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The exploitation of mineral resources in Brazil did not have any formal regulation until 1934, when the mining code was established, which is one of the main reasons for the lack of data on Brazilian quarrying, including about Rio de Janeiro city, worldwide recognized for its landscape. After facing environmental issues for decades, most of the city’s quarries have been closed or relocated to neighbouring cities. Many of these quarried rocks were used as cladding and/or crushed stone. One of them is the nepheline syenite, commercially known as Ás de Paus Granite, object of this study, which aimed to determine its main technological and petrographical characteristics and to investigate the stone’s behaviour under the action of sea spray and/or polluted areas by artificial weathering tests. These tests consisted of exposure of the rock to salt fog and sulphur dioxide in climatic test chambers with changes monitored by density, porosity, water absorption, ultrasonic pulse velocity test and spectrophotometry. The results indicated that Ás de Paus Granite is a durable stone as it was not significantly affected by the selected weathering tests, showing nearly imperceptible visual effects, a result of its physical and technological properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In India, the spatial coverage of air pollution data is not homogeneous due to the regionally restricted number of monitoring stations. In a such situation, utilising satellite data might greatly influence choices aimed at enhancing the environment. It is essential to estimate significant air contaminants, comprehend their health impacts, and anticipate air quality to safeguard public health from dangerous pollutants. The current study intends to investigate the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of important air pollutants, such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone, utilising Sentinel-5P TROPOMI satellite images. A comprehensive spatiotemporal analysis of air quality was conducted for the entire country with a special focus on five metro cities from 2019 to 2022, encompassing the pre-COVID-19, during-COVID-19, and current scenarios. Seasonal research revealed that air pollutant concentrations are highest in the winter, followed by the summer and monsoon, with the exception of ozone. Ozone had the greatest concentrations throughout the summer season. The analysis has revealed that NO2 hotspots are predominantly located in megacities, while SO2 hotspots are associated with industrial clusters. Delhi exhibits high levels of NO2 pollution, while Kolkata is highly affected by SO2 pollution compared to other major cities. Notably, there was an 11% increase in SO2 concentrations in Kolkata and a 20% increase in NO2 concentrations in Delhi from 2019 to 2022. The COVID-19 lockdown saw significant drops in NO2 concentrations in 2020; specifically, − 20% in Mumbai, − 18% in Delhi, − 14% in Kolkata, − 12% in Chennai, and − 15% in Hyderabad. This study provides valuable insights into the seasonal, monthly, and yearly behaviour of pollutants and offers a novel approach for hotspot analysis, aiding in the identification of major air pollution sources. The results offer valuable insights for developing effective strategies to tackle air pollution, safeguard public health, and improve the overall environmental quality in India. The study underscores the importance of satellite data analysis and presents a comprehensive assessment of the impact of the shutdown on air quality, laying the groundwork for evidence-based decision-making and long-term pollution mitigation efforts.

Purpose: This study examined the influence of various storage conditions on Thompson seedless (Vitis vinifera) grapes quality. Research method: Grapes were stored under four conditions: control (room temperature i.e., 20-22°C, no SO2), T1 with SO2 sheets at room temperature i.e., 20-22°C, T2 with SO2 sheets in cold storage at 1°C and T3 without SO2 sheets in cold storage at 1°C. Changes in acidity, total soluble solids (TSS), total anthocyanin content, total phenols, sugars (glucose and fructose), trans-resveratrol, decay %, weight loss % and antioxidant activity were monitored over 60 days. Findings: The findings revealed a synergistic effect between SO2 and cold storage. Grapes stored with both SO2 sheets and cold storage (T1) exhibited the slowest decline in anthocyanin, phenols and antioxidant activity of 211.06 mg/L, 2102.39 mg/L and 7.19 mM DPPH, respectively after 60 days. T1 grapes found to have slower reduction in sugars and trans-resveratrol concentration i.e., 15.47 to 15.37 g/100mL and 695 to 516 µg/g, respectively compared to control samples 15.47 to 14.81 g/100mL and 695 to 500 µg/g, respectively. Research limitations: The study focused solely on storage conditions of Thompson seedless variety grapes, limiting the generalizability of the findings to different grape varieties and maturity levels. Originality/value: These results highlighted the importance of proper storage techniques, particularly the combined use of SO2 and cold storage, for maintaining grape quality and extending shelf life.

Abstract Volcanic eruptions can emit large quantities of sulphur dioxide (SO2) into the atmosphere, which can be harmful to people and the environment. Aircraft encounters with a volcanic SO2 cloud could represent a health hazard to crew and passengers onboard. In this study we have assessed concentration levels of volcanic SO2 in the atmosphere following eight historic eruptions and use four-dimensional dispersion model simulation data to calculate when and where the World Health Organisation (WHO) health protection guideline for SO2 of 500 μgm-3 over 10 minutes is exceeded. The time and area of exceedance varies and depends on the eruption characteristics: the amount, duration and height of the SO2 release. The WHO-based guideline value is exceeded for all historic eruptions considered. In several cases, the area delineated by the WHO-based guideline, here called the SO2 hazard area, can be considerably larger than the volcanic ash hazard area for the same eruption. SO2 hazard areas also often extend over a longer period of time compared to the equivalent ash advisories. For example, following the 2019 eruption of Raikoke, the SO2 hazard area reached up to 1.7 million km2 and the WHO-based guideline value was exceeded for about two weeks, while volcanic ash was considered hazardous to aviation for about five days. These results will help the aviation industry to better understand the potential risks to their passengers and crew from volcanic SO2, and aid in defining concentration thresholds for any potential volcanic SO2 forecasts for aviation.

