Analysis of Acid Alizarin Violet N Dye Removal Using Sugarcane Bagasse as Adsorbent

With the development of the textile industry, there has been a demand for dye removal from contaminated effluents. In recent years, attention has been directed toward various natural solid materials that are capable of removing pollutants from contaminated water at low cost. One such material is sugarcane bagasse. The aim of the present study was to evaluate adsorption of the dye Acid Violet Alizarin N with different concentrations of sugarcane bagasse and granulometry in agitated systems at different pH. The most promising data (achieved with pH 2.5) was analyzed with both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms equations. The model that better fits dye adsorption interaction into sugarcane bagasse is Freundlich equation, and thus the multilayer model. Moreover, a smaller bagasse granulometry led to greater dye adsorption. The best treatment was achieved with a granulometry value lower than 0.21 mm at pH 2.50, in which the total removal was estimated at a concentration of 16.25 mg mL⁻¹. Hence, sugarcane bagasse proves to be very attractive for dye removal from textile effluents.     

Measurement of coupled nitrification-denitrification in paddy fields affected by Terrazole,a nitrification inhibitor

Coupled nitrification-denitrification and potential denitrification were measured as ¹⁵N₂O and ¹⁵N₂ evolution rates in ammonium sulphate-treated rice soils with or without Terrazole [5-ethoxy-3 (trichloromethyl) 1,2,3 Thiadizole] under laboratory and field conditions. The greatest coupled nitrification-denitrification activity was found after drying and rewetting the soil, with maximum values of 322 ng N cm^–2 h^–1 in the laboratory and 90.8 ng N cm^–2 h^–1 in the field. These ¹⁵N₂O + ¹⁵N₂ evolution rates were about 10 times lower than potential denitrification in these soils. These results and the observed decrease in ¹⁵N₂O + ¹⁵N₂ evolution rate in soils treated with Terrazole (60% under laboratory conditions and 52% under field conditions) indicate that denitrification was limited by coupled nitrification-denitrification activity. Oxygen and previous addition of ammonium sulphate appear to control the rate of ¹⁵N₂O + ¹⁵N₂ evolution in ammonium sulphate-fertilised soils.     

Fertilizer location modifies root zone salinity,root morphology,and water‐stress resistance of tree seedlings according to the watering regime in a dryland reforestation

There is a direct relationship between soil nutrient concentration in localized zones and root proliferation and elongation under well‐watered conditions. However, in field studies under semiarid conditions this relationship can change due to higher salt accumulation and soil dryness that affect root growth, water stress resistance, and seedling survival. We assessed the effect of different locations of fertilizer placement in the soil profile and water availability on root zone salinity, root development and ecophysiological responses of Quillaja saponaria Mol. after outplanting. A single dose (6 g L^?1) of controlled‐release nitrogen fertilizer (CRF_N) was placed at 0 cm (top layer), 15 cm (middle layer), or 30 cm (bottom layer) depth in the containers in a greenhouse, in addition to an unfertilized treatment (control). After 6 months, seedlings were transplanted to the field and subjected to weekly watering regimes (2 L plant^?1 and unwatered). Morphological and ecophysiological parameters were periodically measured on seedlings, as well as soil electrical conductivity (EC). After 1 year, the shoot : root ratio of unwatered seedlings decreased as a function of CRF_N placement depth, which was attributed to lower shoot growth and not to greater root growth. The root morphology of the bottom layer treatment was negatively affected by high EC in unwatered seedlings. Greater total root length and root volume of the middle layer treatment was found only when well‐watered; however, this did not contribute to improve physiological responses against water stress. The lowest EC and the highest photochemical efficiency, net photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance were shown by unfertilized seedlings, independent of water availability. Our findings suggest that varying depth of CRF_N placement does not contribute significantly to improve root growth under water restriction. Water supplements, independently of the CRF_N location in the substrate, contribute to decrease root zone salinity, and consequently, improve root volume growth.     

