Suitability of Wastes from Olive-Oil Industry for Initial Reclamation of a Pb/Zn Mine Tailing

An incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate the ameliorating role of two organic amendments—olive-mill solid wastes and compost from olive-mill solid wastes- in the ecological reclamation of a lead/Zn-mine tailing collected in southern Spain. Four enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, urease and phosphatase) and soluble and AB-DTPA extractable Pb and Zn and were periodically determined. High concentrations of Pb (5394 mg kg^?1) and Zn (9607 mg kg^?1), mainly in insoluble forms, were recorded in the lead/zinc-mine tailing, as well as very low biochemical activity. Application of the compost from olive-mill solid waste stimulated microbial activity and the biogeochemical cycles into the mine tailing because of the initially increased dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase and urease activities, which tended to decline or remained constant during the incubation period. By contrast, these enzyme activities were scarcely affected by the incorporation of the olive-mill solid wastes because this olive-organic amendment contains extractable polyphenols (36 g kg^?1), which inhibit these enzyme activities. Phosphatase activity was enhanced by the application of both olive-organic amendments, especially when the olive-mill solid waste was added to the mine tailing. Amounts of soluble and AB-DTPA-extractable Pb and Zn in the mine tailing were increased by the application of the olive-mill solid waste, and to a lesser degree, by the compost from this olive waste. This fact could restrict the use of these olive-organic amendements as useful materials in reclamation of lead/zinc-mine tailings. Nevertheless, the increases of available lead and zinc would represent an advantage where Pb/Zn-mine tailings are reclaimed by phytoextraction, effectively reducing the metal pollution in these mining wastes.     

Changes in the HPLC phenolic profile of virgin olive oil from young trees (Olea europaea L. Cv. Arbequina) grown under different deficit irrigation strategies

The HPLC phenolic profile of virgin olive oils obtained from young olive trees (Arbequina cv.) grown under different deficit irrigation strategies was studied. Deficit irrigation (RDI) did not affect all the phenolic compounds in the same way. Lignans, vanillic acid, vanillin, and the unknown phenolic compound named P24 increased in the oils from the most irrigated treatments. The secoiridoid derivatives and the unknown phenolic compound named P19 increased in the oils from the most stressed irrigation treatments. The period of growth where a water stress significantly affects the phenolic profile of oils was between pit hardening and the first stages of fruit growth and oil accumulation, independently of the water applied during the previous period to harvest. The phenolic profile and those parameters related to phenol content, oxidative stability, and the bitter index were significantly affected only in the most severe RDI strategies. Other strategies produced important savings in irrigation requirements and an increase in the water use efficiency without noticeably affecting the phenolic profile.     

Monitoring of plant and soil pollution based on ionic impulsion

Total pollution indexes for measuring heavy metal contamination of industrialized areas may be quickly estimated from selected metal partial indexes for soil (M-SPI) or plants (M-PPI). Partial pollution indexes for plants (or soils) are calculated by the formula M-PPI (or M-SPI) = 100 (I ? I _unp)/(I _tox ?I _unp), where I = c _i ^1/ni is the ionic impulsion of the selected metal M, with oxidation number n _i, for its actual plant (or soil) concentration c _i,and I _unp and I _tox, the ionic impulsions for unpolluted and toxid levels of the M in plants (or soils). The total pollution indexes were proposed by analogous formulae containing the sums of contributions of metals accumulated in roots (Pb, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and also Fe for plants), without participation of macroconstituents (K, Mg, Ca, Na, and also Mn), accumulated in plant tops. Partial pollution indexes may also serve to show (i) deficiency or toxicity levels of plants (or soils) and (ii) associations between pollutants, easily detected by a numerical taxonomy's dendrogram. Using correlation coefficient techniques for the Bilbao (Spain) model zone, the total soil pollution index, SPI, may be calculated from Zn-SPI, Pb-SPI, Cu-SPI or Cu-PPI. The total plant pollution index, PPI, is similarly related to Fe-PPI or Zn-PPI, though some distortion is evident when the sampling point is close to specific industrial factories. The best estimation (without distortion) for monitoring total plant pollution index is based on the sum of contributions of essential elements (Fe, Cu, and Zn). This fact suggests the existence of defense mechanisms of plants for balancing both the uptake of toxic metals and deficiencies of essential constituents. Finally total pollution indexes may be used for the estimation of the number of pollutants with toxic levels in plants or soils.     

