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The most important challenges in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is preventing early death and reducing long-term events, such as second neoplasms (s-NPLs). We performed a retrospective analysis of 2670 unselected APL patients, treated with PETHEMA “chemotherapy based” and “chemotherapy free” protocols. Only de novo APL patients who achieved complete remission (CR) and completed the three consolidation cycles were enrolled into the analysis. Out of 2670 APL patients, there were 118 (4.4%) who developed s-NPLs with the median latency period (between first CR and diagnosis of s-NPL) of 48.0 months (range 2.8–231.1): 43.3 (range: 2.8–113.9) for s-MDS/AML and 61.7 (range: 7.1–231.1) for solid tumour. The 5-year CI of all s-NPLs was of 4.43% and 10 years of 7.92%. Among s-NPLs, there were 58 cases of s-MDS/AML, 3 cases of other hematological neoplasms, 57 solid tumours and 1 non-identified neoplasm. The most frequent solid tumour was colorectal, lung and breast cancer. Overall, the 2-year OS from diagnosis of s-NPLs was 40.6%, with a median OS of 11.1 months. Multivariate analysis identified age of 35 years (hazard ratio = 0.2584; p < 0.0001) as an independent prognostic factor for s-NPLs. There were no significant differences in CI of s-NPLs at 5 years between chemotherapy-based vs chemotherapy-free regimens (hazard ratio = 1.09; p = 0.932). Larger series with longer follow-up are required to confirm the potential impact of ATO+ATRA regimens to reduce the incidence of s-NPLs after front-line therapy for APL.

[Abstract] Vineyard pruning waste (VP) can be converted into a useful char using pyrolysis as part of a valorization strategy. This study analyzed the effect of temperature (300 and 600 °C) and residence time (1 and 3 h) on an ample number of properties of VP derived biochars, including potential negative environmental impacts. The results showed a clear influence of temperature on biochar’s properties and a weaker effect of residence time. Increasing temperature raised soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), ash and C contents, aromaticity, specific surface area, solid density, mesoporosity and partial graphitization. However, higher pyrolysis temperature reduced O/C and N/C ratios, total N, P and Mg, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Particularly, the concentration of water extractable organic carbon (WEOC) decreased dramatically with pyrolysis temperature. Moreover, the WEOC fraction of biochars pyrolyzed at 300 °C exhibited a larger aromaticity than those pyrolyzed at 600 °C. Prolonged residence time increased ash content and fixed carbon (FC) and decreased H/C and O/C ratios; however, most frequently this parameter affected biochar properties following opposite trends for the two pyrolysis temperatures. Hydrophysical properties were adequate to consider VP derived biochars as growing media component. PAH concentration was much lower than thresholds following international standards. The germination index increased with temperature and decreased with residence time, so that phytotoxicity was observed in VP and in biochars pyrolyzed for 3 h. Our research demonstrates that, besides temperature, residence time can be useful to modulate the properties of biochars and that prolonged time effect is temperature-dependent.

Biochar is being explored for the improvement of contaminated land as well as quality of soils in agricultural use. Most studies are conducted in the laboratory or involved only short-term field experiments. There remains considerable uncertainty about the long-term implications of biochar use, as a consequence of changes that arise during their ageing within soil. This work assessed the effects of chemical ageing (5% vol H2O2) on different properties of biochars and hydrochars prepared from two types of animal waste (rabbit and pig manure). Four biochars were prepared from pyrolysis of rabbit manure (pyrolysis temperature: 300 and 600 °C) and pig manure (300 and 450 °C) and two hydrochars from each manure by hydrothermal carbonisation at temperatures of 200 and 220 °C. The pristine and aged chars were compared according to the elemental composition and thermogravimetric analysis being also calculated the thermostability index and carbon stability in the ageing process. Results showed that chars prepared at lower temperatures were more sensitive to ageing. Only biochar obtained by pyrolysis at 600 °C showed a high level of resistance to ageing, reflecting the higher stability of the underlying carbon structure.

