Fate and effect of 2,4-dichlorophenol on biological treatment processes

The fate and effect of continuous feeding of increasing doses of 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) were investigated. At the beginning of each run, a drop in the efficiency of the system was recorded, after which a steady state was obtained. Continuous feeding of DCP up to a concentration of 50 mg L^?1 reduced BOD₅ and COD removal rates by 27% and 29%, respectively. Application of shock doses of DCP showed that adaptation increases the capacity of biological systems for removing toxic chemicals.     

Isolation and characterization of facultative mixotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria from constructed wetlands

Autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) have been widely studied in constructed wetlands systems, while mixotrophic AOB have been less thoroughly examined. Heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from wastewater and rhizospheres of macrophytes of constructed wetlands, and then cultivated in a mixotrophic medium containing ammonium and acetic acid. A molecular characterization was accomplished using ITS-PCR amplification, and phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Results showed the presence of 35 bacteria, among 400 initially heterotrophic isolates, that were able to remove ammonia. These 35 isolates were classified into 10 genetically different groups based on ITS pattern. Then, a collection of 10 isolates were selected because of their relatively high ammonia removal efficiencies (ARE ≥ 80%) and their phylogenetic diversity. In conditions of mixotrophy, these strains were shown to be able to grow (increase of optical density OD₆₆₀ during incubation with assimilation of nitrogen into cellular biomass) and to oxidize ammonia (important ammonia oxidation efficiencies, AOE between 79% and 87%). Among these facultative mixotrophic AOB, four isolates were genetically related to Firmicutes (Bacillus and Exiguobacterium), three isolates were affiliated to Actinobacteria (Arthrobacter) and three other isolates were associated with Proteobacteria (Pseudomonas, Ochrobactrum and Bordetella).     

Elaboration of a Bio-Colored Material Based on Natural Dye and Polybutylene Succinate: Comparative Study with Colored Polylactic Acid

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - In the context of sustainable development and natural products valorization, new ecological materials enter a logic aimed at removing the causes of...     

Making the Business Case for Sustainability: How to Account for Intangible Benefits—A Case Study Approach

Sustainability is continuing to change the way businesses operate. Stakeholders are insisting that corporations implement more responsible business practices, and they are holding them increasingly accountable for their associated environmental and social impacts. Research has provided significant contributions toward sustainability‐related tools and best practices, allowing sustainability to be integrated even farther across business operations. However, challenges still exist, preventing many companies from fully integrating sustainability. Although intangible benefits are not commonly included in business case assessments, such benefits can be derived through sustainability initiatives and may offer additional value in evaluating the business case for sustainability. In this article, we review current literature on accounting methods for the business case for sustainability as well as currently available methods or tools that are capable of estimating intangible benefits. In addition, we use case studies to illustrate if, and how, companies are accounting for intangible benefits, and we identify best methods for accounting for intangible benefits.     

Synergy or substitution? The interactive effects of insiders' fairness and support and organizational socialization tactics on newcomer role clarity and social integration

Drawing on fairness heuristics theory (Lind, 2001) and cue consistency theory (Maheswaran & Chaiken, 1991; Slovic, 1966), we test a moderated mediation model that examines whether the institutionalization of organizational socialization tactics enhances or constrains the beneficial effects of supervisory and coworker‐referenced justice and support on newcomer role clarity and social integration. The findings of a three‐wave study of 219 French newcomers show that although institutionalized tactics strengthen the positive indirect effects of supervisory interpersonal and informational justice on role clarity, via perceived supervisor support, it also acts as a substitute that weakens the positive indirect effect of coworker‐referenced interpersonal justice on social integration, via perceived coworker support. Implications of the findings for socialization research and practice are discussed.     

Effect of dietary Jatropha curcas seed meal on rabbits infested by adult ticks of Hyalomma marginatum marginatum

The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the oral administration of Jatropha curcas seed meal (JCSM) on serum biochemical parameters and histopathology of skin, liver, and kidney of rabbits experimentally infested by Hyalomma marginatum marginatum. Thirty healthy mixed-breed rabbits were randomly divided into five equal groups. The first group was kept as a control and fed soya bean meal. The remaining groups were fed diets containing 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, or 10% JCSM. At the sixth week, each group was divided into two subgroups. Ticks were introduced to all members of one subgroup, the other subgroup being kept as control. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for biochemical parameters before (zero time) and after the treatment, on the 6th and 8th weeks. Histopathological studies were conducted 8 weeks after the treatment. The results revealed that JCSM could be used in the treatment of ectoparasites at levels of less than 10% in the diet without any serious effects on liver and kidney functions.