Mobilization of arsenic and other naturally occurring contaminants in groundwater of the Main Ethiopian Rift aquifers

This study investigates the mechanisms of arsenic (As) and other naturally occurring contaminants (F⁻, U, V, B, and Mo) mobilization from Quaternary sedimentary aquifers of the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) and their enrichment in the local groundwater. The study is based on systematic measurements of major and trace elements as well as stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in groundwater, coupled with geochemical and mineralogical analyses of the aquifer rocks. The Rift Valley aquifer is composed of rhyolitic volcanics and Quaternary lacustrine sediments. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) results revealed that MER rhyolites (ash, tuff, pumice and ignimbrite) and sediments contain on average 72 wt. % and 65 wt. % SiO₂, respectively. Petrographic studies of the rhyolites indicate predominance of volcanic glass, sanidine, pyroxene, Fe-oxides and plagioclase. The As content in the lacustrine sediments (mean = 6.6 mg/kg) was higher than that of the rhyolites (mean: 2.5 mg/kg). The lacustrine aquifers of the Ziway-Shala basin in the northern part of MER were identified as high As risk zones, where mean As concentration in groundwater was 22.4 ± 33.5 (range of 0.60–190 μg/L) and 54% of samples had As above the WHO drinking water guideline value of 10 μg/L. Field As speciation measurements showed that most of the groundwater samples contain predominantly (∼80%) arsenate-As(V) over arsenite-As(III) species. The As speciation together with field data of redox potential (mean Eh = +73 ± 65 mV) and dissolved-O₂ (6.6 ± 2.2 mg/L) suggest that the aquifer is predominantly oxidative. Water-rock interactions, including the dissolution of volcanic glass produces groundwater with near-neutral to alkaline pH (range 6.9–8.9), predominance of Na–HCO₃ ions, and high concentration of SiO₂ (mean: 85.8 ± 11.3 mg/L). The groundwater data show high positive correlation of As with Na, HCO₃¯, U, B, V, and Mo (R² > 0.5; p < 0.001). Chemical modeling of the groundwater indicates that Fe-oxides and oxyhydroxides minerals were saturated in the groundwater, suggesting that the As reactivity is controlled by adsorption/desorption processes with these minerals. The data show that As and other oxyanion-forming elements such as U, B, Mo, and V had typically higher concentrations at pH > ∼8, reflecting the pH-dependence of their mobilization. Based on the geochemical and stable isotope variations we have established a conceptual model for the occurrence of naturally occurring contaminants in MER groundwater: 1) regional groundwater recharge from the Highland, along the Rift margins, followed by lateral flow and water–rock interactions with the aquifer rocks resulted in a gradual increase of the salinity and naturally occurring contaminants towards the center of the valley; and (2) local δ¹⁸O-rich lake water recharge into adjacent shallow aquifers, followed by additional mobilization of As and other oxyanion-forming elements from the aquifer rocks. We posit that the combined physical-chemical conditions of the aquifers such as oxidizing state, Na–HCO₃ composition, and pH>∼8 lead to enhanced mobilization of oxyanion-forming elements from Fe-oxides and consequently contamination of local groundwater. These geochemical conditions characterize groundwater resources along the Eastern African Rift and thus constitute a potential threat to the quality of groundwater in larger areas of Eastern Africa.     

Performance of wild Saccharomyces and Non-Saccharomyces yeasts as starter cultures in dough fermentation and bread making

The use of wild Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces yeasts might result in bread with different and attractive sensory characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces yeasts as starter culture in dough fermentation to bread making and the physicochemical parameters and aromatic profile of bread. All 26 wild yeasts strains isolated from Brazilian Cerrado fruit and tree bark were osmotolerant, and 19.4% were able to ferment maltose. Candida tropicalis ART101.3 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae SC5952 had the best growth capacity under high concentrations of glucose and maltose. Also, they were resistant to lyophilisation. Kinetic parameters of bioreactor cultivations showed high cell growth and lower generation time with 10 g L⁻¹ maltose. Bread produced with C. tropicalis ART101.3 and the control bread had similar physicochemical properties and acceptance of consumers. Bread with S. cerevisiae SC5951 had a lower specific volume and a different colour than control bread; however, the consumers found no significant difference. More than 70% of the consumers demonstrated purchase intention of bread produced with both wild yeasts. The present study shows the potential of native Cerrado yeasts to be used and exploited in industrial processes and contributes to the diversification of bread starter cultures.     

Residues of persistent organochlorine contaminants in southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) from Elephant Island, Antarctica

Contamination of blubber tissues by organochlorine pesticides (OC) and PCBs was assessed in female and male pups and juveniles, as well as in adult females and subdominant adult males of the Southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, from Elephant Island in the Antarctic Peninsula. All residues of persistent organochlorine contaminants analyzed were found in blubber samples, except for beta-HCH, endosulfan II, endrin, heptachlor, and aldrin. The relative concentrations of the analytes detected were sigmaDDT > sigmaPCB > sigmachlordane > mirex > dieldrin > HCB> sigmaendosulfan > methoxychlor > sigmaHCHs > other OC pesticides. OC and PCBs concentrations were 1 or 2 orders of magnitude lower than those found in pinnipeds from northern hemisphere. The ratio sigmaDDT/sigmaPCB was higher in southern elephant seals. The relative importance of some OC residues indicates that pesticides used either currently or in the recent past in countries in the southern hemisphere are the sources of contamination in the Antarctic region. Data showed that concentrations of contaminants generally increased from pups < juveniles < adults and suggested that pups accumulated contaminants through transfer from the mother seals via transplacental and lactational routes.     

