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The production of quicklime and cement clinker are energy-intensive processes resulting in significant CO2 emissions. Fuel switching, electrified heating, and carbon capture have gained attention as means of addressing this. Conventional production processes are direct-fired, meaning that the impurities, which originate from either quarries or fuels, interact with the product, influencing process performance and product quality. The suggested strategies for addressing CO2 emissions will alter the process conditions. For example, introducing electrified heating using plasma would shift the process atmosphere to primarily CO2, possibly affecting volatilisation and recirculation. The overall aim of this thesis was to generate new knowledge on the impact of impurities under process conditions in the context of the shift towards more sustainable quicklime and cement clinker production. Limestone surface impurities and their effects on quicklime product quality were evaluated. Ash-quicklime interactions were studied both on a laboratory scale and using multicomponent chemical equilibrium calculations (MECs). The volatilisation of minor elements in cement clinker production was investigated on a laboratory scale, and using a counter-current MEC-model with both a conventional combustion atmosphere and high-CO2 atmosphere. The detailed analysis of the limestone surface layer showed enrichment of impurities. However, quicklime sampled from a parallel flow generative kiln (PFR) showed low amounts of reactants from surface impurities, which were suggested to contribute to build-ups and increased levels of lime-kiln dust instead. Laboratory-scale studies of coal ash and quicklime interactions and MECs showed that typical cement clinker phases are thermodynamically stable at the coal ash-quicklime interface. Porosity and pore-size distribution were evaluated in pure quicklime samples and quicklime samples exposed to olive pomace, pine bark, and wheat straw ash. Olive pomace ash

The production of quicklime and cement clinker are energy-intensive processes resulting in significant CO2 emissions. Fuel switching, electrified heating, and carbon capture have gained attention as means of addressing this. Conventional production processes are direct-fired, meaning that the impurities, which originate from either quarries or fuels, interact with the product, influencing process performance and product quality. The suggested strategies for addressing CO2 emissions will alter the process conditions. For example, introducing electrified heating using plasma would shift the process atmosphere to primarily CO2, possibly affecting volatilisation and recirculation. The overall aim of this thesis was to generate new knowledge on the impact of impurities under process conditions in the context of the shift towards more sustainable quicklime and cement clinker production. Limestone surface impurities and their effects on quicklime product quality were evaluated. Ash-quicklime interactions were studied both on a laboratory scale and using multicomponent chemical equilibrium calculations (MECs). The volatilisation of minor elements in cement clinker production was investigated on a laboratory scale, and using a counter-current MEC-model with both a conventional combustion atmosphere and high-CO2 atmosphere. The detailed analysis of the limestone surface layer showed enrichment of impurities. However, quicklime sampled from a parallel flow generative kiln (PFR) showed low amounts of reactants from surface impurities, which were suggested to contribute to build-ups and increased levels of lime-kiln dust instead. Laboratory-scale studies of coal ash and quicklime interactions and MECs showed that typical cement clinker phases are thermodynamically stable at the coal ash-quicklime interface. Porosity and pore-size distribution were evaluated in pure quicklime samples and quicklime samples exposed to olive pomace, pine bark, and wheat straw ash. Olive pomace ash

The production of quicklime and cement clinker are energy-intensive processes resulting in significant CO2 emissions. Fuel switching, electrified heating, and carbon capture have gained attention as means of addressing this. Conventional production processes are direct-fired, meaning that the impurities, which originate from either quarries or fuels, interact with the product, influencing process performance and product quality. The suggested strategies for addressing CO2 emissions will alter the process conditions. For example, introducing electrified heating using plasma would shift the process atmosphere to primarily CO2, possibly affecting volatilisation and recirculation. The overall aim of this thesis was to generate new knowledge on the impact of impurities under process conditions in the context of the shift towards more sustainable quicklime and cement clinker production. Limestone surface impurities and their effects on quicklime product quality were evaluated. Ash-quicklime interactions were studied both on a laboratory scale and using multicomponent chemical equilibrium calculations (MECs). The volatilisation of minor elements in cement clinker production was investigated on a laboratory scale, and using a counter-current MEC-model with both a conventional combustion atmosphere and high-CO2 atmosphere. The detailed analysis of the limestone surface layer showed enrichment of impurities. However, quicklime sampled from a parallel flow generative kiln (PFR) showed low amounts of reactants from surface impurities, which were suggested to contribute to build-ups and increased levels of lime-kiln dust instead. Laboratory-scale studies of coal ash and quicklime interactions and MECs showed that typical cement clinker phases are thermodynamically stable at the coal ash-quicklime interface. Porosity and pore-size distribution were evaluated in pure quicklime samples and quicklime samples exposed to olive pomace, pine bark, and wheat straw ash. Olive pomace ash

PFAS are anthropogenic substances used in many different industrial operations and products because of their unique properties. Due to their negative impact on human health and environmental bioaccumulative characteristics different authorities have addressed the issue. In Sweden the limit is4 ng/L for four different PFAS in drinking water. Another risk to human health is elevated concentrations of toxic elements, causing Sweden to include them in the drinking water regulations withlimits such as 5 µg/L for arsenic, 25 µg/L for chromium and 5 µg/L for lead.This study is a continuation of an investigation for PFAS remediation in contaminated water by sorption to pine and spruce bark. The earlier study was a laboratory scale and implied that pine and spruce have some sorption capacity for long-chain PFAS. In this study pine and spruce bark were used as sorbent at an industrial site. The analysis was performed by weak-anion exchange extraction followed bysupercritical fluid chromatography coupled with a tandem mass spectrometer (SFC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) for instrumental analyses of target ultra-short-chain PFAS, short- and long chain PFAS and branched PFOS isomers. An elemental analysis was executed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The obtained results indicated removal for certain long-chain PFAS, potential for sorption of a specific ultra-short-chain PFAS and the elemental analysis implied some reduction of the chromium concentrations.

PFAS are anthropogenic substances used in many different industrial operations and products because of their unique properties. Due to their negative impact on human health and environmental bioaccumulative characteristics different authorities have addressed the issue. In Sweden the limit is4 ng/L for four different PFAS in drinking water. Another risk to human health is elevated concentrations of toxic elements, causing Sweden to include them in the drinking water regulations withlimits such as 5 µg/L for arsenic, 25 µg/L for chromium and 5 µg/L for lead.This study is a continuation of an investigation for PFAS remediation in contaminated water by sorption to pine and spruce bark. The earlier study was a laboratory scale and implied that pine and spruce have some sorption capacity for long-chain PFAS. In this study pine and spruce bark were used as sorbent at an industrial site. The analysis was performed by weak-anion exchange extraction followed bysupercritical fluid chromatography coupled with a tandem mass spectrometer (SFC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) for instrumental analyses of target ultra-short-chain PFAS, short- and long chain PFAS and branched PFOS isomers. An elemental analysis was executed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The obtained results indicated removal for certain long-chain PFAS, potential for sorption of a specific ultra-short-chain PFAS and the elemental analysis implied some reduction of the chromium concentrations.

During the inspection of vegetable material for EXPO 2015 in Milan (Italy), samples of bark from an unidentified coniferous tree were analysed and screened for the presence of the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, in accordance with the surveillance of European Union to enable early detection and prevent further spread. In this study, nematodes associated with the bark of unidentified coniferous tree were collected and identified by morphometrics and sequencing of ITS, D2-D3 expansion domains of the 28S rRNA and the partial 18S rRNA genes. The sequences obtained and the phylogenetic analyses, using the ITS, D2-D3 expansion domains of the 28S rRNA and the partial 18S rRNA genes, revealed the presence of four Aphelenchidae species. Two of the species recovered were phylogenetically related to Cryptaphelenchus species. One of the two was identified as C. minutus, as it showed morphology and morphometry largely overlapping with Bursaphelenchus minutus, but phylogenetically closely related to Cryptaphelenchus species. The other three species recovered were only molecularly identified herein, by sequencing the ITS and the D2-D3 expansion domains, as Cryptaphelenchus sp. 1 and two Aphelenchoides species.

The effectiveness of inorganic (plastic) and organic (geotextile and pine bark) mulching materials for soil salinity control as compared to the bare soil was assessed during three years in a semi-arid, drip-irrigated nectarine orchard. The soil solution electrical conductivity (ECss) was measured in 3174 samples regularly extracted with suction cups at two soil depths (20 and 40 cm) and three sampling positions (EM-emitter, EL-emitter line, and TR-tree row) during the 2010–2012 irrigation seasons. Considering all treatments, ECss increased (p < .05) with distance to emitters, both vertically (mean ECss = 4.7 dS m−1 at 20 cm and 6.3 dS m−1 at 40 cm soil depths) and horizontally (mean ECss (20 + 40 cm soil depth) = 2.9 dS m−1 at EM, 4.4 dS m−1 at EL, and 9.1 dS m−1 at TR). The monthly changes in ECss were negatively correlated (p < .01) with the monthly field-wide leaching fraction estimates. Based on the 2010–2012 mean ECss values, the effectiveness for soil salinity control of the examined treatments was (p = .05): plastic (4.2 dS m−1) = pine bark (4.6 dS m−1) < bare soil (5.8 dS m−1) = geotextile (5.9 dS m−1). Overall, due to their lower soil water evaporation rates, the plastic and pine bark materials were best suited for soil salinity control under the prevailing climatic characteristics in the study area.

