J. J. García

Treatment of black-olive wastewaters by ozonation and aerobic biological degradation

Abstract The degradation of the organic pollutants present in black-olive wastewater was carried out by ozonation, aerobic biological degradation, and the combination of two successive steps: an aerobic biological process followed by an ozonation. Contaminant removal was followed by means of global parameters directly related to the concentration of organic compounds in those effluents: chemical oxygen demand and total aromatic and phenolic contents. In the ozonation, an approximate kinetic study was performed to determine the apparent kinetic constants for the COD reduction, k COD , and for the total aromatic reduction, k A . In the aerobic biological degradation, the kinetic study was performed using the Monod model applied to the experimental data. In the combined process, a higher overall reduction in COD and aromatic content was achieved by the successive stages, and there was improved removal of the organic material during the second treatment. This enhancement was reflected in an increase in the apparent kinetic constants in the ozonation of the wastewater that had previously been treated aerobically, relative to the values obtained for the kinetic parameters in the single process experiment which were carried out under the same operating conditions.

Kinetics of photodegradation and ozonation of pentachlorophenol

The oxidation of 2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorophenol (PCP) has been carried out by a photodecomposition process using a polychromatic UV irradiation, and by an ozonation process. In the photodegradation process, the pH accelerated the decomposition rate and the approximate first-order rate constants were evaluated, with values between 0.16+/-0.005 min(-1) at pH=3 and 0.26+/-0.007 min(-1) at pH=9. A more rigorous kinetic study led to the determination of the quantum yields of the reaction, with values of 200+/-7x10(-3) mol/Eins for pH=3 and 22+/-1.1x10(-3) mol/Eins for pH=9. In the ozonation process, the rate constants for the reaction between ozone and PCP were determined by means of a competition kinetics, with values in the range from 0.67x10(5) to 314x10(5) l/mols. The specific rate constants for the un-dissociated and dissociated forms of PCP were also calculated. Finally, in both processes, the intermediate reaction products were identified, the most important being tetrachlorocatechol, tetrachlorohydroquinone and tetra-p-chlorobenzoquinone. Free chloride ion released, which was favored at high pHs, was also followed in both processes.

Inflammatory/stress feedback dysregulation in women with fibromyalgia.

Objective: Although one of the current hypotheses of the aetiology of fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome involves inflammatory and neuroendocrine disorders, its biophysiology still remains unclear. The purpose of the present investigation was to study the systemic inflammatory and stress responses, as well as the innate response mediated by monocytes and neutrophils in FM patients. Methods: Twenty-five women diagnosed with primary FM and 20 age-matched healthy women (control group) were enrolled in the study. Circulating ‘neuroendocrine-stress’ biomarkers (CRH, ACTH, cortisol, NA, eHsp72, serotonin and IGF-1) were evaluated by ELISA. Serum IL-8 and CRP concentrations were also determined by ELISA, and inflammatory cytokine release by monocytes [IL-1β, TNFα, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and RANTES] was evaluated by the Luminex BioPlex system. The phagocytic process of neutrophils (chemotaxis, phagocytosis and microbicide capacity) was also evaluated. Results: FM patients showed an inflammatory state accompanied by an altered stress response. This is mainly manifested by high circulating levels of IL-8 and CRP (in 100% of the FM group), high circulating levels of cortisol, and increased systemic levels of NA and eHsp72. There is also increased release of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNFα, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18 and MCP-1) by monocytes, and enhanced activation of the functional capacity of neutrophils (chemotactic, phagocytic and fungicidal activities). Conclusion: An inflammatory/stress feedback dysregulation underlies FM. Whether dysregulation of the stress response is the cause of the inflammatory dysregulation or vice versa is also discussed.

Ageing Modulates some Aspects of the Non‐Specific Immune Response of Murine Macrophages and Lymphocytes

