Characterisation and evolution of a soil affected by olive oil mill wastewater disposal.

A location used for 10 years as an uncontrolled olive oil mill wastewater disposal site is studied in this work. Once it was closed the sedimented solid waste on the soil surface was removed. In order to evaluate the influence upon soil characteristics, morphological aspects and analytical parameters of a soil profile from the affected zone are compared to those of a control soil located near the landfill. The residual contamination levels in the underlying soil are determined. The results show that the wastewater infiltration in the soil has caused carbonate dissolution and redistribution and modifications in pH values, electrical conductivity, nutrient contents, phenolic compounds and biological activity of the horizons. Removal of waste, natural leaching and biological activity, in time, led to an effective decrease in electrical conductivity and phenolic compounds, although residual levels can be important even 2 years later.     

Nitrogen-alkalinity interactions in the highly polluted Scheldt basin (Belgium)

We present results of one year observations in highly heterotrophic and oxygen-depleted rivers of the polluted Scheldt basin. Monthly measurements revealed a high variability for dissolved inorganic carbon and nitrogen, with the following strong parallelism: highest alkalinity and NH4+ were associated with lowest NO3- and oxygen and vice-versa. In river water incubations, nitrification lowered the alkalinity whereas denitrification raised it; in an anoxic, NO3(-)-free incubation an increase of alkalinity was observed, partially due to ammonification. A stoichiometric analysis, taking into account the amount of protons produced or consumed by each process involving nitrogen, revealed that monthly variations of NO3- and NH4+ with ammonification, nitrification and denitrification could explain the 28 and 62% alkalinity variations at all stations, except one. The remaining part of the alkalinity variations was attributed to other anaerobic processes (Mn-, Fe- and SO4-reductions). This trend seems to be the result of the whole catchment metabolism (riverine waters and sediments, sewage networks and agricultural soils). The observed HCO3- concentrations in the Scheldt basin were 2-10 times higher than the representative concentrations reported in pristine basins and used in chemical weathering models. This suggests the existence of an anthropogenic source, originating from organic matter decomposition. We conclude that in highly polluted basins, nitrogen transformations strongly influence the acid-base properties of water.     

Solid biofuels in Mexico: a sustainable alternative to satisfy the increasing demand for heat and power

Bioenergy is the largest renewable energy source in Mexico with an estimated 4–9% of total current energy demand. There are large uncertainties and contrasting estimates regarding its current extent and end-uses, particularly with traditional uses. However, a large potential exists to improve the efficiency of existing uses and, at the same time, to diversify the use of SBF in the industrial and power sectors. This paper aims at: providing the first updated and comprehensive estimate of current SBF demand in Mexico including traditional and modern uses; providing a consistent estimate of actual SBF supply potential; estimating the total potential substitution of fossil fuels that could be achieved by SBF considering an integrated “modernization scenario”; and finally describing the main barriers limiting SBF to fully triggering its potential. Results show that current SBF consumption reached 481 PJ/yr in 2015; SBF supply potential reaches 3622 PJ/yr, out of which 883 PJ/yr could be used to substitute up to 29% of current demand of FF, mitigating 66 MtCO_2e/yr of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, or near 88 MtCO_2e/yr if mitigation from traditional uses is added.     

Rapid decolourization and mineralization of the azo dye C.I. Acid Red 14 by heterogeneous Fenton reaction

The decolourization and mineralization of a solution of an azo dye using a catalyst based on Fe(II) supported on Y Zeolite (Fe(II)-Y Zeolite) and adding hydrogen peroxide (heterogeneous Fenton process) have been studied. The catalyst was prepared by ion exchange, starting from a commercial ultra-stable Y Zeolite. All experiments were performed on a laboratory scale set-up. The effects of different parameters such as initial concentration of the dye, initial pH of the solution of the dye, H(2)O(2) concentration, temperature and ratio of amount of catalyst by amount of solution on the decolourization efficiency of the process were investigated. A percentage of colour removal of 99.3±0.2% and a mineralization degree of 84±5% of the solution of the dye were achieved in only 6 min of contact time between the catalyst and the solution, under the following conditions: initial concentration of the dye of 50 ppm, pH 5.96, 8.7 mM of H(2)O(2), T of 80°C and catalyst concentration of 15 g/L. Moreover, the catalyst Fe(II)-Y Zeolite can be easily filtered from the solution, does not leach any iron into the solution (avoiding any secondary contamination due to the metal) and its effectivity can be reproduced after consecutive experiments.     

