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Composites of polyurethane and graphite and polyurethane and carbon nanofibers (PU/Graphite 0.5% and PU/CNF 1%) were synthesized and used as anodes in dual-compartment microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for municipal wastewater treatment; electrical energy generation and organic matter removal were assessed. The maximum power density, coulombic efficiency and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency in the MFCs packed with the PU/Graphite 0.5% and PU/CNF 1% composites were 232.32 mW/m3 and 90.78 mW/m3, 5.87 and 4.41%, and 51.38 and 68.62%, respectively. In addition, the internal resistance of the MFCs with the best bioelectrochemical performance (PU/Graphite 0.5%) was 1051.11 Ω. The results obtained in this study demonstrate the feasibility of using these types of materials in dual-compartment MFCs for wastewater treatment with electric power generation.
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A comparison between microwave and ultrasound irradiations in the agave pretreatment using dilute sulfuric acid as catalyst was assessed for the first time. Pretreatments were performed using a Taguchi Orthogonal Array L9 (34) to improve the hemicellulose removal and the agave digestibility. The results showed that under optimal conditions, the hemicellulose removal was superior in the pretreatment assisted with microwave (77.5%) compared to ultrasound (28.2%). Enzymatic hydrolysis yield of agave pretreated with microwave (MWOC) was 2-fold higher than agave pretreated with ultrasound (USOC). The relatively mild conditions of pretreatment with MWOC allowed to obtain a hydrolyzed free of inhibitors with a high glucose concentration (47.7 g/L) at low solids loading (10% w/v). However, these conditions did not have a significant effect over the agave pretreated with ultrasound. The pretreatment assisted with MWOC allowed to reduce time and temperature of the process compared to pretreatment with conventional heating.
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Agave , Celulose , Hidrólise , Micro-OndasRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QoL) has been included as a marker of treatment effectiveness in pediatric patients with chronic diseases. We believe that frequent multidisciplinary interventions and patient education could lead to an improvement in QoL. AIMS: Determine the QoL and economic impact of monthly interventions in multidisciplinary treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Haemo-QoL questionnaire was applied to patients who attended the hemophilia center of the University Hospital "Dr. José Eleuterio González," Monterrey, Mexico, at the time of enrollment and 1 year later. RESULTS: Male patients between 4 and 16 years diagnosed with hemophilia were included. The score results presented are based on Haemo-QoL versions that classify patients by their age group: group 1 (4 to 7 y) and group 2 (8 to 12 y). Statistical significant improvement was observed in the overall score (sociodemographic, psychosocial, etc.) after 1 year of follow-up in both groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Impact on the QoL of patients receiving this approach was favorable. Improvement was observed regardless of severity and in those who were already in prophylaxis, suggesting that this type of approach could be causing the improvement. Results support the application of multidisciplinary treatment as the gold standard, and it should be considered in all centers including those with limited resources.
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Hemofilia A/terapia , Qualidade de Vida , Inquéritos e Questionários , Adolescente , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Nível de Saúde , Hemofilia A/diagnóstico , Humanos , Masculino , México , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
In this work, three Clostridium strains were tested for butanol production from Agave lechuguilla hydrolysates to select one for co-culturing. The agave hydrolysates medium was supplemented with nutrients and reducing agents to promote anaerobiosis. Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 had the highest butanol production (6.04â¯g/L) and was selected for further analyses. In the co-culture process, Bacillus subtilis CDBB 555 was used to deplete oxygen and achieve anaerobic conditions required for butanol production. The co-culture was prepared with C. acetobutylicum and B. subtilis without anaerobic pretreatment. Butanol production in co-culture from agave hydrolysates was compared with experiments using synthetic medium with glucose and a pure culture of C. acetobutylicum. The maximum butanol concentration obtained was 8.28â¯g/L in the co-cultured hydrolysate medium. Results obtained in the present work demonstrated that agave hydrolysates have the potential for butanol production using a co-culture of B. subtilis and C. acetobutylicum without anaerobic pretreatment.