The deterioration of the immune system with ageing, which leads to an increased morbidity and mortality from infections, appears to be related to decreases in specific lymphocyte functions. However, the alteration of non‐specific immunity is a more controversial subject. Our purpose was to investigate the age‐related changes of different functions of the non‐specific immune response in peritoneal macrophages (adherence to tissues, mobility directed to a chemical gradient from an infectious focus or chemotaxis, phagocytosis of foreign agents and destruction of these agents by superoxide anion production) and in lymphocytes (adherence and chemotaxis) from peritoneum, axillary lymph nodes, spleen and thymus. We used young (12 weeks), adult (22 weeks), mature (48 weeks) and old (72 weeks) female BALB/c mice. The adherence capacity of macrophages and lymphocytes was greater in adult and old mice than in young animals. The chemotaxis of macrophages showed higher values in cells from young mice than in those from adult mice, increasing again in macrophages from mature and old animals. A similar behaviour was shown by phagocytosis, which reached its highest values in old animals. Anion superoxide production increased with age and again the highest values were obtained in the oldest mice. Conversely, chemotaxis of lymphocytes was higher in the adult and mature animals than in the young and old animals. We conclude that, although there is a decrease in lymphocyte chemotaxis in old animals, the non‐specific immune response of macrophages instead of decreasing, may increase in aged mice with respect to the values seen in adult mice.

Modulation of adherence and chemotaxis of macrophages by norepinephrine. Influence of ageing.

We evaluated thein vitro effect of norepinephrine (NE), over the range of concentrations between 10-12 M and 10-3 M, on adherence (to plastic surfaces) and chemotaxis (in a Boyden chamber) of peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice of different ages: young (12 weeks), adult (22 weeks), mature (48 weeks) and old (72 weeks). Increased adherence was induced by 10-12 M of NE in macrophages from young, adult, mature and old mice. Also, 10-9 M stimulated adherence in old animals, 10-5 M in mature mice, and 10-3 M in both young and old mices. With respect to chemotaxis, the low concentration of NE (10-12 M) was stimulatory only in young and adult animals, higher concentrations (10-5 M and 10-7 M) were inhibitory for macrophages from mature and old animals, and the highest concentration of NE (10-3M) stimulated this capacity of macrophages only in young and mature animals. The conclusion is that while the mobility of macrophages to the focus of infection (i.e. chemotaxis) is stimulated by low concentrations of NE (10-12, M) only in young-adult animals, this neurotransmitter induces a decline in this capacity in mature and old mice at high concentrations (10-5 M - 10-7 M). Also, macrophages from old animals have lost the capacity to respond to pharmacological (10-3 M) concentrations of NE. The lower capacity of response to NE by macrophages from old animals possibly contributes to immunosenescence.

Neuroimmunomodulation during Exercise: Role of Catecholamines as ‘Stress Mediator’ and/or ‘Danger Signal’ for the Innate Immune Response

Exercise-induced neuroimmunomodulation is clearly accepted today. The present article reviews the main literature concerning the immunomodulatory capacity of catecholamines on the innate immune response during physical exercise, and presents our laboratory’s latest results on this topic. It is well known that the effects of exercise on the immune system are mediated by the ‘stress hormones and mediators’. Although catecholamines have usually been regarded as immunosuppressors, they may stimulate innate immune response mechanisms (such as phagocytic function) during exercise-induced stress, even without previous antigenic stimulation. The exercise-induced stimulation of the phagocytic response in particular and the innate responses in general have been considered as a prevention strategy of the athlete’s organism in order to prevent the entry and/or maintenance of antigens in a situation where the adaptive immune response seems to be depressed, and thus it has been suggested that catecholamines participate as a ‘stress mediator’ of these effects. Given this hypothesis, it is also suggested here that catecholamines may be the first ‘danger signal’ to the immune system during exercise-induced stress.

Regulation of phagocytic process of macrophages by noradrenaline and its end metabolite 4-hydroxy-3-metoxyphenyl-glycol. Role of α- and β-adrenoreceptors

The regulatory capacity of noradrenaline and its end metabolite 4-hydroxy-3-metoxyphenylglycol (HMPG) on the complete phagocytic process of macrophages were investigated. Either noradrenaline or HMPG did not modify adherence. However, 10−12 M of noradrenaline stimulated the chemotaxis of macrophages, mainly mediated by α-adrenergic receptors. In contrast, 10−12 M of HMPG induced an opposed effect on this stage of the phagocytic process. To stimulate phagocytosis, it is necessary to employ a higher concentration (10−5 M) of noradrenaline and this effect was blocked with either 10−6 M propranolol or 10−6 M phentolamine, and maintained by HMPG. Noradrenaline and HMPG did not modify the microbicide capacity of macrophages (measured by O2− production after phagocytosis). In conclusion, noradrenaline modulates the phagocytic process of macrophages, and this modulation is completed by HMPG, maintaining the phagocytic functions at physiologically optimal levels. Modulation of chemotaxis is mainly mediated by a-receptors and phagocytosis needs both α- and β-receptor-stimulation.

