Disposal Of By-products Research Articles

Synthesis of geopolymer-supported zeolites via robust one-step method and their adsorption potential

The present study proposes a robust one-step hydrothermal treatment method for synthesis of high strength geopolymer-supported zeolites utilizing industrial by-products (fly ash and blast furnace slag), which can be potentially used as bulk-type solid adsorbents. The results revealed that the geopolymer-supported zeolites, possessing distinct strengths, zeolite phases (Na-P1, Na-chabazite, and analcime) and pore features depending on the mix design and synthesis conditions, can be easily synthesized employing the proposed one-step method. The geopolymer-supported zeolites exhibited the characteristics of mesoporous materials which are typically desired for commercial adsorbents. The maximum adsorption capacity for Pb2+ was found to be about 37.9 mg/g which is relatively higher than the other bulk-type adsorbents reported for Pb2+ to date. Since industrial by-products are used for synthesis of these materials, it will help in reducing the environmental hazards associated with the permanent disposal of such by-products, with an added advantage that these bulk-type solid adsorbents can be easily retrieved after use unlike granular adsorbents.

Increase of content and bioactivity of total phenolic compounds from spent coffee grounds through solid state fermentation by Bacillus clausii.

Spent coffee grounds are waste material generated during coffee beverage preparation. This by-product disposal causes a negative environmental impact, in addition to the loss of a rich source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. A rotating central composition design was used to determine the optimal conditions for the bioactivity of phenolic compounds obtained after the solid state fermentation of spent coffee grounds by Bacillus clausii. To achieve this, temperature and fermentation time were varied according to the experimental design and the total phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity were determined. Surface response methodology showed that optimum bioprocessing conditions were a temperature of 37°C and a fermentation time of 39h. Under these conditions, total phenolic and flavonoid contents increased by 36 and 13%, respectively, in fermented extracts as compared to non-fermented. In addition, the antioxidant activity was increased by 15% and higher antimicrobial activity was observed against Gram positive and negative bacteria. These data demonstrated that bioprocessing optimization of spent coffee grounds using the surface response methodology was an important tool to improve phenolic extraction, which could be used as an antioxidant and antimicrobial agents incorporated into different types of food products.

Fermentation and distillation of cheese whey: Carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions and water use in the production of whey spirits and white whiskey

Whey disposal can be both an environmental and economic challenge for artisanal creameries. Lactose in whey can be fermented to produce ethanol and subsequently distilled. The objective of this study was to use a process-based life cycle analysis to compare carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) emissions and water usage associated with the artisanal or craft production of clear, unaged spirits using whey or malted barley as fermentation substrate. Differences in production were assessed based on key process differences: energy used, water used, distillation by-product disposal, and mass of CO2 produced during fermentation. For this study, whey was assumed removed from the artisanal creamery waste stream. Quantifiable differences were evaluated per 750-mL (45% alcohol by volume) functional unit and expressed as mass-equivalent CO2 emissions (kg of CO2e) and mass of water (kg) used. The CO2e emissions and water usage were quantified using published data, thermodynamic calculations, and mass-balance calculations for a hypothetical distillation system. The process-based life cycle analysis estimated that distillation of fermented whey reduced overall CO2e emissions by 8.4 kg per functional unit and required 0.44 kg less water added into the production process compared with production of a similar clear, unaged spirit using malted barley as substrate. Our preliminary analysis suggests that conversion to distilled whey spirit is a more environmentally responsible approach compared with landfill disposal of whey.

Determination of silicon in biomass and products of pyrolysis process via high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry

Thermochemical processes can convert the biomass into fuels, such as bio-oil. The biomass submitted to pyrolysis process, such as fibers, are generally rich in silicon, an element that can lead to damages in an engine when there is high concentration in a fuel. High-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS AAS) is an interesting alternative for Si determination in the products and byproducts of the pyrolysis process because, besides the flame (F) and graphite furnace (GF) atomizers, it has enhanced the application of direct analysis of solid samples (SS) within GF. This study aimed the development of methods to determine Si in biomass samples, their products and byproducts using HR-CS AAS. A high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometer contrAA 700 equipped with F and GF atomizers was used throughout the study. HR-CS F AAS (λ = 251.611nm, 1 detection pixel, N2O/C2H2 flame) was used to evaluate Si content in biomass and ash, after a microwave-assisted acid digestion with HNO3 and HF. HR-CS GF AAS (Tpyr = 1400°C, Tatom = 2650°C) has evaluated Si in pyrolysis water and bio-oil at 251.611nm, and in peach pit biomass and ash at 221.174nm using SS, both wavelengths with 1 detection pixel. Rhodium (300μg) was applied as permanent modifier and 10μgPd + 6μg Mg were pipetted onto the standards/samples at each analysis. Three different biomass samples were studied: palm tree fiber, coconut fiber and peach pit, and three certified reference materials (CRM) were used to verify the accuracy of the methods. The figures of merit were LOD 0.09–20mgkg–1, and LOQ 0.3–20mgkg–1, considering all the methods. There were no significant differences between the CRM certified values and the determined ones, using a Student t-test with a confidence interval of 95% (n = 5). Si concentration ranged from 0.11–0.92% mm–1, 1.1–1.7mgkg–1, 3.3–13mgkg–1, and 0.41–1.4%mm–1, in biomass, bio-oil, pyrolysis water and ash, respectively. Si remained mostly in the ash, leading to a mass fraction of up to 103%, even when the Si loss is not considered. Silicon concentration in bio-oil was below 1.7mgkg–1, which is suitable for its application as a fuel. The developed methods using HR-CS AAS are suitable for Si determination in biomass, bio-oil, pyrolysis water, and ash. The application of bio-oil as an alternative fuel would be possible evaluating its Si content due to its low levels. The mass balance for Si has proved to be an important tool in order to evaluate the correct disposal of pyrolysis process byproducts.

Withaferin A induced impaired autophagy and unfolded protein response in human breast cancer cell-lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231

The autophagy-lysosome pathway and the ubiquitin-proteasome systems are the two major routes for eukaryotic intracellular protein clearance. Cancerous cells often display elevated protein synthesis and byproduct disposal, thus, inhibition of the protein degradation pathways became an emerging approach for cancer therapy. The present study revealed that withaferin-A (WA), the biologically active withanolide derived from Withania somnifera, initially induced formation of autophagosomes in human breast cancer cell-lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. WA treatment elevated the levels of autophagic substrate p62/SQSTM1 (p62) and both LC3-II and LC3-I (microtubule-associated protein 2 light chain 3) and simultaneously reduced the upstream autophagy markers like beclin-1 and ATG5-ATG12 complex, which indicate accumulation of autophagosomes in the cells. WA induced disruption of microtubular network through inhibition of tubulin polymerization and its hyper-acetylation, thus prevent the formation of autolysosome (by merging of autophagosomes with lysosomes) and its recycling process, leading to incomplete autophagy. Further, WA caused ER (Endoplasmic Reticulum) stress, which is evident from the activation of ER-related caspase-4 and increased levels of ER stress marker proteins. Thus, these findings altogether indicate that WA mediated inhibition of proteasomal degradation system and perturbation of autophagy, i.e. suppression of both the intracellular degradation systems caused accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, which in turn led to unfolded protein response and ER stress mediated proteotoxicity in human breast cancer cell-lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231.

An Overview of the Utilisation of Brewery By-Products as Generated by British Craft Breweries

There is a wide range of information available on by-product disposal methods used by large national breweries. However, little information is available on the methods of by-product disposal used by craft breweries. An investigation was carried out in which 200+ British craft brewers were contacted, of which 90 craft brewers provided basic information about their brewery operations and by-product disposal. Representatives of eleven breweries were interviewed to provide an in-depth case study of their by-product disposal methods. The research found that urban craft brewers use a wider range of disposal methods compared to rural craft brewers; urban brewers dispose of more waste through sewage and landfill, as well as using external companies, such as bio-recycling and anaerobic digester plants, whereas rural brewers have relationships with farmers who dispose of the by-products in various ways. Craft brewers tend to have a direct relationship with the by-product users. Even though they do not have all disposal options available to them which the large industrial breweries have, due to their small scale of by-product production, craft brewers appear to find alternative means of sustainability.

