Efficient bioremediation of indigo-dye contaminated textile wastewater using native microorganisms and combined bioaugmentation-biostimulation techniques.

In this work, the bioremediation of wastewater from the textile industry with indigo dye content was carried out using combined bioaugmentation, bioventilation, and biostimulation techniques. Initially, the inoculum was prepared by isolating the microorganisms from the textile wastewater in a 2 L bioreactor. Then, the respirometry technique was implemented to determine the affinity of the microorganisms and the substrate by measuring CO2 and allowed the formulation of an empirical mathematical model for the growth kinetics of the microorganism. Finally, the bioremediation was carried out in a 3 L bioreactor obtaining an indigo dye removal efficiency of 20.7 ± 1.2%, 24.0 ± 1.5%, and 29.7 ± 1.1% for equivalent wavelengths of 436 nm, 525 nm, and 620 nm. The chemical oxygen demand showed an average reduction of 88.9 ± 2.5%, going from 470.7 ± 15.6 to 52.3 ± 10.7 ppm after 30 days under constant agitation and aeration. A negative generalized exponential model was fitted to assess the affinity of the microorganism with the wastewater as a substrate by evaluating the production of CO2 during the bioremediation. Bioremediation techniques improve water discharge parameters compared to chemical treatments implemented in the industry, reducing the use of substances that can generate secondary pollution. Bioaugmentation, biostimulation, and bioventing of the textile wastewater in this study demonstrate the potential of these combined techniques to serve as an efficient alternative for indigo-contaminated wastewater in the textile industry.

Feasibility of Forward Osmosis to Recover Textile Dyes Using Single Salts and Multicomponent Draw Solutions.

The textile industry generates large volumes of water characterized mainly by an intense color coming from dyes that are difficult to process due to their synthetic base and the presence of aromatic components. Due to the stricter regulation on the discharge of these effluents, in order to reduce dye waste before discharge into natural channels, alternatives are being sought to manage this wastewater. In this work, the concentration of dyes in simulated wastewater from the textile industry was studied by forward osmosis (with a cellulose triacetate CTA membrane), with the aim of concentrating the dye for its future recovery and reincorporation into the production process. Two dyes of different nature were evaluated to study the efficiency of the proposed process, using NaCl and reverse osmosis brine from a model seawater desalination solution as extraction solutions. It was observed that dye type (reactive or direct) and their charge influence the color rejection with the forward osmosis membrane used. It was able to concentrate the dyes in the feed solution up to approximately 55% with the reverse osmosis brine from the model seawater desalination solution. Finally, the results demonstrate that the FO process is a promising option for concentrating dyes present in wastewater from the textile industry in order to reuse them in the dyeing process.

Nitrogen recovery from sludge centrate by membrane contactor: Influence of operating parameters and cleaning conditions.

In urban wastewater treatment, the sludge generated is treated by anaerobic digestion, to be subsequently dehydrated by centrifuges. Currently, the liquid fraction obtained in this dehydration process is recirculated at the head of the treatment plant. However, its high nitrogen and phosphorus content makes it an effluent with high added value. The recovery of these nutrients could be an excellent alternative for the production of fertilizers or other industrial applications. In this study, the use of a liquid-liquid phase membrane contactor is presented as a favorable solution for the recovery of ammoniacal nitrogen from sludge centrated. The polypropylene hollow fiber membrane was evaluated considering its ammonia removal and recovery capacity. For this, different parameters were evaluated: the influence of the type and concentration of the acid solution, the wastewater pH, the flow rates of feeding and the acid stripping solution, and the contact time. Results showed that with a contact time of 65 min, ammonia removal and recovery percentages of the order of 90% were achieved. The flow rates of the stripping and feed solutions together with the acid concentration did not have a significant influence on the removal but on the recovery. Concerning used acid, sulphuric and phosphoric acid solutions achieved better results than nitric acid solution. The most critical parameter was the pH, obtaining the highest removal and recovery of ammonium at the highest pH. Finally, a stable cleaning protocol was obtained, between preventive and moderate cleanings to avoid severe cleanings, keeping the membrane at its maximum capacity.

Analysis of the Heterogeneous Distribution of Amiloride and Propranolol in Dried Blood Spot by UHPLC-FLD and MALDI-IMS.

Dried blood spot (DBS) has lately experienced an increase in its use in bioanalysis due to its several advantages compared with traditional blood sampling methods. Nevertheless, the use of DBS with quantitative purposes is hindered by the heterogeneous distribution of some compounds in the supporting matrix and the dependence of the response on different factors, such as the hematocrit, blood volume, and sampling position. In this study the effect of those factors in the analytical response was investigated by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to fluorescence detection, using amiloride and propranolol as model compounds. The results showed a heterogeneous and drug-dependent distribution of the compounds in the blood spot. While amiloride concentration was higher in the center, propranolol concentration was higher in the periphery of the spot. Besides, the influence of the hematocrit on the quantitative results was observed. MALDI mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-IMS) has allowed study of the distribution of the two cardiovascular drugs when they were placed in the DBS card using water:methanol solutions, demonstrating that they followed a similar distribution pattern as in blood. This work has showed the potentiality of the MALDI-IMS technique to predict the distribution of the drugs in the DBS card.

