Creosote Research Articles

Immobilisation of arsenic and simultaneous degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil in situ by modified electrooxidation.

Improper management of wood impregnation chemicals and treated wood has led to soil contamination at many wood treatment sites, particularly with toxic substances like creosote oil and chromated copper arsenate (CCA). The simultaneous presence of these pollutants complicates the choice of soil remediation technologies, especially if they are to be applied in situ. In this laboratory study, we attempted to immobilise arsenic (As) and simultaneously degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (constituents of creosote oil) by applying a modified electrochemical oxidation method. The supply of iron (Fe) amendments in contaminated soil was done using corroding Fe electrodes as an Fe source and applying an alternating polarity electrical current. Soil with a large fraction of organic matter (25%) and containing 505mgkg-1 As and 5160 mgkg-1 16-PAHs was placed in Plexiglas cells equipped with porewater samplers and an iron electrode pair connected to a power supply unit. The porewater and percolating solution were periodically sampled and analysed over an 8-week period. The modified electrochemical soil treatment led to a decrease in the total concentration of 16-PAHs in soil by 56-68%. The amount of poorly crystalline Fe oxides in the soil substantially increased, especially close to the electrodes, enabling 76-89% of As to be bound to this most reactive Fe fraction. Nevertheless, over 10% of soil As remained in the most soluble and available fraction (exchangeable), most likely due to the decline in soil redox potential over time. This study suggests that electrochemical oxidation of organic soil with mixed contaminants could be used for in situ soil remediation but needs further improvement to achieve more efficient As immobilisation.

Biofuels in lime kilns – Operating experience in the Nordic pulp and paper industry

The lime reburning process is a central part of the chemical pulp mill. It is energy intensive and consumes large amounts of fossil fuel, globally consuming about 50 terawatt-hours (TWh) of fuel per year. Conversion to operation with biofuel is interesting, both to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and to reduce costs. Researchers interviewed managers in mills that use solid, liquid, or gasified biofuels to replace fuel oil or natural gas in their lime kilns, and they conducted surveys related to fuel consumption and operations and maintenance. In Sweden and Finland, there were ten mills in 2020 using biomass powder or gasified biomass as the primary fuel, and two more installations were under construction. There were also nine installations in operation or under construction outside the Nordic countries. Fourteen mills in Sweden and two mills in Finland used tall oil pitch as the main fuel. Fuel consumption in Swedish lime kilns was 3.8 TWh in 2020, and 90% of this energy was supplied with biofuels. Of about 4.2 TWh used in Finnish lime kilns, approximately 45% was supplied with biofuels. Developments in the design of the fuel supply system include belt dryers being used in all new installations and mass flow metered dosing systems being used in most new pulverized fuel installations. Bark gasifiers have increased considerably in size. Lignin powder firing has been established as a proven option. A solution for many Swedish and Finnish mills is the use of tall oil pitch as a replacement for fuel oil.

EROSION OF TUBULAR HEAT EXCHANGERS

This paper presents the results of an erosion study of a tubular heat exchanger operating on a railroad sleepersaturation processing line. The object of the study is a DN 800 oil condenser cooling the creosote oil vaporsflowing through the condenser tubes, fixed in the sieve plate of the upper and lower condenser bottom.Subject to the erosion are the upper part of the tubes and the weld connecting the tubes to the upper sieveplate. This resulted in unsealing of the connection, which led to the contamination of the cooling medium.The key problem, therefore, is to protect the entire condenser bottom from erosion. Since only the centralpart of the surface of the top sieve plate was eroded, the conclusion is that the velocity of the vapor streamover the inlet to the condenser tubes in the central part and beyond is varied. This thesis was confirmed bythe correspondence of the actual eroded area with the cavitation area resulting from a simulated flow inAutodesk CFD 2019 Ultimate software after increasing the height of the upper condenser bottom, placinga stream dispersing element between the liquid vapor inlet to the condenser and the upper sieve plate, andafter applying a protective sieve plate. Flow simulation studies for each of these variants, or a combinationof them, made it possible to evaluate the tested solutions in terms of protection against erosion, includingcavitation erosion, of the upper sieve plate of the condenser.

