Bio-Hydrogen Production from Wastewater: A Comparative Study of Low Energy Intensive Production Processes

Billions of litres of wastewater are produced daily from domestic and industrial areas, and whilst wastewater is often perceived as a problem, it has the potential to be viewed as a rich source for resources and energy. Wastewater contains between four and five times more energy than is required to treat it, and is a potential source of bio-hydrogen—a clean energy vector, a feedstock chemical and a fuel, widely recognised to have a role in the decarbonisation of the future energy system. This paper investigates sustainable, low-energy intensive routes for hydrogen production from wastewater, critically analysing five technologies, namely photo-fermentation, dark fermentation, photocatalysis, microbial photo electrochemical processes and microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). The paper compares key parameters influencing H2 production yield, such as pH, temperature and reactor design, summarises the state of the art in each area, and highlights the scale-up technical challenges. In addition to H2 production, these processes can be used for partial wastewater remediation, providing at least 45% reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD), and are suitable for integration into existing wastewater treatment plants. Key advancements in lab-based research are included, highlighting the potential for each technology to contribute to the development of clean energy. Whilst there have been efforts to scale dark fermentation, electro and photo chemical technologies are still at the early stages of development (Technology Readiness Levels below 4); therefore, pilot plants and demonstrators sited at wastewater treatment facilities are needed to assess commercial viability. As such, a multidisciplinary approach is needed to overcome the current barriers to implementation, integrating expertise in engineering, chemistry and microbiology with the commercial experience of both water and energy sectors. The review concludes by highlighting MECs as a promising technology, due to excellent system modularity, good hydrogen yield (3.6–7.9 L/L/d from synthetic wastewater) and the potential to remove up to 80% COD from influent streams

Comparative performance of sustainable anode materials in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for electricity generation from wastewater

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a promising technology to generate electricity from wastewater and reduce the organic content. Whilst there has been a significant enhancement in MFC efficiency arising from the introduction of novel materials and cell designs, challenges remain with respect to the performance, cost, and sustainability of anode materials. This paper reports the development of single chamber MFCs with a focus on novel, cost-effective, and recycled carbon-based anode materials, including Recycled Water Filter Block/Powder (RWFB/RWFP), Recycled Chopped Carbon Fibre (RCCF), Carbon Felt (CF) and Graphite Flexible powder (GFG). Anodes prepared from GFG were shown to provide high power density (342.8 mW/m2), followed by RCCF, CF, RWFP, RWFB and CF (77.6, 71.8, 59.0 and 57.9 mW/m2, respectively). Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) reduction was measured initially and at day 30, with GFG anodes observed to remove 83% of the initial load, compared to RCCF, RWFB, RWFP and CF anodes, where COD reductions of 69%, 61%, 65% and 73% were observed, respectively. Electrochemical analysis and biofilm imaging confirmed recycled materials were colonised by microorganisms and performed to high standards. GFG offers significant promise as an anode material, with excellent performance supported by a reduction in capital cost of up to 90% in comparison to CF. The use of recycled carbon material as MFC anodes shows promise, but requires additional work to improve the stability and durability of systems to permit scale-up

Herpetofauna marina de las calizas litográficas tithonianas (Jurásico Superior) en la Cuenca Neuquina, Argentina

El registro de reptiles marinos del Jurásico Superior en calizas litográficas es escaso y está circunscripto principalmente al oeste de Europa. En el Hemisferio Sur las únicas calizas litográficas jurásicas expuestas se ubican en el área de Los Catutos, en el sudoeste de la Cuenca Neuquina. Éstas están representadas por una secuencia rítmica de margas y calizas micríticas correspondientes al Miembro Los Catutos de la Formación Vaca Muerta. Las mismas fueron depositadas, según lo indican las zonas de amonites reconocidas, durante el lapso Tithoniano Medio tardío - Tithoniano Tardío temprano (Zonas de Aulacosphinctes proximus y Windhauseniceras internispinosum). Estas calizas son portadoras de un conjunto de reptiles marinos único para este lapso a nivel mundial. Este conjunto está integrado por ictiosaurios oftalmosaurianos, metriorrínquidos, plesiosaurios, tortugas pleurodiras y criptodiras y pterodactiloideos. La presencia de pterosaurios y de la pleurodira Notoemys laticentralis Cattoi y Freiberg sugiere un ambiente protegido, no lejos de la costa, lo que es coincidente con interpretaciones paleoambientales previas. Asimismo, el registro de Cricosaurus araucanensis (Gasparini y Dellapé), Neusticemys neuquina (Fernández y de la Fuente) y de ictiosaurios indica la penetración en ese sector de la cuenca de formas pelágicas. La presencia de metriorrínquidos, en los que se ha comprobado sobre la base de evidencia directa el desarrollo de glándulas de la sal, es coincidente con una salinidad marina normal determinada por análisis isotópicos.Sesiones libres.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Functional shift with maintained regenerative potential following portal vein ligation

Selective portal vein ligation (PVL) allows the two-stage surgical resection of primarily unresectable liver tumours by generating the atrophy and hypertrophy of portally ligated (LL) and non-ligated lobes (NLL), respectively. To evaluate critically important underlying functional alterations, present study characterised in vitro and vivo liver function in male Wistar rats (n = 106; 210-250 g) before, and 24/48/72/168/336 h after PVL. Lobe weights and volumes by magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the atrophy-hypertrophy complex. Proper expression and localization of key liver transporters (Ntcp, Bsep) and tight junction protein ZO-1 in isolated hepatocytes demonstrated constantly present viable and well-polarised cells in both lobes. In vitro taurocholate and bilirubin transport, as well as in vivo immunohistochemical Ntcp and Mrp2 expressions were bilaterally temporarily diminished, whereas LL and NLL structural acinar changes were divergent. In vivo bile and bilirubin-glucuronide excretion mirrored macroscopic changes, whereas serum bilirubin levels remained unaffected. In vivo functional imaging (indocyanine-green clearance test; (99mTc)-mebrofenin hepatobiliary scintigraphy; confocal laser endomicroscopy) indicated transitionally reduced global liver uptake and -excretion. While LL functional involution was permanent, NLL uptake and excretory functions recovered excessively. Following PVL, functioning cells remain even in LL. Despite extensive bilateral morpho-functional changes, NLL functional increment restores temporary declined transport functions, emphasising liver functional assessment

