Unusual uranium biomineralization induced by green algae: Behavior investigation and mechanism probe

As a biosorbent, algae are frequently used for the biotreatment or bioremediation of water contaminated by heavy metal or radionuclides. However, it is unclear that whether or not the biomineralization of these metal or radionuclides can be induced by algae in the process of bioremediation and what the mechanism is. In this work, Ankistrodsemus sp. has been used to treat the uranium-contaminated water, and more than 98% of uranium in the solution can be removed by the alga, when the initial uranium concentration ranges from 10 to 80 mg/L. Especially, an unusual phenomenon of algae-induced uranium biomineralization has been found in the process of uranium bioremediation and its mineralization mechanism has been explored by multiple approaches. It is worth noticing that the biomineralization of uranium induced by Ankistrodsemus sp. is significantly affected by contact time and pH. Uranium is captured rapidly on the cell surface via complexation with the carboxylate radical, amino and amide groups of the microalgae cells, which provides nucleation sites for the precipitation of insoluble minerals. Uranium stimulates Ankistrodsemus sp. to metabolize potassium ions (K⁺), which may endow algae with the ability to biomineralize uranium into the rose-like compreignacite (K₂[(UO₂)₆O₄(OH)₆]•8H₂O). As the time increased, the amorphous gradually converted into compreignacite crystals and a large number of crystals would expand over both inside and outside the cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigated microalgae with a time-dependent uranium biomineralization ability and superior tolerance to uranium. This work validates that Ankistrodsemus sp. is a promising alga for the treatment of uranium-contaminated wastewater.     

环境与经济协调发展是乡镇工业腾飞的必由之路

介绍了原来工业落后的角直镇,近年来由于按照“统一规划、综合治理、集中控制、分步到位”的环境与经济协调发展路子,一跃成为全省发展乡镇工业的“示范工程”的成功经验。指出角直镇发展的道路,将是乡镇工业实现腾飞的一条必由之路。     

ABS融资方式在我国环保基础设施建设中的应用构想

阐述了ＡＢＳ融资方式的涵义，指出其在环保基础设施融资方面所具有的优势，如保障国家安全、降低融资风险、降低融资成本、筹资前景广阔和改善公司财务状况等，对使用ＡＢＳ方式进行融资所应当注意的问题，即保障可预期的现金流问题以及风险管理问题提出了解决方案。     

Effects of some insecticides on microbial activities in sandy soil

Abstract

Laboratory tests were conducted with 14 insecticides applied to a sandy loam to determine whether these materials caused any effects on microbial activities related to soil fertility. The ammonification of soil native organic nitrogen was not inhibited by any of the insecticide treatments. Some insecticides showed an effect on nitrification during the second week of incubation which subsequently recovered to levels similar to those obtained in the controls. There was a significant effect on denitrification in a number of treated samples. However, recovery of denitrifying capacity was rapid. This recovery indicated that the indigenous soil microorganisms can tolerate the chemicals used for control of insect pests. No significant inhibition of sulfur oxidation was observed. Results indicated that the insecticide treatments at the level tested were not drastic enough to be considered deleterious to soil microbial activities important to soil fertility.     

Effect of some technical and formulated insecticides on microbial activities in soil

Abstract

The influence of 11 formulated and technical insecticides at 10 μg/g soil on growth and activities of microorganisms was determined. The populations of bacteria and fungi initially decreased with some pesticide treatments but recovered rapidly to levels similar to or greater than those of controls after three weeks. Both formulated and technical chlordane, chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin stimulated fungal growth. No inhibition on nitrification after two wks and sulfur oxidation after three wks was observed in treatments with either grade of insecticide. The effect of different treatments on respiration was equal to or greater than that of control sample. Less effect was observed with technical insecticides than the formulated ones on microbial populations and activities in the soil.     

