Decomposition of silicate minerals by Bacillus mucilaginosus in liquid culture

The extraction of K⁺ and SiO₂ from silicate minerals by Bacillus mucilaginosus in liquid culture was studied in incubation experiments. B. mucilaginosus was found to dissolve soil minerals and mica and simultaneously release K⁺ and SiO₂ from the crystal lattices. In contrast, the bacterium did not dissolve feldspar. B. mucilaginosus also produced organic acids and polysaccharides during growth. The polysaccharides strongly adsorbed the organic acids and attached to the surface of the mineral, resulting in an area of high concentration of organic acids near the mineral. The polysaccharides also adsorbed SiO₂ and this affected the equilibrium between the mineral and fluid phases and led to the reaction toward SiO₂ and K⁺ solubilization. These two processes led to the decomposition of silicate minerals by the bacterium.     

Concentrations of inorganic elements in bottled waters on the Swedish market

This study presents the concentrations of about 50 metals and ions in 33 different brands of bottled waters on the Swedish market. Ten of the brands showed calcium (Ca) concentrations ≤10 mg L⁻¹ and magnesium (Mg) levels <3 mg L⁻¹, implying very soft waters. Three of these waters had in addition low concentrations of sodium (Na; <7 mg L⁻¹), potassium (K; <3 mg L⁻¹) and bicarbonate (HCO₃ ≤31 mg L⁻¹). These brands were collected from barren districts. Nine of the brands were collected from limestone regions. They showed increased Ca-levels exceeding 50 mg L⁻¹ with a maximum of 289 mg L⁻¹. Corresponding Mg-levels were also raised in two brands exceeding 90 mg L⁻¹. Two soft and carbonated waters were supplemented with Na₂CO₃ and NaCl, resulting in high concentrations of Na (644 and 648 mg L⁻¹) and chloride (Cl; 204 and 219 mg L⁻¹). Such waters may make a substantial contribution to the daily intake of NaCl in high water consumers. The storage of carbonated drinking water in aluminum (Al) cans increased the Al-concentration to about 70 μg L⁻¹. Conclusion As there was a large variation in the material as regards concentrations of macro-elements such as Ca, Mg, Na, K and Cl. Supplementation with salts, e.g., Na₂CO₃, K₂ CO₃ and NaCl, can lead to increased concentrations of Na, K and Cl, as well as decreased ratios of Ca/Na and larger ratios of Na/K. Water with high concentrations of e.g., Ca and Mg, may make a substantial contribution to the daily intake of these elements in high water consumers. Al cans are less suited for storage of carbonated waters, as the lowered pH-values may dissolve Al. The levels of potentially toxic metals in the studied brands were generally low.     

新疆赛都糜棱岩型金矿的矿石矿物学特征

本文首次详细论述了赛都糜棱岩型金矿的矿石类型、矿石组构和金属矿物的特征，对金矿物特征和金的赋存状态作了详细描述，并在矿石矿物学分析基础上提出了该金矿的矿化阶段。     

Migration behavior of naturally occurring radionuclides at the Nopal I uranium deposit, Chihuahua, Mexico

Oxidation of pyrite at the Nopal I uranium deposit, Peña Blanca district, Chihuahua, Mexico has resulted in the formation of Fe-oxides/hydroxides. Anomalous U concentrations (i.e. several hundred to several thousand ppm) measured in goethite, hematite, and amorphous Fe-oxyhydroxides in a major fracture that crosscuts the deposit and the absence of U minerals in the fracture suggest that U was retained during secondary mineral growth or sorbed on mineral surfaces. Mobilization and transport of U away from the deposit is suggested by decreasing U concentrations in fracture-infilling materials and in goethite and hematite with distance from the deposit. Greater than unity ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratios measured in fracture-infilling materials indicate relatively recent ( < 1 Ma) U uptake from fluids that carried excess ²³⁴U. Systematic decreases in ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratios of fracture materials with distance from the deposit suggest a multistage mobilization process, such as remobilization of U from ²³⁴U-enriched infill minerals or differential or diminished transport of U-bearing solutions containing excess ²³⁴U.     

阴离子对Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans氧化活性及次生铁矿物形成影响

酸性矿山废水（AMD）具有酸度高并含有大量可溶性Fe、硫酸根及重（类）金属的特点,采用生物矿化方法促使AMD中Fe向羟基硫酸铁次生矿物转变,对AMD后期石灰中和减少氢氧化铁和废石膏的产生,提高中和效率具有实际意义.通过模拟酸性矿山废水,考察了Cl^-、NO₃^-、PO₄^3-3种阴离子对嗜酸性氧化亚铁硫杆菌（A.ferrooxidans）体系中pH值、Fe²⁺氧化率、总Fe沉淀率、次生铁矿物矿相的影响.结果表明,高浓度阴离子对A.ferrooxidans氧化Fe²⁺能力具有抑制作用.A.ferrooxidans对阴离子的耐受性依次为PO₄^3- > NO₃^- > Cl^-.阴离子浓度在A.ferrooxidans耐受范围内时,其对Fe²⁺的生物氧化速率基本没有影响.但高浓度阴离子会通过抑制A.ferrooxidans的氧化活性,从而间接影响Fe³⁺的水解成矿过程,导致培养终点时总Fe沉淀率降低和次生铁矿物产量减少.受Fe³⁺供应速率降低的影响,次生铁矿物的合成途径易向施氏矿物转变.     