An Exploratory Study of Particulate PAHs in Low-Polluted Urban and Rural Areas of Southwest Spain: Concentrations, Source Assignment, Seasonal Variation and Correlations with Other Air Pollutants

A set of 72?PM₁₀ samples from low-polluted urban and rural locations belonging to the regional air monitoring network of Extremadura (Spain) were collected in a 1?year sampling period. Sample pre-treatment and analytical determination by gas chromatography?Cion trap mass spectrometry were optimised and validated for the analysis of the priority 16 US Environmental Protection Agency polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The influence of meteorological conditions (temperature, relative humidity and solar radiation) and other atmospheric pollutants (O₃, NO₂, SO₂, PM₁₀) has been covered in detail and Pearson correlation test were used for this purpose. Spatial distribution of particulate PAHs was evaluated and the comparison with other European sites was also established. Possible emission sources were identified and assigned by using molecular diagnostic criteria.     

Soil microbiological attributes under summer/winter crops rotation in a no-tillage system

Knowledge of the effect of a multiple combination of summer/winter crop rotation on the microbiological properties of soil would allow a more adequate response to its use. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the rotation of three summer crops (continuous soybean, continuous maize and soybean/maize rotation) in combination with seven winter crops (maize, sunflower, oilseed radish, millet, pigeon pea, sorghum and sunn hemp) on the microbiological properties of the soil. A soybean/maize (SM) rotation had a greater influence on microbial biomass than continuous maize (MM) and continuous soybean (SS). Urease and phosphatase activities were not affected by the crop rotation. Dehydrogenase activity was higher in continuous crops (MM and SS) than in SM, whereas respiratory activity was higher in SM than in continuous crops. For the SM rotation, the main variables selected by principal components analysis were microbial biomass C, N and P, respiratory and phosphatase activities, and microbial quotient. Pigeon pea, sorghum and sunn hemp had a greater effect on soil properties than the other winter crops. In general, the degree of influence of the summer and winter crops on the microbiological soil properties can be ranked as follows: SM > MM > SS, and millet > sorghum > sunn hemp > radish > pigeon pea > maize, respectively.     

Adaptation and Validation of Colorimetric Methods in Determining Ammonium and Nitrate on Tropical Soils

Inorganic nitrogen (N) determination in soil extracts is a useful tool in studying soil–N interactions. The main method used worldwide is the steam distillation, but colorimetric methodologies show advantages of being quick, simple, sensitive, and higher yield. However, they are subject to disruption when the extract has interfering organic N, limiting its application in tropical soil. The aim of this study is to evaluate colorimetric methods for the determination of NH₄⁺ (through Berthelot reaction) and NO₃^? + NO₂^? (through Griess-Ilosvay reaction) in saline extracts of tropical soils by addition of activated charcoal during the extraction process. It is recommended to use extraction solution of 2 mol L^?1 potassium chloride (KCl) and reaction time of 30 min. Validation parameters confirmed the best performance of the colorimetric methods, revealing results favorable to the addition of the activated charcoal in the extraction process to increase the accuracy and precision of the colorimetric methods.     

Applying a Lagrangian dispersion analysis to infer carbon dioxide and latent heat fluxes in a corn canopy

