Bioremoval of Ni and Cd in the presence of diethylketone by fungi and by bacteria - A comparative study

Two fungi (Alternaria sp. and Penicillium sp.) and one gram-positive bacterium (Streptococcus equisimilis) were used to remove Ni and Cd from aqueous solutions in the presence of diethylketone. Individual toxicity assays were performed at an initial stage to evaluate the xenobiotic impact of the initial concentration of those metals on the growth of the microorganisms and allowed to infer that the growth of S. equisimilis is negatively affected by both metals, whereas the growth of both fungi is positively stimulated by the presence of Ni and inhibited by Cd (>40 mg/L). Within the group of microorganisms tested, S. equisimilis presented higher removal efficiency (%) and uptake. In a second stage, biosorption assays were performed using aqueous solutions containing Ni, Cd and diethylketone (mixed solutions) and aimed to infer about the overall effect of the initial metal concentrations on the growth and on the sorption capacity of the microorganisms, as well as to evaluate the interaction between the sorbent matrices. It was demonstrated that despite the mixed solution exert a negative effect on the removal process and on the growth of the three microbial cultures, the system is able to decontaminate aqueous solutions with high concentrations of Ni, Cd and diethylketone.This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by gs3:European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. Filomena Costa thanks FCT for a PhD Grant (SFRH/BD/77666/2011)

Biosorption of nickel and cadmium in the presence of diethylketone by a Streptococcus equisimilis biofilm supported on vermiculite

A Streptococcus equisimilis biofilm supported on clays was used to decontaminate aqueous solutions containing diethylketone (DEK), nickel and/or cadmium, in a batch mode. The interaction between the sorbent matrices and the different sorbates, individually and in binary combinations, was evaluated. It was demonstrated that the growth of S. equisimilis is negatively affected by concentrations higher than 80 mg l1 of Ni and 5 mg l1 of Cd. DEK and Cd uptakes are positively correlated with the mass of vermiculite without biofilm, as observed in singular sorbate experiments. The same trend is observed for sorption percentages, reporting to the initial solution concentrations, as values higher than 90% were achieved for both pollutants. Although Ni uptake decreases as the mass of vermiculite increases, the percentage of sorbed Ni increased, reaching a maximum value of 100%. It was demonstrated that Ni and DEK, when mixed, present higher sorption values, suggesting a synergetic interaction between these two pollutants, whereas when DEK and Cd are mixed, the sorption of DEK decreases significantly, revealing a negative effect of Cd over the retention of DEK. It was also observable that for sorbent mass higher than 0.085 g the simultaneous uptake of DEK and Ni by the biofilm supported on vermiculite decreases, but the sorption percentage tends to increase, reaching values of 100% for 40 g of vermiculite. As the mass of sorbent increases the sorption percentage of both sorbates, DEK and Cd, tends to increase, reaching maximum values higher than 98%. These sorption systems are effective and the use of a biofilm may be an important advantage for the treatment of aqueous solutions contaminated with specific pollutants.The authors would like to thank the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684). Filomena Costa thanks FCT for a PhD grant (SFRH/BD/77666/2011)

Sorption studies of diethylketone in the presence of Al3+, Cd2+, Ni2+ and Mn2+, from lab-scale to pilot scale

The toxic effects of diethylketone (DEK) in aqueous solution with different concentrations of Al3+, Cd2+, Ni2+ and Mn2+ were evaluated at lab-scale. It was established that Streptococcus equisimilis is able to efficiently remove DEK with different concentrations with heavy metals. It was proved that this joint-system has excellent capacity to biodegrade high concentrations of DEK in the presence of Al3+, Cd2+, Ni2+ and Mn2+. With the exception of Al3+, the uptake for all metals increased as the initial concentration of each metal in the mixed solution increased. The breakthrough curves are best described by the Adams and Bohart model for Cd2+, by the Yoon and Nelson model for Ni2+ and by the Wolborska model for Mn2+.This study was supported by the Portuguese Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 – Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. Filomena Costa thanks FCT fora PhD Grant (SFRH/BD/77666/2011).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pilot-scale sorption studies of diethylketone in the presence of Cd2+ and Ni2+