水力帷幕防治海水入侵的数值模拟研究

为比较应用于防治海水入侵工程的水力帷幕效果,利用垂向二维非均质流体的对流-弥散模型,运用伽辽金有限元法求解,并用物理实验结果验证其有效性.将模型应用于模拟广西北海市海城区海水入侵过程及水力帷幕防治海水入侵效果,分别计算了超采地下水、抽水、注水和抽-注水情况下咸淡水界面随时间推移过程,并分析咸淡水界面推移与抽、注水流量及抽、注水孔位置之间关系,通过比较得出注水是北海市防治海水入侵较为理想的措施.     

基于均匀设计的响应面优化油页岩吸附铜离子的研究

采用均匀设计与响应面优化确定了油页岩吸附水中Cu2+的最优条件。以吸附率为主要指标进行研究,通过对5个因素的混合水平均匀设计实验结果进行逐步回归分析其通径系数,确定影响吸附率的3个主要因素为pH值、吸附剂投加量和反应时间,并根据极大值确定其取值范围。然后通过响应面优化实验,分析并建立多项式回归方程,方差分析表明其失拟不显著而回归显著,模型预测结果与实验结果高度吻合。响应面优化确定吸附的最佳条件为pH=6,吸附剂投加量为6.88 g/L,反应时间为68.24min,预测吸附率为96.42%。在此条件下,实测Cu2+的吸附率达95.1%。     

Arsenic accumulation in the hyperaccumulator Chinese brake and its utilization potential for phytoremediation

The unique property of arsenic hyperaccumulation by the newly discovered Chinese brake (Pteris vittata L.) fern is of great significance in the phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated soils. The objectives of this study were to (i) examine arsenic accumulation characterized by its distribution pattern in Chinese brake, and (ii) assess the phytoextraction potential of the plant. Young ferns with five or six fronds were transferred to an arsenic-contaminated soil containing 98 mg As kg-1 and grown for 20 wk in a greenhouse. At harvest, the Chinese brake produced a total dry biomass of 18 g plant-1. Arsenic concentration in the fronds was 6000 mg kg-1 dry mass after 8 wk of transplanting, and it increased to 7230 mg kg-1 after 20 wk with a bioconcentration factor (ratio of plant arsenic concentration to water-soluble arsenic in soil) of 1450 and a translocation factor (ratio of arsenic concentration in shoot to that in root) of 24. The arsenic concentrations increased as the fronds aged, with the old fronds accumulating as much as 13,800 mg As kg-1. Most (approximately 90%) of the arsenic taken up by the Chinese brake was transported to the fronds, with the lowest arsenic concentrations in roots. About 26% of the initial soil arsenic was removed by the plant after 20 wk of transplanting. Our data suggest that the arsenic hyperaccumulating property of the Chinese brake could be exploited on a large scale to remediate arsenic contaminated soils.     

Estimating the total exposure to air pollutants for different population age groups in Hong Kong

Given that Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, the exposure of the Hong Kong people is one of the interesting research areas. In this study, an indirect approach was used to estimate the exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), respiratory dust (PM10) and carbon monoxide (CO) pollutants experienced by different age groups of people in Hong Kong. The average concentrations of the 20 major microenvironments obtained from our measurement survey data, together with the people activity pattern data obtained from 7-day recall questionnaires, were used to predict frequency distributions to exposure assessment. Our results showed that Hong Kong people spent more than 86% of their time indoors. Homes were shown to be the one of the major exposure sites to NO2, CO and PM10 for all age groups. Our results also indicate that the 24-h NO2 exposure for individuals, irrespective of age, spending more than 2 h in commuting daily, was observed to be exceeding the 24-h NO2 exposure standards. This study was one of the pioneering studies with valuable contribution for modeling the estimates of exposures to NO2, PM10 and CO of different age groups in Hong Kong.     

汉江下游农村区域经济发展方向

江汉下游农村经济区在湖北省中部，经济区位居中处优，在湖北省农村经济活动中具有举足轻重的地位，该区乡镇企业较发达，特别是天门、仙桃、潜江三市尤为突出。当前我国正处于向社会市场经济转轨初期，全省处于如何实现国民经济和社会发展“九五”计划和２０１０年远景目标建议重要开端时期，为了阐明本区在“转轨”和“实现建议”时期的作用，就今后的发展方向等问题作了初步探讨，并进一步提出相应对策措施。