Water Washing Research Articles

Pemanfaatan Air Cucian Beras Sebagai Pupuk Untuk Pertumbuhan Tanaman Sawi Hijau (Brassica juncea L.)

This research was conducted at the FST Workshop at PGRI Palembang University. The time of the study starts from May to June 2021. This type of research is an experimental study using the Completely Randomized Design (CRD) method consisting of 5 treatments and 5 replications, so there are 25 treatment units. The treatments consisted of: (P0) with a dose of 0 ml, (P1) with a dose of 100 ml of rice/plant washing water, (P2) with a dose of 200 ml of rice/plant washing water, (P3) with a dose of 300 ml of rice washing water. /plant, and (P4) with a dose of 400 ml of rice washing water/plant. The variables observed in this study were plant height, number of leaves, and wet weight of mustard greens (Brassica juncea L.). The results showed that the rice washing water treatment on the growth and yield of mustard greens (Brassica juncea L.) did not have a significant effect on increasing the number of leaves of mustard greens, but had a significant effect on the growth of plant height and wet weight of mustard greens (Brassica juncea L.) .).  

Proton transfer efficiency enhanced over wide relative humidity: Etidronic acid-modified polyphosphazenes cross-linked polybenzimidazoles membranes

To enhance the proton conductivity and oxidative stability of the proton exchange membrane, an effective strategy to construct robust high-temperature PEMs (HT-PEMs) is proposed. The polyoxy(etidronic acid)phazenes cross-linked m-polybenzimidazole membranes (POHP-mPBI) are prepared by solution casting, thermal-crosslinking and acidification. Polyoxy(etidronic acid sodium)phazenes (Na–POHP) is cross-linkable proton conductors by partially phosphonic acid functionalized polyphosphazenes, which ensures proton transport while retaining the cross-linked groups. After covalent cross-linking between Na–POHP and mPBI, the cross-linked macromolecular structure stably locks the proton conductor in the polymer matrix, which ensures the construction of the proton transfer pathway at wide relative humidity (RH). The molecular dynamics simulation was conducted to verify the hydrogen bonds network with the POHP-mPBI membrane. The POHP-mPBI cross-linked membranes exhibit good oxidative stability, mechanical strength, proton conductivity and low fuel transmembrane permeability. At 180 °C and different RH (100% RH, 50% RH, 30% RH and 0 RH), the proton conductivity of POHP(50)-mPBI membrane is 0.150, 0.076, 0.055 and 0.048 S cm−1, respectively. After the water washing for 96 h, the durability of proton conductivity and weight loss shows a rare decline. The incorporation of proton conductors (POHP) into the PBI matrix by cross-linking is a perspective method to enhance the comprehensive performance of HT-PEM.

Production of Coco-Biodiesel from CNO (Coconut Natural Oil) for Small Scale Industries/Coconut Farmers Using Static Mixer and Dry Washing

Coco-biodiesel is a derivative product of coconut (copra) and is a substitute for diesel fuel. The production of coco-biodiesel is a solution when the price of fossil fuels is uncertain and increasing. In addition, producing coco-biodiesel for coconut farmers will increase the added value of coconut, ensure the availability of local fuel, and support integrated coconut processing. The objective of the study is to introduce a process and equipment prototype for processing coco-biodiesel that can be operated on a small scale which is suitable for coconut farmers, especially in remote areas. Coconut natural oil (CNO) was mixed with 0.1% phosphoric acid in a tank, heated for 2 hours at 80°C, and settled for 4 hours. After that, the transesterification reaction was carried out by reacting coconut oil with methanol with a molar ratio variation of 1: 10, 1: 6, and 1: 4. The process was conducted at a temperature of 65°C and a flow speed of 1.25 m/s (on a static mixer) and using methanol 98 % and 1% KOH catalyst. The crude coco-biodiesel washing was done using dry washing (membrane filter), the results of which were compared with washing using hot water. The type of membrane filter used was ultra-filtration membrane with a membrane area of 0.0055 m2, length of 1200 mm, and porous size of 0.2-1.2 micrometers. The optimum condition of triglycerides synthesis into fatty acid methyl esters (coco-biodiesel) to produce a 96.5% content (requirement) was obtained at a molar ratio of 1: 6. Acid numbers, total glycerol, free glycerol, density, viscosity, and Iodine number of coco-biodiesel produced were <0.5, 0.1%, 0.02%, 855 kg/m3, 3.6 cSt, respectively. The values of these parameters meet the Indonesian biodiesel standards. The performance of dry washing exhibited the capacity of biodiesel washing of 0.56 kg/minute or 0.65 l/min, an energy consumption of 315 kJ/kg which was less than the energy consumption of water washing (1361 kJ/kg).