The pH effect on the sorption capacity of vermiculite towards cadmium and nickel was tested in batch systems and it was shown that the sorption percentages increase with increasing the mass of vermiculite and with increasing the initial pH. Maximum sorption percentages were obtained for a pH of 8 and 4 g of vermiculite (86.5 % for Cd2+ and 86.1 % for Ni2+, for solutions with 100 mg/L of metal). As a consequence, it was possible to establish a range of optimal pH for biosorption processes, by combining the so determined optimal sorption pH of vermiculite with the optimal growth pH of S. equisimilis, a bacterium used to treat contaminated water. Pilot-scale experiments with a Streptococcus equisimilis biofilm supported on vermiculite were conducted in close loop aiming the treatment of large volumes of diethylketone aqueous solutions, eventually containing Cd2+or Ni2+. The excellent capacity of this joint system to simultaneously biodegrade diethylketone and biosorb Cd2+or Ni2+was proven. The removal percentage and the uptake increase through time, even with the replacement of the initial solution by new ones. The breakthrough curves that best describe the results achieved for Cd2+ and Ni2+, are respectively, the Adams-Bohart and the Yoon and Nelson model.This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT; Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) under the scope of the strategic funding of [UID/BIO/ 04469/2013] unit and COMPETE 2020 [POCI-01-0145-FEDER006684]. Filomena Costa thanks FCT for a Ph.D. Grant [SFRH/ BD/77666/2011].info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Biosorption of Multicomponent Solutions: A State of the Art of the Understudy Case

Although there has been an intense study and exploitation of research regarding biosorption processes, the lack of coherent and similar methodologies, essential to the elaboration of any consequential and universal conclusion, associated with the lack of biosorption studies conducted at a pilot and industrial scale, with multicomponent solutions or real effluents, as well as the lack of information regarding the pollutant interactions makes the implementation and commercialization of biosorption technology very complicated. This chapter summarizes the existing knowledge and the experimental work conducted at a pilot scale or industrial scale with multicomponent solutions and critically reviews aspects related to biosorption research regarding the advantages, the disadvantages, the rationale, the scope and scientific value of biosorption processes and the obstacles to commercial success

Justiça, corrupção e suborno em Pernambuco (século XVIII)

A partir de um longo conflito junsdicional ocorrido em Pernambuco no século XVIII, o artigo propõe uma análise da corrupção e do suborno que não esquece as lógicas do privilégio e da hierarquia própnas da Idade Média e do Antigo Regime, ao mesmo tempo que busca compreender a relação profunda entre o vocabulário jurídico, a mentalidade e a cultura dessa época. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTBased on along jurisdictional conflict occurred in Pernambuco in the 18th century, the article proposes an analysis of corruption and bribery that does not forget the logics o f privilege and hierarchy o f the Middle Ages and Ancient Regime. At this time is also important to stress the profound relationship between juridical vocabular)', mentality and culture

Ser mulher na idade média

O movimento historiográfico de recuperação da memória das mulheres ou feminina enseja inúmeras pesquisas sobre a situação da mulher na Idade Média européia, evitando-se a fragmentação e o isolamento do estudo da mulher como ser social. A investigação das circunstâncias da vida monacal em conventos cirstercienses femininos de León, objeto deste artigo, deixou patente que a vida conventual dispunha de âmbito de autonomia e autodeterminação, por causa da origem nobre das monjas de León, bem superior ao da condição camponesa (em geral, independentemente de ser homem ou mulher)

As emoções morais : a vergonha, a culpa, e as bases motivacionais do ser humano

Tese de mestrado integrado em Psicologia (Psicologia Clínica e da Saúde - Núcleo de Psicoterapia Cognitiva-Comportamental e Integrativa), apresentada à Universidade de Lisboa através da Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, 2008Vergonha e Culpa são duas emoções que fazem parte do nosso quotidiano e têm impacto na forma como lidamos com as situações. Por isso, é pertinente perceber quais os seus fundamentos de base. Para tal, neste estudo, propusemos três hipóteses, que relacionam estas duas emoções com o grau de internalização das motivações, tal como conceptualizado pela Teoria da Auto-Determinação: (a) sentimentos de culpa relacionam-se com motivações internalizadas, (b) sentimentos de vergonha com motivações parcialmente internalizadas, e (c) face a situações onde a motivação é exclusivamente extrínseca não se sentiria nenhuma destas emoções. Os resultados são concordantes com as hipóteses a) e c); quanto à hipótese b), o padrão de resultados esperado ocorreu, não para a vergonha, mas para uma reacção que lhe está frequentemente associada (agressividade). Esta confirmação indirecta da nossa hipótese poderá ser devida a problemas metodológicos na avaliação das emoções, particularmente para o caso da vergonha.Shame and Guilt are two emotions that are part of our daily lives and have an impact on how we deal with situations. Therefore, it is relevant to understand their foundations. To this end, in this study, we put forward three hypotheses, that relate these two emotions to the degree of internalization of motivations, as conceptualized in Self-Determination Theory: (a) feelings of guilt are related to internalized motivations, (b) feelings of shame are related to partially internalized motivations, and (c) in situations where the motivation is exclusively extrinsic, none of these emotions is felt. The results are consistent with hypotheses a) and c); as to hypothesis b), the expected pattern of results was found, not for shame, but for a reaction often associated to it (aggressiveness). This indirect confirmation of our hypothesis may be due to methodological problems in the assessment of emotions, particularly in the case of shame