Alga-lysing bioreactor and the dominant bacteria strain

Alga-lysing bacteria have been paid much attention to in recent years. In this study, the alga-lysing strain P05 which was isolated from an immobilizing biosystem was immobilized by coke and elastic filler, forming two biological reactors. The removal efficiencies of algae, NH3-N and organic matter using the two reactors were studied. The results showed that strain P05 was an ideal algal-lysing bacteria strain because it was easy to be immobilized by coke and elastic filler which are of cheap, low biodegradability and the simple immobilization procedure. After 7 d filming, the biological film could be formed and the reactors were used to treat the eutrophic water. These two reactors were of stability and high effect with low cost and easy operation. The optimal hydraulic retention time (HRT) of each reactor was 4 h. The algae removal rates were 80.38% and 82.1% (in term of Chl-a) of coke reactor and filler reactor, respectively. And that of NH3-N were 52.3% and 52.7%. The removal rates of CODMn were 39.03% and 39.64%. The strain P05 was identified as Bacillus sp. by PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene, BLAST analysis, and comparison with sequences in the GenBank nucleotide database.     

用同一水样测定NO3-N和TN

文章阐述了用紫外分光光度法,以同一水样测定NO3 -N和TN,保证了其相对差值的合理性,揭示了S2O82-在220nm波长上特征吸收,这是空白吸光度高的重要原因,提出了降低空白吸光度的方法.K2S2O8和NaOH分别配制,克服了K2S2O8碱液使用时间短的缺点.     

Runoff rates,chemical speciation and bioavailability of copper released from naturally patinated copper

The release of copper, induced by atmospheric corrosion, from naturally patinated copper of varying age (0 and 30 years) has been investigated together with its potential ecotoxic effect. Results were generated in an interdisciplinary research effort in which corrosion science and ecotoxicology aspects were combined. The aim of the investigation was to elucidate the situation when copper-containing rainwater leaves a roof in terms of runoff rate, chemical speciation, bioavailability and ecotoxicity effects. Data have been collected during a three-year field exposure conducted in the urban environment of Stockholm, Sweden. The potential environmental effects have been evaluated using a combination of a copper specific biosensor test with the bacterium Alcaligenes eutrophus and the conventional 72-h growth inhibition test with the green alga Raphidocelis subcapitata. The results show annual runoff rates between 1.0 and 1.5 g/m2 year for naturally patinated copper of varying age. The runoff rate increased slightly with patina age, which mainly is attributed to the enhanced first flush effect observed on thicker patina layers. The total copper concentration in investigated runoff samplings ranged from 0.9 to 9.7 mg/l. Both computer modeling and experimental studies revealed that the majority (60-100%) of released copper was present as the free hydrated cupric ion, Cu(H2O)6(2+), the most bioavailable copper species. However, other copper species in the runoff water, such as, e.g. Cu(OH)+ and Cu2(OH)2(2+), were also bioavailable. The copper-containing runoff water, sampled directly after release from the roof, caused significant reduction in growth rate of the green alga. It should be emphasized that the results describe the runoff situation immediately after release from the copper roof and not the real environmental ecotoxicity. Therefore the data should only be used as an initial assessment of the potential environmental effect of copper runoff from building applications. Future risk assessments should also consider dilution effects of copper, changes in its chemical speciation and bioavailability during environmental entry, and type and sensitivity of the receiving ecosystem.     

Transient analysis of volatile organic compound concentrations for estimating emission rates

While emission rates of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been obtained for building materials, furnishings and processes in chambers, field measurements are more difficult. Procedures to estimate emission rates using transient analysis of VOC concentrations are described and applied in a two-story classroom/office building. The analysis employs semi-real-time VOC concentrations determined with a portable GC/FID and simultaneous air change rate measurements using tracer gas decay. The results of the analysis yield consistent values of emission rates for building materials ranging from 0.20 to 0.40 mg m⁻² h⁻¹ when normalized by floor area. Occupancy-related emissions were more difficult to estimate and covered a wider range from roughly 0.1 to 1.5 mg m⁻² h⁻¹. The test data were also analyzed in an attempt to determine sink parameters, but these efforts were not particularly successful. Furthermore, in these tests, the inclusion of sink effects did not significantly impact the estimated emission rates. While this paper offers a transient analysis approach that may lead to improved field estimates of VOC emission rates, it is not presented as a definitive methodology. Nevertheless, transient analysis has potential for use in other buildings, but simultaneous air change rate measurements are critical in its application in estimating VOC emission rates in the field.     

Occurrence and attenuation of specific organic compounds in the groundwater plume at a former gasworks site

The changing contaminant pattern with travelled distance was investigated in the anaerobic groundwater plume downstream from an extended zone containing residual NAPL at a former gas manufacturing plant. With increasing distance, O- and N-heterocyclic aromatic compounds are enriched in the plume relative to the usually assessed coal tar constituents (poly- and monocyclic aromatic compounds). In a first approximation, the overall concentration decrease of the investigated compounds follows a first order overall decay. The half life distance in the plume downgradient from the source varied between 20 m for benzene and up to 167-303 m for alkyl-naphthalenes. Acenaphthene is degraded only within about 50 m downstream from the source area, then its concentration remains constant (ca. 180 microg/l) and far above the legal limit. Dimethyl-benzofurans were the most recalcitrant among all compounds which could be quantified with the analytical method available. The overall groundwater contamination in the plume is seriously underestimated if only BTEX and 16-EPA-PAHs are monitored.     

