Spacelab Charcoal Analyses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Slivon, L. E.; Hernon-Kenny, L. A.; Katona, V. R.; Dejarme, L. E.

1995-01-01

This report describes analytical methods and results obtained from chemical analysis of 31 charcoal samples in five sets. Each set was obtained from a single scrubber used to filter ambient air on board a Spacelab mission. Analysis of the charcoal samples was conducted by thermal desorption followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). All samples were analyzed using identical methods. The method used for these analyses was able to detect compounds independent of their polarity or volatility. In addition to the charcoal samples, analyses of three Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) water samples were conducted specifically for trimethylamine.

Iridium emissions from Hawaiian volcanoes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Finnegan, D. L.; Zoller, W. H.; Miller, T. M.

1988-01-01

Particle and gas samples were collected at Mauna Loa volcano during and after its eruption in March and April, 1984 and at Kilauea volcano in 1983, 1984, and 1985 during various phases of its ongoing activity. In the last two Kilauea sampling missions, samples were collected during eruptive activity. The samples were collected using a filterpack system consisting of a Teflon particle filter followed by a series of 4 base-treated Whatman filters. The samples were analyzed by INAA for over 40 elements. As previously reported in the literature, Ir was first detected on particle filters at the Mauna Loa Observatory and later from non-erupting high temperature vents at Kilauea. Since that time Ir was found in samples collected at Kilauea and Mauna Loa during fountaining activity as well as after eruptive activity. Enrichment factors for Ir in the volcanic fumes range from 10,000 to 100,000 relative to BHVO. Charcoal impregnated filters following a particle filter were collected to see if a significant amount of the Ir was in the gas phase during sample collection. Iridium was found on charcoal filters collected close to the vent, no Ir was found on the charcoal filters. This indicates that all of the Ir is in particulate form very soon after its release. Ratios of Ir to F and Cl were calculated for the samples from Mauna Loa and Kilauea collected during fountaining activity. The implications for the KT Ir anomaly are still unclear though as Ir was not found at volcanoes other than those at Hawaii. Further investigations are needed at other volcanoes to ascertain if basaltic volcanoes other than hot spots have Ir enrichments in their fumes.

Effect of sorbitol, single, and multidose activated charcoal administration on carprofen absorption following experimental overdose in dogs.

PubMed

Koenigshof, Amy M; Beal, Matthew W; Poppenga, Robert H; Jutkowitz, L Ari

2015-01-01

To compare the effectiveness of single dose activated charcoal, single dose activated charcoal with sorbitol, and multidose activated charcoal in reducing plasma carprofen concentrations following experimental overdose in dogs. Randomized, four period cross-over study. University research setting. Eight healthy Beagles. A 120 mg/kg of carprofen was administered orally to each dog followed by either (i) a single 2 g/kg activated charcoal administration 1 hour following carprofen ingestion (AC); (ii) 2 g/kg activated charcoal with 3.84 g/kg sorbitol 1 hour following carprofen ingestion (ACS); (iii) 2 g/kg activated charcoal 1 hour after carprofen ingestion and repeated every 6 hours for a total of 4 doses (MD); (iv) no treatment (control). Plasma carprofen concentrations were obtained over a 36-hour period following carprofen ingestion for each protocol. Pharmacokinetic modeling was performed and time versus concentration, area under the curve, maximum plasma concentration, time to maximum concentration, and elimination half-life were calculated and compared among the groups using ANOVA followed by Tukey's multiple comparisons test. Activated charcoal, activated charcoal with sorbitol (ACS), and multiple-dose activated charcoal (MD) significantly reduced the area under the curve compared to the control group. AC and MD significantly reduced the maximum concentration when compared to the control group. MD significantly reduced elimination half-life when compared to ACS and the control group. There were no other significant differences among the treatment groups. Activated charcoal and ACS are as effective as MD in reducing serum carprofen concentrations following experimental overdose in dogs. Prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the effectiveness of AC, ACS, and MD in the clinical setting. © Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2015.

[Adsorption mechanism of furfural onto modified rice husk charcoals].

PubMed

Deng, Yong; Wang, Xianhua; Li, Yunchao; Shao, Jing'ai; Yang, Haiping; Chen, Hanping

2015-10-01

To evaluate the absorptive characteristics of furfural onto biomass charcoals derived from rice husk pyrolysis, we studied the information of the structure and surface chemistry properties of the rice husk charcoals modified by thermal treatment under nitrogen and carbon dioxide flow and adsorption mechanism of furfural. The modified samples are labeled as RH-N2 and RH-CO2. Fresh rice husk charcoal sample (RH-450) and modified samples were characterized by elemental analysis, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and Boehm titration. The results show that fresh rice husk charcoal obtained at 450 degrees C had a large number of organic groups on its surface and poor pore structure. After the modification under nitrogen and carbon dioxide flow, oxygenic organics in rice husk charcoals decompose further, leading to the reduction of acidic functional groups on charcoals surface, and the increase of the pyrone structures of the basic groups. Meanwhile, pore structure was improved significantly and the surface area was increased, especially for the micropores. This resulted in the increase of π-π dispersion between the surfaces of rice husk charcoals and furfural molecular. With making comprehensive consideration of π-π dispersion and pore structure, the best removal efficiency of furfural was obtained by rice husk charcoal modified under carbon dioxide flow.

Impact of ancient charcoal kilns on chemical properties of several forest soils after 2 centuries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dufey, Joseph; Hardy, Brieuc; Cornelis, Jean-Thomas

2014-05-01

Pyrogenic carbon plays a major role in soil biogeochemical processes and carbon budgets. Until the early 19th century, charcoal was the unique combustible used for iron metallurgy in Wallonia (Belgium). Traditional charcoal kilns were built directly in the forest: wood logs were piled into a mound and isolated from air oxygen with a covering of vegetation residues and soil before setting fire, inducing wood pyrolysis. Nowadays, ancient wood-charring platforms are still easy to identify on the forest floor as heightened domes of 10 meters in diameter characterized by a very dark topsoil horizon containing charcoal dust and fragments. Our goal is to assess the effects of wood charring at mound kiln sites on the properties of various forest soil types in Wallonia (Belgium), after two centuries. We sampled soil by horizon in 18 ancient kiln sites to 1.20 meter depth. The adjacent charcoal-unaffected soils were sampled the same way. We also collected recent charcoal fragments and topsoil samples from a still active charcoal kiln located close to Dole (France) to apprehend the evolution of soil properties over time. The pH, total carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content, available phosphorus (Pav), cation exchange capacity at pH 7 (CEC), exchangeable cations (Ca++, Mg++, K+, Na+) and loss on ignition at 550°C (LI550) were measured on each soil sample. We separated the soil profiles in 5 groups based on the nature of soil substrate and pedogenesis for interpretation of the results. We show that the total carbon stock is significantly increased at kiln sites due to higher C concentrations and greater depth of the organo-mineral horizon. The C/N ratio in charcoal-enriched soil horizons is significantly higher than in the neighboring reference soils but clearly attenuated compared to pure wood-charcoal fragments. The CEC is higher in the charcoal-enriched soil horizons, not only due to higher C concentrations but also to increased CEC by carbon unit at kiln sites. The high negative charge of charcoal results from surface oxidation processes over time. This charge varies over quite a wide range of values according to soil type, which might be explained by the nature of the charred wood. The surface soil horizons at kiln site show a completely desaturated exchange complex, comparable to the reference soils. However, the raise of the base saturation in the underlying horizons reflects the past liming effect of ashes produced by wood charring that has been completely erased from the topsoil in 200 years. Exchangeable K+ in the topsoil layers of kiln sites is very low, which can be related to an enhanced selectivity for Mg++ and Ca++ on the exchange complex of old charred material. Similarly, very little Pav is extracted from charcoal-enriched horizons, suggesting that Pav is either reduced in quantity or in availability. Our data clearly highlight the long-term effect of the accumulation of charred material on the evolution of soil chemical properties due to charcoal ageing and nutrient leaching.

Effect of White Charcoal on COD Reduction in Wastewater Treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pijarn, Nuchanaporn; Butsee, Manipa; Buakul, Kanokwan; Seng, Hasan; Sribuarai, Tinnphat; Phonprasert, Pongtep; Taneeto, Kla; Atthameth, Prasertsil

2017-06-01

The objective of this study is to compare the COD reduction in wastewater between using coconut shell and coconut spathe white charcoal from Khlong Wat NongPra-Ong, Krathumbaen, SamutSakhon province, Thailand. The waste water samples were collected using composite sampling method. The experimental section can be divided into 2 parts. The first part was study the optimum of COD adsorption time using both white charcoals. The second part was study the optimum amount of white charcoal for chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction. The pre-treatment of wastewater was examined in parameters include temperature, alkalinity (pH), conductivity, turbidity, suspended solid (SS), total dissolved solid (TDS), and COD. The results show that both white charcoals can reduce COD of wastewater. The pH of pre-treatment wastewater had pH 9 but post-treatment wastewaters using both white charcoals have pH 8. The COD of pre-treatment wastewater had COD as 258 mg/L but post-treatment wastewater using coconut shell white charcoal had COD steady at 40 mg/L in 30 min and the amount of white charcoals 4 g. The COD of post-treatment wastewater using coconut spathe white charcoal had COD steady at 71 mg/L in 30 min and the amount of white charcoals 4 g. Therefore comparison of COD reduction between coconut shell white charcoal versus coconut spathe white charcoal found that the coconut shell white charcoal had efficiency for COD reduction better than coconut spathe white charcoal.

Assessment of in vitro cyto/genotoxicity of sequentially treated electroplating effluent on the human hepatocarcinoma HuH-7 cell line.

PubMed

Naik, Umesh Chandra; Das, Mihir Tanay; Sauran, Swati; Thakur, Indu Shekhar

2014-03-01

The present study compares in vitro toxicity of electroplating effluent after the batch treatment process with that obtained after the sequential treatment process. Activated charcoal prepared from sugarcane bagasse through chemical carbonization, and tolerant indigenous bacteria, Bacillus sp. strain IST105, were used individually and sequentially for the treatment of electroplating effluent. The sequential treatment involving activated charcoal followed by bacterial treatment removed 99% of Cr(VI) compared with the batch processes, which removed 40% (charcoal) and 75% (bacteria), respectively. Post-treatment in vitro cyto/genotoxicity was evaluated by the MTT test and the comet assay in human HuH-7 hepatocarcinoma cells. The sequentially treated sample showed an increase in LC50 value with a 6-fold decrease in comet-assay DNA migration compared with that of untreated samples. A significant decrease in DNA migration and an increase in LC50 value of treated effluent proved the higher effectiveness of the sequential treatment process over the individual batch processes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Stratigraphic charcoal analysis on petrographic thin sections: Application to fire history in northwestern Minnesota

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clark, James S.

1988-07-01

Results of stratigraphic charcoal analysis from thin sections of varved lake sediments have been compared with fire scars on red pine trees in northwestern Minnesota to determine if charcoal data accurately reflect fire regimes. Pollen and opaque-spherule analyses were completed from a short core to confirm that laminations were annual over the last 350 yr. A good correspondence was found between fossil-charcoal and fire-scar data. Individual fires could be identified as specific peaks in the charcoal curves, and times of reduced fire frequency were reflected in the charcoal data. Charcoal was absent during the fire-suppression era from 1920 A.D. to the present. Distinct charcoal maxima from 1864 to 1920 occurred at times of fire within the lake catchment. Fire was less frequent during the 19th century, and charcoal was substantially less abundant. Fire was frequent from 1760 to 1815, and charcoal was abundant continuously. Fire scars and fossil charcoal indicate that fires did not occur during 1730-1750 and 1670-1700. Several fires occurred from 1640 to 1670 and 1700 to 1730. Charcoal counted from pollen preparations in the area generally do not show this changing fire regime. Simulated "sampling" of the thin-section data in a fashion comparable to pollen-slide methods suggests that sampling alone is not sufficient to account for differences between the two methods. Integrating annual charcoal values in this fashion still produced much higher resolution than the pollen-slide method, and the postfire suppression decline of charcoal characteristic of my method (but not of pollen slides) is still evident. Consideration of the differences in size of fragments counted by the two methods is necessary to explain charcoal representation in lake sediments.

Improving the palatability of activated charcoal in pediatric patients.

PubMed

Cheng, Adam; Ratnapalan, Savithiri

2007-06-01

To compare the taste preference and ease of swallowing of activated charcoal among healthy teenagers when mixed separately with 3 different additives: chocolate milk, Coca-Cola, and water. Healthy volunteers between 14 to 19 years of age were selected for the study. Five grams of activated charcoal (25 mL of 0.2 g/mL of Charcodote [Pharma Science, Montreal, Canada]) was mixed with 25 mL of chocolate milk, Coca-Cola, or water individually to make up 50 mL. The volunteers drank the 3 cups of the charcoal-additive mixture separately and then rated taste and ease of swallowing on a 10-cm visual analogue scale. The subjects then indicated their preferred charcoal-additive mixture if he/she had to drink 9 more portions of charcoal (this would estimate the dose of charcoal for a 50-kg child). A total of 44 subjects were recruited (25 boys and 19 girls). The mean scores for taste preference for chocolate milk, Coca-Cola, and water mixtures of charcoal were 5.5, 6.3, and 2.0, respectively, on a 10-cm visual analogue scale. Thus, subjects preferred the taste of charcoal mixed with chocolate milk or Coca-Cola over charcoal mixed with water (P = 0.0003 for both comparisons). The subjects did not show a statistically significant difference for ease of swallowing between the 3 charcoal-additive mixtures. Overall, 48% preferred the chocolate milk mixture, 45% preferred the Coca-Cola mixture, and 7% preferred charcoal mixed with water. Healthy teenaged subjects identified that activated charcoal (Charcodote) mixed with chocolate milk or Coca-Cola (in a 1:1 ratio) improved taste but had no significant effect on improving ease of swallowing. Overall, the addition of chocolate milk or coke improves the palatability of charcoal and is favored over charcoal mixed with water alone.

A modified method for diffusive monitoring of 3-ethenylpyridine as a specific marker of environmental tobacco smoke

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuusimäki, Leea; Peltonen, Kimmo; Vainiotalo, Sinikka

A previously introduced method for monitoring environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) was further validated. The method is based on diffusive sampling of a vapour-phase marker, 3-ethenylpyridine (3-EP), with 3 M passive monitors (type 3500). Experiments were done in a dynamic chamber to assess diffusive sampling in comparison with active sampling in charcoal tubes or XAD-4 tubes. The sampling rate for 3-EP collected on the diffusive sampler was 23.1±0.6 mL min -1. The relative standard deviation for parallel samples ( n=6) ranged from 4% to 14% among experiments ( n=9). No marked reverse diffusion of 3-EP was detected nor any significant effect of relative humidity at 20%, 50% or 80%. The diffusive sampling of 3-EP was validated in field measurements in 15 restaurants in comparison with 3-EP and nicotine measurements using active sampling. The 3-EP concentration in restaurants ranged from 0.01 to 9.8 μg m -3, and the uptake rate for 3-EP based on 92 parallel samples was 24.0±0.4 mL min -1. A linear correlation ( r=0.98) was observed between 3-EP and nicotine concentrations, the average ratio of 3-EP to nicotine being 1:8. Active sampling of 3-EP and nicotine in charcoal tubes provided more reliable results than sampling in XAD-4 tubes. All samples were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after elution with a 15% solution of pyridine in toluene. For nicotine, the limit of quantification of the charcoal tube method was 4 ng per sample, corresponding to 0.04 μg m -3 for an air sample of 96 L. For 3-EP, the limit of quantification of the diffusive method was 0.5-1.0 ng per sample, corresponding to 0.04-0.09 μg m -3 for 8 h sampling. The diffusive method proved suitable for ETS monitoring, even at low levels of ETS.

Ancient charcoal as a natural archive for paleofire regime and vegetation change in the Mayumbe, Democratic Republic of the Congo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hubau, Wannes; Van den Bulcke, Jan; Kitin, Peter; Mees, Florias; Baert, Geert; Verschuren, Dirk; Nsenga, Laurent; Van Acker, Joris; Beeckman, Hans

2013-09-01

Charcoal was sampled in four soil profiles at the Mayumbe forest boundary (DRC). Five fire events were recorded and 44 charcoal types were identified. One stratified profile yielded charcoal assemblages around 530 cal yr BP and > 43.5 cal ka BP in age. The oldest assemblage precedes the period of recorded anthropogenic burning, illustrating occasional long-term absence of fire but also natural wildfire occurrences within tropical rainforest. No other charcoal assemblages older than 2500 cal yr BP were recorded, perhaps due to bioturbation and colluvial reworking. The recorded paleofires were possibly associated with short-lived climate anomalies. Progressively dry climatic conditions since ca. 4000 cal yr BP onward did not promote paleofire occurrence until increasing seasonality affected vegetation at the end of the third millennium BP, as illustrated by a fire occurring in mature rainforest that persisted until around 2050 cal yr BP. During a drought episode coinciding with the 'Medieval Climate Anomaly', mature rainforest was locally replaced by woodland savanna. Charcoal remains from pioneer forest indicate that fire hampered forest regeneration after climatic drought episodes. The presence of pottery shards and oil-palm endocarps associated with two relatively recent paleofires suggests that the effects of climate variability were amplified by human activities.

Effect of charcoal doping on the superconducting properties of MgB 2 bulk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, N. K.; Tan, K. S.; Jun, B.-H.; Park, H. W.; Joo, J.; Kim, C.-J.

2008-09-01

The effect of charcoal doping on the superconducting properties of in situ processed MgB 2 bulk samples was investigated. To understand the size effect of the dopant the charcoal powder was attrition milled for 1 h, 3 h and 6 h using ZrO 2 balls. The milled charcoal powders were mixed with magnesium and boron powders to a nominal composition of Mg(B 0.975C 0.025) 2. The Mg(B 0.975C 0.025) 2 compacts were heat-treated at 900 °C for 0.5 h in flowing Ar atmosphere. Magnetic susceptibility for the samples showed that the superconducting transition temperature ( Tc) decreased as the size of the charcoal powder decreased. The critical current density ( Jc) of Mg(B 0.975C 0.025) 2 prepared using large size charcoal powder was lower than that of the undoped MgB 2. However, a crossover of Jc value was observed at high magnetic fields of about 4 T in Mg(B 0.975C 0.025) 2 prepared using small size charcoal powder. Carbon diffusion into the boron site was easier and gave the Jc increase effect when the small size charcoal was used as a dopant.

Alexandria's Eastern Harbor, Egypt: Pollen, microscopic charcoal, and the transition from natural to human-modified basin

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stanley, J.-D.; Bernhardt, C.E.

2010-01-01

Pollen and microscopic charcoal examined in Holocene sediment core samples record major environmental modifications affecting Alexandria's Eastern Harbor through time. We assess whether such changes on Egypt's coastal margin were influenced primarily by natural, or natural plus human, or primarily human factors. We focus on (1) the times when pollen assemblages and microscopic charcoal content changed in the core, (2) how they changed, and (3) why this occurred. The analysis takes into account the core's stratigraphy, regional climate variability, human history, and local archaeological record. Four pollenmicroscopic charcoal zones are identified. The earliest change occurred at ca. 6000 YBP, during Egypt's earlier Predynastic (Neolithic) period, coinciding with a lithologic break from sand to muddy sand. Pollen during this time indicates a transition to a much drier climate rather than effects of human activity. The second change in pollen occurred 3600-2900 YBP, during a period of continued aridity with no lithologic variation in this core interval. Pollen (cereal taxa, agricultural weeds, grape) and a sharp increase in microscopic charcoal indicate that human activity became prevalent at least 700 y before Alexander the Great's arrival in this region, and these results highlight the transition from a largely natural climatecontrolled environment to one influenced by both climate and anthropogenic activity. The third shift up-core in pollen assemblages is dated at ca. 2300 YBP, at the boundary between a sand and mud unit. It coincides with construction by the Ptolemies of the Heptastadion between Alexandria and Pharos Island. From this time onward, harbor sediment in the nearly enclosed catchment basin indicates a near-continuous record of dominant proximal human activity. ?? 2010 Coastal Education and Research Foundation.

Charcoal from a prehistoric copper mine in the Austrian Alps: dendrochronological and dendrological data, demand for wood and forest utilisation.

PubMed

Pichler, Thomas; Nicolussi, Kurt; Goldenberg, Gert; Hanke, Klaus; Kovács, Kristóf; Thurner, Andrea

2013-02-01

During prehistory fire-setting was the most appropriate technique for exploiting ore deposits. Charcoal fragments found in the course of archaeological excavations in a small mine called Mauk E in the area of Schwaz/Brixlegg (Tyrol, Austria) are argued to be evidence for the use of this technology. Dendrochronological analyses of the charcoal samples yielded calendar dates for the mining activities showing that the exploitation of the Mauk E mine lasted approximately one decade in the late 8th century BC. Dendrological studies show that the miners utilised stem wood of spruce and fir from forests with high stand density for fire-setting and that the exploitation of the Mauk E mine had only a limited impact on the local forests.

Determination of methylamines in air using activated charcoal traps and gas chromatographic analysis with an alkali flame detector (AFD)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuselli, Sergio; Benedetti, Giorgio; Mastrangeli, Renato

A method is described for trapping and analysing airborne methylamines (MMA, DMA and TMA) by means of a 20/35 mesh activated charcoal traps and subsequent GLSC analysis of collected sample using 0.1 N NaOH acqueous solution. The method described may be applied to monitoring methylamines in air in industrial areas, with an Alkali Flame Detector; sensitivities of approx. 0.005 ppmv for each of the three methylamines analysed are reached. Trapping efficiency is compared with that of Tenax GC 60/80 mesh and 60/80 Carbopack B which uses thermal desorption of air samples before GLSC analysis. The Tenax GC trap method enables TMA recovery only with a sensitivity of 0.0001 ppmv. Recovery obtained with 60/80 Carbopack B traps is practically zero.

Role of CaCO3 and Charcoal Application on Organic Matter Retention in Silt-sized Aggregates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berhe, A. A.; Kaiser, M.; Ghezzehei, T.; Myrold, D.; Kleber, M.

2011-12-01

The effectiveness of charcoal and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) applications to improve soil conditions has been well documented. However, their influence on the formation of silt-sized aggregates and the amount and protection of associated organic matter (OM) against microbial decomposition under differing soil mineralogical and microbiological conditions are still unknown. For sustainable management of agricultural soils, silt-sized aggregates (2-50 μm) are of particularly large importance because they store up to 60% of soil organic carbon and with mean residence times between 70 and 400 years. The objectives of this study are i) to analyze the ability of soil amendments (CaCO3, charcoal and their combined application) to increase the amount of silt-sized aggregates and associated organic matter, ii) vary soil mineral conditions to establish relevant boundary conditions for amendment-induced aggregation process, iii) to determine how amendment-induced changes in formation of silt-sized aggregates relate to microbial decomposition of OM. We set up artificial high reactive (clay: 40%, sand: 57%, SOM: 3%) and low reactive soils (clay: 10%, sand: 89%, SOM: 1%) and mixed them with charcoal (1%) and/or CaCO3 (0.2%). The samples were adjusted to a water potential of 0.3 bar using a nutrient solution and sub samples were incubated with microbial innoculum. After four months, silt-sized aggregates are separated by a combination of wet-sieving and sedimentation. We hypothesize that the relative increase in amount of silt-sized aggregates and associated OM is larger for less reactive soils than for high reactive soils because of a relative larger increase in binding agents by addition of charcoal and/or CaCO3 in less reactive soils. The effect of charcoal and/or CaCO3 application on the amount of silt-sized aggregates and associated OM is expected to increases with an increase in microbial activity. Between different treatments, we expect the incubated 'charcoal+CaCO3' combination to have the largest effect on silt-size scale aggregation processes because the amount of microbial derived cementing agents, charcoal derived functional groups containing OM, and Ca2+ ions are enhanced at the same time.

Production of charcoal briquettes from biomass for community use

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suttibak, S.; Loengbudnark, W.

2018-01-01

This article reports of a study on the production of charcoal briquettes from biomass for community use. Manufacture of charcoal briquettes was done using a briquette machine with a screw compressor. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of biomass type upon the properties and performance of charcoal briquettes. The biomass samples used in this work were sugarcane bagasse (SB), cassava rhizomes (CR) and water hyacinth (WH) harvested in Udon Thani, Thailand. The char from biomass samples was produced in a 200-liter biomass incinerator. The resulting charcoal briquettes were characterized by measuring their properties and performance including moisture content, volatile matter, fixed carbon and ash contents, elemental composition, heating value, density, compressive strength and extinguishing time. The results showed that the charcoal briquettes from CR had more favorable properties and performance than charcoal briquettes from either SB or WH. The lower heating values (LHV) of the charcoal briquettes from SB, CR and WH were 26.67, 26.84 and 16.76 MJ/kg, respectively. The compressive strengths of charcoal briquettes from SB, CR and WH were 54.74, 80.84 and 40.99 kg/cm2, respectively. The results of this research can contribute to the promotion and development of cost-effective uses of agricultural residues. Additionally, it can assist communities in achieving sustainable self-sufficiency, which is in line with our late King Bhumibol’s economic sufficiency philosophy.

Fire history reconstruction in grassland ecosystems: amount of charcoal reflects local area burned

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leys, Bérangère; Brewer, Simon C.; McConaghy, Scott; Mueller, Joshua; McLauchlan, Kendra K.

2015-11-01

Fire is one of the most prevalent disturbances in the Earth system, and its past characteristics can be reconstructed using charcoal particles preserved in depositional environments. Although researchers know that fires produce charcoal particles, interpretation of the quantity or composition of charcoal particles in terms of fire source remains poorly understood. In this study, we used a unique four-year dataset of charcoal deposited in traps from a native tallgrass prairie in mid-North America to test which environmental factors were linked to charcoal measurements on three spatial scales. We investigated small and large charcoal particles commonly used as a proxy of fire activity at different spatial scales, and charcoal morphotypes representing different types of fuel. We found that small (125-250 μm) and large (250 μm-1 mm) particles of charcoal are well-correlated (Spearman correlation = 0.88) and likely reflect the same spatial scale of fire activity in a system with both herbaceous and woody fuels. There was no significant relationship between charcoal pieces and fire parameters <500 m from the traps. Moreover, local area burned (<5 km distance radius from traps) explained the total charcoal amount, and regional burning (200 km radius distance from traps) explained the ratio of non arboreal to total charcoal (NA/T ratio). Charcoal variables, including total charcoal count and NA/T ratio, did not correlate with other fire parameters, vegetation cover, landscape, or climate variables. Thus, in long-term studies that involve fire history reconstructions, total charcoal particles, even of a small size (125-250 μm), could be an indicator of local area burned. Further studies may determine relationships among amount of charcoal recorded, fire intensity, vegetation cover, and climatic parameters.

COMPARISON OF SAMPLING METHODS FOR SEMI-VOLATILE ORGANIC CARBON (SVOC) ASSOCIATED WITH PM 2.5

EPA Science Inventory

This study evaluates the influence of denuder sampling methods and filter collection media on the measurement of semi-volatile organic carbon (SVOC) associated with PM2.5. Two types of collection media, charcoal (activated carbon) and XAD, were used both in diffusion denuders ...

COMPARISON OF SAMPLING METHODS FOR SEMI-VOLATILE ORGANIC CARBON ASSOCIATED WITH PM 2.5

EPA Science Inventory

This study evaluates the influence of denuder sampling methods and filter collection media on the measurement of semi-volatile organic carbon (SVOC) associated with PM2.5. Two types of collection media, charcoal (activated carbon) and XAD, were used both in diffusion denuders ...

Wildfire Activity Across the Triassic-Jurassic Boundary in the Polish Basin: Evidence from New Fossil Charcoal & Carbon-isotope Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pointer, R.; Belcher, C.; Hesselbo, S. P.; Hodbod, M.; Pieńkowski, G.

2017-12-01

New fossil charcoal abundance and carbon-isotope data from two sedimentary cores provide new evidence of extreme environmental conditions in the Polish Basin during the Latest Triassic to Earliest Jurassic. Sedimentary cores from the Polish Basin provide an excellent record of terrestrial environmental conditions across the Triassic-Jurassic Boundary, a time of climatic extremes. Previous work has shown that the marine realm was affected by a large perturbation to the carbon cycle across the Triassic-Jurassic Boundary (manifested by large negative and positive carbon-isotope excursions) and limited records of charcoal abundance and organic geochemistry have indicated important changes in fire regime in the coeval ecosystems. Here we present two new carbon-isotope records generated from fossil plant matter across the Triassic-Jurassic boundary, and present new charcoal records. The charcoal abundance data confirm that there was variation in wildfire activity during the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic in the Polish Basin. Peaks in the number of fossil charcoal fragments present occur in both sedimentary cores, and increases in fossil charcoal abundance are linked to wildfires, signalling a short-lived rise in wildfire activity. Fossil charcoal abundance does not appear to be fully controlled by total organic matter content, depositional environment or bioturbation. We argue that increased wildfire activity is likely caused by an increase in ignition of plant material as a result of an elevated number of lightning strikes. Global warming (caused by a massive input of carbon into the atmosphere, as indicated by carbon-isotope data) can increase storm activity, leading to increased numbers of lightning strikes. Previous Triassic-Jurassic Boundary wildfire studies have found fossil charcoal abundance peaks at other northern hemisphere sites (Denmark & Greenland), and concluded that they represent increases in wildfire activity in the earliest Jurassic. Our new charcoal and carbon-isotope data confirm that there was a peak in wildfire activity in the Polish Basin in the earliest Jurassic, and support previous suggestions of widespread increased wildfire activity at the Triassic-Jurassic Boundary.

Assessment of the capacity of vehicle cabin air inlet filters to reduce diesel exhaust-induced symptoms in human volunteers

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution especially derived from traffic is associated with increases in cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality. In this study, we evaluated the ability of novel vehicle cabin air inlet filters to reduce diesel exhaust (DE)-induced symptoms and markers of inflammation in human subjects. Methods Thirty healthy subjects participated in a randomized double-blind controlled crossover study where they were exposed to filtered air, unfiltered DE and DE filtered through two selected particle filters, one with and one without active charcoal. Exposures lasted for one hour. Symptoms were assessed before and during exposures and lung function was measured before and after each exposure, with inflammation assessed in peripheral blood five hours after exposures. In parallel, PM were collected from unfiltered and filtered DE and assessed for their capacity to drive damaging oxidation reactions in a cell-free model, or promote inflammation in A549 cells. Results The standard particle filter employed in this study reduced PM10 mass concentrations within the exposure chamber by 46%, further reduced to 74% by the inclusion of an active charcoal component. In addition use of the active charcoal filter was associated by a 75% and 50% reduction in NO2 and hydrocarbon concentrations, respectively. As expected, subjects reported more subjective symptoms after exposure to unfiltered DE compared to filtered air, which was significantly reduced by the filter with an active charcoal component. There were no significant changes in lung function after exposures. Similarly diesel exhaust did not elicit significant increases in any of the inflammatory markers examined in the peripheral blood samples 5 hour post-exposure. Whilst the filters reduced chamber particle concentrations, the oxidative activity of the particles themselves, did not change following filtration with either filter. In contrast, diesel exhaust PM passed through the active charcoal combination filter appeared less inflammatory to A549 cells. Conclusions A cabin air inlet particle filter including an active charcoal component was highly effective in reducing both DE particulate and gaseous components, with reduced exhaust-induced symptoms in healthy volunteers. These data demonstrate the effectiveness of cabin filters to protect subjects travelling in vehicles from diesel exhaust emissions. PMID:24621126

Soil charcoal from the plains to tundra in the Colorado Front Range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanford, R. L.; Licata, C.

2010-12-01

Throughout the forests of the central Rockies, soil charcoal from Holocene wildfires has been produced in response to wildland natural fire regimes. The extent and spatial distribution of soil charcoal production is poorly documented in this region, especially with regard to forests and shrublands at different elevations. Soil charcoal is a super-passive C pool derived from woody biomass that can be sequestered for millennia in forest soils. Recent research indicates that soil charcoal may promote enhanced soil fertility. Additionally, soil charcoal is an often overlooked component of soil C mass and flux. We hypothesize that differences in forest and shrubland fire regimes over the millennia have resulted in different soil charcoal amounts. Geospatial data were used to locate random sample plots in foothills shrublands (Cercocarpus montanus), and four forest types; ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and spruce-fir (Picea engelmannii - Abies lasiocarpa). Sample plots were stratified to occur with the mid 200 m elevation band of each vegetation type with east aspect, and 10-30% slope. Soils were sampled widely at 0-10 cm depth and analyzed for total soil C and soil charcoal C via chemical digestion and dry combustion techniques. Overall, soil charcoal is four times more abundant in spruce-fir forests than in foothills shrublands (1.9 +/- 0.92 Mg C/ha versus 0.54 +/- 0.44 Mg C/ha). Soil charcoal is also abundant in lodgepole pine and ponderosa pine soils (1.4 +/- 1.02 Mg C/ha and 1.4 +/- 0.54 Mg C/ha respectively) but is less plentiful in Douglas-fir soils (1.0 +/- 0.67). Spruce-fir forests have the most above ground biomass, slower decomposition rates and a less frequent mean fire return interval than the other four forests, hence it makes sense that high per-fire rates of charcoal production would occur in the spruce-fir zone, given large amounts of surface fuels at the time of fire. In contrast, low amounts of coarse woody debris in ponderosa, lodgepole, and shrub communities would cause less charcoal to form, despite higher fire frequencies. The Douglas-fir soil charcoal seems anomalously low, but it may reflect a combination of low forest floor woody debris and low fire frequency. Foothills shrublands have the least biomass, comparatively rapid decomposition rates and a more frequent mean fire return interval. We propose that high biomass and slow turnover rates in the spruce-fir forests creates conditions for relatively higher net soil charcoal accumulation.

Influence of beer marinades on the reduction of carcinogenic heterocyclic aromatic amines in charcoal-grilled pork meat.

PubMed

Viegas, Olga; Moreira, Patrícia S; Ferreira, Isabel M P L V O

2015-01-01

The effect of beer marinades on the formation of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAs) was examined in charcoal-grilled pork. Pilsner, non-alcoholic pilsner and black beers (coded respectively as PB, P0B and BB) were assayed and unmarinated samples cooked under similar conditions provided reference HAs levels. Two thermic (PhIP and 4,8-DiMeIQx) and three pyrolytic HAs (Trp-P-1, AαC, MeAαC) were quantified in unmarinated meat samples. Marinating meat in beer resulted in a significant decrease of PhIP, Trp-P-1 and AαC (p < 0.05). 4,8-DiMeIQx formation was inhibited only by BB marinade. No significant effect was observed on MeAαC formation. All beers reduced total HA formation in charcoal-grilled pork, black beer being the most efficient with a level of 90% inhibition. A strong positive correlation was observed between the inhibitory effect of beer on total HA formation and their antioxidant activity. Beer marinades mitigate the impact of consumption of well-done grilled pork meat reducing the formation of cooking carcinogens.

Detoxification of acidic catalyzed hydrolysate of Kappaphycus alvarezii (cottonii).

PubMed

Meinita, Maria Dyah Nur; Hong, Yong-Ki; Jeong, Gwi-Taek

2012-01-01

Red seaweed, Kappaphycus alvarezii, holds great promise for use in biofuel production due to its high carbohydrate content. In this study, we investigated the effect of fermentation inhibitors to the K. alvarezii hydrolysate on cell growth and ethanol fermentation. In addition, detoxification of fermentation inhibitors was performed to decrease the fermentation inhibitory effect. 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural and levulinic acid, which are liberated from acidic hydrolysis, was also observed in the hydrolysate of K. alvarezii. These compounds inhibited ethanol fermentation. In order to remove these inhibitors, activated charcoal and calcium hydroxide were introduced. The efficiency of activated charcoals was examined and over-liming was used to remove the inhibitors. Activated charcoal was found to be more effective than calcium hydroxide to remove the inhibitors. Detoxification by activated charcoal strongly improved the fermentability of dilute acid hydrolysate in the production of bioethanol from K. alvarezii with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The optimal detoxifying conditions were found to be below an activated charcoal concentration of 5%.

Charcoal deposition and redeposition in Elk Lake, Minnesota, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Platt, Bradbury J.

1996-01-01

Sedimentary charcoal, diatom and phytolith records of the past 1500 years at Elk Lake, Minnesota, in combination with sediment trap studies and a transect of surface sediment samples, document the mechanisms by which previously deposited charcoal is redeposited and finally buried in this lake. The frequent correspondence of high diatom concentrations and peaks of phytolith and charcoal fragments suggest that currents and turbulence related to lake circulation are responsible for winnowing charcoal and phytoliths from shallow water depositional sites to deeper areas of the lake. High diatom concentrations in the record relate to increased nutrient fluxes also supplied by circulation. Despite the fact that the watershed and area around Elk Lake has not been burned since AD 1922, charcoal continues to reach the profundal zone from littoral source areas in Elk Lake. The variable redeposition of within-lake charcoal requires evaluation before fire-history records can be related to global, regional or even local fire events.

Analysis of n-alkanes at sub microgram per liter level after direct solid phase microextraction from aqueous samples.

PubMed

Farajzadeh, Mirali; Hatami, Mehdi

2002-11-01

This work describes the application of the previously presented solid phase microextraction (SPME) fiber in direct mode for sampling of C10-C20 n-alkanes from aqueous solution. The fiber has simple composition and is constructed from activated charcoal:PVC suspension in tetrahydrofuran. When the composition of the fiber was optimized that the optimum composition was 90:10 (activated charcoal:PVC) for direct mode, whereas it was 75:25 for sampling from the headspace of aqueous samples. This fiber is completely stable in contact with water. The extraction efficiency is improved in the presence of 0.1 M NaCl. The value is between 17.8-38.5% for the first extraction, which better than the efficiency of similar commercial fibers. After seven extractions, all analytes are removed from the aqueous samples nearly 100%. Single fiber repeatability and fiber-to-fiber reproducibility are good and both are less than 13% for all studied alkanes. Finally, direct mode SPME was used in the determination of n-alkanes in the range of sub microg L(-1) without any additional preconcentration procedure. Gas chromatography along with flame ionization detection were used for separation and detection of the studied analytes.

A novel personal air sampling device for collecting volatile organic compounds: a comparison to charcoal tubes and diffusive badges.

PubMed

Rossner, Alan; Farant, Jean-Pierre

2004-02-01

Evacuated canisters have been used for many years to collect ambient air samples for gases and vapors. Recently, significant interest has arisen in using evacuated canisters for personal breathing zone sampling as an alternative to sorbent sampling. A novel flow control device was designed and built at McGill University. The flow control device was designed to provide a very low flow rate, <0.5 mL/min, to allow a sample to be collected over an extended period of time. Previous experiments run at McGill have shown agreement between the mathematical and empirical models to predict flow rate. The flow control device combined with an evacuated canister (capillary flow control-canister) was used in a series of experiments to evaluate its performance against charcoal tubes and diffusive badges. Air samples of six volatile organic compounds were simultaneously collected in a chamber using the capillary flow control-canister, charcoal tubes, and diffusive badges. Five different concentrations of the six volatile organic compounds were evaluated. The results from the three sampling devices were compared to each other and to concentration values obtained using an online gas chromatograph (GC). Eighty-four samples of each method were collected for each of the six chemicals. Results indicate that the capillary flow control-canister device compares quite favorably to the online GC and to the charcoal tubes, p > 0.05 for most of the tests. The capillary flow control-canister was found to be more accurate for the compounds evaluated, easier to use, and easier to analyze than charcoal tubes and passive dosimeter badges.

Research report: Charcoal type used for hookah smoking influences CO production.

PubMed

Medford, Marlon A; Gasier, Heath G; Hexdall, Eric; Moffat, Andrew D; Freiberger, John J; Moon, Richard E

2015-01-01

A hookah smoker who was treated for severe carbon monoxide poisoning with hyperbaric oxygen reported using a different type of charcoal prior to hospital admission, i.e., quick-light charcoal. This finding led to a study aimed at determining whether CO production differs between charcoals commonly used for hookah smoking, natural and quick-light. Our hypothesis was that quick-light charcoal produces significantly more CO than natural charcoal. A medium-sized hookah, activated charcoal filter, calibrated syringe, CO gas analyzer and infrared thermometer were assembled in series. A single 9-10 g briquette of either natural or quick-light charcoal was placed atop the hookah bowl and ignited. CO output (ppm) and temperature (degrees C) were measured in three-minute intervals over 90 minutes. The mean CO levels produced by quick-light charcoal over 90 minutes was significantly higher (3728 ± 2028) compared to natural charcoal (1730 ± 501 ppm, p = 0.016). However, the temperature was significantly greater when burning natural charcoal (292 ± 87) compared to quick-light charcoal (247 ± 92 degrees C, p = 0.013). The high levels of CO produced when using quick-light charcoals may be contributing to the increase in reported hospital admissions for severe CO poisoning.

The synthesis of corncobs (zea mays) active charcoal and water hyacinth (eichornia crassipes) adsorbent to adsorb Pb(II) with it’s analysis using solid-phase spectrophotometry (sps)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saputro, S.; Masykuri, M.; Mahardiani, L.; Kurniastuti, D.

2018-03-01

This research aim to examine the effect of the combination between corncobs and water hyacinth to adsorb lead (II), the most effective combination have determined by compared the ratio of corncobs adsorbent and water hyacinth to the increasing adsorption of the Pb(II), prove the effectiveness of the solid-phase spectrophotometry (sps) to determine the levels of Pb(II) as the result of the corncobs active charcoal adsorption and water hyacinth in the level of µg/L. The research method used is experimental method. The data collecting technique is carried out by several stages, which are carbonization using muffle furnace at a temperature of 350°C for 1.5 hours, activation of the corncobs charcoal and water hyacinth using HCl 1M and HCl 5M activator, contacting the adsorbent of corncobs active charcoal and water hyacinth with liquid waste simulation of Pb(II) using variation of corncobns and water hyacinth, 1:0; 0:1; 1:1; 2:1; 1:2, analysis of Pb(II) using an sps, characterization of corncobs active charcoal adsorbent and water hyacinth using FTIR. Research results show that the combined effect of activated charcoal corncobs and water hyacinth can increase the ability of the adsorbent to absorb Pb(II), the optimum adsorbent mass ratio of 1:1 with the absorption level of 90.33%, SPS is an effective method to analyze the decreasing level of Pb(II) as the adsorbtion result of the corncobs active charcoal and water hyacinth in the level of µg/L, with the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.06 µg/L.

TOTAL PAH EXPOSURES OF NINE PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

EPA Science Inventory

This study evaluates the influence of denuder sampling methods and filter collection media on the measurement of semi-volatile organic carbon (SVOC) associated with PM2.5. Two types of collection media, charcoal (activated carbon) and XAD, were used both in diffusion denuders ...

Radon free storage container and method

DOEpatents

Langner, Jr., G. Harold; Rangel, Mark J.

1991-01-01

A radon free containment environment for either short or long term storage of radon gas detectors can be provided as active, passive, or combined active and passive embodiments. A passive embodiment includes a resealable vessel containing a basket capable of holding and storing detectors and an activated charcoal adsorbing liner between the basket and the containment vessel wall. An active embodiment includes the resealable vessel of the passive embodiment, and also includes an external activated charcoal filter that circulates the gas inside the vessel through the activated charcoal filter. An embodiment combining the active and passive embodiments is also provided.

Trace anesthetic vapors in hospital operating-room environments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Choi-Lao, A.T.

1981-05-01

This study investigated concentrations of halothane anesthetic vapors in the operating rooms of two hospitals in the Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, area. Air samples, taken by active charcoal tubes and dosimeter badges, were analyzed by a gas chromatographic technique. Readings of 71 samples taken from hospital A and 65 samples from hospital B ranged from 1.0 to 29.4 parts per billion (ppb) for the active period and 0.1 to 3.8 ppb for the inactive period. All samples showed trace concentrations of halothane, but were well below the recommended maximal level.

Influence of dietary charcoal on ochratoxin A toxicity in Leghorn chicks.

PubMed Central

Rotter, R G; Frohlich, A A; Marquardt, R R

1989-01-01

The ability of activated charcoal to adsorb ochratoxin A (OA) in vitro and to reduce the toxic effects of OA in vivo when added to the diet of growing Leghorn chicks was studied. Activated charcoal (50 mg) was able to adsorb 90% of the OA (150 micrograms) contained in 10 mL of citrate-phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). When 2 g of a complete chick diet were mixed with OA in buffer, it adsorbed 66% of the OA, while addition of 50 mg of charcoal to this mixture further reduced the concentration of OA to 11.8% of the control, an additional 65% compared to the diet alone. In the first of two feeding studies, charcoal addition of up to 10,000 parts per million (ppm) to diets (6.7% tallow) containing 9.93 mumol (4 ppm) OA kg-1 diet had no effect on OA toxicity. Feed consumption and weight gain, however, were reduced 10 and 20%, respectively, in chicks fed diets which contained 10,000 ppm of charcoal compared to those fed no charcoal. In the second study, reducing dietary tallow to 2% did not alter the effects of OA or charcoal on weight gain and feed to gain ratio, but birds fed OA with 10,000 ppm charcoal had an 8.5% increase in feed consumption. An additional management problem was associated with the propensity of charcoal to blacken the feed, the birds and their environment. Addition of charcoal to OA contaminated diets appeared to be an ineffective method for reducing the toxic effects of OA in growing chicks. PMID:2590872

Occupational exposure to complex mixtures of volatile organic compounds in ambient air: desorption from activated charcoal using accelerated solvent extraction can replace carbon disulfide?

PubMed

Fabrizi, Giovanni; Fioretti, Marzia; Rocca, Lucia Mainero

2013-01-01

A desorption study of 57 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has been conducted by use of accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Different solvents were tested to extract activated charcoal tubes with the objective of replacing carbon disulfide, used in official methods, because of its highly toxic health and environmental effects. Extraction conditions, for example temperature and number of cycles, were investigated and optimized. The definitive extraction procedure selected was use of acetone at 150 °C and two consecutive extraction cycles at a pressure of 1,500 psi. Considering a sample volume of 0.005 Nm(3), corresponding to a sampling time of 8 h at a flow rate of 0.01 L min(-1), the method was validated over the concentration range 65-26,300 μg Nm(-3). The lowest limit of quantification was 6 μg Nm(-3), and recovery for the 93 % of analytes ranged from 65 to 102 %. For most of the compounds, relative standard deviations were less than 15 % for inter and intra-day precision. Uncertainty of measurement was also determined: the relative expanded uncertainty was always below 29.6 %, except for dichlorodifluoromethane. This work shows that use of friendlier solvent, for example acetone, coupled with use of ASE, can replace use of CS(2) for chemical removal of VOCs from activated charcoal. ASE has several advantages over traditional solvent-extraction methods, including shorter extraction time, minimum sample manipulation, high reproducibility, and less extraction discrimination. No loss of sensitivity occurs and there is also a salutary effect on bench workers' health and on the smell of laboratory air.

Microbial Contamination of Ice Machines Is Mediated by Activated Charcoal Filtration Systems in a City Hospital.

PubMed

Yorioka, Katsuhiro; Oie, Shigeharu; Hayashi, Koji; Kimoto, Hiroo; Furukawa, Hiroyuki

2016-06-01

Although microbial contamination of ice machines has been reported, no previous study has addressed microbial contamination of ice produced by machines equipped with activated charcoal (AC) filters in hospitals. The aim of this study was to provide clinical data for evaluating AC filters to prevent microbial contamination of ice. We compared microbial contamination in ice samples produced by machines with (n = 20) and without an AC filter (n = 40) in Shunan City Shinnanyo Municipal Hospital. All samples from the ice machine equipped with an AC filter contained 10-116 CFUs/g of glucose nonfermenting gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Chryseobacterium meningosepticum. No microorganisms were detected in samples from ice machines without AC filters. After the AC filter was removed from the ice machine that tested positive for Gram-negative bacteria, the ice was resampled (n = 20). Analysis found no contaminants. Ice machines equipped with AC filters pose a serious risk factor for ice contamination. New filter-use guidelines and regulations on bacterial detection limits to prevent contamination of ice in healthcare facilities are necessary.

Biocidal quaternary ammonium resin

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Janauer, G. E.

1983-01-01

Activated carbon (charcoal) and polymeric resin sorbents are widely used in the filtration and treatment of drinking water, mainly to remove dissolved organic and inorganic impurities and to improve the taste. Earlier hopes that activated carbon might "disinfect' water proved to be unfounded. The feasibility of protecting against microbial infestation in charcoal and resin beds such as those to be incorporated into total water reuse systems in spacecraft was investigated. The biocidal effect of IPCD (insoluable polymeric contact disinfectants) in combination with a representative charcoal was assessed. The ion exchange resins (IPCD) were shown to adequately protect charcoal and ion exchange beds.

Activated Charcoal

MedlinePlus

... is used to treat poisonings, reduce intestinal gas (flatulence), lower cholesterol levels, prevent hangover, and treat bile ... lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Decreasing gas (flatulence). Some studies show that activated charcoal is effective ...

[Biochemical effects of chronic peroral administration of carbon nanotubes and activated charcoal in drinking water in rats].

PubMed

Khripach, L V; Rakhmanin, Iu A; Mikhajlova, R I; Knyazeva, T D; Koganova, Z I; Zhelezniak, E V; Savostikova, O N; Alekseeva, A V; Kameneckaya, D V; Ryzhova, I N; Kruglova, E V; Revazova, T L

2014-01-01

Chronic 6-month experiment was carried out in rats, which received drinking water with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), diameter of 15-40 nm, length ≥ 2 mkm) or activated charcoal (AC, diameter of 10-100 mkm), blood samples of the animals were used for assessment of biochemical markers. Both coal compounds induced the appearance of signs of oxidative stress 2 weeks after the beginning of the experiment and alteration of serum markers of liver and renal damage, as well as changes of cortisol and protein serum concentrations later Thus, despite of known high (asbest-like) inhalation toxicity of carbon nanotubes in comparison with other carbon allotrops (fullerenes and black carbon), we have found similar effects of MWCNTs and carbon microparticles in orally treated rats.

Charcoal records reveal past occurrences of disturbances in the forests of the Kisangani region, Democratic Republic of the Congo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tshibamba Mukendi, John; Hubau, Wannes; Ntahobavuka, Honorine; Boyemba Bosela, Faustin; De Cannière, Charles; Beeckman, Hans

2014-05-01

Past disturbances have modified local density, structure and floristic composition of Central African rainforests. As such, these perturbations represent a driving force for forest dynamics and they were presumably at the origin of present-day forest mosaics. One of the most prominent disturbances within the forest is fire, leaving behind charcoal as a witness of past forest dynamics. Quantification and identification of ancient charcoal fragments found in soil layers (= pedoanthracology) allows a detailed reconstruction of forest history, including the possible occurrence of past perturbations. The primary objective of this study is to present palaeoenvironmental evidence for the existence of past disturbances in the forests of the Kisangani region (Democratic Republic of the Congo) using a pedoanthracological approach. We quantified and identified charcoal fragments from pedoanthracological excavations in the Yangambi, Yoko, Masako and Kole forest regions. Charcoal sampling was conducted in pit intervals of 10 cm, whereby pottery fragments were also registered and quantified. Floristic identifications were conducted using former protocols based on wood anatomy, which is largely preserved after charcoalification. 14 excavations were conducted and charcoal was found in most pit intervals. Specifically, 52 out of 56 sampled intervals from the Yangambi forest contained charcoal, along with 47 pit intervals from the Yoko forest reserve, 34 pit intervals from the Masako forest and 16 from the Kole forest. Highest specific anthracomasses were recorded in Yoko (167 mg charcoal per kg soil), followed by Yangambi (133 mg/kg), Masako (71,89 mg/kg) and finally Kole (42,4 mg/kg). Charcoal identifications point at a manifest presence of the family of Fabaceae (Caesalpinioideae). This family is characteristic for the tropical humid rainforest. The presence of charcoal fragments from these taxa, associated with pottery sherds on different depths within the profiles, suggests past occurrences of anthropogenic perturbations in these forests. Insights in past forest dynamics and the relative roles of climatic and anthropogenic disturbances enhance our overall understanding of present and future forest dynamics.

Volatile compounds and odor preferences of ground beef added with garlic and red wine, and irradiated with charcoal pack

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Kyung Haeng; Yun, Hyejeong; Lee, Ju Woon; Ahn, Dong Uk; Lee, Eun Joo; Jo, Cheorun

2012-08-01

Irradiation is the most efficient non-thermal technology for improving hygienic quality and extending the shelf-life of food products. One of the adverse effects of food irradiation, however, is off-flavor production, which significantly affects the sensory preferences for certain foods. In this study, garlic (5%, w/w) and red wine (1:1, w/w) were added to ground beef to increase the radiation sensitivity of pathogens and improve meat odor/flavor. Samples were irradiated at 0 or 5 kGy in the presence of charcoal pack. SPME-GC-MS analysis was performed to measure the changes in the volatile compounds and sensory characteristics of the samples. The amount of total volatile compounds produced from ground beef was greater when the sample was irradiated. When garlic and red wine were added to the ground beef, the amount of volatile compounds significantly increased, and the amount of volatile compounds increased even further after irradiation. However, when the samples were irradiated with charcoal pack, the amount of volatile compounds decreased significantly. Sensory evaluation indicated that charcoal pack significantly increased the odor preferences for both irradiated and non-irradiated ground beef added with garlic. These results indicated that addition of charcoal pack to ground beef could reduce off-odor problems induced by irradiation, and this effect was consistent even when certain additives such as garlic and red wine were added.

The role of activated charcoal in plant tissue culture.

PubMed

Thomas, T Dennis

2008-01-01

Activated charcoal has a very fine network of pores with large inner surface area on which many substances can be adsorbed. Activated charcoal is often used in tissue culture to improve cell growth and development. It plays a critical role in micropropagation, orchid seed germination, somatic embryogenesis, anther culture, synthetic seed production, protoplast culture, rooting, stem elongation, bulb formation etc. The promotary effects of AC on morphogenesis may be mainly due to its irreversible adsorption of inhibitory compounds in the culture medium and substancially decreasing the toxic metabolites, phenolic exudation and brown exudate accumulation. In addition to this activated charcoal is involved in a number of stimulatory and inhibitory activities including the release of substances naturally present in AC which promote growth, alteration and darkening of culture media, and adsorption of vitamins, metal ions and plant growth regulators, including abscisic acid and gaseous ethylene. The effect of AC on growth regulator uptake is still unclear but some workers believe that AC may gradually release certain adsorbed products, such as nutrients and growth regulators which become available to plants. This review focuses on the various roles of activated charcoal in plant tissue culture and the recent developments in this area.

Effect of Soil Amendments on Microbial Resilience Capacity of Acid Soil Under Copper Stress.

PubMed

Mounissamy, Vassanda Coumar; Kundu, Samaresh; Selladurai, Rajendiran; Saha, Jayanta Kumar; Biswas, Ashish Kumar; Adhikari, Tapan; Patra, Ashok Kumar

2017-11-01

An incubation study was undertaken to study microbial resilience capacity of acid soil amended with farmyard manure (FYM), charcoal and lime under copper (Cu) perturbation. Copper stress significantly reduced enzymatic activities and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) in soil. Percent reduction in microbial activity of soil due to Cu stress was 74.7% in dehydrogenase activity, 59.9% in MBC, 48.2% in alkaline phosphatase activity and 15.1% in acid phosphatase activity. Soil treated with FYM + charcoal showed highest resistance index for enzymatic activities and MBC. Similarly, the highest resilience index for acid phosphatase activity was observed in soil amended with FYM (0.40), whereas FYM + charcoal-treated soil showed the highest resilience indices for alkaline, dehydrogenase activity and MBC: 0.50, 0.22 and 0.25, respectively. This investigation showed that FYM and charcoal application, either alone or in combination, proved to be better than lime with respect to microbial functional resistance and resilience of acid soil under Cu perturbation.

In Vitro Activities of Gemifloxacin versus Five Quinolones and Two Macrolides against 271 Spanish Isolates of Legionella pneumophila: Influence of Charcoal on Susceptibility Test Results

PubMed Central

García, M. T.; Pelaz, C.; Giménez, M. J.; Aguilar, L.

2000-01-01

The MICs at which 90% of isolates are inhibited for gemifloxacin, trovafloxacin, and grepafloxacin were low (≤0.01 μg/ml) for 271 Legionella isolates when they were determined by the broth microdilution method but increased (≥6 dilutions) when they were determined by the agar dilution method. This was due to the charcoal in the agar dilution medium, as shown by the progressive decrease in the MICs when the charcoal concentrations decreased. As free drug is the active fraction, charcoal binding should be considered. PMID:10898695

Reconstruction of the long-term fire history of an old-growth deciduous forest in Southern Québec, Canada, from charred wood in mineral soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talon, Brigitte; Payette, Serge; Filion, Louise; Delwaide, Ann

2005-07-01

Charcoal particles are widespread in terrestrial and lake environments of the northern temperate and boreal biomes where they are used to reconstruct past fire events and regimes. In this study, we used botanically identified and radiocarbon-dated charcoal macrofossils in mineral soils as a paleoecological tool to reconstruct past fire activity at the stand scale. Charcoal macrofossils buried in podzolic soils by tree uprooting were analyzed to reconstruct the long-term fire history of an old-growth deciduous forest in southern Québec. Charcoal fragments were sampled from the uppermost mineral soil horizons and identified based on anatomical characters. Spruce ( Picea spp.) fragments dominated the charcoal assemblage, along with relatively abundant wood fragments of sugar maple ( Acer saccharum) and birch ( Betula spp.), and rare fragments of pine ( Pinus cf. strobus) and white cedar ( Thuja canadensis). AMS radiocarbon dates from 16 charcoal fragments indicated that forest fires were widespread during the early Holocene, whereas no fires were recorded from the mid-Holocene to present. The paucity of charcoal data during this period, however, does not preclude that a fire event of lower severity may have occurred. At least eight forest fires occurred at the study site between 10,400 and 6300 cal yr B.P., with a dominance of burned conifer trees between 10,400 and 9000 cal yr B.P. and burned conifer and deciduous trees between 9000 and 6300 cal yr B.P. Based on the charcoal record, the climate at the study site was relatively dry during the early Holocene, and more humid from 6300 cal yr B.P. to present. However, it is also possible that the predominance of conifer trees in the charcoal record between 10,400 and 6300 cal yr B.P. created propitious conditions for fire spreading. The charcoal record supports inferences based on pollen influx data (Labelle, C., Richard, P.J.H. 1981. Végétation tardiglaciaire et postglaciaire au sud-est du Parc des Laurentides, Québec. Géographie Physique et Quaternaire 35, 345-359) of the early arrival of spruce and sugar maple in the study area shortly after deglaciation. We conclude that macroscopic charcoal analysis of mineral soils subjected to disturbance by tree uprooting may be a useful paleoecological tool to reconstruct long-term forest fire history at the stand scale.

Calibrating a method for simulated long-term ageing of biochar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sohi, Saran; Cross, Andrew

2013-04-01

We recently established a procedure that imposes oxidatiave ageing to biochar and charcoal samples over a short time-frame, that provided carbon mass loss in the range projected for wild-fire charcoal in soil over a period of approximately 100 years. The stability of biochar samples in soil (relative to charcoal) range from 45-98% could be determined repeatably with high precision. Initial tests to understand the kinetics of the accelerated ageing method showed progressive increase in surface O concentration when examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) that slowly reached equilibrium. These trends resembled patterns observed in climate-for-time studies elsewhere, on centennial time-frame. We have extended this work to a preliminary direct calibration by matching progressive oxidation achieved in the laboratory to the surface composition of charcoal fragments recovered from the environment after periods of hundred to thousands of years. We have also applied artificial ageing to the same sets of naturally pre-aged charcoal fragments, and to recreated fresh charcoal. In this presentation of the first approach to quantifiably relate a laboratory test for biochar carbon stability to field data covering multiple time scales, we report on both the process and the implications for the stability of carbon stored in biochar under different climates and diverse agro-ecosystems.

Effect of charcoal amendment on adsorption, leaching and degradation of isoproturon in soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Si, Youbin; Wang, Midao; Tian, Chao; Zhou, Jing; Zhou, Dongmei

2011-04-01

The effects of charcoal amendment on adsorption, leaching and degradation of the herbicide isoproturon in soils were studied under laboratory conditions. The adsorption data all fitted well with the Freundlich empirical equation. It was found that the adsorption of isoproturon in soils increased with the rate of charcoal amended (correlation coefficient r = 0.957 **, P < 0.01). The amount of isoproturon in leachate decreased with the increase of the amount of charcoal addition to soil column, while the retention of isoproturon in soils increased with an increase in the charcoal content of soil samples. Biodegradation was still the most significant mechanism for isoproturon dissipation from soil. Charcoal amendment greatly reduced the biodegradation of isoproturon in soils. The half-lives of isoproturon degradation ( DT50) in soils greatly extended when the rate of added charcoal inceased from 0 to 50 g kg - 1 (for Paddy soil, DT50 values increased from 54.6 to 71.4 days; for Alfisol, DT50 from 16.0 to 136 days; and for Vertisol, DT50 from 15.2 to 107 days). The degradation rate of isoproturon in soils was significantly negatively correlated with the amount of added charcoal. This research suggests that charcoal amendment may be an effective management practice for reducing pesticide leaching and enhancing its persistence in soils.

Different carbonization process of bamboo charcoal using Gigantochloa Albociliata

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isa, S. S. M.; Ramli, M. M.; Halin, D. S. C.; Anhar, N. A. M.; Hambali, N. A. M. A.

2017-09-01

Bamboo charcoal has attracted a lot of interests due to their microporous structure, high surface area and great adsorption properties. Some of the applications utilizing this material focused on these advantages such as water purification, electromagnetic wave absorber and blood purification. However, these advantages really depend on the carbonization and activation process of bamboo charcoal. The production must be carried out in properly control environment with precise temperatures and timing. This paper report the production of bamboo charcoal using Gigantochloa Albociliata in controlled environment at 500 °C for 1 hour (lab-prepared). Then the material was characterized for their dispersibility and adsorption behaviour. Furthermore, the bamboo charcoal that was produced commercially, by company, was also characterized and compared. The results show, bamboo charcoal produced by lab-prepared has similar qualities with the commercial bamboo charcoal.

Gastric decontamination performed 5 min after the ingestion of temazepam, verapamil and moclobemide: charcoal is superior to lavage

PubMed Central

Lapatto-reiniluoto, O; Kivistö, K T; Neuvonen, P J

2000-01-01

Aims The aim was to study the efficacy of gastric lavage and activated charcoal in preventing the absorption of temazepam, verapamil and moclobemide when gastric decontamination was performed immediately after ingestion of the drugs. Methods Nine healthy volunteers took part in a randomized cross-over study with three phases. The subjects were administered single oral doses of 10 mg temazepam, 80 mg verapamil and 150 mg moclobemide. Five minutes later, they were assigned to one of the following treatments: 200 ml water (control), 25 g activated charcoal as a suspension in 200 ml water or gastric lavage. Plasma concentrations and the cumulative excretion into urine of the three drugs were determined up to 24 h. Results The mean AUC(0,24 h) of temazepam, verapamil and moclobemide was reduced by 95.2% (P < 0.01), 92.8% (P < 0.01) and 99.7% (P < 0.01), respectively, by activated charcoal compared with control. Gastric lavage did not reduce significantly the AUC(0,24 h) of these drugs. The 24 h cumulative excretion of temazepam, verapamil and moclobemide into urine was reduced significantly (P < 0.05) by charcoal but not by gastric lavage. Charcoal reduced the AUC(0,24 h), Cmax and urinary excretion of all three drugs significantly more than lavage. Conclusions Activated charcoal is very effective and gastric lavage can be rather ineffective in preventing the absorption of temazepam, verapamil and moclobemide when the treatment is given very rapidly after ingestion of the drugs, before tablet disintegration has occurred. PMID:10718784

Temporal patterns of charcoal burning suicides among the working age population in Hong Kong SAR: the influence of economic activity status and sex

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Charcoal burning in a sealed room has recently emerged as the second most common suicide means in Hong Kong, causing approximately 200 deaths each year. As charcoal burning suicide victims have a unique sociodemographic profile (i.e., predominantly economically active men), they may commit suicide at specific times. However, little is known about the temporal patterns of charcoal burning suicides. Methods Suicide data from 2001 to 2008 on victims of usual working age (20–59) were obtained from the registered death files of the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong. A total of 1649 cases of charcoal burning suicide were analyzed using a two-step procedure, which first examined the temporal asymmetries in the incidence of suicide, and second investigated whether these asymmetries were influenced by sex and/or economic activity status. Poisson regression analyses were employed to model the monthly and daily patterns of suicide by economic activity status and sex. Results Our findings revealed pronounced monthly and daily temporal variations in the pattern of charcoal burning suicides in Hong Kong. Consistent with previous findings on overall suicide deaths, there was an overall spring peak in April, and Monday was the common high risk day for all groups. Although sex determined the pattern of variation in charcoal burning suicides, the magnitude of the variation was influenced by the economic activity status of the victims. Conclusion The traditional classification of suicide methods as either violent or nonviolent tends to elide the temporal variations of specific methods. The interaction between sex and economic activity status observed in the present study indicates that sex should be taken into consideration when investigating the influence of economic activity status on temporal variations of suicide. This finding also suggests that suicide prevention efforts should be both time- and subgroup-specific. PMID:22770504

Temporal patterns of charcoal burning suicides among the working age population in Hong Kong SAR: the influence of economic activity status and sex.

PubMed

Law, Chi-kin; Leung, Candi M C

2012-07-06

Charcoal burning in a sealed room has recently emerged as the second most common suicide means in Hong Kong, causing approximately 200 deaths each year. As charcoal burning suicide victims have a unique sociodemographic profile (i.e., predominantly economically active men), they may commit suicide at specific times. However, little is known about the temporal patterns of charcoal burning suicides. Suicide data from 2001 to 2008 on victims of usual working age (20-59) were obtained from the registered death files of the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong. A total of 1649 cases of charcoal burning suicide were analyzed using a two-step procedure, which first examined the temporal asymmetries in the incidence of suicide, and second investigated whether these asymmetries were influenced by sex and/or economic activity status. Poisson regression analyses were employed to model the monthly and daily patterns of suicide by economic activity status and sex. Our findings revealed pronounced monthly and daily temporal variations in the pattern of charcoal burning suicides in Hong Kong. Consistent with previous findings on overall suicide deaths, there was an overall spring peak in April, and Monday was the common high risk day for all groups. Although sex determined the pattern of variation in charcoal burning suicides, the magnitude of the variation was influenced by the economic activity status of the victims. The traditional classification of suicide methods as either violent or nonviolent tends to elide the temporal variations of specific methods. The interaction between sex and economic activity status observed in the present study indicates that sex should be taken into consideration when investigating the influence of economic activity status on temporal variations of suicide. This finding also suggests that suicide prevention efforts should be both time- and subgroup-specific.

Charcoal production in the Mopane woodlands of Mozambique: what are the trade-offs with other ecosystem services?

PubMed Central

Baumert, Sophia; Vollmer, Frank; Grundy, Isla; Fisher, Janet; Fernando, Jone; Luz, Ana; Lisboa, Sá N.

2016-01-01

African woodlands form a major part of the tropical grassy biome and support the livelihoods of millions of rural and urban people. Charcoal production in particular is a major economic activity, but its impact on other ecosystem services is little studied. To address this, our study collected biophysical and social datasets, which were combined in ecological production functions, to assess ecosystem service provision and its change under different charcoal production scenarios in Gaza Province, southern Mozambique. We found that villages with longer histories of charcoal production had experienced declines in wood suitable for charcoal, firewood and construction, and tended to have lower perceived availabilities of these services. Scenarios of future charcoal impacts indicated that firewood and woody construction services were likely to trade-off with charcoal production. However, even under the most extreme charcoal scenario, these services were not completely lost. Other provisioning services, such as wild food, medicinal plants and grass, were largely unaffected by charcoal production. To reduce the future impacts of charcoal production, producers must avoid increased intensification of charcoal extraction by avoiding the expansion of species and sizes of trees used for charcoal production. This is a major challenge to land managers and policymakers in the area. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Tropical grassy biomes: linking ecology, human use and conservation’. PMID:27502380

Application of Solid Phase Microextraction with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry as a Rapid, Reliable, and Safe Method for Field Sampling and Analysis of Chemical Warfare Agent Precursors

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-03-01

in hair samples with analysis by GC-MS [41,42]. The research discussed here examined a polydimethylsiloxane polymer with 10% activated charcoal (PDMS...Field Sampling and Analysis of Chemical Warfare Agent Precursors” Name of Candidate: LT Douglas Parrish Doctor of Philosophy, Environmental...Microextraction with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry as a Rapid, Reliable, and Safe Method for Field Sampling and Analysis of Chemical Warfare

Fabrication of Activated Rice Husk Charcoal by Slip Casting as a Hybrid Material for Water Filter Aid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuaprakone, T.; Wongphaet, N.; Wasanapiarnpong, T.

2011-04-01

Activated charcoal has been widely used as an odor absorbent in household and water purification industry. Filtration equipment for drinking water generally consists of four parts, which are microporous membrane (porous alumina ceramic or diatomite, or porous polymer), odor absorbent (activated carbon), hard water treatment (ion exchange resin), and UV irradiation. Ceramic filter aid is usually prepared by slip casting of alumina or diatomite. The membrane offers high flux, high porosity and maximum pore size does not exceed 0.3 μm. This study investigated the fabrication of hybrid activated charcoal tube for water filtration and odor absorption by slip casting. The suitable rice husk charcoal and water ratio was 48 to 52 wt% by weight with 1.5wt% (by dry basis) of CMC binder. The green rice husk charcoal bodies were dried and fired between 700-900 °C in reduction atmosphere. The resulting prepared slip in high speed porcelain pot for 60 min and sintered at 700 °C for 1 h showed the highest specific surface area as 174.95 m2/g. The characterizations of microstructure and pore size distribution as a function of particle size were investigated.

Effect of charcoal amendment on adsorption, leaching and degradation of isoproturon in soils.

