scholarly journals Wheat Straw Biochar as a Specific Sorbent of Cobalt in Soil

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Medyńska-Juraszek ◽  
Irmina Ćwieląg-Piasecka ◽  
Maria Jerzykiewicz ◽  
Justyna Trynda
Keyword(s):  
Wheat Straw ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Material Efficiency ◽  
Ft Ir ◽  
Heavy Metal Adsorbent

There is an urgent need to search for new sorbents of pollutants presently delivered to the environment. Recently biochar has received much attention as a low-cost, highly effective heavy metal adsorbent. Biochar has been identified as an efficient material for cobalt (Co) immobilization from waters; however, little is known about the role of Co immobilization in soil. Hence, in this study, a batch experiment and a long-term incubation experiment with biochar application to multi-contaminated soil with distinct properties (sand, loam) were conducted to provide a brief explanation of the potential mechanisms of Co (II) sorption on wheat straw biochar and to describe additional processes that modify material efficiency for metal sorption in soil. The soil treatments with 5% (v/w) wheat straw biochar proved to be efficient in reducing Co mobility and bioavailability. The mechanism of these processes could be related to direct and indirect effects of biochar incorporation into soil. The FT-IR analysis confirmed that hydroxyl and carboxyl groups present on the biochar surface played a dominant role in Co (II) surface complexation. The combined effect of pH, metal complexation capacity, and the presence of Fe and Mn oxides added to wheat straw biochar resulted in an effective reduction of soluble Co (II), showing high efficiency of this material for cobalt sorption in contaminated soils.

scholarly journals Remediation of mercury-contaminated soils and sediments using biochar: a critical review

Biochar ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Yang ◽  
Yongjie Wang ◽  
Huan Zhong
Keyword(s):  
Health Risks ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Functional Materials ◽  
Redox Conditions ◽  
Existing Problems ◽  
Soils And Sediments ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Biochar Amendment

AbstractThe transformation of mercury (Hg) into the more toxic and bioaccumulative form methylmercury (MeHg) in soils and sediments can lead to the biomagnification of MeHg through the food chain, which poses ecological and health risks. In the last decade, biochar application, an in situ remediation technique, has been shown to be effective in mitigating the risks from Hg in soils and sediments. However, uncertainties associated with biochar use and its underlying mechanisms remain. Here, we summarize recent studies on the effects and advantages of biochar amendment related to Hg biogeochemistry and its bioavailability in soils and sediments and systematically analyze the progress made in understanding the underlying mechanisms responsible for reductions in Hg bioaccumulation. The existing literature indicates (1) that biochar application decreases the mobility of inorganic Hg in soils and sediments and (2) that biochar can reduce the bioavailability of MeHg and its accumulation in crops but has a complex effect on net MeHg production. In this review, two main mechanisms, a direct mechanism (e.g., Hg-biochar binding) and an indirect mechanism (e.g., biochar-impacted sulfur cycling and thus Hg-soil binding), that explain the reduction in Hg bioavailability by biochar amendment based on the interactions among biochar, soil and Hg under redox conditions are highlighted. Furthermore, the existing problems with the use of biochar to treat Hg-contaminated soils and sediments, such as the appropriate dose and the long-term effectiveness of biochar, are discussed. Further research involving laboratory tests and field applications is necessary to obtain a mechanistic understanding of the role of biochar in reducing Hg bioavailability in diverse soil types under varying redox conditions and to develop completely green and sustainable biochar-based functional materials for mitigating Hg-related health risks.

scholarly journals Effect of Intercalation Structure of Organo-Modified Montmorillonite/Polylactic Acid on Wheat Straw Fiber/Polylactic Acid Composites

Polymers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiqi Fan ◽  
Guangping Han ◽  
Wanli Cheng ◽  
Huafeng Tian ◽  
Dong Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Thermogravimetric Analysis ◽  
Wheat Straw ◽  
Polylactic Acid ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Interlayer Spacing ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Ft Ir ◽  
Ir Analysis

In this work, an easy way to prepare the polylactic acid (PLA)/wheat straw fiber (WSF) composite was proposed. The method involved uses either the dopamine-treated WSF or the two-step montmorillonite (MMT)-modified WSF as the filler material. In order to achieve the dispersibility and exfoliation of MMT, it was modified by 12-aminododecanoic acid using a two-step route. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed to characterize the modified MMT and the coated WSF. As for the properties of PLA/WSF composites, some thermal (using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis) and mechanical properties (flexural, tensile, and impact) were analyzed. The results showed that the dopamine was successfully coated onto the WSF. Furthermore, Na-MMT was successfully transformed to organo-montmorillonite (OMMT) and formed an exfoliated structure. In addition, a better dispersion of MMT was obtained using the two-step treatment. The interlayer spacing of modified MMT was 4.06 nm, which was 123% higher than that of the unmodified MMT. Additionally, FT-IR analysis suggested that OMMT diffused into the PLA matrix. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that a higher thermal stability of PLA/WSF composites was obtained for the modified MMT and dopamine. The results also showed that both the dopamine treated WSF and the two-step-treated MMT exhibited a positive influence on the mechanical properties of PLA/WSF composites, especially on the tensile strength, which increased by 367% compared to the unmodified precursors. This route offers researchers a potential scheme to improve the thermal and mechanical properties of PLA/WSF composites in a low-cost way.

