Giovanni Toscano

Removal of toxic cations and Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by hazelnut shell

Abstract Removal of ions such as Cd 2+ , Zn 2+ , three- and hexavalent chromium from aqueous solutions using hazelnut shell as biosorbent substrate has been performed. Batch equilibrium tests showed that the metal sorption was dependent on both pH and surface loading. For Cd 2+ , Cr 3+ and Zn 2+ ions the maximum removal was observed only into a specific pH range. The metal ion sorption obeyed both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Experiments by mixed solutions showed that more Cr 3+ ions were removed than both Cd 2+ and Zn 2+ ions. The binding capacities and the affinities observed were consistent with the HSAB theory on hard and soft acid base. The Cr(VI) removal was pH dependent and fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model. It was proceeding effectively into a short acid pH interval (2.5–3.5) where both processes cf Cr (VI) reduction and (Cr III) sorption are maximized. Mechanisms for removal of anions and cations studied have been proposed. The observed sorption data showed similarity with that of other fresh cellulosic materials found in literature.

Antiepileptic carbamazepine drug treatment induces alteration of membrane in red blood cells: possible positive effects on metabolism and oxidative stress.

Carbamazepine (CBZ) is an iminostilbene derivative commonly used for treatment of neuralgic pain and bipolar affective disorders. CBZ blood levels of treated patients are within the range of micromolar concentrations and therefore, significant interactions of this drug with erythrocytes are very likely. Moreover, the lipid domains of the cell membrane are believed to be one of the sites where iminostilbene derivatives exert their effects. The present study aimed to deeply characterize CBZ effects on erythrocytes, in order to identify extra and/or cytosolic cell targets. Our results indicate that erythrocyte morphological changes promoted by the drug, may be triggered by an alteration in band 3 functionality i.e. at the level of anionic flux. In addition, from a metabolic point of view this perturbation could be considered, at least in part, as a beneficial event because it could favour the CO2 elimination. Since lipid peroxidation, superoxide and free radical scavenging activities, caspase 3 activity and hemoglobin (Hb) functionality were not modified within the CBZ treated red blood cell (RBC), band 3 protein (B3) may well be a specific membrane target for CBZ and responsible for CBZ-induced toxic effects in erythrocytes. However some beneficial effects of this drug have been evidenced; among them an increased release of ATP and nitric oxide (NO) derived metabolites from erythrocytes to lumen, leading to an increased NO pool in the vasculature. In conclusion, these results indicate that CBZ, though considered responsible for toxic effects on erythrocytes, can also exhibit effects that at least in some conditions may be seen as beneficial.

Dissolution of trace metals from lava ash: influence on the composition of rainwater in the Mount Etna volcanic area

Dissolution of trace metals from lava ash of the Mount Etna volcano in aqueous suspensions is studied as a function of solution pH and aerosol mass loading. The rate of dissolution and the final concentration increase with decreasing pH. Leaching experiments are found to be consistent with the observations of these metals in rainwater of the volcanic area. Elements such as Fe and Mn are important in the aqueous oxidation of SO(2) which increases the acidity of the rainwater. Leaching of Na, Ca, K, Fe and Mg may have a buffering effect in reacting with cloud and aerosol droplets.

Effects of digested sewage sludge on yield and heavy metal accumulation in horticultural species

Abstract The use of digested sludge from a wastewater purification plant, properly mixed with soil, provided good growth of pea and broad bean species, increased germination and better yield than that with inorganic fertilizer. Additions, of cadmium, copper and lead to digested sludge partially reduced the germination of the seeds but did not cause accumulation of toxic elements in the edible parts of the plants.

Analytical Evaluation and Antioxidant Properties of Some Secondary Metabolites in Northern Italian Mono- and Multi-Varietal Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs) from Early and Late Harvested Olives

The antioxidant activity and the phenolic and α-tocopherol content of 10 Northern Italian mono- and multi-varietal extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs), after early and late olive harvests, was analyzed. A hierarchical cluster analysis was used to evaluate sample similarity. Secoiridoids (SIDs), lignans and flavonoids were the most abundant phenolic compounds identified. The organic Casaliva (among mono-cultivar) and the organic multi-varietal (among blended oils) EVOOs had the higher total phenol content both in early (263.13 and 326.19 mg/kg, respectively) and late harvest (241.88 and 292.34 mg/kg, respectively) conditions. In comparison to late harvest EVOOs, early harvest EVOOs, in particular the organic mono-cultivar Casaliva, showed both higher antioxidant capacity (up to 1285.97 Oxygen Radicals Absorbance Capacity/ORAC units), probably due to the higher SID fraction (54% vs. 40%), and higher α-tocopherol content (up to 280.67 mg/kg). Overall, these results suggest that SIDs and α-tocopherol mainly contribute to antioxidant properties of the studied EVOOs. In light of this, the authors conclude that early harvest, organic mono-cultivar Casaliva EVOO represents the most interesting candidate to explicate healthy effects ascribed to these functional constituents, particularly regarding oxidative stress-related pathologies.

Copper chelation and interleukin-6 proinflammatory cytokine effects on expression of different proteins involved in iron metabolism in HepG2 cell line

BackgroundIn vertebrates, there is an intimate relationship between copper and iron homeostasis. Copper deficiency, which leads to a defect in ceruloplasmin enzymatic activity, has a strong effect on iron homeostasis resulting in cellular iron retention. Much is known about the mechanisms underlying cellular iron retention under “normal” conditions, however, less is known about the effect of copper deficiency during inflammation.ResultsWe show that copper deficiency and the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 have different effects on the expression of proteins involved in iron and copper metabolism such as the soluble and glycosylphosphtidylinositol anchored forms of ceruloplasmin, hepcidin, ferroportin1, transferrin receptor1, divalent metal transporter1 and H-ferritin subunit. We demonstrate, using the human HepG2 cell line, that in addition to ceruloplasmin isoforms, copper deficiency affects other proteins, some posttranslationally and some at the transcriptional level. The addition of interleukin-6, moreover, has different effects on expression of ferroportin1 and ceruloplasmin, in which ferroportin1 is decreased while ceruloplasmin is increased. These effects are stronger when a copper chelating agent and IL-6 are used simultaneously.ConclusionsThese results suggest that copper chelation has effects not only on ceruloplasmin but also on other proteins involved in iron metabolism, sometimes at the mRNA level and, in inflammatory conditions, the functions of ferroportin and ceruloplasmin may be independent.

New carbon from low cost vegetal precursors: acorn and cypress cone

AbstractThermal-treated carbons from acorn and cypress cone were prepared and characterized. The uptakes of heavy metal ions (Ag+, Cd2+ and Cr+3) and organics (phenol, methylene blue and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate) from aqueous solution have been studied. Effects of activation by HCl and HNO3 acids on the sorption properties of these carbons were investigated by mass titration, sorption isotherms, IRS, SEM and XRS. The models of Langmuir and Freundlich do not represent our sorption data very well. An earlier proposed empirical correlation is applied successfully to carry out a parameter of comparison between the studied carbons. The acidic treatment changes the surface chemical properties of the two thermal-treated carbons lowering their sorption performances. The carbons show good capacities to uptake metals, phenol and methylene blue, but sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate is removed from its solutions to minor extent. The up-taking properties are found similar to those of two worldwide used commercial grade carbons.