Heavy Aromatic Hydrocarbons Research Articles

Possibilities of spectral analysis methods for the oil sludge research

The paper considers the problem of utilisation and neutralisation of oil sludge at oil producing and refining enterprises. Oil sludge is a complex heterogeneous mixture consisting of high-molecular oil compounds, mineral particles of different composition, and water. The authors studied the elemental composition of oil sludge of different storage periods for oil refinery production by modern analytical methods: IR spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. According to the research, the main composition of the oil residue, represented by the hydrocarbon component, contains paraffin-naphthenic and heavy aromatic hydrocarbons. Moreover, its non-hydrocarbon component contains compounds Si, Al, Ca, Fe, S, Ba.

Investigation of Asphaltene Precipitation and Reservoir Damage during CO2 Flooding in High-Pressure, High-Temperature Sandstone Oil Reservoirs

Summary Asphaltenes are heavy aromatic hydrocarbon compounds contained in reservoir fluids and may precipitate when the reservoir pressure is reduced by production or when gas is injected into the reservoir, and then further deposit on pore-throat surfaces causing reservoir damage. At present, the research on asphaltene precipitation and reservoir damage is carried out in conventional reservoirs, and the influence of CO2 injection under high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) conditions has not yet been clearly understood. In this work, we combined perturbed-chain statistical association fluid theory (PC-SAFT) calculation, experiments, phase-state simulation, and numerical simulation to predict the asphaltene precipitation with different pressures, temperatures, and amounts of injected gas and to clarify the influence on reservoir permeability and oil production when using CO2 injection. The results show that the precipitation of asphaltenes in the process of CO2 injection is the desorption of colloid-asphaltene inclusions caused by gas molecules and then the mutual polymerization process between dispersed asphaltene molecules. CO2 injection will increase the amount of precipitation and move the precipitation curve to the right side. The degree of permeability reduction caused by the deposition of asphaltenes in the core is 12.87–37.54%; the deposition of asphaltenes in the reservoir is mainly around the injection/production wells and along the injected gas profile. Considering asphaltenes, the oil recovery degree is reduced by 1.5%, and the injection rate is reduced by 17%. The reservoir pressure, temperature, and physical properties have a strong correlation with the degree of reservoir damage, while the initial asphaltene content has a low correlation. This work will be of great interest to operators seeking to enhance oil recovery by CO2 injection in deep reservoirs.

Activated carbon and their nanocomposites derived from vegetable and fruit residues for water treatment

Water pollution remains a pressing environmental issue, with diverse pollutants such as heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, dyes, and aromatic hydrocarbon compounds posing a significant threat to clean water access. Historically, biomass-derived activated carbons (ACs) have served as effective adsorbents for water treatment, owing to their inherent porosity and expansive surface area. Nanocomposites have emerged as a means to enhance the absorption properties of ACs, surpassing conventional AC performance. Biomass-based activated carbon nanocomposites (ACNCs) hold promise due to their high surface area and cost-effectiveness. This review explores recent advancements in biomass-based ACNCs, emphasizing their remarkable adsorption efficiencies and paving the way for future research in developing efficient and affordable ACNCs. Leveraging real-time communication for ACNC applications presents a viable approach to addressing cost concerns.

Influence of group chemical composition of highly viscous oil residues on quality of petroleum road bitumens

