Obtention of biochar-Fe/Ce using Punica granatum with high adsorption of ampicillin capacity.

This research presents the obtaining of a biochar (CB) from the use of pomegranate peel (Punica granatum) conditioned with iron and cerium nanoparticles (C-Fe/Ce), as well as its characterization by SEM (Scanning Electronic Microscopy), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry), TGA (Thermogravimetric analysis), EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy), XPS (X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) and evaluation of the adsorption capacity of ampicillin (AMP) in aqueous phase at 20, 30 and 40 °C. The maximum adsorption capacity for CB was 18.97 mg g-1 and for C-Fe/Ce, 27.61 mg g-1 at pH of 7, observing that with increasing temperature, the sorption capacity decreases in both materials, the experimental data was fitted to various mathematical models and the best fit was the pseudo-second order model for the kinetics, whilst for the adsorption isotherms the best fit was with the Langmuir model, indicating that the adsorption process is carried out in a monolayer on a homogeneous surface, through a chemisorption process. According to the thermodynamic parameters this process is carried out through an exothermic reaction. The results obtained indicate that both materials are suitable for the removal of AMP in the aqueous phase and that they can be reused up to 5 times.

Obtention of biochar-Ca nanoparticles using Citrus tangerina׃ A morphological, surface and study remotion of Aflatoxin AFB1.

This work presents the formation of biochar with calcium nanoparticles (NPsCa) in function of pyrolysis time (C10, C30, C60, C120 and C180 min) using the Citrus tangerina peel and their evaluation in the remotion of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in aqueous phase. Firstly, the Citrus tangerina was studied by Thermogravimetric analysis to determine the optimal temperature (TGA), obtaining a result of 600 °C. The biochar (NPsCa) were characterized by Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), as well as surface properties including the identification of functional groups by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), and energetic states through the X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The adsorption studies were carried out on the different materials and later, the experimental data was adjusted to different mathematical models, obtaining the best fit of the kinetic data to the Ho-McKay model, whilst the adsorption isotherms were adjusted to the model of Langmuir, which indicates that the Aflatoxin B1 adsorption process is carried out through a monolayer chemisorption process with maximum sorption capacities (qm) ranging between 15.72 and 63.22 µg g-1 with the 180th minute being the adequate time to obtain the carbon with the best surface properties and the best adsorption capacity. Additionally, it was observed that each material can be reused up to five times in accordance with the results from the reuse cycles.

Atmospheric pressure plasma pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse: the influence of biomass particle size in the ozonation process.

Atmospheric pressure O2 plasma was used to produce ozone in order to treat sugarcane bagasse as a function of particle sizes. The fixed bagasse moisture content was 50%. The delignification efficiency had small improvement due to ozonation process as a function of particle size, varying from 75 up to 80%. Few amounts of hemicellulose were removed, but the ozonation has not been affected significantly with particle size variance as well (from 30 up to 35%). The cellulose presented some losses below 1.0 mm size (8-15%) which was an unexpected result. The conversion of cellulose content into free sugar has shown a significant increase as the particle size has diminished as well. The best condition of the bagasse particle size was for 0.08 mm. For this case, a great quantity of cellulose (78.8%) was converted into glucose. Optical absorption spectroscopy was applied to determine ozone concentrations in real time where the samples with typical bagasse particle sizes equal or below to 0.5 mm had shown a better absorption of ozone in comparison with greater particle size samples.

Ceramide reproduces late appearance of oxidative stress during TNF-mediated cell death in L929 cells.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha mediated cell death in L929 cells correlates with a late increase in reduction of the superoxide scavenger 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), suggesting an increase in MTT reduction per viable cell. This effect was studied in two TNF-sensitive and in five different TNF-resistant clones. Within 36 hrs TNF promoted a 7-fold increase in the reduction of MTT in TNF-sensitive cells. Exogenous ceramide induced a similar effect prior to cell death. Four of the five TNF-resistant clones were also resistant to ceramide and displayed no increase in MTT reduction with either TNF or ceramide. The remaining TNF-resistant clone was sensitive to ceramide, displaying an increase in MTT reduction. Our results suggest a late increase in superoxide production prior to cellular destruction during TNF and ceramide mediated cell death and support the notion that ceramide can serve as a second messenger for TNF in cell death.