Constitutive expression of a high-affinity sulfate transporter in Indian mustard affects metal tolerance and accumulation

The Stylosanthes hamata SHST1 gene encodes a high-affinity sulfate transporter located in the plasma membrane. In this study the S. hamata SHST1 gene was constitutively expressed in Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.] to investigate its importance for tolerance and accumulation of various oxyanions that may be transported by SHST1 and for cadmium, which is detoxified by sulfur-rich compounds. The transgenic SHST1 lines SHST1-12C and SHST1-4C were compared with wild-type Indian mustard for tolerance and accumulation of arsenate, chromate, tungstate, vanadate, and cadmium. As seedlings the SHST1 plants accumulated significantly more Cd and W, and somewhat more Cr and V. The SHST1 seedlings were less tolerant to Cd, Mo, and V compared to wild-type plants. Mature SHST1 plants were less tolerant than wild-type plants to Cd and Cr. SHST1 plants accumulated significantly more Cd, Cr, and W in their roots than wild-type plants. In their shoots they accumulated significantly more Cr and somewhat more V and W. Shoot Cd accumulation was significantly lower than in wild-type, and As levels were somewhat reduced. Compared to wild-type plants, sulfur accumulation was enhanced in roots of SHST1 plants but not in shoots. Together these results suggest that SHST1 can facilitate uptake of other oxyanions in addition to sulfate and that SHST1 mediates uptake in roots rather than root-to-shoot translocation. Since SHST1 overexpression led to enhanced accumulation of Cr, Cd, V, and W, this approach shows some potential for phytoremediation, especially if it could be combined with the expression of a gene that confers enhanced metal translocation or tolerance.     

Bifenthrin exerts proatherogenic effects via arterial accumulation of native and oxidized LDL in rats: the beneficial role of vitamin E and selenium

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The purpose of this study was to investigate, for the first time, the effects of Bifenthrin (Bif) chronic exposure on plasmatic and aortic lipid...     

Bench-scale gasification of cedar wood – Part II: Effect of Operational conditions on contaminant release

Here, we present the evolution profile of tar in the product gas during cedar biomass gasification. We also discuss the evolution of other contaminants (H₂S, COS, NH₃, HCN, and HCl). The cedar wood was gasified under various operating conditions in a bench-scale externally heated updraft gasifier; this was followed by thermal reforming.Tar levels in the product gas were significantly affected by the operating conditions used. At a gasification temperature of 923 K, there was no clear relation between the evolution of phenolic tar in the product gas as a function of residence time. The evolution of PAH tar at a low gasification temperature was lower than the evolution of phenolic tar. With increasing temperature, the proportion of PAH tar content became significant. At a gasification temperature of 1223 K, increasing the residence time reduced the content of PAH tar owing to a catalytic effect associated with ash generation at high temperatures. Increasing the steam-to-carbon (S/C) ratio under thermal conditions had a slight effect on PAH conversion. However, increasing the equivalence ratio (ER) effectively reduced the tar levels.The conversion of fuel-sulfur and fuel-nitrogen to volatile-sulfur and volatile-nitrogen, respectively, increased with increasing S/C ratio and ER. The evolutions of COS and HCN gases were much smaller than the evolution of H₂S and NH₃. The evolution of HCl in the product gas decreased slightly with increasing ER. Increasing the S/C ratio decreased the HCl levels in the product gas. The effect of temperature on contaminant levels could not be fully understood due to limited availability of experimental data at various temperatures. We also compare our findings with data in the literature.     

Ecology of sandy beaches in Oman

The benthic macrofauna and physical features of 10 sandy beaches along the coast of Oman were surveyed quantitatively. This is a mesotidal regime mostly subject to low to moderate wave energy but more exposed in the south. Five northern beaches are tide-dominated, with low wave energy, and their profiles consist of a berm, a steep, swash-dominated upper shore and a broad tide-dominated terrace from mid-shore downwards. They are composed of moderately sorted fine to medium sands. Southern beaches experience greater wave energy, particularly during the summer southwest monsoon, and exhibit smoother, concave profiles with fine, fairly well sorted carbonate sand. 58 species and species groups were recorded, with crustanceans, polychaetes and molluscs dominant. In general species richness was high, at least 19–25 species per beach, but dry biomass moderate to low at 26–90g/m shoreline, with one high value of 450g/m. Total abundance was moderate at 3–73×10³ organisms/m of beach. Some zonation was evident with ocypodid crabs andTylos in the supralittoral, cirolanid isopods on the upper shore and a variety of species on the lower shore. The coast of Oman appears to constitute a single zoogeographic region, but with some regional differentiation between north and south due to varying physical conditions. Thus, OmanÕs beaches are characterized by tide-dominated morphodynamics and exceptionally high species richness.     

