Characteristics of biotic and abiotic removals of dissolved organic carbon in wastewater effluents using soil batch reactors.

Biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) analyses and abiotic adsorption of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from different wastewater effluent were conducted to evaluate biotic and abiotic removal mechanisms as a function of the initial DOC concentration and source of DOC using soil batch reactors. To obtain high DOC concentrations, a laboratory-scale reverse osmosis unit was used. It was found that BDOC fraction was independent of the initial DOC concentration and was dependent on the source of wastewater and/or the types of wastewater treatment. The BDOC fractions varied from 9 to 73%. Trickling filter effluent (Tucson, Arizona) showed the highest BDOC, ranging from 65 to 73% biodegradable, while wastewater treated by the soil aquifer treatment (SAT) (NW-4) was found to be most refractory, with DOC removals of 9 to 14%. For nitrified/denitrified tertiary effluent (Mesa, Arizona) and secondary effluent (Scottsdale, Arizona), 36 to 42% removal of DOC was observed during the BDOC test. The amount of BDOC in the wastewater depended not on the concentration of DOC, but on the effectiveness of pretreatment. Abiotic adsorption capacity of wastewater effluent varied from 6 to 18%. Molecular weight distribution analyses showed that more than 50% of DOC in the Scottsdale concentrate had a molecular weight of less than 1000 Da, and no significant change in distribution profiles occurred after approximately 12% abiotic adsorption with both soils with acclimated microorganisms (SAT soil) and soils without acclimated microorganisms (non-SAT soils). Hence, preferential adsorption was not observed and the presence of acclimated microbes did not influence adsorption.     

Assessment of patients' medical fitness to drive by primary care physicians: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are a significant health burden in Saudi Arabia. The literature has consistently indicated that chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, obstructive sleep apnea, and neurodevelopmental disorders, increase the risk of MVCs. Therefore, assessment of driver fitness by primary care physicians (PCPs) remains a major health intervention that might reduce MVCs. We studied the practices of PCPs in assessing medical fitness to drive in at-risk patients.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of all 88 government-funded primary care centers in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We administered a self-reported questionnaire to PCPs that inquired about their driving risk assessment for specific medical conditions.

Results: Among all PCPs and centers, 189 PCPs (63%) from 74 centers (84%) participated in our survey. The mean age of the PCPs was 40 ± 10 years, and 108 (57%) were men. The average clinical experience of the group was 13 ± 9 years. Fewer than half of PCPs considered diabetes mellitus (45%) and obstructive sleep apnea (46%) as potential risks for MVCs. Approximately 45% of PCPs did not notify any authority or relatives of potential driving issues that they noticed in their patients. Only 15% of the participants believed that PCPs were responsible for alerting authorities about their fitness to drive.

Conclusions: PCPs did not adequately assess their patients' driving history and eligibility. Efforts are needed to improve awareness among PCPs regarding the effects of chronic medical conditions on driving.     

Isolation of Cr(VI) reducing bacteria from industrial e uents and their potential use in bioremediation of chromium containing wastewater

The present study is aimed at assessing the ability of Bacillus sp.JDM-2-1 and Staphylococcus capitis to reduce hexavalent chromium into its trivalent form.Bacillus sp.JDM-2-1 could tolerate Cr(Ⅵ) (4800 μg/mL) and S.capitis could tolerate Cr(Ⅵ) (2800 μg/mL).Both organisms were able to resist Cd2+ (50 μg/mL),Cu2+ (200 μg/mL),Pb2+ (800 μg/mL),Hg2+ (50 μg/mL) and Ni2+ (4000 μg/mL).S.capitis resisted Zn2+ at 700 μg/mL while Bacillus sp.JDM-2-1 only showed resistance up to 50 μg/mL.Bacillus sp.JDM-2-1 and S.capitis showed optimum growth at pH 6 and 7,respectively,while both bacteria showed optimum growth at 37℃.Bacillus sp.JDM-2-1 and S.capitis could reduce 85% and 81% of hexavalent chromium from the medium after 96 h and were also capable of reducing hexavalent chromium 86% and 89%,respectively,from the industrial effluents after 144 h.Cell free extracts of Bacillus sp.JDM-2-1 and S.capitis showed reduction of 83% and 70% at concentration of 10 μg Cr(Ⅵ)/mL,respectively.The presence of an induced protein having molecular weight around 25 kDa in the presence of chromium points out a possible role of this protein in chromium reduction.The bacterial isolates can be exploited for bioremediation of hexavalent chromium containing wastes,since they seem to have the potential to reduce the toxic hexavalent form to its nontoxic trivalent form.     

Spatial assessment of groundwater quality in Guna Tana landscape

This study focuses on investigating the quality of groundwater for irrigation and drinking water purposes. Spatial distribution of physicochemical and microbiological parameters was assessed from samples collected from springs, hand‐dug wells, and boreholes found the Guna Tana landscape. A total of 70 samples were considered for physical, chemical, and bacteriological water quality determination. The results revealed that most of the groundwater quality index (WQI) values lie between good and excellent. The maximum, minimum, mean, and standard deviation of each water quality parameter were prepared for evaluating groundwater quality. According to the WQI values, more than 83% of the water samples were classified as excellent water for drinking. More than 92% of the water samples showed low sodium hazards for irrigation and about 48% and 46% of the water samples were classified as within the excellent and good water classes for irrigation based on their electrical conductance levels. Therefore, the groundwater that is found in the Guna Tana landscape could be used for drinking and irrigation purposes without any advanced treatment.     