Physico-Mechanical and Energy Properties of Pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Wood from Railroad Ties

The objective of the present work was to determine the physico-mechanical and energy properties of pine (Pinus sylvestris) and beech (Fagus sylvatica) wood from railroad ties. The ties were divided into internal and external parts as well as into parts impregnated and unimpregnated with creosote oil. The effects of creosote impregnation on wood hardness, compressive strength parallel to the grain, static bending strength, and calorific value were studied. The obtained results show that the parameters of the analyzed samples meet the standard requirements (EN 338) for construction wood (compressive and bending strength class: C50—pine; D70—beech). Depending on the particular property being studied, both pine and beech samples belong to the highest or one of the highest wood quality classes. Creosote oil considerably increased wood density (by 9% for beech and 19% for pine) but did not affect its hardness. Creosote impregnation significantly improved the compressive strength parallel to the grain of both wood species (beech: σc=51.99 MPa (IN); σc=57.78 MPa (OUT); pine: σc=36.56 MPa (IN); σc=42.45 MPa (OUT)); in the case of static bending strength, its value was increased for beech wood (σg=106.13 MPa (IN); σg=113.18 MPa (OUT)) and reduced for pine wood (σg=66.34 MPa (IN); σg=82.62 MPa (OUT)). The oil contained in wood from ties significantly elevated its calorific value (by 25% for beech and 10% for pine). Unfortunately, the presence of creosote oil currently prevents wood from railroad ties from being reused as the oil is deemed hazardous and carcinogenic. However, if it were possible to isolate the unimpregnated parts of railroad ties, they could be reapplied for construction or other uses.

Protecting the resource: an assessment of mitigation methods used to protect large trees from African elephant impact in a savanna system

African elephants Loxodonta africana can alter the structural components of savanna ecosystems, often through the reduction of the large tree (≥ 5 m height) cover component. Elephant impact can be amplified in small, protected areas, or areas where water is readily available to elephants. One management option is to protect large trees directly using applied mitigation methods to limit elephant impact. In this paper, we assessed and compared the effectiveness and logistical requirements of four mitigation methods that have been applied to protect large trees from elephant impact in South Africa's Greater Kruger National Park – namely African honeybees Apis mellifera scutellata in beehives; creosote oil in glass jars, concrete pyramids arranged in circles around trees, as well as wire‐netting the trees' main stems. For each method, elephant impact levels and tree mortality rates were measured over a 2–5‐year period depending on the method in use. Sample sizes ranged from 43 to 59 trees per mitigation method, with a comparable control, which was a tree of the same species and morphological dimensions but lacking any mitigation application. Beehives were the most effective method at reducing tree loss, significantly reducing tree mortality from 34% (6.8%/year) in control trees to only 10% (2% year‐1) over the five‐year experimental period. However, beehives were the most expensive method to apply to a tree, although this cost can be compensated through honey sales. Concrete pyramids reduced tree loss when the combined pyramid radius was > 1.5 m in length, whilst wire‐netting was effective against bark‐stripping by elephants but was still vulnerable to heavier forms of impact such as uprooting and stem snapping. Creosote jars did not prevent elephants from impacting treated trees. Our results provide managers with a toolkit for protecting large trees against elephant impact, commenting on both the efficacy and the logistical constraints for each method.

Microstructural diversity and digestion yields of select bituminous and subbituminous coals as raw material candidates for carbon fiber precursor production

This work investigates the use of coals as raw materials for carbon fiber precursor production as a new alternative to coal utilization. Coal being a highly complex and heterogeneous material with different macerals and minerals complicates this task. Extensive microstructural characterization as well as preliminary digestion studies are performed on three bituminous coals (Herrin and Springfield from the Illinois Basin and the Blue Gem from the Central Appalachians) and one subbituminous coal from the Powder River Basin (Monarch), as raw material candidates. The subbituminous coal was richer in oxygen, lower in sulfur, and had a higher volatile matter yield. Microstructural investigations were performed using X-ray diffraction, X-ray/neutron computed tomography, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, and petrology. Mild solvent extraction studies were conducted using creosote and decant oil as solvents in microreactors. The extraction yield was sensitive to temperature and time (350 to 450 °C between 30 and 120 mins.) for both creosote and decant oil digestions. While the Blue Gem coal had more desirable microstructural properties with less mineral content and cleaner macerals, it had the lowest coal conversion to quinoline soluble ‘liquid’ (of the bituminous coals). The lower coal conversion yield was hypothesized to be connected to the lack of FeS2 which could act as a catalyst when Fe is liberated from the structure under solvent extraction conditions. The Herrin and Springfield coals revealed similar microstructures and coal conversion efficiencies (higher than Blue Gem). These coals were the most promising candidates for further examination from this first approximations study. The subbituminous Monarch coal, however, was deemed less suitable due to poor coal conversion and less desirable microstructures. Additionally, the presented results with combined microstructural data from multiple length scales established a framework necessary for a first approximations study in this new coal utilization approach.