Warland and Thurtell (2000) proposed an analytical dispersion Lagrangian analysis (hereafter WT analysis) to relate the mean scalar concentration field to source profiles inside the canopy. The first objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the WT analysis with existing turbulence statistics parameterizations in a corn canopy, by comparing its inferred net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE) and latent heat flux (λE) with eddy covariance measurements. The second objective was to assess the performance of the WT analysis to infer the soil CO₂ flux. Four parameterizations of turbulence statistics were used to estimate Lagrangian time scale (T_L) and standard deviation of vertical wind velocity (σ_w) profiles. The estimated T_L and σ_w profiles were then corrected for atmospheric stability conditions. The field experiment was carried out in a corn field from August to October 2007 and 2008. Profiles of water vapour and CO₂ mixing ratios were measured using a multiport sampling system connected to an infrared gas analyzer. Wind velocity within and above the canopy and eddy covariance measurements over the canopy were taken. The soil respiration, estimated using the WT analysis, was compared to estimates obtained by an empirical model. WT analysis fluxes showed good correlation (R² = 0.77-0.88) with NEE and λE obtained by the eddy covariance technique, but overestimated net fluxes, especially when corrections for atmospheric stability were applied. The optimization of T_L and σ_w profiles using in-canopy turbulence measurements improved the agreement between measured and modeled NEE and λE. Inferred soil CO₂ fluxes were underestimated and were poorly correlated (R² = 0.02-0.01) with estimates obtained using an empirical model based on soil temperature. This poor performance in estimating the soil respiration is likely caused by the decoupling between inside and above canopy flows.     

Effect of Copper(II), Lead(II), and Zinc(II) on Growth and Sporulation of Halophytophthora from Taiwan Mangroves

This study evaluated the effect of lead (Pb(II)), zinc (Zn(II)) and copper (Cu(II)) on growth and sporulation of four Halophytophthora species (Halophytophthora vesicula, Halophytophthora elongata, Halophytophthora spinosa var. lobata, and an oogonia-producing Halophytophthora sp.) isolated from different mangrove sites in Taiwan. Results show that all isolates grew well or even better at 1 ppm concentration of the heavy metals tested. Growth of all test isolates was totally inhibited at 500 ppm, except for H. spinosa var. lobata exposed to Zn(II). For sporulation, all isolates produced moderate to abundant zoosporangia or oogonia at 1 ppm Pb(II) and Zn(II). Production of zoosporangia by H. vesicula, H. elongata and H. spinosa var. lobata was significantly affected or totally inhibited at 1 ppm Pb(II) and Zn(II) and all concentrations of Cu(II). Abnormal oogonia were produced by Halophytophthora sp. at 10 ppm Cu(II) and 100 ppm of the three heavy metals. In general, Cu(II) and Zn(II) were found to be the most toxic, and the least toxic was Pb(II). H. spinosa var. lobata was the most tolerant to all the heavy metals, while H. vesicula and H. elongata were the most sensitive. Results of this study shows that increased concentrations of Pb(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) in the mangrove environment can significantly affect growth and impair normal reproduction of Halophytophthora species.     

Copper Biosorption by Biomass of Marine Alga: Study of Equilibrium and Kinetics in Batch System and Adsorption/Desorption Cycles in Fixed Bed Column

Copper biosorption onto chemically modified biomass of marine alga Sargassum filipendula was investigated in a batch reactor and a fixed bed column. Experiments were carried out in the batch reactor to obtain kinetic and equilibrium data and to assess the copper desorption efficiency of different eluent solutions. The pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Langmuir kinetic models were used to correlate kinetic data. The experimental data fitted well to the pseudo first order and Langmuir kinetic models. Langmuir and Freundlich models were applied to describe the equilibrium data obtained at a fixed temperature of 30°C and at pH values of 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0. The maximum capacities of copper biosorption onto the algal biomass were 1.43, 1.59, 2.40, and 2.36 mequiv./g at pH 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0, respectively. The efficiencies of two eluent solutions (calcium chloride and hydrochloric acid) for copper removal from the biomass were evaluated at different concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 mol/L). The efficiencies of the calcium chloride solutions varied from 1% to 14%, while efficiencies varying from 95% to 99% were obtained when hydrochloric acid solutions were applied. Three adsorption/desorption cycles were carried out in a fixed bed column using 0.1 mol/L hydrochloric acid as eluent solution. The results showed that an increase in the number of cycles led to a reduction in the adsorption capacity of the alga. The desorbed copper fraction presented no significant variation, remaining around 63% in the three adsorption/desorption cycles.