The efficiency of removing heavy metal ions from industrial electropolishing wastewater using natural materials.

Heavy metals are present in wastewater generated by industrial sectors, posing a threat to the environment, including surface and groundwater resources. With this in mind, there is a growing interest in finding alternative yet effective methods of removing heavy metal ions from industrial wastewater. Sorption is one of the techniques being readily applied due to the simplicity, high efficiency, production of small amounts of sludge, low investment, and the feasibility of the process over a wide range of pH and temperature. This paper deals with the treatment of industrial wastewater from electropolishing of stainless steel containing high concentrations of metal ions Fe(III), Cr(III), Ni(II), and Cu(II). Taking into account the effectiveness, availability and applicability of biosorbents for acidic wastewater, orange peels, algae, Eclipta alba, and eggshells were selected for the study. Sorption tests were carried out for Eclipta alba and the results obtained showed a best fit for the second-order kinetic model (R2 > 0.99) and the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 > 0.99). Maximum adsorption capacity was 17.92 mg/g for mixture of metal ions. The potential use of dried and calcinated eggshells was established. Both materials achieved a high removal rate of over 95%. Iron and chromium are removed from the solution first (about 100% and 90%, respectively), followed by nickel and copper ions. FT-IR and SEM with EDS measurements used to characterize materials, together with laboratory tests using real industrial effluent, made it possible to determine their mechanism of action. Specific surface area was determined for all tested materials and the values were: 1.63, 0.15 and 5.15 m2/g for Eclipta alba, dried eggshells and calcinated eggshells, respectively. The results provide grounds for optimism in the application of selected materials for industrial wastewater treatment.

Modelling of green roofs' hydrologic performance using EPA's SWMM.

Green roofs significantly affect the increase in water retention and thus the management of rain water in urban areas. In Poland, as in many other European countries, excess rainwater resulting from snowmelt and heavy rainfall contributes to the development of local flooding in urban areas. Opportunities to reduce surface runoff and reduce flood risks are among the reasons why green roofs are more likely to be used also in this country. However, there are relatively few data on their in situ performance. In this study the storm water performance was simulated for the green roofs experimental plots using the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) with Low Impact Development (LID) Controls module (version 5.0.022). The model consists of many parameters for a particular layer of green roofs but simulation results were unsatisfactory considering the hydrologic response of the green roofs. For the majority of the tested rain events, the Nash coefficient had negative values. It indicates a weak fit between observed and measured flow-rates. Therefore complexity of the LID module does not affect the increase of its accuracy. Further research at a technical scale is needed to determine the role of the green roof slope, vegetation cover and drying process during the inter-event periods.

Prognostic value of serial serum interleukin-6 level estimation in patients with lung cancer: a preliminary report.

In the present report, we serially measured the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and some acute-phase proteins (APP) in 61 lung cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy in order to investigate the relationship between the response to the treatment and the changes in parameters of systemic inflammatory response. The patients were divided into two groups depending on the response to the treatment. The first group (referred to as responders) comprised 32 patients with stable disease, partial remission or total remission. Twenty-nine patients with progression of the disease were included to the second group (referred to as non-responders). Six patients died due to the lung cancer during the study. We showed a decrease in IL-6 serum level and C-reactive protein (CRP) level in responders but not in non-responders. However, the most interesting results were obtained after retrospective analysis of the data of six deceased patients. In these patients we observed an elevation of IL-6 and CRP before the patients' deaths. Following the changes in acute-phase response and interleukin-6 serum levels in lung cancer patients seems to be helpful in prognosis of the outcome of the disease. Based on our data, we conclude that an elevation in IL-6 and/or CRP level in patients with lung cancer may serve as an adverse prognostic factor.

Serum levels of interleukin-10 and interleukin-6 in patients with lung cancer.

Since the enhanced production of IL-10 by human bronchogenic carcinoma has already been documented, in the present study serum levels of IL-10 were measured serially in patients with lung cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Thirty-one full diagnosed cancer patients underwent the radiotherapy procedures. The interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) serum levels were measured before therapy and after 3, 6 and 12 months after therapy. The interleukins concentrations were evaluated using a solid phase sandwich Enzyme-Linked-Immuno-Sorbent-Assay (ELISA). In all patients the serum levels of IL-10 have been found elevated. Due to the treatment they progressively declined to almost normal ranges in responders, while they remained elevated in non-responders. Serum levels of interleukin-6 have been elevated in the majority of our patients. After 12 months observation they also decreased, mainly in patients responding to the treatment. No correlation between serum IL-10 and IL-6 level has been found. The importance of serum IL-6 determination in lung cancer patients monitoring has already been established. The present study shows, that in spite of still unclear role of IL-10 in the process of carcinogenesis, it may be considered as a prognostic factor in lung cancer.

Conductance of the cytoplasm of erythrocytes as a criterion for evaluating the quality of blood preservation.

It has been established that enzymic systems become exhausted during the preservation of blood, which causes disturbances in the transport of ions across the cell membrane. These changes occurring in the cell may be recorded by measuring the electrical conductance of cytoplasm. The conductance has been determined for three selected preserving liquids in relation to the blood storage time. Results of this study showed that the dynamics of changes in the electrical conductance of the cytoplasm is characteristic for a given type of the preserving liquid. Hence, the determination of changes in the electrical conductance of the cytoplasm may provide a new important criterion for evaluating various methods of blood preservation.