Novel microbial fuel cell design to operate with different wastewaters simultaneously

A novel single cathode chamber and multiple anode chamber microbial fuel cell design(MAC-MFC)was developed by incorporating multiple anode chambers into a single unit and its performance was checked.During 60 days of operation,performance of MAC-MFC was assessed and compared with standard single anode/cathode chamber microbial fuel cell(SC-MFC).The tests showed that MAC-MFC generated stable and higher power outputs compared with SC-MFC and each anode chamber contributed efficiently.Further,MAC-MFCs were incorporated with different wastewaters in different anode chambers and their behavior in MFC performance was observed.MAC-MFC efficiently treated multiple wastewaters simultaneously at low cost and small space,which claims its candidature for future possible scale-up applications.     

不同生长期加拿大蓬挥发油对蚕豆保卫细胞的毒性效应

为探讨入侵植物加拿大蓬(Erigeron canadensis L.)的化感作用机制,以蚕豆(Vicia faba L.)叶下表皮为材料,研究了营养期和生殖期加拿大蓬挥发油各1μL、2μL、3μL、4μL、5μL分别处理保卫细胞10 min、20 min、30 min后产生的毒性效应。结果表明:挥发油处理后保卫细胞大量死亡,核形态发生较大改变;细胞死亡率和核异常率显著上升(p0.05),与处理剂量和时间呈正相关(p0.01);营养期挥发油处理后细胞的死亡率和核异常率总体高于生殖期;加入泛Caspase抑制剂后,细胞死亡率显著降低(p0.05)。研究表明,加拿大蓬挥发油引起的保卫细胞死亡为Caspase依赖性的细胞凋亡,营养期挥发油的化感胁迫效应比生殖期更强。结合GC-MS分析可见,不同生长期加拿大蓬挥发油毒性的差异可能与其化感物质的组成和含量差异有关。     

生物质能源及发电技术研究

随着能源消耗和环境污染之间矛盾的加剧,使得人类需要寻找一些相对比较清洁的可再生能源。生物质能源由于其数量巨大,环境污染小,并具有可再生性,成为目前比较好的选择之一。生物质能发电是生物质能利用的主要方式之一。介绍了生物质能的特点及利用转化方式,重点讲述了直接燃烧发电技术、气化发电技术以及生物质燃料电池技术,最后根据我国国情指出了生物质能利用的主要问题及几点建议。对我国生物质能发电的发展提供了技术参考和技术支持。     

Bacterial interactions with uranium: An environmental perspective

The presence of actinides in radioactive wastes is of major concern because of their potential for migration from the waste repositories and long-term contamination of the environment. Studies have been and are being made on inorganic processes affecting the migration of radionuclides from these repositories to the environment but it is becoming increasingly evident that microbial processes are of importance as well. Bacteria interact with uranium through different mechanisms including, biosorption at the cell surface, intracellular accumulation, precipitation, and redox transformations (oxidation/reduction). The present study is intended to give a brief overview of the key processes responsible for the interaction of actinides e.g. uranium with bacterial strains isolated from different extreme environments relevant to radioactive repositories. Fundamental understanding of the interaction of these bacteria with U will be useful for developing appropriate radioactive waste treatments, remediation and long-term management strategies as well as for predicting the microbial impacts on the performance of the radioactive waste repositories.     

Effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on fish hepatoma cells treated with mercury chloride and ionizing radiation

Organisms are exposed to natural radiations from cosmic or terrestrial origins. Furthermore the combined action of radiation with various chemicals is an inevitable feature of modern life. Radiation is known to cause cell death, mainly due to its ability to produce reactive oxygen species in cells. N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) is a well-known sulfhydryl-containing antioxidant whose role in radioprotection has been reported. Synergistic effects of radiation and mercury chloride on human cells was previously reported by the authors. Based on the previous report, this study was designed to assess the synergistic effects of radiation and mercury chloride on fish hepatoma cells, as well as to investigate the protective effects of NAC on the cells. The cytotoxicity of radiation was enhanced in the presence of mercury chloride. NAC in lower concentrations prevented cells from death after irradiation with lower doses (<300 Gy) while it did not prevent cells from radiation-induced death after irradiation with higher doses (300, 500 Gy). The intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels significantly decreased after irradiation while the combined treatment of NAC and radiation alleviated the decrease in the GSH levels. The investigations give a clue for the action mechanism of synergistic or protective effects of NAC on the cells. Due to their high resistance to ionizing radiation, the PLHC-1 cells can be effectively used as a screening tool for assessing the combined effects of radiation with toxic chemicals.     

Histopathology of cerebro neuronal cells in freshwater snail Bellamya bengalensis: impact on respiratory physiology,by acute poisoning of mercuric and zinc chloride

Mercuric (Hg) and zinc (Zn) chloride toxicity was investigated in cerebroneuronal cells and gills of Bellamya bengalensis using sublethal concentrations under lab conditions. Freshwater snail B. bengalensis was exposed to mean LC₅₀ concentration (1.56 ppm and 12.7 ppm) of Hg and Zn chloride, respectively. Bioaccumulation of Hg and Zn was observed in nervous and gill tissue in proportion to the time of exposure. Respiratory mechanisms and rate of oxygen consumption was depleted by both metals. Histopathological alterations in cerebro neuronal cells (giant, large, medium, and small) and gill filamental epithelia were apparent in Hg and Zn-exposed snails. Histopathology demonstrated increased cytoplasmic basophilia, extreme indentation of plasma membrane, karyolitic and eccentric nuclei, nuclear envelope with irregular size, and shrunken appearance of cerebroneuronal cells. Histologically, gill filamental epithelia showed hypertrophy, enlarged ciliated margins reduced length of cilia, nuclear dilations, thickening of basal lamina, and hemocytic accumulations in induced cells and severe loss of goblet mucus cells at the tip. Histopathology was accompanied by dysfunctioning cilia with decreased rate of respiration. Overall, neuronal impairment with damaged gill filament produced improper gaseous exchange leading to sluggish movement.     

底物浓度影响微生物燃料电池性能和生物生长的模拟研究

建立了含有悬浮微生物、电极上生物量、可溶性化学底物和中介体的微生物燃料电池(MFC)数学模型。通过底物降解、生物增长和电流产生过程的模拟,考察了生物量和底物随时间的变化规律,底物质量浓度对生物量、底物降解和电流的影响。结果表明,当溶液中初始微生物量很少时,随着MFC反应的进行,生物主要富集在电极上,溶液中生物生长缓慢;MFC中的生物生长经历延滞期、对数期和平稳期,底物分解经历缓慢、快速和消耗殆尽3个阶段。底物质量浓度小于等于250 mg/L时,生物延滞期时间、底物缓慢分解阶段时间、生物生长到达平稳时间、底物消耗殆尽的时间和电流到达最大值所需的时间随着底物质量浓度的增加而缩短。底物质量浓度大于250 mg/L时,生物延滞期时间、底物缓慢分解阶段时间、生物生长到达平稳时间、底物消耗殆尽的时间和电流到达最大值所需的时间随着底物质量浓度的增加而增加。