Hydrangea macrophylla exhibiting blue sepals (versus purple or pink) have improved marketability; however, little research has been conducted to evaluate aluminum (Al), the element responsible for bluing, on crop growth, effectiveness of bluing sepals, and characteristics of flower clusters in an outdoor nursery. This study compared substrate Al availability, crop growth, flower color, number, and size over a 56-week period in two locations. A polymer coated (90-day release) or ground aluminum sulfate [Al2(SO4)3; water soluble] was either incorporated into a non-limed pine bark substrate, applied to the surface of the substrate as a top dress, or as a routinely applied Al2(SO4)3 drench (low concn.) or applied once (high concn.). In general, application of Al increased plant foliar Al concentration, but also decreased substrate pore-water pH and increased electrical conductivity (EC) with varying effects based on the applied product’s solubility and subsequent longevity. Aluminum sulfate increased the potential of Al phytotoxicity negatively affecting root morphology and creating an undesirable rhizosphere electrochemistry due to the pH being continually acidic, <4, and the EC being temporarily increased to >1.5 mS·cm−1. These suboptimal rhizosphere conditions resulted in a lower quality or smaller plant. No plants exhibited clear, deep blue flower cluster sought by consumers. Neither the effect of pore water pH or EC could, alone or in combination, account for the lack of plant vigor or blue flower clusters when substrate and foliar Al concentrations were adequate in flowering H. macrophylla. More research is needed to investigate the effect of pore-water electrochemical properties, possible mineral nutrient co-factors that provide Al synergisms or toxicity protections, and holistic plant health on ensuring blue coloration of a vigorous H. macrophyl

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic compounds that have beenaround since 1940. They can be used in a variety of products such as fire-fighting foam,food packaging and cosmetic products. Many PFAS have potential toxic effects on bothhumans and animals which poses a problem due to their wide distribution and persistency.Another problem concerns the remediation of PFAS, where the substances ends upcirculating between the different disposal types (landfills, wastewater treatment andincineration). Active methods are therefore needed to remove or retain the contaminants.Some examples of these remediation technologies can be biomaterials, organoclays andmore advanced methods such as activated carbon and ion exchange. The more advancedbeing suited for remediation of drinking water. In this study, the sorption efficiency oftwo pine bark fractions has been studied and also compared to the efficiency of activatedcarbon. The evaluation was done for both target analysis (PFAS-11) and non-specificanalysis of extractable organofluorine (EOF) compounds in contaminated water from ahazardous waste management facility. The two pine bark fractions indicated similarsorption efficiencies, for both the PFAS-11 and the EOF compounds. The sorptionefficiency ranged from 10% up to 75% for perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSA) and frombelow zero up to 40% for perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCA). A general pattern canbe seen, the sorption efficiency increases with increasing length of the PFAS chain. Theactivated carbon had a higher sorption efficiency, where the majority of PFAS had anaverage sorption of 100%. In comparison, the PFAS-11 and total EOF analysis displayedhigh concentrations of unidentified EOF compounds. These compounds indicated anegative sorption, which might imply that non-targeted PFAS or other fluorinated organic compounds desorb from the bark. Therefore, the pine bark might be suitable as a roughremediation of long-chain PFAS (≥8C), but further studie

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic compounds that have beenaround since 1940. They can be used in a variety of products such as fire-fighting foam, food packaging and cosmetic products. Many PFAS have potential toxic effects on both humans and animals which poses a problem due to their wide distribution and persistency. Another problem concerns the remediation of PFAS, where the substances ends up circulating between the different disposal types (landfills, wastewater treatment and incineration). Active methods are therefore needed to remove or retain the contaminants. Some examples of these remediation technologies can be biomaterials, organoclays and more advanced methods such as activated carbon and ion exchange. The more advanced being suited for remediation of drinking water. In this study, the sorption efficiency of two pine bark fractions has been studied and also compared to the efficiency of activated carbon. The evaluation was done for both target analysis (PFAS-11) and non-specific analysis of extractable organofluorine (EOF) compounds in contaminated water from a hazardous waste management facility. The two pine bark fractions indicated similar sorption efficiencies, for both the PFAS-11 and the EOF compounds. The sorption efficiency ranged from 10% up to 75% for perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSA) and from below zero up to 40% for perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCA). A general pattern can be seen, the sorption efficiency increases with increasing length of the PFAS chain. The activated carbon had a higher sorption efficiency, where the majority of PFAS had an average sorption of 100%. In comparison, the PFAS-11 and total EOF analysis displayed high concentrations of unidentified EOF compounds. These compounds indicated a negative sorption, which might imply that non-targeted PFAS or other fluorinated organic compounds desorb from the bark. Therefore, the pine bark might be suitable as a rough remediation of long-chain PFAS (≥8C

Environmental pollution due to antibiotics is a serious problem. In this work, the adsorption and desorption of the antibiotic cefuroxime (CFX) were studied in four by-products/residues from the forestry and food industries. For this, batch-type experiments were carried out, adding increasing concentrations of CFX (from 0 to 50 µmol L−1) to 0.5 g of adsorbent. The materials with a pH higher than 9 (mussel shell and wood ash) were those that presented the highest adsorption percentages, from 71.2% (23.1 µmol kg−1) to 98.6% (928.0 µmol kg−1). For the rest of the adsorbents, the adsorption was also around 100% when the lowest concentrations of CFX were added, but the percentage dropped sharply when the highest dose of the antibiotic was incorporated. Adsorption data fitted well to the Langmuir and Freundlich models, with R2 greater than 0.9. Regarding desorption, the materials that presented the lowest values when the highest concentration of CFX was added were wood ash (0%) and mussel shell (2.1%), while pine bark and eucalyptus leaves presented the highest desorption (26.6% and 28.6%, respectively). Therefore, wood ash and mussel shell could be considered adsorbents with a high potential to be used in problems of environmental contamination by CFX

Based on the concept of circular economy and green chemistry, the conversion of wastes into high added value products should be of great importance. From this point of view, this review chapter summarizes the application of pine-based adsorbents obtained from pine bark, pine cone and pine needles, to adsorb heavy metals, radionuclides, rare earths, and others from aqueous media. Effect of various parameters such as pH, temperature, and contact time is critically presented and discussed in detail. The adsorption capacities, fitted https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/isotherm and kinetic models, as well as thermodynamic aspects, are also included in the discussion. The present compilation reveals that generally the experimental data are better fitted by the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models and the adsorption is a spontaneous process. From this literature survey, it is evident that pine-based adsorbents have interesting adsorption properties and could be attractive candidates as adsorbents for inorganic pollutants removal from (waste)water.

The widespread apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum is responsible for severe gastrointestinal disease in humans and animals. The treatment options are limited, and the efficacy of available drugs is low. Bark contains condensed tannins (CT), which are bioactive compounds previously shown to inhibit parasite development. Here, we examined the anti-cryptosporidial properties of bark extract of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) against C. parvum by means of an in vitro growth inhibition test. We hypothesised that bark extracts would have dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the development of C. parvum in cell culture. Bark extracts from Scots pine extracted with acetone, methanol, and water as solvents were investigated using human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells infected with C. parvum. Oocysts were inoculated onto the cell monolayer and bark extract was added at seven different concentrations. Parasite growth inhibition was quantified by qPCR. The acetone and methanol extracts demonstrated a sigmoid dose-dependent inhibition of C. parvum. The IC50 values were 244.6 and 279.1 µg dry matter extract/mL, and 25.4 and 24.1 µg CT/mL, for acetone and methanol extracts, respectively. The IC50 for both extracts were similar, both with regard to the dry matter concentration of each extract and to CT concentrations. Given the limited treatment options available for Cryptosporidium spp., the evidence generated in our study encourages further investigation into the in vitro and in vivo effects of pine bark extracts against C. parvum.

The increase of concentrations of tetracycline antibiotics in agricultural soils worldwide is of special concern, due to its potential toxic effects on soil bacterial communities. In the present work, the reuse of two waste/by-product materials as soil amendments was tested as a preventive practice for reducing tetracycline antibiotics toxicity in soils. Pine bark (PB), with high percentage of organic carbon, and crushed mussel shell (CMS), a frequent natural liming material, were added to 4 soils in doses 0, 6, 12 and 48 g of by-product per kg−1 of soil (dry weight) of each one (separately). The soils and soil-waste mixtures were then spiked with tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC) and chlortetracycline (CTC). After one day of incubation, the bacterial growth was estimated in soils and soil-mixtures using the leucine incorporation technique. The addition of PB to the soils showed two different behaviors, depending on the antibiotics. The toxicity of TC and OTC decreased with the addition of PB (toxicities going from 6 to 25% and from 5 to 36%, respectively). However, CTC toxicity did not change, or even increased in response to the PB amendment. Regarding soil amendment with CMS, it was not effective to prevent the toxicity of any of the three antibiotics studied.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic compounds that have beenaround since 1940. They can be used in a variety of products such as fire-fighting foam,food packaging and cosmetic products. Many PFAS have potential toxic effects on bothhumans and animals which poses a problem due to their wide distribution and persistency.Another problem concerns the remediation of PFAS, where the substances ends upcirculating between the different disposal types (landfills, wastewater treatment andincineration). Active methods are therefore needed to remove or retain the contaminants.Some examples of these remediation technologies can be biomaterials, organoclays andmore advanced methods such as activated carbon and ion exchange. The more advancedbeing suited for remediation of drinking water. In this study, the sorption efficiency oftwo pine bark fractions has been studied and also compared to the efficiency of activatedcarbon. The evaluation was done for both target analysis (PFAS-11) and non-specificanalysis of extractable organofluorine (EOF) compounds in contaminated water from ahazardous waste management facility. The two pine bark fractions indicated similarsorption efficiencies, for both the PFAS-11 and the EOF compounds. The sorptionefficiency ranged from 10% up to 75% for perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSA) and frombelow zero up to 40% for perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCA). A general pattern canbe seen, the sorption efficiency increases with increasing length of the PFAS chain. Theactivated carbon had a higher sorption efficiency, where the majority of PFAS had anaverage sorption of 100%. In comparison, the PFAS-11 and total EOF analysis displayedhigh concentrations of unidentified EOF compounds. These compounds indicated anegative sorption, which might imply that non-targeted PFAS or other fluorinated organic compounds desorb from the bark. Therefore, the pine bark might be suitable as a roughremediation of long-chain PFAS (≥8C), but further studie

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic compounds that have beenaround since 1940. They can be used in a variety of products such as fire-fighting foam, food packaging and cosmetic products. Many PFAS have potential toxic effects on both humans and animals which poses a problem due to their wide distribution and persistency. Another problem concerns the remediation of PFAS, where the substances ends up circulating between the different disposal types (landfills, wastewater treatment and incineration). Active methods are therefore needed to remove or retain the contaminants. Some examples of these remediation technologies can be biomaterials, organoclays and more advanced methods such as activated carbon and ion exchange. The more advanced being suited for remediation of drinking water. In this study, the sorption efficiency of two pine bark fractions has been studied and also compared to the efficiency of activated carbon. The evaluation was done for both target analysis (PFAS-11) and non-specific analysis of extractable organofluorine (EOF) compounds in contaminated water from a hazardous waste management facility. The two pine bark fractions indicated similar sorption efficiencies, for both the PFAS-11 and the EOF compounds. The sorption efficiency ranged from 10% up to 75% for perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSA) and from below zero up to 40% for perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCA). A general pattern can be seen, the sorption efficiency increases with increasing length of the PFAS chain. The activated carbon had a higher sorption efficiency, where the majority of PFAS had an average sorption of 100%. In comparison, the PFAS-11 and total EOF analysis displayed high concentrations of unidentified EOF compounds. These compounds indicated a negative sorption, which might imply that non-targeted PFAS or other fluorinated organic compounds desorb from the bark. Therefore, the pine bark might be suitable as a rough remediation of long-chain PFAS (≥8C

The widespread apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum is responsible for severe gastrointestinal disease in humans and animals. The treatment options are limited, and the efficacy of available drugs is low. Bark contains condensed tannins (CT), which are bioactive compounds previously shown to inhibit parasite development. Here, we examined the anti-cryptosporidial properties of bark extract of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) against C. parvum by means of an in vitro growth inhibition test. We hypothesised that bark extracts would have dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the development of C. parvum in cell culture. Bark extracts from Scots pine extracted with acetone, methanol, and water as solvents were investigated using human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells infected with C. parvum. Oocysts were inoculated onto the cell monolayer and bark extract was added at seven different concentrations. Parasite growth inhibition was quantified by qPCR. The acetone and methanol extracts demonstrated a sigmoid dose-dependent inhibition of C. parvum. The IC50 values were 244.6 and 279.1 µg dry matter extract/mL, and 25.4 and 24.1 µg CT/mL, for acetone and methanol extracts, respectively. The IC50 for both extracts were similar, both with regard to the dry matter concentration of each extract and to CT concentrations. Given the limited treatment options available for Cryptosporidium spp., the evidence generated in our study encourages further investigation into the in vitro and in vivo effects of pine bark extracts against C. parvum.