In India, the spatial coverage of air pollution data is not homogeneous due to the regionally restricted number of monitoring stations. In a such situation, utilising satellite data might greatly influence choices aimed at enhancing the environment. It is essential to estimate significant air contaminants, comprehend their health impacts, and anticipate air quality to safeguard public health from dangerous pollutants. The current study intends to investigate the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of important air pollutants, such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone, utilising Sentinel-5P TROPOMI satellite images. A comprehensive spatiotemporal analysis of air quality was conducted for the entire country with a special focus on five metro cities from 2019 to 2022, encompassing the pre-COVID-19, during-COVID-19, and current scenarios. Seasonal research revealed that air pollutant concentrations are highest in the winter, followed by the summer and monsoon, with the exception of ozone. Ozone had the greatest concentrations throughout the summer season. The analysis has revealed that NO2 hotspots are predominantly located in megacities, while SO2 hotspots are associated with industrial clusters. Delhi exhibits high levels of NO2 pollution, while Kolkata is highly affected by SO2 pollution compared to other major cities. Notably, there was an 11% increase in SO2 concentrations in Kolkata and a 20% increase in NO2 concentrations in Delhi from 2019 to 2022. The COVID-19 lockdown saw significant drops in NO2 concentrations in 2020; specifically, − 20% in Mumbai, − 18% in Delhi, − 14% in Kolkata, − 12% in Chennai, and − 15% in Hyderabad. This study provides valuable insights into the seasonal, monthly, and yearly behaviour of pollutants and offers a novel approach for hotspot analysis, aiding in the identification of major air pollution sources. The results offer valuable insights for developing effective strategies to tackle air pollution, safeguard public health, and improve the overall environmental quality in India. The study underscores the importance of satellite data analysis and presents a comprehensive assessment of the impact of the shutdown on air quality, laying the groundwork for evidence-based decision-making and long-term pollution mitigation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examined the influence of various storage conditions on Thompson seedless (Vitis vinifera) grapes quality. Research method: Grapes were stored under four conditions: control (room temperature i.e., 20-22°C, no SO2), T1 with SO2 sheets at room temperature i.e., 20-22°C, T2 with SO2 sheets in cold storage at 1°C and T3 without SO2 sheets in cold storage at 1°C. Changes in acidity, total soluble solids (TSS), total anthocyanin content, total phenols, sugars (glucose and fructose), transresveratrol, decay %, weight loss % and antioxidant activity were monitored over 60 days. Findings: The findings revealed a synergistic effect between SO2 and cold storage. Grapes stored with both SO2 sheets and cold storage (T1) exhibited the slowest decline in anthocyanin, phenols and antioxidant activity of 211.06 mg/L, 2102.39 mg/L and 7.19 mM DPPH, respectively after 60 days. T1 grapes found to have slower reduction in sugars and transresveratrol concentration i.e., 15.47 to 15.37 g/100mL and 695 to 516 µg/g, respectively compared to control samples 15.47 to 14.81 g/100mL and 695 to 500 µg/g, respectively. Research limitations: The study focused solely on storage conditions of Thompson seedless variety grapes, limiting the generalizability of the findings to different grape varieties and maturity levels. Originality/value: These results highlighted the importance of proper storage techniques, particularly the combined use of SO2 and cold storage, for maintaining grape quality and extending shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two versions of the reference method of sulphur dioxide (SO2) measurement in ambient air (pararosaniline method) available as the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) USA (CFR 40 Part 50, Appendix A) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) India (IS 5182 (Part 2):2001) standard methods were analytically studied. For accuracy and precision of the data obtained, a certain set of specifications should be ascertained before using the method for sample analysis as per the guidelines. On comparing the two methods of operation, the stated set of specifications are fulfilled for the EPA method but not for the BIS method. A different set of specifications were observed for the BIS method (absorbance blank: 0.012 ± 0.001 abs units, slope of calibration curve: 0.014 ± 0.001 abs units/µg SO2, intercept of calibration curve: 0.003 ± 0.002, calibration factor:72.0 ± 4.2). The absorption efficiency as well as the method efficiency of both methods were tested using three different concentrations (0.3 ppm, 0.5 ppm, and 0.8 ppm) of standard SO2 gas. The absorption efficiency of both the methods was found to be 100%. The average method efficiency of the EPA method at 0.3 ppm, 0.5 ppm and 0.8 ppm were found to be 81 ± 8%, 81 ± 6% and 87 ± 1% while that of BIS method was observed to be 91 ± 5%, 93 ± 2%, 89 ± 4% at the respective concentrations. An uncertainty estimation study was also performed considering factors involved in sampling and analysis. A combined uncertainty < 9% and < 7% was observed for EPA and BIS method, respectively. This study presents a comprehensive examination of the operational aspects of two versions of pararosaniline method employed for measuring SO2 in ambient air. The results indicate a need for redefining the specifications outlined in the BIS method. Notably, the BIS method displays greater sensitivity to low blank values compared to the EPA method. Additionally, the study introduces, for the first time, working factors and specifications associated with the BIS method for SO2 measurement. These findings suggest their potential inclusion in the standard method as a means to enhance data quality and reliability in the assessment of SO2 levels in ambient air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Remote Sensing / Türkiye Uzaktan Algılama Dergisi is the property of Turkish Journal of Remote Sensing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Several coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) were built in South Africa, mainly in the central Mpumalanga Province, due to an increase in the demand for Eskom, the national power utility, to keep up with socio-economic growth. The CFPPs, of which 90% are owned by Eskom, generate a significant share of the country’s electricity but contribute to the air pollution experienced in the country. The paper discusses sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter of size less than 10 micrometre (μm) in diameter (PM10), using data from 2014 to 2018. The statistics revealed higher PM10 concentrations during winter than in summer and spring at the Kriel and Komati sites; associated with the higher contribution of domestic burning. The study’s results could influence legislation and policies and help to understand the source of poor ambient air quality by assessing the three pollutants within the area of the selected power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is a global recorded phenomenon, which affects human health and other organisms as well, due to the amount and danger of toxic compounds that are released. Lichens are photosynthetic organisms widely used as bioindicators of air quality. The present research aimed to evaluate the air quality of the municipality of Facatativá-Cundinamarca, Colombia using lichens. Eight field trips were conducted in March, April, October, and November 2021 and 2022; 25 sampling points were established and distributed in seven villages of the municipality and the urban area. The coverage of each lichen on the phorophytes present on the road was recorded. The diversity of lichens is composed of 11 species, the most frequent were Parmotrema sp1, Physcia sp., and Candelaria concolor. Diversity and equity were greatest in La Selva, Los Manzanos, and La Tribuna, places with the lowest levels of pollution and better air quality. The urban area, Mancilla and Prado Alto