This retrospective study investigated outcomes of 404 patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)-internal tandem duplication (ITD) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) enrolled in the PETHEMA registry, pre-approval of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Most patients (63%) had received first-line intensive therapy with 3 + 7. Subsequently, patients received salvage with intensive therapy (n = 261), non-intensive therapy (n = 63) or supportive care only (n = 80). Active salvage therapy (i.e., intensive or non-intensive therapy) resulted in a complete remission (CR) or CR without hematological recovery (CRi) rate of 42%. More patients achieved a CR/CRi with intensive (48%) compared with non-intensive (19%) salvage therapy (p < 0.001). In the overall population, median overall survival (OS) was 5.5 months; 1- and 5-year OS rates were 25% and 7%. OS was significantly (p < 0.001) prolonged with intensive or non-intensive salvage therapy compared with supportive therapy, and in those achieving CR/CRi versus no responders. Of 280 evaluable patients, 61 (22%) had an allogeneic stem-cell transplant after they had achieved CR/CRi. In conclusion, in this large cohort study, salvage treatment approaches for patients with FLT3-ITD mutated R/R AML were heterogeneous. Median OS was poor with both non-intensive and intensive salvage therapy, with best long-term outcomes obtained in patients who achieved CR/CRi and subsequently underwent allogeneic stem-cell transplant., Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer (CIBERONC), Depto. de Medicina, Fac. de Medicina, TRUE, pub

With increasingly effective treatments, early death (ED) has become the predominant reason for therapeutic failure in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). To better prevent ED, patients with high-risk of ED must be identified. Our aim was to develop a score that predicts the risk of ED in a real-life setting. We used APL patients in the population based Swedish AML Registry (n=301) and a Portuguese hospital-based registry (n=129) as training and validation cohorts, respectively. The cohorts were comparable with respect to age (median, 54 and 53 years) and ED rate (19.6% and 18.6%). The score was developed by logistic regression analyses, risk-per-quantile assessment and scoring based on ridge regression coefficients from multivariable penalized logistic regression analysis. White blood cell count, platelet count and age were selected by this approach as the most significant variables for predicting ED. The score identified low-, high-and very high-risk patients with ED risks of 4.8%, 20.2% and 50.9% respectively in the training cohort and with 6.7%, 25.0% and 36.0% as corresponding values for the validation cohort. The score identified an increased risk of ED already at sub-normal and normal white blood cell counts and, consequently, it was better at predicting ED risk than the Sanz score (AUROC 0.77 vs. 0.64). In summary, we here present an externally validated and population-based risk score to predict ED risk in a real-world setting, identifying patients with the most urgent need of aggressive ED prevention. The results also suggest that increased vigilance for ED is already necessary at sub-normal/normal white blood cell counts., Funding Agencies|Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions; Swedish Cancer Society; Region Skane; Regionalt Cancercentrum Syd

With increasingly effective treatments, early death (ED) has become the predominant reason for therapeutic failure in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). To better prevent ED, patients with high-risk of ED must be identified. Our aim was to develop a score that predicts the risk of ED in a real-life setting. We used APL patients in the population based Swedish AML Registry (n=301) and a Portuguese hospital-based registry (n=129) as training and validation cohorts, respectively. The cohorts were comparable with respect to age (median, 54 and 53 years) and ED rate (19.6% and 18.6%). The score was developed by logistic regression analyses, risk-per-quantile assessment and scoring based on ridge regression coefficients from multivariable penalized logistic regression analysis. White blood cell count, platelet count and age were selected by this approach as the most significant variables for predicting ED. The score identified low-, high-and very high-risk patients with ED risks of 4.8%, 20.2% and 50.9% respectively in the training cohort and with 6.7%, 25.0% and 36.0% as corresponding values for the validation cohort. The score identified an increased risk of ED already at sub-normal and normal white blood cell counts and, consequently, it was better at predicting ED risk than the Sanz score (AUROC 0.77 vs. 0.64). In summary, we here present an externally validated and population-based risk score to predict ED risk in a real-world setting, identifying patients with the most urgent need of aggressive ED prevention. The results also suggest that increased vigilance for ED is already necessary at sub-normal/normal white blood cell counts.

