Optimization of process parameters of extraction of lotaustralin from the roots of Rhodiola rosea L using supercritical CO2 plus modifier

Lotaustralin from the root of Rhodiola rosea L was extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide with methanol as modifier. Response surface methodology using Box–Behnken experimental design was utilized to explore parameters for supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. The effects of various values of temperatures (50–70 °C), pressures (200--400 bar), and percentages of methanol modifier (80%–100%) on the extraction yields of lotaustralin were evaluated. Extract identification was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The experimental data obtained were fitted to second-order polynomial equations and assessed using analysis of variance. The highest yields predicted from the experiments were 2.05 g kg^?1 lotaustralin at the optimal values, i.e. temperature 65 °C, pressure 316 bar, 88% methanol modifier at a flow rate of 0.4 mL min^?1, and dynamic extraction time 90 min.     

Genomewide analysis indicates that queen larvae have lower methylation levels in the honey bee (Apis mellifera)

The honey bee is a social insect characterized by caste differentiation, by which a young larva can develop into either a queen or a worker. Despite possessing the same genome, queen and workers display marked differences in reproductive capacity, physiology, and behavior. Recent studies have shown that DNA methylation plays important roles in caste differentiation. To further explore the roles of DNA methylation in this process, we analyzed DNA methylome profiles of both queen larvae (QL) and worker larvae (WL) of different ages (2, 4, and 6 day old), by using methylated DNA immunoprecipitation-sequencing (meDIP-seq) technique. The global DNA methylation levels varied between the larvae of two castes. DNA methylation increased from 2-day- to 4-day-old QL and then decreased in 6-day-old larvae. In WL, methylation levels increased with age. The methylcytosines in both larvae were enriched in introns, followed by coding sequence (CDS) regions, CpG islands, 2 kbp downstream and upstream of genes, and 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs). The number of differentially methylated genes (DMGs) in 2-, 4-, and 6-day-old QL and WL was 725, 3,013, and 5,049, respectively. Compared to 4- and 6-day-old WL, a large number of genes in QL were downmethylated, which were involved in many processes including development, reproduction, and metabolic regulation. In addition, some DMGs were concerned with caste differentiation.     

Tracing sources of coal combustion using stable sulfur isotope ratios in epilithic mosses and coals from China

In China, coal combustion is the most important source of atmospheric sulfur pollution. Moss sulfur isotopic signatures have been believed to hold source-specific information that can serve as a fingerprint to identify atmospheric sulfur sources. In cities where only local coals were combusted, we observed a good correspondence of average sulfur isotope ratios in urban mosses (Haplocladium microphyllum) to the values of local coals (δ(coals) = 1.455δ(mosses)- 3.945, R(2) = 0.975, p = 0.01). But if different types of coals were combusted, we did not know whether moss sulfur isotope ratios can indicate mixed coals. To confirm this, using a mixing model we estimated the ratios of imported coal to local coals at cities where both coals were used. We found that the estimated ratios at large cities (>1 million people) where both coals were used were similar to the reported ratios in their respective provinces. For small cities (<0.5 million people) in Jiangxi Province and other provinces, the estimated ratios were higher than the reported ratios because the relatively cheaper local coals were less used in all the small cities except in cities where local coal deposits were found nearby. The comparison results showed that moss sulfur isotope is a useful tool for indicating coal-derived sulfur even in cities where mixed coals were combusted.     

饱和膨润土复合颗粒吸附剂吸附的重金属离子的固定及其再生

采用Na_2S化学再生法对吸附Fe~(2+)、Mn~(2+)、Cu~(2+)和Zn~(2+)饱和的膨润土-钢渣复合颗粒吸附剂分别进行重金属离子的固定及其再生实验研究,探究该吸附剂吸附的重金属离子的固定问题及其再生的可能性和多次再生后的吸附效果,同时根据SEM图进一步揭示固定、再生机理。结果表明:在对Fe~(2+)的固定、再生实验中,可形成Fe S沉淀而实现固定,但再生后再吸附时,膨润土复合颗粒中蒙脱石结构改变使得颗粒坍塌变成粉末状,因此,吸附Fe~(2+)饱和的膨润土复合颗粒吸附剂不适合用Na_2S再生;而对Mn~(2+)、Cu~(2+)和Zn~(2+)的固定、再生实验中,均可形成S化物沉淀而实现固定,颗粒结构未改变,经过3次再生后,吸附剂对Mn~(2+)、Cu~(2+)和Zn~(2+)的去除率还可达到94.22%、83.2%和76.30%,远比未经再生的吸附剂吸附效果好,同时,由SEM表征分析进一步揭示:Na_2S再生溶液既可使重金属离子形成MS沉淀固定,又可使复合颗粒吸附剂获得再生,实现了同步固定、再生的目的,且吸附剂经多次再生后吸附效果保持良好。     