Expresión del factor de crecimiento del endotelio vascular en carcinomas renales y su relación con la microdensidad vascular, la embolia tumoral y las metástasis a distancia

Los carcinomas renales de células claras derivan de las células epiteliales renales originadas en los túbulos contorneados proximales de las nefronas y se caracterizan por presentar una profusa vascularización. El funcionamiento aberrante del gen del VHL presente en gran parte de estos tumores, se traduce en la liberación de una serie de factores de crecimiento, entre ellos del factor de crecimiento del endotelio vascular (VEGF), implicado en el crecimiento y proliferación de las células tumorales, así como en el proceso de angiogénesis necesaria para el desarrollo de metástasis por vía hematógena. Varios trabajos han sostenido la hipótesis de que la marcación con VEGF podría ser de importancia como factor pronóstico. El objetivo del presente trabajo es determinar la distribución e intensidad de la inmunomarcación con VEGF en tumores renales de células calaras y su relación con la microdensidad vascular (MDV), la presencia de embolias tumorales y las metástasis a distancia.Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Structural Analysis of a Peptide Fragment of Transmembrane Transporter Protein Bilitranslocase

Using a combination of genomic and post-genomic approaches is rapidly altering the number of identified human influx carriers. A transmembrane protein bilitranslocase (TCDB 2.A.65) has long attracted attention because of its function as an organic anion carrier. It has also been identified as a potential membrane transporter for cellular uptake of several drugs and due to its implication in drug uptake, it is extremely important to advance the knowledge about its structure. However, at present, only the primary structure of bilitranslocase is known. In our work, transmembrane subunits of bilitranslocase were predicted by a previously developed chemometrics model and the stability of these polypeptide chains were studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Furthermore, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles were used as a model of cell membrane and herein we present a high-resolution 3D structure of an 18 amino acid residues long peptide corresponding to the third transmembrane part of bilitranslocase obtained by use of multidimensional NMR spectroscopy. It has been experimentally confirmed that one of the transmembrane segments of bilitranslocase has alpha helical structure with hydrophilic amino acid residues oriented towards one side, thus capable of forming a channel in the membrane

Association of kidney disease measures with risk of renal function worsening in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background: Albuminuria has been classically considered a marker of kidney damage progression in diabetic patients and it is routinely assessed to monitor kidney function. However, the role of a mild GFR reduction on the development of stage 653 CKD has been less explored in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of kidney disease measures, namely albuminuria and reduced GFR, on the development of stage 653 CKD in a large cohort of patients affected by T1DM. Methods: A total of 4284 patients affected by T1DM followed-up at 76 diabetes centers participating to the Italian Association of Clinical Diabetologists (Associazione Medici Diabetologi, AMD) initiative constitutes the study population. Urinary albumin excretion (ACR) and estimated GFR (eGFR) were retrieved and analyzed. The incidence of stage 653 CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or eGFR reduction > 30% from baseline was evaluated. Results: The mean estimated GFR was 98 \ub1 17 mL/min/1.73m2 and the proportion of patients with albuminuria was 15.3% (n = 654) at baseline. About 8% (n = 337) of patients developed one of the two renal endpoints during the 4-year follow-up period. Age, albuminuria (micro or macro) and baseline eGFR < 90 ml/min/m2 were independent risk factors for stage 653 CKD and renal function worsening. When compared to patients with eGFR > 90 ml/min/1.73m2 and normoalbuminuria, those with albuminuria at baseline had a 1.69 greater risk of reaching stage 3 CKD, while patients with mild eGFR reduction (i.e. eGFR between 90 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) show a 3.81 greater risk that rose to 8.24 for those patients with albuminuria and mild eGFR reduction at baseline. Conclusions: Albuminuria and eGFR reduction represent independent risk factors for incident stage 653 CKD in T1DM patients. The simultaneous occurrence of reduced eGFR and albuminuria have a synergistic effect on renal function worsening

On the presence of Pyramiodontherium (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Megatheriidae) in the Late Miocene of northeastern Argentina and its biogeographical implications

The biochron of the subfamily Megatheriinae, large to very large terrestrial sloths typified by Megatherium Cuvier, in Argentina extends from the middle Miocene of Patagonia to the late Pleistocene-early Holocene. Megatheriines reached their highest diversity in the lower levels (=”conglomerado osífero”, late Miocene) of the Ituzaingó Formation in Entre Ríos Province, northeastern Argentina. Among the four megatheriines that occur in this unit, the genera Promegatherium Ameghino, Eomegatherium Kraglievich and Pliomegatherium Kraglievich represent relatively small to medium-sized taxa. Here we describe new material assigned to Pyramiodontherium, the largest of the four genera from the same bed and comparable in size to some Quaternary species of Megatherium. Three valid species of Pyramiodontherium have been recognized, all distributed mainly in northwestern Argentina, from the late Miocene in Catamarca Province (and probably also in Tucumán Province), and the late Pliocene in La Rioja Province. The presence of this genus in northeastern Argentina extends its known paleobiogeographical distribution