Assessment of soil properties by organic matter and em-microorganism incorporation.

Summary: Properties of a claim loam soil, collected in Aranjuez (Madrid) and enriched with organic matter and microorganisms, were evaluated under controlled temperature and moisture conditions, over a period of three months. The following treatments were carried out: soil (control); soil + 50 t ha-1 of animal manure (E50); soil + 50 t ha-1 of animal manure + 30 L ha-1 of effective microorganisms (E50EM); soil + 30 t ha-1 of the combination of various green crop residues and weeds (RC30) and soil + 30 t ha-1 of the combination of various green crop residues and weeds + 30 L ha-1 of effective microorganisms (RC30EM). Soil samples were taken before and after incubation and their physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters analyzed. Significant increase was observed in the production of exopolysaccharides and basic phosphatase and esterase enzyme activities in the treatments E50EM and RC30EM, in correlation with the humification of organic matter, water retention at field capacity, and the cationic exchange capacity (CEC) of the same treatments. The conclusion was drawn that the incorporation of a mixture of effective microorganisms (EM) intensified the biological soil activity and improved physical and chemical soil properties, contributing to a quick humification of fresh organic matter. These findings were illustrated by the microbiological activities of exopolysaccharides and by alkaline phosphatase and esterase enzymes, which can be used as early and integrated soil health indicators. Resumo: As propriedades do solo foram avaliadas sob condições de temperatura e umidade controladas, após a incorporação da matéria orgânica e de microrganismos eficazes (EM), em um solo franco argiloso coletado sob cultivos protegidos em Aranjuéz (Madrid). Os seguintes tratamentos foram empregados: solo (controle); solo + 50 t ha-1 de esterco de animal (E50); E50 + 30 L ha-1 EM (E50EM); solo + 30 t ha-1 de restos de cultivos + plantas invasoras (RC30); RC30 + 30 L ha-1 EM (RC30EM). Amostras de solo foram retiradas após os tratamentos, antes e após a incubação e analisadas usando parâmetros físicos, químicos e microbiológicos. Os resultados mostraram um aumento significativo na produção de exopolissacarídeos, nas atividades enzimáticas de esterases e fosfatases alcalina principalmente, nos tratamentos E50EM e RC30EM, sendo diretamente correlacionadas com a humificação da matéria orgânica, com a capacidade de campo e com a capacidade de troca catiônica desses mesmos tratamentos. A partir desses resultados, pode se concluir que a qualidade do solo com a incorporação de EM potencializou a atividade biológica, contribuindo para uma mais rápida humificação da matéria orgânica fresca e melhorando a estrutura e fertilidade do solo, conforme análise das propriedades físicas e químicas, destacando-se os parâmetros microbiológicos como indicadores precoces de recuperação da qualidade do solo

Biomass-derived activated carbon as catalyst in the leaching of metals from a copper sulfide concentrate

Chalcopyrite is the resource with the highest amount of Cu content representing around 70–80% of the known reserves in the world. However, chalcopyrite like other copper sulfides, is usually found in deposits with grades around 0.4–0.5% copper. The exploitation of these reserves using traditional flotation methods followed by pyrometallurgical treatment of copper concentrate is at the limit of economic viability. Hydrometallurgical route would be more suitable for treating of these low-graded sulfide ores. However, chalcopyrite is refractory in ferric/sulfuric acid media and shows slow dissolution rates. For this a number of researches were carried out to accelerate the kinetics of leaching by adding pyrite, iron powder, nanosized silica, coal and activated carbon. The main objective of the present work was to study the use of one biomass-derived activated carbon as catalysts in the leaching of copper from chalcopyrite. Sulfuric acid solution of pH 1 with 5 g L-1 of Fe3+ was used as leaching agent. Experiments were performed at 90 °C and 250 rpm, during 48 and 96 h. Concentration of Cu, Zn, As, Sb and Co in the liquid phase was determined in order to evaluate their extraction degree, whereas solid residues were characterized by SEM-EDS and XRD. The presence of biomass-derived activated carbon significantly increased the extraction of copper, decreasing the leaching of arsenic. Furthermore, the use of biomass-derived activated carbon led to lower amounts of crystalline sulfur in the final residue

Hemangioma intramuscular: (aportación de 6 casos y revisión de la literatura)