The Kalamkas deposit’s oil and its distillation products were studied, and research results on residues and road grade bitumen compositions obtained by oxidation of heavy oil residuest are presented. The atmospheric residue of Kalamkas oil (350 Со) was subjected to vacuum distillation with the selection of gas oil fractions boiling to 380, 400 and 420 Со. Samples of residues were subjected to oxidation in a laboratory installation, which is a batch cube at constant operating conditions. The residues from different depths of gas oil fractions are characterized by different group chemical compositions. The group composition of the residues changes, the content of paraffinnaphthenic hydrocarbons decreases from 29.4 to 23.3% wt. and the proportion of heavy aromatic hydrocarbons increases from 26.8 to 27.8% wt. The content of asphaltenes (from 7.7 to 12.4% wt) and resins (from 17.4 to 22.5% wt) also increases. The ratio of asphaltenes and resins increases from 0.44 to 0.55. With an increase in the depth of selection of gas oil fractions to 420°C, the degree of aromaticity, the ratio of the amount of aromatic hydrocarbons to paraffin-naphthenic ones, increases to 1.79. Road grade bitumens produced from the vacuum distillation residues of Kalamkas oil fuel oil using direct oxidation technology of raw materials have the best performance characteristics if they are obtained from residues boiling in the range of 380–400°C. Residues boiling above 380-400 Со can serve as raw materials for the production of oxidized road bitumen of BND70/100 grade according to ST RK 1373 - 2013.

Environmental Chemical-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Immunotoxicity: A Comprehensive Review.

Significance: Reactive oxygen species (ROS), the reactive oxygen-carrying chemicals moieties, act as pleiotropic signal transducers to maintain various biological processes/functions, including immune response. Increased ROS production leads to oxidative stress, which is implicated in xenobiotic-induced adverse effects. Understanding the immunoregulatory mechanisms and immunotoxicity is of interest to developing therapeutics against xenobiotic insults. Recent Advances: While developmental studies have established the essential roles of ROS in the establishment and proper functioning of the immune system, toxicological studies have demonstrated high ROS generation as one of the potential mechanisms of immunotoxicity induced by environmental chemicals, including heavy metals, pesticides, aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene and derivatives), plastics, and nanoparticles. Mitochondrial electron transport and various signaling components, including NADH oxidase, toll-like receptors (TLRs), NF-κB, JNK, NRF2, p53, and STAT3, are involved in xenobiotic-induced ROS generation and immunotoxicity. Critical Issues: With many studies demonstrating the role of ROS and oxidative stress in xenobiotic-induced immunotoxicity, rigorous and orthogonal approaches are needed to achieve in-depth and precise understanding. The association of xenobiotic-induced immunotoxicity with disease susceptibility and progression needs more data acquisition. Furthermore, the general methodology needs to be possibly replaced with high-throughput precise techniques. Future Directions: The progression of xenobiotic-induced immunotoxicity into disease manifestation is not well documented. Immunotoxicological studies about the combination of xenobiotics, age-related sensitivity, and their involvement in human disease incidence and pathogenesis are warranted. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 40, 691-714.

Sources and secondary transformation potentials of aromatic hydrocarbons observed in a medium-sized city in yangtze river delta region: Emphasis on intermediate-volatility naphthalene

Aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs) play an important role in the formation of ground-level ozone (O3) and secondary organic aerosols (SOA). Although monoaromatics (MAHs) have been extensively measured in previous studies, the heavy AHs such as 2-ring naphthalene (Nap), a key surrogate of intermediate-volatility organic compounds (IVOCs), were overlooked. Additionally, field observations of AHs are mostly restricted to megacities and limited results have been reported in medium/small-sized cities, which could demonstrate different AH pollution characteristics due to the factors like emission source and population. In this study, sixteen MAHs as well as intermediate-volatility Nap were measured concurrently at six urban sites surrounded by traffic lanes, residential and commercial areas in Wuhu, a medium-sized city in Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region of China, in summertime. During the campaign, the mean concentration of seventeen AHs was 2.85 ± 0.55 ppb (mean ± 95% C.I.). Compared to megacities, lower MAHs but comparable or even relatively higher Nap levels were observed here during the sampling period. Source apportionment revealed that gasoline exhaust and industrial emission were the major contributors to AHs, accounting for 32.2%–52.6% and 20.3%–46.2%, respectively, followed by biomass/coal burning (8.5%–14.2%), solvent utilization (4.5%–13.1%) and diesel engine emission (3.0%–7.3%). Interestingly, diesel engine emission made the largest contribution to Nap, while industrial emission was less significant, suggesting that the source of IVOC species might be different from that of traditional VOCs. Among the measured AHs, Nap ranked the largest and the third-largest contributor to calculated SOA formation potentials (SOAFPs) and O3 formation potentials (OFPs), respectively. Our results highlight the role of intermediate-volatility Nap in the production of SOA and O3 and reveal different source contributions between Nap and MAHs. It is suggested to re-evaluate the contributions of various sources and precursors to urban O3 and SOA after considering the IVOCs.