Life cycle assessment of treatment and handling options for a highly saline brine extracted from a potential CO2 storage site

Carbon dioxide (CO2) injection in deep saline aquifers is a promising option for CO2 geological sequestration. However, brine extraction may be necessary to control the anticipated increase in reservoir pressure resulting from CO2 injection. The extracted brines usually have elevated concentrations of total dissolved solids (TDS) and other contaminants and require proper handling or treatment. Different options for the handling or treatment of a high-TDS brine extracted from a potential CO2 sequestration site (Mt. Simon Sandstone, Illinois, USA) are evaluated here through a life cycle assessment (LCA) study. The objective of this LCA study is to evaluate the environmental impact (EI) of various treatment or disposal options, namely, deep well disposal (Case 1); near-zero liquid discharge (ZLD) treatment followed by disposal of salt and brine by-products (Case 2); and near-ZLD treatment assuming beneficial use of the treatment by-products (Case 3). Results indicate that energy use is the dominant factor determining the overall EI. Because of the high energy consumption, desalination of the pretreated brine (Cases 2 and 3) results in the highest EI. Consequently, the overall EI of desalination cases falls mainly into two EI categories: global warming potential and resources–fossil fuels. Deep well disposal has the least EI when the EI of brine injection into deep formations is not included. The overall freshwater consumption associated with different life cycle stages of the selected disposal or treatment options is 0.6–1.8 m3 of freshwater for every 1.0 m3 of brine input. The freshwater consumption balance is 0.6 m3 for every 1.0 m3 of brine input for Case 3 when desalination by-products are utilized for beneficial uses.

Remediation of Oil Polluted Well in Baruwa Area of Lagos State with Potassium Permanganate

Crude oil spills on soil, leakages from pipelines, underground and surface fuel storage tanks and careless disposal and mismanagement of waste and other petroleum by-products of the society, constitute the major sources of petroleum contamination in our environment. The estimated 65,000 people of Baruwa own about 350 hand dug wells for domestic water supply; more than 200 of these wells are at present, under lock and key because of the oil seepage from leaking underground NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) pipeline. Water samples were collected from seven hand dug wells (Jakande, Kamilla, Baale, Shodeinde, Oyewole, Lasunferanmi and Ajayi). Jakande was the control while the rest were the contaminated wells. All the wells contained TPH and Lasunferanmi had the highest TPH while Jakande had the lowest. It was observed that after the application of KMnO4 to the water samples from the oil polluted wells, the TPH concentration reduced significantly in the laboratory. Also, the kinetics of the remediation done for the reactions followed a second order reaction with a proof of linearity of the graphs and R2 value close to unity.

Sulfur, arsenic, fluorine and mercury emissions resulting from coal-washing byproducts: A critical component of China's emission inventory

The coal-washing rate in China increased from 1991 to 2014 and shows a particular increase from ∼22% to ∼60% since 2002. However, few studies pay attention to the use and disposal of the coal-washing byproducts (CWBs). A preliminary estimate of the likely S, As, F and Hg contents and emissions from the combustion of CWBs in China was determined in this work. About 632 million tons of CWBs, including middling coal, flotation tailing coal and coal slime, were produced in China in 2014. About 4.03%, 20.80%, 1.48%, and 73.25% CWBs were used for thermal power, industry, domestic and discard. The mean S, As, F and Hg contents of CWBs are 1.52%, 14.04 mg/kg, 216.31 mg/kg and 0.27 mg/kg, respectively. SO2 emissions in 2014 from the combustion of CWBs were ∼5.76 million tons, similar to that released into the atmosphere by China's coal-fired power plants, accounting for ∼29% of the country's total SO2 emissions. Arsenic, F and Hg emissions from CWBs were 1 599.54, 61 575.07 and 77.16 tons, respectively. These emissions have become a critical component of air pollution in China.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES, COSMECEUTICAL PROPERTIES AND PHENOLIC ACIDS COMPOSITION OF FERMENTED RICE BRAN AND COCONUT TESTA

Malaysia produces large number of agro-industrial products annually including rice and coconut. Along with the production, rice bran and coconut testa are also abundantly generated as by-products. Solid state fermentation (SSF) is a simple biotechnological technique that has been employed for production of bioactive compounds. The use of SSF on agro-industrial by-products is economically viable and helps to reduce the environmental impact of the by-products disposal. In this present study, rice bran (RB), coconut testa (CT) and a combination of rice bran and coconut testa (RBCT) were fermented with single culture of Aspergillus oryzae and Rhizopus oligosporus. The effect of fungal SSF on the cosmeceutical-related activities and phenolic acid content of the fermented RB, CT and RBCT extracts was determined. The results showed that total phenolic content (TPC) as well as antioxidant activity measured using the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) of all substrates increased upon fermentation. Contrary to the TPC and FRAP assays results, the radical-scavenging activity of the fermented samples as measured by using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method, were varied. Tyrosinase inhibition activity was found to be the highest in the extract of RB fermented with A. oryzae (56.18%) compared to other extracts. The same extract showed the highest elastase inhibition activity with a value of 60.27%. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses showed ferulic, sinapic, caffeic and protocatechuic acids were significantly increased in RB fermented with A. oryzae. The results of this study suggest that fungal solid-state fermentation of rice bran may have the potential to be exploited in producing different types of active metabolites that are useful for cosmeceutical industries

Enzymatic extraction and characterisation of a thermostable collagen from swim bladder of rohu (Labeo rohita).

