Wax Lipids from Leaf Surfaces of Some Common plants of Malaysia

Epicuticular wax lipids from leaves of some common plant species found in the Klang Valley, Malaysia were extracted into dichloromethane for analysis. Extracts were separated into hydrocarbon, carboxylic acid, ketone and alcohol fractions. The fractions after derivatization were then subjected to gas chromatographic (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC-M5) analyses. The wax yield was highest for Mestta ferrea while the lowest yield was obtained from Eugenia gran dis. In most species studied the m~or n-alkane was found to be hentriacontane (C31 ), followed by tritriacontane (C,,) and nonacosane (C",) , respectively. The n-alkanes exhibit a saw-tooth pattern which is characteristic of a biogenic origin. A strong even-to-odd carbon number predominance is observed for both the n-alkanoic acids and 1)alkanols. Only traces of mainly B-sitosterol were detected in some of the species. The triterpenoids and triterpenes were mostly found in the wax of Mesua ferrea with «- and p-boswellic acids as the major components and minor amounts of «- and p-amyrin. Other biomarkers identified were «and p-amyrones, friedelin, friedelanol, friedelane, olean-12-ene, taraxerene, squalene, dihydronyctanthic acid, dihydroroburic acid and dihydrocanaric acid. This study has shown that the distribution of n-alkanes is a function of the ambient temperature

Organic compounds in biomass smoke from residential wood combustion: Emissions characterization at a continental scale

Wood smoke in the atmosphere often accounts for 20–30% of the ambient fine-particle concentrations. In communities where wood is burned for home heating, wood smoke can at times contribute the majority of the atmospheric fine-particle burden. Chemical mass balance receptor models that use organic compounds as tracers can be used to determine the contributions of different emission sources, including wood smoke, to atmospheric fine-particle samples. In order for organic chemical tracer techniques to be applied to communities across the United States, differences in wood smoke composition that arise from differences in the type of wood burned in various regions must be understood. A continental-scale accounting of particulate organic compound emissions from residential wood combustion has been constructed which helps to quantify the regional differences in wood smoke composition that exist between different parts of the United States. Data from a series of source tests conducted on 22 North American wood species have been used to assemble a national inventory of emissions for more than 250 individual organic compounds that are released from wood combustion in fireplaces and wood stoves in the United States. The emission rates of important wood smoke markers, such as levoglucosan, certain substituted syringols and guaiacols, and phytosterols vary greatly with wood type and combustor type. These differences at the level of individual wood type and combustion conditions translate into regional differences in the aggregate composition of ambient wood smoke. By weighting the source test results in proportion to the availability of firewood from specific tree species and the quantities of wood burned in each locale, it is possible to investigate systematic differences that exist between wood smokes from different regions of North America. The relative abundance of 10 major wood smoke components averaged over the emissions inventory in different regions of the United States is computed and then used to illustrate the extent to which wood smoke composition differs from region to region in North America

Wissensstandanalyse zur Tiergesundheit ausgewählter Nutz-tierarten im Ökologischen Landbau

This research report is about animal health in organic farming. It has been intended for providing recommendations for future research in order to optimize organic farming. An evaluative review and assessment of searchable publications, which cover the period from 1991 to 2011, national as well as international, has been conducted. A total of recorded 569 publications on animal health in livestock production were found. This included articles on general topics (42 publications), on cattle (211), on pigs (181), on poultry (100), on small ruminants (25) and on other species (10). There is a lack of research to examine a practical realisation (n = 124). In organic cattle farming the subject of mastitis has been edited very often. Problems such as lameness, metabolic disorders or calves' diseases were studied subordinately. Mortality of piglets, poor body condition of sows after weaning, parasites and other difficulties in consequence of free-range-systems are described frequently. Articles concerning health in poultry farming attend mostly to feather pecking and hygienic problems due to the free-range system. Status information of animal health of minor species is described rarely. After all, the problems of animal health in organic and in conventional farming are comparable. In general, an implementation-oriented and at once high-quality scientific research is needed to optimize the conditions for animal health and animal welfare in organic farming