Influence of CaCl(2) on the foliar biomass and quality of tobacco leaves

The aim of the present work was to determine the influence of different CaCl(2) dosages on foliar biomass and quality of tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L. var. Tennesse 86). Plants were grown under controlled conditions and submitted to regular fertilization with macro- and micronutrients. The CaCl(2) was applied to the nutrient solution at 1.25 mM (T1), 2.5 mM (T2), and 5 mM (T3). The results indicated that, under the experimental conditions of this work, the application of 1.25 mM of CaCl(2) favored the growth and development of the leaves, this leading to improved biomass production in tobacco leaves. The increase in foliar biomass in treatment T1 could largely be a result of the stimulation of NO(3)(-) assimilation. However, this situation has negative consequences for tobacco quality, given that the T1 treatment augmented the NO(3)(-) concentration and the foliar concentration of nicotine (both effects being harmful for human consumption) and decreased the concentration of reducing sugars in leaves of tobacco plants compared with those of T2 and T3. Finally, a close and directly proportional relationship was found in our experiment between the parameters of foliar-biomass production, total N concentration, chlorophyll concentration, and decline in quality.     

Polyphenol changes during fermentation of naturally black olives

The individual evolution of phenolic compounds has been studied during the natural fermentation of black olives for the first time. Cyanidin 3-rutinoside and cyanidin 3-glucoside were the main anthocyanins identified in fresh olives, and they were not detected after 1 month of storage either in brine or in olive. The fruit colors were different when aerobic or anaerobic conditions were used and as a consequence of the different anthocyanin polymerizations that took place. At time zero, the polyphenols observed in the olive juice were hydroxytyrosol-4-beta-glucoside, oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, salidroside, and verbascoside and, after 12 months, the main phenol was hydroxytyrosol. The polyphenol content in the oil phase of olives was also analyzed. The dialdehydic form of elenolic acid linked to hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol, oleuropein aglycon, and ligstroside aglycon were the main compounds found at the beginning of fermentation but were not detected after 3 months. In contrast, hydroxytyrosol, hydroxytyrosol acetate, tyrosol, and tyrosol acetate were the main polyphenols detected in the oil phase of the final product. The acid hydrolysis of the initial glucosides (in olive juice) and the aglycons (in oil phase) was, therefore, the main reaction that took place during fermentation.     

Changes in the phenolic composition of virgin olive oil from young trees (Olea europaea L. cv. Arbequina) grown under linear irrigation strategies.

This study reports the HPLC profiles of phenolic compounds of virgin olive oils obtained from young olive trees (Olea europaea L. cv. Arbequina) and how the application of a linear irrigation strategy affected these. Hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, vanillic acid, vanillin, 4-(acetoxyethyl)-1,2-dihydroxybenzene, p-coumaric acid, the dialdehydic form of elenolic acid linked to hydroxytyrosol and to tyrosol, lignans, and the oleuropein aglycon were found in all the oils. Hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, vanillic acid, and p-coumaric acid contents in the oils were unaffected by linear irrigation. The concentration of lignans was lower in the oils from the least irrigated treatment and the concentration of vanillin increased as the amount of irrigation water applied to olive trees increased. However, 4-(acetoxyethyl)-1,2-dihydroxybenzene, the dialdehydic form of elenolic acid linked to hydroxytyrosol and to tyrosol, and the oleuropein aglycon, all of them hydroxyphenyl derivatives, decreased as the level of irrigation water increased. The latter three compounds represented the most considerable part of the phenolic fraction of the oils and they were shown to be correlated to the oxidative stability, the bitter index (K(225)), and the bitter, pungent, and sweet sensory attributes. Linear irrigation strategy changed the profile of the oil phenolic compounds and, therefore, changed both the organoleptic properties and the antioxidant capacity of the product.     

