基于甲烷氧化菌的城镇污水厂尾水极限脱氮系统构建及机制

好氧甲烷耦合反硝化（AME-D）在城镇污水厂尾水深度脱氮方面具有巨大的应用潜力,研究采用改良型反硝化生物滤池,利用低浓度甲烷构建出AME-D极限脱氮系统.研究发现该系统在间歇式运行方式下,出水中总氮和氨氮的平均浓度能达到1.05 mg·L^-1和0.54 mg·L^-1,其平均去除率分别为94.77%和93.30%.拉曼光谱分析结果显示,由NO₃^-对称伸缩引起的峰明显消失,由醇COH面外弯曲或C—H面外弯曲振动吸收引起峰明显增强,甲烷被氧化形成的中间产物可能主要为醇类物质.16S rRNA基因测序结果表明,系统中的甲烷氧化菌主要为Methylocystis（0.27%）、Methylosarcina（0.10%）和Methyloparacoccus（0.12%）,反硝化菌主要为Pseudomonas（56.92%）、Paenibacillus（3.52%）和Lysinibacillus（3.00%）,硝化菌主要为Nitrospira（0.1%）,说明AME-D极限脱氮系统的脱氮功能是由好氧甲烷氧化菌、反硝化菌和硝化菌协同实现.     

碳源对生物阴极降解对硝基苯酚效能及生物阴极群落结构分析

研究不同碳源类型对双室生物电化学反应器（biocathode bioelectrochemical system,BES）生物阴极（biocathode）降解对硝基苯酚（p-nitrophenol,PNP）效能的影响.以碳酸氢钠和葡萄糖作为碳源,研究不同碳源类型下BES反应器效能和生物阴极的微生物群落结构.BES反应器效能和PNP去除率受到碳源类型的影响,以葡萄糖作为碳源时PNP去除率比碳酸氢钠为碳源的去除率在12 h和24 h分别提高了约3倍和1倍.R_NaHCO3和R_Glucose的PNP去除速率常数随碳源转换分别从（0.022±0.002）h^-1和（0.059±0.009）h^-1减小到（0.018±0.001）h^-1和（0.042±0.002）h^-1,PNP去除率分别下降了36%和6.9%.R_NaHCO3和R_Glucose的PNP降解速率常数在外加电压由0.5 V转换为0 V时分别下降到（0.004±0.00061）h^-1和（0.007±0.0006）h^-1,再次转换为0.5 V时PNP降解速率常数升高到（0.022±0.002）h^-1和（0.062±0.004）h^-1.454-焦磷酸测序结果表明碳源类型导致阴极微生物群落结构的显著差异.以碳酸氢钠为碳源的生物阴极富集Proteobacteria,而以葡萄糖为碳源的生物阴极Firmicutes和Bacteroidetes成为优势菌门.     

单级生物脱氮的特性研究

以 PVA为载体 ,采用冷冻法混合固定硝化菌和反硝化菌 ,研究硝化菌与反硝化菌的比例、有机碳源、p H值、碱度、温度和DO等因素对单级脱氮过程的影响 .试验结果表明 :当硝化菌 /反硝化菌 =1.5∶ 1～ 3.6∶1 (W∶W)时 ,脱氮速率最快 .在甲醇、乙醇、醋酸和葡萄糖 4种有机碳源中 ,以乙醇为碳源时脱氮速率最快 .最适的温度、pH值和 DO分别是 30℃、8.2和 2 mg/L～ 6mg/L.碱度与氨氮的比例越高 ,脱氮速率越快 ,但当碱度 /氨氮 >9.0时 ,脱氮速率趋于稳定 .     

