The in vitro effect of selected essential oils on the growth and mycotoxin production of Aspergillus species

The aim of the present study was to assess the antifungal and anti-toxinogenic activity of 15 essential oils (EOs) against three fungi of the genus Aspergillus (A. parasiticus KMi-227-LR, A. parasiticus KMi-220-LR and A. flavus KMi-202-LR). The minimum inhibitory doses (MIDs) of the tested essential oils and their antifungal activity were determined using the micro-atmosphere method. The original commercial essential oil samples of Jasminum officinale L., Thymus vulgaris L., Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merrill &; Perry, Rosmarinus officinalis L., Ocimum basilicum L., Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Salvia officinalis L., Citrus limon (L.) Burm, Origanum vulgare L., Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Carum carvi L., Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck., Zingiber officinalis Rosc., Mentha piperita L. and Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees. (C. verum J.S.Presl.) were produced in Slovakia (Calendula a.s., Nová ?ubovňa, Slovakia). All essential oils exhibited activity against all tested strains of fungi. After 14 days of incubation, A. flavus (KMi-202-LR) showed the highest susceptibility with a growth inhibition percentage (GIP) of 18.70% to C. limon and 5.92% to C. sinensis, while A. parasiticus (KMi-220-LR) exhibited a GIP of 20.56% to J. officinale. The minimum inhibitory doses (MIDs) of EOs with the most significant activity were recorded. The best antifungal activity, using the micro-atmosphere method was found in S. aromaticum with an MID of 62.5 μL L^?1 air, T. vulgaris (MID of 62.5 μL L^?1 air) and O. vulgare (MID of 31.5 μL L^?1 air) against all tested strains. Mycotoxin production of the tested strains was evaluated by the thin layer chromatography (TLC) method. Mycotoxin production of AFB₁ and AFG₁ was inhibited following all treatments with C. carvi, R. officinale and S. officinale, Eucalyptus globulus L. and O. basilicum L. Essential oils exhibited a potential inhibition activity against toxic fungi, although, these affected only the production of AFB₁.     

Source Type Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Surface Sediments from the Muar River and Pulau Merambong,Peninsular Malaysia

This article is the most recent report of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Muar River and Pulau Merambong, Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 16 priority pollutant PAHs in addition to methylphenanthrene among alkylated PAHs were analyzed in surface sediments during May 2013. Total PAHs ranged from 212 to 440 and 151 to 412 ng g^?1 dw in sediments from the Muar River and the Pulau Merambong, respectively. The Muar River showed an increasing trend of PAH concentrations, while no previous data exist for the Pulau Merambong. Generally, mixed petrogenic and pyrogenic sources of PAHs with predominance of the latter were detected in the study area. Effective management of oil pollution has caused a drastic decrease in petrogenic sources of PAHs.     

我国腈纶废水物化预处理方法的研究进展

结合我国腈纶废水的特征,系统归纳了近年来我国腈纶废水常用物化预处理方法的研究进展。物化预处理方法包括内电解法、混凝法、Fenton氧化法、电解法、臭氧氧化法、光催化氧化法、微波法等。这些方法普遍存在高成本、高能耗、实际运行费用大等问题。对未来物化预处理方法的研究方向提出了建议。最后指出,腈纶废水的处理应朝着节能高效和资源化的方向发展,推动我国腈纶废水处理技术的不断进步和完善。     

微波辐照热解废印刷电路板产物的分析研究

为了减少电子废弃物对环境的危害,实现其资源化回收利用,研究了微波辐照热解废印刷电路板的效果,并采用红外光谱、气相色谱质谱和X荧光光谱等方法对热解产物的组成及性质进行了分析.结果显示:微波热解得到的气体、液体、固体的产率分别为7%～33%、26%～45%、31%～51%,其中气体主要由CO、CO2、H2及有机烃类组成,可燃性气体占70%(体积分数)左右,可作为燃料气加以利用;液体分为水相及油相,经常压蒸馏后得到的120～250 ℃馏分主要为单酚化合物,苯酚高达50%(质量分数)左右,甲基苯酚和邻甲基苯酚为25%(质量分数)以上,是良好的化工原料;固体中除炭外,还含有许多金属如铅、锡和铜等,可以回收利用.说明微波热解技术处理电子废弃物可实现资源化回收利用.     