PubMed

Si, Youbin; Wang, Midao; Tian, Chao; Zhou, Jing; Zhou, Dongmei

2011-04-01

The effects of charcoal amendment on adsorption, leaching and degradation of the herbicide isoproturon in soils were studied under laboratory conditions. The adsorption data all fitted well with the Freundlich empirical equation. It was found that the adsorption of isoproturon in soils increased with the rate of charcoal amended (correlation coefficient r=0.957**, P<0.01). The amount of isoproturon in leachate decreased with the increase of the amount of charcoal addition to soil column, while the retention of isoproturon in soils increased with an increase in the charcoal content of soil samples. Biodegradation was still the most significant mechanism for isoproturon dissipation from soil. Charcoal amendment greatly reduced the biodegradation of isoproturon in soils. The half-lives of isoproturon degradation (DT(50)) in soils greatly extended when the rate of added charcoal increased from 0 to 50 g kg(-1) (for Paddy soil, DT(50) values increased from 54.6 to 71.4 days; for Alfisol, DT(50) from 16.0 to 136 days; and for Vertisol, DT(50) from 15.2 to 107 days). The degradation rate of isoproturon in soils was significantly negatively correlated with the amount of added charcoal. This research suggests that charcoal amendment may be an effective management practice for reducing pesticide leaching and enhancing its persistence in soils. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Impact of charcoal waste application on the soil organic matter content and composition of an Haplic Cambisol from South Brazil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

dos Anjos Leal, Otávio; Pinheiro Dick, Deborah; Cylene Lombardi, Kátia; Gonçalves Maciel, Vanessa

2014-05-01

In some regions in Brazil, charcoal is usually applied to the soil with the purpose to improve its fertility and its organic carbon (SOC) content. In Brazil, the use of charcoal waste from steel industry with agronomic purposes represents also an alternative and sustainable fate for this material. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the impact of Eucalyptus charcoal waste application on the SOC content and on the soil organic matter (SOM) composition. Increasing doses of charcoal (0, 10, 20 and 40 Mg ha-1) were applied to an Haplic Cambisol, in Irati, South-Brazil. Charcoal was initially applied on the soil surface, and then it was incorporated at 10 cm with a harrow. Soil undisturbed and disturbed samples (four replicates) were collected in September 2011 (1 y and 9 months) after charcoal incorporation. Four soil depths were evaluated (0-5, 5-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm) and each replicate was composed by three subsamples collected within each plot. The soil samples were air dried, passed through a 9.51 mm sieve and thereafter through a 2.00 mm sieve. The SOC content and total N were quantified by dry combustion. The SOM was concentrated with fluoridric acid 10% and then the SOM composition was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis along the soil profile. The main impact of charcoal application occurred at the 0-5 cm layer of the area treated with the highest dose: SOC content increased in 15.5 g kg-1 in comparison to the soil without charcoal application. The intermediary doses also increased the SOC content, but the differences were not significant. No differences for N content were found in this soil depth. Further results were observed in the 10-20 cm soil depth, where the highest dose increased the SOC content and N content. Furthermore, this treatment increased the recalcitrance of the SOM, mainly at the 0-5 cm and 10-20 cm soil layers. No differences between doses of charcoal application were found in the 20-30 cm soil depth, suggesting that the charcoal has not migrated so deep in soil even after almost two years of its incorporation.

Somatic proembryo production from excised, wounded zygotic carrot embryos on hormone-free medium: evaluation of the effects of pH, ethylene and activated charcoal

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, D. L.; Krikorian, A. D.

1990-01-01

Wounded zygotic embryos of cultivated carrot produce somatic proembryos on hormone-free nutrient medium containing 1 mM NH4+ as the sole nitrogen source. Continued maintenance of proembryos on this medium leads to a "pure" culture of preglobular stage proembryos (PGSPs). Ethylene had no effect on this process. Also, somatic embryo production was not affected by growing cultures on activated charcoal-impregnated filter papers. However, somatic proembyros initiated on activated charcoal papers were not maintainable as PGSPs and developed into later embryo stages. Normally, medium pH dropped from 5.7 to 4 during each subculture period, but when using activated charcoal papers the pH endpoint was around 6 - 7 due to a leachable substance(s) within the filter papers. When powdered, activated charcoal was used in the medium as an adsorbent of products potentially released after wounding, pH dropped at the normal rate and to the expected levels; proembryos did not mature into later embryo stages and were maintainable exclusively as PGSPs. Low pH (approximately 4) is detrimental to proembyro production, but is essential to maintaining PGSPs on hormone-free nutrient medium, whereas a sustained pH > or = 5.7 allows continued development of PGSPs into later embryo stages.

Frequency and clinical features of patients who attempted suicide by charcoal burning in Japan.

PubMed

Kato, Koji; Akama, Fumiaki; Yamada, Keigo; Maehara, Mizuki; Kimoto, Keitaro; Kimoto, Kousuke; Takahashi, Yuki; Sato, Reiko; Onishi, Yuichi; Matsumoto, Hideo

2013-02-15

To date, the clinical features between patients in Japan who have attempted suicide by charcoal burning and those who have attempted suicide by other methods in the context of a mental disorder diagnosis as assessed by structured interviews have not been reported. We enrolled 647 consecutive patients who attempted suicide and were hospitalized for inpatient treatment. Psychiatric diagnoses, frequency of suicide attempts, and clinical features were compared between charcoal burning and other suicide methods. Twenty of the 647 patients (3.1%) had attempted suicide by charcoal burning. The ratio of men to women was significantly higher by this method compared with that of other methods. The proportion of patients with mood disorders was significantly higher in the charcoal burning group than that in the other methods group. The occurrence of a psychiatric history in patients in the charcoal burning group was significantly lower than that in the other methods group. The study sample was limited to a single hospital. The results demonstrate the clinical characteristics of patients who attempted suicide by charcoal burning. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the clinical features of patients who have attempted suicide by charcoal burning in Japan. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Implementing microscopic charcoal in a global climate-aerosol model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilgen, Anina; Lohmann, Ulrike; Brügger, Sandra; Adolf, Carole; Ickes, Luisa

2017-04-01

Information about past fire activity is crucial to validate fire models and to better understand their deficiencies. Several paleofire records exist, among them ice cores and sediments, which preserve fire tracers like levoglucosan, vanillic acid, or charcoal particles. In this work, we implement microscopic charcoal particles (maximum dimension 10-100 μm) into the global climate-aerosol model ECHAM6.3HAM2.3. Since we are not aware of any reliable estimates of microscopic charcoal emissions, we scaled black carbon emissions from GFAS to capture the charcoal fluxes from a calibration dataset. After that, model results were compared with a validation dataset. The coarse model resolution (T63L31; 1.9°x1.9°) impedes the model to capture local variability of charcoal fluxes. However, variability on the global scale is pronounced due to highly-variable fire emissions. In future, we plan to model charcoal fluxes in the past 1-2 centuries using fire emissions provided from fire models. Furthermore, we intend to compare modelled charcoal fluxes from prescribed fire emissions with those calculated by an interactive fire model.

Recovery of datable charcoal beneath young lavas: lessons from Hawaii.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lockwood, J.P.; Lipman, P.W.

1980-01-01

Field studies in Hawaii aimed at providing a radiocarbon-based chronology of prehistoric eruptive activity have led to a good understanding of the processes that govern the formation and preservation of charcoal beneath basaltic lava flows. Charcoal formation is a rate-dependent process controlled primarily by temperature and duration of heating, as well as by moisture content, density, and size of original woody material. Charcoal will form wherever wood buried by lava is raised to sufficiently high temperatures, but owing to the availability of oxygen it is commonly burned to ash soon after formation. Wherever oxygen circulation is sufficiently restricted, charcoal will be preserved, but where atmospheric oxygen circulates freely, charcoal will only be preserved at a lower temperature, below that required for charcoal ignition or catalytic oxidation. These factors cause carbonized wood, especially that derived from living roots, to be commonly preserved beneath all parts of pahoehoe flows (where oxygen circulation is restricted), but only under margins of aa. Practical guidelines are given for the recovery of datable charcoal beneath pahoehoe and aa. Although based on Hawaiian basaltic flows, the guidelines should be applicable to other areas. -Authors

Determination of Pb2+ metal ion level in liquid waste from adsorption process by combination adsorbent of rice husk and water hyacinth charcoal using solid-phase spectrophotometry (sps)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saputro, S.; Masykuri, M.; Mahardiani, L.; Hidayah, AN

2018-03-01

This research are to find out the influence of adsorbent composition between rice husk and water hyacinth in decreasing of Pb2+ ion in simulation liquid waste; the optimumcomposition of combination adsorbent of rice husk and water hyacinth charcoal on Pb2+ ion adsorption; and theeffectivenessof SPS as a method to determine the decreasing level of Pb2+ ion in simulation liquid waste by combination adsorbent of rice husk and water hyacinth charcoal in µg/L level. Rice husk and water hyacinth carbonization using muffle furnace at 350°C for 1 hour. Rice husk charcoal activation in a 2 N NaOH solution and water hyacinth charcoal activated in a 5 M HCl solution. Contacting the combination adsorbent of rice husk and water hyacinth charcoal with a Pb2+ solution with variation of mass composition, 1:0 ; 0:1 ; 1:1 ; 1:2 and 2:1. Analysis of the Pb2+ ion level using SPS method. Characterization of rice husk and water hyacinth charcoal using the FTIR. The results showed that the combination adsorbent composition of rice husk and water hyacinth charcoal have an impact on decreasing Pb2+ ion level. The optimum composition of combination adsorbent of rice husk and water hyacinth charcoal on the adsorption Pb2+ ion is 1:2. SPS is an effective method to determine the decreasing Pb2+ ion in simulation liquid waste from the adsorption process by combination adsorbent of rice husk and water hyacinth in µg/L, with Limit of Detection (LOD) was 0,06 µg/L.

Influence of calcium carbonate and charcoal application on aggregation processes and organic matter retention at the silt-size scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asefaw Berhe, Asmeret; Kaiser, Michael; Ghezzehei, Teamrat; Myrold, David; Kleber, Markus

2013-04-01

The effectiveness of charcoal and calcium carbonate applications to improve soil conditions has been well documented. However, their influence on the formation of silt-sized aggregates and the amount and protection of associated organic matter (OM) against microbial decomposition is still largely unknown. For sustainable management of agricultural soils, silt-sized aggregates (2-53 µm) are of particularly large importance because they store up to 60% of soil organic carbon with mean residence times between 70 and 400 years. The objectives are i) to analyze the ability of CaCO3 and/or charcoal application to increase the amount of silt-sized aggregates and associated OM, ii) vary soil mineral conditions to establish relevant boundary conditions for amendment-induced aggregation processes, iii) to determine how amendment-induced changes in formation of silt-sized aggregates relate to microbial decomposition of OM. We set up artificial high reactive (HR, clay: 40%, sand: 57%, OM: 3%) and low reactive soils (LR, clay: 10%, sand: 89%, OM: 1%) and mixed them with charcoal (CC, 1%) and/or calcium carbonate (Ca, 0.2%). The samples were adjusted to a water potential of 0.3 bar and sub samples were incubated with microbial inoculum (MO). After a 16-weeks aggregation experiment, size fractions were separated by wet-sieving and sedimentation. Since we did not use mineral compounds in the artificial mixtures within the size range of 2 to 53 µm, we consider material recovered in this fraction as silt-sized aggregates, which was confirmed by SEM analyses. For the LR mixtures, we detected increasing N concentrations within the 2-53 µm fractions of the charcoal amended samples (CC, CC+Ca, and CC+Ca+MO) as compared to the Control sample with the strongest effect for the CC+Ca+MO sample. This indicates an association of N-containing microbial derived OM with silt-sized aggregates. For the charcoal amended LR and HR mixtures, the C concentrations of the 2-53 µm fractions are larger than those of the respective fractions of the Control samples but the effect is several times stronger for the LR mixtures. The C concentrations of the 2-53 µm fractions relative to the total C amount of the LR and HR mixtures are between 30 and 50%. The charcoal amended samples show generally larger relative C amounts associated with the 2-53 µm fractions than the Control samples. Benefits for aggregate formation and OM storage were larger for sand (LR) than for clay soil (HR). The gained data are similar to respective data for natural soils. Consequently, the suggested microcosm experiments are suitable to analyze mechanisms within soil aggregation processes.

Radiocarbon dating of charcoal and bone collagen associated with early pottery at Yuchanyan Cave, Hunan Province, China

PubMed Central

Boaretto, Elisabetta; Wu, Xiaohong; Yuan, Jiarong; Bar-Yosef, Ofer; Chu, Vikki; Pan, Yan; Liu, Kexin; Cohen, David; Jiao, Tianlong; Li, Shuicheng; Gu, Haibin; Goldberg, Paul; Weiner, Steve

2009-01-01

Yuchanyan Cave in Daoxian County, Hunan Province (People's Republic of China), yielded fragmentary remains of 2 or more ceramic vessels, in addition to large amounts of ash, a rich animal bone assemblage, cobble and flake artifacts, bone tools, and shell tools. The artifacts indicate that the cave was a Late Paleolithic foragers' camp. Here we report on the radiocarbon ages of the sediments based on analyses of charcoal and bone collagen. The best-preserved charcoal and bone samples were identified by prescreening in the field and laboratory. The dates range from around 21,000 to 13,800 cal BP. We show that the age of the ancient pottery ranges between 18,300 and 15,430 cal BP. Charcoal and bone collagen samples located above and below one of the fragments produced dates of around 18,000. These ceramic potsherds therefore provide some of the earliest evidence for pottery making in China. PMID:19487667

Solvent vapour monitoring in work space by solid phase micro extraction.

PubMed

Li, K; Santilli, A; Goldthorp, M; Whiticar, S; Lambert, P; Fingas, M

2001-05-07

Solid phase micro extraction (SPME) is a fast, solvent-less alternative to conventional charcoal tube sampling/carbon disulfide extraction for volatile organic compounds (VOC). In this work, SPME was compared to the active sampling technique in a typical lab atmosphere. Two different types of fibre coatings were evaluated for solvent vapour at ambient concentration. A general purpose 100 microm film polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fibre was found to be unsuitable for VOC work, despite the thick coating. The mixed-phase carboxen/PDMS fibre was found to be suitable. Sensitivity of the SPME was far greater than charcoal sorbent tube method. Calibration studies using typical solvent such as dichloromethane (DCM), benzene (B) and toluene (T) showed an optimal exposure time of 5 min, with a repeatability of less than 20% for a broad spectrum of organic vapour. Minimum detectable amount for DCM is in the range of 0.01 microg/l (0.003 ppmv). Variation among different fibres was generally within 30% at a vapour concentration of 1 microg DCM/l, which was more than adequate for field monitoring purpose. Adsorption characteristics and calibration procedures were studied. An actual application of SPME was carried out to measure background level of solvent vapour at a bench where DCM was used extensively. Agreement between the SPME and the charcoal sampling method was generally within a factor of two. No DCM concentration was found to be above the regulatory limit of 50 ppmv.

Effect of beer marinades on formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in charcoal-grilled pork.

PubMed

Viegas, Olga; Yebra-Pimentel, Iria; Martínez-Carballo, Elena; Simal-Gandara, Jesus; Ferreira, Isabel M P L V O

2014-03-26

The effect of marinating meat with Pilsner beer, nonalcoholic Pilsner beer, and Black beer (coded respectively PB, P0B, and BB) on the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in charcoal-grilled pork was evaluated and compared with the formation of these compounds in unmarinated meat. Antiradical activity of marinades (DPPH assay) was assayed. BB exhibited the strongest scavenging activity (68.0%), followed by P0B (36.5%) and PB (29.5%). Control and marinated meat samples contained the eight PAHs named PAH8 by the EFSA and classified as suitable indicators for carcinogenic potency of PAHs in food. BB showed the highest inhibitory effect in the formation of PAH8 (53%), followed by P0B (25%) and PB (13%). The inhibitory effect of beer marinades on PAH8 increased with the increase of their radical-scavenging activity. BB marinade was the most efficient on reduction of PAH formation, providing a proper mitigation strategy.

Effect of activated charcoal on callus growth and shoot organogenesis in tobacco. [Nicotiana tabacum

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Constantin, M.J.; Henke, R.R.; Mansur, M.A.

1977-01-01

Incorporating activated charcoal (AC) in culture media has been shown to affect growth and development of various organisms. Since AC stimulates the development of tobacco haploid plantlets from cultured anthers, research was conducted to determine the effect of activated charcoal on pith-derived callus growth and shoot development in Nicotiana tabacum cv. Wisconsin 38. Our results indicate that the hormones required for callus growth and shoot development in Wisconsin-38 tobacco are adsorbed by AC, thereby inhibiting callus growth and prohibiting shoot development. This effect was observed even when AC was removed from the medium by filtration prior to culturing the callus.

[Concentration of biocides in indoor rooms using pyrethroids as an example].

PubMed

Walker, G; Keller, R; Beckert, J; Butte, W

1994-06-01

Pyrethroids are an analogous substance group to one of the oldest known, naturally occurring insecticides pyrethrum and have replaced a number of pesticides such as Lindane, DDT and PCP on the market. Biocides are more persistent indoors than in nature, which could lead to permanent health hazards for the people concerned. Within a few days after application pyrethroids are rarely detected in room air but can be traced for a long time on textiles, furniture and in dust particles (3, 8). The investigation results of approx. 100 analyses from dust and carpet samples show that approx. 1/3 of these samples are positive for at least one pyrethroid and contain a concentration of > 2 mg substance per kg sample. The evaluation of 35 air samples taken from rooms where substances containing pyrethroids had been used at least a month prior to the investigation (the samples were sampled on active charcoal or Chromosorb) showed that pyrethroids could no longer be traced above the detection limit of 0.05-0.1 micrograms/m3. We therefore think that when investigating a contamination of rooms by biocides it is more advisable to determine pyrethroid and its synergists in the suspended dust portion and corresponding dust sample rather than analysing air by adsorption to active charcoal, Chromosorb or other carrier materials. From the observed concentrations of biocides one could conclude that in an indoor setting secondary contamination by biocides plays a more significant role in the total-body-load than that of air contamination.

A neglected - but not negligible - carbon reservoir in the Italian forests: relic charcoal kiln soils.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mastrolonardo, Giovanni; Francioso, Ornella; Carrari, Elisa; Brogi, Cristiana; Venturi, Martina; Certini, Giacomo

2017-04-01

Charcoal production in forests is one of the oldest human activities in Italy and the other European countries. Here, 3 thousand years ago civilizations were already used to convert wood into charcoal for energetic and metallurgic purposes. The technique for making charcoal remained substantially unchanged in time: wood piles covered with turf were built in appositely shaped emplacements, and then left to pyrolyse for days under controlled semi-anoxic conditions. This widespread activity lasted until a few decades ago, leaving as legacy a plethora of repeatedly used emplacements where soil shows a thick top layer very rich in charcoal. Despite the high frequency of relic charcoal kilns in the European forests, no studies aimed at accurately determining their C stock to assess their relevance as C sink in forest environment. In this work, we studied some relic charcoal kilns in a mixed oak forest at Marsiliana, Tuscany, central Italy, where charcoal production was enduring and massive at least since the Middle age. At Marsiliana, density of charcoal kiln sites was not uniform within the forest areas as it mostly depends on biomass availability. According to the aspect, northerly or southerly, we recognized two main forest areas where kiln sites density ranged between 2 and 3 sites per hectare. In general, the C content in the kiln soils was eight times the one in the surrounding soil, with just one third of the C in the form of pyrogenic C. Hence, natural organic carbon content was significantly higher in the kiln soils. Such a finding confirms that charcoal gives a substantial contribution to the C stock in the kilns but does not fully account for their particular richness in C. It has been thus hypothesized that charcoal is somehow able to stimulate the accumulation of native soil organic matter. At Marsiliana forest, relic charcoal kilns soils cover less than 0.5% of total surface. Nonetheless, their contribution to the total C stock in the top soil (30 cm) ranged between 2.5% and 15%, that is 1.2% to 4.2% of the C stored in the whole forest ecosystem, including litter, deadwood and above and below biomass. Taking into account the very long residence time of pyrogenic C in soil, charcoal kilns have great environmental significance in terms of climate change mitigation. The results of this study stress the importance of safeguarding relic charcoal kilns as a significant C reservoir, as well as a precious historical memory of the customs and traditions of past generations.

Charcoal in organic horizon and surface mineral soil in a boreal forest postfire chronosequence of Western Quebec: stocks, depth distribution, chemical properties and a synthesis of related studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Preston, Caroline M.; Simard, Martin; Bergeron, Yves; Bernard, Guy M.; Wasylishen, Roderick E.

2017-11-01

Wildfires are a major driver of carbon stocks and ecosystem development in Canadian boreal forests, but there is little information on amounts and properties of the charcoal produced. Using data and samples available from a previous study, we determined amounts, depth distribution and chemical properties of visually-determined charcoal (> 2 mm) in a boreal chronosequence in the Abitibi region of Quebec, Canada. Sites ranged from 24 to 2355 years since fire (ysf) and originated from low- and high-severity soil burns (> 5 cm or < 5 cm organic horizon unburned, respectively). Two or three pits were sampled at 1-cm depth intervals from 20 jack pine (Pinus banksiana) sites (one low severity and 19 high severity) and 31 black spruce (Picea mariana) sites (12 low severity and 19 high severity). Site-level charcoal stocks ranged from 50 to 5527 kg ha-1 with high within-site variability and lower stocks for the oldest sites. Depth distributions typically peaked around the organic-mineral interface, but some low-severity sites also had charcoal layers within the organic horizon. Means from 30 samples were 569 mg g-1 total C, 4.1 mg g-1 total N and 140 C/N (molar), with total C and C/N showing a trend of decline with time since fire, and total N showing an increase. Solid-state 13C CPMAS NMR spectra of nine samples showed high variability among the younger samples, but a trend to higher aromaticity for the older ones. A literature survey focusing on boreal forests similarly showed highly variable stocks and chemical properties of charcoal in organic horizon and upper mineral soil, with reduction of variance and lower stocks after several hundred years. This initial variation was also consistent with reports of highly variable temperatures and duration of charring in wildfires. Adding reports available for char production, and considering that most studies of char stocks and production are limited to the organic horizon (forest floor), suggests that initial production of charred material from boreal wildfires might be around 5-10 tonnes ha-1.

Extracting lignins from mill wastes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Humphrey, M. F.

1977-01-01

Addition of quaternary ammonium compound and activated charcoal to pulp and mill wastes precipitates lignins in sludge mixture. Methanol dissolves lignins for separation from resulting slurry. Mineral acid reprecipitates lignins in filtered solution. Quaternary ammonium compound, activated charcoal, as well as water may be recovered and recycled from this process.

Effects of Carbonization Parameters of Moso-Bamboo-Based Porous Charcoal on Capturing Carbon Dioxide

PubMed Central

Jhan, Jhih-Wei; Cheng, Yi-Ming; Cheng, Hau-Hsein

2014-01-01

This study experimentally analyzed the carbon dioxide adsorption capacity of Moso-bamboo- (Phyllostachys edulis-) based porous charcoal. The porous charcoal was prepared at various carbonization temperatures and ground into powders with 60, 100, and 170 meshes, respectively. In order to understand the adsorption characteristics of porous charcoal, its fundamental properties, namely, charcoal yield, ash content, pH value, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, iodine number, pore volume, and powder size, were analyzed. The results show that when the carbonization temperature was increased, the charcoal yield decreased and the pH value increased. Moreover, the bamboo carbonized at a temperature of 1000°C for 2 h had the highest iodine sorption value and BET surface area. In the experiments, charcoal powders prepared at various carbonization temperatures were used to adsorb 1.854% CO2 for 120 h. The results show that the bamboo charcoal carbonized at 1000°C and ground with a 170 mesh had the best adsorption capacity, significantly decreasing the CO2 concentration to 0.836%. At room temperature and atmospheric pressure, the Moso-bamboo-based porous charcoal exhibited much better CO2 adsorption capacity compared to that of commercially available 350-mesh activated carbon. PMID:25225639

Evaluation of radon adsorption characteristics of a coconut shell-based activated charcoal system for radon and thoron removal applications.

PubMed

Karunakara, N; Sudeep Kumara, K; Yashodhara, I; Sahoo, B K; Gaware, J J; Sapra, B K; Mayya, Y S

2015-04-01

Radon ((222)Rn), thoron ((220)Rn), and their decay products contribute a major fraction (more than 50%) of doses received from ionisation radiation in public domain indoor environments and occupation environments such as uranium mines, thorium plants, and underground facilities, and are recognised as important radiological hazardous materials, which need to be controlled. This paper presents studies on the removal of (222)Rn and (220)Rn from air using coconut shell-based granular activated charcoal cylindrical adsorber beds. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the (222)Rn and (220)Rn adsorption characteristics, and the mitigation efficiency of coconut-based activated charcoal available in India. The performance parameters evaluated include breakthrough time (τ) and adsorption coefficient (K), and degassing characteristics of the charcoal bed of varying dimensions at different flow rates. While the breakthrough for (222)Rn occurred depending on the dimension of the adsorber bed and flow rates, for (220)Rn, the breakthrough did not occur. The breakthrough curve exhibited a stretched S-shape response, instead of the theoretically predicted sharp step function. The experiments confirm that the breakthrough time individually satisfies the quadratic relationship with respect to the diameter of the bed, and the linear relationship with respect to the length, as predicted in the theory. The K value varied in the range of 2.3-4.12 m(3) kg(-1) with a mean value of 2.99 m(3) kg(-1). The K value was found to increase with the increase in flow rate. Heating the charcoal to ∼ 100 °C resulted in degassing of the adsorbed (222)Rn, and the K of the degassed charcoal and virgin charcoal were found to be similar with no deterioration in performance indicating the re-usability of the charcoal. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A model-based approach to wildland fire reconstruction using sediment charcoal records

USGS Publications Warehouse

Itter, Malcolm S.; Finley, Andrew O.; Hooten, Mevin B.; Higuera, Philip E.; Marlon, Jennifer R.; Kelly, Ryan; McLachlan, Jason S.

2017-01-01

Lake sediment charcoal records are used in paleoecological analyses to reconstruct fire history, including the identification of past wildland fires. One challenge of applying sediment charcoal records to infer fire history is the separation of charcoal associated with local fire occurrence and charcoal originating from regional fire activity. Despite a variety of methods to identify local fires from sediment charcoal records, an integrated statistical framework for fire reconstruction is lacking. We develop a Bayesian point process model to estimate the probability of fire associated with charcoal counts from individual-lake sediments and estimate mean fire return intervals. A multivariate extension of the model combines records from multiple lakes to reduce uncertainty in local fire identification and estimate a regional mean fire return interval. The univariate and multivariate models are applied to 13 lakes in the Yukon Flats region of Alaska. Both models resulted in similar mean fire return intervals (100–350 years) with reduced uncertainty under the multivariate model due to improved estimation of regional charcoal deposition. The point process model offers an integrated statistical framework for paleofire reconstruction and extends existing methods to infer regional fire history from multiple lake records with uncertainty following directly from posterior distributions.

Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Regeneration of Activated Carbon Loaded with Contaminants from Rocky Mountain Arsenal Well Water.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-05-01

PROCESSING COST OF ACTIVATED CHARCOAL REGENERATION BY SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE PROCESS ........................... 25 l IV-4 SENSITIVITY OF GAC...PROCESSING COSTS TO GAC WORKING CAPACITY ................................. 27 IV-5 ESTIMATED PROCESSING COST OF ACTIVATED CHARCOAL REGENERATION BY THERMAL...34 VI-2 COMPARISON OF THREE GRANULAR ACTIVATED CARBONS - SUPERCRITICAL CO2 REACTIVATION - GRANULAR CARBON ISOTHERMS - PHASE I RAW DATA

A contribution to the identification of charcoal origin in Brazil II - Macroscopic characterization of Cerrado species.

PubMed

Gonçalves, Thaís A P; Nisgoski, Silvana; Oliveira, Julia S; Marcati, Carmen R; Ballarin, Adriano W; Muñiz, Graciela I B

2016-05-13

The Brazilian Cerrado is the richest savanna in the world. It is also one of the biomes more threatened in the country and a hotspot for conservation priorities. The main causes of deforestation in Cerrado are agricultural practices, livestock and charcoal production. Although charcoal has a minor impact, its consumption represents the deforestation of 16.000 Km² of the Cerrado. To contribute for the biomes's conservation it is very important to improve forestry supervision. Thus, in this work we present the macroscopic characterization of charcoal from 25 Cerrado's species. We simulate the real conditions of forest controllers by using the magnifications of 10x, 25x and 65x. Likewise, the charcoals micrographs are all of transverse sections due to the larger amount of anatomical information. We also analyzed texture, brightness, vitrification, ruptures and some special features. The species present several differences in their anatomical structure. Although some of them are very unique, this work does not intent to identify charcoals only by macroscopic analyses. But it might give directions to future identification of genera or species. It also provides knowledge for government agents to verify the documents of forestry origin by fast analyzing a sample of charcoal itself.

Wood charcoal and activated carbon dust pneumoconiosis in three workers.

PubMed

De Capitani, Eduardo Mello; Algranti, Eduardo; Handar, Aantonieta M Z; Altemani, Albina M A; Ferreira, R G; Balthazar, Alipio Barbosa; Cerqueira, Elza Maria F P; Sanae Ota, Jaquelina

2007-03-01

Data on prevalence of lung diseases due to inhalation of carbonaceous materials other than mineral coal is very limited. We present three cases of wood charcoal pneumoconiosis, two due to activated carbon, and one from wood charcoal artisan handling. To our knowledge, no clinical cases of wood charcoal pneumoconiosis, from artisan handling has been published so far. The three cases had their X rays classified by two B-readers as p/q round opacities with profusion ranging from 2/2 to 3/3. HRCT of two of them showed a diffuse centrilobular ground glass nodular pattern with subpleural small areas of consolidations. Transbronchial biopsies showed deposition of black pigment in the bronchiolar interstice similar to the histological appearance of simple coal workers pneumoconiosis, with no signs of fibrosis. Spirometry showed no abnormalities in the three cases. The authors point out to a probably underestimated respiratory occupational risk related to wood charcoal manipulation, which must be addressed mostly in developing countries, where deficient workplace conditions can lead to exposure above limit levels. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Commercial charcoal production in the Ibarapa district of southwestern Nigeria: forestry dividends and welfare implications.

PubMed

Salami, Kabiru K; Brieger, William R

2010-01-01

Logging activities have long provided both wood fuel and charcoal for household and commercial use in rural and urban communities in developing countries. However, logging problems range from deforestation to threatened household air quality from burning wood and charcoal. This exploratory case study triangulated 15 in-depth interviews among charcoal bulk buyers and the workers, observations of workers at two èédú (charcoal) commercial depots in Igbo-Ora and of workers in the forest, and review of studies in academic database. Three categories of people are working in the business ranging from the producers in the forests (alaake) to the bulk buyers (olowo) in the middle and the wholesalers (ajagunta) in the city. A small team of 4-8 people can produce three pickup truck loads of charcoal in 2 weeks, and a large team between 7-8 loads. The olowo and the alaake have associations, membership cards, and meet to discuss business progress and regulate members' economic behavior. Close to 35,000 bags of charcoal of 450 pickup trucks may make the journey weekly from Ibarapa. Overall, the charcoal business is informal, and the local people also frown at cutting any useful indigenous trees ascertaining that an individual's actions may affect the whole community. The role of community health educators is important in the dissemination of effects of deforestation through charcoal production.

Analytical interferences of mercuric chloride preservative in environmental water samples: Determination of organic compounds isolated by continuous liquid-liquid extraction or closed-loop stripping

USGS Publications Warehouse

Foreman, W.T.; Zaugg, S.D.; Falres, L.M.; Werner, M.G.; Leiker, T.J.; Rogerson, P.F.

1992-01-01

Analytical interferences were observed during the determination of organic compounds in groundwater samples preserved with mercuric chloride. The nature of the interference was different depending on the analytical isolation technique employed. (1) Water samples extracted with dichloromethane by continuous liquid-liquid extraction (CLLE) and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry revealed a broad HgCl2 'peak' eluting over a 3-5-min span which interfered with the determination of coeluting organic analytes. Substitution of CLLE for separatory funnel extraction in EPA method 508 also resulted in analytical interferences from the use of HgCl2 preservative. (2) Mercuric chloride was purged, along with organic contaminants, during closed-loop stripping (CLS) of groundwater samples and absorbed onto the activated charcoal trap. Competitive sorption of the HgCl2 by the trap appeared to contribute to the observed poor recoveries for spiked organic contaminants. The HgCl2 was not displaced from the charcoal with the dichloromethane elution solvent and required strong nitric acid to achieve rapid, complete displacement. Similar competitive sorption mechanisms might also occur in other purge and trap methods when this preservative is used.

Investigation of growth responses in saprophytic fungi to charred biomass.

PubMed

Ascough, Philippa L; Sturrock, Craig J; Bird, Michael I

2010-03-01

We present the results of a study testing the response of two saprophytic white-rot fungi species, Pleurotus pulmonarius and Coriolus versicolor, to charred biomass (charcoal) as a growth substrate. We used a combination of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, elemental abundance measurements, and isotope ratio mass spectrometry ((13)C and (15)N) to investigate fungal colonisation of control and incubated samples of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) wood, and charcoal from the same species produced at 300 degrees C and 400 degrees C. Both species of fungi colonise the surface and interior of wood and charcoals over time periods of less than 70 days; however, distinctly different growth forms are evident between the exterior and interior of the charcoal substrate, with hyphal penetration concentrated along lines of structural weakness. Although the fungi were able to degrade and metabolise the pine wood, charcoal does not form a readily available source of fungal nutrients at least for these species under the conditions used in this study.

Chamomile Flower, Myrrh, and Coffee Charcoal, Components of a Traditional Herbal Medicinal Product, Diminish Proinflammatory Activation in Human Macrophages.

PubMed

Vissiennon, Cica; Hammoud, Dima; Rodewald, Steffen; Fester, Karin; Goos, Karl-Heinz; Nieber, Karen; Arnhold, Jürgen

2017-07-01

A traditional herbal medicinal product, containing myrrh, chamomile flower, and coffee charcoal, has been used in Germany for the relief of gastrointestinal complaints for decades. Clinical studies suggest its use in the maintenance therapy of inflammatory bowel disease. However, the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the clinical effects are not yet fully understood.The present study aims to elucidate immunopharmacological activities of myrrh, chamomile flower, and coffee charcoal by studying the influence of each plant extract on gene expression and protein release of activated human macrophages.The plant extracts effect on gene and protein expression of activated human monocyte-derived macrophages was investigated by microarray gene expression analysis and assessment of the release of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators (TNF α , chemokine CXCL13, and interleukin-10) using an ELISA test system.The extracts of myrrh, chamomile flower, and coffee charcoal influenced gene expression of activated human macrophages within the cytokine/chemokine signaling pathway. Particularly, chemokine gene expression was suppressed. Subsequently, the production of CXCL13 and, to a minor extent, cytokine TNF α was inhibited by all herbal extracts. Chamomile flower and coffee charcoal extracts enhanced interleukin-10 release from activated macrophages. The observed effects on protein release were comparable to the effect of budesonide, which decreased TNF α and CXCL13 and enhanced interleukin-10 release.The components of the herbal medicinal product influence the activity of activated human macrophages on both gene and protein level. The induced alterations within chemokine/cytokine signaling could contribute to a positive effect on the immunological homeostasis, which is disturbed in patients with chronic intestinal inflammation. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Amazon rain-forest fires.

PubMed

Sanford, R L; Saldarriaga, J; Clark, K E; Uhl, C; Herrera, R

1985-01-04

Charcoal is common in the soils of mature rain forests within 75 kilometers of San Carlos de Rio Negro in the north central Amazon Basin. Carbon-14 dates of soil charcoal from this region indicate that numerous fires have occurred since the mid-Holocene epoch. Charcoal is most common in tierra firme forest Oxisols and Ultisols and less common in caatinga and igapo forest soils. Climatic changes or human activities, or both, have caused rain-forest fires.

Ozone removal capability of a welding fume respirator containing activated charcoal.

PubMed

Johnston, A R; Dyrud, J F; Shih, Y T

1989-09-01

Development of air purifying respirators for protection against ozone has been slowed by concerns about oxidation of charcoal and other available sorbents. The suitability of a charcoal sorbent for low concentrations of ozone was evaluated as a part of the development of a half-mask air purifying respirator designed for welding fumes and ozone. Testing of the respirator confirmed that charcoal can be a suitable sorbent for low levels of ozone. Where the respirator is properly selected, fit tested, and worn, respirator use against welding fumes and ozone at concentrations not exceeding 10 times the permissible exposure limit had been recommended.

Adsorption and Pore of Physical-Chemical Activated Coconut Shell Charcoal Carbon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Budi, E.; Umiatin, U.; Nasbey, H.; Bintoro, R. A.; Wulandari, Fi; Erlina, E.

2018-04-01

The adsorption of activated carbon of coconut shell charcoal on heavy metals (Cu and Fe) of the wastewater and its relation with the carbon pore structure was investigated. The coconut shell was pyrolized in kiln at temperature about 75 - 150 °C for about 6 hours to produce charcoal and then shieved into milimeter sized granule particles. Chemical activation was done by immersing the charcoal into chemical solution of KOH, NaOH, HCl and H3PO4, with various concentration. The activation was followed by physical activation using horizontal furnace at 400°C for 1 hours in argon gas environment with flow rate of 200 kg/m3. The surface morphology of activated carbon were characterized by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Wastewater was made by dissolving CuSO4.5H2O and FeSO4.7H2O into aquades. The metal adsorption was analized by using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The result shows that in general, the increase of chemical concentration cause the increase of pore number of activated carbon due to an excessive chemical attack and lead the increase of adsorption. However it tend to decrease as further increasing in chemical activator concentration due to carbon collapsing. In general, the adsorption of Cu and Fe metal from wastewater by activated carbon increased as the activator concentration was increased.

Binding affinities of cationic dyes in the presence of activated charcoal and anionic surfactant in the premicellar region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, Farman; Ibrahim, Muhammad; Khan, Fawad; Bibi, Iram; Shah, Syed W. H.

2018-03-01

Binding preferences of cationic dyes malachite green and methylene blue in a mixed charcoal-sodium dodecyl sulfate system have been investigated using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. The dye adsorption shows surfactant-dependent patterns, indicating diverse modes of interactions. At low surfactant concentration, a direct binding to charcoal is preferred. Comparatively greater quantities of surfactant lead to attachment of dye-surfactant complex to charcoal through hydrophobic interactions. A simple model was employed for determination of equilibrium constant K eq and concentration of dye-surfactant ion pair N DS for both dyes. The values of binding parameters revealed that malachite green was directly adsorbed onto charcoal, whereas methylene blue was bound through surfactant monomers. The model is valid for low surfactant concentrations in the premicellar region. These findings have significance for material and environmental sciences.

Synchrony of Pandemics, Fire Reduction, and Reforestation in the Tropical Americas With Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Changes During European Conquest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nevle, R. J.; Bird, D. K.

2007-12-01

A new reconstruction of the biomass burning history of the tropical Americas is consistent with expanding fire use by Mesoamerican and Amazonian agriculturalists from 2000 to 500 years BP and a subsequent period of fire reduction due to indigenous demographic collapse. Our reconstruction synthesizes published data from stratigraphic charcoal accumulation records from lake and bog sediments and soil charcoal records, including soil charcoal obtained from archeological Amazonian Dark Earth sites. The charcoal data provide fire histories from over 40 localities and enable reconstruction of the Late Holocene regional biomass burning history of the tropical Americas. Synthesis of the stratigraphic charcoal records yields indexes of 1) the inter-site variability in charcoal accumulation; and 2) the mean rate of regional charcoal accumulation during 500-year increments since 3500 years BP. The age distribution of dated soil charcoal particles from non-archeological sites provides an independent measure of variation in regional charcoal accumulation; whereas the age distribution of soil charcoal dates from archeological sites records variation in charcoal accumulation related to anthropogenic biomass burning. The charcoal accumulation indexes derived from stratigraphic records begin to increase at ~2000 years BP, obtain maxima during the 500-year period just prior to European arrival, then decline to near-minimum values during the 500-year period subsequent to contact. Similarly, the age distribution of soil charcoal dated from non-archeological and archeological sites both indicate increases in charcoal accumulation from 2000 to 500 years BP followed by decline. We interpret the covariation between measures of charcoal accumulation derived from archeological and non-archeological sites as a consequence of the expansive influence of anthropogenic activity on the regional fire regime. The increase in regional charcoal accumulation apparent in the stratigraphic and soil charcoal records beginning at 2000 years BP correlates with expanding indigenous population, agriculture, and fire use in the tropical Americas. The rise in inter-site variability in charcoal accumulation after 2000 years BP is consistent with a demographic shift toward sedentary agrarian communities and localized increases in charcoal accumulation in densely populated centers. The declines in regional charcoal accumulation and inter-site variability after 500 years BP suggest a correlative cause related to reduction in anthropogenic biomass burning resulting from pandemic-driven population collapse. Published reconstructions of Pre-Columbian demography indicate that during European conquest, pandemics killed ~90% of the indigenous American population (~60 million), estimated to represent ~20% of the 16th century global population. Our predictive calculations suggest that fire reduction in the tropical Americas indicated in the charcoal record is associated with massive forest regeneration on ~1 x 106 km2 of land and sequestration of >10 Gt C into the terrestrial biosphere, which contributed to the ~2% global reduction in atmospheric CO2 levels and the 0.1‰ increase in δ13C of atmospheric CO2 from 1500 to 1700 A.D. recorded in Antarctic ice cores and tropical sponges.

The charcoal-degradation nexus: contested 'fuelscapes' in the sub-Saharan drylands of northern Kenya

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergmann, Christoph; Petersen, Maike; Roden, Paul; Nüsser, Marcus

2017-04-01

Charcoal ranks amongst the most commercialized but least regulated commodities in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite its prevalence as an energy source for cooking and heating, localized environmental and livelihood impacts of charcoal production are poorly understood so far. The identified research deficit is amplified by widespread negative views of this activity as a poverty-driven cause of deforestation and land degradation. However, the charcoal-degradation nexus is apparently more complicated, not least because the extraction of biomass from already degraded woodlands can also be interpreted as an appropriate option under given management regimes. In order to better calibrate existing research agendas to site-specific geographies of charcoal production, we propose a re-conceptualization of such energy landscapes as 'fuelscapes' with complex material and social dimensions. The concept is tested with reference to a case study in Central Pokot, northern Kenya, where charcoal production only began in the early 1990's. Based on the assumption that the fine line between sustainable land management and degradation in dryland energy landscapes is not only highly variable but also increasingly contested, our study combines the knowledge input of different stakeholders with longitudinal time series of remote sensing data. Based on the results of our interdisciplinary analyses, we outline an integrated tool for the co-operative monitoring and management of prevailing degradation processes against the background of diversified livelihood activities in sub-Saharan drylands.

Activated Charcoal Does Not Reduce Duration of Phenytoin Toxicity in Hospitalized Patients.

PubMed

Cumpston, Kirk; Stromberg, Paul; Wills, Brandon K; Rose, S Rutherfoord

2016-01-01

Phenytoin toxicity frequently results in a prolonged inpatient admission. Several publications avow multidose activated charcoal (MDAC) will enhance the elimination of phenytoin. However, these claims are not consistent, and the mechanism of enhanced eliminaiton is unproven. The aim of this investigation is to compare the time to reach a clinical composite end point in phenytoin overdose patients treated with no activated charcoal (NoAC), single-dose activated charcoal (SDAC), and MDAC. This was a retrospective study using electronic poison center data. Patients treated in a health care facility with phenytoin concentrations >20 mg/L were included. Patients were grouped by use of SDAC, MDAC, and NoAC. The primary end points were either time to resolution of symptoms, hospital discharge, or the case was closed by a toxicologist. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 132 cases were included for analysis. There were 88 NoAC, 13 SDAC, and 31 MDAC cases. The groups were similar in symptomatology, age, and chronicity of expsoure. Mean peak phenytoin concentrations (SD) were 42 mg/L (12), 41 mg/L (11), and 42 mg/L (11) for NoAC, SDAC, and MDAC, respectively. Mean time to reach the study end point was 39 hours [95% confidence interval (CI), 31-48], 52 hours (95% CI, 36-68), and 60 hours (95% CI, 45-75) for NoAC, SDAC, and MDAC, respectively. The groups appeared similar with respect to peak phenytoin concentrations and prevalence of signs and symptoms. In this observational series, the use of activated charcoal was associated with increased time to reach the composite end point of clinical improvement.

Effect of supplementing activated charcoal on the intake of honey mesquite leaves by lambs

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A study was conducted to determine if intake of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) leaves by sheep could be increased by supplementing four levels of activated charcoal supplemental (0.0, 0.33, 0.67 and 1.00 g/kg of BW). Twenty wether lambs (36.6 ± 0.6 kg) were randomly assigned to the 4 tre...

Effect of supplementing activated charcoal on the intake of honey mesquite leaves by lambs

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A study was conducted to determine if intake of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) leaves by sheep could be increased by supplementing activated charcoal at 0.0, 0.33, 0.67 or 1.00 g / kg of body weight. Twenty wether lambs (36.6 ± 0.6 kg) were randomly assigned to the 4 treatment levels. La...

EFFECTS OF ACTIVATED CHARCOAL FILTRATION AND OZONATION ON HYDROCARBON AND CARBONYL LEVELS OF AMBIENT AIR USED IN CONTROLLED-EXPOSURE CHAMBER STUDIES OF AIR POLLUTANT HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS

EPA Science Inventory

Air sampling experiments were done in 1985, 1987, and 1993 at the human-exposure chamber facility of the U.S. EPA Health Effects Research Laboratory in Chapel Hill, NC. easurements of VOC's by GC-FID and aldehyde measurements by the DNPH silica gel cartridge method were made, com...

The effects of fire severity on black carbon additions to forest soils - 10 years post fire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poore, R.; Wessman, C. A.; Buma, B.

2013-12-01

Wildfires play an active role in the global carbon cycle. While large amounts of carbon dioxide are released, a small fraction of the biomass consumed by the fire is only partially combusted, yielding soot and charcoal. These products, also called black carbon (BC) make up only 1-5% of the biomass burnt, yet they can have a disproportionate effect on both the atmosphere and fluxes in long-term carbon pools. This project specifically considers the fraction that is sequestered in forest soils. Black carbon is not a specific compound, and exists along a continuum ranging from partially burned biomass to pure carbon or graphite. Increasing aromaticity as the result of partial combustion means charcoal is highly resistant to oxidation. Although debated, most studies indicate a turnover time on the order of 500-1,000 years in warm, wet, aerobic soils. Charcoal may function as a long-term carbon sink, however its overall significance depends on its rate of formation and loss. At the landscape level, fire characteristics are one of the major factors controlling charcoal production. A few studies suggest that charcoal production increases with cooler, less-severe fires. However, there are many factors to tease apart, partly because of a lack of specificity in how fire severity is defined. Within this greater context, our lab has been working on a landscape-level study within Routt National Forest, north of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. In 2002, a large fire swept through a subalpine spruce, fir and lodgepole pine forest. In 2011-2013 we sampled BC pools in 44 plots across a range of fire severities from unburned to severe crown We hypothesized that charcoal stocks will be higher in areas of low severity fire as compared to high severity because of decreased re-combustion of charcoal in the organic soil and increased overall charcoal production due to lower temperatures. In each of our plots we measured charcoal on snags and coarse woody debris, sampled the entire organic horizon and the top 10cm mineral horizon. The soils were sieved to 2mm and their BC content measured using the Kurth-MacKenzie-DeLuca method of digesting labile carbon using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide at 95C for 20hrs. We integrated both remotely sensed data and field observations. We used the Relative Difference Normalized Burn Ratio (RdNBR) calculated by Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS). This index used Landsat images from July in the years before and after the fire and is based on differences in bands 4 and 7, with the aim of assessing coarse scale changes in soil and vegetation post fire. For each plot we also collected data on tree mortality and organic soil depth. These metrics were chosen from the Composite Burn Index as those that were most reliable even 10 years after the fire. We observed no significant differences in BC totals between high severity fire and unburned plots, although BC increased slightly on burned plots. Early results for low severity sites (analysis still in progress) suggest that BC increased in plots experiencing lower severity fires compared to unburned and high severity plots. Comparing carbon and BC totals on unburned and severely burned plots, and assuming no loss of BC from mineral soil during the fire, we observed a 1.2% conversion of burned biomass to BC, which corresponds with literature estimates of 1-4%.

What can we tell from particle morphology in Mesozoic charcoal assemblages?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crawford, Alastair; Belcher, Claire

2015-04-01

Sedimentary charcoal particles provide a valuable record of palaeofire activity on both human and geological timescales. Charcoal is both an unambiguous indicator of wildfire, and a means of preservation of plant material in an inert form; thus it records not only the occurrence and extent of wildfire, but also the species affected. While scanning electron microscopy can be usefully employed for precise taxonomic identification of charcoals, the time and cost associated with this limit the extent to which the technique is employed. Morphometric analysis of mesocharcoal particles (c. 125-1000 µm) potentially provides a simple method for obtaining useful information from optical microscopy images. Grass fires have been shown to produce mesocharcoal particles with a higher length-to-width ratio than woodland fuel sources. In Holocene archives, aspect ratio measurements are thus used to infer the broad taxonomic affinity of the burned vegetation. Since Mesozoic charcoals display similarly heterogeneous morphologies, we investigate whether there is a similar potential to infer the broad botanical affinities of Mesozoic charcoal assemblages from simple morphological metrics. We have used image analysis to analyse a range of Jurassic and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks representing different vegetation communities and depositional environments, and also to determine the range of charcoal particle morphologies which can be produced from different modern taxa under laboratory conditions. We find that modern charcoals break down into mesocharcoal particles of very variable aspect ratio, and this appears to be dependent on taxonomic position. Our analysis of fragmented laboratory-produced charcoals indicates that pteridophytes produce much more elongate particles than either conifers or non-grass angiosperms. We suggest that for charcoal assemblages that predate the evolution of grasses, high average aspect ratios may be a useful indicator of the burning of a pteridophyte-dominated flora.

Activation of water soluble amines by halogens for trapping methyl radioactive iodine from air streams

DOEpatents

Deitz, Victor R.; Blachly, Charles H.

1977-01-01

Gas adsorbent charcoals impregnated with an aqueous solution of the reaction product of a tertiary amine and elemental iodine or bromine are better than 99 per cent efficient in trapping methyl iodine.sup.131. The chemical addition of iodine or bromine to the tertiary amine molecule increases the efficiency of the impregnated charcoal as a trapping agent, and in conjunction with the high flash point of the tertiary amine raises the ignition temperature of the impregnated charcoal.

Fabrication and tribological response of aluminium 6061 hybrid composite reinforced with bamboo char and boron carbide micro-fillers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chethan, K. N.; Pai, Anand; Keni, Laxmikant G.; Singhal, Ashish; Sinha, Shubham

2018-02-01

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) have a wide scope of industrial applications and triumph over conventional materials due to their light weight, higher specific strength, good wear resistance and lower coefficient of thermal expansion. The present study aims at establishing the feasibility of using Bamboo charcoal particulate and boron carbide as reinforcements in Al-6061 alloy matrix and to investigate their effect on the wear of composites taking into consideration the interfacial adhesion of the reinforcements in the alloy. Al-6061 alloy was chosen as a base metallic alloy matrix. Sun-dried bamboo canes were used for charcoal preparation with the aid of a muffle furnace. The carbon content in the charcoal samples was determined by EDS (energy dispersive spectroscopy). In present study, stir casting technique was used to prepare the samples with 1%, 2%, and 3% weight of bamboo charcoal and boron carbide with Al-6061. The fabricated composites were homogenised at 570°C for 6 hours and cooled at room temperature. Wear studies were carried out on the specimens with different speed and loads. It was found that wear rate and coefficient of friction decreased with increase in the reinforcement content.

The charcoal effect in Boreal forests: mechanisms and ecological consequences.

PubMed

Wardle, D A; Zackrisson, O; Nilsson, M-C

1998-07-01

Wildfire is the principal disturbance regime in northern Boreal forests, where it has important rejuvenating effects on soil properties and encourages tree seedling regeneration and growth. One possible agent of this rejuvenation is fire-produced charcoal, which adsorbs secondary metabolites such as humus phenolics produced by ericaceous vegetation in the absence of fire, which retard nutrient cycling and tree seedling growth. We investigated short-term ecological effects of charcoal on the Boreal forest plant-soil system in a glasshouse experiment by planting seedlings of Betula pendula and Pinus sylvestris in each of three humus substrates with and without charcoal, and with and without phenol-rich Vaccinium myrtillus litter. These three substrates were from: (1) a high-productivity site with herbaceous ground vegetation; (2) a site of intermediate productivity dominated by ericaceous ground vegetation; and (3) an unproductive site dominated by Cladina spp. Growth of B. pendula was stimulated by charcoal addition and retarded by litter addition in the ericaceous substrate (but not in the other two), presumably because of the high levels of phenolics present in that substrate. Growth of P. sylvestris, which was less sensitive to substrate origin than was B. pendula, was unresponsive to charcoal. Charcoal addition enhanced seedling shoot to root ratios of both tree species, but again only for the ericaceous substrate. This response is indicative of greater N uptake and greater efficiency of nutrient uptake (and presumably less binding of nutrients by phenolics) in the presence of charcoal. These effects were especially pronounced for B. pendula, which took up 6.22 times more nitrogen when charcoal was added. Charcoal had no effect on the competitive balance between B. pendula and P. sylvestris, probably due to the low intensity of competition present. Juvenile mosses and ferns growing in the pots were extremely responsive to charcoal for all sites; fern prothalli were entirely absent in the ericaceous substrate unless charcoal was also present. Charcoal stimulated active soil microbial biomass in some instances, and also exerted significant although idiosyncratic effects on decomposition of the added litter. Our results provide clear evidence that immediately after wildfire fresh charcoal can have important effects in Boreal forest ecosystems dominated by ericaceous dwarf shrubs, and this is likely to provide a major contribution to the rejuvenating effects of wildfire on forest ecosystems.

Direct identification of bacteria from charcoal-containing blood culture bottles using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Wüppenhorst, N; Consoir, C; Lörch, D; Schneider, C

2012-10-01

Several protocols for direct matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) from positive blood cultures are currently used to speed up the diagnostic process of bacteraemia. Identification rates are high and results are accurate for the BACTEC™ system and for charcoal-free bottles. Only a few studies have evaluated protocols for charcoal-containing BacT/ALERT bottles reaching substantially lower identification rates. We established a new protocol for sample preparation from aerobic and anaerobic positive charcoal-containing BacT/ALERT blood culture bottles and measured the protein profiles (n = 167). Then, we integrated this protocol in the routine workflow of our laboratory (n = 212). During the establishment of our protocol, 74.3 % of bacteria were correctly identified to the species level, in 23.4 %, no result and in 2.4 %, a false identification were obtained. Reliable criteria for correct species identification were a score value ≥1.400 and a best match on rank 1-3 of the same species. Identification rates during routine workflow were 77.8 % for correct identification, 20.8 % for not identified samples and 1.4 % for discordant identification. In conclusion, our results indicate that MALDI-TOF MS is possible, even from charcoal-containing blood cultures. Reliable criteria for correct species identification are a score value ≥1.400 and a best match on rank 1-3 of a single species.

Translations on Environmental Quality, Number 128

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-01-17

filters. The mechanical filter has a 5 cubic meter filtering material operational volume and is charged with activized BAU charcoal . The cationite...cubic meter activized BAU charcoal . The cationite and anionite filters are charged with strong acid cationite and strong alkali anionite in their N and...Extensive Reprocessing of Slags. In ferrous metallurgy , pig and steel pro- duction is inescapably connected with the production of large amounts of

Radon Adsorbed in Activated Charcoal--A Simple and Safe Radiation Source for Teaching Practical Radioactivity in Schools and Colleges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Azmi, Darwish; Mustapha, Amidu O.; Karunakara, N.

2012-01-01

Simple procedures for teaching practical radioactivity are presented in a way that attracts students' attention and does not make them apprehensive about their safety. The radiation source is derived from the natural environment. It is based on the radioactivity of radon, a ubiquitous inert gas, and the adsorptive property of activated charcoal.…

Intake of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) leaves by lambs using different levels of activated charcoal

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A 24-day feeding trial was conducted to assess the effect of feeding four levels of activated charcoal (0.0, 0.33, 0.67 and 1.00 g/kg of body weight) on intake of honey mesquite leaves (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) by 20 wether lambs (36.6 ± 0.6 kg) that were randomly assigned to treatments. Lambs wer...

Biochar production technology: An overview

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Char(coal) and the broader term black carbon (that includes soot) has long been recognized as a normal environmental (including soil) constituent resulting from fire and industrial activities. Charcoal carbon can naturally make up as much as 35% of total organic carbon in U.S. agricultural soils. ...

Former charcoal kiln sites where forest was cleared for cultivation: a case study of old biochar in cropland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hardy, Brieuc; Dufey, Joseph E.; Cornelis, Jean-Thomas

2014-05-01

The use of biochar as a soil amendment is being increasingly investigated as a win-win solution for mitigating the anthropic CO2 emissions and improving soil fertility. However, data on the long term impact of chars on soil properties are scarce, although they are crucial for better understanding the implications of large scale application of highly persistent biochars to soil. In Wallonia (Belgium), old charcoal kilns are found in most of the area that was forested in the late 18th century. Since then, a non-negligible part of the forest has been cleared for cultivation. Today, old charcoal-making platforms can be seen on bare soils as circular or elliptic black spots due to charcoal enrichment. In order to assess the long-term (>200 years) effects of biochar on soil chemical properties, seventeen kiln sites were chosen in several cropland areas of Wallonia on loessic luvisols (14) and loamy cambisols (3). Composite samples were taken in the ploughing layer (0 - 25 cm) and the underlying horizon (35 - 50 cm) in and out the kiln sites. The pH, total carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents, oxidizable carbon (CW&B), available phosphorus (Pav), cation exchange capacity at pH 7 (CEC), exchangeable cations content (Ca++, Mg++, K+, Na+) and loss on ignition at 550°C (LI550) were measured. In order to assess the impact of cultivation on charcoal aging, we also sampled four kiln sites on loessic luvisols under forest. Here, we show that charcoal, diluted laterally by successive tillage, acts as a carbon surplus in the topsoil layer of the black spots. The charcoal-enriched horizon is characterized by higher CEC, C/N and C/LI550 ratio compared to the reference soil. Cultivation of former forest soils accelerates charcoal aging, likely due to a combined effect of mechanical (tillage splits charcoal fragments in smaller pieces and increases soil aeration) and biological actions (promoted by improved trophic conditions due to application of amendments and fertilizers over many decades). This is supported by (i) a decrease of charcoal C/N and C/LI550 ratios, (ii) a sharp increase in the CEC value per carbon unit (485 cmolc/kgC) and (iii) a greater ability to be oxidized by a K2Cr2O7 treatment as compared to forest sites. Additionally, we observe identical Pav contents in and out the charcoal kiln sites which may indicate that Pav is governed only by the native humic substance content. Exchangeable Ca++ and, to a lesser extent Mg++ are higher than in the reference soil, whereas the content of K+ is comparable. Considering the percentage of these cations on the CEC, we propose that the exchange complex of charcoal has a higher selectivity for Ca++ and Mg++, and a lower selectivity for K+ relative to that of native humic substances. Our results provide new insights into the long-term impact of biochar on soil properties in cropland subject to intense cultivation in temperate climate.

Surgical suite environmental control system. [using halothane absorbing filter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Higginbotham, E. J.; Jacobs, M. L.

1974-01-01

Theoretical and experimental work for a systems analysis approach to the problem of surgical suit exhaust systems centered on evaluation of halothane absorbing filters. An activated charcoal-alumina-charcoal combination proved to be the best filter for eliminating halothane through multilayer absorption of gas molecules.

Determination of aminopolycarboxylic acids in river water by solid-phase extraction on activated charcoal cartridges and gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. Method performance characteristics and estimation of the uncertainty.

PubMed

Jiménez, Juan J

2013-04-03

A new sample preparation procedure to determine aminopolycarboxylic acids (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, EDTA, nitrilotriacetic acid, NTA, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, DTPA, and cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, CDTA) in river water is described. The procedure consists of the solid-phase extraction of the aminopolycaroxyllic acids on activated charcoal cartridges after increasing the ionic strength and acidifying the sample. The extract was eluted with methanol and the analytes were methylated in presence of BF3/methanol to determine them by GC with mass spectrometric detection. Recoveries were higher than 90% with good repeatabilities and inter-day precision for concentrations close to quantification limits (about 10 μg L(-1)) and higher. It has been verified that the proposed method is robust according to the Youden and Steiner test and free of matrix effects arisen from the presence of organic matter and iron(III) as deduced from statistical tests. A bottom-up approach was followed to estimate the uncertainty of the measured concentration. At concentrations close to 10 μg L(-1) the most relevant step of the method is the calculus of the interpolated concentration which has a high value of relative standard uncertainty. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of Syn-pandemic Fire Reduction and Reforestation in the Tropical Americas on Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide During European Conquest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nevle, R. J.; Bird, D. K.

2008-12-01

A new reconstruction of the Late Holocene biomass burning history of the tropical Americas is consistent with expanding fire use by Mesoamerican and Amazonian agriculturalists from 2000-500 BP and a subsequent period of fire reduction due to indigenous demographic collapse. Our reconstruction synthesizes published data from 50 charcoal accumulation records obtained from stratified lacustrine sediments and from soils, including soil charcoal records recovered from archeological sites. Synthesis of stratigraphic charcoal records yields indexes of the mean rate of regional charcoal accumulation and of variability in charcoal accumulation among sites during 500-year increments since 3500 BP. The age distribution of dated soil charcoal particles from non-archeological sites provides an independent measure of variation in regional charcoal accumulation; whereas age distribution of soil charcoal dates from archeological sites records variation in charcoal accumulation related to anthropogenic biomass burning. We observe that the charcoal accumulation indexes derived from stratigraphic records begin to increase at 2000 BP, remain high until 500 BP, and then decline to near-minimum values during the 500-year period subsequent to European contact. Similarly, the age distributions of soil charcoal dated from both non-archeological and archeological sites indicate increases in charcoal accumulation from 2000 to 500 BP followed by decline. An index of the inter- site variability in charcoal accumulation obtained from the stratigraphic records attains a maximum during the time period between 1000 and 500 BP and a near-minimum value afterward. We interpret the covariation between measures of charcoal accumulation derived from archeological and non-archeological sites as a consequence of the expansive influence of anthropogenic activity on the regional fire regime. Increases in regional charcoal accumulation apparent in both the stratigraphic and soil charcoal records beginning at 2000 BP correlate with expanding indigenous population, agriculture, and fire use in the tropical Americas. The rise in inter-site variability in charcoal accumulation after 2000 BP is consistent with a demographic shift toward sedentary agrarian communities and localized increases in charcoal accumulation in densely populated centers. Declines in regional charcoal accumulation and inter-site variability after 500 BP suggest a correlative cause related to reduction in anthropogenic biomass burning resulting from pandemic-driven population collapse. Published reconstructions of Pre-Columbian demography indicate that during European conquest, pandemics killed ~90% of the indigenous American population (~60 million), estimated to represent ~20% of the 16th century global population. Our predictive calculations suggest that fire reduction in the tropical Americas is associated with massive forest regeneration on ~5 x 105 km2 of land and sequestration of 5-10 Gt C into the terrestrial biosphere, which can account for 13- 50% of the ~2% global reduction in atmospheric CO2 levels and the 0.1‰ increase in δ13C of atmospheric CO2 from 1500 to 1700 CE recorded in Antarctic ice cores and tropical sponges. New archeological discoveries revealing extensive networks of geoglyphs and urban polities in Pre-Columbian Amazonia suggest that our estimates of reforestation, and consequent effects on atmospheric CO2, may be conservative.

Effect of Steam Activation on Development of Light Weight Biomorphic Porous SiC from Pine Wood Precursor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manocha, Satish M.; Patel, Hemang; Manocha, L. M.

2013-02-01

Biomorphic SiC materials with tailor-made microstructure and properties similar to ceramic materials manufactured by conventional method are a new class of materials derived from natural biopolymeric cellulose templates (wood). Porous silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics with wood-like microstructure have been prepared by carbothermal reduction of charcoal/silica composites at 1300-1600 °C in inert Ar atmosphere. The C/SiO2 composites were fabricated by infiltrating silica sol into porous activated biocarbon template. Silica in the charcoal/silica composite, preferentially in the cellular pores, was found to get transformed in forms of fibers and rods due to shrinkage during drying. The changes in the morphology of resulting porous SiC ceramics after heat treatment to 1600 °C, as well as the conversion mechanism of wood to activated carbon and then to porous SiC ceramic have been investigated using scanning electron microscope, x-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. Activation of carbon prior to silica infiltration has been found to enhance conversion of charcoal to SiC. The pore structure is found to be uniform in these materials than in those made from as-such charcoal/silica composites. This provides a low-cost and eco-friendly route to advanced ceramic materials, with near-net shape potential.

A rapid and efficient in vitro regeneration system for lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.).

PubMed

Armas, Isabel; Pogrebnyak, Natalia; Raskin, Ilya

2017-01-01

Successful biotechnological improvement of crop plants requires a reliable and efficient in vitro regeneration system. Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.), one the most important vegetable crops worldwide, is strongly genotype-dependent in terms of regeneration capacity, limiting the potential for biotechnological improvement of cultivars which show recalcitrance under currently available protocols. The effect of different nutrient sources, plant hormone combinations and activated charcoal supplementation on shoot induction efficiency was evaluated on the cultivar 'RSL NFR', which had previously shown poor regeneration efficiency. Multiple shoot organogenesis from cotyledon explants was recorded at the highest frequency and speed on Murashige and Skoog regeneration medium supplemented with 200 mg/l of activated charcoal, 3% sucrose, 10 mg/l benzylaminopurine and 0.5 mg/l naphthaleneacetic acid, which induced shoots through direct regeneration in 90.8 ± 7.9% of explants. High shoot induction efficiency was also observed, albeit not quantified, when using this medium on some other cultivars. This activated charcoal-containing regeneration medium might offer a rapid and efficient option for direct shoot induction in some lettuce genotypes that do not respond well to common lettuce regeneration protocols. This is also the first report of the effect of activated charcoal in lettuce tissue culture.

Identifying past fire regimes throughout the Holocene in Ireland using new and established methods of charcoal analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hawthorne, Donna; Mitchell, Fraser J. G.

2016-04-01

Globally, in recent years there has been an increase in the scale, intensity and level of destruction caused by wildfires. This can be seen in Ireland where significant changes in vegetation, land use, agriculture and policy, have promoted an increase in fires in the Irish landscape. This study looks at wildfire throughout the Holocene and draws on lacustrine charcoal records from seven study sites spread across Ireland, to reconstruct the past fire regimes recorded at each site. This work utilises new and accepted methods of fire history reconstruction to provide a recommended analytical procedure for statistical charcoal analysis. Digital charcoal counting was used and fire regime reconstructions carried out via the CharAnalysis programme. To verify this record new techniques are employed; an Ensemble-Member strategy to remove the objectivity associated with parameter selection, a Signal to Noise Index to determine if the charcoal record is appropriate for peak detection, and a charcoal peak screening procedure to validate the identified fire events based on bootstrapped samples. This analysis represents the first study of its kind in Ireland, examining the past record of fire on a multi-site and paleoecological timescale, and will provide a baseline level of data which can be built on in the future when the frequency and intensity of fire is predicted to increase.

Charcoal disrupts cell-cell communication through multiple mechanisms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, X.; Cheng, H. Y.; Liu, S.; Masiello, C. A.; Silberg, J. J.; Del Valle, I.

2016-12-01

Microbial cell-cell communication through the release and detection of small signaling molecules is employed by soil microbes to manage many biogeochemically relevant processes including production of biofilms, priming effects on native SOM, and management of methanogenesis and denitrification. Charcoal is a ubiquitous component of soil, entering soil either from natural fire or intentionally amended as biochar. Charcoal's presence in soil introduces spatial and temporal heterogeneity in nutrients and habitats for soil microbes and may trigger a range of biological effects not yet predictable, in part because it interferes with microbial cell-cell communication. We hypothesized that charcoal's alkalinity and large active surface area could affect the lifetime of some chemical compounds that microbes use for cell-cell signaling on times scales relevant to growth and communication. To test this idea, we examined the extent and rate of charcoal quenching of cell-cell communication caused by ten charcoals with a wide range of physicochemical properties. Our measurements focused on signaling mediated by an acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL), N-3-oxo-dodecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone, which is used by many gram-negative bacteria for quorum sensing. Our results from a bioassay and chemical sorption experiments revealed that charcoal can decrease the bioavailable level of AHL through a combination of sorption and pH-dependent hydrolysis of the lactone ring. We found that the kinetics of hydrolysis can exceed those of sorption. These findings implicate charcoal surface area and alkalinity as properties that could be tuned to regulate the degradation rates of cell-cell signaling molecules in soils. We then built a quantitative model that predicts the half-lives of different microbial signaling compounds in the presence of charcoals varying in pH and surface area. Our model results suggest that the effects of charcoal on pH-sensitive bacterial AHL signals will be fundamentally distinct from effects on pH-insensitive fungal signals, potentially leading to shifts in microbial community structures.

Thermal characterization of organic matter along a (hypothetical) coalification gradient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cavallo, Ornella; Provenzano, Maria Rosaria; Zaccone, Claudio

2017-04-01

Geochemical transformations of organic carbon (C) in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are important starting points for genesis of peats, brown coals and other coal precursors. The humification process plays a key role in biogeochemical transformations of organic C and, as a result, in the first stages of coal precursors formation. Thermal analysis was used by Schnitzer and other scientists since 1950-1960s, in order to investigate the stability of several organic materials of industrial value including peat and coal. What soil scientists found was the general occurrence of two exothermic peaks (exotherm 1 and 2) due to decomposition and combustion reactions of organic compounds having different thermal stability and, consequently, different degree of humification. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) was carried out on different samples reproducing a "hypothetical" coalification gradient as follows: peat (IHSS Pahokee peat standard), fulvic acid (FA), a peat humic acid (HA), leonardite (IHSS Gascoyne standard) and charcoal. An aliquot of about 20 mg of each sample was heated in a ceramic crucible from 50 to 850˚ C at 30˚ C min-1, at a gas flow rate of 30 mL min-1 using a PerkinElmer TGA4000 thermobalance. Samples were analysed both under nitrogen and under synthetic air. All analyses were carried out in triplicate and the average coefficient of variation was <1.5%. Weight losses (in %) were determined within 200-400˚ C (WL1) and 400-600˚ C (WL2) temperature ranges, and the ratio between WL2/WL1 calculated for all samples. This ratio has been often used as a highly sensitive parameter to describe chemical changes induced by the bio-transformation of organic materials. Finally, the temperature at which half of the exothermic mass loss has occurred (TG-T50) was also calculated. Preliminary results obtained from TG analysis under air showed that WL2/WL1 ratio was lower for the FA sample and higher for leonardite and charcoal, following the order FA

Structural, morphological, and thermal characterization of kraft lignin and its charcoals obtained at different heating rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodrigues Brazil, Tayra; Nunes Costa, Rogeria; Massi, Marcos; Cerqueira Rezende, Mirabel

2018-04-01

Biomass is a renewable resource that is becoming more import due to environmental concerns and possible oil crisis. Thus, optimizing its use is a current challenge for many researchers. Lignin, which is a macromolecule with complex chemical structure, valuable physicochemical properties, and varied chemical composition, is available in large quantities in pulp and paper companies. The objective of this work is the physicochemical characterization of two Kraft lignin samples with different purities, and the study of its thermal conversion into charcoal. The lignin characterization was based on chemical, TGA, DSC, FT-IR, particle sizes, and FEG-SEM analyses. These analyses show that the lignins are mainly composed of guaiacyl and syringyl units, with residues of 30–36 wt.%, in inert atmosphere, depending on the lignin purity. From these results, the more purified lignin with higher carbon yield (%C) was selected for charcoal production. The heat treatment (HT) for carbonization of lignin, at different times (90, 180, and 420 min), resulted in different %C (41–44 wt.%). Longer HT resulted in higher %C and in charcoals with smaller pore sizes. Nanopores (∼50 nm) are observed for the charcoal obtained with the longest HT.

