River water turbidity removal using new natural coagulant aids: case study of Euphrates River, Iraq

For turbidity removal, most of drinking water treatment plants are using coagulants due to the presence of suspended and colloidal materials at the coagulation and flocculation units. Aluminium and sulphates salts are the widely used coagulants, such as Aluminium sulphate (Alum) and ferric chloride. However, several researches have linked Alzheimer's disease to the use of Aluminium sulphate. Hence, scholars have conducted several researches on the possibility to reduce the amount of Aluminium sulphate by using natural material/plants base as coagulant aids. In this study, Mallow's Leaves Extracts (MLE) and Carob's Pods Extracts (CPE) were used as an alternative coagulant aid. Couples of coagulation tests were implemented to find the optimal dosage of Aluminium Sulphates were used as coagulants. The results displayed that the maximum turbidity removal efficiency by adding 100% of each coagulant (i.e., Alum, MLE and CPE) were (61.16%, 51.175% and 37.12%), respectively. In addition, the minimum residual turbidity and maximum turbidity removal efficiency were 4.56 NTU and 97.72% by adding 22.5 Alum and 7.5 MLE presenting 30 mg/l dosing. Further, the minimum residual turbidity and maximum turbidity removal efficiency were 15.4 NTU and 92.3% by adding 22.5 Alum and 7.5 CPE presenting 30 mg/l dosing.

Photocatalysis and flocculation processes for recycling aquaculture effluent into nutrient-rich irrigation water

This research aimed to create a novel technique for recovering fertilizers from aquaculture effluent to overcome potential non-renewable fertilizers shortages. There are two steps: Photocatalyst technique for nutrient mobilization, succeeded by solids precipitating with two natural and one synthetic flocculant. The photocatalytic degradation of organonitrogen compounds in batch experiments started under the irradiation of sunlight. Following that, photocatalytic breakdown of organonitrogen compounds produces inorganic nitrogen constituents like NH4+, NO2−, and NO3−, which could be used as manure. It was found that, after 12 h of circulating, the concentration of inorganic nitrogen become as NH4+ = 17.2 g/L, NO2− = 18.1 mg/L, and NO3− = 15.9 mg/L. The jar test was adopted to assess the capacity of two natural compounds (tamarind kernel polysaccharide (TKP) and tannin-based product (TBS)) and synthetic water-soluble polymer cationic polyacrylamide (SWP) to reduce turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), COD and colour. The findings reveal that with a dose of 20 mg/L of TBS, 20 mg/L of TKP, and 50 mg/L of SWP, the maximum turbidity reductions were 95, 93, and 94%, respectively. The TBS was slightly better than TKP and highly better than SWP in terms of coagulation activities with TSS, COD and colour maximum removal efficiencies.

Dynamic Model and Numerical Simulation of Maximum Turbidity Zone Formation in River Inlet

The estuary of a river can be seen as a relatively free and partially closed coastal body. It is connected to the ocean and is a transitional zone of rivers, which contains processes from land to sea and from fresh water to salt water. The estuary is one of the most productive natural habitats in the world and carries a large number of sediments due to natural factors such as changes in runoff and tides. Therefore, many coastal areas with river estuaries have become the most densely populated areas in the human population. In this paper, the RSM (Reynolds stress model) turbulence model and the PID (proportional integral derivative) algorithm are successfully used to simulate the dynamic model and for the numerical simulation of the formation of turbidity maximum zone in the estuary, which provides a theoretical basis for the follow-up of the similar research studies.

Use of Aloe vera as an Organic Coagulant for Improving Drinking Water Quality

The coagulation–flocculation–sedimentation process is widely used for removal of suspended solids and water turbidity reduction. The most common coagulants used to conduct this process are aluminum sulfate and ferric sulfate. In this paper, the use of Aloe vera as a natural-based coagulant for drinking water treatment was tested. The bio-coagulant was used in two different forms: powder as well as liquid; the latter was extracted with distilled water used as a solvent. The obtained results showed that the use of the natural coagulant (Aloe vera) in both powder (AV-Powder) and liquid (AV-H2O) forms reduced the water turbidity at natural pH by 28.23% and 87.84%, respectively. Moreover, it was found that the use of the two previous forms of bio-coagulant for drinking water treatment had no significant influence on the following three parameters: pH, alkalinity, and hardness. The study of the effect of pH on the process performance using Aloe vera as a bio-coagulant demonstrated that the maximum turbidity removal efficiency accounted for 53.53% and 88.23% using AV-Powder and AV-H2O, respectively, at optimal pH 6.

