Comparison of selected nutrients and bacteria from common contiguous soils inside and outside swine lagoon effluent spray fields after long-term use

Swine (Sus scofa domestica) lagoon effluent is a valuable resource. In the U.S. Mid-South it is applied from April to September to fertilize grass hay in spray-irrigated fields. Lagoon levels of nutrients and bacteria, and soil levels of nutrients have been documented, but little was known of effluent bacterial levels in soil. The present study examined levels of selected effluent bacteria and nutrients in soils inside and outside spray fields after >15 yr of effluent irrigation. Samples were collected February to March 2009 from contiguous soils spanning adjacent irrigated and nonirrigated areas. Separate soil cores for bacterial and nutrient tests were collected in pairs <10 cm apart. Five cores each were collected at 15-m intervals and combined, respectively, to comprise inside and outside samples from each of 20 soils (four each from five farms/spray fields). Analyses of data combined across all soils showed higher pH and Mehlich-3-extracrable (M3-) P, Mg, K, Na, Cu, and Zn inside than outside spray fields, while total N, total C, M3-Ca, and M3-Mn did not differ. Bacterial levels were higher inside than outside spray fields for heterotrophic plate counts, thermotolerant coliforms, Staphylococcus spp., and Clostridium perfringens, but levels of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. were not different. Cultural presence/absence tests for three pathogens (Listeria spp., Campylobacter spp., and Salmonella spp.) detected only Listeria spp., which did not differ inside (23% positive samples) and outside (28% positive). Molecular tests detected all three pathogens at low levels that were not different inside and outside. We found no evidence of cumulative buildup of Campylobacter spp., Listeria spp., or Salmonela s. in spray field soils.     

Effects of Filler Content and Compatibilizing Agents on Mechanical Behavior of the Particle-Reinforced Composites

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of filler content and two different compatibilizing agents (Eastman G-3003 and G-3216) on the mechanical properties of polypropylene reinforced with corn stalk and wood flour. In the sample preparation, three levels of filler loading (30, 40 and 50 wt%) and one level of compatibilizing agent content (2.5 wt%) were used. For overall trend, with addition of both grades of the compatibilizing agents, tensile and flexural properties of the composites significantly improved, as compared with the pure PP. Tensile and flexural properties reach a maximum at 40 wt% filler content and gradually decrease with a further increase in wood particle content. The composites treated with G-3003 gave better results in comparison with G-3216. This could be caused by the high melt viscosity of G-3003. In general, corn stalk flour filled composites showed superior mechanical properties.     

Study of the accumulation of contaminants by Cyperus alternifolius,Lemna minor,Eichhornia crassipes,and Canna × generalis in some contaminated aquatic environments

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Today, environmental pollution, especially heavy metal pollution, is known as a new and possibly more dangerous pollutant than other environmental...     

Spectrophotometeric determination of trace amounts of Al3+ ion in water samples after cloud point extraction using quinizarin as a complexing agent

In this study, cloud point extraction was used for the preconcentration of Al³⁺ ion after the complex formation with 1,4-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (Quinizarin [QUIN]), and subsequent analysis by spectrophotometeric method, using Triton X-114 as surfactant. The optimal extraction and reaction conditions were studied (i.e., pH?=?5.5, 0.1 mM QUIN, Triton X-114?=?0.1 % (w/v)), and the analytical characteristics of the method (e.g., limit of detection, linear range, preconcentration, and enrichment factors) were obtained. Linearity was obeyed in the range of 3.33–166.67 ng ml^?1 of Al³⁺ ion. The detection limit of the method was 2.09 ng ml^?1 for Al³⁺ ion. The interference effect of some anions and cations was also tested. The method was applied to determine Al³⁺ ion in water samples.     

Emission and life-cycle assessment of alternative-fuel buses: a case study of the Delaware Authority of Regional Transit

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 motivated transit agencies to utilize alternative-fuel transit buses in addition to their popular diesel buses. Transit agencies have planned to add a significant number of alternative-fuel buses to their current transit fleets. This study is to inform policy makers who may allocate public funds for alternative-fuel bus projects to make a smarter decision in this regard. For each of the eight alternative-fuel buses, technologies introduced by the ACT, fuel efficiency, life-cycle cost (LCC) and emission are estimated and compared with the available information for the ultralow-sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel buses. A case study in the State of Delaware is presented to demonstrate how the proposed approaches can be employed to evaluate the relative importance of the most viable alternative-fuel transit buses according to the predefined set of criteria. The results show that buses propelled by hybrid-diesel engine have the least LCC and emissions and are the most suitable alternative for the ULSD buses in the short- and midterm.     

