Study of two approaches for the process water management from hydrothermal carbonization of swine manure: Anaerobic treatment and nutrient recovery.

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising alternative to transform biomass waste into a solid carbonaceous material (hydrochar) and a process water with potential for material and energy recovery. In this study, two alternatives for process water treatment by conventional and acid-assisted HTC of swine manure are discussed. Process water from conventional HTC at 180 °C showed high biodegradability (55% COD removal) and methane production (∼290 mL STP CH4 g-1 CODadded) and the treatment in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor allowed obtaining a high methane production yield (1.3 L CH4 L-1 d-1) and COD removal (∼70%). The analysis of the microbiota showed a high concentration of Synergistota and Firmicutes phyla, with high degradation of organic nitrogen-containing organic compounds. Acid-assisted HTC proved to be a viable option for nutrient recovery (migration of 83% of the P to the process water), which allowed obtaining a solid salt by chemical precipitation with Mg(OH)2 (NPK of 4/4/0.4) and MgCl2 (NPK 8/17/0.5), with a negligible content of heavy metals. The characteristics of the precipitated solid complied with the requirements of European Regulation (2019)/1009 for fertilizers and amendments in agricultural soils, being a suitable alternative for the recycling of nutrients from wastes.

High-dose cyclophosphamide versus cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-FU, and hydroxyurea (CMFH) in the treatment of stage III non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma: a randomized trial.

Fifty-eight patients with non-small cell carcinoma of the lung (33 with epidermoid carcinoma, 22 with adenocarcinoma, and three with large cell anaplastic carcinoma) were treated with high-dose cyclophosphamide (CTX) or, alternatively, with CTX, methotrexate, 5-FU, and hydroxyurea (CMFH) in a controlled study. Two partial remissions were achieved (one in each regimen [13%]. Seventeen of 29 patients treated with CTX and 14 of 29 patients treated with CMFH showed no change (differences were not statistically significant). Toxicity was moderate in both regimens. Median survival was 24 weeks for patients treated with CTX and 26 weeks for patients treated with CMFH (differences were not significant). The results show that the therapeutic activity of CMFH is not higher than that of CTX alone.