Toxicity of cigarette butts and possible recycling solutions-a literature review

Tobacco is a worldwide-consumed product, which in addition to causing public health-related issues is responsible for the most common form of litter in the world-smoked cigarette butts (CBs). A large attention has been drawn to this question, since this specific waste type tends to end up in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, posing serious threat to a range of life forms. Decomposition may take several years to occur because cellulose acetate is hardly accessible, before deacetylation, by bacteria and fungi. This review concerns the toxicity derived from smoked cigarette butts, as well as innovative ecological solutions for solving the CB litter problem. Toxicity studies have demonstrated the critical influence of chemicals present in smoked CBs to the environment as a whole, but also the physical contaminating potential considering micro- and nanoparticles derived from CB material. Nevertheless, several technological approaches were aimed at unveiling hidden value within used CBs, as well as propositions for incorporation of this residue in large volume production items or direct recycling. In summary, several methods are available to alleviate CB pollution, while appropriate and efficient collection logistics by consumers appears as the main bottleneck for an effective recycling. It is also clear that while considerable progress has been made recently in light of CB recycling solutions, there is still a vast research capacity in this regard

Coastal Marine Mapping as an Ecosystem Based Management - the case study of the Baixada Santista Region - São Paulo, Brazil

Despite the enormous environmental impact occurring in the study area and the relevant scientific studies ongoing, the decision-making processes of management and enforcement activities are still restricted. It happens mainly due to the inexistence of data integration of the available information. The development of integrating maps that summarize the information on geomorphology, biological processes, ecology, biodiversity, sociology and economic data, is therefore strategic. So with this purpose, a multidisciplinary team developed a data bank gathering the previously existing information with documented visits to all the area under study. These included interviews about socio-economic uses, biological occurrences and pollution impacts.The study demonstrated that spite of being important fishes', birds' and invertebrates' matting areas; there are important ecosystems like mangroves and estuaries that suffer many deleterious impacts. The study also determined the number of species present in the area: 216 marine fish species, 77 estuarine fish-, 454 bird-, 174 terrestrial mammal- and 22 marine mammal species. Beaches, rock shores and mangrove areas were also fully mapped. on the long run this study will help to define new areas to be protected and to establish a better policy management. Another aim of this study is to shorten time to analyse and understand the ecosystem, allowing the promotion of new studies in observed gaps.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

A New Approach for Conversion of Eucalyptus Lignocellulosic Biomass into Cellulose Nanostructures: A Method that Can Be Applied in Industry

This study aimed to explore the use of eucalyptus sawdust for the extraction of nanocellulose. This residue was purified with a three-steps pretreatment and ball milled for the isolation of nanocellulose. The method proposed can be industrially applied due to the use of reactor and ball mill and can be used for a variety of cellulose sources. Cellulose was the main component detected in the eucalyptus residues, as observed after the characterizations. The nanostructures showed an average size of 192 nm and high crystallinity and thermal stability. The current study demonstrated that the nanocellulose could be obtained to commercial-scale applications

Biodegradation of Coir and Sisal Applied in the Automotive Industry

This paper discusses the results of biodegradability tests of natural fibers used by the automotive industry, namely: coir, coir with latex, and sisal. The biodegradation of coir, coir with latex, and of sisal fibers was determined by monitoring the production of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) (IBAMA-E.1.1.2, 1988) and fungal growth (DIN 53739, 1984). The contents of total extractives, lignin, holocellulose, ashes, carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen of the fibers under study were determined in order to ascertain their actual content and to understand the results of the biodegradation tests. The production of CO(2) indicated low biodegradation, i.e., about 10% in mass, for all the materials after 45 days of testing; in other words, no material inhibited glucose degradation. However, the percentage of sisal fiber degradation was fourfold higher than that of coir with latex in the same period of aging. The fungal growth test showed a higher growth rate on sisal fibers, followed by coir without latex. In the case of coir with latex, we believe the fungal growth was not intense, because natural latex produces a bactericide or fungicide for its preservation during bleeding [1]. An evaluation of the materials after 90 days of aging tests revealed breaking of the fibers, particularly sisal and coir without latex, indicating fungal attack and biodegradation processes

