Search

This technical report is based on the study for the evaluation of the processes of reuse and recycling of reverse osmosis components and membranes in the Canary Islands and Macaronesia, within the DESAL+ project and in the framework of the DESAL+ LIVING LAB platform, coordinated by the Canary Islands Technological Institute (ITC) and the Canary Islands Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society (ACIISI), with the support of the Interreg-MAC Programme. Reverse osmosis membranes could be reused in the same or another desalination plant by replacing the membranes in the first, dirtier positions with those in the last, less damaged positions. Also, by changing the best first-stage membranes to the second and vice versa, the useful life of these membranes could be extended through chemical cleaning and a second life could be given in tertiary treatment plants, reuse in industrial processes where they use special reverse osmosis membranes and degrade rapidly, in processes with leachate from landfill waste and also an interesting option is the oxidation of reverse osmosis elements to obtain nanofiltration, ultrafiltration or microfiltration membranes for the removal of physical dirt. The main categories of thermal processing recycling commonly used in industry include incineration and pyrolysis to produce energy, gas and fuel. These processes can be applied to mixed plastic waste, such as the combination of materials used in the manufacture of reverse osmosis membranes. The recycling of reverse osmosis elements from desalination plants is shown as an opportunity, nowadays existing pioneering initiatives in Europe. Energy recovery, via incineration, is feasible but is not considered in accordance with the environmental, social and political problems that this may generate. However, the recycling of the reverse osmosis elements via pyrolytic industry for fuel production can be centralized in a new industry already planned in the Canary Islands and all the osmosis membranes that are obsolete can be sent there. This is a technically and economically viable business opportunity with a promising future in today's recycling market as studied in the technical report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Marine pollution, overrepresented by plastic, is a growing concern worldwide. However, there is little knowledge on occurrence and detrimental impacts of marine debris in cetaceans. To partially fill in this gap of knowledge, we aimed to investigate the occurrence and pathologies associated with foreign bodies (FBs) in a large cohort of cetaceans (n = 465) stranded in the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands shelter the greatest cetacean biodiversity in Europe, with up to 30 different species, of which nine are regularly present year around. We found at least one ingested FB in 36 out of 465 (7.74%) studied cetaceans, involving 15 different species, including eight out of the nine (80%) cetacean species present year-round in the Canary Islands. Risso's dolphin was the species most affected, followed by sperm whale, beaked whale and mysticetes. Plastic FB were the most common item found (80.56%). FB was directly associated with death in 13/36 (36.11%) animals. Poor body condition and deep diving behavior were found to be risk factors for FB ingestion, whereas the adult age was a protective factor. To the authors knowledge this is the first study that use statistical analysis to investigate risk and protective factors for FB ingestion. This study also provides insights of the potential impact caused by ingested FBs on the animal's health and mortality. This knowledge is critical to better understand and assess the impact of FB in cetaceans setting the scientific basis for prospective impact monitoring and future conservation policies. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Foreign bodies were found in 7.7% (36/465) studied cetaceans in the Canary Islands in a 16 year period. • Severe digestive disease (impactions and gastrointestinal perforations) caused the death of 13 animals (2.8%,13/465). • Plastic was the most common item found (80.6%). • Poor body condition and deep diving behavior were risk factors for foreign body ingestion. • Adult age was a protective factor for foreign body ingestion. This manuscript contributes to increase the current understanding of the epidemiology and pathology of foreign bodies in cetaceans and provides a scientific foundation for conservation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first work that applies immunohistochemistry in the characterisation of the inflammatory infiltrate of verminous bronchopneumonia associated with lungworm parasites in stranded dolphins. Samples from three different species (Stenella coerulealba, Stenella frontalis and Delphinus delphis) stranded in the Canary Islands were used. The most common findings found in these animals varied from bronchitis to verminous bronchopneumonia with different degree of severity. The immunohistochemical study showed variable expressions of Lysozyme, MHC-II, iNOS and IgG. The main population presenting in the inflammatory infiltrates were CD3+ lymphocytes. However, moderate number of Foxp3+ lymphocytes was found in lymph nodes even though no Foxp3+ cells were found in lung lesions in any of the samples analysed. This study revealed that lung lesions showed a chronic inflammatory infiltrate mainly composed by lymphocytes CD3+. Deeper studies are needed in order to provide a more complete scope about the infiltrates involved in these types of lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]