Modelled vs. reconstructed past fire dynamics - how can we compare?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brücher, Tim; Brovkin, Victor; Kloster, Silvia; Marlon, Jennifer R.; Power, Mitch J.

2015-04-01

Fire is an important process that affects climate through changes in CO2 emissions, albedo, and aerosols (Ward et al. 2012). Fire-history reconstructions from charcoal accumulations in sediment indicate that biomass burning has increased since the Last Glacial Maximum (Power et al. 2008; Marlon et al. 2013). Recent comparisons with transient climate model output suggest that this increase in global ?re activity is linked primarily to variations in temperature and secondarily to variations in precipitation (Daniau et al. 2012). In this study, we discuss the best way to compare global ?re model output with charcoal records. Fire models generate quantitative output for burned area and fire-related emissions of CO2, whereas charcoal data indicate relative changes in biomass burning for specific regions and time periods only. However, models can be used to relate trends in charcoal data to trends in quantitative changes in burned area or fire carbon emissions. Charcoal records are often reported as Z-scores (Power et al. 2008). Since Z-scores are non-linear power transformations of charcoal influxes, we must evaluate if, for example, a two-fold increase in the standardized charcoal reconstruction corresponds to a 2- or 200-fold increase in the area burned. In our study we apply the Z-score metric to the model output. This allows us to test how well the model can quantitatively reproduce the charcoal-based reconstructions and how Z-score metrics affect the statistics of model output. The Global Charcoal Database (GCD version 2.5; www.gpwg.org/gpwgdb.html) is used to determine regional and global paleofire trends from 218 sedimentary charcoal records covering part or all of the last 8 ka BP. To retrieve regional and global composites of changes in fire activity over the Holocene the time series of Z-scores are linearly averaged to achieve regional composites. A coupled climate-carbon cycle model, CLIMBA (Brücher et al. 2014), is used for this study. It consists of the CLIMBER-2 Earth system model of intermediate complexity and the JSBACH land component of the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model. The fire algorithm in JSBACH assumes a constant annual lightning cycle as the sole fire ignition mechanism (Arora and Boer 2005). To eliminate data processing differences as a source for potential discrepancies, the processing of both reconstructed and modeled data, including e.g. normalisation with respect to a given base period and aggregation of time series was done in exactly the same way. Here, we compare the aggregated time series on a hemispheric and regional scale.

Extraction of Xenon Using Enriching Reflux Pressure Swing Adsorption

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-09-01

collection scheme aimed at preconcentrating xenon without the use of any form of cooling. The collection scheme utilizes activated charcoal (AC), a... collection efficiency for a given trap size. For a given isothermal system, it can be seen that if adsorption occurs at high pressure, where capacity is... activated charcoal at room temperature. These results are presented below and show that these early tests appear very promising and that useful quantities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tahir, Dahlang, E-mail: dtahir@fmipa.unhas.ac.id; Bakri, Fahrul; Liong, Syarifuddin

We have studied the molecular properties, structural properties, and chemical composition of composites by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, respectively. FTIR spectra shows absorption band of hydroxyl group (-OH), methyl group (-CH{sub 3}) and aromatic group (C-C). The absorption band for aromatic group (C-C) shows the formation of carbonaceous in composites. XRF shows chemical composition of composites, which the main chemicals are SO{sub 3}, Cl, and ZnO. The loss on ignition value (LOI) of activated charcoal indicates high carbonaceous matter. The crystallite size for diffraction pattern from hydrogel polymer is aboutmore » 17 nm and for activated charcoal are about 19 nm. The crystallite size of the polymer is lower than that of activated charcoal, which make possible of the particle from filler in contact with each other to form continuous conducting polymer through polymer matrix.« less

Late-Quaternary records of vegetation and fire in southeastern North Carolina from Jones Lake and Singletary Lake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spencer, Jessica; Jones, Kaylee B.; Gamble, Douglas W.; Benedetti, Michael M.; Taylor, Audrey K.; Lane, Chad S.

2017-10-01

We conducted fossil pollen, charcoal, and geochemical analyses of sediment cores from Jones Lake and Singletary Lake spanning the last ∼50,000 cal yr B.P. to examine the linkages between climate, vegetation, and fire activity on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, and particularly emphasize changes since the Last Glacial Maximum. Application of the modern analog technique (MAT) to fossil pollen data allowed for quantitative estimates of Holocene climate, but Pleistocene assemblages had no modern analogues preempting their use for quantitative reconstructions. The MAT data indicate markedly lower mean annual precipitation and temperatures during the late Pleistocene relative to the Holocene. Increased charcoal accumulation during interstadials indicates increased fire activity during these warm intervals. Geochemical data (δ13C, δ15N, C:N) and pollen concentrations indicate a sparsely-vegetated Pleistocene landscape that produced few fires followed by an increase in biomass and fire activity around the lakes during the Holocene transition. A Quercus spp. maximum in the early Holocene is associated with low charcoal abundances, while increased dominance of Pinus spp. during the middle Holocene is associated with dramatic increases in charcoal. It is unclear if the Quercus-Pinus transition was the result of changing fire regimes or if the fire regime changed in response to vegetation. The regional asynchronicity of the Quercus-Pinus transition may indicate another forcing mechanism besides climate change, such as prehistoric human activity, is responsible for the ecological change. Macroscopic charcoal and C:N ratios reach unprecedented values during the late Holocene, possibly as a result of deforestation by both prehistoric Native Americans and later immigrant populations.

Effect of temperature on the breakthrough of a charcoal tube during vinyl chloride monomer sampling.

PubMed

Roh, J; Park, Y J; Kim, C N; Lim, N G; Lee, S H; Song, J S; Won, J U; Talaska, G

2000-01-01

This study evaluated the effects of temperature on breakthrough of two standard collection media at various concentrations during vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) sampling. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) methods were evaluated. To determine whether breakthrough of VCM would occur at the extremes of exposure and temperature that might be encountered in some workplaces, air samples containing 4 ppm (10.24 mg/m3), 8 ppm (20.45 mg/m3), 16 ppm (40.98 mg/m3), and 32 ppm (81.80 mg/m3) of VCM were collected at temperatures of 4, 22, and 40 degrees C. Five liters of air was sampled at the rate of 0.05 L/min for 100 min using the activated charcoal tube recommended by NIOSH. A second tube was added to the sampling train to collect any VCM that might not have been absorbed in the first tube. To collect VCM air samples by the OSHA method, two carbon molecular sieve tubes were connected serially and 3 L of air was sampled at the rate of 0.05 L/min for 60 min. A gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector and ultra 2 capillary column was used to analyze VCM. Significant breakthrough was found when sampling at higher temperatures with the NIOSH method. No breakthrough was found when samples were collected using the OSHA media at different temperatures and concentrations. Therefore, under hot ambient conditions (>22 degrees C), the possibility of breakthrough should be considered when sampling VCM by the NIOSH method.

Forest Resources, Chiefdoms and Mortuary Practices in the Neotropics: Preliminary Archaeobotanical Analysis from El Caño Funerary Complex (Coclé Province, Panamá)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martín Seijo, M.; Torné, J. Mayo; Torné, C. Mayo; Huerta, R. Piqué i.

2012-04-01

El Caño site is situated on the Pacific side of Panamá, near the Río Grande. It's a funerary complex comprising different types of structures (stone structures -basalt columns, groups of sculptures and a causeway-; earthen mounds and canals; burials). The excavations supervised by Julia Mayo between 2008 and 2011 allowed to discover several lavish burials estimated to date between 700 and 1000 AD (Mayo & Mayo 2012). The data recovered has served as source of information for the pre-Columbian chiefdoms and their mortuary practices. There was carried out a detailed taphonomic study to register the complex formation processes of these burial deposits, and the significant post-depositional transformations (anthropogenic and natural processes) (Mayo & Mayo in press). Also during the excavations were recovered archaeobotanical samples; most of them charcoals. The laboratory work process consisted in the exhaustive description of the anatomical features of the different taxa identified during the charcoal analyses (the identification level varied from species to family, although in several case we couldn't propose any taxa). These samples were concentrated in structures, and in few cases dispersed in the sediment. Some of the samples analyzed were large pieces of charcoal of the wooden beams from ancient wood structures, and other pieces of charcoal and vegetable fibers were related directly with the burial practices. The charcoal analysis results aim to contribute to the knowledge of the exploitation of forest resources, of the territories where these resources were collected, and of the production process (chaîne opératoire). These results were complemented with the exhaustive review of written sources (spanish chronicles), ethnobotanical studies and archaeological data of other sites in this area. Acknowledgements: This research was developed under El Caño Archaeological Project and was funded by SENACYT (Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de Panamá).

Emissions from street vendor cooking devices (charcoal grilling). Final report, January 1998--March 1999

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, S.Y.

1999-06-01

The report discusses a joint US/Mexican program to establish a reliable emissions inventory for street vendor cooking devices (charcoal grilling), a significant source of air pollutants in the Mexicali-Imperial Valley area of Mexico. Emissions from these devices, prevalent in the streets of Mexicali, Mexico, were investigated experimentally by measuring levels of particulate matter, particle size distributions, volatile and semivolatile organic compounds, aldehydes, and oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, emitted when meat is cooked on a grill over a charcoal fire. To investigate the emission rate, both beef and chicken were tested. Furthermore, both meats were marinated with a mixture similarmore » to that used by the street vendors. Some tests were conducted with non-marinated beef for comparison. Two blank runs were performed sampling charcoal fires without meat. Finally, a simple control device, normally used in an exhaust fan to trap grease over a kitchen stove, was evaluated for its effectiveness in reducing emissions.« less

Inhibition of mammalian DNA polymerases and the suppression of inflammatory and allergic responses by tyrosol from used activated charcoal waste generated during sake production.

PubMed

Mizushina, Yoshiyuki; Ogawa, Yoshiaki; Onodera, Takefumi; Kuriyama, Isoko; Sakamoto, Yuka; Nishikori, Shu; Kamisuki, Shinji; Sugawara, Fumio

2014-08-06

The components adsorbed onto activated charcoal following the fermentation process of the Japanese rice wine "sake" have been studied with the aim of identifying suitable applications for this industrial food waste product. The absorbed materials were effectively extracted from the charcoal, and inhibited the activity of several mammalian DNA polymerases (pols). Subsequent purification of the extract afforded tyrosol [4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenol] as the active component, which selectively inhibited the activity of 11 mammalian pols with IC50 values in the range of 34.3-46.1 μM. In contrast, this compound did not influence the activities of plant or prokaryotic pols or any of the other DNA metabolic enzymes tested. Tyrosol suppressed both anti-inflammatory and antiallergic effects in vivo, including 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced inflammatory mouse ear edema, and immunoglobulin E-induced passive cutaneous anaphylactic reaction in mice. These results suggested that this byproduct formed during the sake-brewing process could be used as an anti-inflammatory and/or antiallergic agent.

Production, Stocks and Characteristics of Wildfire Charcoal in Canadian Boreal Forests; a Preliminary Synthesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Preston, C. M.; Simard, M.

2016-12-01

Crowning wildfires are a major driver of carbon stocks and ecosystem development in Canadian boreal forests, but there is insufficient information to incorporate pyrogenic carbon (PyC) into models and management strategies. Data comparison is challenging because of varied experimental design, and studies are often limited to forest floor; nonetheless we have attempted a synthesis limited to visually determined PyC, hereafter designated "charcoal". Sources include our study of amounts, depth distribution (forest floor plus variable amounts of upper mineral soil) and chemical properties of charcoal (>2 mm) from a fire chronosequence in the Abitibi region of Quebec (51 jack pine (Pinus banksiana) and black spruce (Picea mariana) sites, 24 to 2355 years since fire). Complete charcoal production of 7900 kg/ha (forest floor, down wood, standing stems) was determined from an experimental crownfire in jack pine near Fort Providence (NWT) in 2012. Published data were assembled mainly from boreal conifer studies, but using more disparate sources for production, plus laboratory charring studies. Typical findings include high spatial variability, with depth distributions often showing a maximum around the organic-mineral interface. Stocks varied widely (up to ca. 5500 kg/ha), with little initial discernable trend with time, but were much lower in the few older sites (>700y). Total C and N were widely scattered for younger samples, but older samples were mainly 500-600 g C/kg with C/N values around 100. Similarly, carbon-13 NMR spectra show wider variation in young samples, with the oldest samples being highly aromatic. These initial variations are consistent with field reports of highly variable temperatures and duration of charring and many laboratory studies. As a starting point, it may be possibly suggested that a boreal crowning wildfire might produce some 5000-10000 kg/ha of charred material of 550-650 g C/kg, with half to two-thirds on forest floor and down wood and most of the rest on standing stems. Our synthesis mainly highlights future research needs, including more measurements on stems and down wood and chemical analysis of the black carbon component of charcoal.

Open charcoal chamber method for mass measurements of radon exhalation rate from soil surface.

PubMed

Tsapalov, Andrey; Kovler, Konstantin; Miklyaev, Peter

2016-08-01

Radon exhalation rate from the soil surface can serve as an important criterion in the evaluation of radon hazard of the land. Recently published international standard ISO 11665-7 (2012) is based on the accumulation of radon gas in a closed container. At the same time since 1998 in Russia, as a part of engineering and environmental studies for the construction, radon flux measurements are made using an open charcoal chamber for a sampling duration of 3-5 h. This method has a well-defined metrological justification and was tested in both favorable and unfavorable conditions. The article describes the characteristics of the method, as well as the means of sampling and measurement of the activity of radon absorbed. The results of the metrological study suggest that regardless of the sampling conditions (weather, the mechanism and rate of radon transport in the soil, soil properties and conditions), uncertainty of method does not exceed 20%, while the combined standard uncertainty of radon exhalation rate measured from the soil surface does not exceed 30%. The results of the daily measurements of radon exhalation rate from the soil surface at the experimental site during one year are reported. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

High resolution monitoring system for IRE stack releases.

PubMed

Deconninck, B; De Lellis, C

2013-11-01

The main activity of IRE (Institute for Radio-Element) is radioisotope production of bulk (99)Mo and (131)I for medical application (diagnosis and therapy). Those isotopes are chemically extracted from HEU (High Enriched Uranium) targets activated in reactors. During this process, fission products are released from the targets, including noble gases isotopes (Xe and Kr). Like any nuclear plant, IRE has release limits which are given by the Belgium authority and moreover IRE is in the process of continuously reducing the level of its releases. To achieve this mission, the need of an accurate tool is necessary and IRE has developed a specific monitoring system using a high resolution detector in order to identify and accurately estimate its gaseous releases. This system has a continuous air sampling system in the plant main stack. The sampled gases cross charcoal cartridges where they are slowed down and concentrated for higher detection efficiency. In front of those cartridges is installed an HPGe detector with a detection chain connected to a specific analysis system allowing on-line spectrum analysis. Each isotope can be separately followed without interferences, especially during the production process where high activity can be released. Due to its conception, the system also allows to measure iodine isotopes by integration on the charcoal cartridges. This device is of great help for accurately estimate IRE releases and to help for understanding specific releases and their origin in the production or maintenance process. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Inhalation Exposure to PM-Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Released from Barbecue Grills Powered by Gas, Lump Charcoal, and Charcoal Briquettes.

PubMed

Badyda, Artur J; Widziewicz, Kamila; Rogula-Kozłowska, Wioletta; Majewski, Grzegorz; Jureczko, Izabela

2018-01-01

The present study seeks to define the possible cancer risk arising from the inhalation exposure to particle (PM)-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in barbecue emission gases and to compare the risk depending on the type of fuel used for grill powering. Three types of fuel were compared: liquid propane gas, lump charcoal, and charcoal briquettes. PM 2.5 and PM 2.5-100 were collected during grilling. Subsequently, 16 PAHs congeners were extracted from the PM samples and measured quantitatively using gas chromatography. The content of PM-bound PAHs was used to calculate PAHs deposition in the respiratory tract using the multiple path particle dosimetry model. Finally, a probabilistic risk model was developed to assess the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) faced by people exposed to PAHs. We found a distinctly greater PAHs formation in case of grills powered by charcoal briquettes. The summary concentration of PAHs (Σ16PAH) ranged from <0.002 μg/m 3 (gas grill) to 21.52 μg/m 3 (grill powered by briquettes). Daily exposure of a grill operator, while grilling meat, to PM 2.5 -bound PAHs, adjusted to benzo[a]pyrene toxicity equivalent (BaP eq ), was 326.9, 401.6, and 0.04 ng/d for lump charcoal, charcoal briquettes, and gas powered grill, respectively. Exposure to PAHs emitted from charcoal briquettes was four orders of magnitude greater than that for gas grill. The ILCR followed a log-normal distribution, with a geometric mean of 8.38 × 10 -5 for exposure to PM 2.5 -bound PAHs emitted from gas grills unloaded with food and as high as 8.68 × 10 -1 for the grills loaded with food over charcoal briquettes. The estimated cancer risk for people who would inhale barbecue particles for 5 h a day, 40 days a year exceeds the acceptable level set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. We conclude that the type of heat source used for grilling influences the PM-bound PAHs formation. The greatest concentration of PAHs is generated when grilling over charcoal briquettes. Loading grills with food generates conspicuously more PAHs emissions. Traditional grilling poses cancer risk much above the acceptable limit, as opposed to much less risk involving gas powered grills.

Respiratory health effects of occupational exposure to charcoal dust in Namibia

PubMed Central

Kgabi, Nnenesi

2016-01-01

Background Charcoal processing activities can increase the risk of adverse respiratory outcomes. Objective To determine dose–response relationships between occupational exposure to charcoal dust, respiratory symptoms and lung function among charcoal-processing workers in Namibia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 307 workers from charcoal factories in Namibia. All respondents completed interviewer-administered questionnaires. Spirometry was performed, ambient and respirable dust levels were assessed in different work sections. Multiple logistic regression analysis estimated the overall effect of charcoal dust exposure on respiratory outcomes, while linear regression estimated the exposure-related effect on lung function. Workers were stratified according to cumulative dust exposure category. Results Exposure to respirable charcoal dust levels was above occupational exposure limits in most sectors, with packing and weighing having the highest dust exposure levels (median 27.7 mg/m3, range: 0.2–33.0 for the 8-h time-weighted average). The high cumulative dust exposure category was significantly associated with usual cough (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.1–4.0), usual phlegm (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.1–4.1), episodes of phlegm and cough (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.1–6.1), and shortness of breath. A non-statistically significant lower adjusted mean-predicted % FEV1 was observed (98.1% for male and 95.5% for female) among workers with greater exposure. Conclusions Charcoal dust levels exceeded the US OSHA recommended limit of 3.5 mg/m3 for carbon-black-containing material and study participants presented with exposure-related adverse respiratory outcomes in a dose–response manner. Our findings suggest that the Namibian Ministry of Labour introduce stronger enforcement strategies of existing national health and safety regulations within the industry. PMID:27687528

Use of charcoals and broiler litter biochar for removal of radioactive cesium (Cs-134 plus Cs-137) from contaminated water

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Various charcoals (used in food processing and water treatment) and broiler litter biochar were examined for ability to adsorb water-soluble low-level radioactive cesium (ca. 200-250 Bq/kg) extracted from contaminated wheat bran. Among the materials tested, steam activated broiler litter biochar was...

Removal of radioactive cesium (134Cs plus 137Cs) from low-level contaminated water by charcoal and broiler litter biochar

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Various charcoals (used in food processing and water treatment) and broiler litter biochar were examined for ability to adsorb water-soluble low-level radioactive cesium (ca. 200-250 Bq/kg) extracted from contaminated wheat bran. Among the materials tested, steam activated broiler litter biochar was...

Towards an Accurate and Precise Chronology for the Colonization of Australia: The Example of Riwi, Kimberley, Western Australia.

PubMed

Wood, Rachel; Jacobs, Zenobia; Vannieuwenhuyse, Dorcas; Balme, Jane; O'Connor, Sue; Whitau, Rose

An extensive series of 44 radiocarbon (14C) and 37 optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages have been obtained from the site of Riwi, south central Kimberley (NW Australia). As one of the earliest known Pleistocene sites in Australia, with archaeologically sterile sediment beneath deposits containing occupation, the chronology of the site is important in renewed debates surrounding the colonization of Sahul. Charcoal is preserved throughout the sequence and within multiple discrete hearth features. Prior to 14C dating, charcoal has been pretreated with both acid-base-acid (ABA) and acid base oxidation-stepped combustion (ABOx-SC) methods at multiple laboratories. Ages are consistent between laboratories and also between the two pretreatment methods, suggesting that contamination is easily removed from charcoal at Riwi and the Pleistocene ages are likely to be accurate. Whilst some charcoal samples recovered from outside hearth features are identified as outliers within a Bayesian model, all ages on charcoal within hearth features are consistent with stratigraphy. OSL dating has been undertaken using single quartz grains from the sandy matrix. The majority of samples show De distributions that are well-bleached but that also include evidence for mixing as a result of post-depositional bioturbation of the sediment. The results of the two techniques are compared and evaluated within a Bayesian model. Consistency between the two methods is good, and we demonstrate human occupation at this site from 46.4-44.6 cal kBP (95.4% probability range). Importantly, the lowest archaeological horizon at Riwi is underlain by sterile sediments which have been dated by OSL making it possible to demonstrate the absence of human occupation for between 0.9-5.2 ka (68.2% probability range) prior to occupation.

Towards an Accurate and Precise Chronology for the Colonization of Australia: The Example of Riwi, Kimberley, Western Australia

PubMed Central

Balme, Jane; O’Connor, Sue; Whitau, Rose

2016-01-01

An extensive series of 44 radiocarbon (14C) and 37 optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages have been obtained from the site of Riwi, south central Kimberley (NW Australia). As one of the earliest known Pleistocene sites in Australia, with archaeologically sterile sediment beneath deposits containing occupation, the chronology of the site is important in renewed debates surrounding the colonization of Sahul. Charcoal is preserved throughout the sequence and within multiple discrete hearth features. Prior to 14C dating, charcoal has been pretreated with both acid-base-acid (ABA) and acid base oxidation-stepped combustion (ABOx-SC) methods at multiple laboratories. Ages are consistent between laboratories and also between the two pretreatment methods, suggesting that contamination is easily removed from charcoal at Riwi and the Pleistocene ages are likely to be accurate. Whilst some charcoal samples recovered from outside hearth features are identified as outliers within a Bayesian model, all ages on charcoal within hearth features are consistent with stratigraphy. OSL dating has been undertaken using single quartz grains from the sandy matrix. The majority of samples show De distributions that are well-bleached but that also include evidence for mixing as a result of post-depositional bioturbation of the sediment. The results of the two techniques are compared and evaluated within a Bayesian model. Consistency between the two methods is good, and we demonstrate human occupation at this site from 46.4–44.6 cal kBP (95.4% probability range). Importantly, the lowest archaeological horizon at Riwi is underlain by sterile sediments which have been dated by OSL making it possible to demonstrate the absence of human occupation for between 0.9–5.2 ka (68.2% probability range) prior to occupation. PMID:27655174

Characterization of Briquette from the Corncob Charcoal and Sago Stem Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lestari, Lina; Inda Variani, Viska; Nyoman Sudiana, I.; Purnama Sari, Dewi; Ode Sitti Ilmawati, Wa; Sahaluddin Hasan, Erzam

2017-05-01

The briquettes fabricated from charcoal of corncob (zea mays,L) and sago stem (metroxilon sago rottb) have been produced and characterized. The samples were prepared step by step carefully. The charcoal powder filtered by strainer with mesh size of 70-80 to get the homogeneous particle size. Briquettes are made by mixing corncob charcoal powder, sago stem charcoal and sago adhesive with a mass ratio of 4:5:1, 4.5: 4.5: 1, 5:4:1. The materials are mixed with hot water and stirred to get homogeneous blend. Then they are compacted by pressure of 34.66kg/cm2, 69.32kg/cm2, and 103.98kg/cm2 to form a cylindrical shape with diameter of 4 cm. The cylindrical briquettes then were dried at temperature of 60°C for 48 hours. After dried, the samples where then characterized their density and water, ash, volatile matter, fixed carbon contents. The burning rate, combustion temperature, and ignition time were also determined. The experimental results show that the briquettes have average densities from 0.602 to 0.717gr/cm3. The density increase with the increasing of forming pressure. The increasing of pressure also result in the decreasing of moisture content from 2.669% to 0.842%. The ash content is found from 3.459% to 8.766%. Volatile matter and fixed carbon are varies from 13.658% and 21.168% and 67.667% to 80.758% respectively. The lowest burning rate is 0.0898gr/s and the optimum burning temperature is 499.2°C with the lowest ignition time of 1.58 minutes. These briquette’s parameters agree wit the quality standard of industrial briquette.

Alpha-galactosidase versus active charcoal for improving sonographic visualization of abdominal organs in patients with excessive intestinal gas

PubMed Central

Maconi, G.; Bolzacchini, E.; Radice, E.; Marzocchi, M.; Badini, M.

2012-01-01

Background and aims Intestinal gas is a frequent cause of poor visualization during gastrointestinal ultrasound (US). The enzyme alpha-galactosidase may reduce intestinal gas production, thereby improving abdominal US visualization. We compared the efficacies of alpha-galactosidase and active charcoal in improving US visualization in patients with previous unsatisfactory abdominal US scans caused by excessive intestinal gas. Materials and methods: 45 patients with poor visualization of at least one target organ: pancreas, hepatic lobes (score 0–2) or common bile duct (CBD) (score 0–1) were enrolled in a prospective randomized, crossover, observer-blinded study. The patients received alpha-galactosidase (Sinaire Forte, Promefarm, Milan, Italy) 600 GalU t.i.d. for 2 days before abdominal US plus 900 GalU the morning of exam or active charcoal 448 mg t.i.d., for 2 days before the exam plus 672 mg the morning of the exam. Visualization was graded as follows: 0 = none (complete gas interference); 1 = severe interference, 2 = moderate interference, 3 = mild interference; 4 = complete (no gas interference). Results: 42 patients completed the study. Both alpha-galactosidase and active charcoal improved the visualization of target organs. Visualization of the right hepatic lobe, CBD and pancreatic tail was significantly improved (vs. baseline) only by alpha-galactosidase (p < 0.01). Scores ≥3 for all parts of the pancreas and both hepatic lobes were achieved in only 12.5% of the patients after both treatments. Both products were well tolerated. Conclusion: Alpha-galactosidase and active charcoal can improve US visualization of abdominal organs in patients whose scans are frequently unsatisfactory due to excessive intestinal gas. Visualization of the pancreatic tail and right hepatic lobe was significantly improved only by alpha-galactosidase. However, both treatments allowed adequate visualization of all target organs during the same examination only in a few patients. PMID:23730387

Optimizing laboratory-based radon flux measurements for sediments.

PubMed

Chanyotha, Supitcha; Kranrod, Chutima; Kritsananuwat, Rawiwan; Lane-Smith, Derek; Burnett, William C

2016-07-01

Radon flux via diffusion from sediments and other materials may be determined in the laboratory by circulating air through the sample and a radon detector in a closed loop. However, this approach is complicated by the necessity of having to determine the total air volume in the system and accounting for any small air leaks that can arise if using extended measurement periods. We designed a simple open-loop configuration that includes a measured mass of wet sediment and water inside a gas-tight reaction flask connected to a drying system and a radon-in-air analyzer. Ambient air flows through two charcoal columns before entering the reaction vessel to eliminate incoming radon. After traveling through the reaction flask, the air passes the drier and the radon analyzer and is then vented. After some time, the radon activity will reach a steady state depending upon the airflow rate. With this approach, the radon flux via diffusion is simply the product of the steady-state radon activity (Bq/m(3)) multiplied by the airflow rate (mL/min). We demonstrated that this setup could produce good results for materials that produce relatively high radon fluxes. We also show that a modified closed system approach, including radon removal of the incoming air by charcoal filtration in a bypass, can produce very good results including samples with very low emission rates. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Determination of the Impregnant Concentrations on ASC Type Charcoal. A Magnetic Susceptibility Study

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-10-01

commercial magnetic susceptometers were used on site at the Geological Division of CANMET , whose help is greatly appreciated. One of the susceptometers was a...CHARCOAL. A MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY STUDY (U) by S.H.C. Liang, B.H. Harrison and J.G. Pagotto Chemical Protection Section Protective Sciences Division ...analysis (11, 16-18), and surveys of literature reports (19-23). Some recent advances in instrumentation, such as the vibrating sample magnetometer (24

Six centuries of anthropogenic forest change on a Polynesian high island: Archaeological charcoal records from the Marquesas Islands

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huebert, Jennifer M.; Allen, Melinda S.

2016-04-01

It is widely recognised that Polynesian settlers developed central Pacific islands into productive economic landscapes, but the character and tempo of these transformations are poorly understood. Archaeological wood charcoal assemblages are uniquely suited to inform on landscape change, especially when the principal food crops were arboreal. We use a large archaeological charcoal collection, drawn from numerous geographically and functionally varied contexts, to develop a multi-scalar vegetation history of Marquesas Islands' lowland forests. Our aims were to: 1) reveal historical patterns of plant biogeography, including introductions by Polynesian settlers; 2) detail the nature and timing of anthropogenic impacts on native Marquesan forests; and 3) track the emergence of economically productive arboreal landscapes. A collection of 6510 fragments identified to 59 taxa inform on a ∼600-year sequence of human activities. The earliest samples indicate rich forests were encountered by human colonists, comprised of a mix of dicotyledonous hardwood species and woody monocots. These included members of two now-extinct Sapotaceae genera, Planchonella and cf. Sideroxylon, along with Allophylus, a Sapindaceae apparently extirpated from Nuku Hiva. Two important coastal trees, Calophyllum inophyllum and Thespesia populnea, also appear to be indigenous. Polynesian impacts were rapid and widespread, irrevocably altering the indigenous vegetation and disrupting native ecosystems. Samples from later occupations document on-going modifications to lowland vegetation communities. This included inter-valley variability in the timing of transformations and the development of mosaic formations, comprised of native forest interspersed with areas of cultivation and habitation. By 1650 CE, low and mid-elevation vegetation was extensively remodelled, as anthropogenic forests of Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit), Inocarpus fagifer (Tahitian chestnut), and other economic species became widely established and cultivation intensified. Mimicking natural forests, these arboricultural systems helped protect the island's fragile soils and landscapes from recurring climate extremes. Intriguingly, some translocated taxa, including Tahitian chestnut, Casuarina equisetifolia (ironwood), and Morinda citrifolia (Indian mulberry), may have been post-settlement introductions. This analysis demonstrates the potential of archaeological wood charcoal assemblages to inform on Pacific Island vegetation histories, anthropogenic processes, and the evolution of arboricultural economies.

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from cell suspension cultures of Cucumis sativus L.

PubMed

Chee, P P; Tricoli, D M

1988-06-01

A procedure for the regeneration of whole cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Poinsett 76) by embryogenesis from cell suspension cultures is described. Embryogenic callus was initiated from the primary leaves of 14-17 day old plants. Suspension cultures of embryogenic cells were grown in liquid Murashige and Skoog basal medium containing 5 uM 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 4 uM 6-benzylaminopurine. Suspension cultures were composed of a population of cells that were densely cytoplasmic and potentially embryogenic. Differentiation of embryos was enhanced by washing the suspension culture cells with MS basal medium containing 0.5% activated charcoal and twice with MS basal medium followed by liquid shake cultures in MS basal medium. Sixty to 70 percent of the embryos prewashed with activated charcoal germinated into plantlets with normal morphology. Embryos obtained from suspension cultured cells without prewashing with activated charcoal organized into plantlets with abnormal primary leaves. Morphologically normal plantlets were obtained by excising the shoot tips and transferring them to fresh medium.

Removal of furan and phenolic compounds from simulated biomass hydrolysates by batch adsorption and continuous fixed-bed column adsorption methods.

PubMed

Lee, Sang Cheol; Park, Sunkyu

2016-09-01

It has been proposed to remove all potential inhibitors and sulfuric acid in biomass hydrolysates generated from dilute-acid pretreatment of biomass, based on three steps of sugar purification process. This study focused on its first step in which furan and phenolic compounds were selectively removed from the simulated hydrolysates using activated charcoal. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated that the affinity of activated charcoal for each component was highest in the order of vanillic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, furfural, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, and xylose. The affinity of activated charcoal for furan and phenolic compounds proved to be significantly higher than that of the other three components. Four separation strategies were conducted with a combination of batch adsorption and continuous fixed-bed column adsorption methods. It was observed that xylose loss was negligible with near complete removal of furan and phenolic compounds, when at least one fixed-bed column adsorption was implemented in the strategy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparing black carbon types in sequestering polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediments

PubMed Central

Jia, Fang; Gan, Jay

2014-01-01

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely found in sediments, especially congeners from the penta-BDE formula. Due to their strong affinity for black carbon (BC), bioavailability of PBDEs may be decreased in BC-amended sediments. In this study, we used a matrix-SPME method to measure the freely dissolved concentration (Cfree) of PBDEs as a parameter of their potential bioavailability and evaluated the differences among biochar, charcoal, and activated carbon. Activated carbon displayed a substantially greater sequestration capacity than biochar or charcoal. At 1% amendment rate in sediment with low organic carbon (OC) content (0.12%), Cfree of six PBDEs was reduced by 47.5–78.0%, 47.3–77.5%, and 94.1–98.3% with biochar, charcoal, and activated carbon, respectively, while the sequestration was more limited in sediment with high OC content (0.87%). Therefore, it is important to consider the type and properties of the BC and the sediment in BC-based remediation or mitigation. PMID:24047549

An Investigation of Black Carbon Degradation Potential in a Forest Soil Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

William, H. C.; Lee, E.; Grannas, A.; Hatcher, P. G.

2003-12-01

Except for emission processes, there is currently little understanding of the mechanisms driving the degradation and biogeochemical cycling of black carbon (BC). Considering current estimates of the global BC pool (>2,500x1015gC), and its annual emission rates (55-205x1012 gC/year), BC represents roughly 16% of Earth's actively cycling organic carbon. Without significant chemical and biological degradation pathways, all of the actively cycling carbon on earth would have accumulated as charcoal in <100,000 years. This investigation show that charcoals recovered from experimental forest fires are altered significantly by microbial colonization, and mineral complexation during exposure to soil processes. Charcoal surface morphology and elemental composition were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and BET surface area measurements. The influence of 90 years aging upon carbon functionality was probed by solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy. The prevalence of fungal mycorhizae in these forest soil charcoals also motivated an investigation of black carbon degradation via extracellular enzymes and acids known be exuded by mycelia. Degradation is quantified by carbon loss, and soluble products are examined by mass spectrometry.

Size distribution and clothing-air partitioning of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons generated by barbecue.

PubMed

Lao, Jia-Yong; Wu, Chen-Chou; Bao, Lian-Jun; Liu, Liang-Ying; Shi, Lei; Zeng, Eddy Y

2018-10-15

Barbecue (BBQ) is one of the most popular cooking activities with charcoal worldwide and produces abundant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and particulate matter. Size distribution and clothing-air partitioning of particle-bound PAHs are significant for assessing potential health hazards to humans due to exposure to BBQ fumes, but have not been examined adequately. To address this issue, particle and gaseous samples were collected at 2-m and 10-m distances from a cluster of four BBQ stoves. Personal samplers and cotton clothes were carried by volunteers sitting near the BBQ stoves. Particle-bound PAHs (especially 4-6 rings) derived from BBQ fumes were mostly affiliated with fine particles in the size range of 0.18-1.8 μm. High molecular-weight PAHs were mostly unimodal peaking in fine particles and consequently had small geometric mean diameters and standard deviations. Source diagnostics indicated that particle-bound PAHs in BBQ fumes were generated primarily by combustion of charcoal, fat content in food, and oil. The influences of BBQ fumes on the occurrence of particle-bound PAHs decreased with increasing distance from BBQ stoves, due to increased impacts of ambient sources, especially by petrogenic sources and to a lesser extent by wind speed and direction. Octanol-air and clothing-air partition coefficients of PAHs obtained from personal air samples were significantly correlated to each other. High molecular-weight PAHs had higher area-normalized clothing-air partition coefficients in cotton clothes, i.e., cotton fabrics may be a significant reservoir of higher molecular-weight PAHs. Particle-bound PAHs from barbecue fumes are generated largely from charcoal combustion and food-charred emissions and mainly affiliated with fine particles. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Pedogenetic processes in anthrosols with pretic horizon (Amazonian Dark Earth) in Central Amazon, Brazil.

PubMed

Macedo, Rodrigo S; Teixeira, Wenceslau G; Corrêa, Marcelo M; Martins, Gilvan C; Vidal-Torrado, Pablo

2017-01-01

Anthrosols known as Amazonian Dark Earth (ADE) have borne witness to the intensification of sedentary patterns and the demographic increase in Central Amazon. As a result, a recurring pattern has been observed of mounds with ADE arising from domestic activities and the disposal of waste. The objective of this research was to demonstrate the relationship of these anthropic activities with pedogenetic formation processes of ADE in the municipality of Iranduba, Brazil. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were taken from two areas of ADE (pretic horizon) and from a non-anthropic pedon. Physical, chemical, micromorphological and SEM-EDS analyses were performed. The coarse material of the pretic horizons consisted predominantly of quartz, iron nodules, ceramics and charcoal fragments, and the fine material is organo-mineral. There was a direct relationship between the color of pretic horizons and the number of charcoal fragments. The thickness of the ADE results from the redistribution of charcoal at depth through bioturbation, transforming subsurface horizons into anthropic horizons. ADE presents granular microaggregates of geochemical and zoogenetic origin. Degradation of iron nodules is intensified in pretic horizons, promoting a reverse pedogenic process contributing to the xanthization process. Surprisingly the anthropic activities also favor clay dispersion and argilluviation; clay coatings on the ceramic fragments and in the pores demonstrate that this is a current process. Processes identified as contributing to ADE genesis included: i) addition of organic residues and ceramic artifacts (cumulization) with the use of fire; ii) mechanical action of humans, roots and macrofauna (bioturbation); iii) melanization of deeper horizons as a result of bioturbation; iv) argilluviation and degradation of iron nodules. This study offers new support to archaeological research in respect to ADE formation processes in Central Amazon and confirmed the hypothesis that ancient anthropic activities may trigger and/or accelerate pedogenetic processes previously credited only to natural causes.

Pedogenetic processes in anthrosols with pretic horizon (Amazonian Dark Earth) in Central Amazon, Brazil

PubMed Central

Macedo, Rodrigo S.; Teixeira, Wenceslau G.; Corrêa, Marcelo M.; Martins, Gilvan C.

2017-01-01

Anthrosols known as Amazonian Dark Earth (ADE) have borne witness to the intensification of sedentary patterns and the demographic increase in Central Amazon. As a result, a recurring pattern has been observed of mounds with ADE arising from domestic activities and the disposal of waste. The objective of this research was to demonstrate the relationship of these anthropic activities with pedogenetic formation processes of ADE in the municipality of Iranduba, Brazil. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were taken from two areas of ADE (pretic horizon) and from a non-anthropic pedon. Physical, chemical, micromorphological and SEM-EDS analyses were performed. The coarse material of the pretic horizons consisted predominantly of quartz, iron nodules, ceramics and charcoal fragments, and the fine material is organo-mineral. There was a direct relationship between the color of pretic horizons and the number of charcoal fragments. The thickness of the ADE results from the redistribution of charcoal at depth through bioturbation, transforming subsurface horizons into anthropic horizons. ADE presents granular microaggregates of geochemical and zoogenetic origin. Degradation of iron nodules is intensified in pretic horizons, promoting a reverse pedogenic process contributing to the xanthization process. Surprisingly the anthropic activities also favor clay dispersion and argilluviation; clay coatings on the ceramic fragments and in the pores demonstrate that this is a current process. Processes identified as contributing to ADE genesis included: i) addition of organic residues and ceramic artifacts (cumulization) with the use of fire; ii) mechanical action of humans, roots and macrofauna (bioturbation); iii) melanization of deeper horizons as a result of bioturbation; iv) argilluviation and degradation of iron nodules. This study offers new support to archaeological research in respect to ADE formation processes in Central Amazon and confirmed the hypothesis that ancient anthropic activities may trigger and/or accelerate pedogenetic processes previously credited only to natural causes. PMID:28542442

Late Neolithic phytolith and charcoal records of human activities and vegetation change in Shijiahe culture, Tanjialing site, China

PubMed Central

Zhu, Xiao Hong; Li, Bing; Ma, Chun Mei; Zhu, Cheng; Wu, Li; Liu, Hui

2017-01-01

There is significant archaeological evidence marking the collapse of the Shijiahe culture in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in China during the late Neolithic Period. However, the causes for this cultural collapse remain unclear. Our sedimentary records from a 3.3 m long profile and 76 phytolith and charcoal samples from the Tanjialing archaeological sites provide records of interactions between an ancient culture and vegetation change. During the early Shijiahe culture (c, 4850–4400 cal BP), the climate was warm and humid. Fire was intensively used to clear the vegetation. In the mid-period of the Shijiahe culture (c, 4400–4200 cal BP), the climate became slightly dry-cold and this was accompanied by decreasing water, leading to settlements. From c, 4200 cal BP, severe drought eroded the economic foundation of rice-cultivation. These conditions forced people to abandon the Shijiahe ancient city to find water in other regions, leading to the collapse of the Shijiahe culture. PMID:28542219

Late Neolithic phytolith and charcoal records of human activities and vegetation change in Shijiahe culture, Tanjialing site, China.

PubMed

Zhu, Xiao Hong; Li, Bing; Ma, Chun Mei; Zhu, Cheng; Wu, Li; Liu, Hui

2017-01-01

There is significant archaeological evidence marking the collapse of the Shijiahe culture in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in China during the late Neolithic Period. However, the causes for this cultural collapse remain unclear. Our sedimentary records from a 3.3 m long profile and 76 phytolith and charcoal samples from the Tanjialing archaeological sites provide records of interactions between an ancient culture and vegetation change. During the early Shijiahe culture (c, 4850-4400 cal BP), the climate was warm and humid. Fire was intensively used to clear the vegetation. In the mid-period of the Shijiahe culture (c, 4400-4200 cal BP), the climate became slightly dry-cold and this was accompanied by decreasing water, leading to settlements. From c, 4200 cal BP, severe drought eroded the economic foundation of rice-cultivation. These conditions forced people to abandon the Shijiahe ancient city to find water in other regions, leading to the collapse of the Shijiahe culture.

MALDI-TOF identification of Gram-negative bacteria directly from blood culture bottles containing charcoal: Sepsityper® kits versus centrifugation-filtration method.

PubMed

Riederer, Kathleen; Cruz, Kristian; Shemes, Stephen; Szpunar, Susan; Fishbain, Joel T

2015-06-01

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry has dramatically altered the way microbiology laboratories identify clinical isolates. Direct blood culture (BC) detection may be hampered, however, by the presence of charcoal in BC bottles currently in clinical use. This study evaluates an in-house process for extraction and MALDI-TOF identification of Gram-negative bacteria directly from BC bottles containing charcoal. Three hundred BC aliquots were extracted by a centrifugation-filtration method developed in our research laboratory with the first 96 samples processed in parallel using Sepsityper® kits. Controls were colonies from solid media with standard phenotypic and MALDI-TOF identification. The identification of Gram-negative bacteria was successful more often via the in-house method compared to Sepsityper® kits (94.7% versus 78.1%, P≤0.0001). Our in-house centrifugation-filtration method was further validated for isolation and identification of Gram-negative bacteria (95%; n=300) directly from BC bottles containing charcoal. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Charcoal anatomy of Brazilian species. I. Anacardiaceae.

PubMed

Gonçalves, Thaís A P; Scheel-Ybert, Rita

2016-01-01

Anthracological studies are firmly advancing in the tropics during the last decades. The theoretical and methodological bases of the discipline are well established. Yet, there is a strong demand for comparative reference material, seeking for an improvement in the precision of taxonomic determination, both in palaeoecological and palaeoethnobotanical studies and to help preventing illegal charcoal production. This work presents descriptions of charcoal anatomy of eleven Anacardiaceae species from six genera native to Brazil (Anacardium occidentale, Anacardium parvifolium, Astronium graveolens, Astronium lecointei, Lithrea molleoides, Schinus terebenthifolius, Spondias mombin, Spondias purpurea, Spondias tuberosa, Tapirira guianensis, and Tapirira obtusa). They are characterized by diffuse-porous wood, vessels solitary and in multiples, tyloses and spiral thickenings sometimes present; simple perforation plates, alternate intervessel pits, rounded vessel-ray pits with much reduced borders to apparently simple; parenchyma paratracheal scanty to vasicentric; heterocellular rays, some with radial canals and crystals; septate fibres with simple pits. These results are quite similar to previous wood anatomical descriptions of the same species or genera. Yet, charcoal identification is more effective when unknown samples are compared to charred extant equivalents, instead of to wood slides.

Determination of volatile nitrosamines in grilled lamb and vegetables using comprehensive gas chromatography - nitrogen chemiluminescence detection.

PubMed

Kocak, D; Ozel, M Z; Gogus, F; Hamilton, J F; Lewis, A C

2012-12-15

The grilling of meat may generate dangerous levels of mutagenic and carcinogenic nitrosamines (NAs). Meat and vegetable samples underwent a two-step solid-phase extraction before analysis by comprehensive gas chromatography with a nitrogen chemiluminescence detection system (GCxGC-NCD). The GCxGC-NCD method showed high selectivity, sensitivity and equimolarity in its response to six specific NAs. NA contamination of charcoal-grilled lamb at various stages of cooking and with various fat contents and also charcoal-grilled vegetables were investigated. The grilling of lamb on unready charcoal resulted in the formation of considerable quantities of NAs. Grilling lamb on properly prepared, ready charcoal resulted in an increase in total concentrations of six NAs from 0 to 4.51 μg kg(-1) over a period of 16 min. Increasing the fat content of the grilled lamb from 5% to 20% caused a modest increase in total concentrations of the six investigated NAs from 4.51 to 5.30 μg kg(-1). Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices: A literature review.

PubMed

Brooks, John K; Bashirelahi, Nasir; Reynolds, Mark A

2017-09-01

Sales of charcoal dentifrices and powders have rapidly emerged into the Internet marketplace. The authors conducted a literature review to examine the efficacy and safety of charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices. The authors searched the MEDLINE and Scopus databases for clinical studies on the use of charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices and laboratory investigations on the bioactivity or toxicity of charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices, published through February 2017. The authors used a defined search strategy to identify randomized, controlled clinical trials with a follow-up duration of 3 months or longer. In addition, the authors selected the first 50 consecutive charcoal dentifrices from Google.com and Amazon.com for ascertainment of product assortment and advertising promotions. The authors' literature search identified 118 potentially eligible articles. Thirteen studies reported brushing the teeth with raw charcoal or soot; however, none of these studies met the inclusion criteria. Two studies offered nonspecific caries reductions, 3 studies reported deleterious outcomes (increased caries, enamel abrasion, nonquantified negative impact), and 1 study indicated only that brushing with raw charcoal had no adverse effects on oral hygiene. Seven other studies reported only on the use of charcoal for oral hygiene. Internet advertisements included unsubstantiated therapeutic claims-such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and oral detoxification, as well as potentially misleading product assertions. One-third of the charcoal dentifrices contained bentonite clay, and 1 contained betel leaves. The results of this literature review showed insufficient clinical and laboratory data to substantiate the safety and efficacy claims of charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices. Larger-scale and well-designed studies are needed to establish conclusive evidence. Dental clinicians should advise their patients to be cautious when using charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices with unproven claims of efficacy and safety. Copyright © 2017 American Dental Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Correlation between concentrations of n-hexane and toluene in exhaled and environmental air in an occupationally exposed population.

PubMed

Periago, J F; Morente, A; Villanueva, M; Luna, A

1994-01-01

We determined the correlations between the concentrations of n-hexane and toluene in exhaled and environmental air in the shoe manufacturing industry. Data were collected in 1988 and in 1992 from a total of 265 subjects. Environmental air samples were collected with personal diffusive samplers by adsorption on activated charcoal during exposure and from end-expired air (alveolar air) on cartridges of activated charcoal after exposure. Both compounds were desorbed with carbon disulphide and analysed by gas chromatography. Linear regression analyses showed a good correlation between environmental and end-expired air concentrations (r = 0.82 for n-hexane and r = 0.81 for toluene). These correlations allowed us to calculate the concentrations in expired air corresponding to current environmental limit values. The calculated concentrations in end-expired air that correspond to current environmental threshold limit values of 176 mg m-3 for n-hexane and 377 mg m-3 for toluene are 28 mg m-3 (95% confidence limit, 27-29 mg m-3) and 40 mg m-3 (95% confidence limit, 39-41 mg m-3), respectively. Similar correlations were found when the data from the two study periods were analysed separately.

Effects of varying degrees of doneness on the formation of heterocyclic aromatic amines in chicken and beef satay.

PubMed

Jinap, S; Mohd-Mokhtar, M S; Farhadian, A; Hasnol, N D S; Jaafar, S N; Hajeb, P

2013-06-01

The study was carried out to determine the effect of cooking method on Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines (HAs) concentration in grilled chicken and beef (satay). Six common HAs were investigated: 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinolone (IQ), 2amino 3,4dimethylimidazo [4,5f]quinoline (MeIQ), 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), 2-amino-3,4,8 trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (4,8-DiMeIQx), 2-amino-3,7,8trimethylimidazo [4,5-f]quinoxaline (7,8-DiMeIQx), and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP). Chicken and beef satay samples were grilled to medium and well done level of doneness. Charcoal grilled (treatment A), microwave pre-treatment prior to grilling (treatment B), and microwave-deep fried (treatment C) were applied to beef and chicken satay samples. The satay samples which were microwaved prior to grilling (B) showed significantly (p<0.05) lower HAs concentration as compared to those charcoal grilled (A). Both medium and well done cooked beef and chicken satay samples that were microwaved and deep fried (C) as an alternative method to grilling were proven to produce significantly lesser HAs as compared to charcoal-grilled (A) and microwaved prior to grilling (B). Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dermal exposure assessment to benzene and toluene using charcoal cloth pads.

PubMed

van Wendel de Joode, Berna; Tielemans, Erik; Vermeulen, Roel; Wegh, Hillion; Kromhout, Hans

2005-01-01

Charcoal cloth pads have been used to assess volatile chemicals on the skin in a laboratory setting; however, they have not yet been applied to measure dermal exposure in occupational settings. This study aimed at evaluating whether charcoal pads can be used to assess dermal exposure to benzene and toluene in workers of a petrochemical plant. Inhalation and dermal exposure levels to benzene and toluene were assessed for workers of a petrochemical plant performing different jobs. Benzene uptake was assessed by determining S-phenylmercapturic acid in workers' urine samples. Dermal exposure levels on the charcoal pads were adjusted for ambient air levels of benzene and toluene by subtracting the amount of benzene or toluene measured in personal air from the amount of benzene or toluene measured on the charcoal pad. In general, measured external and internal exposure levels were low. The estimated contribution of the dermal route to internal benzene exposure levels was less than 0.06% for all jobs. Toluene personal air concentrations and benzene and toluene dermal exposure levels differed statistically significantly between job titles. For benzene, differences between jobs were larger for adjusted dermal exposures (maximum 17-fold, P = 0.02) than for inhalation exposures (maximum two-fold, P = 0.08). Also for toluene, although less clear, differences between jobs were larger for adjusted dermal exposures (maximum 23-fold, P = 0.01) as compared to inhalation exposures (maximum 10-fold, P = 0.01). Charcoal pads appeared to measure dermal exposures to benzene and toluene in addition to ambient air levels. Future studies applying charcoal cloth pads for the dermal exposure assessment at workplaces with higher dermal exposure to organic solvents may provide more insight into the biological relevance of dermal exposure levels measured by charcoal cloth pads. In addition, the design of the dermal sampler might be improved by configuring a dermal sampler, where part of the sampler is protected against direct contact and splashes, but still permeable for the gas phase. This design would most likely result in a better ability to correct for airborne concentrations at a given body location.

Comparison of methods to determine selenium species in saturation extracts of soils from the western San Joaquin Valley, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fio, John L.; Fujii, Roger

1988-01-01

Undigested organic matter in some of the extracts inhibited selenium detection when using the digestion and Sep-Pac C18 methods, but the interference was removed by using the XAD-8 method. Combining XAD-8 resin and activated charcoal was an unacceptable method, because the activated charcoal removed selenite and selenate. Ninety-eight percent of the selenium in the extracts was selenate and about 100 percent of the isolated organic selenium was associated with the humic acid fraction of dissolved-organic matter.

Assessment of two different types of sample for the early detection and isolation of thermophilic Campylobacter in broiler farms.

PubMed

Urdaneta, Saulo; Dolz, Roser; Cerdà-Cuéllar, Marta

2015-01-01

In order to assess the optimal method for the early detection and isolation of thermophilic Campylobacter in broilers at farm level, two types of samples were compared: caecal contents obtained by necropsy and cloacal swabs transported in charcoal Amies medium. The study was conducted in five batches of broilers from five different farms, where weekly samples (caecal contents and cloacal swabs) from 30 birds were obtained. Samples were plated onto selective agar (modified charcoal cefoperazone desoxycholate agar, mCCDA) for Campylobacter isolation. Four out of five batches were positive for Campylobacter. No marked differences in sensitivity of both sample types were observed. However, a higher percentage of positive birds were detected when cloacal swabs were used. The results show that cloacal swab samples are adequate, and in some cases even better than caecal samples for the early detection of Campylobacter in broiler flocks at farm level. Also, this sample avoids sacrificing birds to test Campylobacter, which not only allows saving time in sample collection, transportation and processing at the laboratory, but also improves bird welfare and cost of sampling.

Potency of bio-charcoal briquette from leather cassava tubers and industrial sludge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Citrasari, Nita; Pinatih, Tety A.; Kuncoro, Eko P.; Soegianto, Agoes; Salamun, Irawan, Bambang

2017-06-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the quality of the bio-charcoal briquette with materials from leather cassava tubers and sludge of wastewater treatment plant. The first, bio-charcoal briquette analized stability test and compressive strength. Then, bio-charcoal briquette with best value analyzed for parameter including moisture content, ash content, calorific content, and burned test. The result briquette quality based on compressive strength for bio-charcoal briquettes carbonated water content between 3.8%-4.5% and non-carbonated bio-charcoal briquettes between 5.2%-7.6%. Bio-charcoal carbonation briquette ash content was between 5.30%-7.40% and non-carbonated bio-charcoal briquettes was between 6.86%-7.46%. Bio-charcoal carbonation levels briquettes heated between 578.2 calories/g-1837.7 calories/g and non carbonatedbio-charcoal briquettes between 858.1 calories/g-891.1 calories/g. Carbonated bio-charcoal burned test was between 48-63 minutes and non-carbonated bio-charcoal was between 22-42 minutes. Emissions resulted from the bio-charcoal briquettes for carbonated and non carbonated composition according to the government regulations ESDM No. 047 of 2006 which, at 128 mg/Nm3 and 139 mg/Nm3.

Effects of female bovine plasma collected at different days of the estrous cycle on epididymal spermatozoa motility.

PubMed

Nait Mouloud, M; Ouennoughi, F; Yaiche, L; Kaidi, R; Iguer-Ouada, M

2017-03-15

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of female bovine plasma collected at different days of the reproductive cycle on epididymal spermatozoa motility and to test hypothesis that the subpopulations pattern of motile spermatozoa is affected by this treatment. Blood plasma samples were collected from five Holstein Friesian cows at different stages of the estrous cycle (days 0, 5, 10, 12 and 18), one pregnant cow and one adult bull and were diluted 1:9 (V/V) with normal saline. Female charcoal-treated plasma, Bull plasma and saline were used as controls. Semen samples were obtained from cauda epididymidis through retrograde flushing and diluted in saline to approximately 60 × 106 sperm/ml. The extended semen was diluted 1:2 (V/V) with tested media and motility was evaluated at 15 min and then every hour for 6 h using a computer-assisted semen analysis. Multivariate clustering procedure was applied to identify and quantify specific subpopulations within the semen samples. The statistical analysis clustered all the motile spermatozoa into three separate subpopulations with defined patterns of movement: Subpopulation 1 poorly motile and non-progressive spermatozoa (39.3%), subpopulation 2 including the fastest and the most vigorous spermatozoa (46.4%) and subpopulation 3 represented by slow, non-vigorous but linear spermatozoa (14.3%). Initially, sperm samples supplemented with female, male or female charcoal-treated plasma stimulated equally total motility and spermatozoa belonging to subpopulation 2 regardless of the estrous cycle stage. After 1-h incubation, the motility of these both categories of spermatozoa (total motile and those assigned to subpopulation 2) is enhanced and maintained more in day 12, 18 and pregnant cow plasma than in female plasma from earlier stage of the estrous cycle (day 0, 5 and 10), male plasma and female-charcoal treated plasma. In conclusion, the overall results showed that female plasma stimulated significantly sperm motility, especially at the late stage of the estrous cycle. Additionally, to the diverse compounds contained in blood plasma, progesterone may play a key role in such motility activation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New emission controls for Missouri batch-type charcoal kilns

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yronwode, P.; Graf, W.J.

1999-07-01

Charcoal kilns have been exempted from air emission regulation in the state of Missouri. Today, 80% of US charcoal production takes place in Missouri. As a result of a petition filed by people in the area around an installation in southern Missouri, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set up air monitors and measured ambient air levels at that charcoal manufacturing installation. These monitors yielded the highest particulate matter less than 10 micron (PM{sub 10}) levels ever recorded in the state. Earlier stack testing at another charcoal manufacturing installation indicated that toxics and carcinogens are present in charcoal kiln airmore » emissions. A Charcoal Kiln Workgroup was formed to determine the Best Available Control Technology (BACT) for charcoal kilns and to draft a charcoal kiln rule that requires BACT. The BACT report determined that afterburners were suitable for controlling emissions from batch-type charcoal kilns. In addition, the charcoal industry supported incorporating the BACT limits and requirements into an enforceable state rule and submitting this rule to the EPA for federal approval. A consent agreement between the EPA and three major charcoal companies was signed with provisions to install, operate, and maintain emission control devices on charcoal kilns. This agreement was to settle complaints alleging that the three major charcoal producers had failed to report toxic air emissions to federal and state regulators. The agreement provided that industry would install control devices on a set schedule with some charcoal kilns being shut down.« less

Late Glacial and Holocene Fire History From Radiocarbon Dating of Charcoal in Valley-Bottom Sediments in Small Watersheds of the Oregon Coast Range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lancaster, S. T.; Frueh, W. T.

2011-12-01

A large number (N = 351) of radiocarbon dates of charcoal from valley-bottom sediments in headwater valleys of the southern Oregon Coast Range provides the basis for a new index of fire frequency during the past 17,000 years in this steep landscape covered by dense coniferous forest. Study areas were chosen for their relative lack of recent forest disturbance by harvest or fire, and sampling of stream banks and terrace risers was random, weighted by deposit volume and bank or riser area. This sampling methodology was designed to characterize sediment residence times within valley-bottom storage, and the overall shape of the calibrated age distribution is therefore assumed representative of the dependence of charcoal preservation probability on calibrated age. A proxy record of fire history in the study areas is obtained by fitting a gamma distribution to the weighted mean calibrated charcoal ages by the method of moments; calculating the relative difference between the fit and the normalized histogram, with 50-year bin-widths, of charcoal ages; and smoothing that relative difference with a gaussian distribution, the standard deviation of which is at least two bin-widths and inversely proportional to the value of the fit distribution at larger ages. The calibrated charcoal age mean and variance of 1900 yrs BP and 7.39 x 106 yr2, respectively, yield shape and scale parameters of the fit gamma distribution of 0.490 and 3880 yrs, respectively. This heavy-tailed distribution indicates that probabilities of charcoal evacuation are not simply proportional to relative volume of encasing sediment deposits but, rather, decrease with deposit age. The smoothed proxy record of relative fire frequency has a global maximum at 7700 BP and prominent local maxima at 600 BP and 5700 BP, in order of decreasing magnitude; a global minimum at 4500 BP and local minimum at 1800 BP roughly bracket a period of fluctuating but relatively low fire frequency during the period 5000-1500 BP. Although resolution in the late glacial to early Holocene is limited, the record shows a high relative fire frequency during the late glacial before dipping 10,000-9000 BP. The 7700 BP maximum and 1800 BP minimum are consistent with another fire history from lake sediments northeast of our sites in the Oregon Coast Range. Other features appear to contradict that record but to support of climate change inferences based on other climate proxies.

Physiological and behavioral responses of an arboreal mammal to smoke and charcoal-ash substrate.

PubMed

Nowack, Julia; Stawski, Clare; Körtner, Gerhard; Geiser, Fritz

2018-02-01

The recent observation that torpor plays a key role in post-fire survival has been mainly attributed to the reduced food resources after fires. However, some of these adjustments can be facilitated or amplified by environmental changes associated with fires, such as the presence of a charcoal-ash substrate. In a previous experiment on a small terrestrial mammal the presence of charcoal and ash linked to food restriction intensified torpor use. However, whether fire cues also act as a trigger of torpor use when food is available and whether they affect other species including arboreal mammals remains elusive. To evaluate whether smoke, charcoal and ash can act as proximate triggers for an impending period of food shortage requiring torpor for mammals, we conducted an experiment on captive sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps), a small, arboreal marsupial, housed in outside aviaries under different food regimes and natural ambient conditions. When food was available, fire simulation via exposure to smoke and charcoal-ash substrate caused a significant earlier start of activity and a significant decrease in resting body temperature. In contrast, only when food was withheld, did smoke and charcoal-ash exposure significantly enhance torpor depth and duration. Thus, our study not only provides evidence that fire simulation does affect arboreal and terrestrial species similarly, but also suggests that smoke and ash were presumably selected as cues for torpor induction because they indicate an impending lack of food. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Physicochemical factors affecting ethanol adsorption by activated carbon.

PubMed

Bradley, K J; Hamdy, M K; Toledo, R T

1987-03-01

Powder and granular activated charcoal were evaluated for ethanol adsorptivity from aqueous mixtures using an adsorption isotherm. Ethanol adsorption capacity was more pronounced at 25 degrees C as compared to 5, 15, and 40 degrees C. When pH of the ethanol-buffer mixture (0.09 ionic strength) was changed from acidic (2.3) to neutral and then to alkaline (11.2), ethanol adsorption was decreased. Increasing ionic strength of the ethanol-buffer mixtures from 0.05 to 0.09 enhanced ethanol adsorption but a further increase to 0.14 showed no significant effect. Ethanol adsorption was more efficient from an aqueous ethanol mixture as compared to semidefined and nondefined fermentation worts, respectively. Heating granular charcoal to 400 degrees C for 1 h and 600 degrees C for 3 h in N(2) increased ethanol adsorptivity and heating to 1000 degrees C (1 h) in CO(2) decreased it when ethanol was removed from dilute solutions by simple pass adsorption in a carbon packed column. Granular charcoal was superior to powdered charcoal and an inverse relationship was noted between the weight of the granular carbon bed in the column and ethanol adsorbed/g carbon. Decreasing the column feed flow rate from 7.5 to 2.0 L aqueous ethanol/min increased the adsorption rate.

Amazon soil charcoal: Pyrogenic carbon stock depends of ignition source distance and forest type in Roraima, Brazil.

PubMed

da Silva Carvalho, Lidiany C; Fearnside, Philip M; Nascimento, Marcelo T; Barbosa, Reinaldo I

2018-04-18

Pyrogenic carbon (PyC) derived from charcoal particles (paleo + modern) deposited in the soil column has been little studied in the Amazon, and our understanding of the factors that control the spatial and vertical distribution of these materials in the region's forest soils is still unclear. The objective of this study was to test the effect of forest type and distance from the ignition source on the PyC stocks contained in macroscopic particles of soil charcoal (≥2 mm; 1 m depth) dispersed in ecotone forests of the northern Brazilian Amazon. Thirty permanent plots were set up near a site that had been occupied by pre-Columbian and by modern populations until the late 1970s. The sampled plots represent seasonal and ombrophilous forests that occur under different hydro-edaphic restrictions. Our results indicate that the largest PyC stock was spatially dependent on distance to the ignition source (<3 km), occurring mainly in flood-free ombrophilous forests (3.46 ± 5.22 Mg PyC/ha). The vertical distribution of PyC in the deeper layers of the soil (> 50 cm) in seasonal forests was limited by hydro-edaphic impediments that restricted the occurrence of charcoal. These results suggest that PyC stocks derived from macroscopic charcoal particles in the soil of this Brazilian Amazon ecotone region are controlled by the distance from the ignition source of the fire, and that forest types with higher hydro-edaphic restrictions can inhibit formation and accumulation of charcoal. Making use of these distinctions reduces uncertainty and improves our ability to understand the variability of PyC stocks in forests with a history of fire in the Amazon. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Circum-Mediterranean fire activity and climate changes during the mid Holocene environmental transition (8500-2500 cal yr BP)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vannière, Boris; Power, Mitch J.; Roberts, Neil; Tinner, Willy; Carrión, José; Magny, Michel; Bartlein, Patrick

2010-05-01

In this contribution I will present a synthesis of mid- to late-Holocene fire activity from the Mediterranean basin and explore the linkages among fire, climate variability and seasonality, and people through several climatic and ecological transitions. Regional fire histories were created from 36 radiocarbon-dated sedimentary charcoal records, available from the Global Charcoal Database. During the mid-Holocene "Thermal Maximum", charcoal records from the northern Mediterranean suggest the region was more fire prone while records from the southern Mediterranean indicate a decrease in fire activity associated with wetter-than-present summers. A North-South partition at 40-43°N is apparent in the central and western Mediterranean. In the context of orbitally-induced summer insolation decrease, South Mediterranean wet conditions could be linked to the Afro-Asian summer monsoon which weakened after ca. 8000-6000 cal yr BP. Relatively abrupt changes in fire regime observed at ca. 5500-5000 cal yr BP may be associated to a threshold in this weakening influence of the orbitally-driven Afro-Asian monsoon strength. Charcoal records of past fire activity appear sensitive to both orbitally-forced climate changes and shorter lived excursions which may be related to cold events apparent in the North Atlantic record of ice-rafted debris. These results contradict former notions of gradual aridification of the entire region due to climatic forcing and/or human activities. In contrast, they suggest: 1) Teleconnections between the Mediterranean area and other climatic regions, in particular the North Atlantic and the low-latitude monsoon areas, influenced past fire regimes; 2) Gradual forcing, such as changes in orbital parameters, may have triggered more abrupt shifts in fire regime, either directly or indirectly through these teleconnections.

High-Capacity and Photoregenerable Composite Material for Efficient Adsorption and Degradation of Phenanthrene in Water.

PubMed

Liu, Wen; Cai, Zhengqing; Zhao, Xiao; Wang, Ting; Li, Fan; Zhao, Dongye

2016-10-18

We report a novel composite material, referred to as activated charcoal supported titanate nanotubes (TNTs@AC), for highly efficient adsorption and photodegradation of a representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), phenanthrene. TNTs@AC was prepared through a one-step hydrothermal method, and is composed of an activated charcoal core and a shell of carbon-coated titanate nanotubes. TNTs@AC offered a maximum Langmuir adsorption capacity of 12.1 mg/g for phenanthrene (a model PAH), which is ∼11 times higher than the parent activated charcoal. Phenanthrene was rapidly concentrated onto TNTs@AC, and subsequently completely photodegraded under UV light within 2 h. The photoregenerated TNTs@AC can then be reused for another adsorption-photodegradation cycle without significant capacity or activity loss. TNTs@AC performed well over a wide range of pH, ionic strength, and dissolved organic matter. Mechanistically, the enhanced adsorption capacity is attributed to the formation of carbon-coated ink-bottle pores of the titanate nanotubes, which are conducive to capillary condensation; in addition, the modified microcarbon facilitates transfer of excited electrons, thereby inhibiting recombination of the electron-hole pairs, resulting in high photocatalytic activity. The combined high adsorption capacity, photocatalytic activity, and regenerability/reusability merit TNTs@AC a very attractive material for concentrating and degrading a host of micropollutants in the environment.

Flatulence on airplanes: just let it go.

PubMed

Pommergaard, Hans C; Burcharth, Jakob; Fischer, Anders; Thomas, William E G; Rosenberg, Jacob

2013-02-15

Flatus is natural and an invariable consequence of digestion, however at times it creates problems of social character due to sound and odour. This problem may be more significant on commercial airplanes where many people are seated in limited space and where changes in volume of intestinal gases, due to altered cabin pressure, increase the amount of potential flatus. Holding back flatus on an airplane may cause significant discomfort and physical symptoms, whereas releasing flatus potentially presents social complications. To avoid this problem we humbly propose that active charcoal should be embedded in the seat cushion, since this material is able to neutralise the odour. Moreover active charcoal may be used in trousers and blankets to emphasise this effect. Other less practical or politically correct solutions to overcome this problem may be to restrict access of flatus-prone persons from airplanes, by using a methane breath test or to alter the fibre content of airline meals in order to reduce its flatulent potential. We conclude that the use of active charcoal on airlines may improve flight comfort for all passengers.

The Radioactivity Characteristics of the NPP Charcoal Sample Contaminated by Carbon-14 - 13531

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Hee Reyoung

2013-07-01

The radioactivity of {sup 14}C-contaminated charcoal sample was analyzed by using a high temperature oxidation and liquid scintillation counting method. The radioactivity of the sample was monotonically increased according to the increase of the combustion time at each temperature where the experimental uncertainty was calculated in the 95 % confidence level. It showed that the {sup 14}C radioactivity was not completely extracted from the sample by simply increasing the combustion time unless the combustion temperature was high enough. The higher the combustion temperature was, the higher the recovery during the first 30 minutes was. The first 30 minute recoveries weremore » 100 % at a temperature equal to or greater than 450 deg. C. The ratios of the recovery during the first 30 minutes to the total recovery during whole duration were more than 90 % at each experiment temperature. It was understood that the temperature was a critical factor for the complete removal of the {sup 14}C from the waste sample. (authors)« less

GREENHOUSE GASES FROM BIOMASS AND FOSSIL FUEL STOVES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A MANILA PILOT STUDY

EPA Science Inventory

Samples were taken of the combustion gases released by household cookstoves in Manila, Philippines. In a total of 24 samples, 14 cookstoves were tested. These were fueled by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), kerosene (three kinds of stoves), charcoal, and wood. Ambient samples were ...

Short-Term Changes in Physical and Chemical Properties of Soil Charcoal Support Enhanced Landscape Mobility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pyle, Lacey A.; Magee, Kate L.; Gallagher, Morgan E.; Hockaday, William C.; Masiello, Caroline A.

2017-11-01

Charcoal is a major component of the stable soil organic carbon reservoir, and the physical and chemical properties of charcoal can sometimes significantly alter bulk soil properties (e.g., by increasing soil water holding capacity). However, our understanding of the residence time of soil charcoal remains uncertain, with old measured soil charcoal ages in apparent conflict with relatively short modeled and measured residence times. These discrepancies may exist because the fate of charcoal on the landscape is a function not just of its resistance to biological decomposition but also its physical mobility. Mobility may be important in controlling charcoal landscape residence time and may artificially inflate estimates of its degradability, but few studies have examined charcoal vulnerability to physical redistribution. Charcoal landscape redistribution is likely higher than other organic carbon fractions owing to charcoal's low bulk density, typically less than 1.0 g/cm3. Here we examine both the physical and chemical properties of soil and charcoal over a period of two years following a 2011 wildfire in Texas. We find little change in properties with time; however, we find evidence of enhanced mobility of charcoal relative to other forms of soil organic matter. These data add to a growing body of evidence that charcoal is preferentially eroded, offering another explanation for variations observed in its environmental residence times.