Complement Regulator Factor H is a Cofactor for Thrombin in both Pro- and Anticoagulant Roles

Background: Complement FH (FH) is a key regulator of complement activity whereas thrombin (FIIa) is central to hemostasis with both pro- and anticoagulant functions. Both have separately been shown to have auxiliary activities across the two systems. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of FH on pro- and anti-coagulant functions and investigate the interaction between FH and thrombin. Methods: Tail bleeding time and hemolysis were measured in FH-deficient mice (CFH-/-). Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) was determined in FH-depleted human plasma. FH effect on fibrin clot generation was investigated in turbidity assays and on activated protein C (APC) generation. Binding affinity of thrombin with FH was determined using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Results: Tail bleeding time in CFH-/- mice was significantly prolonged compared to wild type mice. The aPTT in FH-depleted human plasma was elevated compared to normal plasma and restored by adding back FH to depleted plasma. Accordingly, FH enhanced thrombin-mediated fibrin clot generation by shortening lag time, increasing rate of clot formation and maximum turbidity, and affected clot structure. Despite this, FH also increased the rate of thrombin-mediated protein C (PC) activation, both in the presence and absence of soluble recombinant thrombomodulin (TM). Nanomolar affinity binding of FH with thrombin, but not prothrombin, was confirmed. Conclusion: Complement FH binds thrombin with strong affinity and acts as a novel cofactor that enhances both pro- and anticoagulant actions of thrombin. These data highlight an important role for FH in hemostasis.

Complex coacervates between bovine serum albumin and anionic polysaccharides: formation and characterization

The comparative study regarding complexes coacervated between Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) and different polysaccharides, Pectin (PEC) and Gum Acacia (GA), was carried out by evaluating the influence of different ratios (protein:polysaccharide) and sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations on turbidity and zeta potential. The BSA:PEC complexes were formed in a 10:1 ratio whereas BSA:GA at 3:1. The complexation pH showed different behavior, BSA: PEC complexes exhibited maximum turbidity in a wide pH range (4.9 to 1.5), while BSA: GA had maximum turbidity at pH 3.5. The increase in the concentration of NaCl negatively influenced the complexation. The NaCl concentration of 0.40 mol L-1 suppressed the interaction in BSA:PEC (10:1) and reduced the range formation of BSA:GA (3:1). The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) demonstrated the participation not only of electrostatic interactions, but also of hydrogen bonds in the complexation. This initial study elucidated fundamental aspects about the formation of coacervate complexes between BSA:GA/PEC that assist in directing its application in food products especially, in acidic matrices (pH~4.0) as well as with low concentration of salts, in view of the effect of pH on maximum formation and sensitivity to NaCl. These complexes can be added directly to products in order to add nutritional value or even be used as a new matrix for the encapsulation of bioactive compounds.

Tracing the sources of organic matter in the Seine Estuary (NW France) using bulk and molecular analyses

<p>Estuaries are key ecosystems from economical and ecological points of view. This is especially true for the Seine Estuary, its watershed representing 12% of the France area (78 600 km<sup>2</sup>) in which 30% of the French population, 40% of the industry and 25% of the agriculture are concentrated. Estuaries transfer material from the continent to the oceans, including organic matter (OM), for which they are highly reactive zones. Elucidating the estuarine OM dynamics remains challenging, due to (i) the high variability of environmental parameters, such as salinity, light penetration and tidal range, (ii) the intrinsic heterogeneity and molecular diversity of OM and (iii) the permanently changing nature of this material. Estuarine OM can originate from various sources (transported from rivers or coastal ocean or be produced within the estuary itself) with a different composition, and thus a different behaviour in the ecosystem.</p><p>The aim of this work was to better constrain the sources of OM in the Seine Estuary. In order to take into account the spatiotemporal variability of OM characteristics, water and sediment samples (10 cm-long cores) were collected all along the estuary, i.e. in the upstream, maximum turbidity and downstream zones, during 5 campaigns with different tidal intensities and river flows. Elemental (C, N) and isotopic composition (δ<sup>13</sup>C and δ<sup>15</sup>N) as well as lipid biomarkers were analyzed in both particulate (POM) and sediment OM. This allows comparing the bulk and molecular composition as well as sources of OM in the particulate and sediment pools.</p><p>Several lipid biomarkers (n-alkanes, fatty acids, n-alcohols, sterols/stanols, GDGTs) were investigated in this study, as they provide complementary information of the sources and degradation degree of OM. Lipids from terrigenous sources were predominant in all samples, even though the concentrations of these compounds as well as those of anthropogenic origin were shown to decrease towards the mouth of the Seine Estuary. In addition, significant differences in bulk and molecular composition were observed between the particulate and sediment pool, especially with a higher abundance of aquatic (i.e. algal/bacterial) vs. terrigenous lipids in POM than sediment OM. Last, bulk and molecular analyses both showed the strong seasonal and spatial variability (along the estuary and with depth) of OM composition in the water column and sediment, which has to be taken into account when investigating estuarine OM dynamics.</p>

Impaired Fibrinolysis Predicts Adverse Outcome in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients with Diabetes: A PLATO Sub-Study

