scholarly journals Chemical Characterisation of Sargassum Inundation from the Turks and Caicos: Seasonal and Post Stranding Changes

Phycology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-162
Author(s):  
Birthe Vejby Nielsen ◽  
John James Milledge ◽  
Heidi Hertler ◽  
Supattra Maneein ◽  
Md Mahmud Al Farid ◽  
...  

The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) have been affected by sargassum inundations, with impacts on the economy and environment. Sargassum removal can be costly, but sargassum use and valorisation may generate income and offset environmental damage. A significant barrier to the valorisation of sargassum is insufficient knowledge of its chemical makeup, as well as its seasonal variation and decay after stranding. The chemical characterisation of mixed sargassum and its constituent species and morphotypes (S. natans I, S.natans VIII and S. fluitans) collected from TCI between September 2020 and May 2021 and changes in the composition of sargassum decaying (over 147 days) were studied. High ash (24.61–51.10% dry weight (DW)) and arsenic (49–217 mg kg−1) could severely hamper the use of this seaweed for food or feed purposes. Although there was some reduction in arsenic levels in decaying sargassum, levels remained high (>49 mg kg−1). Biomethane production by anaerobic digestion (AD) is a potential option. Nevertheless, the exploitation of sargassum for biogas, either fresh or as it decays on the beach, is challenging due to low methane yields (<42% of theoretical potential). Pre-treatment or co-digestion with other waste may be options to improve yield. The metal sorption ability of sargassum, which can be problematic, makes biosorption of pollutants an option for further research.

1984 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 115 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Mares

Germinability in harvest-mature wheat grain showed a marked dependence on temperature. The optimum temperature for the complete germination of all grains ranged from 20�C for the non-dormant variety, Timgalen, to 10�C for the strongly dormant red wheat RL 4137, whereas the optimum in terms of the shortest lag period ranged from 25� to 15�C for the same varieties. Germinability gradually increased during post-harvest storage and, for after-ripened grain, the optimum temperature for both complete germination and shortest lag period were greater than 30�C. Germinability could also be increased by pre-treating imbibing grains at temperatures of 5�, 10� or in some cases 15�C. This treatment was only effective for grain at moisture contents >25% (dry weight) and the effect was not reversed by redesiccation. The pre-treatment temperature required for maximum germinability decreased with increasing levels of grain dormancy. Complete removal of dormancy required a pre-treatment period of c. 48 h; however, lesser periods gave the shortest lag period in the case of the dormant varieties. The implications of these results for the utilization of dormancy in the development of preharvest sprouting damage tolerant varieties and their subsequent use in practice are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leilah Krounbi ◽  
Akio Enders ◽  
John Gaunt ◽  
Margaret Ball ◽  
Johannes Lehmann

AbstractThe conversion of dairy waste with high moisture contents to dry fertilizers may reduce environmental degradation while lowering crop production costs. We converted the solid portion of screw-pressed dairy manure into a sorbent for volatile ammonia (NH3) in the liquid fraction using pyrolysis and pre-treatment with carbon dioxide (CO2). The extractable N in manure biochar exposed to NH3 following CO2 pre-treatment reached 3.36 g N kg−1, 1260-fold greater extractable N than in untreated manure biochar. Ammonia exposure was 142-times more effective in increasing extractable N than immersing manure biochar in the liquid fraction containing dissolved ammonium. Radish and tomato grown in horticultural media with manure biochar treated with CO2 + NH3 promoted up to 35% greater plant growth (dry weight) and 36–83% greater N uptake compared to manure biochar alone. Uptake of N was similar between plants grown with wood biochar exposed to CO2 + NH3, compared to N-equivalent treatments. The available N in dairy waste in New York (NY) state, if pyrolyzed and treated with NH3 + CO2, is equivalent to 11,732–42,232 Mg N year−1, valued at 6–21.5 million USD year−1. Separated dairy manure treated with CO2 + NH3 can offset 23–82% of N fertilizer needs of NY State, while stabilizing both the solid and liquid fraction of manure for reduced environmental pollution.