Records of human activity during the late-Holocene in the soils of the African dense humid forest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morin-Rivat, Julie; Bentaleb, Ilham; Biwolé, Achille; Bourland, Nils; Bremond, Laurent; Daïnou, Kasso; Fayolle, Adeline; Gillet, Jean-François; Gorel, Anaïs; Gourlet-Fleury, Sylvie; Hardy, Olivier; Livingstone Smith, Alexandre; Oslisly, Richard; Vleminckx, Jason; Beeckman, Hans; Doucet, Jean-Louis

2014-05-01

Recently, several authors gathered data about the presence of past human populations in tropical regions covered by dense forest nowadays. In Central Africa, there is a growing body of evidence for past human settlements along the Atlantic coast, but very little information is available further inland. In the perspective, soil records seem to be the most appropriated so as to appraise the spatial and temporal extent of human activity in the African dense humid forest. In this paper, we thus aimed to present a synthesis of the archaeological and archaeobotanical data obtained during several fieldwork campaigns in an archaeologically unexplored area of 200,000 km² located in southern Cameroon and the northern Republic of Congo. A total of 275 test pits, among them 30 pedological pits up to 150 cm deep, were excavated in the study area. So as to get a long temporal scale as well as a fine resolution spatial scale, we quantified wood charcoal and charred endocarps in soil samples by layers of 10 cm taken for 100 pits located along transects of systematic sampling. Spatial projections were performed using statistics together with multivariate analyses. AMS radiocarbon dating allowed interpreting the temporal framework. Evidence of past human activities through either artifacts or charred botanical remains was observed in all pits, in particular with the ubiquitous presence of charcoal at each site. Main charcoal peaks were interpreted as fields (slash-and-burn agriculture) in the vicinity of ancient villages, the later marked by the presence of both potsherds and oil palm endocarps. The dichotomy of these kinds of activities may have impacted differentially the environment during the past. The set of 73 radiocarbon dates extending from 15,000 BP to the present time provided more dates in the late-Holocene showing a bimodal distribution which was interpreted as two phases of human expansion with an intermediate phase of population crash. The 2300-1300 BP phase is correlated with the migrations of supposed farming populations from northwestern Cameroon. Between 1300 and 670 BP, less material could be dated. Following that population collapse, the 670-20 BP phase corresponds to a new period of human expansion known as the Late Iron Age. The dates obtained support the established chronology reported for whole Central Africa. This study underlines the necessity of fieldwork efforts and of the usefulness of archives sealed in soil records so as to bring new, extensive and precise evidence of human activities in the Congo Basin.

28 CFR 544.31 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... activities, social and cultural organizations, movies, and stage shows. Religious activities, psychological... any of the usual media (oils, pastels, crayons, pencils, inks, and charcoal). (d) Hobbycraft...

28 CFR 544.31 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... activities, social and cultural organizations, movies, and stage shows. Religious activities, psychological... any of the usual media (oils, pastels, crayons, pencils, inks, and charcoal). (d) Hobbycraft...

28 CFR 544.31 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... activities, social and cultural organizations, movies, and stage shows. Religious activities, psychological... any of the usual media (oils, pastels, crayons, pencils, inks, and charcoal). (d) Hobbycraft...

28 CFR 544.31 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... activities, social and cultural organizations, movies, and stage shows. Religious activities, psychological... any of the usual media (oils, pastels, crayons, pencils, inks, and charcoal). (d) Hobbycraft...

28 CFR 544.31 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... activities, social and cultural organizations, movies, and stage shows. Religious activities, psychological... any of the usual media (oils, pastels, crayons, pencils, inks, and charcoal). (d) Hobbycraft...

Activated-charcoal filters: water treatment, pollution control, and industrial applications. January 1970-July 1988 (citations from the US Patent data base). Report for January 1970-July 1988

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

This bibliography contains citations of selected patents concerning activated-charcoal filters and their applications in water treatment, pollution control, and industrial processes. Filtering methods and equipment for air and water purification, industrial distillation and extraction, industrial leaching, and filtration of toxic gases and pollutants are described. Applications include drinking water purification, filtering beverages, production of polymer materials, solvent and metal recovery, swimming pool filtration, waste conversion, automobile fuel and exhaust systems, and footwear deodorizing. (Contains 129 citations fully indexed and including a title list.)

Development and calibration of a passive sampler for N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in water.

PubMed

Kaserzon, Sarit L; Kennedy, Karen; Hawker, Darryl W; Holling, Neil; Escher, Beate I; Booij, Kees; Mueller, Jochen F

2011-07-01

N-Nitrosamines such as N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) are organic compounds of environmental concern in groundwater, wastewater and potable water due to their potent carcinogenicity in laboratory animal studies and probable human carcinogenicity. While passive sampling techniques have become a widely used tool for providing time-averaged estimates of trace pollutant concentration, for chemicals such as NDMA that have relatively high water solubility, the selection of a suitable sorbent is difficult. This work is a proof of principle study that investigated for the first time the use of coconut charcoal as a passive sampler sorbent. Apparent charcoal/water sorption coefficients for NDMA were >551 mL g(-1) at environmentally relevant aqueous concentrations of less than 1 μg L(-1). Under the experimental conditions employed, a sampling rate of 0.45 L d(-1) was determined and for an aqueous concentration of 1000 ng L(-1), it is predicted that the sampler remains in the linear uptake stage for approximately 4d, while equilibrium attainment would require about 26 d. The presence of humic acid, used as a surrogate for DOC, enhanced NDMA sorption on the coconut charcoal. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Impact of Media Reporting on the Emergence of Charcoal Burning Suicide in Taiwan

PubMed Central

Chen, Ying-Yeh; Chen, Feng; Gunnell, David; Yip, Paul S. F.

2013-01-01

We investigated the association of the intensity of newspaper reporting of charcoal burning suicide with the incidence of such deaths in Taiwan during 1998–2002. A counting process approach was used to estimate the incidence of suicides and intensity of news reporting. Conditional Poisson generalized linear autoregressive models were performed to assess the association of the intensity of newspaper reporting of charcoal burning and non-charcoal burning suicides with the actual number of charcoal burning and non-charcoal burning suicides the following day. We found that increases in the reporting of charcoal burning suicide were associated with increases in the incidence of charcoal burning suicide on the following day, with each reported charcoal burning news item being associated with a 16% increase in next day charcoal burning suicide (p<.0001). However, the reporting of other methods of suicide was not related to their incidence. We conclude that extensive media reporting of charcoal burning suicides appears to have contributed to the rapid rise in the incidence of the novel method in Taiwan during the initial stage of the suicide epidemic. Regulating media reporting of novel suicide methods may prevent an epidemic spread of such new methods. PMID:23383027

Combining charcoal sediment and molecular markers to infer a Holocene fire history in the Maya lowlands of Petén, Guatemala

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirchgeorg, Torben; Schüpbach, Simon; Colombaroli, Daniele; Beffa, Giorgia; Radaelli, Marta; Kehrwald, Natalie; Barbante, Carlo

2015-04-01

Holocene vegetation changes in the Maya Lowlands during the Holocene are a result of changing climate conditions, solely anthropogenic activities, or interactions of both factors. As a consequence, it is difficult to assess how tropical ecosystems will cope with projected changes in precipitation and land-use intensification over the next decades. We investigated the role of fire during the Holocene by combining different proxies. We distinguished between three different morphotypes (grass, wood and leaves) in macroscopic charcoal. We also determined the molecular fire proxies levoglucosan, mannosan and galactosan. Combining these different fire proxies allows a more robust understanding of the complex history of fire regimes at different spatial scales during the Holocene. Comparing the two biomass burning proxies may help increase our understanding about advantages and limitations of molecular markers as proxies for past fire reconstruction in lake sediments. In order to infer changes in past biomass burning, we analysed a lake sediment core from Lake Petén Itzá, Guatemala (17°00'N, 89°50'W, 110 m above sea level), and compared our results with millennial-scale vegetation and climate change data available in this area. Some differences were observed between the two records and we assumed that while macroscopic charcoal represents a local fire signal, the molecular fire proxies records seem to be influenced by regional to supra-regional fire or low temperature fires. During the Holocene we detected three periods of high fire activity: 9500-6000 cal yr BP, 3800 cal yr BP and 2700 cal yr BP. We attributed the first maximum (9500-6000 cal yr BP) to only climate conditions, which corresponds with observations from previous studies in this region. The fast decrease in the relative abundance of woody charcoal to grass charcoal at the 3800 cal yr BP fire maximum may result from human activity, but we cannot exclude that this shift was related to climate conditions during this period. The last maximum (2700 cal yr BP) we attribute to the agricultural activity of the Maya at Lake Petén Itzá.

Carbon sequestration and fertility after centennial time scale incorporation of charcoal into soil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Criscuoli, Irene; Alberti, Giorgio; Baronti, Silvia; Favilli, Filippo; Martinez, Cristina; Calzolari, Costanza; Pusceddu, Emanuela; Rumpel, Cornelia; Viola, Roberto; Miglietta, Franco

2014-05-01

The addition of pyrogenic carbon (C) in the soil is considered a sustainable strategy to achieve direct C sequestration and potential reduction of non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions. In this paper, we investigated the long term effects of charcoal addition on C sequestration and soil chemico-physical properties by studying a series of abandoned charcoal hearths in the Eastern Alps established in the XIX century. This natural setting can be seen as an analogue of a deliberate experiment with replications. Carbon sequestration was assessed indirectly by comparing the amount of C present in the hearths with the estimated amount of charcoal that was left on the soil after the carbonization. Approximately 80% of the C originally added to the soil via charcoal can still be found today, thus supporting the view that charcoal incorporation is an effective way to sequester atmospheric CO2. We also observed an improvement in the physical properties (hydrophobicity and bulk density) of charcoal hearth soils and an accumulation of nutrients compared to the adjacent soil without charcoal. Then, we focused on the morphological and physical characterization of several fragments, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Such study enabled the identification of peculiar morphological features of tracheids, which were tentatively associated to a differential oxidation of the structures that were created during carbonization from lignine and cellulose. In order to assess the effect of soil-aging we compared the old-biochar with a modern one obtained from the same feedstock and with similar carbonization process. XRD and XRF analysis were performed on both old and modern biochar, in order to study the multiphase crystalline structure and chemical elements found. We observed mineralization and a fossilization of old biochar samples respect to the modern ones, with accumulation of several mineral oxides and a substantial presence of quartz. A graphene structure was also found, indicating weak bonds in the carbon structures, explained by inter-molecular Van der Waals forces. Furthermore, we have detected a graphite oxide structure responsible of the bending effect in the tracheid, revealed in SEM images. We consider that those results may contribute to the ongoing debate on the best, most suitable geo-engineering strategies that can potentially enable effective and sustainable carbon sequestration in agricultural soils using biochar.

[Clinical presentation, therapeutic approach and outcomes in acute poisoning treated with activated charcoal. Are there differences between men and women?].

PubMed

Amigó-Tadín, Montserrat; Nogué-Xarau, Santiago; Miró-Andreu, Oscar

2010-01-01

To determine whether there are gender-based differences in the clinical presentation, therapeutic approaches and outcomes in acute poisoning treated with activated charcoal. A descriptive study conducted in the Emergency Department of the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona over the 7 years between the years 2001 and 2008. The study included poisoned patients who had received activated charcoal. The variables included, epidemiological data, clinical and toxicological presentation, therapeutic approach, time in emergency department and outcomes. A total of 575 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 37.8 (SD 14.8) years and 65.7% were females. No differences were observed between males and females with respect to age, number of drugs involved in the poisoning or the number of tablets ingested, but a higher prevalence of benzodiazepine poisoning was observed in females compared to males (69.8 vs. 61.2%; P<0.05). Alcohol combined with drug poisoning was more common in males than in females (32.4 vs.18.8%; P<0.001). Administration of activated charcoal in non-drug poisoning was also more common in males than in females (7.9 vs. 3.2%; P<0.05). There were no differences between genders as regards clinical presentation of the poisonings, delays in care, hours of emergency department stay, treatment or outcome. Benzodiazepine poisoning was more prevalent in females than in males. Non-drug poisonings and alcohol combined with drug ingestion were more common in males. The clinical outcomes of the poisonings, delays in care, therapeutic requirements and admissions were similar between genders. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

A comparison of charcoal measurements for reconstruction of Mediterranean paleo-fire frequency in the mountains of Corsica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leys, Bérangère; Carcaillet, Christopher; Dezileau, Laurent; Ali, Adam A.; Bradshaw, Richard H. W.

2013-05-01

Fire-history reconstructions inferred from sedimentary charcoal records are based on measuring sieved charcoal fragment area, estimating fragment volume, or counting fragments. Similar fire histories are reconstructed from these three approaches for boreal lake sediment cores, using locally defined thresholds. Here, we test the same approach for a montane Mediterranean lake in which taphonomical processes might differ from boreal lakes through fragmentation of charcoal particles. The Mediterranean charcoal series are characterized by highly variable charcoal accumulation rates. Results there indicate that the three proxies do not provide comparable fire histories. The differences are attributable to charcoal fragmentation. This could be linked to fire type (crown or surface fires) or taphonomical processes, including charcoal transportation in the catchment area or in the sediment. The lack of correlation between the concentration of charcoal and of mineral matter suggests that fragmentation is not linked to erosion. Reconstructions based on charcoal area are more robust and stable than those based on fragment counts. Area-based reconstructions should therefore be used instead of the particle-counting method when fragmentation may influence the fragment abundance.

A role for charcoal's physical properties in its carbon cycle fluxes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masiello, C. A.; Dugan, B.; Gao, X.; Pyle, L.; Sorrenti, G.; LaMere, L.; Liu, Z.; Zygourakis, K.

2016-12-01

The production of charcoal by fire generates a pool of soil carbon that is more biologically resistant to decomposition than many other forms of soil organic matter, and in some cases charcoal accumulates on the landscape. In other situations, however, charcoal does not accumulate, and is rapidly lost to rivers and eventually delivered to the ocean, where it can form a significant component of sedimentary organic carbon. The physical properties of charcoal form one basic dimension controlling whether charcoal is stored on the landscape or whether it moves to rivers and eventually marine sediments. It is simple to understand how charcoal density and porosity can play a crucial role in its mobility on the landscape: when charcoal pores are filled with air, the bulk density of charcoal can be as low as 0.25 g/cm3, and it will float and thus is easily transported with water runoff. As pores fill with water or soil minerals, the bulk density increases and can exceed 1 g/cm3, which will promote sinking and decrease mobility. For example, a charcoal with an internal porosity of 30% must have 90% of the pores saturated with water to achieve a bulk density greater than 1 g/cm3. Alternately for that same charcoal 20% of charcoal pores would need to infill with soil minerals (mineral density = 3.8 g/cm3) to achieve a density greater than 1 g/cm3. This mineral-infilling process has not been widely observed. Instead, early laboratory and field data suggest that the soil minerals partially block pores in charcoal and this process slows the rate of water transport into charcoal pores. If widespread, this process of partial pore throat occlusion may limit the rate of biochar saturation and thus help control the long-term landscape fate of charcoal.

[Effects of bamboo charcoal on the growth of Trifolium repens and soil bacterial community structure].

PubMed

Li, Song-Hao; He, Dong-Hua; Shen, Qiu-Lan; Xu, Qiu-Fang

2014-08-01

The effects of addition rates (0, 3% and 9%) and particle sizes (0.05, 0.05-1.0 and 1.0-2.0 mm) of bamboo charcoal on the growth of Trifolium repens and soil microbial community structure were investigated. The results showed that bamboo charcoal addition greatly promoted the early growth of T. repens, with the 9% charcoal addition rate being slightly better than the 3% charcoal addition rate. The effects of different particle sizes of bamboo charcoal on the growth of T. repens were not different significantly. Growth promotion declined with time during 120 days after sowing, and disappeared completely after 5 months. DGGE analysis of the bacterial 16S rDNA V3 fragment indicated that bamboo charcoal altered the soil bacterial community structure. The amount and Shannon diversity index of bacteria in the bamboo charcoal addition treatments increased compared with CK. The quantitative analysis showed that the amount of bacteria in the treatment with bamboo charcoal of fine particle (D < 0.05 mm) at the 9% addition rate was significantly higher than in the other treatments. The fine bamboo charcoal had a great effect on soil bacteria amount compared with the charcoal of other sizes at the same addition rate.

Activated charcoal filters: Water treatment, pollution control, and industrial applications. (Latest citations from the Patent Bibliographic database with exemplary claims. ) Published Search

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

The bibliography contains citations of selected patents concerning activated charcoal filters and their applications in water treatment, pollution control, and industrial processes. Filtering methods and equipment for air and water purification, industrial distillation and extraction, industrial leaching, and filtration of toxic materials and contaminants are described. Applications include drinking water purification, filtering beverages, production of polymer materials, solvent and metal recovery, waste conversion, automotive fuel and exhaust systems, swimming pool filtration, tobacco smoke filters, kitchen ventilators, medical filtration treatment, and odor absorbing materials. (Contains 250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)

Post-fire recovery of soil organic matter in a Cambisol from typical Mediterranean forest in Southwestern Spain.

PubMed

Jiménez-González, Marco A; De la Rosa, José María; Jiménez-Morillo, Nicasio T; Almendros, Gonzalo; González-Pérez, José Antonio; Knicker, Heike

2016-12-01

Wildfire is a recurrent phenomenon in Mediterranean ecosystems and contributes to soil degradation and desertification, which are partially caused by alterations to soil organic matter (SOM). The SOM composition from a Cambisol under a Mediterranean forest affected by a wildfire is studied in detail in order to assess soil health status and better understand of soil recovery after the fire event. The soil was sampled one month and twenty-five months after the wildfire. A nearby unburnt site was taken as control soil. Soil rehabilitation actions involving heavy machinery to remove burnt vegetation were conducted sixteen months after the wildfire. Immediately after fire the SOM increased in topsoil due to inputs from charred vegetation, whereas a decrease was observed in the underlying soil layer. Twenty-five months after fire soil-pH increased in fire-affected topsoil due to the presence of ashes, a decrease in SOM content was recorded for the burnt topsoil and similar trend was observed for the water holding capacity. The pyro-chromatograms of burned soils revealed the formation of additional aromatic compounds. The thermal cracking of long-chain n-alkanes was also detected. Solid-state 13 C NMR spectroscopy supported the increase of aromatic compounds in the fire-affected topsoil due to the accumulation of charcoal, whereas the deeper soil sections were not affected by the fire. Two years later, soil parameters for the unburnt and burnt sites showed comparable values. The reduction of the relative intensity in the aromatic C region of the NMR spectra indicated a decrease in the charcoal content of the topsoil. Due to the negligible slope in the sampling site, the loss of charcoal was explained by the post-fire restoration activity, degradation, leaching of pyrogenic SOM into deeper soil horizons or wind erosion. Our results support that in the Mediterranean region, fire-induced alteration of the SOM is not lasting in the long-term. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of oral administration of a commercial activated charcoal suspension on serum osmolality and lactate concentration in the dog.

PubMed

Burkitt, Jamie M; Haskins, Steve C; Aldrich, Janet; Jandrey, Karl E; Rezende, Marlis L; Boyle, Jennifer E

2005-01-01

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of an activated charcoal (AC) suspension containing propylene glycol and glycerol on serum osmolality, osmolal gap, and lactate concentration in dogs. Six healthy adult dogs were administered 4 g/kg AC in a commercially available suspension that contained propylene glycol and glycerol as vehicles. Blood samples were taken before and 1, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours after the administration of the test suspension. Samples were analyzed for osmolality, blood gases, and concentrations of lactate, sodium, potassium, serum urea nitrogen, and glucose. Osmolal gaps were calculated for each time point. Mean serum osmolality, osmolal gap, and lactate concentration were significantly increased after suspension administration compared to baseline. Serum osmolality increased from 311 mOsm/kg at baseline to 353 mOsm/kg, osmolal gap increased from 5 to 52 mOsm/kg, and lactate concentration increased from 1.9 to 4.5 mmol/L after suspension administration (all P < .01). Three of the 6 dogs vomited between 1 and 3 hours after the administration of the test suspension, and 4 of 6 dogs were lethargic. All dogs drank frequently after AC administration. Commercial AC suspension administered at a clinically relevant dose increases serum osmolality, osmolal gap, and lactate concentration in dogs. These laboratory measures and the clinical signs of vomiting, lethargy, and increased frequency of drinking might complicate the diagnosis or monitoring of some intoxications (such as ethylene glycol) in dogs that have previously received AC suspension containing propylene glycol, glycerol, or both as vehicles.

Paired charcoal and tree-ring records of high-frequency Holocene fire from two New Mexico bog sites

USGS Publications Warehouse

Allen, Craig D.; Anderson, R. Scott; Jass, R.B.; Toney, J.L.; Baisan, C.H.

2008-01-01

Two primary methods for reconstructing paleofire occurrence include dendrochronological dating of fire scars and stand ages from live or dead trees (extending back centuries into the past) and sedimentary records of charcoal particles from lakes and bogs, providing perspectives on fire history that can extend back for many thousands of years. Studies using both proxies have become more common in regions where lakes are present and fire frequencies are low, but are rare where high-frequency surface fires dominate and sedimentary deposits are primarily bogs and wetlands. Here we investigate sedimentary and fire-scar records of fire in two small watersheds in northern New Mexico, in settings recently characterised by relatively high-frequency fire where bogs and wetlands (Chihuahuen??os Bog and Alamo Bog) are more common than lakes. Our research demonstrates that: (1) essential features of the sedimentary charcoal record can be reproduced between multiple cores within a bog deposit; (2) evidence from both fire-scarred trees and charcoal deposits documents an anomalous lack of fire since ???1900, compared with the remainder of the Holocene; (3) sedimentary charcoal records probably underestimate the recurrence of fire events at these high-frequency fire sites; and (4) the sedimentary records from these bogs are complicated by factors such as burning and oxidation of these organic deposits, diversity of vegetation patterns within watersheds, and potential bioturbation by ungulates. We consider a suite of particular challenges in developing and interpreting fire histories from bog and wetland settings in the Southwest. The identification of these issues and constraints with interpretation of sedimentary charcoal fire records does not diminish their essential utility in assessing millennial-scale patterns of fire activity in this dry part of North America. ?? IAWF 2008.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of alkylphosphonic acids from aqueous samples by ion-pair solid-phase extraction on activated charcoal and methylation.

PubMed

Vijaya Saradhi, U V R; Prabhakar, S; Jagadeshwar Reddy, T; Murty, M R V S

2007-07-20

In the present paper, we report an improved ion-pair solid-phase extraction (IP-SPE) method for the analysis of alkylphosphonic acids, namely, methyl, ethyl and propylphosphonic acids, present in the aqueous sample. The aqueous sample was mixed with an ion-pair reagent, phenyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (PTMAH) and passed through activated charcoal SPE cartridge. The retained chemicals in the cartridge were extracted with methanol and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) under the electron impact ionization (EI) mode. The analytes were converted to their methyl esters by pyrolytic methylation in the hot GC injection port. The recoveries of alkylphosphonic acids were above 95% and the minimum detection limits were as low as 10 ng/mL. The recovery of the test chemicals was tested with solvents, dichloromethane, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, acetonitrile and methanol. The chemicals could be efficiently extracted by the hydrophilic solvents. The method did not work at the highly acidic pH (when acidified with dilute HCl) but worked well from pH 4.0 to 14.0. The present method was also tested with other tetra-(methyl, ethyl, propyl and n-butyl)ammonium hydroxides. The test chemicals were not converted to their methyl and ethyl esters with tetramethyl and tetraethylammonium hydroxides, whereas they were converted to their corresponding propyl and n-butyl esters with tetrapropyl and tetra(n-butyl)ammonium hydroxides. The method was also applied to two highly cross-linked polymeric sorbents DSC-6S and Oasis HLB. The recovery of the chemicals on these sorbents was observed to be poor. Methylation using phenyltrimethylammonium hydroxide is non-hazardous and advantageous over methylation using diazomethane. The method was applied to the analysis of aqueous samples given in one of the official proficiency tests conducted by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and all the spiked chemicals were identified as methyl esters.

Size fractionation as a tool for separating charcoal of different fuel source and recalcitrance in the wildfire ash layer.

PubMed

Mastrolonardo, Giovanni; Hudspith, Victoria A; Francioso, Ornella; Rumpel, Cornelia; Montecchio, Daniela; Doerr, Stefan H; Certini, Giacomo

2017-10-01

Charcoal is a heterogeneous material exhibiting a diverse range of properties. This variability represents a serious challenge in studies that use the properties of natural charcoal for reconstructing wildfires history in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that particle size is a sufficiently robust indicator for separating forest wildfire combustion products into fractions with distinct properties. For this purpose, we examined two different forest environments affected by contrasting wildfires in terms of severity: an eucalypt forest in Australia, which experienced an extremely severe wildfire, and a Mediterranean pine forest in Italy, which burned to moderate severity. We fractionated the ash/charcoal layers collected on the ground into four size fractions (>2, 2-1, 1-0.5, <0.5mm) and analysed them for mineral ash content, elemental composition, chemical structure (by IR spectroscopy), fuel source and charcoal reflectance (by reflected-light microscopy), and chemical/thermal recalcitrance (by chemical and thermal oxidation). At both sites, the finest fraction (<0.5mm) had, by far, the greatest mass. The C concentration and C/N ratio decreased with decreasing size fraction, while pH and the mineral ash content followed the opposite trend. The coarser fractions showed higher contribution of amorphous carbon and stronger recalcitrance. We also observed that certain fuel types were preferentially represented by particular size fractions. We conclude that the differences between ash/charcoal size fractions were most likely primarily imposed by fuel source and secondarily by burning conditions. Size fractionation can therefore serve as a valuable tool to characterise the forest wildfire combustion products, as each fraction displays a narrower range of properties than the whole sample. We propose the mineral ash content of the fractions as criterion for selecting the appropriate number of fractions to analyse. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Holocene disturbance dynamics from a pine-dominated forest in central British Columbia, Canada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, K. J.; Hebda, N.; Condor, N.; Hebda, R.; Hawkes, B.

2013-12-01

A lake sediment record was retrieved from the Sub-Boreal Pine-Spruce biogeoclimatic zone on the Chilcotin Plateau in central British Columbia, Canada. The record is being analyzed for charcoal, pollen, and magnetic susceptibility, as well as insect and mollusc content. The oldest radiocarbon age is 9.2 cal BP, illustrating that the record spans most of the Holocene. Regarding fire disturbance, charcoal fragments are persistent throughout the core, revealing that fire disturbance has characterized the site for millennia. In total, 74 fire events were recognized. During the warm dry early Holocene, fire frequency was 12-15 fires 2000 yr-1 and peak magnitudes were low, possibly in response to a more open landscape. A change in fire regime occurred at ca. 5000 cal BP, as fire frequency increased, peaking at ca. 20 fires 2000 yr-1 by 3000 cal BP. Peak magnitude likewise increased notably, possibly in response to the development of denser forest cover. On-going analysis of pollen will better constrain the vegetation history in this poorly sampled region. In contrast to charcoal, which was pervasive, Dendroctonus ponderosae (mountain pine beetle) remains were absent in both modern and paleo samples. Given that several insect outbreaks have occurred in the region in the last 100 years, the scarcity of remains is likely related to taphonomic issues.

Understanding the Impact of Charcoal Inputs to Soils and Sediments on Conventional Geochemical Markers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuo, L.; Louchouarn, P.; Herbert, B.

2008-12-01

Chars/charcoals are solid combustion residues derived from biomass burning. They represent one of the major classes in the pyrogenic organic residues, the so-called black carbon (BC), and have highly heterogeneous nature due to the highly variable combustion conditions during biomass burning. More and more attention has been given to characterize and quantify the inputs of charcoals to different environmental compartments since they also share the common features of BC, such as recalcitrant nature and strong sorption capacity on hydrophobic organic pollutants. Moreover, such inputs also imply the thermal alteration of terrestrial organic matter, as well as corresponding biomarkers such as lignin. Lignin is considered to be among the best-preserved components of vascular plants after deposition, due to its relative stability on biodegradation. This macropolymer is an important contributor to soil organic matter (SOM) and its presence in aquatic environments helps trace the input of terrigenous organic matter to such systems. The yields and specific ratios of lignin oxidation products (LOP) from alkaline cupric oxide (CuO) oxidation method have been extensively used to identify the structure of plant lignin and estimate inputs of plant carbon to soils and aquatic systems, as well as evaluate the diagenetic status of lignin. Although the fate of lignin under microbiological and photochemical degradation pathways have been thoroughly addressed in the literature, studies assessing the impact of thermal degradation on lignin structure and signature are scarce. In the present study, we used three suites of lab-made chars (honey mesquite, cordgrass, and loblolly pine) to study the impact of combustion on lignin and their commonly used parameters. Our results show that combustion can greatly decrease the yields of the eight major lignin phenols (vanillyl, syringyl, and cinnamyl phenols) with no lignin phenols detected in any synthetic char produced at ≥ 400°C. With increasing combustion temperature, internal phenol ratios (S/V and C/V) show a two-stage change with an initial increase at low temperatures followed by marked and rapid decreases when temperatures reach 200- 250°C. The acid/aldehyde ratios of vanillyl phenols ((Ad/Al)v) and syringyl phenols ((Ad/Al)s) all increase with increasing combustion temperature and duration and reach a maximum values at 300- 350°C, regardless plant species. The highly elevated acid/aldehyde ratios reached in some cases exceed the reported values of humic and fulvic acids extracted from soils and sediments. We applied these empirical data in mixing models to estimate the potential effects of charcoal inputs on the observed lignin signatures in environmental mixtures. The shifts in lignin signatures are strongly influenced both by the characteristics of the charcoal incorporated and the proportion of charcoal in the mixture. We validated our observations with two sets of environmental samples, including soils from control burning sites, and a sediment core from a wetland with evidence of charcoal inputs, showing that the presences of charcoals do alter the observed lignin signals in these samples. Such a thermal "interference" on lignin parameters should thus be considered in environmental mixtures with recognized char input.

Waterpipe product packaging and labelling at the 3rd international Hookah Fair; does it comply with Article 11 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control?

PubMed

Jawad, Mohammed; Darzi, Andrea; Lotfi, Tamara; Nakkash, Rima; Hawkins, Ben; Akl, Elie A

2017-08-01

We assessed compliance of waterpipe product packaging and labelling with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control's Article 11. We evaluated samples collected at a trade fair against ten domains: health warning location, size, use of pictorials, use of colour, and packaging information on constituents and emissions. We also evaluated waterpipe accessories (e.g., charcoal) for misleading claims. Ten of 15 tobacco products had health warnings on their principal display areas, covering a median of 22.4 per cent (interquartile range 19.4-27.4 per cent) of those areas. Three had pictorial, in-colour health warnings. We judged all packaging information on constituents and emissions to be misleading. Eight of 13 charcoal products displayed environmentally friendly descriptors and/or claims of reduced harm that we judged to be misleading. Increased compliance with waterpipe tobacco regulation is warranted. An improved policy framework for waterpipe tobacco should also consider regulation of accessories such as charcoal products.

Charcoal kiln relicts - a favorable site for tree growth?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buras, Allan; Hirsch, Florian; van der Maaten, Ernst; Takla, Melanie; Räbiger, Christin; Cruz Garcia, Roberto; Schneider, Anna; Raab, Alexandra; Raab, Thomas; Wilmking, Martin

2015-04-01

Soils with incompletely combusted organic material (aka 'black carbon') are considered fertile for plant growth. Considerable enrichment of soils with black carbon is known from Chernozems, from anthropogenic induced altering of soils like the 'Terra Preta' in South America (e.g. Glaser, 2001), and from charcoal kiln relicts. Recent studies have reported a high spatial frequency of charcoal kiln relicts in the Northeastern German lowlands (Raab et al., 2015), which today are often overgrown by forest plantations. In this context the question arises whether these sites are favorable for tree growth. Here we compare the performance of 22 Pinus sylvestris individuals - a commonly used tree species in forestry - growing on charcoal kiln relicts with 22 control trees. Growth performance (height growth and diameter growth) of the trees was determined using dendrochronological techniques, i.e. standard ring-width measurements were undertaken on each two cores per tree and tree height was measured in the field. Several other wood properties such as annual wood density, average resin content, as well as wood chemistry were analyzed. Our results indicate that trees growing on charcoal kiln relicts grow significantly less and have a significantly lower wood density in comparison with control trees. Specific chemical components such as Manganese as well as resin contents were significantly higher in kiln trees. These results highlight that tree growth on charcoal kiln relicts is actually hampered instead of enhanced. Possibly this is a combined effect of differing physical soil properties which alter soil water accessibility for plants and differing chemical soil properties which may negatively affect tree growth either if toxic limits are surpassed or if soil nutrient availability is decreased. Additional soil analyses with respect to soil texture and soil chemistry shall reveal further insight into this hypothesis. Given the frequent distribution of charcoal kiln relicts in the German lowlands (e.g. Raab et al., 2015) and their potentially adverse effects on tree growth, these findings elucidate a yet unknown impact of past human activities on recent biological processes. Glaser, B., Haumaier, L., Guggenberger, G., and Zech, W., 2001: The 'Terra Preta' phenomenon: a model for sustainable agriculture in the humid tropics. Naturwissenschaften, 88, 37-41. Raab, A., Takla, M., Raab, T., Nicolay, A., Schneider, A., Rösler, H., Heußner, K.U., Bönisch, E., 2015. Pre-industrial charcoal production in Lower Lusatia (Brandenburg, Germany): Detection and evaluation of a large charcoal-burning field by combining archaeological studies, GIS-based analyses of shaded-relief maps and dendrochronological age determination. Quaternary International, doi: 10.1016/j.quaint.2014.09.041.

Global charcoal mobilization from soils via dissolution and riverine transport to the oceans.

PubMed

Jaffé, Rudolf; Ding, Yan; Niggemann, Jutta; Vähätalo, Anssi V; Stubbins, Aron; Spencer, Robert G M; Campbell, John; Dittmar, Thorsten

2013-04-19

Global biomass burning generates 40 million to 250 million tons of charcoal every year, part of which is preserved for millennia in soils and sediments. We have quantified dissolution products of charcoal in a wide range of rivers worldwide and show that globally, a major portion of the annual charcoal production is lost from soils via dissolution and subsequent transport to the ocean. The global flux of soluble charcoal accounts to 26.5 ± 1.8 million tons per year, which is ~10% of the global riverine flux of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). We suggest that the mobilization of charcoal and DOC out of soils is mechanistically coupled. This study closes a major gap in the global charcoal budget and provides critical information in the context of geoengineering.

Fire activity and hydrological dynamics in the past 5700 years reconstructed from Sphagnum peatlands along the oceanic-continental climatic gradient in northern Poland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marcisz, Katarzyna; Gałka, Mariusz; Pietrala, Patryk; Miotk-Szpiganowicz, Grażyna; Obremska, Milena; Tobolski, Kazimierz; Lamentowicz, Mariusz

2017-12-01

Fire is a critical component of many ecosystems and, as predicted by various climate models, fire activity may increase significantly in the following years due to climate change. Therefore, knowledge about the past fire activity of various ecosystems is highly important for future nature conservation purposes. We present results of high-resolution investigation of fire activity and hydrological changes in northern Poland. We analyzed microscopic charcoal from three Sphagnum-dominated peatlands located on the south of Baltic, on the oceanic-continental (west-east) climatic gradient, and reconstructed the history of fire in the last 5700 years. We hypothesize that air circulation patterns are highly important for local fire activity, and that fire activity is more intensive in peatlands influenced by continental air masses. We have found out that forest fires have been occurring regularly since the past millennia and were linked to climatic conditions. We show that fire activity (related to climate and fuel availability) was significantly higher in sites dominated by continental climate (northeastern Poland) than in the site located under oceanic conditions (northwestern Poland)-microscopic charcoal influx was 13.3 times higher in the eastern study site of the gradient, compared to the western study site. Recorded fire activity patterns were different between the sites in a long timescale. Moreover, most of the recorded charcoal peaks occurred during high water tables. Rising human pressure has caused droughts and water table instability, and substantial increase in fire activity in the last 400 years.

Macro-particle charcoal C content following prescribed burning in a mixed-conifer forest, Sierra Nevada, California.

PubMed

Wiechmann, Morgan L; Hurteau, Matthew D; Kaye, Jason P; Miesel, Jessica R

2015-01-01

Fire suppression and changing climate have resulted in increased large wildfire frequency and severity in the western United States, causing carbon cycle impacts. Forest thinning and prescribed burning reduce high-severity fire risk, but require removal of biomass and emissions of carbon from burning. During each fire a fraction of the burning vegetation and soil organic matter is converted into charcoal, a relatively stable carbon form. We sought to quantify the effects of pre-fire fuel load and type on charcoal carbon produced by biomass combusted in a prescribed burn under different thinning treatments and to identify more easily measured predictors of charcoal carbon mass in a historically frequent-fire mixed-conifer forest. We hypothesized that charcoal carbon produced from coarse woody debris (CWD) during prescribed burning would be greater than that produced from fine woody debris (FWD). We visually quantified post-treatment charcoal carbon content in the O-horizon and the A-horizon beneath CWD (> 30 cm diameter) and up to 60 cm from CWD that was present prior to treatment. We found no difference in the size of charcoal carbon pools from CWD (treatment means ranged from 0.3-2.0 g m-2 of A-horizon and 0.0-1.7 g m-2 of O-horizon charcoal) and FWD (treatment means ranged from 0.2-1.7 g m-2 of A-horizon and 0.0-1.5 g m-2 of O-horizon charcoal). We also compared treatments and found that the burn-only, understory-thin and burn, and overstory-thin and burn treatments had significantly more charcoal carbon than the control. Charcoal carbon represented 0.29% of total ecosystem carbon. We found that char mass on CWD was an important predictor of charcoal carbon mass, but only explained 18-35% of the variation. Our results help improve our understanding of the effects forest restoration treatments have on ecosystem carbon by providing additional information about charcoal carbon content.

Charcoal from the pyrolysis of rapeseed plant straw-stalk

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Karaosmanoglu, F.; Tetik, E.

1999-07-01

Charcoal is an important product of pyrolysis of biomass sources. Charcoal can be used for domestic, agricultural, metallurgical, and chemical purposes. In this study different characteristics of charcoal, one of the rape seed plant straw-stalk pyrolysis product, was researched and presented as candidates.

Compressed air as a source of inhaled oxidants in intensive care units.

PubMed

Thibeault, D W; Rezaiekhaligh, M H; Ekekezie, I; Truog, W E

1999-01-01

Exhaled gas from mechanically ventilated preterm infants was found to have similar oxidant concentrations, regardless of lung disease, leading to the hypothesis that wall outlet gases were an oxidant source. Oxidants in compressed room air and oxygen from wall outlets were assessed in three hospitals. Samples were collected by flowing wall outlet gas through a heated humidifier and an ice-packed condenser. Nitric oxide (NO) was measured in intensive care room air and in compressed air with and without a charcoal filter using a Sievers NOA280 nitric oxide analyzer (Boulder, CO). Oxidants were measured by spectrophotometry and expressed as nMol equivalents of H2O2/mL. The quantity of oxidant was also expressed as amount of Vitamin C (nMol/mL) added until the oxidant was nondetectable. This quantity of Vitamin C was also expressed in Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) units (mMol/L). Free and total chlorine were measured with a Chlorine Photometer. Oxidants were not found in compressed oxygen and were only found in compressed air when the compression method used tap water. At a compressed room air gas flow of 1.5 L/min, the total volume of condensate was 20.2 +/- 1 mL/hr. The oxidant concentration was 1.52 +/- 0.09 nMol/mL equivalents of H2O2/mL of sample and 30.8 +/- 1.2 nMol/hr; 17.9% of that found in tap water. Oxidant reduction required 2.05 +/-0.12 nMol/mL vitamin C, (1.78 +/- 0.1 x 10(-3) TEAC units). Free and total chlorine in tap water were 0.3 +/- 0.02 mg/mL and 2.9 +/- 0.002 mg/mL, respectively. Outlet gas contained 0.4 +/- 0.06 mg/mL and 0.07 + 0.01 mg/mL total and free chlorine, respectively; both 14% of tap water. When a charcoal filter was installed in the hospital with oxidants in compressed air, oxidants were completely removed. Nursery room air contained 12.4 +/- 0.5 ppb NO; compressed wall air without a charcoal filter, 8.1 +/- 0.1 ppb and compressed air with a charcoal filter 12.5 +/- 0.5 ppb. A charcoal filter does not remove NO. (Table 3) We recommend that all compressed air methods using tap water have charcoal filters at the compression site and the gases be assessed periodically for oxidants.

Characterization of Nano Bamboo Charcoal Drug Delivery System for Eucommia ulmoides Extract and Its Anticancer Effect In vitro.

PubMed

Zeng, Zhaoyan; Li, Xiangzhou; Zhang, Sheng; Huang, Dan

2017-01-01

Nano bamboo charcoal is being widely used as sustained release carrier for chemicals for its high specific surface area, sound biocompatibility, and nontoxicity; however, there have been no reports on nano bamboo charcoal as sustained release carrier for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). To study the effect of nano bamboo charcoal in absorbing and sustained releasing Eucommia ulmoides extract (EUE) and to verify the in vitro anticancer effect of the sustained release liquid, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of nano bamboo charcoal as TCM sustained-release preparation. The adsorption capacity for the nano bamboo charcoal on EUE was measured by Langmuir model, and the release experiment was carried out under intestinal fluid condition. Characteristic changes for the nano bamboo charcoal nano-drug delivery system with and without adsorption of E. ulmoides were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and specific surface area. In addition, the anticancer effect from this novel bamboo charcoal E. ulmoides delivery system was evaluated against a human colon cancer cell line (HCT116). It was found that nano bamboo charcoal exhibits good adsorption capacity (up to 462.96 mg/g at 37°C). The cumulative release rate for EUE from this nano bamboo charcoal delivery system was 70.67%, and specific surface area for the nano bamboo charcoal decreased from 820.32 m 2 /g to 443.80 m 2 /g after EUE was loaded. An in vitro anticancer study showed that the inhibition rate for E. ulmoides against HCT116 cancer cells was 23.07%, for this novel bamboo charcoal nano-drug delivery system. This study provides a novel strategy for the delivery of traditional Chinese medicine using bamboo charcoal nano-drug delivery system. The adsorption equilibrium was reached after 30 min of ultrasonic treatmentThe saturated adsorption capacity of Eucommia ulmoides extract by nano bamboo charcoal under ultrosonic condition was 462. 96 mg/gThe cumulative release rate of E. ulmoides extract from the nano bamboo charcoal delivery system in artificial intestinal juice was 70.67%The inhibition ratio of HCT116 cancer cells by sustained release liquid was 23.07%. Abbreviation used: EUE: Eucommia ulmoides extract.

Activated charcoal filters: Water treatment, pollution control, and industrial applications. October 1970-October 1989 (Citations from the US Patent data base). Report for October 1970-October 1989

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

This bibliography contains citations of selected patents concerning activated charcoal filters and their applications in water treatment, pollution control, and industrial processes. Filtering methods and equipment for air and water purification, industrial distillation and extraction, industrial leaching, and filtration of toxic materials and contaminants are described. Applications include drinking water purification, filtering beverages, production of polymer materials, solvent and metal recovery, waste conversion, automotive fuel and exhaust systems, swimming-pool filtration, tobacco-smoke filters, kitchen ventilators, medical filtration treatment, and odor-absorbing materials. (This updated bibliography contains 173 citations, 12 of which are new entries to the previous edition.)

Activated-charcoal filters: Water treatment, pollution control, and industrial applications. January 1970-August 1989 (Citations from the US Patent data base). Report for January 1970-August 1989

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

This bibliography contains citations of selected patents concerning activated charcoal filters and their applications in water treatment, pollution control, and industrial processes. Filtering methods and equipment for air and water purification, industrial distillation and extraction, industrial leaching, and filtration of toxic materials and contaminants are described. Applications include drinking-water purification, filtering beverages, production of polymer materials, solvent and metal recovery, waste conversion, automotive fuel and exhaust systems, swimming-pool filtration, tobacco-smoke filters, kitchen ventilators, medical-filtration treatment, and odor absorbing materials. (This updated bibliography contains 161 citations, 32 of which are new entries to the previous edition.)

Evaluation of analytical methodology for hydrocarbons in high pressure air and nitrogen systems. [evaluation of methodology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1977-01-01

Samples of liquid oxygen, high pressure nitrogen, low pressure nitrogen, and missile grade air were studied to determine the hydrocarbon concentrations. Concentration of the samples was achieved by adsorption on a molecular sieve and activated charcoal. The trapped hydrocarbons were then desorbed and transferred to an analytical column in a gas chromatograph. The sensitivity of the method depends on the volume of gas passed through the adsorbent tubes. The value of the method was verified through recoverability and reproducibility studies. The use of this method enables LOX, GN2, and missile grade air systems to be routinely monitored to determine low level increases in specific hydrocarbon concentration that could lead to potentially hazardous conditions.

Partial Purification of a Legume Nodulation Factor Present in Coconut Water 1

PubMed Central

Schaffer, A. G.; Alexander, M.

1967-01-01

The nodulation of adventitious roots growing from segments of bean hypocotyl tissue was used as a bioassay for the material present in coconut water which stimulated nodulation. The active material in coconut water is acidic, but it was not possible to extract it from an acid solution with organic solvents. A purification of approximately 70-fold (on a dry wt basis) was obtained using activated charcoal, but at least 10 different compounds were present in the active fractions. A purified fraction of coconut water, which is stimulatory to the growth of carrot root explants, was active in the nodulation assay at a concentration of 2 μg/ml. This represents a 4000-fold purification of the diffusible fraction of coconut water. The charcoal fractionation procedure can be applied to the active material present in extracts of bean leaves. PMID:16656538

Review of Various Air Sampling Methods for Solvent Vapors.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maykoski, R. T.

Vapors of trichloroethylene, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, and butyl cellosolve in air were collected using Scotchpac and Tedlar bags, glass prescription bottles, and charcoal adsorption tubes. Efficiencies of collection are reported. (Author/RH)

Research on dye wastewater decoloration by pulse discharge plasma combined with charcoal derived from spent tea leaves.

PubMed

Wang, Tiecheng; Qu, Guangzhou; Pei, Shuzhao; Liang, Dongli; Hu, Shibin

2016-07-01

Pulsed discharge plasma (PDP) combined with charcoal (PDP-charcoal) was employed to treat dye wastewater, with methyl orange (MO) as the model pollutant. The charcoal was prepared using spent tea leaves and was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Boehm titration to investigate the adsorption and catalytic characteristics before and after adsorption and PDP treatment. The prepared charcoal exhibited a high MO adsorption capacity, and the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Freundlich model. The MO decoloration efficiency reached 69.8 % within 7.5 min of treatment in the PDP-charcoal system, whereas values of 29.2 and 25.9 % were achieved in individual PDP and charcoal systems, respectively. The addition of n-butanol and H2PO4 (-) presented inhibitive effects on MO decoloration in the PDP system. However, these effects were much weaker in the PDP-charcoal system. In addition, the effects of charcoal on O3 and H2O2 formation were evaluated, and the results showed that both the O3 and H2O2 concentrations decreased in the presence of charcoal. The MO decomposition intermediates were analyzed using UV-Vis spectrometry and GC-MS. 1,4-Benzoquinone, 4-nitrophenol, 4-hydroxyaniline, and N,N'-dimethylaniline were detected. A possible pathway for MO decomposition in this system was proposed.

Hydrogenation of artemisinin to dihydroartemisinin over heterogeneous metal catalysts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kristiani, Anis; Pertiwi, Ralentri; Adilina, Indri Badria

2017-01-01

A series of heterogeneous metal catalysts of Ni, Pd, and Pt, both of synthesized and commercial catalysts were used for hydrogenation of artemisinin to dihydroartemisinin. Their catalytic properties were determsined by Surface Area Analyzer and Thermogravimetry Analyzer. The catalytic properties in various reaction conditions in terms of temperature, pressure, reaction time and reactant/catalyst ratio were also studied. The results catalytic activity tests showed that synthesized catalysts of Ni/zeolite, Ni-Sn/zeolite, Ni/bentonite and Ni-Sn/bentonite were not able to produced dihydroartemisinin and deoxyartemisinin was mainly formed. Meanwhile, commercial catalysts of Ni skeletal, Pd/activated charcoal and Pt/activated charcoal yielded the desired dihydroartemisinin product. Ni skeletal commercial catalyst gave the best performance of hydrogenation artemisinin to dihydroartemisinin in room temperature and low H2 pressure.

URINARY BIOMARKERS IN CHARCOAL WORKERS EXPOSED TO WOOD SMOKE IN BAHIA STATE, BRAZIL

EPA Science Inventory

Charcoal is an important source of energy for domestic and industrial use in many countries. In Brazil, the largest producer of charcoal in the world, approximately 350,000 workers are linked to the production and transportation of charcoal. In order to evaluate the occupationa...

EMISSIONS OF AIR TOXICS FROM A SIMULATED CHARCOAL KILN EQUIPPED WITH AN AFTERBURNER

EPA Science Inventory

The report discusses emissions of air toxics from a simulated charcoal kiln equipped with an afterburner. A laboratory-scale simulator was constructed and tested to determine if it could be used to produce charcoal that was similar to that produced in Missouri-type charcoal kilns...

Combining charcoal and elemental black carbon analysis in sedimentary archives: Implications for past fire regimes, the pyrogenic carbon cycle, and the human-climate interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thevenon, Florian; Williamson, David; Bard, Edouard; Anselmetti, Flavio S.; Beaufort, Luc; Cachier, Hélène

2010-07-01

This paper addresses the quantification of combustion-derived products in oceanic and continental sediments by optical and chemical approaches, and the interest of combining such methods for reconstructing past biomass burning activity and the pyrogenic carbon cycle. In such context, the dark particles > 0.2 µm 2 remaining after the partial digestion of organic matter are optically counted by automated image analysis and defined as charcoal, while the elemental carbon remaining after thermal and chemical oxidative treatments is quantified as black carbon (BC). The obtained pyrogenic carbon records from three sediment core-based case studies, (i) the Late Pleistocene equatorial Pacific Ocean, (ii) the mid-Holocene European Lake Lucerne, and (iii) the Late Holocene African Lake Masoko, are interpreted as proxy records of regional transportation mechanisms and biomass burning activities. The results show that the burial of dark carbon-rich particles in the 360 kyr-long record from the west equatorial Pacific is controlled by the combination of sea-level changes and low-latitude atmospheric circulation patterns (summer monsoon dynamics). However, the three fold increases in charcoal and BC sediment influxes between 53-43 and 12-10 kyr BP suggest that major shifts in fire activity occur synchronously with human colonization in the Indo/Pacific region. The coarse charcoal distribution from a 7.2 kyr record from Lake Lucerne in Switzerland closely matches the regional timing of major technical, land-use, and socio-economic changes during the Neolithic (between ca. 5.7 and 5.2 kyr BP and 4.9-4.5 kyr BP), the Bronze and Iron Ages (at ca. 3.3 and 2.4 kyr BP, respectively), and the industrialization (after AD 1838), pointing to the key impact of human activities on the sources, transportation processes and reservoirs of refractory carbon during the Holocene. In the tropical Masoko maar lake in Tanzania, where charcoal and BC records are highly sensitive to the local climate and environment, surface runoffs from forested areas and/or aerial transportation over short distances are also important sources for detrital charred particles. However, this 4.3 kyr-long record exhibits a major increase in charcoal and BC sediment influxes between 1.8 and 0.6 kyr BP, synchronously with the regional extent of Late Iron Age and agricultural innovations. Therefore, in both marine and terrestrial depositional environments, the climate- and vegetation-controlled fire regimes appear to be strongly associated to societal changes, or directly affected by human practices. In fact, the anthropogenic effect associated to past human activities (e.g. settlement, agriculture, and metallurgy) has temporarily at least tripled the emissions of pyrogenic carbon in the environment. However, the data from the three Late Pleistocene to Holocene sequences also show that the redistribution of fossil particles by runoff and erosion processes is a significant source of pyrogenic carbon that should be understood as a prerequisite for interpreting sedimentary records of biomass burning.

Bioequivalence of budesonide plus formoterol (BF) Spiromax® and BF Turbohaler® (with and without charcoal block) in healthy volunteers.

PubMed

Weisfeld, Lori; Shu, Youyi; Shah, Tushar P

2015-07-01

Budesonide formoterol (BF) Spiromax® is a breath-actuated dry-powder inhaler designed to deliver similar combinations of budesonide and formoterol as Symbicort® Turbohaler®. We performed two studies to demonstrate pharmacokinetic (PK) equivalence of BF Spiromax with BF Turbohaler. Two single-center, open-label, randomized, 5-period crossover studies were performed. The first study compared BF Spiromax 160/4.5 μg with BF Turbohaler 200/6 μg, while the second study compared BF Spiromax 320/9 μg with BF Turbohaler 400/12 μg. All treatments were administered with and without charcoal. PK parameters were calculated by measuring plasma drug concentrations from blood samples taken pre-dose and up to 24 hours post-dose. In each study, 90 healthy volunteers were randomized. Bioequivalence of BF Spiromax with BF Turbohaler was demonstrated for budesonide and formoterol (AUC0-t and Cmax (90% confidence intervals of the geometric mean between-device ratios for both parameters were within the predefined range of 0.80-1.25 in both studies)). Equivalence was observed without use of charcoal (overall absorption post-inhalation) and with charcoal (pulmonary absorption). There were no major differences between treatments in tmax for either budesonide or formoterol. All study treatments were well tolerated (one treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) in the medium-dose study and four TEAEs in the high-dose study). These studies indicate that BF Spiromax (±charcoal block) is bioequivalent to BF Turbohaler with respect to the PK parameters assessed. Single doses of BF Spiromax were well tolerated; the overall safety profile of BF Spiromax and BF Turbohaler was similar.

Visualization of the Charcoal Agar Resazurin Assay for Semi-quantitative, Medium-throughput Enumeration of Mycobacteria.

PubMed

Gold, Ben; Roberts, Julia; Ling, Yan; Lopez Quezada, Landys; Glasheen, Jou; Ballinger, Elaine; Somersan-Karakaya, Selin; Warrier, Thulasi; Nathan, Carl

2016-12-14

There is an urgent need to discover and progress anti-infectives that shorten the duration of tuberculosis (TB) treatment. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the etiological agent of TB, is refractory to rapid and lasting chemotherapy due to the presence of bacilli exhibiting phenotypic drug resistance. The charcoal agar resazurin assay (CARA) was developed as a tool to characterize active molecules discovered by high-throughput screening campaigns against replicating and non-replicating M. tuberculosis. Inclusion of activated charcoal in bacteriologic agar medium helps mitigate the impact of compound carry-over, and eliminates the requirement to pre-dilute cells prior to spotting on CARA microplates. After a 7-10 day incubation period at 37 °C, the reduction of resazurin by mycobacterial microcolonies growing on the surface of CARA microplate wells permits semi-quantitative assessment of bacterial numbers via fluorometry. The CARA detects approximately a 2-3 log10 difference in bacterial numbers and predicts a minimal bactericidal concentration leading to ≥99% bacterial kill (MBC≥99). The CARA helps determine whether a molecule is active on bacilli that are replicating, non-replicating, or both. Pilot experiments using the CARA facilitate the identification of which concentration of test agent and time of compound exposure require further evaluation by colony forming unit (CFU) assays. In addition, the CARA can predict if replicating actives are bactericidal or bacteriostatic.

Non-absorbable antibiotics for managing intestinal gas production and gas-related symptoms.

PubMed

Di Stefano, M; Strocchi, A; Malservisi, S; Veneto, G; Ferrieri, A; Corazza, G R

2000-08-01

Simethicone, activated charcoal and antimicrobial drugs have been used to treat gas-related symptoms with conflicting results. To study the relationship between gaseous symptoms and colonic gas production and to test the efficacy of rifaximin, a new non-absorbable antimicrobial agent, on these symptoms. Intestinal gas production was measured by hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4) breath testing after lactulose in 21 healthy volunteers and 34 functional patients. Only the 34 functional patients took part in a double-blind, double-dummy controlled trial, receiving, at random, rifaximin (400 mg b.d per 7 days), or activated charcoal (400 mg b.d per 7 days). The following parameters were evaluated at the start of the study and 1 and 10 days after therapy: bloating, abdominal pain, number of flatus episodes, abdominal girth, and cumulative breath H2 excretion. Hydrogen excretion was greater in functional patients than in healthy volunteers. Rifaximin, but not activated charcoal, led to a significant reduction in H2 excretion and overall severity of symptoms. In particular, in patients treated with rifaximin, a significant reduction in the mean number of flatus episodes and of mean abdominal girth was evident. In patients with gas-related symptoms the colonic production of H2 is increased. Rifaximin significantly reduces this production and the excessive number of flatus episodes.

Efficacy of a simethicone, activated charcoal and magnesium oxide combination (Carbosymag®) in functional dyspepsia: results of a general practice-based randomized trial.

PubMed

Coffin, Benoit; Bortolloti, Claude; Bourgeois, Odile; Denicourt, Luc

2011-06-01

A simethicone, activated charcoal and magnesium oxide combination (Carbosymag(®)) has been used for almost 20 years in functional dyspepsia, but there is limited scientific evidence of efficacy. We evaluated the efficacy of Carbosymag(®) in 18- to 49-year-old patients with functional dyspepsia. A total of 276 dyspeptic patients consulting a general practitioner and meeting the Rome III criteria were included in this prospective placebo-controlled study. Variations in overall and individual dyspeptic symptoms were evaluated after 1 month of treatment. At the end of the treatment period, overall dyspeptic symptom intensity was significantly lower in the Carbosymag(®) group (P=0.01). The intensity of post-prandial fullness, epigastric pain, epigastric burning and abdominal bloating was significantly reduced in the Carbosymag(®) group relative to the placebo group (P<0.05). The number need to treat to induce a 70-% decrease in overall dyspeptic symptoms by Carbosymag(®) was 7 (IC 95%: 4-32). A simethicone, activated charcoal and magnesium oxide combination (Carbosymag(®)) was significantly more effective than a placebo on overall symptom intensity in dyspeptic patients consulting a general practitioner. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

[Charcoal, cocaine and rattlesnakes: evidence-based treatment of poisoning].

PubMed

Schaper, A

2013-10-01

Since ancient times poisoning has been treated medicinally. Clinical toxicology, in the narrow sense of the term, developed from the foundation of specialized medical treatment units for poisoning and the formation of the first poison information centers in the second half of the twentieth century. Historically, the first poison information centers were often localized at pediatric clinics or departments of internal medicine. It became increasingly more obvious that this pooling of competences made sense. This article gives a general introduction in clinical toxicology and presents the functions and key activities of emergency poison centers. The organisation and work of a poisons centre is demonstrated on the basis of the Poisons Information Center (GIZ) North annual report for 2011. In a short summary the basic principles of clinical toxicology are elucidated: the primary removal of poisons by gastric lavage and administration of activated charcoal, secondary removal of poisons by enhanced elimination using hemodialysis, hemoperfusion, multi-dose activated charcoal and molecular adsorbent recirculating systems (MARS) and the indications for administration of specific antidotes or antivenins (antisera against poisoning by poisonous animals). Gastric lavage is indicated within 1 h after ingestion of a potentially life-threatening dose of a poison. In cases of poisoning with substances which penetrate the central nervous system (CNS) gastric lavage should be performed only after endotracheal intubation due to the risk of aspiration. The basic management of poisoned patients by emergency medicine personnel out of hospital and on the way to hospital is presented. The Bremen list, a compilation of the five antidotes, atropine, 4-dimethylaminophenol (4-DMAP), tolonium chloride, naloxone and activated charcoal for out of hospital treatment by emergency doctors is presented. In all, even questionable cases of poisoning consultation at emergency poison centers is recommended. An extensive list of all German speaking poison information centers is available on the homepage of GIZ-Nord (http://www.giz-nord.de).

The use of charcoal in modified cigarette filters for mainstream smoke carbonyl reduction

PubMed Central

Holman, Matthew R.; Ding, Yan S.; Yan, Xizheng; Chan, Michele; Chafin, Dana; Perez, Jose; Mendez, Magaly I.; Cardenas, Roberto Bravo; Watson, Clifford

2017-01-01

Carbonyls are harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) in mainstream cigarette smoke (MSS). Carbonyls, including formaldehyde and acrolein, are carcinogenic or mutagenic in a dose-dependent manner. Past studies demonstrate significant reduction of HPHCs by charcoal filtration. However, limits of charcoal filtration and cigarette design have not yet been investigated in a systematic manner. Objective data is needed concerning the feasibility of HPHC reduction in combustible filtered cigarettes. This systematic study evaluates the effect of charcoal filtration on carbonyl reduction in MSS. We modified filters of ten popular cigarette products with predetermined quantities (100–400 mg) of charcoal in a plug-space-plug configuration. MSS carbonyls, as well as total particulate matter, tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide (TNCO), and draw resistance were quantified. Significant carbonyl reductions were observed across all cigarette products as charcoal loading increased. At the highest charcoal loadings, carbonyls were reduced by nearly 99%. Tar and nicotine decreased modestly (<20%) compared to reductions in carbonyls. Increased draw resistance was significant at only the highest charcoal loadings. This work addresses information gaps in the science base that can inform the evaluation of charcoal filtration as an available technological adaptation to cigarette design which reduces levels of carbonyls in MSS. PMID:28238852

Relationships among charcoal particles from modern lacustrine sediments and remotely sensed fire events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

López-Pérez, M.; Correa-Metrio, A.

2013-05-01

Analysis of charcoal particles from lacustrine sediments is a useful tool to understand fire regimes through time, and their relationships with climate and vegetation. However, the extent of the relationship between charcoal particles and their origin in terms of the spatial and temporal extent of the fire events is poorly known in the tropics. Modern sediments were collected from lakes in the Yucatan Peninsula and Central Mexico, 51 and 22 lakes respectively, to analyze their charcoal concentration and its relationships with modern fire events. Number of modern fire events was derived from the public source Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) for concentric spatial rings that ranged from 1 to 30 km of radius. The association between charcoal and fires was evaluated through the construction of linear models to explain charcoal concentration as a function of the number of fires recorded. Additionally, charcoal particles were stratified according to size to determine the association between fire distance and charcoal size classes. The relationship between total charcoal concentration and fire events was stronger for central Mexico than for the Yucatan Peninsula, which is probably the result of differences in vegetation cover. The highest determination coefficients were obtained for charcoal particle sizes ranging between 0.2 and 0.8 mm2, and for fire event distances of between 0 and 15 km from the lake. Overall, the analyses presented here offer useful tools to quantitatively and spatially reconstruct past regional fire dynamics in Central Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula.

Growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with graded levels of charcoal from maize cob or seed of Canarium schweinfurthii Engl.

PubMed

Kana, Jean Raphael; Teguia, Alexis; Mungfu, Berrian Musa; Tchoumboue, Joseph

2011-01-01

Growth performances and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with graded levels of Canarium schweinfurthii Engl seed (charcoal A) or maize cob (charcoal B) were studied using a total of 110 3-week-old male chicks. 11 experimental diets including a control and other containing either 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 or 1% charcoal from C. schweinfurthii Engl seed (A(0.2), A(0.4), A(0.6), A(0.8), and A(1%), respectively) or from maize cob (B(0.2), B(0.4), B(0.6), B(0.8), and B(1%), respectively) supplements were used. Each of the diets was fed to ten individually birds caged in a completely randomized design. Results indicated that birds fed 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6% of either charcoal A or B had significantly (P < 0.05) higher final body weights as compared to control birds, while, above 0.6% slightly depressed average final body weights and weight gain. The best growth performance was achieved with 0.2% inclusion of charcoals. There was no significant (P > 0.05) influence of charcoal B on the overall feed intake. Only the B(0.6) feed significantly (P < 0.05) improved feed conversion ratio as compared with the control. Dressing percentage, liver weight and abdominal fat were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by charcoal. However, there was a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in gizzard weight with charcoal B. Charcoal had no significant (P > 0.05) influence on intestine length and weight. More than 0.6% of charcoal A significantly (P < 0.05) depressed intestine density. It was concluded that under the conditions of this study, charcoal from maize cob or Canarium seeds could be used to improve growth performances and some carcass traits in broiler chickens.

Utilization of unpeeled cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) root meal supplemented with or without charcoal by broiler chickens.

PubMed

Oso, A O; Akapo, O; Sanwo, K A; Bamgbose, A M

2014-06-01

A 42-day feeding trial was conducted using 480-day-old, male Marshall broilers to study the utilization of unpeeled cassava root meal (UCRM) supplemented with or without 6 g/kg charcoal. The experimental design was laid out in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments having three inclusion levels of UCRM (0, 100 and 200 g/kg) with or without 6 g/kg charcoal supplementation. Each treatment consisted of 80 birds replicated eight times with 10 birds per replicate. Main effect of inclusion level of UCRM and supplementation of charcoal showed reduced (p < 0.05) final live weight, weight gain, feed intake and apparent crude protein digestibility of the birds with increasing inclusion levels of UCRM. Birds fed diets supplemented with charcoal showed higher (p < 0.05) final live weight, weight gain and feed intake than birds fed diets without charcoal. Supplementation of charcoal in diet containing 100 g/kg UCRM resulted in improved (p < 0.05) weight gain when compared with birds fed similar diet but not supplemented with charcoal. Broilers fed diet containing no UCRM but supplemented with charcoal had the highest overall (p < 0.05) final live weight and weight gain, while birds fed diet containing 200 g/kg UCRM supplemented with charcoal recorded the poorest (p < 0.05) final live weight and weight gain. Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum thiocyanate concentration increased (p < 0.05) with increasing dietary inclusion levels of UCRM. Dietary supplementation of charcoal resulted in increased (p < 0.05) concentration of serum glucose and cholesterol and reduced (p < 0.05) SGOT concentration. Birds fed diets containing UCRM had high (p < 0.05) serum thiocyanate concentration irrespective of dietary supplementation or not with 6 g/kg charcoal. In conclusion, supplementation of diet containing up to 100 g/kg UCRM with 6 g/kg charcoal showed improved weight gain without any deleterious effect on serum metabolites. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition © 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Macro-Particle Charcoal C Content following Prescribed Burning in a Mixed-Conifer Forest, Sierra Nevada, California

PubMed Central

Wiechmann, Morgan L.; Hurteau, Matthew D.; Kaye, Jason P.; Miesel, Jessica R.

2015-01-01

Fire suppression and changing climate have resulted in increased large wildfire frequency and severity in the western United States, causing carbon cycle impacts. Forest thinning and prescribed burning reduce high-severity fire risk, but require removal of biomass and emissions of carbon from burning. During each fire a fraction of the burning vegetation and soil organic matter is converted into charcoal, a relatively stable carbon form. We sought to quantify the effects of pre-fire fuel load and type on charcoal carbon produced by biomass combusted in a prescribed burn under different thinning treatments and to identify more easily measured predictors of charcoal carbon mass in a historically frequent-fire mixed-conifer forest. We hypothesized that charcoal carbon produced from coarse woody debris (CWD) during prescribed burning would be greater than that produced from fine woody debris (FWD). We visually quantified post-treatment charcoal carbon content in the O-horizon and the A-horizon beneath CWD (> 30 cm diameter) and up to 60 cm from CWD that was present prior to treatment. We found no difference in the size of charcoal carbon pools from CWD (treatment means ranged from 0.3–2.0 g m-2 of A-horizon and 0.0–1.7 g m-2 of O-horizon charcoal) and FWD (treatment means ranged from 0.2–1.7 g m-2 of A-horizon and 0.0–1.5 g m-2 of O-horizon charcoal). We also compared treatments and found that the burn-only, understory-thin and burn, and overstory-thin and burn treatments had significantly more charcoal carbon than the control. Charcoal carbon represented 0.29% of total ecosystem carbon. We found that char mass on CWD was an important predictor of charcoal carbon mass, but only explained 18–35% of the variation. Our results help improve our understanding of the effects forest restoration treatments have on ecosystem carbon by providing additional information about charcoal carbon content. PMID:26258533

A Model-Based Approach to Infer Shifts in Regional Fire Regimes Over Time Using Sediment Charcoal Records

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Itter, M.; Finley, A. O.; Hooten, M.; Higuera, P. E.; Marlon, J. R.; McLachlan, J. S.; Kelly, R.

2016-12-01

Sediment charcoal records are used in paleoecological analyses to identify individual local fire events and to estimate fire frequency and regional biomass burned at centennial to millenial time scales. Methods to identify local fire events based on sediment charcoal records have been well developed over the past 30 years, however, an integrated statistical framework for fire identification is still lacking. We build upon existing paleoecological methods to develop a hierarchical Bayesian point process model for local fire identification and estimation of fire return intervals. The model is unique in that it combines sediment charcoal records from multiple lakes across a region in a spatially-explicit fashion leading to estimation of a joint, regional fire return interval in addition to lake-specific local fire frequencies. Further, the model estimates a joint regional charcoal deposition rate free from the effects of local fires that can be used as a measure of regional biomass burned over time. Finally, the hierarchical Bayesian approach allows for tractable error propagation such that estimates of fire return intervals reflect the full range of uncertainty in sediment charcoal records. Specific sources of uncertainty addressed include sediment age models, the separation of local versus regional charcoal sources, and generation of a composite charcoal record The model is applied to sediment charcoal records from a dense network of lakes in the Yukon Flats region of Alaska. The multivariate joint modeling approach results in improved estimates of regional charcoal deposition with reduced uncertainty in the identification of individual fire events and local fire return intervals compared to individual lake approaches. Modeled individual-lake fire return intervals range from 100 to 500 years with a regional interval of roughly 200 years. Regional charcoal deposition to the network of lakes is correlated up to 50 kilometers. Finally, the joint regional charcoal deposition rate exhibits changes over time coincident with major climatic and vegetation shifts over the past 10,000 years. Ongoing work will use the regional charcoal deposition rate to estimate changes in biomass burned as a function of climate variability and regional vegetation pattern.

Interplay between Amazonia Tropical Rain Forest Fires (Mesoscale distribution) and global carbon cycle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cordeiro, R. C.; Turcq, B.; Sifeddine, A.

