Yeasts used as fining treatment to correct browning in white wines

White wine was subjected to several fining treatments using baker's yeast at concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 g/L. At all these concentration levels, the yeasts decreased the color of the wine in different degrees. The wine samples treated with the higher yeast concentration were subjected to analysis of phenolic compounds by HPLC and found to exhibit significantly decreased contents of vanillic, syringic and c-coutaric acids, and procyanidins B2 and B4, and colored compounds eluted at high retention times. The efficiency of the yeast-based fining treatment (1 g/L) was compared with traditional treatments such as those involving the use of activated charcoal or PVPP, which were employed at the usual concentrations in Sherry winemaking. This yeast treatment was found to provide results similar to those of the activated charcoal treatment in terms of A(420). Likewise, significant differences in the degree of retention of various phenols were observed among the three treatments compared. Finally, the wine samples obtained with the different treatments were subjected to a sensory panel. All the wines were found to exhibit improved color, aroma, and flavor with respect to the untreated samples, although the treatment using yeast at 1 g/L provided the best results in terms of aroma.     

Fate of a phenylpyrazole in vegetation and soil under tropical field conditions

The fate of fipronil, a phenylpyrazole insecticide, and its metabolites under tropical conditions was studied in soil and in vegetation after treatment for locust control. Two different plots were treated with a formulation of fipronil at doses of 5 and 10 g of active ingredient ha(-)(1), respectively. Vegetation and soil at depths of 0-5 and 5-20 cm were sampled for up to 2 months after treatment. After extraction and purification on fipronil immunoaffinity cartridges, residues were analyzed by gas chromatography using electron capture and mass detectors. In soil, a rapid initial decrease of fipronil was observed with a rapid formation of the sulfone and the photodegradate; the amide and the sulfide were not detected. In vegetation, a rapid initial decrease of fipronil was also observed with a rapid formation of mostly the sulfone; the photodegradate and the sulfide were also detected but at much lower concentrations. The metabolites resulting from the degradation of fipronil were similar in both soil and vegetation, but their relative concentrations were different.     

Earthworm biomass response to soil management in semi-arid tropical Alfisol agroecosystems

Earthworms recorded during 1989–1993 across 15 soil management treatments, comprising three different tillagexthree organic amendments (bare, farmyard manure, and rice straw) and six perennial ley treatments, belonged to two endogeic species, Octochaetona phillotti (Michaelsen) and Lampito mauritii Kinberg, while in a nearby undisturbed natural revegetation area three species were found, including the above two and Octonochaeta rosea (Stephenson). The earthworm biomass showed significant temporal and spatial variations and was higher during the post monsoon period than in the early rainy season. No worm biomass was recorded during the dry season. In the tillage and organic amendment treatments, the biomass was drastically reduced from September 1989 to September 1991 after the application of carbofuran and some herbicides, and was significantly reduced during these two years compared to that of 1992. The maximum monthly earthworm biomass ranged between 2.5 and 17.9 g m^-2 across the treatments and increased several-fold in the nearby natural revegetation area (75.9 g m^-2). It significantly increased in perennial ley treatments compared to annual treatments with organic amendments. Thus the earthworm biomass varied significantly (P<0.01) across the 15 treatments, indicating discernible effects of soil management.Visiting Scientist (under the Rockefeller Foundation Environmental Research Fellowship in International Agriculture)     

Orographic enhancement of wet deposition in the United Kingdom: Continuous monitoring

Continuous monitoring of cloud and rain samples at three mountain sites in the UK has allowed consideration of the long term impact of the enhancement of the wet deposition of pollutants by orographie effects, specifically the scavenging of cap cloud droplets by rain falling from above (the seeder-feeder effects). The concentration of the major pollutant ions in the cloud water is related to the relative proximity of each site to marine and anthropogenic sources of aerosol. In general, the concentrations of major ions in precipitation at summit sites exceed those in precipitation to low ground nearby by 20% to 50%. Concentrations in orographie cloud exceed those in upwind rain by between a factor of five and ten. The results are consistent with seeder-feeder scavenging of hill cloud by falling precipitation in which the average concentration of ions in scavenged hill cloud exceed those in precipitation upwind by a factor of 1.7 to 2.3 for sulphate and nitrate respectively at Dunslair Heights and 1.5 to 1.8 for sulphate and nitrate at Holme Moss. The results suggest that the parameterisation of this relationship with scavenged feeder cloud water concentrations assumed to exceed those in seeder rain by a factor of two for the production of predictive maps of wet deposition in mountainous regions of the U.K. is satisfactory.     