A2/O短程硝化耦合厌氧氨氧化系统构建与脱氮特性

针对现有城市污水处理厂普遍面临进水碳源不足影响脱氮效率的问题,通过调控A²/O系统曝气分区比例、溶解氧（DO）浓度和污泥龄（SRT）构建短程硝化耦合厌氧氨氧化系统,以研究不同工况下该系统的脱氮性能、脱氮途径和微生物种群结构的变化情况.研究结果表明在低C/N进水（C/N=5）情况下,该系统具有稳定优良的脱氮性能.在140 d试验过程中,反应器经历了氨氧化细菌（AOB）、亚硝酸盐氧化细菌（NOB）共培养阶段（阶段Ⅰ）、AOB筛分阶段（阶段Ⅱ~Ⅲ）与厌氧氨氧化细菌（AnAOB）富集阶段（阶段Ⅳ）,系统的脱氮途径也由初始的全程硝化反硝化逐步转化为短程硝化耦合厌氧氨氧化脱氮;系统的脱氮效率在阶段Ⅳ达到最佳状态,此时该系统出水NH₄⁺-N和TN的平均浓度分别为1.20 mg·L^-1和7.03mg·L^-1,其对应的去除率分别为97.69%和87.83%;Illumina MiSeq测序结果表明,短程硝化耦合厌氧氨氧化的系统中Nitrosomonas和Nitrosospira这两类AOB的富集和Nitrospira、Nitrococcus 和Nitrobacter这3类NOB的淘洗是系统发生短程硝化的主要原因,Candidatus Kuenenia和Candidatus Jettenia这两类AnAOB的富集是系统发生厌氧氨氧化的关键所在,对实现深度脱氮具有重要作用.     

模拟氮沉降对三江平原小叶章湿地土壤微生物碳源利用能力的影响

大气氮沉降会对湿地土壤微生物的结构和功能产生显著影响,因此研究不同浓度氮沉降对三江平原小叶章湿地土壤微生物碳源利用能力的影响,对于保护和利用湿地生态系统具有重要意义.采用Biolog-Eco技术探究了连续5 a模拟氮沉降对小叶章湿地土壤微生物碳源利用能力的影响.结果表明：①长期的氮素施加会显著改变小叶章湿地土壤含水量（SMC）、pH、硝态氮（NO₃^-）、铵态氮（NH₄⁺）、溶解性有机碳（DOC）和总氮（TN）的含量（P<0.05）;②土壤微生物的平均颜色变化率（AWCD）呈现的规律为：对照（CK）>高氮（HN）>低氮（LN）.低氮处理显著降低了土壤微生物香农（Shannon）指数（P<0.05）,高氮处理显著降低了土壤微生物皮卢（Pielou）指数（P<0.05）.③不同氮浓度下土壤微生物碳源利用能力显著不同,其中低氮处理显著抑制了土壤微生物对糖类、醇类、胺类和酸类的利用强度（P<0.05）;高氮处理显著促进了微生物对酯类的利用,但高氮使土壤微生物对糖类、胺类和酸类碳源产生抑制作用（P<0.05）.④冗余分析显示,NH₄⁺、DOC和pH是影响三江平原小叶章湿地土壤微生物碳代谢能力的主要环境因子.长期氮沉降会导致土壤微生物功能多样性的降低,有关碳源底物利用的微生物活性也明显降低,并且微生物对单一碳源底物的利用能力也发生改变.     

不同碳源模式下酵母菌PNY2013同步脱氮除磷的应用研究

针对首次分离得到的一株具有同步脱氮除磷新功能的热带假丝酵母（Candida tropicalis） PNY2013,通过生理及动力学特征,连续流运行操作及其在含糖类工业废水中的应用3个环节,探讨了不同碳源模式下PNY2013同步脱氮除磷的特性.结果表明：PNY2013以葡萄糖、乙醇及乙酸为唯一碳源时均生长良好,其最大比增长速率μ_max分别为0.1327、0.1252及0.1115 h^-1,其同步脱氮除磷率分别可达100%、80%、100%（NH₄⁺-N）及93%、95%、98%（PO₄^3--P）.3种碳源下PNY2013同步脱氮除磷的最佳条件基本接近为：温度30℃,pH=8.0,溶解氧0~2 mg·L^-1,C/N=200∶5左右.PNY2013同步脱氮除磷的长期连续运行条件下的实验进一步表明,以葡萄糖为碳源条件下,进水NH₄⁺-N及PO₄^3--P浓度分别达400及80 mg·L^-1时,两者去除率均接近100%.与这种超强能力相比,以乙醇及乙酸为碳源条件下,进水NH₄⁺-N及PO₄^3--P浓度分别达100及20 mg·L^-1时,两者的去除率也可达60%~80%（NH₄⁺-N）及40%（PO₄^3--P）,显示出相当的同步脱氮除磷能力.在以模拟制糖废水、淀粉加工废水、啤酒废水、味精废水这4种典型含糖工业废水为碳源条件下,除淀粉加工废水外PNY2013均能有效去除COD、NH₄⁺-N和PO₄^3--P,其中,制糖、啤酒、制药废水中的COD去除率分别可达40%、89%、96%,NH₄⁺-N去除率分别为85%、94%、76%,PO₄^3--P去除率均为90%.即使在40000 mg·L^-1（制糖）及12500 mg·L^-1（啤酒）的高COD条件下,PNY2013也均具有稳定的NH₄⁺-N和PO₄^3--P去除效果,显示出良好的同步脱氮除磷应用前景.     