2009-12-01

Soil samples were collected at 9 different depths, from zero to 100 cm at six points distributed along a transect of 1700 m in upland and lowland areas of the Km 41 reserve near Manaus in Central Brazilian Amazonia, in order to compare the frequency, dimension and extension of past fires in different topographic environmental situations. The average charcoal mass distribution is higher in uplands than in lowlands. This distribution shows a gradient with a high correlation between the two topographic levels, demonstrating a characteristic depth distribution pattern. The highest charcoal concentrations were found at a depth of 20-50 cm in all the six profiles. These fires have affected the upland areas more severely than the lowlands, probably allowing the survival of the vegetation along the small streams.. Two periods of intense fire activity were identified through the distribution of the biomass of charcoal: from around 1320 cal yr BP (ca 1400 14C yr BP) to 1050 cal yr BP (ca 1100 14C yr BP), and between 610 cal yr BP (ca 600 14C yr BP) to 330 cal yr BP (ca 300 yr 14C yr BP). These forest fire phases were probably favored by dry climate which is recorded in other regions of Amazonia and South America by archaeological and palaeoecological data.. Observe that the data found in this article related to the disturbances of fire events in the Central Amazon region appear to be synchronous with events of disruption of populations and vegetation changes and background to the development of indigenous people. Thus it seems plausible that these disturbance phenomena may have an origin presumably climatic than anthropogenic. This possible relationship between climate and forest, ecosystems of high productivity and biomass, and humans should be look carefully in relation to the carbon cycle dynamics demonstrated by the air bubbles extracted of the ice core records.. Increase is observed in the CO2 concentration of the Taylor Dome record just after the increase in frequency and biomass burning at 1350 cal yr BP. The maximum increase of CO2, during the Holocene, is higher at 1220 cal yr BP almost simultaneously with the highest frequency of occurrence of charcoal/biomass of charcoal between 1350 and 1100 cal yr BP. Based on the present-day and future trend of drier climate and more irregular precipitation in this region, the frequency of Amazonian rainforest fires tend to increase and to may have an impact on the CO2 future global cycle.

Vegetation stability in the Southeastern Brazilian coastal area from 5500 to 1400 14C yr BP deduced from charcoal analysis.

PubMed

Scheel-Ybert

2000-06-01

Charcoal analysis of six shell mounds showed that no major changes of the mainland vegetation ecosystem have taken place along the southeastern Brazilian coast (22 degrees 53'-22 degrees 57'S, 42 degrees 03'-42 degrees 33'W) from 5500 to 1400 14C yr BP. These shell mounds have been occupied by sedentary fisher-gatherer-hunters. Charcoal fragments retrieved from vertical profiles in the archaeological sites were examined; taxonomic determinations were based on a reference collection of charred woods and a program for computer-aided identification. Charcoal assemblages of all the studied sites present taxa from various restinga vegetation types, mangroves, xeromorphic coastal forest, and inland Atlantic Forest. The restinga ecosystem, characteristic of the Brazilian coast, is associated with sandy beach ridges; the restinga forest was much more abundant during the studied period than nowadays. The charcoal assemblages represent mainly the local vegetation; a regional reconstruction depends on the study of numerous sites. In the Cabo Frio region, open restinga taxa are more abundant in the Sambaqui do Forte, while forest elements are more important in the Sambaquis Salinas Peroano and Boca da Barra. The sites studied in the Arraial do Cabo (Sambaqui da Ponta da Cabeça) and in the Saquarema regions (Sambaquis da Pontinha and da Beirada) show that open restinga formations were locally predominant. A comparison of multivariate analysis applied to both charcoal assemblages and to phytosociological data of the extant vegetation showed a good correspondence between the charcoal spectra and the present vegetation. The high taxonomic diversity of archaeological charcoal samples and numerous fragments showing traces of decay before charring suggests that aleatory gathering of dead wood constituted the main source of firewood for fisher-gatherer-hunters populations. Condalia sp. was probably selected for cultural reasons.The only significant fluctuations on the charcoal spectra relate to the mangrove vegetation. Two relatively humid episodes (recorded from ca. 5500 to 4900/4500 and from ca. 2300 to 2000 14C yr BP), intercalated by two episodes of increased dryness with increased lagoon salinity (from ca. 4900/4500 to 2300 and from ca. 2000 to 1400 14C yr BP) were recorded in the Cabo Frio region. The changes in mangrove vegetation cannot be attributed to sea-level variations, for the three regressive and the two transgressive episodes identified for the Brazilian coast during this period are not in phase with the development of mangroves. The stability of the mainland vegetation ecosystem is probably due to the edaphic character of the coastal environments, which makes coastal formations much more resistant to climatic variations and less sensitive to climatic change. We propose that this environmental stability was a decisive factor in the maintenance of the fisher-gatherer-hunter sociocultural system.

Mercury Vacuum Cleaner, Operational Test and Evaluation

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-03-01

Indirect readings were obtained by air sampling with hopcalite tubes and subsequent analysis by the USAF OEHL Analytical Services Division. - r...during the operational and storage modes of the MRS-3 vacuum. During the operational mode, indirect ( hopcalite ) air sampling was periodically taken at...from the top and bottom sides of the HEPA and charcoal filter. During the storage mode, indirect ( hopcalite and dosimeter coil) air sampling was

Organic Carbon Analysis of Charcoal-Enriched Soils at Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lindsay, Andrew

2017-01-01

The application of charcoal to soils to increase carbon stocks has been of great interest recently. To gain a better understanding of the long-term effects of charcoal presence in soils, historic charcoal production sites at Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland were studied for organic carbon content and compared to nearby unaffected soils. Soil…

Impact of land-use and long-term (>150 years) charcoal accumulation on microbial activity, biomass and community structure in temperate soils (Belgium).

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hardy, Brieuc; Cornelis, Jean-Thomas; Dufey, Joseph E.

2015-04-01

In the last decade, biochar has been increasingly investigated as a soil amendment for long-term soil carbon sequestration while improving soil fertility. On the short term, biochar application to soil generally increases soil respiration as well as microbial biomass and activity and affects significantly the microbial community structure. However, such effects are relatively short-term and tend to vanish over time. In our study, we investigated the long-term impact of charcoal accumulation and land-use on soil biota in temperate haplic Luvisols developed in the loess belt of Wallonia (Belgium). Charcoal-enriched soils were collected in the topsoil of pre-industrial (>150 years old) charcoal kilns in forest (4 sites) and cropland (5 sites). The topsoil of the adjacent charcoal-unaffected soils was sampled in a comparable way. Soils were characterized (pH, total, organic and inorganic C, total N, exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, Na, cation exchange capacity and available P) and natural soil organic matter (SOM) and black carbon (BC) contents were determined by differential scanning calorimetry. After rewetting at pF 2.5, soils were incubated during 140 days at 20 °C. At 70 days of incubation, 10 g of each soil were freeze dried in order to measure total microbial biomass and community structure by PLFA analysis. The PLFA dataset was analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) while soil parameters were used as supplementary variables. For both agricultural and forest soils, the respiration rate is highly related to the total microbial biomass (R²=0.90). Both soil respiration and microbial biomass greatly depend on the SOM content, which indicates that the BC pool is relatively inert microbiologically. Land-use explains most of the variance in the PLFA dataset, largely governing the first principal component of the ACP. In forest soils, we observe a larger proportion of gram + bacteria, actinomycetes and an increased bacteria:fungi ratio compared to cropland, where gram - bacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and 18:2 and 18:3 fungi are more present. BC is quite well represented (R=-0.765) by the third principal component of the PCA, representing 12.2 % of the total variance. It has limited impact on the community structure, particularly in cropland. However, in forest BC is negatively correlated (R=-0.785) with 18:1 fungi. The more pronounced effect of BC on community structure under forest could result from modified trophic conditions at kiln site (e.g. higher pH, lower available P content, …) while cultivation practices attenuated such differences over time in cropland. In conclusion, our survey tends to confirm that the influence of BC on the soil microbiological parameters is governed by indirect effects on trophic conditions. On the other hand, land-use affects dramatically soil microbial community structure.

Effects of moisture controlled charcoal on indoor thermal and air environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsumoto, Hiroshi; Yokogoshi, Midori; Nabeshima, Yuki

2017-10-01

It is crucial to remove and control indoor moisture in Japan, especially in hot and humid summers, in order to improve thermal comfort and save energy in buildings. Charcoal for moisture control made from the waste of wood material has attracted attention among many control strategies to control indoor moisture, and it is beginning to be used in houses. However, the basic characteristics of the charcoal to control moisture and remove chemical compounds in indoor air have not been investigated sufficiently. The objective of this study is to clarify the effect of moisture control charcoal on indoor thermal and air environments by a long-term field measurement using two housing scale models with/without charcoal in Toyohashi, Japan. The comparative experiments to investigate the effect of the charcoal on air temperature and humidity for two models with/without charcoal were conducted from 2015 to 2016. Also, the removal performance of volatile organic compound (VOCs) was investigated in the summer of 2015. Four bags of packed charcoal were set on the floor in the attic for one model during the experiment. As a result of the experiments, a significant effect of moisture control was observed in hot and humid season, and the efficient effect of moisture adsorption was obtained by the periodic humidification experiment using a humidifier. Furthermore, the charcoal showed a remarkable performance of VOC removal from indoor air by the injection experiment of formaldehyde.

Hudson River Paleoclimate, Sea Level, and Human Impact: A Record From Piermont Marsh, NY

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kurdyla; Peteet, Dorothy; Liberman, Louisa; Sugar; Wong; Hansen, James E. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

A 13.77 meter sediment core from Piermont Marsh, NY (40 00 N, 73 55W) records the local and regional vegetational and foraminiferal history of the Hudson Estuary. The sediments were sampled every 4 cm, which represents a decadal to centuryscale resolution. Basal sediment dating is in progress, and the 11-m depth represents about 4000 years. Changes in plant macrofossils and charcoal appear to indicate differences in salinIty and drought, suggesting changes in climate. Scirpus, Salicornia, and high levels of charcoal seem to indicate drier/more saline conditions, while lack of these macrofossils and increases in Chara/Nitella, aquatic leaves, and very little charcoal suggests wetter conditions. Other macrofossils include Carex, Juncus, Polygonum, Zanichellia, Ruppia. High resolution AMS dating of plant macrofossils is in progress, and will be compared with changes in Hudson River sediment cores offshore. Foraminiferal assemblages from key intervals of the core will be presented. Human impact in the upper sediments is visible from the influx of grass seeds, primarily Phragmites, and the ragweed pollen rise.

The influence of production conditions, starting material and deposition environment on charcoal alteration in a tropical biome.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ascough, Philippa; Bird, Michael; Meredith, Will; Large, David; Snape, Colin; Manion, Corinne

2014-05-01

Natural and anthropogenic burning events are a key link in the global carbon cycle, substantially influencing atmospheric CO2 levels, and consuming c.8700 teragrams yr-1 of dry biomass [1,2,3]. An important result of this process is charcoal, when lignocellulosic structures in biomass (e.g. wood) are converted to aromatic domains with high chemical stability. Charcoal is therefore not readily re-oxidized to CO2, with estimates of 5-7 ky for the half-life of charcoal carbon in soils [3,4]. Charcoal's high carbon content coupled with high environmental resistance has led to the concept of biochar as a valuable means of global carbon sequestration, capable of carbon offsets comparable to annual anthropogenic fuel emissions [5,6,7]. Charcoal is not, however, an environmentally inert substance, and at least some components of charcoal are susceptible to alteration in depositional environments. Despite the importance of charcoal in global carbon cycling, the mechanisms by which charcoal is altered in the environment remain, as yet, poorly understood. This fact limits our ability to properly incorporate both natural environmental charcoal and biochar into global carbon budgets. This study aimed to improve understanding of charcoal alteration in the environment by examining the influence of production conditions, starting material and deposition environment on the physical and chemical characteristics of charcoal at a field site in the Daintree rainforest. These factors have been identified as critical in determining the dynamics of charcoal in depositional environments [8,9] and climatic conditions at the field site (in Tropical Queensland, Australia) are likely to result in extensive alteration of charcoal. Charcoal from wood (Nothofagus spp.), algae (Enteromorpha spp.), and sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) biomass was produced at temperatures over 300-500°C and exposed to conditions of varying pH and vegetation cover. The effect of these variables on charcoal chemistry, molecular structure, resistant carbon content, microbial interactions and physical characteristics were investigated using a suite of techniques including 13C-MAS-NMR, scanning electron microscopy, stable isotope ratio mass spectrometery, elemental analysis, Raman spectroscopy and hydropyrolysis. The study results have important implications for: i.) the use of quantitative charcoal measurements within global carbon budgets and fire history reconstruction; ii.) understanding of the dynamic role of charcoal within soil and sedimentary systems. References: [1] Langenfelds RL, Francey RJ, Pak BC, Steele LP, Lloyd J, Trudinger CM, Allison CE. 2002. Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 16, doi:10.1029/2001GB001466. [2] Schimel D, Baker D. 2002. Nature 420, 29-30. [3] Levine JS, 1991. The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. [4] Preston CM, Schmidt MWI. 2006. Biogeoscience 3, 397-420. [5] Lehmann J, Gaunt J, Rondon M. 2006. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 11, 395-419. [6] Sohi SP, Krull E, Lopez-Capel E, Bol R. 2010. Advances in Agronomy, Academic Press, 105, 47-82 [7] Woolf D, Amonette J.E, Street-Perrott F.A, Lehmann J, Joseph S. 2010. Nature Communications, 1, 56. [8] Ascough PL, Bird M I, Francis SM, Thornton B, Midwood A, Scott AC, 10 Apperley D. 2011. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 75 (9), 2361-2378. [9] Zimmermann M et al. 2012. Global Change Biology. doi: 10.1111/j.1365- 2486.2012.02796.x

Guides to manufacturing and marketing charcoal in the Northeastern States

Treesearch

Fred C. Simmons

1957-01-01

Charcoal manufacture has become the subject of a tremendous new interest in the Northeast in the past few years. In many communities, retailers have been unable to find enough charcoal to fill the demands - even though in the same localities there are large supplies of surplus wood that could be used in making charcoal. As a result of this unfilled demand, we have...

Comment on "Fire-derived charcoal causes loss of forest humus".

PubMed

Lehmann, Johannes; Sohi, Saran

2008-09-05

Wardle et al. (Brevia, 2 May 2008, p. 629) reported that fire-derived charcoal can promote loss of forest humus and belowground carbon (C). However, C loss from charcoal-humus mixtures can be explained not only by accelerated loss of humus but also by loss of charcoal. It is also unclear whether such loss is related to mineralization to carbon dioxide or to physical export.

Global charcoal mobilization from soils via dissolution and riverine transport to the oceans

Treesearch

Rudolf Jaffe; Yan Ding; Jutta Niggemann; Anssi V. Vahatalo; Aron Stubbins; Robert G. M. Spencer; John Campbell; Thorsten Dittmar

2013-01-01

Global biomass burning generates 40 million to 250 million tons of charcoal every year, part of which is preserved for millennia in soils and sediments. We have quantified dissolution products of charcoal in a wide range of rivers worldwide and show that globally, a major portion of the annual charcoal production is lost from soils via dissolution and subsequent...

46 CFR Appendix D to Subpart C to... - Sampling and Analytical Methods for Benzene Monitoring-Measurement Procedures

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... chromatograph. Detection limit: 0.04 ppm. Recommended air volume and sampling rate: 10 liter at 0.2 liter/min. 1... tube must be less than one inch of mercury at a flow rate of one liter per minute. 3.3. Gas... passed through any hose or tubing before entering the charcoal tube. 5.3.5. A sample size of 10 liters is...

46 CFR Appendix D to Subpart C to... - Sampling and Analytical Methods for Benzene Monitoring-Measurement Procedures

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... chromatograph. Detection limit: 0.04 ppm. Recommended air volume and sampling rate: 10 liter at 0.2 liter/min. 1... tube must be less than one inch of mercury at a flow rate of one liter per minute. 3.3. Gas... passed through any hose or tubing before entering the charcoal tube. 5.3.5. A sample size of 10 liters is...

PURIFICATION PROCESS

DOEpatents

Wibbles, H.L.; Miller, E.I.

1958-01-14

This patent deals with the separation of uranium from molybdenum compounds, and in particular with their separation from ether solutions containing the molybdenum in the form of acids, such as silicomolybdic and phosphomolybdic acids. After the nitric acid leach of pitchblende, the molybdenum values present in the ore are found in the leach solution in the form of complex acids. The uranium bearing solution may be purified of this molybdenum content by comtacting it with activated charcoal. The purification is improved when the acidity of the solution is low ad agitation is also beneficial. The molybdenum may subsequently be recovered from the charcosl ad the charcoal reused.

Charcoal addition to soils in NE England: a carbon sink with environmental co-benefits?

PubMed

Bell, M J; Worrall, F

2011-04-01

Interest in the application of biochar (charcoal produced during the pyrolysis of biomass) to agricultural land is increasing across the world, recognised as a potential way to capture and store atmospheric carbon. Its interest is heightened by its potential co-benefits for soil quality and fertility. The majority of research has however been undertaken in tropical rather than temperate regions. This study assessed the potential for lump-wood charcoal addition (as a substitute for biochar) to soil types which are typically under arable and forest land-use in North East England. The study was undertaken over a 28 week period and found: i) No significant difference in net ecosystem respiration (NER) between soils containing charcoal and those without, other than in week 1 of the trial. ii) A significantly higher dissolved organic carbon (DOC) flux from soils containing large amounts of charcoal than from those untreated, when planted with ryegrass. iii) That when increased respiration or DOC loss did occur, neither was sufficiently large to alter the carbon sink benefits of charcoal application. iv) That charcoal incorporation resulted in a significantly lower nitrate flux in soil leachate from mineral soils. v) That charcoal incorporation caused significant increases in soil pH, from 6.98 to 7.22 on bare arable soils when 87,500 kg charcoal/ha was applied. Consideration of both the carbon sink and environmental benefits observed here suggests that charcoal application to temperate soils typical of North East England should be considered as a method of carbon sequestration. Before large scale land application is encouraged, further large scale trials should be undertaken to confirm the positive results of this research. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Signatures of Biomass Burning Aerosols during a Smoke Plume Event from a Saltmarsh Wildfire in South Texas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Louchouarn, P.; Griffin, R. J.; Norwood, M. J.; Sterne, A. M. E.; Karakurt Cevik, B.

2014-12-01

The most conventional and abundant tracers of biomass combustion in aerosol particles include potassium and biomarkers derived from thermally altered cellulose/hemicellulose (anhydrosugars) and lignin (methoxyphenols). However, little is known of the role of biomass combustion as a particulate source of major plant polymers to the atmosphere. Here, concentrations of "free" (solvent-extractable) anhydrosugars and methoxyphenols are compared to the yields of polymeric lignin oxidation products (LOPs) during a smoke plume event in Houston, Texas. Downwind aerosol samples (PM2.5) were collected prior to, during, and following a two-day wildfire event that burned ~5,000 acres of a spartina saltmarsh ecosystem in the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, 125 km southeast of Houston. In addition, charcoals of the burned plants were collected within a week of the fire at the wildfire site. HYSPLIT modeling shows that Houston was directly downwind of this wildfire during the peak of the burn, with an approximate travel time from source to aerosol sampling site of 12-16 hrs. Concentrations of all organic markers, K+, and Ca2+ jumped by a factor of 2-13 within 1-2 days of the start of the fire and dropped to pre-fire levels three days after the peak event. Source signatures of anhydrosugars and free methoxyphenols during the peak of the plume were identical to those of grass charcoals collected from the site, confirming the potential use of charcoals as endmembers for source input reconstruction during atmospheric transport. An enrichment factor of 20 in the anhydrosugar to methoxyphenol ratio of aerosols vs. charcoals can partially be explained by differences in degradation rate constants between the two biomarker groups. Polymeric LOP comprised 73-91% of all lignin material in the aerosols, pointing to fires as major sources of primary biogenic aerosol particles and confirming an earlier study that lignin phenols in atmospheric particles occur predominantly in polymeric form.

Inhalation dose due to presence of 131I in air above septic tank system of an endocrinology hospital.

PubMed

Mietelski, J W; Grabowska, S; Nowak, T; Bogacz, J; Gaca, P; Bartyzel, M; Budzanowski, M

2005-01-01

We present here measurements of the 131I concentration for both: gaseous and aerosol fraction of 131I in the air above the septic tank containing wastes from medical application of this isotope. Aerosols were collected using air filters, whereas gaseous forms of iodine were trapped in KI impregnated charcoal double layer cartridge. Besides an active method (pumping of the air through system of filters) an attempt for using a passive method (charcoal traps) for monitoring of radio-iodine is described. For better characterisation of a site the external kerma was determined by means of G-M and TLD techniques as well as the activity kept in the septic tank was measured by gamma spectrometry. Results show that the activity of the aerosol fraction can be neglected compared to that of the gaseous fraction. He measured activity of air is low, on the level of 1 Bq m(-3), even during simulated failure of the ventilation system. Estimated inhalation dose for the serviceman of septic tanks is low ( approximately 10%) compared with external dose obtained by such person due to gamma radiation from the tank (on the level approximately 500 nSv h(-1)). Therefore, the concept of passive monitoring of the iodine in air was abandoned. Also estimated is the efficiency of 131I reduction by a charcoal filter of the ventilation system and 131I input to the environment by the ventilation chimney.

Carbon Sequestration and Fertility after Centennial Time Scale Incorporation of Charcoal into Soil

PubMed Central

Criscuoli, Irene; Alberti, Giorgio; Baronti, Silvia; Favilli, Filippo; Martinez, Cristina; Calzolari, Costanza; Pusceddu, Emanuela; Rumpel, Cornelia; Viola, Roberto; Miglietta, Franco

2014-01-01

The addition of pyrogenic carbon (C) in the soil is considered a potential strategy to achieve direct C sequestration and potential reduction of non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions. In this paper, we investigated the long term effects of charcoal addition on C sequestration and soil physico-chemical properties by studying a series of abandoned charcoal hearths in the Eastern Alps of Italy established in the XIX century. This natural setting can be seen as an analogue of a deliberate experiment with replications. Carbon sequestration was assessed indirectly by comparing the amount of pyrogenic C present in the hearths (23.3±4.7 kg C m−2) with the estimated amount of charcoal that was left on the soil after the carbonization (29.3±5.1 kg C m−2). After taking into account uncertainty associated with parameters’ estimation, we were able to conclude that 80±21% of the C originally added to the soil via charcoal can still be found there and that charcoal has an overall Mean Residence Time of 650±139 years, thus supporting the view that charcoal incorporation is an effective way to sequester atmospheric CO2. We also observed an overall change in the physical properties (hydrophobicity and bulk density) of charcoal hearth soils and an accumulation of nutrients compared to the adjacent soil without charcoal. We caution, however, that our site-specific results should not be generalized without further study. PMID:24614647

Alternative fuels in fire debris analysis: biodiesel basics.

PubMed

Stauffer, Eric; Byron, Doug

2007-03-01

Alternative fuels are becoming more prominent on the market today and, soon, fire debris analysts will start seeing them in liquid samples or in fire debris samples. Biodiesel fuel is one of the most common alternative fuels and is now readily available in many parts of the United States and around the world. This article introduces biodiesel to fire debris analysts. Biodiesel fuel is manufactured from vegetable oils and/or animal oils/fats. It is composed of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and is sold pure or as a blend with diesel fuel. When present in fire debris samples, it is recommended to extract the debris using passive headspace concentration on activated charcoal, possibly followed by a solvent extraction. The gas chromatographic analysis of the extract is first carried out with the same program as for regular ignitable liquid residues, and second with a program adapted to the analysis of FAMEs.

Chemical Reaction between Boric Acid and Phosphine Indicates Boric Acid as an Antidote for Aluminium Phosphide Poisoning.

PubMed

Soltani, Motahareh; Shetab-Boushehri, Seyed F; Shetab-Boushehri, Seyed V

2016-08-01

Aluminium phosphide (AlP) is a fumigant pesticide which protects stored grains from insects and rodents. When it comes into contact with moisture, AlP releases phosphine (PH3), a highly toxic gas. No efficient antidote has been found for AlP poisoning so far and most people who are poisoned do not survive. Boric acid is a Lewis acid with an empty p orbital which accepts electrons. This study aimed to investigate the neutralisation of PH3 gas with boric acid. This study was carried out at the Baharlou Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, between December 2013 and February 2014. The volume of released gas, rate of gas evolution and changes in pH were measured during reactions of AlP tablets with water, acidified water, saturated boric acid solution, acidified saturated boric acid solution, activated charcoal and acidified activated charcoal. Infrared spectroscopy was used to study the resulting probable adduct between PH3 and boric acid. Activated charcoal significantly reduced the volume of released gas (P <0.01). Although boric acid did not significantly reduce the volume of released gas, it significantly reduced the rate of gas evolution (P <0.01). A gaseous adduct was formed in the reaction between pure AlP and boric acid. These findings indicate that boric acid may be an efficient and non-toxic antidote for PH3 poisoning.

Evaluation of active sampling strategies for the determination of 1,3-butadiene in air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vallecillos, Laura; Maceira, Alba; Marcé, Rosa Maria; Borrull, Francesc

2018-03-01

Two analytical methods for determining levels of 1,3-butadiene in urban and industrial atmospheres were evaluated in this study. Both methods are extensively used for determining the concentration of volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere and involve collecting samples by active adsorptive enrichment on solid sorbents. The first method uses activated charcoal as the sorbent and involves liquid desorption with carbon disulfide. The second involves the use of a multi-sorbent bed with two graphitised carbons and a carbon molecular sieve as the sorbent, with thermal desorption. Special attention was paid to the optimization of the sampling procedure through the study of sample volume, the stability of 1,3-butadiene once inside the sampling tube and the humidity effect. In the end, the thermal desorption method showed better repeatability and limits of detection and quantification for 1,3-butadiene than the liquid desorption method, which makes the thermal desorption method more suitable for analysing air samples from both industrial and urban atmospheres. However, sampling must be performed with a pre-tube filled with a drying agent to prevent the loss of the adsorption capacity of the solid adsorbent caused by water vapour. The thermal desorption method has successfully been applied to determine of 1,3-butadiene inside a 1,3-butadiene production plant and at three locations in the vicinity of the same plant.

Hygienic quality of artificial greywater subjected to aerobic treatment: a comparison of three filter media at increasing organic loading rates.

PubMed

Lalander, Cecilia; Dalahmeh, Sahar; Jönsson, Håkan; Vinnerås, Björn

2013-01-01

With a growing world population, the lack of reliable water sources is becoming an increasing problem. Reusing greywater could alleviate this problem. When reusing greywater for crop irrigation it is paramount to ensure the removal of pathogenic organisms. This study compared the pathogen removal efficiency of pine bark and activated charcoal filters with that of conventional sand filters at three organic loading rates. The removal efficiency of Escherichia coli O157:H7 decreased drastically when the organic loading rate increased fivefold in the charcoal and sand filters, but increased by 2 log10 in the bark filters. The reduction in the virus model organism coliphage phiX174 remained unchanged with increasing organic loading in the charcoal and sand filters, but increased by 2 log10 in the bark filters. Thus, bark was demonstrated to be the most promising material for greywater treatment in terms of pathogen removal.

Kinetics studies of d-glucose hydrogenation over activated charcoal supported platinum catalyst

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmed, Muthanna J.

2012-02-01

The kinetics of the catalytic hydrogenation of d-glucose to produce d-sorbitol was studied in a three-phase laboratory scale reactor. The hydrogenation reactions were performed on activated charcoal supported platinum catalyst in the temperature range 25-65°C and in a constant pressure of 1 atm. The kinetic data were modeled by zero, first and second-order reaction equations. In the operating regimes studied, the results show that the hydrogenation reaction was of a first order with respect to d-glucose concentration. Also the activation energy of the reaction was determined, and found to be 12.33 kJ mole-1. A set of experiment was carried out to test the deactivation of the catalyst, and the results show that the deactivation is slow with the ability of using the catalyst for several times with a small decrease in product yield.

Prochlorperazine overdose

MedlinePlus

... AND THROAT Blurred vision Drooling Dry mouth Nasal congestion Small pupils Yellow eyes STOMACH AND INTESTINES Constipation ... symptoms Activated charcoal Laxative Breathing support, including a tube through the mouth into the lungs and connected ...

Efficiency of automotive cabin air filters to reduce acute health effects of diesel exhaust in human subjects

PubMed Central

Rudell, B.; Wass, U.; Horstedt, P.; Levin, J. O.; Lindahl, R.; Rannug, U.; Sunesson, A. L.; Ostberg, Y.; Sandstrom, T.

1999-01-01

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficiency of different automotive cabin air filters to prevent penetration of components of diesel exhaust and thereby reduce biomedical effects in human subjects. Filtered air and unfiltered diluted diesel exhaust (DDE) were used as negative and positive controls, respectively, and were compared with exposure to DDE filtered with four different filter systems. METHODS: 32 Healthy non- smoking subjects (age 21-53) participated in the study. Each subject was exposed six times for 1 hour in a specially designed exposure chamber: once to air, once to unfiltered DDE, and once to DDE filtered with the four different cabin air filters. Particle concentrations during exposure to unfiltered DDE were kept at 300 micrograms/m3. Two of the filters were particle filters. The other two were particle filters combined with active charcoal filters that might reduce certain gaseous components. Subjective symptoms were recorded and nasal airway lavage (NAL), acoustic rhinometry, and lung function measurements were performed. RESULTS: The two particle filters decreased the concentrations of diesel exhaust particles by about half, but did not reduce the intensity of symptoms induced by exhaust. The combination of active charcoal filters and a particle filter significantly reduced the symptoms and discomfort caused by the diesel exhaust. The most noticable differences in efficacy between the filters were found in the reduction of detection of an unpleasant smell from the diesel exhaust. In this respect even the two charcoal filter combinations differed significantly. The efficacy to reduce symptoms may depend on the abilities of the filters investigated to reduce certain hydrocarbons. No acute effects on NAL, rhinometry, and lung function variables were found. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown that the use of active charcoal filters, and a particle filter, clearly reduced the intensity of symptoms induced by diesel exhaust. Complementary studies on vehicle cabin air filters may result in further diminishing the biomedical effects of diesel exhaust in subjects exposed in traffic and workplaces.   PMID:10450238

Impact of Plasma Surface Treatment on Bamboo Charcoal/silver Nanocomposite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vignesh, K.; Vijayalakshmi, K. A.; Karthikeyan, N.

2016-10-01

Bamboo charcoal (BC) accompanied silver (Ag) nanocomposite is synthesized through sol-gel method. The produced BC/Ag nanocomposite was surface modified by air and oxygen plasma treatments. Silver ions (Ag+) will serve to improve the antibacterial activity as well as the surface area of BC. Plasma treatment has improved the surface functional groups, crystalline intensity and antibacterial activity of the prepared nanocomposite. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies show that Ag nanoparticles have good agreement with BC and the particle size has a mean diameter of 20-40nm. We observe the carboxyl functional groups in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) after the oxygen plasma treatment. Moreover surface area and adsorption were analyzed by using the Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) surface area (SBET) and UV-Vis spectroscopy.

Charcoal industry grows in the Midwest

Treesearch

Joe F. Christopher; D. R. Bower; J. L. Smith; R. C. Thatcher; B. E. Carpenter

1962-01-01

The Midsouth manufactured 95, 000 tons of wood charcoal in 1961. This represents a gain of 28 percent over output in 1956, when the industry was last surveyed. The number of charcoal plants has increased from 29 to 90.

Baking sunflower hulls within an aluminum envelope in a common laboratory oven yields charcoal.

PubMed

Arnal, Pablo Maximiliano

2015-01-01

Charcoals have been widely used by scientist to research the removal of contaminants from water and air. One key feature of charcoal is that it keeps macropores from the parent material - though anisotropically contracted - and can even develop meso- and micropores. However, the controlled thermochemical conversion of biomass into charcoal at laboratory scale normally requires special setups which involve either vacuum or inert gas. Those setups may not be affordable in research groups or educational institutions where the research of charcoals would be highly welcome. In this work, I propose a simple and effective method to steer the thermochemical process that converts sunflower hulls (SFH) into charcoal with basic laboratory resources. The carbonization method: •Place SFH in an airtight aluminum envelope.•Thermally treat SFH within the envelope in a common laboratory oven.•Open the envelope to obtain the carbonized sunflower hulls.

Climatic and anthropogenic forcing of prehistorical vegetation succession and fire dynamics in the Lago di Como area (N-Italy, Insubria)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martinelli, Elisa; Michetti, Alessandro Maria; Colombaroli, Daniele; Mazzola, Eleonora; Motella De Carlo, Sila; Livio, Franz; Gilli, Adrian; Ferrario, Maria Francesca; Höbig, Nicole; Brunamonte, Fabio; Castelletti, Lanfredo; Tinner, Willy

2017-04-01

Combined pollen, charcoal and modeling evidence from the Insubria Region suggests that fire was a major driver of late Holocene vegetation change. However, the extent and timing of fire response dynamics are not clear yet. We use lacustrine sediments from Lago di Como (N-Italy, S-Alps) to assess if the reconstructed vegetation and fire dynamics were relevant at large scales and if they coincided in time with those observed at smaller sites. The lake, due to its size (142 km2) and economic potential, was very attractive for early land use and human presence in this area is well documented since ca. 10,000 yrs ago (Mesolithic). We used pollen, plant macrofossils and charcoal to reconstruct the vegetation composition and fire activity. During the Younger Dryas and the Early Holocene until ca. 8000 cal BP natural dynamics prevailed. Subsequently, land use and slash-and-burn activities increased at the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition and became widespread around ca. 6500 cal BP. Microscopic charcoal and numerical analyses demonstrate that anthropogenic fires had a determinant influence on long-term vegetation dynamics at regional scales in Insubria. Microscopic charcoal and pollen and spores indicative of land use show that human pressure intensified after ca. 5300 cal yr BP and even more since ca. 4300 cal yr BP. Our results suggest that important species which disappeared or were strongly reduced by land use and fire (e.g. Abies alba, Tilia, Ulmus) will potentially reestablish in the Lago di Como area and elsewhere in Insubria, if land abandonment initiated in the 1950s will continue.

Evaluation of efficacy of mineral oil, charcoal, and smectite in a rat model of equine cantharidin toxicosis.

PubMed

Qualls, H J; Holbrook, T C; Gilliam, L L; Njaa, B L; Panciera, R J; Pope, C N; Payton, M E

2013-01-01

The efficacy of orally administered therapeutics for the treatment of cantharidin intoxication has not been evaluated in controlled studies. To develop a model of acute cantharidin intoxication in laboratory rats and to evaluate in this model the relative efficacy of 3 gastrointestinal therapies used to treat equine cantharidin toxicosis. Sixty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats. A blinded, randomized, controlled study was performed on rats surgically implanted with telemetry transmitters for evaluating heart rate, locomotor activity, and body temperature. Orogastric administration of cantharidin was performed within 15 seconds before administration of mineral oil, activated charcoal, or smectite. Negative control groups received therapeutic agents alone. Urine was collected for cantharidin analysis. Rats were sacrificed 24 hours after intoxication, and tissues were collected for histopathologic evaluation. Data analysis included ANOVA procedures and contingency tables. Six of 8 cantharidin-intoxicated rats treated with mineral oil died; bradycardia and hypothermia developed in the animals of this group 0-8 hours after intoxication. Rats treated with mineral oil had higher urine cantharidin concentrations than rats receiving cantharidin alone or with smectite (P = .04). The most severe hypothermia (30.6°C ± 1.0) developed in rats administered mineral oil at 4-8 hours after intoxication, whereas those treated with charcoal (35.2°C ± 0.8) had mean body temperatures higher than all other treatment groups (P = .03). Survival times in the charcoal (P = .16) and smectite (P = .12) treatment groups were not statistically different from negative controls. Mineral oil is often used in the treatment of equine cantharidin toxicosis. Our findings suggest that mineral oil increases cantharidin absorption, worsening morbidity and fatality in rats. Copyright © 2013 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Health aspects of the curing of synthetic rubbers.

PubMed Central

Fraser, D A; Rappaport, S

1976-01-01

A commonly used tread rubber formulation was cured in the laboratory under conditions simulating vulcanization in the Bag-O-Matic press. Volatile emissions were collected on charcoal and analyzed by combined GC-mass spectrometry. The compounds identified were either contaminants present in the raw material or reaction products. Some of these compounds were also identified in charcoal tube samples collected in the atmosphere of the industrial operations. Estimates based on the loss of weight of rubber during curing were used to predict airborne concentrations and compared to the concentrations actually found. The literature of the toxicity of raw materials and effluents was reviewed, and no acute or chronic toxicological effects would be anticipated. Information concerning potential carcinogenicity was not available and could not be evaluated. PMID:1026417

Thoron Mitigation System based on charcoal bed for applications in thorium fuel cycle facilities (part 1): Development of theoretical models for design considerations.

PubMed

Sahoo, B K; Sudeep Kumara, K; Karunakara, N; Gaware, J J; Sapra, B K; Mayya, Y S

2017-06-01

Regulating the environmental discharge of 220 Rn (historically known as thoron) and its decay products from thorium processing facilities is important for protection of environment and general public living in the vicinities. Activated charcoal provides an effective solution to this problem because of its high adsorption capacity to gaseous element like radon. In order to design and develop a charcoal based Thoron Mitigation System, a mathematical model has been developed in the present work for studying the 220 Rn transport and adsorption in a flow through charcoal bed and estimating the 220 Rn mitigation factor (MF) as a function of system and operating parameters. The model accounts for inter- and intra-grain diffusion, advection, radioactive decay and adsorption processes. Also, the effects of large void fluctuation and wall channeling on the mitigation factor have been included through a statistical model. Closed form solution has been provided for the MF in terms of adsorption coefficient, system dimensions, grain size, flow rate and void fluctuation exponent. It is shown that the delay effects due to intra grain diffusion plays a significant role thereby rendering external equilibrium assumptions unsuitable. Also, the application of the statistical model clearly demonstrates the transition from the exponential MF to a power-law form and shows how the occurrence of channels with low probability can lower mitigation factor by several orders of magnitude. As a part of aiding design, the model is further extended to optimise the bed dimensions in respect of pressure drop and MF. The application of the results for the design and development of a practically useful charcoal bed is discussed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Eucalyptus oil overdose

MedlinePlus

... liniments Diaper rash creams Inhalers to relieve nasal congestion Medicine for sore gums, mouth, and throat Mouthwashes ... IV) Medicines to treat symptoms Activated charcoal Laxative Tube through the nose into the stomach to wash ...

Light absorption of organic carbon emitted from burning wood, charcoal, and kerosene in household cookstoves.

PubMed

Xie, Mingjie; Shen, Guofeng; Holder, Amara L; Hays, Michael D; Jetter, James J

2018-05-02

Household cookstove emissions are an important source of carbonaceous aerosols globally. The light-absorbing organic carbon (OC), also termed brown carbon (BrC), from cookstove emissions can impact the Earth's radiative balance, but is rarely investigated. In this work, PM 2.5 filter samples were collected during combustion experiments with red oak wood, charcoal, and kerosene in a variety of cookstoves mainly at two water boiling test phases (cold start CS, hot start HS). Samples were extracted in methanol and extracts were examined using spectrophotometry. The mass absorption coefficients (MAC λ , m 2 g -1 ) at five wavelengths (365, 400, 450, 500, and 550 nm) were mostly inter-correlated and were used as a measurement proxy for BrC. The MAC 365 for red oak combustion during the CS phase correlated strongly to the elemental carbon (EC)/OC mass ratio, indicating a dependency of BrC absorption on burn conditions. The emissions from cookstoves burning red oak have an average MAC λ 2-6 times greater than those burning charcoal and kerosene, and around 3-4 times greater than that from biomass burning measured in previous studies. These results suggest that residential cookstove emissions could contribute largely to ambient BrC, and the simulation of BrC radiative forcing in climate models for biofuel combustion in cookstoves should be treated specifically and separated from open biomass burning. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Radiocarbon Dates from Volcanic Deposits of the Chaos Crags and Cinder Cone Eruptive Sequences and Other Deposits, Lassen Volcanic National Park and Vicinity, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Clynne, Michael A.; Christiansen, Robert L.; Trimble, Deborah A.; McGeehin, John P.

2008-01-01

This contribution reports radiocarbon ages obtained from charcoal, wood and other samples collected between 1979 and 2001 in Lassen Volcanic National Park and vicinity and a few samples from other nearby localities. Most of the samples are from the Chaos Crags and Cinder Cone eruptive sequences. Brief summaries are given of the Chaos Crags and Cinder Cone eruptive sequences.

The Crow Creek Site (39BF11) Massacre: A Preliminary Report,

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-02-01

components are typical of the Plains Village 13 pattern. This adaptation Is presumed to be a hybrid resulting from the diffusion of the Northwestern...Plains hunting tribes’ adaptation with that of the Eastern Woodland people (Lehmer 1971:65). The sub- sistence pattern is based on hunting and horticulture...sample, apparently most of the sample is partially decayed organic matter, very little or no charcoal present, few gastropod shells present in sample

Anthropogenic Charcoal Deposits: Analogues for the Long-Term Functioning and Stability of Biochar in European Soils?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mugford, Ian; Street-Perrot, Alayne; Santín, Cristina; Denman, Huw

2014-05-01

Anthropogenic charcoal deposits, characterised by thick charcoal-rich soil horizons, offer an invaluable Late Quaternary record of pyrogenic carbon (PyC) additions to soils. A traditional source of archaeological, anthracological and palaeoecological data, the potential contribution of anthropogenic charcoal deposits to soil science and assessment of carbon (C) sequestration is often overlooked. If addition of biochar to soils is to form a key component of a low-C economy, crucial questions must be addressed relating to its longevity and behaviour in the soil environment. With rare exceptions, previous studies have focussed on short-term incubation experiments and field or pot trials, often neglecting important natural soil and environmental processes. This study addresses these issues by comparing the physicochemical properties of European anthropogenic charcoal-rich deposits, with 14C ages ranging from > 43 ka to Modern, to native soils (nearby control sites). We will present results from a study of 23 charcoal-rich soil cores, collected from a 'Pre-historic' ditch mound, a Bronze Age burnt mound, a Roman furnace, and post-mediaeval and Modern Meilers, situated along a climatic gradient from Mediterranean (Southern Italy) to Humid Temperate (South Wales). The ability of charcoal to alter fertility and retain plant-available nutrients was assessed by measuring soil cation- exchange capacity. Retention of refractory C by the charcoal deposits was evaluated from their total organic C (TOC) contents, atomic H:C and O:C ratios, and residues after acid- dichromate oxidation. Picked charcoal fragments were also compared with modern biochars and biomass using: 1) their thermogravimetric recalcitrance (R50) indices (Harvey et al. 2012); and 2) attenuated total reflectance (ATR) FT-IR data, to gauge the development of functional groups linked to the long-term oxidation of the particle surfaces. Radiocarbon dating was used to assess the ages of the deposits. Our study attests to the considerable potential of anthropogenic charcoal deposits as a tool to predict the fate, functioning and C-sequestration potential of PyC in soils on long (102 - 103yr) time scales, which are inaccessible to field and laboratory experiments. Centuries to millennia after charcoal addition, these charcoal-rich soils have undergone limited environmental degradation and still display significant recalcitrance and C-sequestration potential.

Charcoal and fossil wood from palaeosols, sediments and artificial structures indicating Late Holocene woodland decline in southern Tibet (China)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaiser, Knut; Opgenoorth, Lars; Schoch, Werner H.; Miehe, Georg

2009-07-01

Charcoal and fossil wood taken from palaeosols, sediments and artificial structures were analysed in order to evaluate the regional pedoanthracological potential and to obtain information on Holocene environmental changes, particularly on possible past tree occurrences in southern Tibet. This research was initiated by the question to what extent this area is influenced by past human impact. Even recent evaluations have perceived the present treeless desertic environment of southern Tibet as natural, and the previous Holocene palaeoenvironmental changes detected were predominantly interpreted to be climate-determined. The material analysed - comprising a total of 53 botanical spectra and 55 radiocarbon datings from 46 sampling sites (c. 3500-4700 m a.s.l.) - represents the largest systematically obtained data set of charcoal available from Tibet so far. 27 taxa were determined comprising trees, (dwarf-) shrubs and herbs as well as grasses. The predominant tree taxa were Juniperus, Hippophae, Salix and Betula. According to their present-day occurrence in the region, the genera Juniperus and Hippophae can be explicitly attributed to tree species. Further, less frequently detected tree taxa were Populus, Pinus, Quercus, Taxus and Pseudotsuga. Charcoal of Juniperus mainly occurred on southern exposures, whereas Betula was associated with northern exposures. In contrast, the (partly) phreatophytic taxa Hippophae and Salix showed no prevalent orientation. The distribution of radiocarbon ages on charcoal revealed a discontinuous record of burning events cumulating in the Late Holocene (c. 5700-0 cal BP). For southern Tibet, these results indicated a Late Holocene vegetation change from woodlands to the present desertic pastures. As agrarian economies in southern and south-eastern Tibet date back to c. 3700 and 5700 cal BP, respectively, and the present-day climate is suitable for tree growth up to c. 4600 m a.s.l., we concluded that the Late Holocene loss or thinning out of woodlands had been primarily caused by humans.

Production and Composition of Dissolved Black Carbon from Various Biochars and Environmentally-aged Charcoals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bostick, K. W.; Zimmerman, A. R.; Hatcher, P.; Mitra, S.; Wozniak, A. S.

2016-12-01

Pyrogenic organic matter, or black carbon (BC), is the solid carbonaceous product of biomass pyrolysis. While solid BC represents a long-lived portion of the C cycle, it releases pyrogenic dissolved organic matter (py-DOM) which may be more susceptible to mineralization and transformation. This py-DOM may impact environmental and public health and likely controls exchange between terrestrial and aquatic BC pools. Benzene polycarboxylic acids (BPCAs), produced by acid digestion of samples, are used as molecular markers for pyrogenic organic matter. Yet, we currently have a poor understanding of the controls on the production of py-DOM and its yield of BPCA compounds. In response, aqueous leaching time series experiments were carried out using a series of laboratory-made biochars and environmentally-aged charcoals. While non-charred oak biomass released 31.8 mg C/g (45% C loss), oak biochars prepared at low temperatures (250 and 400ºC), produced 9.9 and 2.6 mg C/g (11 and 2.3% C loss), respectively. Oak chars prepared at a higher temperatures (650ºC) leached only 1.85 mg C/g (1.5% C loss). In contrast, an environmentally-aged charcoal (30 y old cypress charcoal) leached 10.9% of its C. On average, 59% (ranging 38-80%) of oak pyrogenic DOC was converted into BPCAs, suggesting that oak py-DOM has a variably condensed aromatic proportion. However, much less BPCAs were generated by BC parent solids. In addition, trace amounts of BPCA were generated from non-pyrolyzed grass, oak wood, and compost leachates; these lend concern to the use of BPCAs as exclusive pyrogenic molecular markers. As expected, BPCA molecular distribution showed that condensation increased with pyrolysis temperature of solid biochars and their corresponding leachates. The comparison of these findings to 13C and 1H NMR spectra of charcoal parent solids and their leachates will further elucidate the chemistry and production mechanisms of py-DOM.

The Impact of Charcoal Production on Forest Degradation: a Case Study in Tete, Mozambique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sedano, F.; Silva. J. A.; Machoco, R.; Meque, C. H.; Sitoe, A.; Ribeiro, N.; Anderson, K.; Ombe, Z. A.; Baule, S. H.; Tucker, C. J.

2016-01-01

Charcoal production for urban energy consumption is a main driver of forest degradation in sub-Saharan Africa. Urban growth projections for the continent suggest that the relevance of this process will increase in the coming decades. Forest degradation associated to charcoal production is difficult to monitor and commonly overlooked and underrepresented in forest cover change and carbon emission estimates. We use a multi-temporal dataset of very high-resolution remote sensing images to map kiln locations in a representative study area of tropical woodlands in central Mozambique. The resulting maps provided a characterization of the spatial extent and temporal dynamics of charcoal production. Using an indirect approach we combine kiln maps and field information on charcoal making to describe the magnitude and intensity of forest degradation linked to charcoal production, including aboveground biomass and carbon emissions. Our findings reveal that forest degradation associated to charcoal production in the study area is largely independent from deforestation driven by agricultural expansion and that its impact on forest cover change is in the same order of magnitude as deforestation. Our work illustrates the feasibility of using estimates of urban charcoal consumption to establish a link between urban energy demands and forest degradation. This kind of approach has potential to reduce uncertainties in forest cover change and carbon emission assessments in sub-Saharan Africa.

Determinants of fire activity during the last 3500 yr at a wildland-urban interface, Alberta, Canada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, Emma L.; Courtney Mustaphi, Colin J.; Gall, Amber; Pisaric, Michael F. J.; Vermaire, Jesse C.; Moser, Katrina A.

2016-11-01

Long-term records of wildfires and their controlling factors are important sources of information for informing land management practices. Here, dendrochronology and lake sediment analyses are used to develop a 3500-yr fire and vegetation history for a montane forest in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. The tree-ring record (AD 1771-2012) indicates that this region historically experienced a mixed-severity fire regime, and that effective fire suppression excluded widespread fire events from the study area during the 20th century. A sediment core collected from Little Trefoil Lake, located near the Jasper townsite, is analyzed for subfossil pollen and macroscopic charcoal (>150 μm). When comparing the tree-ring record to the 3500-yr record of sediment-derived fire events, only high-severity fires are represented in the charcoal record. Comparisons between the charcoal record and historical climate and pollen data indicate that climate and vegetation composition have been important controls on the fire regime for most of the last 3500 yr. Although fire frequency is presently within the historical range of variability, the fire return interval of the last 150 yr is longer than expected given modern climate and vegetation conditions, indicating that humans have become the main control on fire activity around Little Trefoil Lake.

Amitriptyline and perphenazine overdose

MedlinePlus

... MOUTH Blurred vision Dry mouth Enlarged pupils Nasal congestion Unpleasant taste in mouth HEART AND BLOOD Irregular ... symptoms Activated charcoal Laxative Breathing support, including a tube through the mouth into the lungs and connected ...

Crystal Creations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whipple, Nona; Whitmore, Sherry

1989-01-01

Presents a many-faceted learning approach to the study of crystals. Provides instructions for performing activities including crystal growth and patterns, creating miniature simulations of crystal-containing rock formations, charcoal and sponge gardens, and snowflakes. (RT)

Effect of Catnip Charcoal on the In Vivo Pharmacokinetics of the Main Alkaloids of Rhizoma Coptidis.

PubMed

He, Yanfei; Chen, Siyu; Yu, Hai; Zhu, Long; Liu, Yayun; Han, Chunyang; Liu, Cuiyan

2016-01-01

This study aims to explore the effect of catnip Nepeta cataria (CNC) charcoal on the pharmacokinetics of the main alkaloids of Rhizoma Coptidis in vivo. Twenty-four rabbits were randomly divided into four groups and given oral administration of an aqueous extract of Rhizoma Coptidis (RCAE), RCAE plus CNC, RCAE plus activated carbon (AC), or distilled water, respectively. Plasma samples were collected after administration. The concentrations of berberine, coptisine, palmatine, and epiberberine in plasma were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The pharmacokinetics data were calculated using pharmacokinetic DAS 2.0 software. The results showed that the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of berberine increased, while the AUC of coptisine, palmatine, and epiberberine decreased in the rabbits that received RCAE plus CNC. Meanwhile, the AUC of berberine, coptisine, palmatine, and epiberberine decreased in the group given RCAE plus AC. The difference of main pharmacokinetics parameters among the four groups was significant (P < 0.05). This study showed that CNC improved the bioavailability of berberine in comparison to AC and prolonged its release in comparison to RCAE alone. However, it decreased the bioavailability of coptisine, palmatine, and epiberberine. In comparison, AC uniformly declined the bioavailability of berberine, coptisine, palmatine, and epiberberine.

Effect of Catnip Charcoal on the In Vivo Pharmacokinetics of the Main Alkaloids of Rhizoma Coptidis

PubMed Central

He, Yanfei; Chen, Siyu; Yu, Hai; Zhu, Long; Liu, Yayun; Han, Chunyang; Liu, Cuiyan

2016-01-01

This study aims to explore the effect of catnip Nepeta cataria (CNC) charcoal on the pharmacokinetics of the main alkaloids of Rhizoma Coptidis in vivo. Twenty-four rabbits were randomly divided into four groups and given oral administration of an aqueous extract of Rhizoma Coptidis (RCAE), RCAE plus CNC, RCAE plus activated carbon (AC), or distilled water, respectively. Plasma samples were collected after administration. The concentrations of berberine, coptisine, palmatine, and epiberberine in plasma were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The pharmacokinetics data were calculated using pharmacokinetic DAS 2.0 software. The results showed that the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of berberine increased, while the AUC of coptisine, palmatine, and epiberberine decreased in the rabbits that received RCAE plus CNC. Meanwhile, the AUC of berberine, coptisine, palmatine, and epiberberine decreased in the group given RCAE plus AC. The difference of main pharmacokinetics parameters among the four groups was significant (P < 0.05). This study showed that CNC improved the bioavailability of berberine in comparison to AC and prolonged its release in comparison to RCAE alone. However, it decreased the bioavailability of coptisine, palmatine, and epiberberine. In comparison, AC uniformly declined the bioavailability of berberine, coptisine, palmatine, and epiberberine. PMID:27313645

Reconstructions of Fire Activity in North America and Europe over the Past 250 Years: A comparison of the Global Charcoal Database with Historical Records

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magi, B. I.; Marlon, J. R.; Mouillot, F.; Daniau, A. L.; Bartlein, P. J.; Schaefer, A.

2017-12-01

Fire is intertwined with climate variability and human activities in terms of both its causes and consequences, and the most complete understanding will require a multidisciplinary approach. The focus in this study is to compare data-based records of variability in climate and human activities, with fire and land cover change records over the past 250 years in North America and Europe. The past 250 years is a critical period for contextualizing the present-day impact of human activities on climate. Data are from the Global Charcoal Database and from historical reconstructions of past burning. The GCD is comprised of sediment records of charcoal accumulation rates collected around the world by dozens of researchers, and facilitated by the PAGES Global Paleofire Working Group. The historical reconstruction extends back to 1750 CE is based on literature and government records when available, and completed with non-charcoal proxies including tree ring scars or storylines when data are missing. The key data sets are independent records, and the methods and results are independent of any climate or fire-model simulations. Results are presented for Europe, and subsets of North America. Analysis of fire trends from GCD and the historical reconstruction shows broad agreement, with some regional variations as expected. Western USA and North America in general show the best agreement, with departures in the GCD and historical reconstruction fire trends in the present day that may reflect limits in the data itself. Eastern North America shows agreement with an increase in fire from 1750 to 1900, and a strong decreasing trend thereafter. We present ideas for why the trends agree and disagree relative to historical events, and to the sequence of land-cover change in the regions of interest. Together with careful consideration of uncertainties in the data, these results can be used to constrain Earth System Model simulations of both past fire, which explicitly incorporate historical fire emissions, and the pathways of future fire on a warmer planet.

Activated carbon, biochar and charcoal: Linkages and synergies across pyrogenic carbon's ABC

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Biochar and activated carbon, both carbonaceous pyrogenic materials, are important products for environmental technology and intensively studied for a multitude of purposes. A strict distinction between these materials is not always possible, and also a generally accepted terminology is lacking. How...

Does Management Matter?: Using MISR to Assess the Effects of Charcoal Production and Management on Woodland Regeneration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wurster, K.

2008-12-01

In much of Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 75 percent of a rapidly growing urban population depends on charcoal as their primary source of energy for cooking. The high demand for charcoal has led many to believe that charcoal harvesting catalyzes widespread deforestation. The Senegalese government and international donors have initiated projects within protected areas to combat deforestation and created land management plans to sustainably harvest charcoal. To date, the effects of forest management techniques on forest sustainability are still in question. This research uses a multiphase approach integrating satellite analysis with field surveys to assess the effect of varying forest management strategies on forest regeneration and sustainability after charcoal harvesting. Phase I involved testing the Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) satellites capability in detecting structural changes in vegetative cover caused by charcoal harvesting and production. Analysis of the MISR derived k(red) parameter showed MISR can consistently differentiate between forest cover types and successfully differentiates between sites at pre- and post-charcoal harvest stages. Phase II conducted forestry and social surveys comparing and contrasting local effects of land management, land use, and charcoal production on forest regeneration. Phase III uses the local surveys to validate and train the regional remote sensing data to assess the effectiveness of land management in promoting forest regeneration and sustainability after charcoal harvesting. Combining detailed local knowledge with the regional capabilities of MISR provide valuable insight into the factors that control woodland regeneration and sustainability. Preliminary results from phases II and III indicate that both field and remotely sensed variations in forest cover, tree regeneration, and land use change does not vary when compared against land management type. Final results will provide managers with additional information to create more effective land management strategies that can be implemented across sub- Saharan Africa, ensuring the long-term sustainability of woodland ecosystems and local livelihoods.

Charcoal versus LPG grilling: A carbon-footprint comparison

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, Eric, E-mail: ejohnson@ecosite.co.u

2009-11-15

Undoubtedly, grilling is popular. Britons fire up their barbeques some 60 million times a year, consuming many thousands of tonnes of fuel. In milder climates consumption is even higher, and in the developing world, charcoal continues to be an essential cooking fuel. So it is worth comparing the carbon footprints of the two major grill types, charcoal and LPG, and that was the purpose of the study this paper documents. Charcoal and LPG grill systems were defined, and their carbon footprints were calculated for a base case and for some plausible variations to that base case. In the base case,more » the charcoal grilling footprint of 998 kg CO{sub 2}e is almost three times as large as that for LPG grilling, 349 kg CO{sub 2}e. The relationship is robust under all plausible sensitivities. The overwhelming factors are that as a fuel, LPG is dramatically more efficient than charcoal in its production and considerably more efficient in cooking. Secondary factors are: use of firelighters, which LPG does not need; LPG's use of a heavier, more complicated grill; and LPG's use of cylinders that charcoal does not need.« less

Constructed wetland using corncob charcoal substrate: pollutants removal and intensification.

PubMed

Liu, Mao; Li, Boyuan; Xue, Yingwen; Wang, Hongyu; Yang, Kai

2017-09-01

To investigate the feasibility of using corncob charcoal substrate in constructed wetlands, four laboratory-scale vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) were built. Effluent pollutant (chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH 4 + -N, total phosphorus (TP)) concentrations during the experiment were determined to reveal pollutant removal mechanisms and efficiencies at different stages. In the stable stage, a VFCW using clay ceramisite substrate under aeration attained higher COD (95.1%), and NH 4 + -N (95.1%) removal efficiencies than a VFCW using corncob charcoal substrate (91.5% COD, 91.3% NH 4 + -N) under aeration, but lower TP removal efficiency (clay ceramisite 32.0% and corncob charcoal 40.0%). The VFCW with raw corncob substrate showed stronger COD emissions (maximum concentration 3,108 mg/L) than the corncob charcoal substrate (COD was lower than influent). The VFCW using corncob charcoal substrate performed much better than the VFCW using clay ceramisite substrate under aeration when the C/N ratio was low (C/N = 1.5, TN removal efficiency 36.89%, 4.1% respectively). These results suggest that corncob charcoal is a potential substrate in VFCWs under aeration with a unique self -supplying carbon source property in the denitrification process.

Laboratory Sampling Guide

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-11

their uses: Table 10. Types of Solid Sorbent Tubes Tube Type Typical Uses Anasorb® 747 Methyl Ethyl Ketone , Ethylene Oxide Charcoal Tube...Silica Gel Aliphatic Amines, Methanol, Aldehydes , Acid Mist 2.5.3 Passive Samplers. Passive samplers do not require a sampling pump (Figure 9). They...often encountered within the first 6 inches of soil. Water-soluble contaminants such as metals, acids, ketones , and alcohols will be encountered at

EMISSIONS OF AIR TOXICS FROM A SIMULATED CHARCOAL KILN

EPA Science Inventory

The report gives results of experiments in a laboratory-scale charcoal kiln simulator to evaluate emissions of hazardous air pollutants from the production of charcoal in Missouri-type kilns. Fixed combustion gases were measured using continuous monitors. In Addition, other pollu...

Evaluation of cephamycins as supplements to selective agar for detecting Campylobacter spp. in chicken carcass rinses.

PubMed

Chon, Jung-Whan; Kim, Young-Ji; Kim, Hong-Seok; Kim, Dong-Hyeon; Kim, Hyunsook; Song, Kwang-Young; Sung, Kidon; Seo, Kun-Ho

2016-04-16

Although cefoperazone is the most commonly used antibiotic in Campylobacter-selective media, the distribution of cefoperazone-resistant bacteria such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli is increasing. Here we evaluated the potential of cephamycins for use as supplements to improve modified charcoal-cefoperazone-deoxycholate agar (mCCDA) by replacing cefoperazone with the same concentrations (32 mg/L) of cefotetan (modified charcoal-cefotetan-deoxycholate agar, mCCtDA) and cefoxitin (modified charcoal-cefoxitin-deoxycholate agar, mCCxDA). In chicken carcass rinse samples, the number of mCCDA plates detecting for Campylobacter (18/70, 26%) was significantly lower than that of mCCtDA (42/70, 60%) or mCCxDA plates (40/70, 57%). The number of mCCDA plates (70/70, 100%) that were contaminated with non-Campylobacter species was significantly higher than that of mCCtDA (20/70, 29%) or mCCxDA plates (21/70, 30%). The most common competing species identified using mCCDA was ESBL-producing E. coli, while Pseudomonas species frequently appeared on mCCtDA and mCCxDA. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Measurement and calculation of the sound absorption coefficient of pine wood charcoal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suh, Jae Gap; Baik, Kyung min; Kim, Yong Tae; Jung, Sung Soo

2013-10-01

Although charcoal has been widely utilized for physical therapy and as a deodorant, water purifier, etc. due to its porous features, research on its role as a sound-absorbing material is rarely found. Thus, the sound absorption coefficients of pine wood charcoal were measured using an impedance tube and were compared with the theoretical predictions in the frequency range of 500˜ 5000 Hz. The theory developed in the current study only considers the lowest possible mode propagating along the air channels of the charcoal and shows good agreements with the measurements. As the frequency is increased, the sound absorption coefficients of pine wood charcoals also increase, but are lower than those of other commonly-used sound-absorbing materials.

CHARCOAL-PRODUCING INDUSTRIES IN NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

EPA Science Inventory

Charcoal workers in northeastern Brazil: Occupational risks and effects of exposure to wood smoke
ABSTRACT
Brazil has the largest production of charcoal in the world, which is used mostly in the iron and steel industries. In most of the production sites, the process is ba...

Charcoal as an alternative energy source. sub-project: briquetting of charcoal

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Enstad, G.G.

1982-02-02

Charcoal briquettes have been studied both theoretically and experimentally. It appears most realistic to use binders in solution. Binders of this kind have been examined and the briquettes' mechanical properties measured. Most promising are borresperse, gum arabic, dynolex, and wood tar.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Harper, M.

A sorbent to be used for air sampling must meet certain performance criteria including sample background, capacity, stability, and recovery. Anasorb{sup R} 747 is a proprietary 20/40 mesh beaded active carbon prepared from raw materials with a very low ash content in a process which creates a regular pore structure. The background is very low for both inorganic and organic species, and the surface is more inert and less hydrophilic than coconut charcoal, while capacity is similar. The low catalytic activity of the surface means samples of many reactive compounds remain stable for longer periods. The sorbent is compatible withmore » most solvent systems in use (e.g. carbon disulfide, methylene chloride, methanol, dimethyformamide). Anasorb 747 can be coated with chemicals for efficient adsorption of inorganic gases, which can be analyzed at very low levels because of low background interference. A large number of validated sampling methods use Anasorb 747, including methods from OSHA and NIOSH, corporate industrial hygiene laboratories, various branches of the EPA, and international agencies. These methods refer to around fifty different gases and vapors. Although this sorbent is not compatible with some compounds (e.g. low molecular weight aldehydes) it is quite close to being of universal application.« less

A facile synthesis of Fe3O4-charcoal composite for the sorption of a hazardous dye from aquatic environment.

PubMed

Ahmed, Md Juned K; Ahmaruzzaman, M

2015-11-01

Herein, we synthesized Fe3O4-charcoal composite using chemical precipitation technique and utilized it for the sorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution. The synthesized composite was characterized by Infra-red spectroscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm, X-ray diffraction, selected area electron diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The composite depicts absorption bands conforming to Fe-O, -OH, CO, and C-O vibrations. The composite was mesoporous in nature with a surface area of 387.30 m(2) g(-1). The observed diffraction planes correspond to face-centered cubic Fe3O4 and disordered graphitic carbon. The spherical Fe3O4 particles (average diameter ∼13.8 nm) were uniformly distributed in the carbon matrix of the charcoal. The saturation and remanent magnetizations demonstrate its potential for magnetic separation and reuse. The composite showed dye sorption capacities of 97.49 mg g(-1) and 90.85 mg g(-1) in batch and fixed-bed system. Pseudo-second order kinetics and Temkin isotherm best represented the sorption data. The sorption process was endothermic, spontaneous, and administered by electrostatic, π-π dispersive interactions, film, and intraparticle diffusion. Microwave irradiations followed by methanol elution regenerated the dye-loaded composite with nearly no loss in sorption capacity. The recovery of energy and potential utilization of bottom ash enhances the prospective of Fe3O4-charcoal composite for industrial applications. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Climate-Vegetation-Fire Interactions: Pieces in the Pliocene Polar Puzzle.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fletcher, T.; Brown, K. J.; Warden, L.; Csank, A. Z.; Feng, R.; Higuera, P. E.; Rybczynski, N.; Ballantyne, A.

2016-12-01

The largest changes in climate are occurring at the poles, yet the mechanisms causing polar temperature amplification are not well understood, and models underestimate the increase in temperature relative to observation. Critical climate information can be gathered from past warm periods such as the Pliocene (2.6-5 million years ago) when atmospheric CO2 levels were comparable to today. Vegetation can influence climate through direct and indirect feedbacks. It can directly alter surface radiative budgets through albedo and atmospheric radiative budgets through transpiration. It can also alter the radiative budget indirectly by fueling fire. However, the interactions between climate, vegetation and fire in the Pliocene Arctic remain poorly understood. We investigated the climate, plant and charcoal at four early to mid-Pliocene localities in the Canadian High Arctic. Climate results from the vegetation based climate proxy, CRACLE, and bacterial tetraether analysis suggest mean annual temperatures 3°C. While the reconstructed climate was similar between sites, plant community composition differed, suggesting that other biotic or abiotic factors influenced plant community assembly. Results from charcoal analysis suggest forest fires were an integral part of Arctic ecosystems during the Pliocene. At the two sites with clear stratigraphic relationships between the samples, charcoal was present at multiple levels. The recurrent charcoal indicates sufficient biomass to fuel fire and sufficient ignition to spark fires during the Pliocene. Further investigation of the extent of fire across the Arctic may determine if lightning was the ignition source, important for understanding atmospheric energetics in the High Arctic during the early to mid-Pliocene, or if known coal seam fires provided ignition.

Gasification of blended animal manures to produce synthesis gas and activated charcoal

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Blended swine solids, chicken litter, and hardwood are renewable and expensive sources to produce combined heat and power (CHP), fuels and related chemicals. The therrmochemical pathway to gasify manure has the added advantage of destroying harmful pathogens and pharmaceutically active compounds dur...

A Biomedical Application of Activated Carbon Adsorption: An Experiment Using Acetaminophen and N-Acetylcysteine.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rybolt, Thomas R.; And Others

1988-01-01

Illustrates an interesting biomedical application of adsorption from solution and demonstrates some of the factors that influence the in vivo adsorption of drug molecules onto activated charcoal. Uses acetaminophen and N-acetylcysteine for the determination. Suggests several related experiments. (MVL)

Radon Detection and Counting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peterson, David

2004-11-01

One of the daughter products of the naturally occuring U 238 decay chain is the colorless, odorless, inert gas radon. The daughter products of the radon, from Po 218 through Po 214, can remain in the lungs after breathing radon that has diffused into the atmosphere. Radon testing of homes before sale or purchase is necessary in many parts of the U.S. Testing can be accomplished by the simple procedure of exposing a canister of activated charcoal to the ambient air. Radon atoms in the air are adsorbed onto the surface of the charcoal, which is then sealed in the canister. Gamma rays of the daughter products of the radon, in particular Pb 214 and Bi 214, can then be detected in low background counting system. Radon remediation procedures are encouraged for radon activities in the air greater than 4 pCi/L.

NAGD regimen for the coma of drug-related overdose.

PubMed

Rappolt, R T; Gay, G R; Decker, W J; Inaba, D S

1980-07-01

A specific arousal therapy with NAGD (Naloxone, Activated Charcoal, Glucagon, Doxapram) is outlined for victims of drug overdose in comatose and semi-comatose states. Several direct benefits accrue if early awakening or lightening of such patients is safely accomplished. There are: 1) elimination of need for prolonged intubation or tracheostomy; 2) patient's ability to tell which drug(s) were taken; 3) excessively frantic and vigorous supportive treatment is obviated; and 4) the overall hospital stay is shortened. The NAGD regimen has been found to effectively, safely, and predictably reverse coma. Therapy consists of: naloxone 0.8 mg to 1.6 mg intravenously; large-bore orogastric tube instillation of 100 gm to 120 gm activated charcoal slurry; glucagon 1 mg to 2 mg intravenously; and, in selected cases, doxapram 1 mg/kg to 2 mg/kg intravenously.

Investigation of solid nitrogen for cryogenic thermal storage in superconducting cable terminations for enhanced resiliency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suttell, N.; Zhang, Z.; Kweon, J.; Nes, T.; Kim, C. H.; Pamidi, S.; Ordonez, J. C.

2017-12-01

Low heat capacity of helium makes the helium gas cooled high temperature superconducting (HTS) power devices susceptible to large temperature rises during unexpected heat loads such as electrical faults or cryogenic system failures. Cryogenic thermal storage in the form of solid nitrogen designed in the terminations is explored as a means to increase the thermal stability and operational time of HTS power cables in the event of unexpected heat loads. An external tank containing activated charcoal is used as an adsorption buffer tank for nitrogen gas. The use of activated charcoal minimizes the volume of the buffer tank and prevents pressure rises during melting and boiling of the solid nitrogen. Calculations of the cryogenic thermal storage needed and a description of the experimental setup used to understand the design constraints are discussed.

Removal of detergents from protein extracts using activated charcoal prior to immunological analysis.

PubMed

Malhas, Ashraf N; Abuknesha, Ramadan A; Price, Robert G

2002-06-01

The use of dextran-coated activated charcoal (DCC) powder to absorb solubilising detergents from cell lysates is described. Normal embryonic epithelial cells were lysed in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The detergent was then absorbed with DCC to facilitate analysis of polycystin-1 with antibody-based methods. Polycystin-1 is a membrane protein that is involved in the pathogenesis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The adverse effect of SDS on antibody-polycystin-1 binding was studied and the improvement resulting from its removal demonstrated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The results indicate that DCC can be used in a simple manner to remove highly reactive membrane-solubilising reagents from protein mixtures prior to immunological analysis. This procedure may be relevant to a variety of other techniques that are normally affected by detergents.

Geomorphic record of historical ferrous metallurgy in Mała Panew and Czarna River valleys (Poland) - Analysis of DEM from airborne LiDAR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rutkiewicz, Paweł; Malik, Ireneusz; Gawior, Daniel; Woskowicz-Ślezak, Beata; Kryszczuk, Paweł

2017-11-01

Ferrous metallurgy, through the centuries of its activity contributed the transformation of the natural landscape. We can find information on the time of functioning of iron works in historical sources. Among historians, there is an opinion that the traces of iron works activity are not visible in the field, but using GIS methods we can identify different types of objects related to ferrous metallurgy like dams, canals, smelter ponds and charcoal kilns. The aim of the study was to identify imprints of ferrous metallurgy in relief of two valleys in Southern Poland. The study was conducted in Mała Panew and Czarna River valleys where ferrous metallurgy, based on historical sources, has started in the 14th century and declined in the end of the 19th century. The tools used for identification objects related to ferrous metallurgy were standard shaded relief visualization techniques. We created models of terrain elevation with hillshading and spatial density of 0.2 m. During the analysis of DEM images we detected objects interpreted as traces of smelter ponds with accompanying dams and canals, and oval objects recognized as remnants of charcoal kilns. Large number and vast distribution of relief features related to ferrous metallurgy, charcoal kilns in particular, clearly indicate that the historical smelting and ironwork activity natural environment of studied areas was transformed. Relief of valley floors, in particular, was a subject of change.