scholarly journals An Essential Role of Polymeric Adhesives in the Reinforcement of Acidified Paper Relics

Polymers ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 207
Author(s):  
Jiaojiao Liu ◽  
Huiping Xing ◽  
Yajun Zhou ◽  
Xiaolian Chao ◽  
Yuhu Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Role ◽  
Polyvinyl Butyral ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Wheat Starch ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Ft Ir ◽  
Starch Paste

Paper acidification causes paper relics to undergo embrittlement and decay, to form dregs, and even to break upon a single touch; therefore, reinforcement and deacidification treatments are essential steps for paper conservation and to retard the deterioration and prolong the life of objects. Polymeric adhesives play an essential role in reinforcement and deacidification treatments, although it is not well studied. In this work, the effect of polymeric adhesives on the conservation process and their protective effects on acidified paper relics were studied. Firstly, three polymeric adhesives, including wheat starch paste, polyvinyl butyral (PVB), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), were selected as research objects. Subsequently, their effects on four popular conservation methods were further discussed, including traditional mounting, hot-melt with silk net, alcohol-soluble cotton mesh, and water-soluble cotton mesh. Additionally, as an example, the reversibility and long-term durability of water-soluble adhesive PVA-217 were assessed. Using a computer measured and controlled folding endurance tester, pendulum tensile strength tester, tear tester, burst tester, FT-IR, video optical contact angle tester, and other instruments, the conservation application of water-soluble adhesives in paper relics was evaluated. This study provides a scientific basis and experimental data for the application of polymeric adhesives in the conservation of paper relics.

Building Evaluation Capital in Government: A Queensland Departmental Approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 39-49
Author(s):  
Sarah Goswami ◽  
Vicki Lane
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Value For Money ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Evaluation Capacity Building ◽  
Statutory Body

Increasingly, government departments are being held accountable for investment in public services. In Queensland the Financial Accountability Act 2009 (Queensland Treasury, 2016) requires that accountable officers and statutory bodies ‘achieve reasonable value for money by ensuring the operations of the department or statutory body are carried out efficiently, effectively and economically’ (Section 61). Whilst there is a directive for agencies to evaluate and demonstrate value for money, it has in practice been difficult to embed long term, as many systems and decision makers have neglected the role of organisation-wide evaluation capital. This paper will outline the work being undertaken in the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) to implement an Impact and Investment Framework, which will support and embed evaluation in a multidisciplinary setting. A central tenant of this framework is ‘business empowerment and learning'—building the evaluation culture in the organisation by first establishing evaluation building blocks, through business empowerment, support and utility. The framework is comprised of five key elements and is built on the principles of evaluation and evaluation capacity building disciplines. It has been designed to be low-cost, effective and efficient, whilst enabling business improvement, meeting accountability needs and allowing the department to demonstrate the value of its work.

Wanted: A Comparative History of the Modern Mediterranean

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-53
Author(s):  
Edmund Burke
Keyword(s):  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Third World ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
The West ◽  
The Third ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Third World

There is something seriously flawed about models of social change that posit the dominant role of in-built civilizational motors. While “the rise of the West” makes great ideology, it is poor history. Like Jared Diamond, I believe that we need to situate the fate of nations in a long-term ecohistorical context. Unlike Diamond, I believe that the ways (and the sequences) in which things happened mattered deeply to what came next. The Mediterranean is a particularly useful case in this light. No longer a center of progress after the sixteenth century, the decline of the Mediterranean is usually ascribed to its inherent cultural deficiencies. While the specific cultural infirmity varies with the historian (amoral familism, patron/clientalism, and religion are some of the favorites) its civilizationalist presuppositions are clear. In this respect the search for “what went wrong” typifies national histories across the region and prefigures the fate of the Third World.

Manipulating the Gut Microbiota to Manage Obesity

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 6198-6202
Author(s):  
Anthony Paulo Sunjaya ◽  
Angela Felicia Sunjaya ◽  
Meilani Kumala
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Gut Permeability ◽  
Great Role ◽  
Diet Modification ◽  
Food Biotechnology ◽  
Microbial Strain