Comparison of APCI orbitrap MS and GCxGC/EI TOF MS for the hydrocarbon analysis of heavy base oils

The performance of positive-ion mode atmospheric pressure chemical ionization linear quadrupole ion trap orbitrap mass spectrometry (APCI LQIT Orbitrap MS) has been compared to that of two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with positive-ion mode electron ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCxGC/EI TOF MS) for the analysis of group III heavy base oils. Upon APCI, all compounds were predominantly ionized via protonation. However, protonated alkanes are not stable and predominantly generated [M−H]+ ions via elimination of a hydrogen molecule from the protonated molecule. The high-resolution APCI mass spectra provided elemental composition information for the compounds while low-resolution APCI mass spectra were used for semiquantitative evaluation of the relative amounts of the compounds. Ions corresponding to compounds in seven hydrocarbon classes, i.e., (1) linear and branched alkanes, (2) monocycloalkanes, (3) dicycloalkanes, (4) tricycloalkanes and alkylbenzenes, (5) tetracycloalkanes, (6) pentacycloalkanes, and (7) hexacycloalkanes were identified. On the other hand, the GCxGC/EI TOF MS method enabled the chromatographic separation of most analytes. The measured EI mass spectra were used for the identification of the compounds while the GC peak areas were used for semiquantitative evaluation. The detected compounds were classified into three different hydrocarbon classes, (1) linear and branched alkanes, (2) cycloalkanes, and (3) aromatic hydrocarbons. The (+)APCI LQIT Orbitrap MS method was found to be faster and to provide more information for the larger compounds in the samples. For example, polycycloalkanes were only detected by using (+)APCI MS. However, no aromatic compounds were detected. Data processing was more straightforward than when using the GCxGC/EI TOF MS method. However, the latter method provided more accurate results for aromatic hydrocarbons and small alkanes as the analysis of small alkanes by using (+)APCI MS is limited due to the fact that [M−H]+ ions of small alkanes overlap with alkane fragment ions. Both light and heavy aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons were detected by using the GCxGC/EI TOF MS method but not polycycloalkanes. Therefore, these two methods complement each other, and each has different strengths and weaknesses.

Simultaneous Heavy Metal-Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Removal by Native Tunisian Fungal Species.

Multi-contamination by organic pollutants and toxic metals is common in anthropogenic and industrial environments. In this study, the five fungal strains Chaetomium jodhpurense (MH667651.1), Chaetomium maderasense (MH665977.1), Paraconiothyrium variabile (MH667653.1), Emmia lacerata, and Phoma betae (MH667655.1), previously isolated in Tunisia, were investigated for the simultaneous removal and detoxification of phenanthrene (PHE) and benzo[a]anthracene (BAA), as well as heavy metals (HMs) (Cu, Zn, Pb and Ag) in Kirk's media. The removal was analysed using HPLC, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to a QToF mass spectrometer, transmission electron microscopy, and toxicology was assessed using phytotoxicity (Lepidium sativum seeds) and Microtox® (Allivibrio fisherii) assays. The PHE and BAA degradation rates, in free HMs cultures, reached 78.8% and 70.7%, respectively. However, the addition of HMs considerably affected the BAA degradation rate. The highest degradation rates were associated with the significant production of manganese-peroxidase, lignin peroxidase, and unspecific peroxygenase. The Zn and Cu removal efficacy was considerably higher with live cells than dead cells. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the involvement of both bioaccumulation and biosorption processes in fungal HM removal. The environmental toxicological assays proved that simultaneous PAH and HM removal was accompanied by detoxification. The metabolites produced during co-treatment were not toxic for plant tissues, and the acute toxicity was reduced. The obtained results indicate that the tested fungi can be applied in the remediation of sites simultaneously contaminated with PAHs and HMs.