Chemically modified pine bark was synthesized by using glycidyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (GTMAC) in the presence of sodium hydroxide. Optimization of the modification parameters was performed in order to maximize vanadium removal. Parameters included the initial NaOH concentration (0.01–2% w/v), GTMAC dosage (0.0067–0.0805 mol/g), modification time (1–6 h), modification temperature (40–80 ℃) and volume (25–100 mL). The optimal modification conditions were found to be 0.1% NaOH (w/v), 0.0134 mol/g GTMAC, 3 h and 60 ℃. The initial NaOH concentration played the most important role in successful modification while the GTMAC/NaOH ratio and volume had no significant effect under the studied conditions. Leaching of organic substances from the modified product was minor in comparison with raw pine bark. XPS analysis confirmed that quaternary nitrogen was successfully grafted onto the pine bark and that the BET surface area increased in the modification. The maximum vanadium adsorption capacity of the optimized product was found to be 32.3–35.0 mg/g at different temperatures (20 ℃, 15 ℃ and 5 ℃) at pH 4 with a contact time of 24 h, and the adsorption data was in very good agreement with the Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson models. The adsorption kinetics can be described well by the Elovich equation. Fitting the kinetic data with intra-particle diffusion and Boyd models showed that the adsorption process was controlled by both film and intra-particle diffusion, while intra-particle diffusion was the rate-limiting step. Regeneration studies demonstrated that, as a recyclable product, modified pine bark can be used effectively in real industrial processes for vanadium removal.

В результате выполненной работы методом прессования в лабораторных условиях был получен древесный пластик без связующих веществ на основе древесного опила и коры сосны, оценены его физико-механические свойства. Найдены регрессионные зависимости свойств пресс-сырья от содержания в ней коры сосны и древесного опила. Определено оптимальное содержание коры сосны в композите, позволяющее получать материал с оптимальными физико-механическими свойствами пригодными для использования., As a result of the work performed by pressing in the laboratory was obtained wood plastic without binders based on sawdust and pine bark, evaluated its physical and mechanical properties. The regression dependences of the properties of the press material on the content of pine bark and sawdust in it are found. The optimal content of pine bark in the composite, allowing to obtain a material with optimal physical and mechanical properties suitable for use.

In containerized nursery-crop production, conventional phosphorus (P) fertilization amounts are reported to be in excess of plant needs which has resulted in poor P use efficiency (PUE) and subsequent P leaching from containers. Phosphorus leaching can be reduced and PUE improved without affecting plant growth by reducing P fertilization. The objective of this study was to identify the lowest controlled-release fertilizer (CRF)-P content and subsequent pour-through-extracted substrate pore-water P (PWP) concentration that produces maximal shoot growth of two common container-grown nursery crop species, Hydrangea macrophylla 'PIIHM-II' (hydrangea) and Ilex crenata 'Helleri' (holly), in a pine bark substrate. Hydrangea and holly liners were potted into 3.8-L containers containing a pine bark substrate and grown simultaneously in two different Virginia ecoregions, Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain (MACP) and Ridge and Valley (RV). Plants were fertilized with one of five CRF formulations, each containing equal nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) and 0.4%, 0.9%, 1.3%, 1.7% or 2.6% (control) P to supply containers with 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 or 0.6 g P, respectively. In both ecoregions, hydrangea shoot dry weight (SDW) and growth index [i.e., (widest width + perpendicular width + height) divided by 3, GI] values were maximal in plants fertilized with 0.3 to 0.4 g P or the control. The lowest CRF-P rate needed for maximal SDW and GI of holly was 0.2 g P at the RV site and 0.4 g P at the MACP site. Mean PWP concentrations that corresponded with highest SDW were as low as 0.8 and 1.2 mg L-1 for hydrangea and holly, respectively. Results from this research suggest hydrangea requires approximately half the P rate supplied by recommended rates of conventional CRFs. Since the growth response of holly to CRF-P rate at the MACP site was inconsistent with results observed at the RV site and findings in scientific literature, further research is needed to determine the minimum required CRF-P rat

Introduction: Pine bark is an agroindustrial residue from the timber industry and represents a source of phenolic compounds. These compounds have several beneficial properties being antioxidants, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, among others. Objetives: The aim of this work was to study the chemical composition of the bark from Pinus pinaster Aiton subsp. atlantica and the phenolic profile of its aqueous, ethanolic and hydroethanolic extracts. Methods: The moisture content, ash, protein, crude fat and carbohydrates were analysed. The bark was extracted with water, ethanol or a mixture of both in a Soxhlet apparatus and the extraction yield, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity and phenolic profile by RP-HPLC-UV, in the extracts with higher TPC, were determined. Results: The results obtained for chemical composition were: 63.43 of carbohydrates, 2.81 of crude fat, 1.60 of proteins and 1.75 of ash, calculated in % w/w of dry bark. The extraction yield was greater for the ethanolic and the hydroethanolic extracts (17.08 and 17.55% w/w dry bark, respectively). The TPC and antioxidant activity were higher in the hydroethanolic extract (73.48 mg GAE/g and 108.74 mg AAE/g dry bark, respectively). Regarding the phenolic profile of the hydroethanolic extract, gallic acid, taxifolin, ferulic acid and quercetin were identified at 280 nm, and catechin was identified in the ethanolic extract at 320 nm. Conclusion: P. pinaster Aiton subsp. atlantica bark is mainly constituted by carbohydrates and it is rich in hydroethanolic and ethanolic extractives, being that these have high antioxidant activity. The ethanolic extract presents higher catechin amount when compared to the hydroethanolic extract., Introdução: A casca de pinheiro é um resíduo agroindustrial proveniente da indústria madeireira e representa uma fonte de compostos fenólicos. Estes compostos têm várias propriedades benéficas sendo elas antioxidantes, antimicrobianas, anti-inflamatórias, cardiovasculares, entre outras. Objetivos: O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a composição química da casca de Pinus pinaster Aiton subsp. atlantica e o perfil fenólico dos seus extratos aquosos, etanólicos e hidroetanólicos. Métodos: Analisou-se o teor de humidade, cinzas, proteínas, gordura total e hidratos de carbono. A casca foi extraída com água, etanol ou uma mistura de ambos num aparelho de Soxhlet e determinou-se o rendimento das extrações, o teor de compostos fenólicos totais (CFT), atividade antioxidante e o perfil fenólico por RP HPLC UV nos extratos com o CFT mais elevado. Resultados: Os resultados obtidos para a composição química foram: 63,43 de hidratos de carbono, 2,81 de gordura total, 1,60 de proteínas e 1,75 de cinzas, calculados em % m/m de casca seca. O rendimento das extrações foi superior para os solventes etanol e mistura hidroetanólica (17,08 e 17,55% m/m de casca seca, respetivamente). O CFT e a atividade antioxidante foram superiores no extrato hidroetanólico (73,48 mg EAG/g e 108,74 mg EAA/g de casca seca, respetivamente). Na análise do perfil fenólico do extrato hidroetanólico identificou-se o ácido gálico, taxifolin, ácido ferrúlico e quercetina a 280 nm e a catequina no extrato etanólico a 320 nm. Conclusões: A casca de P. pinaster Aiton subsp. atlantica é maioritariamente constituída por hidratos de carbono e é rica em extrativos hidroetanólicos e etanólicos, tendo estes elevada atividade antioxidante. O extrato etanólico apresenta concentração de catequina mais elevada comparativamente ao extrato hidroetanólico., Introducción: La corteza de pino es un residuo agroindustrial proveniente de la industria maderera y representa una fuente de compuestos fenólicos. Estos compuestos tienen varias propiedades benéficas siendo ellas antioxidantes, antimicrobianas, antiinflamatorias, cardiovasculares, entre otras. Objetivos: El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar la composición química de la corteza de Pinus pinaster Aiton subsp. atlantica y el perfil fenólico de sus extractos acuosos, etanólicos e hidroetanólicos. Métodos: Se analizó el contenido de humedad, cenizas, proteínas, grasa total y carbohidratos. La corteza se extrajo con agua, etanol o una mezcla de ambos en un aparato de Soxhlet y se determinaron el rendimiento de la extracción, el contenido de compuestos fenólicos totales (CFT), la actividad antioxidante y el perfil fenólico mediante RP-HPLC-UV, en los extractos con CFT más alto. Resultados: Los resultados obtenidos para la composición química fueron: 63,43 de carbohidratos, 2,81 de grasa total, 1,60 de proteínas y 1,75 de ceniza, calculados en % m/m de corteza seca. El rendimiento de extracción fue mayor para los extractos etanólicos e hidroetanólicos (17,08 y 17,55% m/m de corteza seca, respectivamente). El CFT y la actividad antioxidante fueron mayores en el extracto hidroetanólico (73,48 mg de EAG/g y 108,74 mg de EAA/g de corteza seca, respectivamente). Con respecto al perfil fenólico del extracto hidroetanólico, se identificaron ácido gálico, taxifolin, ácido ferúlico y quercetina a 280 nm, y se identificó la catequina en el extracto etanólico a 320 nm. Conclusións: La corteza de P. pinaster Aiton subsp. atlantica está constituida principalmente por carbohidratos y es rica en extractos hidroetanólicos y etanólicos, ya que estos tienen una alta actividad antioxidante. El extracto etanólico presenta una mayor cantidad de catequina en comparación con el extracto hidroetanólico.