With increasingly effective treatments, early death (ED) has become the predominant reason for therapeutic failure in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). To better prevent ED, patients with high-risk of ED must be identified. Our aim was to develop a score that predicts the risk of ED in a real-life setting. We used APL patients in the population based Swedish AML Registry (n=301) and a Portuguese hospital-based registry (n=129) as training and validation cohorts, respectively. The cohorts were comparable with respect to age (median, 54 and 53 years) and ED rate (19.6% and 18.6%). The score was developed by logistic regression analyses, risk-per-quantile assessment and scoring based on ridge regression coefficients from multivariable penalized logistic regression analysis. White blood cell count, platelet count and age were selected by this approach as the most significant variables for predicting ED. The score identified low-, high-and very high-risk patients with ED risks of 4.8%, 20.2% and 50.9% respectively in the training cohort and with 6.7%, 25.0% and 36.0% as corresponding values for the validation cohort. The score identified an increased risk of ED already at sub-normal and normal white blood cell counts and, consequently, it was better at predicting ED risk than the Sanz score (AUROC 0.77 vs. 0.64). In summary, we here present an externally validated and population-based risk score to predict ED risk in a real-world setting, identifying patients with the most urgent need of aggressive ED prevention. The results also suggest that increased vigilance for ED is already necessary at sub-normal/normal white blood cell counts.

With increasingly effective treatments, early death (ED) has become the predominant reason for therapeutic failure in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). To better prevent ED, patients with high-risk of ED must be identified. Our aim was to develop a score that predicts the risk of ED in a real-life setting. We used APL patients in the population based Swedish AML Registry (n=301) and a Portuguese hospital-based registry (n=129) as training and validation cohorts, respectively. The cohorts were comparable with respect to age (median, 54 and 53 years) and ED rate (19.6% and 18.6%). The score was developed by logistic regression analyses, risk-per-quantile assessment and scoring based on ridge regression coefficients from multivariable penalized logistic regression analysis. White blood cell count, platelet count and age were selected by this approach as the most significant variables for predicting ED. The score identified low-, high-and very high-risk patients with ED risks of 4.8%, 20.2% and 50.9% respectively in the training cohort and with 6.7%, 25.0% and 36.0% as corresponding values for the validation cohort. The score identified an increased risk of ED already at sub-normal and normal white blood cell counts and, consequently, it was better at predicting ED risk than the Sanz score (AUROC 0.77 vs. 0.64). In summary, we here present an externally validated and population-based risk score to predict ED risk in a real-world setting, identifying patients with the most urgent need of aggressive ED prevention. The results also suggest that increased vigilance for ED is already necessary at sub-normal/normal white blood cell counts., Funding Agencies|Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions; Swedish Cancer Society; Region Skane; Regionalt Cancercentrum Syd

With increasingly effective treatments, early death (ED) has become the predominant reason for therapeutic failure in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). To better prevent ED, patients with high-risk of ED must be identified. Our aim was to develop a score that predicts the risk of ED in a real-life setting. We used APL patients in the population based Swedish AML Registry (n=301) and a Portuguese hospital-based registry (n=129) as training and validation cohorts, respectively. The cohorts were comparable with respect to age (median, 54 and 53 years) and ED rate (19.6% and 18.6%). The score was developed by logistic regression analyses, risk-per-quantile assessment and scoring based on ridge regression coefficients from multivariable penalized logistic regression analysis. White blood cell count, platelet count and age were selected by this approach as the most significant variables for predicting ED. The score identified low-, high-and very high-risk patients with ED risks of 4.8%, 20.2% and 50.9% respectively in the training cohort and with 6.7%, 25.0% and 36.0% as corresponding values for the validation cohort. The score identified an increased risk of ED already at sub-normal and normal white blood cell counts and, consequently, it was better at predicting ED risk than the Sanz score (AUROC 0.77 vs. 0.64). In summary, we here present an externally validated and population-based risk score to predict ED risk in a real-world setting, identifying patients with the most urgent need of aggressive ED prevention. The results also suggest that increased vigilance for ED is already necessary at sub-normal/normal white blood cell counts.

