Effects of the organic matter from swine wastewater on the adsorption and desorption of alachlor in soil

The application of swine wastewater to the soil for agricultural purposes results in the addition of total and dissolved organic matter to the soil, which may interfere with the dynamics of pesticides in the soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the application of total and dissolved organic matter from a biodigester and a treatment lagoon of swine wastewater in the adsorption and desorption of alachlor [2-chloro-2,6-diethyl-N(methoxymethyl acetamide)]. The assay was performed by the batch equilibrium method, and the results were fitted to the Freundlich model. The curve comparison test revealed a greater adsorption of alachlor in the soil treated with swine wastewater from the biodigester. The adsorption and desorption of alachlor increased in the soils where swine wastewater was added, and hysteresis was observed in all of the treatments.     

Biomonitoring of element contamination in bees and beehive products in the Rome province (Italy)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, we determined the levels of elements (i.e. As, Be, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, U, and Zn) in bees and edible beehive products (honey, wax,...     

Biogas from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste: Dealing with contaminants for a solid oxide fuel cell energy generator

The present work investigates electricity production using a high efficiency electrochemical generator that employs as fuel a biogas from the dry anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW).The as-produced biogas contains several contaminants (sulfur, halogen, organic silicon and aromatic compounds) that can be harmful for the fuel cell: these were monitored via an innovative mass spectrometry technique that enables for in-line and real-time quantification.A cleaning trap with activated carbons for the removal of sulfur and other VOCs contained in the biogas was also tested and monitored by observing the different breakthrough times of studied contaminants.The electrochemical generator was a commercial Ni anode-supported planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC), tested for more than 300 h with a simulated biogas mixture (CH₄ 60 vol.%, CO₂ 40 vol.%), directly fed to the anode electrode. Air was added to promote the direct internal conversion of CH₄ to H₂ and CO via partial oxidation (POx).The initial breakthrough of H₂S from the cleaning section was also simulated and tested by adding ～1 ppm(v) of sulfur in the anode feed; a full recovery of the fuel cell performance after 24 h of sulfur exposure (～1 ppm(v)) was observed upon its removal, indicating the reliable time of anode exposure to sulfur in case of exhausted guard bed.     

The quest for eco-social efficiency in biofuels production in Brazil

Equating eco-efficiency with the business link to sustainable development is clearly limited, especially with the new paradigms brought up by Corporate Social Responsibility, which has shown that the private sector’s contribution to sustainable development can go far beyond the sphere of pollution control. It is necessary to give eco-efficiency a broader meaning so that it can support the quest for sustainable development. This requires the inclusion of social aspects, leading to a kind of eco-social efficiency. The present paper illustrates this idea by comparing Brazilian production and use of ethanol from sugarcane, in the context of the National Alcohol Program (Proalcool), with biodiesel production and use, in the context of the Biodiesel National Program (PNPB). Despite the problems presented, PNPB was designed to encourage companies to align productivity concerns with social ones, what could be the beginning of the here called eco-social efficiency.     

Selenite precipitation by a rhizospheric strain of Stenotrophomonas sp. isolated from the root system of Astragalus bisulcatus: a biotechnological perspective

A bacterial strain (SeITE02), related to the species Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and resistant to selenite (SeIV) up to 50 mM in the growth medium, was isolated from rhizospheric soil of a selenium hyperaccumulator plant, the legume Astragalus bisulcatus. The influence of SeIV on the active growth of this Se-tolerant bacterial strain has been investigated in oxic conditions, along with the isolate's ability to reduce selenite to elemental selenium (Se(0)). Interestingly, concentrations of 0.5 mM SeIV were wholly reduced by strain SeITE02 in liquid culture within 52 h. Moreover, 87% of SeIV added to the growth medium at the initial concentration of 2.0 mM underwent again reduction in 120 h. Actually, a selenite-mediated induction of a sort of adaptive response to detrimental SeIV effects magnified the efficiency of SeITE02 in reducing this toxic oxyanion. Furthermore, the SeIV influence on cell morphology of strain SeITE02 was evidenced by phase-contrast and electron microscopy analyses. In particular, transmission electron microscopy (TEM)-energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis of S. maltophilia strain SeITE02, grown in presence of SeIV, showed electron-dense Se(0) granules either in the cell cytoplasm or in the extracellular space. Therefore, the capability of strain SeITE02 to quickly reduce soluble and harmful SeIV to insoluble and unavailable Se(0) may be looked at as a promising exploitable option for the setup of low-cost biological treatments tailored to manage contamination in selenium-laden effluents.     

