Effect of flocculation pre-treatment on membrane nutrient recovery of digested chicken slurry: mitigating suspended solids and retaining nutrients

Use of membrane filtration is attracting increasing attention for nutrient recovery from anaerobically digested slurry. However, the challenge is to reduce membrane fouling by effective solids mitigation, while maintaining valuable nutrients. In this study, the effects of several flocculation pre-treatments using polyaluminium chloride, iron chloride, and flocculant aid at various dosages were investigated. The results showed significant improvement in membrane flux from 0.8 to 27.6 mL/m2/s due to solid migration (up to 75% removal). Significant loss of PO43−-P (99%) and humic acids (40–80%) was observed. However, the content of NH4+-N and indoleacetic acids was largely maintained in the treated slurry. Moreover, toxic metals were significantly removed through flocculation, making the final product risk-free of heavy metals for agricultural application

Investigation into the cause of spontaneous emulsification of a free steel droplet : validation of the chemical exchange pathway

Small Fe-based droplets have been heated to a molten phase suspended within a slag medium to replicate a partial environment within the basic oxygen furnace (BOF). The confocal scanning laser microscope (CSLM) has been used as a heating platform to interrogate the effect of impurities and their transfer across the metal/slag interface, on the emulsification of the droplet into the slag medium. The samples were then examined through X-ray computer tomography (XCT) giving the mapping of emulsion dispersion in 3D space, calculating the changing of interfacial area between the two materials, and changes of material volume due to material transfer between metal and slag. Null experiments to rule out thermal gradients being the cause of emulsification have been conducted as well as replication of the previously reported study by Assis et al.[1] which has given insights into the mechanism of emulsification. Finally chemical analysis was conducted to discover the transfer of oxygen to be the cause of emulsification, leading to a new study of a system with undergoing oxygen equilibration

Solid phase extraction of pesticide residues in water samples: DDT and its metabolites

Solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge embedded with octadecyl C18 chain bounded to silica particles were used for the isolation and trace enrichment of pesticides from water samples collected from cotton, rice growing and municipal areas. The eluents were analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using methanol (100%) as mobiles phase at different UV-Visible wavelengths. DDT and its metabolites were found in all areas but were not present in all samples. Concentration of pesticide residues varies from sample to sample and was in the range of 0.017-1.06 ng ml-1. Overall, recoveries ranged from 84%-91% for all target pesticides

Fruit yield and quality of ‘Florida King’ peaches subjected to foliar calcium chloride sprays at different growth stages

Peach fruit and trees are prone to various issues, regarding yield, quality and pest attack. Calcium plays several roles in plant and fruit development. Therefore the current study was conducted to evaluate the response of peach fruit to foliar application. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with two factors factorial arrangement and three replicates. Calcium chloride was applied at the rate of 0, 1, 2 and 3%. The foliar application of calcium was done at pink bud stage, berry size fruit stage, and then at pit hardening stage of peach. The obtained results indicated that foliar application of calcium significantly improved peach fruit quality and yield. The highest fruit weight (142.6 g), yield tree⁻¹ (15.6 kg), ascorbic acid content (6.67 mg∙100 g⁻¹), total soluble solids (11.0°Bx), fruit juice pH (3.98), sugar to acid ratio (45.1), fruit firmness (3.90 kg∙cm⁻²) and fruit volume (155.6 cm³) was obtained with the application of 3% solution of calcium chloride at pit hardening stage but it significantly reduced the percent titratable acidity (0.3%) and disease incidence (5.8%). It was concluded that 3% calcium chloride applied at the pit hardening stage significantly boosted peach quality and fruit yield