Approach towards zero discharge tanning: role of concentration on the development of eco-friendly liming–reliming processes

Beam house processes¹ in leather processing are known for their uncleanness. More than 60% of the total pollution is emerging from the liming–reliming processes. The use of lime and sodium sulphide is purely empirical without quantification. Lime has a potential to drive swelling in a gradual manner due to its low solubility; however, the use of lime is currently creating a lot of environmental concern. Huge amounts of lime sludge and total solids formation are the main drawbacks of lime. Sulphide plays a detrimental role in effluent treatment plants. This is mainly due to the application of lime, sulphide, water and other chemicals without any rationalization. An approach has been made to apply the beam-house chemicals with optimal requirement. This is based on the fact that swelling requires only 20 to 40% water (based on raw skin weight before soaking) for conventional opening up. This would, in principle, make possible the use of only one tenth of the chemicals conventionally used in liming–reliming processes maintaining the same concentration gradient. The process employs 40% water, 0.35% sodium sulphide and 1% lime for liming and 40% water and 1% lime for reliming, with conventional process time in a drum. Commercial post-reliming processes and operations were adopted. A control experiment was run parallel using conventional liming–reliming processes. It has been found that the dehairing is complete and the extent of opening up of fibre bundles is comparable to that of the control. This has been substantiated through scanning electron microscopic, stratigraphic chrome distribution analysis and softness measurements. Performance of the leathers is shown to be on par with conventionally opened up leathers through physical and hand evaluation. Especially, softness of the leathers is numerically proven to be comparable with that of control. The process also enjoys reduction in chemical oxygen demand and total solids load on environment by 85 and 12%, respectively compared to the conventional process. The total dry sludge from the liming–reliming processes is brought down from 152 to 6 kg for processing 1 ton of raw skins, which has been demonstrated for the first time.     

A chemo-enzymatic pathway leads towards zero discharge tanning

Leather processing has been an important industrial activity, which has gained significant economic relevance in India. The recent practices of leather manufacture cause difficulties with regard to environmental challenges. The conventional method for making the skins ready for tanning and the tanning by itself employs a wide variety of chemicals which result in an increase in chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solids (TDS), chlorides, sulfates and chromium in the tannery effluent. In this study, an integrated chemo-enzymatic methodology has been explored which would minimize or to some extent eradicate the unsafe chemicals involved in the process to provide a clean environment. The sequence involves an enzymatic dehairing, NaOH based fibre opening and a pickle-less chrome tanning. The modified process results in decrease in COD and TS (total solids) loads by 67 and 78%, respectively, as compared with control process. The process explored appears to be economically viable.     

Microalgae cultivation using an aquaculture wastewater as growth medium for biomass and biofuel production

Microalgae as a main feedstock has attracted much attention in recent years but is still not economically feasible due to high algal culture cost. The objective of this study was to develop a comprehensive eco-friendly technology for cultivating microalgae Platymonas subcordiformis using aquaculture wastewater as growth medium for biomass and biofuel production. Platymonas subcordiformis was grown in pretreated flounder aquaculture wastewaters taken from different stages. Each of wastewater contained different levels of nutrients. The biomass yield of microalgae and associated nitrogen and phosphorous removal were investigated. The results showed that algal cell density increased 8.9 times than the initial level. Platymonas subcordiformis removed nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater with an average removal efficiency of 87%–95% for nitrogen and 98%–99% for phosphorus. It was feasible to couple the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater to algal biomass and biofuel production. However, further studies are required to make this technologies economically viable for algae biofuel production.     

铜绿假单胞菌对白腐菌产木质纤维素降解酶的影响

采用固态发酵的方法,考察了两株不同型号的铜绿假单胞菌（AB93066和ATCC9027）对白腐菌（黄孢原毛平革菌）产木质纤维素降解酶（木素过氧化物酶LiP、锰过氧化物酶MnP和羧甲基纤维素酶CMCase）的影响,并对酶提取液的pH值、表面张力及稻草降解残渣中挥发性有机质含量的变化进行了分析.结果表明,添加5.72%的A...     

