Anaerobic digestion for waste water poultry manure by UBF reactor

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Use of treated bark for the removal of lipids from water

Raw, biologically treated bark and bark impregnated with transition metal ions were used to retain the lipids from synthetic emulsions. Several experimental parameters affecting the lipid removal efficiency (RE) were studied (initial concentration of lipids, temperature, time, pH, carboxylic acid chain length, etc.). Saturated bark was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and light microscopy, and the treated bark wetting index was determined. Results show that lipid removal can exceed 95% of the initial concentration at a pH lower than 7. The uptake of lipids by these sorbents varied from 0.2 to 2.5 g/g of dry bark. Trials for regenerating the sorbent saturated by lipids allowed the recovery of approximately 95% of lipids. The calorific value of the saturated bark was approximately 79% that of domestic fuel and can be considered as an energy source, thus avoiding its waste disposal. These results may upgrade the treatment of wastewater generated by several industrial sectors, such as the food industry, surface treatment, and so on.     

Transient expression of protein tyrosine phosphatases encoded in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cotesia plutellae</Emphasis> bracovirus inhibits insect cellular immune responses

Several immunosuppressive factors are associated with parasitism of an endoparasitoid wasp, Cotesia plutellae, on the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. C. plutellae bracovirus (CpBV) encodes a large number of putative protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs), which may play a role in inhibiting host cellular immunity. To address this inhibitory hypothesis of CpBV-PTPs, we performed transient expression of individual CpBV-PTPs in hemocytes of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, and analyzed their cellular immune responses. Two different forms of CpBV-PTPs were chosen and cloned into a eukaryotic expression vector under the control of the p10 promoter of baculovirus: one with the normal cysteine active site (CpBV-PTP1) and the other with a mutated active site (CpBV-PTP5). The hemocytes transfected with CpBV-PTP1 significantly increased in PTP activity compared to control hemocytes, but those with CpBV-PTP5 exhibited a significant decrease in the PTP activity. All transfected hemocytes exhibited a significant reduction in both cell spreading and encapsulation activities compared to control hemocytes. Co-transfection of CpBV-PTP1 together with its double-stranded RNA reduced the messenger RNA (mRNA) level of CpBV-PTP1 and resulted in recovery of both hemocyte behaviors. This is the first report demonstrating that the polydnaviral PTPs can manipulate PTP activity of the hemocytes to interrupt cellular immune responses.     

Seasonal Variations of Trace Metal Chemical Forms in Bed Sediments of a Karstic River in Lebanon: Implications for Self-purification

Although Lebanon has abundant water, its rivers are polluted and aquifer water mismanaged. Effective river water usage requires an understanding of the geochemistry of polluting metals in catchments. Climate is “Mediterranean”: wet winters and dry summers. Active sediment flushing is restricted to winter high discharge episodes. Except in winter, water column pollutants are removed by precipitation or sorption to the surface of static bed sediments. Hence (1) does winter flushing of contaminated sediment and replacement by clean sediment favour self purification? (2) does the distribution of metals between extractable fractions change seasonally and thereby affect metal bioavailability ? Results on the distribution of metals are reported for Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd in bed sediments from Nahr Ibrahim (a karstic river) for summer and winter. A Tessier-like sequential extraction scheme was applied to samples (< 75 μm) for five locations along a 13 km stretch to the sea. Water pH was above 8.2 at all locations implying a very low solubility for Fe. Sediment was derived from catchment soils and limestone. Total sediment Fe increased in winter at all sites following deposition of eroded soil from upstream. Cadmium, Cu and Pb derived from polluting sources; the sources of Zn were more complex. Dilution by clean sediment explained winter reductions in total Cd, Cu and Pb; Zn changes were less consistent. Iron occurred mostly (> 77 sum of fractions) in the residual fraction compared with 6– 31 for pollutants; residual Cu and Zn showed a small increase in winter whereas Cd and Pb did not change. All readily exchangeable metals decreased in winter and the carbonate bound forms predominated in both seasons. Nahr Ibrahim has a high capacity for self purification and metal resolubilisation from sediment will be limited by the solubility of carbonate forms.     

