ESPECIES INTERESANTES, PERTENECIENTES A LA SUPERFAMILIA BELBOIDEA (ACARI, ORIBATEI) RECOGIDAS EN VIZAYA Y UNA ZONA AFÍN: EPZDAMAEUS PLESIOMORPHICUS N. SP.

The species belonging to the superfamily Belboidea, collected in several ecosystems of Vizcaya and its limit with Alava and Burgos, are studied. Epidamaeus plesiomorphicus n. sp. is proposed as a new species for Science. Damaeus cf. crispatus Kulczynski is recorded for the first time in the Iberian Peninsule.Se estudian las especies pertenecientes a la superfamilia Belboidea recogidas en varios ecosistemas de Vizcaya y una zona próxima, entre Alava y Burgos. Se describe Epidamaeus plesiomorphicus n. sp. y se cita, por primera vez en la Península Ibérica, a Damaeus cf. crispatus Kulczynski

Environmental Impacts of Graphite Recycling from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries Based on Life Cycle Assessment

[EN]With the emergence of portable electronics and electric vehicle adoption, the last decade has witnessed an increasing fabrication of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The future development of LIBs is threatened by the limited reserves of virgin materials, while the inadequate management of spent batteries endangers environmental and human health. According to the Circular Economy principles aiming at reintroducing end-of-life materials back into the economic cycle, further attention should be directed to the development and implementation of battery recycling processes. To enable sustainable paths for graphite recovery, the environmental footprint of state-of-the-art graphite recycling through life cycle assessment is analyzed quantifying the contribution of nine recycling methods combining pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical approaches to indicators such as global warming, ozone layer depletion potential, ecotoxicity, eutrophication, or acidification. Laboratory-scale recycling is scaled up into pilot-scale processes able to treat 100 kg of spent graphite. With values ranging from 0.53 to 9.76 kg.CO2 equiv. per 1 kg of graphite, energy consumption and waste acid generation are the main environmental drivers. A sensitivity analysis demonstrates a 20-73% impact reduction by limiting to one-fourth the amount of H2SO4. Combined processes involving hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy give environmentally preferable results. The electrochemical performance of regenerated graphite is also compared with virgin battery-grade graphite. This work provides cues boosting the environmentally sustainable recyclThe authors are grateful for Open Access funding provided by the University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU)

Type of broadleaf forest matters most for ptyctimous mite communities (Acari, Oribatida) in Norway

We studied ptyctimous moss mites, which are characteristic of forest habitats, in Norwegian broadleaf forests considered as biodiversity hotspot areas in Fennoscandia. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of different factors (regional locality, annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, forest type, forest wetness and microhabitat) on the ptyctimous mites and on discovering their richness in broadleaf forests. Samples were collected from nine broadleaf forests in Western, Southern and Eastern Norway, in different climatic conditions, six forest types, three forest wetness states and eight microhabitats. Overall, 3341 ptyctimous mites were collected and their abundance differed significantly among the regions, forest types and microhabitats. Forest type turned out to be the most important factor, responsible for 24.5% of the total variation in the abundance of the ptyctimous mites. Other important factors were forest wetness and microhabitat. In total, 27 species, i.e., 87% of all ptyctimous mites known from before in Norway were found and the species richness was highest in the east and lowest in the west of the country. Atropacarus (Atropacarus) striculus was most common and most abundant; it made nearly 30% of all ptyctimous mites collected. On the other hand, a quarter of the species were represented by less than 10 specimens; most of these were new records for Norway. Among ten species discovered as new to Norway, four were also new to Fennoscandia. These findings confirm the unique character and high biological diversity of Norwegian broadleaf forests.publishedVersio

Influence of Cryogenic Treatment on Wear Resistance and Microstructure of AISI A8 Tool Steel