Diffusive gradients in thin films using molecularly imprinted polymer binding gels for in situ measurements of antibiotics in urban wastewaters

• Selective molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) binding gel was prepared. • MIP-DGT showed excellent uptake performance for antibiotics. • In situ measurement of antibiotics in wastewaters via MIP-DGT was developed. • The MIP-DGT method was robust, reliable, and highly sensitive. Urban wastewater is one of main sources for the introduction of antibiotics into the environment. Monitoring the concentrations of antibiotics in wastewater is necessary for estimating the amount of antibiotics discharged into the environment through urban wastewater treatment systems. In this study, we report a novel diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) method based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for in situ measurement of two typical antibiotics, fluoroquinolones (FQs) and sulfonamides (SAs) in urban wastewater. MIPs show specific adsorption toward their templates and their structural analogs, resulting in the selective uptake of the two target antibiotics during MIP-DGT deployment. The uptake performance of the MIP-DGTs was evaluated in the laboratory and was relatively independent of solution pH (4.0–9.0), ionic strength (1–750 mmol/L), and dissolved organic matter (DOM, 0–20 mg/L). MIP-DGT samplers were tested in the effluent of an urban wastewater treatment plant for field trials, where three SA (sulfamethoxazole, sulfapyridine, and trimethoprim) and one FQ (ofloxacin) antibiotics were detected, with concentrations ranging from 25.50 to 117.58 ng/L, which are consistent with the results measured by grab sampling. The total removal efficiency of the antibiotics was 80.1% by the treatment plant. This study demonstrates that MIP-DGT is an effective tool for in situ monitoring of trace antibiotics in complex urban wastewaters.     

Manganese-modified biochar for highly efficient sorption of cadmium

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, corn stalk was modified by manganese (Mn) before (MBC1) and after (MBC2) pyrolysis at different temperatures (400~600 °C)...     

Magnetic nanoparticles incorporation into different substrates for dyes and heavy metals removal—A Review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Substantial discharge of hazardous substances, especially dyes and heavy metal ions to the environment, has become a global concern due to...     

超临界水氧化法处理造纸黑液

采用自制的超临界水氧化反应装置,对造纸工业排放的黑液进行处理。考察了反应温度、反应压力、反应时间、过氧量(初始反应时所加氧气的量与废水完全氧化所需氧气的理论量的比,%)等对黑液中COD去除率的影响。实验结果表明,处理黑液的最佳反应条件为:反应温度500℃,压力26M Pa,过氧量500%,反应时间120s。在此最佳条件下处理COD为85 000m g/L的造纸黑液,COD去除率可达99.9%。     

滨海新区能源消费环境库兹涅茨曲线的实证分析

利用滨海新区2000—2007年人均GDP、单位GDP能耗及能源消费总量等指标的时间序列数据,拟合现状滨海新区能源消费环境库兹涅茨曲线(EKC)。基于情景分析法,预测了2006—2020年滨海新区经济发展与能源消耗响应关系及发展趋势,并对其EKC曲线形状做了进一步分析。结果表明,现阶段滨海新区能源消费总量与人均GDP相关关系不存在EKC假说,并且按目前发展态势,未来能源消费总量仍趋于不断增长。通过强有力的技术进步、结构调整、可再生能源开发利用以及相关法律、政策干预等措施,滨海新区可以在较低的人均GDP水平实现能源消费总量与经济增长的完全"脱钩"。     

Aquatic biomonitoring of Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts in peninsular Malaysia

An aquatic biomonitoring of Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts in river water corresponding to five villages situated in three states in peninsular Malaysia was determined. There were 51.3 % (20/39) and 23.1 % (9/39) samples positive for Giardia and Cryptosporidium (oo)cysts, respectively. Overall mean concentration between villages for Giardia cysts ranged from 0.10 to 25.80 cysts/l whilst Cryptosporidium oocysts ranged from 0.10 to 0.90 oocysts/l. Detailed results of the river samples from five villages indicated that Kuala Pangsun 100 % (9/9), Kemensah 77.8 % (7/9), Pos Piah 33.3 % (3/9) and Paya Lebar 33.3 % (1/3) were contaminated with Giardia cysts whilst Cryptosporidium (oo)cysts were only detected in Kemensah (100 %; 9/9) and Kuala Pangsun (66.6 %; 6/9). However, the water samples from Bentong were all negative for these waterborne parasites. Samples were collected from lower point, midpoint and upper point. Midpoint refers to the section of the river where the studied communities are highly populated. Meanwhile, the position of the lower point is at least 2 km southward of the midpoint and upper point is at least 2 km northward of the midpoint. The highest mean concentration for (oo)cysts was found at the lower points [3.15?±?6.09 (oo)cysts/l], followed by midpoints [0.66?±?1.10 (oo)cysts/l] and upper points [0.66?±?0.92 (oo)cysts/l]. The mean concentration of Giardia cysts was highest at Kuala Pangsun (i.e. 5.97?±?7.0 cysts/l), followed by Kemensah (0.83?±?0.81 cysts/l), Pos Piah (0.20?±?0.35 cysts/l) and Paya Lebar (0.10?±?0.19 cysts/l). On the other hand, the mean concentration of Cryptosporidium oocysts was higher at Kemensah (0.31?±?0.19 cysts/l) compared to Kuala Pangsun (0.03?±?0.03cysts/l). All the physical and chemical parameters did not show significant correlation with both protozoa. In future, viability status and molecular characterisation of Giardia and Cryptosporidium should be applied to identify species and genotypes/subgenotypes for better understanding of the epidemiology of these waterborne parasites.