Supported Photocatalyst for Removal of Emerging Contaminants from Wastewater in a Continuous Packed-Bed Photoreactor Configuration

Water pollution from emerging contaminants (ECs) or emerging pollutants is an important environmental problem. Heterogeneous photocatalytic treatment, as advanced oxidation treatment of wastewater effluents, has been proposed to solve this problem. In this paper, a heterogeneous photocatalytic process was studied for emergent contaminants removal using paracetamol as a model contaminant molecule. TiO2 photocatalytic activity was evaluated using two photocatalytic reactor configurations: Photocatalyst solid suspension in wastewater in a stirred photoreactor and TiO2 supported on glass spheres (TGS) configuring a packed bed photoreactor. The surface morphology and texture of the TGS were monitored by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The influence of photocatalyst amount and wastewater pH were evaluated in the stirred photoreactor and the influence of wastewater flowrate was tested in the packed bed photoreactor, in order to obtain the optimal operation conditions. Moreover, results obtained were compared with those obtained from photolysis and adsorption studies, using the optimal operation conditions. Good photocatalytic activities have been observed and leads to the conclusion that the heterogeneous photocatalytic system in a packed bed is an effective method for removal of emerging pollutants

Simposi sobre Tribunals i Mediació : nous camins per a la Justicia : comunicacions : 18-19 de juny/junio de 2009 CosmoCaixa, Barcelona, España

Aquest volum conté les Comunicacions presentades al Simposi sobre Tribunals i Mediació celebrat a Barcelona els dies 18 i 19 de Juny del 2009. Però, en realitat, aquests treballs són en la seva gran majoria contribucions al Projecte de Llibre Blanc de la mediació a Catalunya. Es per aquesta raó que hem optat per efectuar-ne una edició no intrusiva, on cada autor aporta el seu gra de sorra lliurement des de la perspectiva que ha triat. El lector trobarà sens dubte una gran varietat d'apropaments al tema: hi ha reflexions conceptuals, estudis jurídics, experiències de implantació ciutadana, reflexions dels equips tècnics de professionals, experiències de psicòlegs, juristes, advocats i magistrats, i, fins i tot, treballs preliminars. Hi ha escrits de recerca d'una gran qualitat; d'altres, en canvi, són una aportació d'autors més primerencs.El presente volumen comprende las Comunicaciones presentadas en el Simposio sobre Tribunales y Mediación celebrado en Barcelona durante los días 18 y 19 de Junio de 2009. Pero, en realidad, estos trabajos son en su gran mayoría contribuciones al Proyecto de Libro Blanco de la mediación en Cataluña. Por esta razón, hemos optado por efectuar una edición no intrusiva, en la que cada autor aporta libremente su grano de arena desde la perspectiva que le es propia. El lector encontrará sin duda una gran variedad de aproximaciones al tema: hay reflexiones conceptuales, estudios jurídicos, experiencias de implantación ciudadana, reflexiones de los equipos técnicos de profesionales, experiencias de psicólogos, juristas, abogados y magistrados, y trabajos aún muy preliminares. Algunas comunicaciones poseen una gran calidad investigadora; otros, en cambio, constituyen la primera apor- tación al tema de su autor

Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, ventilation management, and outcomes in invasively ventilated intensive care unit patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome: a pooled analysis of four observational studies

Background: Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, the practice of ventilation, and outcome in invasively ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remain unexplored. In this analysis we aim to address these gaps using individual patient data of four large observational studies. Methods: In this pooled analysis we harmonised individual patient data from the ERICC, LUNG SAFE, PRoVENT, and PRoVENT-iMiC prospective observational studies, which were conducted from June, 2011, to December, 2018, in 534 ICUs in 54 countries. We used the 2016 World Bank classification to define two geoeconomic regions: middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs). ARDS was defined according to the Berlin criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patients in MICs versus HICs. The primary outcome was the use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) for the first 3 days of mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes were key ventilation parameters (tidal volume size, positive end-expiratory pressure, fraction of inspired oxygen, peak pressure, plateau pressure, driving pressure, and respiratory rate), patient characteristics, the risk for and actual development of acute respiratory distress syndrome after the first day of ventilation, duration of ventilation, ICU length of stay, and ICU mortality. Findings: Of the 7608 patients included in the original studies, this analysis included 3852 patients without ARDS, of whom 2345 were from MICs and 1507 were from HICs. Patients in MICs were younger, shorter and with a slightly lower body-mass index, more often had diabetes and active cancer, but less often chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure than patients from HICs. Sequential organ failure assessment scores were similar in MICs and HICs. Use of LTVV in MICs and HICs was comparable (42·4% vs 44·2%; absolute difference -1·69 [-9·58 to 6·11] p=0·67; data available in 3174 [82%] of 3852 patients). The median applied positive end expiratory pressure was lower in MICs than in HICs (5 [IQR 5-8] vs 6 [5-8] cm H2O; p=0·0011). ICU mortality was higher in MICs than in HICs (30·5% vs 19·9%; p=0·0004; adjusted effect 16·41% [95% CI 9·52-23·52]; p<0·0001) and was inversely associated with gross domestic product (adjusted odds ratio for a US$10 000 increase per capita 0·80 [95% CI 0·75-0·86]; p<0·0001). Interpretation: Despite similar disease severity and ventilation management, ICU mortality in patients without ARDS is higher in MICs than in HICs, with a strong association with country-level economic status