Water-Soluble Pyrolysis Products as Novel Urease Inhibitors Safe for Plants and Soil Fauna

Water-soluble pyrolysis products from lignocellulosic biomassare nonphytotoxic urease inhibitors useful for agricultural applications.Water-soluble compounds (WS) obtained from the pyrolysisof threelignocellulosic biomasses (larch, poplar, and switchgrass) were testedas potential inhibitors of the enzyme urease. Thanks to the presenceof an array of phenolic compounds like catechol, methoxy/hydroxy phenols,phenolic acids, and phenolic aldehydes, all the WS samples testedat a catechol concentration of 30 mu M inhibited the activityof jack bean urease (JBU) by 60%-70% and by 80% that of ureasenaturally present in the soil. A 10 times lower dose of WS samples(catechol concentration of 3 mu M) inhibited the activity of JBUby 20%, while that of soil urease by 50%, in line with the known inhibitionof N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide(NBPT). The germination rate, early growth, and development of oatwere not affected by any WS sample tested at this lower dose, as wellas the cress germination rate, while the development of cress rootsand shoots was lower than the control presumably because of the lowpH of the tested WS solutions. Earthworm survival was not significantlyaffected by any WS sample tested, but an effect was observed on theability of the eggs to develop into viable newborns

Biodiversità nel germoplasma del melo emiliano romagnolo e marchigiano. Rivista di frutticoltura e di ortofloricoltura, speciale melo, vol 11, 46-51.

Le collezioni di germoplasma del melo sono considerate attualmente una valida fonte per la salvaguardia della biodiversità che è caratterizzata principalmente da varietà antiche autoctone a rischio d’estinzione. Nell’ottica di una loro razionalizzazione, è essenziale la caratterizzazione fenotipica e molecolare delle accessioni. In questo lavoro di ricerca sono state analizzate a livello molecolare diverse accessioni di melo raccolte in diverse località della regione Emilia-Romagna e delle Marche utilizzando 15 microsatelliti (o SSR, Simple Sequence Repeat). Quest’analisi ha determinato la corrispondenza varietale delle accessioni (includendo alcune sinonimie) ed identificato un insieme di genotipi diploidi unici. I risultati sono stati allineati con quelli relativi alla genotipizzazione della collezione del DipSA (Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie dell’Università di Bologna). Il germoplasma italiano del melo nel suo complesso è risultato essere strutturato in due gruppi principali, il primo dei quali, che comprende la maggior parte delle accessioni italiane o presunte autoctone, è risultato suddiviso in due ulteriori due sottogruppi. Il secondo gruppo invece è rappresentato da un insieme eterogeneo di varietà di melo che include per la maggior parte anche una serie di varietà estere utilizzate come riferimenti

Riscoperta e valorizzazione della mela “Rosa romana”.

In questa nota riportiamo le prime acquisizioni emerse da un\u2019indagine iniziata nel 2017 e tuttora in corso sulle mele \u201cRosa romana\u201d dell\u2019Alta Valle del Reno, e delle altre vallate appenniniche bolognesi, ad altitudini che oscillano dai 300 metri delle prime pendici collinari (es. Marzabotto) fino a 900-1.000 m (es. Castel dell\u2019Alpi), nei territori confinanti dei due versanti emiliano e toscano del crinale appenninico. Poche, per la verit\ue0, sono le colture rimaste sui suoli fertili adatti al melo e fortunatamente non ancora restituiti al pascolo e alla macchia mediterranea, come sta avvenendo, per larga parte delle superfici abbandonate dell\u2019agricoltura attiva. L\u2019indagine intende far luce ed individuare, nei vecchi impianti, i vari tipi di \u201cRosa romana\u201d esistenti, cio\ue8 i possibili mutanti fenotipici e le tipologie similari di questa variet\ue0 isolati e propagati localmente attraverso il tempo, fino a farne varie denominazioni clonali rappresentative per\uf2 della \u201cvera\u201d \u201cRosa romana\u201d, per identit\ue0 fenotipica e punto di riferimento, anche per i nuovi impianti. Questo identikit della mela \u201cRosa romana\u201d servir\ue0 anche sul piano vivaistico per una possibile certificazione genetica e anche sanitaria dei cloni che andremo ad individuare

Silica Monolith for the Removal of Pollutants from Gas and Aqueous Phases

In recent years, chemical industries have been focusing on sustainable development approaches, promoting materials that offer performance at lower costs and reducing significantly the environmental impact. In connection to these approaches, mesoporous materials have been synthesized and extensively studied for various applications. Nevertheless, the use of powders present different handling and recycling limitations. To overcome these problems there are two possible options: (i) the preparation of pellets starting from the pre-synthesized silica powders, or (ii) the direct preparation of monoliths. Among the different types of mesoporous materials, silicas have been widely used for environmental application, since meet most of the criteria for selection of adsorbents such as high specific surface area, large pore–size and chemical inertness; for these reason, mesoporous silicas have been used for adsorption of both organic and inorganic pollutants [1]. The preparation of silica monoliths can be a convenient way to fully exploit the structural and functional properties of the material by saving, at the same time, both reactants and time, in that a single-step synthesis is required [2]. In this work, mesoporous silica monoliths have been prepared by spinodal condensation reaction [3] and then tested as adsorbents of organic pollutants from aqueous or gaseous phase. The physico-chemical features of the silica monoliths have been determined by using different experimental techniques [4]. Textural properties were found to be homogeneous over the entire length of the monolith, which has an average surface area of ca. 850 m2 g−1 and a total pore volume of 1.2 cm3 g−1. The monoliths were tested for the removal of toluene, chosen as a model molecule of aromatic hydrocarbons, from gas phase. A combination of FT-IR spectroscopy and volumetric analysis was adopted to study the adsorption process and gain knowledge on the interactions between adsorbent surface and toluene molecule. Silica monoliths were found to be stable to water treatment (36 h at 50 °C), even if the treatment reduced the specific surface area. Finally, the ability of the same monoliths, before and after the water treatment, to remove Rhodamine B from aqueous solution was also studied by using UV-visible spectroscopy. After water treatment, the material was able to adsorb 50% of the Rhodamine B with respect to 70% of the control sample

