Phytoremediation potential of charophytes: Bioaccumulation and toxicity studies of cadmium, lead and zinc

The ability for usage of common freshwater charophytes,Chara aculeolata and Nitella opaca in removal of cadmium (Cd),lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) from wastewater was examined.C.aculeolata and N.opaca were exposed to various concentrations of Cd (0.25 and 0.5 mg/L),Pb (5 and 10 mg/L) and Zn (5 and 10 mg/L) solutions under hydroponic conditions for 6 days.C.aculeolata was more tolerant of Cd and Pb than N.opaca.The relative growth rate of N.opaca was drastically reduced at high concentrations of Cd and Pb although both were tolerant of Zn.Both macroalgae showed a reduction in chloroplast,chlorophyll and carotenoid content after Cd and Pb exposure,while Zn exposure had little effects.The bioaccumulation of both Cd and Pb was higher in N.opaca (1544.3 μg/g at 0.5 mg/L Cd,21657.0 μg/g at 10 mg/L Pb) whereas higher Zn accumulation was observed in C.aculeolata (6703.5 μg/g at 10 mg/L Zn).In addition,high bioconcentration factor values (> 1000) for Cd and Pb were observed in both species.C.aculeolata showed higher percentage of Cd and Pb removal (> 95%) than N.opaca and seemed to be a better choice for Cd and Pb removal from wastewater due to its tolerance to these metals.     

A miniature stainless steel net dumbbell-shaped stir-bar for the extraction of phthalate esters in instant noodle and rice soup samples

Abstract

This work reports the development of a very-simple-to-construct stir-bar extraction device so called “a dumbbell-shaped stainless steel stir-bar.” The extraction device was assembled from a rolled up stainless steel net filled with an XAD-2 sorbent and a metal rod to allow the use of a magnetic stirrer during extraction. The dumbbell-shaped stainless steel stir-bar was used to extract diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) before analysis by a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (GD-ECD). Under the optimal conditions, the developed method provided a good linearity from 10.0 to 1,000.0?ng mL^?1 for all three compounds. Limits of detection and limits of quantification were 9.37?±?0.29?ng mL^?1 and 31.22?±?0.95?ng mL^?1 for DEP, 5.73?±?0.31?ng mL^?1 and 19.1?±?1.0?ng mL^?1 for DBP and 3.30?±?0.06?ng mL^?1 and 11.0?±?0.19?ng mL^?1 for DEHP, respectively. Good recoveries in the range of 81.89?±?0.17 to 109.5?±?2.0% were achieved when the method was used to extract phthalate esters in five instant noodle and two rice soup samples.