Biosynthesis and release of methylarsenic compounds during the growth of freshwater algae

Arsenic transformations by freshwater algae have been studied under laboratory conditions. By the use of a new analytical method, we identified methylarsenic(III) species in the growth medium of green-alga Closterium aciculare incubated under axenic conditions. The arsenate concentration in the experimental medium began to decrease just after inoculation, and the levels of arsenite and methylarsenicals increased with the growth of C. aciculare. Initially, most of the arsenate was converted into arsenite, which peaked in concentration during the exponential phase. Methylarsenicals accumulated rapidly in the stationary phase. DMAA(V) production was enhanced when the ratio of phosphate to arsenate decreased in the culture medium. The levels of DMAA(V) increased continuously toward the end of the experiment. On the other hand, methylarsenic(III) species remained relatively steady during the stationary phase. Methylarsenic(III) species accounted for 0-35% of methylarsenicals. These results suggest that arsenite and methylarsenicals (containing methylarsenic(III) species) are supplied by phytoplankton, and serve as evidence of the origin of methylarsenic(III) species in natural waters.     

Sensitivity analysis of radionuclide migration in compacted bentonite: a mechanistic model approach

Mechanistic model calculations for the migration of Cs, Ra, Am and Pb in compacted bentonite have been carried out to evaluate sensitivities with respect to different parameter variations. A surface chemical speciation/electric double layer model is used to calculate: (i) porewater composition and radionuclide speciation in solution and at the bentonite surface, yielding the distribution of mobile and sorbed species and (ii) interaction of diffusing species with negatively charged pore walls to obtain diffusion parameters. The basic scenario considers the interaction of compacted bentonite with a fresh-type groundwater; variations include the presence of bentonite impurities and saline groundwater. It is shown that these scenarios result in significant variations of porewater composition that affect migration via three mechanisms that can partly compensate each other: (1) effects on sorption through radionuclide complexation in solution, and competition of major cations for surface sites; (2) changes in radionuclide solution speciation leading to different diffusing species under different conditions; (3) effects on diffusion through changes in the electric double layer properties of the clay pores as a function of ionic strength.     

Sperm transfer or spermatangia removal: postcopulatory behaviour of picking up spermatangium by female Japanese pygmy squid

In the Japanese pygmy squid Idiosepius paradoxus, females often pick up the spermatangium using their mouth (buccal mass) after copulation. To examine whether the female I. paradoxus directly transfers sperm into the seminal receptacle via this picking behaviour, or removes the spermatangium, we conducted detailed observations of picking behaviour in both virgin and copulated females and compared the sperm storage conditions in the seminal receptacle between females with and without spermatangia picking after copulation in virgin females. In all observations, elongation of the buccal mass occurred within 5 min after copulation. However, sperm volume in the seminal receptacle was not related to spermatangia picking. Observations using slow-motion video revealed that females removed the spermatangia by blowing or eating after picking. These results suggest that picking behaviour is used for sperm removal but not for sperm transfer. Moreover, the frequency of buccal mass elongation was higher in copulated females than in virgin females, consistent with the sequential mate choice theory whereby virgin females secure sperm for fertilisation, while previously copulated females are more selective about their mate. Female I. paradoxus may choose its mate cryptically through postcopulatory picking behaviour.     

Steel slag quality control for road construction aggregates and its environmental impact: case study of Vietnamese steel industry—leaching of heavy metals from steel-making slag

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Steel slag is an industrial by product of steel manufacturing processes and has been widely utilized within civil and construction materials for road...     

Apparent diffusion coefficients and chemical species of neptunium (V) in compacted Na-montmorillonite

Diffusion of neptunium (V) in compacted Na-montmorillonite was studied through the non-steady state diffusion method. In this study, two experimental attempts were carried out to understand the diffusion mechanism of neptunium. One was to establish the diffusion activation energy, which was then used to determine the diffusion process in the montmorillonite. The other was the measurement of the distribution of neptunium in the montmorillonite by a sequential batch extraction. The apparent diffusion coefficients of neptunium in the montmorillonite at a dry density of 1.0 Mg m-3 were from 3.7 x 10(-12) m2 s-1 at 288 K to 9.2 x 10(-12) m2 s-1 at 323 K. At a dry density of 1.6 Mg m-3, the apparent diffusion coefficients ranged between 1.5 x 10(-13) m2 s-1 at 288 K and 8.7 x 10(-13) m2 s-1 at 323 K. The activation energy for the diffusion of neptunium at a dry density of 1.0 Mg m-3 was 17.5 +/- 1.9 kJ mol-1. This value is similar to those reported for diffusion of other ions in free water, e.g., 18.4 and 17.4 kJ mol-1 for Na+ and Cl-, respectively. At a dry density of 1.6 Mg.m-3, the activation energy was 39.8 +/- 1.9 kJ mol-1. The change in the activation energy suggests that the diffusion process changes depending on the dry density of the compacted montmorillonite. A characteristic distribution profile was obtained by the sequential extraction procedure for neptunium diffused in compacted montmorillonite. The estimated fraction of neptunium in the pore water was between 3% and 11% at a dry density of 1.6 Mg m-3 and at a temperature of 313 K. The major fraction of the neptunium in the montmorillonite was identified as neptunyl ions sorbed on the outer surface of the montmorillonite. These findings suggested that the activation energy for diffusion and the distribution profile of the involved nuclides could become powerful parameters in understanding the diffusion mechanism.     

Diphenylmethane diisocyanate self-polymerization: Thermal hazard evaluation and proof of runaway reaction in gram scale

Thermal analysis by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis mass spectrometry, adiabatic calorimetry, a gram-scale heating test, and infrared spectroscopy were performed to evaluate the thermal hazards of diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and prove the occurrence of a runaway reaction. The self-polymerization of MDI was found to occur at about 340 °C under rapid heating conditions. Carbon dioxide was eliminated and heat was generated to allow polymerization. Under adiabatic and closed conditions, the runaway reaction of MDI can begin at least from 220 °C. Besides it is highly probable that the runaway reaction of MDI can begin from a lower temperature in an actual process scale. More heat was generated than in the previous case and the pressure rose rapidly. A closed 2-mm-thick glass vessel exploded because of the runaway reaction of MDI even if the temperature was lower than 300 °C. Therefore, MDI could cause fatal runaway reactions below 300 °C, where MDI had been assumed to self-polymerize by eliminating carbon dioxide previously.