Tecnica di confusione sessuale nei riguardi di lepidotteri dei fruttiferi con impiego di apparecchiatura di diffusione temporizzata

La confusione sessuale temporizzata si attua mediante l\u2019istallazione nel frutteto di una centralina computerizzata che diffonde miscele feromoniche per il controllo di pi\uf9 specie di lepidotteri contemporaneamente. L\u2019apparecchiatura permette di controllare l\u2019erogazione di miscele feromoniche su una matrice mobile (filo poliammidico) che percorre in movimento tutto l\u2019appezzamento interessato. La dose corretta di feromone sessuale sintetico, i tempi e il funzionamento del sistema sono controllabili a distanza tramite comandi inviati con Short Message System (SMS). Si riportano risultati nei confronti di Cydia funebrana nel susino e Cydia pomonella, Cydia molesta e tortricidi ricamatori in un pereto. I confronti tra catture di maschi nelle aree con la confusione sessuale temporizzata e frutteti trattati con insetticidi dimostrano l\u2019efficacia nel disorientare i maschi delle diverse specie di lepidottero. I danni ai frutti sono rimasti entro le soglie e comparabili a quelli osservati con la difesa chimica

Comparative LCA between anaerobic co-digestion of organic fraction of MSW and treated sludge, and the actuale management system adopted in a small Italian town

The waste production represents, undoubtedly, one of the most important evironmental emergencies that need to be solved, on the global level. Furthermore, it tends to increase due to the rise of the population. Nowadays, the traditional management strategies result to be unsatisfactory. We need updated tools, functional to the contexts in which they are developed. The idea of recovering energy from waste, with incineration for example, or the idea of saving it, with waste reutilization or recycling processes, has been realized for many years. In relation to this, the present study aims to compare the actual management system (in a small province), concerning the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and the dewatered sludge (DS), with an alternative recovery project for the two fractions using LCA as a tool of environmental analysis. The project is named \u201cFor Biogas\u201d and consists of a plant that receives the DS, from both urban and agro-industrial sewage, and the OFMSW which are digested (in 1/1 ratio) in absence of oxygen to produce biogas and digestate. Biogas is piped to a co-generation system that produces power and heat reused in the digestion process itself, making it independent from the national grid. Digestate undergoes a process of mechanical separation that produces a liquid fraction, introduced in the treatment plant, and a solid fraction disposed in a landfill (in future processed further to obtain compost). Actual scenario treats the two fractions separately: the organic one is sent to the composting plant, while sludge is sent to the landfill

Life Cycle Assessment of management systems for sewage sludge and food waste: centralized and decentralized approaches

The aim of the present study has been to assess the environmental profile of an experimental decentralized waste management system which is based on the anaerobic codigestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and dewatered sewage sludge in small plants (annual capacity: about 3000 t coupled at a 75 kW CHP unit) distributed over the territory. Two scenarios have been analysed: with and without aerobic composting post-treatment. In so far as an environmental point of view is concerned, such scenarios have been compared with the past and the current approaches occurring in the case study area (NE Italy) and characterized by a strong centralization. Environmental performances of the different scenarios have been assessed through Life Cycle Assessment methodology. Our results indicate that the anaerobic codigestion of dewatered sewage sludge and OFMSW in small plants combined with composting post-treatment may offer an environmentally sustainable option of waste management in small communities. This is achieved by (1) a strong reduction in the distances and volumes transported by road, (2) low energy requirement for the process itself, (3) energy saving from CHP unit and (4) energy/resources saving from the compost produced by the digested matter. Also social advantages may be gained, such as increased public acceptability of waste treatment facilities and increased awareness among citizen on waste management issue. To note that these advantages are closely related to some key assumptions like the use of digested matter as fertilizer. Assumptions and work limits are discussed in the final section of the paper

Tecnica di confusione sessuale nei riguardi di lepidotteri dei fruttiferi con impiego di apparecchiatura di diffusione temporizzata

La confusione sessuale temporizzata si attua mediante l\u2019istallazione nel frutteto di una centralina computerizzata che diffonde miscele feromoniche per il controllo di pi\uf9 specie di lepidotteri contemporaneamente. L\u2019apparecchiatura permette di controllare l\u2019erogazione di miscele feromoniche su una matrice mobile (filo poliammidico) che percorre in movimento tutto l\u2019appezzamento interessato. La dose corretta di feromone sessuale sintetico, i tempi e il funzionamento del sistema sono controllabili a distanza tramite comandi inviati con Short Message System (SMS). Si riportano risultati nei confronti di Cydia funebrana nel susino e Cydia pomonella, Cydia molesta e tortricidi ricamatori in un pereto. I confronti tra catture di maschi nelle aree con la confusione sessuale temporizzata e frutteti trattati con insetticidi dimostrano l\u2019efficacia nel disorientare i maschi delle diverse specie di lepidottero. I danni ai frutti sono rimasti entro le soglie e comparabili a quelli osservati con la difesa chimica