2011 ◽  
Vol 332-334 ◽  
pp. 568-571
Author(s):  
Yi Jun Pan ◽  
Chien Teng Hsieh ◽  
Chien Kuo Yen

The purpose of this study is to achieve a better understanding of the influences of enzymatic and caustic pretreatments on the dying adsorption behavior of Lyocell yarns. The substantivity behavior, dyeing adsorption isotherms and their correlation between the equilibrium modeling and equilibrium isotherm parameters of the pre-treated Lyocell fibers have been studied. Although the conditions of each treatment were the same, changing the processing sequences caused substantially different modifications on the Lyocell fiber fine structure with consequent effect on dyeing behaviors. In general, pretreatment by caustic soda and/or enzyme can improve their dyeability of Lyocell fibers. The results of dyes adsorption show that for the same enzymatic treatment condition if the enzymatic treatment stage is applied before the caustic pre-treatment, the dyeability and sorption ability of small molecule dye on pre-treated Lyocell can be improved over that which can be obtained for caustic pre-treated yarn.


2001 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 793-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadeusz Skowroński ◽  
Jacek Pirszel ◽  
Barbara Pawlik Skowrońska

Abstract Metal sorption capacity of the granulated biosorbent derived from the waste biomass of Penicillium chrysogenum was examined. The potential metal sorption abilities of the biosorbent were estimated as the cation-exchange capacity, using a potentiometric titration. The total binding capacity, calculated for the pH range 3 to 8 was about 511 µeq/g dry weight. The granular biosorbent was capable of Cd, Zn, Cu and Pb binding. The kinetics of the heavy metal sorption were typical of the microbial dead biomass; metals were bound in the first few minutes. Sorption was a saturable process and the maximum sorption capacity, calculated from the Langmuir equation for the particular heavy metals was: 96 mg Pb; 21.5 mg Cd; 13 mg Zn and 11.7 mg Cu (per g dry weight). Optimum pH values for Cd, Zn and Cu sorption were about 7, while for Pb about 6. Heavy metal removal from different solutions was examined using the biosorption columns packed with P. chrysogenum, which efficiently removed Cd from 1 mM Cd solution, or Cd and Zn from the industrial wastewater. The studied biosorbent was capable of accumulating Cd and Zn even at the high Ca concentration.


1998 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 170-172
Author(s):  
Arthur A. Hower ◽  
Paul Rebarchak

Abstract Two tests were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of insecticides against potato leafhopper. The experiments were conducted at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, Centre County, PA on a second-year (first full harvest year) alfalfa (Pioneer 5373) crop. Plots of 40 X 40 ft were arranged in a RCB design with an untreated check in each of four replications. Potato leafhopper densities were estimated from 20 pendulum sweeps of a 15-inch-diam insect beating net taken randomly across each plot. Prior to treatment, potato leafhopper densities were estimated on 9 Jun (Experiment 1). Due to inclement weather, a pre-treatment sweep was not taken for Experiment 2. With the exception of LABS 116 in Experiment 1, all insecticide treatments were applied as foliar sprays on 16 Jun (Experiment 1) and 25 Jul (Experiment 2). LABS 116 was applied in Experiment 1 on 17 Jun as a result of needing an additional product shipment. Cygon 4E was added as a standard insecticide treatment in both Experiments. Alfalfa height at application was 4-6 inches. Insecticides were applied in 25 gal of water per acre at 25 psi with a tractor-mounted sprayer equipped with a 20-ft boom containing 80 degree flat fan nozzles and 50 mesh screens. Leafhopper densities were sampled on 19, 23, 30 Jun and 8 Jul (i.e. 3, 7, 14, 22 DAT) for Experiment 1, and 25 Jul, and 1, 8, 15, 24 Aug (i.e. 3, 7, 14, 21, 30 DAT) for Experiment 2. Densities reported represent the number of adults, number of nymphs, and the combined numbers of adults and nymphs collected per 20 sweeps. Alfalfa yield was determined on 8 Jul (Experiment 1) and 25 Aug (Experiment 2) from a 60-ft2 swath taken from each plot with a Carter Forage Harvester (Carter Mfg. Co. Inc., Brookston, IN). Percent moisture was determined by oven drying a subsample of alfalfa (approximately 2 lb wet). Alfalfa yield is reported as dry weight lb per acre.