With increasingly effective treatments, early death (ED) has become the predominant reason for therapeutic failure in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). To better prevent ED, patients with high-risk of ED must be identified. Our aim was to develop a score that predicts the risk of ED in a real-life setting. We used APL patients in the population based Swedish AML Registry (n=301) and a Portuguese hospital-based registry (n=129) as training and validation cohorts, respectively. The cohorts were comparable with respect to age (median, 54 and 53 years) and ED rate (19.6% and 18.6%). The score was developed by logistic regression analyses, risk-per-quantile assessment and scoring based on ridge regression coefficients from multivariable penalized logistic regression analysis. White blood cell count, platelet count and age were selected by this approach as the most significant variables for predicting ED. The score identified low-, high-and very high-risk patients with ED risks of 4.8%, 20.2% and 50.9% respectively in the training cohort and with 6.7%, 25.0% and 36.0% as corresponding values for the validation cohort. The score identified an increased risk of ED already at sub-normal and normal white blood cell counts and, consequently, it was better at predicting ED risk than the Sanz score (AUROC 0.77 vs. 0.64). In summary, we here present an externally validated and population-based risk score to predict ED risk in a real-world setting, identifying patients with the most urgent need of aggressive ED prevention. The results also suggest that increased vigilance for ED is already necessary at sub-normal/normal white blood cell counts.

With increasingly effective treatments, early death (ED) has become the predominant reason for therapeutic failure in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). To better prevent ED, patients with high-risk of ED must be identified. Our aim was to develop a score that predicts the risk of ED in a real-life setting. We used APL patients in the population based Swedish AML Registry (n=301) and a Portuguese hospital-based registry (n=129) as training and validation cohorts, respectively. The cohorts were comparable with respect to age (median, 54 and 53 years) and ED rate (19.6% and 18.6%). The score was developed by logistic regression analyses, risk-per-quantile assessment and scoring based on ridge regression coefficients from multivariable penalized logistic regression analysis. White blood cell count, platelet count and age were selected by this approach as the most significant variables for predicting ED. The score identified low-, high-and very high-risk patients with ED risks of 4.8%, 20.2% and 50.9% respectively in the training cohort and with 6.7%, 25.0% and 36.0% as corresponding values for the validation cohort. The score identified an increased risk of ED already at sub-normal and normal white blood cell counts and, consequently, it was better at predicting ED risk than the Sanz score (AUROC 0.77 vs. 0.64). In summary, we here present an externally validated and population-based risk score to predict ED risk in a real-world setting, identifying patients with the most urgent need of aggressive ED prevention. The results also suggest that increased vigilance for ED is already necessary at sub-normal/normal white blood cell counts., Funding Agencies|Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions; Swedish Cancer Society; Region Skane; Regionalt Cancercentrum Syd

This retrospective study investigated outcomes of 404 patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)-internal tandem duplication (ITD) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) enrolled in the PETHEMA registry, pre-approval of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Most patients (63%) had received first-line intensive therapy with 3 + 7. Subsequently, patients received salvage with intensive therapy (n = 261), non-intensive therapy (n = 63) or supportive care only (n = 80). Active salvage therapy (i.e., intensive or non-intensive therapy) resulted in a complete remission (CR) or CR without hematological recovery (CRi) rate of 42%. More patients achieved a CR/CRi with intensive (48%) compared with non-intensive (19%) salvage therapy (p < 0.001). In the overall population, median overall survival (OS) was 5.5 months; 1- and 5-year OS rates were 25% and 7%. OS was significantly (p < 0.001) prolonged with intensive or non-intensive salvage therapy compared with supportive therapy, and in those achieving CR/CRi versus no responders. Of 280 evaluable patients, 61 (22%) had an allogeneic stem-cell transplant after they had achieved CR/CRi. In conclusion, in this large cohort study, salvage treatment approaches for patients with FLT3-ITD mutated R/R AML were heterogeneous. Median OS was poor with both non-intensive and intensive salvage therapy, with best long-term outcomes obtained in patients who achieved CR/CRi and subsequently underwent allogeneic stem-cell transplant.

