O arseniato de cobre cromatado (CCA) é um dos preservantes mais utilizados em postes de madeira de redes de distribuição de energia elétrica, devido a sua elevada eficiência na preservação da madeira. Os postes de madeira tratada com CCA devem ter uma destinação final adequada, para evitar impactos ao meio ambiente, devido à presença dos metais. A conversão termoquímica (pirólise) pode ser uma alternativa para a destinação final desse resíduo. Neste trabalho, postes de madeira utilizados por 20 anos na rede de distribuição de energia elétrica do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, fornecidos pela Companhia Paulista de Força e Luz (CPFL), foram seccionados e medida sua concentração de metais. As 2 frações mais internas do poste (ao longo do seu raio) apresentaram menores concentrações de metal (4,00 mg.kg-1 de cobre, 4,19 mg.kg-1 de cromo e 4,72 mg.kg-1 de arsênio) e foram utilizadas para os ensaios de conversão termoquímica (pirólise). As frações sólida, líquida e gasosa foram quantificadas e caracterizadas. O elevado teor de matéria volátil (83,53%, m.m-1 para A23 e 83,23%, m.m-1 para A3) e baixo teor de cinzas (0,62%, m.m-1 para A23 e 0,61 %, m.m-1 para A3) tornam as amostras de madeira tratada com CCA, uma matéria-prima atrativa para o processo termoquímico. O processo de pirólise foi conduzido na ausência de oxigênio à temperatura de 700 ºC, minimizando a liberação de metais e apresentando os seguintes rendimentos: char (25,3 ±1,1%, m.m-1 ); óleo pirolítico (44,2±0,6%, m.m-1 ); gás combustível (30,6±1,7%, m.m-1 ). A concentração máxima de gases não condensáveis (77% vol) provenientes da pirólise de madeira tratada com CCA, bem como o máximo valor de poder calorífico superior do gás combustível (15,32 MJ.Nm-3 ), foram observados na temperatura de 500 ºC. Com o incremento de temperatura (700 ºC) houve uma redução da produção de gases não condensáveis (14% vol), bem como do poder calorífico superior do gás combustível (14,16 MJ.Nm-3 ). Entretanto, com o aumento da temperatura foi observado um aumento da concentração de H2 nos gases não condensáveis. Foi observado que mais de 68% (em massa) dos metais ficam retidos no char, os quais permanecem estáveis à lixiviação, permitindo a utilização segura do char para a obtenção de carvão ativado. O gás gerado apresentou razão molar H2/CO de 6 a 8, favorável à redução de óxidos de ferro em processos de redução da indústria siderúrgica. O char produzido no processo de pirólise foi impregnado com H3PO4 e ativado físicamente na presença de CO2, a temperaturas de 800 e 900 ºC, para a produção de carvão ativado. A temperatura de 900 ºC, isoterma de 240 min e razão de impregnação de H3PO4 de 1:1 foram responsáveis pela formação de um carvão ativado com elevada área superficial (1324 m2 .g-1 ). Com o aumento do tempo de isoterma de 60 a 240 min (900 ºC / Impregnação H3PO4 Razão 2:1) verificou-se o incremento do volume de microporos de diâmetro de 0,3 a 1 nm (0,159 a 0,209 cm3 .g-1 ). O carvão ativado produzido foi avaliado quanto a capacidade de adsorção de CO2 a pressão atmosférica e temperatura de 25 ºC. Os resultados indicaram que as amostras de carvão ativado obtidos da madeira tratada com CCA apresentaram elevada capacidade de adsorção de CO2 variando entre 69 a 83 mg.g-1 . A presença de metais (Cr/Cu) no carvão ativado pode ter contribuído para o aumento da adsorção de CO2. / Universidade de Caixas do Sul, UCS. / Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is the most used preservative in wooden poles of electricity distribution network, due to its high efficiency in the wood preservation. The CCAtreated wooden poles may be properly disposed to avoid damage to the environment due to the metals. The thermochemical process (pyrolysis) can be an alternative to the disposal of this waste. In this work, CCA-treated wooden poles, in service for 20 years in the electricity distribution network in Rio Grande do Sul, provided by Companhia Paulista de Força e Luz (CPFL), were fractionated and the metal concentration was measured. The samples of the internal sapwood and heartwood presented low metal concentrations (4.00 mg.kg-1 of copper, 4.19 mg.kg-1 of chromium and 4.72 mg.kg-1 of arsenic) and were subject to the pyrolysis. The solid, liquid and gaseous fractions were measured and characterized. The high content of volatile matter (83.53 wt.% to A23 and 83.23 wt.% to A3) and low ash content (0.62 wt.% to A23 and 0.61 wt.% to A3) make the samples of CCA- treated wood an attractive raw material for thermochemical process. The pyrolysis process was conducted in the absence of oxygen at 700 ºC to minimize the metal release and presenting mass fractions with the following yields: char (25.3±1.1 wt.%), pyrolytic oil (44,2±0.6 wt.%) and gas fuel (30.6±1,7 wt.%). The maximum concentration of non-condensable gas (77 vol%) from the pyrolysis of CCA-treated wood and the maximum high heating value of the fuel gas (15.32 MJ.N-1m-3 ) were observed in temperature of 500 ºC. With temperature increasing (700 oC) the generation of non-condensable gases (14 vol%) and the high heating value of the fuel gas (14.16 MJ.N-1m-3 ) were reduced. However, with temperature increasing the concentration H2 increased. Most than 68 wt.% of metals are retained in the char. It is possible to use of the activated carbon from char due resistance to leaching. The gas generated presented a molar ratio H2/CO of 6 to 8 is favorable to the iron oxide reduction in reduction process in steel industry. The char produced from the pyrolysis process was impregnated with H3PO4 and physically activated in the presence of CO2 at temperatures of 800 to 900 ºC for activated carbon production. The temperature of 900 oC, isotherm of 240 min and 1:1 impregnation H3PO4 were responsible to formation of an activated carbon with a high surface area (1324 m2 .g -1 ). With the increased of time isotherm of 60 to 240 min (900 ºC / 2:1 impregnation H3PO4) there was obtained increased microporous volume with 0.3 a 1 nm diameter (0.159 to 0.209 cm3 .g-1 ). The activated carbon produced was evaluated in CO2 adsorption assays at atmospheric pressure and 25 oC. The results indicated that the activated carbons obtained from the CCA-treated wood showed high CO2 adsorption capacity ranging 69-83 mg.g -1 . The presence of metals (Cr/Cu) can be contributed to the high CO2 adsorption.

