Preparation and Characterization of Cellulose/Polypropylene Composite Using an Oxidatively Degraded Polypropylene

In this work, an oxidatively degraded polypropylene (DgPP) was studied as a novel coupling agent for fibrous cellulose (FC)/polypropylene (PP) composite. An optimal preparation time of PP thermal oxidative degradation was 18 h at 130 °C, and the DgPP had functional groups such as γ-lactone and acid groups. The spherulite observation of the DgPP suggested miscibility for the undegraded PP. The addition of the DgPP presented the transparency improvement of FC/PP composite, and this behavior was found to be originated from the grafted DgPP, which was produced by the esterification reaction between the of FC and the DgPP. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation showed that the grafted DgPP coated the FC surface, and the tensile strength of the FC/PP composite increased by an appropriate amount of the DgPP addition. These results suggested that the DgPP was suitable for the coupling agent of FC/PP composite.     

Carbon stocks and losses to deforestation in protected areas in Brazilian Amazonia

Regional Environmental Change - By 2014 approximately 2.2 million km2 (~43%) of Brazil’s Legal Amazonia region had been incorporated into an extensive network of 718 protected areas, which...     

Solventless Delignification of Wood Flour with TiO2/poly(ethylene oxide) Photocatalyst System

A novel solventless delignification of a defatted Picea glehnii wood flour sample was performed using a TiO₂/polyethylene oxide (PEO) photocatalyst system. A cell wall structure of the wood flour was directly observed, showing that its lignin fraction was removed by the photodegradation. The total lignin amount was slightly decreased as compared with that of the pristine sample, and the vanillin formation was confirmed by the ¹H-NMR measurement. The TiO₂ worked as a radical initiator, and simultaneously acid and aldehyde compounds produced by the PEO photolysis did as an accelerator for the solventless delignification. Although the photocatalyst system showed high delignification activity even for a low molecular lignin model, the delignification of the wood flour sample was confined to the surface. It was found that the suppressed delignification behavior was due to crosslinked structure of lignin.     

Photocatalytic removal of fenitrothion in pure and natural waters by photo-Fenton reaction

The photocatalytic removal kinetics of fenitrothion at a concentration of 0.5mgl(-1) in pure and natural waters were investigated in Fe(III)/H2O2/UV-Vis, Fe(III)/UV-Vis and H2O2/UV-Vis oxidation systems, with respect to decreases in fenitrothion concentrations with irradiation time using a solar simulator. Fenitrothion concentrations were determined by HPLC analysis. Furthermore, total mineralization of fenitrothion in these systems was evaluated by monitoring the decreases in DOC concentrations with solar simulator irradiation time by TOC analysis. It was shown that the degradation rate of fenitrothion was much faster in the Fe(III)/H2O2/UV-Vis system than the Fe(III)/UV-Vis and H2O2/UV-Vis systems in both pure and river waters. Consequently, the mineralization rate of fenitrothion was much faster in the Fe(III)/H2O2/UV-Vis system than in the other two systems. The high *OH generation rate measured in the Fe(III)/H2O2/UV-Vis system was the key to faster degradation of fenitrothion. Increases in the concentrations of H2O2 and Fe led to better final degradation of fenitrothion. These results suggest that the photo-Fenton reaction (Fe(III)/H2O2/UV-Vis) system is likely to be an effective method for removing fenitrothion from contaminated natural waters.     

Phytotoxicities of fluoranthene and phenanthrene deposited on needle surfaces of the evergreen conifer, Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been widely studied with respect to their carcinogenic and mutagenic effects on animals and human cells. Phenanthrene (PHE) and fluoranthene (FLU) effects on the needle photosynthetic traits of 2-year-old Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et. Zucc.) seedlings were investigated. Three months after fumigation of foliage with solutions containing these PAHs (10 microM each), FLU had negative effects on net photosynthesis at near-saturating irradiance, stomatal conductance, initial chlorophyll fluorescence, and the contents of total chlorophyll, magnesium, and ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (rubisco) of current-year needles. PHE had similar negative effects to FLU but in lesser magnitude. The effects of the PAHs were mitigated by the addition of an OH-radical scavenger (mannitol) into the PAH solutions. PAHs deposited on the surface of pine needles may induce the generation of reactive oxygen species in the photosynthetic apparatus, a manner closely resembling the action of the herbicide paraquat.     

Development of a Practical Method to Detect Noroviruses Contamination in Composite Meals

Various methods to detect foodborne viruses including norovirus (NoV) in contaminated food have been developed. However, a practical method suitable for routine examination that can be applied for the detection of NoVs in oily, fatty, or emulsive food has not been established. In this study, we developed a new extraction and concentration method for detecting NoVs in contaminated composite meals. We spiked NoV-GI.4 or -GII.4 stool suspension into potato salad and stir-fried noodles. The food samples were suspended in homogenizing buffer and centrifuged to obtain a food emulsion. Then, anti-NoV-GI.4 or anti-NoV-GII.4 rabbit serum raised against recombinant virus-like particles or commercially available human gamma globulin and Staphylococcus aureus fixed with formalin as a source of protein A were added to the food emulsion. NoV-IgG-protein A-containing bacterial complexes were collected by centrifugation, and viral RNA was extracted. The detection limits of NoV RNA were 10–35 copies/g food for spiked NoVs in potato salad and stir-fried noodles. Human gamma globulin could also concentrate other NoV genotypes as well as other foodborne viruses, including sapovirus, hepatitis A virus, and adenovirus. This newly developed method can be used as to identify NoV contamination in composite foods and is also possibly applicable to other foodborne viruses.     

The quality of Albanian natural waters and the human impact

Albania possesses a wealth of aquatic ecosystems, many of enormous natural and biological value, such as the Lakes Ohrid, Prespa and Shkodra, glacial lakes, river valleys, and coastal lagoons. Although many habitats are highly polluted by inorganic and organic wastes, detailed knowledge on the water quality is still lacking. For the first time, an environmental assessment of the water quality is presented and the main polluting sources identified. As a consequence, a systematic control and the establishment of routine monitoring of surface and groundwater is proposed, which elucidates the present environmental state and helps to develop new strategies of waste and wastewater management. It would help allow Albania to reach an international standard in environmental protection, as a part of UNECE Convention, the Mediterranean Action Plan, the MAP/UNEP Medpol Program and the Basel Convention.