Se presentan seis casos de hemangioma intramuscular. Se discute la etiología, histopatología, métodos diagnósticos y el tratamiento óptimo. El tratamiento de elección debe ser la escisión ampliada siempre que ésta sea posible, siendo los resultados satisfactorios.Six cases of haemangioma arising in skeletal muscle are described. The aetiology, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of thes e tumours are discussed. Wide excision remains the treatment of choice whereve r possible with satisfactory results

Valorización de fosfoyeso como material de construcción: Aspectos radiológicos

Nowadays, alternative uses of phosphogypsum (PG) in the building industry are being considered in several countries; however, the natural radioactivity level in the PG could be a restriction for those uses. United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) classified PG as Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM). This drawback could be avoided controlling its percentage in the cement preparation and the radionuclides content in the other raw materials used in its production, and calculating the activity concentration index (I) in the final by-products. The valorization of PG as a building material has been studied, from a radiological point of view, by developing a new stabilisation/solidification process. PG is incorporated within a polymeric sulphur matrix, obtaining a concrete-like material, which presents lower natural radioactive content than the initial PG. The 226Ra content of this material ranged between 26-27 Bq·kg-1 and it is quite similar to that of common Spanish building materials.Actualmente, en muchos países se está contemplando el uso alternativo del fosfoyeso (PG) en la industria de la construcción, aunque su contenido en radionucleidos naturales puede presentar ciertas restricciones para dicha aplicación (material clasificado por la US-EPA como TENORM: “Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Materials). No obstante, estos inconvenientes podrían paliarse controlando el porcentaje del PG y los niveles de radioactividad en las materias primas a incorporar al cemento y calculando el índice de concentración de actividad (I) en los productos finales. La valorización del PG como material de construcción se ha estudiado en este trabajo desde el punto de vista radiológico, desarrollando un nuevo proceso de estabilización/solidificación, obteniéndose un material de características similares al cemento y que presenta menor contenido de radionucleidos naturales que el PG inicial. Los niveles de 226Ra de este material (26-27 Bq·kg-1) son similares a los de algunos materiales de construcción utilizados comúnmente en España

Biochars in soils : towards the required level of scientific understanding

Key priorities in biochar research for future guidance of sustainable policy development have been identified by expert assessment within the COST Action TD1107. The current level of scientific understanding (LOSU) regarding the consequences of biochar application to soil were explored. Five broad thematic areas of biochar research were addressed: soil biodiversity and ecotoxicology, soil organic matter and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, soil physical properties, nutrient cycles and crop production, and soil remediation. The highest future research priorities regarding biochar's effects in soils were: functional redundancy within soil microbial communities, bioavailability of biochar's contaminants to soil biota, soil organic matter stability, GHG emissions, soil formation, soil hydrology, nutrient cycling due to microbial priming as well as altered rhizosphere ecology, and soil pH buffering capacity. Methodological and other constraints to achieve the required LOSU are discussed and options for efficient progress of biochar research and sustainable application to soil are presented.Peer reviewe

Non-standard errors

In statistics, samples are drawn from a population in a data-generating process (DGP). Standard errors measure the uncertainty in estimates of population parameters. In science, evidence is generated to test hypotheses in an evidence generating process (EGP). We claim that EGP variation across researchers adds uncertainty: Non-standard errors (NSEs). We study NSEs by letting 164 teams test the same hypotheses on the same data. NSEs turn out to be sizable, but smaller for better reproducible or higher rated research. Adding peer-review stages reduces NSEs. We further find that this type of uncertainty is underestimated by participants

Anthropogenic emissions of Po-210, Pb-210 and Ra-226 in an estuarine environment

An extensive study on the distribution of natural radionuclides in an estuarine ecosystem located in Southwestern Spain is presented. This environment is highly affected by the wastes released by a phosphoric acid industry which uses phosphate rocks as raw material for fertilizer production. This rock has generally high concentrations of U and its daughters. The estuary is formed by two rivers, Odiel and Tinto, which have a common mouth into the Atlanic Ocean and a salt marsh (Odiel marsh) affected by the income of Odiel riverwaters. This river receives directly the liquid and part of the solid (gypsum) wastes released from the industries. Besides that, most of the phosphogypsum wastes are stored in uncovered piles at the right margin of the Tinto river. The study has concluded that the wastes from such industries are the cause of the enhanced concentrations found at the bed of both river channels as well as the enhancement found in surface soils in certain zones of the Odiel wet marshland. Indeed, the Northern marsh and the Mojarrera channel at the Odiel marsh seem to be the main sinks of the contaminant released by the phosphoric acid industry.European Union (UE) FI3P-CT92003