Assessment of bio-availability of Cd, Pb, As and Tl via Gastric/Intestinal Digestion in Plants Collected From Different Kenyan Regions

In this study, total and bio-available levels of cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), arsenic (As) and Thallium (Tl) in 19 Kenya plants from two study sites (Manga and Borabu) were evaluated. ICP-MS technique was used to determine total Cd, Pb, As and Tl contents, while ultra-filtration and physiological extraction tests evaluated bio-accessibility of these elements. The plants had low concentrations; Cd (0.27±0.02 and 0.26±0.02), As (0.32±0.02 and 0.48±0.04), Tl (0.07± 0.02 and 0.06±0.01) and Pb (1.23±0.11 and 1.16±0.10) mg/kg in Manga and Borabu sites. However, sequential ultra-filtration showed more than 70% high molecular weight species (>10 kDa) predominated with Pb, Cd and Tl. The physiological based tests showed Cd, Pb, As and Tl extracted enzymatically were significantly higher (0.45±0.11, 0.46±0.12, 0.37±0.10 and 0.81±0.19µg/g) than aquatically extracted (0.32±0.07, 0.34±0.11, 0.26±0.08 and 0.50±0.27) µg/g, (p<0.05). Low bio-accessibility levels of these elements in medicinal plants justifies their use therapeutically.

The Treatment of Wastewater Produced from Al-Doura Refinery to Increase Production and Minimize Pollutant Materials

The undertaken study includes investigating the performance and effluent characteristics of the treatment plant of Al-Doura refinery. Influent concentrations for some important contaminants, which are TDS, oil and grease, TSS, COD, BOD, and turbidity were 2595 mg/L, 13934 mg/L, 466.45 mg/L, 2538.9 mg/L, 1739.2 mg/L, and 89.18 NTU, respectively, while the effluent concentrations were 1337.8 mg/L, 0.53mg/L, 21.7mg/L, 25.45 mg/L, 17.81 mg/L, and 7.08 NTU, respectively, giving removal efficiencies of 44.47%, 99.99%, 94.4%, 98.96%, 98.96% and 92.05%, respectively. All these results indicate that Al-Doura wastewater treatment plant was efficient in removing contaminants according to Iraqi and EPA specifications. Hence, the second part of this study concentrated on finding a simple and efficient treatment method to treat the effluent so that it can be reused in the boiler system. A pilot plant was designed and dedicated for this purpose, including three units of granular activated carbon filter, ultra filtration filter, and reverse osmosis filter. Average removal efficiencies of oil and grease, turbidity, COD, and BOD were 85.25%, 100%, 34.92%, and 31.11%, respectively at the granular activated carbon filter, with very low efficiencies for the removal of TDs and conductivity. Ultra filtration showed average removal efficiencies for COD and BOD of 30.81% and 32.31%, respectively. While the average removal efficiencies for TDs and conductivity was very low. The reverse osmosis filter removed TDs and conductivity very efficiently, giving average removal efficiencies of 97.63% and 95.43%, respectively. In addition, it provided good removal percentages for COD and BOD, with values of 61.73% and 64.1%, respectively. A recycling procedure was created and the results were eventually comparable to those conferred by some of the traditional approaches.

Analysis of the Relationships between Mean Red Blood Cell Volume, Red Blood Cell Distribution Width and Hypotension in Patients with Hemodialysis

Background: We aimed to explore and analyze the relationships between mean corpuscular volume (MCV), red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and hypotension in patients with hemodialysis. Methods: The clinical data of 163 patients from the Xinghua People’s Hospital, Taizhou, China with hemodialysis were retrospectively analyzed. The incidence of hypotension was counted and the levels of MCV and RDW were compared between the patients with and without hemodialysis. MCV and RDW were analyzed as possible influencing factors of hypotension. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn to analyze the effect of MCV and RDW on the risk assessment of hypotension in patients with hemodialysis. Results: MCV in patients with hypotension was significantly lower than those without hypotension (P < 0.05), and RDW was higher than those without hypotension (P < 0.05). The constituent ratio of higher age (>60), diabetic nephropathy, maintenance hemodialysis, MCV < 80fl, RDW > 14.8%, malnutrition, anemia, ultra-filtration rate, diet during dialysis, coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation and antihypertensive drugs before dialysis were higher in patients with hypotension than those without hypotension (P < 0.05). The sensitivity, specificity and AUC of the combination of MCV and RDW were higher than those of the single assessment. MCV is lower in patients with hypotension and RDW is higher than those in patients without hypotension. Conclusion: MCV combined with RDW has a good evaluation effect.

NEPRHOGENIC ASCITES: A CASE OF POORLY UNSTATED SYNDROME

Nephrogenic ascites is a controversial and very rare entity; it was described for the first time in 1970.It is often described as an antites of ascites in patients undergoing renal transplant therapy with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This condition is thought to be multifactorial in origin resulting from including amalgamation of malnutrition, inadequate dialysis and ultra-filtration with resultant uraemia and increased peritoneal membrane permeability. Prognosis is often grave particularly if timely diagnosis is not done with ensuing treatment. We are talking about the story of a 40-year-old man with no medical history who once reported to us the discomfort, nausea and vomiting that lasted for two days. He was found to have multiple ascites. A diagnostic paracentesis was performed and it was revealed that the patient had Hepatic, cardiovascular, infectious and dangerous causes of ascites were not excluded after a thorough examination. The cause of ascites was determined to be phrogenic. Patient showed excellent renal recovery and disappearance of ascites which makes this case quite unusual given the setting of absence of chronic disease of kidney as well as liver.