Obesity has currently become a worldwide epidemic. Currently, lifestyle changes, pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery remains the only available armamentarium. However, lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapy resulted in variable outcomes and are often unsustainable. On the other hand, advances in metagenomics and food biotechnology has reported the important role of gut microbiota in the complex pathophysiology of obesity and its possible role in treating it. This review aims to discuss the potential of manipulating gut microbiota to tackle obesity. Articles were obtained through Pubmed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, High Wire and Elsevier Clinical Key using the keywords “obesity AND gut microbiota or synonyms.” Various studies have shown the interactions between gut microbiota, gut permeability and the immune system as a mechanism that links diet, obesity and its comorbidities. There are currently several reported methods of manipulating gut microbiota namely, though probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics and diet modification with varying outcomes based on the microbial strain affected and used. Studies have also proposed manipulating gut microbiota as a way to prevent and manage obesity en-mass. Conclusions: Gut microbiota plays a great role in maintaining body’s energy balance. Manipulating gut microbiota has great potential to become a low cost and effective treatment for obesity and its prevention with minimal side effects for long-term use. The various forms of prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics currently available would be able to increase patient’s compliance and easiness in distribution. Better management of obesity would lead to a reduction in many comorbidities including heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

scholarly journals CORONAVIRUS CRISIS AND EU ANTITRUST – JUST TEMPORARY ADAPTATIONS OR LONG-TERM CHANGES?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Václav Šmejkal ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Dominant Role ◽  
Management Communication ◽  
Medical Products ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Online Platforms ◽  
Long Term Changes ◽  
Competition Rules ◽  
The Eu

The European Commission and the competition authorities of the EU member states responded to the coronavirus crisis with assurances about sufficient flexibility of their instruments. They enabled temporary cooperation between competitors to ensure the supply of essential medical products and services. At the same time, they warned against any misuse of the crisis for overpricing or other monopolistic practices. However, the crisis has also intensified long-term pressures for a fundamental adaptation of European competition rules. The first challenge is represented by Chinese state-backed enterprises as potential acquirers of weakened European competitors. The second source of pressure is the increasingly dominant role of global online platforms. Their role as an irreplaceable infrastructure for management, communication, counselling and distance learning was reinforced in the coronavirus crisis. The Commission and other experts are already discussing appropriate responses. This paper maps the discussion on possible EU responses to these challenges, and tries to show the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed solutions and on this basis to estimate the future development of EU antitrust in the post-coronavirus period.

scholarly journals INTERWENCJA FEDERACJI ROSYJSKIEJ W SYRII – STUDIUM PRZYPADKU ROSYJSKIEJ POLITYKI NA BLISKIM WSCHODZIE

2019 ◽  
pp. 51-64
Author(s):  
Dariusz Brążkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
The West ◽  
International Environment ◽  
The World ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Russian Federation

Abstrakt: Współczesna polityka Federacji Rosyjskiej na Bliskim Wschodzie jest elementem szerokiej strategii ukierunkowanej na cele w środowisku międzynarodowym oraz na cele wewnątrzpaństwowe. Polityka ta jest konfrontacyjna na płaszczyźnie Rosja – Zachód i stanowi koło zamachowe w dążeniu kraju do odzyskania dominującej roli w świecie. Zaangażowanie Federacji Rosyjskiej w konflikt w Syrii jest konsekwencją jej mocarstwowej polityki w zmieniającym się środowisku międzynarodowym. Głównym celem było wyeliminowanie rozwiązań USA i innych państw Zachodu w zakresie interwencji humanitarnej w Syrii. Poza tym utrzymując reżim Baszara al-Asada Federacja Rosyjska podjęła realizację własnego ładu na Bliskim Wschodzie, gdzie chce odgrywać kluczową rolę. Pomagają jej w tym Iran – wieloletni oponent USA oraz Turcja – nowy koalicjant, które mają też swoje partykularne cele w regionie. W przypadku polityki wewnętrznej, rosyjskie elity polityczne chcą utrwalić władzę populistyczną, oferując narodowi drogę dokonań państwa, szczególnie w wymiarze międzynarodowym – wskazując siłę militarną i wyższość polityczną, jako podstawowe elementy odbudowy mocarstwowej roli Federacji Rosyjskiej w świecie. Te kierunki polityki zewnętrznej i wewnętrznej dają obraz konsekwentnych, a jednocześnie zaskakujących działań Federacji Rosyjskiej na Bliskim Wschodzie. Abstract: Contemporary policy of the Russian Federation in the Middle East is an element of a broad strategy focused on international and internal purposes. This policy is confrontational at the level of Russia - the West and constitutes a flywheel in the pursuit of the country to regain its dominant role in the world. The involvement of the Russian Federation in the conflict in Syria is a consequence of its superpower policy in the changing international environment. The main goal was to eliminate the solutions of the USA and other Western countries in the field of humanitarian intervention in Syria. What is more, maintaining the regime of Bashar al-Assad, the Russian Federation has embarked on the implementation of its own order in the Middle East, where it wants to play a key role. Iran, a long-term opponent of the USA, and Turkey, a new coalition partner that also has its particular goals in the region, are the countries which help Russia in this area. In the case of domestic policy, Russia’s power elites want to consolidate populist power by presenting the nation country’s accomplishments, especially in the international dimension, indicating military strength and political superiority as the basic elements of rebuilding the superpower role of the Russian Federation in the world. These external and internal policies give a picture of the consistent and also surprising actions of the Russian Federation in the Middle East

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