• Energy Research
• National Science Foundation close
• CA close
• BE close
• MA close

La production industrielle d'huile de palme génère simultanément une quantité substantielle de fibres de grappe de fruits vides (EFB) qui pourraient être utilisées comme matière première dans une bioraffinerie à base de lignocellulose. Les sous-produits de la lignine générés par ce processus peuvent offrir des possibilités d'isolation des produits à valeur ajoutée, tels que le p-hydroxybenzoate (pBz), pour aider à compenser les coûts d'exploitation. L'analyse de la lignine EFB par spectroscopie de résonance magnétique nucléaire (RMN) a clairement révélé la présence d'acétate lié et de pBz, la saponification révélant que 1,1 % en poids de l'EFB était du pBz ; avec une teneur en lignine de 22,7 %, 4,8 % de la lignine est du pBz qui peut être obtenu comme composant pur pour être utilisé comme charge chimique. L'analyse de la lignine EFB par RMN et dérivatisation suivie d'un clivage réducteur (DFRC) a montré que le pBz acylate sélectivement le groupe γ-hydroxyle des unités S. Cette sélectivité suggère que le pBz, de manière analogue à l'acétate dans le kénaf, le p-coumarate dans les graminées et le ferrate dans un peuplier transgénique augmenté d'une féruloyl-CoA monolignol transférase (FMT), est incorporé dans la chaîne de lignine en croissance via son conjugué monolignol γ-p-hydroxybenzoylé. L'implication de tels conjugués dans la lignification des palmiers est prouvée par l'observation de nouvelles unités couplées au β-β non résinol p-hydroxybenzoylé dans les lignines. Ensemble, les données impliquent l'existence de p-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA :monolignol transférases qui sont impliquées dans la lignification chez les différents saules (Salix spp.), peupliers et peupliers faux-trembles (Populus spp., famille des Salicacées) et palmiers (famille des Arecacées) qui ont des lignines p-hydroxybenzoylées. Même sans augmenter les niveaux par la sélection ou le génie génétique, les « déchets » actuels de l'EFB d'huile de palme devraient être en mesure de générer un flux important d'acide p-hydroxybenzoïque qui offre des opportunités pour le développement de produits à valeur ajoutée dérivés de l'industrie du palmier à huile. La producción industrial de aceite de palma genera simultáneamente una cantidad sustancial de fibras de racimo de frutas vacías (EFB) que podrían utilizarse como materia prima en una biorrefinería a base de lignocelulosa. Los subproductos de lignina generados por este proceso pueden ofrecer oportunidades para el aislamiento de productos de valor agregado, como el p-hidroxibenzoato (pBz), para ayudar a compensar los costos operativos. El análisis de la lignina EFB por espectroscopía de resonancia magnética nuclear (RMN) reveló claramente la presencia de acetato unido y pBz, y la saponificación reveló que el 1,1% en peso del EFB era pBz; con un contenido de lignina del 22,7 %, el 4,8 % de la lignina es pBz que se puede obtener como un componente puro para su uso como materia prima química. El análisis de la lignina EFB por RMN y la derivatización seguida de escisión reductora (DFRC) mostró que pBz acila selectivamente el grupo γ-hidroxilo de las unidades S. Esta selectividad sugiere que pBz, análogamente con acetato en kenaf, p-cumarato en gramíneas y ferular en un álamo transgénico aumentado con una feruloil-CoA monolignol transferasa (FMT), se incorpora a la cadena de lignina en crecimiento a través de su conjugado de monolignol γ-p-hidroxibenzoilado. La participación de dichos conjugados en la lignificación de la palma se demuestra al observar nuevas unidades no acopladas a β-β-resinol p-hidroxibenzoiladas en las ligninas. Juntos, los datos implican la existencia de p-hidroxibenzoil-CoA:monolignol transferasas que participan en la lignificación en los diversos sauces (Salix spp.), álamos y álamo temblón (Populus spp., familia Salicaceae) y palmeras (familia Arecaceae) que tienen ligninas p-hidroxibenzoiladas. Incluso sin mejorar los niveles mediante mejoramiento o ingeniería genética, los 'desechos' actuales de aceite de palma EFB deberían ser capaces de generar una corriente considerable de ácido p-hidroxibenzoico que ofrezca oportunidades para el desarrollo de productos de valor agregado derivados de la industria de la palma aceitera. The industrial production of palm oil concurrently generates a substantial amount of empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibers that could be used as a feedstock in a lignocellulose-based biorefinery. Lignin byproducts generated by this process may offer opportunities for the isolation of value-added products, such as p-hydroxybenzoate (pBz), to help offset operating costs. Analysis of the EFB lignin by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy clearly revealed the presence of bound acetate and pBz, with saponification revealing that 1.1 wt% of the EFB was pBz; with a lignin content of 22.7 %, 4.8 % of the lignin is pBz that can be obtained as a pure component for use as a chemical feedstock. Analysis of EFB lignin by NMR and derivatization followed by reductive cleavage (DFRC) showed that pBz selectively acylates the γ-hydroxyl group of S units. This selectivity suggests that pBz, analogously with acetate in kenaf, p-coumarate in grasses, and ferulate in a transgenic poplar augmented with a feruloyl-CoA monolignol transferase (FMT), is incorporated into the growing lignin chain via its γ-p-hydroxybenzoylated monolignol conjugate. Involvement of such conjugates in palm lignification is proven by the observation of novel p-hydroxybenzoylated non-resinol β–β-coupled units in the lignins. Together, the data implicate the existence of p-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA:monolignol transferases that are involved in lignification in the various willows (Salix spp.), poplars and aspen (Populus spp., family Salicaceae), and palms (family Arecaceae) that have p-hydroxybenzoylated lignins. Even without enhancing the levels by breeding or genetic engineering, current palm oil EFB 'wastes' should be able to generate a sizeable stream of p-hydroxybenzoic acid that offers opportunities for the development of value-added products derived from the oil palm industry. ينتج الإنتاج الصناعي لزيت النخيل في الوقت نفسه كمية كبيرة من ألياف مجموعة الفاكهة الفارغة (EFB) التي يمكن استخدامها كمادة وسيطة في مصفاة حيوية تعتمد على اللجينوسليلوز. قد توفر المنتجات الثانوية لليجنين الناتجة عن هذه العملية فرصًا لعزل المنتجات ذات القيمة المضافة، مثل p - hydroxybenzoate (pBz)، للمساعدة في تعويض تكاليف التشغيل. كشف تحليل اللجنين EFB بواسطة مطياف الرنين المغناطيسي النووي (NMR) بوضوح عن وجود أسيتات مرتبطة و pBz، مع كشف التصبن أن 1.1 ٪ بالوزن من EFB كان pBz ؛ مع محتوى اللجنين بنسبة 22.7 ٪، 4.8 ٪ من اللجنين عبارة عن pBz يمكن الحصول عليه كمكون نقي للاستخدام كمادة وسيطة كيميائية. أظهر تحليل اللجنين EFB بواسطة NMR والاشتقاق متبوعًا بالانقسام الاختزالي (DFRC) أن pBz يعمل بشكل انتقائي على أسيتيل مجموعة γ - hydroxyl من وحدات S. تشير هذه الانتقائية إلى أن pBz، بالتناظر مع الأسيتات في الكناف، و p - comarate في الأعشاب، و ferulate في حور معدّل وراثيًا معززًا بـ feruloyl - CoA monolignol transferase (FMT)، يتم دمجه في سلسلة اللجنين المتنامية عبر γ - p - hydroxybenzoylated monolignol conjugate. ثبت تورط مثل هذه المترافقات في ترصيع النخيل من خلال ملاحظة وحدات p - hydroxybenzoylated غير الراتينول β - β المقترنة في اللجنين. معا، تشير البيانات إلى وجود p - hydroxybenzoyl - CoA: monolignol transferases التي تشارك في تبييض في الصفصاف المختلفة (Salix spp.)، الحور والحور (Populus spp.، عائلة Salicaceae)، والنخيل (عائلة Arecaceae) التي تحتوي على p - hydroxybenzoylated lignins. حتى من دون تعزيز المستويات عن طريق التكاثر أو الهندسة الوراثية، يجب أن تكون "نفايات" زيت النخيل الحالية قادرة على توليد تيار كبير من حمض p - hydroxybenzoic الذي يوفر فرصًا لتطوير منتجات ذات قيمة مضافة مشتقة من صناعة نخيل الزيت.