Produced Water Treatment Planning Using Corrugated Plate Interceptor and Ultra Filtration for Water Recycling

Produced water generated by the oil and gas industry, when treated properly, will produce water that is ready to be reused, such as for watering plants. This planning is done by treating the produced water with Corrugated Plate Interceptor (CPI) and Ultra Filtration units. This research aims to analyze the design details needed in the recycling of produced water with CPI and Ultra Filtration units. After determining the design criteria used, the dimensions for each unit are obtained. Data was collected using secondary data directly from the study site and quantitative method was used for data analysis. The land area for one CPI unit requires 55 m2 with a volume of 110 m3. The Reynolds number and Froude number for CPI units meet the design criteria with 419.8 and 0.24, respectively. The ultra-filtration unit was selected with a Flux specification of 0.15 m3/m2.hour with an operational duration of 24 hours. The results of processing with the CPI unit can at least produce oil and fat effluent of 0.038 mg/L, with the threshold for water quality is 1 mg/L. Produced water treatment planning with CPI configuration and UF membrane with storage tank requires a total land area of 63.97 m2..

A Study on the Hydrolysis of Urea Contained in Wastewater and Continuous Recovery of Ammonia by an Enzymatic Membrane Reactor

1. Background: Urea is the main product of the nitrogenous breakdown of protein metabolism in mammals. In this study, process intensification for enzymatic hydrolysis of urea by urease enzyme (jack bean urease) was examined in a membrane reactor. 2. Methods: Batch and continuous enzymatic hydrolysis reactions were performed at different substrate concentrations to determine the digestibility and affinity of the substrate with that of the enzyme. The hydrolysate samples were obtained by an optimized continuous enzyme membrane reactor (EMR) coupled with an ultra-filtration membrane (250 kDa). Feed concentration varied from 100 to 500 mg/L. Laboratory experiments were conducted at room temperature (20 ± 1 °C), with a flow rate of 20 mL/min, urease concentration of 0.067 g/L, ionic strength (I = 0, 0.01, 0.05), and ammonium nitrogen addition of (0, 100 mg/L, 200 mg/L, 500 mg/L). Moreover, the effect of ionic strength, ammonium nitrogen concentration, feed concentration, and enzyme concentration on urea hydrolysis was examined. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) analysis were used to identify the physicochemical properties as well as the elemental composition of the Ultra-Filtration membrane used in this study. 3. Results: The study revealed that higher ionic strength and higher concentrations of NH4SO2 and ammonium nitrogen (NH3-N) inhibithydrolysis of urea by reducing the urease enzyme activity in the system over time. 4. Conclusions: Herein, a sustainable alternative for the conversion of urea to ammonia by utilizing urease in an EMR was demonstrated.

Water Sustainability: Current and Future Challenges at SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India

SRMIST has healthy approach to sustainability, incorporating social economic and environmental principles that have been in place for nearly a decade implementing short and long-term sustainable objectives. SRMIST developed, maintained the estate, and the surrounding landscape, with due environmental impact and social values and implemented effective, efficient utility management measures, policies and procedures. The 2018/2019 UI Green Metric ranked SRMIST as 9 th in India and 392nd in Global Ranking overall and 264th rank globally and 9th rank in India for water parameter and 3rd in the Nation and 243rd globally and 2nd rank nationally and 42nd rank globally for water. SRM IST improved implementation of the water conservation and recycling program from 75% in 2018 to 95 % in 2019. Water efficient appliances increased > 70% and has a long-term commitment for conservation of water by regularly monitoring the use of water with regular meters. SRMIST has 20 RO plants running 24x7 collecting 31,000L per day for all and installing Ultra Filtration unit. SRMIST’s goal is to reduce per capita water consumption varies from 3.7m3 to 3.3m. Among the 4600 M3 waste water generated an average 4140 M3 wastewater is treated and recycled. Rainwater harvesting pits have been constructed in 65% college buildings and hostels is used for the water recharge in the campus and the rainwater stored in the roof tanks are used for toilet flushing.

Investigating the effect of pH, different concentrations of glutamate acid and salt on production in low-fat probiotic cheese

Background and Objectives: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-protein amino acid produced by lactic acid bacteria. Among GABA-producing bacteria, lactic acid bacteria have received more attention due to their probiotic nature and properties such as inhibiting pathogenic bacteria, strengthening the immune system, and so on. Materials and Methods: Investigation on the effect of three independent variables including pH (4.7, 4.9 and 5.1), glutamic acid (1, 2 and 3 mgg-1) and salt (2, 2.5 and 3%) on GABA production in low fat cheese by probiotic bacteria. Results: By increasing the amount of glutamic acid and decreasing the pH from 5.1 to 4.7, the amount of GABA production in ultra-filtration cheese significantly increased on the 15th and 30th days of production (p≤0.05), while by increasing the amount of salt the production GABA decreased on the 15th and 30th days. Simultaneous optimal conditions to achieve maximum GABA production in cheese on the 15th and 30th production day was respectively 167.7917 mg/kg-1 and 220.125 mg/ kg-1 using 3 mg/g glutamic acid, 2% salt at pH 4.7. Conclusion: The results showed that by identifying probiotic bacteria with the highest potential for GABA production and optimizing the culture medium, more GABA can be produced in food products and a positive step can be taken to produce pragmatic products and promote consumer health.