Precipitation of swine and cattle manure phosphorous using limestone dust

The effectiveness of SPS and PULPRO, fine limestone dusts, in precipitating swine and dairy manure phosphorous (P) was determined in the laboratory. Both manures were sieved before being treated with limestone, to reproduce the treatment of mechanically separated manure and to observe the precipitation effect of limestone without that of the large manure solid particles. P precipitation was optimized by varying precipitation conditions (propeller blade speeds, mixing time and limestone levels) and limestone particle size. P precipitation was optimized using a propeller blade mixing speed of 0.3 m s(-1) for at least 5 minutes, using 3% limestone (dry limestone mass over wet manure mass). In terms of particle size, PULPRO 20 (limestone with a particle size of 0.02 mm) produced the most P precipitation and the smallest volume and mass of sludge, as compared to PULPRO 10, PULPRO 3 and SPS (limestone with a particle size of 0.01, 0.003 and 0.3 to 0.003 mm, respectively). For both 9.5% TS (total solids) dairy and 8.8% TS swine manure, mechanical separation followed by limestone precipitation concentrated 90% of manure TS and TP in a sludge volume representing 45% of the initial raw manure mass.     

Why are we growth-addicted? The hard way towards degrowth in the involutionary western development path

By questioning the origins of the inertia facing the degrowth movement, this contribution identifies property as the constitutive institution of capitalism, and property expansion as the dominant socioeconomic process leading world societies to economic path dependence, techno-institutional lock-in and eco-social impasse. Demonstrating why and how property-based economic rationality subordinates ecological and social considerations to capitalist requirements, this paper stresses both the need for an inversion in the hierarchy of social norms and the systemic opposition to such an inversion, which emanates from the capitalist/industrial expansion. The text also brings to light some disregarded processes underlying the current economic crisis, by pointing out the institutional and technological locked-in situation into which the western development path has led our societies.     

Direct measurement of denitrification activity in a Gulf coast freshwater marsh receiving diverted Mississippi River water

Wetland loss along the Louisiana Gulf coast and excessive nitrate loading into the Gulf of Mexico are interrelated environmental problems. Nitrate removal by soil denitrification activity was studied in a ponded freshwater marsh receiving diverted Mississippi River water for the purpose of reversing or slowing wetland loss. Labeled ¹⁵N-nitrate was applied at 3.8 g N m⁻² into four replicate study plots after removing above ground vegetation. Nitrogen gas (N₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from the plots were determined by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). Nitrous oxide emissions were also compared with the results determined by gas chromatograph (GC). Results showed that it took 2 weeks to remove the added nitrate with N₂O emission occurring over a period of 4 d. The apparent denitrification dynamics were assumed to follow the Michaelis–Menten equation. The maximum denitrification rate and K_m value were determined as 12.6 mg N m ⁻² h⁻¹, and 6.5 mg N l⁻¹, respectively. Therefore the maximum capacity for nitrate removal by the marsh soil would be equivalent to 110 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹, with more than 30% of nitrogen gas evolved as N₂O. For typical nitrate concentrations in Mississippi River water of about 1 mg N l⁻¹, nitrate would be removed at a rate of 14.7 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹ with N₂O emission about 1.5%. A denitrification dynamic model showed that the efficiency of nitrate removal would largely depend on the water discharge rate into the ponded wetland. Higher discharge rate will result in less retention time for the water in the marsh where nitrate is denitrified.     

Hydrolytic biodegradation of chlorothalonil in the soil and in cabbage crops

Broccoli and Chinese cabbage crops were treated at planting by pouring an emulsion of the fungicide chlorothalonil around the stem of the plant. During culture, chlorothalonil was biodegraded in soil into l,3‐dicarbamoyl‐2,4,5,6‐tetrachlorobenzene (compound 1), l,3‐dicyano‐4‐hydroxy‐2,5,6‐trichlorobenzene (compound 2), and l‐carbamoyl‐3‐cyano‐4‐hydroxy‐2,5,6‐trichlorobenzene (compound 3). Compounds 1 and 2 were the major metabolites in soil. In the harvested broccoli (in the flower) and Chinese cabbages (the leaves), the concentrations of chlorothalonil and of compounds 1 and 2 were lower respectively than 0.1, 0.1 and 0.5mg/kg fresh weight.