The Impacts of Plastic Waste from Personal Protective Equipment Used during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The period from 2019 to 2022 has been defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in an unprecedented demand for and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). However, the disposal of PPE without considering its environmental impact and proper waste management practices has become a growing concern. The increased demand for PPE during the pandemic and associated waste management practices have been analyzed.

Impacts of illegal fishing in the inland waters of the State of Santa Catarina -Brazil.

Fish stocks are being severely depleted, marine habitats are threatened and marine pollution is on the rise due to discarded fishing gear. This equipment is generally from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, leading to incidental fishing and sometimes ghost fishing. In this study, data obtained from reports produced by the Environmental Military Police in Santa Catarina, Brazil, on gill nets fixed in the coastal area and at the baseline limit of this state, for the period of 2019 to 2020, were analyzed.

Influence of non-thermal plasma reactor geometry and plasma gas on the inactivation of Escherichia coli in water.

The inactivation of bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) by non-thermal plasma (NTP) was investigated using argon, air and 1:1 mixture of air/Ar as plasma gas on five different reactors. The experiments were carried out in triplicate in each reactor, using 60 mL of distilled water pre-inoculated with E.

Effects of different photoperiod and trophic conditions on biomass, protein and lipid production by the marine alga Nannochloropsis gaditana at optimal concentration of desalination concentrate.

This study investigated the cultivation of the marine alga Nannochloropsis gaditana in a medium based on desalination concentrate (DC) with an optimal concentration of 75% DC, under three trophic conditions and four photoperiod schedules. N. gaditana produced a peak biomass concentration (1.

Biomass, lipid productivities and fatty acids composition of marine Nannochloropsis gaditana cultured in desalination concentrate.

In this study the feasibility of growing marine Nannochloropsis gaditana in desalination concentrate (DC) was explored and the influence of the DC concentration on the biomass growth, lipid productivities and fatty acids composition was assessed. The reuse of the medium with the optimum DC concentration in successive algal cultivation cycles and the additional of a carbon source to the optimized medium were also evaluated. On varying the DC concentration, the maximum biomass concentration (0.

Final treatment of spent batteries by thermal plasma.

The growth in the use of wireless devices, notebooks and other electronic products has led to an ever increasing demand for batteries, leading to these products being commonly found in inappropriate locations, with adverse effects on the environment and human health. Due to political pressure and according to the environmental legislation which regulates the destination of spent batteries, in several countries the application of reverse logistics to hazardous waste is required. Thus, some processes have been developed with the aim of providing an appropriate destination for these products.

Stereo and scanning electron microscopy of in-shell Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.): part two-surface sound nut fungi spoilage susceptibility.

This work reports the in-shell Brazil nut spoilage susceptible morpho-histological characteristics and fungi infection (shell, edible part, and brown skin) through stereo and scanning electron microscopies (SEM). The following characteristics related to shell (a) morphology-that allow fungi and insects' entrance to inner nut, and (b) histology-that allow humidity absorption, improving environment conditions for living organisms development, were identified. (a.

Stereoscopy and scanning electron microscopy of Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.) shell, brown skin, and edible part: part one--healthy nut.

Unlabelled: In this article, tissue layers and cells characteristics of the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.

Inertization of heavy metals present in galvanic sludge by DC thermal plasma.

Galvanic sludge results from the treatment of effluents generated by the industrial metal surface treatment of industrial material, which consists in the deposition of a metal on a surface or a metal surface attack, for example, electrodeposition of conductors (metals) and non conductive, phosphate, anodizing, oxidation and/or printed circuit. The treatment proposed here is exposure of the galvanic sludge to the high temperatures provided by thermal plasma, a process which aims to vitrify the galvanic sludge and render metals (iron, zinc, and chromium) inert. Two different plasma reactors were assembled: with a DC transferred arc plasma torch and with a DC nontransferred arc plasma torch.