Hypofibrinolysis is a key abnormality in diabetes but the role of impaired clot lysis in predicting vascular events and mortality in this population is yet to be determined. We aimed to investigate the relationship between fibrin clot properties and clinical outcomes in patients with diabetes and recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Plasma samples were collected at hospital discharge from 974 ACS patients with diabetes randomised to clopidogrel or ticagrelor in the PLATO trial. A validated turbidimetric assay was employed to study fibrin clot lysis and maximum turbidity. One-year rates of cardiovascular (CV) death, spontaneous myocardial infarction (MI) and PLATO-defined major bleeding events were assessed after sample collection. Hazard ratios (HRs) were determined using Cox proportional analysis. After adjusting for CV risk factors, each 50% increase in lysis time was associated with increased risk of CV death/MI (HR 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.44; p = 0.026) and CV death alone (HR 1.38; 1.08–1.76; p = 0.01). Similarly, each 50% increase in maximum turbidity was associated with increased risk of CV death/MI (HR 1.25; 1.02–1.53; p = 0.031) and CV death alone (HR 1.49; 1.08–2.04; p = 0.014). The relationship between lysis time and the combined outcome of CV death and MI remained significant after adjusting for multiple prognostic vascular biomarkers (p = 0.034). Neither lysis time nor maximum turbidity was associated with major bleeding events. Impaired fibrin clot lysis predicts 1-year CV death and MI in diabetes patients following ACS. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier NCT00391872.

Dual Treatment of Milk Processing Industry Wastewater Using Electro Fenton Process Followed by Anaerobic Treatment

Milk processing industry produced in large amounts wastewater with high pH, temperature and toxic matters. These effluents can exhibit serious environmental problems and public health concerns if improperly disposed. In this present study, an attempt has been made to investigate the efficiency of combined treatment for milk processing industry wastewater. Advanced oxidation process used as primary treatment where as biological process is applied as post treatment to degrade the toxic matters. Parameters affecting the combined process on the percentage removal of turbidity and chemical oxygen (COD) demand were studied in detail. Under the optimum conditions, 93 % of turbidity and 97 % of COD were removed. These results indicated that the proposed technique could be used to degrade the maximum turbidity and chemical oxygen demand from milk processing industry wastewater.

A Direct Oral Anticoagulant Edoxaban Enhanced Fibrinolysis Via Inhibition of Thrombin-Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor Activation and Enhancement of Plasmin Generation in Human Plasma

Introduction: Direct oral anticoagulants are as effective as vitamin K antagonists for the treatment of venous thromboembolism and are associated with less bleeding. We have reported that a direct oral factor Xa inhibitor edoxaban exerts a thrombus resolution effect in a rat model of venous thrombosis and enhances tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA)-induced clot lysis in human plasma. However, the mechanism underlying the thrombus resolution effect and fibrinolysis enhancement by edoxaban remains to be determined. Purposes: To evaluate the effect of edoxaban on plasmin generation during clot lysis in human plasma in vitro. To determine the role of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) in the enhancement of fibrinolysis by edoxaban. Methods: Pooled human normal plasma or TAFI-deficient plasma (both containing 180 ng/mL t-PA and 0.1 nM thrombomodulin) was mixed with edoxaban, an activated TAFI (TAFIa) inhibitor (a fibrinolysis enhancer) potato tuber carboxypeptidase inhibitor (PCI), or vehicle. Clot was induced by adding 2.5 pM tissue factor and 4 µM phospholipids. To monitor the clot formation and lysis, the absorbance of plasma at 405 nm was measured every 30 sec. Clot lysis time was defined as the interval between the time of the midpoint of the clear to maximum turbidity transition and the midpoint of the maximum turbidity to clear transition. Plasmin-α2 antiplasmin complex (PAP) concentration was measured by ELISA as an indicator of plasmin generation. Results: In normal plasma, PCI accelerated clot lysis and increased plasma PAP concentration. There was a correlation between plasma PAP concentration and percent of clot lysis, indicating that plasma PAP concentration is an appropriate marker of fibrinolysis. Edoxaban at clinically relevant concentrations (75, 150, and 300 ng/mL) significantly shortened clot lysis time and elevated plasma PAP concentration. The additive combined effect of edoxaban and PCI was observed. In TAFI-deficient plasma, clot lysis time was shortened and plasma PAP concentration increased compared with normal plasma. In these samples, the effects of edoxaban and PCI on clot lysis and plasma PAP concentration were markedly diminished as compared with normal plasma. Conclusions: Edoxaban at clinically relevant concentrations enhanced t-PA-induced clot lysis with increasing plasma PAP concentration in human plasma. The effects of edoxaban on clot lysis and plasmin generation were diminished in TAFI-deficient plasma. A TAFIa inhibitor PCI exerted similar effects. These data suggest that edoxaban enhanced fibrinolysis via inhibition of TAFI activation and enhancement of plasmin generation. Disclosures Morishima: Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.: Employment. Honda:Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.: Employment. Furugohri:Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.: Employment.