Fresh-harvested, air-dried rice straw was pretreated at a water content of 5 g H(2)O/g straw using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and compared to pretreatment at 10 g H(2)O/g straw by hydrated lime (Ca(OH)(2)). Full factorial experiments including parallel wash-only treatments were completed with both sources of alkali. The experiments were designed to measure the effects of alkaline loading and pretr...

Pectin was extracted from lime flavedo, albedo and pulp by employing microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) under pressure. Heating times ranged from 1 to 10min. Optimal time of heating was 3min. Molar mass, viscosity, radius of gyration and hydrated radius were found to decrease with heating time. At 3min heating time, depending on the lime fraction which was extracted, weight average molar mass ...

Piggery effluent may contribute to the eutrophication of waterways, if it is not treated before disposal, because of high levels of phosphorus. Limes and red muds (a residue from bauxite refining) were used to remove phosphorus from piggery effluent (41 mg litre(-1) total P). Lime-based amendments were more effective than the red muds at removing phosphorus when compared at the same liquid: sol...

The lesser mealworm beetle, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is an important insect pest. The insect acts as a disease vector and reservoir, negatively affecting the health of birds and humans, and harming poultry husbandry. Controlling the lesser mealworm is generally based on using synthetic chemical insecticides, which are sometimes ineffective, and is limited due...

background sewage sludge (biosolids) is a byproduct of wastewater treatment that accumulates in large quantities. effective stabilization and disinfection of sewage sludge prior to land application are necessary to not only protect human health, but also to induce the public its benefits and safety. currently, many wastewater treatment plants in iran dispose great amounts of untreated sewage sl...

BACKGROUND Potent inhaled anesthetics degrade in the presence of the strong bases (sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide) in carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbents. A new absorbent, Amsorb (Armstrong Medical Ltd., Coleraine, Northern Ireland), does not employ these strong bases. This study compared the scavenging efficacy and compound A production of two commercially available absorbents (soda lime ...

Gypsum is hydrated calcium sulfate (CaSO 4 • 2H 2 O), and is often marketed as a soil " conditioner " for improving soil " tilth. " Compared to most other calcium-rich soil amendments, such as limestone, gypsum is relatively soluble in water, dissolving up to 2 g per liter. The solu-bility of gypsum, when either incorporated or surface applied, permits a quick release of calcium (Ca 2+) and sul...