Effect of solute and matric potential on growth rate of fungal species isolated from cheese

The effect of water potential ( J w ) on the growth of 15 fungal species isolated from cheeses was analysed. The species, identified mainly by analysis of DNA sequences, belonged to genera Penicillium , Geotrichum , Mucor , Aspergillus , Microascus and Talaromyces . Particularly, the effect of matric potential ( J m ), and ionic (NaCl) and non-ionic (glycerol) solute potentials ( J s ) on growth rate was studied. The response of strains was highly dependent on the type of J w . For J s , clear profiles for optimal, permissive and marginal conditions for growth were obtained, and differences in growth rate were achieved comparing NaCl and glycerol for most of the species. Conversely, a sustained growth was obtained for J m in all the strains, with the exception of Aspergillus pseudoglaucus , whose growth increased proportionally to the level of water stress. Our results might help to understand the impact of environmental factors on the ecophysiology and dynamics of fungal populations associated to cheeses.

The Spanish water ?pressure cooker?: Threading the interplay between resource resilient water governance outcomes by strengthening the robustness of water governance processes.

This paper uses the metaphor of a pressure cooker to highlight how water problems in Spain are highly geographical and sectorial in nature, with some specific hotspots which raise the temperature of the whole water complex system, turning many potentially solvable water problems into ?wicked problems?. The paper discusses the tendency for water governance to be hydrocentric, when often the drivers and in turn the ?solutions? to Spanish water problems lie outside the water sphere. The paper analyzes of the current water governance system by looking at water governance as both a process, and its key attributes like participation, trans- parency, equity and rule of law, as well as an analysis of water governance as an outcome by looking at efficiency and sustainability of water use in Spain. It concludes on the need to have a deeper knowledge on the interactions of water governance as a process and as an outcome and potential synergies and arguing that water governance is an inherently political process which calls for strengthening the capacity of the system by looking at the interactions of these different governance attributes.

The water footprint of a river basin with a special focus on groundwater: The case of Guadalquivir basin (Spain).

In addition to revealing the hidden link between products or consumption patterns of populations and their needs in terms of water resources, the water footprint (WF) indicator generates new debates and solutions on water management at basin scale. This paper analyses the green and blue WF of the Guadalquivir basin and its integration with environmental water consumption, with a special emphasis on the WF from groundwater and its consequences on current and future depletion of surface water. In a normal year, green WF (agriculture and pastures) amounts to 190 mm on a total green water consumption of 410 mm, while the blue WF (50 mm) represents half of the total blue water flows. This constitutes a first overview and alternative interpretations of the WF as human water appropriation are introduced. The blue WF is almost entirely associated to agriculture (40 mm). The presentation of its evolution over the period 1997?2008 reveals the rising WF from groundwater (13 mm in 2008), 86% being current consumption of surface flows. This evolution is particularly ascribed to the recent development of irrigated olive groves from groundwater. To prevent a higher pressure on the environment, this new use, like all others (thermo-solar plants, tourism, etc.), could have been obtained from the reallocation of water from crops with low water productivity. It means that water is not lacking in the Guadalquivir basin if the governance setting integrates more flexibility and equity in the allocation of water to address climatic variability and the emergence of new demands.

Water for Food Security and Wellbeing in Latin America: Status and Challenges in a Globalized World.

Water for Food Security and Wellbeing in Latin America and the Caribbean. Side Event organizado por el OA en colaboración con el Centro del Agua de América Latina y el Caribe y el Tecnológico de Monterrey. World Water Week Stockholm, 2 September 2013.

Oxygen extended sooting index of FAME blends with aviation kerosene

The use of biofuels in the aviation sector has economic and environmental benefits. Among the options for the production of renewable jet fuels, hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) have received predominant attention in comparison with fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), which are not approved as additives for jet fuels. However, the presence of oxygen in methyl esters tends to reduce soot emissions and therefore particulate matter emissions. This sooting tendency is quantified in this work with an oxygen-extended sooting index, based on smoke point measurements. Results have shown considerable reduction in the sooting tendency for all biokerosenes (produced by transesterification and eventually distillation) with respect to fossil kerosenes. Among the tested biokerosenes, that made from palm kernel oil was the most effective one, and nondistilled methyl esters (from camelina and linseed oils) showed lower effectiveness than distilled biokerosenes to reduce the sooting tendency. These results may constitute an additional argument for the use of FAME’s as blend components of jet fuels. Other arguments were pointed out in previous publications, but some controversy has aroused over the use of these components. Some of the criticism was based on the fact that the methods used in our previous work are not approved for jet fuels in the standard methods and concluded that the use of FAME in any amount is, thus, inappropriate. However, some of the standard methods are not updated for considering oxygenated components (like the method for obtaining the lower heating value), and others are not precise enough (like the methods for measuring the freezing point), whereas some alternative methods may provide better reproducibility for oxygenated fuels.