Abstract Chemical contamination has impaired ecosystems, reducing biodiversity and the provisioning of functions and services. This has spurred a movement to restore contaminated ecosystems and develop and implement national and international regulations that require it. Nevertheless, ecological restoration remains a young and rapidly growing discipline and its intersection with toxicology is even more nascent and underdeveloped. Consequently, we provide guidance to scientists and practitioners on when, where, and how to restore contaminated ecosystems. Although restoration has many benefits, it also can be expensive, and in many cases systems can recover without human intervention. Hence, the first question we address is: “When should we restore contaminated ecosystems?” Second, we provide suggestions on what to restore—biodiversity, functions, services, all 3, or something else—and where to restore given expected changes to habitats driven by global climate change. Finally, we provide guidance on how to restore contaminated ecosystems. To do this, we analyze critical aspects of the literature dealing with the ecology of restoring contaminated ecosystems. Additionally, we review approaches for translating the science of restoration to on-the-ground actions, which includes discussions of market incentives and the finances of restoration, stakeholder outreach and governance models for ecosystem restoration, and working with contractors to implement restoration plans. By explicitly considering the mechanisms and strategies that maximize the success of the restoration of contaminated sites, we hope that our synthesis serves to increase and improve collaborations between restoration ecologists and ecotoxicologists and set a roadmap for the restoration of contaminated ecosystems. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2016;12:273–283. © 2015 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC Key Points We merge insights from ecological and economic theory and on-the-ground restoration activities to provide guidance on what endpoints should be targeted for restoration in contaminated ecosystems and when, where, and how to restore ecosystems degraded by contaminants. We encourage practitioners to consider restoration as early as possible (i.e., before injury or before remediation) and to restore both structural and functional endpoints. We also promote consideration of broader landscape and seascape contexts and new ideas and approaches that can overcome the scientific and financial limitations of restoration. We urge more reciprocal transfer of knowledge among theorist and practitioners and academics, industry, government, tribal organizations, NGOs and the public to improve the science of restoration.