presented a very bad air quality probably due to the amount of municipal and intermunicipal vehicles and traffic associated with petroleum and food industries. Parmotrema sp1, Usnea sp, and H. leucomelos were recorded as species with lower sensitivity to contaminants and R. celastri, P. austrosinense and F. flaventior as species with greater sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex dynamics between oxygen exposure, sulphur dioxide (SO2) utilization, and wine quality are of the utmost importance in wine sector, and this study aims to explore their fine balance in winemaking. As a common additive, SO2 works as an antiseptic and antioxidant. However, its excessive use has raised health concerns. Regulatory guidelines, including Council Regulation (EC) N° 1493/1999 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1622/2000, dictate SO2 concentrations in wines. The increasing demand for natural preservatives is driving the search for alternatives, with natural plant extracts, rich in phenolic compounds, emerging as promising substitutes. In this context, Bioma Company has proposed alternative additives deriving from vineyard waste to replace SO2 during winemaking. Thus, the aim of the present work was to compare the compositional characteristics between the product obtained with the alternative vinification and the traditional one during the winemaking, as well as the aroma compositions of the final wines. After a year of experimentation, the wines produced with Bioma products showed compositional characteristics comparable to their traditional counterparts. Notably, these wines comply with current legislation, with significantly reduced total sulphur content, allowing their designation as "without added sulphites". Bioma products emerge as potential catalysts for sustainable and health-conscious winemaking practices, reshaping the landscape of the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding the shelf life of wine is complex and involves factors such as aroma preservation, flavour development and market acceptance. Ageing potential, crucial for flavour complexity, exposes wine to oxidation, influenced by oxygen, temperature and light, with an impact on quality. This type of oxidation is non-enzymatic, is catalyzed by metal ions and alters colour and flavour. Scope and approach: This review examines the dynamics of wine preservation, focusing on oxidation and the impact of closure. Corks allow controlled oxygen transfer, while screw caps offer a nearly hermetic closure. Oxygen transfer rates vary, with natural corks having fluctuating rates and synthetic corks causing over-exposure. Additives such as sulphur dioxide and alternative substitute such as lysozyme and ascorbic acid are examined for their role in preventing oxidation and ensuring microbiological stability. Key findings and conclusions: Closure choice significantly affects wine preservation. Balancing oxygen exposure, temperature, and light is vital. Effective management, including the strategic use of preservatives and additives, is crucial for maintaining quality and extending shelf life. This review underscores the delicate equilibrium necessary for preserving wine quality from production to consumption.

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is a hazardous air pollutant, which is mostly emitted from burning of fossil fuels, and has an adverse impact on the human health and ecosystem functioning. The COVID-19 natural anthropause (lockdown) provides a great opportunity to understand the changes in SO2 pollution across the globe, as there was a temporary standstill for most human activities. Therefore, we analyse the changes in global SO₂ pollution during lockdown compared to pre-lockdown and identify its hotspots driven by human activities using satellite measurements, reanalysis data and emission inventory. We observe a decline in SO₂ pollution of about 2.21 % in its global average, −21.05 % in Indo-Gangatic Plain, −16 % in East China, −7.67 % in East United States of America, −3.99 % in Western Europe and −3.85 % in Middle East owing to the halt in human activities such as industrial and transport operations, as found from the emissions inventory. There are point and aerial hotspots of SO₂ pollution across the globe (e.g. cities or industrial units), which also show a decrease (20–30 %) in SO₂ pollution during the anthropause. Fossil fuel burning in thermal power plants is a major source of SO2 pollution, and it has declined notably (1–12 %) during the lockdown in the major coal consuming countries such as the United States, China, Japan, Canada, Brazil, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom. Therefore, lockdown provides a clear understanding of global human-driven hotspots of SO₂ pollution and their changes, which would help us to make better and effective air pollution mitigation strategies.

This study aims to generate a satellite-based qualitative emission source characterization for the heavily polluted eastern part of China in the 2010–2016 time period. The applied source identification technique relies on satellite-based NOx and SO2 emission estimates by OMI, their SO2:NOx ratio, and the MIX anthropogenic emission inventory to distinguish emissions from different emission categories (urban, industrial, natural) and characterize the dominant source per 0.25° × 0.25° grid cell in East China. Overall, we find good agreement between the satellite- and emission inventory–based spatiotemporal distribution and characterization of the dominant emission sources in East China in 2010–2016. In 2010, the satellite measurements suggest an emission distribution less dominated by industrial areas, a somewhat larger role for urban/transportation areas and agricultural activities, and more natural emissions in the southern part compared to the bottom-up emission categorization. In 2016, more than half of the classified emission categories over East China have remained the same. At the same time, there is a notable increase of agricultural lands and decrease of areas dominated by industry/transportation in 2016, suggestive of an overall decrease in heavy air pollution in East China over the course of 7 years. This is likely attributed to the sustained efforts of the Chinese government to drastically improve the air quality, especially since 2013 when the National Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan was enacted. However, signs of urban expansion (urbanization) and rural–urban migration ("Go West" motion) stemmed from China's rapid economic growth and labour demand are evident; escalating industrialization (even with cleaner means) and the urban population growth in East China resulted in stronger emissions from sources representing consumption and transportation which are strongly related to NO2 and PM10 pollution (rather than SO2) and are directly influenced by the population size. This resulted to a shift of the emissions from the east mainly to the north and northwest of East China. Overall, although the effectiveness of the Chinese environmental control policies has been successful, the air pollution problem remains an important concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas sensors are crucial in various industries like chemicals, food processing, pharmaceuticals, health monitoring through breath analysis, as well as in household and environmental monitoring to ensure human safety. Chemo‐resistive gas sensors based on metal oxides convert gas information into electrical signals by interacting with adsorption and desorption processes. For metal oxide semiconductor gas sensors, sensitivity and selectivity enhancements are achieved through doping, functionalization, composite formations, heterojunction creation, and morphological adjustments. The formation of heterojunctions notably boosts the efficacy of the sensing material, leveraging synergistic effects to reinforce adsorption rates, catalytic activity acceleration, and the depletion interface for electrons and holes. Over the past few decades, nanomaterials have played a critical role in gas sensing applications. They have enabled the detection of a wide array of harmful and polluting gases, as well as volatile organic compounds serving as disease biomarkers. Additionally, incorporating