Inhibition of acid rock drainage from uranium ore waste using a conventional neutralization and precipitation treatment

Glass columns (length 50 cm, i.d. 4 cm) containing 900 g of uranium ore waste were subjected to a three-step process: (1) acid drainage generation, (2) neutralization and precipitation treatment and, again, (3) acid drainage generation. In the first acid generation step, lasting about one year, different variables (pyrite addition, inoculation and irrigation solution) were tested by measuring effluent pH, redox potential, total iron and sulphate. Conditions of acid generation were satisfactorily reproduced, reaching stable pH values around 2.0 that were determined mainly by pyrite addition and the type of irrigation solution used (distilled water or ferrous sulphate). The neutralization and precipitation treatment consisted of alternating irrigations of a neutralizing solution (CaO saturated plus NaOH) and a precipitating solution (ferric sulphate saturated). This treatment caused accumulation of basic iron sulphate and iron oxide precipitates according to SEM studies. After this treatment, the barrier effect created by the reaction products was checked, using irrigation solutions similar to the first step. The effluents collected showed higher pH and lower redox potential, total iron and sulphate values than those observed before the treatment, evidencing inhibition of acid drainage generation.     

Chemical composition and biological quality of defatted hazelnut flour

The results of the chemical composition and biological quality of deffated hazel nut flour are shown. The samples analyzed contained significant amounts of proteins (19%) comparable to legume flour, higher than cereals and lower than deffated oleaginous flours. The oil extracted from the seed was analyzed and the average results obtained were the following: Refraction index, 1.47; saponification No. 184.8; iodine No. 85.0. The average composition of the fatty acids obtained by gas liquid chromatography was: Palmitic acid 2.3% Palmitoleic acid 37.0% Stearic acid 0.5% Oleic acid 39.5% Linoleic acid 6.9% Linolenic acid 1.1% Eicosanoic acid 2.3% Eicosaenoic acid 4.6% Docosenoic acid 3.4% Tetraeicosanoic acid 0.3% These results indicate a good-quality oil due to the low content of linolenic acid. The nutritive value of the deffated meal measured in the rats gave a net protein ratio (NPR) of 3.58, lower than the corresponding casein value (4.10). The true protein digestibility measured in the rat gave a value of 7.3%, compared to 95% for casein. The amounts of iron and phosphorous are comparatively lower than those reported for rape-seed meal and sunflower meal.     

Allelopathic potential ofErica vagans,calluna vulgaris,andDaboecia cantabrica

In laboratory tests the allelopathic potential ofErica vagans, Calluna vulgaris, andDaboecia cantabrica was determined. Aqueous extracts of flowers ofD. cantabrica and leaves ofC. vulgaris inhibit root and hypocotyl growth of red clover, the former causing 51% inhibition of germination. Intact aerial parts of the Ericaceae here studied drastically reduced the growth of red clover and 100% inhibition of germination was caused by flowers ofD. cantabrica. Inhibition of aqueous extracts remains after Chromatographic separation, and two well-defined inhibition zones may be observed. Hydrosoluble organic compounds (phenol-like compounds) could probably be responsible for the inhibitions detected.     

Pasture mapping by classification of Landsat TM images. Analysis of the spectral behaviour of the pasture class in a real medium-scale environment: The case of the Piracicaba Catchment (12 400 km 2, Brazil)

Attempts to map vegetation types, especially pasture, from satellite sensor data in tropical and sub-tropical regions very often have limited success. This study analyses the accuracy of two classifications of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM), with the aim of distinguishing the pastures from other vegetation classes in a meso-scale basin (12 400 km 2, Piracicaba basin, Brazil). The initial classification is based on non-supervised clustering of the images. The delimited classes are interpreted and merged by comparison with standard spectra from NASA. The second classification is a parallelepiped partition based on the merged clusters issued from the first one. The two classifications are compared by validation with 287 random field observations selected within the whole catchment. The results are discussed, analysing the spectral behaviour variability of the pasture class.     

Formation and Emission of Submicron Particles in Pulverized Olive Residue (Orujillo) Combustion

The particle formation and emission in the combustion of pulverized olive residue (orujillo) is studied in this work. The fuel has been burned in controlled combustion conditions in an entrained flow reactor. A bimodal distribution with mode peaks at 155 nm and 110 μm is found for fly ashes. Coarse particles have been characterized by laser diffractometry and SEM, while fines have been analyzed by low-pressure impaction, DMA, SEM, and X-ray diffraction. Particles with Dp < 1 μm are composed of only K₂SO₄ and KCl in the same mass proportion, and possibly K₃PO₄ (less than 7% in mass). The use of a new particle sampling probe and a TEM allowed a detailed study of the formation of these particles when flue gases cool down. K₂SO₄ is experimentally found to start nucleation over 900°C, while KCl is not observed at this temperature. Condensation of KCl on these nuclei is observed in a sample taken at 560°C. These “formation steps” are in good agreement with both theoretical calculations by other authors and a simple equilibrium schema shown here.     

