Chromium(III) Removal from Wastewater by Chitosan Flakes

Chitosan is very effective in removing metal ions through their adsorption. A preliminary investigation of the adsorption of chromium(III) by chitosan was carried out by means of batch tests as a function of contact time, pH, ion competition, and initial chromium(III) concentration. The rate of adsorption was rather rapid (t1/2 < 18 min) and influenced by the presence of other metal ions. The obtained data were tested using the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models and, based on R2 values, the former appeared better applicable than the latter. Chitosan was found to have an excellent loading capacity for chromium(III), namely 138.0 mg Cr per g of chitosan at pH = 3.8, but metal ions adsorption was strongly influenced by the pH. About 76% of the recovered chromium was then removed simply by washing the used chitosan with 0.1 M EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) solution. This study demonstrates that chitosan has the potential to become an effective and low-cost agent for wastewater treatment (e.g., tannery waste) and in situ environmental remediation

Florintesa, a program agreement for the italian botanical gardens and the national floristic heritage.

OUR CLAIM: "The Botanical Gardens are, par excellence, responsible for carrying out the important mission of the conservation of our flora, through specific actions on live plants and their seeds, along with education and outreach aimed at spreading a new environmental culture, more careful and respectful of the essential needs of life, more sensible to the aesthetic and scientific value of the national flora" To overcome the isolation and strengthen their role in our society, the University Botanical Gardens have become promoters of national and European consortiums: examples are the working group "Botanical and Historic Gardens" of the Italian Botanical Society (1) and, on the global level, the Botanic Garden Conservation International (2). Aims and tasks of the Botanical Gardens in the second millennium have been the topic of a thorough debate, with specific references to the provisions of the United Nations Programme for a sustainable development. In particular, the Action Plan for Botanic Gardens in the European Union (3) identifies the following major assets: scientific research, conservation of plant diversity, public advisory services on it, environmental education related to it. To pursue these objectives, initiatives are constantly needed to enhance the visibility of the institutions involved and help them to perform their functions. in this contest was born FLORINTESA FLORINTESA is a program agreement, funded by the Italian Ministry of Education (MIUR) with identification code ACPR12_00201, involving as partners ENEA, Plinianum Forum and the Italian Botanical Society, which contributes to bridge the still existing gap between the scientific research, the technical action of conservation and preservation of plant diversity and the public awareness on such themes. The main objectives of the FLORINTESA can be summarized as follows: - Establishing an institutional network service for information and dissemination on the flora of Italy, with reference to the role of Botanical Gardens as centers of research and knowledge on the national flora, as well as on the assessment and conservation of its rarest species,; - Disseminating and publicizing the activities of the University Botanical Gardens for the flora of Italy; - Increasing the visibility of the Italian Botanical Society and of its working group on "Botanical and Historic Gardens"; - Disseminating the achievements and helpful assistance offered by the Botanical Gardens in the implementation of the National Strategy for Biodiversity (4) and the Natura 2000 Network (5), through initiatives such as the Italian Germplasm Banks Network (6), the International Foundation pro Herbario Mediterraneo (7), the pan-Mediterranean Genmeda network (8), the Horti Mediterranei Educational Network (9). The flora of Italy will be the leitmotif of the actions envisaged in FLORINTESA, highlighting the unique role of the University Botanical Gardens and their respective institutions as "engines of knowledge" on the national flora heritage, as "engines of awareness" on the important issue of conservation of flora and habitats, as "engines of passion" for the grateful acknowledgement of the role of plants as primary producers not only of resources in the natural ecosystems, but also of inspiring beauty in the human cultures. The kick-off meeting, open to all members of the Italian Botanical Society, will take place in Rome, at the Auditorium of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, on January 23, 2014

An Innovative and high-speed technology for sweater monitoring of Asinara Gulf (Sardinia- Italy)

Laser induced fluorescenze technique for sea water monitoring allows no-time consuming, non-invasive and non-destructive controls. In this study, the performance of the new shipboard laser spectrofluorometric CAS-PER (Compact and Advanced Laser Spectrometer –ENEA Patent) for monitoring phytoplankton community composition was examined. The prototype CASPER is based on double laser excitation of water samples in the UV (266 nm) and visible (405 nm) spectral region and a double water filtration in order to detect both quantitative data, such as choromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), proteins-like components (tyrosine, tryptophan), algal pigments (chlorophylls a and b, phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, different pigments of the carotenoid groups) and qualitative data on the presence of hydrocarbons and oil pollutants. Sea water samples from different depths have been collected and analyzed from August 2010 through November 2011 in the Gulf of Asinara (N-W Sardinia). Several sampling stations were selected as sites with different degree of pollution. The accuracy and the reliability of data obtained by CASPER have been evaluated comparing the results with other standard measurements such as: Chlorophyll a (Chl a) data obtained by spectrophotometric method and total phytoplankton abundance in terms of density and class composition. Spectral deconvolution technique was developed and integrated with CASPER system to assess and characterize a marker pigments and organic compounds in situ and in vivo. Field studies confirmed CASPER system capability to effectively discriminate characteritistic spectra of fluorescent water constituents, contributing to decrease the time-consuming manual analysis of the water samples in the laboratory

Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging of plants exposed to biotic and abiotic stress: impact on photochemical response

La forte relazione tra parametri di fluorescenza e capacità di assimilazione della CO2 nelle foglie rendono l’analisi dell’emissione di fluorescenza della clorofilla a una tecnica consolidata per lo studio della performance fotosintetica di una pianta. Diversi fattori di stress, pur se non direttamente coinvolti nei meccanismi fotosintetici, inducono cambiamenti del metabolismo fotosintetico variando significativamente la cinetica di emissione della fluorescenza delle piante. Il valore aggiunto dell’analisi di immagine (imaging) ha contribuito considerevolmente a potenziare questa tecnica, fornendo così informazioni in tempo reale sull’eterogeneità spaziale dell’attività fotosintetica di una foglia e, data la non distruttività della tecnica, dello stesso campione nel tempo. In questo studio piante di Brassica oleracea inoculate con Phoma lingam, patogeno fungino, e talee di pioppo clone I 214 contaminate con alte concentrazioni di zinco sono state analizzate in diversi tempi di misura con fluorimetro Imaging- PAM (Walz, Germany) allo scopo di valutare e monitorare la risposta fotochimica di piante modello sottoposte a differenti stress ambientali mediante l’analisi d’immagine dell’emissione di fluorescenza della clorofilla. È stato inoltre sviluppato un software dedicato ed adattato all’elaborazione delle immagini acquisite di foglie di pioppo per ampliare la conoscenza e comprensione degli effetti indotti e dei meccanismi attivati nella risposta alla presenza di zinco. Variazioni dei parametri di resa quantica, di trasporto elettronico e di quenching fotochimico e non- sono state osservate sia in broccolo che in pioppo, come confermato anche dai cambiamenti nel contenuto dei pigmenti fotosintetici. L’analisi d’immagine di piante inoculate con il fungo ha evidenziato risposte diverse fra aree direttamente colpite dal patogeno e quelle lontane, ma influenzate dalla sua presenza. Oltre all’eterogeneità spaziale nella risposta fotochimica è stata osservata una maggiore attività fotosintetica nell’area adiacente a quella direttamente colpita dal patogeno, come aspettato in un’interazione piantapatogeno biotrofica. L’analisi dei parametri di efficienza fotosintetica e di quenching non fotochimico delle foglie di pioppo hanno evidenziato differenze significative nel tempo e nella capacità di accumulare e tollerare le diverse dosi di zinco. Inoltre, l’eterogeneità di risposta delle immagini ha posto l’attenzione sul possibile ruolo esercitato dai pigmenti fotosintetici ipotizzando un loro coinvolgimento attivo nei diversi meccanismi di tolleranza della pianta in risposta alla presenza di livelli tossici crescenti di un microelemento essenziale. L’emissione di fluorescenza, quindi, si conferma come sonda metabolica idonea per studiare le risposte della pianta in funzione di fattori di stress ambientali quali i metalli pesanti e di agenti biologici come batteri, virus e funghi.The plant defense response to biotic and abiotic stress involves morphological and physiological alterations including changes in chloroplast structure and function. Chlorophyll fluorescence emission kinetics from plants provide an indicator of plant photosynthetic performance. Consequently, perturbations of photosynthetic metabolism significantly modify fluorescence emission kinetic characteristics of plants. Several studies show that the photochemical efficiency of photosystems decreases with stress and the excess energy unused in photosynthesis and dissipated by non-photochemical processes increases. A rapid and noninvasive technique involving imaging of chlorophyll fluorescence is useful tool for early detection of plant responses to various stresses. The analysis and monitoring of fungi disease caused by Phoma lingam on broccoli (Brassica olearacea var. italica) and zinc accumulation in poplar (Populus x euramericana, clone I-214) plants were investigated. The plant photosynthetic performance was monitored by the portable Imaging-PAM fluorometer (Walz, Germany). Chlorophyll fluorescence emission and photochemical parameters analysis in plants at different days after inoculation with fungi and treatment with zinc compared with uninfected and uncontaminated plants were carried out. Moreover, a custom software for analysis of the photochemical parameters images has been developed in order to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms that occur under metal stress. Imaging analysis have been suited to visualize heterogeneity in plant response to stress. The monitoring of biotic stress was confirmed. In fact, even if the symptoms are not evident, the photochemical parameters ( changes in broccoli plants were observed. Further areas of infection corresponding to disease development were evident only in imaging analysis. The analysis of photochemical efficiency and non photochemical quenching in poplar plants show differences both in response to time and in the capability to tolerate different zinc concentration. Therefore, heterogeneity of images suggest that the pigment composition and concentration differ in cells from different regions of the leaf, contributing to spatial differences in photochemical activity and changes in the antenna down-regulation.Dottorato di ricerca in Ecologia forestal