Organic compounds in PM2.5 emitted from fireplace and woodstove combustion of typical Portuguese wood species

The aim of this study is the further characterisation of PM2.5 emissions from the residential wood combustion of common woods grown in Portugal. This new research extends to eight the number of biomass fuels studied and tries to understand the differences that the burning appliance (fireplace versus woodstove) and the combustion temperature (cold and hot start) have on emissions. Pinus pinaster (Maritime pine), Eucalyptus globulus (eucalypt), Quercus suber (cork oak), Acacia longifolia (Golden wattle), Quercus faginea (Portuguese oak), Olea europea (Olive), Quercus ilex rotundifolia (Holm oak) and briquettes produced from forest biomass waste were used in the combustion tests. Determinations included fine particle emission factors, carbonaceous content (OC and EC) by a thermaleoptical transmission technique and detailed identification and quantification of organic compounds by gas chromatographyemass spectrometry. Fine particle emission factors from the woodstove were lower than those from the fireplace. For both combustion appliances, the OC/EC ratio was higher in “cold start” tests (1.56 0.95 for woodstove and 2.03 1.34 for fireplace). These “cold start” OC/EC values were, respectively, for the woodstove and the fireplace, 51% and 69% higher than those obtained in “hot start” experiments. The chromatographically resolved organics included n-alkanes, n-alkenes, PAHs, n-alkanals, ketones, n-alkanols, terpenoids, triterpenoids, phenolic compounds, phytosterols, alcohols, n-alkanoic acids, n-di-acids, unsaturated acids and alkyl esters of acids. The smoke emission rate and composition varied widely depending on fuel type, burning appliance and combustion temperature

Mathematical modeling of atmospheric fine particle-associated primary organic compound concentrations

An atmospheric transport model has been used to explore the relationship between source emissions and ambient air quality for individual particle phase organic compounds present in primary aerosol source emissions. An inventory of fine particulate organic compound emissions was assembled for the Los Angeles area in the year 1982. Sources characterized included noncatalyst- and catalyst-equipped autos, diesel trucks, paved road dust, tire wear, brake lining dust, meat cooking operations, industrial oil-fired boilers, roofing tar pots, natural gas combustion in residential homes, cigarette smoke, fireplaces burning oak and pine wood, and plant leaf abrasion products. These primary fine particle source emissions were supplied to a computer-based model that simulates atmospheric transport, dispersion, and dry deposition based on the time series of hourly wind observations and mixing depths. Monthly average fine particle organic compound concentrations that would prevail if the primary organic aerosol were transported without chemical reaction were computed for more than 100 organic compounds within an 80 km × 80 km modeling area centered over Los Angeles. The monthly average compound concentrations predicted by the transport model were compared to atmospheric measurements made at monitoring sites within the study area during 1982. The predicted seasonal variation and absolute values of the concentrations of the more stable compounds are found to be in reasonable agreement with the ambient observations. While model predictions for the higher molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are in agreement with ambient observations, lower molecular weight PAH show much higher predicted than measured atmospheric concentrations in the particle phase, indicating atmospheric decay by chemical reactions or evaporation from the particle phase. The atmospheric concentrations of dicarboxylic acids and aromatic polycarboxylic acids greatly exceed the contributions that are due to direct emissions from primary sources, confirming that these compounds are principally formed by atmospheric chemical reactions

Molecular Marker Analysis as a Guide to the Sources of Fine Organic Aerosols

The molecular composition of fine particulate (D_p ≥ 2 µm) organic aerosol emissions from the most important sources in the Los Angeles area has been determined. Likewise, ambient concentration patterns for more than 80 single organic compounds have been measured at four urban sites (West Los Angeles, Downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Rubidoux) and at one remote offshore site (San Nicolas Island). It has been found that cholesterol serves as a marker compound for emissions from charbroilers and other meat cooking operations. Vehicular exhaust being emitted from diesel and gasoline powered engines can be traced in the Los Angeles atmosphere using fossil petroleum marker compounds such as steranes and pentacyclic triterpanes (e.g., hopanes). Biogenic fine particle emission sources such as plant fragments abraded from leaf surfaces by wind and weather can be traced in the urban atmosphere. Using distinct and specific source organic tracers or assemblages of organic compounds characteristic for the sources considered it is possible to estimate the influence of different source types at any urban site where atmospheric data are available