In containerized nursery-crop production, conventional phosphorus (P) fertilization amounts are reported to be in excess of plant needs which has resulted in poor P use efficiency (PUE) and subsequent P leaching from containers. Phosphorus leaching can be reduced and PUE improved without affecting plant growth by reducing P fertilization. The objective of this study was to identify the lowest controlled-release fertilizer (CRF)-P content and subsequent pour-through-extracted substrate pore-water P (PWP) concentration that produces maximal shoot growth of two common container-grown nursery crop species, Hydrangea macrophylla 'PIIHM-II' (hydrangea) and Ilex crenata 'Helleri' (holly), in a pine bark substrate. Hydrangea and holly liners were potted into 3.8-L containers containing a pine bark substrate and grown simultaneously in two different Virginia ecoregions, Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain (MACP) and Ridge and Valley (RV). Plants were fertilized with one of five CRF formulations, each containing equal nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) and 0.4%, 0.9%, 1.3%, 1.7% or 2.6% (control) P to supply containers with 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 or 0.6 g P, respectively. In both ecoregions, hydrangea shoot dry weight (SDW) and growth index [i.e., (widest width + perpendicular width + height) divided by 3, GI] values were maximal in plants fertilized with 0.3 to 0.4 g P or the control. The lowest CRF-P rate needed for maximal SDW and GI of holly was 0.2 g P at the RV site and 0.4 g P at the MACP site. Mean PWP concentrations that corresponded with highest SDW were as low as 0.8 and 1.2 mg L-1 for hydrangea and holly, respectively. Results from this research suggest hydrangea requires approximately half the P rate supplied by recommended rates of conventional CRFs. Since the growth response of holly to CRF-P rate at the MACP site was inconsistent with results observed at the RV site and findings in scientific literature, further research is needed to determine the minimum required CRF-P rat

Environmental contamination issues related to phosphorus (P) in surface waters substantiates the need to identify minimally-sufficient P fertilization amounts for production of containerized nursery crops and better understand the effect of routine amendments (i.e., dolomite [DL] and micronutrient fertilizer [MF]) added to pine bark substrates on chemical fate of P fertilizer. Four studies were conducted to accomplish two overarching objectives: 1) determine the minimum P fertilization amount and corresponding pore-water P concentration needed to achieve maximal growth of common containerized nursery crops and 2) determine the effect of DL and MF amendments in pine bark on P retention during irrigation and P fractions in substrate pore-water. In a fertigation, greenhouse study, calculated lowest P-fertilizer concentration that sustained maximal growth in Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ (panicle hydrangea) and Rhododendron ‘Karen’ (azalea) was 4.7 and 2.9 mg·L⁻¹ , respectively, and shoot growth Ilex crenata ‘Helleri’ (holly) was the same when fertilized with 0.5 to 6.0 mg·L⁻¹ P. Porewater P concentrations corresponding with treatments that sustained maximal growth of panicle hydrangea, azalea and holly were as low as 0.6, 2.2 and 0.08 mg·L⁻¹ P, respectively. In a separate study, utilizing low-P controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs), shoot growth of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘P11HM-11’ (bigleaf hydrangea) produced in two ecoregions was maximal when fertilized with as little as 0.3 g CRF-P per 3.8-L container, a 50% P reduction from the industrystandard CRF. Holly required 0.2 or 0.4 g CRF-P depending on ecoregion. Mean pore-water P concentrations that corresponded with highest SDW were 0.8 and 1.2 mg·L⁻¹ for hydrangea and holly, respectively. When irrigating fallow pine bark columns containing CRF for 48 d, amending pine bark with DL and MF reduced orthophosphate-P (OP-P) leachate concentrations by ≈ 70%, most of which was retained within the substrate. In a greenhouse s

In the present work, the effect of two by-products (pine bark and crushed mussel shell) on microbial biomass and community structure was studied in a soil from a mine tailing located in a copper mine. In a laboratory experiment, different doses (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 192 Mg ha-1) of pine bark, crushed mussel shell or mixtures of both by-products were added to the soil. The amended soil samples were incubated for one year at 60% of water holding capacity, and then 33 phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were extracted from these samples and quantified. The PLFAs concentrations were used for different microbial biomass estimations: total biomass, bacterial biomass, fungal biomass, gram-positive (G+) biomass and gram-negative (G-) biomass. The addition of crushed mussel had no significant effects on the total soil microbial biomass, either bacterial of fungal biomass. However, the addition of pine bark increased the total microbial biomass in the soil (up to 40%), mainly due to increases in the fungal biomass (it increased 1600%). No synergistic effects were observed when the soil was amended with both, pine bark and crushed mussel shell. The main community structure changes were due to the addition of pine bark to the soil, and were also due to modifications in fungal communities. Our results suggest that the microbial biomass was mainly limited in the mine soil by low organic matter concentrations, and therefore, practices increasing the amount of soil organic matter should be priorities for soil reclamation., Neste trabalho foi estudado o efeito de dois subprodutos (casca de pinheiro e concha de mexilhão triturada) na biomassa e estrutura microbiana de um solo procedente de uma escombreira localizada numa mina de cobre. Numa experiência de laboratório, doses diferentes (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 e 192 Mg ha-1) de casca de pinheiro, concha de mexilhão triturada e misturas de ambos os subprodutos foram adicionados ao solo. Amostras de solo corrigido com os resíduos foram incubadas durante um ano a 60% da sua capacidade de retenção de água, e subsequentemente, 33 ácidos gordos dos fosfolípidos (PLFAs) foram extraídos a partir destas amostras e quantificados. A concentração de PLFAs foi usada para estimar vários tipos de biomassa microbiana: biomassa total, biomassa bacteriana, biomassa fúngica, biomassa de bactérias gram positivas e biomassa de bactérias gram negativas. A adição de concha de mexilhão triturada não teve nenhum efeito significativo na biomassa total ou na biomassa bacteriana ou fúngica. Porém, a adição de casca de pinheiro aumentou a biomassa microbiana do solo (até 40%), principalmente devido ao aumento da biomassa fúngica (a qual aumentou de 1600%). Não foi observado nenhum efeito de sinergismo quando o solo foi corrigido com uma mistura de casca de pinheiro e concha de mexilhão triturada. As maiores alterações na estrutura das comunidades microbianas foram produzidas pela adição de casca de pinheiro ao solo, as quais resultaram em alterações nas comunidades fúngicas. Os resultados sugerem que a biomassa microbiana do solo de mina é, maioritariamente limitada pela concentração de matéria orgânica. Assim, práticas que contribuam para o seu aumento devem ser prioritárias para a reabilitação deste tipo de solos., En el presente trabajo se estudió el efecto de dos subproductos (corteza de pino y concha de mejillón triturada) sobre la biomasa y estructura microbiana de un suelo procedente de una escombrera localizada en una mina de cobre. En un experimento realizado en laboratorio fueron añadidas al suelo diferentes dosis (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 192 Mg ha-1) de corteza de pino, concha de mejillón triturada y mezclas de ambos subproductos. Las muestras de suelo enmendado fueron incubadas durante un año al 60% de la capacidad de campo, y posteriormente 33 ácidos grasos de los fosfolípidos (PLFAs) fueron extraídos de estas muestras y cuantificados. La concentración de PLFAs fue utilizada para realizar distintas estimaciones de la biomasa microbiana: biomasa total, biomasa bacteriana, biomasa fúngica, biomasa de bacterias gram + y biomasa de bacterias gram -. La adición de concha de mejillón triturada no tuvo efectos significativos sobre la biomasa total ni sobre la biomasa bacteriana o fúngica. Sin embargo, la adición de corteza de pino al suelo incrementó la biomasa total del suelo (hasta un 40%), debido mayormente al incremento de la biomasa fúngica (se incrementó un 1600%). Tampoco se observaron efectos sinérgicos cuando el suelo fue enmendado con una mezcla de corteza de pino y concha de mejillón triturada. Los mayores cambios en la estructura de las comunidades microbianas fueron debidos a la adición de corteza de pino al suelo, y fueron además debidas a cambios en las comunidades fúngicas. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la biomasa microbiana del suelo de mina está mayormente limitada por la concentración de materia orgánica y, por tanto, deben ser priorizadas prácticas de manejo que contribuyan a incrementarla para la rehabilitación de este tipo de suelos.

Environmental contamination issues related to phosphorus (P) in surface waters substantiates the need to identify minimally-sufficient P fertilization amounts for production of containerized nursery crops and better understand the effect of routine amendments (i.e., dolomite [DL] and micronutrient fertilizer [MF]) added to pine bark substrates on chemical fate of P fertilizer. Four studies were conducted to accomplish two overarching objectives: 1) determine the minimum P fertilization amount and corresponding pore-water P concentration needed to achieve maximal growth of common containerized nursery crops and 2) determine the effect of DL and MF amendments in pine bark on P retention during irrigation and P fractions in substrate pore-water. In a fertigation, greenhouse study, calculated lowest P-fertilizer concentration that sustained maximal growth in Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ (panicle hydrangea) and Rhododendron ‘Karen’ (azalea) was 4.7 and 2.9 mg·L⁻¹ , respectively, and shoot growth Ilex crenata ‘Helleri’ (holly) was the same when fertilized with 0.5 to 6.0 mg·L⁻¹ P. Porewater P concentrations corresponding with treatments that sustained maximal growth of panicle hydrangea, azalea and holly were as low as 0.6, 2.2 and 0.08 mg·L⁻¹ P, respectively. In a separate study, utilizing low-P controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs), shoot growth of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘P11HM-11’ (bigleaf hydrangea) produced in two ecoregions was maximal when fertilized with as little as 0.3 g CRF-P per 3.8-L container, a 50% P reduction from the industrystandard CRF. Holly required 0.2 or 0.4 g CRF-P depending on ecoregion. Mean pore-water P concentrations that corresponded with highest SDW were 0.8 and 1.2 mg·L⁻¹ for hydrangea and holly, respectively. When irrigating fallow pine bark columns containing CRF for 48 d, amending pine bark with DL and MF reduced orthophosphate-P (OP-P) leachate concentrations by ≈ 70%, most of which was retained within the substrate. In a greenhouse s

Activated carbons (AC) serve as adsorbents in various applications requiring specific functionalities. In this study, the effects of biomass type, pre-carbonization process, and activation method on the properties of ACs were investigated. Chemical (KOH and H₃PO₄) and physical (CO₂) activations were performed on slow pyrolyzed and hydrothermally carbonized (HTC) biochars produced from two feedstocks, willow and Scots pine bark (SPB). In addition, the adsorption capacities of the ACs were tested with two dyes and zinc metal. Distinct differences were found between the biochars and ACs regarding pore size distributions, surface area (238–3505 m² g⁻¹), and surface chemistry. KOH activation produced highly microporous ACs from all biochars, whereas with H₃PO₄ and CO₂ there was also increase in the meso- and macroporosity with the HTC biochars. Adsorption capacity for dyes was dependent on the surface area, while for zinc it depended on AC’s pH. The results provide interesting insights into tailoring ACs for specific applications.