Analysis of arsenic, lead and cadmium in wines from the Canary Islands, Spain, by ICP/MS.

Because of their high toxicity, arsenic, lead and cadmium need to be quantified in food and beverages. For the first time, in this study the content of arsenic, lead and cadmium was investigated in 152 wine samples from the Canary Islands, Spain, belonging to eight Denominations of Origin (DO) and four islands by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The ranges of concentration found were 0.58-8.45 microg l(-1) for arsenic, 0.20-1.73 microg l(-1) for cadmium and 3.89-159.5 microg l(-1) for lead, and the mean content was 3.13, 0.63 and 28.74 microg l(-1), respectively. None of the wines contained levels above the limits set by the International Office of Vine and Wine (OIV), and thus did not pose a health hazard. Significant differences in mean content of those elements between harvest, type of wine, islands and DO were observed.     

Technological Evaluation of Aqueous Enteric Coating Systems with and Without insoluble Additives

The most recent dispersible enteric polymers such as AQUATERIC, HPMCP HP 55 F, EUDRAGIT L 100 55 and cellulose acetate phthalate (micronized in our laboratory), were evaluated on two different physical and chemical substrates (soluble and insoluble). Four standard formulations were used with and without the most common solid additives such as talc and titanium dioxide.

A good distribution of all coatings was obtained on the both substrates previously studied.

The mechanical properties and the dissolution profile of gastric resistance showed clearly that the methacrylic copolymer-based product is a good alternative to esther celluloses manufactured with the most modern technologies.     

Formation of calcium plumbate: Kinetics and mechanism of reaction

In the presence of excess air the kinetics of reaction between CaO and PbO to form calcium plumbate are governed by the diffusion process described by Jander's kinetic model. The energy of activation of the process, as calculated from the Arrhenius equation, is 50 kcal/mol. In an air and nitrogen atmosphere (ratio 1:16) the reaction rate is 4–5 times slower. It has been shown that formation of calcium plumbate from pure CaO and PbO takes place between 600–800° without formation of intermediate compounds. From the results obtained it is deduced that the mechanism of formation consists of two main stages–diffusion between the CaO and PbO, substantially due to the more diffusible PbO, and chemical reaction in the presence of O₂.     

Gangliosides from rat cerebellum: Demonstration of considerable heterogeneity using a new solvent for thin layer chromatography

Using a new solvent (methyl acetate/n-propanol/chloroform/methanol/0.25% aqueous KCl, 25∶20∶20∶20∶17, v/v) and high performance silica gel thin layer chromatographic plates, all common gangliosides found in brain can be easily separated with 1 hr. This system is reproducible and “tailing” is negligible compared with previous solvents. When such a system is applied to separate the gangliosides found during the development of the rat cerebellum, a considerable heterogeneity is observed. Data are presented (using rechromatography experiments, fractionation on DEAE-Sephadex, treatment with neuraminidase or alkaline medium and carbohydrate analysis) suggesting that the complex profiles obtained with this chromatographic system are not due to chromatographic artifacts but result from the high resolving power of the system. After separation by ion-exchange chromatography, 28 gangliosides can be detected.     

Magnetic nanowires generated via the waterborne desalting transition pathway

We report a simple and versatile waterborne synthesis of magnetic nanowires following the innovative concept of electrostatic "desalting transition". Highly persistent superparamagnetic nanowires are generated from the controlled assembly of oppositely charged nanoparticles and commercially available polyelectrolytes. The wires have diameters around 200 nm and lengths between 1 μm and 0.5 mm, with either positive or negative charges on their surface. Beyond, we show that this soft-chemistry assembly approach is a general phenomenon independent of the feature of the macromolecular building blocks, opening significant perspectives for the design of multifunctional materials.     

Zinc impregnation of the anodic oxidation layer of 1050 and 2024 aluminium alloys

The porous oxide layer obtained by phosphoric anodic oxidation (PAO) of 1050 and 2024T3 aluminium alloys is modified by impregnation with zinc under alternating voltage. The resulting current against applied voltage relationship shows that a threshold voltage is required to deposit the zinc. Beyond a low critical voltage, V _{c L}, zinc electrocrystallization starts near the barrier layer and grows with time through the porous oxide layer whatever the alloy used as substrate. For the 2024T3 alloy, beyond a high critical voltage V _{c H}, S.I.M.S. analysis shows that zinc is also present on top of the oxide layer. The distribution of zinc particles depends on the porous layer morphology: formation of zinc needles in a columnar form (1050 alloy) and dispersion of zinc particles in a disorganized structure (2024T3 alloy). The polarization curves obtained in a 3 wt % NaCl solution show a decrease in anodic and cathodic currents indicating a protective effect of zinc impregnation, confirmed by electrochemical impedance analysis.