Occurrence of phenolic compounds in the seed coat and the cotyledon of peas (Pisum sativum L.)

This work determined the phenolic composition of the seed coat and the cotyledon of two varieties of dark peas (Pisum sativum L), Fidelia and ZP-840, by HPLC-PAD and HPLC-MS. High concentrations of glycosides of quercetin, luteolin and apigenin were found in the seed coat of both varieties of peas. Minor concentrations of monomers and dimers of proanthocyanidins were identified. The cotyledon mainly contains hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic compounds and some of the flavone and flavonol glycosides found in the seed coat. Two conjugated compounds with malic acid, trans p-coumaroyl-malic acid and p-hydroxybenzoyl-malic acid were identified in the cotyledon and in the seed coat, and the stilbene trans-resveratrol-3-glucoside, only in the seed coat. These compounds had not been previously reported in peas. The results obtained allow an overview of the distribution of the phenolic compounds in the seeds of these varieties of peas, and contribute to the knowledge of the implications of these compounds in the dietary intake.     

Vitrification and further structural relaxation in the isothermal curing of an epoxy resin

Isothermal curing of an epoxy resin based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, using a hardener derived from phthalic anhydride, has been performed at curing temperatures between 30 and 130°C. Samples were cured isothermally at various intervals of time and analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the glass transition temperature T_g, and the conversion degree being determined by the residual enthalpy technique. The vitrification phenomenon and a further structural relaxation process, occurring at curing temperatures (T_c) lower than the maximum T_g (109°C), at which T_g equalizes T_c, have been studied at curing temperatures between 30 and 100°C. The structural relaxation process is analyzed by the endothermic peak that appears superposed on T_g in dynamic DSC scans. The area of this peak (Q) is a measure of the recovery enthalpy, and thus of the extent of the relaxation process. This process begins at higher curing times (t_c) when T_c decreases because the vitrification of the system starts later. Both the enthalpy recovery (Q) and the temperature of the endothermic peak (T_m) increase with the annealing time (t_a), calculated as the difference between t_c and the time in which vitrification occurs, and tend to have a limiting value due to the fact that the system loses mobility when the free volume decreases during its asymptotic approach toward the metastable equilibrium state. Furthermore, the dependence of Q and T_m on t_a at different T_c shows that the relaxation process in partially cured resins depends on the conversion degree of the system and consequently on the crosslinking density of the network.     

Carcinoma of Bellini's ducts: apropos of a case

OBJECTIVE: To report an additional case of collecting duct carcinoma of the kidney, known as carcinoma of Bellini. METHODS/RESULTS: A 65-year-old male patient was admitted for left renal pain. An ultrasound scan showed a solid right renal mass. The patient underwent extended radical nephrectomy. Pathological analysis of the surgical specimen disclosed carcinoma of Bellini. The patient is asymptomatic 18 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Carcinoma of Bellini is an uncommon tumor type arising from the collecting duct cells and accounts for 0.5%-2% of all renal tumors.     

SeDeM expert system a new innovator tool to develop pharmaceutical forms

Context: The SeDeM expert system is based on the experimental study and quantitative determination of the characterization parameters of powdered substances, the aim being to determine whether a substance is suitable for producing tablets by means of direct compression (DC) technology, thereby reducing the lead time for pre-formulation studies. Additionally, this expert system also provides formulations with a minimum number of excipients.

Objective: We used this system to analyze suitable formulas for the production of orodispersible ibuprofen tablets.

Method: Twenty-one disintegrants and ibuprophen were characterized using SeDeM methodology.

Results: The results indicated that production of ibuprofen tablets by DC would require improvements in the dimension and compressibility factors of the active pharmaceutical ingredient. The expert system analysis provided the specific percentage of disintegrant needed to blend with ibuprofen and a standardized formula of lubricants in order to obtain a powder mix that would successfully produce tablets by DC. The eight formulas proposed by SeDeM were produced and tested in the laboratory.

Conclusion: All eight formulas successfully produced tablets by DC, but only four of them could be considered suitable for use as an orodispersible tablet and accomplishes all the pharmaceutical quality parameters. So, in fact, the use of the SeDeM system reduced the time of medicine’s development and therefore the cost of the activity.