La corteza de pino se utilizó como material curtiente hasta la mitad del siglo XX, siendo ésta sustituida por las sales de cromo ya que proporcionan mejores prestaciones al cuero. En la actualidad, los consumidores demandan cueros procesados mediante tecnologías más sostenibles, de ahí que se haya planteado la re-incorporación de la corteza de pino como una alternativa a la curtición al cromo y/o sustitutiva parcial de otros extractos vegetales comerciales comúnmente empleados en la curtición al vegetal. El presente trabajo tiene como principal objetivo la optimización del proceso de pre-curtición con polvo de corteza de pino a nivel laboratorio mediante un diseño estadístico. Para desarrollar este estudio, en primer lugar, se han realizado diversas experimentaciones con tres productos sintéticos distintos (naftalen-sulfónico, fenólico y disulfónico) para seleccionar el producto que favorece la mayor difusión del polvo de corteza a través del corte transversal de la piel. Tras el desarrollo del diseño experimental, las pieles pre-curtidas han sido sometidas a los ensayos físicos de resistencia a la tracción, temperatura de contracción, solidez a la luz y el grado de penetración. La corteza de pino se puede ofertar como fuente natural de taninos y supone una alternativa al precurtido mineral evitando el uso de metales pesados y la gestión posterior de los mismos en los residuos del proceso. Además, supone un mayor beneficio derivado de la disposición de un material curtiente biodegradable de proximidad (km 0)., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Este trabajo forma parte de un proyecto de investigación para obtener un nuevo tanino a partir de los residuos de la explotación del pino que tenga alta capacidad de curtición de la piel. Después de haber realizado un estudio de la disponibilidad a nivel local y regional, así como la tipología de los residuos procedentes de la explotación de la madera de pino, se ha desarrollado un estudio del impacto ambiental del uso de este tanino. Concretamente, se ha realizado el análisis del ciclo de vida del proceso de obtención del polvo de corteza y el proceso de producción del cuero vegetal obtenido a partir del polvo de corteza de pino y se ha comparado con una mimosa comercial. El análisis del ciclo de vida (ACV) recoge las entradas y las salidas de cada fase y los correspondientes impactos potenciales sobre el medio ambiente. La suma de dichos impactos ambientales representa el efecto medioambiental global del ciclo de vida del proceso de obtención del producto de curtición y del proceso en línea de fabricación de un cuero vegetal con polvo de corteza de pino. El enfoque desarrollado incluye la definición de una unidad funcional adecuada, los límites del sistema y las categorías de impacto dentro del alcance del proyecto. Algunos ejemplos de categorías posibles de impacto ambiental que incluyen el cambio climático son las siguientes: (kg de CO2 equivalente), consumo de energía (MJ), el consumo de agua dulce (m3) y la producción total de residuos en kg (sólidos, líquidos y emisiones)., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

In the present work, the effect of two by-products (pine bark and crushed mussel shell) on microbial biomass and community structure was studied in a soil from a mine tailing located in a copper mine. In a laboratory experiment, different doses (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 192 Mg ha-1) of pine bark, crushed mussel shell or mixtures of both by-products were added to the soil. The amended soil samples were incubated for one year at 60% of water holding capacity, and then 33 phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were extracted from these samples and quantified. The PLFAs concentrations were used for different microbial biomass estimations: total biomass, bacterial biomass, fungal biomass, gram-positive (G+) biomass and gram-negative (G-) biomass. The addition of crushed mussel had no significant effects on the total soil microbial biomass, either bacterial of fungal biomass. However, the addition of pine bark increased the total microbial biomass in the soil (up to 40%), mainly due to increases in the fungal biomass (it increased 1600%). No synergistic effects were observed when the soil was amended with both, pine bark and crushed mussel shell. The main community structure changes were due to the addition of pine bark to the soil, and were also due to modifications in fungal communities. Our results suggest that the microbial biomass was mainly limited in the mine soil by low organic matter concentrations, and therefore, practices increasing the amount of soil organic matter should be priorities for soil reclamation., En el presente trabajo se estudió el efecto de dos subproductos (corteza de pino y concha de mejillón triturada) sobre la biomasa y estructura microbiana de un suelo procedente de una escombrera localizada en una mina de cobre. En un experimento realizado en laboratorio fueron añadidas al suelo diferentes dosis (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 192 Mg ha-1) de corteza de pino, concha de mejillón triturada y mezclas de ambos subproductos. Las muestras de suelo enmendado fueron incubadas durante un año al 60% de la capacidad de campo, y posteriormente 33 ácidos grasos de los fosfolípidos (PLFAs) fueron extraídos de estas muestras y cuantificados. La concentración de PLFAs fue utilizada para realizar distintas estimaciones de la biomasa microbiana: biomasa total, biomasa bacteriana, biomasa fúngica, biomasa de bacterias gram + y biomasa de bacterias gram -. La adición de concha de mejillón triturada no tuvo efectos significativos sobre la biomasa total ni sobre la biomasa bacteriana o fúngica. Sin embargo, la adición de corteza de pino al suelo incrementó la biomasa total del suelo (hasta un 40%), debido mayormente al incremento de la biomasa fúngica (se incrementó un 1600%). Tampoco se observaron efectos sinérgicos cuando el suelo fue enmendado con una mezcla de corteza de pino y concha de mejillón triturada. Los mayores cambios en la estructura de las comunidades microbianas fueron debidos a la adición de corteza de pino al suelo, y fueron además debidas a cambios en las comunidades fúngicas. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la biomasa microbiana del suelo de mina está mayormente limitada por la concentración de materia orgánica y, por tanto, deben ser priorizadas prácticas de manejo que contribuyan a incrementarla para la rehabilitación de este tipo de suelos., Neste trabalho foi estudado o efeito de dois subprodutos (casca de pinheiro e concha de mexilhão triturada) na biomassa e estrutura microbiana de um solo procedente de uma escombreira localizada numa mina de cobre. Numa experiência de laboratório, doses diferentes (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 e 192 Mg ha-1) de casca de pinheiro, concha de mexilhão triturada e misturas de ambos os subprodutos foram adicionados ao solo. Amostras de solo corrigido com os resíduos foram incubadas durante um ano a 60% da sua capacidade de retenção de água, e subsequentemente, 33 ácidos gordos dos fosfolípidos (PLFAs) foram extraídos a partir destas amostras e quantificados. A concentração de PLFAs foi usada para estimar vários tipos de biomassa microbiana: biomassa total, biomassa bacteriana, biomassa fúngica, biomassa de bactérias gram positivas e biomassa de bactérias gram negativas. A adição de concha de mexilhão triturada não teve nenhum efeito significativo na biomassa total ou na biomassa bacteriana ou fúngica. Porém, a adição de casca de pinheiro aumentou a biomassa microbiana do solo (até 40%), principalmente devido ao aumento da biomassa fúngica (a qual aumentou de 1600%). Não foi observado nenhum efeito de sinergismo quando o solo foi corrigido com uma mistura de casca de pinheiro e concha de mexilhão triturada. As maiores alterações na estrutura das comunidades microbianas foram produzidas pela adição de casca de pinheiro ao solo, as quais resultaram em alterações nas comunidades fúngicas. Os resultados sugerem que a biomassa microbiana do solo de mina é, maioritariamente limitada pela concentração de matéria orgânica. Assim, práticas que contribuam para o seu aumento devem ser prioritárias para a reabilitação deste tipo de solos.

In the present work, the effect of two by-products (pine bark and crushed mussel shell) on microbial biomass and community structure was studied in a soil from a mine tailing located in a copper mine. In a laboratory experiment, different doses (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 192 Mg ha-1) of pine bark, crushed mussel shell or mixtures of both by-products were added to the soil. The amended soil samples were incubated for one year at 60% of water holding capacity, and then 33 phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were extracted from these samples and quantified. The PLFAs concentrations were used for different microbial biomass estimations: total biomass, bacterial biomass, fungal biomass, gram-positive (G+) biomass and gram-negative (G-) biomass. The addition of crushed mussel had no significant effects on the total soil microbial biomass, either bacterial of fungal biomass. However, the addition of pine bark increased the total microbial biomass in the soil (up to 40%), mainly due to increases in the fungal biomass (it increased 1600%). No synergistic effects were observed when the soil was amended with both, pine bark and crushed mussel shell. The main community structure changes were due to the addition of pine bark to the soil, and were also due to modifications in fungal communities. Our results suggest that the microbial biomass was mainly limited in the mine soil by low organic matter concentrations, and therefore, practices increasing the amount of soil organic matter should be priorities for soil reclamation., Neste trabalho foi estudado o efeito de dois subprodutos (casca de pinheiro e concha de mexilhão triturada) na biomassa e estrutura microbiana de um solo procedente de uma escombreira localizada numa mina de cobre. Numa experiência de laboratório, doses diferentes (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 e 192 Mg ha-1) de casca de pinheiro, concha de mexilhão triturada e misturas de ambos os subprodutos foram adicionados ao solo. Amostras de solo corrigido com os resíduos foram incubadas durante um ano a 60% da sua capacidade de retenção de água, e subsequentemente, 33 ácidos gordos dos fosfolípidos (PLFAs) foram extraídos a partir destas amostras e quantificados. A concentração de PLFAs foi usada para estimar vários tipos de biomassa microbiana: biomassa total, biomassa bacteriana, biomassa fúngica, biomassa de bactérias gram positivas e biomassa de bactérias gram negativas. A adição de concha de mexilhão triturada não teve nenhum efeito significativo na biomassa total ou na biomassa bacteriana ou fúngica. Porém, a adição de casca de pinheiro aumentou a biomassa microbiana do solo (até 40%), principalmente devido ao aumento da biomassa fúngica (a qual aumentou de 1600%). Não foi observado nenhum efeito de sinergismo quando o solo foi corrigido com uma mistura de casca de pinheiro e concha de mexilhão triturada. As maiores alterações na estrutura das comunidades microbianas foram produzidas pela adição de casca de pinheiro ao solo, as quais resultaram em alterações nas comunidades fúngicas. Os resultados sugerem que a biomassa microbiana do solo de mina é, maioritariamente limitada pela concentração de matéria orgânica. Assim, práticas que contribuam para o seu aumento devem ser prioritárias para a reabilitação deste tipo de solos., En el presente trabajo se estudió el efecto de dos subproductos (corteza de pino y concha de mejillón triturada) sobre la biomasa y estructura microbiana de un suelo procedente de una escombrera localizada en una mina de cobre. En un experimento realizado en laboratorio fueron añadidas al suelo diferentes dosis (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 192 Mg ha-1) de corteza de pino, concha de mejillón triturada y mezclas de ambos subproductos. Las muestras de suelo enmendado fueron incubadas durante un año al 60% de la capacidad de campo, y posteriormente 33 ácidos grasos de los fosfolípidos (PLFAs) fueron extraídos de estas muestras y cuantificados. La concentración de PLFAs fue utilizada para realizar distintas estimaciones de la biomasa microbiana: biomasa total, biomasa bacteriana, biomasa fúngica, biomasa de bacterias gram + y biomasa de bacterias gram -. La adición de concha de mejillón triturada no tuvo efectos significativos sobre la biomasa total ni sobre la biomasa bacteriana o fúngica. Sin embargo, la adición de corteza de pino al suelo incrementó la biomasa total del suelo (hasta un 40%), debido mayormente al incremento de la biomasa fúngica (se incrementó un 1600%). Tampoco se observaron efectos sinérgicos cuando el suelo fue enmendado con una mezcla de corteza de pino y concha de mejillón triturada. Los mayores cambios en la estructura de las comunidades microbianas fueron debidos a la adición de corteza de pino al suelo, y fueron además debidas a cambios en las comunidades fúngicas. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la biomasa microbiana del suelo de mina está mayormente limitada por la concentración de materia orgánica y, por tanto, deben ser priorizadas prácticas de manejo que contribuyan a incrementarla para la rehabilitación de este tipo de suelos.