The fish swim bladder is considered as a potential source of realistic collagen. Currently, processing of the Indian major carp rohu (Labeo rohita) generates an enormous quantity of non-edible by-products, including swim bladders, which are discarded as waste with no commercial value. In the present study, collagen was prepared from rohu swim bladder and its physicochemical and fibril-forming capacities were assessed. The collagen isolated from rohu swim bladder was characterised as type I, containing α1 and α2 chains with triple helical structure by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and amino acid analysis. The extracted collagen denaturation temperature was found to be 42.16 °C by differential scanning calorimetry analysis and also exhibited a high solubility in the presence of low NaCl concentrations (0-0.6 mol L-1 ). The extracted collagen exhibited a high fibril-formation capacity at a NaCl concentration of 1.5 mol L-1 . Examination of the microstructure of collagen by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a porous, sheet-like film and a multilayered structure. The fibril formation capacity of collagen was also confirmed using SEM analysis. The rohu swim bladder type I collagen was successfully extracted using an enzymatic method with a yield of 465.2 g kg-1 (dry weight basis) and was characterised as a well maintained triple helical structure. The extracted collagen exhibited a high fibril-forming ability. The results of the present study confirm that utilisation of rohu swim bladder will open up a new avenue for the better disposal of by-products and also help to minimise environmental pollution issues. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

The use of laser in garment manufacturing: an overview

AbstractLaser is being used in apparel industry from nineteenth century for various garment manufacturing applications. There are several advantages of using laser over the conventional processes in cutting, engraving, embossing, denim fading and other applications. In addition, product damage potential is reduced, no/less consumables are needed and no problem of toxic by-product disposal as found in some processes. Today’s laser equipment is a result of continuous research and development of earlier products, which has undergone several changes. The initial laser systems were cumbersome, hard to run and difficult to maintain. However, the modern laser systems are simpler in operation and maintenance. Furthermore, the earlier systems were involved with more safety issues and needed the gasses to be constantly replenished. The garment manufactures around the globe should take the advantage of laser application in the post multi-fibre agreement regime to make their products more competitive. This review focuses on the technology of laser including various classifications. In addition it includes the applications of laser in garment manufacturing, their potential hazards and health related concerns.

Experimental investigation of the utilization of quarry dust for the production of microcement-based building elements by self-flowing molding casting

The management and disposal of fine by-products produced by the aggregate industry, ready-mix concrete and asphalt concrete installations (also known as filler or quarry dust), emerges as a major environmental problem of quarrying and construction sector. Even though considerable research has been undertaken for the utilization of this fine by-product in several applications, it still remains under-utilized, while its disposal and stabilization is also problematic due to resulting emissions of airborne particle pollutants. In this study the production of self-flowing castable cement-based building elements incorporating high amounts of quarry dust was investigated in laboratory scale. Quarry dust, microcement, water and concrete admixtures were mixed and casted in steel molds for the production of the specimens. The initial study of mixtures composition was based on the Andreassen particle packing model, while the final mix design was determined via Box–Behnken fractional factorial design of experiments, in combination with the response surface method. The compressive strength and water absorption values of hardened specimens exceed the relevant technical requirements currently in force, regarding load-bearing as well as decorative building elements, thus opening a new promising field for the utilization of this by-product.

