Abatement of 1,2,4-trichlorobencene by wet peroxide oxidation catalysed by goethite and enhanced by visible led light at neutral ph

There is significant environmental concern about chlorinated organic compounds (COCs) in wastewater, surface water, and groundwater due to their low biodegradability and high persistence. In this work, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (124-TCB) was selected as a model compound to study its abatement using wet peroxide oxidation at neutral pH with goethite as a heterogeneous catalyst, which was enhanced with visible monochromatic light-emitting diode (LED) light (470 nm). A systematic study of the main operating variables (oxidant and catalyst concentration and irradiance) was accomplished to investigate their influence in the abatement of 124-TCB in water. The reaction was carried out in a well-mixed reactor of glass irradiated by a visible LED light. The hydrogen peroxide concentration was tested from 0 to 18 mM, the goethite concentration within the range 0.1–1.0 g·L−1 and the irradiance from 0.10 to 0.24 W·cm−2 at neutral pH. It was found that this oxidation method is a very efficient technique to abate 124-TCB, reaching a pollutant conversion of 0.9 when using 0.1 g·L−1 of goethite, 18 mM of H2O2, and 0.24 of W·cm−2 . Moreover, the system performance was evaluated using the photonic efficiency (ratio of the moles of 124-TCB abated and the moles of photons arriving at the reactor window). The maximum photonic efficiencies were obtained using the lowest lamp powers and moderate to high catalyst loads.Fil: Lorenzo, David. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: Santos, Aurora. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: Sánchez-Yepes, Andrés. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: Conte, Leandro Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Domínguez, Carmen María. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Españ

Abatement of Naphthalene by Persulfate Activated by Goethite and Visible LED Light at Neutral pH: Effect of Common Ions and Organic Matter.

Naphthalene (NAP) has received particular attention due to its impact on the environment and human health, mandating its removal from water systems. In this work, the abatement of NAP in the aqueous phase was achieved using persulfate (PS) activated by Fe (III) and monochromatic LED light at a natural pH. The reaction was carried out in a slurry batch reactor using goethite as the Fe (III) source. The influence of the PS concentration, goethite concentration, irradiance, temperature and presence of organic matter, chloride, and bicarbonate on the abatement of NAP was studied. These variables were shown to have a different effect on NAP removal. The irradiance showed a maximum at 0.18 W⋅cm−2W·cm−2 where the photonic efficiency was the highest. As for the concentration of goethite and PS, the influence of the first one was negligible, whereas for PS, the best results were reached at 1.2 mM due to a self-inhibitory effect at higher concentrations. The temperature effect was also negative in the PS consumption. Regarding the effect of ions, chloride had no influence on NAP conversion but carbonates and humic acids were affected. Lastly, this treatment to remove NAP has proved to be an effective technique since minimum conversions of 0.92 at 180 min of reaction time were reached. Additionally, the toxicity of the final samples was decreased.Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de MaterialesFac. de Ciencias QuímicasTRUEComunidad de MadridMinisterio de Economía y CompetitividadMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovaciónpu

Caracterización molecular del Potato virus V (PVV) infectando Solanum phureja mediante secuenciación de nueva generación