Oil‐Water Separation Performance and Thermoregeneration of a Nanofibrous SiO2 Membrane Prepared by Sol‐Electrospinning

AbstractThe discharge of oily wastewater seriously affects human health and the sustainable development of the ecological environment. Therefore, developing oil‐water separation materials capable of removing organic pollutants is imperative. In this study, we report the preparation of a SiO2 nanofiber membrane based on tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) using a template‐free strategy combined with electrostatic spinning technology. The prepared SiO2 nanofiber membrane was characterized using SEM, EDX, FT‐IR, AFM, XRD, CA, and TG techniques. The prepared SiO2 nanofiber membranes exhibit excellent hydrophilicity (WCA=0°) in air and oleophobicity (UWOCA=136°) underwater, with excellent anti‐pollution properties for gravity‐driven oil‐water separation. The SiO2 nanofiber membrane can effectively separate different kinds of oil‐water mixtures with high water flux (4420 L m−2 h−1) and excellent separation efficiency (99.1 %), with a flux loss of 5.65 % after ten cycles, indicating excellent cycling stability. In addition, it can also be used to separate various oil‐in‐water emulsions stabilized by surfactants with a separation flux higher than 2079 L m−2 h−1 and a separation efficiency maintained at more than 97 %. During the separation of 150 mL lotion, the membrane was seriously scaled due to long‐term pollution. Simple water washing could not restore the membrane flux, and the irreversible scaling rate was 50.74 %, which seriously affected the continuous separation. However, due to the excellent thermal stability of SiO2 nanofiber membranes, oil contaminated membranes can be heated and regenerated, resulting in a flux recovery rate of nearly 100 %. Overall, this material has a wide range of potential applications in environmental protection, especially in the treatment of oily wastewater, due to its simple fabrication method, high flux, and superb oil resistance and recyclability.

First report of Fusarium incarnatum associated with fruit rot disease of drumstick (Moringa oleifera L.) in India.

Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) is one of the important leafy vegetable trees widely spread from India to Africa and widely used as food and medicine. During field investigation (July, 2021) of drumstick fields in Hiriyur (13°95'79" N; 76°64'45" E), Karnataka, fruits of drumstick plants showed a characteristic rot disease with an incidence ranging from 10-12% in an area of 5 hectares surveyed. Initially water soaked lesions turned to small necrotic lesions and later coalesced to form larger areas covered with white mycelial growth leading to softening and later mummification of fruits. Infected fruits were collected (n=5) and infected fruit parts (margins of healthy and infected tissues) were cut into small pieces, surface sterilized with sodium hypochlorite (2%, v/v) and blotter dried after three sterile water washes. An associated fungal species was isolated on PDA medium amended with Streptomycin (40 mg/L) and incubated at 28 ºC for 1 week. The fungal isolate grown on PDA had dense, white, aerial mycelium with light brown coloration on the reverse side of the agar medium. Morphological characteristics of conidia were determined for single-spore cultures grown on water agar media. Microconidia were single-celled, hyaline, non septate, ovoid, and 8.4 - 9.8 × 1.8 - 2.94 μm (n=20). Macroconidia were three- to five-septate, slightly curved, tapered at the apex, and 24.4 - 28 × 2 - 4 μm (n=20). Based on morphological characters' pathogen was identified as Fusarium sp. (Leslie and Summerell, 2006). Further, three representative isolate (SMG, MYS1 & MYS2) were subjected for molecular identification. The genomic DNA was extracted following CTAB method and ITS-rDNA was amplified using ITS1/ITS4 primers (White et al., 1990) and translation elongation factor (tef-1α) gene was amplified using EF1/EF2 primers (O'Donnell et al., 2009) respectively. ITS-rDNA sequence shared 100% sequence similarity (650bp / 650bp) with reference sequence F. incarnatum (ON226997) followed by 100% sequence identity to F. equiseti (KT277307 & MT953927). But, tef-1α gene sequence analysis in nBLAST showed that the sequence shared 100% (123/123bp) identity with F. incarnatum (F. incarnatum NEAU-TG1 MH920853; M2JP3 OP312673; WEH ON456146). Combined phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolate shared a common clade with reference sequence of F. incarnatum in the Fusarium-incarnatum-equiseti species complex thus confirming the identity of the isolated pathogen as F. incarnatum (Rob. ex Desm.) Sacc. 1886. The sequences obtained in the present study are deposited in GenBank database (ITS: OP508729, OQ159019, OQ159020 and tef-1α: OP477394, OQ176254, OQ176255). To prove Koch's postulates, pathogenicity test was carried out by inoculating healthy drumstick fruits cv. Bhagya (n=10) with spore suspension (105 conidia/ml). Control fruits (n=5) were sprayed with sterile water. The experiments were conducted in triplicates and repeated twice. Inoculated and control fruits were kept in a moist chamber at 26 ± 2°C for 2 days and observed at regular intervals. Development of disease symptoms were recorded on 52 out of 60 inoculated fruits which were identical with symptoms seen in the field and all control fruits remained symptomless. Identity was confirmed after re-isolation by morphology and culture studies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of F. incarnatum causing a fruit rot of drumstick in India. This disease affected the cost of drumstick production and contributed to the decline in production in India.

The Effect of Different Concentrations of Rice Washing Water as a Growth Regulator on the Quality of Cuttings of Jasmine Plants

Jasmine plant is a flowering plant that has many benefits. One of them is the basic ingredient of essential oils. This study aims to determine the effect of soaking ZPT in rice washing water and the dosage of rice washing water on the quality of jasmine cuttings. This study used a one-factor Completely Randomized Design (CRD) method with six concentrations of rice washing water, namely: P1 (ZPT Root Up 5%), P2 (Rice Washing Water 50%), P3 (Fermentation Rice Washing Water 40%), P4 (45% Rice Wash Water Fermentation), P5 (50% Rice Wash Water Fermentation), P6 (55% Rice Wash Water Fermentation), with 4 replicates obtained 24 experimental units. The parameters observed were the time of emergence of shoots, the percentage of the number of shoots, shoot length, number of roots and root length. The results obtained showed that the best concentration of immersion using rice washing water on the quality of jasmine cuttings was the fermentation treatment of rice washing water 40% and 45%.

Steam Explosion of Eucalyptus grandis Sawdust for Ethanol Production within a Biorefinery Approach

In this work, Eucalyptus grandis sawdust was subjected to steam explosion as the first step in cellulosic ethanol production within a biorefinery approach. The effect of the moisture content in the eucalypt sawdust (8 and 50%) and pretreatment process variables, such as temperature and residence time, were evaluated along with the influence of the water washing of steam-exploded solids on enzymatic hydrolysis and C6 fermentation yields. All other process streams were characterized to evaluate the recovery yield of valuable co-products. A recovery of nearly 100% glucans in the solid fraction and 60% xylans in the liquid fraction, mainly as partially acetylated oligomers, was obtained. The best enzymatic hydrolysis efficiencies (66–67%) were achieved after pretreatment at 205 °C for 10 min. The washing of pretreated sawdust with water improved the hydrolysis efficiencies and ethanol production yields by 10% compared to the unwashed pretreated solids under the same experimental condition. The highest ethanol yields were achieved after pretreatment of the sawdust with an 8% moisture content at 205 °C for 10 min, enzymatic hydrolysis at 13 wt% total solids with 25 FPU/g glucans, and fermentation with S. cerevisiae PE-2. In this case, 227 L ethanol and 40 kg total xylose (including xylo-oligomers) were obtained per ton of dry eucalypt sawdust.