[EN]In the present work, the effect of two by-products (pine bark and crushed mussel shell) on microbial biomass and community structure was studied in a soil from a mine tailing located in a copper mine. In a laboratory experiment, different doses (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 192 Mg ha-1) of pine bark, crushed mussel shell or mixtures of both by-products were added to the soil. The amended soil samples were incubated for one year at 60% of water holding capacity, and then 33 phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were extracted from these samples and quantified. The PLFAs concentrations were used for different microbial biomass estimations: total biomass, bacterial biomass, fungal biomass, grampositive (G+) biomass and gram-negative (G-) biomass. The addition of crushed mussel had no significant effects on the total soil microbial biomass, either bacterial of fungal biomass. However, the addition of pine bark increased the total microbial biomass in the soil (up to 40%), mainly due to increases in the fungal biomass (it increased 1600%). No synergistic effects were observed when the soil was amended with both, pine bark and crushed mussel shell. The main community structure changes were due to the addition of pine bark to the soil, and were also due to modifications in fungal communities. Our results suggest that the microbial biomass was mainly limited in the mine soil by low organic matter concentrations, and therefore, practices increasing the amount of soil organic matter should be priorities for soil reclamation., [ES] En el presente trabajo se estudió el efecto de dos subproductos (corteza de pino y concha de mejillón triturada) sobre la biomasa y estructura microbiana de un suelo procedente de una escombrera localizada en una mina de cobre. En un experimento realizado en laboratorio fueron añadidas al suelo diferentes dosis (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 192 Mg ha-1) de corteza de pino, concha de mejillón triturada y mezclas de ambos subproductos. Las muestras de suelo enmendado fueron incubadas durante un año al 60% de la capacidad de campo, y posteriormente 33 ácidos grasos de los fosfolípidos (PLFAs) fueron extraídos de estas muestras y cuantificados. La concentración de PLFAs fue utilizada para realizar distintas estimaciones de la biomasa microbiana: biomasa total, biomasa bacteriana, biomasa fúngica, biomasa de bacterias gram + y biomasa de bacterias gram -. La adición de concha de mejillón triturada no tuvo efectos significativos sobre la biomasa total ni sobre la biomasa bacteriana o fúngica. Sin embargo, la adición de corteza de pino al suelo incrementó la biomasa total del suelo (hasta un 40%), debido mayormente al incremento de la biomasa fúngica (se incrementó un 1600%). Tampoco se observaron efectos sinérgicos cuando el suelo fue enmendado con una mezcla de corteza de pino y concha de mejillón triturada. Los mayores cambios en la estructura de las comunidades microbianas fueron debidos a la adición de corteza de pino al suelo, y fueron además debidas a cambios en las comunidades fúngicas. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la biomasa microbiana del suelo de mina está mayormente limitada por la concentración de materia orgánica y, por tanto, deben ser priorizadas prácticas de manejo que contribuyan a incrementarla para la rehabilitación de este tipo de suelos., [PT] Neste trabalho foi estudado o efeito de dois subprodutos (casca de pinheiro e concha de mexilhão triturada) na biomassa e estrutura microbiana de um solo procedente de uma escombreira localizada numa mina de cobre. Numa experiência de laboratório, doses diferentes (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 e 192 Mg ha-1) de casca de pinheiro, concha de mexilhão triturada e misturas de ambos os subprodutos foram adicionados ao solo. Amostras de solo corrigido com os resíduos foram incubadas durante um ano a 60% da sua capacidade de retenção de água, e subsequentemente, 33 ácidos gordos dos fosfolípidos (PLFAs) foram extraídos a partir destas amostras e quantificados. A concentração de PLFAs foi usada para estimar vários tipos de biomassa microbiana: biomassa total, biomassa bacteriana, biomassa fúngica, biomassa de bactérias gram positivas e biomassa de bactérias gram negativas. A adição de concha de mexilhão triturada não teve nenhum efeito significativo na biomassa total ou na biomassa bacteriana ou fúngica. Porém, a adição de casca de pinheiro aumentou a biomassa microbiana do solo (até 40%), principalmente devido ao aumento da biomassa fúngica (a qual aumentou de 1600%). Não foi observado nenhum efeito de sinergismo quando o solo foi corrigido com uma mistura de casca de pinheiro e concha de mexilhão triturada. As maiores alterações na estrutura das comunidades microbianas foram produzidas pela adição de casca de pinheiro ao solo, as quais resultaram em alterações nas comunidades fúngicas. Os resultados sugerem que a biomassa microbiana do solo de mina é, maioritariamente limitada pela concentração de matéria orgânica. Assim, práticas que contribuam para o seu aumento devem ser prioritárias para a reabilitação deste tipo de solos.

Freshwater is a finite resource that is rapidly becoming more scrutinized in agricultural consumption. Specialty crop producers, especially ornamental crop producers, must continually improve production sustainability, with regards to water resource management, in order to continue to stay economically viable. Soilless substrates were initially developed to have increased porosity and relatively low water holding capacity to ensure container crops would not remain overhydrated after irrigations or rain events. As a result, substrates were selected that are now considered to be in efficient in regards to water resource management. Therefore, to provide growers with additional means to improve production sustainability, soilless substrate hydrology needs be innovated to provide increased water availability while continuing to provide ample air filled porosity to ensure productive and efficient water interactions. Historically, soilless substrates have been characterized using "static" physical properties (i.e. maximum water holding capacity and minimum air-filled porosity). The research herein involves integrating dynamic soilless substrate hydraulic properties to understand how substrate hydrology can be manipulated to design sustainable substrates. This task involved adapting new technologies to analyze hydrological properties of peat and pine bark substrates by employing evaporative moisture characteristic measurements, which were originally designed for mineral soils, for soilless substrate analyses. Utilizing these evaporative measurements provide more accurate measures of substrate water potentials between -10 and -800 hPa than traditional pressure plate measurements. Soilless substrates were engineered, utilizing only three common substrate components [stabilized pine bark (Pinus taedea L.), Sphagnum peatmoss, and coconut coir fiber], via particle fractionation and fibrous additions. The engineering process yielded substrates with increased unsaturated hydrauli

Aiming to investigate the efficacy of different materials as bio-sorbents for the purification of As-polluted waters, batch-type experiments were employed to study As(V) sorption and desorption on oak ash, pine bark, hemp waste, mussel shell, pyritic material, and soil samples, as a function of the As(V) concentration added. Pyritic material and oak ash showed high sorption (90% and >87%) and low desorption (<2% and <7%). Alternatively, hemp waste showed low retention (16% sorption and 100% desorption of the amount previously sorbed), fine shell and pine bark sorbed <3% and desorbed 100%, the vineyard soil sample sorbed 8% and released 85%, and the forest soil sample sorbed 32% and desorbed 38%. Sorption data fitted well to the Langmuir and Freundlich models in the case of both soil samples and the pyritic material, but only to the Freundlich equation in the case of the various by-products. These results indicate that the pyritic material and oak ash can be considered efficient As(V) sorbents (thus, useful in remediation of contaminated sites and removal of that pollutant), even when As(V) concentrations up to 6 mmol L−1 are added, while the other materials that were tested cannot retain or remove As(V) from polluted media.

Soil mulching is a technique commonly used in arid and semi-arid areas to prevent erosion and reduce evaporation of soil water. In this study, an experiment quantified the effect of three organic wastes (shredded date palm leaf (Phoenix dactylifera), cereal straw, and pine bark) used as mulch on moisture retention in two soils with different textures, S1 (loam) and S2 (silty loam). Each soil was added to a height of 15 cm in square containers 31 cm wide and 20 cm high. The treatments were administered a day after soil saturation with water by covering each soil with 2 cm of mulch. Soils without mulching were used as control treatments. The experiment took place inside a greenhouse until a total loss of soil moisture was achieved. Temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) values were measured throughout the experiment. During the first 16 days, high and practically constant evaporation was observed in the soils without mulching (1813 g H2O/day per m2 in S1 and 1792 g H2O/day per m2 in S2). Linear regressions were established to quantify the water loss over time in each treatment. The results show that all three organic byproducts were effective in reducing water loss in both soils, with significant differences observed between pine bark and the other two materials. The palm leaf was as effective as the cereal straw, so it is considered appropriate for use as a mulching material in areas like ours where its abundance and ease of use provide further environmental benefits., O uso de cobertura morta do solo ("mulch") é uma técnica comumente usada em áreas áridas e semi-áridas para evitar a erosão e reduzir a evaporação de água do solo. Neste estudo, realizou-se um ensaio para quantificar o efeito de três resíduos orgânicos ( folha de palmeira moída (Phoenix dactylifera), palha de cereais (feno) e casca de pinheiro), na retenção de humidade em dois solos de textura diferente, S1 ( textura franca) e S2 (textura franco-limosa), inicialmente saturados com água. Utilizaram-se recipientes paralelopipédicos com 31 cm de lado e 20 cm de altura, tendo-se adicionado água a cada solo até uma altura de 15 cm. Os tratamentos foram instalados um dia após a saturação do solo adicionando-se 2 centímetros de altura dos diferentes tipos de cobertura morta sobre cada um dos solos. Os solos A e B sem cobertura foram usados como tratamento testemunha. O ensaio realizou-se em estufa, e prolongou-se até perda total da água inicial do solo. Ao longo do ensaio foram controlados os valores da temperatura (T) e da Humidade Relativa (HR). Nos primeiros 16 dias, observou-se uma permanente e elevada taxa de evaporação nos solos sem cobertura morta de 1.813 g de água/m2/dia e 1792 g de água/m2/dia no S1 e S2, respetivamente. Estabeleceram-se regressões lineares para quantificar a perda de água durante o ensaio, em cada tratamento considerado. Os resultados mostraram que os três resíduos orgânicos foram eficazes na redução da perda de água em ambos os solos, tendo-se observado igualmente diferenças significativas entre o uso de casca de pinheiro e os outros dois materiais. A folha de palmeira foi tão eficaz como a palha de cereais, sendo por isso considerada adequada para usar como cobertura morta em áreas como a nossa, pela sua abundância, disponibilidade e facilidade de uso, para além dos benefícios ambientais que acarreta., El uso de acolchados en suelos es una técnica usada habitualmente en zonas áridas y semiáridas, para evitar los procesos erosivos y reducir la evaporación del agua. En este estudio, se plantea un experimento para cuantificar el efecto de tres residuos orgánicos (hoja de palmera datilera triturada (Phoenix dactylifera), paja de cereal (heno) y corteza de pino), como materiales de acolchado, sobre la retención de humedad de dos suelos de diferente textura, S1 (franco) y S2 (franco-limoso), saturados inicialmente con agua. Se emplearon recipientes de 31 x 31 cm de lado y 20 cm de altura, llenándose con suelo los primeros 15 cm. Los tratamientos se establecieron aplicando, a cada suelo, una capa de 2 cm de cada residuo orgánico, teniendo como referencia suelo sin acolchado. El experimento se realizó en invernadero, controlando los valores de Temperatura (T) y Humedad Relativa (HR) ambiente, hasta pérdida total del agua inicial de los suelos. Se observó una elevada evaporación en los suelos sin acolchado, en los primeros 16 días, prácticamente constante de 1813 g agua/día x m2 en el suelo 1 y de 1792 g agua/día x m2 en el suelo 2. Se establecieron regresiones lineales para cuantificar la pérdida de agua con el tiempo, en cada tratamiento considerado. Los resultados demuestran que los tres subproductos orgánicos fueron efectivos para reducir la pérdida de agua en ambos suelos, observándose diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el uso de la corteza de pino y los otros dos materiales. La hoja de palmera tuvo una efectividad similar a la de la paja de cereal, por lo que se considera adecuada su utilización como acolchado en zonas como la nuestra, en las que por su abundancia, disponibilidad y facilidad de uso, supone un beneficio ambiental añadido.