Las enfermedades virales son uno de los problemas más limitantes para la producción de papa en el mundo. Uno de los materiales de papa más susceptibles a los virus corresponde a Solanum phureja; sin embargo, en Colombia son pocos los estudios adelantados sobre los agentes causales que lo afectan. En este trabajo se realizó una caracterización molecular del Potato virus V (PVV) infectando plantas de S. phureja en Antioquia, utilizando métodos de secuenciación de nueva generación (NGS), pruebas de DAS-ELISA, RT-PCR en tiempo real (RT-qPCR) y RT-PCR convencional. Los resultados indican la ocurrencia de niveles muy variables de incidencia del virus entre lotes de cultivo (6,7 % a 86 %). El PVV tiene un genoma de 9828 nt que codifica para una poliproteína de 3066 aa y presenta dos variantes principales (Var_A y Var_B) en proporciones de 72 y 28 %. Estas variantes comparten altos niveles de identidad genética (99,7 % en todo el genoma) entre ellas y con respecto a la cepa PVV-Phureja reportada en Colombia, pero no con otras cepas del mundo (82-83 %). Con base en dichos genomas, se diseñaron y evaluaron en muestras foliares de S. phureja, dos pares de cebadores para la detección del virus en pruebas de RT-PCR (459 pb) y RT-qPCR (89 pb, Ct=12,08-21,86 y Tm= 78,7 °C-80,2 °C), confirmándose la presencia de este virus en tejidos sintomáticos y asintomáticos de papa criolla. La ocurrencia generalizada de PVV en los cultivos de S. phureja indica la necesidad de incorporar en los programas de certificación de tubérculos-semilla de S. phureja en Colombia el diagnóstico de este virus.Viral diseases are one of the most limiting problems in the production of potato worldwide. Solanum phureja constitutes one of the most susceptible materials to viral diseases in Colombia; however, there are few studies on viruses infecting this crop. In the current study, we performed a molecular characterization of Potato virus V (PVV) that infects S. phureja, using different potato plots located in the province of Antioquia, using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), DAS-ELISA, real time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) and RT-PCR. Results revealed variable levels of incidence among plots (6.7 %-86 %) and the presence of two slightly different variants (Var_A and Var_B) present in approximately 72 %:28 % ratio. These PVV strains have a genome of 9828 nt codifying for a polyprotein of 3066 aa and share high nucleotide sequence identity (99,7 % in their complete genome) with respect to PVV-Phureja, recently described in Colombia, but are very divergent with respect to currently available PVV genomes (82-83 %). The genome information was used to design two sets of primers, useful in the specific detection of this virus in S. phureja leaf samples through RT-PCR (459 bp) and RT-qPCR (89 bp, Ct=12.08-21.86; Tm=78.7 °C-80.2 °C). This study underscores the importance of including diagnostics of PVV in S. phureja tuber-seed certification programs in Colombia

LED visible light assisted photochemical oxidation of HCHs in aqueous phases polluted with DNAPL

This work focuses on removing hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) found in groundwater polluted with dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) by photo-oxidation with hydrogen peroxide or persulfate using LED visible light and ferrioxalate as the catalyst. Single oxidation tests were also performed to evaluate the contribution of LED-vis light on HCHs removal. Results show that it is possible to attain the degradation of HCHs up to 85% in 420 min with persulfate, whereas percentages lower than 40% are obtained when using hydrogen peroxide. Using both oxidants in the presence of ferrioxalate and LED visible light promotes the generation of hydroxyl and sulfate radicals under circumneutral pH values, which are the main responsible species for HCHs removal. Specifically, an oxidant conversion higher than 50% was achieved during the photochemical treatment with both oxidants, whereas conversions below 20% were obtained in the absence of LED visible light irradiation. On the other hand, DNAPL produced as liquid residuum of lindane production contains other chlorinated organic compounds (COCs), which are susceptible to being oxidized by hydroxyl and sulfate radicals, generating competitive oxidation reactions. The final conversion of chlorbenzenes reaches values close to 100% and HCHs are only effectively removed when persulfate is used as the oxidant. This better performance indicates that the photo-oxidation of DNAPL polluted groundwater with LED-vis light should be carried out with persulfate to ensure the removal of more dangerous COCs. This confirms the excellent ability of sulfate radicals for C-Cl bond breakdown

Isolation and characterization of potential phytase-producing fungi from environmental samples of antioquia (colombia) / aislamiento y caracterización de hongos productores de fitasa a partir de muestras ambientales de antioquia (colombia)