Study of traffic-related pollution and its treatment with a particular focus on microplastics in tunnel wash and road runoff water.

Treatment of tunnel wash runoff water and road runoff water before it reaches the environment is recommended to limit the negative consequences of traffic-related pollution. The efficiency of existing water treatment systems to remove traffic-related microplastic (MP) has not been sufficiently documented. Expanding the knowledge about traffic-related MP and documenting the treatment efficiency of MP in road tunnel wash water (TWW) and road runoff (RRW) treatment systems were the objectives of the presented project. TWW from the Tåsen tunnel, Norway, and RRW from the Fossbekken sedimentation pond were investigated in summer and winter situations. Six commonly available polymer types, tire rubber tread particles (TRP), and road marking paints (RMP) were analyzed in the selected samples. About 0.12 and 0.26 μg/L of polymers were identified in winter and summer TWWs. Significantly higher tire rubber and road marking paint concentrations were identified in the winter sample compared to summer sample. Suspended particle concentration in the Fossbekken RRW treatment pond effluent was lower in the summer than in the winter sample. About 0.002 and 0.0008 μg/L polymer masses were identified in winter and summer samples, respectively. TRP in the winter and summer samples were 0.7 and 0.2 μg7/L, and 13.4 μg/L RMP was found in the winter sample, while it was only 0.008 μg/L in the summer sample.

Optimizing Growth and Yield of Purple Eggplants using Rice Washing Water as Organic Fertilizer

This study aimed to investigate the impact of rice washing water on the growth and yield of purple eggplants, and to determine the optimal dosage of rice washing water for achieving the highest growth and yield. The research was conducted at Muhammadiyah University of Sidoarjo's Land in Graha Pesona Modong Housing, Tulangan, Sidoarjo, using a field experiment with Randomized Group Design (RAK) pattern. The experiment consisted of one factor with seven treatment levels, replicated three times, ranging from 100 ml/liter to 400 ml/liter of water. Observations included plant height, number of leaves, number of fruits, root length, and fruit weight. The data was analyzed using ANOVA and BNJ for significant differences. The results revealed that liquid organic fertilizer from rice washing water had no effect on plant height and number of fruits, but significantly influenced the number of leaves, fruit weight, and root length. The optimal dosage for the highest fruit weight was 300 ml, while the highest root length was achieved at a dosage of 200 ml.&#x0D; Highlights:&#x0D; &#x0D; Investigated the impact of rice washing water as an organic fertilizer on purple eggplant growth and yield.&#x0D; Utilized a Randomized Group Design with varying dosages of rice washing water to determine the optimal application.&#x0D; Found that the combination of rice washing water significantly affected the number of leaves, fruit weight, and root length, providing valuable insights for sustainable agriculture practices.&#x0D;

Risk Assessment and Zonation of Roof Water Inrush Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process, Principle Component Analysis, and Improved Game Theory (AHP–PCA–IGT) Method

With the large-scale mining of deeply buried coal seams, the risk of roof water inrush increases during mining. In order to ensure safe mining, it is necessary to predict the risk potential of water inrush from the roof aquifer. This study introduces a coupling evaluation method, including the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), principal component analysis (PCA), and improved Game theory (IGT). This paper takes the water inrush from the roof aquifer of the 11-2 coal seam in Kouzidong mine as the research object. An evaluation index system is constructed by selecting six evaluation factors, including the aquitard effective thickness, aquiclude thickness, the ratio of sandstone to mudstone, rock quality designation, fault fractal dimension, and wash water quantity of geological log. The comprehensive weighting method based on IGT is used to optimize the subjective and objective weighting values obtained by AHP and PCA methods in turn, and an AHP–PCA–IGT evaluation model is established to divide and evaluate the water inrush risk zonation of the roof aquifer. The risk degree of the water inrush gradually decreases from the center to the north–south, and the main areas with relatively high risks and higher risks are distributed in a small part of the western and eastern regions. Finally, combining various drilling data examples, drilling pumping tests, and water inrush sites, the accuracy of the predicted results is validated through the vulnerability fitting percentage (VFP). The predictions are basically consistent with the actual results, and this study lays a theoretical foundation for the prevention and control of water inrush hazards.