Soil mulching is a technique commonly used in arid and semi-arid areas to prevent erosion and reduce evaporation of soil water. In this study, an experiment quantified the effect of three organic wastes (shredded date palm leaf (Phoenix dactylifera), cereal straw, and pine bark) used as mulch on moisture retention in two soils with different textures, S1 (loam) and S2 (silty loam). Each soil was added to a height of 15 cm in square containers 31 cm wide and 20 cm high. The treatments were administered a day after soil saturation with water by covering each soil with 2 cm of mulch. Soils without mulching were used as control treatments. The experiment took place inside a greenhouse until a total loss of soil moisture was achieved. Temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) values were measured throughout the experiment. During the first 16 days, high and practically constant evaporation was observed in the soils without mulching (1813 g H2O/day per m2 in S1 and 1792 g H2O/day per m2 in S2). Linear regressions were established to quantify the water loss over time in each treatment. The results show that all three organic byproducts were effective in reducing water loss in both soils, with significant differences observed between pine bark and the other two materials. The palm leaf was as effective as the cereal straw, so it is considered appropriate for use as a mulching material in areas like ours where its abundance and ease of use provide further environmental benefits., O uso de cobertura morta do solo ("mulch") é uma técnica comumente usada em áreas áridas e semi-áridas para evitar a erosão e reduzir a evaporação de água do solo. Neste estudo, realizou-se um ensaio para quantificar o efeito de três resíduos orgânicos ( folha de palmeira moída (Phoenix dactylifera), palha de cereais (feno) e casca de pinheiro), na retenção de humidade em dois solos de textura diferente, S1 ( textura franca) e S2 (textura franco-limosa), inicialmente saturados com água. Utilizaram-se recipientes paralelopipédicos com 31 cm de lado e 20 cm de altura, tendo-se adicionado água a cada solo até uma altura de 15 cm. Os tratamentos foram instalados um dia após a saturação do solo adicionando-se 2 centímetros de altura dos diferentes tipos de cobertura morta sobre cada um dos solos. Os solos A e B sem cobertura foram usados como tratamento testemunha. O ensaio realizou-se em estufa, e prolongou-se até perda total da água inicial do solo. Ao longo do ensaio foram controlados os valores da temperatura (T) e da Humidade Relativa (HR). Nos primeiros 16 dias, observou-se uma permanente e elevada taxa de evaporação nos solos sem cobertura morta de 1.813 g de água/m2/dia e 1792 g de água/m2/dia no S1 e S2, respetivamente. Estabeleceram-se regressões lineares para quantificar a perda de água durante o ensaio, em cada tratamento considerado. Os resultados mostraram que os três resíduos orgânicos foram eficazes na redução da perda de água em ambos os solos, tendo-se observado igualmente diferenças significativas entre o uso de casca de pinheiro e os outros dois materiais. A folha de palmeira foi tão eficaz como a palha de cereais, sendo por isso considerada adequada para usar como cobertura morta em áreas como a nossa, pela sua abundância, disponibilidade e facilidade de uso, para além dos benefícios ambientais que acarreta., El uso de acolchados en suelos es una técnica usada habitualmente en zonas áridas y semiáridas, para evitar los procesos erosivos y reducir la evaporación del agua. En este estudio, se plantea un experimento para cuantificar el efecto de tres residuos orgánicos (hoja de palmera datilera triturada (Phoenix dactylifera), paja de cereal (heno) y corteza de pino), como materiales de acolchado, sobre la retención de humedad de dos suelos de diferente textura, S1 (franco) y S2 (franco-limoso), saturados inicialmente con agua. Se emplearon recipientes de 31 x 31 cm de lado y 20 cm de altura, llenándose con suelo los primeros 15 cm. Los tratamientos se establecieron aplicando, a cada suelo, una capa de 2 cm de cada residuo orgánico, teniendo como referencia suelo sin acolchado. El experimento se realizó en invernadero, controlando los valores de Temperatura (T) y Humedad Relativa (HR) ambiente, hasta pérdida total del agua inicial de los suelos. Se observó una elevada evaporación en los suelos sin acolchado, en los primeros 16 días, prácticamente constante de 1813 g agua/día x m2 en el suelo 1 y de 1792 g agua/día x m2 en el suelo 2. Se establecieron regresiones lineales para cuantificar la pérdida de agua con el tiempo, en cada tratamiento considerado. Los resultados demuestran que los tres subproductos orgánicos fueron efectivos para reducir la pérdida de agua en ambos suelos, observándose diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el uso de la corteza de pino y los otros dos materiales. La hoja de palmera tuvo una efectividad similar a la de la paja de cereal, por lo que se considera adecuada su utilización como acolchado en zonas como la nuestra, en las que por su abundancia, disponibilidad y facilidad de uso, supone un beneficio ambiental añadido.

A Catalunya es produeixen quantitats considerables de compost. Una de les aplicacions d’aquests productes és la del seu ús en barreges de substrats. Aquest estudi pretén caracteritzar diferents tipologies de compost provinents de diferents plantes de compostatge de Catalunya. Les tipologies que s’han considerat són: el compost de la fracció orgànica dels residus municipals, el compost de residus vegetals de jardineria, el compost d’escorça de pi (o a base d’escorça) i el compost de fems. Se n’han determinat les propietats físiques, fisicoquímiques, químiques i biològiques. Els resultats mostren que les propietats físiques dels diferents materials són prou adequades. Les propietats fisicoquímiques (pH i salinitat) són bastant limitadores per a l’aplicació del compost que es pretén. A més, la composició iònica de l’extracte aquós dels materials és, sovint, desequilibrada pel que fa als macronutrients principals (N, P i K). Els residus vegetals de jardineria compostats amb matèries primeres riques en nitrogen poden ser un material amb possibilitats reals de ser incorporats de manera habitual en barreges per a la preparació de substrats.Paraules clau: fracció orgànica dels residus municipals, residus vegetals de jardineria, escorça de pi, fems., Large amounts of compost are produced in Catalonia. The use of compost in substrate mixtures is a potential use of this material. The main goal of this study is to characterize different kinds of compost produced in composting plants in Catalonia. The following types have been considered: municipal waste organic fraction compost, green waste compost, pine bark compost (or compost based on pine bark) and manure compost. Physical, physico-chemical, chemical and biological properties were examined. Results show that the physical properties of the different materials are appropriate. However, the physico-chemical properties (pH and salinity) showed inadequate values for the specific use of compost as a substrate. Moreover, the ionic composition of the aqueous solution with respect to its main nutrients (N, P and K) is unbalanced. If composted properly with other supplementary materials rich in nitrogen, green waste would be a suitable product to use in substrate mixtures.Keywords: organic fraction of municipal waste, green waste, pine bark, manure., En Cataluña se producen cantidades considerables de compost. Una de las aplicaciones de estos productos es su uso en mezclas de sustratos. Este estudio tiene como objetivo caracterizar diferentes tipologías de compost de diferentes plantas de compostaje de Cataluña. Las tipologías que se han considerado son: el compost de la fracción orgánica de los residuos municipales, el compost de residuos vegetales de jardinería, el compost de corteza de pino (o a base de este material) y el compost de estiércol. Se han determinado sus propiedades físicas, fisicoquímicas, químicas y biológicas. Los resultados muestran que las propiedades físicas de los diferentes materiales son adecuadas. Las propiedades fisicoquímicas (pH y salinidad) son bastante limitantes para la aplicación que se persigue. Además, la composición iónica del extracto acuoso de los materiales suele ser desequilibrada respecto a los macronutrientes principales (N, P y K). Los residuos vegetales de jardinería compostados con otras materias primas ricas en nitrógeno podrían ser un material con posibilidades reales de ser incorporados de forma habitual en mezclas para la preparación de sustratos.Palabras clave: fracción orgánica de los residuos municipales, residuos vegetales de jardinería, corteza de pino, estiércol.

This two-week anaerobic batch study evaluated 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) removal efficiency from industrial pink water by (1) adsorption on low-cost adsorbent pine bark, and (2) adsorption coupled with TNT biotransformation by specialised microbial communities. Samples of the supernatant and acetonitrile extracts of pine bark were analysed by HPLC, while the composition of the bacterial community of the experimental batches, inocula and pine bark were profiled by high-throughput sequencing the V6 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Integrated adsorption and biotransformation proved to be the most efficient method for TNT removal from pink water. The type of applied inoculum had a profound effect on TNT removal efficiencies and microbial community structures, which were dominated by phylotypes belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. The analysis of acetonitrile extracts of pine bark supported the hypothesis that the microbial community indigenous to pine bark has the ability to degrade TNT.

The selection of nest sites and nesting material may have important implications for avian reproductive behaviour and performance. Nest construction may involve costs arising from transporting material that may be reduced considerably if nest materials are located close to the nest site. Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea nests in our nest box study area are mainly composed of pine bark flakes or alternatively of strips of bark of the widespread shrub Cistus laurifolius, with variable amounts of mud being used for plastering the entrance. Several small streams run through the area – an oak Quercus pyrenaica forest with a few scattered pines Pinus sylvestris. Here we show that Nuthatches collected pine bark only when nest sites were situated close to pines, used more mud when breeding close to streams and selected nest sites closer to streams than a sympatric species not using mud, the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca. Nuthatches used pine bark only when there was a pine tree less than 100 m away from the nest box and selected Cistus bark when transport distance was greater. We suggest that the selection of nest sites and nest materials in this species may be constrained by the costs of transporting nest material.