气水比对A/O-BF处理低碳氮比农村生活污水脱氮的影响

为揭示好氧段气水比对缺氧/好氧生物滤池（Anoxic/Oxic Biofilter,A/O-BF）脱氮的影响机理,采用A/O-BF处理低碳氮比农村生活污水,结合实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应技术,对比研究了好氧段气水比为4：1、2：1和1：1时A/O-BF的脱氮效能和微生物群落变化特征.结果表明：当气水比为4：1时,A/O-BF的氨氮（NH₄⁺-N）和总氮（TN）平均去除率分别为99.0%和75.9%;当气水比降至2：1时,NH₄⁺-N的平均去除率（99.5%）基本维持不变,而TN去除率有所提高（79.5%）;当气水比再降至1：1时,两者的平均去除率分别下降至92.0%和71.7%.气水比由4：1降至2：1时,好氧段中硝化菌脱氮功能基因amoA和Nitrospira 16S rDNA的拷贝数并无明显变化,为同一数量级,但缺氧段中4个反硝化菌脱氮功能基因（narG、nosZ、nirS和nirK）拷贝数却明显升高0~1个数量级;当气水比由2：1降至1：1时,好氧段中两个硝化菌脱氮功能基因拷贝数均下降1个数量级,但缺氧段中反硝化菌脱氮功能基因拷贝数无明显变化,除narG基因外均处于同一数量级.综上所述,2：1为A/O-BF处理低碳氮比农村生活污水脱氮的最佳气水比.     

城市污水处理厂缺氧池短程反硝化现象及影响因素研究

调研了北方某城市污水处理厂缺氧池亚硝态氮积累的现象.该污水处理厂采用传统厌氧/缺氧/好氧（A/A/O）工艺,在缺氧池中存在稳定的短程反硝化过程,且缺氧池中亚硝态氮积累率最高可达88.4%.16S rRNA高通量测序分析表明Saccharibacteria_genera_incertae_sedis和Thauera可能是导致该厂缺氧池亚硝态氮积累的主要菌种,而短程反硝化现象出现的主要原因可能为外加碳源乙酸钠和系统较高的pH值.取活性污泥在COD/NO₃^--N为2~5条件下进行反硝化批次试验,结果表明硝态氮的还原速率均高于亚硝态氮的还原速率,且最大硝态氮到亚硝态氮的转换率均在50%左右.但碳源充足时,积累的NO₂^-会在NO₃^-被还原完后继续发生还原反应,从而导致最终亚硝态氮积累效果变差.本研究,以乙酸钠为碳源,COD/NO₃^--N为3可使反硝化过程获得最高亚硝态氮积累.因此,控制合适COD/NO₃^--N或缺氧反应时间是短程反硝化工艺运行的关键控制参数.本研究可为实际污水处理厂构建短程反硝化并进一步耦合厌氧氨氧化技术提供参考.     

高效异养硝化-好氧反硝化菌Glutamicibacter sp.WS1低温下对多种氮源的脱氮特性及氮代谢机制

针对污水处理厂冬季生物脱氮效率低、出水水质不达标的问题,从活性污泥中分离出1株耐低温异养硝化-好氧反硝化菌株Glutamicibacter sp.WS1.采用PCR技术扩增该菌株的脱氮功能基因,研究其对不同氮源的低温脱氮效能,通过单因素实验探究环境因子对其低温好氧反硝化性能的影响,并利用氮平衡解析其氮代谢路径.结果表明,菌株WS1含有氮代谢相关的功能基因amoA、napA、nirS和nirK;在15℃低温条件下,菌株WS1在以NH₄⁺-N、NO₃^--N、NO₂^--N+NO₃^--N和NH₄⁺-N+NO₃^--N为氮源时,对各无机氮的去除率分别为100%、98.10%、99.87%+100%和100%+94.92%;菌株WS1的最佳反硝化条件：柠檬酸钠为碳源、C/N为16、pH为8、ρ（DO）为4.5~6.8 mg ·L^-1和温度为30℃;在低温（15℃）和低C/N （10）条件下,菌株WS1对NO₃^--N的去除率达到92.50%;异养硝化-好氧反硝化/好氧反硝化和同化作用是菌株WS1去除不同氮源底物的主要途径,其中大部分的无机氮（47%~56%）通过异养硝化-好氧反硝化/好氧反硝化作用转化为了气态氮.菌株WS1在低温污水脱氮领域具有广阔的应用前景.     