Processes of chemical transformations in heavy aromatic hydrocarbons of the Surakhan oil under the action of UV rays

Photooxidative transformations and mechanisms of oxidative reactions in aromatic groups of hydrocarbons isolated from heavy Surakhan (Azerbaijan) petroleum under atmospheric conditions have been investigated. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are part of the aromatic components of heavy Surakhan petroleum, after irradiation with UV rays for 1÷11 hours in the presence of oxygen undergo chemical transformations: endoperoxides polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, quinones, etc. are formed. It was found that oxidation products under atmospheric conditions can be formed as follows: during the oxidation of acenes (naphthalene, anthracene), which are part of the aromatic groups of petroleum components, excited aromatic hydrocarbons (donor) interact with atmospheric oxygen (acceptor) in the triplet state with the transition of the acceptor to excited state with the formation of singlet oxygen 1O2, in this case the donor molecule returns to the ground state. When phenanthrene is photooxidized, quinones are formed (the reaction is irreversible).

Synergistic leaching of heavy metal-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in co-contaminated soil by hydroxamate siderophore: Role of cation-π and chelation

Exploring a novel green efficient bioeluant is a golden key to unlock the ex-situ scale remediation of soil contaminated with heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Hydroxamate siderophore (HDS) produced by Pseudomonas fluorescens HMP01, with certain hydrophobicity and strong coordination because of its special chemical structure (e.g., hydroxamic acid and dihydroxy quinoline chromophore), was used to investigate the bioleaching efficiency of HMs and PAHs from actual contaminated soils and underlying mechanisms. Results showed that leaching efficiency for HMs and PAHs from the co-contaminated soil was higher than that of single contaminated soil due to the cation-π interaction and coordination, which was closely related to the spacial configuration changes of the complex. HDS not only increased the bioleaching efficiency of cationic HMs by chelation (the leaching amount of Cd2+, Pb2+, Hg2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Ni2+ achieved 27.5, 110.4, 6.9, 477.7, 10,606.9, and 137.4 mg/kg HDS, respectively) but also enhanced the bioleaching amount of PAHs by solubilization (the leaching amount of phenanthrene reached 90.2 mg/kg HDS. Also, the residual HDS in soils caused no significant ecological risk. As expected, HDS is a desirable bioeluant to promote the scale application of the ex-situ remediation of soil contaminated with HMs and PAHs.

Изучение дезактивации цеолита H-ZSM-5 в процессе трансформации диметилового эфира в углеводороды в условиях in situ

Today, catalytic processes for the synthetic fuel components production are of considerable interest for both scientific and industrial area. The transformation of dimethyl ether into hydrocarbons is one of the possible solutions for the development of a closed hydrocarbon cycle, in connection with which a wide study of this process is an important task of modern catalysis. The transformation of dimethyl ether into hydrocarbons occurs with the formation of heavy polyaromatic hydrocarbons, which are deposited on the surface of active centers, which in turn prevents the further occurrence of chemical processes on their surface. This article presents a study of the deactivation of zeolite H-ZSM-5 by the thermogravimetric method in situ. The results of experiments carried out in the temperature range from to 300 to 400 °C are presented. The accumulation of carbon deposits in the first hour of operation indicates the presence of an induction period due to the formation of the first layer of carbon deposits. Linear decontamination occurs when the first five weight percent of carbon deposits accumulate. Further accumulation of carbon deposits up to eight weight percent leads to a sharp decrease in the rate of conversion of dimethyl ether into hydrocarbons to 0.08 kg (DME) / (kg (Cat) h). In the first hour of operation, aromatic hydrocarbons predominate in the reaction medium; with increasing time, the concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons decreases, and the concentration of light olefins and alkanes increases due to carbonization of the catalyst surface. The concentration of heavy aromatic hydrocarbons with a number of carbon atoms equal to or greater than eleven has a maximum after 240 minutes of reaction. The decrease in the content of heavy aromatic hydrocarbons after 240 minutes of reaction can be explained by the sharp loss of surface acidity due to carbonation.

