Agriculture

Research results from M.S. Lucas and colleagues update understanding of agriculture and food science

  2009 DEC 31 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "Degradation of simulated winery wastewater was studied in a pilot-scale compound parabolic collector (CPC) solar reactor. Total organic carbon (TOC) reduction by heterogeneous photocatalysis (TiO2) and homogeneous photocatalysis with photo-Fenton was observed," scientists writing in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry report.

  "The influence of TiO2 concentration (200 or 500 mg/L) and also of combining TiO2 with H2O2 or Na2S2O8 on heterogeneous photocatalysis was evaluated. Heterogeneous photocatalysis with TiO2, TiO2/H2O2 and TiO2/S2O82- is revealed to be inefficient in removing TOC, originating TOC degradation of 10%, 11% and 25%, respectively, at best. However, photo-Fenton experiments led to 46% TOC degradation in simulated wastewater prepared with diluted wine (WV) and 93% in wastewater prepared with diluted grape juice (WG), and if ethanol is previously eliminated from mixed wine and grape juice wastewater (WW) by air stripping, it removes 96% of TOC. Furthermore, toxicity decreases during the photo-Fenton reaction very significantly from 48% to 28%," wrote M.S. Lucas and colleagues.

  The researchers concluded: "At the same time, total polyphenols decrease 92%, improving wastewater biodegradability."

  Lucas and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (Solar Photochemical Treatment of Winery Wastewater in a CPC Reactor. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2009;57(23):11242-11248).

  Additional information can be obtained by contacting M.S. Lucas, University of Tras Os Montes & Alto Douro, Center Quim, Apartado 1013, P-5001801 Vila Real, Portugal.

  The publisher of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry can be contacted at: American Chemical Society, 1155 16th St., NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA.

  Keywords: City:Vila Real, Country:Portugal, Life Sciences, Agriculture and Food Chemistry, Agriculture and Food Science.

  This article was prepared by VerticalNews Agriculture editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, VerticalNews Agriculture via VerticalNews.com.