Conversion of Mixed Low-Density Polyethylene Wastes into Liquid Fuel by Novel CaO/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Catalyst

Plastic wastes disposal can be done by various methods such as landfill, incineration, mechanical and chemical recycling but these are restricted due to some environmental, economic and political problems. Conversion of these plastic wastes into valuable products by degradation is the best option. In the present work waste low density polyethylene was degraded by catalytic process using CaO/SiO₂ as mixed catalyst. The conditions for catalytic degradation were optimized for the production of maximum liquid fuel. It was found that the yield of liquid product was up to 69.10 wt% at optimum condition of temperature (350 °C), time (90 min) and catalyst feed ratio (1:0.4). Liquid fuels obtained from the catalytic degradation were further separated into various fractions by fractional distillation. Composition of liquid fuels was analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy, which showed that the liquid fuels mostly consist of paraffinic and naphthenic hydrocarbons. Different fuel properties such as density, specific gravity, American petroleum institute gravity (API gravity), viscosity, kinematic viscosity, refractive index, refractive intercept and flash point of both the parents and various fractional fuels were determined. All the properties of the obtained fuels are in close agreement with the fuel properties of gasoline, kerosene and diesel. It was found that our catalyst is very much efficient in terms of time, degradation temperature and amount of catalyst.     

An outbreak of scurvy in Somali refugee camps*

Between June and October 1982, an outbreak of scurvy occurred in the refugee camps of Somalia. An epidemiologic investigation eventually detected more than 2,000 cases. The outbreak came at a time when the relief programme had been well established and the general health status of the refugees had otherwise stabilized. We report on 72 of the cases. Joint pain of the lower extremities and gingivitis were prominent features in the majority. Hemorrhagic phenomena were not observed and no deaths occurred. The outbreak primarily affected the poorer refugees who were unable to purchase locally available Vitamin C-containing foods. This outbreak demonstrates the vulnerability of a large population of displaced persons who are dependent on imported relief supplies for survival.     

Materials,fuels, upgrading,economy, and life cycle assessment of the pyrolysis of algal and lignocellulosic biomass: a review

Climate change issues are calling for advanced methods to produce materials and fuels in a carbon–neutral and circular way. For instance, biomass pyrolysis has been intensely investigated during the last years. Here we review the pyrolysis of algal and lignocellulosic biomass with focus on pyrolysis products and mechanisms, oil upgrading, combining pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion, economy, and life cycle assessment. Products include oil, gas, and biochar. Upgrading techniques comprise hot vapor filtration, solvent addition, emulsification, esterification and transesterification, hydrotreatment, steam reforming, and the use of supercritical fluids. We examined the economic viability in terms of profitability, internal rate of return, return on investment, carbon removal service, product pricing, and net present value. We also reviewed 20 recent studies of life cycle assessment. We found that the pyrolysis method highly influenced product yield, ranging from 9.07 to 40.59% for oil, from 10.1 to 41.25% for biochar, and from 11.93 to 28.16% for syngas. Feedstock type, pyrolytic temperature, heating rate, and reaction retention time were the main factors controlling the distribution of pyrolysis products. Pyrolysis mechanisms include bond breaking, cracking, polymerization and re-polymerization, and fragmentation. Biochar from residual forestry could sequester 2.74 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per ton biochar when applied to the soil and has thus the potential to remove 0.2–2.75 gigatons of atmospheric carbon dioxide annually. The generation of biochar and bio-oil from the pyrolysis process is estimated to be economically feasible.

     

Sulfonated graphene nanomaterials for membrane antifouling,pollutant removal,and production of chemicals from biomass: a review

Water pollution and the unsustainable use of fossil fuel derivatives require advanced catalytic methods to clean waters and to produce fine chemicals from modern biomass. Classical homogeneous catalysts such as sulfuric, phosphoric, and hydrochloric acid are highly corrosive and non-recyclable, whereas heterogeneous catalysts appear promising for lignocellulosic waste depolymerization, pollutant degradation, and membrane antifouling. Here, we review the use of sulfonated graphene and sulfonated graphene oxide nanomaterials for improving membranes, pollutant adsorption and degradation, depolymerization of lignocellulosic waste, liquefaction of biomass, and production of fine chemicals. We also discuss the economy of oil production from biomass. Sulfonated graphene and sulfonated graphene oxide display an unusual large theoretical specific surface area of 2630 m²/g, allowing the reactants to easily enter the internal surface of graphene nanosheets and to reach active acid sites. Sulfonated graphene oxide is hydrophobic and has hydrophilic groups, such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, and epoxy, thus creating cavities on the graphene nanosheet’s surface. The adsorption capacity approached 2.3–2.4 mmol per gram for naphthalene and 1-naphthol. Concerning membranes, we observe an improvement of hydrophilicity, salt rejection, water flux, antifouling properties, and pollutant removal. The nanomaterials can be reused several times without losing catalytic activity due to the high stability originating from the stable carbon–sulfur bond between graphene and the sulfonic group.

     

Neutron activation analysis of ceramic tiles and its component and radon exhalation rate

IntroductionCeramic,consistofearthymaterialslikeclaykaolin ,limestoneandsandglass .Ceramicmaterialsarenonmetalic ,inorganiccompoundsprimaryoxides ,alsocarbides ,nitridesandsilicides .Twotypesofbondingmechanismsoccurinceramicmaterial ,ionicandcovalent.Theo…     

Evaluating the role of feldspar on the resistivity of alkali-activated slag towards seawater attack

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, the effect of K-feldspar on the behavior of alkali-activated slag pastes (AAS) before and after exposure to seawater was evaluated by...