Toxic Effects of Heavy Metals and Organic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sediment Porewater on the Amphipod Hyalella azteca and Zebrafish Brachydanio rerio Embryos from Different Rivers in Taiwan

The amphipod (Hyalella azteca) and zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio) embryos were used for toxicological sediment porewater testing. Porewaters from 35 sampling stations of eight streams in southern Taiwan were screened for toxic effects and their relationship with 6 metal and 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Concentration analysis results showed that the following PAHs, naphththalene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene, acenaphthalene, and the heavy metal cadmium were not detected in 35 sampling stations. The highest detection rate of 94.1% was caused by the PAHs fluoranthene and pyrene. The highest detection rate of the metal zinc was 88.6% of 35 analyzed samples. The majority of samples (88%) were classified as level tier 1 according to USEPA national sediment inventory. This indicates the probability of adverse effects on aquatic life or human health. The results of a zebrafish embryo test showed that heart rate and survival were significantly reduced with all porewater samples. Therefore, fish exposed to contaminated river conditions may be affected in their cardiovascular functions. Looking at correlations between toxic effects of metals and PAHs, we found that phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(a)pyrene were low, while fluorene was highly correlated with toxic effects of metals.

Time and Spatial Variability in Concentrations of Selected Pollutants in the New Bypass Rainwater Harvesting System

The level of pollution and the variability of rainwater runoff quality collected in reservoirs next to the new Lublin bypass (south-eastern Poland) were assessed in this scientific paper. In the rainwater harvesting and treatment system, two types of reservoirs with different construction, size and presence of pre-treatment devices were used. Laboratory tests involved selected physical, oxygen, biogenic, salinity indicators, heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Particularly large variability in concentrations included NO2-, TP, PO43-, K+ and Cl-. Parameters decreasing the water quality were mainly conductivity, BOD5, COD, NO2-, TP and Cl-. High concentrations of salt and phosphorus in collected rainwater require great care in final management (risk of salinization and eutrophication). In the second year of research, there was significant deterioration of water quality, which may result from different weather conditions and gradual accumulation of pollutants in new reservoirs. Not many significant differences were found in the quality of water collected in reservoirs with pre-treatment and without it. Loads of heavy metals and aromatic hydrocarbons in reservoirs were relatively small. However, these impurities have high durability and the ability to accumulate in the environment. Therefore, further studies should also take into account monitoring of bottom sediments and areas adjacent to the bypass.

Cyclodextrin-based nanostructured materials for sustainable water remediation applications

The problem of water pollution is a burning social issue even though sustainable efforts are being made in recent years. The discharged water from various industries contains a considerable amount of organic and inorganic pollutants. Heavy metals, dyes, and aromatic hydrocarbons constitute a significant portion of water contaminants, and it is challenging to remove contaminants at low concentration value. Cyclodextrin nanomaterials modified with carbon nanomaterials, polymer, and metal nanoparticles have been reported as promising and sustainable tools for water remediation through adsorption and catalytic degradation approaches. The cyclodextrin polymers have been developed as nanoporous and nanosponge materials using different bifunctional linking reagents, which are highly efficient in removing a wide variety of organic and inorganic waste from water bodies through adsorption. Various chemical modifications in cyclodextrin-based nanostructured materials have been reported to enhance its affinity for the contaminants. In the present review, recent advances in cyclodextrin-based nanostructured materials for water remediation application via different mechanisms have been discussed.

Hygienic assessment of atmospheric air in the areas with different degrees of the development of the road-traffic complex

The paper presents the results of a study of the qualitative composition and quantity of pollutants in atmospheric air in the course of operational wear of the road surface, braking system and tire treads of automobiles. On the basis of field research in samples ofatmospheric air ofthe city of St. Petersburg there were identified compounds of heavy metals andpolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). There was established the dependence of the level of air pollution on traffic flows in locations of the city. Pollutants were shown to enter the air environment mainly in the form offine dust particles. There was justified the need for the control ofproducts of wear the road traffic complex in the hygienic assessment of the quality of ambient air ofmegalopises.