Soil solution chemistry and element budgets of three Scots pine ecosystems along a deposition gradient in north-eastern Germany

Since 1993 we are studying three Scots pine ecosystems along a deposition gradient in north-eastern Germany (formerly GDR). Dramatic reductions of pollutant emissions are reported for the period since 1989/90. S-deposition is high at the sites Roesa and Taura (25 kg S ha^?1yr^?1) compared to Neuglobsow. Inputs of basic cations, especially Ca, by alkaline dust immissions decrease in the order Roesa > Taura > Neuglobsow. The soil solution data show high concentrations of Ca and SO₄ at Roesa decreasing drastically along the deposition gradient. The elevated pH values reflect the impact of alkaline dust deposition particularly in the organic surface layer at Roesa. The site Taura received less base cation deposition and is marked by the lowest pH values throughout the soil profile combined with increased Al concentrations in the solution of the mineral soil. Thus, the composition of the soil solutions clearly reflects the different deposition regimes of the past. The element budgets show that large amounts of base cations, sulfur, and, at Taura, also aluminum are actually released from the soils that were previously stored.     

Linkages between atmospheric mercury deposition and the methylmercury content of marine fish

Enhanced Hg deposition to productive marine systems may result in concurrent increases in monomethyl Hg (MMHg) concentrations of marine fish. Consequently, it is important to understand what effects an increasing Hg supply may have on the marine food chain. A simple ocean model is employed to estimate the fraction of total Hg inputs which is required to sustain “average” marine fish MMHg concentrations annually. Calculations show that upwelling zones require 20% of total annual Hg inputs, coastal zones 5%, and open-ocean regions only 0.02%. The value for coastal areas is similar to that calculated for the acidified basin of Little Rock Lake, Wisconsin, a small fresh water seepage lake. These calculations point to Hg source strength and rates of particle scavenging as being key factors in controlling the rate of transport to sites of methylation (and subsequent entry into the marine food chain). If biological variables (scavenging rates, primary productivity) remain constant while anthropogenically-derived Hg deposition increases, it is likely that concentrations in marine biota (including fish) will rise in accord.     

A dynamic model for radionuclide transfer from water to freshwater fish

A dynamic model for radionuclide transfer from water to fish is presented, from its design stages to its in situ validation. Four steps are proposed in order to apply the model, for predictive purposes, to ¹³⁷ Cs and ¹⁰⁶ Ru in case of the Rhone (S.E. France), downstream of the Marcoule fuel reprocessing plant. The first step consists of an experimental laboratory study conducted on a species which is representative of the second order trophic level (Cyprinus carpio L.). Compartmental analysis then allows construction of the conceptual model of the organism. The number of compartments necessary to represent the organism and the kinetic parameters quantifying the transfer studied are estimated using a standardized procedure for the statistical processing of results. A numerical method which allows consideration of all the fluctuations recorded in the radionuclide concentration in the water during the exposure phase is shown. Direct ¹³⁷Cs transfer is modeled on the basis of a single compartment, characterized by the exchange kinetics constants A₂=0.224 d^-1 and λ₂=0.0065 d^-1. For¹⁰⁶ Ru, two compartments are necessary in order to model the exchange kinetics. They are characterized by the constants A₁=1.319 d^-1 and λ₁=0.638 d^-1, A₂=0.198 d^-1 and λ₂=0.0261 d^-1. For a theoretical fish having zero growth, and for constant concentration in water, these transfer kinetics lead to concentration factor values of 34 L Kg w.w.^-1 for ¹³⁷Cs and 10 L Kg w.w.^-1 for ¹⁰⁶Ru. The corresponding long biological half- lives are 106 days and 27 days. A different transfer model expression is necessary based on the radionuclide tissue distribution differences within the organism. The major distribution of the ¹³⁷Cs in muscle which is a growth target tissue, implies building the conceptual transfer model on the assumption of the proportionality between the mass of water intervening in the transfer and the mass of the organism. For the ¹⁰⁶Ru preferentially accumulating in a low growth organ (digestive tract), the basic assumption is that of the intervention of a constant mass of water in the transfer. The entire model, i.e. the basic assumption on the influence of the growth of the organism, the number of compartments, the kinetic parameters, was validated by adapted in situ experimentation. The validation tested with a monthly time step was satisfactory for the two radionuclides.     