Charcoal broiling is becoming an increasingly popular method for cooking meat. Little scientific work has been done in this area. Information presently available on charcoal broiling consists of broad generalizations which have developed from trial and error testing. With the current interest in charcoal broiling, there is a need for more factual, scientific information as to the proper procedure. Cooking method affects palatability and nutritive value of meat. Chemical and physical changes occur during the cooking process and the reactions which take place are not fully known or understood. Each cooking method has a specific effect upon meat due to the rate of heat penetration and the reactions which take place during the cooking period. Broiling usually takes place at high temperature, making this method of cooking meat contrary to recommendations . Generally broiling is done with the thermostat set at 500 F . The heating element is constantly energized when turned on. Attempts are made to adjust to the desired temperature by varying the distance from the heat source. Cover et al. (1957) showed actual surface temperature of the broiler often fluctuated from the desired temperature. Preliminary testing in our laboratory showed that it was impossible to regulate heat at a constant temperature with an electric broiler.

The aim of the project was to investigate the possibility of producing and utilizing bioenergy from available local resources in the village Linga Linga, Mozambique. Suitable conversion techniques for producing and utilizing bioenergy were identified through a literature study. The investigated techniques were the concept of gasifier cookstoves, the method of producing charcoal from biomass and anaerobic digesters. Through observations and interviews in the village, available local resources suited for the conversion techniques were identified. In the field study, it was found that there is a surplus of solid biomass which led to the conclusion that a gasifier cookstove is suitable to implement. In order to analyze if a gasifier cookstove is suitable for the households, interviews were carried out in ten households in the village. Aprototype of a gasifier cookstove was built with local resources to determine if the technique can be applied. The prototype was tested and evaluated in order to analyze if it will contributeto a more efficient use of resources. One of the conclusions of the study was that a gasifier cookstove can be valuable for the households in several ways, but that cultural differences can make it hard to implement.