Chemical Reaction between Boric Acid and Phosphine Indicates Boric Acid as an Antidote for Aluminium Phosphide Poisoning

PubMed Central

Soltani, Motahareh; Shetab-Boushehri, Seyed F.; Shetab-Boushehri, Seyed V.

2016-01-01

Objectives: Aluminium phosphide (AlP) is a fumigant pesticide which protects stored grains from insects and rodents. When it comes into contact with moisture, AlP releases phosphine (PH3), a highly toxic gas. No efficient antidote has been found for AlP poisoning so far and most people who are poisoned do not survive. Boric acid is a Lewis acid with an empty p orbital which accepts electrons. This study aimed to investigate the neutralisation of PH3 gas with boric acid. Methods: This study was carried out at the Baharlou Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, between December 2013 and February 2014. The volume of released gas, rate of gas evolution and changes in pH were measured during reactions of AlP tablets with water, acidified water, saturated boric acid solution, acidified saturated boric acid solution, activated charcoal and acidified activated charcoal. Infrared spectroscopy was used to study the resulting probable adduct between PH3 and boric acid. Results: Activated charcoal significantly reduced the volume of released gas (P <0.01). Although boric acid did not significantly reduce the volume of released gas, it significantly reduced the rate of gas evolution (P <0.01). A gaseous adduct was formed in the reaction between pure AlP and boric acid. Conclusion: These findings indicate that boric acid may be an efficient and non-toxic antidote for PH3 poisoning. PMID:27606109

Holocene fire history in Western China - relationships with climate and human impact, and the role of fire in vegetation dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Q.

2015-12-01

It is well recognised that studies of past fire regimes and their causes (human and/or climatic) are useful to understand the long-term ecological effects of fire on vegetation communities. Further, information on the long-term fire history and its effect on vegetation dynamics may provide useful insights for vegetation management in fragile eco-environment of Western China. The main aim of this study is to quantitatively reconstruct high-resolution fire history in West China based on charcoal records from peatlands in Zoige basin (Tibet) and Altai Mountains (Xinjiang). We investigate the long-term relationships between fire, climate, human-impact and the history of biodiversity based on four Holocene macro- and micro- charcoal records and a synthesis on previously published pollen data and geochemistry data. Three hypotheses based on global charcoal records and former studies on palaeofire carried out in China need to be test by this study: 1) during early-mid Holocene period, fire frequency in the study area is relative low and best explained by the changes of regional climate; 2) during the late Holocene, fire activities in the study area increased might due to impacts of the human activities over the climate changes, and human activities is responsible for the temporal and spatial variations in fire regime; 3) the difference of fire histories can be explained by the difference of vegetation composition at site.

California GAMA Special Study. Development of a Capability for the Analysis of Krypton-85 in Groundwater Samples

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Visser, Ate; Bibby, Richard K.; Moran, Jean E.

A capability for the analysis of krypton-85 ( 85Kr) in groundwater samples was developed at LLNL. Samples are collected by extracting gas from 2000-4000 L of groundwater at the well, yielding approximately 0.2 cm 3 STP krypton. Sample collection takes 1 to 4 hours. Krypton is purified in the laboratory using a combination of molecular sieve and activated charcoal traps, and transferred to a liquid scintillation vial. The 85Kr activity is measured by liquid scintillation on a Quantulus 1220 liquid scintillation counter from PerkinElmer. The detection limit for a typical 0.2 cm 3Kr sample size is 11% of the presentmore » day activity in air, corresponding to the decay corrected activity in air in 1987. The typical measurement uncertainty is below 10% for recently recharged samples. Six groundwater samples were collected, purified and counted. 85Kr was not detected in any of the samples counted at LLNL. 85Kr was detected by the low level counting laboratory of Bern University in all samples between 1.5 and 6.6 decays per minute per cm 3 krypton, corresponding to decay corrected activities in air between 1971 and 1985. The new capability is an excellent complement to tritium-helium, expanding the existing suite of age dating tools available to the GAMA program ( 35S, 3H/ 3He, 14C and radiogenic helium). 85Kr can replace 3H/ 3He in settings where 3H/ 3He ages are impossible to determine (for example where terrigenic helium overwhelms tritiogenic helium) and provides additional insight into travel time distributions in complex mixed groundwater systems.« less

URINARY MUTAGENICITY IN CHARCOAL WORKERS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

EPA Science Inventory

Urinary Mutagenicity in charcoal workers: a cross-sectional study in northeastern Brazil

Charcoal production by wood carbonization is an ancient process that has changed little since the Bronze Age. Its production in large scale is necessary to sustain some steel and pig...

ESTIMATION OF EMISSIONS FROM CHARCOAL LIGHTER FLUID AND REVIEW OF ALTERNATIVES

EPA Science Inventory

The report gives results of an evaluation of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from charcoal lighter fluid, a consumer product consisting entirely of volatile constituents. An estimated 46,250 tons (42,000 Mg) of charcoal lighter fluid is used in the U.S. each year. ...

Carbon sequestration potential and physicochemical properties differ between wildfire charcoals and slow-pyrolysis biochars.

PubMed

Santín, Cristina; Doerr, Stefan H; Merino, Agustin; Bucheli, Thomas D; Bryant, Rob; Ascough, Philippa; Gao, Xiaodong; Masiello, Caroline A

2017-09-11

Pyrogenic carbon (PyC), produced naturally (wildfire charcoal) and anthropogenically (biochar), is extensively studied due to its importance in several disciplines, including global climate dynamics, agronomy and paleosciences. Charcoal and biochar are commonly used as analogues for each other to infer respective carbon sequestration potentials, production conditions, and environmental roles and fates. The direct comparability of corresponding natural and anthropogenic PyC, however, has never been tested. Here we compared key physicochemical properties (elemental composition, δ 13 C and PAHs signatures, chemical recalcitrance, density and porosity) and carbon sequestration potentials of PyC materials formed from two identical feedstocks (pine forest floor and wood) under wildfire charring- and slow-pyrolysis conditions. Wildfire charcoals were formed under higher maximum temperatures and oxygen availabilities, but much shorter heating durations than slow-pyrolysis biochars, resulting in differing physicochemical properties. These differences are particularly relevant regarding their respective roles as carbon sinks, as even the wildfire charcoals formed at the highest temperatures had lower carbon sequestration potentials than most slow-pyrolysis biochars. Our results challenge the common notion that natural charcoal and biochar are well suited as proxies for each other, and suggest that biochar's environmental residence time may be underestimated when based on natural charcoal as a proxy, and vice versa.

Assessing the Efficacy of Restricting Access to Barbecue Charcoal for Suicide Prevention in Taiwan: A Community-Based Intervention Trial

PubMed Central

Chen, Ying-Yeh; Chen, Feng; Chang, Shu-Sen; Wong, Jacky; Yip, Paul S F

2015-01-01

Objective Charcoal-burning suicide has recently been spreading to many Asian countries. There have also been several cases involving this new method of suicide in Western countries. Restricting access to suicide means is one of the few suicide-prevention measures that have been supported by empirical evidence. The current study aims to assess the effectiveness of a community intervention program that restricts access to charcoal to prevent suicide in Taiwan. Methods and Findings A quasi-experimental design is used to compare method-specific (charcoal-burning suicide, non-charcoal-burning suicide) and overall suicide rates in New Taipei City (the intervention site, with a population of 3.9 million) with two other cities (Taipei City and Kaohsiung City, the control sites, each with 2.7 million residents) before (Jan 1st 2009- April 30th 2012) and after (May 1st 2012-Dec. 31st 2013) the initiation of a charcoal-restriction program on May 1st 2012. The program mandates the removal of barbecue charcoal from open shelves to locked storage in major retail stores in New Taipei City. No such restriction measure was implemented in the two control sites. Generalized linear regression models incorporating secular trends were used to compare the changes in method-specific and overall suicide rates before and after the initiation of the restriction measure. A simulation approach was used to estimate the number of lives saved by the intervention. Compared with the pre-intervention period, the estimated rate reduction of charcoal-burning suicide in New Taipei City was 37% (95% CI: 17%, 50%) after the intervention. Taking secular trends into account, the reduction was 30% (95% CI: 14%, 44%). No compensatory rise in non-charcoal-burning suicide was observed in New Taipei City. No significant reduction in charcoal-burning suicide was observed in the other two control sites. The simulation approach estimated that 91 (95%CI [55, 128]) lives in New Taipei City were saved during the 20 months of the intervention. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that the charcoal-restriction program reduced method-specific and overall suicides. This study provides strong empirical evidence that restricting the accessibility of common lethal methods of suicide can effectively reduce suicide rates. PMID:26305374

[Study on the effect using hemoperfusion to treat tylenol poisoned patients].

PubMed

Lai, Deng-pan; Ren, Xian-hua; Yao, Ju-ping; Liu, Mao-lin; Xu, Gang; Chen, Zhao-jun; Ling, Gui-lan

2012-04-01

To explore the effect of hemoperfusion (HP) on tylenol poisoned patients. Urgently established the blood access by transfemoral catheterization of femoral vein, we used charcoal hemoperfusion by blood pump and dynamically monitored the plasma concentration of tylenol active ingredients for the 2 patients and the content of tylenol active ingredients in the charcoal was determined. Plasma concentration of tylenol active ingredients of the 2 patients was declined gradually during and after the HP management. The acetaminophen serum concentration of the case 1 was declined from the 13.4 µg/L at the start of HP to the 5.81 µg/L at the end of HP; and the case 2 was declined from 51.1 µg/L to 22.3 µg/L. The adsorption amount of acetaminophen in the blood perfusion device are respectively 119 542 µg of case 1 and 33 2154 µg of case 2. Early hemoperfusion should be carried out for acute tylenol poisoning patients if there were indications, hemoperfusion can clear the tylenol active ingredients and this is an effective measure to eliminate tylenol active ingredients.

Fire history in a southern Appalachian deciduous forest

Treesearch

Norman L., Jr. Christensen; Kurt Fesenmeyer

2012-01-01

Because there are few long-term dendrochronological and lake sediment data for the southern Appalachians, little is known regarding the history of fire in this region's forests through the Holocene. Radio-carbon ages for 82 soil charcoal samples collected from local depositional sites along a topographic gradient from mixed hardwood (Liriodendron...

Massive paracetamol overdose: an observational study of the effect of activated charcoal and increased acetylcysteine dose (ATOM-2).

PubMed

Chiew, Angela L; Isbister, Geoffrey K; Kirby, Katharine A; Page, Colin B; Chan, Betty S H; Buckley, Nicholas A

2017-12-01

Paracetamol is commonly taken in overdose, with increasing concerns that those taking "massive" overdoses have higher rates of hepatotoxicity and may require higher doses of acetylcysteine. The objective was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of "massive" (≥ 40 g) paracetamol overdoses. Patients were identified through the Australian Paracetamol Project, a prospective observational study through Poisons Information Centres in NSW and Queensland, over 3 and 1.5 years, respectively, and retrospectively from three clinical toxicology unit databases (over 2.5 to 20 years). Included were immediate-release paracetamol overdoses ≥ 40 g ingested over ≤ 8 h. Outcomes measured included paracetamol ratio[defined as the ratio of the first paracetamol concentration taken 4-16 h post-ingestion to the standard (150 mg/L at 4 h) nomogram line at that time] and hepatotoxicity (ALT >1000 U/L). Two hundred paracetamol overdoses were analysed, reported median dose ingested was 50 g (interquartile range (IQR): 45-60 g) and median paracetamol ratio 1.9 (IQR: 1.4-2.9, n = 173). One hundred and ninety-three received acetylcysteine at median time of 6.3 h (IQR: 4-9.3 h) post-ingestion. Twenty-eight (14%) developed hepatotoxicity, including six treated within 8 h of ingestion. Activated charcoal was administered to 49(25%), at median of 2 h post-ingestion (IQR:1.5-5 h). Those receiving activated charcoal (within 4 h of ingestion), had significantly lower paracetamol ratio versus those who did not: 1.4 (n = 33, IQR: 1.1-1.6) versus 2.2 (n = 140, IQR: 1.5-3.0) (p < .0001) (paracetamol concentration measured ≥ 1 h after charcoal). Furthermore, they had lower rates of hepatotoxicity [unadjusted OR: 0.12 (95% CI: <0.001-0.91); adjusted for time to acetylcysteine OR: 0.20 (95%CI: 0.002-1.74)]. Seventy-nine had a paracetamol ratio ≥2, 43 received an increased dose of acetylcysteine in the first 21 h; most commonly a double dose in the last bag (100 to 200 mg/kg/16 h). Those receiving increased acetylcysteine had a significant decrease risk of hepatotoxicity [OR:0.27 (95% CI: 0.08-0.94)]. The OR remained similar after adjustment for time to acetylcysteine and paracetamol ratio. Massive paracetamol overdose can result in hepatotoxicity despite early treatment. Paracetamol concentrations were markedly reduced in those receiving activated charcoal within 4 h. In those with high paracetamol concentrations, treatment with increased acetylcysteine dose within 21 h was associated with a significant reduction in hepatotoxicity.

Marine reservoir effect on the Southeastern coast of Brazil: results from the Tarioba shellmound paired samples.

PubMed

Macario, K D; Souza, R C C L; Aguilera, O A; Carvalho, C; Oliveira, F M; Alves, E Q; Chanca, I S; Silva, E P; Douka, K; Decco, J; Trindade, D C; Marques, A N; Anjos, R M; Pamplona, F C

2015-05-01

On the Southeastern coast of Brazil the presence of many archaeological shellmounds offers a great potential for studying the radiocarbon marine reservoir effect (MRE). However, very few such studies are available for this region. These archaeological settlements, mostly dating from 5 to 2 kyr cal BP, include both terrestrial and marine remains in good stratigraphic context and secure association, enabling the comparison of different carbon reservoirs. In a previous study the chronology of the Sambaqui da Tarioba, located in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, was established based on marine mollusc shells and charcoal samples from hearths, from several layers in two excavated sectors. We now compare the different materials with the aim of studying the MRE in this region. Calibration was performed with Oxford software OxCal v4.2.3 using the marine curve Marine13 with an undetermined offset to account for local corrections for shell samples, and the atmospheric curve SHCal13 for charcoal samples. The distribution of results considering a phase model indicates a ΔR value of -127 ± 67 (14)C yr in the 1 sigma range and the multi-paired approach leads to a mean value of -110 ± 94 (14)C yr. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical recalcitrance of biochar and wildfire charcoal: how similar are they?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santin, Cristina; Doerr, Stefan H.; Merino, Agustin

2016-04-01

The enhanced chemical resistance to biological degradation of pyrogenic materials, either produced during wildfires (charcoal) or by man (biochar), makes them long-term carbon sinks once incorporated in soils. In spite of their fundamental similarities, studies comparing the chemical recalcitrance of biochar and wildfire charcoal are scarce because analogous materials for accurate comparison are not easily available. Using solid-state 13C cross polarization-magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy we characterized the chemical recalcitrance of pyrogenic materials generated from the same unburnt feedstooks (litter and dead wood from Pinus banksiana): (a) charcoal from a high-intensity wildfire and (b) biochar obtained by slow pyrolysis [3 treatments: 2 h at 350, 500 and 650°C]. For quantification, the spectra were divided into four regions representing different chemical environments of the 13C nucleus: alkyl C (0-45 ppm), O-alkyl C (45-110 ppm), olefinic and aromatic C(110-160 ppm), and carbonyl C (160-210 ppm). As an indicator of chemical recalcitrance, the degree of aromaticity (%) was calculated as follow: aromatic-C ∗ 100 / (alkyl C+ O alkyl-C + aromatic-C). The pyrogenic materials derived from wood show higher degrees of aromaticity (68 to 88%) than pyrogenic material derived from litter (40 to 88%). When comparing biochar and wildfire charcoal, biochars produced at 500 and 650°C always have higher degrees of aromaticity than wildfire charcoals, irrespective of the original feedstock. Wildfire charcoals always show a more heterogeneous chemical composition, with alkyl and O-alkyl compounds present even in charcoal generated at very high temperatures (temperatures up to 950 °C were recorded on the litter surface during the wildfire). However, biochars produced at 500 and 650 °C are mostly aromatic, and only the biochars produced at 350 °C show partial contribution of alkyl-C compounds. Our results suggest that biochar-type pyrogenic materials have in general a higher chemical recalcitrance than wildfire charcoal and, thus, we advice caution when transfer knowledge between the biochar and the wildfire charcoal research communities.

USE OF POWDERED COCONUT CHARCOAL AS A TOXICITY IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION MANIPULATION FOR ORGANIC TOXICANTS IN MARINE SEDIMENTS

EPA Science Inventory

We report on a procedure using powdered coconut charcoal to sequester organic contaminants and reduce toxicity in sediments as part of a series of toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) methods. Powdered coconut charcoal (PCC) was effective in reducing the toxicity of endos...

Chemical structure of wood charcoal by infrared spectroscopy and multivariate analysis

Treesearch

Nicole Labbe; David Harper; Timothy Rials; Thomas Elder

2006-01-01

In this work, the effect of temperature on charcoal structure and chemical composition is investigated for four tree species. Wood charcoal carbonized at various temperatures is analyzed by mid infrared spectroscopy coupled with multivariate analysis and by thermogravimetric analysis to characterize the chemical composition during the carbonization process. The...

Anaerobic biodegradation of cyanide under methanogenic conditions.

PubMed Central

Fallon, R D; Cooper, D A; Speece, R; Henson, M

1991-01-01

Upflow, anaerobic, fixed-bed, activated charcoal biotreatment columns capable of operating at free cyanide concentrations of greater than 100 mg liter-1 with a hydraulic retention time of less than 48 h were developed. Methanogenesis was maintained under a variety of feed medium conditions which included ethanol, phenol, or methanol as the primary reduced carbon source. Under optimal conditions, greater than 70% of the inflow free cyanide was removed in the first 30% of the column height. Strongly complexed cyanides were resistant to removal. Ammonia was the nitrogen end product of cyanide transformation. In cell material removed from the charcoal columns, [14C]bicarbonate was the major carbon end product of [14C]cyanide transformation. PMID:1872600

Assessing the legacy effects of historic charcoal production in Brandenburg, Germany

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, Anna; Hirsch, Florian; Raab, Alexandra; Bonhage, Alexander; Raab, Thomas

2017-04-01

Charcoal produced in kilns or hearths was an important source of energy in many regions of Europe and Northern America until the 19th century, and charcoal production in hearths is still common in many other regions of the world. The remains of charcoal hearths are therefore a widespread legacy of historic land use in forest areas. Soils on charcoal hearth sites are characterized by a technogenic layer rich in charcoal and ash on top of the soil profile, and by a pyrogenic modification of substrates below the former hearth. The aims of our study are to examine how these alterations to the natural soil profiles affect the soil water regime and other soil physical properties, and to assess the relevance of these effects on the landscape scale. We present first results of a mapping of hearth site occurrence in forest areas in the state of Brandenburg, Germany, and of a characterization of the infiltration behaviour on hearth sites as compared with undisturbed forest soils. Results of mapping small-scale relief features from LIDAR-based digital elevation models show that charcoal hearths occur in a high density in many large forest areas throughout Brandenburg. In the areas studied so far, up to almost 3% of the soil surface were found to be affected by the remains of historic hearths. First analyses of soil physical properties indicate differences in the infiltration characteristics of hearth site soils and undisturbed forest soils: Hood infiltrometer measurements show a very high spatial variability of hydraulic conductivity for hearth site soils, and water-drop-penetration-time tests reflect extremely high hydrophobicity of the technogenic layer on the sites. Results of dye tracer experiment show considerably strong preferential flow and therefore a higher spatial variability of soil wetness below the hearth remains. Overall, our first results therefore indicate that the legacy effects of historic charcoal production might significantly affect overall site conditions in forest areas with a high density of charcoal hearth remains.

Newspaper reporting and the emergence of charcoal burning suicide in Taiwan: A mixed methods approach.

PubMed

Chen, Ying-Yeh; Tsai, Chi-Wei; Biddle, Lucy; Niederkrotenthaler, Thomas; Wu, Kevin Chien-Chang; Gunnell, David

2016-03-15

It has been suggested that extensive media reporting of charcoal burning suicide was a key factor in the rapid spread of this novel method in many East Asian countries. But very few empirical studies have explored the relationship between media reporting and the emergence of this new method of suicide. We investigated the changing pattern of media reporting of charcoal burning suicides in Taiwan during 1998-2002 when this method of suicide increased most rapidly, assessing whether the characteristics of media reporting were associated with the changing incidence of suicide using this method. A mixed method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative analysis of newspaper content during 1998-2002 was used. We compared differences in reporting characteristics before and after the rapid increase in charcoal burning suicide. Point-biserial and Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to quantify the associations between the media item content and changes in suicide rates. During the period when charcoal burning suicide increased rapidly, the number of reports per suicide was considerably higher than during the early stage (0.31 vs. 0.10). Detailed reporting of this new method was associated with a post-reporting increase in suicides using the method. Qualitative analysis of news items revealed that the content of reports of suicide by charcoal burning changed gradually; in the early stages of the epidemic (1999-2000) there was convergence in the terminology used to report charcoal burning deaths, later reports gave detailed descriptions of the setting in which the death occurred (2001) and finally the method was glamourized and widely publicized (2001-2002). Our analysis was restricted to newspaper reports and did not include TV or the Internet. Newspaper reporting was associated with the evolution and establishment of charcoal burning suicide. Working with media and close monitoring of changes in the incidence of suicide using a new method might help prevent a suicide epidemic such as charcoal burning suicide seen in Taiwan. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid, arabinogalactan, and activated charcoal on microspore embryogenesis in kale.

PubMed

Niu, R Q; Zhang, Y; Tong, Y; Liu, Z Y; Wang, Y H; Feng, H

2015-04-27

To improve embryogenesis in microspore cultures of kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC.), 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), arabinogalactan (AG), p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid (PCIB), and activated charcoal (AC) were added to the medium using four varieties of kale. The results showed that the addition of AG (0.1-0.2 g/L), AC (0.1-0.2 g/L) or a combination of 6-BA (0.1-0.2 mg/L) and NAA (0.1-0.2 mg/L) promoted embryo-genesis. Adding 40 μM PCIB or a combination of 40 μM PCIB and 0.2 g/L AC to NLN-13 medium at pH 5.8 effectively enhanced embryogenesis. Treatment with a combination of 40 μM PCIB and 10 mg/L AG gave the highest rate of embryonic induction, especially in genotype "Y007," which showed a twelve-fold increase in yield.

Use of multi-dose activated charcoal in phenytoin toxicity secondary to genetic polymorphism.

PubMed

Chan, Betty S H; Sellors, Kate; Chiew, Angela L; Buckley, Nicholas A

2015-02-01

Phenytoin is metabolised in the liver by cytochrome (CYP)2C9 and 2C19 enzymes. Due to saturation of enzyme capacity, the elimination half-life is prolonged at supratherapeutic levels. Genetic polymorphisms of CYP2C9 and 2C19 are reasonably common and further prolong the elimination of phenytoin. There are conflicting reports regarding whether multiple-dose activated charcoal (MDAC) significantly increases the clearance of phenytoin in poisoning. We present 3 patients with phenytoin toxicity and very slow elimination secondary to reduced CYP enzyme function from genetic polymorphisms. MDAC was used in two patients and led to rapid and large reductions in the measured elimination half-lives. This is contrasted with very prolonged elimination in a third patient who did not receive MDAC. MDAC may play a role in the management of chronic phenytoin toxicity, especially in those with very slow endogenous elimination secondary to genetic polymorphisms.

Combination of sawdust from teak wood and rice husk activated carbon as adsorbent of Pb(II) ion and its analysis using solid-phase spectrophotometry (sps)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saputro, S.; Mahardiani, L.; Wulandari, D. A.

2018-03-01

This research aimed to know the usage of sawdust of teak wood and rice husk waste as Pb (II) ion adsorbents in simulated liquid waste, the combined optimum mass required adsorbent to adsorb Pb(II) ion, the sensitivity of the solid-phase spectrophotometry (sps) method in determining the decrease of Pb (II) metal ion levels in the μg/L level. This research was conducted by experimental method in laboratory. Adsorbents used in this study were charcoal of sawdust sawdust activated using 15% ZnCl2 solution and activated rice husk using 2 N NaOH solution. The adsorption processes of sawdust and rice husk with Pb(II) solution was done by variation of mass combination with a ratio of 1: 0; 0: 1; 1: 1; 1: 2; and 2: 1. Analysis of Pb(II) ion concentration using SPS and characterization of sawdust and rice husk adsorbent ads using FTIR. The results showed that activated charcoal from sawdust of teak wood and rice husks can be used as Pb (II) metal ion adsorbents with adsorption capacity of 0.86 μg/L, charcoal from sawdust of teak wood and rice husk adsorbent with a combination of optimum mass contact of sawdust and rice husk is 2:1 as much as 3 grams can adsorb 42.80 μg/L. Solid-phase spectophotometry is a sensitive method for analysis of concentration decreasing levels of Pb(II) ion, after it was absorbed by sawdust of teak wood and rice husk with high sensitivity and has the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.06 μg/L.

Potassium and Phosphorus effects on disease severity of charcoal rot of soybean

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The effects of potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers on charcoal rot of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] are unknown. Therefore, the severity of charcoal rot was studied at five levels of K (0, 37, 75, 111 and 149 kg K ha-1) and a level that was equal to the recommended fertilizer applicatio...

Evaluation of soybean genotypes for resistance to charcoal rot

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Charcoal rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina causes more yield loss in soybean than most other diseases in the southern U.S.A. There are no commercial genotypes marketed as resistant to charcoal rot of soybean. Reactions of 27 maturity group (MG) III, 29 Early MG IV, 34 Late MG IV, and 59 MG V gen...

Rational synthesis of zerovalent iron/bamboo charcoal composites with high saturation magnetization

Treesearch

Mingshan Wu; Jianfeng Ma; Zhiyong Cai; Genlin Tian; Shumin Yang; Youhong Wang; Xing' e Liu

2015-01-01

The synthesis of magnetic biochar composites is a major new research area in advanced materials sciences. A series of magnetic bamboo charcoal composites (MBC800, MBC1000 and MBC1200) with high saturation magnetization (Ms) was fabricated in this work by mixing bamboo charcoal powder with an aqueous ferric chloride solution and subsequently...

Potassium and phosphorus have no effects on severity of charcoal rot of soybean

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The effects of potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers on charcoal rot of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] are unknown. Therefore, the severity of charcoal rot was studied at five levels of K (0, 37, 75, 111 and 149 kg K ha-1) and a level that was equal to the recommended fertilizer applicatio...

Facile xenon capture and release at room temperature using a metal-organic framework: a comparison with activated charcoal

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thallapally, Praveen K.; Grate, Jay W.; Motkuri, Radha K.

2012-01-11

Two well known Metal organic frameworks (MOF-5, NiDOBDC) were synthesized and studied for facile xenon capture and separation. Our results indicate the NiDOBDC adsorbs significantly more xenon than MOF-5, releases it more readily than activated carbon, and is more selective for Xe over Kr than activated carbon.

Removal of microcystin-LR from drinking water using a bamboo-based charcoal adsorbent modified with chitosan.

PubMed

Zhang, Hangjun; Zhu, Guoying; Jia, Xiuying; Ding, Ying; Zhang, Mi; Gao, Qing; Hu, Ciming; Xu, Shuying

2011-01-01

A new kind of low-cost syntactic adsorbent from bamboo charcoal and chitosan was developed for the removal of microcystin-LR from drinking water. Removal efficiency was higher for the syntactic adsorbent when the amount of bamboo charcoal was increased. The optimum dose ratio of bamboo charcoal to chitosan was 6:4, and the optimum amount was 15 mg/L; equilibrium time was 6 hr. The adsorption isotherm was non-linear and could be simulated by the Freundlich model (R2 = 0.9337). Adsorption efficiency was strongly affected by pH and natural organic matter (NOM). Removal efficiency was 16% higher at pH 3 than at pH 9. Efficiency rate was reduced by 15% with 25 mg/L NOM (UV254 = 0.089 cm(-1)) in drinking water. This study demonstrated that the bamboo charcoal modified with chitosan can effectively remove microcystin-LR from drinking water.

Evaluation of the Effects of Lime-bassanite-charcoal Amendment on the Immobilization of Cadmium in Contaminated Soil.

PubMed

Huang, Shunhong; Yang, Yi; Li, Qian; Su, Zhen; Yuan, Cuiyu; Ouyang, Kun

2017-03-01

The effects of amendments, such as lime, bassanite, sodium phosphate, steel slag and charcoal, and their compounds on the immobilization of cadmium (Cd) are investigated. The lime-bassanite-charcoal compound shows the best remediation performance compared to other agents in conducted experiments. The optimum condition for lime-bassanite-charcoal application in contaminated soil is lime-bassanite-charcoal with a mass ratio of 1:1/3:2/3, a dose of 2% of the soil weight, and a liquid-to-solid ratio of 35%-40%; additionally, the agents should be added before water addition. The highest Cd removal rate was 58.94% (±1.19%) with a ∆pH of 0.23, which is much higher than the rates reported in previous studies. The compound amendment was used in a field experiment, demonstrating a Cd removal efficiency of 48.78% (±4.23), further confirming its effectiveness.

Small-angle x-ray scattering investigation of the effect of heating temperature on the submicroscopic pore structure of wood charcoal

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schmidt, P.W.; Cutter, B.E.; Kalliat, M.

1984-04-01

In order to learn about the effects of higher preparation temperatures, we recently examined a series of charcoals from black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) wood heated to temperatures from 600/sup 0/ to 2000/sup 0/C. The results are summarized in this report. In addition to obtaining some information about the pore structure of black cherry charcoal, we have developed a general picture of how the charcoal porosity depends on the temperature to which the wood was heated during pyrolysis. These results have led us to propose that the macropores in charcoals are similar to those in wood and that the mainmore » effect which pyrolysis at temperatures above 400/sup 0/C exerts on the pore structure is to cause the micropores and transitional pores to grow, while leaving the macropores almost unchanged.« less

Zolpidem (Ambien): a pediatric case series.

PubMed

Kurta, D L; Myers, L B; Krenzelok, E P

1997-01-01

In 1993, the nonbenzodiazepine sedative-hypnotic zolpidem tartrate (Ambien) was approved for use in the US. Zolpidem has an imidazopyridine structure and possesses a rapid onset of action and a short half-life. The toxic threshold and profile have not been well established in the pediatric population. All pediatric zolpidem exposures reported to a regional poison information center over 24 months were reviewed retrospectively from the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System data collection forms. Twelve pediatric zolpidem exposures were reported. Seven were unintentional (ages 20 mon-5 y) and five were intentional misuse/suicide (ages 12-16 y). The regional poison information center was contacted within 1 h in ten cases with onset of symptoms within 10 to 60 min (mean 31.6 min). One child had no effect with 2.5 mg. As little as 5 mg caused symptoms with minor outcome in six unintentional ingestions (5-30 mg). Minor to moderate symptoms were reported 1-4 h after intentional ingestions (12.5-150 mg). The duration of symptoms in the unintentional cases ranged from less than 60 min up to 4 h (mean 2.4 h) and 6-10 h (mean 7.5 h) in the intentional exposures. Treatment consisted of observation (4), syrup of ipecac (1), lavage and activated charcoal (1), activated charcoal alone (5), and unknown (1). Due to the very rapid onset of central nervous system symptoms in children, emesis is not a treatment option. Supportive care, activated charcoal in large ingestions, and observation until symptoms resolve may be sufficient in most pediatric cases.

New and revised 14C dates for Hawaiian surface lava flows: Paleomagnetic and geomagnetic implications

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pressline, N.; Trusdell, F.A.; Gubbins, David

2009-01-01

Radiocarbon dates have been obtained for 30 charcoal samples corresponding to 27 surface lava flows from the Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes on the Island of Hawaii. The submitted charcoal was a mixture of fresh and archived material. Preparation and analysis was undertaken at the NERC Radiocarbon Laboratory in Glasgow, Scotland, and the associated SUERC Accelerator Mass Spectrometry facility. The resulting dates range from 390 years B.P. to 12,910 years B.P. with corresponding error bars an order of magnitude smaller than previously obtained using the gas-counting method. The new and revised 14C data set can aid hazard and risk assessment on the island. The data presented here also have implications for geomagnetic modelling, which at present is limited by large dating errors. Copyright 2009 by the American Geophysical Union.

Evaluation of Benzo[a]pyrene in Food from China by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Fluorescence Detection

PubMed Central

Chen, Yong-Hong; Xia, En-Qin; Xu, Xiang-Rong; Li, Sha; Ling, Wen-Hua; Wu, Shan; Deng, Gui-Fang; Zou, Zhi-Fei; Zhou, Jing; Li, Hua-Bin

2012-01-01

The occurrence and levels of benzo[a]pyrene in various heat-treated foods from China were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection. In a total of 119 samples, 105 were found to contain benzo[a]pyrene at levels of 0.03 to 19.75 µg/kg. The benzo[a]pyrene contents in 12 animal source foods were higher than the Chinese maximum permissible level in food (5 µg/kg) and the highest level was 19.75 µg/kg, nearly four times the maximum permissible level. The results revealed a widespread carinogenic public health risk from benzo[a]pyrene in heat-treated foods. The highest benzo[a]pyrene levels were found in animal source samples such as charcoal-grilled and smoked meats, especially pork, beef and sausage, while trace levels of benzo[a]pyrene were present in grain food. Charcoal-grilled vegetables were found to also contain certain levels of benzo[a]pyrene. This study provided new information on benzo[a]pyrene content of a variety of heat-treated foods from China. PMID:23202838

Holocene Climate, Fire and Vegetation Change Inferred from Lacustrine Proxies in the Tropical Andes, Laguna Yanacocha, SE Peru

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Axford, Y.; Isaacson, M.; Matthews-Bird, F.; Schellinger, G. C.; Carrio, C. L.; Kelly, M. A.; Lowell, T. V.; Beal, S. A., Jr.; Stroup, J. S.; Tapia, P. M.

2016-12-01

We present a 12,000-year long paleoenvironmental reconstruction from a small high-elevation lake in southeastern Peru. Climate and environmental change are inferred from chironomid species assemblages, charcoal abundance, size and morphology, and the abundance of some important pollen and spore types (Poaceae, Asteraceae, Isoetes). We employ a new chironomid training set developed for tropical South America (Matthews-Bird et al. 2016) to interpret shifts in chironomid assemblages. The sedimentary record from Yanacocha was first discussed by Beal et al. (2014), who reconstructed Hg deposition and measured metals, biogenic silica and loss-on-ignition through the Holocene. Additional downcore proxies are presented by Stroup et al. (this meeting). Yanacocha sits at 4910 m asl and less than 2 km from Quelccaya Ice Cap (QIC), but the lake's watershed has been topographically isolated from glacier meltwater since 12.3 ka. We compare our inferences from biological proxies with independent constraints on paleoclimate derived from published reconstructions of QIC fluctuations. Previous studies found that temperature was the primary driver of late Holocene fluctuations of QIC (e.g., Stroup et al. 2014), but records from the broader region indicate the Holocene also saw major changes in hydroclimate. Most modern precipitation at Yanacocha derives from the Amazon Basin to the east, and El Niño years are associated with drier conditions. Holocene sediments at Yanacocha likely thus record both changes in temperature and hydroclimate. Vegetation was sparse and no charcoal was preserved prior to 11.7 ka, whereas the early Holocene saw the highest overall pollen concentrations of the entire record and the onset of charcoal preservation. An increase in charcoal abundance, decrease in pollen concentrations, and shifts in vegetation and chironomid assemblages at Yanacocha suggest drier conditions from 9 to 3.5 ka, consistent with widespread regional evidence for early to middle Holocene aridity. One sample at 8.4 ka contains uniquely abundant charcoal, Poaceae and Asteraceae, possibly recording a brief (<500 yr) and uniquely dramatic dry event at that time. Shifts in chironomid assemblages, including a major shift centered on 1000 AD, indicate a variable climate through the late Holocene.

Historic land use and land use changes in Lower Lusatia (Brandenburg, East Germany)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicolay, A.; Raab, A.; Raab, T. A.; Rösler, H.; Bönisch, E.

2011-12-01

In the apron of the active lignite open cast mine Jänschwalde (Lower Lusatia, Brandenburg, East Germany) geoscientists from the BTU Cottbus and archaeologists from the Brandenburgisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologisches Landesmuseum jointly investigate the impact of prehistoric and historic land use on the landscape. In the study area evidence of different land use and land use change is abundant. Amongst others, the presumably largest charcoal production area in Germany was found which was used from medieval to modern times. Charcoal burning and related activities certainly had tremendous environmental impacts. Archaeological surveys and excavations offer excellent outcrop situations. Fieldwork started in 2010 and concentrates on an area where aeolian drift and coversands are widespread. We assume that the formation of these aeolian coversands is the result of deforestation for charcoal burning and agricultural land use. To study pedology, geomorphology and landscape development on a landscape scale several up to 150 m long and 2 m depth cross-sections were carried out. Field methods include topographical surveying (by differential GPS) and the description of soils and sediments. Laboratory methods (e.g., soil texture, TOC, contents of pedogenic oxides) are carried out for soil characterization. In addition, for chronological information radiocarbon (14C) and optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating as well as dendrochronological age determinations are applied on selected materials. Our preliminary results from several cross-sections show that the landscape was used in different ways. Buried topsoil horizons of the Roman Imperial period (50-315 AD) and the Migration period (375-600 AD) are found. Moreover agricultural soil horizons from the Slavic medieval period (600-1200 AD) are present. The former topsoils are covered by 10-150 cm thick aeolian drift sands which can be differentiated by pedological and sedimentological means into two phases, whereby the later one dates to the main phase of charcoal production in modern times.

Water Filtration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jacobsen, Erica K.

2004-01-01

A water filtration column is devised by students using a two-liter plastic bottle containing gravel, sand, and activated charcoal, to test the filtration potential of the column. Results indicate that the filtration column eliminates many of the contaminating materials, but does not kill bacteria.

What Does Psychological Autopsy Study Tell Us about Charcoal Burning Suicide--A New and Contagious Method in Asia?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chan, Sandra S. M.; Chiu, Helen F. K.; Chen, Eric Y. H.; Chan, Wincy S. C.; Wong, Paul W. C.; Chan, Cecilia L. W.; Law, Y. W.; Yip, Paul S. F.

2009-01-01

Charcoal burning suicides in Hong Kong between 2002-2004 in the 15 to 59-year-old age group were investigated using the psychological autopsy method. The psychopathological profiles of charcoal burning suicides (N = 53) were compared against "other suicides" (N = 97). The two groups did not differ significantly in the prevalence of…

Toward a "molecular thermometer" to estimate the charring temperature of wildland charcoals derived from different biomass sources

Treesearch

Maximilian P. W. Schneider; Lacey A. Pyle; Kenneth L. Clark; William C. Hockaday; Caroline A. Masiello; Michael W.I. Schmidt

2013-01-01

The maximum temperature experienced by biomass during combustion has a strong effect on chemical properties of the resulting charcoal, such as sorption capacity (water and nonpolar materials) and microbial degradability. However, information about the formation temperature of natural charcoal can be difficult to obtain in ecosystems that are not instrumented prior to...

Mid-Late Holocene climate variability and fire events in a High Atlantic mountain area in NW Iberia (Picos de Europa)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruiz-Fernández, Jesus; Nieuwendam, Alexandre; Oliva, Marc; Lopes, Vera; Cruces, Anabela; Conceição Freitas, Maria; Janeiro, Ana; López-Sáez, José Antonio; Gallinar, David; García-Hernández, Cristina

2016-04-01

In this contribution we present data from a 182 cm-long sedimentary sequence collected in the mid-altitude area of Belbín, a depression dammed by a moraine during the Last Glaciation in the Western Massif of the Picos de Europa (Cantabrian Mountains, NW Spain), in order to reconstruct the environmental changes and the conditioning factors of these changes occurred during the Mid-Late Holocene in this mountain area. The uppermost 60 cm of the sediments have been studied using a multi-proxy analysis including the texture, the organic matter content, the micromorphology of the quartz grains, and the concentration of charcoal particles. The geochronological framework of the environmental and climatic events for the Mid-late Holocene was established with three AMS 14C dates. During the last 6.7 ky cal BP a sequence of environmental changes took place in Belbin area driven by both warmer (between 6.7-5, 3.7-3, 2.6-1.1, 0.87-0.51 and since 0.01 ky cal BP) and colder stages (between 5-3.7, 3-2.6, 1.1-0.87 and 0.51 to 0.01 ky cal BP). The warmer stages were defined by the prevalence of chemical weathering of the quartz grains and relative increases of the C/N ratio. Conversely, during colder stages physical weathering of the quartz grains particles prevailed and the C/N values were lower. During the Late Holocene the sequence shows a progressive increase in the organic matter content, which may be associated with higher temperatures. Higher or lower concentration of charcoal particles according to warmer or colder climatic conditions is not detected, so the fires that have occurred in the area were likely to be related to human-induced fire management for grazing purposes. The period with the most frequent fire events occurred between 3.5 and 3 ky cal BP during the Bronze Age. Other significant peaks of charcoal particles occurred at ca. 2.6, 0.71 and 0.36 ky cal BP. This study shows evidence that the environmental changes occurred during the Mid-Late Holocene in this area of the Cantabrian Mountains are both conditioned by climate variability and human activity. Also, it has been demonstrated the relationship between the type of quartz grains, the weathering intensity (chemical and physical) and the concentrations of charcoal particles. There is a clear relation between the samples that evidence high intensity of chemical and physical weathering with higher average of charcoal particles concentration. Climatic conditions have an important role in weathering intensity, through the combination of silt abundance and cryogenic weathering, but in our study this is not the case, therefore fire most possibly modified local environmental conditions making quartz grains more vulnerable to post-fire situations. This emphasizes the important role of the fires in the micromorphology of quartz grains.

Subdecadal phytolith and charcoal records from Lake Malawi, East Africa imply minimal effects on human evolution from the ∼74 ka Toba supereruption.

PubMed

Yost, Chad L; Jackson, Lily J; Stone, Jeffery R; Cohen, Andrew S

2018-03-01

The temporal proximity of the ∼74 ka Toba supereruption to a putative 100-50 ka human population bottleneck is the basis for the volcanic winter/weak Garden of Eden hypothesis, which states that the eruption caused a 6-year-long global volcanic winter and reduced the effective population of anatomically modern humans (AMH) to fewer than 10,000 individuals. To test this hypothesis, we sampled two cores collected from Lake Malawi with cryptotephra previously fingerprinted to the Toba supereruption. Phytolith and charcoal samples were continuously collected at ∼3-4 mm (∼8-9 yr) intervals above and below the Toba cryptotephra position, with no stratigraphic breaks. For samples synchronous or proximal to the Toba interval, we found no change in low elevation tree cover, or in cool climate C 3 and warm season C 4 xerophytic and mesophytic grass abundance that is outside of normal variability. A spike in locally derived charcoal and xerophytic C 4 grasses immediately after the Toba eruption indicates reduced precipitation and die-off of at least some afromontane vegetation, but does not signal volcanic winter conditions. A review of Toba tuff petrological and melt inclusion studies suggest a Tambora-like 50 to 100 Mt SO 2 atmospheric injection. However, most Toba climate models use SO 2 values that are one to two orders of magnitude higher, thereby significantly overestimating the amount of cooling. A review of recent genetic studies finds no support for a genetic bottleneck at or near ∼74 ka. Based on these previous studies and our new paleoenvironmental data, we find no support for the Toba catastrophe hypothesis and conclude that the Toba supereruption did not 1) produce a 6-year-long volcanic winter in eastern Africa, 2) cause a genetic bottleneck among African AMH populations, or 3) bring humanity to the brink of extinction. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nacapricha, D.; Taylor, C.

Studies have been performed on potassium-iodide-impregnated charcoals of the type used in the nuclear industry for trapping radioiodine released during nuclear fission. The effects of various parameters on the trapping efficiency of methyl iodide have been investigated. A variation in particle size within a bulk charcoal caused poor precision in K value measurements because of differences in surface area, pore volume, and bed density, leading to differences in the deposition of the impregnant. Precision is improved by sieving the charcoal to a narrower size because smaller particles have a higher porosity. This finding is supported by surface area and poremore » measurements. Two methods of impregnation are compared by measuring K values and the deposition of potassium iodide. Charcoal impregnated by rotary evaporation exhibits both higher K values and higher potassium iodide contents than sprayed charcoal. Two designs of spraying drum are compared: a drum with helical vanes allows more efficient deposition and more uniform distribution of impregnant than a drum with axial vanes. A decrease in the K value with increasing humidity correlates with the available surface area. A similar correlation exists between water content and available pore volume. Aging of potassium-iodide-impregnated charcoal, caused by the formation of oxygen complexes on the surface, is associated with significant falls in K value. K values of charcoals also can be restored to at least their original values by heat treatment in the absence of air. 12 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.« less

The contribution of charcoal burning to the rise and decline of suicides in Hong Kong from 1997-2007.

PubMed

Law, C K; Yip, Paul S F; Caine, Eric D

2011-09-01

There has been scant research exploring the relationship between choice of method (means) of self-inflicted death, and broader social or contextual factors. The recent emergence and growth of suicide using carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from burning charcoal in an enclosed space (hereafter, "charcoal burning") was related to an increase in the overall suicide rate in Hong Kong. The growth of this method coincided with changing economic conditions. This paper expands upon previous work to explore possible relationships further. This study aims to discern the role of charcoal burning in overall suicide rate transition during times of both economic recession and expansion, as captured in the unemployment rate of Hong Kong, and to examine whether there was evidence of an effect from means-substitution. Age and gender specific suicide rates in Hong Kong by suicide methods from 1997 to 2007 were calculated. To model the transition of suicide rate by different methods, Poisson regression analyses were employed. Charcoal burning constituted 18.3% of all suicides, 88% of which involved individuals drawn from the middle years (25-59) of life. During both periods of rising and declining unemployment, charcoal burning played an important role in the changing suicide rates, and this effect was most prominent among for those in their middle years. Means-substitution was found among the married women during the period of rate advancement (1997-2003). Compared to others, working-age adults preferentially selected carbon monoxide poisoning from charcoal burning.

Syn-pandemic Fire Suppression in the Tropical Americas During European Conquest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nevle, R. J.; Bird, D. K.

2006-12-01

A new reconstruction of the biomass burning history of the tropical Americas during the past 5 millennia documents the expansion of fire use by Mesoamerican and Amazonian agriculturalists and a subsequent period of fire suppression beginning ~500 years BP. Fire suppression is synchronous with the collapse of the American indigenous population during European conquest. The present work synthesizes microscopic charcoal accumulation records preserved in lake, bog, and basin sediments from 14 sites in Central America and equatorial South America to reconstruct regional variation in charcoal accumulation rates, averaged over 200-year increments, relative to the mean rate of regional charcoal accumulation during the past 5 millennia. This study builds upon prior fire history reconstructions by synthesizing a substantially greater number of stratigraphic charcoal accumulation sequences to resolve features of the Late Holocene biomass burning record in the tropical Americas. We find that between ~5000 and ~4000 years BP, charcoal accumulation generally persisted at rates >1 standard deviation (s.d.) below the 5-millennium mean. Subsequently charcoal accumulation rates fluctuated until ~3000 years BP and then increased, maintaining an average level >0.5 s.d. above the 5-millenium mean until ~500 years BP. After ~500 years BP, charcoal accumulation rates dropped to values below the 5000-year mean and remained suppressed for the next several centuries. The variation in charcoal accumulation rates over the past 5000 years reflects both climatic and anthropogenic factors affecting the regional fire history of the tropical Americas. The transition to above-average charcoal accumulation rates after 3000 years BP is synchronous with a trend toward a drier climate in the circum-Caribbean region and expanding forest clearance and cultivation by Mesoamerican and Amazonian societies. The subsequent, prolonged period of enhanced biomass burning between ~3000 and ~500 years BP is punctuated by three intervals of low charcoal accumulation, reflecting intermittent episodes of fire-suppression lasting <200 years. The latest and most pronounced of these low-fire intervals occurs at ~1100 years BP and corresponds to the Classic Maya collapse. The persistence of low charcoal accumulation rates for several centuries after ~500 years BP is parsimoniously explained by a reduction of agriculture-related biomass burning due to syn-pandemic population collapse. During European conquest, pandemics killed ~90% of the indigenous American population, estimated to represent ~20% of the 16^{th} century global population. The suppression of biomass burning after ~500 years BP is a unique feature of the fire history of Central and equatorial South America relative to other regions of the globe, where rates of charcoal accumulation are typically >0.2 s.d. above their Holocene mean values. Syn-pandemic fire suppression in the tropical Americas is associated with massive regional reforestation and sequestration of carbon into the terrestrial biosphere, which contributed to the ~2% global reduction in atmospheric CO2 levels and the 0.1 per mil increase in δ13C of atmospheric CO2 from 1500 to 1700 A.D.

A brief 100 year history of carbon.

PubMed

Kemp, Terence J

2017-09-01

Elemental carbon has been known from time immemorial in its forms of diamond and graphite, while the Industrial Revolution was powered by coal. The molecular structures of diamond and graphite were established following the inception of X-ray crystallography while the complex natures of charcoal and coal have been investigated for 100 years. Recent developments in activated charcoal are described in an article in this issue of Science Progress. However, no-one could have guessed that carbon would have presented such structural surprises as those of C60 fullerene, carbon nanotubes, and graphene. Materials science has benefited from the discovery of carbon fibres, and our understanding of the spectroscopy and bonding in the simplest carbon molecule, C2, has reached new depths.

Removal of Reactofix Navy Blue 2 GFN from aqueous solutions using adsorption techniques.

PubMed

Gupta, Vinod Kumar; Jain, Rajeev; Varshney, Shaily; Saini, Vipin Kumar

2007-03-15

The wheat husk, an agricultural by-product, has been activated and used as an adsorbent for the adsorption of Reactofix Navy Blue 2 GFN from aqueous solution. In this work, adsorption of Reactofix Navy Blue 2 GFN on wheat husk and charcoal has been studied by using batch studies. The equilibrium adsorption level was determined to be a function of the solution pH, adsorbent dosage, dye concentration and contact time. The equilibrium adsorption capacities of wheat husk and charcoal for dye removal were obtained using Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. Thermodynamic parameters such as the free energies, enthalpies and entropies of adsorption were also evaluated. Adsorption process is considered suitable for removing color, COD from waste water.

Resistance to toxin-mediated fungal infection: role of lignins, isoflavones, other seed phenolics, sugars and boron in the mechanism of resistance to charcoal rot disease in soybean

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The objective of this research was to investigate the combined effects of charcoal rot and drought on total seed phenol, isoflavones, sugars, and boron in susceptible (S) and moderately resistant (MR) soybean genotypes to charcoal rot pathogen. A field experiment was conducted for two years under ir...

Resistance mechanisms to toxin-mediated charcoal rot infection in maturity group III soybean: role of seed phenol lignin soflavones sugars and seed minerals in charcoal rot resistance

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Charcoal rot is a disease caused by the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid, and thought to infect the plants through roots by a toxin-mediated mechanism, resulting in yield loss and poor seed quality, especially under drought conditions. The mechanism by which this infection occurs is not y...

Comparing charcoal and zeolite reflection filters for volatile anaesthetics: A laboratory evaluation.

PubMed

Sturesson, Louise W; Frennström, Jan O; Ilardi, Marcella; Reinstrup, Peter

2015-08-01

A modified heat-moisture exchanger that incorporates a reflecting filter for use with partial rebreathing of exhaled volatile anaesthetics has been commercially available since the 1990 s. The main advantages of the device are efficient delivery of inhaled sedation to intensive care patients and reduced anaesthetic consumption during anaesthesia. However, elevated arterial CO2 values have been observed with an anaesthetic conserving device compared with a conventional heat and moisture exchanger, despite compensation for larger apparatus dead space. The objective of this study is to thoroughly explore the properties of two reflecting materials (charcoal and zeolites). A controlled, prospective, observational laboratory study. Lund University Hospital, Sweden, from December 2011 to December 2012. None. Three filters, with identical volumes, were compared using different volatile anaesthetics at different conditions of temperature and moisture. The filtering materials were charcoal or zeolite. Glass spheres were used as an inert control. Consumption of volatile anaesthetics using different reflecting materials in filters at different conditions regarding temperature and moisture. CO2 reflection by the filtering materials: glass spheres, charcoal or zeolite. Isoflurane consumption in an open system was 60.8 g h(-1). The isoflurane consumption in dry, warm air was 39.8 g h(-1) with glass spheres. Changing to charcoal and zeolite had a profound effect on isoflurane consumption, 11.8 and 10.7 g h(-1), respectively. Heating and humidifying the air as well as the addition of N2O created only minor changes in consumption. The percentage of isoflurane conserved by the charcoal filter was independent of the isoflurane concentration (0.5 to 4.5%). Reflection of sevoflurane, desflurane and halothane by the charcoal filter was similar to reflection of isoflurane. Both charcoal and zeolite filters had CO2 reflecting properties and end-tidal CO2 increased by 3 to 3.7% compared with glass spheres. This increase was attenuated to 1 to 1.4% when the air was heated and humidified, and isoflurane was added. Charcoal and zeolite possess gas-reflecting properties, which can be used to conserve volatile anaesthetics. They also reflect CO2. The degree of CO2 reflection was reduced by heating and humidifying the air.

Utilization of oil palm fronds in producing activated carbon using Na2CO3 as an activator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maulina, S.; Anwari, FN

2018-02-01

Oil Palm Frond is a waste in palm oil plantations that have the potential to be processed into more valuable products. This possibility is because of the presence of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in oil palm fronds. Therefore, this study aimed to utilize oil palm fronds in manufacturing of activated carbon through pyrolysis and impregnation that meets the requirements of the Industrial National Standard 06-3730-1995. The palm-fringed oil palm fronds were pyrolyzed in reactors at 150°C, 200°C, and 250°C for 60 minutes. Subsequently, the charcoal produced from the pyrolysis was smoothed with a ball mill, sieved with a size of 140 meshes, and impregnated using a Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3) for 24 hours at a concentration of 0 %, 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5 % (w/v). The activated carbon has 35.13% of charcoal yield, 8.6% of water content, 14.25% of ash content, 24.75% of volatile matter, 72.75% of fixed carbon, and 492.29 of iodine number. Moreover, SEM analysis indicated that activated carbon porous are coarse and distributed.

Quantifying the chemical composition of soil organic carbon with solid-state 13C NMR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baldock, J. A.; Sanderman, J.

2011-12-01

The vulnerability of soil organic carbon (SOC) to biological decomposition and mineralisation to CO2 is defined at least partially by its chemical composition. Highly aromatic charcoal-like SOC components are more stable to biological decomposition than other forms of carbon including cellulose. Solid-state 13C NMR has gained wide acceptance as a method capable of defining SOC chemical composition and mathematical fitting processes have been developed to estimate biochemical composition. Obtaining accurate estimates depends on an ability to quantitatively detect all carbon present in a sample. Often little attention has been paid to defining the proportion of organic carbon present in a soil that is observable in solid-state 13C NMR analyses of soil samples. However, if such data is to be used to inform carbon cycling studies, it is critical that quantitative assessments of SOC observability be undertaken. For example, it is now well established that a significant discrimination exists against the detection of the low proton content polyaromatic structures typical of charcoal using cross polarisation 13C NMR analyses. Such discrimination does not exist where direct polarisation analyses are completed. In this study, the chemical composition of SOC as defined by cross polarisation and direct polarisation13C NMR analyses will be compared for Australian soils collected from under a diverse range of agricultural managements and climatic conditions. Results indicate that where significant charcoal C contents exist, it is highly under-represented in the acquired CP spectra. For some soils, a discrimination against alkyl carbon was also evident. The ability to derive correction factors to compensate for such discriminations will be assessed and presented.

An accidental geophysical discovery of an Iron Age archaeological site on the western shore of Lake Baikal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozhevnikov, Nikolai O.; Kharinsky, Arthur V.; Kozhevnikov, Oleg K.

2001-06-01

Slowly decaying transients were measured during a TEM survey over crystalline metamorphic rocks in the vicinity of the village of Chernorud, on the western shore of Lake Baikal. Once converted to apparent resistivities, these transients resulted in values of about 2-5 Ω m. Because neither in-field nor laboratory DC resistivity measurements indicate conductive rocks, the TEM results are confusing. It is hypothesized that the anomalous transients were caused by the relaxation of the magnetization of extremely fine ferri- and/or ferromagnetic particles concentrated in the near-surface layer. In 1997, in the soil thrown out of a gopher burrow, slags and charcoal fragments were found which suggested ancient metallurgical activity. Despite the slags being electrically poorly conductive, once placed into a small coil, they produced slowly decaying transients caused by magnetic viscosity effects. On the basis of their chemical and mineral composition, the Chernorud site slags proved to be identical to those which are known to have been formed during the production of iron in ancient bloomery furnaces. An excavation carried out at the site of the gopher burrow resulted in the discovery of a large bloomery furnace, much slag, charcoal, and baked clay fragments. In 1999, reconnaissance magnetic field and galvanic resistivity profiling measurements were conducted, focused on the site's archaeological potential. Data were taken over a 96×100 m area at 4 m intervals along parallel profiles spaced at 4 m. The magnetic field contour and surface maps exhibited an isometrically shaped positive anomaly with an amplitude of 40-50 nT, that was 30-40 m in diameter. The bloomery and other archaeometallurgical structures fall within the central part of the magnetic anomaly. The galvanic profiling has revealed a resistivity high (1000-1500 Ω m against 300-500 Ω m) which might be attributed to ancient human activity. Radiocarbon dating of three charcoal fragments sampled during the excavation from different depth intervals has given uncalibrated ages of 1915±35, 2050±35 and 2180±30 years BP. These results make it apparent that the Iron Age on the western shore of Lake Baikal started about 700-900 years earlier than is generally accepted. Occurrence of slags over an area of no less than 15 ha suggests that iron production in the Barun-Khal valley was performed on a large scale.

Eastern Andean environmental and climate synthesis for the last 2000 years BP from terrestrial pollen and charcoal records of Patagonia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sottile, G. D.; Echeverria, M. E.; Mancini, M. V.; Bianchi, M. M.; Marcos, M. A.; Bamonte, F. P.

2015-06-01

The Southern Hemisphere Westerly Winds (SWW) constitute an important zonal circulation system that dominates the dynamics of Southern Hemisphere mid-latitude climate. Little is known about climatic changes in the Southern South America in comparison to the Northern Hemisphere due to the low density of proxy records, and adequate chronology and sampling resolution to address environmental changes of the last 2000 years. Since 2009, new pollen and charcoal records from bog and lakes in northern and southern Patagonia at the east side of the Andes have been published with an adequate calibration of pollen assemblages related to modern vegetation and ecological behaviour. In this work we improve the chronological control of some eastern Andean previously published sequences and integrate pollen and charcoal dataset available east of the Andes to interpret possible environmental and SWW variability at centennial time scales. Through the analysis of modern and past hydric balance dynamics we compare these scenarios with other western Andean SWW sensitive proxy records for the last 2000 years. Due to the distinct precipitation regimes that exist between Northern (40-45° S) and Southern Patagonia (48-52° S) pollen sites locations, shifts on latitudinal and strength of the SWW results in large changes on hydric availability on forest and steppe communities. Therefore, we can interpret fossil pollen dataset as changes on paleohydric balance at every single site by the construction of paleohydric indices and comparison to charcoal records during the last 2000 cal yrs BP. Our composite pollen-based Northern and Southern Patagonia indices can be interpreted as changes in latitudinal variation and intensity of the SWW respectively. Dataset integration suggest poleward SWW between 2000 and 750 cal yrs BP and northward-weaker SWW during the Little Ice Age (750-200 cal yrs BP). These SWW variations are synchronous to Patagonian fire activity major shifts. We found an in phase fire regime (in terms of timing of biomass burning) between northern Patagonia Monte shrubland and Southern Patagonia steppe environments. Conversely, there is an antiphase fire regime between Northern and Southern Patagonia forest and forest-steppe ecotone environments. SWW variability may be associated to ENSO variability especially during the last millennia. For the last 200 cal yrs BP we can concluded that the SWW belt were more intense and poleward than the previous interval. Our composite pollen-based SWW indices show the potential of pollen dataset integration to improve the understanding of paleohydric variability especially for the last 2000 millennial in Patagonia.

78 FR 50104 - Notice of Inventory Completion: Anthropological Studies Center, Archaeological Collections...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-16

... associated funerary objects are 33 bone tools; 2 bone beads; 8 bone pendants; 1 bone pendant or net gauge; 32 bone tubes; 1 bone tube/whistle; 8 bone whistles; 19 pieces modified bone of indefinite use; 4 antler... casts; 1 charcoal sample; 4,328 pieces unmodified faunal bone; 422 pieces unmodified shell; 426 pieces...

Evaluation of spacecraft toxic gas removal agents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1972-01-01

A study of the decomposition of various compounds adsorbed on charcoal was made, with a view toward providing a critical appraisal of previous data from charcoal adsorption studies. It was found that thermal decomposition occurs at temperature lower than previously suspected during the charcoal stripping process. A discussion is presented dealing with the various types of reactions found. A rough, quantitative scheme for correcting previous analytical results is developed and presented.

Cobalt nanoparticles on charcoal: a versatile catalyst in the Pauson-Khand reaction, hydrogenation, and the reductive Pauson-Khand reaction.

PubMed

Son, Seung Uk; Park, Kang Hyun; Chung, Young Keun

2002-10-31

[formula: see text] Dispersions of nanometer-sized cobalt particles with very high stability were prepared in charcoal and analyzed by electron microscopy and X-ray analysis. The resulting cobalt nanoparticles on charcoal (CNC) were successfully used as a catalyst for the carbonylative cycloaddition of alkyne, alkene, and carbon monoxide (Pauson-Khand reaction), hydrogenation, and the reductive Pauson-Khand reaction.

Emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and lead during Chinese mid-autumn festival.

PubMed

Kuo, Chung-Yih; Lee, Hong-Shen; Lai, Jeang-Hung

2006-07-31

The emission factors of total particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), BaP-equivalent doses (BaP(eq)) and Pb for burning three kinds of charcoal were investigated in this study: fast-lighting charcoal, Taiwanese, and Indonesian charcoal (the latter two of which are not fast-lighting). Compared to the burning of Taiwanese and Indonesian charcoal, the burning of fast-lighting charcoal can emit much larger amounts of total PAHs, BaP(eq) and Pb into the atmosphere. The emission factors of total PAHs, BaP and BaP(eq) for broiling meat were noticeably higher than those for broiling vegetables and non-fish seafood. When using Indonesian charcoal to broil meat, the total emission factors of particulate PAHs and BaP were about 15.7 and 0.39 mg/kg, respectively. The total amounts of particulate PAHs and Pb emitted from cookouts during Mid-Autumn Festival were 2881 and 120 g, respectively. Total PAHs and BaP(eq) in PM(10) aerosols on Mid-Autumn Festival nights increased about 1.6 and 1.5 times, respectively, higher than those on non-festival nights. The mean concentration of Pb on the nights of Mid-Autumn Festival increases to about 2.8 times that of non-festival nights.

Oil mist and vapour concentrations from drilling fluids: inter- and intra-laboratory comparison of chemical analyses.

PubMed

Galea, Karen S; Searl, Alison; Sánchez-Jiménez, Araceli; Woldbæk, Torill; Halgard, Kristin; Thorud, Syvert; Steinsvåg, Kjersti; Krüger, Kirsti; Maccalman, Laura; Cherrie, John W; van Tongeren, Martie

2012-01-01

There are no recognized analytical methods for measuring oil mist and vapours arising from drilling fluids used in offshore petroleum drilling industry. To inform the future development of improved methods of analysis for oil mist and vapours this study assessed the inter- and intra-laboratory variability in oil mist and vapour analysis. In addition, sample losses during transportation and storage were assessed. Replicate samples for oil mist and vapour were collected using the 37-mm Millipore closed cassette and charcoal tube assembly. Sampling was conducted in a simulated shale shaker room, similar to that found offshore for processing drilling fluids. Samples were analysed at two different laboratories, one in Norway and one in the UK. Oil mist samples were analysed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), while oil vapour samples were analysed by gas chromatography (GC). The comparison of replicate samples showed substantial within- and between-laboratory variability in reported oil mist concentrations. The variability in oil vapour results was considerably reduced compared to oil mist, provided that a common method of calibration and quantification was adopted. The study also showed that losses can occur during transportation and storage of samples. There is a need to develop a harmonized method for the quantification of oil mist on filter and oil vapour on charcoal supported by a suitable proficiency testing scheme for laboratories involved in the analysis of occupational hygiene samples for the petroleum industry. The uncertainties in oil mist and vapour measurement have substantial implications in relation to compliance with occupational exposure limits and also in the reliability of any exposure-response information reported in epidemiological studies.

The use of the terrestrial snails of the genera Megalobulimus and Thaumastus as representatives of the atmospheric carbon reservoir

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Macario, Kita D.; Alves, Eduardo Q.; Carvalho, Carla; Oliveira, Fabiana M.; Ramsey, Christopher Bronk; Chivall, David; Souza, Rosa; Simone, Luiz Ricardo L.; Cavallari, Daniel C.

2016-06-01

In Brazilian archaeological shellmounds, many species of land snails are found abundantly distributed throughout the occupational layers, forming a contextualized set of samples within the sites and offering a potential alternative to the use of charcoal for radiocarbon dating analyses. In order to confirm the effectiveness of this alternative, one needs to prove that the mollusk shells reflect the atmospheric carbon isotopic concentration in the same way charcoal does. In this study, 18 terrestrial mollusk shells with known collection dates from 1948 to 2004 AD, around the nuclear bombs period, were radiocarbon dated. The obtained dates fit the SH1-2 bomb curve within less than 15 years range, showing that certain species from the Thaumastus and Megalobulimus genera are reliable representatives of the atmospheric carbon isotopic ratio and can, therefore, be used to date archaeological sites in South America.

The use of the terrestrial snails of the genera Megalobulimus and Thaumastus as representatives of the atmospheric carbon reservoir

PubMed Central

Macario, Kita D.; Alves, Eduardo Q.; Carvalho, Carla; Oliveira, Fabiana M.; Ramsey, Christopher Bronk; Chivall, David; Souza, Rosa; Simone, Luiz Ricardo L.; Cavallari, Daniel C.

2016-01-01

In Brazilian archaeological shellmounds, many species of land snails are found abundantly distributed throughout the occupational layers, forming a contextualized set of samples within the sites and offering a potential alternative to the use of charcoal for radiocarbon dating analyses. In order to confirm the effectiveness of this alternative, one needs to prove that the mollusk shells reflect the atmospheric carbon isotopic concentration in the same way charcoal does. In this study, 18 terrestrial mollusk shells with known collection dates from 1948 to 2004 AD, around the nuclear bombs period, were radiocarbon dated. The obtained dates fit the SH1-2 bomb curve within less than 15 years range, showing that certain species from the Thaumastus and Megalobulimus genera are reliable representatives of the atmospheric carbon isotopic ratio and can, therefore, be used to date archaeological sites in South America. PMID:27271349

Curls of My Dreams.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greenman, Geri

2001-01-01

Describes an art activity in which students draw ribbons (thin watercolor paper that, when torn, will stand up in a curling fashion). Explains in detail the assignment in which students used pencil rendering or charcoal pencil depending on the type of paper used for the assignment. (CMK)

40 CFR 265.314 - Special requirements for bulk and containerized liquids.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... carbon (e.g., aluminosilicates, clays, smectites, Fuller's earth, bentonite, calcium bentonite... charcoal/activated carbon); or (ii) High molecular weight synthetic polymers (e.g., polyethylene, high..., polyisobutylene, ground synthetic rubber, cross-linked allylstyrene and tertiary butyl copolymers). This does not...

The Study of Equilibrium factor between Radon-222 and its Daughters in Bangkok Atmosphere by Gamma-ray Spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rujiwarodom, Rachanee

2010-05-01

To study the Equilibrium between radon-222 and its daughters in Bangkok atmosphere by Gamma-ray spectrometry, air sample were collected on 48 activated charcoal canister and 360 glass fiber filters by using a high volume jet-air sampler during December 2007 to November 2008.The Spectra of gamma-ray were measured by using a HPGe (Hyper Pure Germanium Detector). In the condition of secular equilibrium obtaining between Radon-222 and its decay products, radon-222 on activated charcoal canister and its daughters on glass fiber filters collected in the same time interval were calculated. The equilibrium factor (F) in the open air had a value of 0.38 at the minimum ,and 0.75 at the maximum. The average value of equilibrium factor (F) was 0.56±0.12. Based on the results, F had variations with a maximum value in the night to the early morning and decreased in the afternoon. In addition, F was higher in the winter than in the summer. This finding corresponds with the properties of the Earth atmosphere. The equilibrium factor (F) also depended on the concentration of dust in the atmosphere. People living in Bangkok were exposed to average value of 30 Bq/m3 of Radon-222 in the atmosphere. The equilibrium factor (0.56±0.12) and the average value of Radon-222 showed that people were exposed to alpha energy from radon-222 and its daughters decay at 0.005 WL(Working Level) which is lower than the safety standard at 0.02 WL. Keywords: Radon, Radon daughters , equilibrium factor, Gamma -ray spectrum analysis ,Bangkok ,Thailand

Salts of the iodine oxyacids in the impregnation of adsorbent charcoal for trapping radioactive methyliodide

DOEpatents

Deitz, Victor R.; Blachly, Charles H.

1977-04-05

Radioactive iodine and radioactive methyliodide can be more than 99.7 per cent removed from the air stream of a nuclear reactor by passing the air stream through a 2-inch thick filter which is made up of impregnated charcoal prepared by contacting the charcoal with a solution containing KOH, iodine or an iodide, and an oxyacid, followed by contacting with a solution containing a tertiary amine.

Lunar Samples - Apollo 12

NASA Image and Video Library

1969-11-26

S69-60294 (26 Nov. 1969) --- One of the first views of the Apollo 12 lunar rocks is this photograph of the open sample return container. The large rock is approximately 7 1/2 inches across and is larger than any rock brought back to Earth by the crew of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission. Two of the rocks in the first container are crystalline and generally lighter in color than those returned on the first lunar landing. The rocks in this box are medium charcoal brown/gray in color.

Control of Dermatomycoses by Physical, Chemical and Biological Agents.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-02-28

cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger were not. A partial characterization of the in- hibitory substance(s) indicated that it was absorbed to activated charcoal...canase isolated from an unidentified species of fungi imperfecti and chitinase isolated from Aspergillus oryzae, showed similar lytic effects on the

40 CFR 51.165 - Permit requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... ethanol by natural fermentation included in NAICS codes 325193 or 312140; (21) Fossil-fuel boilers (or... processing plants; (24) Glass fiber processing plants; (25) Charcoal production plants; (26) Fossil fuel... source or activity which condense to form particulate matter at ambient temperatures. On or after January...