两种生物滞留系统脱氮除磷效果比较研究

为提升生物滞留系统的脱氮除磷效果,构建了折流式和直流式两种生物滞留系统,研究了径流流态与降雨强度对生物滞留系统脱氮除磷效果的影响.结果表明：①折流式系统可沿径流路径创造多个好氧、缺氧区块,相较直流式系统,总氮（TN）、硝态氮（NO₃^--N）去除率分别提升29.76%与159.30%.②折流式结构与降雨强度对系统下渗速率产生影响,进而影响系统脱氮除磷效果,低下渗速率（0.99 mm·min^-1）可提升系统脱氮效果（NO₃^--N：160.07%）,高下渗速率（2.96 mm·min^-1）可提升除磷效果（总磷（TP）：5.14%;磷酸盐（PO₄^3--P）：3.96%）.③在折流式系统中,氨氮污染负荷的81.02%通过植物吸收、微生物同化、硝化作用等途径去除,硝态氮污染负荷的52.33%被排出系统.     

Effects of two sludge application on fractionation and phytotoxicity of zinc and copper in the soil

The potential harm of heavy metals is a primary concern in application of sludge to the agricultural land. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of two sludges on fractionation of Zn and Cu in soil and their phytotoxicity to pakchoi. The loamy soil was mixed with 0%, 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% (by weight) of digested sewage sludge (SS) and composted sludge (SC). The additions of both sludges caused a significant raise in all fractions, resulting in that exchangeable (EXCH) and organic bound (OM) became predominance of Zn and organic bound Cu occupied the largest portion. There was more available amount of Zn and Cu in SS treatments than SC treatments. During the pot experiment, the concentration of Zn in EXCH, carbonate (CAR) and OM and Cu in EXCH and OM fractions decreased in all treatments, so their bioavailability reduced. Germination rate and plant biomass decreased when the addition rate was high and the best yield appeared in 20% mixtures at the harvest of pakchoi. The two sludges increased tissue contents of Zn and Cu especially in the SS treatments. Zn in pakchoi was not only in relationship to ΔEXCH and ΔCAR forms but also in ΔOM forms in the sludge-soil mixtures. Tissue content of Cu in pakchoi grown on SC-soils could not be predicted by ΔEXCH. These correlation rates between Zn and Cu accumulation in pakchoi and variation of different fractions increased with time, which might indicate that sludges represented stronger impacts on the plant in long-term land application.     

Intraspecific differences in effects of co-contamination of cadmium and

A hydroponic experiment was carried out to study intraspecific differences in the effects of different concentrations of cadmium (Cd)(0-10 mg/L) and arsenate (As(V)) (0-8 mg/L) on the growth parameters and accumulation of Cd and As in six wheat varieties Jing-9428, Duokang-1, Jingdong-11, Jing-411, Jingdong-8 and Zhongmai-8. The endpoints of wheat seedlings, including seed germination,biomass, root length and shoot height, decreased with increasing the Cd and As concentrations. Significant differences in seed germination, biomass, root length, shoot height and the accumulation of Cd and As were observed between the treatments and among the varieties (p ＜ 0.05). The lethal dosage 50% were about 20, 80, 60, 60, 80 and 20 mg As/L for Jing-9428, Duokang-1, Jingdong-11,Jing-411, Jingdong-8 and Zhongmai-8, respectively, and the corresponding values for Cd were about 30, 80, 20, 40, 60 and 10 mg Cd/L, respectively. Among the six varieties, Duokang-1 was found to be the most resistant to Cd and As toxicity, and Zhongmai-8 was the most sensitive to Cd and As co-contamination. The resistance of the six varieties was found dependant on the seedling uptake of Cd and As. Duokang-1 was the most suitable for cultivation in Cd and As co-contaminated soils.     

