Cursos de formación continua on-line de la SEM. Cinco años de actividad.

Se presentan los objetivos y las actividades llevadas a cabo en el área de formación continua on-line de la Sociedad Española de Microbiología (SEM)

Comparison of microcrystalline and ultrananocrystalline boron doped diamond anodes: Influence on perfluorooctanoic acid electrolysis

This work aims to study the effect of the distinctive chemical and structural surface features of boron doped diamond (BDD) anodes on their electrochemical performance for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) degradation. Commercial BDD anodes were compared: (i) a microcrystalline (MCD) coating on silicon; and (ii) an ultrananocrystalline (UNCD) coating on niobium. MCD gave rise to the complete PFOA (0.24 mmol L−1) degradation in 4 h, at any applied current density in the range 1–5 mA cm−2. On the contrary, only 21% PFOA removal was achieved when using UNCD at 5 mA cm−2 under comparable experimental conditions. Similarly, the total organic carbon (TOC) was reduced by 89% using MCD, whereas only 13% TOC decrease was obtained by UNCD. In order to explain the dissimilar electrochemical activities, the morphological and chemical characterization of the electrode materials was developed by means of FESEM microscopy, XPS and Raman spectroscopy. The UNCD anode surface showed characteristic ultrananocrystalline grain size (2–25 nm), higher boron doping and greater content of H-terminated carbon, whereas the MCD anode was less conductive but contained higher sp3 carbon on the anode surface. Overall, the MCD electrode features allowed more efficient PFOA electrolysis than the UNCD anode. As a result of their distinctive performance, the energy needed for the maximum PFOA degradation (after 4 h) using MCD anode was only 1.4 kWh m−3, while the estimated energy consumption for the UNCD anode would be 37-fold higher. It is concluded that the use of the MCD anode involves considerable energy costs savings.Financial support from the projects CTM2013-44081-R, CTM2016-75509-R and to the Spanish Excellence Network E3TECH (CTQ2015-71650-RDT) (MINECO, SPAIN-FEDER 2014–2020) is gratefully acknowledged. B. Gomez also thanks the FPI research scholarship (BES-2014-071045). Dr. J. Carrillo-Abad is gratefully acknowledged for performing the cyclic voltammograms included in supplementary data

Materiales calcolíticos procedentes de "La Longuera" (El Viso, Córdoba)

El norte de la provincia de Córdoba conforma un marco de enorme interés para el análisis de los primeros momentos de la metalurgia en Andalucía Occidental dada la excepcional riqueza en recursos mineros, y muy especialmente cupríferos que encierra su subsuelo. A este hecho viene a sumarse su singularidad geográfica como lugar de interrelación entre los desarrollos culturales coetáneos en el valle del Guadalquivir, Extremadura y zona occidental de la Submeseta sur. Conscientes de estos hechos, nos planteamos hace varios años un programa de investigación que, partiendo de una serie de prospecciones sistemáticas, nos permitiera una primera y sólida aproximación a la dinámica del Calcolítico en estas tierras cordobesas, labor que ya ha dado sus primeros frutos (MURILLO, 1986,1986 b, 1987) y en la que debe inscribirse el presente trabajo

Caracterización del biodeterioro en películas cinematográficas de interés patrimonial en Cuba

La conservación del patrimonio cultural constituye una actividad de vital importancia para salvaguardar nuestra identidad, así como para transmitir conocimientos sobre hechos históricos de gran importancia. Las obras de arte y los documentos, son testimonio de lo acontecido en nuestro pasado y presente por lo que su preservación a lo largo del tiempo es vital para las futuras generaciones. Se ha observado, en repositorios cinematográficos, que la contaminación microbiana ambiental puede deteriorar las películas cinematográficas [1]. El objetivo del presente trabajo es identificar los microorganismos que deterioran las películas cinematográficas del Patrimonio Documental de Cuba mediante técnicas biotecnológicas y microscópicas para después establecer una política de conservación certera en la institución

Factors affecting mass transport properties of poly(Ɛ-caprolactone) membranes for tissue engineering bioreactors