Identification of Optimal Binders for Torrefied Biomass Pellets

The pretreatment of biomass through torrefaction is an effective means of improving the fuel quality of woody biomass and its suitability for use in existing facilities burning thermal coal. Densification of torrefied biomass produces a fuel of similar energy density, moisture content, and fixed carbon content to low-grade coals. Additionally, if the torrefaction conditions are optimized, the produced torrefied pellet will be resistant to weathering and biological degradation, allowing for outdoor storage and transport in a manner similar to coal. In untreated biomass, lignin is the primary binding agent for biomass pellets and is activated by the heat and pressures of the pellet extrusion process. The thermal degradation of lignin during torrefaction reduces its binding ability, resulting in pellets of low durability not suitable for transportation. The use of a binding agent can increase the durability of torrefied pellets/briquettes through a number of different binding mechanisms depending on the binder used. This study gives a review of granular binding mechanisms, as they apply to torrefied biomass and assesses a variety of organic and inorganic binding agents, ranking them on their applicability to torrefied pellets based on a number of criteria, including durability, hydrophobicity, and cost. The best binders were found to be solid lignin by-product derived from pulp and paper processing, biomass tar derived from biomass pyrolysis, tall oil pitch, and lime.

Thermochemical recycling of tall oil pitch in a dual fluidized bed

Crude tall oil is a by-product obtained from the manufacture of chemical wood pulp. The residue obtained after the distillation of this product is known as tall oil pitch (TOP). This complex fraction is a highly viscous liquid that consists mainly of free fatty acids, fatty acids derivatives, rosin acids and additives. Given its complex composition, it is commonly used as fuel for heat production. In this work, steam cracking is proposed as an alternative treatment for this residue. Steam cracking can convert TOP into a valuable product gas that can be used in different applications including the production of green chemicals, moving towards a carbon circular economy. The experimental tests were performed in the Chalmers pilot scale Dual Fluidized Bed, consisting of a steam cracker and a combustor. For these experiments, the thermochemical decomposition of 150–175 kg/h TOP was performed at the steam cracker at two different temperatures (775 and 825 °C) to evaluate the influence of this parameter on the obtained products. Wood pellets were also tested as reference material for the highest temperature. The distribution of the obtained products was analysed. Results show that TOP can be regarded as a by-product instead of a residue and used as feedstock for the recovery of chemical building blocks and syngas via thermochemical recycling. Between 40 and 50 % of the carbon present in the fuel is kept in the permanent gases, while about 20 % is in aromatic hydrocarbons. Compared to biomass, the aromatics yield obtained for TOP is much higher (190 g/kg for TOP and 13 g/kg for biomass). Among the species found, benzene, toluene and xylene, represent between 62 and 72 % of the total measured aromatics. Regarding the gas fraction, the production of valuable light hydrocarbons (such as ethylene and propylene) is more pronounced in the TOP residue than in the biomass. In addition, an energy balance over the system was estimated and showed that TOP thermochemical recycling can be self-sustained in a Dual Fluidized Bed if the non-valuable products are combusted. The results obtained in this work indicate that this TOP could be an appealing option to consider as a source of biorefinery revenue leading to the circular use of waste.

Assessment of laccase activity synthesized by Basidiomycota fungi in the presence of wood impregnated with creosote oil

Assessment of laccase activity synthesized by Basidiomycota fungi in the presence of wood impregnated with creosote oil. The article presents the results of the assessment of laccase activity, synthesized by fungi causing white decomposition of wood in the presence of wood samples impregnated with creosote oil in the growth environment. The obtained results indicate that the creosote oil contained in wood modulates the activity of this enzyme. Creosote oil definitely stimulates the cells of the T. versicolor fungus to induce laccase synthesis, which may be of great practical importance in terms of the possibility of designing a biotechnological method of biodegradation of pollutants, including contaminants in the form of impregnated wood waste.