Toxic effects of acetochlor, methamidophos and their combination on nifH gene in soil

Toxic effects of two agrochemicals on nifH gene in agricultural black soil were investigated using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis （DGGE） and sequencing approaches in a microcosm experiment. Changes of soil nifH gene diversity and composition were examined following the application of acetochlor, methamidophos and their combination. Acetochlor reduced the nifH gene diversity （both in gene richness and diversity index values） and caused changes in the nifH gene composition. The effects of acetochlor on nifH gene were strengthened as the concentration of acetochlor increased. Cluster analysis of DGGE banding patterns showed that nifH gene composition which had been affected by low concentration of acetochlor （50 mg/kg） recovered firstly. Methamidophos reduced nifH gene richness that except at 4 weeks. The medium concentration of methamidophos （150 mg/kg） caused the most apparent changes in nifH gene diversity at the first week while the high concentration of methamidophos （250 mg/kg） produced prominent effects on nifH gene diversity in the following weeks. Cluster analysis showed that minimal changes of nifH gene composition were found at 1 week and maximal changes at 4 weeks. Toxic effects of acetochlor and methamidophos combination on nifH gene were also apparent. Different nifH genes （bands） responded differently to the impact of agrochemicals： four individual bands were eliminated by the application of the agrochemicals, five bands became predominant by the stimulation of the agrochemicals, and four bands showed strong resistance to the influence of the agrochemicals. Fifteen prominent bands were partially sequenced, yielding 15 different nifH sequences, which were used for phylogenetic reconstructions. All sequences were affiliated with the alpha- and beta-proteobacteria, showing higher similarity to eight different diazotrophic genera.     

Arsenic uptake by arbuscular mycorrhizal maize （Zea mays L.） grown in an arsenic-contaminated soil with added phosphorus

The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (Glomus mosseae) and phosphorus (P) addition (100 mg/kg soil) on arsenic (As) uptake by maize plants (Zea mays L.) from an As-contaminated soil were examined in a glasshouse experiment.Non-mycorrhizal and zero-P addition controls were included.Plant biomass and concentrations and uptake of As,P,and other nutrients,AM colonization,root lengths,and hyphal length densities were determined.The results indicated that addition of P significantly inhibited root colonization and development of extraradical mycelium.Root length and dry weight both increased markedly with mycorrhizal colonization under the zero-P treatments,but shoot and root biomass of AM plants was depressed by P application.AM fungal inoculation decreased shoot As concentrations when no P was added,and shoot and root As concentrations of AM plants increased 2.6 and 1.4 times with P addition,respectively.Shoot and root uptake of P,Mn,Cu,and Zn increased,but shoot Fe uptake decreased by 44.6%,with inoculation, when P was added.P addition reduced shoot P,Fe,Mn,Cu,and Zn uptake of AM plants,but increased root Fe and Mn uptake of the nonmycorrhizal ones.AM colonization therefore appeared to enhance plant tolerance to As in low P soil,and have some potential for the phytostabilization of As-contaminated soil,however,P application may introduce additional environmental risk by increasing soil As mobility.     

Distribution and ecological effect of mercury in Laogang landfill, Shanghai, China

Laogang landfill near Shanghai is the largest landfill in China, and receives about 10000 t of daily garbage per day, Samples of topsoil and plants were analyzed to evaluate mercury pollution from the landfill. For topsoil samples, there were significant correlations among total mercury （HgT）, combinative mercury （Hgc） and gaseous mercury （HgG）, and content of total organic carbon （TOC）, but, no significantly relationship was found between Hg content and filling time. Hg content changes in vertical profiles with time showed that the average Hgv of profiles 1992, 1996, and 2000 was similar, but their average HgG was quite different. HgT was significantly correlated with Hgc in profile 1992 and 2000, and Hgv was significantly correlated with Hg6 in profile 1996. HgG/Hgv ratio in profile samples decreased in the order of （HgG,/HgT）1992〉（HgG/HgT）1996〉〉（HgG/HgT）2000. A simple outline of Hg release in landfill could be drawn： with increasing of filling time, degradation undergoes different biodegradation, accordingly, gaseous mercury goes through small, more, and small proportion to total mercury. Distribution of Hg in plants was inhomogeneous, following the order of leaf〉root〉stem. The highest value of leaf may be associated with higher atmospheric Hg from landfill. Ligneous plants （e.g. Phyllostachys glanca, Prunus salicina and Ligustrum lucidum） are capable of enriching more Hg than herbaceous plants.     