Purification of cork processing wastewaters by ozone, by activated sludge, and by their two sequential applications.

Wastewaters generated in the cork processing industry were treated in continuous reactors by means of single treatments separately-a chemical ozonation and an activated sludge system-and then by both sequential processes-ozonation followed by aerobic degradation, and aerobic degradation followed by ozonation. The removals obtained in the ozonation alone were 12-54%, 65-81%, and 55-89% for the COD, total phenolics, and absorbance at 254 nm, respectively, while the consumed ozone yield ranged from 40% to 61%, and the biodegradability (BOD(5)/COD) varied from an initial 0.60 to final values between 0.68 and 0.93. The optimum hydraulic retention time and ozone partial pressure were 3 h and 3 kPa, respectively. The stoichiometric ratio was 0.56 g of organic substrate degraded per g of ozone consumed, while the rate constants obtained for the ozone disappearance and for the organic matter degradation were 4490 L g COD(-1) h(-1) and 1970 L g O(3)(-1)h(-1) respectively. The presence of hydrogen peroxide or UV radiation in addition to ozone increased the values of organic matter removal as well as the stoichiometric ratio and the rate constants. The aerobic treatment by the activated sludge system yielded COD removals between 13% and 37% for hydraulic retention times between 24 and 96 h, and the Contois model gave values of q(max)=0.14 g COD g VSS(-1)h(-1) and K(1)=22.6 g COD g VSS(-1) for the main kinetic parameters. The sequential processes increased the substrate removal efficiencies in comparison with the individual processes. These enhancements were greater in the aerobic degradation-ozonation sequence than in the ozonation-aerobic degradation sequence.

Fibromyalgia: anti-inflammatory and stress responses after acute moderate exercise.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized in part by an elevated inflammatory status, and “modified exercise” is currently proposed as being a good therapeutic help for these patients. However, the mechanisms involved in the exercise-induced benefits are still poorly understood. The objective was to evaluate the effect of a single bout of moderate cycling (45 min at 55% VO2 max) on the inflammatory (serum IL-8; chemotaxis and O2 − production by neutrophils; and IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-18 release by monocytes) and stress (cortisol; NA; and eHsp72) responses in women diagnosed with FM compared with an aged-matched control group of healthy women (HW). IL-8, NA, and eHsp72 were determined by ELISA. Cytokines released by monocytes were determined by Bio-Plex® system (LUMINEX). Cortisol was determined by electrochemoluminiscence, chemotaxis was evaluated in Boyden chambers and O2 − production by NBT reduction. In the FM patients, the exercise induced a decrease in the systemic concentration of IL-8, cortisol, NA, and eHsp72; as well as in the neutrophil’s chemotaxis and O2 − production and in the inflammatory cytokine release by monocytes. This was contrary to the completely expected exercise-induced increase in all those biomarkers in HW. In conclusion, single sessions of moderate cycling can improve the inflammatory status in FM patients, reaching values close to the situation of aged-matched HW at their basal status. The neuroendocrine mechanism seems to be an exercise-induced decrease in the stress response of these patients.

Aerobic biological treatment of black table olive washing wastewaters: effect of an ozonation stage

Abstract The present work is a study of oxidative degradation of the organic matter present in the washing waters from the black table olive industry. Pollutant organic matter reduction was studied by an aerobic biological process and by the combination of two successive steps: ozonation pretreatment followed by aerobic biological degradation. In the single aerobic biological process, the evolution of biomass and organic matter contents was followed during each experiment. Contaminant removal was followed by means of global parameters directly related to the concentration of organic compounds in those effluents: chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total phenolic content (TP). A kinetic study was performed using the Contois model, which applied to the experimental data, provides the specific kinetic parameters of this model: 4.81×10 −2 h −1 for the kinetic substrate removal rate constant, 0.279 g VSS g COD −1 for the cellular yield coefficient and 1.92×10 −2 h −1 for the kinetic constant for endogenous metabolism. In the combined process, an ozonation pretreatment is conducted with experiments where an important reduction in the phenolic compounds is achieved. The kinetic parameters of the following aerobic degradation stage are also evaluated, being 5.42×10 −2 h −1 for the kinetic substrate removal rate constant, 0.280 g VSS g COD −1 for the cellular yield coefficient and 9.1×10 −3 h −1 for the kinetic constant for the endogenous metabolism.