Magnetic signatures of a creosote oil contaminated site: case study in São Paulo, Brazil

Soils and groundwater contamination modifies the physical–chemical conditions of the environment, altering natural biogeochemical processes of the ground. As a result, several mineral transformations occur, in which iron plays a decisive role. The presence of iron enables the study of magnetic properties, improving the understanding of the geophysical signatures of highly dynamic environments (e.g., biogeochemical hotspots and contamination plumes). In this work, we seek to identify creosote biodegradation related to the precipitation of magnetic minerals on sediments at a contaminated site in São Paulo, Brazil. Several rock magnetism analyses were carried out to provide the magnetic mineralogy of the samples in terms of their composition, size, and abundance. We conducted high-temperature thermomagnetic curves, frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility, anesthetic remanent magnetization (ARM) and isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) data, superparamagnetic concentration and dipole moment (SPCDM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The magnetic signatures of the contaminated samples suggest an increase of superparamagnetic grains in the water table fluctuation zone if compared to the magnetic signatures of the uncontaminated samples. Thermomagnetic curves of contaminated samples showed a lower heterogeneity of the magnetic mineral phases than the uncontaminated ones. This work contributes to the advancement of the understanding of how natural biogeochemical processes are impacted by human actions, such as soil contamination, and even by climate change, which should affect soil redox conditions in periods of drought and flooding.

PUF-Immobilized Bjerkandera adusta DSM 3375 as a Tool for Bioremediation of Creosote Oil Contaminated Soil.

Creosote oil, a byproduct of coal distillation, is primarily composed of aromatic compounds that are difficult to degrade, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenolic compounds, and N-, S-, and O-heterocyclic compounds. Despite its toxicity and carcinogenicity, it is still often used to impregnate wood, which has a particularly negative impact on the condition of the soil in plants that impregnate wooden materials. Therefore, a rapid, effective, and eco-friendly technique for eliminating the creosote in this soil must be developed. The research focused on obtaining a preparation of Bjerkandera adusta DSM 3375 mycelium immobilized in polyurethane foam (PUF). It contained mold cells in the amount of 1.10 ± 0.09 g (DW)/g of the carrier. The obtained enzyme preparation was used in the bioremediation of soil contaminated with creosote (2% w/w). The results showed that applying the PUF-immobilized mycelium of B. adusta DSM 3375 over 5, 10, and 15 weeks of bioremediation, respectively, removed 19, 30, and 35% of creosote from the soil. After 15 weeks, a 73, 79, and 72% level of degradation of fluoranthene, pyrene, and fluorene, respectively, had occurred. The immobilized cells have the potential for large-scale study, since they can degrade creosote oil in soil.

Tall Oil Pitch as an Element of Recycling Technologies

It was defined that the paper and pulp enterprises generate a huge amount of waste and by-products, including tall oil pitch, the processing factor of which does not exceed 60 %. The relevance of expanding its use as a secondary production resource, the expediency of locating chemical production using tall oil pitch directly at the place of its fabrication was highlighted. It was substantiated that processing technologies can be based on theoretical and pilot studies, as well as on technological developments of chemicals using tall oil pitch to solve technical and environmental issues of the oil and gas industry, in particular, drilling wells. Approbation examples illustrated these developments with a positive industrial result, including production developments.

Cancer risk associated with soil distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons within three environmental justice neighborhoods in Houston, Texas.

Residents and advocacy groups began voicing concerns over the environmental quality located in the neighborhoods of Kashmere Gardens, Fifth Ward, and Denver Harbor in Houston, TX, following the confirmation of a cancer cluster in 2019 and another in 2021. These neighborhoods are in close proximity to a railyard and former wood treatment plant known to have utilized coal tar creosote and contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This research took core soil samples in September and October 2020 from 46 sites to assess for the presence and concentration of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) 7 Carcinogenic PAHs. Results showed the cumulative concentration of these PAHs in each sample was variable with a range of 13,767ng/g to 328ng/g and a mean of 2,517.2ng/g ± 3122. A regional soil screening evaluation revealed that 40 of the 46 soil samples were in excess of the USEPAs most conservative screening levels of 1.0 × 10-6 increased cancer risk, but none exceeding levels considered actionable for remediation. This study is a fundamental first step for quantifying the environmental pollutants in this minority-majority community. Findings revealed a low risk of cancer risk based on current PAH concentrations alone but cannot assess contributions from other contaminants or from past, possibly higher, levels of contamination. Further research is needed to identify the potential casual pathways of the observed cancer cluster and to explore possible remediation needs.