Plasmid-Borne Mobile Colistin Resistant Gene (Mcr-1) Detection and Multidrug Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Some Abattoir Environments in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Antibiotics resistance is an increasing public health challenge globally, and very recently, global attention has focused on colistin, which is  termed “last resort antibiotics”. This study was aimed at investigating the prevalence of plasmid-borne mobile colistin resistant and multidrug resistant bacteria from 6 major abattoirs located in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Two hundred and eighty-eight samples from  fresh water, wastewater, utensils, and handlers were obtained over a 6-months period. Mean mesophilic aerobic bacteria (MAB) and thermotolerant coliform bacteria (TCB) were determined by pour plate method, while the indoor air of the abattoirs was sampled using  passive sedimentation technique. Bacterial isolates were identified by morphological, biochemical and 16S rRNA analysis. Phenotypic detection of colistin-resistance as well as multi-drug resistant profile of all isolates was done by the modified Kirky Bauer method. The  presence and/or absence of colistin-resistance gene (mcr-1 to mcr-8) were investigated by polymerase chain reaction. The MAB ranged from 0.3 ± 0.0 cfu/m3 in indoor air from both Holy Ghost B and Bob Izua abattoir to 2.6 ± 0.3 cfu/ml in wash water from Holy Ghost A  abattoir, while the TCB ranged from 0.0 ± 0.0 cfu/ml in wastewater from Lawal and Sons abattoir to 0.6 ± 0.1 cfu/ml in wash water from Osazee abattoir. A total of 149 bacterial isolates, belonging to 6 different species (Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01, Enterobacter ludwigii  EN-119, Providencia stuartii PRV00010, Klebsiella quasipneumoniae strain KqPF26, Enterococcus saccharolyticus ATCC 43076 and Provincia  rettgeri strain AR_0082) were obtained with the majority (&gt;90%) being multidrug resistant. Seven (4.7%) of the isolates were  phenotypically resistant to colistin, while only 3 harbored the mcr-1 gene. This result shows that plasmid-borne colistinresistant and  multidrug resistant bacteria are prevalent in abattoir environment located in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. This is an indication that  abattoir facilities could be a source of human exposure to colistin resistant bacteria, and efforts must be made at reducing the high  dependence of antibiotics in farm animals.

Biobased Natural Sapindus mukorossi–Carvacrol Emulsion for Sustainable Laundry Washing

Low-temperature laundry washing prompted the formulation of a new biobased detergent that meets sustainability criteria. A soapnut extract conferred good cleaning performance on the standard soiling agents EMPA 101 and EMPA 114 but showed rather weak performance on EMPA 116 and EMPA 160. The results indicated the good disinfection properties of the soapnut extract–Carvacrol emulsion (&gt;6 log CFU/carriers), whereas the commercial detergent and sole soapnut extract were less effective. Comparable results were observed for cross-contamination assessment and wash water, whereas total elimination was achieved only for the soapnut extract–Carvacrol emulsion. We demonstrated significantly decreased water surface tension for all three compounds. The microorganism cell membrane integrity assessment showed the highest number of dead cells on cotton carriers washed with the soapnut extract–Carvacrol emulsion. All this indicated that the newly formulated biobased laundry detergent made of soapnut extract and Carvacrol could effectively remove standard soiling agents and ensure good disinfection.

