Simultaneous biosorption of methylene blue and trivalent chromium onto olive stone

In this work, olive stone (OS) was utilized to investigate its capacity as biosorbent for methylene blue (MB) and Cr(III), which are usually present in textile industry effluents. Equilibrium and kinetic experiments were performed in batch experiments. The biosorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The equilibrium data were fitted with several models, but Langmuir and Sips models best reproduced the experimental results. Maximum biosorption capacities were 3.296 mg/g (0.0116 mmol/g) and 4.990 mg/g (0.0960 mmol/g) for MB and Cr(III), respectively. Several operation variables, such as
biosorbent mass, flow rate, and initial concentration on the removal of dye and metal, were evaluated in column system. The removal efficiency improved as OS mass increased and decreased when flow rate and initial concentration increased. Also, MB uptake was substantially decreased by increasing the initial concentration of Cr(III), ranging from 6.09 to 2.75 mg/g. These results show that the presence of Cr(III) significantly modifies the biosorption capacity of MB by the OS. These results suggest that OS is a potential low-cost food industry waste for textile industry wastewater treatment.

Mechanism of Alizarin Red S and Methylene Blue Biosorption onto Olive Stone: Isotherm study in Single and Binary Systems

The biosorption process of anionic dye Alizarin Red S (ARS) and cationic dye methylene blue (MB) as a function of contact time, initial concentration and solution pH onto olive stone (OS) biomass has been investigated. Equilibrium biosorption isotherms in single and binary systems and kinetics in batch mode were also examined. The kinetic data of the two dyes were better described by the pseudo second-order model. At low concentration, ARS dye appeared to follow a two-step diffusion process, while MB dye followed a three-step diffusion process. The biosorption experimental data for ARS and MB dyes were well suited to the Redlich-Peterson isotherm. The maximum biosorption of ARS dye, qmax = 16.10 mg/g, was obtained at pH 3.28 and the maximum biosorption of MB dye, qmax = 13.20 mg/g, was observed at basic pH values. In the binary system, it was indicated that the MB dye diffuses firstly inside the biosorbent particle and occupies the biosorption sites forming a monodentate complex and then the ARS dye enters and can only bind to untaken sites; forms a tridentate complex with OS active sites.

Breaking and Entering: Examining the role of stress and aerial exposure in predator-prey relationships between the common shore crab (Carcinus maenas) and cultivated blue mussels (Mytilus edulis).

During benthic cultivation Mytilus edulis (blue mussels) are subject to predation pressure from a number of predators including Carcinus maenas (shore crabs). This predator can be responsible for substantial losses of mussels from the fishery and a full understanding of the predator–prey relationship between M. edulis and C. maenas is required to ensure attempts that reduce predatory pressure and subsequent commercial loss are successful. Whilst much work has examined the prey–predator size relationships between C. maenas and M. edulis, far less research has investigated how stress, such as periods of extended aerial exposure, may affect these relationships. We tested whether profit in terms of calories gained by crabs consuming mussels stressed by aerial exposure for 48 h differed from that of mussels at ambient conditions and whether being stressed affected the mussel's likelihood of predation. We also tested whether the size relationship between predators and their prey differed when mussels were stressed. We found that the profitability of prey (calories gained per second of handling time) did not vary between stressed and unstressed mussels. Handling times for stressed and unstressed mussels were similar, even when crabs were presented with mussels of the maximum size that they are able to consume. Small crabs were more likely to reject a mussel of preferred size if it was unstressed, suggesting that crabs may be able to assess that these mussels would require extra effort to break into and consume. Our findings suggest that the predator–prey relationship between mussels and crabs is not altered when mussels are stressed. C. maenas remains a voracious predator and regardless of the condition of mussels laid on commercial beds there is a need to control this predator in attempt to reduce losses in the benthic fishery.

Kinetics of methylene blue (MB) photocatalyzed reduction and dark regeneration in a colorimetric oxygen sensor

Performance data for a dye based, regenerable oxygen sensor (Mills and Lawrie [1], Mills et al. [2]) are analyzed to develop useful kinetic models for sensor photoactivation (dye reduction) and dark, oxygen detection (dye oxidation). The titania loaded, thin film sensor exhibits an apparent first order photoactivation of the dye, which we demonstrate (Section 3.2 and Fig. 4) is due to a kinetic disguise of a zero order photoreaction occurring through a non-uniformly illuminated sensor film. The observed zero order, slow recovery due to dye oxidation by dioxygen (O2 detection) appears best rationalized by a model assuming a near O2-impermeable skin developing on the sensor surface as solvent is evaporatively removed following sensor film casting and curing.