With increasingly effective treatments, early death (ED) has become the predominant reason for therapeutic failure in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). To better prevent ED, patients with high-risk of ED must be identified. Our aim was to develop a score that predicts the risk of ED in a real-life setting. We used APL patients in the population based Swedish AML Registry (n=301) and a Portuguese hospital-based registry (n=129) as training and validation cohorts, respectively. The cohorts were comparable with respect to age (median, 54 and 53 years) and ED rate (19.6% and 18.6%). The score was developed by logistic regression analyses, risk-per-quantile assessment and scoring based on ridge regression coefficients from multivariable penalized logistic regression analysis. White blood cell count, platelet count and age were selected by this approach as the most significant variables for predicting ED. The score identified low-, high-and very high-risk patients with ED risks of 4.8%, 20.2% and 50.9% respectively in the training cohort and with 6.7%, 25.0% and 36.0% as corresponding values for the validation cohort. The score identified an increased risk of ED already at sub-normal and normal white blood cell counts and, consequently, it was better at predicting ED risk than the Sanz score (AUROC 0.77 vs. 0.64). In summary, we here present an externally validated and population-based risk score to predict ED risk in a real-world setting, identifying patients with the most urgent need of aggressive ED prevention. The results also suggest that increased vigilance for ED is already necessary at sub-normal/normal white blood cell counts., Funding agency:Regionalt Cancercentrum Syd

With increasingly effective treatments, early death (ED) has become the predominant reason for therapeutic failure in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). To better prevent ED, patients with high-risk of ED must be identified. Our aim was to develop a score that predicts the risk of ED in a real-life setting. We used APL patients in the population based Swedish AML Registry (n=301) and a Portuguese hospital-based registry (n=129) as training and validation cohorts, respectively. The cohorts were comparable with respect to age (median, 54 and 53 years) and ED rate (19.6% and 18.6%). The score was developed by logistic regression analyses, risk-per-quantile assessment and scoring based on ridge regression coefficients from multivariable penalized logistic regression analysis. White blood cell count, platelet count and age were selected by this approach as the most significant variables for predicting ED. The score identified low-, high-and very high-risk patients with ED risks of 4.8%, 20.2% and 50.9% respectively in the training cohort and with 6.7%, 25.0% and 36.0% as corresponding values for the validation cohort. The score identified an increased risk of ED already at sub-normal and normal white blood cell counts and, consequently, it was better at predicting ED risk than the Sanz score (AUROC 0.77 vs. 0.64). In summary, we here present an externally validated and population-based risk score to predict ED risk in a real-world setting, identifying patients with the most urgent need of aggressive ED prevention. The results also suggest that increased vigilance for ED is already necessary at sub-normal/normal white blood cell counts., Funding Agencies|Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions; Swedish Cancer Society; Region Skane; Regionalt Cancercentrum Syd

With increasingly effective treatments, early death (ED) has become the predominant reason for therapeutic failure in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). To better prevent ED, patients with high-risk of ED must be identified. Our aim was to develop a score that predicts the risk of ED in a real-life setting. We used APL patients in the population based Swedish AML Registry (n=301) and a Portuguese hospital-based registry (n=129) as training and validation cohorts, respectively. The cohorts were comparable with respect to age (median, 54 and 53 years) and ED rate (19.6% and 18.6%). The score was developed by logistic regression analyses, risk-per-quantile assessment and scoring based on ridge regression coefficients from multivariable penalized logistic regression analysis. White blood cell count, platelet count and age were selected by this approach as the most significant variables for predicting ED. The score identified low-, high-and very high-risk patients with ED risks of 4.8%, 20.2% and 50.9% respectively in the training cohort and with 6.7%, 25.0% and 36.0% as corresponding values for the validation cohort. The score identified an increased risk of ED already at sub-normal and normal white blood cell counts and, consequently, it was better at predicting ED risk than the Sanz score (AUROC 0.77 vs. 0.64). In summary, we here present an externally validated and population-based risk score to predict ED risk in a real-world setting, identifying patients with the most urgent need of aggressive ED prevention. The results also suggest that increased vigilance for ED is already necessary at sub-normal/normal white blood cell counts., Funding Agencies|Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions; Swedish Cancer Society; Region Skane; Regionalt Cancercentrum Syd