Chromatographic methods for echinocandin antifungal drugs determination in bioanalysis.

The increase of fungal resistance to drugs, such as azole family, gave rise to the development of new antifungals. In this context, echinocandins emerged as a promising alternative for antifungal therapies. Following the commercialization of caspofungin in 2001, echinocandins became the first-line therapy for invasive candidiasis in different patient populations. The quantification of these drugs has gained importance since pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic and resistance studies are a paramount concern. This fact has led us to exhaustively examine the methodologies used for the analysis of echinocandins in biological fluids, which are mainly based on LC coupled to different detection techniques. In this review, we summarize the analytical methods for the quantification of echinocandins focusing on sample treatment, chromatographic separation and detection methods.

Study of the behaviour of different NF membranes for the reclamation of a secondary textile effluent in rinsing processes.

More demanding legal regulations for the wastewater disposal and water scarcity make necessary wastewater reuse in the industry. In particular, textile industry generates large amounts of wastewater with a high concentration of pollutants. Even though present biological or physical-chemical treatments are broadly in place, the quality of the final effluent is not good enough to allow its direct reuse. Consequently, a complementary membrane process is required in order to improve wastewater characteristics. In this work, six NF membranes were tested at different volume concentration factors in order to select the most appropriate one. The main studied criteria were the permeate quality for its reuse in the textile processes and the minimum membrane fouling effect. The different results obtained for the tested membranes were explained by membrane characterization parameters as contact angle, roughness and size exclusion. Taking these factors into consideration, TFC-SR2 has shown the overall best results because of the high permeate flux and the minimum fouling (in terms of the normalised flux reduction).

Repercusión de un programa de mejora continúa en los registros de enfermería / Impact of the continuous improvement program in the clinical nursing records

Los registros presentes en las hojas de enfermería; son el soporte de los cuidados que la enfermera brinda a cada uno de los pacientes que le son asignados en su jornada laboral, además de ser un elemento importante en la continuidad y toma de decisiones para la gestión del cuidado; por lo tanto deben cubrir ciertos requisitos que favorezcan la permanencia y seguridad del cuidado.

Utilizacion de un diagrama de flujo para la seleccion de candidatos a trasplante de higado / Utilization of a flow chart for selection of candidates to liver transplantation

Introducción: el trasplante hepático en este momento es el tratamiento de elección para pacientes con enfermedad hepática avanzada. Se ha calculado en investigaciones de otros grupos a escala mundial que el porcentaje de pacientes que llegan a estas circunstancias y que requieren de un trasplante es aproximadamente del 10 por ciento al 15 por ciento. Objetivo: identificar los pacientes susceptibles de necesitar un trasplante hepático y establecer la distribución porcentual de enfermedades hepáticas indicativas de un trasplante entre mayo de 1998 y mayo de 2000. Diseño: estudio descriptivo retrospectivo; se recolectó la información de 146 historias clínicas de pacientes y se les aplicó el diagrama de flujo establecido por los investigadores para determinar cuáles pacientes eran o no candidatos de trasplante. Resultados: se evaluaron 146 historias clínicas de pacientes del Grupo de Gastrohepatología del Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl y la Universidad de Antioquia, de los cuales 79 (54 por ciento) tenían una enfermedad no relacionada con el hígado y 67 (46 por ciento) tenían enfermedad hepática. 52/67 (77.6 por ciento) pacientes, presentaron enfermedades que aunque comprometían el hígado aún no los hacían candidatos a un trasplante de hígado; los restantes 15 pacientes (22.4 por ciento) cumplieron los criterios establecidos por el Grupo de Gastrohepatología para trasplante de hígado; de éstos, cinco (7.5 por ciento) salieron por contraindicaciones, (tres relativas, dos absolutas) y los diez restantes (14.9 por ciento), cumplieron los criterios del protocolo para trasplante hepático. Conclusión: el 14.9 por ciento de los pacientes que consultaron al Grupo de Gastrohepatología de la Universidad de Antioquia y el Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl y evaluados entre 1998- 2000, fueron candidatos a trasplante hepático. La distribución porcentual de las enfermedades hepáticas indicativas de trasplante en el Grupo de Gastrohepatología fueron: cirrosis no colestásica 79.0 por ciento, cirrosis colestásica 7.5 por ciento e insuficiencia hepática 13.5 por ciento.