Contaminant characteristics and environmental risk assessment of heavy metals in the paddy soils from lead (Pb)-zinc (Zn) mining areas in Guangdong Province,South China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In November 2016, the total metal concentrations in nine representative locations in lead (Pb)-zinc (Zn) mining areas, located in Guangdong Province,...     

Mercury fluxes and pools in three subtropical forested catchments, southwest China

Forested catchments are an important part of the mercury (Hg) cycle and a link between the atmospheric and the aquatic environments. In this study, Hg input and output fluxes and its retention were investigated at subtropical forested catchments in southwest China. Significantly enhanced atmospheric Hg inputs were observed, and the contribution of litterfall Hg plays a more important role at these subtropical forested catchments. The ratios of Hg output fluxes from stream water to total input were 2.5% and 1.2% for LGS and TSP, which were markedly lower than those reported from Europe and North America. The current annual input Hg only accounted for 0.8 and 1.8 per mille to the Hg stored in the upper 90 cm of soil in LGS and TSP. These suggest that subtropical forested catchments are important for retention of atmospheric mercury deposition in southwest China.     

天然有机物对零价铁去除水体中砷的影响研究

在研究零价铁对水体中砷去除动力学的基础上,着重探讨了天然有机物腐殖酸对零价铁除砷的影响.并对零价铁的腐蚀产物进行了分析.结果表明,水体中的砷可以通过在零价铁腐蚀产物上的吸附得到快速去除.腐殖酸显著降低了砷的去除率,这归因于腐殖酸与零价铁腐蚀产生的铁离子形成络合物,阻止了Fe(OH)3(或Fe(OH)2)沉淀的产生.腐殖酸浓度越高.砷的去除率越低.1.00 mg腐殖酸最多可以络合约0.75 mg铁离子.当铁离子与腐殖酸的络合达到饱和后,零价铁进一步腐蚀产生的铁离子可形成Fe(OH)3(或Fe(OH)2)沉淀,这些沉淀物可吸附水体中的腐殖酸和砷,从而加速砷的去除.冷冻干燥后的零价铁腐蚀产物的结构以无定型为主,含有少量的结晶化合物,包括γ-Fe2O3、γ-FeO(OH)和Fe3O4等.腐殖酸的存在可进一步增加腐蚀产物中的无定型成分.光电能谱(XPS)分析结果显示,吸附在腐蚀产物上的砷为5价,没有发现5价砷被还原成3价砷.在应用零价铁修复砷污染水体时,应考虑腐殖酸的影响.     

北京市朝阳区城市生活垃圾组分分布特性研究

针对垃圾焚烧的需要,按垃圾组分低位热值重新进行了垃圾分类,检验了各组分的正态分布特性,得出了服从正态分布的垃圾组分的概率分布密度函数。进行了垃圾含水率的线性相关性分析,认为垃圾含水率与厨余的相关性最大,降水量对含水率影响不大。     

微生物絮凝剂产生菌的筛选及其絮凝特性

采用常规的微生物学方法,从垃圾渗滤液中筛选到一株高效微生物絮凝剂产生菌LB1,根据其形态学和生理生化特征初步鉴定该菌株属于假单胞菌属,命名为Pseudonomas sp. LB1。LB1所产微生物絮凝剂的絮凝特性的研究结果表明,LB1的最佳产絮凝时间为96 h,所产絮凝活性物质主要是其生长过程中的胞外分泌物和细胞生长后期的次级代谢产物,菌体细胞本身具有一定的助凝作用。LB1所产絮凝剂最佳加样量为3％（体积分数V/V）;对pH的适应范围较宽,在4～10之间具有较高的絮凝活性,均大于75％;温度为25℃时絮凝率为86.3％,在25～60℃之间,絮凝率基本保持稳定;LB1所产絮凝剂对几种废水具有较好的絮凝效果。