With increasingly effective treatments, early death (ED) has become the predominant reason for therapeutic failure in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). To better prevent ED, patients with high-risk of ED must be identified. Our aim was to develop a score that predicts the risk of ED in a real-life setting. We used APL patients in the population based Swedish AML Registry (n=301) and a Portuguese hospital-based registry (n=129) as training and validation cohorts, respectively. The cohorts were comparable with respect to age (median, 54 and 53 years) and ED rate (19.6% and 18.6%). The score was developed by logistic regression analyses, risk-per-quantile assessment and scoring based on ridge regression coefficients from multivariable penalized logistic regression analysis. White blood cell count, platelet count and age were selected by this approach as the most significant variables for predicting ED. The score identified low-, high-and very high-risk patients with ED risks of 4.8%, 20.2% and 50.9% respectively in the training cohort and with 6.7%, 25.0% and 36.0% as corresponding values for the validation cohort. The score identified an increased risk of ED already at sub-normal and normal white blood cell counts and, consequently, it was better at predicting ED risk than the Sanz score (AUROC 0.77 vs. 0.64). In summary, we here present an externally validated and population-based risk score to predict ED risk in a real-world setting, identifying patients with the most urgent need of aggressive ED prevention. The results also suggest that increased vigilance for ED is already necessary at sub-normal/normal white blood cell counts.

Large amounts of manure waste are produced worldwide. Land application of manure waste is the most common approach to valorization. This practice has several environmental concerns, including pathogen spreading, emissions of odorous chemicals (ammonia or methane) and the pollution of waterbodies with nitrogen and phosphorous compounds. The pyrolysis of manure for biochar production has been tested as a useful treatment to avoid these concerns but the high moisture of some wastes hinders its thermo-chemical valorisation in the absence of a pre-drying step. Recently, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of wet biomass has been identified as a cost-effective valorisation method of biomass without the need for energy-intensive drying processes. The objective of this study is to compare the properties of pyrochars and hydrochars prepared from thermal treatment of rabbit manure (MW). Pyrochars were prepared at 450 °C (BMW450) and 600 °C (BMW600) and hydrochars were obtained using a rabbit manure solution (solid:water ratio 30:70) that was heated at 190 °C (HMW190) and 240 °C (HMW240). The final temperature was maintained during 1 h for pyrochars and 6 h for hydrochars. Results showed that HTC generated more micro-, meso- and macro-porosity than pyrolysis. Pyrochar produced at 600 °C possessed a high thermal, chemical and biological stability, probably due to its highly aromatic structure. Hydrochars (HMW190 and HMW240) were predominantly aliphatic, and this was associated to a lower chemical and thermal stability than pyrochars. The germination index values indicated that the pyrochar BMW450 and the two hydrochars were highly phytotoxic while pyrochar MWB600 presented a moderate phytotoxicity, which was lower than the manure waste. Finally, CO2 emissions of different materials after 60 days followed the order: MW > HMW190 > HMW240 > BMW450 > BMW600. Specifically, pyrolysis evolved CO2 was reduced between 97.8−88.7% with respect to raw material after pyrolysis. The HTC treatme

