Separation and recovery of carbon dioxide by a membrane flash process

A novel process for carbon dioxide (CO₂) separation, which was named a membrane flash process, was developed to realize an energy-saving technology and to substitute it for a conventional regenerator. The electric energy for CO₂ recovery in a membrane flash process using aluminum oxide and diethanolamine was lower than the thermal energy of the conventional chemical absorption process. Flashing at elevated temperature by the low temperature energy significantly reduced the electric energy and required much less membrane area. This process has potentiality of low cost capture of CO₂ when the low temperature energy, which is not available for other purposes, can be utilized to elevate flashing temperature.     

Fluoranthene fumigation and exogenous scavenging of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) in evergreen Japanese red pine seedlings (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et. Zucc.)

Generation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) such as O(2)(-), H(2)O(2), and *OH is known to be a major mechanism of damage in biological systems. This study investigated and compared effectiveness of scavenging ROI generated in fluoranthene (FLU) pre-fumigated Japanese red pine seedlings. Three kinds of eco-physiological assessments were used to express the impact of the different fumigants used inside the green house. Gas exchange measurements showed negative changes induced by 10 microM FLU on Japanese pine seedlings during a 10 d exposure period whilst no negative change was found during a 5 d exposure period. Moreover, during a 14 d FLU exposure incorporating ROI scavengers, results revealed that chlorophyll fluorescence, needle chemical contents and needle dry mass per unit area of the seedlings were affected. The negative effects of FLU on the conifer were dependent on both the dose and period of FLU fumigation. Peroxidase (PERO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and mannitol (MANN) were all effective scavengers of ROI. MANN scavenged *OH, the most lethal of the ROI. For practicable use, MANN is more economical, and may be the best ROI scavenger among the three considered. It can be concluded that efficient scavenging of ROI in biological systems is important to mitigate the negative effects of FLU on Japanese red pine trees.     

Degradation of a Terephthalate-containing Polyester by Thermophilic Actinomycetes and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus</Emphasis> Species Derived from Composts

We intended to find thermophilic degraders of terephthalate-containing Biomax^® films. Films in mesh bags were buried in composts (inside temperature: approximately 55–60 °C), resulting in the degradation of them in 2 weeks. Fluorescent microscopy of films recovered from composts showed that microorganisms gradually covered the surface of a film during composting. DGGE analysis of microorganisms on the composted film indicated the presence of Bacillus species as main species (approximately 80% of microbial flora) and actinomycetes (approximately 10–20%) as the second major flora. Isolation of Biomax^®-utilizing bacteria was focused on these two genera: two actinomycetes and one Bacillus species were isolated as pure best degraders from the composted polymer films, which were fragmented into small pieces. All the strains were thermophilic and identified, based on their 16S rDNA analyses. Degradation of polymer films was confirmed by (1) accelerated fragmentation of films in composts, compared with a control (no inoculum) and resultant decrease in molecular weights, (2) growth in a powdered Biomax^® medium, compared with a control without powdered Biomax^®, and (3) production of terephthalate in a powdered Biomax^® medium. In this way, we concluded that these bacteria were useful for degradation of thermostable Biomax^® products.     

Determination of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in fish oils for feed ingredients by congener-specific chemical analysis and CALUX bioassay

The present research was intended to determine the suitability of the CALUX assay as a screening method for dioxins in fish oil used as a feed ingredient in Japan. Alteration of TEQ in fish oil according to newly proposed toxic equivalency factors (TEF) is also discussed. In the analysis, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) in 41 fish oil samples were determined by using high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) and CALUX bioassay. The mean TEQ values derived from 1998 WHO-TEF of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs were 2.6 and 9.9 pg g(-1) (ww), respectively. The levels of TEQ derived from the recently re-evaluated 2005 WHO-TEF were slightly lower than those of the former in both groups. Notably, the contribution of mono-ortho DL-PCBs to total 2005 WHO-TEQ was considerably decreased compared to the case of 1998 WHO-TEQ, resulting from the reduction in its TEF values, while the non-ortho DL-PCBs contribution was increased. The mean TEQ determined by CALUX assay for PCDD/Fs was approximately three times higher, whereas DL-PCBs was approximately two times lower than WHO-TEQ determined by HRGC/HRMS; the sum of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs was very similar by both methods. The correlation coefficients of TEQ between the CALUX assay and HRGC/HRMS analysis were 0.84, 0.89, and 0.90 for PCDD/Fs, DL-PCBs, and the sum, respectively. These results suggest that the CALUX assay is a very useful method for the screening of dioxin-related compounds in fish oils.     

In vitro effect of agriculture pollutants and their joint action on Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata acid phosphatase

Acid phosphatase plays important roles in algae metabolism such as availability and recycling of inorganic phosphate, autophagic digestive processes and fertilization. Chemicals released into the environment from agriculture activities may impair algae phosphatase activity. The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro effect of twenty-four organic compounds and six metals used as pesticides, or present as contaminants in sewage sludge, on the acid phosphatase activity extracted from Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Results demonstrated that only the linear surfactant alkyl benzenesulphonate (LAS) and the heavy metals Hg(2+), Al(3+) and Cu(2+) markedly altered (50%) the enzyme activity. Join action inhibition studies indicated that Hg(2+) was more potent inhibitor than Al(3+) or LAS, and that the Hg(2+)+Al(3+) and Hg(2+)+LAS mixtures have, respectively, additive and slight antagonism effects. Copper, which demonstrated an activator effect when preincubated with the enzyme, behaved as a slight antagonist for the inhibitor effect of Hg(2+).     