Abstract. Phytases are enzymes used as feed additive that enhance the phosphorus and mineral uptake in monogastric animals and reduce the level of phosphate excretion in their manure. Due to their easy cultivation and high production of extracellular enzymes, filamentous fungi are one of best sources of phytase for use in the feed industry. Phytase has been found principally in the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor and Rhizopus. In this work, we report the isolation and characterization of environmental fungi producers of phytase with potential use as feed additives. Samples were collected from soils, fruits and cereals in Antioquia (Colombia). A total of 26 fungal strains were isolated and identified using ITS sequencing and morphological analysis. Strains belonged to the following genera: Penicillium, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Mortierella, Pestalotiopsis, Phoma, Paecilomyces and Rigidoporus. Fifty percent of isolates exhibited halos in phytase screening agar indicating that acidic phytases are common enzymes secreted by environmental fungi. Ten isolates were also able to grow in liquid phytase screening medium revealing their potential use for enzyme production in submerged fermentations. Molecular detection of the PhyA gene from Aspergillus was achieved. Partial sequence of the phyA gene from one A. niger isolate was obtained and analyzed. / Resumen. Las fitasas son enzimas utilizadas como aditivo en productos de alimentación animal, con el fin de mejorar la asimilación de fósforo y minerales en animales monogástricos y disminuir la excreción de fósforo al ambiente. Los hongos filamentosos son una de las mejores fuentes de fitasas debido a su facilidad de cultivo y altos niveles de producción de enzimas extracelulares. Los principales productores de fitasas corresponden a miembros de los géneros Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor y Rhizopus. En este trabajo se reporta el aislamiento y caracterización de hongos ambientales productores de fitasas con aplicación potencial en la industria de alimentación animal. Se obtuvieron e identificaron un total de 26 aislamientos; caracterizados por secuenciación de la región ITS-ADNr y análisis morfológico. Los aislamientos pertenecieron a los siguientes géneros: Penicillium, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Mortierella, Pestalotiopsis, Phoma, Paecilomyces y Rigidoporus. Se observó la secreción de fitasas en 50% de los aislamientos sugiriendo la ubiquidad de esta enzima en hongos ambientales. Diez aislamientos crecieron eficientemente en medio líquido con fitato como única fuente de fósforo. Estos últimos cumplen con los requisitos para la producción de enzimas mediante fermentación sumergida. Se diseñaron cebadores para la detección molecular del gen PhyA en los aislamientos del género Aspergillus. Se obtuvo y analizó la secuencia parcial del gen PhyA de un aislamiento de A. nige

Regeneration of Granulated Spent Activated Carbon with 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene Using Thermally Activated Persulfate

Chlorinated organic compounds (COCs) are persistent organic pollutants often found in groundwater near industrial sites or in industrial wastewaters. Adsorption into activated carbon is a common strategy to remediate these waters, but spent activated carbon results in a toxic residue to manage. To avoid the transport of the chlorinated compounds out of the site, the in-situ regeneration of the spent activated carbon can be considered for reuse to implement a circular economy. In this work, the regeneration of a commercial granular activated carbon (GAC) has been carried out using thermally activated sodium persulfate (TAP). GAC was previously saturated in 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (124-TCB) as the model compound. The initial adsorption value was 350 mg124 TCB·gGAC −1 . First, the nonproductive consumption of sodium persulfate was studied at different temperatures using nonsaturated GAC. Then, the regeneration of the saturated GAC (5 g) was studied by an aqueous solution (166 mM) of TAP (1 L) at a temperature range from 20 to 80 °C. The possible recovery of the adsorption capacity was studied after 3 h of treatment in three successive adsorption−regeneration cycles at the selected temperature (60 °C). The physicochemical changes of the GAC were also investigated before and after the regeneration treatments. The results evidence the significant deposition of sulfate on the GAC after each treatment of regeneration, which avoids the recovery of the initial adsorption capacity. Therefore, each regeneration cycle was necessarily followed by a washing step at 60 °C to remove this sulfate. After that, the regeneration treatment achieved a stable and high recovery of the initial adsorption capacity of about 48.2%

Terapia de pareja: reflexiones sistémicas de un grupo en formación

Se presentan a continuación algunas ideas y reflexiones planteadas como resultado del trabajo en equipo llevado a cabo durante el curso de terapia de pareja en el proceso de formación como especialistas en terapia familiar de la Universidad Católica Luis Amigó. Inicialmente se plantean algunos datos históricos e ideas acerca de la forma en que los cambios socioculturales han modificado las relaciones, aportando a la consolidación de nuevas formas de ser pareja. Se analizan características de dicha diada y el lugar del amor en su conformación, a la luz de nuevas comprensiones de las dinámicas del mundo contemporáneo y las problemáticas actuales. Concluyendo este recorrido se reconoce la vigencia e importancia de la terapia sistémica como alternativa para el abordaje de las problemáticas de pareja y se describen asuntos propios de dicha intervención, resaltando en ellos el lugar del terapeuta. Se concluye con la idea de la pareja como producto de un proceso de transformación transversalizado por la sociedad y la cultura, con diversos matices y formas de ser, que siendo cambiantes mantienen como constante la idea de pareja como un sistema interaccional complejo, en el que amor, deseo y pasión movilizan sentimientos y emociones vitales que revelan simultáneamente la fragilidad y fuerza del ser humano capaz de transformarlo. Vista de este modo la pareja es un escenario de intervención del terapeuta sistémico y la terapia el encuentro que posibilita el cambio