Oil adsorbent produced by the carbonization of rice husks

In this study, rice husks considered to be agricultural waste are converted into an adsorbent intended for use in the disposal of oil spills. The raw and refined (defiberized) husks of Japanese Akita Komachi rice were pyrolyzed in a vacuum (500 Pa) at 300-800 degrees C. The amount of A-heavy and B-heavy oils adsorbed on the carbonized rice husk were then evaluated. Oil adsorption is dependent on the type of oil. Rice husks refined and then pyrolyzed at 600-700 degrees C (1.0 g) adsorbed >6.0 g of B-heavy oil and <1.5 g of water, which indicates their usefulness as an adsorbent for oil spill cleanup in Japan. The refining process contributes to an improvement in the oil adsorption capacity, while the carbonization time (at 600 degrees C) has only a minor influence. The residual fluid components in the carbonized rice husks, rather than their porosity, are closely related to oil adsorption capacity.     

Environmentally sustainable applications of agro-based spent mushroom substrate (SMS): an overview

Agricultural wastes such as lignocellulosic residues are renewable resources can be used for mushroom cultivation. Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is defined as leftover of biomass generated by commercial mushroom industries after harvesting period of mushroom. Mushroom cultivation using agricultural wastes promises a good quality of SMS for producing beneficial products such as animal feeding and fertilizers. Based on the published papers, the major applications of SMS are animal feedstock, fertilizer, energy production and wastewater treatment. For instance, some species of mushroom such as Pleurotus spp. and Agaricus bisporus are suitable for applications of ruminant feedstock and fertilizers. This paper reviews the recent studies about the beneficial usage of SMS which is considered as a waste since 2013.     

Ethyl mercury induces Ca2+ uptake through the P2×7 receptor in a mouse cerebellar microglia cell line

Many observations are reported that organic mercury compounds are involved in increasing intracellular Ca²⁺ levels. However, the issue of which substances on the cell membrane participate in the Ca²⁺ uptake that is induced by ethyl mercury is unclear. The findings of this study suggest that the P2X receptor participates in this process. The uptake of Ca²⁺ by C8-B4 cells was induced in the presence of ethyl mercury. Ca channels in the cell membrane were not affected in this process. In contrast, pretreatment with suramin, an antagonist of the P2X receptor, inhibited the Ca²⁺ uptake induced by ethyl mercury, and also brilliant blue G, a nonselective antagonist of P2×4, P2×5, and P2×7 receptors. In addition, A438079 and A740003, selective antagonists of P2×7 receptor, reduced Ca²⁺ uptake, while 5-BDBD, a selective antagonist of P2×4 receptor, did not. Furthermore, the mRNAs of both the P2×4 and P2×7 receptors were expressed in the presence of ethyl mercury, but the P2×5 receptor mRNA was not. These findings suggest that ethyl mercury may induce Ca²⁺ uptake through the P2×7 receptor of the cell membrane.     

北京市春季沙尘暴天气大气气溶胶污染特征研究

采集并分析了北京市2次尘暴天气和非沙尘量时大气气溶胶的污染水平极高，这种情况在北京市只有发生沙尘暴时间可能出；地表扬尘对大气气溶胶的贡献显著，显示出沙尘暴时污染特征。