Agro-Based Biocomposites for Industrial Applications

Leaf fibers are fibers that run lengthwise through the leaves of most monocotyledonous plants such as pineapple, banana, etc. Pineapple (Ananas comosus) and Banana (Musa indica) are emerging fiber having a very large potential to be used for composite materials. Over 150,000 ha of pineapple and over 100,000 ha of banana plantations are available in Brazil for the fruit production and enormous amount of agricultural waste is produced. This residual waste represents one of the single largest sources of cellulose fibers available at almost no cost. The potential consumers for this fiber are pulp and paper, chemical feedstock, textiles and composites for the automotive, furniture and civil construction industry.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Avaliação dos produtos de emissão a partir da pirólise de assentos automotivos feitos de fibra de coco e de espuma de poliuretano Evaluation of emission products from pyrolysis of car seats made of coir fiber and of polyurethane foam

O presente trabalho visa comparar assentos automobilísticos feitos de manta de fibra de coco com látex (MFCL) em relação à espuma de poliuretano (EPU), avaliando a possibilidade do primeiro substituir o segundo, devido ao fato da fibra natural ser biodegradável e renovável. Esses materiais foram submetidos à análise termogravimétrica (TGA), pirólise e análise dos produtos de pirólise por cromatografia gasosa acoplada ao espectrômetro de massa. Verificou-se que a pirólise a 800ºC apresentou grande número de gases tóxicos, e comparando os materiais observou-se que a EPU emitiu gases mais tóxicos na combustão que aqueles produzidos pelos outros materiais sob as mesmas condições, tais como o cianeto de hidrogênio e compostos de nitrila. Quanto às análises de TGA, verificou-se que acima de 270ºC inicia-se a degradação térmica de todos materiais.<br>The objective of this work is to compare automobile seats made of coconut fiber mats with latex (MFCL) versus polyurethane foam (EPU), evaluating the possibility of the first replace the second due to the fact of the renewability and biodegradability of the natural fiber. These materials were submitted to analysis of the pyrolysis by-products was made, using the gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer. Also, it was made thermogravimetric analysis. It was observed that at 800ºC the materials presented a higher number of toxic vapors, and it was noticed that all components that were present in this pyrolysis of coir fiber and of MFCL were also found in the EPU, and even other components as hydrogen cyanate and nitrile compound were found in EPU pyrolysis. Therefore, it can be stated that pyrolysis by-products at 800ºC of EPU are much more hazardous than those produced by the natural materials at the same conditions. Regarding the thermal analysis, it was observed that above 270ºC begins the thermal decomposition of all the studied materials

Energia de briquetes produzidos com rejeitos de resíduos sólidos urbanos e madeira de Eucalyptus grandis Energy from briquettes produced from remains of urban solid residues and wood of Eucalyptus grandis

O incentivo ao consumo e à produção em grande quantidade na sociedade atual gera, exageros de resíduos sólidos urbanos que, em alguns casos, podem ser utilizados para a geração de energia. Neste sentido e visando reduzir os resíduos dos aterros municipais e gerar energia, buscou-se produzir briquetes com mistura de rejeitos de resíduos sólidos urbanos (RRSU) e resíduos de madeira de Eucalyptus grandis. Os briquetes foram fabricados com 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 e 25% de RRSU na mistura com resíduos madeireiros contendo 12% de umidade. Os parâmetros analisados para a escolha da melhor mistura, foram: análise de combustibilidade x cinzas, resistência e energia utilizável. Os briquetes com até 10% de RRSU se mostraram com baixa resistência e os acima de 15% apresentaram grande aumento no teor de cinzas; portanto, os que melhor atenderam aos requisitos combustibilidade x cinzas e resistência mecânica, foram aqueles com 15% de RRSU, pois não se conhece a procedência das cinzas. Considerando-se a energia utilizável, o briquete com 25% de RRSU é o que apresenta maior poder calorífico útil na ordem de 17.175 kJ kg-1 motivo pelo qual se indica a produção de briquetes com adição RRSU; ressalta-se, porém, a necessidade de estudos sobre a emissão de gases.<br>The incentive for consumption and production in large quantity in modern society generates enormous amounts of urban solid residues in the form of municipal solid waste (MSW). With the intention of reducing these residues of the municipal waste tips and to generate energy, briquettes with mixtures of MSW and residues of Eucalyptus grandis were produced. The briquettes were manufactured with 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% of MSW in the mixture with wood waste and 12% of moisture content. The analyzed parameters used to choose the best treatments were combustion analysis versus ash content, mechanical strength and energy content. The briquettes up to 10% of MSW showed low resistance, and above 15% showed large increase in ash content. Therefore, the treatment that fulfilled the requirements for combustion versus ash content and mechanical resistance was of at least 15% of MSW, since the source of the ash is unidentified. Considering the net energy content, the best treatment was 25% of MSW, with 17,175 kJ kg-1. Nevertheless, it is strongly advised that further studies related to gas emissions are necessary