Hierarchical virtual screening for the discovery of new molecular scaffolds in antibacterial hit identification

One of the initial steps of modern drug discovery is the identification of small organic molecules able to inhibit a target macromolecule of therapeutic interest. A small proportion of these hits are further developed into lead compounds, which in turn may ultimately lead to a marketed drug. A commonly used screening protocol used for this task is high-throughput screening (HTS). However, the performance of HTS against antibacterial targets has generally been unsatisfactory, with high costs and low rates of hit identification. Here, we present a novel computational methodology that is able to identify a high proportion of structurally diverse inhibitors by searching unusually large molecular databases in a time-, cost- and resource-efficient manner. This virtual screening methodology was tested prospectively on two versions of an antibacterial target (type II dehydroquinase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Streptomyces coelicolor), for which HTS has not provided satisfactory results and consequently practically all known inhibitors are derivatives of the same core scaffold. Overall, our protocols identified 100 new inhibitors, with calculated K_i ranging from 4 to 250 μM (confirmed hit rates are 60% and 62% against each version of the target). Most importantly, over 50 new active molecular scaffolds were discovered that underscore the benefits that a wide application of prospectively validated in silico screening tools is likely to bring to antibacterial hit identification.     

Leaching of chalcopyrite with ferric ion. Part II: Effect of redox potential

This paper reports the effect of redox potential (or Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ ratio) on chalcopyrite leaching. The relationship between redox potential and other variables (iron concentration and temperature) is also evaluated. Leaching tests were performed in stirred Erlenmeyer flasks with 0.5 g of pure chalcopyrite and 100 mL of a Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ sulphate solution. The redox potential ranged between 300 and 600 mV Ag/AgCl for the solution at a pH 1.8, 180 rpm, with temperatures at 35 °C or 68 °C. The results show that although ferric ion is responsible for the oxidation of chalcopyrite, ferrous ion has an important role in that it controls precipitation and nucleation of jarosites, which ultimately causes passivation of this sulphide. Chalcopyrite dissolves through the formation of an intermediary product (covellite, CuS) that is later oxidized by ferric ion, releasing Cu²⁺ ions.     

The settling of metallic lead from lead blast furnace slag

As a consequence of inadequate working methods, excessive losses of lead can occur in the slags of lead blast furnaces. The settling of metallic lead from a slag containing 20.5 pct SiO₂, 33.4 pct FeO, 16.8 pct CaO, 12.4 pct ZnO, 0.9 pct S, and 6.1 pct Pb has been studied as a function of the temperature (1200 to 1300 °C), composition (addition of CaO, ZnO, and Fe), and time (up to 2 hours). Under these conditions sufficient, although not total, sedimentation of the metal retained is achieved. The best conditions were obtained at 1260 °C with no modification to the composition of the slag. The settled lead was visible macroscopically in a section of the lower part of the melts.     

Some considerations about bioethanol combustion in oil-fired boilers

The combustion of bioethanol in boilers has been analyzed and compared with conventional liquid fuels. The study includes an experimental evaluation of combustion performance as well as the estimation of the impact of replacing gasoil by ethanol on the thermal efficiency of an industrial boiler.Several works have been dedicated to the study of fuel substitution in internal combustion engines, being the use of gasoil-bioethanol blends in engines a common practice. However, very few studies have addressed the characterization of switching of conventional liquid fuels by bioethanol in boilers.Combustion tests demonstrate significant differences between bioethanol and gasoil flames. Soot, NO_x and SO₂ emissions are significantly lower with ethanol, whereas this fuel can produce higher amounts of CO than gasoil if the burner is not properly adapted. The experimental tests have demonstrated that both the burner and boiler operation should be readjusted or modified as a result of the change of fuel in industrial boilers. If thermal input is to be kept constant, nozzles of larger capacities must be used and the air feeding rate needs to be significantly modified. Also, the flame detector may have to be replaced and the fuel feeding system should be revised due to the enhanced tendency of ethanol to cavitation. Using the same thermal input may not guarantee keeping the same steam production, but some parameters of boiler operation should be modified in order to avoid reductions in the capacity of the boiler when switching from gasoil to bioethanol, such as gas recirculation fraction, steam cooling systems and percentage of oxygen in the exhaust gases.The feasibility of burning bioethanol in gasoil boilers has been analyzed, and the results confirm that fuel switching is technically possible and offers some advantages in terms of pollutants reduction.     

Hedgehog Signalling Modulates Immune Response and Protects against Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is essential for the embryonic development and homeostatic maintenance of many adult tissues and organs. It has also been associated with some functions of the innate and adaptive immune system. However, its involvement in the immune response has not been well determined. Here we study the role of Hh signalling in the modulation of the immune response by using the Ptch-1-LacZ^+/− mouse model (hereinafter referred to as ptch^+/−), in which the hemizygous inactivation of Patched-1, the Hh receptor gene, causes the constitutive activation of Hh response genes. The in vitro TCR stimulation of spleen and lymph node (LN) T cells showed increased levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) in ptch^+/−cells compared to control cells from wild-type (wt) littermates, suggesting that the Th2 phenotype is favoured by Hh pathway activation. In addition, CD4⁺ cells secreted less IL-17, and the establishment of the Th1 phenotype was impaired in ptch^+/− mice. Consistently, in response to an inflammatory challenge by the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), ptch^+/− mice showed milder clinical scores and more minor spinal cord damage than wt mice. These results demonstrate a role for the Hh/ptch pathway in immune response modulation and highlight the usefulness of the ptch^+/− mouse model for the study of T-cell-mediated diseases and for the search for new therapeutic strategies in inflammatory diseases.