Removal of phosphorus from aqueous solutions using chemically modified sawdust of Aleppo pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus halepensis Miller</Emphasis>): kinetics and isotherm studies

In the present study, chemically modified Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Miller) sawdust was used for the removal of phosphate from water. Biosorbent preparation process included size fractionation, extraction for surface activation, acid prehydrolysis, and treatment with urea. Sorption of phosphate ions onto biosorbent was studied using the batch technique. The effect of different parameters such as contact time, adsorbate concentration, and temperature was investigated. The adsorption kinetics data were best described by the pseudo-second-order rate equation, and equilibrium was achieved after 40 and 80 min for modified and unmodified sawdust, respectively. The Langmuir and Freundlich equations for describing adsorption equilibrium were applied to data. The constants and correlation coefficients of these isotherm models were calculated and compared. The adsorption isotherms obey the Freundlich equation. The thermodynamic parameters like free energy, enthalpy, and entropy changes for the adsorption of phosphate ions have been evaluated, and it has been found that the reaction was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The low value of activated energy of adsorption, 3.088–3.540 kJ mol⁻¹, indicates that the phosphate ions are easily adsorbed on the sawdust. Results suggest that the prepared chemically modified Aleppo pine sawdust has potential in remediation of contaminated waters by phosphate.     

A large-scale experiment on mass transfer of trichloroethylene from the unsaturated zone of a sandy aquifer to its interfaces

A large-scale experiment was conducted to investigate the transport of trichloroethylene (TCE) vapors in the unsaturated zone and to determine the mass transfer to the groundwater and the atmosphere. The experiment involved injection of 5 1 of TCE in the unsaturated zone under controlled conditions, with multidepth sampling of gas and water through the unsaturated zone and across the capillary zone into underlying groundwater. The mass transfer of TCE vapors from the vadose zone to the atmosphere was quantified using a vertical flux chamber. A special soil water sampler was used to monitor transport across the capillary fringe. Experimental data indicated that TCE in the unsaturated zone was mainly transported to the atmosphere and this exchange reduced significantly the potential for groundwater pollution. The maximum measured TCE flux to the atmosphere was about 3 g/m(2)/day. Observed and calculated fluxes based on vertical TCE vapor concentration gradients and Fick's law were in good agreement. This confirms that TCE vapor transport under the experimental conditions was governed essentially by molecular diffusion. TCE vapors also caused a lower, but significant contamination of the underlying groundwater by dispersion across the capillary fringe with a corresponding maximum flux of about 0.1 g/m(2)/day. This mass transfer to groundwater is partly uncertain due to an inadvertent entry of some nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) from the source area into the saturated zone. Application of an analytical solution to estimate the TCE flux from the unsaturated zone to the groundwater indicated that this phenomenon is not only influenced by molecular diffusion but also by vertical dispersion. The mass balance indicates that, under the given experimental conditions (e.g. proximity of the source emplacement relative to the soil surface, relatively high permeable porous medium), nearly 95% of the initial TCE mass was transferred to the atmosphere.     

固定化蒽醌对偶氮染料生物降解促进作用研究

采用非水溶性蒽醌固定化技术对偶氮染料生物降解促进作用进行了研究,对比了海藻酸钙,聚乙烯醇-硼酸,聚乙烯醇-海藻酸钙和琼脂4种固定化技术,探讨了溶解氧对脱色过程的影响和固定化蒽醌系统脱色广谱性.研究结果表明,固定化蒽醌可提高多种偶氮染料生物厌氧脱色速度1.5～2倍和降低偶氮染料脱色过程氧化还原电位-10～-15 mV;经4次循环使用后,其加速作用仍保持在90%以上;固定化蒽醌微生物系统具有很强抗氧冲击能力.     

Zinc oxide nanoparticles: potential effects on soil properties,crop production,food processing,and food quality

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The use of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) is expected to increase soil fertility, crop productivity, and food quality. However, the potential...     

Atmospheric photochemistry and secondary aerosol formation of urban air in Lyon, France

Photochemical aging of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere is an important source of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). To evaluate the formation potential of SOA at an urban site in Lyon (France), an outdoor experiment using a Potential Aerosol Mass (PAM) oxidation flow reactor (OFR) was conducted throughout entire days during January-February 2017. Diurnal variation of SOA formations and their correlation with OH radical exposure (OHexp), ambient pollutants (VOCs and particulate matters, PM), Relative Humidity (RH), and temperature were explored in this study. Ambient urban air was exposed to high concentration of OH radicals with OHexp in range of (0.2–1.2)×10¹² molecule/(cm³?sec), corresponding to several days to weeks of equivalent atmospheric photochemical aging. The results informed that urban air at Lyon has high potency to contribute to SOA, and these SOA productions were favored from OH radical photochemical oxidation rather than via ozonolysis. Maximum SOA formation (36 µg/m³) was obtained at OHexp of about 7.4 × 10¹¹molecule/(cm³?sec), equivalent to approximately 5 days of atmospheric oxidation. The correlation between SOA formation and ambient environment conditions (RH & temperature, VOCs and PM) was observed. It was the first time to estimate SOA formation potential from ambient air over a long period in urban environment of Lyon.     

Synthesis of magnetite-based nanocomposites for effective removal of brilliant green dye from wastewater

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present study aims at evaluating the batch scale potential of cotton shell powder (CSP), Moringa oleifera leaves (ML), and magnetite-assisted...