Spectral cullet classification in the mid-infrared field for ceramic glass contaminants detection.

The presence of glass-like contaminants inside waste glass products, usually resulting from both industrial and differentiated urban waste collection, has greatly increased in recent years, due to the introduction to the market of a large amount of goods manufactured from ceramic glass. The presence of contaminants in the glass recycling streams reduces product quality and increases production costs. The detection of ceramic glass detection is an unresolved problem, as such material looks like normal glass and can only be detected by trained personnel. In this study an innovative approach to ceramic glass recognition, based on the spectral signature in the mid-infrared (MIR) field, was proposed and investigated. The study specifically addressed the spectral characterization of glass and ceramic glass fragments collected in a real recycling plant from two different production lines: coloured container glass and white container glass. To define suitable inspection strategies to separate the useful (glass) from the polluting (ceramic glass) materials at the recycling plants, fragments presenting different colour, thickness, size, shape and manufacturing were selected. Both dirty and clean cullet was considered. The analyses, carried out in the MIR spectral field (2280-4480 nm), show that ceramic glass and glass fragments can be recognized according to their different spectral signature. In particular, by selecting a specific wavelength ratio the two classes of materials can be rapidly recognized, suggesting the possibility of developing an integrated hardware and software sorting system for 'on-line' ceramic glass separation.     

DMSO EVOL™ as novel non-toxic solvent for polyethersulfone membrane preparation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The possibility of replacing traditional toxic solvents normally employed during the preparation of polymeric membranes with greener alternatives...     

Sulphur mineralization kinetics of cattle manure and green waste compost in soils.

Sulphur mineralization of cattle manure (CM) and green waste compost (GWC) added to six agricultural soils with different chemical properties was monitored over 10 weeks in a laboratory incubation experiment. Although the amount of sulphur was higher in CM than in GWC, the cumulative SO4(2-)-S values in GWC-treated soils were higher than in soil amended with CM. The percentages of mineralized S were always higher in GWC-treated soil (in the range 1.3-8.5%) than in CM-treated soil (in the range 0.9-3.8%). In three of the six soils, particularly for CM, an immobilization of sulphur was observed. Three kinetic models were evaluated for their suitability to describe the mineralization process. The first-order model best described S mineralization for both amended and control soils. The GWC substantially increased the amount of potentially mineralizable S (S0) relative to the controls. In GWC-treated soils, the rates of S mineralization (k) were higher than rates in the controls. The k of CM-amended soils was often lower than the k of control soils. Parameters derived from the model were tested as indices for assessing the relationships between S mineralization and soil characteristics. The S0 was positively correlated to the amount of cumulative SO4(2-)-S and also to the content of organic C, N and S in soil.     

Factors inducing the intense burrowing activity of the red-swamp crayfish,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Procambarus clarkii</Emphasis>, an invasive species

The burrowing activity of the invasive red-swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, was studied along a 25-m-long transect in an irrigation ditch system in Italy. Our objective was to understand the factors inducing this species intense digging, which can result in bank collapse and consequently in severe damage to both agricultural fields and natural ecosystems. Burrow morphology and position, together with their occupancy by crayfish and digging, were recorded once every 6 h for 10 consecutive days. The majority of burrows were simple, although a few had a chimney and were constructed at a farther distance from the water surface than simple burrows. Burrow occupancy and digging, together with their plugged/unplugged status, were constant throughout a 24-h cycle and were not related to any abiotic parameter of the habitat. Crayfish occupied and dug a burrow for a relatively short time (6 h on average). Once abandoned, old burrows were rarely reoccupied and often collapsed, while crayfish excavated new ones. As a result, the overall number of burrows increased. This massive use of banks by P. clarkii seems to be related to soil composition and humidity, which favour crayfish digging but also cause the easy collapse of burrows.     