Assessing coastal vulnerability to climate change: comparing segmentation at global and regional scales

Recent concerns about potential climate-change effects on coastal systems require the application of vulnerability assessment tools in order to define suitable adaptation strategies and improve coastal zone management effectiveness. In fact, while various research efforts were devoted to evaluate coastal vulnerability to climate change on a national to global level, fewer applications were carried out so far to develop more comprehensive and site-specific vulnerability assessments suitable to plan possible adaptation measures at the regional scale. In this respect, specific indicators are needed to address climate-change-related issues for coastal zones and to identify vulnerable areas at the regional level. Two sets of coastal vulnerability indicators were selected, one for regional and one for global studies, respectively, concerning the same features of coastal systems, including topography and slope, geomorphological characteristics, presence and distribution of wetlands and vegetation cover, density of coastal population and number of coastal inhabitants. The proposed set of indicators for the regional scale was chosen taking into account the availability of environmental and territorial data for the whole coastal area of the Veneto region and was based on site-specific datasets characterized by a spatial resolution appropriate for a regional analysis. Moreover, a GIS-based segmentation procedure was applied to divide the coastline into linear segments, homogeneous in terms of vulnerability to climate change and sea-level rise at the regional scale. This approach allowed to divide the Veneto shoreline into 140 segments with an average length of about 1 km, while the global scale approach identified four coastal segments with an average length of about 66 km. The performed comparison indicated how the more detailed approach adopted at the regional scale is essential to understand and manage the complexities of the specific study area. In fact, the 25-m DEM employed at the regional scale provided a more accurate differentiation of the coastal area's elevation and thus of coastal susceptibility to the inundation risks, compared to the 1-km DEM used at the global level. Moreover, at the regional level the use of a 1:20,000 geomorphological map allowed to differentiate the unique landform class detected at the global level (e.g., fluvial plain) in a variety of more detailed coastal typologies (e.g., open coast eroding sandy shores backed by bedrock) characterized by a different sensitivity to climate change and sea-level rise. Accordingly, the information provided by regional indicators can support decision-makers in improving the management of coastal resources by considering the potential impacts of climate change and in the definition of appropriate actions to reduce inundation risks, to avoid the potential loss of valuable wetlands and vegetation and to plan the nourishment of sandy beaches subject to erosion processes.     

Biodegradability and transformation of human pharmaceutical active ingredients in environmentally relevant test systems

Human pharmaceutical active ingredients that are orally or parenterally administered may be metabolised in the body and after excretion may be further transformed in the receiving environmental compartments. The optimal outcome from an environmental point of view—complete mineralisation—is rarely observed. Small molecule pharmaceuticals are commonly not readily biodegradable according to Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 301 tests. However, primary transformation is often observed. To gain information on the transformation of active ingredients in the environment, long-term studies like transformation in aquatic water/sediment systems according to OECD guideline 308 are required for the environmental risk assessment for human active pharmaceutical ingredients. Studies received until mid 2010 as part of the dossiers for marketing authorisation applications were evaluated concerning transformation products. The evaluation revealed that in 70 % of the studies, at least one transformation product (TP) is formed above 10 % of the originally applied dose, but in only 26 % of the studies are all TP identified. The evaluation also revealed that some TP of pharmaceutical active ingredients show a considerably longer DT₅₀ compared to the parent compound. An example is the TP (val)sartan acid that is formed from an antihypertensive compound.     

Catalytic NOx reduction with simultaneous dioxin and furan oxidation

The engineering, construction, performance and running costs of a catalytic flue gas cleaning component in the low dust area of a municipal waste incinerator is discussed. For this purpose, the case study of a Flemish incineration plant is presented, covering the history, the design procedure of the catalyst, relevant process data and the financial aspects. A reliable PCDD/F-destruction by means of oxidation by the catalyst to typical values of 0.001 ng TEQ/Nm3 has been demonstrated. At the same time, NOx- and CO-emissions are reduced by 90% and 20% to about 50 mg/Nm3 and below 10 mg/Nm3, respectively.