Effects of carbonate on the electrolytic removal of ammonia and urea from urine with thermally prepared IrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> electrodes

Recent studies have shown that electrolysis can be an efficient process for nitrogen removal from urine. These studies have been conducted with urea solutions or fresh urine, but urine collected in NoMix toilets and urinals has a substantially different composition, because bacteria hydrolyse urea quickly to ammonia and carbonate. In this study, we compared electrochemical removal of nitrogen from synthetic solutions of fresh and stored urine using IrO₂ anodes. We could show that in fresh urine both ammonia and urea are efficiently eliminated, mainly through chlorine-mediated oxidation. However, in stored urine the presence of carbonate, arising from urea hydrolysis, leads to an inhibition of ammonia oxidation. We suggest two parallel mechanisms to explain this effect: the competition between chloride and carbonate oxidation at the anode and the competition between chlorate formation, enhanced by the buffering effect of carbonate, and ammonia oxidation for the consumption of active chlorine in the bulk. However, further experiments are needed to support the latter mechanism. In conclusion, this study highlights the negative consequences of the presence of carbonate in urine solutions, but also in other wastewaters, when subjected to an electrolytic treatment on IrO₂ in alkaline media.     

New friction welding technology for joining tubes with lids

The article presents the results of research on the use of the new technology of friction welding with a non-wearing tool for welding pipe ends with lids. The pipes and lids were made of aluminium alloy EN AW 2017A, non-weldable by conventional methods. The aim of the study was to verify the possibility of welding the lid to the pipe using the FSW method as well as a new method with a tool with specially profiled friction surface. The article presents the results of structural tests and strength tests of the weld joints obtained using the new technique.     

Effect of muscle,ageing time and modified atmosphere packaging conditions on the colour,oxidative and microbiological stability of packed beef

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of two different vacuum ageing times (7 and 14 days) and the impact of the modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) configuration (gas/product ratios: 0.5 and 1 and gas composition: 70% O₂ + 30% CO₂ and 40% O₂ + 30% CO₂ + 30% N₂) on the quality of fresh beef during subsequent storage at 4 °C. For this purpose, three separate experiments were performed. For each experiment, two different muscles (Longissimus dorsi and Biceps femoris) were sampled from four double‐muscled Belgian Blue beef carcasses. Next to colour, also the evolution in microbial load, pH, O₂ and CO₂ in the headspace and lipid oxidation at the meat surface were evaluated. A vacuum ageing for 14 days compared with 7 days resulted in a higher initial microbial load on the day of MAP packaging, which resulted finally in a significantly shorter shelf life. This ageing effect was less pronounced on the colour stability and lipid oxidation of the meat samples. No significant influence of the packaging configuration on any of the analysed parameters (colour, microbial load, pH and lipid oxidation at the meat surface) was observed.     

Hydroxyl Functionalized Methacrylic Terpolymers as Supports for Mn(III) Salen Catalysts and Their Application in Asymmetric Epoxidation

Hydroxyl functionalized gel type resins derived from 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl and 2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl methacrylates were applied to covalent immobilization of Mn(salen) complexes via glutarate and carbonate linkers. The obtained catalysts were characterized by FTIR and DR UV–Vis methods and elemental analysis. It was found that the activity of polymeric catalysts obtained in this way depended on both the nature of the functional and cross-linking monomers and the degree of the cross-linking of polymer matrices and the way of complex immobilization. The highest activity was observed for the complexes immobilized on the HEMA resins cross-linked with 3%-mol of diethylene glycol dimethacrylate. For instance, in the presence of the catalysts with (S,S)-salen ligand S-epoxystyrene and (1S, 2R)-epoxyindene could be obtained with 46% and 69% ee, respectively. Attempts have also been made to recycle the selected catalyst. However, a rapid fall off in the activity was observed, although the selectivity was similar in which three cycles.     

A comprehensive meta-analysis on evidence of Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular disease: Are individual components equal?

Many studies have reported that higher adherence to Mediterranean diet may decrease cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality. We performed a meta-analysis to explore the association in prospective studies and randomized control trials (RCTs) between Mediterranean diet adherence and CVD incidence and mortality. The PubMed database was searched up to June 2014. A total of 17 studies were extracted and 11 qualified for the quantitative analysis. Individuals in the highest quantile of adherence to the diet had lower incidence [relative risk (RR): 0.76, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.68, 0.83] and mortality (RR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.83) from CVD compared to those least adherent. A significant reduction of risk was found also for coronary heart disease (CHD) (RR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.60, 0.86), myocardial infarction (MI) (RR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.54, 0.83), and stroke (RR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.96) incidence. Pooled analyses of individual components of the diet revealed that the protective effects of the diet appear to be most attributable to olive oil, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. An average reduced risk of 40% for the aforementioned outcomes has been retrieved when pooling results of RCTs. A Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with lower risks of CVD incidence and mortality, including CHD and MI. The relative effects of specific food groups should be further investigated.