Mucuna pruriens cannot develop phytoremediation of tebuthiuron in agricultural soil with vinasse: a morphometrical and ecotoxicological analysis.

Pesticides offer stakeholders cost-effective solutions to control weeds. Nevertheless, such active compounds can manifest as severe environmental pollutants when escaping from agroecosystems into surrounding natural ecosystems, driving the need to remediate them. We, hence, analyzed whether Mucuna pruriens can develop a potential phytoremediator for treating tebuthiuron (TBT) in soil with vinasse. We exposed M. pruriens to microenvironments containing tebuthiuron at 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 (standard dose) L ha-1 and vinasse at 75, 150 (industrial recommendation), and 300 m3·ha-1. Experimental units without organic compounds represented controls. We assessed M. pruriens for morphometrical features, such as plant height and stem diameter and shoot/root dry mass, over approximately 60 days. We obtained evidence for M. pruriens not effectively removing tebuthiuron from the terrestrial medium. Such a pesticide developed phytotoxicity, significantly limiting its germination and growth. The higher the dose, the more negatively the tebuthiuron impacted the plant. In addition, introducing vinasse into the system, irrespective of volume, intensified the damage to photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic structures. Equally important, its antagonist action further decreased the production and accumulation of biomass. As M. pruriens could not effectively extract tebuthiuron from the soil, it could allow neither Crotalaria juncea nor Lactuca sativa to grow on synthetic media containing residual pesticide. An atypical performance of such testing (tebuthiuron-sensitive) organisms over independent ecotoxicological bioassays validated inefficient phytoremediation. Hence, M. pruriens could not offer a functional remediative option to treat environmental pollution by tebuthiuron in agroecosystems where vinasse occurs, such as sugarcane-producing areas. Although M. pruriens considered a tebuthiuron phytoremediator as cited in the literature, satisfactory results did not occur in our research due to high concentrations of vinasse in the soil. Therefore, this information requires more specific studies about the influence of high concentrations of organic matter on M. pruriens productivity and phytoremediation performance.

Agro-residual biomass and disposable protective face mask: a merger for converting waste to plastic-fiber fuel via an integrative carbonization-pelletization framework.

Incineration and landfilling offer possibilities for addressing high-rate management of COVID-waste streams. However, they can be costly and environmentally unsustainable. In addition, they do not allow to convert them to fuels and chemicals as waste-to-energy and waste-to-product technologies. Therefore, we analyzed whether integrating hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and pelletization can allow converting the surgical face mask (SFM) and biomass to composite plastic-fiber fuel (CPFF). We blended the plastic material and corncob, peanut shell, or sugarcane bagasse at the proportion of 50:50 (%, dry mass basis) for HTC. We performed the thermal pretreatment of blends in an autoclaving reactor at 180 °C and 1.5 MPa. Then we pelletized the hydrochars in a presser machine at 200 MPa and 125 °C. By analyzing the evidence from our study, we recognized the viability of combining the SFM and agricultural residues for CPFF from comparable technical features of our products to standards for premium-grade wood pellets. For instance, the elemental composition of their low-meltable ash was not stoichiometrically sufficient to severely produce slagging and fouling in the equipment for thermal conversion. Although they contained synthetic polymers in their structures, such as polyethylene from filter layers and nylon from the earloop, they emitted CO and NOx below the critical limits of 200 and 500 mg m-3, respectively, for occupational safety. Therefore, we extended the knowledge on waste-to-energy pathways to transform SFM into high-quality hybrid fuel by carbonization and pelletization. Our framework can provide stakeholders opportunities to address plastic and biogenic waste in the context of a circular economy. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13399-022-03285-4.

Rapid determination of L-ascorbic acid content in vitamin C serums by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and validate a rapid, simple, accurate and precise analytical method for the quantification of L-AA in vitamin C serums. Moreover, the developed method was further applied to determine L-AA in eight different brands of vitamin C serums. A complementary study was also carried out to evaluate the stability of L-AA in the vitamin C serum samples after 15, 30, 45 and 60 days of storage at ambient temperature (15-35°C). METHODS: Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was applied. RESULTS: Quantitative analyses were performed with a total chromatographic run time of 1.5 min by matrix-matched calibration, and the analytical curve was linear over the range of 1-1700 µg L-1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.3 and 1.0 µg L-1 , respectively. Intra- and inter-assay precisions, expressed in terms of relative standard deviation, ranged from 0.3% and 2.2%, respectively, and recoveries in concentration levels of 1 and 5 µg L-1 were 103.9% and 101.2%, respectively. The proposed analytical method was successfully applied to determine the L-AA content in eight commercial vitamin C serum samples. The stability of the target analyte in samples stored at ambient temperature (15-35°C) was evaluated throughout 60 days with a 15-day interval between analyses. At 0 days, L-AA content in samples ranged from 1.05 to 169.91 mg L-1 , which decreases over time. CONCLUSION: The proposed method could be powerful in routine analyses to ensure the quantification of L-AA in vitamin C serums since it proved to be a simple, reliable, fast, precise, accurate and sensitive analytical method.

