Evaluating the effectiveness of marine actinobacterial extract and its mediated titanium dioxide nanoparticles in the degradation of azo dyes

Aim of the present study was to synthesize titanium dioxide nanoparticles （YiO2 NPs） from marine actinobacteria and to develop an eco-friendly azo-dye degradation method. A total of five actinobacterial isolates were isolated from Chennai marine sediments, Tamilnadu, India and analyzed for the synthesis of TiO2 NPs using titanium hydroxide. Among these, the isolate PSV 3 showed positive results for the synthesis of TiO2 NPs, which was confirmed by UV analysis. Further characterization of the synthesized TiO2 NPs was done using XRD, AFM and FI＇-IR analysis. Actinobacterial crude extract and synthesized TiO2 NPs was found efficient in degrading azo dye such as Acid Red 79 （AR-79） and Acid Red 80 （AR-80）. Degradation percentage was found to be 81% for AR-79, 83% for AR-80 using actinobacterial crude extract and 84% for AR-79, 85% for AR-80 using TiO2 NPs. Immobilized actinobacterial ceils showed 88% for AR-79 and 81% for AR- 80, dye degrading capacity. Degraded components were characterized by FT-IR and GC-MS analysis. The phytotoxicity test with 500 μg/mL of untreated dye showed remarkable phenotypic as well as cellular damage to Tagetes erecta plant. Comparatively no such damage was observed on plants by degraded dye components. In biotoxicity assay, treated dyes showed less toxic effect as compared to the untreated dyes.     

Genotoxicity removal of reclaimed water during ozonation

Genotoxicity in wastewater and reclaimed water now is gaining increased attention because of genotoxins' potential damage to the ecosystem and human health. The effect of ozonation on genotoxicity in reclaimed water was investigated. It was found that ozonation decreased the genotoxicy dramatically in three tertiary treatment plants. In the further batch ozonation experiment in laboratory,secondary effluent sample used exhibited the genotoxicity of(41.1 ± 4.1) μg 4NQO/L. Ozonation with a dose of 10 mg O3/L completely removed the genotoxicity in secondary effluent. However,after ozonation, the dissolved organic carbonvalue of the sample didn't change much but the specific ultraviolet absorbance(SUVA) value dropped sharply. With the help of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ozonation was found to change chemical aliphatic carbon and C–O of the dissolved arganic matter, which might be the reason of the significant decreases of SUVA and genotoxicity.     

Primary neuronal-astrocytic co-culture platform for neurotoxicity assessment of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Plastics such as polyvinyl chlorides （PVC） are widely used in many indoor constructed environments; however, their unbound chemicals, such as di-（2-ethylhexyl） phthalates （DEHP）, can leach into the surrounding environment. This study focused on DEHP＇s effect on the central nervous system by determining the precise DEHP content in mice brain tissue after exposure to the chemical, to evaluate the specific exposure range. Primary neuronal-astrocyte co-culture systems were used as in vitro models for chemical hazard identification of DEHP. Oxidative stress was hypothesized as a probable mechanism involved, and therefore the total reactive oxygen species （ROS） concentration was determined as a biomarker of oxidative stress. In addition, NeuriteTracer, a neurite tracing plugin with ImageJ, was used to develop an assay for neurotoxicity to provide quantitative measurements of neurological parameters, such as neuronal number, neuron count and neurite length, all of which could indicate neurotoxic effects. The results showed that with 1 nmol/L DEHP exposure, there was a significant increase in ROS concentrations, indicating that the neuronal-astrocyte cultures were injured due to exposure to DEHP. In response, astrocyte proliferation （gliosis） was initiated, serving as a mechanism to maintain a homeostatic environment for neurons and protect neurons from toxic chemicals. There is a need to assess the cumulative effects of DEHP in animals to evaluate the possible uotake and effects on the human neuronal system from exoosure to DEHP in the indoor environment.     

秸秆生物炭还田对围垦盐碱土壤的低碳化改良

利用芦苇秸秆和其生物炭还田改良围垦盐碱土壤。通过盆栽实验,从改良后土壤的脱盐率、植物的生长情况和生物量以及土壤呼吸和有土壤机碳含量等方面研究和比较了芦苇及其生物炭还田对围垦盐碱土壤的改良效应以及对土壤碳收支的影响。研究结果表明:秸秆和秸秆生物炭改良后土壤的含盐量显著低于空白对照,两者改良后的植物总收获量(干重)基本相同,均显著高于未改良的空白对照,但生物炭还田改良后的土壤呼吸强度显著低于秸秆直接还田,改良后其土壤有机碳含量也高于后者以及空白对照。高度稳定的生物炭还田能有效抵抗微生物的分解作用,因此其土壤微生物总量低于秸秆直接还田,从而导致土壤异养微生物活性较弱,使得生物炭中的碳得以在土壤中长期保存,增加了土壤有机碳含量,降低了土壤呼吸,是一种较低碳的秸秆还田措施。     

高温自蔓延还原解毒固化铬渣技术研究

采用高温自蔓延技术处置铬渣,探讨了高温自蔓延技术还原解毒固化铬渣的机制。以铝粉和三氧化二铁作铝热剂,与铬渣充分混合,用镁条点燃引发自蔓延反应,最终得到铬渣固化体。实验结果表明:高温自蔓延技术能有效固化铬渣,铬渣的掺渣率高达44.94%。浸出实验结果表明:A组(铬渣原样)铬渣固化体总铬浸出浓度未检出;B组(铬渣原样+重铬酸钾)铬渣固化体总铬浸出浓度为0.117 76 mg/L,远远低于国标(GB 5085.3-2007)限值15 mg/L,六价铬浸出浓度未检出。XRD分析表明:铬渣还原解毒固化机制主要是六价铬在自蔓延反应中被还原为三价铬,再与其他金属化合物在高温熔融状态下生成含铬尖晶石,铬以离子键Cr—O的形式参与尖晶石的晶格形成。     