Large amounts of manure waste are produced worldwide. Land application of manure waste is the most common approach to valorization. This practice has several environmental concerns, including pathogen spreading, emissions of odorous chemicals (ammonia or methane) and the pollution of waterbodies with nitrogen and phosphorous compounds. The pyrolysis of manure for biochar production has been tested as a useful treatment to avoid these concerns but the high moisture of some wastes hinders its thermo-chemical valorisation in the absence of a pre-drying step. Recently, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of wet biomass has been identified as a cost-effective valorisation method of biomass without the need for energy-intensive drying processes. The objective of this study is to compare the properties of pyrochars and hydrochars prepared from thermal treatment of rabbit manure (MW). Pyrochars were prepared at 450 °C (BMW450) and 600 °C (BMW600) and hydrochars were obtained using a rabbit manure solution (solid:water ratio 30:70) that was heated at 190 °C (HMW190) and 240 °C (HMW240). The final temperature was maintained during 1 h for pyrochars and 6 h for hydrochars. Results showed that HTC generated more micro-, meso- and macro-porosity than pyrolysis. Pyrochar produced at 600 °C possessed a high thermal, chemical and biological stability, probably due to its highly aromatic structure. Hydrochars (HMW190 and HMW240) were predominantly aliphatic, and this was associated to a lower chemical and thermal stability than pyrochars. The germination index values indicated that the pyrochar BMW450 and the two hydrochars were highly phytotoxic while pyrochar MWB600 presented a moderate phytotoxicity, which was lower than the manure waste. Finally, CO2 emissions of different materials after 60 days followed the order: MW > HMW190 > HMW240 > BMW450 > BMW600. Specifically, pyrolysis evolved CO2 was reduced between 97.8−88.7% with respect to raw material after pyrolysis. The HTC treatme

Peat is the main component of growing media in horticulture. Increasing demand, environmental concerns and rising costs for peat make the search for alternative materials imperative. Much research has been performed aiming to find high quality and low cost substrates from different organic wastes such as compost and thus decrease peat consumption. Biochar is a carbon-rich material that has attracted important research as a soil amendment. However, its potential utilization as a peat substitute for growing media formulation remains less well explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sewage sludge and sewage sludge biochar on peat properties as growing media and on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) growth. Sewage sludge transformation into biochar proved to be a sustainable waste management approach in order to promote their future use as growing media components. Addition of biochar from sewage sludge increased the N, P and K content of growing media. The biochar addition to peat at a 10%vol rate increased lettuce biomass production by 184–270% and the shoot length by 137–147% despite hydrophysical properties not being improved. Also, biochar addition had a positive effect on growing media microbial biomass which increased more than 966%. In spite of the higher metal concentration in biochar than in sewage sludge, their transfer to plants seems to be reduced when compared with direct sewage sludge use.

Soil contamination with copper is a global issue, in particular in soils with a history of fertilizers, fungicides or municipal waste amendment. Several remediation techniques have been investigated to reduce the environmental impact of Cu-contaminated soil, including the use of organic amendments such as composts and biochars, which can bound part of the soluble fraction of the metal. The objective of this work is to study the effect of biochar and biochar plus compost addition on copper mobility, soil microbial biomass and growth of different plant species following remediation of a soil spiked with copper (1000 mg Cu kg 1 ). The contaminated soil was treated with 10 wt% of biochar or biochar plus compost. Different plant species (mustard, cress and ryegrass) were grown in the soil during 4 weeks. A significant reduction on the mobile form of Cu was observed in soils treated with biochar and biochar plus compost. The highest microbial biomass values were obtained in samples treated with biochar plus compost. After cress growth, the microbial biomass of soil treated with biochar plus compost was similar to that of non-polluted soil. The germination test showed increased root length in the amended soils compared to the contaminated soils. With respect to biomass growth of vegetable species in copper polluted soil, only ryegrass presented a satisfactory growth in the contaminated soil without the biochar treatment. For mustard and cress, biomass growth was only observed following biochar addition.

