Background Coastal ecosystems are prone to hydrocarbon pollution due to human activities, and this issue has a tremendous impact on the environment, socioeconomic consequences, and represents a hazard to humans. Bioremediation relies on the ability of bacteria to metabolize hydrocarbons with the aim of cleaning up polluted sites. Methods The potential of naturally occurring microbial communities as oil degraders was investigated in Sisal and Progreso, two port locations in the southeast Gulf of Mexico, both with a low level of hydrocarbon pollution. To do so, we determined the diversity and composition of bacterial communities in the marine sediment during the dry and rainy seasons using 16S rRNA sequencing. Functional profile analysis (PICRUTSt2) was used to predict metabolic functions associated with hydrocarbon degradation. Results We found a large bacterial taxonomic diversity, including some genera reported as hydrocarbon-degraders. Analyses of the alpha and beta diversity did not detect significant differences between sites or seasons, suggesting that location, season, and the contamination level detected here do not represent determining factors in the structure of the microbial communities. PICRUTSt2 predicted 10 metabolic functions associated with hydrocarbon degradation. Most bacterial genera with potential hydrocarbon bioremediation activity were generalists likely capable of degrading different hydrocarbon compounds. The bacterial composition and diversity reported here represent an initial attempt to characterize sites with low levels of contamination. This information is crucial for understanding the impact of eventual rises in hydrocarbon pollution.
Biofilms arise as an alternative to replace synthetic polymers, which have generated environmental pollution. The aim of this work was to extract starch from Hass avocado seeds (Persea americana Mill) to produce biofilms. Starch was extracted using the wet method and characterized by infrared spectroscopy. Moisture, ash content, gelatinization temperature, and color were determined. Two types of biofilms were produced: T1 (starch) and T2 (starch and glycerol). The colour was measured, and the films were characterized by mechanical tests. A yield of 11.38% was obtained for the isolated starch. Glycerol addition significantly influenced the tensile strength being T1 higher than T2. In elongation percentage, T1 was lower than T2. The results indicate that it is possible to use Hass avocado seed waste for starch extraction and produce biofilms to give it added value. This biofilm can be used in low moisture food coatings.
Adsorption of heavy metals on modified orange biomass has been studied. This biomass was treated with NaOH and CaCl 2 to improve its adsorption properties. Kinetic and thermodynamic studies of the adsorption of Cd 2þ , Ni 2þ , Cu 2þ , and Zn 2þ were performed at different operating conditions, including competitive adsorption studies with binary metallic mixtures. Results show that this adsorption process was endothermic where an ion exchange mechanism played a relevant role. Adsorbent effectiveness decreased in binary solutions, indicating a strong antagonistic adsorption behavior caused by counter-ions. This antagonistic adsorption was highly dependent on the counter-ion type and its concentration. Multicomponent adsorption of Cu 2þ ions was not significantly affected by the presence of other metallic counter-ions, whereas the adsorption of Ni 2þ could be totally suppressed by the other ions. The modeling of binary adsorption isotherms was successful using the modified Langmuir equation, which outperformed the Ideal Absorbed Solution Theory-Sips and modified Redlich-Peterson models. Water Environ. Res., 90, 2114Res., 90, (2018.
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