РАБОЧИЙ ОРГАН ПЛОСКОРЕЗА-ГЛУБОКОРЫХЛИТЕЛЯ УДОБРИТЕЛЯ

The factor of preserving the fertile soil layer is most relevant on sloping lands, since streams formed by melt water and precipitation wash out nutrients and humus, and also destroy the soil surface. To prevent these processes, anti-erosion working units are used. The purpose of the research is to study the effect of soil tillage by the working unit of a flat-cutter-subsoiler of a fertilizer with the simultaneous application of granular fertilizers on its filtration properties. The work was carried out at the control site located in the Chuvash Republic. The soil is loamy. The depth of tillage and application of granular fertilizers was 30 cm. As granular fertilizers, they used - granulated manure, presented on the market and used by agricultural enterprises in crop production. The filtration coefficient, porosity, and bulk density of the soil were determined. Since the subsurface cutter tills the soil without turning the layer, samples were taken in different layers of the cut layer according to GOST R 58595–2019. The filtration coefficient, which determines the ability of the soil to absorb and pass moisture, averaged 96.2 cm per day, which can be considered a good result (for loams 20 ... 100 cm per day). The porosity was 54.3% (satisfactory condition - 50 ... 55%, excellent - 55 ... 65%), the bulk density of the soil - an average of 1.05 g/cm3 (loose or freshly plowed - 1.0 ... 1.2 g / cm3). In general, after soil cultivation by the working unit of the fertilizer subsoiler with the simultaneous application of granular fertilizers, the filtration properties of the soil correspond to generally accepted reference values.

The effects of sanitizing hurdles against foodborne pathogens during blueberry processing

Frozen berries are a minimally processed food; therefore, the blueberry industry established a sanitizing regimen, such as using hypochlorite solution (NaOCl) and chlorine dioxide (ClO2) before freezing and storage to ensure food safety. The Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) requires that the application of NaOCl or ClO2 in wash water shall be followed by either potable water rinse, blanching, cooking, or canning. Currently, no study investigated the effect of a post-rinse treatment on the efficacy of sanitizer treatment prior to freezing blueberries. This study aimed to examine the effect of post-treatment water rinsing before freezing blueberries on the antimicrobial efficacy of sequential treatments of NaOCl and ClO2 against Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica. To imitate an industrial blueberry washing line, potable water rinse, ClO2 (3 or 15 ppm), and NaOCl (200 ppm) were prepared. Sequential treatments of first 200 ppm NaOCl and then either 3 or 15 ppm ClO2 were sprayed onto the berries in sweeping passes lasting approximately 7 s for each sanitizer. To investigate the impact of potable water rinse on sanitizer efficacy, half of the treatments received an additional 15-sec rinse after sanitizer treatment prior to freezing (−20 °C) for 7 days. For Listeria, the microbial reduction from the combination treatment of NaOCl and ClO2 (3 ppm and 15 ppm) was significantly greater than that from the untreated control, just rinsing and freezing. With NaOCl alone, Listeria monocytogenes demonstrated a 5.5 log CFU/g reduction; in comparison, Salmonella and STEC demonstrated a 3.0 and 2.6 log CFU/g reduction, respectively. For Salmonella and STEC, combination treatments of NaOCl and ClO2 demonstrated significant reduction compared to untreated control and just rinsing. Post-treatment rinsing and increased ClO2 concentration did not significantly impact log reduction. Post-treatment freezing doubled the antimicrobial effect to approximately 5.0 log CFU/g reduction in Salmonella and STEC. This study demonstrates the cumulative antimicrobial effect of physical and chemical processes of produce washing and that the FDA-required potable water rinse did not impact sanitizer efficacy.

Fluid property identification of the Lower Cretaceous reservoirs with complex oil-water contacts in Deseo Basin, Chad

Recently, exploration breakthroughs have been made in the Lower Cretaceous sandstone reservoirs in the Doseo Basin, but the identification of reservoir fluid property is difficult due to variable reservoir lithology, complex oil-water contact within and faint responses of the oil zone, which causes the lower accuracy of reservoir fluid property identification with conventional mudlogging and wirelogging techniques. Applying the geochemical logging, fluorescent logging, mud logging and cutting logging technology, in combination with formation test data, this paper distinguishes the crude oil types, analyzes the logging response characteristics of oil zone after water washing, and establishes the interpretation charts and parameter standards for reservoir fluid properties. The crude oil can be divided into two types, namely viscous-heavy and thin-light, based on total hydrocarbon content and component concentration tested by mud logging, features of pyrolysis gas chromatogram and fluorescence spectroscopy. The general characteristics of oil layers experienced water washing include the decrease of total hydrocarbon content and component concentration from mud logging, the decrease of S1 and PS values from geochemical logging, the decrease of hydrocarbon abundance and absence of some light components in pyrolysis gas chromatogram, and the decrease of fluorescence area and intensity from fluorescence logging. According to crude oil types, the cross plots of S1 versus peak-baseline ratio, and the cross plots of rock wettability versus fluorescence area ratio are drawn and used to interpret reservoir fluid property. Meanwhile, the standards of reservoir fluid parameter are established combining with the parameters of PS and the parameters in above charts, and comprehensive multiparameter correlation in both vertical and horizontal ways is also performed to interpret reservoir fluid property. The application in the Doseo Basin achieved great success, improving interpretation ability of fluid property in the reservoir with complex oil-water contact, and also provided technical reference for the efficient exploration and development of similar reservoirs.