Diagnosis on the sustainability of an upland cropping system of southern Haiti

An impact assessment of current upland cropping systems in Haiti was carried out using a combined experimental and agronomic survey approach on fields that were chosen as being representative of the diversity of land use practices and intensities. These cropping systems were mostly developed on ferralsols with differing degrees of weathering owing to the varying depths to the limestone bedrock. Three soil types for which the CEC of the mineral fraction was less than 3, 4–7, or 11–18 cmol₍₊₎ kg⁻¹ were distinguished. The study shows that apart from phosphorus, soil cation availability (K, Mg) is the most limiting factor for a successful bean crop. With the insertion of a fertilized cabbage crop into the rotation, the soil bioavailable P at the sowing of the bean–maize intercrop (BMI) did not significantly increase, whereas the exchangeable K content of the soils increased from 0.22 to 0.38 and led to a significant increase in the bean yield from 654 to 1079 kg ha⁻¹. It is clear that the trend of the cropping systems towards a shorter fallow period, increasing frequency of the BMI and introduction of N–P–K fertilizers, may all increase crop production in the short term. However, these changes are unlikely to lead to sustained benefits. One of the potential risks is the soil Mg depletion due to K fertilization as revealed by a microlysimeter experiment. Another risk is the increased proportion of plants with bean root diseases, due to the shortening of the BMI rotation interval. The proportion of plants with bean root diseases increased from 7 to 22% in 1989 and from 10 to 39% in 1990, when the bean rotation interval was reduced from 3 to 1 years. Another risk is the spatial spread of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) from the plots covered with residues of a preceding maize crop, to the neighboring plots recently sown with maize. Future research should therefore focus on optimizing the K:Mg ratio of fertilizer, breeding bean varieties resistant to Fusarium disease, diversifying the range of crops cultivated, and management of the maize residues. The evolution of the cropping systems in the last 10 years is somewhat consistent with the diagnosis made about 15 years earlier.     

Nickel accumulation and its effect on biomass, protein content and antioxidative enzymes in roots and leaves of watercress （Nasturtium officinale R. Br.）

In order to understand its response towards nickel stress, watercress (Nasturtium o cinale R. Br.) was exposed to nickel (1–25 mg/L) for 1, 3, 5 and 7 days. The accumulation and translocation of nickel were determined and the influence of nickel on biomass, protein content and enzymatic antioxidants was examined for both roots and leaves. It was determined that N. o cinale could accumulate appreciable amounts of Ni in both roots and leaves. Nickel accumulated particularly in the roots of plants. Biomass increased at low nickel concentrations but certain measurable change was not found at high concentrations. Under stress conditions the antioxidant enzymes were up-regulated compared to control. An increase in protein content and enzyme activities was observed at moderate exposure conditions followed by a decline at both roots and leaves. The maximum enzyme activities were observed at di erent exposure conditions. Our results showed that N. o cinale had the capacity to overcome nickel-induced stress especially at moderate nickel exposure. Therefore, N. o cinale may be used as a phytoremediator in moderately polluted aquatic ecosystems.     

Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from an integrated rainfed rice–fish farming system of Eastern India

