State of mixture of atmospheric submicrometer black carbon particles and its effect on particulate light absorption

The state of mixture of light-absorbing carbonaceous particles was investigated in relation to light absorption properties using electron microscopic examinations, black carbon (BC) analyses of quartz filter by thermal/optical reflectance (TOR) method, measurements with two continuous light-absorbing photometers at a suburban site of Tsukuba, about 60 km northeast of Tokyo. The volume fraction of water-soluble material (?) in individual particles is important for assessing particulate light-absorbing and/or scattering of atmospheric aerosols. The values of ? in BC particles were evaluated by electron micrographs before and after dialysis (extraction) of water-soluble material. The mass absorption coefficient (MAC in units of m² g^?1) tended to increase with increasing the average ? in BC particles with the radius range of 0.05–0.5 μm. Thus, our results indicate that coatings of water-soluble material around BC particles can enhance the absorption of solar radiation. Moreover, the single scattering albedo (SSA) will increase because a large amount of coating material will scatter more light.     

Investigation of the properties of the accidental release and explosion of liquefied dimethyl ether at a filling station

Dimethyl ether (DME) has been focused as a substitute for diesel fuel, and a number of studies have investigated engines fueled with DME because DME has a low auto-ignition temperature and does not generate particulate matter (PM). Therefore, in the last few years, the construction of DME filling stations for trucks in Japan has been planned. The introduction of DME vehicles requires expansion of DME supply stations, which in turn requires the collection of safety data and the establishment of safety regulations. The present paper describes an experimental investigation of the hypothetical scenario in which liquid DME is accidentally released and an explosion occurs. In the present study, large-scale leakage and ignition of DME were investigated and flame propagation data was obtained. We also measured the overpressure of the blast wave and the heat flux from the fireball. When the ignition position is near the nozzle, the flame propagation velocity is higher. The overpressure from the DME fireball is stronger than that from DME/air mixture deflagration. In summary, these results provide safety data for safety management of DME filling stations.     

尼克酰胺与核黄素提高红串红球菌USTB-03对4,6-二甲基二苯并噻吩脱硫活性研究

主要考察了尼克酰胺和核黄素提高红串红球菌USTB-03对4,6-二甲基二苯并噻吩(4,6-DMDBT)脱硫活性的效应。研究结果表明,在培养基中添加初始浓度为10 mmol/L的尼克酰胺,脱硫比活性由原来302.4 mmol 4,6-DMDBT/(kg细胞干重·h)增加到476.4 mmol 4,6-DMDBT/(kg细胞干重·h),提高了57.5%。添加初始浓度为25μmol/L的核黄素,脱硫比活性增加到了465.8 mmol 4,6-DMDBT/(kg细胞干重·h),提高了54%。无论是采用微量的尼克酰胺或核黄素都可以大幅度提高红串红球菌USTB-03对4,6-DMDBT的脱硫活性,在此研究领域尚未发现有研究报道。尼克酰胺和核黄素分别是NAD和FMN的主要成分,可以促进脱硫关键辅酶FMNH_2的生物合成,因此,大幅度提高了红串红球菌USTB-03对4,6-DMDBT的脱硫活性。     

Conducting Polyaniline and Biofuel Cell

Structure design of a photosynthetic-based biofuel cell and the fabrication processes to make it have been explored and developed. Novel nanostructure and modified polyaniline have been used to enhance the performance of the biofuel cell. The mechanism of the electron transfer process and the electrocatalysis of polyaniline have been investigated. Photosynthetic-based biofuel cells with a mA/cm² current density have been demonstrated.     

Characteristics of a bioxalate chelating extraction process for removal of chromium,copper and arsenic from treated wood

The disposal of wood waste treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is a problem in many countries. We have proposed a novel chelating extraction technique for CCA-treated wood using bioxalate, a solution of oxalic acid containing sufficient sodium hydroxide to adjust the pH to 3.2, which is an effective way to obtain an extraction efficiency of 90% for chromium, copper, and arsenic. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the characteristics of bioxalate extraction of CCA-treated wood. Extractions of CCA-treated western hemlock chips with solutions of bioxalate, oxalic acid, and sodium hydroxide were carried out. The use of bioxalate was confirmed as the most effective extraction technique for chromium, copper and arsenic, with an efficiency of 90%. Extraction with simple oxalic acid was ineffective for copper (less than 40% extraction efficiency), but effective for chromium and arsenic, with 90% efficiency. Sodium hydroxide showed a similar tendency, being ineffective for chromium and copper (less than 20% extraction efficiency), but relatively effective for arsenic (around 70–80% efficiency). We also discovered an interesting phenomenon whereby the addition of sodium hydroxide to a simple oxalic acid solution during the oxalic acid extraction progress resulted in dramatically increased extraction efficiency for copper, chromium and arsenic, up to 90%. Although oxalic acid was ineffective for copper extraction, the addition of sodium hydroxide during the oxalic acid extraction process rendered it effective.     