Greenhouse-gas mitigation potential of agro-industrial by-products in the diet of dairy goats in Spain: a life-cycle perspective

Goat milk production is an important agricultural resource in the Mediterranean basin. Market demands and scarcity of pastures during drought periods has led to farms becoming more intensive and based on imported concentrate feeds. The use of alternative feedstuffs from agro-industry can help decrease dependence on external concentrates, while preventing the environmental issues associated with livestock production and by-product disposal. From a life-cycle assessment perspective, we investigated the change on greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions of replacing a conventional dairy goat diet in southern Spain with two alternative dietary strategies, including tomato waste or olive by-products silages. The effect on enteric methane emissions and milk productivity was assessed through specific feeding trials. Experimental data were integrated within a modelling framework comprising different submodels to describe the farm system and associated production chain. A new model describing carbon and nitrogen losses from solid waste was applied to estimate the emissions associated with the baseline scenarios for food by-product management. The assessment revealed that the two dietary strategies achieve GHG reductions (~12–19% per kg milk). In both cases, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions from crop production were partially reduced through the displacement of typical concentrate ingredients. An additional mitigation effect was obtained when including tomato wastes in the diet because it reduced the methane emissions from enteric fermentation. Results suggested that use of agro-industrial residues for feeding is a feasible mitigation option in this case. However, as organic by-products could have alternative uses (bioenergy, soil amendment), with different implications for land use and soil carbon stocks, a more complete overview of both scenarios is recommended. Potential trade-offs from non-GHG categories may play an important role in a decision-making process.

In vitro inhibitory effects of plant-derived by-products against Cryptosporidium parvum.

Disposal of organic plant wastes and by-products from the food or pharmaceutical industries usually involves high costs. In the present study, 42 samples derived from such by-products were screened in vitro against Cryptosporidium parvum, a protozoan parasite that may contaminate drinking water and cause diarrhoea. The novel bioassay was previously established in the microtitre plate format. Human ileocaecal adenocarcinoma (HCT-8) cell cultures were seeded with C. parvum oocysts and parasite development was monitored by an indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFAT) and microscopic assessment for clusters of secondary infection (CSI). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and potential detrimental effects on the host cells were determined. An ethanolic extract from olive (Olea europaea) pomace, after oil pressing and phenol recovery, reproducibly inhibited C. parvum development (MIC = 250–500 μg mL−1, IC50 = 361 (279–438) μg mL−1, IC90 = 467 (398–615) μg mL−1). Accordingly, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, trans-coniferyl alcohol and oleuropein were selected as reference test compounds, but their contributions to the observed activity of the olive pomace extract were insignificant. The established test system proved to be a fast and efficient assay for identifying anti-cryptosporidial activities in biological waste material and comparison with selected reference compounds.

Fermentation of Pretreated High-Biomass Sorghum Hydrolysates to Biohydrogen by Mixed Consortia

In the present study, hydrolysate generated during pretreatment of high-biomass sorghum as a carbon source for biohydrogen production was investigated. The high-biomass sorghum bagasse (HBS) was pretreated using acid (H2SO4) and alkali (NaOH) at various concentrations (0.5–5 % w/v) for the residence time of 30 min at 121 °C, 15 lbs pressure at 10 % (w/v) solid loading. At the optimal acid load of 2 % (w/v) H2SO4 yielded 78.0 g COD/L of hydrolysate. The hydrolysate generated during this pretreatment was analyzed and noticed to contain glucose 10 g L−1, xylose 23 g L−1, arabinose 2.0 g L−1, HMF 1.9 g L−1, furfural 3.5 g−1, acetic acid 9.3 g L−1, formic acid 5.0 g L−1, and phenols 1.9 g L−1. The fermentation studies were conducted in dark conditions using all the hydrolysates by heat-treated mixed microbial consortia. Maximum H2 production rate (HPR), cumulative H2 production (CHP), and specific H2 yield (SHY) were measured. Maximum CHP (328 mL) and SHY (4.68 mol/kg CODr) were registered with acid treatment-resulted hydrolysate, and volatile fatty acid analysis indicated higher acetic acid concentration (1.6 g L−1) showing acidogenic microenvironment directing fermentation toward acetate pathway. The present study assumes importance in safe disposal and simultaneous production of value-added byproducts during lignocellulosic biorefinery.