Microbial C and N dynamics during mesophilic and thermophilic incubations of ryegrass

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine C and N dynamics during the decomposition of ryegrass straw under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. A K_C of 0.61 was developed for the chloroform-fumigation extraction method to estimate microbial biomass C. These estimates showed that the C and N requirement of the thermophilic biomass was approximately 50% of the mesophilic biomass. There was no relationship between chloroform-fumigation microbial biomass estimates and plating of microorganisms from straw on specific media. Mineralized C was measured as 185 and 210 g kg^-1 straw in the 25°C and 50°C treatments, respectively. The efficiency of microbial substrate use, on a total straw basis, was 34 and 28% in the 25°C and 50°C incubations, respectively. The level of soluble C declined more slowly than total C mineralization at both temperatures, indicating that a portion of the labile C was not readily biodegradable. The addition of N decreased the rate of C mineralization at both temperatures. The reduced N requirement of the thermophiles explains why rapid degradation of the high C:N residue occurred without additional N or the need for the addition of a low C:N ratio substrate. Additional inoculum did not affect the decomposition process. We conclude that the promotion of thermophilic biomass activities, through composting for example, may prove useful in upgrading agricultural wastes for introduction into sustainable cropping systems.     

Simulation of in-situ bioremediation of phenol contaminated sandy aquifers I. Effect of sand sizes

Laboratory scale porous media biofilm reactors were used to evaluate the effect of biofilm thickness on media porosity and permeability. Media tested consisted of three different sizes of sand (0.4, 0.3, and 0.2 mm). A set of fifteen columns was used in this experiment, five columns for each size of sand. Columns were operated under constant piezometric head (2.5 m) conditions, resulting in a decreasing flow rate with biofilm development. During the experiment, variations in the piezometric head, substrate concentration, and growth in biomass as well as volatile solids were monitored in space and time. Phenol (15 mg/L) was used as a growth substrate. The reductions in hydraulic conductivity were found to be 97% for the coarse sand (0.4 mm), 96% for the medium size sand (0.3 mm), and 93.7% for the fine sand (0.2 mm). The respective removal of phenol in these columns was 96% for the coarser sand, 97.9% for the medium size sand, and 98.8% for the finer sand. Steady-state effluent phenol concentrations occurred simultaneously with uniform hydraulic conductivity reduction after 50 days of operation. The concentration of volatile solids near the column inlets and outlets, after 58 days of operation, ranged between 9.8 and 4.04 mg/g for the coarse sand, 11.2 and 6.2 mg/g for the medium size sand, and 11.8 and 6.2 mg/g of sand for the fine sand, respectively. The number of colonies near the column inlets and outlets was 2800 × 10¹⁰/mL and 1480 x 10¹⁰/mL for the coarse sand, and 2840 × 10¹⁰/mL and 1520 × 10¹⁰/mL for the medium sand, and 2890 × 10¹⁰/mL and 2120 × 10¹⁰/mL for the fine sand.     

In vitro antioxidant and ex vivo protective activities of green and roasted coffee

The antioxidant properties of green and roasted coffee, in relation to species (Coffea arabica and Coffea robusta) and degree of roasting (light, medium, dark), were investigated. These properties were evaluated by determining the reducing substances (RS) of coffee and its antioxidant activity (AA) in vitro (model system beta-carotene-linoleic acid) and ex vivo as protective activity (PA) against rat liver cell microsome lipid peroxidation measured as TBA-reacting substances. RS of C. robustasamples were found to be significantly higher when compared to those of C. arabica samples (p < 0.001). AA for green coffee samples were slightly higher than for the corresponding roasted samples while PA was significantly lower in green coffee compared to that of all roasted samples (p < 0.001). Extraction with three different organic solvents (ethyl acetate, ethyl ether, and dichloromethane) showed that the most protective compounds are extracted from acidified dark roasted coffee solutions with ethyl acetate. The analysis of acidic extract by gel filtration chromatography (GFC) gave five fractions. Higher molecular mass fractions were found to possess antioxidant activity while the lower molecular mass fractions showed protective activity. The small amounts of these acidic, low molecular mass protective fractions isolated indicate that they contain very strong protective agents.