Оптимизация процесса омыления таллового пека методом планирования эксперимента

Sustainable recycling of wood chemical production wastes is one of the current issues of modern technology. As a by-product of the pulp and paper industry, tall oil pitch has found application as a potential source of phytosterols. Phytosterols or plant sterols are natural compounds, polycyclic alcohols structurally similar to steroids. Due to their biological activity, phytosterols are used in such areas as pharmaceutics and cosmetology, as functional products, etc., which makes them commercially attractive. This paper considers the stage of saponification of tall oil pitch, which yields free phytosterols from their esters with fatty and resin acids. A central composite design complemented by six star points was chosen to determine the combined effect of the three factors and to plan the minimum number of experiments; the response surface methodology was used to determine the optimal values of the variables. Regression models showing the impact of the basic technological factors (excess alkali, temperature and duration of saponification) on the degree of saponification of phytosterols in saponified tall oil pitch and esters in the obtained extract were developed based on the experimental data. A statistical analysis of the models was carried out. Their validity has been proved by means of analysis of variance. The experimental and predicted values closely correlated. The developed mathematical models in the regression polynomial form enable to find the optimal values of the input process variables using the Minitab software while simultaneously reaching the maximum degree of saponification (98,1 %) with the minimum value of the ether number in the extract (4 mg KOH/g): saponification temperature – 121.7 °C, process duration – 3.18 h, and excess alkali – 100 %. Thus, reliable models for predicting the degree of saponification of phytosterols and the ester number in the extract were obtained. These models can be used in industrial saponification of tall oil pitch. For citation: Korshunov A.O., Lavrenteva E.A., Lazarev M.A., Radbil’ A.B. Optimization of Tall Oil Pitch Saponification by Experimental Design. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2022, no. 1, pp. 173–187. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2022-1-173-187

Mechanical properties of roads unbound treated with synthetic fluid based on isoalkane and tall oil

The unbound layers are an essential component of both highly trafficked and low-volume roads as their mechanical properties are of major importance when it comes to ensuring a well-performing pavement. However, as the aggregates employed as road construction materials naturally display a wide variation in the mechanical properties according to their geological origins, the pavement engineer may be interested in utilizing stabilization technologies to deliberately modify and adjust the behaviour of the road courses. This study sheds light on an innovative synthetic fluid technology composed of isoalkane and tall oil pitch. Repeated load triaxial tests investigate the resilient modulus and the deformation behaviour of samples treated with the synthetic system according to different percentages. Furthermore, cyclic triaxial tests are also performed after exposing stabilized specimens to a series of freeze–thaw cycles. The principle of the rolling bottle test is adopted to assess the integrity with stripping loss on loose aggregates coated by the product. The laboratory results show that evident variations in the mechanical properties can be attained once the aggregates are mixed with the synthetic agent and that a strong coating resistant to water and external actions is formed.

Wood‑feeding termites as an obscure yet promising source of bacteria for biodegradation and detoxification of creosote-treated wood along with methane production enhancement

This study aims to explore distinct bacterial strains from wood-feeding termites and to construct novel bacterial consortium for improving the methane yield during anaerobic digestion by degrading birchwood sawdust (BSD) and removing creosote (CRO) compounds simultaneously. A novel bacterial consortium CTB-4 which stands for the molecularly identified species Burkholderia sp., Xanthomonas sp., Shewanella sp., and Pseudomonas mosselii was successfully developed. The CTB-4 consortium showed high efficiency in the removal of naphthalene and phenol. It also revealed reduction in lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose by 19.4, 52.5, and 76.8%, respectively. The main metabolites after the CRO degradation were acetic acid, succinate, pyruvate, and acetaldehyde. Pretreatment of treated BSD mixed with CRO enhanced the total methane yield (162 L/kg VS) by 82.7% and biomass reduction by 54.7% compared to the untreated substrate. CRO showed a toxicity decrease of >90%, suggesting the efficiency of constructed bacterial consortia in bioremediation and biofuel production.

Construction of a novel microbial consortium valued for the effective degradation and detoxification of creosote-treated sawdust along with enhanced methane production

Lignocellulosic biomass represents an unlimited and ubiquitous energy source, which can effectively address current global challenges, including climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and increased energy demand. However, lignocellulose recalcitrance hinders microbial degradation, especially in case of contaminated materials such as creosote (CRO)-treated wood, which necessitates appropriate processing in order to eliminate pollution. This study might be the first to explore a novel bacterial consortium SST-4, for decomposing birchwood sawdust, capable of concurrently degrading lignocellulose and CRO compounds. Afterwards, SST-4 which stands for molecularly identified bacterial strains Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BSW-11, Shewanella putrefaciens BSW-18, Bacillus cereus BSW-23, and Novosphingobium taihuense BSW-25 was evaluated in terms of biological sawdust pre-treatment, resulting in effective lignocellulose degradation and 100% removal of phenol and naphthalene. Subsequently, the maximum biogas production observed was 18.7 L/kg VS, while cumulative methane production was 162.8 L/kg VS, compared to 88.5 without microbial pre-treatment. The cumulative energy production from AD-I and AD-II through biomethanation was calculated as 3177.1 and 5843.6 KJ/kg, respectively. The pretreatment process exhibited a significant increase in the energy yield by 83.9%. Lastly, effective CRO detoxification was achieved with EC50 values exceeding 90%, showing the potential for an integrated process of effective contaminated wood management and bioenergy production.

