Use of fungi for the bioconversion of rice straw into cellulase enzyme

Cellulase production was carried out by solid state bioconversion (SSB) method using rice straw, a lignocellulosic material and agricultural waste, as the substrate of three Trichoderma spp. and Phanerochaete chrysosporium in lab-scale experiments. The results were compared to select the best fungi among them for the production of cellulase. Phanerochaete chrysosporium was found to be the best among these species of fungi, which produced the highest cellulase enzyme of 1.43 IU/mL of filter paper activity (FPase) and 2.40 IU/mL of carboxymethylcellulose activity (CMCase). The "glucosamine" and "reducing sugar" parameters were observed to evaluate the growth and substrate utilization in the experiments. In the case of Phanerochaete Chrysosporium, the highest glucosamine concentration was 1.60 g/L and a high concentration of the release of reducing sugar was measured as 2.58 g/L obtained on the 4th day of fermentation. The pH values were also recorded. The range of the pH was about 5.15 to 5.56 in the case of Phanerochaete Chrysosporium.     

Elimination des Zytostatikums Ifosfamid während der simulierten Zersetzung von Hausmüll im Labormaßstab

Drugs are emitted into the environment by hospitals, private households, veterinary and human practices. Remnants of these products are primarily disposed of in landfill sites. At the present, there is no information available about the behaviour of pharmaceutical drugs, like their anaerobic biodegradation or adsorption, in sanitary landfills. Some of these drugs, e.g. antineoplastic substances such as ifosfamide, are supposed to be cancerogenic, mutagenic, fetotoxic or embryotoxic. Therefore, we investigated the behaviour of ifosfamide during waste decomposition in a laboratory-scale lysimeter. Up to 50% of the ifosfamide was eliminated under methanogenic conditions; but the mechanism applying for the elimination remains unclear. As far as present day knowledge is concerned, the risk for the environment through the emission of emitting ifosfamide from sanitary landfills should be negligible.     

Separation and determination of trace levels of aromatic amines by HPLC

Aromatic amines were analysed by normal phase and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography employing silica gel and octadecyl silane (ODS) columns, respectively. A number of mobile phases were used. The results obtained on silica gel column were compared with those achieved on reverse phase column. Excellent results were obtained on ODS and shoulder peaks were eliminated when a mixture of methyl alcohol and sodium perchlorate was used as mobile phase.     

Nine years after the invasion of Kuwait: the impacts of the Iraqi left-over ordnance

The Iraqi regime occupied the State of Kuwait for seven months. During this period the Iraqi Armed Forces brought into Kuwait massive quantities of army materials. These included heavy military equipment, armoured vehicles, tanks, missiles, munitions and mines. The worst of these were the mines and munitions. During the first five years of liberation, casualties in Kuwait were high and they reached hundreds of cases of both civilians and military personnel. Since 1995, the number of casualties has dropped sharply, largely as a result of the clearing efforts, but casualties are still occurring. This paper describes the type, quantities and distribution of the ordnance within the Kuwaiti desert, together with the clearance efforts. Because of the particularly adverse impacts of land mine use, strict international measures are required to prevent them being made.     

Environmental sustainability in an agricultural development project: a system dynamics approach

Regional agricultural projects based on water resource development have many potential impacts on social and natural environments. In this research, potential long-term environmental problems of the Southeastern Anatolian Project (GAP) related to water resources, land use, land degradation, agricultural pollution and demography are analysed from a systems perspective. The analysis focuses on the totality of environmental, social and economic issues. For this purpose, a system dynamics simulation model (GAPSIM) has been developed as an experimental platform for policy analysis. GAPSIM was validated, first 'structurally', using the tests suggested by the literature and then the model 'behaviour' was tested and calibrated with respect to available data. The reference behaviour of GAPSIM reveals that, as the irrigated lands are developed, GAP faces significant water scarcity because of the increased intensity of cotton, the crop with the highest demands for water. Simulation results also indicate that two key environmental factors, pesticide and fertilizer consumption may reach undesirable levels. Alternative irrigation water release strategies, development rates of irrigated fields and farm rotation practices appear as important policy tools in achieving long-term environmental sustainability. GAPSIM promises to be not only a useful laboratory for policy makers of GAP, but also a useful generic structure applicable to other similar regional development projects.     

Transition to a low-CO2 emissions economy: China government policy for early-stage green finance

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The popularity of green economy as an innovative technique and financial mechanism has soared as a result of this exchange, the gross domestic product...     

Modeling factors of biogas technology adoption: a roadmap towards environmental sustainability and green revolution

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In a developing country such as Pakistan, adopting biogas technology is a complicated process. The government has taken several steps to address...     

Performance evaluation of using evacuated tubes solar collector,perforated fins,and pebbles in a solar still – experimental study and CO2 mitigation analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The combination of various methods of increasing evaporation rate can highly impact the performance of solar desalination. This investigation aims to...     

Energy transition determinants in the European Union: threshold effects

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The World Economic Forum (2018) has introduced a comprehensive proxy for the Energy Transition Index (ETI), which includes two main sub-indices; the...     

湖南古丈奥陶纪红石林地层特征与石灰岩沉积环境分析

湘西古丈红石林国家地质公园出露着奥陶系牯牛潭组红色石灰岩地层,含角石化石,被认为是海相红层.野外观察地层红色深浅与其层理/层次变化关系判断为近于同期形成,属原生色.水生化石存在红层中,前者反映水下缺氧条件,而红层指示着氧化环境,两种指示尖锐对立,意味着可能至少一方存在认识偏差.采样分析结果表明,赤铁矿和针铁矿是其中可以...