Biphenyl sorption to different soil clay minerals

Only limited information is available in the literature on the role of soil mineral surfaces in the sorption of hydrophobic organic pollutants. This knowledge gap is addressed through the assessment of biphenyl sorption to kaolinite, illite and bentonite; using the batch equilibration technique with incubations lasting 6 or 21 days at 28 ± 2°C in the dark [RT1]. Sorption of biphenyl onto kaolinite followed the Freundlich sorption isotherm, whereas linear sorption isotherms were observed on illite and bentonite [RT2]. The biphenyl sorption partition coefficient on kaolinite ranged from 0.1 to 9.1 cm3.g-1 after 6 days and no sorption was observed after 21 days. This could have been caused by a completely reversible sorption or a loss of binding capacity after 21 days [RT3]. The respective values of the biphenyl sorption partition coefficient on illite and bentonite ranged from 20.3 ± 0.3 to 120 ± 8 cm3.g-1.Sorption equilibrium on the internal clay surfaces was reached after 6 days, as indicated by the sorption data for illite and bentonite [RT4]. Access of biphenyl molecules to the internal clay surfaces is a function of the ionic strength of soil solution and the soil organic matter is the dominant site for biphenyl sorption after 6 to 21 days

Biphenyl sorption to different soil clay minerals

Only limited information is available in the literature on the role of soil mineral surfaces in the sorption of hydrophobic organic pollutants. This knowledge gap is addressed through the assessment of biphenyl sorption to kaolinite, illite and bentonite; using the batch equilibration technique with incubations lasting 6 or 21 days at 28 ± 2°C in the dark [RT1]. Sorption of biphenyl onto kaolinite followed the Freundlich sorption isotherm, whereas linear sorption isotherms were observed on illite and bentonite [RT2]. The biphenyl sorption partition coefficient on kaolinite ranged from 0.1 to 9.1 cm3.g-1 after 6 days and no sorption was observed after 21 days. This could have been caused by a completely reversible sorption or a loss of binding capacity after 21 days [RT3]. The respective values of the biphenyl sorption partition coefficient on illite and bentonite ranged from 20.3 ± 0.3 to 120 ± 8 cm3.g-1.Sorption equilibrium on the internal clay surfaces was reached after 6 days, as indicated by the sorption data for illite and bentonite [RT4]. Access of biphenyl molecules to the internal clay surfaces is a function of the ionic strength of soil solution and the soil organic matter is the dominant site for biphenyl sorption after 6 to 21 days

Between science, science-fiction and COVID19 as a way to interpret the ontological realm of COVID19.

The current article is an attempt by the authors to present a bioethical case, or rather a search being undertaken to develop tools to interpret the novel ontological realm which has been created, and continues to be transformed in real time, by the COVID19 pandemic and its aftermath. The ontological realm is new, but the physical features of the world and the human in it are partially constants and identical to the previous realm parameters, the pre-COVID19 space-time. The question of existence in the new ontological realm is...how can the continuum of Homo sapiens and its existence be sustained in this new realm? The tools being developed use of previous information and knowledge of the members of Homo sapiens as a starting point and source of metaphors as tools to facilitate existence in the new realm. In this way, existing knowledge, which is held by individual members of Homo sapiens, and which exists and continues being created in the continuum of Homo sapiens, can be the foundation for the creation of new knowledge about the post-COVID19 realm and the individual and collective comprehension of humans of it and in it. Conceptual metaphors, the creation of compound metaphor and the prospective dialectic are suggested by authors as a possible epistemic implementation mechanisms in this context. The adaptation of humanity, its imagination and some professions are used to demonstrate the case for the ‘new science of human existence’ in the post-COVID19 world

Anaerobic digestion of fungally pre-treated wine distillery wastewater

The combination of fungal pre-treatment with Trametes pubescens and anaerobic digestion were tested for the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and phenolic compounds from wine distillery wastewater. The COD removal efficiency after fungal pre-treatment reached 53.3%. During digestion, pH buffering was achieved using CaCO3 and K2HPO4. This provided a stable environment inside digester for efficient and time-independent COD removal. The total COD removal efficiency reached 99.5%, and the system proved able to eliminate shock COD loads, as indicated by the concentrations of sludge and volatile fatty acids. Complex changes of phenolic compounds are suspected in anaerobic digestion system, and are investigated further

Survival of bifidobacteria and their usefulness in faecal source tracking

Bifidobacteria have long since been recommended as indicators of human and animal pollution. Concentration ratio (tracking ratio) of the sorbitol-utilising bifidobacteria (SUB) and the total bifidobacteria (TB) can be used to distinguish between animal and human sources of faecal water contamination. The cut-off value needs to be calibrated in a given geographical area. Seven sites with permanent faecal contamination were selected in South Africa. Concentrations of SUB ranged from 10-50000 cells/100 mL, while TB ranged from 0-8000 cells/100 mL. The tracking ratio ranged from 0.10 to 6.25, but no clear cut-off value could be established. The YN-17 agar was replaced for TB with the modified Beerens medium with pH = 5.70, to suppress the growth of faecal streptococci. Tracking ratios observed are most likely the results of different survival rates of SUB and TB. Bifidobacteria die-off due to nutrients was not found to be significant using design of experiment. Thus a lack of continuous input or oxygen levels in water may be major factors. This would limit the ratios used as a faecal source tracking method

