Precipitation of aragonite by calcitic bivalves in Mg-enriched marine waters

To understand the relative importance of biological versus physicochemical control over biomineralization, we have tested if the chemical composition of the medium (i.e., the Mg/Ca ratio) can change the mineralogy of mollusk shells. The shells of mollusks are made of calcite and/or aragonite, which are by far the most common CaCO₃ polymorphs. Several species of bivalves with predominantly calcitic shells have been cultivated in artificial seawater with a Mg/Ca molar ratio within the range of 8.3–9.2, well above the present value for seawater (5.2). Four out of six species used (the scallop Chlamys varia, the oyster Ostrea edulis, the saddle oyster Anomia ephippium and the mussel Mytilus edulis) survived long enough to secrete significant amounts of calcium carbonate. The deposits (sometimes extensive) formed on the interior shell surfaces were predominantly aragonitic. Three individuals of C. varia also increased their length by adding new shell at the margin. Contrary to the internal shell deposits, these margins were high-Mg calcite. This implies that the marginal mantle is able to exert a more strict control on the secreted mineral phase than the mantle facing the internal shell surface. This is the first report on an in vivo experimentally forced switch in bivalve shell mineralogy, from calcite to aragonite due to a change in water chemistry.     

Application of Poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) Macroporous Microparticles as a Catalyst Support in the Enzymatic Synthesis of Biodiesel

Macroporous poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) microparticles, with three different structural characteristics, have been synthesized and used as supports in the immobilization of lipase from Burkholderia cepacia. The best immobilization yield was found upon using microparticles with 35 % of divinylbenzene and the immobilized lipase on this type of particles was used as a catalyst to obtain biodiesel from soybean oil and ethanol. From the experimental results of the transesterification reaction, an empirical model quantitatively relating the temperature, the concentration of the enzyme and the transesterification yield was obtained. Statistical analysis of this model indicated that within the range of values of the variables studied (35–47 °C and 231–788 U/mg respectively) only the enzyme concentration exerted a significant influence on the reaction yield. Additionally, the good fit of a Michaelis–Menten-type model to the experimental results suggests that the limiting step of the reaction was the formation of the enzyme-substrate complex.     

Concentrations and sources of Dechlorane Plus in sewage sludge

Sewage sludge from 31 urban Spanish wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) was analyzed for the emerging halogenated flame retardant Dechlorane Plus (DP). Concentrations of the two major isomers in the technical mixture, syn and anti, ranged between 0.903-19.2 and 1.55-75.1 ng g⁻¹ dry weight, respectively. Overall, concentrations of DP were lower than those of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (9.10-995 ng g⁻¹ dry weight) and this is likely related to the higher usage of brominated flame retardants. The average ratio of the syn isomer to total DP (f_syn) was 0.28 ± 0.05, which is similar to that of the commercial mixture. Comparing different wastewater treatment methods, we found lower concentrations in those using biological nitrogen and phosphorous elimination, suggesting that DP is susceptible to microbial degradation and that anti-DP is more so, given the enrichment of syn-DP in the sewage sludge. Principal components analysis revealed significant positive correlation (r = 0.619, p < 0.05) between total DP concentrations with the contribution of industrial input to waste streams. This implies release of DP is related to industrial activity, likely stemming from the use of the technical product during manufacture of consumer goods. However, use and disposal of products containing DP could not be dismissed. According to our knowledge, this is the first report on DP in WWTP sludge.     

Water reuse in tannery beamhouse process

In tanneries, the phases of conditioning and preparing the hide for tanning, as well as the transportation and fixation of tanning substances, are all carried out in aqueous media. Most of the steps of these processes are carried out with fresh water, which is used as a vehicle for the diffusion of chemical products and the extraction of undesirable materials from the hide. The objective of this study is to provide the minimization of water consumption at tanneries by applying the reuse of water at some stages of the process. Alternatives for water reuse were evaluated through analysis of the process wastewater to determine the concentration of some contaminant parameters. In tests with half-hides, the possibility of reusing the liquors from the 2nd bating washing in the 1st bating washing, and of reusing the liquors from the pre-deliming washing in the pre-deliming operation, was verified. In industrial scale the water reuse from a mixture of bating washings in the deliming and deliming bating was tested successfully. The quality of wet-blue leather analyzed in the systems with and without water reuse did not show any considerable differences and satisfies the tannery specifications. Finally, a mathematical program for mass integration was applied to solve the problem of water reuse in the beamhouse steps.     