High porosity and mass transport properties of microfiltration polymeric membranes benefit nutrients supply to cells when used as scaffolds in interstitial perfusion bioreactors for tissue engineering. High nutrients transport is assumed when pore size and porosity of the membrane are in the micrometric range. The present work demonstrates that the study of membrane fouling by proteins present in the culture medium, though not done usually, should be included in the routine testing of new polymer membranes for this intended application. Two poly(ε-caprolactone) microfiltration membranes presenting similar average pore size (approximately 0.7 µm) and porosity (>80%) but different external surface porosity and pore size have been selected as case studies. The present work demonstrates that a membrane with lower surface pore abundance and smaller external pore size (approximately 0.67 µm), combined with adequate hydrodynamics and tangential flow filtration mode is usually more convenient to guarantee high flux of nutrients. On the contrary, having large external pore size (approximately 1.70 µm) and surface porosity would incur important internal protein fouling that could not be prevented with the operation mode and hydrodynamics of the perfusion system. Additionally, the use of glycerol in the drying protocols of the membranes might cause plasticization and a consequent reduction of mass transport properties due to membrane compaction by the pressure exerted to force perfusion. Therefore, preferentially, drying protocols that omit the use of plasticizing agents are recommended.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO, SPAIN-FEDER 2014–2020) through project CTM2016-75509-R

Photocatalytic degradation and mineralization of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) using a composite TiO2 -rGO catalyst

The inherent resistance of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) to biological degradation makes necessary to develop advanced technologies for the abatement of this group of hazardous substances. The present work investigated the photocatalytic decomposition of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) using a composite catalyst based on TiO2 and reduced graphene oxide (95% TiO2/5% rGO) that was synthesized using a facile hydrothermal method. The efficient photoactivity of the TiO2-rGO (0.1 g L-1) composite was confirmed for PFOA (0.24 mmol L-1) degradation that reached 93 ± 7% after 12 h of UV-vis irradiation using a medium pressure mercury lamp, a great improvement compared to the TiO2 photocatalysis (24 ± 11% PFOA removal) and direct photolysis (58 ± 9%). These findings indicate that rGO provided the suited properties of TiO2-rGO, possibly as a result of acting as electron acceptor and avoiding the high recombination electron/hole pairs. The release of fluoride and the formation of shorter-chain perfluorocarboxilyc acids, that were progressively eliminated in a good match with the analysed reduction of total organic carbon, is consistent with a step-by-step PFOA decomposition via photogenerated hydroxyl radicals. Finally, the apparent first order rate constants of the TiO2-rGO UV-vis PFOA decompositions, and the intermediate perfluorcarboxylic acids were found to increase as the length of the carbon chain was shorter.Financial support from projects CTM2013-44081-R, CTM2015-69845-R and CTM2016-75509-R (MINECO, SPAIN-FEDER 2014–2020) is acknowledged. B. Gomez thanks the FPI scholarship (BES-2014-071045)

Promoting light hydrocarbons yield by catalytic hydrodechlorination of residual chloromethanes using palladium supported on zeolite catalysts

Gas catalytic hydrodechlorination (HDC) of trichloromethane (TCM) and dichloromethane (DCM) was analyzed using Pd (1 wt.%) on different zeolites as catalysts. The aim of this study was to know the surface properties of the catalysts and reaction conditions that promote the yield to light hydrocarbons in this reaction. Five different zeolite supports were used from three commercial zeolites (KL, L-type; NaY, Faujasite; H-MOR, Mordenite). KL and NaY were submitted to ionic exchange treatments in order to increase their acidity and analyze the effect of the acidity in the activity and selectivity of the HDC reaction. Exchanged zeolites (HL and HY) showed the highest Pd dispersion due to their higher surface acidity. The best TCM/DCM conversion and selectivity to light hydrocarbons was obtained using the two non-exchanged zeolite-catalysts, KL and NaY. Low surface acidity seems to be the key aspect to promote the formation of light hydrocarbons. The formation of these products is favored at high reaction temperatures and low H2: chloromethane ratios. KL showed the highest selectivity to olefins (60%), although with a lower dechlorination degree. Non-exchanged NaY catalyst showed high selectivity to paraffins (70% and 95% for the HDC of DCM and TCM, respectively)Authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from FEDER/Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades—Agencia Estatal de Investigación/ CTM2017-85498-R. C. Fernández Ruiz acknowledges MINECO for his research gran