Integration of fish stocking with rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation promises an ecologically sound and environmentally viable management of flooded ecosystem. Rice agriculture contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases CH₄ and N₂O, but little is known on the effect of fish rearing in fields planted to rice on the emission of these two greenhouse gases. In a field study, CH₄ and N₂O fluxes were measured from a sub-humid tropical rice field of Cuttack, eastern India, as affected by integrated rice–fish farming under rainfed lowland conditions. Three Indian major carps, Catla catla H., Labeo rohita H. and Cirrhinus mrigala H., and Puntius gonionotus B. were stocked in rice fields planted to two rice cultivars in a split-plot design with no fish and fish as the main treatments and two rice varieties as sub-treatments with three replicates each. Fish rearing increased CH₄ emission from field plots planted to both the rice cultivars with 112% increase in CH₄ emission in cv. Varshadhan and 74% in case of cv. Durga. On the contrary, fish stocking reduced N₂O emission from field plots planted to both the rice varieties. Movement of fish and associated bioturbation coupled with higher dissolved organic-C and CH₄ contents, and lower dissolved oxygen could be the reasons for release of larger quantities of CH₄ from rice + fish plots, while higher dissolved oxygen content might have influenced release of more N₂O from the rice alone treatment. The total greenhouse gas emission, expressed as CO₂ equivalent global warming potential (GWP), was considerably higher from rice + fish plots with CH₄ contributing a larger share (91%) as compared to rice alone plots (78–81%). On the contrary, N₂O had a comparatively lesser contribution with 19–22% share in rice alone plots that was further reduced to 9% in rice + fish plots. However, considering the profit-loss analysis based on the market price of the produce, rice–fish system provided a net profit of $453.36 ha^?1 over rice alone system in spite of higher carbon credit compliance of a rice–fish ecosystem due to larger cumulative GWP.     

First-trimester diagnosis of an unusual case of α-mannosidosis

Chorionic villi obtained in the first trimester from a pregnancy at risk for α-mannosidosis were shown to have reduced α-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24) activity. The pregnancy was terminated and subsequent enzyme studies of the fetal tissues were consistent with the diagnosis of α-mannosidosis. Like the enzyme in the child's fibroblast, α-mannosidase of the chorionic villi from a pregnancy at risk for α-mannosidosis was activated by high substrate concentration and by Zn^{2 +}, and displayed a K_m value two-fold higher than normal. Our results confirm that chorionic villi can be used for early prenatal diagnosis of α-mannosidosis.     

餐厨降解菌的生物特性研究

为了研究餐厨降解菌的生物特性,选取耐盐性、基质迁移性及其在餐厨降解中的酶活特性展开研究,以此来揭示各菌种在降解过程中的优势特性及其各自发挥的作用.结果表明,混合菌产酶优于单菌种;菌株在2.5%NaCl浓度下可正常生长,耐盐性排序为:博德特氏菌(Bordetella petrii)汉氏硝化细菌(Nitrobacter hamburgensis)螺旋巴克斯霉(Backusella circina),迁移性排序为:博德特氏菌(Bordetella petrii)汉氏硝化细菌(Nitrobacter hamburgensis)螺旋巴克斯霉(Backusella circina).综合来看,博德特氏菌在降解前期作用明显,蔗糖酶活后期保持稳定表明堆肥矿质化趋于稳定,脱氢酶和多酚氧化酶活在后期逐步降低并趋于稳定表明堆肥腐熟性良好且稳定.     

Colourimetric analysis and antimicrobial study of natural dyes and dyed silk

Colourimetric and antimicrobial activities of natural colourants and dyed silk have been studied. The colour strength (K/S) values were increased with increase in dye absorbance. The absorption of dyes on silk yarns was obtained from 10.56 to 39.48% at 5% concentration of dye from different plant extracts. The colourimetric parameters L¹, a¹, b¹, C, and H were measured for depth of the colour. The dyed silk with natural colourants displayed excellent antimicrobial activity (reduction rate: 25–65%) against the bacteria Escherichia coli and (reduction rate: 3–68%) against the fungal strain Aspergillus niger. The dyed silk exhibited good and durable fastness properties.     

