scholarly journals Biosorption of organic micropollutants onto lignocellulosic-based material

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thiago Caique Alves ◽  
João André Ximenes Mota ◽  
Adilson Pinheiro
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Pinus Elliottii ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Point Of Zero Charge ◽  
Isotherm Models ◽  
Pharmaceutical Drugs ◽  
Organic Micropollutants ◽  
Thermodynamic Models ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Economic Point

Abstract The occurrence of organic micropollutants such as pharmaceutical drugs and hormones in the environment reflects the inefficiency of traditional wastewater treatment technologies. Biosorption is a promising alternative from a technical-economic point of view, so understanding the mechanisms of adsorption in new biosorbents is vital for application and process optimization. Within this context, this study aims to evaluate the mechanisms of adsorption and removal of synthetic and natural hormones by Pinus elliottii bark biosorbent (PS) compared to commercial granular activated carbon (GAC) through kinetic models, isotherm models, and thermodynamic models. The adsorbents were also characterized by morphology, chemical composition, functional groups, and point of zero charge. Characterization of the adsorbents highlights the heterogeneous and fibrous morphology and broader range of functional groups found for PS. Kinetic adjustments showed high accuracy for pseudo-second-order, Elovich, and intraparticle diffusion models, presenting multilinearity and evidencing multi-stage adsorption. The isotherms for PS followed high-affinity models, predominantly chemisorption, while those for GAC followed the Langmuir model, where physisorption predominates. These mechanisms were confirmed by thermodynamic models, which also indicated a higher dependence on temperature in the adsorption process. In the fortified water removal test, PS showed removal values higher than GAC, highlighting the advantages of this adsorbent.

Cyanide degradation by immobilized cells of Rhodococcus UKMP-5M

Biologia ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maegala Nallapan Maniyam ◽  
Fridelina Sjahrir ◽  
Abdul Ibrahim ◽  
Anthony Cass
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Alginate ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Immobilized Cells ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Immobilized Cell ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Economic Point

AbstractAnthropogenic sources contribute to the bulk presence of cyanide, which causes substantial health and environmental concerns. A petroleum-contaminated soil isolate, Rhodococcus UKMP-5M has been verified to efficiently degrade high concentration of cyanide in the form of KCN in our previous study. In order to enhance the cyanide-degrading ability of this bacterium, different encapsulation matrices were screened to immobilize cells of Rhodococcus UKMP-5M for degradation of cyanide. It was revealed that the biocatalyst activity and bead mechanical strength improved significantly when calcium alginate encapsulation technique was employed as compared to free cells. The results also indicated that the immobilized cell system could tolerate a higher level of KCN concentration and were able to support a higher biomass density. In addition, the embedded cells retained almost 96% of their initial cyanide removal efficiency during the first five batches and the entrapped cell system maintained 64% of its initial activity after eight successive batches. The encapsulated beads could be easily recovered from the production medium and reused for up to five batches without significant losses of cyanide-degrading ability, which proved to be advantageous from an economic point of view. From this study, it could be inferred that the novel Rhodococcus UKMP-5M strain demonstrated high cyanide-degrading ability and the optimized calcium alginate immobilization technique provided a promising alternative for practical application of large scale remediation of cyanide-bearing wastewaters.

scholarly journals The Terpene Mini-Path, a New Promising Alternative for Terpenoids Bio-Production

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1974
Author(s):  
Julie Couillaud ◽  
Létitia Leydet ◽  
Katia Duquesne ◽  
Gilles Iacazio
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activities ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Dimethylallyl Diphosphate ◽  
Enzymatic Cascades ◽  
Methyl Erythritol Phosphate

Terpenoids constitute the largest class of natural compounds and are extremely valuable from an economic point of view due to their extended physicochemical properties and biological activities. Due to recent environmental concerns, terpene extraction from natural sources is no longer considered as a viable option, and neither is the chemical synthesis to access such chemicals due to their sophisticated structural characteristics. An alternative to produce terpenoids is the use of biotechnological tools involving, for example, the construction of enzymatic cascades (cell-free synthesis) or a microbial bio-production thanks to metabolic engineering techniques. Despite outstanding successes, these approaches have been hampered by the length of the two natural biosynthetic routes (the mevalonate and the methyl erythritol phosphate pathways), leading to dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) and isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP), the two common universal precursors of all terpenoids. Recently, we, and others, developed what we called the terpene mini-path, a robust two enzyme access to DMAPP and IPP starting from their corresponding two alcohols, dimethylallyl alcohol and isopentenol. The aim here is to present the potential of this artificial bio-access to terpenoids, either in vitro or in vivo, through a review of the publications appearing since 2016 on this very new and fascinating field of investigation.

Sophie Laws, with Caroline Harper and Rachel Marcus. Research for Development: A Practical Guide. New Delhi: Vistaar Publications. 2003. xiii+475 pages. Paperback. Indian Rupees 450.00.

2003 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-172
Author(s):  
Mir Annice Mahmood
Keyword(s):  
Policy Research ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Basic Question ◽  
New Delhi ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Scarce Resources ◽  
Is Research ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Development Workers

To implement any successful policy, research about the subject-matter is essential. Lack of knowledge would result in failure and, from an economic point of view, it would lead to a waste of scarce resources. The book under review is essentially a manual which highlights the use of research for development. The book is divided into two parts. Part One informs the reader about concepts and some theory, and Part Two deals with the issue of undertaking research for development. Both parts have 11 chapters each. Chapter 1 asks the basic question: Is research important in development work? The answer is that it is. Research has many dimensions: from the basic asking of questions to the more sophisticated broad-based analysis of policy issues. The chapter, in short, stresses the usefulness of research which development workers ignore at their own peril.