In vitro and in silico AHR assays for assessing the risk of heavy oil-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fish

In the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, marine fish in Kesennuma Bay, Japan, have been contaminated with heavy oil containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). To estimate the risk of six PAHs (benzo[α]pyrene, dibenzothiophene, phenanthrene, 2,3,5-trimethylnaphthalene, acenaphthene, and 1-methylphenanthrene), which have been detected at high levels in the tissues of fish from Kesennuma Bay, we attempted to evaluate the effects of these PAHs on the fish aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling pathway. We initially measured PAH concentrations and cytochrome P4501A catalytic activities (EROD: ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase and MROD: methoxyresorufin-O-demethylase) as markers of AHR activation in greenlings (Hexagrammos otakii) collected from Kesennuma Bay in 2014. The results showed that alkylated PAH concentrations and EROD/MROD activities were higher in sites close to the oil-spilled sites than in the control site, suggesting AHR activation by spilled alkylated PAHs. We then investigated AHR-mediated responses to these PAHs in the in vitro reporter gene assay system where red seabream (Pagrus major) AHR1 (rsAHR1) or rsAHR2 expression plasmids were transiently transfected into COS-7 cells. The in vitro assay showed rsAHR isoform-, PAH-, and dose-dependent transactivation potencies. The relative effective concentrations of benzo[α]pyrene, dibenzothiophene, phenanthrene, 2,3,5-trimethylnaphthalene, acenaphthene, and 1-methylphenanthrene that induce 20% of the maximum benzo[α]pyrene response (REC20-BaP) for rsAHR1 activation were 0.052, 38, 79, 88, 270 nM, and no response, respectively, and those for rsAHR2 activation were 0.0049, 32, 53, 88, 60 nM, and no response, respectively. The results showed that the REC20-BaP values of benzo[α]pyrene for both the rsAHR1 and rsAHR2 isoforms were lower than the concentrations (0.041–0.20 nM) detected in the muscle tissue of fish from Kesennuma Bay, while the REC20-BaP values of other PAHs were higher than their tissue concentrations. In silico rsAHR homology modeling and subsequent ligand docking simulation analyses indicated that the rsAHR activation potencies of PAHs could be predicted from a rsAHR2 model. This study shows that in vitro and in silico rsAHR analyses may be a useful tool for assessing the risks to fish contaminated with PAHs.

Modified Rice Straw Enhanced Cadmium (II) Immobilization in Soil and Promoted the Degradation of Phenanthrene in Co-Contaminated Soil

Very limited information is available about heavy metal-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) depollution involving the modified natural material in soil. Using phenanthrene and cadmium (Cd) as model, this study investigated the effect(s) of modified rice straw by a NaOH solution and on PAHs, heavy metal availability, and their interactions. Treatment included chemical contaminant with/without modified/unmodified rice straw. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed that certain functional groups including anionic matters groups, which can a complex with Cd2+, were exposed on the modified rice straw surfaces. Therefore, Cd concentration was significantly reduced by about 60%, 57%, 62.5 %, and, 64% in the root, shoot, CaCl2, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and extractable Cd, respectively. Subsequently, the prediction of the functional profile of the soil metagenome using Clusters Orthologous Groups (COGs) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database revealed that the significantly changed individual COGs belonged to the carbohydrate metabolism, ion transports, and signaling (including cytochrome P450s) categories. This indicated that ion transports might be involved in Cd management, while carbohydrate metabolism, including bisphenol, benzoate, ethylbenzene degradation, and cytochrome P450s, were rather involved in phenanthrene metabolism. The exposed functional group might serve as an external substrate, and P450s might serve as a catalyst to activate and initiate phenanthrene metabolism process. These finding offer confirmation that modified straw could promote the reduction of heavy metal and the degradation of PAHs in soil.