The largest wildfire ever observed in Greenland raged through its tundra during august 2017, and it is unknown if there have been similar wildfires in the area before satellite monitoring began in 1999. Arctic wildfires affect permafrost degradation, carbon storage of soils and the surface albedo of the Greenland Ice sheet – despite this, local fires have previously been ignored by researchers. Here, aeolian dust deposits are independently dated by radiocarbon and luminescence techniques and paleoenvironmental proxies and macrocharcoal contents reflecting local fires are analyzed. The dating results indicate that the onset of aeolian deposition coincides with the deglaciation of the area, suggesting that paleoenvironmental proxy records from aeolian dust deposits may extend the entire ice-free period of the area until approximately 8 ka BP. Luminescence signals are generally partially bleached, resulting in age over-estimation of several samples. This effect is quantified using the pIRIR/IR ratio and different integration limit intervals. No evidence for previous wildfires were found during the charcoal analysis, suggesting that the area around the assessed profile has never been burnt since its deglaciation. These first results show promise for the method, and in order to expand this to a regional estimate of the wildfire activity through the Holocene, analysis of more material is needed.

The artist discusses her Master of Fine Arts exhibition, Symbiosis, hosted by the Natural History Museum in Gray, Tennessee, from May 1st, through August 1st 2008. The exhibit includes works produced during the artist's three years of study at East Tennessee State University. The subject of the exhibition consists of drawings of the elephant's place in history through its relationship with humans. Topics explored include the elephant as victim, servant, god, prey, and ultimately as teacher. Discussion will also include artistic influences such as Sue Coe, Deborah Butterfield, Franz Marc, and Frank Noelker as well as theoretical influences by Carl G. Jung, James Hillman, and Jerome S. Bernstein.

The artist discusses his Master of Fine Arts exhibition, Present Access, hosted by The Carroll Reece Museum on the campus of East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, from April 2 through April 25, 2007. This exhibit contains works that span his four-year tenure in the graduate program and represent several iterations of the artist's exploration of the landscape as metaphor and discovery. Subjects discussed explicate the development of thought and process leading to the pieces presented in this exhibition. Topics explored include the importance of form, material, media, research, personal history, experience, and memory. Also considered are the influences of contemporary artists such as Tula Telfair, April Gornick, Toba Khedoori, Ying Kit Chan, and Rackstraw Downes; the poetry of T. S. Eliot; the ideas of Theoretical Physics and philosopher Paul Crowther.

