Bio-transformation of poultry litter and activated sewage sludge to produce biomixtures for the remediation of water polluted with pesticides.

The aim of this study was to formulate novel biomixtures with the ability to dissipate globally used pesticides. For this, an effective stabilization of two wastes, poultry litter and activated sewage sludge, was achieved through a combination of composting and vermicomposting, with the aid of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Hence, two different mixtures were prepared combining the wastes with and without the addition of sewage sludge, and their physicochemical and microbiological characterization was examined during both processes.

Bioremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soil using local organic materials and earthworms.

Bioremediation technologies have demonstrated significant success on biological quality recovery of hydrocarbon contaminated soils, employing techniques among which composting and vermiremediation stand out. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of these processes to remediate diesel-contaminated soil, employing local organic materials and earthworms. During the initial composting stage (75 days), the substrate was made up using contaminated soil, lombricompost, rice hulls and wheat stubbles (60:20:15:5% w/w).

Poultry litter stabilization by two-stage composting-vermicomposting process: Environmental, energetic and economic performance.

Poultry litter (PL) is a heterogeneous mixture that contains bedding materials, antibiotics, dead skin, feed scraps, water, feathers and the resulting microbiota from poultry production cycle. Although its treatment does not receive attention, it is an important organic resource generated in the north-east region of Santa Fe Province since animal primary production is one of the main economic activities there and in the whole country. The objective of this work was to analyse the economic and energy aspects and the environmental impact of two scenarios corresponding to treat two different mixtures of organic wastes: Eucalyptus sp.

Microparticles based on ionic and organosolv lignins for the controlled release of atrazine.

Lignins are natural polymers of the lignocellulosic biomass. Nowadays, there is a growing interest in developing value-added products based on lignins due to their renewability, low cost and abundance. In this work, lignin microspheres from organosolv and ionic isolation processes were prepared for the controlled release of atrazine.

Water disinfection with UVC radiation and H2O2. A comparative study.

A generalized kinetic model resulting from several modifications of the one originally known as the Series Event Model has been applied to describe three different disinfection processes and compare their efficiencies. The work was performed in a well-defined, versatile batch reactor employing Escherichia coli as a subrogate bacteria. The following systems were studied: (i) UVC radiation alone, (ii) hydrogen peroxide alone and (iii) UVC radiation combined with hydrogen peroxide.