西南喀斯特山区寿竹林地土壤微生物量与酶活性在不同坡位和剖面层次的分布特征

以重庆市梁平县城东乡云佛村寿竹(Dip)林地为研究对象,分析了不同坡位[上坡(US)、中坡(MS)、下坡(BS)]和剖面[表层(0~15 cm),底层(15~30 cm)]土壤微生物量碳、氮(SMBC、SMBN)、微生物碳熵、氮熵(qMBC、qMBN)、土壤过氧化氢酶(CAT)、碱性磷酸酶(ALK)、脲酶(URE)、蔗糖酶(INV)之间的关系.结果表明,在不同坡位下,表层土壤SMBC、SMBN、qMBC、qMBN、CAT和INV表现为BS>MS>US,ALK呈BS>US>MS,URE呈MS>US>BS;底层土壤SMBC和qMBC呈MS>BS>US,SMBN、qMBN、CAT、ALK、URE和INV呈BS>MS>US.在不同土壤层次下,SMBC、SMBN、CAT、ALK、URE和INV均表现为表层>底层;qMBC和qMBN表现为底层>表层.相关分析表明,不同坡位和剖面层次土壤微生物碳氮与土壤酶活性、含水率之间均存在显著(P<0.05)或极显著(P<0.01)相关.从回归分析得出的2个方程可知,SMBC随着土壤CAT和ALK的增加而增加,随着pH的增大而减小;SMBN则随着INV和ALK的增加而增加.     

三江平原典型湿地类型土壤微生物特征与土壤养分的研究

为探讨不同湿地类型土壤微生物数量和酶活性的分布特征及其与土壤养分的关系,本研究选择了三江平原洪河湿地保护区4种典型湿地类型(小叶章+沼柳湿地、小叶章湿地、毛苔草湿地和芦苇湿地)的土壤为研究对象.结果表明4种湿地类型在0~30 cm土层内:1土壤有机碳、全氮和全磷均随土层深度的增加而减少,速效钾、速效磷和速效氮则未表现出有规律的变化,且不同湿地类型土壤养分含量差异显著.2土壤微生物数量为细菌放线菌真菌,3种微生物菌落数量均随土层深度的增加而减少.土壤微生物总数量以小叶章湿地最多,毛苔草湿地最少.3土壤蔗糖酶和纤维素酶活性均随土层深度的增加而减少,而土壤过氧化氢酶活性未表现出有规律的变化.小叶章+沼柳湿地和小叶章湿地中3种酶活性显著性高于毛苔草湿地和芦苇湿地(P0.05).4相关性分析表明,土壤细菌、真菌和纤维素酶与土壤养分各指标均呈极显著或显著正相关,放线菌和蔗糖酶与速效钾、过氧化氢酶与速效钾、速效磷无显著相关性关系.因此,土壤微生物和酶活性是反映土壤养分状况的重要指标.     

Important sequence for overexpression of NADH oxidase gene from Thermus thermophilus HB8 in Escherichia coli

Enzymes fixed on the electrode of biosensor are gradually inactivated and the electrode is discarded after using several times. In order to prepare the stable biosensor, we try to use a stable enzyme from extreme thermophilic bacteria, Thermus thermophilus HB8. It is very important that a stable enzyme from T. thermophilus HB8 is overproduced in Escherichia coli, for the purpose of enough supply of enzyme. Thereby, we determined the important sequence for overexpression of NADH oxidase (nox) gene from T. thermophilus HB8 in E. coli. As a result, it is revealed that ten nucleotides sequence, GAAATTAACT, in the upstream of start codon of nox gene was important for its overexpression in E. coli.     

Bacterial diversity and distribution in the southeast edge of the Tengger Desert and their correlation with soil enzyme activities

The nature of microbial communities and their relation to enzyme activities in desert soils is a neglected area of investigation. To address this, the bacterial diversity and distribution and soil physico-chemical factors were investigated in the soil crust, the soil beneath the crust and rhizosphere soil at the southeast edge of the Tengger Desert, using the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S rRNA genes amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequenced DGGE bands revealed a great diversity of bacteria. The Proteobacteria, consisting of the α, β, and γ subdivisions, were clearly the dominant group at all depths and in rhizosphere soil. Analysis of the enzyme activities indicated that the rhizosphere soil of Caragana korshinskii exhibited the highest protease and polyphenol oxidase activities, and in the soil crust there were increased activities of catalase, urease, dehydrogenase and sucrase. The bacterial community abundance closely correlated with soil enzyme activities in different soils. The presence of Cyanobacteria correlated with significant increases in protease, catalase and sucrase in the soil crust, and increased urease in the rhizosphere soil of Artemisia ordosica. The occurrence of Acidobacteria was associated with significant increases in urease, dehydrogenase, and sucrase in the rhizosphere soil of C. korshinski. The presence of γ-Proteobacteria correlated with a significant increase in polyphenol oxidase in the rhizosphere soil of A. ordosica. The study indicated a close relationship between the soil bacterial community and soil enzymes, suggesting the necessity of further investigations into bacterial function in this desert ecosystem.     