heterostructure nanomaterials into heterojunctions significantly impacts sensing performance and detection speed. This review discussed various types of gas sensing devices, categorizing them based on the sensing elements employed, each possessing its own set of unique advantages and disadvantages. Nevertheless, the review underscored the importance of several key parameters and factors that influence the performance of gas sensors. Additionally, recent advancements in the utilization of nanomaterial composites for gas sensor applications, particularly in the detection of gases such as ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, and sulphur dioxide vapours, were discussed. Furthermore, the review highlights recent research endeavours and fundamental parameters, including sensitivity, detection limits, selectivity, response times, and recovery times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental heterogeneity can significantly modify the rate of species extinction with an increase in anthropogenic load and the rate of recolonization of disturbed territories after a decrease in load, but this issue is poorly understood. The distribution of 14 species of the herb–dwarf shrub layer of forests on an area of 1734 km2 in two natural regions of the eastern and western macroslope of the Urals during periods of high (1995–1998) and low (2014–2016) emissions from the Middle Ural Copper Smelter has been analyzed. With an increase or decrease in load, the pattern of dynamics and the magnitude responses are species-specific and significantly depend on habitat conditions, but the main contribution to the spaciotemporal dynamics of species affects the load level. During the period of high emissions, the environmental heterogeneity slows down the decrease in area of species distribution along a load gradient, but the distribution decreases under very heavy pollution, regardless of habitats or species. After the reduction of emissions, the distribution of most species in the heavily polluted areas has changed little for 19 years; the elimination and reduction in the distribution of the most sensitive species continues. Positive shifts have been revealed mainly in less polluted areas; the rates of recolonization vary in different habitats. Depending on habitat conditions, the species response to an increase or decrease in pressure can be "fast" (relatively high rates of change) or "slow" (lower rates of change and even a continued decline in distribution, despite reductions in pressure). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accelerated urbanization in the last decade and population growth in developing countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have increased the count of humans exposed to air pollution. This work aims to provide an insight into air quality in the Greater Cairo (GC) area which is one of the largest megacities in the MENA region and is classified as its most polluted city according to the reports of the World Health Organization (WHO). Exploratory data analysis and cluster analysis were used to assess the pollutants data and meteorological data to understand the impacts of weather factors on air quality in GC. According to the results, GC suffers from particle matter of 10 micrometres or less (PM10) pollutants. The annual averages ranged from 97 ± 10 to 203 ± 42 µg/m³. Though short-term exposure to gaseous pollutants did not exceed the limits, the long-term exposures exceeded those in some congested traffic areas. The annual averages ranged from 20 ± 5 to 63 ± 24 µg/m³ for Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and from 9 ± 3 to 21 ± 5 µg/m³ for sulphur dioxide (SO2). Also, the terrain affects the spatial variation of pollutants observation. There is a negative correlation between the monitoring site elevation and the pollutant concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the influence of traffic flow volume and meteorological conditions on carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) concertation is determined based on the measurements conducted at a selected location over a 784-hour period. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were applied to the data set. Regression analysis was also used to determine trends in pollutant concentrations as a function of traffic flow and meteorological parameters. Analysis of the obtained data indicates a statistically significant relationship between traffic volume and meteorological parameters on the one hand and pollutants on the other. However, increase in the value of certain input variables does not necessarily result in the increase in pollutant concentration. CO and O3 showed a significant dependence on the number of vehicles, while for SO2 the influence of commercial vehicles was greater than that of passenger cars. The relationship between the number of vehicles and PM was not evident at the study site.

Sulphur is a highly reactive element, and is therefore able to enter into a great variety of chemical combinations, resulting in the formation of compounds of widely differing properties. Reactions involving sulphur, and the compounds which they produce, have stimulated and inspired people throughout the ages. Sulphur has always been associated with volcanoes, fires and smells. However, its story goes much further. Sulphur is present in thousands of products of the chemical industry, which are in everyday use. These include car batteries, car tyres, matches, paints, paper, textiles, food, detergents and pharmaceuticals. In part 1 of this essay, the evolution of the role of sulphur in the history of mankind is explained, through the eyes of etymology, geology, literature, art, and chemistry. In part 2 the role of sulphur in biochemistry and chemical technology is reviewed. In so doing, a case is established, to show that sulphur is the most extraordinary substance known to Man. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Populations of the large fruit-tree tortrix Archips podana consist of a mixture of four morphs that differ in male genitalia traits, ecology and sexual behaviour. Here, I tested whether these morphs differently respond to pollution. I found that the within-population diversity of A. podana around the industrial city of Lipetsk in central Russia correlated neither with the distance to the nearest industrial polluter nor with the number of moths captured by pheromone traps. Thus, the four phenotypes of A. podana similarly respond to pollution. Morphological polymorphism offers rich opportunities for studying the eco-evolutionary mechanisms that drive the adaptations of local populations to heterogeneous and changing environments. In this study, I explore the association between pollution load, abundance of large fruit-tree tortrix Archips podana and its within-species diversity (expressed in the presence of apical and/or lateral prongs on the phallus in male genitalia) across 26 study sites located 0.5 to 31 km from the industrial city of Lipetsk in central Russia. The Shannon diversity index, calculated from the frequencies of four morphs, correlated neither with the distance to the nearest industrial polluter (a proxy of pollution load) nor with the number of moths captured by pheromone traps (a measure of population abundance). The statistical power of the correlation analysis was sufficient (67%) to detect a medium effect (i.e., Pearson correlation coefficient with an absolute value of 0.40), if it existed. I conclude that the four phenotypes of A. podana do not differ in tolerance to industrial pollution and similarly respond to pollution-induced environmental disturbance. This is the first study of industrial pollution impacts on within-species diversity of insects expressed in the discrete traits of their male genitalia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comprehensive monitoring and mapping assessment of the atmospheric concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from 2019 - 2022 in Benin City, Southern Nigeria using Google Earth Engine (GEE) and Sentinel 5P (S5P) TROPOMI satellite data. To extract the pollution map, all satellite datasets were imported into GEE, and pollutant results were obtained through JavaScript coding. The spatial map showed that the highest annual concentration of CO was recorded in 2020 as 0.0554 mol/m², the highest annual concentration of SO2 was recorded in 2020 as 0.0000866 mol/m², and the highest annual concentration of NO2 was recorded in 2021 as 0.0000797 mol/m² . For CO, a paired sample t-test revealed that there was a significant difference in 2019 compared to 2020, but not in 2020 compared to 2021. The years 2021 and 2022 did not significantly differ from one another either. There was no significant difference in SO2 across the years. For NO2, there was a significant difference between 2019 and 2020, and also a significant difference between 2020 and 2021, but no significant difference between 2021 and 2022. This study finds that the COVID-19 lockdown protocol was loosely implemented in Benin City, as the results from this study did not effectively correlate with those of other studies. The study also finds the efficacy of S5P in monitoring and mapping the concentrations of CO, SO2, and NO2 in Benin City, laying the groundwork for future research using Sentinel 5P. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined control of NO and SO2 can be finished with the [Fe(II)‐NTA]− solution because [Fe(II)‐NTA]− is capable of binding NO. However, the ability of [Fe(II)‐NTA]− to bind NO may be lost quickly due to the fast oxidation of [Fe(II)‐NTA]− to [Fe(III)‐NTA] by oxygen in the flue gases. To make it possible to put this technology into commercial application, efficient measures should be taken to regenerate [Fe(II)‐NTA]− to maintain the NO removal efficiency for a long time. The catalytic activity of activated carbon in the reproduction of [Fe(II)‐NTA]− has been investigated in a fixed‐bed reactor. The experiments indicate that [Fe(II)‐NTA]− reproduction increases with [Fe(III)‐NTA] and SO32− concentrations as well as temperature. Fast flow and high pH are unfavourable for the reproduction of [Fe(II)‐NTA]−. An NO removal efficiency of 80.11%–89.78% is sustained for a long period of time with the [Fe(II)‐NTA]− reproduction catalyzed by activated carbon. The reaction orders with respect to [Fe(III)‐NTA] and SO32− are 0.784 and 0.336, respectively. The apparent activation energy for this catalytic reaction is estimated to be 41.01 kJ mol−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex dynamics between oxygen exposure, sulphur dioxide (SO2) utilization, and wine quality are of the utmost importance in wine sector, and this study aims to explore their fine balance in winemaking. As a common additive, SO2 works as an antiseptic and antioxidant. However, its excessive use has raised health concerns. Regulatory guidelines, including Council Regulation (EC) N° 1493/1999 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1622/2000, dictate SO2 concentrations in wines. The increasing demand for natural preservatives is driving the search for alternatives, with natural plant extracts, rich in phenolic compounds, emerging as promising substitutes. In this context, Bioma Company has proposed alternative additives deriving from vineyard waste to replace SO2 during winemaking. Thus, the aim of the present work was to compare the compositional characteristics between the product obtained with the alternative vinification and the traditional one during the winemaking, as well as the aroma compositions of the final wines. After a year of experimentation, the wines produced with Bioma products showed compositional characteristics comparable to their traditional counterparts. Notably, these wines comply with current legislation, with significantly reduced total sulphur content, allowing their designation as “without added sulphites”. Bioma products emerge as potential catalysts for sustainable and health-conscious winemaking practices, reshaping the landscape of the industry.

This study presents a comprehensive monitoring and mapping assessment of the atmospheric concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from 2019 - 2022 in Benin City, Southern Nigeria using Google Earth Engine (GEE) and Sentinel 5P (S5P) TROPOMI satellite data. To extract the pollution map, all satellite datasets were imported into GEE, and pollutant results were obtained through JavaScript coding. The spatial map showed that the highest annual concentration of CO was recorded in 2020 as 0.0554 mol/m2, the highest annual concentration of SO2 was recorded in 2020 as 0.0000866 mol/m2, and the highest annual concentration of NO2 was recorded in 2021 as 0.0000797 mol/m2. For CO, a paired sample t-test revealed that there was a significant difference in 2019 compared to 2020, but not in 2020 compared to 2021. The years 2021 and 2022 did not significantly differ from one another either. There was no significant difference in SO2 across the years. For NO2, there was a significant difference between 2019 and 2020, and also a significant difference between 2020 and 2021, but no significant difference between 2021 and 2022. This study finds that the COVID-19 lockdown protocol was loosely implemented in Benin City, as the results from this study did not effectively correlate with those of other studies. The study also finds the efficacy of S5P in monitoring and mapping the concentrations of CO, SO2, and NO2 in Benin City, laying the groundwork for future research using Sentinel 5P

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is usually used in winemaking due to its effectiveness as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agent. However, there is growing interest in finding alternatives to SO2 because of its adverse effects on human health. Therefore, in this work, a low-SO2-producing Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain was selected and the AIR-MIXINGTM M.ITM (A.M.) system, capable of determining a high extraction of polyphenols, was used to produce a red wine without added sulphites. A tank managed with the traditional pumping-over technique was used as a comparison. Microbiological and chemical monitoring of both fermentations performed by plate counts and HPLC analyses, respectively, did not indicate significant differences as regards the yeast growth kinetics and the degradation of the sugars, while it highlighted a faster extraction kinetics of colour and total polyphenols in the fermentation carried out with the A.M. system. Both experimental wines showed a total SO2 content <10 mg/L, but in the wine produced with A.M., a higher content of the polymeric forms of anthocyanins and non-anthocyanin phenols was found in favour of a higher stability of the wine achieved in a shorter time than the control. Furthermore, a higher concentration of reduced glutathione, a compound well-known for its antioxidant activity, occurred in wine obtained with the A.M. system. In conclusion, the use of low-SO2-producing yeasts in combination with the A.M. system could be a suitable approach to produce wines without sulphites added. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthocyanins are considered important compounds in wine production. Their role is important in wine color in case of red and rose wines. Anthocyanins are involved all stages of wine production from grapes, fermentation, treatment and aging. Wine evolution produce modification of pH media, color or other physico-chemical parameters. Principal characteristics as aromas are determined by several reactions as acido-basic and redox which are related to modifications of wine composition. An UFLC method was involved in evaluation of several compounds as Cyanidol-3-glucoside (Cy3gl), delphidin (Dp), peonidin 3-glucoside (Po3gl), malvidin 3-glucoside (Mv3gl), petunidin (Pt) and malvidin (Mv) which were separated and analyzed in case of several wine samples from Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Sauvignon rose. Comparative profiles showed significant differences in levels of these compounds in case of the wines treated with sulphur dioxide and without sulphur dioxide. Conclusion is that use of natural compounds as Pichia kluyveri yeasts not only prevented oxidation with implications in anthocyanins variation but showed potency against bacterial contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basic recording of bryophytes involves compiling a simple list of species found during a site visit. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of such records as evidence of change in the condition of protected areas. The study area comprised Epping Forest, UK, where basic bryophyte recording has been undertaken ad hoc since ca 1800 and was again carried out in January 2022. A total of 224 species were included within the analysis, each categorised as either having been found during the surveys in January 2022 or only found during previous recording. Ellenberg indicator values for each species were derived from published literature. To investigate if any of the Ellenberg indicators were significant predictors of whether or not a species was found during the January 2022 surveys, a binomial generalised linear model was constructed (model 1). A second similar model was produced that excluded epiphytes (model 2). Regarding the likelihood of a species having been found during January 2022, model 1 indicated that there were highly significant negative relationships with moisture and acidity, and a highly significant positive relationship with nitrogen. Model 2 provided similar results except that moisture was insignificant. Basic bryophyte records indicated that the condition of Epping Forest has undergone significant change, to become a site that is less acidic and more nutrient rich. This is consistent with a known decline in sulphur dioxide pollution and an increase in nitrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen plays a crucial role in all stages of wine production. The aim of this study was to quantify dissolved oxygen in filtered wines trained on fine lees during different technological operations such as racking, coarse filtration, stabilisation of thermolabile proteins, and sterile filtration and bottling. The most significant oxygenation of wine occurs during filtration (1.9–3.57 mg L−1) and during bottling (2.99–4.12 mg L−1). At the same time, oxygen affects the phenolic composition, antioxidant activity and sulphur dioxide. Understanding and being able to use oxygen correctly during wine production can lead to a reduction in the doses of sulphur dioxide used. It has been shown that wines trained on fine lees are more able to withstand oxygen and, therefore, the sulphur dioxide doses can be reduced substantially. The experiment, in which two different winemaking technologies were observed, was carried out on the Welschriesling variety using both stainless steel tanks and oak barrels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of evidence suggests that air pollution exposure is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Data regarding the impact of long-term air pollution exposure on ischemic stroke mortality are sparse. The German nationwide inpatient sample was used to analyse all cases of hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke in Germany 2015–2019, which were stratified according to their residency. Data of the German Federal Environmental Agency regarding average values of air pollutants were assessed from 2015 to 2019 at district-level. Data were combined and the impact of different air pollution parameters on in-hospital case-fatality was analyzed. Overall, 1,505,496 hospitalizations of patients with ischemic stroke (47.7% females; 67.4 % ≥70 years old) were counted in Germany 2015–2019, of whom 8.2 % died during hospitalization. When comparing patients with residency in federal districts with high vs. low long-term air pollution, enhanced levels of benzene (OR 1.082 [95%CI 1.034–1.132], P = 0.001), ozone (O 3, OR 1.123 [95%CI 1.070–1.178], P < 0.001), nitric oxide (NO, OR 1.076 [95%CI 1.027–1.127], P = 0.002) and PM 2.5 fine particulate matter concentrations (OR 1.126 [95%CI 1.074–1.180],P < 0.001) were significantly associated with increased case-fatality independent from age, sex, cardiovascular risk-factors, comorbidities, and revascularization treatments. Conversely, enhanced carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, PM 10, and sulphur dioxide (SO 2) concentrations were not significantly associated with stroke mortality. However, SO 2 − concentrations were significantly associated with stroke-case-fatality rate of >8 % independent of residence area-type and area use (OR 1.518 [95%CI 1.012–2.278], P = 0.044). Elevated long-term air pollution levels in residential areas in Germany, notably of benzene, O 3 , NO, SO 2, and PM 2.5 , were associated with increased stroke mortality of patients. Evidence before this study: Besides typical, established risk factors, increasing evidence suggests that air pollution is an important and growing risk factor for stroke events, estimated to be responsible for approximately 14 % of all stroke-associated deaths. However, real-world data regarding the impact of long-term exposure to air pollution on stroke mortality are sparse. Added value of this study: The present study demonstrates that the long-term exposure to the air pollutants benzene, O 3 , NO, SO 2 and PM 2.5 are independently associated with increased case-fatality of hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke in Germany. Implications of all the available evidence: The results of our study support the urgent need to reduce the exposure to air pollution by tightening emission controls to reduce the stroke burden and stroke mortality. Panel A - In-hospital case-fatality rate of ischemic stroke patients residing in the different federal districts of Germany. Panel B - Impact of air pollution on increased stroke mortality. [Display omitted] • Air pollution is an important risk factor for stroke, but data regarding impact on mortality are sparse • Long-term exposure to the air pollutants benzene, O 3 , NO, SO 2 and PM 2.5 are associated with increased in-hospital case-fatality • Our study support the need to reduce air pollution exposures to reduce stroke burden and stroke mortality [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coal is an imperative source of energy, which on combustion, it emits sulphur dioxide, which cause air pollution. In the present study, microwave mediated desulphurization of coal was investigated and input variables were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). The proximate analysis and ultimate analysis report indicate the sample belongs to subbituminous having sulphur (6.96%), volatile matter (34.5%) and calorific value (5099 kcal/kg). Under microwave irradiation, up to 68% of sulphur was leached in alkaline medium. The particle size of coal, concentration of potassium hydroxide (KOH), microwave exposure time and power of microwave radiation were systematically optimized for maximum desulphurization of the coal. Under optimum conditions of the process variables, 63.06% desulphurization of coal was achieved. The optimum levels of process variables are as, particle size 500 µm, irradiation time 8.54 min, radiation power 720 W and concentration of KOH 15% (w/v). Findings revealed that the microwave-assisted desulphurization under alkaline condition furnished promising efficiency, which can be employed for the desulphurization of coal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is directly linked to a lower concentration in organic acids in grape berries, leading to higher pHs in wine. Because of this lack of acidity, many important factors are impacted, as wine acidity and pH play a crucial role in various equilibriums. Indeed, the lower acidity and the higher pH modify the parameters of wine, such as free and molecular sulfur dioxide availability, colour and sensory aspects. Therefore, it is an ongoing challenge for winemakers to deal with wine acidification and thus preserve wine physico-chemical properties and prevent early spoilage due to microbiological instability induced by high pH. Different acidification methods are allowed by the OIV, chemical acidification being one the most common, followed by physical acidification and microbiological acidification. This review examines these three methods of acidification. The first part details chemical acidification and gives a complete description of various organic acids used in winemaking, and their different properties and regulations; the second part focuses on physical acidification, such as cation exchange resins and electrodialysis; and the last part briefly reviews the novelty of microbiological acidification in wine.

