27 km day−1. Data were collected and processed for a total of 341 days, including 33 days for one recaptured fish specimen, allowing
high-resolution archived data to be downloaded. The fish spent most of their time in the mixed layer but undertook dives down
to 888 m. Ambient temperatures ranged between 4.6 and 24.1°C, and the sea surface temperatures recorded ranged from 13.4 to
24.1°C during the study period. No clear diel pattern in depth behavior was observed, but mean vertical distribution was deeper
during the daytime. Moreover, a foraging pattern, consisting of rapid descents below the thermocline followed by slower ascents,
was generally observed during daylight hours. Dissolved oxygen concentration and water temperature seem to be the main factors
affecting the vertical range of the species in the area. This is the first study on electronic tagging of the shortfin mako
in the southeastern Pacific Ocean and covers the longest total tracking period reported so far for this species. 相似文献