Nutrients and bacteria in common contiguous Mississippi soils with and without broiler litter fertilization

In Mississippi, spent poultry litter is used as fertilizer. Nutrient and bacterial levels in litter and nutrient levels in litter-fertilized (L+) soil are known, but less is known of bacterial levels in L+ soil. This study compared contiguous L+ and non-litter-fertilized (L-) soils comprising 15 soil types on five farms in April through May 2009. Levels of pH; NO-N; and Mehlich-3-extractable (M3) and water-extractable (WE) P, Ca, K, and Cu were higher in L+ than in L- soil. Total C; total N; NH-N; and M3 and WE Na, Fe, and Zn did not differ in L+ and L- soil. Bacterial levels were higher in 0- to 5-cm than in 5- to 10-cm cores. Levels were higher in L+ than in L- soil for culturally determined heterotrophic plate counts and staphylococci and were lower for total bacteria estimated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of 16S rRNA, but cultural levels of thermotolerant coliforms, , , and enterococci were not different. Cultural presence/absence (CPA) tests and qPCR for spp., spp., and spp. detected only spp., which did not differ in L+ (CPA = 77% positive samples; mean qPCR = 0.65 log genomic units [gu] g) and L- (CPA = 70% positive samples; mean qPCR = 0 log gu g) soils. Litter applications were associated with higher levels of pH, P, Cu, heterotrophic plate counts, and staphylococci. Fecal indicator and enteric pathogen levels were not affected. We conclude that, although some litter-derived nutrients and bacteria persisted between growing seasons in L+ soils, enteric pathogens did not.     

Synthesis of vinasse-dolomite nanocomposite biochar via a novel developed functionalization method to recover phosphate as a potential fertilizer substitute

• Nanocomposites were prepared by adding dolomite to vinasse at different ratio. • Textural and morphological features of adsorbents were studied in detail. • CCD based RSM was used for investigation of P ion removal by nanocomposite. • The q_m based on Langmuir model for modified vinasse biochar was 178.57 mg/g. • P loaded nanocomposite improved plant growth and could be utilized as P-fertilizer. The effectiveness of phosphate (P) removal from aqueous solutions was investigated by novel low-cost biochars synthesized from vinasse and functionalized with calcined dolomite. The vinasse-derived biochar, synthesized via pyrolysis at different temperatures, showed easy preparation and a large surface area. The novel vinasse biochar nanocomposites were prepared by adding dolomite to the vinasse biochars with different weight percentages (10, 20 and 30%). The characteristics of the prepared materials were identified for further understanding of the inherent adsorption mechanism between P ions and vinasse biochars. Vinasse-dolomite nanocomposite was very effective in the adsorption of P species from aqueous media. The effect of the operational factors on Vinasse-dolomite nanocomposite was explored by applying response surface methodology (RSM). According to RSM results, the optimum condition was achieved to be contact time 90 (min), 250 (mg/L) of P concentration and pH 7. Thermodynamic isotherm and kinetic studies were applied on experimental data to understand the adsorption behavior. The Vinasse-dolomite nanocomposite revealed preferential P species adsorption in the presence of co-existing anions. The P species could be recovered by 1.0 M HCl where the efficiency was not affected up to the fifth cycle. The P-loaded Vinasse-dolomite nanocomposite was successfully tested on a plant; it significantly improved its growth and proved its potency as a P-based fertilizer substitute.     

Knowledge-based decision-making model for the management of transit system alternative fuel infrastructures

Energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable public transportation systems are within the solution space provided by alternative fuel vehicles. Given the large revenue service potential of alternative fuel buses within the urban space, they are good candidates for emissions reductions when they are employed as part of a comprehensive urban transit planning process. The determination of the most appropriate alternative fuel bus asset for a given application is not necessarily that straightforward. The typical bus fleet is developed over a broad time horizon with each asset being acquired to meet a certain agency need or to close a perceived gap in the delivery of public transportation service. Therefore, as new assets are considered, it is critical for the fleet manager to consider as many factors of the fleet infrastructure to better ensure the positive impact that the newly acquired asset will have on fleet performance relative to the overall service goals and objectives of the fleet. This study investigates a broad range of alternative fuel bus technologies and the associated factors that will inform the decision-making process. Further, this work utilizes the inventory and understanding of the range of technology factors and leverages the perspective knowledge of industry experts on each of these factors to develop an expert systems decision-making philosophy to aid in the adoption of industry standards, best practices, consistency and sustainability in fleet asset management over time.