The drivers for contractors’ green innovation: an industry perspective

In the construction industry, contractors have been facing the challenge to meet the emerging needs related to the reduction of environmental impacts during the construction process. Generally, the commitment of efforts and resources from contractors to meet these needs is motivated by the influence exerted from environmental regulations and stakeholder demands. However, managerial environmental concerns and size of firms also account as key factors affecting the adoption of green construction practices. Therefore, the aim of this research is to identify those factors influencing contractors to adopt green construction practices by using data gathered from a survey. From the results, it has been found that managerial concern is the most important driver for the adoption of green practices. Significant relationships have also been found between government regulations and business size with the adoption of green construction practices. However, there is no significant evidence on the relationship among the adoption of green construction practices with perceived stakeholders’ pressures. The findings from this study are significant in the understanding on the factors of green construction management. This knowledge may contribute to better decision-making towards implementing green construction practices.     

Carbon storage in Amazonia during the last glacial maximum: secondary data and uncertainties

The Amazonian forest is, due to its great size, carbon storage capacity and present-day variability in carbon uptake and release, an important component of the global carbon cycle. Paleo-environmental reconstruction is difficult for Amazonia due to the scarcity of primary palynological data and the mis-interpretation of some secondary data. Studies of lacustrine sediment records have shown that Amazonia has known periods in which the climate was drier than it is today. However, not all geomorphological features such as dunes, and slope erosion, which are thought to indicate rainforest regression, date from the time of the Late Glacial Maximum (LGM) and these features do not necessarily correspond to episodes of forest regression. There is also uncertainty concerning LGM carbon storage due to rainforest soils and biomass estimates. Soil carbon content may decrease moderately during the LGM, whereas rainforest biomass may change considerably in response to changes in the global environment. Biomass per unit area in Amazonia has probably been reduced by the cumulative effects of low CO2 concentration, a drier climate and lower temperatures. As few paleo-vegetation data are available, there is considerable uncertainty concerning the amount of carbon stored in Amazonia during the LGM, which may have corresponded to 44-94% of the carbon currently stored in biomass and soils.     

Biomarkers of a native fish species (Cnesterodon decemmaculatus) application to the water toxicity assessment of a peri-urban polluted river of Argentina

Environmental monitoring by means of biomarker parameters assessed in different species is a useful tool. It has the advantage of providing a quantitative response as well as valuable information of ecological relevance on the chronic adverse effects caused by water pollution. The aim of this study was to assess the response of biochemical and physiological parameters of Cnesterodon decemmaculatus, a native teleost, simultaneously caught in two sites of Reconquista river, a highly polluted peri-urban river. This study compared the measured parameters with that of specimens of the same species captured in an unpolluted body water, and correlated the detected changes with the physicochemical profile of the water at each site. A comparison was made of selected parameters of gill, brain and liver and of somatic indices of fish collected from polluted and reference sites. The main parameters whose changes allowed to discriminate between sampling sites were gill (Na(+),K(+))-ATPase, brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and liver aminotransaminases activities; tissues' protein content and liver somatic index (LSI) were also sensitive biomarkers in brain and liver, respectively. The results showed that the response of the measured biomarkers allowed for the differentiation of sampling sites according to their water quality and confirmed that Cnesterodon decemmaculatus may be a useful test organism for the biomonitoring of freshwater environments. In addition, the simultaneous measurement of the physicochemical parameters of the water samples showed a good correspondence between the biomarkers responses and the environmental chemical stress conditions.