40 CFR 51.165 - Permit requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... ethanol by natural fermentation included in NAICS codes 325193 or 312140; (21) Fossil-fuel boilers (or... processing plants; (24) Glass fiber processing plants; (25) Charcoal production plants; (26) Fossil fuel... source or activity which condense to form particulate matter at ambient temperatures. On or after January...

40 CFR 51.165 - Permit requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... ethanol by natural fermentation included in NAICS codes 325193 or 312140; (21) Fossil-fuel boilers (or... processing plants; (24) Glass fiber processing plants; (25) Charcoal production plants; (26) Fossil fuel... source or activity which condense to form particulate matter at ambient temperatures. On or after January...

40 CFR 51.165 - Permit requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... ethanol by natural fermentation included in NAICS codes 325193 or 312140; (21) Fossil-fuel boilers (or... processing plants; (24) Glass fiber processing plants; (25) Charcoal production plants; (26) Fossil fuel... source or activity which condense to form particulate matter at ambient temperatures. On or after January...

40 CFR 51.165 - Permit requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... ethanol by natural fermentation included in NAICS codes 325193 or 312140; (21) Fossil-fuel boilers (or... processing plants; (24) Glass fiber processing plants; (25) Charcoal production plants; (26) Fossil fuel... source or activity which condense to form particulate matter at ambient temperatures. On or after January...

The effect of human activity on the structure and composition of a tropical forest in Puerto Rico

Treesearch

D.C. Garcia-Montiel; F.N. Scatena

1994-01-01

From European settlement to the 1940s, the Bisley watersheds of the Luquilio Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico, were used for agroforestry, selective logging, charcoal production, and timber management. Each of these activities affected different parts of the landscape in different ways and at different times. After nearly 50 years of unhindered regeneration, six...

In Situ Wetland Restoration Demonstration

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-07-28

products, charcoal, zero-valent iron, sulfur-infused AC, and/or zeolite (USEPA, 1994; USEPA, 1997; Renholds, 1998; Reible, 2004; Barth and Reible, 2008...activated carbon, zeolites , or other sequestration agents can be effectively delivered to the hydric soils, then toxicity, mobility, and...Organoclays, zeolites , and activated carbon have been used extensively for the treatment of water and soil contamination (McDonald et al., 2004

Effect of fermentation inhibitors in the presence and absence of activated charcoal on the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PubMed

Kim, Sung-Koo; Park, Don-Hee; Song, Se Hee; Wee, Young-Jung; Jeong, Gwi-Taek

2013-06-01

The acidic hydrolysis of biomass generates numerous inhibitors of fermentation, which adversely affect cell growth and metabolism. The goal of the present study was to determine the effects of fermentation inhibitors on growth and glucose consumption by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We also conducted in situ adsorption during cell cultivation in synthetic broth containing fermentation inhibitors. In order to evaluate the effect of in situ adsorption on cell growth, five inhibitors, namely 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, levulinic acid, furfural, formic acid, and acetic acid, were introduced into synthetic broth. The existence of fermentation inhibitors during cell culture adversely affects cell growth and sugar consumption. Furfural, formic acid, and acetic acid were the most potent inhibitors in our culture system. The in situ adsorption of inhibitors by the addition of activated charcoal to the synthetic broth increased cell growth and sugar consumption. Our results indicate that detoxification of fermentation media by in situ adsorption may be useful for enhancing biofuel production.

A simple and rapid technique for radiochemical separation of iodine radionuclides from irradiated tellurium using an activated charcoal column.

PubMed

Chattopadhyay, Sankha; Saha Das, Sujata

2009-10-01

A simple and inexpensive method for the separation of medically useful no-carrier-added (nca) iodine radionuclides from bulk amounts of irradiated tellurium dioxide (TeO(2)) target was developed. The beta(-) emitting (131)I radionuclide, produced by the decay of (131)Te through the (nat)Te(n, gamma)(131)Te nuclear reaction, was used for standardization of the radiochemical separation procedure. The radiochemical separation was performed by precipitation followed by column (activated charcoal) chromatography. Quantitative post-irradiation recovery of the TeO(2) target material (98-99%), in a form suitable for reuse in future irradiations, was achieved. The overall radiochemical yield for the complete separation of (131)I was 75-85% (n=8). The separated nca (131)I was of high, approximately 99%, radionuclidic and radiochemical purities and did not contain detectable amounts of the target material. This method can be adopted for the radiochemical separation of other different iodine radionuclides produced from tellurium matrices through cyclotron as well as reactor irradiation.

An acute oral intoxication with haloperidol decanoate.

PubMed

Dekkers, Bart G J; Eck, Ruben J; Ter Maaten, Jan C; Touw, Daniël J

2017-09-01

Haloperidol decanoate is a typical antipsychotic drug used as maintenance therapy for schizophrenia and mood disorders formulated as an ester for intramuscular injection. Cases of oral haloperidol decanoate intoxications have not been described in literature. In this report, we present for the first time a case of an oral ingestion of haloperidol decanoate of a young woman who presented to the emergency department following an intentional oral ingestion of 1 ampoule of haloperidol decanoate 100mg. At presentation, she had a bilateral rest tremor of both hands and mild hypothermia. No other obvious signs of an intoxication were observed. She was treated with a single dose of activated charcoal and laxative and was admitted to the intensive care for rhythm monitoring and observation. During the night the QTc interval increased to 453ms, but stayed within the normal range. Haloperidol plasma levels increased as well, but also stayed within therapeutic ranges. These findings indicate that treatment with oral activated charcoal was sufficient to prevent any serious events. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Analysis of volatiles in fire debris by combination of activated charcoal strips (ACS) and automated thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (ATD/GC-MS).

PubMed

Martin Fabritius, Marie; Broillet, Alain; König, Stefan; Weinmann, Wolfgang

2018-06-04

Adsorption of volatiles in gaseous phase to activated charcoal strip (ACS) is one possibility for the extraction and concentration of ignitable liquid residues (ILRs) from fire debris in arson investigations. Besides liquid extraction using carbon dioxide or hexane, automated thermo-desorption can be used to transfer adsorbed residues to direct analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We present a fire debris analysis work-flow with headspace adsorption of volatiles onto ACS and subsequent automated thermo-desorption (ATD) GC-MS analysis. Only a small portion of the ACS is inserted in the ATD tube for thermal desorption coupled to GC-MS, allowing for subsequent confirmation analysis with another portion of the same ACS. This approach is a promising alternative to the routinely used ACS method with solvent extraction of retained volatiles, and the application to fire debris analysis is demonstrated. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tam, M.S.; Antal, M.J. Jr.

A novel, three-step process for the production of high-quality activated carbons from macadamia nut shell and coconut shell charcoals is described. In this process the charcoal is (1) heated to a high temperature (carbonized), (2) oxidized in air following a stepwise heating program from low (ca. 450 K) to high (ca. 660 K) temperatures (oxygenated), and (3) heated again in an inert environment to a high temperature (activated). By use of this procedure, activated carbons with surface areas greater than 1,000 m{sub 2}/g are manufactured with an overall yield of 15% (based on the dry shell feed). Removal of carbonmore » mass by the development of mesopores and macropores is largely responsible for increases in the surface area of the carbons above 600 m{sub 2}/g. Thus, the surface area per gram of activated carbon can be represented by an inverse function of the yield for burnoffs between 15 and 60%. These findings are supported by mass-transfer calculations and pore-size distribution measurements. A kinetic model for gasification of carbon by oxygen, which provides for an Eley-Rideal type reaction of a surface oxide with oxygen in air, fits the measured gasification rates reasonably well over the temperature range of 550--660 K.« less

Reconstruction of fire regimes through integrated paleoecological proxy data and ecological modeling.

PubMed

Iglesias, Virginia; Yospin, Gabriel I; Whitlock, Cathy

2014-01-01

Fire is a key ecological process affecting vegetation dynamics and land cover. The characteristic frequency, size, and intensity of fire are driven by interactions between top-down climate-driven and bottom-up fuel-related processes. Disentangling climatic from non-climatic drivers of past fire regimes is a grand challenge in Earth systems science, and a topic where both paleoecology and ecological modeling have made substantial contributions. In this manuscript, we (1) review the use of sedimentary charcoal as a fire proxy and the methods used in charcoal-based fire history reconstructions; (2) identify existing techniques for paleoecological modeling; and (3) evaluate opportunities for coupling of paleoecological and ecological modeling approaches to better understand the causes and consequences of past, present, and future fire activity.

Lamtoro charcoal (l. leucocephala) as bioreductor in nickel laterite reduction: performance and kinetics study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrus, H. T. B. M.; Diga, A.; Rhamdani, A. R.; Warmada, I. W.; Yuliansyah, A. T.; Perdana, I.

2017-04-01

The performance and kinetic of nickel laterite reduction were studied. In this work, the reduction of nickel laterite ores by anthracite coal, representing the high-grade carbon content matter, and lamtoro charcoal, representing the bioreductor, were conducted in air and CO2 atmosphere, within the temperature ranged from 800°C and 1000°C. XRD analysis was applied to observe the performance of anthracite and lamtoro as a reductor. Two models were applied, sphere particle geometry model and Ginstling-Brounhstein diffusion model, to study the kinetic parameters. The results indicated that the type of reductant and the reduction atmosphere used greatly influence the kinetic parameters. The obtained values of activation energy vary in the range of 13.42-18.12 kcal/mol.

Reconstruction of fire regimes through integrated paleoecological proxy data and ecological modeling

PubMed Central

Iglesias, Virginia; Yospin, Gabriel I.; Whitlock, Cathy

2015-01-01

Fire is a key ecological process affecting vegetation dynamics and land cover. The characteristic frequency, size, and intensity of fire are driven by interactions between top-down climate-driven and bottom-up fuel-related processes. Disentangling climatic from non-climatic drivers of past fire regimes is a grand challenge in Earth systems science, and a topic where both paleoecology and ecological modeling have made substantial contributions. In this manuscript, we (1) review the use of sedimentary charcoal as a fire proxy and the methods used in charcoal-based fire history reconstructions; (2) identify existing techniques for paleoecological modeling; and (3) evaluate opportunities for coupling of paleoecological and ecological modeling approaches to better understand the causes and consequences of past, present, and future fire activity. PMID:25657652

The rise of fire: Fossil charcoal in late Devonian marine shales as an indicator of expanding terrestrial ecosystems, fire, and atmospheric change

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rimmer, Susan M.; Hawkins, Sarah J.; Scott, Andrew C.; Cressler, Walter L.

2015-01-01

Fossil charcoal provides direct evidence for fire events that, in turn, have implications for the evolution of both terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. Most of the ancient charcoal record is known from terrestrial or nearshore environments and indicates the earliest occurrences of fire in the Late Silurian. However, despite the rise in available fuel through the Devonian as vascular land plants became larger and trees and forests evolved, charcoal occurrences are very sparse until the Early Mississippian where extensive charcoal suggests well-established fire systems. We present data from the latest Devonian and Early Mississippian of North America from terrestrial and marine rocks indicating that fire became more widespread and significant at this time. This increase may be a function of rising O2 levels and the occurrence of fire itself may have contributed to this rise through positive feedback. Recent atmospheric modeling suggests an O2 low during the Middle Devonian (around 17.5%), with O2 rising steadily through the Late Devonian and Early Mississippian (to 21–22%) that allowed for widespread burning for the first time. In Devonian-Mississippian marine black shales, fossil charcoal (inertinite) steadily increases up-section suggesting the rise of widespread fire systems. There is a concomitant increase in the amount of vitrinite (preserved woody and other plant tissues) that also suggests increased sources of terrestrial organic matter. Even as end Devonian glaciation was experienced, fossil charcoal continued to be a source of organic matter being introduced into the Devonian oceans. Scanning electron and reflectance microscopy of charcoal from Late Devonian terrestrial sites indicate that the fires were moderately hot (typically 500–600 °C) and burnt mainly surface vegetation dominated by herbaceous zygopterid ferns and lycopsids, rather than being produced by forest crown fires. The occurrence and relative abundance of fossil charcoal in marine black shales are significant in that these shales may provide a more continuous record of fire than is preserved in terrestrial environments. Our data support the idea that major fires are not seen in the fossil record until there is both sufficient and connected fuel and a high enough atmospheric O2 content for it to burn.

Effects of Cooking Fuels on Acute Respiratory Infections in Children in Tanzania

PubMed Central

Kilabuko, James H.; Nakai, Satoshi

2007-01-01

Biomass fuels, charcoal and kerosene are the most used cooking fuels in Tanzania. Biomass fuel use has been linked to Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) in children. It is not clear whether the use of charcoal and kerosene has health advantage over biomass fuels. In this study, the effects of biomass fuels, charcoal/kerosene on ARI in children under five years old in Tanzania are quantified and compared based on data from Tanzania Demographic and Health survey conducted between 2004 and 2005. Approximately 85% and 15% of children were from biomass fuels and charcoal/kerosene using homes respectively. Average ARI prevalence was about 11%. The prevalence of ARI across various fuel types used for cooking did not vary much from the national prevalence. Odds ratio for ARI, adjusting for child’s sex, age and place of residence; mother’s education, mother’s age at child birth and household living standard, indicated that the effect of biomass fuels on ARI is the same as the effect of charcoal/kerosene (OR 1.01; 95% CI: 0.78–1.42). The findings suggest that to achieve meaningful reduction of ARI prevalence in Tanzania, a shift from the use of biomass fuels, charcoal and kerosene for cooking to clean fuels such as gas and electricity may be essential. Further studies, however, are needed for concrete policy recommendation. PMID:18180538

77 FR 19694 - Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of Defense, Army Corps of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-02

... objects include 1 lot of fragmented mammal bones; 1 charcoal sample; 1 piece of mussel shell; 1 piece of... objects include 2 pieces of burned mammal bone; 1 burned rodent jaw; 28 pieces of debitage; 8 pipe bowl... other unknown burial numbers. The 658 unassociated funerary artifacts include 1 hollowed bone fragment...

75 FR 5105 - Notice of Inventory Completion: Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum, University of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-01

... associated funerary objects are 2 stone flakes; 5 unmodified stones; 1 bone bipoint; 1 bone tool; 1 bone tube; 5 charcoal samples; 1 core; 1 dog cranium; 1 hammerstone; 2 harpoon points; 5 modified bones; 2... bags); 1 modified shell; 2 unmodified shells; 1 lot unmodified dentalium shells; 2 lots of bone and...

Got a Match? Ion Extraction GC-MS Characterization of Accelerants Adsorbed in Charcoal Using Negative Pressure Dynamic Headspace Concentration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anzivino, Barbara; Tilley, Leon J.; Ingalls, Laura R.; Hall, Adam B.; Drugan, John E.

2009-01-01

An undergraduate organic chemistry experiment demonstrating real-life application of GC-MS to arson accelerant identification is described. Students are given the task of comparing a sample recovered from a "crime scene" to that from a "suspect's clothing". Accelerants subjected to different conditions are recovered using a quick and simple…

Fabrication method and microstructural characteristics of coal-tar-pitch-based 2D carbon/carbon composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Esmaeeli, Mohammad; Khosravi, Hamed; Mirhabibi, Alireza

2015-02-01

The lignin-cellulosic texture of wood was used to produce two-dimensional (2D) carbon/carbon (C/C) composites using coal tar pitch. Ash content tests were conducted to select two samples among the different kinds of woods present in Iran, including walnut, white poplar, cherry, willow, buttonwood, apricots, berry, and blue wood. Walnut and white poplar with ash contents of 1.994wt% and 0.351wt%, respectively, were selected. The behavior of these woods during pyrolysis was investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermo gravimetric (TG) analysis. The bulk density and open porosity were measured after carbonization and densification. The microstructural characteristics of samples were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The results indicate that the density of both the walnut and white poplar is increased, and the open porosity is decreased with the increasing number of carbonization cycles. The XRD patterns of the wood charcoal change gradually with increasing pyrolysis temperature, possibly as a result of the ultra-structural changes in the charcoal or the presence of carbonized coal tar pitch in the composite's body.

An improved protocol for DNA extraction from alkaline soil and sediment samples for constructing metagenomic libraries.

PubMed

Verma, Digvijay; Satyanarayana, T

2011-09-01

An improved single-step protocol has been developed for extracting pure community humic substance-free DNA from alkaline soils and sediments. The method is based on direct cell lysis in the presence of powdered activated charcoal and polyvinylpolypyrrolidone followed by precipitation with polyethyleneglycol and isopropanol. The strategy allows simultaneous isolation and purification of DNA while minimizing the loss of DNA with respect to other available protocols for metagenomic DNA extraction. Moreover, the purity levels are significant, which are difficult to attain with any of the methods reported in the literature for DNA extraction from soils. The DNA thus extracted was free from humic substances and, therefore, could be processed for restriction digestion, PCR amplification as well as for the construction of metagenomic libraries.

Effects of changing hydraulic and organic loading rates on pollutant reduction in bark, charcoal and sand filters treating greywater.

PubMed

Dalahmeh, Sahar S; Pell, Mikael; Hylander, Lars D; Lalander, Cecilia; Vinnerås, Björn; Jönsson, Håkan

2014-01-01

Greywater flows and concentrations vary greatly, thus evaluation and prediction of the response of on-site treatment filters to variable loading regimes is challenging. The performance of 0.6 m × 0.2 m (height × diameter) filters of bark, activated charcoal and sand in reduction of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (Tot-N) and total phosphorus (Tot-P) under variable loading regimes was investigated and modelled. During seven runs, the filters were fed with synthetic greywater at hydraulic loading rates (HLR) of 32-128 L m(-2) day(-1) and organic loading rates (OLR) of 13-76 g BOD5 m(-2) day(-1). Based on the changes in HLR and OLR, the reduction in pollutants was modelled using multiple linear regression. The models showed that increasing the HLR from 32 to 128 L m(-2) day(-1) decreased COD reduction in the bark filters from 74 to 40%, but increased COD reduction in the charcoal and sand filters from 76 to 90% and 65 to 83%, respectively. Moreover, the models showed that increasing the OLR from 13 to 76 g BOD5 m(-2) day(-1) enhanced the pollutant reduction in all filters except for Tot-P in the bark filters, which decreased slightly from 81 to 73%. Decreasing the HLR from 128 to 32 L m(-2) day(-1) enhanced the pollutant reduction in all filters, but decreasing the OLR from 76 to 14 g BOD5 m(-2) day(-1) detached biofilm and decreased the Tot-N and Tot-P reduction in the bark and sand filters. Overall, the bark filters had the capacity to treat high OLR, while the charcoal filters had the capacity to treat high HLR and high OLR. Both bark and charcoal filters had higher capacity than sand filters in dealing with high and variable loads. Bark seems to be an attractive substitute for sand filters in settings short in water and its effluent would be valuable for irrigation, while charcoal filters should be an attractive alternative for settings both rich and short in water supply and when environmental eutrophication has to be considered. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of low level of dietary aflatoxins on baladi rabbits.

PubMed

Abdelhamid, A M; el-Shawaf, I; el-Ayoty, S A; Ali, M M; Gamil, T

1990-01-01

Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 & G2 were administered in a low concentration (100 ppb of each aflatoxin (AN] in a mash offered to Baladi rabbits. An other group of rabbits were fed on the same contaminated mash in addition to 0.25% charcoal (CC). The two groups were compared to control animals fed on AN-free mash. Inclusion of AN in the diet decreased feed and water consumption, body weight and survival rate. Charcoal improved somewhat feed and water consumption and growth rate than AN-group. However, CC-group affected digestibility of organic matter more than AN-group. Relative weights of liver, kidneys, heart and adrenal glands were significantly higher in AN and CC groups than the control group. Blood haemoglobin content, packed cell volume percentage and sedimentation rate were lower in AN group. Although there were an increase in each of serum, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, cholesterol, phospholipids and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase in AN group, yet the serum nitrogen and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase were reduced. Charcoal had alleviated AN-effects concerning N, GPT and phospholipids. Chemical analysis revealed elevation of water, ash and silica contents of liver and water content of muscles from AN-animals. On the other hand, fat content, GOT and vitamin A in the liver as well as muscles ash were reduced. Addition of CC to the diet reduced AN-effects on liver fat, ash and silica but resulted in a rise of the water content of liver and muscles and liver GPT activity. Charcoal also resulted in a sharp decrease in vitamin A content of the liver. Aflatoxin treatments (in AN and CC groups) reduced bone ash, silica and magnesium as well as bone volume. Charcoal administration increased Ca-content of bones. Aflatoxin feeding (in AN group) resulted in a high residual percentage of AN in muscles, serum, liver, heart and kidneys with relationships of 51 :24 : 3 :2 : 1, respectively. Only 1.42% of the fed AN was excreted in the faeces. Charcoal usage had a good effect as it prevented AN to accumulate in the organs. Aflatoxin contaminated diets (in AN and CC groups) resulted in paralysis, disorder of fat deposition, discolouration and haemorrhages of some organs. Scanning electron microscopic examination revealed no ill effect on the surface structure of the small intestine due to either AN or AN + CC. Pathological examination showed that the main affected organs were liver, heart and spleen, respectively. The changes include hepatic round cell infiltration, irregularities of lobular plats, focal necrosis and periportal fibrosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Spatial analysis of charcoal kiln remains in the former royal forest district Tauer (Lower Lusatia, North German Lowlands)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raab, Alexandra; Schneider, Anna; Bonhage, Alexander; Takla, Melanie; Hirsch, Florian; Müller, Frank; Rösler, Horst; Heußner, Karl-Uwe

2016-04-01

Archaeological excavations have revealed more than thousand charcoal kiln remains (CKRs) in the prefield of the active opencast lignite mine Jänschwalde, situated about 150 km SE of Berlin (SE Brandenburg, Germany). The charcoal was mainly produced for the ironwork Peitz nearby, which operated from the 16th to the mid-19th centuries. In a first approach, to estimate the dimension of the charcoal production, CKRs were mapped on shaded-relief maps (SRMs) derived from high-resolution LiDAR data (Raab et al. 2015). Subsequently, for a selected test area, identified CKRs on the SRMs were compared with archaeologically excavated CKRs in the field. This survey showed a considerably number of falsely detected sites. Therefore, the data was critically re-evaluated using additional relief visualisations. Further, we extended the CKR mapping to areas which are not archaeologically investigated. The study area, the former royal forest district Tauer, consists of two separate areas: the Tauersche Heide (c. 96 km2 area) N of Peitz and the area Jänschwalde (c. 32 km2 area) NE of Peitz. The study area is characterized by a flat topography. Different former and current anthropogenic uses (e.g., military training, solar power plant, forestry measures) have affected the study area, resulting in extensive disturbances of the terrain surface. The revised CKR abundance in the study area Jänschwalde was considerably smaller than the numbers produced by our first approach. Further, the CKR mapping revealed, that a total record of the CKRs is not possible for various reasons. Despite these limitations, a solid database can be provided for a much larger area than before. Basic statistic parameters of the CKR diameters and all comparative statistical tests were calculated using SPSS. To detect underlying spatial relationships in the CKR site distribution, we applied the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic, a method to test for local spatial autocorrelation between neighbouring sites. The test is available as part of the ArcGis 10.1 spatial statistics toolbox. The outcomes are discussed in consideration of our archaeological, archival and dendrochronological research results. Raab, A., Takla, M., Raab, T., Nicolay, A., Schneider, A., Rösler, H., et al. (2015). Pre-industrial charcoal production in Lower Lusatia (Brandenburg, Germany): Detection and evaluation of a large charcoal-burning field by combining archaeological studies, GIS-based analyses of shaded-relief maps and dendrochronological age determination. Quaternary International, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.09.041.

Stable-Isotope Perspectives on Holocene Environmental Change at Archaeological Sites in the Middle Tanana Valley, Interior Alaska

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, W. C.; Gaines, E. P.

2010-12-01

Summer of 2009, Colorado State University Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands conducted test excavations of 29 prehistoric archaeological sites situated on a loess-mantled morainal ridge complex within the Jarvis Creek valley of the Tanana River system at Fort Wainwright in Interior Alaska. Initial loess deposition on the moraines began about 13,000 cal yr BP, with subsequent long-term, nomadic occupation of the area occurring from 9,500 to 1,060 cal yr BP. An array of data were extracted from bulk-sediment samples and used to assess past environmental conditions. Parameters and approaches used to generate these data included stable carbon isotope ratios, magnetic susceptibility, biogenic opal analysis, detrital charcoal content, quantitative color (L*a*b), and particle-size distribution. Stable carbon isotope trends, in combination with the other environmental proxy data, document major environmental changes. Data from the glacial till-loess transition and lower silt mantle indicate that the area was cold and slightly mesic, and dominated by treeless C3-dominated grassland immediately after the terminal Pleistocene glacial retreat (~12,700 cal yr BP). A dearth of particulate charcoal and charred phytoliths from sediments of this period suggests a minor role for fire, e.g., only localized, small fires. Cold, treeless environmental conditions continued throughout the Early Holocene (~12,000-7,000 cal yr BP), though it was more mesic than earlier. Middle Holocene (~7000-5000 cal yr BP) data display a shift in C3 grass species (increased δ13C values), the appearance of a shrub component to the plant community, significant surface stability, and more widespread fire occurrence. Picea glauca (white spruce) and Alnus sp. (alder) appear in the later parts of the Middle Holocene, and charcoal concentration increases. The Late Holocene (since ~5,000 cal yr BP) witnessed a decline in P. glauca by about 50%, a tenfold increase in Alnus, and the appearance of Betula sp. (birch). Further increases in isotope values and high frequencies of algal statospores in the surface soil (last ~2500 yrs) indicate that the soil has remained moist throughout most of the growing season due to rain and snowmelt. Also, a 4.5-fold increase in charcoal concentration and increase in charcoal particle size suggest common, local fires in the latter part of the Holocene, the period during which the modern vegetative community was established.

Integrating pH, substrate, and plant regrowth effects on soil nitrogen cycling after fire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hanan, E. J.; Schimel, J.; Tague, C.; D'Antonio, C. M.

2014-12-01

Mediterranean-type ecosystems are structured by fire. In California chaparral, fires uncouple N production and consumption by enhancing nitrification and reducing plant uptake. NO3- that accumulates after fire is vulnerable to leaching. However, the extent to which fires decouple N fluxes can vary spatially and with timing of fire, and the specific mechanisms controlling N metabolism in recovering chaparral are not well understood. We combined empirical analysis and modeling in two chaparral watersheds to better understand how these systems recover from fire, and to explore their sensitivity to changing climate and fire regimes. To evaluate how pH, charcoal, and NH4+ supply influence N cycling, we measured mineralization and nitrification rates in chaparral soils that burned 1, 4, 20 and 40 years prior to sampling. We then experimentally adjusted pH, charcoal, and NH4+ concentrations for all soils in a factorial design, and incubated them for 8 weeks. Each week, we measured respiration, exchangeable NH4+ and NO3- content, nitrification potential, microbial biomass, and pH. Then to project the effects of altered precipitation patterns and fire timing on nitrogen dynamics and recovery, we used the hydro-biogeochemical model RHESSys. Fires were imposed at the beginning and end of the growing season under various climates. NO3- production was highest in soils collected from the most recently burned sites. Also, NO3- concentrations increased over the course of incubation in soils from all sites, especially at high pH, and with NH4+ addition. Charcoal slightly augmented the effects of elevated pH and NH4+ on NO3- production iduring the early stages of incubation in 1 and 4-year old sites, while it slightly dampened their effects by week 8. However, in 20 and 40-year old sites, charcoal had no effect. Overall, nitrification was most powerfully constrained by NH4+ supply. However, increases in pH that occur after fire may enhance nitrification rates when substrate is available. Also, charcoal might enhance N cycling immediately after fire, perhaps by supplying C to microbes, but impacts are short-lived. Modeling results suggest that soil acidity and rapid plant recovery reduce leaching. However, during drought and temperature extremes nutrients pools recover more slowly when fires occur prior to the hot, dry summer.

Surface changes of enamel after brushing with charcoal toothpaste

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pertiwi, U. I.; Eriwati, Y. K.; Irawan, B.

2017-08-01

The aim of this study was to determine the surface roughness changes of tooth enamel after brushing with charcoal toothpaste. Thirty specimens were brushed using distilled water (the first group), Strong® Formula toothpaste (the second group), and Charcoal® Formula toothpaste for four minutes and 40 seconds (equivalent to one month) and for 14 minutes (equivalent to three months) using a soft fleece toothbrush with a mass of 150 gr. The roughness was measured using a surface roughness tester, and the results were tested with repeated ANOVA test and one-way ANOVA. The value of the surface roughness of tooth enamel was significantly different (p<0.05) after brushing for an equivalent of one month and an equivalent of three months. Using toothpaste containing charcoal can increase the surface roughness of tooth enamel.

Recovery of Technetium Adsorbed on Charcoal

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Engelmann, Mark D.; Metz, Lori A.; Ballou, Nathan E.

2006-05-01

Two methods capable of near complete recovery of technetium adsorbed on charcoal are presented. The first involves liquid extraction of the technetium from the charcoal by hot 4M nitric acid. An average recovery of 98% (n=3) is obtained after three rounds of extraction. The second method involves dry ashing with air in a quartz combustion tube at 400-450 C. This method yields an average recovery of 96% (n=5). Other thermal methods were attempted, but resulted in reduced recovery and incomplete material balance

Reconstructing past environments and societies - interdisciplinary research in the open cast mine Jänschwalde, Germany

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raab, A.; Raab, T.; Takla, M.; Nicolay, A.; Müller, F.; Rösler, H.; Bönisch, E.

2012-04-01

Active lignite mines in Lower Lusatia (Brandenburg, Germany) are a controversial discussed issue. Though lignite mining destroys whole landscapes, it offers the opportunity to investigate prehistory and landscape development on a landscape scale. Since 2010 scientists from Brandenburgische Technische Universität (BTU) Cottbus and archaeologists from Brandenburgisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologisches Landesmuseum (BLDAM) collaborate to study human-environment interactions. Our study area is the open cast mine Jänschwalde, one out of four active lignite mines in Lower Lusatia. The mine is situated c. 150 km southeast of Berlin. Archaeological excavations have been carried out in the prefield over many years and the outcome is manifold. Different approaches are combined for a comprehensive reconstruction: archaeological investigations, geomorphological/pedological studies and historical research. The archaeological fieldwork includes prospection, the opening of test trenches and area excavations. These outcrop situations provide a view into the stratigraphy and are to some extent commonly used for archaeological and sedimentological/pedological studies. In addition, chronological information is obtained by different methods of relative and absolute (14C, OSL, dendrochronological) age determination. To build up a model for the landscape development, data (topographical maps, historical maps, physiogeographical information, etc.) is gathered and processed. The initial situation for our research is the historic charcoal burning in the former "königliche Taubendorfer Forst" and its impact on the environment. In the study area, this trade was carried out from the c. 17th to the 19th century and is very well documented by about 700 excavated ground plans of circular upright kilns and another c. 300 prospected kilns. It is assumed that charcoal was produced for the smelter at Peitz nearby, where bog iron ore was processed since 1567. There is sedimentological proof of the relationship of logging for wood/deforestation and the formation of wind-blown deposits. In addition, sedimentological/pedological studies of several test trenches (up to 150 m long and up to 150 cm deep) show that buried plough horizons are widespread. First results of radiocarbon dating of charcoal fragments from buried Ap horizons date to the Slavic middle ages (600-1200 AD). It is assumed that the eolian activity was triggered by deforestation and agricultural use. In conclusion, our results suggest that there are two major periods with eolian activity induced by human impact: the first period was caused by the extending agriculture during the Slavic middle ages (600-1200 AD) and the second period was induced by deforestation for charcoal burning between the 17th and 19th century. Future research concentrates on unanswered questions like to what extent the landscape was changed by human impact and the consequences for the environment (soil loss, water balance, vegetation) and for the population. Furthermore, absolute and relative age determinations are needed to supplement the chronology information. For a comprehensive understanding, especially concerning the charcoal burning in the study area, archival studies are carried out. The obtained data will be used to build up a GIS-based model of the paleoenvironment and it is intended to extend the model spatially and temporally.

Kinetic Modeling of the Reaction Rate for Quartz and Carbon Pellet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Fei; Tangstad, Merete

2018-04-01

Kinetic modeling of quartz and carbon pellet at temperatures of 1898 K, 1923 K, and 1948 K (1625 °C, 1650 °C, and 1675 °C) was investigated in this study. The carbon materials used were charcoal, coke, coal, and preheated coal. The overall SiC producing reaction can be described by the reaction SiO2 + 3C = SiC + 2CO. In the SiC-producing step, the reaction rate of quartz and carbon pellet can be expressed as {d{ pct}}/dt = ( {1 - 0.40 × X_{fix - C}^{ - 0.86} × FC × {pct}} ) × A × \\exp ( { - E/{{RT}}} ) The carbon factor F C was used to describe the influence of different carbon materials that effect the gas-solid interface reaction. For charcoal, coke, coal, and preheated coal, the F C values were 0.83, 0.80, 0.94, and 0.83, respectively. The pre-exponential factor A values for the preceding four carbon materials were 1.06 × 1016 min-1, 4.21 × 1015 min-1, 3.85 × 109 min-1, and 1.00 × 1025 min-1, respectively. The activation energies E for the SiC-producing step were 570, 563, 336, and 913 kJ/mole for charcoal, coke, coal, and preheated coal pellets, respectively.

Quality of charcoal produced using micro gasification and how the new cook stove works in rural Kenya

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Njenga, Mary; Mahmoud, Yahia; Mendum, Ruth; Iiyama, Muyiki; Jamnadass, Ramni; Roing de Nowina, Kristina; Sundberg, Cecilia

2016-09-01

Wood based energy is the main source of cooking and heating fuel in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its use rises as the population increases. Inefficient cook stoves result in fuel wastage and health issues associated with smoke in the kitchen. As users are poor women, they tend not to be consulted on cook stove development, hence the need for participatory development of efficient woodfuel cooking systems. This paper presents the findings of a study carried out in Embu, Kenya to assess energy use efficiency and concentrations of carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter from charcoal produced using gasifier cook stoves, compared to conventional wood charcoal. Charcoal made from Grevillea robusta prunings, Zea mays cob (maize cob) and Cocos nucifera (coconut shells) had calorific values of 26.5 kJ g-1, 28.7 kJ g-1 and 31.7 kJ g-1 respectively, which are comparable to conventional wood charcoal with calorific values of 33.1 kJ g-1. Cooking with firewood in a gasifier cook stove and use of the resultant charcoal as by-product to cook another meal in a conventional charcoal stove saved 41% of the amount of fuel compared to cooking with firewood in the traditional three stone open fire. Cooking with firewood based on G. robusta prunings in the traditional open fire resulted in a concentration of fine particulate matter of 2600 μg m-3, which is more than 100 times greater than from cooking with charcoal made from G. robusta prunings in a gasifier. Thirty five percent of households used the gasifier for cooking dinner and lunch, and cooks preferred using it for food that took a short time to prepare. Although the gasifier cook stove is energy and emission efficient there is a need for it to be developed further to better suit local cooking preferences. The energy transition in Africa will have to include cleaner and more sustainable wood based cooking systems.

Assessing the spatial representability of charcoal and PAH-based paleofire records with integrated GIS, modelling, and empirical approaches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vachula, R. S.; Huang, Y.; Russell, J. M.

2017-12-01

Lake sediment-based fire reconstructions offer paleoenvironmental context in which to assess modern fires and predict future burning. However, despite the ubiquity, many uncertainties remain regarding the taphonomy of paleofire proxies and the spatial scales for which they record variations in fire history. Here we present down-core proxy analyses of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and three size-fractions of charcoal (63-150, >150 and >250 μm) from Swamp Lake, California, an annually laminated lacustrine archive. Using a statewide historical GIS dataset of area burned, we assess the spatial scales for which these proxies are reliable recorders of fire history. We find that the coherence of observed and proxy-recorded fire history inherently depends upon spatial scale. Contrary to conventional thinking that charcoal mainly records local fires, our results indicate that macroscopic charcoal (>150 μm) may record spatially broader (<25 km) changes in fire history, and as such, the coarsest charcoal particles (>250 μm) may be a more conservative proxy for local burning. We find that sub-macroscopic charcoal particles (63-150 μm) reliably record regional (up to 150 km) changes in fire history. These results indicate that charcoal-based fire reconstructions may represent spatially broader fire history than previously thought, which has major implications for our understanding of spatiotemporal paleofire variations. Our analyses of PAHs show that dispersal mobility is heterogeneous between compounds, but that PAH fluxes are reliable proxies of fire history within 25-50 km, which suggests PAHs may be a better spatially constrained paleofire proxy than sedimentary charcoal. Further, using a linear discriminant analysis model informed by modern emissions analyses, we show that PAH assemblages preserved in lake sediments can differentiate vegetation type burned, and are thus promising paleoecological biomarkers warranting further research and implementation. In sum, our analyses offer new insight into the spatial dimensions of paleofire proxies and constitute a methodology that can be applied to other locations and proxies to better inform site-specific reconstructions.

Radiocarbon dating of silica sinter deposits in shallow drill cores from the Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lowenstern, Jacob B.; Hurwitz, Shaul; McGeehin, John

2016-01-01

To explore the timing of hydrothermal activity at the Upper Geyser Basin (UGB) in Yellowstone National Park, we obtained seven new accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon 14C ages of carbonaceous material trapped within siliceous sinter. Five samples came from depths of 15–152 cm within the Y-1 well, and two samples were from well Y-7 (depths of 24 cm and 122 cm). These two wells, at Black Sand and Biscuit Basins, respectively, were drilled in 1967 as part of a scientific drilling program by the U.S. Geological Survey (White et al., 1975). Even with samples as small as 15 g, we obtained sufficient carbonaceous material (a mixture of thermophilic mats, pollen, and charcoal) for the 14C analyses. Apparent time of deposition ranged from 3775 ± 25 and 2910 ± 30 14C years BP at the top of the cores to about 8000 years BP at the bottom. The dates are consistent with variable rates of sinter formation at individual sites within the UGB over the Holocene. On a basin-wide scale, though, these and other existing 14C dates hint that hydrothermal activity at the UGB may have been continuous throughout the Holocene.

Cryopreservation of redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) in vitro buds using vitrification-based techniques.

PubMed

Ozudogru, E A; Kirdok, E; Kaya, E; Capuana, M; Benelli, C; Engelmann, E

2011-01-01

In this study, the efficiency of three vitrification-based cryopreservation techniques, i.e. vitrification, encapsulation-vitrification and droplet-vitrification were compared for cryopreserving Sequoia sempervirens apical and basal buds sampled from in vitro shoot cultures. The effect of cold-hardening of mother-plants and of bud culture medium and sucrose preculture was also investigated. Culture of apical and basal buds sampled from cold-hardened mother-plants on Quoirin and Lepoivre medium with activated charcoal had a positive effect on regrowth. Only droplet-vitrification ensured survival and regrowth after cryopreservation. After cryopreservation, regeneration of apical buds was possible for PVS2 exposure durations between 90 and 180 min but it remained low, with a maximum of 18 percent after 135 min treatment. With basal buds, regeneration after cryopreservation was possible over a larger range of PVS2 treatment durations, between 30 and 180 min. The highest regeneration percentage was slightly higher (22 percent) than that measured with apical buds, and was also achieved after 135 min PVS2 exposure.

High-resolution radon monitoring and hydrodynamics at Mount Vesuvius

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cigolini, Corrado; Salierno, Francesco; Gervino, Gianpiero; Bergese, Paolo; Marino, Ciro; Russo, Massimo; Prati, Paolo; Ariola, Vincenzo; Bonetti, Roberto; Begnini, Stefania

A yearlong high-resolution radon survey has been carried on at Mount Vesuvius, starting in May 1998. Radon activities were acquired by exposing charcoal canisters and track-etch detectors. Sampling stations were deployed along two major summit faults and around the caldera bottom. Volcanically-related earthquakes, with MD ≥ 2.5, may be discriminated from regional seismic events since their cumulative radon anomalies are recorded from stations located along all the above structural features. On the contrary, radon anomalies correlated to regional earthquakes, with MD ≥ 4, are essentially recorded by the sampling sites located along the two summit faults (whose roots extend deeper into the Tertiary basement rocks that underlay the volcano). Radon migration to the surface is ruled by convection within a porous medium of relatively low porosity (ϕ ≈ 10-5), suggesting that fluid motion is strongly localised along fractures. It is suggested that fluid pressure build up, followed by fluid release and migration during incipient fracturing of the porous medium, precede the onset of volcanically-induced earthquakes.

40 CFR Appendix S to Part 51 - Emission Offset Interpretative Ruling

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... included in NAICS codes 325193 or 312140; (u) Fossil-fuel boilers (or combination thereof) totaling more... fiber processing plants; (y) Charcoal production plants; (z) Fossil fuel-fired steam electric plants of... and PM10 emissions shall include gaseous emissions from a source or activity which condense to form...

40 CFR Appendix S to Part 51 - Emission Offset Interpretative Ruling

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... included in NAICS codes 325193 or 312140; (u) Fossil-fuel boilers (or combination thereof) totaling more... fiber processing plants; (y) Charcoal production plants; (z) Fossil fuel-fired steam electric plants of... source or activity, which condense to form particulate matter at ambient temperatures. On or after...

40 CFR Appendix S to Part 51 - Emission Offset Interpretative Ruling

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... included in NAICS codes 325193 or 312140; (u) Fossil-fuel boilers (or combination thereof) totaling more... fiber processing plants; (y) Charcoal production plants; (z) Fossil fuel-fired steam electric plants of... source or activity, which condense to form particulate matter at ambient temperatures. On or after...

40 CFR Appendix S to Part 51 - Emission Offset Interpretative Ruling

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... included in NAICS codes 325193 or 312140; (u) Fossil-fuel boilers (or combination thereof) totaling more... fiber processing plants; (y) Charcoal production plants; (z) Fossil fuel-fired steam electric plants of... and PM10 emissions shall include gaseous emissions from a source or activity which condense to form...

40 CFR Appendix S to Part 51 - Emission Offset Interpretative Ruling

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... included in NAICS codes 325193 or 312140; (u) Fossil-fuel boilers (or combination thereof) totaling more... fiber processing plants; (y) Charcoal production plants; (z) Fossil fuel-fired steam electric plants of... and PM10 emissions shall include gaseous emissions from a source or activity which condense to form...

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hyman, E.L.

Efforts at promoting more fuel-efficient charcoal stoves to replace traditional charcoal stoves in Kenya offer some lessons for the dissemination of appropriate technologies. This paper looks at the market-based approach which has made the Kenyan charcoal stoves project a success. Trends in woodfuels (wood and charcoal) consumption in Kenya are identified; the traditional technology for charcoal combustion and the upgraded traditional technologies are described; production achievement and the dissemination and promotion strategy used are examined; and a financial and economic analysis is performed with social, health and environmental effects assessed. Other ways to achieve a more favourable balance between woodfuelsmore » consumption and supply are then discussed looking at more efficient charcoal kilns and household woodstoves, improved institutional stoves and increased wood production. The replication potential of the Kenya experiment in other countries is also explored. The lessons learnt from the the Kenya experience concern the relationship between technology, choice and delivery systems as they interact with, economic, institutional, and policy factors. In this case, the design work accepted the traditional technology as a starting point which helped ensure widespread acceptance by households. The potential desirability of relying on local artisans to manufacture consumer durables using existing private sector channels to market these goods is also shown. It also highlights the importance of going beyond a laissez-faire approach and supporting training, demonstration, and publicity to faciliate the workings of the private sector. In the Kenyan case, technology choice was relatively unsubsidized and left ot the preferences of consumers.« less

[Effect of biochar addition on soil evaporation.

PubMed

Xu, Jian; Niu, Wen Quan; Zhang, Ming Zhi; Li, Yuan; Lyu, Wang; Li, Kang-Yong; Zou, Xiao-Yang; Liang, Bo-Hui

2016-11-18

In order to determine the rational amount of biochar application and its effect on soil hydrological processes in arid area, soil column experiments were conducted in the laboratory using three biochar additions (5%, 10% and 15%) and four different biochar types (d<0.25 mm bamboo charcoal, 0.25 mm

75 FR 26988 - Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-13

... counted items are 78 faunal bone fragments, 1,326 pieces of mammal bone, 9 fish bones, 5 pieces of bird bone, 114 pieces of charcoal, 5 olivella shell beads, 43 basalt and cryptocrystalline/chert tools, and 1 piece of fire cracked rock. The 78 lots or samples are 43 weighed lots of mammal bone (2,564 grams...

JHK photometry of selected Trojan and Hilda asteroids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Dale W.; Johnson, Paul E.; Buckingham, William L.; Shorthill, Richard W.

1992-01-01

No entirely satisfactory match has been established between the present JHK photometry of selected Hilda and Trojan asteroids and photometry for both main belt asteroids and laboratory samples. It is noted that while the leading Trojans and Hildas exhibit similar and homogeneous JHK colors, the trailing Trojans appear to be more heterogeneous. Charcoal and magnetite provide the best match in terms of JHK colors.

The charcoal trap: Miombo forests and the energy needs of people

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background This study evaluates the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas fluxes to the atmosphere resulting from charcoal production in Zambia. It combines new biomass and flux data from a study, that was conducted in a miombo woodland within the Kataba Forest Reserve in the Western Province of Zambia, with data from other studies. Results The measurements at Kataba compared protected area (3 plots) with a highly disturbed plot outside the forest reserve and showed considerably reduced biomass after logging for charcoal production. The average aboveground biomass content of the reserve (Plots 2-4) was around 150 t ha-1, while the disturbed plot only contained 24 t ha-1. Soil carbon was not reduced significantly in the disturbed plot. Two years of eddy covariance measurements resulted in net ecosystem exchange values of -17 ± 31 g C m-2 y-1, in the first and 90 ± 16 g C m-2 in the second year. Thus, on the basis of these two years of measurement, there is no evidence that the miombo woodland at Kataba represents a present-day carbon sink. At the country level, it is likely that deforestation for charcoal production currently leads to a per capita emission rate of 2 - 3 t CO2 y-1. This is due to poor forest regeneration, although the resilience of miombo woodlands is high. Better post-harvest management could change this situation. Conclusions We argue that protection of miombo woodlands has to account for the energy demands of the population. The production at national scale that we estimated converts into 10,000 - 15,000 GWh y-1 of energy in the charcoal. The term "Charcoal Trap" we introduce, describes the fact that this energy supply has to be substituted when woodlands are protected. One possible solution, a shift in energy supply from charcoal to electricity, would reduce the pressure of forests but requires high investments into grid and power generation. Since Zambia currently cannot generate this money by itself, the country will remain locked in the charcoal trap such as many other of its African neighbours. The question arises whether and how money and technology transfer to increase regenerative electrical power generation should become part of a post-Kyoto process. Furthermore, better inventory data are urgently required to improve knowledge about the current state of the woodland usage and recovery. Net greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced substantially by improving the post-harvest management, charcoal production technology and/or providing alternative energy supply. PMID:21854587

Recovery of oxygenated ignitable liquids by zeolites, Part I: Novel extraction methodology in fire debris analysis.

PubMed

St Pierre, Kathryne A; Desiderio, Vincent J; Hall, Adam B

2014-07-01

The recovery of low molecular weight oxygenates in fire debris samples is severely compromised by the use of heated passive headspace concentration with an activated charcoal strip, as outlined in ASTM E-1412. The term "oxygenate" is defined herein as a small, polar, organic molecule, such as acetone, methanol, ethanol, or isopropanol, which can be employed as an ignitable liquid and referred to in the ASTM classification scheme as the "oxygenated solvents" class. Although a well accepted technique, the higher affinity of activated carbon strips for heavy molecular weight products over low molecular weight products and hydrocarbons over oxygenated products, it does not allow for efficient recovery of oxygenates such as low molecular weight alcohols and acetone. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a novel method for the enhanced recovery of oxygenates from fire debris samples. By optimizing conditions of the heated passive headspace technique, the utilization of zeolites allowed for the successful collection and concentration of oxygenates. The results demonstrated that zeolites increased the recovery of oxygenates by at least 1.5-fold compared to the activated carbon strip and may complement the currently used extraction technique. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Wildfires in the Triassic of Gondwana Paraná Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cardoso, Daiane dos Santos; Mizusaki, Ana Maria Pimentel; Guerra-Sommer, Margot; Menegat, Rualdo; Barili, Rosalia; Jasper, André; Uhl, Dieter

2018-03-01

This first report of wildfires from an association of facies containing a Dicroidium flora is made from the Upper Triassic (Carnian age) in the southern part of the Paraná Basin (Santa Maria Supersequence, Rio Grande do Sul state). The geographical extension of the Dicroidium plant assemblage is augmented in Brazilian Gondwana. Field work followed by organic petrography (inertinite reflectance), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), revealed charcoal presence in a section located in Pinheiro Machado town. Macroscopic charcoal is represented by three-dimensional wood specimens assigned to gymnosperms, with coniferous affinities and by flattened, thin, elongated remains corresponding to rachises of Dicroidium. Average reflectance values between 2.80 and 6.61 %Ro measured in the macroscopic charcoals evidence high temperature burning processes, involving fires both in the crown and in the crown-surface interface. The occurrence of charcoal in distinct and subsequent facies of the studied section indicates wildfires, which affected hinterland, meso-xerophyllous coniferous assemblages and marginal hygro-mesophyllous Dicroidium-like assemblages. The integration of results from the charcoal analyses is consistent with an atmospheric oxygen content higher than 18.5% and fuel enough to generate wildfires during the Triassic of Gondwana.

Refinement of the charcoal meal study by reduction of the fasting period.

PubMed

Prior, Helen; Ewart, Lorna; Bright, Jonathan; Valentin, Jean-Pierre

2012-05-01

The aim of this investigation was to determine whether a shorter fasting period than the one historically employed for the charcoal meal test, could be used when measuring gastric emptying and intestinal transit within the same animal, and to ascertain whether the scientific outcome would be affected by this benefit to animal welfare. Rats and mice were fasted for 0, 3, 6 or 18 hours before the oral administration of vehicle or atropine. One hour later, the animals were orally administered a charcoal meal, then 20 minutes later, they were killed and the stomach and small intestine were removed. Intestinal transit time (the position of the charcoal front as a percentage of the total length of the small intestine) and relative gastric emptying (weight of stomach contents) were measured. Rats and mice fasted for six hours showed results for gastric emptying and intestinal transit which were similar to those obtained in animals fasted for 18 hours. Reducing the fasting period reduced the body weight loss in both species, and mice on shorter fasts could be group-housed, as hunger-induced fighting was lessened. Therefore, a fasting period of six hours was subsequently adopted for charcoal meal studies at our institution. 2011 FRAME.

Mixing of acacia bark and palm shells to increase caloric value of palm shells white charcoal briquette

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurniawan, Edy Wibowo; Amirta, Rudianto; Budiarso, Edy; Arung, Enos Tangke

2017-06-01

Indonesia is greatly rich in biomass resources. Acacia bark waste utilization as a source of biomass is still very low, where as 10-20% of the potential of the wood. On the other hand waste palm shells have been partly utilized as boiler fuel oil plant as much as 62.4%, but the rest is still a waste pile or to the hardening of the estate path. This study aims to determine the effect of mixing an acacia bark with palm shells to increase the calorific value of palm shell white charcoal briquettes. The study was conducted by making white charcoal briquettes mixing 7% the acacia bark against of palm shells. As well as white charcoal briquettes control without any acacia bark. Then molds the briquettes in pyrolysis temperature at 600 ° C, 700 ° C and 800 ° C for pyrolysis time within 2 hours, 4 hours, and 6 hours. And the results of briquettes analysis in calorific value. The results showed that the caloric value of palm shell white charcoal briquettes increased from 29691.14 Kcal / kg to 31941.50 Kcal / kg.

Camphor intoxication treated by charcoal haemoperfusion

PubMed Central

Mascie-Taylor, Brian H.; Widdop, Brian; Davison, Alexander M.

1981-01-01

A case of camphor intoxication in which lipid haemodialysis and charcoal haemoperfusion were applied is described. Although the patient recovered rapidly with no resultant sequelae, the analytical data indicated that extra-corporeal therapy was ineffective. PMID:7339609

INTERIOR DETAIL, STOVE. SMALL CHARCOAL FIRES WERE LIT IN THE ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

INTERIOR DETAIL, STOVE. SMALL CHARCOAL FIRES WERE LIT IN THE DEPRESSIONS, WHICH WERE COVERED WITH IRON GRATES TO SUSPEND POTS OVER THE HEAT SOURCE - The Woodlands, 4000 Woodlands Avenue, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

75 FR 80849 - Notice of Initial Determination Revising the List of Products Requiring Federal Contractor...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-23

..., Reporter Brasil, the Citizens' Charcoal Institute (ICC), and the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT), indicate... Brasil, the Citizens' Charcoal Institute (ICC), and the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT), indicate that...

Radon as a natural tracer for gas transport within uranium waste rock piles.

PubMed

Silva, N C; Chagas, E G L; Abreu, C B; Dias, D C S; Lopez, D; Guerreiro, E T Z; Alberti, H L C; Braz, M L; Branco, O; Fleming, P

2014-07-01

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has been identified as the main cause for outflow of acid water and radioactive/non-radioactive contaminants. AMD encompasses pyrites oxidation when water and oxygen are available. AMD was identified in uranium waste rock piles (WRPs) of Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil-Caldas facility (Brazilian uranium mine), resulting in high costs for water treatment. AMD reduction is the main challenge, and scientific investigation has been conducted to understand oxygen and water transportation within WRPs, where 222Rn is used as natural tracer for oxygen transportation. The study consists of soil radon gas mapping in the top layer of WRP4 using active soil gas pumping, radon adsorption in active charcoal and 222Rn determination using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. A sampling network of 71 points was built where samples were collected at a depth of 40 cm. Soil radon gas concentration ranged from 33.7 to 1484.2 kBq m(-3) with mean concentration of 320.7±263.3 kBq m(-3). © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Radioimmunoanalysis of delta-9-THC in blood by means of an /sup 125/I tracer. [Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Owens, S.M.; McBay, A.J.; Reisner, H.M.

A radioimmunoassay for delta-9-THC in plasma, whole blood, or hemolyzed blood specimens has been presented. Samples and standards were diluted with methanol and centrifuged. An aliquot of the supernatant fluid was incubated with RIA buffer, /sup 125/I-labeled delta-8-THC and rabbit anti-THC serum. Solid phase goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulins were added to separate bound from free THC. After centrifugation the supernatant fluid was aspirated and the radioactivity of the precipitate was counted in a gamma counter. The concentration of THC was calculated from a standard curve using the logit-log transformation of the average counts of duplicate tubes. The assay had several advantages.more » Methanol dilution gave better results than direct analysis. The /sup 125/I-labeled THC had high specific activity and could be counted in a gamma counter. The immunological separation of antibody-bound THC from free THC was better than separation techniques using ammonium sulfate and activated charcoal. THC was determined in 0.1 ml of sample with a sensitivity of 1.5 ng/ml in plasma and 3.0 ng/ml in hemolyzed blood.« less

Gestational Exposure as Epigenetic Modifier of Breast Cancer Risk

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-10-01

were cultured for 72 h in control phenol red-free media (DMEM for MCF-7; RPMI for UACC-31299) supplemented with 10 % charcoal-stripped FCS in the...phenol red-free media RPMI supplemented with 10 % charcoal-stripped FCS in the presence or absence of 10 nM E2, alone or in combination with 2 μM αNF. A...in control phenol red-free media RPMI supplemented with 10 % charcoal- stripped FCS in the presence or absence of 10 nM E2, alone or in

Signatures of Biomass Burning Aerosols in the Plume of a Saltmarsh Wildfire in South Texas.

PubMed

Myers-Pigg, Allison N; Griffin, Robert J; Louchouarn, Patrick; Norwood, Matthew J; Sterne, Amanda; Cevik, Basak Karakurt

2016-09-06

The most conventional and abundant tracers of biomass combustion in aerosol particles include potassium and biomarkers derived from thermally altered cellulose/hemicellulose (anhydrosugars) and lignin (methoxyphenols). However, little is known of the role biomass combustion plays as a particulate source of major plant polymers to the atmosphere. Here, concentrations of solvent-extractable anhydrosugars and methoxyphenols are compared to the yields of polymeric lignin oxidation products (LOPs) during a smoke plume event in Houston, Texas. Downwind aerosol samples (PM2.5) were collected surrounding a two-day wildfire in the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, 125 km southeast of Houston, which was 12-16 h directly downwind during the peak of the burn. Concentrations of all organic markers, potassium, and calcium increased by a factor of 2-13 within 1-2 days of the start of the fire and dropped to prefire levels 3 days after the peak event. Source signatures of anhydrosugars and methoxyphenols during the peak of the plume were identical to those of grass charcoals collected from the site, confirming the use of charcoals as end-members for source input reconstruction during atmospheric transport. An enrichment factor of 20 in the anhydrosugar to methoxyphenol ratio of aerosols versus charcoals can be explained partially by differences in degradation rate constants between the biomarker groups. LOPs comprised 73-91% of all lignin material in the aerosols, pointing to fires as major sources of primary biogenic aerosol particles in which lignin phenols occur predominantly in polymeric form.

Detection of trace amount of arsenic in groundwater by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and adsorption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haider, A. F. M. Y.; Hedayet Ullah, M.; Khan, Z. H.; Kabir, Firoza; Abedin, K. M.

2014-03-01

LIBS technique coupled with adsorption has been applied for the efficient detection of arsenic in liquid. Several adsorbents like tea leaves, bamboo slice, charcoal and zinc oxide have been used to enable sensitive detection of arsenic presence in water using LIBS. Among these, zinc oxide and charcoal show the better results. The detection limits for arsenic in water were 1 ppm and 8 ppm, respectively, when ZnO and charcoal were used as adsorbents of arsenic. To date, the determination of 1 ppm of As in water is the lowest concentration of detected arsenic in water by the LIBS technique. The detection limit of As was lowered to even less than 100 ppb by a combination of LIBS technique, adsorption by ZnO and concentration enhancement technique. Using the combination of these three techniques the ultimate concentration of arsenic was found to be 0.083 ppm (83 ppb) for arsenic polluted water collected from a tube-well of Farajikandi union (longitude 90.64°, latitude 23.338° north) of Matlab Upozila of Chandpur district in Bangladesh. This result compares fairly well with the finding of arsenic concentration of 0.078 ppm in the sample by the AAS technique at the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) lab. Such a low detection limit (1 ppm) of trace elements in liquid matrix has significantly enhanced the scope of LIBS as an analytical tool.

Regional changes in charcoal-burning suicide rates in East/Southeast Asia from 1995 to 2011: a time trend analysis.

PubMed

Chang, Shu-Sen; Chen, Ying-Yeh; Yip, Paul S F; Lee, Won Jin; Hagihara, Akihito; Gunnell, David

2014-04-01

Suicides by carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from burning barbecue charcoal reached epidemic levels in Hong Kong and Taiwan within 5 y of the first reported cases in the early 2000s. The objectives of this analysis were to investigate (i) time trends and regional patterns of charcoal-burning suicide throughout East/Southeast Asia during the time period 1995-2011 and (ii) whether any rises in use of this method were associated with increases in overall suicide rates. Sex- and age-specific trends over time were also examined to identify the demographic groups showing the greatest increases in charcoal-burning suicide rates across different countries. We used data on suicides by gases other than domestic gas for Hong Kong, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore in the years 1995/1996-2011. Similar data for Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand were also extracted but were incomplete. Graphical and joinpoint regression analyses were used to examine time trends in suicide, and negative binomial regression analysis to study sex- and age-specific patterns. In 1995/1996, charcoal-burning suicides accounted for <1% of all suicides in all study countries, except in Japan (5%), but they increased to account for 13%, 24%, 10%, 7%, and 5% of all suicides in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore, respectively, in 2011. Rises were first seen in Hong Kong after 1998 (95% CI 1997-1999), followed by Singapore in 1999 (95% CI 1998-2001), Taiwan in 2000 (95% CI 1999-2001), Japan in 2002 (95% CI 1999-2003), and the Republic of Korea in 2007 (95% CI 2006-2008). No marked increases were seen in Malaysia, the Philippines, or Thailand. There was some evidence that charcoal-burning suicides were associated with an increase in overall suicide rates in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan (for females), but not in Japan (for males), the Republic of Korea, and Singapore. Rates of change in charcoal-burning suicide rate did not differ by sex/age group in Taiwan and Hong Kong but appeared to be greatest in people aged 15-24 y in Japan and people aged 25-64 y in the Republic of Korea. The lack of specific codes for charcoal-burning suicide in the International Classification of Diseases and variations in coding practice in different countries are potential limitations of this study. Charcoal-burning suicides increased markedly in some East/Southeast Asian countries (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore) in the first decade of the 21st century, but such rises were not experienced by all countries in the region. In countries with a rise in charcoal-burning suicide rates, the timing, scale, and sex/age pattern of increases varied by country. Factors underlying these variations require further investigation, but may include differences in culture or in media portrayals of the method. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.

Logs of Paleoseismic Excavations Across the Central Range Fault, Trinidad

USGS Publications Warehouse

Crosby, Christopher J.; Prentice, Carol S.; Weber, John; Ragona, Daniel

2009-01-01

This publication makes available maps and trench logs associated with studies of the Central Range Fault, part of the South American-Caribbean plate boundary in Trinidad. Our studies were conducted in 2001 and 2002. We mapped geomorphic features indicative of active faulting along the right-lateral, Central Range Fault, part of the South American-Caribbean plate boundary in Trinidad. We excavated trenches at two sites, the Samlalsingh and Tabaquite sites. At the Samlalsingh site, sediments deposited after the most recent fault movement bury the fault, and the exact location of the fault was unknown until we exposed it in our excavations. At this site, we excavated a total of eleven trenches, six of which exposed the fault. The trenches exposed fluvial sediments deposited over a strath terrace developed on Miocene bedrock units. We cleaned the walls of the excavations, gridded the walls with either 1 m X 1 m or 1 m X 0.5 m nail and string grid, and logged the walls in detail at a scale of 1:20. Additionally, we described the different sedimentary units in the field, incorporating these descriptions into our trench logs. We mapped the locations of the trenches using a tape and compass. Our field logs were scanned, and unit contacts were traced in Adobe Illustrator. The final drafted logs of all the trenches are presented here, along with photographs showing important relations among faults and Holocene sedimentary deposits. Logs of south walls were reversed in Illustrator, so that all logs are drafted with the view direction to the north. We collected samples of various materials exposed in the trench walls, including charcoal samples for radiocarbon dating from both faulted and unfaulted deposits. The locations of all samples collected are shown on the logs. The ages of seventeen of the charcoal samples submitted for radiocarbon analysis at the University of Arizona Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Laboratory in Tucson, Ariz., are given in Table 1. Samples found in Table 1 are shown in red on the trench logs. All radiocarbon ages are calibrated and given with 2 standard deviation age ranges. Our studies suggest that the Central Range Fault is a Holocene fault capable of producing damaging earthquakes in Trinidad

Biochar affected by composting with farmyard manure.

PubMed

Prost, Katharina; Borchard, Nils; Siemens, Jan; Kautz, Timo; Séquaris, Jean-Marie; Möller, Andreas; Amelung, Wulf

2013-01-01

Biochar applications to soils can improve soil fertility by increasing the soil's cation exchange capacity (CEC) and nutrient retention. Because biochar amendment may occur with the applications of organic fertilizers, we tested to which extent composting with farmyard manure increases CEC and nutrient content of charcoal and gasification coke. Both types of biochar absorbed leachate generated during the composting process. As a result, the moisture content of gasification coke increased from 0.02 to 0.94 g g, and that of charcoal increased from 0.03 to 0.52 g g. With the leachate, the chars absorbed organic matter and nutrients, increasing contents of water-extractable organic carbon (gasification coke: from 0.09 to 7.00 g kg; charcoal: from 0.03 to 3.52 g kg), total soluble nitrogen (gasification coke: from not detected to 705.5 mg kg; charcoal: from 3.2 to 377.2 mg kg), plant-available phosphorus (gasification coke: from 351 to 635 mg kg; charcoal: from 44 to 190 mg kg), and plant-available potassium (gasification coke: from 6.0 to 15.3 g kg; charcoal: from 0.6 to 8.5 g kg). The potential CEC increased from 22.4 to 88.6 mmol kg for the gasification coke and from 20.8 to 39.0 mmol kg for the charcoal. There were little if any changes in the contents and patterns of benzene polycarboxylic acids of the biochars, suggesting that degradation of black carbon during the composting process was negligible. The surface area of the biochars declined during the composting process due to the clogging of micropores by sorbed compost-derived materials. Interactions with composting substrate thus enhance the nutrient loads but alter the surface properties of biochars. Copyright © by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, Inc.

Re-evaluation and reconstruction of water purification system using soil. I. Assessment of soil as a sorbent of humic substances and phosphate ion.

PubMed

Fujikawa, Y; Hamasaki, T; Sugahara, M; Ozaki, H; Prasai, G; Yano, T; Imada, R; Tainaka, Y; Nakamura, W; Haruki, F

2004-01-01

The purpose of our study is to develop a treatment procedure for humic substances (HS hereafter) and phosphate ion in wastewater and environmental water by percolation of the water through a constructed soil layer at the hydraulic loading of a few metres per day. In the present work, batch sorption tests were conducted for more than 80 samples of soil, sludge, mineral and organic materials in order to find good sorbents for fulvic acid (FA hereafter) and phosphate ion. The results showed that the sorption of FA was high for some charcoal, and apatite and goethite minerals. Comparatively high sorption of FA was found for some Andosols and volcanic ash soil. Significant sorption of phosphate ion, on the other hand, was found for various types of soil, sludge from water treatment plants and some waste materials. The linear isotherm was obtained for the sorption of FA to a charcoal, apatite and goethite minerals, and Andosols.

Xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase activities of Candida guilliermondii as a function of different treatments of sugarcane bagasse hemicellulosic hydrolysate employing experimental design.

PubMed

Alves, Lourdes A; Vitolo, Michele; Felipe, Maria das Graças A; de Almeida e Silva, João Batista

2002-01-01

The sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate, which is rich in xylose, can be used as culture medium for Candida guilliermondii in xylitol production. However, the hydrolysate obtained from bagasse by acid hydrolysis at 120 degrees C for 20 min has by-products (acetic acid and furfural, among others), which are toxic to the yeast over certain concentrations. So, the hydrolysate must be pretreated before using in fermentation. The pretreatment variables considered were: adsorption time (15,37.5, and 60 min), type of acid used (H2So4 and H3Po4), hydrolysate concentration (original, twofold, and fourfold concentrated), and active charcoal (0.5, 1.75 and 3.0%). The suitability of the pretreatment was followed by measuring the xylose reductase (XR) and xylitol dehydrogenase (XD) activity of yeast grown in each treated hydrolysate. The response surface methodology (2(4) full factorial design with a centered face) indicated that the hydrolysate might be concentrated fourfold and the pH adjusted to 7.0 with CaO, followed by reduction to 5.5 with H3PO4. After that it was treated with active charcoal (3.0%) by 60 min. This pretreated hydrolysate attained the high XR/XD ratio of 4.5.

The association of trends in charcoal-burning suicide with Google search and newspaper reporting in Taiwan: a time series analysis.

PubMed

Chang, Shu-Sen; Kwok, Simon Sai Man; Cheng, Qijin; Yip, Paul S F; Chen, Ying-Yeh

2015-09-01

Some East/Southeast Asian countries have experienced a rapid increase in suicide by charcoal burning over the past decade. Media reporting and Internet use were thought to contribute to the epidemic. We investigated the association between method-specific suicide incidence and both Internet search volume and newspaper reporting in Taiwan. Weekly data for suicide, suicide-related Google search volume, and the number of articles reporting suicide in four major newspapers in Taiwan during 2008-2011 were obtained. Poisson autoregressive regression models were used to examine the associations between these variables. In the fully adjusted models, every 10 % increase in Google searches was associated with a 4.3 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.1-7.6 %] increase in charcoal-burning suicide incidence in the same week, and a 3.8 % (95 % CI 0.4-7.2 %) increase in the following week. A one-article increase in the United Daily was associated with a 3.6 % (95 % CI 1.5-5.8 %) increase in charcoal-burning suicide in the same week. By contrast, non-charcoal-burning suicide was not associated with Google search volume, but was associated with the Apple Daily's reporting in the preceding week. We found that increased Internet searches for charcoal-burning suicide appeared to be associated with a subsequent increase in suicide by this method. The prevention of suicide using emerging methods may include monitoring and regulating online information that provides details of these methods as well as encouraging Internet service providers to provide help-seeking information.

Briquettes production for use as power source for combustion using charcoal thin waste and sanitary sewage sludge.

PubMed

de Oliveira, Ricardo Sonsim; Palácio, Soraya Moreno; da Silva, Edson Antonio; Mariani, Filipe Quadros; Reinehr, Thiago Olinek

2017-04-01

This study evaluated the feasibility of production of briquettes using fine charcoal, sewage sludge, and mixtures thereof for use in energy production. The briquettes of 7-8 cm diameter and 20 cm length were produced in the conical press extruder type, mixing sewage sludge to charcoal fines in different ratios: 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0, with the addition of a binder (glue flour) in a ratio of 8 mass% prepared for briquetting. After air drying (temperatures between 24 and 30°C) for 48 h, the mechanical, thermal, and morphological characterizations were performed. The morphological properties of the briquettes were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The briquettes produced had mechanical strength, with values between 210 and 420 kgf, and densities between 0.75 and 0.91 g cm -3 . The calorific value of briquettes was in the range from 13.21 to 23.10 MJ kg -1 , in which there was an increase with the increase of concentration of charcoal fines in the mixture. Thermogravimetric analysis showed mass losses that occurred in the temperature range between 150 and 740 °C. The results of the mechanical and thermal properties showed the feasibility of using fine charcoal briquettes from sewage sludge as well as mixtures thereof, for the production of energy. The fine charcoal briquette was the one with the highest calorific value, but not showed the highest resistance to mechanical shock.

Immobilized heterobimetallic Ru/Co nanoparticle-catalyzed Pauson-Khand-type reactions in the presence of pyridylmethyl formate.

PubMed

Park, Kang Hyun; Son, Seung Uk; Chung, Young Keun

2003-08-07

Heterobimetallic Ru/Co nanoparticles, immobilized on charcoal, were synthesized and used as catalysts in the Pauson-Khand-type reaction in the presence of pyridylmethyl formate instead of carbon monoxide; the catalysts were effective for intra- and intermolecular reactions and easily reused without loss of catalytic activity.

Development of Buoy Mounted Hydrocarbon Vapor Sensors for Use in Local Area Pollution Surveillance Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-07-01

10. Emplex + Atlox 1045A 11. Activated Charcoal + NaCl + Atlox 1045A 12. Drenn Shampoo (Proctor and Gamble) 13. Hyamlne 1622 (p...response to the battery of standard test vapors. Copper sulfate gave an immediate decrease in response to everything except to isoprene; after 9

Treatment for hydrazine-containing waste water solution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yade, N.

1986-01-01

The treatment for waste solutions containing hydrazine is presented. The invention attempts oxidation and decomposition of hydrazine in waste water in a simple and effective processing. The method adds activated charcoal to waste solutions containing hydrazine while maintaining a pH value higher than 8, and adding iron salts if necessary. Then, the solution is aerated.