Tributyltin causes abnormal development in embryos of medaka, Oryzias latipes

We examined the effects of tributyltin (TBT) on embryonic development, hatching success and sexual differentiation in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). Embryos (within 8h after fertilization) were exposed to TBT in ovo via nanoinjection at concentrations of 0 (control), 0.16, 0.80, 3.96, 19.2 and 82.1 ng/egg. Embryonic survival, development and hatching were observed. Hatched fry were reared until 60 days when they sexually matured, and sexual differentiation was also examined by accordance of genetic and phenotypic sex, based on existence of DMY (a male determining gene in medaka) and secondary sex characteristics. As results, TBT caused a concentration-dependent mortality and impaired the embryonic development. However, no masculinization was detected at 60 dph medaka adults. Lowest observed effective concentration for inducing abnormal embryonic development was estimated to 0.16 ng/egg (ca. 160 ng/g egg).     

Species-specific and female host-biased ectophoresy in the roundworm Caenorhabditis japonica

Caenorhabditis japonica is a bacteriophagous nematode species that was discovered on the semi-social burrower bug, Parastrachia japonensis, which demonstrates egg-guarding and provisioning behaviors. To understand the life history of C. japonica in relation to P. japonensis, we demonstrated the specificity of this association and fluctuations in nematode number on the insect throughout the year. C. japonica dauer larvae (DL), larvae in a nonfeeding diapause stage, were predominantly found as clumps on the adult female insects but rarely found on the male insects in all populations examined. This female-biased association was consistent throughout the year, but after the nymphs hatched, nematodes were not detected on the mother insects showing provisioning behavior. DL appeared on the nymphs, and the number of DL on the newly emerged female insects gradually increased thereafter. C. japonica has never been detected on other invertebrates collected from the P. japonensis habitat thus far. Our data suggest that the life cycles of C. japonica and P. japonensis are synchronized.     

Development of a dynamic transfer model of (14)C from the atmosphere to rice plants

A dynamic compartment model was investigated to describe ¹⁴C accumulation in rice plants exposed to atmospheric ¹⁴C with temporally changing concentrations. In the model, rice plants were regarded to consist of three compartments: the ear and the mobile and immobile carbon pools of the shoot. Photosynthetically fixed carbon moves into the ear and the mobile carbon pool, and these two compartments release a part of this carbon into the atmosphere by respiration. Carbon accumulated in the mobile carbon pool is redistributed to the ear, while carbon transferred into the immobile carbon pool from the mobile one is accumulated there until harvest. The model was examined by cultivation experiments using the stable isotope, ¹³C, in which the ratios of carbon photosynthetically fixed at nine times during plant growth to the total carbon at the time of harvest were determined. The model estimates of the ratios were in relatively good agreement with the experimental observations, which implies that the newly developed compartment model is applicable to estimate properly the radiation dose to the neighboring population due to an accidental release of ¹⁴C from nuclear facilities.     

Evaluation of activated carbon fiber filter for sampling of organochlorine pesticides in environmental water samples

A simple method for quantitative analyses of organic chlorine pesticides (OCPs) in environmental water samples such as rainwater, river water and seawater using activated carbon fiber filters (ACFF) is described. ACFF was used as adsorbent to collect the chemicals in water samples. The collection of OCPs was completed almost for one day by stirring the mixture of the sample and the ACFF chips at room temperature. The adsorbed OCPs on the ACFF could be extracted easily with toluene-ethanol (4:1) mixed solvent. The purified extract by a florisil column chromatograph was followed by the analysis using high-resolution gas chromatograph/high-resolution mass spectrometer. Recoveries of OCPs spiked to actual samples such as rainwater, river water and seawater samples were approximately more than 80%, and the coefficients of variations were within 10%. This method was applied to the actual samples and was confirmed to be applicable for monitoring sub-ng/l level OCPs in environmental water samples.     

紫外光-氯联用污水消毒削弱拖尾程度的实验研究

研究了紫外光-氯联用消毒工艺削弱二级出水氯消毒拖尾程度.考察了紫外光-氯使用顺序、pH、氯投量、紫外光剂量等因素对氯消毒大肠杆菌动力学曲线的影响.SS浓度对"拖尾现象"有显著影响,降低SS浓度能够有效提高拖尾区灭活率.紫外光-氯联用消毒能提高一级反应区的灭活速率1.08～1.25倍,并将拖尾区灭活率提高2～2.5个对数级,二者存在明显协同作用.UV/HOCl方式效果优于HOCl/UV方式.降低pH,提高氯投量将加快一级反应区消毒速度而更快进入拖尾区.紫外光剂量变化对拖尾区开始时间没有显著影响.