Abstract The effect of three reducing agents (sulphur dioxide, pyrite and carbon) on tungsten extraction from a scheelite-wolframite concentrate with chlorine gas was assessed. A low-grade ore (0.9% w/w WO3) was collected in the San Martín department, San Luis Province, Argentina, and subsequently enriched by physical means (65.73% w/w WO3). The minerals identified and their reactivities with chlorine were: scheelite (reactive), wolframite (reactive), pyrite (reactive), quartz (inert) and feldspars (inert). The metal recovered as WO2Cl2, with the different reagent combinations, was in increasing order: Cl2 + N2 < Cl2 + SO2 < pyrite + Cl2 + N2 < pyrite +Cl2 + SO2 < carbon + Cl2 + N2. It was proved that, according to its content, the pyrite initially present in the ore improves chlorination performance. At the same time, the non-volatile reaction products formed - CaCl2 and/or CaSO4 - and the manner of removing the nascent (desorbed) oxygen change depending on the reducing agent tested.

Considering that some researchers point to a possible influence of air pollution on COVID-19 transmission, severity, and death rate, the aim of our in silico study was to determine the relationship between the key air pollutants [sulphur dioxide (SO), carbon monoxide (CO), 2particulate matter (PMx), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3)] and COVID-19 complications using the publicly available toxicogenomic analytical and prediction tools: (i) Comparative Toxicogenomic Database (CTD) to identify genes common to air pollutants and COVID-19 complications; (ii) GeneMANIA to construct a network of these common and related genes; (iii) ToppGene Suite to extract the most important biological processes and molecular pathways; and (iv) DisGeNET to search for the top gene-disease pairs. SO2, CO, PMx, NO2, and O3 interacted with 6, 6, 18, 9, and 12 COVID-19-related genes, respectively. Four of these are common for all pollutants (IL10, IL6, IL1B, and TNF) and participate in most (77.64 %) physical interactions. Further analysis pointed to cytokine binding and cytokine-mediated signalling pathway as the most important molecular function and biological process, respectively. Other molecular functions and biological processes are mostly related to cytokine activity and inflammation, which might be connected to the cytokine storm and resulting COVID-19 complications. The final step singled out the link between the CEBPA gene and acute myelocytic leukaemia and between TNFRSF1A and TNF receptor-associated periodic fever syndrome. This indicates possible complications in COVID-19 patients suffering from these diseases, especially those living in urban areas with poor air quality.

Objective: To explore if clinical and epidemiological features of patients positive for coronavirus disease-2019 are affected by somatic work stress. Method: The retrospective study was conducted at Kafrelsheik University Hospital, Egypt, and comprised data of patients admitted between April 1, to June 6, 2020, with confirmed coronavirus disease-2019 infection. Health records of healthy subjects who had come to the hospital as part of their routine check-up were also included for comparison, and the researchers were blinded during the gathering and analysis phase. Demographic features, vital signs, infection severity, somatic workload of the patients’ jobs at admission, and detailed discharge profile was noted. The relationship between clinical features and somatic work stress was evaluated. Data was analysed using SPSS 26. Results: Of the 1072 cases, 602(56.2%) were men and 470(43.8%) were women. The overall median age was 43 years (interquartile range: 29 years). The healthy group had 500 random subjects. There were significant differences in all vital signs between the patients and healthy controls (p0.05). The overall mortality was 69(6.4%); 46(4.3%) men and 23(2.2%) women. There was no significant association between gender and outcome (p>0.05). There were 816(76.11%) patients with lowintensity physical workload pre-infection, 136(12.68%) moderate and 120(11.19%) high. Infection severity was significantly high in the low-intensity group (p0.05). Conclusion: Coronavirus disease-2019 significantly affected patients’ vital signs, and infection severity was significantly associated with physical work stress. However, mortality and pre-infection somatic workload were not associated. Keywords: Sulphur dioxide, COVID-19, Epidemiologists, Healthy volunteers, Polymerase, Demography.

Bromine monoxide (BrO) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) are two gases frequently observed in volcanic plumes by spectroscopic techniques capable of continuous gas monitoring like, e.g., Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS). The spatio-temporal resolution of DOAS measurements, however, only allows to determine average gas fluxes (minutes to hours resolution). In particular, it is insufficient to record two-dimensional images of SO2 and BrO in real-time (seconds time resolution). Thus, it is impossible to resolve details of chemical conversions of reactive plume constituents. However, these details are vital for further understanding reactive halogen chemistry in volcanic plumes. Therefore, instruments that combine high spatio-temporal resolution and high gas sensitivity and selectivity are required. In addition, these instruments must be robust and compact to be suitable for measurements in harsh and remote volcanic environments. Imaging Fabry-Pérot interferometer (FPI) correlation spectroscopy (IFPICS) is a novel technique for atmospheric trace gas imaging. It allows measuring atmospheric gas column density (CD) distributions with a high spatial and temporal resolution, while at the same time providing selectivity and sensitivity comparable to DOAS measurements. IFPICS uses the periodic transmission spectrum of an FPI, that is matched to the periodic narrowband (vibrational) absorption features of the target trace gas. Recently, IFPICS has been successfully applied to volcanic SO2. Here we demonstrate the applicability of IFPICS to much weaker (about two orders of magnitude) trace gas optical densities, such as that of BrO in volcanic plumes. Due to its high reactivity, BrO is extremely difficult to handle in the laboratory. Thus, based on the similarity of the UV absorption cross sections, we used formaldehyde (HCHO) as a spectral proxy for BrO in instrument characterization measurements. Furthermore, we present recent advances in SO2 IFPICS measurements and simultaneous measurements of SO2 and BrO from a field campaign at Mt Etna in July 2021. We find photon shot-noise limited detection limits of 4.7 × 1017 molec s0.5 cm−2 for SO2 and of 8.9 × 1014 molec s0.5 cm−2 for BrO at a spatial resolution of 512 × 512 pixels and 200 × 200 pixels, respectively. Furthermore, an estimate for the BrO to SO2 ratio (around 10–4) in the volcanic plume is given. The prototype instrument presented here provides spatially resolved measurements of the reactive volcanic plume component BrO. The temporal resolution of our approach allows studies of chemical conversions inside volcanic plumes on their intrinsic timescale.

Since its introduction to volcanology in the mid-2000 s, the SO2 camera has become an important instrument for the acquisition of accurate and high time-resolution SO2 emission rates, aiding in hazard assessment and volcanological research. However, with the exception of a few locations (Stromboli, Etna, Kīlauea), hitherto the majority of measurements have been made on discrete field campaigns, which provide only brief snapshots into a volcano’s activity. Here, we present the development of a new, low-cost, low-power SO2 camera for permanent deployment on volcanoes, facilitating long-term, quasi-continuous (daylight hours only) measurements. We then discuss preliminary datasets from Lascar and Kīlauea volcanoes, where instruments are now in continuous operation. Further proliferation of such instrumentation has the potential to greatly improve our understanding of the transient nature of volcanic activity, as well as aiding volcano monitoring/eruption forecasting.