Environmentally benign process for the preparation of antimicrobial α-methylene-β-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone (tulipalin B) from tulip biomass.

PubMed

Nomura, Taiji; Hayashi, Emiko; Kawakami, Shohei; Ogita, Shinjiro; Kato, Yasuo

2015-01-01

Tulipalin B (α-methylene-β-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone, PaB) is an antimicrobial natural product occurring in tulip (Tulipa gesneriana). PaB is directly formed from the precursor glucose ester 6-tuliposide B (PosB) by endogenous Pos-converting enzyme (TCE). Despite the potential usefulness of antibacterial PaB in various industrial applications, lack of facile synthetic schemes hampers its practical use. Herein, we describe an environmentally benign and facile process for the preparation of PaB using tulip biomass materials based on one-step enzyme reaction catalyzed by TCE without the use of petroleum-derived solvents. By screening 115 tulip cultivars, we found three elite cultivars, which accumulated PosB almost exclusively in flower tissues. The flower extracts with aqueous ethanol were partially purified with activated charcoal and subjected to the enzyme reaction with reusable immobilized TCE prepared from bulb crude extracts. The reaction was completed in a few hours at room temperature, and PaB was purified with activated charcoal and ethanol in a batch-wise manner.

Effects of cooking methods and tea marinades on the formation of benzo[a]pyrene in grilled pork belly (Samgyeopsal).

PubMed

Park, Keun-Cheol; Pyo, HeeSoo; Kim, WooSeok; Yoon, Ki Sun

2017-07-01

We investigated the effects of different grilling tools, temperatures, and tea marinades on the formation of benzo[a]pyrene in grilled pork belly as well as the antioxidant capacities of tea marinades. The least amount of benzo[a]pyrene was detected in modified charcoal-grilled pork belly (1.28μg/kg). The highest risk factors for the formation of benzo[a]pyrene are direct contact with flames and fat excess on the heating source. A modified charcoal grill can be used as an alternative grilling tool to meet consumer needs for safety and taste. The marination of pork bellies with tea increased radical-scavenging activity and prevented lipid oxidation in proportion to the concentration of tea infusion and marinating time. The yerba mate tea marinade significantly increased the radical-scavenging activity and prevented benzo[a]pyrene formation more than the green tea marinade. Tea marinade can be applied to seasoning or sauce as pretreatment to preserve the quality of meat and to decrease benzo[a]pyrene formation during cooking. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Charcoal evidence that rising atmospheric oxygen terminated Early Jurassic ocean anoxia

PubMed Central

Baker, Sarah J.; Hesselbo, Stephen P.; Lenton, Timothy M.; Duarte, Luís V.; Belcher, Claire M.

2017-01-01

The Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (T-OAE) was characterized by a major disturbance to the global carbon(C)-cycle, and depleted oxygen in Earth's oceans resulting in marine mass extinction. Numerical models predict that increased organic carbon burial should drive a rise in atmospheric oxygen (pO2) leading to termination of an OAE after ∼1 Myr. Wildfire is highly responsive to changes in pO2 implying that fire-activity should vary across OAEs. Here we test this hypothesis by tracing variations in the abundance of fossil charcoal across the T-OAE. We report a sustained ∼800 kyr enhancement of fire-activity beginning ∼1 Myr after the onset of the T-OAE and peaking during its termination. This major enhancement of fire occurred across the timescale of predicted pO2 variations, and we argue this was primarily driven by increased pO2. Our study provides the first fossil-based evidence suggesting that fire-feedbacks to rising pO2 may have aided in terminating the T-OAE. PMID:28497785

Charcoal evidence that rising atmospheric oxygen terminated Early Jurassic ocean anoxia.

PubMed

Baker, Sarah J; Hesselbo, Stephen P; Lenton, Timothy M; Duarte, Luís V; Belcher, Claire M

2017-05-12

The Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (T-OAE) was characterized by a major disturbance to the global carbon(C)-cycle, and depleted oxygen in Earth's oceans resulting in marine mass extinction. Numerical models predict that increased organic carbon burial should drive a rise in atmospheric oxygen (pO 2 ) leading to termination of an OAE after ∼1 Myr. Wildfire is highly responsive to changes in pO 2 implying that fire-activity should vary across OAEs. Here we test this hypothesis by tracing variations in the abundance of fossil charcoal across the T-OAE. We report a sustained ∼800 kyr enhancement of fire-activity beginning ∼1 Myr after the onset of the T-OAE and peaking during its termination. This major enhancement of fire occurred across the timescale of predicted pO 2 variations, and we argue this was primarily driven by increased pO 2 . Our study provides the first fossil-based evidence suggesting that fire-feedbacks to rising pO 2 may have aided in terminating the T-OAE.

Unfertilized ovary: a novel explant for coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) somatic embryogenesis.

PubMed

Perera, Prasanthi I P; Hocher, Valerie; Verdeil, Jean Luc; Doulbeau, Sylvie; Yakandawala, Deepthi M D; Weerakoon, L Kaushalya

2007-01-01

Unfertilized ovaries isolated from immature female flowers of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) were tested as a source of explants for callogenesis and somatic embryogenesis. The correct developmental stage of ovary explants and suitable in vitro culture conditions for consistent callus production were identified. The concentration of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and activated charcoal was found to be critical for callogenesis. When cultured in a medium containing 100 microM 2,4-D and 0.1% activated charcoal, ovary explants gave rise to 41% callusing. Embryogenic calli were sub-cultured into somatic embryogenesis induction medium containing 5 microM abscisic acid, followed by plant regeneration medium (with 5 microM 6-benzylaminopurine). Many of the somatic embryos formed were complete with shoot and root poles and upon germination they gave rise to normal shoots. However, some abnormal developments were also observed. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that all the calli tested were diploid. Through histological studies, it was possible to study the sequence of the events that take place during somatic embryogenesis including orientation, polarization and elongation of the embryos.

Study of a metallurgical site in Tuscany (Italy) by radiocarbon dating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cartocci, A.; Fedi, M. E.; Taccetti, F.; Benvenuti, M.; Chiarantini, L.; Guideri, S.

2007-06-01

Tuscany represents one of the most important ancient mining districts of Italy. Metalworking activities have been present in the area since ancient times and several mining centres have been active in the region since the Etruscan period. Two of the more notable mining locations are the island of Elba and the towns of Populonia and Massa Marittima. In order to reconstruct the development of metallurgical techniques in the past, a multi-disciplinary approach is required, involving both archaeological study and archaeometric analysis of the sites of interest. One of the most complex problems is establishing the chronological history of metallurgical exploitation in ancient sites: archaeological remains are sometimes incomplete and the stratigraphy of archaeological horizons might have been deeply altered. Thus, direct dating of metallurgical slags and other remains of mining and metalworking activities using radiocarbon measurements is particularly useful for developing site chronologies. Charcoal samples from a recent excavation in Populonia were dated by AMS radiocarbon in order to reconstruct the chronological evolution of ancient metallurgical production; results reported here are consistent with archaeological observations.

Radiocarbon studies of latest Pleistocene and Holocene lava flows of the Snake River Plain, Idaho: Data, lessons, interpretations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kuntz, M.A.; Spiker, E. C.; Rubin, M.; Champion, D.E.; Lefebvre, R.H.

1986-01-01

Latest Pleistocene-Holocene basaltic lava fields of the Snake River Plain, Idaho, have been dated by the radiocarbon method. Backhoe excavations beneath lava flows typically yielded carbon-bearing, charred eolian sediment. This material provided most of the samples for this study; the sediment typically contains less than 0.2% carbon. Charcoal fragments were obtained from tree molds but only from a few backhoe excavations. Contamination of the charred sediments and charcoal by younger carbon components is extensive; the effects of contamination were mitigated but appropriate pretreatment of samples using acid and alkali leaches. Twenty of the more than 60 lava flows of the Craters of the Moon lava field have been dated; their ages range from about 15,000 to about 2000 yr B.P. The ages permit assignment of the flows to eight distinct eruptive periods with an average recurrence interval of about 2000 yr. The seven other latest Pleistocene-Holocene lava fields were all emplaced in short eruptive bursts. Their 14C ages (yr B.P.) are: Kings Bowl (2222?? 100), Wapi (2270 ?? 50), Hells Half Acre (5200 ?? 150), Shoshone (10,130 ?? 350), North Robbers and South Robbers (11.980 ?? 300), and Cerro Grande (13,380 ?? 350). ?? 1986.

Radiocarbon studies of latest Pleistocene and Holocene lava flows of the Snake River Plain, Idaho: Data, lessons, interpretations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuntz, Mel A.; Spiker, Elliott C.; Rubin, Meyer; Champion, Duane E.; Lefebvre, Richard H.

1986-03-01

Latest Pleistocene-Holocene basaltic lava fields of the Snake River Plain, Idaho, have been dated by the radiocarbon method. Backhoe excavations beneath lava flows typically yielded carbon-bearing, charred eolian sediment. This material provided most of the samples for this study; the sediment typically contains less than 0.2% carbon. Charcoal fragments were obtained from tree molds but only from a few backhoe excavations. Contamination of the charred sediments and charcoal by younger carbon components is extensive; the effects of contamination were mitigated but appropriate pretreatment of samples using acid and alkali leaches. Twenty of the more than 60 lava flows of the Craters of the Moon lava field have been dated; their ages range from about 15,000 to about 2000 yr B.P. The ages permit assignment of the flows to eight distinct eruptive periods with an average recurrence interval of about 2000 yr. The seven other latest Pleistocene-Holocene lava fields were all emplaced in short eruptive bursts. Their 14C ages (yr B.P.) are: Kings Bowl (2222± 100), Wapi (2270 ± 50), Hells Half Acre (5200 ± 150), Shoshone (10,130 ± 350), North Robbers and South Robbers (11.980 ± 300), and Cerro Grande (13,380 ± 350).

Recent burning of boreal forests exceeds fire regime limits of the past 10,000 years

PubMed Central

Kelly, Ryan; Chipman, Melissa L.; Higuera, Philip E.; Stefanova, Ivanka; Brubaker, Linda B.; Hu, Feng Sheng

2013-01-01

Wildfire activity in boreal forests is anticipated to increase dramatically, with far-reaching ecological and socioeconomic consequences. Paleorecords are indispensible for elucidating boreal fire regime dynamics under changing climate, because fire return intervals and successional cycles in these ecosystems occur over decadal to centennial timescales. We present charcoal records from 14 lakes in the Yukon Flats of interior Alaska, one of the most flammable ecoregions of the boreal forest biome, to infer causes and consequences of fire regime change over the past 10,000 y. Strong correspondence between charcoal-inferred and observational fire records shows the fidelity of sedimentary charcoal records as archives of past fire regimes. Fire frequency and area burned increased ∼6,000–3,000 y ago, probably as a result of elevated landscape flammability associated with increased Picea mariana in the regional vegetation. During the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA; ∼1,000–500 cal B.P.), the period most similar to recent decades, warm and dry climatic conditions resulted in peak biomass burning, but severe fires favored less-flammable deciduous vegetation, such that fire frequency remained relatively stationary. These results suggest that boreal forests can sustain high-severity fire regimes for centuries under warm and dry conditions, with vegetation feedbacks modulating climate–fire linkages. The apparent limit to MCA burning has been surpassed by the regional fire regime of recent decades, which is characterized by exceptionally high fire frequency and biomass burning. This extreme combination suggests a transition to a unique regime of unprecedented fire activity. However, vegetation dynamics similar to feedbacks that occurred during the MCA may stabilize the fire regime, despite additional warming. PMID:23878258

Randomised clinical trial: a herbal preparation of myrrh, chamomile and coffee charcoal compared with mesalazine in maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis--a double-blind, double-dummy study.

PubMed

Langhorst, J; Varnhagen, I; Schneider, S B; Albrecht, U; Rueffer, A; Stange, R; Michalsen, A; Dobos, G J

2013-09-01

The herbal treatment with myrrh, dry extract of chamomile flowers and coffee charcoal has anti-inflammatory and antidiarrhoeal potential and might benefit patients with UC. Aminosalicylates are used as standard treatment for maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis (UC). To compare the efficacy of the two treatments in maintaining remission in patients with ulcerative colitis. We performed a randomised, double-blind, double-dummy study over a 12-month period in patients with UC. Primary endpoint was non-inferiority of the herbal preparation as defined by mean Clinical Colitis Activity Index (CAI-Rachmilewitz). Secondary endpoints were relapse rates, safety profile, relapse-free times, endoscopic activity and faecal biomarkers. A total of 96 patients (51 female) with inactive UC were included. Mean CAI demonstrated no significant difference between the two treatment groups in the intention-to-treat (P = 0.121) or per-protocol (P = 0.251) analysis. Relapse rates in total were 22/49 patients (45%) in the mesalazine treatment group and 25/47 patients (53%) in the herbal treatment group (P = 0.540). Safety profile and tolerability were good and no significant differences were shown in relapse-free time, endoscopy and faecal biomarkers. The herbal preparation of myrrh, chamomile extract and coffee charcoal is well tolerated and shows a good safety profile. We found first evidence for a potential efficacy non-inferior to the gold standard therapy mesalazine, which merits further study of its clinical usefulness in maintenance therapy of patients with ulcerative colitis. EudraCT-Number 2007-007928-18. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Recent burning of boreal forests exceeds fire regime limits of the past 10,000 years.

PubMed

Kelly, Ryan; Chipman, Melissa L; Higuera, Philip E; Stefanova, Ivanka; Brubaker, Linda B; Hu, Feng Sheng

2013-08-06

Wildfire activity in boreal forests is anticipated to increase dramatically, with far-reaching ecological and socioeconomic consequences. Paleorecords are indispensible for elucidating boreal fire regime dynamics under changing climate, because fire return intervals and successional cycles in these ecosystems occur over decadal to centennial timescales. We present charcoal records from 14 lakes in the Yukon Flats of interior Alaska, one of the most flammable ecoregions of the boreal forest biome, to infer causes and consequences of fire regime change over the past 10,000 y. Strong correspondence between charcoal-inferred and observational fire records shows the fidelity of sedimentary charcoal records as archives of past fire regimes. Fire frequency and area burned increased ∼6,000-3,000 y ago, probably as a result of elevated landscape flammability associated with increased Picea mariana in the regional vegetation. During the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA; ∼1,000-500 cal B.P.), the period most similar to recent decades, warm and dry climatic conditions resulted in peak biomass burning, but severe fires favored less-flammable deciduous vegetation, such that fire frequency remained relatively stationary. These results suggest that boreal forests can sustain high-severity fire regimes for centuries under warm and dry conditions, with vegetation feedbacks modulating climate-fire linkages. The apparent limit to MCA burning has been surpassed by the regional fire regime of recent decades, which is characterized by exceptionally high fire frequency and biomass burning. This extreme combination suggests a transition to a unique regime of unprecedented fire activity. However, vegetation dynamics similar to feedbacks that occurred during the MCA may stabilize the fire regime, despite additional warming.

Quantification of VOC emissions from paint spraying on a construction site using solid phase microextraction devices.

PubMed

Cheng, Wen-Hsi; Huang, Hsiao-Lin; Chen, Kang-Shin; Chang, Yu-Jen

2017-10-15

The objective of this study was to measure the emission of, and personal exposure to workers, volatile organic compound (VOC) during paint spraying on a construction site. Needle trap samplers (NTSs), which are a green solid phase microextraction sampling technology, were used to obtain air samples at a large music exhibition center. The standard active sampling method using charcoal tubes and a personal air pump, Method 1501, was simultaneously utilized at the sampling sites to assess the workers' VOC exposures. Analysis of the data thus obtained showed that benzene, toluene, ethylenebenzene, and xylenes (BTEXs) were the main emission compounds. Acetone and isobutyl alcohol, which are used as thinning solvents, were detected as minor emission compounds. The emitted concentrations of most compounds were lower than the legal emission limits in Taiwan except that of benzene, for which the 2-ppm time weighted average short-term exposure limit was exceeded. The packed divinylbenzene (DVB) in the NTS was observed under an environmental scanning electron microscope, and many fine aerosols were found to be deposited on the surface of the DVB adsorbents, causing VOC extraction efficiencies after the fifth sampling in the field to decline. Workers on construction sites should be protected from emissions of VOC and fine particulates to preserve their occupational health.

Sorbent-based sampling methods for volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in air. Part 2. Sorbent selection and other aspects of optimizing air monitoring methods.

PubMed

Woolfenden, Elizabeth

2010-04-16

Sorbent tubes/traps are widely used in combination with gas chromatographic (GC) analytical methods to monitor the vapour-phase fraction of organic compounds in air. Applications range from atmospheric research and ambient air monitoring (indoor and outdoor) to occupational hygiene (personal exposure assessment) and measuring chemical emission levels. Part 1 of this paper reviewed the main sorbent-based air sampling strategies including active (pumped) tube monitoring, diffusive (passive) sampling onto sorbent tubes/cartridges plus sorbent trapping/focusing of whole air samples that are either collected in containers (such as canisters or bags) or monitored online. Options for subsequent extraction and transfer to GC(MS) analysis were also summarised and the trend to thermal desorption (TD)-based methods and away from solvent extraction was explained. As a result of this trend, demand for TD-compatible sorbents (alternatives to traditional charcoal) is growing. Part 2 of this paper therefore continues with a summary of TD-compatible sorbents, their respective advantages and limitations and considerations for sorbent selection. Other analytical considerations for optimizing sorbent-based air monitoring methods are also discussed together with recent technical developments and sampling accessories which have extended the application range of sorbent trapping technology generally. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of Antioxidants, Amino Acids and Plant Growth Regulators on in vitro Propagation of Rosa centifolia.

PubMed

Akhtar, Gulzar; Jaskani, Muhammad Jafar; Sajjad, Yasar; Akram, Ahsan

2016-03-01

Rosa centifoliais commercially propagated by asexual means but in vitro propagation ensure the production of disease free and healthy plants and browning of explants creates hurdle in their multiplication. The aim was to reduce oxidative browning of shoots of R. centifolia in MS medium during in vitro propagation. Axillary buds of R. centifolia were sterilized with 70% ethyl alcohol for 4 min and 5% sodium hypochlorite for 2 min followed by three washing with sterilized double distilled water. In order to control oxidative browning, Ascorbic acid (100 mg.L -1 ), citric acid (100 mg.L -1 ) and activated charcoal (3 g.L -1 ) were used while to control withering of shoots, different concentrations (3.0 mg.L -1 , 6.0 mg.L -1 , 9.0 mg.L -1 ) of either glutamine, asparagine and proline were put into trial. Different concentrations of Benzyl aminopurine (BAP) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) were used for in vitro shoot and root formation. Minimum browning percentage (20%) was achieved in the presence of activated charcoal (3.0 g.L -1 ) and pretreatment of explants with running tap water. Asparagin (9.0 mg.L -1 ) produced maximum shooting (93%), minimum withering (6.67%), and it took longer period (27 days) for shoots to wither. BAP (3.0 mg.L -1 ) + NAA (0.5 mg.L -1 ) was produced the highest number of shoots (1.63), in a shortest periods (9 days). For root production, NAA (1.5 mg.L -1 ) + BAP (0.5 mg.L -1 ) reduced the time to 11 days with maximum number of roots (4.33) and root length (4.20 cm). The supplement of activated charcoal (3.0 g.L -1 ), a sparagin (9.0 mg.L -1 ) and combination of BAP and NAA in the MS medium is effective for in vitro propagation of R. centifolia.

Improvement of start-up and nitrogen removal of the anammox process in reactors inoculated with conventional activated sludge using biofilm carrier materials.

PubMed

Lu, Yi-Feng; Ma, Li-Juan; Ma, Lan; Shan, Bei; Chang, Jun-Jun

2018-01-01

The start-up of the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process in three up-flow column reactors seeded with common mixed activated sludge and added with three materials, sponge (R1), sponge + volcanic rock (R2) and sponge + charcoal (R3), as carriers for biofilm formation were comparatively investigated in this study. The supplement of volcanic rock and charcoal could significantly shorten the start-up time of the anammox process, which primarily occurred in the activity-enhanced phase, with ammonium and nitrite removal efficiencies stabilized above 92.5% and 93.4% after an operation period of 145, 105 and 121 d for R1, R2 and R3, respectively. After the successful anammox start-up, R2 performed significantly better in TN removal (p < .05), achieving an average rate of 91.0% and 191.5 g N m -3  d -1 compared to R1 of 88.4% and 172.1 g N m -3  d -1 , and R3 of 89.9% and 180.1 g N m -3  d -1 in the steady running phase. The ratios of consumed [Formula: see text] and generated [Formula: see text]/consumed [Formula: see text] after anammox start-up were lower than the theoretical values, probably suggesting the simultaneous existences of anammox, denitrification as well as nitrification processes in the reactors. A reddish brown biofilm was wrapped on the carriers and morphological detection of biofilm displayed the presentations of thick and compact floc aggregates and some filamentous bacteria on the sponge, and spherical-, ovoid- and shortrod-shaped microorganisms on the volcanic rock and charcoal. Using porous material as carrier for biofilm development is an effective strategy for practical application of the anammox reactor.

Holocene fire, vegetation, and climate dynamics inferred from charcoal and pollen record in the eastern Tibetan Plateau

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Wenwei; Zhao, Yan; Qin, Feng

2017-10-01

Understanding fire history and its driving mechanisms can provide valuable insights into present fire regime (intensity, severity and frequency), the interplay between vegetation and fire, and trigger of fire activities. Here we reconstruct the Holocene fire history in the Zoige Basin on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, on the basis of sedimentary micro-charcoal record over the last 10.0 ka (1 ka = 1000 cal yr BP) and discuss the influences of vegetation and climate on fire dynamics. Our results show that regional fire was active at 10.0-3.3 ka and a significant decrease in fire activity characterized the period after 3.3 ka. The high regional fire frequency at 10.0-3.3 ka is consistent with the forested landscape suggested by high affinity scores of cool mixed forest biome (mainly consisted of spruce), implying that fire dynamics during this period was generally controlled by the variations of arboreal biomass and summer temperature. During 6.3-4.6 ka the prevailing Asian summer monsoon provided increased moisture to this region and thus suppressed fire activities to an extent, despite the availability of abundant biomass. Declined tree biomass after 3.3 ka probably accounted for the decreased fire activities. In addition, two successive fire events at ca. 3.5-3.3 ka were likely responsible for the subsequent abrupt decline of forest components in the landscape.

Organophosphates in aircraft cabin and cockpit air--method development and measurements of contaminants.

PubMed

Solbu, Kasper; Daae, Hanne Line; Olsen, Raymond; Thorud, Syvert; Ellingsen, Dag Gunnar; Lindgren, Torsten; Bakke, Berit; Lundanes, Elsa; Molander, Paal

2011-05-01

Methods for measurements and the potential for occupational exposure to organophosphates (OPs) originating from turbine and hydraulic oils among flying personnel in the aviation industry are described. Different sampling methods were applied, including active within-day methods for OPs and VOCs, newly developed passive long-term sample methods (deposition of OPs to wipe surface areas and to activated charcoal cloths), and measurements of OPs in high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) recirculation filters (n = 6). In total, 95 and 72 within-day OP and VOC samples, respectively, have been collected during 47 flights in six different models of turbine jet engine, propeller and helicopter aircrafts (n = 40). In general, the OP air levels from the within-day samples were low. The most relevant OP in this regard originating from turbine and engine oils, tricresyl phosphate (TCP), was detected in only 4% of the samples (min-max

Removal of Mn, Fe, Ni and Cu Ions from Wastewater Using Cow Bone Charcoal

PubMed Central

Moreno, Juan Carlos; Gómez, Rigoberto; Giraldo, Liliana

2010-01-01

Cow bone charcoal (CBC) was synthesized and used for the removal of metals ions (manganese, iron, nickel and copper) from aqueous solutions. Two different adsorption models were used for analyzing the data. Adsorption capacities were determined: copper ions exhibit the greatest adsorption on cow bone charcoal because of their size and pH conditions. Adsorption capacity varies as a function of pH. Adsorption isotherms from aqueous solution of heavy metals on CBC were determined. Adsorption isotherms are consistent with Langmuir´s adsorption model. Adsorbent quantity and immersion enthalpy were studied.

Fabrication and characterization of rice husk charcoal bio briquettes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suryaningsih, S.; Nurhilal, O.; Yuliah, Y.; Salsabila, E.

2018-02-01

Rice husk is the outermost part of the rice seed which is a hard layer and a waste material from rice milling. Rice husk includes biomass that can be exploited for various requirements such as industrial raw materials as well as energy sources or fuel but only a small group of people use it. This research is conducted utilizing the rice husk as an alternative fuel by making it as a charcoal briquette. To make the treatment easy, firstly the rice husk biomass was converted into charcoal powder by carbonization method using two kinds of furnace which have different heating behavior. The best carbonization results are obtained from the furnace, which has a constant temperature heating behavior. The process of making briquettes is prepared by adding tapioca starch of 6% concentration by weight as charcoal adhesive and then printed with the aid of pressing tools using loads at 1,000 kg/cm2. The resulting briquette has a calorific value about 3.126 cal/g, mass density is 0.86 g/cm3 and compressive strength is about 2.02 kg/cm2, so that the bio-briquette of charcoal produced can be used as alternative energy to replace the fossil fuel for domestic or household purposes.

[Response of Calliphora vicina larval hemocytes to abiotic and biotic foreign particles injection].

PubMed

Kind, T V

2012-01-01

Human erythrocytes injection into the body cavity of Calliphora vicina postfeeding larvae results to their fast binding by thrombocytoidal fragments with agglutinates formation. There were almost none sites of lysis and degradation of erythrocytes in agglutinates even after shape modification and strands generation. Exceptions are zones of agglutinates with juvenile hemocytes, where destruction of erythrocytes is seen. The sequential injection of erythrocytes and charcoal particles leads to charcoal adhesion at first to agglutinates periphery and later to more deep stratum of cytoplasm between the erythrocytes. Under such conditions agglutinate formation period is accompanied with morphology variations which do not influence the intensity of agglutinating reaction. Juvenile plasmatocytes phagocytized the charcoal particles regardless of their concentration and duration of previous contact with erythrocytes. When mixture of abiotic and biotic particles was injected into post feeding larvae, crythrocytes and charcoal generate independent aggregations in the range of separate agglutinates. At the same time plasmatocytes form nodules consisting of temporary cell aggregations covered with cores of non phagocytized charcoal particles. These data testified that presumably lectin receptors responsible for foreign biotic and abiotic particles recognition are very near but not identical for different types of hemocytes. They may be specifical (for plasmatocytes) or integrated to different parts of cellular membrane (in thrombocytoids).

[Clinical manifestations related to kitchen biomass smoke in African women].

PubMed

Kouassi, B; Horo, K; Ahui, B; Godé, C; N'Guessan, L; Anon, J-C; Koffi, N; Ngom, A; Aka-Danguy, E; Koffi, M O; Djè Bi, I H; Ano, A

2012-03-01

Fires of wood and charcoal play an essential part in the cooking of food in Africa. These fires emit thick smoke that has definite health consequences. To determine the clinical manifestations related to kitchen smoke and to identify the type of fire most often incriminated. It was a transverse study comparing the clinical features in women using three types of fire: wood, charcoal and gas. We questioned 200 women in each group who used one type of fire exclusively for five days a week for at least five years. Clinical manifestations associated with the smoke were reported in all the women using wood as opposed to 98.5% using charcoal and 45.5% using gas. More than 80% had physical signs. These comprised 89.1% upper respiratory and 77% pulmonary signs. Upper respiratory signs were the most common, mainly sneezing and nasal obstruction. At the pulmonary level, a predominance of signs was found in women using wood fires (47.3%) and charcoal (36.2%), the difference being statistically significant. The signs included chronic cough, chest pain and dyspnoea. Wheezes were found in 15% of the women. Cooking smoke exposes women to complications which are most frequently associated with the use of wood or charcoal. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Formaldehyde: a comparative evaluation of four monitoring methods

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Coyne, L.B.; Cook, R.E.; Mann, J.R.

1985-10-01

The performances of four formaldehyde monitoring devices were compared in a series of laboratory and field experiments. The devices evaluated included the DuPont C-60 formaldehyde badge, the SKC impregnated charcoal tube, an impinger/polarographic method and the MDA Lion formaldemeter. The major evaluation parameters included: concentration range, effects of humidity, sample storage, air velocity, accuracy, precision, interferences from methanol, styrene, 1,3-butadiene, sulfur dioxide and dimethylamine. Based on favorable performances in the laboratory and field, each device was useful for monitoring formaldehyde in the industrial work environment; however, these devices were not evaluated for residential exposure assessment. The impinger/polarographic method had amore » sensitivity of 0.06 ppm, based on a 20-liter air sample volume, and accurately determined the short-term excursion limit (STEL). It was useful for area monitoring but was not very practical for time-weighted average (TWA) personal monitoring measurements. The DuPont badge had a sensitivity of 2.8 ppm-hr and accurately and simply determined TWA exposures. It was not sensitive enough to measure STEL exposures, however, and positive interferences resulted if 1,3-butadiene was present. The SKC impregnated charcoal tube measured both TWA and STEL concentrations and had a sensitivity of 0.06 ppm based on a 25-liter air sample volume. Lightweight and simple to use, the MDA Lion formaldemeter had a sensitivity of 0.2 ppm. It had the advantage of giving an instantaneous reading in the field; however, it must be used with caution because it responded to many interferences. The method of choice depended on the type of sampling required, field conditions encountered during sampling and an understanding of the limitations of each monitoring device.« less

Method for scavenging mercury

DOEpatents

Chang, Shih-ger [El Cerrito, CA; Liu, Shou-heng [Kaohsiung, TW; Liu, Zhao-rong [Beijing, CN; Yan, Naiqiang [Berkeley, CA

2009-01-20

Disclosed herein is a method for removing mercury from a gas stream comprising contacting the gas stream with a getter composition comprising bromine, bromochloride, sulphur bromide, sulphur dichloride or sulphur monochloride and mixtures thereof. In one preferred embodiment the getter composition is adsorbed onto a sorbent. The sorbent may be selected from the group consisting of flyash, limestone, lime, calcium sulphate, calcium sulfite, activated carbon, charcoal, silicate, alumina and mixtures thereof. Preferred is flyash, activated carbon and silica.

Method for scavenging mercury

DOEpatents

Chang, Shih-Ger [El Cerrito, CA; Liu, Shou-Heng [Kaohsiung, TW; Liu, Zhao-Rong [Beijing, CN; Yan, Naiqiang [Berkeley, CA

2011-08-30

Disclosed herein is a method for removing mercury from a gas stream comprising contacting the gas stream with a getter composition comprising bromine, bromochloride, sulphur bromide, sulphur dichloride or sulphur monochloride and mixtures thereof. In one preferred embodiment the getter composition is adsorbed onto a sorbent. The sorbent may be selected from the group consisting of flyash, limestone, lime, calcium sulphate, calcium sulfite, activated carbon, charcoal, silicate, alumina and mixtures thereof. Preferred is flyash, activated carbon and silica.

Method for scavenging mercury

DOEpatents

Chang, Shih-ger; Liu, Shou-heng; Liu, Zhao-rong; Yan, Naiqiang

2010-07-13

Disclosed herein is a method for removing mercury from a gas stream comprising contacting the gas stream with a getter composition comprising bromine, bromochloride, sulphur bromide, sulphur dichloride or sulphur monochloride and mixtures thereof. In one preferred embodiment the getter composition is adsorbed onto a sorbent. The sorbent may be selected from the group consisting flyash, limestone, lime, calcium sulphate, calcium sulfite, activated carbon, charcoal, silicate, alumina and mixtures thereof. Preferred is flyash, activated carbon and silica.

Gas and Chemical Activation of Charcoal

DTIC Science & Technology

1945-06-29

confidential Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Distribution authorized to DoD only; Administrative/Operational Use; 29 JUN 1945 ...OSRD No. $278 Copy No.^p* Date: June 29,, 1945 Copy Nos. 1-7 Dr. Irvin Stewart 8-24 OSRD Liaison Office 2£-26 Office of the Chief...supplemented ’ by runs in the laboratory has shown that zinc chloride is by far the most suitable activating agent. 1. In the dehydration mixing of

Soil quality in a cropland soil treated with wood ash containing charcoal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Omil, Beatriz; Balboa, Miguel A.; Fonturbel, M. Teresa; Gartzia-Bengoetxea, Nahia; Arias-González, Ander; Vega, Jose A.; Merino, Agustin

2014-05-01

The strategy of the European Union "Europe 2020" states that by 2020, 20% of final energy consumption must come from renewables. In this scenario, there is an increasing use of biomass utilization for energy production. Indeed, it is expected that the production of wood-ash will increase in coming years. Wood ash, a mixture of ash and charcoal, generated as a by-product of biomass combustion in power plants, can be applied to soil to improve the soil quality and crop production. Since the residue contains significant content of charcoal, the application of mixed wood ash may also improve the SOM content and soil quality in the long term, in soils degraded as a consequence of intensive management. The objective of this study was asses the changes in SOM quality and soil properties in a degraded soils treated with wood ash containing charcoal. The study was carried out in a field devoted to cereal crops during the last decades. The soil was acidic (pH 4.5) with a low SOC content (3 %) and fine texture. The experiment was based on a randomised block design with four replicates. Each block included the following four treatments: Control, 16 Mg fly wood ash ha-1, 16 Mg mixed wood ash ha-1 (16 Mg) and 32 Mg mixed wood ash ha-1 (32 Mg). The application was carried out once. The ash used in the study was obtained from a thermal power plant and was mainly derived from the combustion of Pinus radiata bark and branches. The wood ash is highly alkaline (pH= 10), contains 10 % of highly condensed black carbon (atomic H/C ratio < 0.5 and T50 en DSC= 500 ºC). The evolution of SOM properties were monitored over three years by solid state 13C CPMAS NMR and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). These techniques were applied in bulk samples and aggregates of different sizes. The changes in microbial activity were studied by analysis of microbial biomass C and basal respiration. The soil bacterial community was studied by the Biolog method. Several physical properties, such soil aggregate distribution, hydraulic conductivity and available water contente were also determined. Three years after applications the SOM content increased lightly in the treatment receiving more than 16 Mg ha-1 of wood ash. SOM in the treated soils displayed a higher degree of aromaticity than in the untreated soils, indicating a gain in more stable SOM compounds probably as a consequence of the charcoal application. However, both methods also revealed increases in labile C compounds, probably due to the carbohydrates added through root system. Microbial biomass-C and soil respiration increased significantly. The treatments also led to increases in the functional diversity indices. The amended soils showed greater utilization of substrates and the ability of soil bacteria to utilize different C resources was also greatly altered. The application of mixed wood ash did not lead to any difference in MWD, which was around 6 mm in all cases. The application of 16 Mg fly wood ash ha-1 increased significantly the hydraulic conductivity (4.07 cmh-1) when compared with in control plots (1.3 cmh-1) and mixed ash plots (1.52 and 2.45 cmh-1, 16 Mg and 32 Mg respectively). However, air-filled porosity was not higher in 16 Mg fly ash plots. AWC was not improved by wood ash application.

Regional Changes in Charcoal-Burning Suicide Rates in East/Southeast Asia from 1995 to 2011: A Time Trend Analysis

PubMed Central

Chang, Shu-Sen; Chen, Ying-Yeh; Yip, Paul S. F.; Lee, Won Jin; Hagihara, Akihito; Gunnell, David

2014-01-01

Background Suicides by carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from burning barbecue charcoal reached epidemic levels in Hong Kong and Taiwan within 5 y of the first reported cases in the early 2000s. The objectives of this analysis were to investigate (i) time trends and regional patterns of charcoal-burning suicide throughout East/Southeast Asia during the time period 1995–2011 and (ii) whether any rises in use of this method were associated with increases in overall suicide rates. Sex- and age-specific trends over time were also examined to identify the demographic groups showing the greatest increases in charcoal-burning suicide rates across different countries. Methods and Findings We used data on suicides by gases other than domestic gas for Hong Kong, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore in the years 1995/1996–2011. Similar data for Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand were also extracted but were incomplete. Graphical and joinpoint regression analyses were used to examine time trends in suicide, and negative binomial regression analysis to study sex- and age-specific patterns. In 1995/1996, charcoal-burning suicides accounted for <1% of all suicides in all study countries, except in Japan (5%), but they increased to account for 13%, 24%, 10%, 7%, and 5% of all suicides in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore, respectively, in 2011. Rises were first seen in Hong Kong after 1998 (95% CI 1997–1999), followed by Singapore in 1999 (95% CI 1998–2001), Taiwan in 2000 (95% CI 1999–2001), Japan in 2002 (95% CI 1999–2003), and the Republic of Korea in 2007 (95% CI 2006–2008). No marked increases were seen in Malaysia, the Philippines, or Thailand. There was some evidence that charcoal-burning suicides were associated with an increase in overall suicide rates in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan (for females), but not in Japan (for males), the Republic of Korea, and Singapore. Rates of change in charcoal-burning suicide rate did not differ by sex/age group in Taiwan and Hong Kong but appeared to be greatest in people aged 15–24 y in Japan and people aged 25–64 y in the Republic of Korea. The lack of specific codes for charcoal-burning suicide in the International Classification of Diseases and variations in coding practice in different countries are potential limitations of this study. Conclusions Charcoal-burning suicides increased markedly in some East/Southeast Asian countries (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore) in the first decade of the 21st century, but such rises were not experienced by all countries in the region. In countries with a rise in charcoal-burning suicide rates, the timing, scale, and sex/age pattern of increases varied by country. Factors underlying these variations require further investigation, but may include differences in culture or in media portrayals of the method. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary PMID:24691071

Advancing our understanding of charcoal rot in soybeans

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Charcoal rot (Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid ) of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], is an important but commonly misidentified disease, and very few summary articles exist on this pathosystem. Research conducted over the last 10 years has improved our understanding of the environment conducive...

EMISSIONS FROM STREET VENDOR COOKING DEVICES (CHARCOAL GRILLING)

EPA Science Inventory

The report discusses a joint U.S./Mexican program to establish a reliable emissions inventory for street vendor cooking devices (charcoal grilling), a significant source of air pollutants in the Mexicali-Imperial Valley area of Mexico. Emissions from these devices, prevalent in t...

Dietary effect on mixed function P450 1A2 activity assayed by estimation of caffeine metabolism in man.

PubMed

Kall, M A; Clausen, J

1995-10-01

Two studies were performed in order to evaluate cytochrome P450 1A2 mediated caffeine metabolism during different nutritional conditions. 1. In the first study, 23 healthy male non-smokers, mean age 25, changed from a customary mixed diet to a standard diet in 6 days. The 6 day's standard diet was based on bread, potatoes, rice and boiled meat. Thus, broccoli, cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables, spinach, leeks, onion, parsley, grapefruit, toasted bread, fried and charcoal grilled food, smoked fish and meat, ham and sausages were avoided. 2. In the second study, 33 healthy non-smoking subjects, 24 men and nine women mean age 25 years, volunteered. The study was designed to compare a customary home dietary period with the 6 day period of low dietary P450 induction and with a 5 day supplementary dietary period, i.e. ingestion of known dietary inducers. None of the women were using oral contraceptives or were pregnant during the experimental period. In the period of diet supplementation, the volunteers received charcoal grilled hamburger as a supplement to the standard low induction diet for lunch for 5 days. The hamburgers were made with 150 g beef (18-20% fat) and were grilled on charcoal for 10 min on each side until they were 'well done'. In the present study P450 1A2 activity was estimated from the caffeine metabolic ratio, the so-called CYP 1A2 index:(AFMU + 1-MX + 1-MU/ 17 -DMU) of the caffeine metabolites formed after oral ingestion of 200 mg caffeine. Urine was collected 4-8 h after caffeine ingestion in study 1 and 5 h after caffeine ingestion in study 2. In study 1 the CYP 1A2 index decreased from 4.28 +/- 0.98 in the customary home dietary period to 3.87 +/- 0.69 in the standard dietary period corresponding to 10.6% (P < 0.06) decrease in the CYP 1A2 index. In study 2 the CYP 1A2 index decreased from 4.47 +/- 1.76 in the customary home dietary period to 3.90 +/- 1.12 in the standard dietary period corresponding to a 14.6% decrease (P < 0.2) in P450 1A2 activity. The female subjects had a mean index value of 3.89 +/- 1.14 which was 16.8% (P = 0.09) lower than the mean male index value of 4.68 +/- 1.76 during the home dietary period. After the 5 day period with charcoal grilled hamburgers as a dietary supplement, the CYP 1A2 index increased to almost the same level as in the customary home dietary period. The index increased to 4.45 +/- 1.57 in the whole group of volunteers, corresponding to a 14.1% (P < 0.05) increase. The mean increase in the CYP 1A2 index covered a large inter-individual variation in response to ingestion of charcoal grilled meat ranging from a 29% decrease to a 147% increase.

Suicide by gassing in Hong Kong 2005-2013: Emerging trends and characteristics of suicide by helium inhalation.

PubMed

Chang, Shu-Sen; Cheng, Qijin; Lee, Esther S T; Yip, Paul S F

2016-03-01

Increased use of lethal suicide methods can have a profound impact on overall suicide incidence; the epidemic of suicide by barbecue charcoal gas poisoning in some East Asian countries is a recent example. There have been concerns about recent rises in suicide using gases in some Western countries. We investigated suicide by gassing in Hong Kong (2005-2013) using Coroner's files data. The characteristics were compared between suicide by helium inhalation, charcoal gas poisoning, and other methods. About one sixth (1407/8445, 16.7%) of all suicides used gases. Charcoal-burning suicides constituted the majority (97.5%) of them but showed a reduction over the 9-year period (-33%). Helium suicide was not recorded in 2005-2010 but increased from one in 2011 to three in 2012 and 11 in 2013, accounting for 1.2% of all suicides in 2013. Similar to the profile of charcoal-burning suicides, helium suicides were younger and more likely to have debt problem and less likely to receive psychiatric treatment than other suicides. Internet involvement related to the method was found in one third of cases of helium suicide. The small number of helium suicides (n=15) limits the power to examine their characteristics. Suicide by charcoal burning showed a downward trend whilst there was an alarming increase in helium suicide in Hong Kong. Public health measures to prevent an epidemic of helium suicide similar to that of charcoal-burning suicide may include close monitoring of trend, responsible media reporting, and restricting online information about and access to this method. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Charcoal Trap: Miombo woodlands versus the energy needs of people

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Merbold, Lutz; Maurice, Muchinda; Mukufute M, Mukelabai; J, Scholes Robert; Waldemar, Ziegler; L, Kutsch Werner

2010-05-01

Miombo woodlands cover the transition zone between the dry open savannas and the moist forests in Southern Africa and occupy the vast area of 2.7 Mio km2. These ecosystems are highly disturbed by deforestation, mostly for charcoal production. Charcoal has become the largest source to satisfy urban energy demands. Even though when charcoal is a less energy-efficient fuel compared to firewood but by having higher energy densities and thus being cheaper to transport. Over the last decades, charcoal production has become a full-time employment for migrant workers, resulting in very different and no longer sustainable deforestation patterns. Strategies to reduce the pressure on the miombo woodlands have to take aspects of employment and energy demand into account. The objectives of the study were to examine above- and belowground carbon losses from an intact miombo woodland (protected forest reserve) in comparison to a highly disturbed surrounding area due to charcoal production. Detection of changes in carbon concentrations and stocks were made possible by applying biomass- and soil inventories as well as the eddy-covariance method. These local results were up-scaled to countrywide estimates of carbon lost to the atmosphere by deforestation in addition to carbon losses fossil fuel combustion. The results show, that in the worst case scenario which does not assume any regeneration, a developing country as Zambia, can easily emit as much carbon per capita as a developed Western world country such as France, when deforestation is included in the national inventory (up to 9.1 t of CO2 per capita). However, regeneration is very probably when post-harvest disturbance is low. Further studies on miombo regeneration are highly demanded.

Effect of obese and lean Zucker rat sera on human and rat prostate cancer cells: implications in obesity-related prostate tumor biology.

PubMed

Lamarre, Neil S; Ruggieri, Michael R; Braverman, Alan S; Gerstein, Matthew I; Mydlo, Jack H

2007-01-01

Several reports have demonstrated the effects of obesity on prostate cancer. Also several reports have linked expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) to prostate cancer aggressiveness. The objective of this study was to determine whether a difference exists between lean and obese Zucker rat sera on proliferation prostate cancer cell lines, as well as to examine the differences in FGF-2 and VEGF concentrations. Ten-week-old female obese and lean Zucker rat sera were subjected to charcoal stripping and tested for the proliferation of human LNCaP and rat AT3B-1 prostate cancer cells. An acetonitrile extract of the charcoal used to strip the sera was also tested for mitogenicity. VEGF and FGF-2 concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both unstripped and charcoal-stripped obese rat sera had a greater mitogenic effect than did the lean sera on the LNCaP cell line. Charcoal stripping of both obese and lean sera reduced the mitogenic effect on the AT3B-1 cell line. The acetonitrile extract of the charcoal used to strip the sera was unable to recover this proliferative effect. The concentration of VEGF was greater in the obese serum than in the lean serum, and charcoal stripping reduced the concentrations of both FGF-2 and VEGF. The finding of greater VEGF in obese rat sera, as well as greater mitogenic responses on human prostate cancer cells in vitro, suggests this as one of the many possible mechanisms involved in obesity-related prostate cancer biology.

Charcoal byproducts as potential styrene-butadiene rubber composte filler

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Carbon black, a byproduct of the petroleum industry, is the world's most predominant filler for rubber composites. In this study, various renewable charcoals in the form of pyrolyzed agricultural byproducts were evaluted as potential carbon-based filler for rubber composites made with carboxylated s...

Evaluating Waste Charcoal as Potential Rubber Composite Filler

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Carbon black, a byproduct of the petroleum industry, is the world's most predominant filler for rubber composites. In this study, charcoal in the form of pyrolyzed agricultural products was evaluated as potential carbon-based filler for rubber composites made with carboxylated styrene-butadiene lat...

Improved efficiency of plant regeneration from protoplasts of eggplant Solanum melongena L.

PubMed

Guri, A; Izhar, S

1984-12-01

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) mesophyll protoplasts were obtained from in vitro growing plants of line 410 and cv. 'Classic'. Relatively high (15%) plating efficiency was achieved using petri dishes with alternate quadrants containing reservoir medium (R medium + 1% activated charcoal) and culture medium. Shoot regeneration occurred within 6 weeks following initiation of protoplast culture.

Two systems developed for purifying inert atmospheres

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Foster, M. S.; Johnson, C. E.; Kyle, M. L.

1969-01-01

Two systems, one for helium and one for argon, are used for purifying inert atmospheres. The helium system uses an activated charcoal bed at liquid nitrogen temperature to remove oxygen and nitrogen. The argon system uses heated titanium sponge to remove nitrogen and copper wool beds to remove oxygen. Both use molecular sieves to remove water vapor.

Fabrication and characterization of rice husk and coconut shell charcoal based bio-briquettes as alternative energy source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuliah, Y.; Kartawidjaja, M.; Suryaningsih, S.; Ulfi, K.

2017-05-01

Rice husk and coconut shell have been disposed or burned as waste. As biomass, both of materials are the potential sources of carbon which can be utilized as alternative energy sources. The energy content can be exploited more intensively when packaged in a brief and convenient. In this work, the mixtures of rice husks and coconut shells charcoal were prepared as briquettes. After going through the carbonization process, several measurements have been taken to find out the factors that determine the value of heat energy contains by each component of the charcoals. The basic ingredients briquettes prepared from rice husk and coconut shell charcoal with varying composition and addition of tapioca starch gradually as adhesive material to obtain briquettes in solid with the maximum heat energy content. After going through pressing and drying process, the briquettes with 50:50 percent of composition and the 6% addition of adhesive was found has the highest heat energy content, equal to 4966 cal/g.

Radioactive rare gases and tritium in the sample return container, and the $sup 37$Ar and $sup 39$Ar depth profile in the Apollo 16 drill stem

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stoenner, R.W.; Davis, R. Jr.; Bauer, M.

1973-01-01

The gas was extracted from the sample return container from the Apollo 16 and 17 missions by adsorption on charcoal and activated vanadium metal. The hydrogen, argon, and radon were separated and counted to give the tritium, /sup 37/Ar, /suyp 39/Ar, and /sup 222 /Rn activities. The tritium and argon activities observed could be explained by diffusive losses of these gases from the fine material in the container. There was no excess tritium present in the Apollo 17 containers that could be attributed to solar tritons remaining from the intense flare of August 4, 1972. The /sup 222/Rn observed inmore » the sample return container was interpreted as an emanation product from lunar fines and an emanation yield of 1 x 10/sup -4/ was calculated. This yield is consistent with the low radon content observed in the lunar atmosphere. The tritium, sup 37/Ar, / sup 39/Ar, and /sup 222/Rn activities and the K, Ca, Ti, Fe, and Mn contents were measured on a set of samples from the Apollo 16 deep drill stem at depths from 83 to 343 g/cm/sup 2/. The /sup 37/Ar and /sup 39/Ar activities combined with similar measurements at more shallow depth by Fireman and associates (SAO) give the complete activity proflle in the lunar regolith. Since /sup 37/Ar is produced mainly by the /sup 40/Ca(n, alpha )/su p 37/Ar reaction it is possible to determine the neutron production rate in the regolith as a function of the depth. The /sup 222/Rn extracted from the samples by vacuum melting was found to be lower than expected in some samples based upon their uranium contents. The hydrogen and helium contents of the drill stem samples were measured and found to be relatively uniform with depth in contrast to similar measurements on Apollo 15 and 17 drill stems. The H/He atom ratio was higher than the accepted solar-wind value by a factor of two, possibly due to water contamination. (auth)« less

Thoron Mitigation System based on charcoal bed for applications in thorium fuel cycle facilities (part 2): Development, characterization, and performance evaluation.

PubMed

Sudeep Kumara, K; Sahoo, B K; Gaware, J J; Sapra, B K; Mayya, Y S; Karunakara, N

2017-06-01

Exposure due to thoron ( 220 Rn) gas and its decay products in a thorium fuel cycle facility handling thorium or 232 U/ 233 U mixture compounds is an important issue of radiological concern requiring control and mitigation. Adsorption in a flow-through charcoal bed offers an excellent method of alleviating the release of 220 Rn into occupational and public domain. In this paper, we present the design, development, and characterization of a Thoron Mitigation System (TMS) for industrial application. Systematic experiments were conducted in the TMS for examining the 220 Rn mitigation characteristics with respect to a host of parameters such as flow rate, pressure drop, charcoal grain size, charcoal mass and bed depth, water content, and heat of the carrier gas. An analysis of the experimental data shows that 220 Rn attenuation in a flow through charcoal bed is not exponential with respect to the residence time, L/U a (L: bed depth; U a : superficial velocity), but follows a power law behaviour, which can be attributed to the occurrence of large voids due to wall channeling in a flow through bed. The study demonstrates the regeneration of charcoal adsorption capacity degraded due to moisture adsorption, by hot air blowing technique. It is found that the mitigation factor (MF), which is the ratio of the inlet 220 Rn concentration (C in ) to the outlet 220 Rn concentration (C out ), of more than 10 4 for the TMS is easily achievable during continuous operation (>1000 h) at a flow rate of 40 L min -1 with negligible (<1 cm of water column) pressure drop. The Thoron Mitigation System based on adsorption on charcoal bed offers a compact and effective device to remove 220 Rn from affluent air streams in a space constrained domain. The prototype system has been installed in a thorium fuel cycle facility where it is being evaluated for its long-term performance and overall effectiveness in mitigating 220 Rn levels in the workplace. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Do Regional Aerosols Contribute to the Riverine Export of Dissolved Black Carbon?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, M. W.; Quine, T. A.; de Rezende, C. E.; Dittmar, T.; Johnson, B.; Manecki, M.; Marques, J. S. J.; de Aragão, L. E. O. C.

2017-11-01

The fate of black carbon (BC), a stable form of thermally altered organic carbon produced during biomass and fuel combustion, remains an area of uncertainty in the global carbon cycle. The transfer of photosynthetically derived BC into extremely long-term oceanic storage is of particular significance and rivers are the key linkage between terrestrial sources and oceanic stores. Significant fluvial fluxes of dissolved BC to oceans result from the slow release of BC from degrading charcoal stocks; however, these fluvial fluxes may also include undetermined contributions of aerosol BC, produced by biomass and fossil fuel combustion, which are deposited in river catchments following atmospheric transport. By investigation of the Paraíba do Sul River catchment in Southeast Brazil we show that aerosol deposits can be substantial contributors to fluvial fluxes of BC. We derived spatial distributions of BC stocks within the catchment associated with soil charcoal and with aerosol from both open biomass burning and fuel combustion. We then modeled the fluvial concentrations of dissolved BC (DBC) in scenarios with varying rates of export from each stock. We analyzed the ability of each scenario to reproduce the variability in DBC concentrations measured in four data sets of river water samples collected between 2010 and 2014 and found that the best performing scenarios included a 5-18% (135-486 Mg DBC year-1) aerosol contribution. Our results suggest that aerosol deposits of BC in river catchments have a shorter residence time in catchments than charcoal BC and, therefore, contribute disproportionately (with respect to stock magnitude) toward fluvial fluxes of BC.

[Occupational exposure to methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) at an oil refinery].

PubMed

Perbellini, L; Pasini, F; Prigioni, P; Rosina, A

2003-01-01

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is widely used as an additive to gasoline, to increase oxygen content and reduce tailpipe emission of carbon monoxide. Our research dealt with 37 refinery workers in order to measure their occupational exposure to MTBE during two different seasonal periods. They provided blood and urine samples before and after a work shift during which they wore an active charcoal sampler for solvents. All samples were analysed by a gas-chromatograph equipped with a mass spectrometer detector. The concentration in air of MTBE was very low (median: 25 micrograms/m3 in spring and 5 micrograms/m3 in autumn). The blood and urine concentrations of MTBE at the end of the work shift were higher than those found before the shift. The increment in biological samples confirmed a small intake of MTBE by refinery workers: the biological monitoring of occupational exposure to this solvent yielded reliable results. Blood and urinary concentrations of MTBE obtained from workers split in relation to their smoking habit did not give a statistic significance to say that cigarette smoke is not a confusion factor in monitoring exposure to MTBE.

Assessment of the BTEX concentrations and reactivity in a confined parking area in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Castro, Barbara Prestes; de Souza Machado, Gladson; Bauerfeldt, Glauco Favila; Nunes Fortes, Julio Domingos; Martins, Eduardo Monteiro

2015-03-01

In this work, the contribution of evaporative emissions from light passenger vehicles to the degradation of the air quality was investigated on the basis of the indoor quantification of the monoaromatic volatile compounds Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes (BTEX), specifically, a confined shopping mall parking area in the northern zone of Rio de Janeiro, a site that represents the reality of the vehicular fleet of the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro. In order to evaluate the concentration of the BTEX compounds, samples were collected, by an active sampling system using charcoal cartridge as adsorbent. The samples were extracted with organic solvent and subsequently analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). The average results were 54.14 μg m-3 (benzene), 209.24 μg m-3 (toluene), 45.87 μg m-3 (ethylbenzene) and 118.93 μg m-3 (xylenes). These results are compared with results from the literature of vehicular emissions in confined spaces such as garages and tunnels. Possible correlations with emissions from moving vehicles, obtained from previous studies in a tunnel of large circulation and emissions obtained in other underground parkings, are also investigated. The results suggest different emission sources.

Phase I Archaeological Investigation Cultural Resources Survey, Hawaii Geothermal Project, Makawao and Hana Districts, South Shore of Maui, Hawaii (DRAFT )

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Erkelens, Conrad

1994-03-01

This report details the archaeological investigation of a 200 foot wide sample corridor extending approximately 9 miles along the southern portion of Maui within the present districts of Hana and Makawao. A total of 51 archaeological sites encompassing 233 surface features were documented. A GPS receiver was used to accurately and precisely plot locations for each of the documented sites. Analysis of the locational information suggests that archaeological sites are abundant throughout the region and only become scarce where vegetation has been bulldozed for ranching activities. At the sea-land transition points for the underwater transmission cable, both Ahihi Bay andmore » Huakini Bay are subjected to seasonal erosion and redeposition of their boulder shorelines. The corridor at the Ahihi Bay transition point runs through the Moanakala Village Complex which is an archaeological site on the State Register of Historic Places within a State Natural Area Reserve. Numerous other potentially significant archaeological sites lie within the project corridor. It is likely that rerouting of the corridor in an attempt to avoid known sites would result in other undocumented sites located outside the sample corridor being impacted. Given the distribution of archaeological sites, there is no alternative route that can be suggested that is likely to avoid encountering sites. A total of twelve charcoal samples were obtained for potential taxon identification and radiocarbon analysis. Four of these samples were subsequently submitted for dating and species identification. Bird bone from various locations within a lava tube were collected for identification. Sediment samples for subsequent pollen analysis were obtained from within two lava tubes. With these three sources of information it is hoped that paleoenvironmental data can be recovered that will enable a better understanding of the setting for Hawaiian habitation of the area. A small test unit was excavated at one habitation site. Charcoal, molluscan and fish remains, basalt tools, and other artifacts were recovered. This material, while providing an extremely small sample, will greatly enhance our understanding of the use of the area. Recommendations regarding the need for further investigation and the preservation of sites within the project corridor are suggested. All sites within the project corridor must be considered potentially significant at this juncture. Further archaeological investigation consisting of a full inventory survey will be required prior to a final assessment of significance for each site and the development of a mitigation plan for sites likely to be impacted by the Hawaii Geothermal Project.« less

40 CFR 59.208 - Charcoal lighter material testing protocol.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... the performance, design, and operation specifications of the prescribed equipment. A demonstration... Administrator prior to compliance testing, based on an evaluation of comparative performance specifications and... stack barbecue charcoal that is designed to be lit without the packaging, the same as in paragraph (h)(1...

40 CFR 59.208 - Charcoal lighter material testing protocol.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... the performance, design, and operation specifications of the prescribed equipment. A demonstration... Administrator prior to compliance testing, based on an evaluation of comparative performance specifications and... stack barbecue charcoal that is designed to be lit without the packaging, the same as in paragraph (h)(1...

40 CFR 59.208 - Charcoal lighter material testing protocol.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... the performance, design, and operation specifications of the prescribed equipment. A demonstration... Administrator prior to compliance testing, based on an evaluation of comparative performance specifications and... stack barbecue charcoal that is designed to be lit without the packaging, the same as in paragraph (h)(1...

49 CFR 176.405 - Stowage of charcoal.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Stowage of charcoal. 176.405 Section 176.405 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY... bags and offered for transportation on board a vessel in a quantity over 1016 kg (2240 pounds) must be...

49 CFR 176.405 - Stowage of charcoal.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Stowage of charcoal. 176.405 Section 176.405 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY... bags and offered for transportation on board a vessel in a quantity over 1016 kg (2240 pounds) must be...

The influence of leaf morphology on litter flammability and its utility for interpreting palaeofire

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Studies of palaeofire rely on quantifying the abundance of fossil charcoals in sediments to estimate changes in fire activity. However, gaining an understanding of the behaviour of palaeofires is also essential if we are to determine the palaeoecological impact of wildfires. Here, I use experimental approaches to explore relationships between litter fire behaviour and leaf traits that are observable in the fossil record. Fire calorimetry was used to assess the flammability of 15 species of conifer litter and indicated that leaf morphology related to litter bulk density and fuel load that determined the duration of burning and the total energy released. These data were applied to a fossil case study that couples estimates of palaeolitter fire behaviour to charcoal-based estimates of fire activity and observations of palaeoecological changes. The case study reveals that significant changes in fire activity and behaviour likely fed back to determine ecosystem composition. This work highlights that we can recognize and measure plant traits in the fossil record that relate to fire behaviour and therefore that further research is warranted towards estimating palaeofire behaviour as it can enhance our ability to interpret the palaeoecological impact of palaeofires throughout Earth's long evolutionary history. This article is part of the themed issue ‘The interaction of fire and mankind’. PMID:27216520

The influence of leaf morphology on litter flammability and its utility for interpreting palaeofire.

PubMed

Belcher, Claire M

2016-06-05

Studies of palaeofire rely on quantifying the abundance of fossil charcoals in sediments to estimate changes in fire activity. However, gaining an understanding of the behaviour of palaeofires is also essential if we are to determine the palaeoecological impact of wildfires. Here, I use experimental approaches to explore relationships between litter fire behaviour and leaf traits that are observable in the fossil record. Fire calorimetry was used to assess the flammability of 15 species of conifer litter and indicated that leaf morphology related to litter bulk density and fuel load that determined the duration of burning and the total energy released. These data were applied to a fossil case study that couples estimates of palaeolitter fire behaviour to charcoal-based estimates of fire activity and observations of palaeoecological changes. The case study reveals that significant changes in fire activity and behaviour likely fed back to determine ecosystem composition. This work highlights that we can recognize and measure plant traits in the fossil record that relate to fire behaviour and therefore that further research is warranted towards estimating palaeofire behaviour as it can enhance our ability to interpret the palaeoecological impact of palaeofires throughout Earth's long evolutionary history.This article is part of the themed issue 'The interaction of fire and mankind'. © 2016 The Author(s).

Carbon emissions due to deforestation for the production of charcoal used in Brazil’s steel industry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sonter, Laura J.; Barrett, Damian J.; Moran, Chris J.; Soares-Filho, Britaldo S.

2015-04-01

Steel produced using coal generates 7% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions annually. Opportunities exist to substitute this coal with carbon-neutral charcoal sourced from plantation forests to mitigate project-scale emissions and obtain certified emission reduction credits under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism. This mitigation strategy has been implemented in Brazil and is one mechanism among many used globally to reduce anthropogenic CO2 emissions; however, its potential adverse impacts have been overlooked to date. Here, we report that total CO2 emitted from Brazilian steel production doubled (91 to 182 MtCO2) and specific emissions increased (3.3 to 5.2 MtCO2 per Mt steel) between 2000 and 2007, even though the proportion of coal used declined. Infrastructure upgrades and a national plantation shortage increased industry reliance on charcoal sourced from native forests, which emits up to nine times more CO2 per tonne of steel than coal. Preventing use of native forest charcoal could have avoided 79% of the CO2 emitted from steel production between 2000 and 2007; however, doing so by increasing plantation charcoal supply is limited by socio-economic costs and risks further indirect deforestation pressures and emissions. Effective climate change mitigation in Brazil’s steel industry must therefore minimize all direct and indirect carbon emissions generated from steel manufacture.

The Charcoal Trap: Miombo Woddlands and the Energy Demands of People

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kutsch, W. L.; Merbold, L.; Mukelabai, M. M.

2012-04-01

Miombo woodlands cover the transition zone between dry open savannas and moist forests in Southern Africa. They cover about 2.7 million km2 in southern Africa and provide many ecosystem services that support rural life, including medical products, wild foods, construction timber and fuel. In Zambia, as in many of its neighbouring countries, miombo woodlands are currently experiencing accelerating degradation and clearing, mostly with charcoal production as the initial driver. Domestic energy needs in the growing urban areas are largely satisfied by charcoal, which is less energy-efficient fuel on a tree-to-table basis than the firewood that is used in rural areas, but has a higher energy density and is thus cheaper to transport. This study uses data from inventories and from eddy covariance measurements of carbon exchange to characterize the impact of charcoal production on miombo woodlands. We address the following questions: (i) how much carbon is lost at local as well as at national scale and (ii) does forest degradation result in the loss of a carbon sink? On the basis of our data we (iii) estimate the per capita emissions through deforestation and forest degradation in Zambia and relate it to fossil fuel emissions. Furthermore, (iv) a rough estimate of the energy that is provided by charcoal production to private households at a national level is calculated and (v) options for alternative energy supply to private households are discussed.

Metal oxides, clay minerals and charcoal determine the composition of microbial communities in matured artificial soils and their response to phenanthrene.

PubMed

Babin, Doreen; Ding, Guo-Chun; Pronk, Geertje Johanna; Heister, Katja; Kögel-Knabner, Ingrid; Smalla, Kornelia

2013-10-01

Microbial communities in soil reside in a highly heterogeneous habitat where diverse mineral surfaces, complex organic matter and microorganisms interact with each other. This study aimed to elucidate the long-term effect of the soil mineral composition and charcoal on the microbial community composition established in matured artificial soils and their response to phenanthrene. One year after adding sterile manure to different artificial soils and inoculating microorganisms from a Cambisol, the matured soils were spiked with phenanthrene or not and incubated for another 70 days. 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer fragments amplified from total community DNA were analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Metal oxides and clay minerals and to a lesser extent charcoal influenced the microbial community composition. Changes in the bacterial community composition in response to phenanthrene differed depending on the mineral composition and presence of charcoal, while no shifts in the fungal community composition were observed. The abundance of ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase genes was increased in phenanthrene-spiked soils except for charcoal-containing soils. Here we show that the formation of biogeochemical interfaces in soil is an ongoing process and that different properties present in artificial soils influenced the bacterial response to the phenanthrene spike. © 2012 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

High-affinity binding of (/sup 3/H)estradiol-17 beta by an estrogen receptor in the liver of the turtle

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ho, S.M.; Fehrer, S.; Yu, M.

1988-06-01

Specific (3H)estradiol-17 beta ((3H)E2) binding activity (EBA) with characteristics of an estrogen receptor (ER) was demonstrated in cytosols and nuclear extracts of the female turtle, Chrysemys picta. Three different receptor assays (dextran-coated charcoal assay, hydroxylapatite batch procedure, and DNA-cellulose chromatography) were evaluated in terms of their applicability in analyzing large numbers of samples. For the measurement of cytosolic EBA, the hydroxylapatite batch procedure was found to be the most reliable assay. On the other hand, the dextran-coated charcoal assay was found to be the most appropriate method for the measurement of nuclear EBA. Turtle hepatic EBA binds (3H)E2 with highmore » affinity (cytosolic, 17.4 +/- 2.8 X 10(9) M-1; nuclear, 17.7 +/- 1.9 X 10(9) M-1), limited capacity (cytosolic, 133.7 +/- 4.6 fmol/g tissue; nuclear, 81.1 +/- 9.0 fmol/g tissue), and strict steroid specificity. The EBA bound natural estrogens (E2, estrone, estriol) as well as the nonsteroidal estrogen, diethylstilbestrol, but exhibited little affinity for androgens, progesterone, or corticosterone. The turtle hepatic EBA resembled mammalian and avian ERs in terms of binding characteristics; however, unlike mammalian and avian ERs it was shown to be heat-labile. Incubation at 30 degrees caused rapid loss of (3H)E2 binding activity in both cytosolic and nuclear fractions. The exchange between (3H)E2 and the endogenously bound estrogen was slow at 4 and 15 degrees, but the exchange process was facilitated in the presence of the chaotropic salt, NaSCN. Establishment of quantitation methods for both cytosolic and nuclear forms of EBA will enable future investigation of the mechanism and regulation of estrogen action in the liver of this turtle species.« less

Separation of selenium species released from Se-exposed algae

USGS Publications Warehouse

Besser, John M.; Huckins, James N.; Clark, Randal C.

1994-01-01

We have assessed a fractionation scheme for selenium species that separates Se-containing amino acids and other organoselenium compounds in aqueous samples. We investigated the retention of standard solutions of selenate (Se+6), selenite (Se+4), and selenomethionine (Se−2) by fractionation media (Sephadex A-25 ion-exchange resin, copper-treated Chelex-100 ligand-exchange resin, and activated charcoal) and by several types of membrane filters. The fractionation method successfully isolated Se from the standard solutions into appropriate fractions for radiometric quantitation of 75Se. However, some filter media retained unacceptably large amounts of selenate and selenite. Mass balance microcosms were inoculated with green algae (Chlamydomonas">Chlamydomonasreinhardtii">reinhardtii) previously exposed to inorganic 75Se, and the fractionation scheme was used to examine the release of 75Se species into water and air. The results of the microcosm exposure indicate that seasonal blooms and crashes of phytoplankton populations may produce increased concentrations of organoselenium species.

Evaluation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) response to charcoal rot

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Charcoal rot in common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Gold. (Mph), is an endemic disease in the prevailing hot and dry conditions in southern Puerto Rico. This study evaluated the 120 bean genotypes that compose the BASE 120 panel under screenhouse conditio...

Genetic Architecture of Charcoal Rot (Macrophomina phaseolina) Resistance in Soybean Revealed Using a Diverse Panel

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Charcoal rot disease caused by Macrophomina phaseolina is responsible for significant yield losses in soybean production. Among the methodologies available for controlling this disease, breeding for resistance is the most promising. Progress in breeding efforts has been slow due to the insufficient ...

Effect of Charcoal Rot on Selected Putative Drought Resistant Soybean Genotypes and Yield.

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Charcoal rot (CR), caused by the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. is a pervasive disease of economic significance on soybeans ([(Glycine max (L.) Merr.) that is exacerbated when plants are under stress, especially under heat and drought condition. Thus, the objective of this research was...

Janice VanCleave's World: Fluffy and White.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

VanCleave, Janice

2000-01-01

Uses charcoal briquettes, ammonia, water, table salt, and laundry bluing to create white fluffy crystals. Briquettes are placed in a bowl while the remaining ingredients are mixed together and poured over the briquettes. The result is white fluffy crystals forming on top of the charcoal. This experiment dramatizes chemical reactions to…

40 CFR 454.10 - Applicability; description of the manufacture of char and charcoal briquets subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Applicability; description of the manufacture of char and charcoal briquets subcategory. 454.10 Section 454.10 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) GUM AND WOOD CHEMICALS...

40 CFR 59.208 - Charcoal lighter material testing protocol.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... grams per start. The manufacturer or importer shall maintain the report of findings. (c) When a charcoal... protocol, or are unclear (subject to different interpretations) and inadequate, the Administrator must be... to this subpart shall demonstrate compliance with the applicable requirements of § 59.203(d) using...

40 CFR 59.208 - Charcoal lighter material testing protocol.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... grams per start. The manufacturer or importer shall maintain the report of findings. (c) When a charcoal... protocol, or are unclear (subject to different interpretations) and inadequate, the Administrator must be... to this subpart shall demonstrate compliance with the applicable requirements of § 59.203(d) using...

40 CFR 454.10 - Applicability; description of the manufacture of char and charcoal briquets subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Applicability; description of the manufacture of char and charcoal briquets subcategory. 454.10 Section 454.10 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) GUM AND WOOD CHEMICALS...

40 CFR 454.10 - Applicability; description of the manufacture of char and charcoal briquets subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Applicability; description of the manufacture of char and charcoal briquets subcategory. 454.10 Section 454.10 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) GUM AND WOOD CHEMICALS...

40 CFR 454.10 - Applicability; description of the manufacture of char and charcoal briquets subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Applicability; description of the manufacture of char and charcoal briquets subcategory. 454.10 Section 454.10 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS GUM AND WOOD CHEMICALS...

GREENHOUSE GASES FROM SMALL-SCALE COMBUSTION DEVICES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, CHARCOAL-MAKING KILNS IN THAILAND

EPA Science Inventory

The report gives results of measurements of airborne emissions, during typical operating conditions, from charcoal-making kilns commonly used in the developing world. The kilns tested were of five types: brick beehive, mud beehive, earth mound, rice husk mound, and single (oil) d...