Soil evaporation is an important component of the water balance in irrigated agriculture. Mulching can be an effective technique to reduce soil evaporation but its efficiency depends on meteorological conditions and the characteristics of the different mulching materials. The objective of this work was to assess the effectiveness of inorganic (plastic) and organic (pine bark, vine pruning residues, geotextile, and wheat straw) mulching materials for soil evaporation control during the energy-limited and falling-rate evaporation stages. Soil evaporation rates (ER) were quantified through consecutive weighings of initially wet soils placed in trays in the laboratory and in microlysimeters in the field. ER depended on meteorological and experimental conditions, stage of evaporation and type of mulching material. In the falling-rate stage, ERs decreased linearly (p < 0.001) with decreases in GWC, and for long drying periods the ERs were low and similar among treatments, implying that soil mulching will be ineffective for soil evaporation control in low-frequency irrigation systems. In the energy-limited stage, all mulching materials decreased the ERs in relation to the bare soil, but the plastic, vine residues and pine bark materials had lower ERs than the rest of mulching materials. These materials will be therefore recommended for soil evaporation control in high-frequency irrigation systems where the soil surface remains wet most of the time.

The objective of this work was to determine the retention of five metals on pine bark using stirred flow and batch-type experiments. Resulting from batch-type kinetic experiments, adsorption was rapid, with no significant differences for the various contact times. Adsorption was between 98 and 99% for Pb2+, 83-84% for Cu2+, 78-84% for Cd2+, 77-83% for Zn2+, and 70-75% for Ni2+, and it was faster for low concentrations, with Pb suffering the highest retention, followed by Cu, Cd, Ni and Zn. The fitting to the Freundlich and Langmuir models was satisfactory. Desorption increased in parallel to the added concentrations, with Pb always showing the lowest levels. Stirred flow chamber experiments showed strong hysteresis for Pb and Cu, sorption being mostly irreversible. The differences affecting the studied heavy metals are mainly due to different affinity for the adsorption sites. Pine bark can be used to effectively remove Pb and Cu from polluted environments.

The objective of this work was to determine the retention of five metals on pine bark using stirred flow and batch-type experiments. Resulting from batch-type kinetic experiments, adsorption was rapid, with no significant differences for the various contact times. Adsorption was between 98 and 99% for Pb2+, 83-84% for Cu2+, 78-84% for Cd2+, 77-83% for Zn2+, and 70-75% for Ni2+, and it was faster for low concentrations, with Pb suffering the highest retention, followed by Cu, Cd, Ni and Zn. The fitting to the Freundlich and Langmuir models was satisfactory. Desorption increased in parallel to the added concentrations, with Pb always showing the lowest levels. Stirred flow chamber experiments showed strong hysteresis for Pb and Cu, sorption being mostly irreversible. The differences affecting the studied heavy metals are mainly due to different affinity for the adsorption sites. Pine bark can be used to effectively remove Pb and Cu from polluted environments.

Pine bark is a low cost sorbent originating from the forest industry. In recent years, it has been found to show promise as an adsorbent for metals and organic substances in contaminated water, especially landfill leachates and storm water. This study aims to investigate if pine bark can replace commercial adsorbents such as active carbon. An industrial effluent, collected from a treatment plant of a demilitarization factory, was diluted to form concentration ranges of contaminants and shaken with pine bark for 24 hours. Metals (e.g. Pb, Zn, Cd, As and Ni) and explosives, e. g., 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), were analysed before and after treatment. The aim of the experiment was twofold; firstly, it was to investigate whether metals are efficiently removed in the presence of explosives and secondly, if adsorption of explosive substances to pine bark was possible. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to describe the adsorption process where this was possible. It was found that metal uptake was possible in the presence of TNT and other explosive contaminants. The uptake of TNT was satisfactory with up to 80% of the TNT adsorbed by pine bark.

Pine bark is a low cost sorbent originating from the forest industry. In recent years, it has been found to show promise as an adsorbent for metals and organic substances in contaminated water, especially landfill leachates and storm water. This study aims to investigate if pine bark can replace commercial adsorbents such as active carbon. An industrial effluent, collected from a treatment plant of a demilitarization factory, was diluted to form concentration ranges of contaminants and shaken with pine bark for 24 hours. Metals (e.g. Pb, Zn, Cd, As and Ni) and explosives, e. g., 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), were analysed before and after treatment. The aim of the experiment was twofold; firstly, it was to investigate whether metals are efficiently removed in the presence of explosives and secondly, if adsorption of explosive substances to pine bark was possible. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to describe the adsorption process where this was possible. It was found that metal uptake was possible in the presence of TNT and other explosive contaminants. The uptake of TNT was satisfactory with up to 80% of the TNT adsorbed by pine bark.

Pine bark is a low cost sorbent originating from the forest industry. In recent years, it has been found to show promise as an adsorbent for metals and organic substances in contaminated water, especially landfill leachates and storm water. This study aims to investigate if pine bark can replace commercial adsorbents such as active carbon. An industrial effluent, collected from a treatment plant of a demilitarization factory, was diluted to form concentration ranges of contaminants and shaken with pine bark for 24 hours. Metals (e.g. Pb, Zn, Cd, As and Ni) and explosives, e. g., 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), were analysed before and after treatment. The aim of the experiment was twofold; firstly, it was to investigate whether metals are efficiently removed in the presence of explosives and secondly, if adsorption of explosive substances to pine bark was possible. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to describe the adsorption process where this was possible. It was found that metal uptake was possible in the presence of TNT and other explosive contaminants. The uptake of TNT was satisfactory with up to 80% of the TNT adsorbed by pine bark.

Pine bark is a low cost sorbent originating from the forest industry. In recent years, it has been found to show promise as an adsorbent for metals and organic substances in contaminated water, especially landfill leachates and storm water. This study aims to investigate if pine bark can replace commercial adsorbents such as active carbon. An industrial effluent, collected from a treatment plant of a demilitarization factory, was diluted to form concentration ranges of contaminants and shaken with pine bark for 24 hours. Metals (e.g. Pb, Zn, Cd, As and Ni) and explosives, e. g., 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), were analysed before and after treatment. The aim of the experiment was twofold; firstly, it was to investigate whether metals are efficiently removed in the presence of explosives and secondly, if adsorption of explosive substances to pine bark was possible. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to describe the adsorption process where this was possible. It was found that metal uptake was possible in the presence of TNT and other explosive contaminants. The uptake of TNT was satisfactory with up to 80% of the TNT adsorbed by pine bark.

Pine bark is a low cost sorbent originating from the forest industry. In recent years, it has been found to show promise as an adsorbent for metals and organic substances in contaminated water, especially landfill leachates and storm water. This study aims to investigate if pine bark can replace commercial adsorbents such as active carbon. An industrial effluent, collected from a treatment plant of a demilitarization factory, was diluted to form concentration ranges of contaminants and shaken with pine bark for 24 hours. Metals (e.g. Pb, Zn, Cd, As and Ni) and explosives, e. g., 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), were analysed before and after treatment. The aim of the experiment was twofold; firstly, it was to investigate whether metals are efficiently removed in the presence of explosives and secondly, if adsorption of explosive substances to pine bark was possible. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to describe the adsorption process where this was possible. It was found that metal uptake was possible in the presence of TNT and other explosive contaminants. The uptake of TNT was satisfactory with up to 80% of the TNT adsorbed by pine bark.

Pine bark is a low cost sorbent originating from the forest industry. In recent years, it has been found to show promise as an adsorbent for metals and organic substances in contaminated water, especially landfill leachates and storm water. This study aims to investigate if pine bark can replace commercial adsorbents such as active carbon. An industrial effluent, collected from a treatment plant of a demilitarization factory, was diluted to form concentration ranges of contaminants and shaken with pine bark for 24 hours. Metals (e.g. Pb, Zn, Cd, As and Ni) and explosives, e. g., 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), were analysed before and after treatment. The aim of the experiment was twofold; firstly, it was to investigate whether metals are efficiently removed in the presence of explosives and secondly, if adsorption of explosive substances to pine bark was possible. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to describe the adsorption process where this was possible. It was found that metal uptake was possible in the presence of TNT and other explosive contaminants. The uptake of TNT was satisfactory with up to 80% of the TNT adsorbed by pine bark.

The industrial by-product pine bark has been used successfully as a low-cost sorbent for removing heavy metals from wastewaters such as stormwaters and landfill leachates. Although the water treatment efficiency of pine bark is high, one reported drawback with using the filter material for water treatment is the potential leaching of organic compounds, e.g. tannines and other polyphenols. This phenomenon is likely to be particularly pronounced during the initial start-up phase of filtration with unused pine bark. The results from preliminary serial leaching tests with the filter material, has shown that the toxicity of the pine bark leachates to Daphnia magna (48 hr) decreases after each successive round of leaching. The aim of this study was to further investigate the leaching properties and stability of pine bark filter. In this study, parallel serial batch leaching experiments were performed with either doubly deionised or U.S. EPA moderately hard reconstituted water as leachant to determine the duration and extent of the initial desorption of organic material, analysed as DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon), from the filter material. To further investigate the changes in toxicity of the pine bark leachates from each successive round of leaching, a more extensive toxicity assessment was performed with an aquatic ecotoxicity test battery consisting of an acute luminescent bacteria test (ROTAS) and a genotoxicity test (the Umu assay using Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002)., CLEAN

In this study the influence of environmental conditions, most likely prevailing in filter beds used for intermittently discharged pollutant streams such as landfill leachate and storm water, on the stability of the heavy metal-filter complex was investigated for 2 filter materials; non-treated and urea treated pine bark, using leaching experiments. The metal-filter complex stability was higher for urea treated than for non-treated pine bark and dependent on the metal adsorbed. The type of environmental condition applied was of less importance for the extent of leaching. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pine bark is a low cost sorbent originating from the forest industry. In recent years, it has been found to show promise as an adsorbent for metals and organic substances in contaminated water, especially landfill leachates and storm water. This study aims to investigate if pine bark can replace commercial adsorbents such as active carbon. An industrial effluent, collected from a treatment plant of a demilitarization factory, was diluted to form concentration ranges of contaminants and shaken with pine bark for 24 hours. Metals (e.g. Pb, Zn, Cd, As and Ni) and explosives, e. g., 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), were analysed before and after treatment. The aim of the experiment was twofold; firstly, it was to investigate whether metals are efficiently removed in the presence of explosives and secondly, if adsorption of explosive substances to pine bark was possible. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to describe the adsorption process where this was possible. It was found that metal uptake was possible in the presence of TNT and other explosive contaminants. The uptake of TNT was satisfactory with up to 80% of the TNT adsorbed by pine bark.