Airplane materials compatibility with blends of fossil kerosene JET A1 with biokerosenes from babassu, palm kernel and coconut oils

The aviation companies are facing some problems that argue in favor of biofuels: Rising cost of traditional fuel: from 0.71 USD/gallon in May 2003 to 3.09 USD/gallon in January 2012. Environmental concerns: direct emissions from aviation account for about 3 % of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) forecasts that by 2050 they could grow by a further 300-700 %. On December 20th 2006 the European Commission approved a law proposal to include the civil aviation sector in the European market of carbon dioxide emission rights (European Union Emissions Trading System, EUETS)

Blends of babassu, palm kernal and coconut mame with fossil kerosene: low carbon number methyl esters as a possible source for renewable jet fuel

Three different oils: babassu, coconut and palm kernel have been transesterified with methanol. The fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) have been subjected to vacuum fractional distillation, and the low boiling point fractions have been blended with fossil kerosene at three different proportions: 5, 10 and 20% vol.

Blends of babassu, palm kernel and coconut fame with fossil kerosene. Technical aspects of low carbon number methyl esters as a possible source for renewable jet fuel

State of the Art. Process and Distillation. Fuel Characterization. Fuel Compatibility Tests

New Schizosaccharomyces applications in red wines alcoholic fermentation

The Schizosaccharomyces strains consumed less primary amino nitrogen and produced less urea and more pyruvic acid than other Saccharomyces species. Further, three of the four Schizosaccharomyces strains completed the breakdown of malic acid by day 4 of fermentation. The main negative effect of the use of Schizosaccharomyces was strong acetic acid production. The Schizosaccharomyces strains that produced most pyruvic acid (938 and 936) were associated with better ?wine? colour than the remaining yeasts. The studied Schizosaccharomyces could therefore be of oenological interest.

Estudio técnico-económico del criterio distancia foco emisor y estructura almacén de CO2. Aplicación a un caso de estudio en la Cuenca del Duero.

El presente proyecto tiene como objeto la evaluación del parámetro distancia entre focos de emisión de CO2 y estructuras geológicas apropiadas para su almacenamiento, según los datos publicados por el Registro Estatal de Emisiones y Fuentes Contaminantes (PRTR España) y por el proyecto ALGECO2. El parámetro distancia analizado es referido a proyectos de Captura, Transporte y Almacenamiento de CO2 (proyectos CAC) a gran escala. Para ello se ha realizado un estudio en la zona de la Cuenca del Duero aplicando criterios de selección tanto técnicos como socio-económicos, según las recomendaciones de organizaciones como la Agencia Internacional de la Energía o el CCS Institute entre otros. A lo largo de este estudio se ha propuesto y evaluado un sistema de transporte por tubería “punto a punto” o un sistema en “red” determinando cuáles son los más recomendables para un futuro trazado de las líneas de transporte desde un punto de vista sostenible. This present project’s objective is to evaluate the distance parameter among several CO2 sources and adequate geological structures for storage, following the released data by the Registro Estatal de Emisiones y Fuentes Contaminantes (PRTR España) and the ALGECO2 project. The analysed distance parameter is applied to large-scale Carbon Captures and Storage (CCS) projects. For this study, a research has been carried out in the Cuenca del Duero area, utilizing selective criteria as technical as socio-economic, according to recommendations made by organizations such as International Energy Agency and CCS Institute among others. During this research it has been proposed and evaluated a “point to point” pipeline transport system or a “network” transport system, aiming to find the most effective future route selection of the transportation lines from a sustainable point of view.

Estudio de rentabilidad del shale gas en Europa: Cuenca Bowland-Hodder, Reino Unido

El objetivo de este proyecto es investigar la situación del shale gas en Europa, concretamente en Reino Unido, actualmente el país europeo más avanzado en el desarrollo del shale gas. Este proyecto está destinado a analizar la cantidad de gas de lutita presente en la formación Bowland-Hodder, así como el régimen regulatorio y fiscal que pueda afectar a la extracción de dicho gas. Por último, se analizará la situación del shale gas en España y el régimen que rige la extracción de este gas no convencional en nuestro país, concluyendo finalmente con las posibles recomendaciones a implementar del caso de Reino Unido en nuestro país.

Estudio técnico-económico del criterio distancia entre fuente y almacén de CO2 Recurso electrónico : Aplicación a caso de estudio en la cuenca del Duero

El presente proyecto tiene como objeto la evaluación del parámetro distancia entre focos de emisión de CO2 y estructuras geológicas apropiadas para su almacenamiento, según los datos publicados por el Registro Estatal de Emisiones y Fuentes Contaminantes (PRTR España) y por el proyecto ALGECO2. El parámetro distancia analizado es referido a proyectos de Captura, Transporte y Almacenamiento de CO2 (proyectos CAC) a gran escala. Para ello se ha realizado un estudio en la zona de la Cuenca del Duero aplicando criterios de selección tanto técnicos como socio-económicos, según las recomendaciones de organizaciones como la Agencia Internacional de la Energía o el CCS Institute entre otros. A lo largo de este estudio se ha propuesto y evaluado un sistema de transporte por tubería “punto a punto” o un sistema en “red” determinando cuáles son los más recomendables para un futuro trazado de las líneas de transporte desde un punto de vista sostenible. Abstract This present project’s objective is to evaluate the distance parameter among several CO2 sources and adequate geological structures for storage, following the released data by the Registro Estatal de Emisiones y Fuentes Contaminantes (PRTR España) and the ALGECO2 project. The analysed distance parameter is applied to large-scale Carbon Captures and Storage (CCS) projects. For this study, a research has been carried out in the Cuenca del Duero area, utilizing selective criteria as technical as socio-economic, according to recommendations made by organizations such as International Energy Agency and CCS Institute among others. During this research it has been proposed and evaluated a “point to point” pipeline transport system or a “network” transport system, aiming to find the most effective future route selection of the transportation lines from a sustainable point of view