安太堡露天矿复垦地不同人工植被恢复下的土壤酶活性和肥力比较

人工重建植被是露天矿复垦地植被恢复,提高土壤质量的主要途径之一.选择适宜的人工植被对快速恢复土壤质量具有重要意义.本文主要研究了安太堡露天矿复垦地油松-刺槐-柠条混交林、沙棘-刺槐-柠条-沙枣混交林和苜蓿地的土壤养分含量及酶活性,综合评价了这3种不同植被类型对土壤肥力恢复效果.结果表明,随着植被恢复的进行,土壤养分含量均有增加,油松-刺槐-柠条混交林的土壤养分含量显著高于其它样地.从以养分含量和酶活性权重计算的土壤综合肥力指标值(IFI)可知,油松-刺槐-柠条混交林IFI值最高.综合来看,对土壤重建效果最好的为油松-刺槐-柠条混交林,其次是沙棘-刺槐-柠条-沙枣混交林,再次为苜蓿.     

Cranial biomechanics of Diplodocus (Dinosauria, Sauropoda): testing hypotheses of feeding behaviour in an extinct megaherbivore

Sauropod dinosaurs were the largest terrestrial herbivores and pushed at the limits of vertebrate biomechanics and physiology. Sauropods exhibit high craniodental diversity in ecosystems where numerous species co-existed, leading to the hypothesis that this biodiversity is linked to niche subdivision driven by ecological specialisation. Here, we quantitatively investigate feeding behaviour hypotheses for the iconic sauropod Diplodocus. Biomechanical modelling, using finite element analysis, was used to examine the performance of the Diplodocus skull. Three feeding behaviours were modelled: muscle-driven static biting, branch stripping and bark stripping. The skull was found to be ‘over engineered’ for static biting, overall experiencing low stress with only the dentition enduring high stress. When branch stripping, the skull, similarly, is under low stress, with little appreciable difference between those models. When simulated for bark stripping, the skull experiences far greater stresses, especially in the teeth and at the jaw joint. Therefore, we refute the bark-stripping hypothesis, while the hypotheses of branch stripping and/or precision biting are both consistent with our findings, showing that branch stripping is a biomechanically plausible feeding behaviour for diplodocids. Interestingly, in all simulations, peak stress is observed in the premaxillary–maxillary ‘lateral plates’, supporting the hypothesis that these structures evolved to dissipate stress induced while feeding. These results lead us to conclude that the aberrant craniodental form of Diplodocus was adapted for food procurement rather than resisting high bite forces.     