BIO-SURVEILLANCE DES METAUX LOURDS (PB, ZN, CU) A LA SORTIE DE LA STATION D’EPURATION DE TIARET (ALGERIE) AU MOYEN DES VEGETAUX AQUATIQUES: PLANTE LEMNA MINOR, ALGUE SPYROGYRA LINK SP ET BROYOPHYTE FONTINALIS ANTIPYRETICA

An original device has been developped and valided to monitor water quality with aquatic plants at the exit of wastewater treatment with plants in ain bouchakifin tiaret (algeria). This device or « bio-station » has provided first particularly interesting results: the selected bio-indicator plants (lemna minor ,spyrogyra link sp and fontinalis antipyretica) are able on one hand to grow in the effluents with a significant accumulation of heavy metals, and on the other hand to detect these micro-pollutants even when they are undectable in effluents. The results obtained during this study, have revealed severe contamination of purified wastewater with heavy metals specially lead, zinc and copper, the values recorded for pb are 29,17 ± 25,66 ug/g (spyrogyra link sp), 48,43 ± 39,07 ug/g (fontinalis antipyretica) et 16,78 ± 12,37 ug/g (lemna minor). The highest values were observed for copper and zinc accumulated by these plants for copper are: 275,93 ± 235,20 μg/g, 416,52 ± 285,88 ug/g and 213,92 ± 137,07 ug/g respectively. By against, the concentrations recorded for zinc are 917,04 ± 654,40 ug/g , 1040,48 ± 848,34 ug/g and 545 ± 368,76 g/g respectively. It therefore appears that a "bio-station" equipped sentinel plants sentinel can be an efficient and economical complementary device for continuously monitoring contamination waste water from treatment plants prior to their arrival at the dams

Some thoughts on current knowledge paradigms and their implications for research ethics

This is the first of two papers in which the authors seek to explain and problematise the current moral and ethical deviations from ideal research ethics by examining the predominant humanist philosophical knowledge system that underpins the postmodern era and modern scientific research practices. Additionally, a causal relationship between knowledge paradigms, culture and societal behaviour along with societal products and societal instruments is proposed. The notion is that knowledge paradigms have the potential to influence the cultures of the people who adopt them. The culture which knowledge paradigms produce within a society in turn influences the instruments that said society generates, such as economic systems, power structures and policies pertaining to human co-existence/behaviour. This paper in two parts examines and compares the formulae for (ethical) knowledge generation that were used during the medieval, modern and current postmodern eras and the performative effects of the respective knowledge paradigms within those societies in terms of morality, ethics, geopolitics, scientific and existential inquiry.The Rhodes University Sandisa Imbewu Fund.https://raco.cat/index.php/rljaeam2022Philosoph

Anaerobic digestion of fungally pre-treated wine distillery wastewater

The combination of fungal pre-treatment with Trametes pubescens and anaerobic digestion were tested for the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and phenolic compounds from wine distillery wastewater. The COD removal efficiency after fungal pre-treatment reached 53.3%. During digestion, pH buffering was achieved using CaCO3 and K2HPO4. This provided a stable environment inside digester for efficient and time-independent COD removal. The total COD removal efficiency reached 99.5%, and the system proved able to eliminate shock COD loads, as indicated by the concentrations of sludge and volatile fatty acids. Complex changes of phenolic compounds are suspected in anaerobic digestion system, and are investigated further

BIO-SURVEILLANCE DES METAUX LOURDS (PB, ZN, CU) A LA SORTIE DE LA STATION D’EPURATION DE TIARET (ALGERIE) AU MOYEN DES VEGETAUX AQUATIQUES: PLANTE LEMNA MINOR, ALGUE SPYROGYRA LINK SP ET BROYOPHYTE FONTINALIS ANTIPYRETICA

An original device has been developped and valided to monitor water quality with aquatic plants at the exit of wastewater treatment with plants in ain bouchakifin tiaret (algeria). This device or « bio-station » has provided first particularly interesting results: the selected bio-indicator plants (lemna minor ,spyrogyra link sp and fontinalis antipyretica) are able on one hand to grow in the effluents with a significant accumulation of heavy metals, and on the other hand to detect these micro-pollutants even when they are undectable in effluents. The results obtained during this study, have revealed severe contamination of purified wastewater with heavy metals specially lead, zinc and copper, the values recorded for pb are 29,17 ± 25,66 ug/g (spyrogyra link sp), 48,43 ± 39,07 ug/g (fontinalis antipyretica) et 16,78 ± 12,37 ug/g (lemna minor). The highest values were observed for copper and zinc accumulated by these plants for copper are: 275,93 ± 235,20 μg/g, 416,52 ± 285,88 ug/g and 213,92 ± 137,07 ug/g respectively. By against, the concentrations recorded for zinc are 917,04 ± 654,40 ug/g , 1040,48 ± 848,34 ug/g and 545 ± 368,76 g/g respectively. It therefore appears that a "bio-station" equipped sentinel plants sentinel can be an efficient and economical complementary device for continuously monitoring contamination waste water from treatment plants prior to their arrival at the dams