Wissenstandsanalyse zur Tiergesundheit aller Nutztierarten im Ökologischen Landbau und 100% Biofütterung

In einer Wissensstandanalyse zum Thema 100 % Biofütterung Monogastrier und Tiergesundheit aller Nutztierarten im Ökologischen Landbau wurde der Forschungsbedarf zu den beiden Themen zusammengetragen. Die Projektkoordination und -leitung lag bei der Bioland Beratung GmbH. Projektpartner war das Institut für ökologischen Landbau des Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Instituts (vTI). Das Projekt wurde vom Bundesprogramm Ökologischer Landbau und andere Formen nachhaltiger Landwirtschaft (BÖLN) gefördert (FKZ 10OE088 und 10OE089). Nach einer kurzen Bestandsaufnahme der Tiergesundheitssituation bzw. im Falle der 100 % Biofütterung einer Status Quo Analyse für den Bereich der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, die die maßgeblichen Akteursgruppen Landwirte, Berater, Futtermittelwirtschaft und einschlägige Wissenschaft einbezog, und einer ausführlichen vom vTI Institut für ökologischen Landbau durchgeführten Literaturrecherche ging es darum, in einem zweitägigen Workshop mit 40 ausgewählten Teilnehmern den Umsetzungsstand zu den Themen Biofütterung Monogastrier und Tiergesundheit für die Nutztierarten Rind, Schwein, Geflügel, Schafe und Ziegen kritisch zu begutachten und in der Folge den Forschungs- und Handlungsbedarf zu formulieren. Als Ergebnis kann festgestellt werden, dass a) in einer ganzen Reihe von veterinärmedizinischen und agrarwissenschaftlichen Fragen rund um die Biofütterung von Schweinen und Geflügel und zur Tiergesundheit aller relevanten Nutztierarten ökolandbauspezifischer Forschungsbedarf besteht, b) wesentliche Umsetzungslücken und Schwachstellen aus mangelnder Verknüpfung der Wertschöpfungskette und der beteiligten Akteursgruppen resultieren, aus denen Forschungsfragen im Bereich des Wissenstransfers, der Kommunikations- und Systemforschung generiert werden können, c) ein entscheidender Wissensbedarf im Bereich der umfassenden Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung aktueller und zukünftiger Verfahrenskompartimente, insbesondere der Entwicklung von dazugehörigen Leitindikatoren besteht und d) nicht zuletzt „Systemfehler“ innerhalb der Rechtsvorschriften zum ökologischen Landbau zu konstatieren sind, die eine den Erwägungsgründen angepasste und prinzipiengerechte Umsetzung in der Praxis aufgrund konkurrierender Rechtsvorschriften oder „innerer“ Widersprüche nicht ermöglichen. Insgesamt konnte mit dem Projekt gezeigt werden, dass über den eigentlichen Forschungsbedarf hinaus, Reformbedarf bei den Rahmenbedingungen der Tierhaltung im ökologischen Landbau besteht, wenn diese über den Status einer kleinen lukrativen Marktnische hinausgehend den Kriterien der Zukunftsfähigkeit im umfassenden Sinne gerecht werden sollen

Regional variation of organic functional groups in aerosol particles on four U.S. east coast platforms during the International Consortium for Atmospheric Research on Transport and Transformation 2004 campaign