Oxidation of organic substances in aqueous solutions over Ru catalysts by oxygen

The catalytic performance of supported Ru catalysts has been studied in the reactions of wet oxidation of acetonitrile, N,N-dimethyl formamide and carbamide at T=433–533 K and P=2.0–4.6 MPa, and wet oxidation of real sewage from an alcohol plant (so-called Luther water) at T=403–473 K and P=1.5–3.6 MPa. The Luther water contained a mixture of low-boiling (C₁–C₅) aldehydes and alcohols. The experiments were carried out in a perfectly mixed batch autoclave reactor. The conversion of alcohols and aldehydes contained in the Luther water and selectivity of the process towards CO₂ and water as well as the selectivity of the oxidation of acetonitrile, N,N-dimethyl formamide and carbamide towards CO₂, N₂ and water were determined at various temperatures and reaction times. Ru (4.8 wt.%)/graphite-like carbon was effective in the oxidation of Luther water (ΔTOC=97.5% at T=423 K for 1 h), carbamide (X_CO(NH2)2=100%, S_{CO(NH2)2→CO2}=100%, S_{CO(NH2)2→N2}=71% at 473 K, 2 h) and acetonitrile (X_CH3CN=100%, S_CH3CN→CO2=100%, S_CH3CN→N2=75% at 493 K, 1 h). Ru/active carbon/γ-Al₂O₃ was effective in the oxidation of N,N-dimethyl formamide (X_HCON(CH3)2=100%, S_{HCON(CH3)2→CO2}=61%, S_{HCON(CH3)2→N2}=100% at 493 K).     

Influence of phenol on ammonia removal in an intermittent aeration bioreactor treating biologically pretreated coal gasification wastewater

A laboratory-scale intermittent aeration bioreactor was investigated to treat biologically pretreated coal gasification wastewater that was mainly composed of NH_3-N and phenol.The results showed that increasing phenol loading had an adverse effect on NH_3-N removal;the concentration in effluent at phenol loading of 40 mg phenol/(L·day) was 7.3 mg/L, 36.3%of that at 200 mg phenol/(L·day). The enzyme ammonia monooxygenase showed more sensitivity than hydroxylamine oxidoreductase to the inhibitory effect of phenol, with32.2% and 10.5% activity inhibition, respectively at 200 mg phenol/(L·day). Owing to intermittent aeration conditions, nitritation-type nitrification and simultaneous nitrification and denitrification(SND) were observed, giving a maximum SND efficiency of 30.5%.Additionally, ammonia oxidizing bacteria(AOB) and denitrifying bacteria were the main group identified by fluorescent in situ hybridization. However, their relative abundance represented opposite variations as phenol loading increased, ranging from 30.1% to 17.5%and 7.6% to 18.2% for AOB and denitrifying bacteria, respectively.     

Avoidance behavior of Morone americana,Leiostomus xanthurus and Brevoortia tyrannus to strobe light as a method of impingement mitigation

The use of strobe lights and strobe light-bubble curtain combinations were evaluated as behavioral guidance systems to reduce impingement via avoidance behavior by estuarine fish. White perch (Morone americana), spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) and menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) were tested in an experimental flume for avoidance to strobe lights, bubble curtains and strobe light-bubble curtain combinations at different water velocities, strobe flash rates and light acclimation (light and dark). The possible accommodation of fish to strobe light was also tested using a microcomputer and on-line biomonitoring chamber examining alterations in breathing rates over time. Avoidance of strobe light ranged from 8–36% for white perch, 8–100% for spot and 8–68% for menhaden depending on the conditions tested. Statistical analyses indicated significant avoidance by white perch at most flash rates with a 0.2 ms⁻¹ flow rate and at 120 and 300 flashes min⁻¹ with 0.3 and 0.5 ms⁻¹ flows. Spot had significant avoidance under most conditions. Menhaden had significant avoidance for all flash rates at 0.2 ms⁻¹ flows and for 300 and 600 flashes min⁻¹ at flows of 0.3 and 0.5 ms⁻¹. All species exhibited little avoidance of bubble curtains alone. Strobe light-bubble curtain combinations had avoidance results of 3–58% for white perch, 21–85% for spot and 9–81% for menhaden. Spot and menhaden exhibited significant avoidance for most conditions at 0.2 and 0.5 ms⁻¹ flows. White perch had significant avoidance for most conditions at 0.2 ms⁻¹ flows, but no avoidance at 0.5 ms⁻¹. The biomonitoring system indicated that little, if any, accommodation took place during 24 h. Strobe light and strobe-bubble curtain combinations elicited the highest avoidance results at flash rates ≥300 min⁻¹ and low water velocities. Strobe light systems may reduce impingement rates but must be evaluated on site specific needs and conditions.