Boron doped diamond electrooxidation of 6:2 fluorotelomers and perfluorocarboxylic acids. Application to industrial wastewaters treatment

The aim of this study was to determine the viability of electrochemical oxidation to degrade and mineralize poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in wastewaters from an industrial facility dedicated to the production of side-chain-fluorinated polymers and fluorotelomer-based products for fire-fighting foams. 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide alkylbetaine (6:2 FTAB, 1111 μg/L), 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSA, 242.5 μg/L) and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide propyl N,N dimethylamine (M4, 34.4 μg/L) were the most abundant PFASs in the industrial wastewater, that also contained perfluorocarboxylic acids (ΣPFCAs, 12.2 μg/L), high TOC and chloride as main anion. 2 L samples were treated in bench scale experiments performed at a current density of 50 mA/cm2, in a commercial cell equipped with a boron doped diamond (BDD) anode (70 cm2). 97.1% of the initial PFASs content was removed after 8 h of electrochemical treatment. Furthermore, the TOC removal (82.5%) and the fluoride release confirmed the PFASs mineralization. Based on the evolution of the different PFASs, electrochemical degradation pathways were proposed. Fluorotelomers sulfonamides 6:2 FTAB and M4 would be degraded into 6:2 FTSA, which conversely would give rise to PFHpA and preferentially PFHxA. The latter PFCAs were transformed into shorter-chain PFCAs, and eventually into CO2 and fluoride. The reported results support the technical viability of BDD electrooxidation for the treatment of PFASs in industrial wastewater.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (CTM2013-44081-R and CTM2016-75509-R). B. Gomez also thanks the FPI postgraduate research grant (BES-2014-071045)

Bioactive compounds content and total antioxidant activity of two savoy cabbages

Se han identificado, cuantificado y comparado los compuestos bioactivos, así como la actividad antioxidante in vitro, de dos cultivos de repollo, Dama y Leticia, cultivados en el oeste de España. Encontramos que el cv. Dama, presentado en general, mejora los resultados en comparación con el cv. Leticia. El cv. Dama presentó una mayor concentración de clorofila (2,26 mg / 100 g de peso en fresco), un contenido fenólico total (102,71 mg de equivalente de ácido clorogénico / 100 g en peso fresco) y unos glucosinolatos totales intactos (195,22 μmol de equivalente de sinigrina / 100 g de peso fresco). Así, el cv. Dama exhibió unos valores más altos de actividad antioxidante in vitro.The bioactive compounds, as well as the in vitro antioxidant activity of two Savoy cabbage cultivars, Dama and Leticia, grown in west of Spain under similar conditions were identified, quantified and compared. We found that cv. Dama presented in general betters results when compared with cv. Leticia. Cv. Dama presented higher concentrations of chlorophyll a (2.26 mg/100 g fresh weight), total phenolic content (102.71 mg of chlorogenic acid equivalent/100 g fresh weight) and total intact glucosinolates (195.22 μmol of sinigrin equivalent/100 g fresh weight). Thus, cv. Dama exhibited higher values of in vitro antioxidant activity.María Fernanda Fernández León agradece la ayuda prestada por el Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria (INIA) Trabajo parcialmente patrocinado por la Junta de Extremadura y Fondos FEDER. Proyecto GR10006 Los autores agradecen el estudio de campo realizado en la Finca La Orden-Valdesequera (Junta de Extremadura) a partir de muestras de colpeerReviewe

Comunicar, colaborar, aprender: el caso de la intranet de la Biblioteca de la Universidad de Burgos

Comunicación presentada en las 4as. Jornadas BUCLE sobre bibliotecas universitarias, celebradas en Ávila los días 16 y 17 de septiembre de 2010.[ES] Desde el año 2007 la Biblioteca de la Universidad de Burgos dispone de una nueva intranet corporativa que está planteada como una herramienta para la gestión automatizada de las acciones que componen los 9 criterios del modelo EFQM. Sus objetivos son facilitar la comunicación interna y el trabajo colaborativo mejorando el flujo de la información, de forma que sea posible un proceso continuo de aprendizaje, innovación y mejora. Consta de los siguientes módulos: Gestión documental, Gestión de procedimientos, Gestión de indicadores, Gestión de incidencias, Agenda de eventos y Foros de discusión