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Dual-layered electrospun nanofibrous membranes for membrane distillation
No full textDual-layered electrospun nanofibrous membranes (DL-ENMs) were prepared using the hydrophobic polymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and the hydrophilic one polysulfone (PSF). The thickness of each layer was varied by changing the electrospinning time of each polymer solution maintaining the total electrospinning time at 3 h. The characteristics of the DL-ENMs and those of each layer were studied by means of different techniques and the results were compared to the single layer PVDF and PSF ENMs (i.e. SL-ENMs). The prepared DL-ENMs were tested in desalination by direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) using different sodium chloride feed aqueous solutions. The DCMD permeate flux of the DL-ENMs was found to be higher than that of the PVDF SL-ENM and it increased with the decrease of the PVDF layer due not only to the reduction of the total thickness and to the increase of both the inter-fiber space and the void volume fraction, but also to the reduction of the path between the liquid/vapour interfaces formed at both side of the DL-ENMs. Compared to the proposed SL-ENMs in DCMD, it is better to use DL-ENMs adequately designed with hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers than SL-ENM with only a hydrophobic polymer
Anodic shifting of the microbial community profile to enhance oxidative metabolism in soil
No full textThe biodegradation of pollutants in soil is limited by the availability of terminal electron acceptors required to support microbial respiration. Microbial Electroremediating Cells (MERCs) consist of a variety of bioelectrochemical devices that aim to overcome electron acceptor limitation and maximize the biodegradation of pollutants in the environment. This electrode-based method to stimulate the oxidative metabolism of environmental microbial populations is referred to as bioelectroventing. The current research uses MERCs principles, under different configurations, for stimulating native soil bacteria to achieve the complete removal of the herbicide isoproturon (IPU). Our studies conclude that the application of a high anodic potential (+600 mV versus Ag/AgCl) to contaminated soils increases, not only IPU-removal, but also leads to an effective clean-up as demonstrated by soil ecotoxicological analysis after treatment. Furthermore, electrode potential differences induced taxonomical shifts in the microbial community as exposed by the high-throughput sequencing analysis. We also used microbial community diversity as reporter of the electrode's influence. Our results showed that the electrode impacted the communities as far as 0.5 cm away. The data provided here is evidence that polarized electrodes are a cost-effective and environmentally friendly strategy to select microbial communities for the successfully bioremediation of isoproturon-polluted soils
The Concept of Resilience in Ecological Risk Assessment: Scientific and Regulatory Issues
No full textResilience represents one of the key components of the vulnerability of ecological systems and may refer to different levels of biological organization, from populations to the biosphere. A short description is given on the concept of resilience applied to the levels that are directly involved in ecological risk assessment (ERA): populations, communities, and ecosystems. The opportunities and challenges for measuring and quantifying resilience are discussed. Finally, some suggestions for introducing the resilience concept in regulatory ERA are proposed. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018;14:581–585
Solar disinfection of natural river water with low microbiological content (10–103 CFU/100 ml) and evaluation of the thermal contribution to water purification
No full textNatural river water with low concentrations of wild bacteria strains (10–103 CFU/100 ml) was subjected to solar disinfection over the span of a year under different climatic conditions (temperate climate). After 6 h of sun exposure, SODIS was effective in all seasons for E. coli, Enterococcus spp. and total coliforms, although total disinfection was not achieved according to WHO standards (0 CFU/100 ml). Only for Enterococcus spp. complete inactivation was reached in the experiments corresponding to autumn and summer, with initial microbial populations of 102 CFU/100 ml. The most resistant microorganism was Clostridium perfringens that with initial concentrations of 10–103 CFU/100 ml, a 43% reduction was only achieved after the SODIS treatment in the best case.
The contribution of the thermal component was also studied under real-time conditions to separate this effect from the total SODIS process. Results have shown and confirmed that temperatures near the optimum growth temperature of the different microorganisms can have an antagonistic effect on solar disinfection and slow down the process
End-of-Life Membranes: Challenges and Opportunities
No full textReverse osmosis is the most employed technology for water desalination. However, membrane fouling is inevitable and one of the main reasons for membrane replacement. This article summarizes the most representative management routes of discarded end-of-life membranes investigated to date. Landfill disposal, reuse, direct recycling, indirect recycling, and energy recovery are evaluated. The present study also shows decision-making tools such as MemEol and life cycle assessment, which can be used to boost this technology towards a more environmentally friendly waste management framework. Furthermore, a business model of a hypothetical recycling membrane plant is developed
Criterios para la incorporación de la información sobre usos del suelo en un Sistema de Apoyo a la Toma de Decisiones sobre Patrimonio Hidráulico
No full textLa utilización de mapas antiguos en el inventariado de recursos patrimoniales hidráulicos
No full textSuperhydrophobic polysulfone/polydimethylsiloxane electrospun nanofibrous membranes for water desalination by direct contact membrane distillation
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