The performance of nitrate-reducing Fe(II) oxidation processes under variable initial Fe/N ratios: The fate of nitrogen and iron species

•Bacterially-mediated coupled N and Fe processes examined in incubation experiments. •NO₃⁻ reduction was considerably inhibited as initial Fe/N ratio increased. •The maximum production of N₂ occurred at an initial Fe/N molar ratio of 6. •Fe minerals produced at Fe/N ratios of 1–2 were mainly easily reducible oxides. The Fe/N ratio is an important control on nitrate-reducing Fe(II) oxidation processes that occur both in the aquatic environment and in wastewater treatment systems. The response of nitrate reduction, Fe oxidation, and mineral production to different initial Fe/N molar ratios in the presence of Paracoccus denitrificans was investigated in 132 h incubation experiments. A decrease in the nitrate reduction rate at 12 h occurred as the Fe/N ratio increased. Accumulated nitrite concentration at Fe/N ratios of 2–10 peaked at 12–84 h, and then decreased continuously to less than 0.1 mmol/L at the end of incubation. N₂O emission was promoted by high Fe/N ratios. Maximum production of N₂ occurred at a Fe/N ratio of 6, in parallel with the highest mole proportion of N₂ resulting from the reduction of nitrate (81.2%). XRD analysis and sequential extraction demonstrated that the main Fe minerals obtained from Fe(II) oxidation were easily reducible oxides such as ferrihydrite (at Fe/N ratios of 1–2), and easily reducible oxides and reducible oxides (at Fe/N ratios of 3–10). The results suggest that Fe/N ratio potentially plays a critical role in regulating N₂, N₂O emissions and Fe mineral formation in nitrate-reducing Fe(II) oxidation processes.     

Chemical evaluation of Gnetum africana and Telferia occidentalis

A chemical evaluation of Gnetum africana and Telferia occidentalis was carried out in five randomly selected restaurants in Calabar. The results showed that both Gnetum africana and Telferia occidentalis soups have high caloric values and contain adequate levels of essential minerals, vitamins, amino acids, proteins, and fat, which are needed for a variety of cellular functions in humans, and which would reduce the problem of protein energy malnutrition (PEM).     

胞外聚合物对微生物还原含镉聚合硫酸铁絮体过程次生矿物形成及镉迁移转化的影响

异化铁还原菌（Dissimilatory Iron Reducing Bacteria,DIRB）能够还原铁矿物,并对矿物中所含重金属的再分配产生深远影响.胞外聚合物（Extracellular Polymeric Substances,EPSs）是决定细胞体表微环境理化性质的关键组分,对金属迁移转化及矿物形成具有重要影响.本文探究EPSs对微生物还原含镉聚合硫酸铁絮体（Cd-loaded polyferric sulfate,Cd-PFS）过程的影响,该絮体通常在河流镉污染应急处理中形成.通过序批实验和矿化模拟实验,结合X射线衍射、扫描电镜、傅里叶红外光谱、X射线光电子能谱等分析方法,发现EPSs促进了微生物还原絮体中的Fe（Ⅲ）,导致絮体解构,Fe³⁺、Fe²⁺及Cd²⁺释放进入溶液中.EPSs中磷酸化蛋白质和核酸中的磷酸基可作为成核位点,与铁原子形成P—O—Fe键,固定和聚集溶液中的Fe³⁺、Fe²⁺,加速铁的沉淀,促进纤铁矿、磁铁矿等铁矿物形成,而这些铁矿物含有丰富的羟基官能团,通过内层络合增强了对溶液中Cd²⁺的吸附,降低了Cd²⁺的可迁移性及可生化性.     

非金属矿物粉尘表面电性及其生物学危害作用探讨

在前人对矿物粉尘在不同介质中其表面活性基团的特征（表面电性、生物活性）以及由此引起的生物学危害作用机理研究的基础上,对一些非金属矿物粉尘的表面电性特征及其变化进行了系统研究,结合生物化学及分子细胞生物学理论,对矿物粉尘表面电性特征引起的生物学危害作用（致病）机理进行了探讨．结果表明,在矿物粉尘致病总毒性原因构成上,除其纤维形态特征和持久性外,其表面电性特征是不可忽视的重要因素．     

矿物材料对餐厨垃圾厌氧消化的影响研究

在试验的基础上研究了3种矿物材料膨润土、斜发沸石、粉煤灰对富含钠离子的餐厨垃圾厌氧消化过程的影响.结果表明,在发酵温度为35℃、底物固含量(TS)为10%、添加物用量为1%(质量分数,以消化底物计)时,膨润土、沸石粉、粉煤灰对含盐餐厨垃圾的厌氧发酵消化液中的钠离子具有良好的吸附性能,吸附率分别为13.75%、10.11%、7.99%.在未使用无机矿物的情况下,当钠离子浓度为3000～4000mg·L-1时,含盐餐厨垃圾的的厌氧消化过程受到Na 离子的明显抑制.从产气量分析,3种矿物材料均能明显促进餐厨垃圾的厌氧消化过程,与空白对照试组相比,膨润土、斜发沸石、粉煤灰分别使产气量提高了131%、82%和45%.三者对甲烷气产量的促进影响强弱顺序是,膨润土＞斜发沸石＞粉煤灰.初步讨论了这3种矿物材料提高餐厨垃圾厌氧消化甲烷产量的作用机理.