Nutritional properties and phenolic content of a bakery product substituted with a mango (Mangifera indica) ‘Ataulfo’ processing by-product

Wheat flour and cane sugar were partially substituted (50 and 75%) by a mango-processing by-product (MPB) as an added-value food ingredient in muffins. Their sensory analysis, chemical composition, antioxidant activity and in vitro starch hydrolysis properties were studied. Sensory analysis showed statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between control and muffins 75% MPB substituted level (p<0.05) with the highest score. Proximate analysis revealed that muffins substituted with MPB had significantly (p<0.05) higher moisture, ash, soluble, insoluble and total indigestible fraction contents but lower total soluble carbohydrates and available starch contents than a non-substituted (control) muffin. Total soluble polyphenol (TSP) content increased about three times (from 1.86 to 5.36g GAE/100g dw) with MPB substitution. Chlorogenic, caffeic, gallic, hydroxycinnamic and ferulic acids were identified as major TSP. Muffins with MPB, exhibited better antioxidant properties (104.0 to 108.5μmol TE/g dw for DPPH assay and 34.1 to 19.1mmol TE/g dw for FRAP assay) than the control formulation. The presence of high phenolic and insoluble indigestible fraction contents, which may be responsible of the lower rate of starch hydrolysis observed in muffins prepared with MPB, might modulate the postprandial glucose response in vivo. MPB may be used as an ingredient in foods with add-value with potential health-promoting features, besides providing a solution to the environmental problems associated with the disposal of mango by-products.

Використання екструзії при переробці нетрадиційної сировини

The current rates of the poultry industry growth need the following problems to be solved: expansion of the raw material base, use of unconventional sources of raw materials, cutting down the cost of fodder product manufacture and prevention and treatment of diseases.Lately, both infectious and non-infectious diseases spread in poultry breeding, for treatment and prevention of which probiotic preparations are widely used.We have developed a probiotic for poultry. During its manufacture, a by-product in the form of the culture sediment is formed. The culture sediment is characterized by a rich chemical composition and can bb used in production of fodder, but the constraining factor of its use is high humidity, which is a good medium for pathogenic flora development, and considerably reduces the storage life of production residues.We propose to manufacture a fodder additive in order to solve the problem of the by-product disposal. The process provides for extrusion of the culture sediment mixed with grain components.The research objective is to study the effect of the thermal treatment, specifically, of the extrusion process, on physical and chemical properties of the fodder additive using culture sediment. It is found that the extrusion process not only does not impair the fodder additive quality, but also considerably improves physical properties, enhances digestibility of the nutritive substance by digestive tract enzymes of the poultry, and significantly improves sanitation properties of the additive. The extrusion process enabled reducing of the moisture mass fraction of the fodder additive by 38,8 %, which is positive from the point of view of the prospects of its further processing and storage.

Environmental Impact of Technologies

Technologies used within our environment are important aspect of our life; however, their environmental impacts are often not realized or considered. These impacts are expressed throughout the manufacturing, use and disposal of these products within our environmental premises and thus require monitoring and an understanding of each stage of technological life cycle. These technological accessories and machineries are located in our homes, offices, hospitals, schools (universities and colleges), laboratories, libraries, farms and every other place in our environmental premises, such technological accessories and machineries consumes various quantities of energy, but as a whole are not operating at optimal efficiency. The inefficient use and disposal of these technological by-products within our environment do not occur in the most environmentally sound manner possible, thus resulting in diverting unwanted places to landfills or storing them for extended periods of time. Both the inefficient use, manufacturing and disposal leads to generation and release of toxic compounds into the environment. Most organizations and industries begin their efforts to decrease technological waste and minimize their environmental impact by tackling small and focused problems. For example, there are chlorinated plastics in cable wiring, lead in cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors, brominated flame retardants in computers, and mercury in LCD displays. This paper identified the needs for the implementation of environmental-wide green procurement strategies with respect to technology acquisition, use and disposal, as well as, offers recommendations regarding improvement of our environmental current systems. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2014.v3n7p83

Rapamycin nanoparticles target defective autophagy in muscular dystrophy to enhance both strength and cardiac function

Duchenne muscular dystrophy in boys progresses rapidly to severe impairment of muscle function and death in the second or third decade of life. Current supportive therapy with corticosteroids results in a modest increase in strength as a consequence of a general reduction in inflammation, albeit with potential untoward long-term side effects and ultimate failure of the agent to maintain strength. Here, we demonstrate that alternative approaches that rescue defective autophagy in mdx mice, a model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, with the use of rapamycin-loaded nanoparticles induce a reproducible increase in both skeletal muscle strength and cardiac contractile performance that is not achievable with conventional oral rapamycin, even in pharmacological doses. This increase in physical performance occurs in both young and adult mice, and, surprisingly, even in aged wild-type mice, which sets the stage for consideration of systemic therapies to facilitate improved cell function by autophagic disposal of toxic byproducts of cell death and regeneration.