AbstractFundamental axes of variation in plant traits result from trade-offs between costs and benefits of resource-use strategies at the leaf scale. However, it is unclear whether similar trade-offs propagate to the ecosystem level. Here, we test whether trait correlation patterns predicted by three well-known leaf- and plant-level coordination theories – the leaf economics spectrum, the global spectrum of plant form and function, and the least-cost hypothesis – are also observed between community mean traits and ecosystem processes. We combined ecosystem functional properties from FLUXNET sites, vegetation properties, and community mean plant traits into three corresponding principal component analyses. We find that the leaf economics spectrum (90 sites), the global spectrum of plant form and function (89 sites), and the least-cost hypothesis (82 sites) all propagate at the ecosystem level. However, we also find evidence of additional scale-emergent properties. Evaluating the coordination of ecosystem functional properties may aid the development of more realistic global dynamic vegetation models with critical empirical data, reducing the uncertainty of climate change projections.

More than three billion people rely on seafood for nutrition. However, fish are the predominant source of human exposure to methylmercury (MeHg), a potent neurotoxic substance. In the United States, 82% of population-wide exposure to MeHg is from the consumption of marine seafood and almost 40% is from fresh and canned tuna alone1. Around 80% of the inorganic mercury (Hg) that is emitted to the atmosphere from natural and human sources is deposited in the ocean2, where some is converted by microorganisms to MeHg. In predatory fish, environmental MeHg concentrations are amplified by a million times or more. Human exposure to MeHg has been associated with long-term neurocognitive deficits in children that persist into adulthood, with global costs to society that exceed US$20 billion3. The first global treaty on reductions in anthropogenic Hg emissions (the Minamata Convention on Mercury) entered into force in 2017. However, effects of ongoing changes in marine ecosystems on bioaccumulation of MeHg in marine predators that are frequently consumed by humans (for example, tuna, cod and swordfish) have not been considered when setting global policy targets. Here we use more than 30 years of data and ecosystem modelling to show that MeHg concentrations in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) increased by up to 23% between the 1970s and 2000s as a result of dietary shifts initiated by overfishing. Our model also predicts an estimated 56% increase in tissue MeHg concentrations in Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) due to increases in seawater temperature between a low point in 1969 and recent peak levels-which is consistent with 2017 observations. This estimated increase in tissue MeHg exceeds the modelled 22% reduction that was achieved in the late 1990s and 2000s as a result of decreased seawater MeHg concentrations. The recently reported plateau in global anthropogenic Hg emissions4 suggests that ocean warming and fisheries management programmes will be major drivers of future MeHg concentrations in marine predators.

Reducing global emissions will require a global cosmopolitan culture built from detailed attention to conflicting national climate change frames (interpretations) in media discourse. The authors analyze the global field of media climate change discourse using 17 diverse cases and 131 frames. They find four main conflicting dimensions of difference: validity of climate science, scale of ecological risk, scale of climate politics, and support for mitigation policy. These dimensions yield four clusters of cases producing a fractured global field. Positive values on the dimensions show modest association with emissions reductions. Data-mining media research is needed to determine trends in this global field.