Valorization of Spirodela polyrrhiza biomass for the production of biofuels for distributed energy.

Considering the main objectives of a circular economy, Lemnaceae plants have great potential for different types of techniques to valorize their biomass for use in biofuel production. For this reason, scientific interest in this group of plants has increased in recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of salt stress on the growth and development of S. polyrrhiza and the valorization of biomass for biofuel and energy production in a circular economy. Plants were grown in a variety of culture media, including standard 'Z' medium, tap water, 1% digestate from a biogas plant in Piaszczyna (54° 01' 21″ N, 17° 10' 19″ E), Poland) and supplemented with different concentrations of NaCl (from 25 to 100 mM). Plants were cultured under phytotron conditions at 24 °C. After 10 days of culture, plant growth, fresh and dry biomass, as well as physio-chemical parameters such as chlorophyll content index, gas exchange parameters (net photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance and intercellular CO2 concentration), chlorophyll fluorescence measurements were analyzed. After 10 days of the experiment, the percentage starch content of Spirodela shoot segments was determined. S. polyrrhiza was shown to have a high starch storage capacity under certain unfavorable growth conditions, such as salt stress and nutrient deficiency. In the W2 (50 mM NaCl) series, compared to the control (Control2), starch levels were 76% higher in shoots and 30% lower in roots. The analysis of the individual growth and development parameters of S. polyrrhiza plants in the experiment carried out indicates new possibilities for the use of this group of plants in biofuel and bioethanol production.

Urban areas, human health and technosols for the green deal.

Authors aim to carry out a bibliographic review as an initial approach to state of the art related to the quality of urban soils, as well as its possible link with human health. This concern arises from the need to highlight the consequences that soil could face, derived from the growth and aging of the population, as well as its predicted preference for urban settlement. Urban development may pose a challenge to the health of urban soils, due to degradative processes that it entails, such as land take, sealing, contamination or compaction. A healthy soil is the one which maintains the capacity to support ecosystem services, so it can provide numerous benefits to human health and well-being (carbon sequestration, protection against flooding, retention and immobilization of pollutants and a growth media for vegetation and food production). This article addresses threats facing urban soils, the strategies put forward by the European Union to deal with them, as well as the issues that require further attention. Greening cities could be a consensual solution, so authors analyze whether soils of cities are ready for that challenge and what resources need to maintain soil ecosystem functions. This review proposes to use made by waste Technosols for a sustainable green city. Although the use of Technosols as a type of soil is very recent, the interest of the scientific community in this field continues to grow.

RETRACTED: Assessment of compost from vinasse and olive stone residue.

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Electrochemical treatment in relation to pH of domestic wastewater using Ti/Pt electrodes.

This paper describes an electrochemical treatment of domestic wastewater (DW) using 0.8% (w/v) sodium chloride as electrolyte. In this technique, DW was passed through an electrolytic cell using Ti/Pt as anode and Stainless Steel 304 as cathode. Due to the strong oxidizing potential of the chemicals produced (chlorine, oxygen, hydroxyl radicals and other oxidants), the organic pollutants and nutrients (organic nitrogen, phosphorous) were wet oxidized to carbon dioxide, and nitrogen as well as phosphorous was precipitated as Ca(3)(PO(4))(2). Experiments were run in a continuous, laboratory-scale, pilot plant, at 40 degrees C and the efficiency of oxidation was studied in relation to pH. It was found that in alkaline conditions the electrolysis was more efficient. At pH 9, NaCl concentration 0.8% (w/v), current density 0.075 A/cm(2) and for 1h of electrolysis, COD was reduced by 89%, volatile suspended solids (VSS) by 90%, ammonia nitrogen by 82% and total phosphorous by 98%. The efficiency of electrolysis went up to 35 g COD(r)/(hm(2)A) and the energy consumption to 12.4 kWh/kg COD(r). It is concluded that the application of electrolytic oxidation of DW is more advantageous compared to conventional biological treatment especially for small works.

Impact of thermal treatment on metal in sewage sludge from the Psittalias wastewater treatment plant, Athens, Greece.

This paper describes a laboratory study that examined the effect of thermal treatment at four different temperatures on the behavior of heavy metals in the anaerobically treated primary sludge from the Psittalias wastewater treatment plant. The sewage sludge was found to contain significant amounts of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn). The metal form distribution in the sludge samples which was determining by the application of a sequential extraction procedure revealed that a significant portion of metals was embodied in the organic and reducible fractions. Treatment at 105, 250, 650 and 900 degrees C demonstrated significant conversions of the metals to a less mobile form as well as removal by vaporization. By applying sequential analysis, it was found that most of the metals were removed from the initial mobile phases to more stable ones. Also, significant amounts were transformed to the gaseous phase.

Compost produced from organic fraction of municipal solid waste, primary stabilized sewage sludge and natural zeolite.

The aim of this work is to present the physicochemical characteristics of the compost produced from dewatered anaerobically stabilized primary sewage sludge (DASPSS), organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and the metal uptaken by zeolite (clinoptilolite). The final results indicated that the composted material produced from clinoptilolite 20% w/w and 80% w/w DASPSS and OFMSW (60% and 40%, respectively) provided better soil conditioning compared to the compost produced from DASPSS. The co-composting products had a higher concentration of total humic and organic matter (O.M.) than the sewage sludge compost. Also, the heavy metals concentration in the final products was in lower concentration than in the sewage sludge compost. The zeolite appeared to uptake a significant (p<0.05) amount of metals. Specifically, the use of 20-25% w/w of clinoptilolite appears to uptake 100% of Cd, 10-15% of Cr, 28-45% of Cu, 41-47% of Fe, Mn 9-24% of Mn, 50-55% of Ni and Pb, and 40-46% of Zn. Although by the application of the composting process, the reduction in dry mass is between 30% and 40% for all samples.

Electrochemical oxidation of a textile dye wastewater using a Pt/Ti electrode.

Textile dye wastewater (TDW) from a reactive azo dyeing process was treated by an electrochemical oxidation method using Ti/Pt as anode and stainless steel 304 as cathode. Due to the strong oxidizing potential of the chemicals produced (chlorine, oxygen, hydroxyl radicals and other oxidants) when the wastewater was passed through the electrolytic cell the organic pollutants were oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. A number of experiments were run in a batch, laboratory-scale, pilot-plant, and the results are reported here according to residence time and initial addition of HCl in raw wastewater. When of 2 ml of HCl 36% were added and after 18 min of electrolysis at 0.89 A/cm(2), chemical oxygen demand (COD) was reduced by 86%, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD(5)) was reduced by 71%, ADMI color units were reduced by 100%, and TKN was reduced by 35%. The biodegradability of the wastewater was improved because the COD/BOD ratio decreased from 2.16 to 1.52. At the same time the efficiency of the electrode was about 170 g h(-1) A(-1) m(-2). and the mean energy consumption was 21 kW h/kg of COD. These results indicate that this electrolytic method could be used for effective TDW oxidation or as a feasible detoxification and color removal pretreatment stage for biological post treatment.