An Effective Sanitizer for Fresh Produce Production: In Situ Plasma-Activated Water Treatment Inactivates Pathogenic Bacteria and Maintains the Quality of Cucurbit Fruit.

The effect of plasma-activated water (PAW) generated with a dielectric barrier discharge diffusor (DBDD) system on microbial load and organoleptic quality of cucamelons was investigated and compared to the established sanitizer, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). Pathogenic serotypes of Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria monocytogenes were inoculated onto the surface of cucamelons (6.5 log CFU g-1) and into the wash water (6 log CFU mL-1). PAW treatment involved 2 min in situ with water activated at 1,500 Hz and 120 V and air as the feed gas; NaOCl treatment was a wash with 100 ppm total chlorine; control treatment was a wash with tap water. PAW treatment produced a 3-log CFU g-1 reduction of pathogens on the cucamelon surface without negatively impacting quality or shelf life. NaOCl treatment reduced the pathogenic bacteria on the cucamelon surface by 3 to 4 log CFU g-1; however, this treatment also reduced fruit shelf life and quality. Both systems reduced 6-log CFU mL-1 pathogens in the wash water to below detectable limits. The critical role of superoxide anion radical (·O2-) in the antimicrobial power of DBDD-PAW was demonstrated through a Tiron scavenger assay, and chemistry modeling confirmed that ·O2- generation readily occurs in DBDD-PAW generated with the employed settings. Modeling of the physical forces produced during plasma treatment showed that bacteria likely experience strong local electric fields and polarization. We hypothesize that these physical effects synergize with reactive chemical species to produce the acute antimicrobial activity seen with the in situ PAW system. IMPORTANCE Plasma-activated water (PAW) is an emerging sanitizer in the fresh food industry, where food safety must be achieved without a thermal kill step. Here, we demonstrate PAW generated in situ to be a competitive sanitizer technology, providing a significant reduction of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms while maintaining the quality and shelf life of the produce item. Our experimental results are supported by modeling of the plasma chemistry and applied physical forces, which show that the system can generate highly reactive ·O2- and strong electric fields that combine to produce potent antimicrobial power. In situ PAW has promise in industrial applications as it requires only low power (12 W), tap water, and air. Moreover, it does not produce toxic by-products or hazardous effluent waste, making it a sustainable solution for fresh food safety.

Toxic effects of ship exhaust gas closed-loop scrubber wash water.

To meet the strict requirements of reducing sulfur emissions, an increasing number of commercial ships have installed exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCSs). However, wash water produced during the cleaning process is discharged back to the marine environment. We investigated the effects of closed-loop scrubber (natrium-alkali method) wash water on three trophic species. Severe toxic effects were found when Dunaliella salina, Mysidopsis bahia, and Mugilogobius chulae were exposed to 0.63-6.25, 0.63-10, and 1.25-20% concentrations of wash water, respectively. The 50% effective concentration in 96h (EC50-96h) for D. salina was 2.48%, and the corresponding total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals were 22.81 and 23.67μg L-1. The 50% lethal concentration in 7d (LC50-7d) values for M. bahia and M. chulae were 3.57% and 20.50%, respectively. The lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) values for M. bahia and M. chulae were 1.25% and 2.5%, respectively, and the corresponding total PAHs and heavy metals were 11.50 and 11.93 and 22.99 and 23.86μg L-1. M. bahia's body weight was negatively correlated with the amount of wash water. Low concentrations of wash water (0-5%) had no significant effect on the reproduction of M. bahia. Although concentrations of 16 PAHs and 8 heavy metals are known, different compounds might react with each other and form more unknown toxic substances, and the measured toxicity comes from synergistic effects between various pollutants. Therefore, future work is needed to clarify other more toxic contaminants in wash water. We highly recommend that wash water be treated before being discharged to the marine environment.