日本的碳储量

为估计所谓的非能源用途矿物燃料排放的CO2,建立了NEAT(Nonenergy use Emission Accounting Tables,非能源排放统计表)模型.物质流动的统计是该模型的基础.NEAT模型已在许多国家应用,以便验证该模型并促进其应用.本文讨论日本的研究案例.NEAT分析表明:1996年的CO2排放量比以前政府间气候变化委员会(IPCC)指导原则基础上的估计高出23t,相当于日本温室气体总排放量的1.9%.因此,在未来几年,调整日本的排放计算方法,提供更为详细的排放估计方法是可取的.鉴于其它国家的相似结果,建议改进IPCC的指导原则.     

Mobilization of arsenic from subsurface sediments by effect of bicarbonate ions in groundwater

Arsenic leaching by bicarbonate ions has been investigated in this study. Subsurface sediment samples from Bangladesh were treated with different carbonate and bicarbonate ions and the results demonstrate that the arsenic leaching efficiency of the carbonate solutions decreased in the order of Na2CO3>NaHCO3>BaCO3>MnCO3. Sodium carbonate and bicarbonate ions extracted arsenic most efficiently; Na2CO3 leached maximum 118.12 microg/l of arsenic, and NaHCO3, 94.56 microg/l of arsenic from the Ganges delta sediments after six days of incubation. The arsenic concentrations extracted in the batch experiments correlated very well with the bicarbonate concentrations. The kinetics study of arsenic release indicates that arsenic-leaching rate increased with reaction time in bicarbonate solutions. Bicarbonate ions can extract arsenic from sediment samples in both oxic and anoxic conditions. A linear relationship found between arsenic contents in core samples and those in leachates suggests that dissolved arsenic concentration in groundwater is related to the amount of arsenic in aquifer sediments. In batch experiment, bicarbonate solutions effectively extracted arsenic from arsenic adsorbed iron oxyhydroxide, reflecting that bicarbonate solutions may mobilize arsenic from iron and manganese oxyhydroxide in sediments that are ubiquitous in subsurface core samples. Carbonate ion may form complexes on the surface sites of iron hydroxide and substitute arsenic from the surface of minerals and sediments resulting in release of arsenic to groundwater. Like in the batch experiment, arsenic and bicarbonate concentrations in groundwater of Bangladesh correlated very well. Therefore, bicarbonate leaching is presumed to be one important mechanism to mobilize arsenic in bicarbonate dominated reducing aquifer of Bangladesh and other parts of the world as well.     

Environmental conditions for the formation of insoluble Tc in water ponds located above paddy fields

Optimum conditions for the formation of insoluble Tc (Tc in >0.2 microm size fraction) were studied using a microcosm including water ponds above a paddy field to understand Tc behavior in such fields. In the microcosm, soluble TcO(4)(-) was converted to insoluble forms, but no changes in the form of Tc were observed in filtered microcosm samples which were microorganisms-free. The formation of insoluble Tc was inhibited by the addition of the antibiotic chloramphenicol. In addition, the reduction of soluble Tc(VII)O(4)(-) to low-valence oxide was not observed in the filtered microcosm samples, although reducing conditions were present. These results indicated that bacteria were involved in the formation of insoluble Tc. Since oxidizing conditions influence bacterial metabolism, the formation of insoluble Tc by bacteria was studied under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The results showed that anaerobic conditions were favorable for the formation of insoluble Tc. In addition, the addition of formate as an electron donor to a microcosm sample facilitated the formation of insoluble Tc. The results suggested that insoluble Tc in the water ponds above paddy fields was caused by bacteria, which were shown to couple the oxidation of formate to the reduction of Tc(VII) during anaerobic respiration.     

Short-time exposure to mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP)-induced oxidative stress associated with DNA damage and the atrophy of the testis in pubertal rats

Phthalates are widely used as plasticizer in various consumer domestic products and are known to disturb the male reproductive function in rodents. This study investigated the involvement of oxidative stress and the atrophy of the testes in pubertal rats exposed to mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP). Four-week-old pubertal male rats were separated into three groups. In group I, 21 rats were fed rat chow containing 2 % MBP for 3 days. In group II, 21 rats were fed rat chow containing 2 % MBP for 3 days and antioxidant vitamins C (250 mg/kg/day) and E (50 mg/kg/day) were injected daily. In group III, 21 rats were fed standard rat chow and used as controls. After 3 days, each testis was weighed and the germ cell development was evaluated using the Johnsen score. The urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels were measured as a biological marker of oxidative DNA damage. The mean testis weight was significantly lower for group I than groups II or III (p?<?0.05). The mean Johnsen score was significantly lower for group I than for groups II or III (p?<?0.05). Urinary 8-OHdG concentrations were higher in group I than in groups II or III. Short-time exposure to MBP may therefore induce oxidative DNA damage in rat testes, while antioxidant vitamins administered during exposure may protect against this stress.     

Effect of carbon particles on heavy metal emissions under ash-melting conditions

In Japan, incineration ash is subjected to a melting process to reduce waste volume and to stabilize hazardous heavy metals. In previous articles, we reported that large quantities of volatile metals are emitted under ash-melting conditions at temperatures higher than 1200°C and that such emissions are considerably increased under reducing conditions. However, the emission behavior in the presence of large amounts of char particles was unclear, and we suspected that emissions under these conditions might differ from emissions under the previous conditions. Therefore, we investigated heavy metal emissions and the melting characteristics of ash in the presence of carbon particles. In this experiment, a small crucible with ash and carbon was rapidly heated using a high-frequency induction-heating furnace to simulate the melting ash gasification with carbon. As a result, it was found that additive carbon can promote emissions of heavy metals such as zinc and lead and control the melt of the ash.