Submicron atmospheric aerosol samples were collected during the International Consortium for Atmospheric Research on Transport and Transformation (ICARTT) 2004 campaign on four platforms: Chebogue Point (Nova Scotia, Canada), Appledore Island (Maine), the CIRPAS Twin Otter over Ohio, and the NOAA R/V Ronald H. Brown in the Gulf of Maine. Saturated aliphatic C-C-H, unsaturated aliphatic C=C−H, aromatic C=C−H, organosulfur C-O-S, carbonyl C=O, and organic hydroxyl C-OH functional groups were measured by calibrated Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy at all four sampling platforms. The ratio of molar concentrations of carbonyl C=O to saturated aliphatic C-C-H groups was nearly constant at each sampling platform, with the Twin Otter samples having the lowest ratio at 0.1 and the three more coastal platforms having ratios of 0.4 and 0.5. Organic mass (OM) to organic carbon (OC) ratios follow similar trends for the four platforms, with the Twin Otter having the lowest ratio of 1.4 and the coastal platforms having slightly higher values typically between 1.5 and 1.6. Organosulfur compounds were occasionally observed. Collocated organic aerosol sampling with two Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometers for OM, a Sunset Laboratory thermo-optical analysis instrument for OC, and an ion chromatography-particle into liquid sampler (IC-PILS) for speciated carboxylic acids provided comparable results for most of the project, tracking the time series of FTIR OM, OC, and carbonyl groups, respectively, and showing simultaneous peaks of similar magnitude during most of the project. The FTIR/IC-PILS comparison suggests that about 9% of the carbonyl groups found in submicron organic particles on the Twin Otter are typically associated with low molecular weight carboxylic acids

Oceanic loading of wildfire-derived organic compounds from a small mountainous river

Copyright 2008 by the American Geophysical Union.Small mountainous rivers (SMRs) export substantial amounts of sediment into the world's oceans. The concomitant yield of organic carbon (OC) associated with this class of rivers has also been shown to be significant and compositionally unique. We report here excessively high loadings of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), lignin, and levoglucosan, discharged from the Santa Clara River into the Santa Barbara Channel. The abundance of PAHs, levoglucosan, and lignin in Santa Barbara Channel sediments ranged from 201.7 to 1232.3 ng gdw−1, 1.3 to 6.9 μg gdw−1, and 0.3 to 2.2 mg per 100 mg of the sedimentary OC, respectively. Assuming a constant rate of sediment accumulation, the annual fluxes of PAHs, levoglucosan, and lignin, to the Santa Barbara Channel were respectively, 885.5 ± 170.2 ng cm−2 a−1, 3.5 ± 1.9 μg cm−2 a−1 and 1.4 ± 0.3 mg per 100 mg OC cm−2 a−1, over ∼30 years. The close agreement between PAHs, levoglucosan, and lignin abundance suggests that the depositional flux of these compounds is largely biomass combustion-derived. To that end, use of the Santa Clara River as a model for SMRs suggests this class of rivers may be one of the largest contributors of pyrolyzed carbon to coastal systems and the open ocean. Wildfire associated carbon discharged from other high yield fluvial systems, when considered collectively, may be a significant source of lignin, pyrolytic PAHs, and other pyrogenic compounds to the ocean. Extrapolating these methods over geologic time may offer useful historical information about carbon sequestration and burial in coastal sediments and affect coastal carbon budgets

Atmospheric tar balls: Particles from biomass and biofuel burning

"Tar balls'' are amorphous, carbonaceous spherules that occur in the tropospheric aerosol as a result of biomass and biofuel burning. They form a distinct group of particles with diameters typically between 30 and 500 nm and readily identifiable with electron microscopy. Their lack of a turbostratic microstructure distinguishes them from soot, and their morphology and composition (similar to90 mol % carbon) renders them distinct from other carbonaceous particles. Tar balls are particularly abundant in slightly aged (minutes to hours old) biomass smoke, indicating that they likely form by gas-to-particle conversion within smoke plumes. The material of tar balls is initially hygroscopic; however, the particles become largely insoluble as a result of free radical polymerization of their organic molecules. Consequently, tar balls are primarily externally mixed with other particle types, and they do not appreciably increase in size during aging. When tar balls coagulate with water-bearing particles, their material may partly dissolve and no longer be recognizable as distinct particles. Tar balls may contain organic compounds that absorb sunlight. They are an important, previously unrecognized type of carbonaceous (organic) atmospheric particle