Custom-designed 3D printed feed spacers and TFN membranes with MIL-101(Fe) for water recovery by forward osmosis

ABSTRACT In this work, a dual-pronged approach– (i) novel thin-film nanocomposite polyether sulfone (PES) membrane with MIL-101 (Fe) and (ii) 3D printed spacers were explored to enhance water recovery by forward osmosis. The concentration of PES, pore former, draw solution, and MIL-101(Fe) was optimised for maximum pure water flux (PWF) and minimum specific reverse solute flux (SRSF). The best membrane exhibited a PWF of 7.52 Lm−2 h−1 and an SRSF of 0.33 ± 0.03 gL−1 using 1.5 M NaCl and DI water feed. The M22 membrane with the diamond-type spacer demonstrated a PWF of 2.53 Lm−2 h−1 and SRSF of 0.75 gL−1 for emulsified oily wastewater feed. The novel spacer design imparted significant turbulence to the feed flow and a lower foulant resistance of 1.3 m−1 as compared to the ladder type (1.5 m−1) or commercial spacer (1.7 m−1). This arrangement could recover 19% pure water within 12 h of operation (98% oil rejection) with a ∼ 94% flux recovery after hydraulic wash.

EFFECT OF LIQUID ORGANIC FERTILIZER FROM MARKET WASTE AND RICE WASHING WATER ON THE GROWTH OF LAND KANGKUNG (Ipomoea raptans)

Some of Indonesia's agricultural countries produce many types of vegetables; for example, mustard greens, cabbage, spinach, kale, and so on are usually cultivated in Indonesia. Market waste and rice washing water can make liquid organic fertilizer (POC). This research was structured to know the effect of rice washing water on land kangkung plants' growth and the concentration required in one planting period. The research location is Maesa Unima housing, Tondano District, Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi Province. This study uses quantitative methods with the implementation of experiments. Using the RAL technique or Completely Randomized Design totaling four treatments and each repeated seven times With liquid organic fertilizer (POC) using four treatments, namely: P0: Control (Using plain water), P1: POC with a concentration of 15%, P2: POC with a concentration of 30% and P3: POC with a concentration of 45% and the parameters measured were the growth of water spinach plants, namely: land kale plant height, number of land kale plants and leaf length on land kale plants. The results showed that rice washing water affected the growth of kale plants, namely plant height, number of leaves, and leaf length, and the required concentration was 45%. The research is due to the large amount of organic and household waste in the market, which can pollute the environment if not utilized

Green solvents extraction-based detoxification to enhance the enzymatic hydrolysis of steam-exploded lignocellulosic biomass and recover bioactive compounds

A novel strategy for pre-treated biomass detoxification combining emerging green solvents and low environmental impact extraction technologies was evaluated. Steam-exploded biomass was subjected to microwave-assisted or orbital shaking extraction using bio-based or eutectic solvents. The extracted biomass was enzymatically hydrolysed. The potential of this detoxification methodology was studied in terms of phenolic inhibitors extraction and sugar production improvement. The effect of adding a post-extraction water washing step before hydrolysis was also evaluated. Excellent results were achieved when steam-exploded biomass was subjected to the microwave-assisted extraction combined with the washing step. The highest sugar production was achieved when ethyl lactate was used as extraction agent (49.80 ± 3.10 g total sugar/L) over the control (30.43 ± 0.34 g total sugar/L). Results suggested that a detoxification step based on green solvents would be a promising option to extract phenolic inhibitors, which can be revalorized as antioxidants, and improve the sugar production from the extracted pre-treated biomass.