In Mozambique, almost 80% of the population uses firewood for their energy needs,  however this use is not exclusive only to rural areas, observing the same in urban areas who not only use the wood and also charcoal stoves. Because of this situation, there is a huge devastation of the forest, which has caused the depletion of flora, thus missing native species without its due spare.  In Maputo, most households, the use of fire wood was replaced by charcoal because of high energetic intensity and also transportation and storing promptness. In 2011, three millions of sacs of charcoal have been in consumption, managing a market of $70 million in 2010 and 2012, the price rise a lot from 250 to 650 Meticais (200% more). In this context came the need, to evaluate the energy efficiency of charcoal stoves and their respective access by the population in Maputo in order to contribute to the reduction of excessive consumption of biomass. For it was made evaluation of energetic efficiency in ten stoves most used in the city of Maputo, We tested the quality of charcoal and found to demand access to its coal. The results showed that the charcoal tested is not the good quality because the values are outside the acceptable levels According to the literature. Energy efficiency evaluation noted that the most efficient stoves have been improved in spite of the water boiling test of the traditional stoves have been boil faster. There was also, that consumers prefer to buy products from day to day in establishments near to their residence and do not spend more money than 100.00 MTn (2 USD) every time moving to sales points. / I Mocambique använder nästan 80% av befolkningen ved för sina energibehov, men denna användning är inte exklusiv bara för landsbygdsområden, där man observerar samma i stadsområden som inte bara använder veden utan även koksugnar. På grund av den här situationen orsakas en enorm förödelse av skogen, vilket har orsakat utarmning av flora och inhemska arters fortplantning påverkas negativt. I de flesta hushåll i Maputo ersattes användningen av ved med träkol på grund av hög energiintensitet och snabbare transport och lagring. Under 2011 har tre miljoner säckar träkol konsumerats, vilket motsvarar en marknad på 70 miljoner dollar 2010 och 2012. Priset steg från 250 till 650 Meticais (mer än 200%) under denna period. I det här sammanhanget uppstod behovet att utvärdera energieffektiviteten hos ugnar för träkol och tillgången av sådana ugnar i Maputo för att bidra till minskningen av överdriven konsumtion av biomassa. För det gjordes utvärdering av energeffektiviteten i tio ugnar som mest används i staden Maputo. Kvaliteten på träkol testades och tillgången på träkol utvärderades. Resultaten visade att träkolet inte är av god kvalitet eftersom värdena ligger utanför acceptabla nivåer enligt litteraturen. Energieffektivitetsutvärderingen noterade att de mest effektiva ugnarna har förbättrats. Testen av de traditionella ugnarna visade att kokningstiden för vatten har kortats ner. Det visade sig också att konsumenter föredrar att köpa produkter från dag till dag i företag nära deras hemvist, och de spenderar inte mer än 100,00 MTn (2 USD) varje gång de flyttar till försäljningsställen.

Strawberries are considered an important crop in California where in 2018 it was in the top 5 valued fruit and vegetable commodities valued at $2.84 billion accounting for 88% of the total U.S. production. Strawberry production can be severely impacted by soilborne pathogens that can affect strawberry roots, crowns and leaves which can result in plant mortality. As much as 50 to 60% mortality can occur in one field. Pathogens responsible for such losses include Colletotrichum acutatum (syn.C. nymphaeae), Macrophomina phaseolina and Verticillium dahliae. With the phaseout of methyl bromide, host resistance and an understanding of host-pathogen interactions can play an important role in control of these diseases. A two-year study was conducted in order to evaluate host resistance of anthracnose in 105 cultivars and elite breeding lines developed by six strawberry breeding programs. Cultivars and elite breeding lines were inoculated using three local isolates in both years. All breeding programs provided genotypes that had a wide range of anthracnose susceptibility ranging from 0 to 100% mortality during both years. In both years an average of 78% of all the plant mortality occurred by 1 January. From the 105 cultivars and elite breeding lines, 30 cultivars were common to both years. Of these 30 cultivars, nine of them differed in their disease susceptibility between experiments by more than 20%. This suggests that several years of field evaluation may be necessary to determine susceptibility to anthracnose. Popular cultivars that represent the spectrum of susceptibility are Monterey (susceptible), Festival (moderately resistant), and Sensation (resistant). A second study was conducted toevaluate pathogen colonization of resistant and susceptible strawberry cultivars, testing interactions among crown and root plant tissue and two sampling timings. These cultivars were challenged with two soilborne pathogens, Macrophomina phaseolinaand Verticillium dahliae,over two years. Existing qPCR protocols for M. phaseolina and V. dahliae were used in order to quantify how much pathogen DNA was detected in crown and root samples. For the 2016-2017 V. dahliae trial there were significant effects for cultivar. Cultivar Benicia had significantly higher pathogen DNA compared to resistant cultivars Marquis, UC-12 and Camino Real. Susceptible cultivar BG 1975 had significantly less pathogen DNA compared to resistant cultivars San Andreas and Petaluma. In the 2017-2018 V. dahliaetrial pathogen DNA amount was not significantly different based on cultivar, plant part colonization, or the sampling period. In the 2017-2018 M. phaseolina trial all three of the fixed factors, cultivars, plant part colonization and sampling period were statistically significant. Cultivar ‘Sweet Ann’ had a significantly higher level of M. phaseolinaDNA in the early vs. the late sampling.