Bleak Weather for Sun-Shine AG: A Case Study of Impairment of Assets

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic Detzen ◽  
Tobias Stork genannt Wersborg ◽  
Henning Zülch
Keyword(s):  
Real Life ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Professional Judgment ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Instructional Resource

ABSTRACT This case originates from a real-life business situation and illustrates the application of impairment tests in accordance with IFRS and U.S. GAAP. In the first part of the case study, students examine conceptual questions of impairment tests under IFRS and U.S. GAAP with respect to applicable accounting standards, definitions, value concepts, and frequency of application. In addition, the case encourages students to discuss the impairment regime from an economic point of view. The second part of the instructional resource continues to provide instructors with the flexibility of applying U.S. GAAP and/or IFRS when students are asked to test a long-lived asset for impairment and, if necessary, allocate any potential impairment. This latter part demonstrates that impairment tests require professional judgment that students are to exercise in the case.

The Role of Economic Evaluation in Dissemination and Implementation Research

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramesh Raghavan
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Implementation Strategies ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Dissemination And Implementation ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Public Health Organizations ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
Dissemination And Implementation Research

This chapter presents an overview of how D&I research can be evaluated from an economic point of view. Dissemination and implementation imposes costs upon knowledge purveyors, provider organizations, public health organizations, and payers (including governments). However, whether these added costs will result in improved service delivery and, perhaps more importantly, client outcomes and improvements in population health remain as open questions. If emerging studies reveal that defined implementation strategies are more cost effective than “usual” implementation, then policymakers and service providers will need to resource these added costs of implementation in order to assure the success and sustainability of high-quality health services over the long term.

scholarly journals The “Zero Miles Product” Concept Applied to Biofuel Production: A Case Study

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 565
Author(s):  
Nikolaj Kaae Kirk ◽  
Clara Navarrete ◽  
Jakob Ellegaard Juhl ◽  
José Luis Martínez ◽  
Alessandra Procentese
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Content ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Transport Costs ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Product Concept ◽  
Energy Demands ◽  
Production Platform ◽  
High Sugar Content

To make biofuel production feasible from an economic point of view, several studies have investigated the main associated bottlenecks of the whole production process through approaches such as the “cradle to grave” approach or the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis, being the main constrains the feedstock collection and transport. Whilst several feedstocks are interesting because of their high sugar content, very few of them are available all year around and moreover do not require high transportation’ costs. This work aims to investigate if the “zero miles” concept could bring advantages to biofuel production by decreasing all the associated transport costs on a locally established production platform. In particular, a specific case study applied to the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) campus is used as example to investigate the advantages and feasibility of using the spent coffee grounds generated at the main cafeteria for the production of bioethanol on site, which can be subsequently used to (partially) cover the campus’ energy demands.

scholarly journals Adsorptive and Surface Characterization of Mediterranean Agrifood Processing Wastes: Prospection for Pesticide Removal

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 561
Author(s):  
José A. Fernández-López ◽  
Marta Doval Miñarro ◽  
José M. Angosto ◽  
Javier Fernández-Lledó ◽  
José M. Obón
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Surface Characterization ◽  
Crystallinity Index ◽  
Zero Point ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Point Of Zero Charge ◽  
Waste Biomass ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
Citrus Waste ◽  
Olive Mill

The sustainable management of biomass is a key global challenge that demands compliance with fundamental requirements of social and environmental responsibility and economic effectiveness. Strategies for the valorization of waste biomass from agrifood industries must be in line with sustainable technological management and eco-industrial approaches. The efficient bioremoval of the pesticides imazalil and thiabendazole from aqueous effluents using waste biomass from typically Mediterranean agrifood industries (citrus waste, artichoke agrowaste and olive mill residue) revealed that these residues may be transformed into cost-effective biosorbents. Agrifood wastes present irregular surfaces, many different sized pores and active functional groups on their surface, and they are abundant in nature. The surface and adsorptive properties of olive mill residue, artichoke agrowaste and citrus waste were characterized with respect to elemental composition, microstructure, crystallinity, pore size, presence of active functional groups, thermal stability, and point of zero charge. Olive mill residue showed the highest values of surface area (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method), porosity, crystallinity index, and pH of zero point of charge. Olive mill residue showed the highest efficiency with sorption capacities of 9 mg·g−1 for imazalil and 8.6 mg·g−1 for thiabendazole.

scholarly journals Comparison between Concentrated Solar Power and Gas-Based Generation in Terms of Economic and Flexibility-Related Aspects in Chile

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1063
Author(s):  
Catalina Hernández Moris ◽  
Maria Teresa Cerda Guevara ◽  
Alois Salmon ◽  
Alvaro Lorca
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Hybrid Plant ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Hybrid Plants ◽  
Cost Of Energy

The energy sector in Chile demands a significant increase in renewable energy sources in the near future, and concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies are becoming increasingly competitive as compared to natural gas plants. Motivated by this, this paper presents a comparison between solar technologies such as hybrid plants and natural gas-based thermal technologies, as both technologies share several characteristics that are comparable and beneficial for the power grid. This comparison is made from an economic point of view using the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) metric and in terms of the systemic benefits related to flexibility, which is very much required due to the current decarbonization scenario of Chile’s energy matrix. The results show that the LCOE of the four hybrid plant models studied is lower than the LCOE of the gas plant. A solar hybrid plant configuration composed of a photovoltaic and solar tower plant (STP) with 13 h of storage and without generation restrictions has an LCOE 53 USD/MWh, while the natural gas technology evaluated with an 85% plant factor and a variable fuel cost of 2.0 USD/MMBtu has an LCOE of 86 USD/MWh. Thus, solar hybrid plants under a particular set of conditions are shown to be more cost-effective than their closest competitor for the Chilean grid while still providing significant dispatchability and flexibility.

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