Modern Insect Extinctions, the Neglected Majority

Abstract:  Most extinctions estimated to have occurred in the historical past, or predicted to occur in the future, are of insects. Despite this, the study of insect extinctions has been neglected. Only 70 modern insect extinctions have been documented, although thousands are estimated to have occurred. By focusing on some of the 70 documented extinctions as case studies, I considered ways in which insect extinctions may differ from those of other taxa. These case studies suggested that two types of extinction might be common for insects but rare for other taxa: extinction of narrow habitat specialists and coextinctions of affiliates with the extinctions of their hosts. Importantly, both of these forms of extinction are often ignored by conservation programs focused on vertebrates and plants. Anecdotal evidence and recent simulations suggest that many insect extinctions may have already occurred because of loss of narrow habitat specialists from restricted habitats and the loss of hosts. If we are serious about insect conservation, we need to spend more time and money documenting such extinctions. To neglect such extinctions is to ignore the majority of species that are or were in need of conservation.     

不同嫁接方式对黄瓜嫁接苗成活及生长特性的影响

研究了不同嫁接方式对黄瓜嫁接苗成活率、生物学性状及其植株抗病性的影响．结果表明：以湘园三号黄瓜作为接穗，黑籽南瓜作为砧木，采用靠接、顶插、劈切、芽接四种嫁接方式，其嫁接苗成活率分别为100．0％、78．4％、92．9％和75．5％；其平均株高、平均真叶数均以靠接苗为大，分别为15．8cm、3．0片；四种嫁接苗的平均株幅无明显差异．以津春二号黄瓜作为接穗，分别以黑籽南瓜和西葫芦作为砧木，均采用靠接方式，其靠接苗成活率分别为99．4％、100．0％，平均株高、平均株幅和真叶数均以前者为大．经嫁接后，黄瓜植株枯萎病发病率明显下降，控制在0-14．0％范围之内；而未经嫁接的津春二号（对照1）、津春三号（对照2）黄瓜植株，病株率分别达到48．0％、36．0％．     

污水氮浓度对粉绿狐尾藻去氮能力的影响

粉绿狐尾藻是构建人工湿地的重要植物,对污水具有较强的净化作用,但有关其去氮能力及其与污水氮浓度的关系尚不清楚.本试验采用人工模拟盆栽试验,设2、5、10、20、100、200、400 mg·L~(-1)共7个氮水平,研究污水氮浓度对粉绿狐尾藻去氮能力的影响.结果表明,氮浓度不高于20 mg·L~(-1)时,前3周粉绿狐尾藻以20 mg·L~(-1)生长最好,处理1周水体总氮和氨氮的去除率接近100%,而硝态氮浓度低、变化不大;粉绿狐尾藻氮含量因氮浓度变化不大但部位间有"上高下低"趋势,且粉绿狐尾藻还利用了底泥氮.氮浓度100~400 mg·L~(-1)时,4~5周以氮浓度200 mg·L~(-1)粉绿狐尾藻生长最好;处理5周总氮去除率依次为76.5%、71.5%和48.1%,氨氮去除率依次为99.6%、99.3%和60.2%;各处理硝态氮去除率约为50%且处理间差异不大;粉绿狐尾藻氮含量随氮浓度而升高,但部位间差异小、呈均匀分布;粉绿狐尾藻积累氮、底泥固定氮分别占水体去除氮的27.9%~48.4%和12.2%~24.4%.因此,粉绿狐尾藻去氮能力受污水氮浓度的显著影响,去除氨氮率显著高于硝态氮;氮浓度还影响粉绿狐尾藻对氮的吸收积累和分配机制,值得深入研究.     

History of Dutch process equipment failure frequencies and the Purple Book

In the middle of 70s concerns of the public in the Netherlands about fire, explosion and toxic risks due to mishaps in the expanding process industry, causing political pressure led to the embracement of quantitative risk analysis as tool for licensing and land-use planning. Probabilistic treatment of risk had been exercised before to design flood defense. A ‘test’ on six different plants, the COVO study, favored the idea. Failure rate values were in immediate need. For storage vessels AKZO’s chlorine vessel data and British steam boiler data have been the first. Risk criteria to make decisions on were also developed and in 1985 embodied in legislation. As licensing and land-use planning are tasks of provincial authorities, under the auspices of the Inter-Provincial Consultation (IPO), further details such as failure frequency values have been worked out. In the late 90s the Purple Book consolidated the information as a guideline for Dutch quantitative risk assessment of process installations.The paper will give a condensed historical overview, guidance to published papers; it will further make comments, explain policy backgrounds, present comparison with other data and will briefly indicate in which direction developments should go to improve QRA.     

Effect of stress corrosion cracking at various strain rates on the electrochemical corrosion behavior of Mg-Zn-In-Sn alloy

This study is aimed to determine the effect of stress corrosion with low strain rates on the electrochemical properties of alloy electrode. Stress corrosion cracking tests of Mg-Zn-In-Sn alloy in 3.5 wt.% sodium chloride solutions at 25°C were performed. The effects of the electrochemical properties under the stress corrosion with low strain rates were investigated. The microstructures of cross section were observed by optical microscope. The results showed that the ultimate tensile strengths of Mg-Zn-In-Sn alloy increased and the strain decreased as the strain rates increased. Open circuit potentials (OCP) of Mg-Zn-In-Sn alloy electrode possess stability and the loop currents (LC) were improved with the increasing of stress in the elastic zone. The variation of OCP and LC did not change with the increasing of strain-rate. The microstructure of cross section observing revealed the mechanism of OCP and LC changing