An Integrated Approach to Chlorophyll Monitoring in Surface Freshwater: The Case Study of Lake Albano (Central Italy)

Inland freshwaters are of great importance for human health and activities, but major stressors such as nutrient pollution, deforestation, and urbanization are compromising their status. Water quality degradation and freshwater ecosystem preservation are current issues worldwide requiring frequent and efficient monitoring protocols. The increasing need for large amounts of data to comply with national and international regulations on water quality monitoring highlights traditional procedures limits. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to investigate the potential of alternative and rapid methods for chlorophyll concentration surveys in freshwaters. The Phyto-PAM (pulse amplitude-modulated) instrument and the Case-2 Regional Coast Colour (C2RCC) satellite image processor were selected to estimate chlorophyll concentration in the surface waters of Lake Albano (Central Italy), selected as a pilot area for the project BLOOWATER (Water JPI 2018 Joint Call Closing the Water Cycle Gap). The correlation tests’ results indicate significant relations with chlorophyll data measured spectrophotometrically, confirming the suitability of both methods for chlorophyll retrieval. However, the relatively low strength of the correlation between remotely sensed and spectrophotometric data (r = 0.57, p < 2.2 × 10−16) was not as satisfactory as with Phyto-PAM values (r = 0.97, p = 1.2 × 10−4). Even though the techniques in this study proved to be promising in the water body under investigation, their current limitations suggest the need for further calibration and integration with other systems (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles)

Water Mixing Conditions Influence Sentinel-2 Monitoring of Chlorophyll Content in Monomictic Lakes

Prompt estimation of phytoplankton biomass is critical in determining the ecological quality of freshwaters. Remote Sensing (RS) may provide new opportunities to integrate with situ traditional monitoring techniques. Nonetheless, wide regional and temporal variability in freshwater optical constituents makes it difficult to design universally applicable RS protocols. Here, we assessed the potential of two neural networks-based models, namely the Case 2 Regional CoastColour (C2RCC) processor and the Mixture Density Network (MDN), applied to MSI Sentinel-2 data for monitoring Chlorophyll (Chl) content in three monomictic volcanic lakes while accounting for the effect of their specific water circulation pattern on the remotely-sensed and in situ data relation. Linear mixed models were used to test the relationship between the remote sensing indices calculated through C2RCC (INN) and MDN (IMDN), and in situ Chl concentration. Both indices proved to explain a large portion of the variability in the field data and exhibited a positive and significant relationship between Chl concentration and satellite data, but only during the mixing phase. The significant effect of the water circulation period can be explained by the low responsiveness of the RS approaches applied here to the low phytoplankton biomass, typical of the stratification phase. Sentinel-2 data proved their valuable potential for the remote sensing of phytoplankton in small inland water bodies, otherwise challenging with previous sensors. However, caution should be taken, since the applicability of such an approach on certain water bodies may depend on hydrological and ecological parameters (e.g., thermal stratification and seasonal nutrient availability) potentially altering RS chlorophyll detection by neural networks-based models, despite their alleged global validity

Effects of White and Blue-Red Light on Growth and Metabolism of Basil Grown under Microcosm Conditions

Indoor farming of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) under artificial lighting to support year-round produce demand is an area of increasing interest. Literature data indicate that diverse light regimes differently affect downstream metabolic pathways which influence basil growth, development and metabolism. In this study, basil was grown from seedlings to fully developed plants in a microcosm, an innovative device aimed at growing plants indoor as in natural conditions. Specifically, the effects of white (W) and blue-red (BR) light under a photosynthetic photon flux density of 255 μmol m−2 s−1 on plant growth, photochemistry, soluble nutrient concentration and secondary metabolism were investigated. Plants grew taller (41.8 ± 5.0 vs. 28.4 ± 2.5 cm) and produced greater biomass (150.3 ± 24.2/14.7 ± 2.0 g vs. 116.2 ± 28.3/12.3 ± 2.5 g fresh/dry biomass) under W light compared to BR light. The two lighting conditions differently influenced the soluble nutrient concentration and the translocation rate. No photosynthetic stress was observed under the two lighting regimes, but leaves grown under W light displayed higher levels of maximum quantum yield of PSII and electron transport rate. Sharp differences in metabolic patterns under the two lighting regimes were detected with higher concentrations of phenolic compounds under the BR light