Assessment of community noise problem in Greater Beirut Area,Lebanon

Over the last two decades, urban noise has been increasingrapidly, primarily in urban areas, due to population growthand the increase of certain noise sources. The main objectiveof this paper is to assess the sources and possible impactsof the community noise problems in Lebanese urban areas,particularly the Greater Beirut Area. The causes and effectsof community noise pollution are briefly presented. Soundpressure levels that were measured to define existing noiseexposure levels in various locations in the Greater BeirutArea are also presented. The attitudes toward noise pollutionand perceived annoyance impact on a sample of 1,038 exposedresidents are described. The association between measurednoise levels and sources, as well as annoyance, is examinedusing correlation analysis and linear and multiple linearregressions. A set of recommendations is presented to reducecommunity noise problem in Greater Beirut Area.     

Iowa Statewide Stream Nitrate Load Calculated Using In Situ Sensor Network

Various techniques exist to estimate stream nitrate loads when measured concentration data are sparse. The inherent uncertainty associated with load estimation, however, makes tracking progress toward water quality goals more difficult. We used high‐frequency, in situ nitrate sensors strategically deployed across the agricultural state of Iowa to evaluate 2016 stream concentrations at 60 sites and loads at 35 sites. The generated data, collected at an average of 225 days per site, show daily average nitrate‐N yields ranging from 12 to 198 g/ha, with annual yields as high as 53 kg/ha from the intensely drained Des Moines Lobe. Thirteen of the sites that capture water from 82.5% of Iowa's area show statewide nitrate‐N loading in 2016 totaled 477 million kg, or 41% of the load delivered to the Mississippi–Atchafalaya River Basin (MARB). Considering the substantial private and public investment being made to reduce nitrate loading in many states within the MARB, networks of continuous, in situ measurement devices as described here can inform efforts to track year‐to‐year changes in nitrate load related to weather and conservation implementation. Nitrate and other data from the sensor network described in this study are made publicly available in real time through the Iowa Water Quality Information System.     

Predictors of poor outcomes among patients of acute methanol intoxication with particular reference to Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Methanol intoxication is a global problem with serious morbidities and mortalities. Apart from the lifelong disabilities experienced by methanol...     

Investigation of thermal treatment on selective separation of post consumer plastics prior to froth flotation

Plastics have become the widely used materials because of their advantages, such as cheapness, endurance, lightness, and hygiene. However, they cause waste and soil pollution and they do not easily decompose. Many promising technologies are being investigated for separating mixed thermoplastics, but they are still uneconomical and unreliable. Depending on their surface characteristics, these plastics can be separated from each other by flotation method which is useful mineral processing technique with its low cost and simplicity.The main objective of this study is to investigate the flotation characteristics of PET and PVC and determine the effect of plasticizer reagents on efficient plastic separation. For that purpose, various parameters such as pH, plasticizer concentration, plasticizer type, conditioning temperature and thermal conditioning were investigated. As a result, PET particles were floated with 95.1% purity and 65.3% efficiency while PVC particles were obtained with 98.1% purity and 65.3% efficiency.     

Optimization of decolorization of palm oil mill effluent (POME) by growing cultures of Aspergillus fumigatus using response surface methodology

The conventional treatment process of palm oil mill effluent (POME) produces a highly colored effluent. Colored compounds in POME cause reduction in photosynthetic activities, produce carcinogenic by-products in drinking water, chelate with metal ions, and are toxic to aquatic biota. Thus, failure of conventional treatment methods to decolorize POME has become an important problem to be addressed as color has emerged as a critical water quality parameter for many countries such as Malaysia. Aspergillus fumigatus isolated from POME sludge was successfully grown in POME supplemented with glucose. Statistical optimization studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of the types and concentrations of carbon and nitrogen sources, pH, temperature, and size of the inoculum. Characterization of the fungus was performed using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Brunauer, Emmet, and Teller surface area analysis. Optimum conditions using response surface methods at pH 5.7, 35 °C, and 0.57 % w/v glucose with 2.5 % v/v inoculum size resulted in a successful removal of 71 % of the color (initial ADMI of 3,260); chemical oxygen demand, 71 %; ammoniacal nitrogen, 35 %; total polyphenolic compounds, 50 %; and lignin, 54 % after 5 days of treatment. The decolorization process was contributed mainly by biosorption involving pseudo-first-order kinetics. FTIR analysis revealed that the presence of hydroxyl, C–H alkane, amide carbonyl, nitro, and amine groups could combine intensively with the colored compounds in POME. This is the first reported work on the application of A. fumigatus for the decolorization of POME. The present investigation suggested that growing cultures of A. fumigatus has potential applications for the decolorization of POME through the biosorption and biodegradation processes.