EDTA-enhanced phytoremediation of lead contaminated soil by Bidens maximowicziana

Phytoremediation is a potential cleanup technology for the removal of heavy metals from contaminated soils.Bidens maximowicziana is a new Pb hyperaccumulator,which not only has remarkable tolerance to Pb but also extraordinary accumulation capacity for Pb.The maximum Pb concentration was 1509.3 mg/kg in roots and 2164.7 mg/kg in overground tissues.The Pb distribution order in the B. maximowicziana was:leaf>stem>root.The effect of amendments on phytoremediation was also studied.The mobility of soil Pb and the Pb concentrations in plants were both increased by EDTA application.Compared with CK(control check),EDTA application promoted translocation of Pb to overground parts of the plant.The Pb concentrations in overground parts of plants was increased from 24.23-680.56 mg/kg to 29.07-1905.57 mg/kg.This research demonstrated that B.maximowicziana appeared to be suitable for phytoremediation of Pb contaminated soil,especially,combination with EDTA.     

Potential of plant polyphenol oxidases in the decolorization and removal of textile and non-textile dyes

In this study an effort has been made to use plant polyphenol oxidases; potato （Solanum tuberosum） and brinjal （Solanum melongena）, for the treatment of various important dyes used in textile and other industries. The ammonium sulphate fractionated enzyme preparations were used to treat a number of dyes under various experimental conditions. Majority of the treated dyes were maximally decolorized at pH 3.0. Some of the dyes were quickly decolorized whereas others were marginally decolorized. The initial first hour was sufficient for the maximum decolorization of dyes. The rate of decolorization was quite slow on long treatment of dyes. Enhancement in the dye decolorization was noticed on increasing the concentration of enzymes. The complex mixtures of dyes were treated with both preparations of polyphenol oxidases in the buffers of varying pH values. Potato polyphenol oxidase was significantly more effective in decolorizing the dyes to higher extent as compared to the enzyme obtained from brinjal polyphenol oxidase. Decolorization of dyes and their mixtures, followed by the formation of an insoluble precipitate, which could be easily removed simply by centrifugation.     

Decomposition of alachlor by ozonation and its mechanism

Decomposition and corresponding mechanism of alachlor, an endocrine disruptor in water by ozonation were investigated. Results showed that alachlor could not be completely mineralized by ozone alone. Many intermediates and final products were formed during the process, including aromatic compounds, aliphatic carboxylic acids, and inorganic ions. In evoluting these products, some of them with weak polarity were qualitatively identified by GC-MS. The information of inorganic ions suggested that the dechlorination was the first and the fastest step in the ozonation of alachlor.     

Enzymatic oxidation of aqueous pentachlorophenol

The influence of the nonionic surfactant Tween 80 on pentachlorophenol （PCP） oxidation catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase was studied. The surfactant was tested at concentrations below and above its critical micelle concentration （CMC）. Enhancement of PCP removal was observed at sub-CMCs. The presence of Tween 80 in the reaction mixture reduced enzyme inactivation which occurred through a combination of free radical attack and sorption by precipitated products. A simple first-order model was able to simulate time profiles for enzyme inactivation in the presence or absence of Tween 80. At supra-CMCs, the surfactant caused noticeable reductions in PCP removal, presumably through micelle partitioning of PCP which precluded the hydrophobic PCP molecule from interacting with the enzyme.     

Effect of sorbed and desorbed Zn(Ⅱ) on the growth of a green alga (Chlorella pyrenoidosa)

Toxic effect of Zn(Ⅱ) on a green alga (Chlorella pyrenoidasa) in the presence of sepiolite and kaolinite was investigated.The Zn-free clays were found to have a negative impact on the growth of C.pyrenoidosa in comparison with control samples (without adding any clay or Zn(Ⅱ)).When Zn(Ⅱ) was added,the algae in the presence of clays could be better survived than the control samples,which was actually caused by a decrease in Zn(Ⅱ) concentration in the solution owing to the adsorption of Zn(Ⅱ) on the clays.When the solution system was diluted,the growth of algae could be further inhibited as compared to that in a system which had the same initial Zn(Ⅱ) concentration as in the diluted system.This in fact resulted from desorption of Zn(Ⅱ) from the zinc-contaminated clays,although the effect varied according to the different desorption capabilities of sepiolite and kaolinite.Therefore the adsorption and desorption processes of Zn(Ⅱ) played an important part in its toxicity,and adsorption and desorption of pollutants on soils/sediments should be well considered in natural eco-environmental systems before their risk of toxicity to aquatic organisms was assessed objectively.