Novel Correlations between Spectroscopic and Morphological Properties of Activated Carbons from Waste Coffee Grounds

Massive quantities of spent coffee grounds (SCGs) are generated by users around the world. Different processes have been proposed for SCG valorization, including pyrolytic processes to achieve carbonaceous materials. Here, we report the preparation of activated carbons through pyrolytic processes carried out under different experimental conditions and in the presence of various porosity activators. Textural and chemical characterization of the obtained carbons have been achieved through Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), ESEM, 13C solid state NMR, XPS, XRD, thermogravimetric and spectroscopic determinations. The aim of the paper is to relate these data to the preparation method, evaluating the correlation between the spectroscopic data and the physical and textural properties, also in comparison with the corresponding data obtained for three commercial activated carbons used in industrial adsorption processes. Some correlations have been observed between the Raman and XPS data

Lactobacillus Casei DG® in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Not Only a Change of the Gut Microbiota. A Pilot Study

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Non-native species in Ialian freshwater habitats: a macroecological assessment of invasion drivers

The relative role of propagule pressure, abiotic and biotic variables as determinants of non-native species occurrence differs among studies, hindering the synthesis of emergent patterns in invasion ecology and preventing generalization for conservation actions. In order to produce a broad and general assessment of the occurrence of alien species in aquatic habitats, we proposed a macroecological approach to assess the drivers of occurrence of alien species in all biota (microorganisms, plants and animals) across several natural habitats in freshwater ecosystems in Italy, and we generalised the results of the analysis to provide a risk map of the occurrence of alien species. We determined that abiotic climatic variables were good predictors of alien species occurrence. Indeed, these variables, together with propagule pressure, expressed as the proximity to major inhabited areas, and differences in the receiving community, expressed as the native species richness, played a crucial role in determining the number of alien species. Furthermore, we found evidence of an influence of body size in determining the occurrence of the non-native species. By using the predictions of our model, we addressed the probability of the occurrence of alien species in freshwater habitats across the whole country and highlighted areas at higher risk

Alien species in Italian freshwater ecosystems: a macroecological assessment of invasion drivers

The relative role of propagule pressure, abiotic and biotic variables as determinants of alien species occurrence differs among studies. This limits the synthesis of emergent patterns in invasion ecology and generalisations for conservation actions. In order to produce a broad and general assessment of the invasion pattern in aquatic habitats we here propose a macroecological approach to assess the drivers of occurrence of alien species within the whole biota (microorganisms, plants and animals) across several natural freshwater ecosystems of Italy. We simultaneously tested three groups of variables (propagule pressure, abiotic and biotic characteristics), selected as putative predictors of invasibility of a site. Propagule pressure, expressed as proximity to larger inhabited areas, and differences in the native species richness of the receiving community, had a significant role in determining the number of alien species occurrences. Furthermore, body size influenced the occurrence and colonization processes of alien species. Finally, climatic characteristics were relevant in determining the chances that a site was invaded, confirming the role of these abiotic filters in the invasion process