(M)VOC and composting facilities. Part 2: (M)VOC dispersal in the environment

BACKGROUND, AIMS AND SCOPE: Composting facilities are known to release odorous volatiles due to biodegradation of municipal waste and plant residues. Although odour perception and its grading is influenced by experience, attitude and adaptation, these emissions have created a lack of acceptance for residents in the vicinity of composting facilities. Enclosure of compost pile halls, ventilation systems and biofilters are often insufficient to minimise the burden of compost-derived compounds in the air. Moreover, economic considerations forced smaller communities to establish less sophisticated facilities with open storage areas and other relevant sources for wind-borne dispersal of bioaerosols. Aim of the present study was to characterise the immission and dispersal of microbial volatiles (MVOC) and, besides, to find coincidences between MVOC and compost odour. METHODS: In the course of this study, the surroundings of two composting facilities, differing in their type of process engineering, were investigated for emission of volatiles in the environment. Both microbially and plant-derived substances were assessed, several of which have low odour thresholds. Air samples were taken in distances ranging from 50 to 800 m in a downwind direction from each facility. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Compost-derived and microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC) were found at distances of up to 800 m from the composting facilities. Terpenes like alpha-pinene, camphene and camphor were the dominant compounds and coincided with typical compost odour, whereas several typical MVOC were not found at greater distances. The terpenes in combination with certain MVOC may play an important role in the perception of compost odour. Exposure concentrations were not of toxicological relevance, but sensory irritation and psychohygienic effects due to an annoyance potential of such compounds should not be dismissed. RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUTLOOK: Although terpenes are generally associated with pleasant odour characteristics, they seemed to contribute to malodours in a mixture with other VOC, in this context of volatile waste from compost facilities. Malodorous emissions from biowaste have to be considered as sources of health complaints and the investigation of mixtures of compost-derived volatiles is still inevitable. Exposure levels have to be discussed taking VOC mixtures into account. Within composting facilities, technical devices have to be improved to minimise dispersal of volatiles to prevent residents from immissions eventually causing health complaints.     

Cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic action of HSP70 stress protein in Oreochromis niloticus exposed to residual dilutions of insecticides with fipronil and ethiprole

Abstract

The objective of this research was to investigate the potential damage caused by the residual concentrations of the insecticides Regent^® WS 800 and Curbix^® SC 200, containing fipronil and ethiprole, respectively as active ingredients, on the liver of Oreochromis niloticus. The analyses of HSP70 shock protein labelling and cell death process by TUNEL method were performed in order to measure the effects of the exposure of cell repair system of fish to both insecticides. Statistical analyses showed no significant molecular damage to the hepatic tissue of animals. Nevertheless, variations in HSP70 and DNA fragmentation levels, endpoint of cell repair system response and cellular death, respectively, were observed in several groups. These results indicate that the cell repair machinery was efficient when in contact with residual concentrations of insecticides. However, the DNA fragmentation detected by the TUNEL method suggests that even in face of the cytoprotective action of the HSP70 protein, there are damages that become irreparable. To finish, it is worth mentioning that given the results obtained from residual concentrations, use in the field should be with caution.     

One-year study of the elemental composition and source apportionment of PM10 aerosols in Florence, Italy

An extensive investigation was carried out for the characterisation of the air particulate composition in Florence. The aim was to determine the aerosol elemental concentrations, as well as to identify pollution sources. For our investigation, the external Particle-Induced X-Ray Emission-Particle-Induced gamma-Ray Emission beam facility of the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Van de Graaff accelerator at the Physics Department of the Florence University was used. We report the results of the analysis of a long temporal series (approximately 1 yr) of PM10 particulate samples, collected on Millipore filters on a daily basis in three different sites (characterised by different urban settings). Daily concentrations of more than 20 elements were detected. The long sampling period (approximately 1 yr) allowed a comparison with the air quality recommended values and the identification of seasonal variations. Four main sources (traffic, oil-combustion, soil-dust, and wind transported sea-salt) were extracted with the help of Principal Component Analysis (PCA). An absolute PCA showed traffic to be the major source both in the high traffic site and in the urban background site.     

Remote sensing for mapping algal blooms in freshwater lakes: a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A large number of freshwater lakes around the world show recurring harmful algal blooms, particularly cyanobacterial blooms, that affect public health...     

Characterization of the bioaerosol in a natural thermal cave and assessment of the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Thermal caves represent an environment characterized by unique chemical/physical properties, often used for treatment and care of musculoskeletal,...