<p>   </p> <p>Biochar and charcoal cannot properly be discussed without understanding the diverse technologies available for their production. This is because approximately 70% of wood harvested worldwide is burned for energy and this, in addition to unstainable agricultural activities, has caused a massive increase in deforestation and contributed to climate change. Due to this, current global interventions are focused on promoting sustainable approaches through the expansion of agricultural technologies in countries where the deforestation rate keeps increasing due to overdependency on unsustainable and inefficient conversion technologies. It is therefore obvious that African regions cannot be left out when talking about the impact of global agriculture and charcoal production. Not only is 95% of all household energy used in Africa derived from burning wood in the form of charcoal and firewood, but sub-Saharan Africa regions also contribute 62% to global charcoal production. Since sustainability approaches are of global concern and must be understood from different perspectives and regions, this work analyzed sustainable agriculture and climate mitigation strategies using charcoal and biochar production as indicators. From a sustainability point of view, the study categorized this assessment into three chapters to help understand the preferences of local producers in relation to technologies used and the necessary actions or interventions needed for future improvements.</p> <p><br></p> <p>In the first chapter, 492 charcoal producers from Ghana were interviewed with semi-structured questionnaires to understand the demographics of charcoal producers, species used for charcoal, and how these producers intend to sustain the charcoal industry in terms of acquisition of wood resources/raw materials. This helped to analyze how the demographics of charcoal producers influence the charcoal production industry, characterize some wood species suitable and acceptable for sustainable charcoal production, and to recommend some necessary interventions toward sustainability.</p> <p><br></p> <p>In the second chapter, the heating characteristics of the most common indigenous species and exotic species identified in the first chapter were examined for their charcoal production properties (yield and calorific values) using the most common conversion technology available in the study area (earth mound). The heating/calorific values of these species were also determined using a ballistic bomb calorimeter. This also helped in examining the impact of the common charcoal production technologies on the qualities of charcoal produced and their corresponding impacts on the environment. Additionally, this chapter identified that most charcoal production species have longer rotation times with added values other than being used for charcoal. Furthermore, inappropriate conversion technologies minimize charcoal yield and quality; therefore, developing more efficient and affordable conversion kilns would increase charcoal production efficiency and improve the sustainable production of charcoal.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Based on the recommendation from chapter two, chapter three focused on building transferable skills and knowledge to help smallholder farmers and charcoal producers to fabricate cost-effective retorts/kilns for biochar and charcoal production. Through the process, we reviewed, selected, redesigned, and manufactured three common global conversion technologies and tested their potential for sustainable biochar and charcoal production using wood and crop stubbles (corn husk, corn cob, and sorghum residues). This helped in proposing best techniques and technologies suitable for biochar and charcoal production based on their production and use variables. It was therefore concluded that when farmers gain more knowledge and skills in manufacturing relevant and cheap technologies at their convenience, they could make the right subsequent choices towards sustainable agricultural practices.</p> <p>  </p>

The fungus Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goidanich (Mp) is the causal agent of charcoal rot in soybean and infects over 500 plant species worldwide. Mp produces various mycotoxins and is suspected of utilizing a toxin-mediated process to penetrate host tissue. Identification and evaluation of secondary metabolites produced by Mp will further elucidate the pathogenesis mechanisms used by the fungus. Mp cultures isolated from soybean were evaluated for phytotoxicity in a hydroponic soybean bioassay and chemically analyzed by LC-MS/MS. All Mp cultures at two dilutions induced phytotoxicity symptoms including chlorosis, necrosis, wilting, stunting, and death. Analysis identified 13 unreported secondary metabolites including mellein, a compound with various biological activities. The phytotoxicity of mellein was evaluated against soybean seedlings in hydroponic culture, and symptoms of wilting and stunting were observed at levels above 40 MUg/L. Observations suggest that mellein does not directly contribute to the phytotoxic effects of Mp cultures.