The effects of deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) on the wear behavior of different tool steels have been widely reported in the scientific literature with uneven results. Some tool steels show a significant improvement in their wear resistance when they have been cryogenically treated while others exhibit no relevant amelioration or even a reduction in their wear resistance. In this study, the influence of DCT was investigated for a grade that has been barely studied in the scientific literature, the AISI A8 air-hardening medium-alloy cold work tool steel. Several aspects were analyzed in the present work: the wear resistance of the alloy, the internal residual stress, and finally the secondary carbide precipitation in terms of lengths and occupied area and its distribution into the microstructure. The results revealed a reduction in the wear rate of about 14% when the AISI A8 was cryogenically treated before tempering. The number of carbides that precipitated into the microstructure was 6% higher for the cryogenically treated samples, increasing from 0.68% to 0.73% of the total area they covered. Furthermore, the distribution of the carbides into the microstructure was more homogenous for the cryogenically treated samples.This research was funded by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Trade, and Tourism of the Basque Country Government through the S-PE12UN080 SAIOTEK project

Ácaros Oribátidos interesantes del País Vasco. Nuevas citas (Acari, Oribatida)

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Chitosan–Chitin Nanocrystal Films from Lobster and Spider Crab: Properties and Environmental Sustainability

The valorization of chitinous biomass from underutilized renewable carbon feedstock offers alternative routes for bioproduct development, reducing our dependence on nonrenewable and nonbiodegradable materials composed of fossil carbon. This work utilizes crustacean waste consisting of inedible shells to isolate chitin and its derivatives, chitin nanocrystals and chitosan, from lobster (Homarus gammarus) and spider crab (Maja squinado) shells. Chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs) with a degree of acetylation >93% and crystallinity >90% were obtained by demineralization, deproteinization and acid-hydrolysis, while chitosan was obtained by chitin deacetylation. Free-standing chitosan/ChNCs films were then fabricated from lobster and spider crab after dissolution and casting using 1.5% v/v formic acid. Lobster-derived materials exhibited a good balance between UV-shielding ability, blocking >96% of UV-C and UV-B, while being transparent at visible wavelengths. Neat chitosan films are semiductile, with elongations at break >13% and Young’s modulus values of 2.3 ± 0.7 and 3.4 ± 1.2 GPa for lobster and spider crab-derived chitosan, respectively. Besides, the incorporation of ChNCs increases the Young’s modulus to 5.5 ± 0.8 GPa at 2 wt % for lobster-derived films. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to quantify the environmental impact of film production and identify process hotspots for future optimization. A carbon footprint of 79.8 kg CO2 equiv·kg–1 is obtained for chitosan/ChNC films processed using a 100% renewable energy mix. Results demonstrate that lobster-derived materials are relevant contenders toward defossilization by developing renewable-carbon containing bioproducts with competitive performance against fossil-based materials due to their optical and mechanical properties, as well as their potential biodegradability.Financial support from the “2021 Euskampus Missions 1.0. Programme” granted by Euskampus Fundazioa is acknowledged. The authors are thankful for funds from the University of the Basque Country (GIU21/010)

3D printing to enable the reuse of marine plastic waste with reduced environmental impacts

Over the years, our oceans have witnessed an enormous accumulation of marine plastic waste resulting from ocean-related economic activities. As plastic pollution adversely affects marine wildlife and habitat, our society requires urgent solutions to address this increasingly alarming dilemma. Here, we turn our attention to circular economy principles to reduce the amount of nonbiodegradable petroleum-based marine litter. We consider a production process based on 3D printing to fabricate products for the marine industry, which uses marine plastic waste as a source material. Additionally, the suitability of virgin bio-based polyamide (bio-PA), polylactic acid (PLA), and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is explored. PHB is selected due to its extraordinary rapid biodegradation in aquatic environments. To quantify the environmental impacts of the proposed processes, a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) is applied according to ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006 standards. Different end-of-life alternatives are proposed, including landfill deposition, thermal degradation, and composting. LCA results reveal that the use of marine plastic waste is environmentally preferred in comparison with bio-PA, PLA, and PHB. Specifically, the global warming indicator, considered a prime driver toward sustainability, shows a 3.7-fold decrease in comparison with bio-PA. Importantly, the environmental impacts of PHB production through crude glycerol fermentation are quantified for the first time. Regarding the end-of-life options with a composting scenario, PLA and PHB are preferred as they yield biogenic carbon dioxide (CO2), which can be used as a renewable energy source.CircularSeas European Interreg Project: aimed at the promotion of the Green Economy in the Atlantic area, and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme

Mites (Oribatida and Mesostigmata) and vegetation as complementary bioindicators in peatlands

Vegetation is widely used in the assessment of the quality of peatlands, while the invertebrate fauna of peatlands is relatively poorly studied. We compared the bioindicator values of vegetation with two arthropod groups widespread in peatlands, saprophagous Oribatida (Acariformes) and predatory Mesostigmata (Parasitiformes) mites. Samples were collected from ecotones at the edges of peatland ponds in Poland, including four in near-natural condition (i.e., peatlands unaffected by human activity) and three in previously disturbed but now recovering peatlands. A set of abiotic parameters was measured at each site: pond area, mean annual temperature, annual precipitation, and water parameters (pH, conductivity, colour, total nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and organic carbon). Overall, 63,635 specimens of Oribatida and 448 of Mesostigmata were recovered in the sampling. Species richness of Oribatida (56 species) was higher than that of flora (46) and Mesostigmata (15). Vegetation was significantly associated with annual precipitation in the years 1998–2007 which accounted for 29.1 % of the variation in vegetation communities. Oribatida variability was significantly associated with the content of organic carbon in water accounting for 32.4 % of variation. In contrast, variation in the Mesostigmata was not significantly associated with any of the abiotic parameters. Vegetation at ponds in previously disturbed and now recovering peatlands had higher bush cover than at near-natural ponds and the pond in the cutaway peat had lowest moss cover and the highest number of associate species (i.e., species with wide tolerance not characteristic of the certain community). Mite communities did not differ consistently between near-natural and recovering peatlands. Sphagnum divinum Flatberg et Hassel was recorded from Poland for the first time.publishedVersio

Sustainable PHBH–Alumina Nanowire Nanocomposites: Properties and Life Cycle Assessment

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH) is a bio-based polyester with the potential to replace some common polymers of fossil origin. However, PHBH presents serious limitations, such as low stiffness, tendency to undergo crystallization over long time periods and low resistance to thermal degradation during processing. In this work, we studied the use of alumina nanowires to generate PHBH–alumina nanocomposites, modifying the properties of PHBH to improve its usability. Solvent casting and melt blending were used to produce the nanocomposites. Then, their physicochemical properties and aquatic toxicity were measured. Finally, LCA was used to evaluate and compare the environmental impacts of several scenarios relevant to the processing and end of life (EoL) conditions of PHBHs. It was observed that, at low concentrations (3 wt.%), the alumina nanowires have a small positive impact on the stiffness and thermal degradation for the samples. However, for higher concentrations, the observed effects differed for each of the applied processing techniques (solvent casting or melt blending). The toxicity measurements showed that PHBH alone and in combination with alumina nanowires (10 wt.%) did not produce any impact on the survival of brine shrimp larvae after 24 and 48 h of exposure. The 18 impact categories evaluated by LCA allowed defining the most environmentally friendly conditions for the processing and EoL of PHBHs, and comparing the PHBH-related impacts to those of some of the most common fossil-based plastics. It was concluded that the preferable processing technique for PHBH is melt blending and that PHBH is unquestionably more environmentally friendly than every other analyzed plastic.This research was funded by 4gune/KSIgune “Siemens-Gamesa Students4Sustainability 2021, the Basque Government (consolidated research group IT1743-22), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation project FIERA (PID2021-128600OB-I00) and the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) (recognized research group GIU20/004)