Research on the Rheological Properties of the Plant Oil Pitch

In the analysis of the rheological properties of the plant oil pitch, the original analysis method has a narrow range of analysis indicators, which affects the reliability of the analysis results. In this study, a new analytical method for the rheological properties of the plant oil pitch was designed. The microstructure characteristics of the plant oil pitch were obtained using a high-power microscope, the viscosity of the plant oil pitch was measured, and the ductility of the plant oil pitch was analyzed by setting the analysis index. The above parts are integrated, and the dynamic shear tester is used to complete the analysis of pitch rheological properties. So far, the analysis method for the rheological properties of the plant oil pitch has been designed. It can be seen from the comparison of the experimental links that this analysis method is better than the original analysis method in terms of the scope of analysis indicators. In conclusion, the analytical method of the rheological properties of the plant oil pitch is more reliable.

Neonematobothrium annakohnae n. sp. (Digenea: Didymozoidae) parasitizing Euthynnus alletteratus (Perciformes: Scombridae) in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean.

Describe a new species of didymozoid digenean Neonematobothrium Yamaguti, 1965 from the operculum of the scombrid fish, Euthynnus alletteratus (Rafinesque, 1810), in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean off Brazil. Thirty-four specimens of E. alletteratus were collected in the coastal zone of the state of Rio de Janeiro and obtained from local fishermen between 2006 and 2018 in the municipal market of São Pedro in Niterói, Brazil. The parasites were fixed in AFA (93% ethanol 70%, 5% formaldehyde, 2% glacial acetic acid) without pressure, stained with Langeron alcoholic acid carmine, dehydrated in an alcohol series, cleared in beachwood creosote or clove oil and mounted in Canada balsam as permanent slides. Neonematobothrium annakohnae n. sp. is a member of the genus based on a combination of the following characteristics: body free, uncapsulated; body long and dorsoventrally flattened; esophagus surrounded by gland cells; ovary and vitellarium single, long, narrow and unbranched in the anterior and posterior halves of the body, respectively; uterus with three loops; and site of infection in subcutaneous tissue of scombrid fish. The new species differs from the two recognized species of the genus mainly by the size of the body, which is much larger, the shape of the genital pore, which is differentiated in a structure similar to a small sucker and by esophagus without diverticula. Neonematobothrium annakohnae n. sp. parasite of E. alletteratus from the Southwest Atlantic Ocean, described herein, represents the third species of Didymozoidae belonging to the genus Neonematobothrium. The two known species Neonematobothrium kawakawa Yamaguti, 1965 and Neonematobothrium dorsale Yamaguti, 1970 were described from fish belonging to the same genus of the host from Pacific Ocean. The diagnosis of the genus is enlarged to "esophagus with or without diverticula", to fill the characteristics presented by the new species. The description of N. annakohnae n. sp. demonstrates the need to expand the studies of these interesting and intriguing group of parasites, due to the fact that number of known didymozoids taxa in the Atlantic Ocean is far from representing the real situation.

Hydrodynamic Cavitation of Creosote Oil in the Presence of a Ni2+ Initiator Results in an Increase in Its Overall Naphthalene Content.

Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) of aromatic hydrocarbons present in creosote oil obtained from coal tar in the presence of 0.3% (w/w) Ni2+ as an inducer increased its naphthalene and phenanthrene content by 7.3 and 2.6%, respectively. An optimal procedure was developed based on the use of an upstream pressure of 2.6 MPa, an immersing height (H) for the cavitator of 105 mm, 10% H2O content, use of a NiSO4 solution at pH 4.0, and an operating temperature of 75 °C. Enrichment of the naphthalene and phenanthrene components is caused by hydroxyl and hydrogen radicals generated in the reaction inducing aromatic components to undergo a series of radical demethylation/methylation reactions to produce new product ratios. The observed increases in naphthalene and phenanthrene content using Ni2+ as a radical inducer are in contrast with the previous results using Fe2+ under similar conditions, which led to the enrichment of the acenaphthalene fraction of creosote oil.