2,2'',4,4''-四溴联苯醚对赤子爱胜蚓的抗氧化酶、代谢酶及其基因表达的影响

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)是广泛存在于环境中的一种新型持久性有机污染物.四溴联苯醚同分异构体中的BDE-47是多溴联苯醚中最重要的单体之一.试验采用人工土壤培养法,通过亚急性试验,研究了在不同暴露时间阶段下,不同BDE-47剂量对赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)抗氧化酶(过氧化氢酶CAT)、代谢酶(谷胱甘肽转移酶GST)以及二者基因表达的影响.结果表明,在暴露14 d和28 d时,CAT活性被诱导上升并且差异显著;GST活性变化差异不显著;CAT基因表达水平在第14 d时呈现抑制效应,在后续的第28 d和第42 d基因表达水平上调;GST基因表达水平整体呈现诱导效应,并且差异显著,随着暴露时间的增加,低毒处理组(10、50 mg·kg-1)的基因表达水平逐渐下调至低于对照组的水平,高毒处理组(100、200 mg·kg-1)的基因表达量仍高于对照组水平;在BDE-47的暴露试验中,CAT与GST活性及其基因表达水平两项指标对低毒处理组较高毒处理组更为敏感.     

CdSe/ZnS量子点对稀有鮈鲫胚胎发育的影响及其氧化应激作用

本研究以稀有鮈鲫(Gobiocypris rarus)为对象,研究了不同浓度CdSe/ZnS量子点(QDs)暴露下,稀有鮈鲫胚胎发育过程中自主运动频率、内心率和体长的变化,以及利用体内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和丙二醛(MDA)作为毒性指标,反映CdSe/ZnS QDs暴露对稀有鮈鲫胚胎发育的氧化应激作用.结果显示:CdSe/ZnS QDs对稀有鮈鲫胚胎72 hpf(hours post fertilization)的半致死浓度(LC50)为319.629 nmol·L-1,96 hpf的半致畸浓度(EC50)为203.312 nmol·L-1.CdSe/ZnS QDs暴露不仅影响稀有鮈鲫胚胎死亡率、畸形率、自主运动频率、孵化时间和孵化率,而且使其内心率减缓、体长缩短,导致胚胎卵凝结,心包囊肿,出现脊椎弯曲等多种毒性现象.同时发现,CdSe/ZnS QDs暴露导致稀有鮈鲫体内MDA含量增加以及SOD活力的降低.这表明CdSe/ZnS QDs对稀有鮈鲫胚胎发育具有致畸、致死作用,而氧化应激可能是引起其胚胎致畸、致死的重要机制之一.     

广州城市污泥中重金属形态特征及其生态风险评价

分析了广州市4个不同来源的城市污水处理污泥中重金属含量,考察了污泥样品中重金属形态分布和生物可利用性,并分别利用风险评价指数(RAC)和固废重金属毒性浸出方法评价了污泥中重金属生态危害风险和浸出毒性风险.结果表明,污泥样品中Cu、Cr、Pb和Zn含量较高,不同来源污水处理污泥中重金属含量差别较大.污泥样品中重金属绝大部分以非稳定态存在,酸性污泥中可迁移的酸溶态重金属比例较高.由单一萃取结果,1 mol·L-1NaOAc溶液(pH 5.0)和0.02 mol·L-1EDTA+0.5 mol·L-1NH4OAc溶液(pH 4.6)分别对酸性和碱性污泥中生物可利用态重金属具有较好的萃取能力.污泥酸性越强,其中生物可利用态重金属比例越大.污泥中重金属的迁移能力使其处于高生态危害风险程度;重金属的生物可利用性使酸性污泥大多处于极高危害风险程度,而使碱性污泥大多处于中等危害风险水平.除城市污水处理污泥外,污泥样品中重金属具有高的浸出毒性风险,萃取重金属生物可利用态后,污泥仍具有高浸出毒性风险,但由于浸出毒性风险降低使部分污泥可进行填埋处置.     

植物对纳米颗粒的吸收、转运及毒性效应

随着工程纳米颗粒的广泛使用,这些纳米材料不可避免地进入环境,对环境造成未知影响.植物是高等生物暴露于纳米颗粒的一条主要途径,工程纳米颗粒可能通过食物链使其在高营养水平生物中积累.植物与纳米颗粒间的相互作用应该受到关注和重视.已有的文献表明纳米颗粒能被植物选择性地吸收并引起植物毒性,但纳米颗粒进入植物体内的机制仍不明确.多数关于植物吸收纳米颗粒的研究是在理想条件如水培实验下开展,并且集中在植物的种子发芽或是幼苗生长阶段.描述纳米颗粒在植物体内的生物转化和在植物体内分配的报道较少,而且这方面的机制没有阐述清楚.目前有许多研究者关注纳米颗粒的植物毒性效应,但这方面的研究需要进一步深入.     

活性炭负载DBU流化床吸附CO_2反应条件研究

采用浸渍法将DBU负载到活性炭上制成吸附剂。通过扫描电镜、N_2吸附分析仪、热重分析仪对吸附剂进行表征测定,并在流化床上进行正交实验,研究不同反应条件对活性炭负载DBU吸附CO_2的影响。结果表明:影响活性炭负载DBU流化床吸附CO_2的主要因素是CO_2浓度,其次是DBU负载率和吸附剂质量;最佳反应条件是DBU负载率7.4%,气流量0.8 L/min,水蒸气预处理时间5 min,CO_2浓度10%,吸附剂质量10 g,再生温度为100℃。