1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Smith ◽  
C. L. White

We determined the effects of increased dietary concentrations of molybdenum and sulfur on the accumulation and tissue concentrations of cadmium in sheep, and compared them with effects on copper. Forty sheep, each weighing approximately 40 kg, were adjusted for 3 weeks to a basal diet of 80% wheaten chaff and 20% lupin seed containing (per kg dry weight) 0·016 mg Cd, 0·45 mg Mo, 3·4 mg Cu, and 1·9 g S. On Day 0 of treatment, 8 sheep were killed and the tissues analysed for trace minerals to provide a baseline value. The remaining sheep were divided into 4 dietary treatment groups: control (basal diet plus 4 mg Cd/kg), +Mo (control diet plus 15 mg Mo/kg), +S (control diet plus 4 g S/kg), +Mo+S (control diet+15 mg Mo+4 g S/kg). The treatment period lasted 80 days, after which sheep were killed for tissue samples. Sulfur alone reduced the accumulation of Cd in liver, kidney, and muscle by 60% compared with control sheep (P < 0·05). Molybdenum alone reduced Cd accumulation by 40% in liver and muscle (P < 0·05) and 30% in kidney (P = 0·09). When provided together (+Mo+S), the effect was equivalent to feeding with Mo alone, showing that Mo blocked the effect of S. Cadmium concentrations in whole kidneys for the 4 respective treatments were 6·40 ± 0· 7, 2·8 ± 0·3, 4·5 ± 0·8, and 5·0 ± 0·5 mg/kg fresh weight. The pre-treatment concentration was 0·7 ± 0·2 mg/kg. For Cu in blood and tissues, the effects of Mo and S treatment were consistent with the thiomolybdate hypothesis, and were quite different from those seen for Cd. Copper concentrations in whole kidney for the 4 treatments were 4·1 ± 0·1, 3·5 ± 0·2, 4·7 ± 0·3, and 22·4 ± 3·9 mg/kg fresh weight. The pre-treatment concentration was 4·1 ± 0·3 mg/kg. The results show that increased dietary levels of Mo and S reduce the accumulation of Cd in tissues, and the mechanisms of action differ from those involving Cu.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmood Attarzadeh ◽  
Hamidreza Balouchi ◽  
Mohammad Reza Baziar

Paclobutrazol is one of the growth regulators in plants. It is from the Triazoles group which can protect plants from all kinds of tension. In order to investigate the effect of cold stress and Paclobutrazol on physiological characteristics of soybean seedling (cv. Williams), a factorial experiment was conducted base on completely randomized design with three replications. The first factor involved applying cold tension at 5ºC in four intervals times (0, 8, 16 and 24 hours). The second factor involved pre-treatment of Paclobutrazol in four concentrations (0, 100, 500 and 1000 μM). The results showed a significant increase in shoot’s dry weight by 100 μM Paclobutrazol application compared to Non-Paclobutrazol in eight hours of cold tension. The highest amount of chlorophyll a and relative water content was shown by 100 and 500 μM Paclobutrazol application, respectively. The increase in cold tension time to 24 hours caused an increase in ion leakage and led to an increase in protein content, catalase and peroxidase antioxidant enzymes. The results of this study demonstrate that cold tension can cause reduction in shoot’s dry matter and change the physiological characteristics of soybean but application of 100 and 500 μM of Paclobutrazol can partly induce tolerance to cold stress.