Interrill and rill erodibility in the northern Andean Highlands

There is a lack of quantitative information describing the physical processes causing soil erosion in the Andean Highlands, especially those related to interrill and rill erodibility factors. To assess how susceptible are soils to erosion in this region, field measurements of interrill (Ki) and rill (Kr) erodibility factors were evaluated. These values were compared against two equations used by the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP), and also compared against the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) erodibility factor. Ki observed in situ ranged from 1.9 to 56 × 10⁵ kg s m^− 4 whereas Kr ranged from 0.3 to 14 × 10^− 3 s m^− 1. Sand, clay, silt, very fine sand and organic matter fractions were determined in order to apply WEPP and USLE procedures. Most of the evaluated soils had low erodibility values. However, the estimated USLE K values were in the low range of erodibility values. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were applied to ascertain the influence of the independent soil parameters on the Ki and Kr values. After this, we yield two empirical equations to estimate Ki and Kr under this Andean Highlands conditions. Ki was estimated using as predictors silt and very fine sand, while Kr used as predictors clay, very fine sand and organic matter content. Relationship among Ki, Kr and K are described for the Highland Andean soils.     

Correlations between soil parameters and radionuclide contents in samples from Biscay (Spain)

The distribution of gamma emitting radioactive constituents in Biscay soils have been measured in 15 cm cores, at three depth levels, in fourteen sampling positions. Analyses were performed in Marinelli beakers with a gamma multichannel analyser provided with a Ge-HP detector. Additionally, each soil was characterized by a number of parameters (position, bulk density, pH, size distribution, total contents of carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen, thermogravimetric data and major cations soluble in ammonium acetate at pH 7). Seven natural radioisotopes (⁴⁰K, ²²⁸Ac, ²¹²Bi, ²⁰⁸TI, ²²⁶Ra, ²¹⁴Pb and ²¹⁴Bi) and ¹³⁷Cs were detected and measured. Relations between natural radionuclides (located before and after radon isotopes in both radioactive series) and soil parameters are mainly explained by two statistical multivariate methods (factor analysis and numerical taxonomy). The more complex dependence of radiocaesium contents on soil characteristics was elucidated by linear multiple regression.     

Phytoextraction of Cd and Pb and physiological effects in potato plants (Solanum tuberosum var. Spunta): importance of root temperature.

Three consecutive years of field experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of different root-zone temperatures, induced by the application of mulches, on the concentration and accumulation of Cd and Pb and on bioindicators (chlorophylls, catalase, peroxidase and cell wall fractions) in different organs of potato plants (roots, tubers, stems, and leaflets). Four different plastic covers were employed (T1, transparent polyethylene; T2, white polyethylene; T3, white and black coextruded polyethylene, and T4, black polyethylene), using uncovered plants as the control (T0). The different treatments had a significant effect on the mean root-zone temperatures (T0 = 16 degrees C, T1 = 20 degrees C, T2 = 23 degrees C, T3 = 27 degrees C, and T4 = 30 degrees C) and induced significantly different responses in the Cd and Pb concentrations and phytoaccumulation, with T2 (23 degrees C) and T3 (27 degrees C) giving high concentrations of Cd in the roots and low concentrations in other organs. In relation to Pb, T2 and T3 reached higher levels in the tubers and lower levels in the roots, stems, and leaves. In terms of phytoaccumulation, the roots and tubers were the most effective organs for Cd and Pb. On the other hand, the highest values of peroxidase and catalase activities were obtained for T3. In addition, most of the carbohydrate fractions in both the roots and the tubers were highest for T3. Meanwhile, the lowest pigment values were registered for T1 (20 degrees C). For phytoremediation, it is necessary to ascertain the relevance and control of the thermal regime of the soil to optimize the phytoextraction of pollutant elements (Cd and Pb).