Predicting air quality is a very important task, as it is known to have a significant impact on health. The Bay of Algeciras (Spain) is a highly industrialised area with one of the largest superports in Europe. During the period 2017–2019, different data were recorded in the monitoring stations of the bay, forming a database of 131 variables (air pollutants, meteorological information, and vessel data), which were predicted in the Algeciras station using long short-term memory models. Four different approaches have been developed to make SO2 and NO2 forecasts 1 h and 4 h in Algeciras. The first uses the remaining 130 exogenous variables. The second uses only the time series data without exogenous variables. The third approach consists of using an autoregressive time series arrangement as input, and the fourth one is similar, using the time series together with wind and ship data. The results showed that SO2 is better predicted with autoregressive information and NO2 is better predicted with ships and wind autoregressive time series, indicating that NO2 is closely related to combustion engines and can be better predicted. The interest of this study is based on the fact that it can serve as a resource for making informed decisions for authorities, companies, and citizens alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global concerns regarding air quality have over the past decade led to the introduction of regulations by the International Maritime Organisation curbing the emissions of sulphur and nitrogen oxides (SOx, NOx). These limits were implemented initially in so-called "emission control areas", defined where the density of shipping activity combines with large coastal population centres such as northwest Europe or eastern USA. However, any legislation requires a scientifically robust and rigorous monitoring program to ensure compliance and prove attribution to an individual vessel. We argue the case for adherence to the mantra "faster, better, cheaper", where widespread adoption of independent low-cost solutions of onboard, in-stack sensors, combined with existing, globally ubiquitous satellite-based "automatic identification system" (AIS) data telemetry, provides an excellent solution to the affordable compliance and attribution conundrum for shipping companies and enforcement agencies alike. We present data from three field-campaigns which have significantly advanced the concept of onboard real-time monitoring of atmospheric ship emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is mostly used as an antioxidant additive in winemaking, but excessive levels may be harmful to both wine quality and consumers health. During fermentation, yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae contributes significantly to final SO2 levels, and low-producing strains become especially interesting for the wine industry. Recent evidence implicating the impairment of sulphate transport in the SO2 decrease prompted us to further investigate the sulphate/sulphite metabolic connection in multiple winery yeast strains. Here, we inactivated by CRISPR/Cas9 the high-affinity sulphate permeases (Sul1p and Sul2p) in four strains normally used in winemaking, selected by their different abilities to produce SO2. Mutant strains were then used to perform fermentation assays in different types of natural must, and the final levels of SO2 and other secondary metabolites, crucial for wine organoleptic properties, were further determined for all fermentation products. Overall, data demonstrated the double ΔSUL1/ΔSUL2 inactivation in winery strains significantly decreases the levels of SO2 produced by mutant cells, without however altering both yeast fermentative properties and the ability to release relevant metabolites. Since similar effects were observed in diverse must types for strains with different features, the data strongly support that sulphate assimilation is the determining factor in SO2 production during oenological fermentations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The probabilistic general model of environmental pollution process based on the semi-Markov one is developed and presented in the paper. The semi-Markov chain model approach is based on using prior information to predict the characteristic of some systems. Now, the semi-Markov process is used for the environmental pollution assessment. The methods and procedures to estimate the environmental pollution process's basic parameters such as the vector of initial probabilities and the matrix of probabilities of transition between the process's states as well as the methods and procedures to identify the process conditional sojourn times' distributions at the particular environmental pollution states and their mean values are proposed and defined. Next, the formulae to predict the main characteristics of the environmental pollution process such as the limit values of transient probabilities and mean total sojourn times in the particular states in the fixed time interval are given. Finally, the application of the presented model and methods for modelling, identification and prediction of the air environmental pollution process generated by sulphur dioxide within the exemplary industrial agglomeration is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peroxymonocarbonate anion, HCO4−, the covalent adduct between the carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide anion, effectively reacts with SO2 in the gas phase following three oxidative routes. Mass spectrometric and electronic structure calculations show that sulphur dioxide is oxidised through a common intermediate to the hydrogen sulphate anion, sulphur trioxide, and sulphur trioxide anion as primary products through formal HO2−, oxygen atom, and oxygen ion transfers. The hydrogen sulphite anion is also formed as a secondary product from the oxygen atom transfer path. The uncommon nucleophilic behaviour of HCO4− is disclosed by the Lewis acidic properties of SO2, an amphiphilic molecule that forms intermediates with characteristic and diagnostic geometries with peroxymonocarbonate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucalyptus biomass-fired boilers generally experience severe problems with deposit formation and are expected to suffer from severe superheater corrosion at high temperatures due to the large alkali and chlorine content in eucalyptus biomass. The unique deposition layer structure and corrosion mechanism of eucalyptus-fired boilers are discussed in this paper. It was found that a unique sandwich like cell-membrane structure on the heating surface was formed in eucalyptus biomass-fired boilers. Chlorine acts as a catalyst, circulates the reaction and causes serious corrosion. The oxides at the junction of the corrosion layer and the matrix mainly penetrate along the grain boundary of the matrix, forming a unique network structure. There is obvious internal oxidation and mass transfer along the grain boundary in the matrix of 12Cr2MoWVTiB steel pipe, and no obvious internal oxidation in SA213T91 steel pipe due to its fine and uniform grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sulphur dioxide (SO2) concentration can be monitored via its absorbance in the ultraviolet (UV) region. To address the absence of a systematic study on the UV absorbance of varying SO2 concentrations, a multispectral imaging method was implemented in the present study. SO2 concentrations and various environmental conditions were controlled by a purpose-built environmental control system with a light path of 4.2 m. Five narrow-band-pass filters in front of a UV camera were used to implement multispectral imaging. Regression models of the relationship between UV absorbance and SO2 concentration at each wavelength are presented. Their residuals were kept relatively small by adopting Jenks natural breaks analysis, with a maximum standard deviation of 0.086. Temperature and SO2 concentrations were significantly associated with UV absorbance. Furthermore, smoothed look-up tables were developed to explicitly elucidate the correlation between UV absorbance and SO2. These have been represented as heat maps, showcasing an example of library construction using a combination of abundant research data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]