OBJECTIF: Cette étude visait à développer et valider une méthode analytique rapide, simple, exacte et précise pour la quantification de l'acide L-ascorbique dans les sérums à la vitamine C. De plus, la méthode développée a été appliquée pour déterminer l'acide L-ascorbique dans huit différentes marques de sérums à la vitamine C. Une étude complémentaire a également été réalisée pour évaluer la stabilité de l'acide L-ascorbique dans les échantillons de sérum à la vitamine C après 15, 30, 45 et 60 jours de conservation à température ambiante (15 à 35 °C). MÉTHODES: La chromatographie en phase liquide à haute performance avec spectrométrie de masse en tandem a été employée. RÉSULTATS: Des analyses quantitatives ont été réalisées avec une durée totale d'exécution chromatographique de 1,5 minute par calibration matricielle appariée, et la courbe analytique était linéaire sur la plage de 1 à 1700 µg L-1 avec un coefficient de corrélation de 0,9998. La limite de détection (LD) et la limite de quantification (LQ) ont été déterminées à 0,3 et 1,0 µg L−1 , respectivement. Les précisions intra- et inter-essais, exprimées en termes d'écart-type relatif, étaient de 0,3 % et 2,2 %, respectivement, et les récupérations aux niveaux de concentration de 1 et 5 µg L-1 étaient de 103,9 % et 101,2 %, respectivement. La méthode analytique proposée a été employée avec succès pour déterminer la teneur en acide L-ascorbique de huit échantillons de sérum à la vitamine C commerciaux. La stabilité de l'analyte cible dans les échantillons conservés à température ambiante (15 à 35 °C) a été évaluée sur 60 jours avec un intervalle de 15 jours entre les analyses. À 0 jour, la teneur en acide L-ascorbique dans les échantillons était comprise entre 1,05 et 169,91 µg L-1 , ce qui diminue au fil du temps. CONCLUSION: La méthode proposée pourrait être puissante dans les analyses de routine pour assurer la quantification de l'acide L-ascorbique dans les sérums à la vitamine C puisqu'elle s'est avérée être une méthode analytique simple, fiable, rapide, précise, exacte et sensible.

Second-Generation Lignocellulosic Supportive Material Improves Atomic Ratios of C:O and H:O and Thermomechanical Behavior of Hybrid Non-Woody Pellets.

Pellets refer to solid biofuels for heating and power. The pellet's integrity is of great relevant to ensure safe and effective transportation and storage, and comfort to stakeholders. Several materials that are supportive, whether organic and inorganic, to pellets exist. However, no work in the literature is linking making hybrid non-wood pellets with addition of residual biomass from distillation of cellulosic bioethanol, and this requires further investigations. Figuring out how effective this challenging agro-industrial residue could be for reinforcing non-wood pellets is accordingly the scientific point of this study focusing on management of waste and valorization of biomass. The pilot-scale manufacturing of hybrid pellets consisted of systematically pressing sugarcane bagasse with the lignocellulosic reinforcement at the mass ratios of 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3 on an automatic pelletizer machine at 200 MPa and 125 °C. Elemental contents of C and H, durability, and energy density all increased significantly from 50.05 to 53.50%, 5.95 to 7.80%, 95.90 to 99.55%, and 28.20 to 31.20 MJ kg-1, respectively, with blending the starting material with the reinforcement at 1:3. Preliminary evidence of residual biomass from distillation of second-generation bioethanol capable of highly improving molecular flammable/combustible properties, mechanical stability, and fuel power of composite non-wood pellets exist.

Response of soybean to soil waterlogging associated with iron excess in the reproductive stage.

Soil waterlogging is a common problem in some agricultural areas, including regions under soybean (Glycine max) cultivation. In waterlogged soils, soil O2 depletion occurs due to aerobic microorganisms and plants, affecting the metabolic and physiological processes of plants after suffering anoxia in their root tissue. Another harmful factor in this situation is the exponential increase in the availability of iron (Fe) in the soil, which may result in absorption of excess Fe. The present study sought to evaluate the response mechanisms in soybean leaves 'Agroeste 3680' by physiological and biochemical analyses associating them with the development of pods in non-waterlogged and waterlogged soil, combined with one moderate and two toxic levels of Fe. Gas exchange was strongly affected by soil waterlogging. Excess Fe without soil waterlogging reduced photosynthetic pigments, and potentiated this reduction when associated with soil waterlogging. Starch and ureide accumulation in the first newly expanded trifoliate leaves proved to be response mechanisms induced by soil waterlogging and excess Fe, since plants cultivated under soil non-waterlogged soil at 25 mg dm-3 Fe showed lower contents when compared to stressed plants. Thus, starch and ureide accumulation could be considered efficient biomarkers of phytotoxicity caused by soil waterlogging and excess Fe in soybean plants. The reproductive development was abruptly interrupted by the imposition of stresses, leading to a loss of pod dry biomass, which was largely due to the substantial decrease in the net photosynthetic rate, as expressed by area (A), the blockage of carbohydrate transport to sink tissues and an increase of malondialdehyde (MDA). The negative effect on reproductive development was more pronounced under waterlogged soil.

Tratamiento y control de solidos para fluidos de perforacion base agua y fluidos base aceite

El control y tratamiento de solidos en fluidos de perforacion, a traves de medios mecanicos constituye un punto de votal importancia en la actualidad dentro el campo de la perforacion petrolera, debido a las enormes ventajas economicas y medio ambientales las cuales se logran mediante la aplicacion de una serie de procedimientos. La tecnologia para efectuar el control de solidos ha tenido importantes avances durante el transcurso del tiempo, en tal sentido los equipos de control han mejorado su capacidad y el diseño de estos se ha diversificado, es decir, que existen una gran variedad de estos, de la misma manera se establecieron pruebas de laboratorio mas rigurosas para controlar la efectividad de los distintos equipos. Por otra parte es de suma importancia el control de las diferentes propiedades del lodo ya que mediante el conocimiento exacto de estas se podra ajustar los distintos equipos de control para posteriormente lograr un determinado rendimiento. En cuanto se refiere al tratamiento de recortes existen una serie de procedimientos para realizar esta operacion los cuales se vienen implementando sistematicamente hace algunos años atras en las operaciones de perforacion, la aplicacion estos procedimientos esta orientado exclusivamente a la proteccion del medio ambiente lo que en la actualidad constituye uno de los puntos mas importantyes a ser tratados.