Soil contamination with copper is a global issue, in particular in soils with a history of fertilizers, fungicides or municipal waste amendment. Several remediation techniques have been investigated to reduce the environmental impact of Cu-contaminated soil, including the use of organic amendments such as composts and biochars, which can bound part of the soluble fraction of the metal. The objective of this work is to study the effect of biochar and biochar plus compost addition on copper mobility, soil microbial biomass and growth of different plant species following remediation of a soil spiked with copper (1000 mg Cu kg 1 ). The contaminated soil was treated with 10 wt% of biochar or biochar plus compost. Different plant species (mustard, cress and ryegrass) were grown in the soil during 4 weeks. A significant reduction on the mobile form of Cu was observed in soils treated with biochar and biochar plus compost. The highest microbial biomass values were obtained in samples treated with biochar plus compost. After cress growth, the microbial biomass of soil treated with biochar plus compost was similar to that of non-polluted soil. The germination test showed increased root length in the amended soils compared to the contaminated soils. With respect to biomass growth of vegetable species in copper polluted soil, only ryegrass presented a satisfactory growth in the contaminated soil without the biochar treatment. For mustard and cress, biomass growth was only observed following biochar addition.

Peat is the main component of growing media in horticulture. Increasing demand, environmental concerns and rising costs for peat make the search for alternative materials imperative. Much research has been performed aiming to find high quality and low cost substrates from different organic wastes such as compost and thus decrease peat consumption. Biochar is a carbon-rich material that has attracted important research as a soil amendment. However, its potential utilization as a peat substitute for growing media formulation remains less well explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sewage sludge and sewage sludge biochar on peat properties as growing media and on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) growth. Sewage sludge transformation into biochar proved to be a sustainable waste management approach in order to promote their future use as growing media components. Addition of biochar from sewage sludge increased the N, P and K content of growing media. The biochar addition to peat at a 10%vol rate increased lettuce biomass production by 184–270% and the shoot length by 137–147% despite hydrophysical properties not being improved. Also, biochar addition had a positive effect on growing media microbial biomass which increased more than 966%. In spite of the higher metal concentration in biochar than in sewage sludge, their transfer to plants seems to be reduced when compared with direct sewage sludge use.

[Abstract] A geostatistical analysis of macroelements (P, K, Ca, Mg), microelements (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) and heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb) extracted with the solution Mehlich-3 was carried out at the microplot scale in a vineyard of the Ribeiro area, Ourense, Spain. The data set studied consisted of 80 samples collected along five transects, with 16 points per transect and a distance between neighbouring points of 0.8 m. The elements extracted with Mehlich-3 presented a spatial dependency, which was described by means of spherical models, except for Mn that fitted an exponential model. The adjusted semivariograms showed a strong spatial dependency, except for Zn and Pb, which exhibit moderate spatial dependency. Therefore, it was verified that the elements extracted with Mehlich-3 can present an important spatial variability even at small distances. The kriging maps showed important differences regarding the spatial distribution, between the zones of the microplot and between the elements studied. It has to be emphasized that the spatial distribution of cationic macronutrients (K, Ca and Mg) turned out to be highly dependent upon the position of the rows and the streets of the vineyard; in this way these three elements showed lower concentration in the surroundings of the row, which may be attributed to the withdrawal of such elements by the plant., [Resumen] Se llevó a cabo un análisis geoestadístico de macroelementos (P, K, Ca, Mg), microelementos (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) y metales pesados (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb) extraídos con la solución Mehlich-3 en una microparcela encuadrada en un viñedo del Ribeiro, Ourense, España. Se tomaron 80 muestras a lo largo de cinco transectos, con 16 puntos por transecto y una distancia entre puntos vecinos de 0,8 m. Los elementos extraídos con Mehlich-3 presentaron una dependencia espacial descrita mediante modelos esféricos, excepto el Mn que presentó un modelo exponencial. Los semivariogramas ajustados presentaron una fuerte dependencia espacial, excepto para Zn y Pb, con dependencia espacial moderada. Por tanto, se comprobó que los elementos extraídos con Mehlich-3 pueden presentar una importante variabilidad espacial a pequeñas distancias. Los mapas de krigeado mostraron importantes diferencias en cuanto a la distribución espacial, entre las zonas de la microparcela y entre los distintos elementos estudiados. Cabe destacar que la distribución espacial de los macronutrientes catiónicos (K, Ca y Mg) presentó relación con la localización de las hileras y las calles del viñedo, de modo que estos tres elementos aparecen en menor concentración en el entorno de la hilera, posiblemente debido a la extracción de los mismos por la planta.