Sistema CAES en un domo salino integrando el almacenamiento de energía térmica

Este proyecto ha tenido por objetivo el estudio de la viabilidad de instalar un sistema de almacenamiento subterráneo de aire comprimido enlazado con una central térmica en España. Dentro de las diversas posibilidades para emplazar el sistema CAES se ha seleccionado el domo salino, por ser la estructura geológica más favorable técnica y económicamente. Con el cometido de encontrar la ubicación más favorable se escogió el domo de Salinas de Añana, y por cercanía geográfica con éste se seleccionó la central térmica de Iberdrola C. T. Pasajes. Una vez elegidos el domo y la central se realizó un estudio de viabilidad técnica y económica de la instalación, empleando estudios geológicos, gravimétricos y económicos. Tras dichos estudios se concluyó que la instalación es posible técnicamente en el domo Salinas de Añana y que se recuperará la inversión a partir del octavo año. ABSTRACT This project has aimed to study the feasibility of installing a system of underground storage of compressed air linked to a thermal plant in Spain. Among the different possibilities to place the CAES system is selected salt dome, as the technically and economically most favorable geological structure. The better dome was Salinas de Añana for its location and Iberdrola C.T. Pasajes was the nearest thermal power plant. Before the dome and thermal power plant were chosen, was performed a technical and economic studies using geological, gravimetric and economic studies. These studies concluded that is possible execute a CAES system in Salinas de Añana dome. The initial investment will pay off the eighth year.

Evaluación de la tecnología CAES como sistema de almacenamiento de energía eólica. Caso de estudio en España

Se presenta a continuación un modelo de una planta del almacenamiento de energía mediante aire comprimido siguiendo un proceso adiabático. En esta planta la energía eólica sobrante se usa para comprimir aire mediante un tren de compresión de 25 MW, el aire comprimido será después almacenado en una caverna de sal a 770 metros de profundidad. La compresión se llevará a cabo por la noche, durante 6 horas, debido a los bajos precios de electricidad. Cuando los precios de la electricidad suben durante el día, el aire comprimido es extraído de la caverna de sal y es utilizado para producir energía en un tren de expansión de 70 MW durante 3 horas. La localización elegida para la planta es el norte de Burgos (Castilla y León, España), debido a la coincidencia de la existencia de muchos parques eólicos y una formación con las propiedades necesarias para el almacenamiento. El aspecto más importante de este proyecto es la utilización de un almacenamiento térmico que permitirá aprovechar el calor de la compresión para calentar el aire a la entrada de la expansión, eliminando combustibles fósiles del sistema. Por consiguiente, este proyecto es una atractiva solución en un posible futuro con emisiones de carbono restringidas, cuando la integración de energía renovable en la red eléctrica supone un reto importante. ABSTRACT: A model of an adiabatic compressed air energy storage plant is presented. In this plant surplus wind energy is used to compress air by means of a 25 MW compression train, the compressed air will be later stored in a salt cavern at 770 meters depth. Compression is carried out at night time, during 6 hours, because power prices are lower. When power prices go up during the day, the compressed air is withdrawn from the salt cavern and is used to produce energy in an expansion train of 70 MW during 3 hours. The chosen location for the plant is in the north of Burgos (Castilla y León, Spain), due to both the existence of several wind farms and a suitable storage facility with good properties at the same place. The relevance of this project is that it is provided with a thermal storage, which allows using the generated heat in the compression for re-heating the air before the expansion, eliminating fossil fuels from the system. Hence, this system is an attractive load balancing solution in a possibly carbon-constrained future, where the integration of renewable energy sources into the electric grid is a major challenge.

Un esquema adaptativo semilagrangiano con elementos finitos anisótropos para la resolución de problemas de combustión.

En este trabajo se presenta un método numérico adaptativo para la resolución de problemas temporales de Combustión en la Mecánica de Fluidos. La dis- cretización espacial de las ecuaciones está basada en el método de los elementos finitos y la discretización temporal se realiza con un esquema semilagrangiano para tratar de forma eficiente los términos convectivos. La caracteística principal de la adaptación local, es que el mallado que se construye es anisótropo, lo que le capacita para adaptarse mejor a capas límitee con un reducido coste computacional. Para ello, se define un tensor métrico en cada paso de tiempo, basado en indicadores de error construidos a priori y a posteriori. Ilustraremos el buen comportamiento del código numérico con la modelización de un problema de combustión en 2D y 3D, donde se analilzará la interacción de llamas de difusión de Hidrógeno y vórtices que pueden ser generados en un flujo turbulento.