The taste system in fishes and the effects of environmental variables

The adaptability of the taste system in fish has led to a large variety in taste bud morphology, abundance and distribution, as well as in taste physiology characteristics in closely related species with different modes of life and feeding ecology. However, the modifications evoked in the sense of taste, or gustation, particularly during ontogeny when fishes are subject to different environmental variables, remain poorly studied. This review paper focusses on current knowledge to show how plastic and resistant the taste system in fishes is to various external factors, linked to other sensory inputs and shifts in physiological state of individuals. Ambient water temperature is fundamental to many aspects of fish biology and taste preferences are stable to many substances, however, the taste-cell turnover rate strongly depends on water temperature. Taste preferences are stable within water salinity, which gives rise to the possibility that the taste system in anadromous and catadromous fishes will only change minimally after their migration to a new environment. Food-taste selectivity is linked to fish diet and to individual feeding experience as well as the motivation to feed evoked by attractive (water extracts of food) and repellent (alarm pheromone) odours. In contrast, starvation leads to loss of aversion to many deterrent substances, which explains the consumption by starving fishes of new objects, previously refused or just occasionally consumed. Food hardness can significantly modify the final feeding decision to swallow or to reject a grasped and highly palatable food item. Heavy metals, detergents, aromatic hydrocarbons and other water contaminants have the strongest and quickest negative effects on structure and function of taste system in fish and depress taste perception and ability of fishes to respond adequately to taste stimuli after short exposures. Owing to phenotypic plasticity, the taste system can proliferate and partially restore the ability of fishes to respond to food odour after a complete loss of olfaction. In general, the taste system, especially its functionality, is regarded as stable over the life of a fish despite any alteration in their environment and such resistance is vital for maintaining physiological homeostasis.

Analysis of heavy metals and aromatics compounds in soil layers of a sanitary landfill

AbstractSolid waste presents the potential for contamination of the soil when it is improperly managed. One of the great challenges of today's society is to promote the proper disposal of municipal solid waste in order to guarantee the safety of public health and to avoid risks to the environment. In this context, the objective of this study is to analyze the concentration profiles of heavy metals and aromatic hydrocarbons of risk that human health in landfill soil. Such works provides an important tool to evaluate the possible presence of contaminants from inappropriate waste disposal, as well as to assist in the management of waste and to prevent environmental contamination. In order to analyze cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg), which are toxic elements, and aromatic hydrocarbons, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o‐xylene, m‐xylene, and p‐xylene, soil samples were collected at different sites and depths. Neither Cd nor As was detected in any of the samples that were analyzed. Pb levels ranged from 5.34 milligrams per kilograms (mg/kg) to 7.40 mg/kg, Ni levels ranged from 2.17 mg/kg to 3.00 mg/kg, and Hg levels ranged from 75.4 micrograms per kilograms (μg/kg) to 88.3 μg/kg. The aromatic hydrocarbon compounds of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o‐xylene were below 5.5 μg/kg, and m‐, p‐xylene was below 11 μg/kg. The analysis of heavy metals and aromatic hydrocarbons present in the landfill soil showed concentrations below the soil quality guideline values of the Brazilian National Environment Council (CONAMA) Resolution 420, which has criteria for the presence of chemical substances in soil for Brazil. Therefore, the low levels of chemicals may be related to the operational time of the landfill or to the population profile of the municipality, which is predominantly composed of persons involved in family‐based agriculture.

Regeneration of used rolling oils via the PVDF membrane processes

ABSTRACTPolyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes were used to regenerate used rolling oil (URO). The effects of PVDF content, solvent and pore-forming agent (PFA) on the membrane structure were investigated. The physical properties of recycled oils filtered with different PVDF membranes were also evaluated experimentally. When the PVDF content increased to 18% in the N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (K15) treated PVDF membrane, the pore size was the smallest and the mesopores were evenly distributed on the membrane surface. Numerous large-particle impurities, including gum, asphaltene, metal particles, heavy aromatic hydrocarbons and isoparaffins, were entrapped.