Methylene Blue-Loaded Dissolving Microneedles: Potential Use in Photodynamic Antimicrobial Chemotherapy of Infected Wounds

Photodynamic therapy involves delivery of a photosensitising drug that is activated by light of a specific wavelength, resulting in generation of highly reactive radicals. This activated species can cause destruction of targeted cells. Application of this process for treatment of microbial infections has been termed "photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy" (PACT). In the treatment of chronic wounds, the delivery of photosensitising agents is often impeded by the presence of a thick hyperkeratotic/necrotic tissue layer, reducing their therapeutic efficacy. Microneedles (MNs) are an emerging drug delivery technology that have been demonstrated to successfully penetrate the outer layers of the skin, whilst minimising damage to skin barrier function. Delivering photosensitising drugs using this platform has been demonstrated to have several advantages over conventional photodynamic therapy, such as, painless application, reduced erythema, enhanced cosmetic results and improved intradermal delivery. The aim of this study was to physically characterise dissolving MNs loaded with the photosensitising agent, methylene blue and assess their photodynamic antimicrobial activity. Dissolving MNs were fabricated from aqueous blends of Gantrez(®) AN-139 co-polymer containing varying loadings of methylene blue. A height reduction of 29.8% was observed for MNs prepared from blends containing 0.5% w/w methylene blue following application of a total force of 70.56 N/array. A previously validated insertion test was used to assess the effect of drug loading on MN insertion into a wound model. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans biofilms were incubated with various methylene blue concentrations within the range delivered by MNs in vitro (0.1-2.5 mg/mL) and either irradiated at 635 nm using a Paterson Lamp or subjected to a dark period. Microbial susceptibility to PACT was determined by assessing the total viable count. Kill rates of >96%, were achieved for S. aureus and >99% for E. coli and C. albicans with the combination of PACT and methylene blue concentrations between 0.1 and 2.5 mg/mL. A reduction in the colony count was also observed when incorporating the photosensitiser without irradiation, this reduction was more notable in S. aureus and E. coli strains than in C. albicans.

Detection of mineralized structures in very early stages of development of Marine Teleostei using a modified Alcian blue-Alizarin red double staining technique for bone and cartilage

We have developed a procedure for staining cartilage and bone in fish larvae as small as 2 mm (notochord length), for which standard alcian blue/alizarin red procedures did not give positive and/or consistent results. Small calcified structures only 100-200 pm in length can be clearly visualized. The method is suitable for both ontogenic studies during early stages of skeletal development in most marine fishes (e.g., Sparus aurata L., Solea senegalensis Kaup), whose larvae at hatching are often only a few millimeters long and for detecting skeletal abnormalities in small larvae. This procedure can also be used for specimens that have been preserved in 1000/0 ethanol for up to two years.

Solubility of red 153 and blue 1 in supercritical carbon dioxide

Solubilities of red 153, (3-[[4-[[5,6(or 6,7)-dichloro-2-benzothiazolyl]azo]phenyl]ethylamino]propanenitrile), an azo compound, and disperse blue1 (1,4,5,8-tetraaminoantraquinone) in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO(2)) were measured at T = (333.2 to 393.2) K over the pressure range (12.0 to 40.0) MPa by a flow type apparatus. The solubility of red 153 (0.985. 10(-6) to 37.2. 10(-6)) in the overall region of measurements is found to be significantly higher than that of disperse blue 1 (1.12.10(-7) to 4.89.10(-7)). The solubility behavior of disperse red 153 follows the general solubility trend displayed by disperse dyes with a crossover pressure at about 20 MPa. On the other hand, blue 1, which is a disperse anthraquinone dye, exhibits unexpected behavior not recorded previously there is no crossover pressure at the temperature and pressure ranges studied, and the dye's solubility at T = 333.2 K practically does not increase with pressure. To the best of our knowledge, there are no previous measurements of blue 1 solubility in SC CO(2) reported in the literature. The experimental data were correlated by using the Soave Redlich Kwong equation of state (EoS) with the one-fluid van der Waals mixing rule, and an acceptable correlation of the solubility data for both dyes was obtained.

Role of the wider Azores region as a nursery ground for North Atlantic blue shark (Prionace glauca)

Tese de Doutoramento, Ciências do Mar (Ecologia Marinha)

TEC4SEA - A Modular Platform for Research, Test and Validation of Technologies Supporting a Sustainable Blue Economy

This paper presents the TEC4SEA research infrastructure created in Portugal to support research, development, and validation of marine technologies. It is a multidisciplinary open platform, capable of supporting research, development, and test of marine robotics, telecommunications, and sensing technologies for monitoring and operating in the ocean environment. Due to the installed research facilities and its privileged geographic location, it allows fast access to deep sea, and can support multidisciplinary research, enabling full validation and evaluation of technological solutions designed for the ocean environment. It is a vertically integrated infrastructure, in the sense that it possesses a set of skills and resources which range from pure conceptual research to field deployment missions, with strong industrial and logistic capacities in the middle tier of prototype production. TEC4SEA is open to the entire scientific and enterprise community, with a free access policy for researchers affiliated with the research units that ensure its maintenance and sustainability. The paper describes the infrastructure in detail, and discusses associated research programs, providing a strategic vision for deep sea research initiatives, within the context of both the Portuguese National Ocean Strategy and European Strategy frameworks.

Blue book for the use of subordinate divisions of the order of the Sons of Temperenance (1867)

Inscribed on front paste-down: Rothschild division No.227; and in pencil: James Jackson; and on front free endpaper: Presented to James M Clark By Mrs Amanda Burns Robert at Stayner 25 Aug. 1878.

1964-1965 The Blue Badger

The Blue Badger was Brock University's first Campus Newsletter. It was designed to make faculty, officers, staff, and students aware of goings on around campus and events in the community. It was around from October 1964 to November 1965.

Place Card - Girl in Blue Coat and Bonnet

A place card with an illustration of a girl in a blue coat and bonnet.