2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 61-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sagar Kittur ◽  
Namrata Patil ◽  
Shruti Kammar ◽  
V. G. Shanmuga Priya ◽  
D. N. Sastry

Lack of degradability and the closing of landfill sites as well as growing water and land pollution problems have led to concern about plastics. Among the various types of plastics, the most extensively used type is polyethylene bags. A survey on 40 micron polyethylene bags was done by obtaining the information from the City corporation office, Belgaum, Karnataka, India on the amount of plastic waste generated in the city. Polyethylene bags having a thickness less than 40 micron are not recycled, thus have to be degraded. In this work, Aspergillus niger is been employed to degrade the 40 micron plastic. Various pre-treatment methods are used which include UV, nitric acid, thermal and UV + nitric acid treatments to effectively degrade the plastic. Different media having pre treated plastic as the carbon source are tested for the degradation of plastic along with the growth of the fungi. Incubation period was taken as 15 and 30 days. Optimization of pre-treatment methods was done to improve the degradation efficiency. Various analysis methods such as FTIR spectroscopy and dry-weight analysis were done to confirm the degradation of plastic.


2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (2C) ◽  
pp. 171-177
Author(s):  
Nguyen Pham Hong Lien

Arrowroot waste has been being discharged without treatment in powder/starch processing villages in Viet Nam causing serious environmental problem. This waste is degradable and might have good Biomethane Potential (BMP) which leads to a possibility to treat them by anaerobic digestion. Therefore, the study aimed to find out the BMP of the waste and to find out if alkaline pre-treatment would improve it. Solid waste from arrowroot powder processing was collected in Duong Lieu village, Ha Noi, and different samples were going through BMP test: the untreated sample and NaOH pre-treated samples at different NaOH dose from 3 to 9 wt. % (dry weight based). BMP was determined in 590 mL bottles at 37 oC for 50 days. As the results, BMP of the original arrowroot waste sample was 253 NmLCH4/gVS and alkaline pretreatment increased BMP of the waste 21.9 % at 7 % NaOH. The reduction of lignin content and hemicellulose content at this pretreatment were 7.2 % and 9.4 %, respectively. The results show that the waste has potential for methane recovery and alkaline pre-treatment by NaOH would slightly improve its biodegradability. 


Author(s):  
Ikram ul Haq ◽  
Ali Nawaz ◽  
Badar Liaqat ◽  
Yesra Arshad ◽  
Xingli Fan ◽  
...  

Depleting supplies of fossil fuel, regular price hikes of gasoline and environmental deterioration have necessitated the search for economic and eco-benign alternatives of gasoline like lignocellulosic biomass. However, pre-treatment of such biomass results in development of some phenolic compounds which later hinder the depolymerisation of biomass by cellulases and seriously affect the cost effectiveness of the process. Dephenolification of biomass hydrolysate is well cited in literature. However, elimination of phenolic compounds from pretreated solid biomass is not well studied. The present study was aimed to optimize dephenoliphication of wheat straw using various alkalis i.e., Ca(OH)2 and NH3; acids i.e., H2O2, H2SO4, and H3PO4; combinations of NH3+ H3PO4 and H3PO4+ H2O2 at pilot scale to increase enzymatic saccharification yield. Among all the pretreatment strategies used, maximum reduction in phenolic content was observed as 66 mg Gallic Acid Equivalent/gram Dry Weight (GAE/g DW), compared to control having 210 mg GAE/g DW using 5% (v/v) combination of NH3+H3PO4. Upon subsequent saccharification of dephenoliphied substrate, the hydrolysis yield was recorded as 46.88%. Optimized conditions such as using 1%+5% concentration of NH3+ H3PO4, for 30 min at 110°C temperature reduced total phenolic content (TPC) to 48 mg GAE/g DW. This reduction in phenolic content helped cellulases to act more proficiently on the substrate and saccharification yield of 55.06% was obtained. The findings will result in less utilization of cellulases to get increased yield of saccharides by hydrolyzing wheat straw, thus, making the process economical. Furthermore, pilot scale investigations of current study will help in upgrading the novel process to industrial scale.


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