Heavy metal (Cu,Cd, Pb,Cr) washing from river sediment using biosurfactant rhamnolipid

Heavy metal-contaminated sediments posed a serious threat to both human beings and environment. A biosurfactant, rhamnolipid, was employed as the washing agent to remove heavy metals in river sediment. Batch experiments were conducted to test the removal capability. The effects of rhamnolipid concentration, washing time, solution pH, and liquid/solid ratio were investigated. The speciation of heavy metals before and after washing in sediment was also analyzed. Heavy metal washing was favored at high concentration, long washing time, and high pH. In addition, the efficiency of washing was closely related to the original speciation of heavy metals in sediment. Rhamnolipid mainly targeted metals in exchangeable, carbonate-bound or Fe-Mn oxide-bound fractions. Overall, rhamnolipid biosurfactant as a washing agent could effectively remove heavy metals from sediment.

     

Physiological mechanisms of a wetland plant (Echinodorus osiris Rataj) to cadmium detoxification

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Physiological responses of Echinodorus osiris Rataj plant under cadmium (Cd) stress (5 and 15 mg L?1) were studied by...     

Individual and combined inhibition of phenol and thiocyanate on microbial activity of partial nitritation

This study evaluated the individual and interactive effect of phenol and thiocyanate (SCN⁻) on partial nitritation (PN) activity using batch test and response surface methodology. The IC₅₀ of phenol and SCN⁻ on PN sludge were 5.6 and 351 mg L⁻¹, respectively. The PN sludge was insensitive to phenol and SCN⁻ at levels lower than 1.77 and 43.3 mg L⁻¹, respectively. A regression model equation was developed and validated to predict the relative specific respiration rate (RSRR) of PN sludge exposed to different phenol and SCN⁻ concentrations. In the range of independent variables, the most severe inhibition was observed with a valley value (17%) for RSRR, when the phenol and SCN⁻ concentrations were 4.08 and 198 mg L⁻¹, respectively. An isobole plot was used to judge the combined toxicity of phenol and SCN⁻, and the joint inhibitory effect was variable depending on the composition and concentration of the toxic components. Furthermore, the toxic compounds showed independent effects, which is the most common type of combined toxicity.

     

Characterization of hard- and softwood biochars pyrolyzed at high temperature

A wide range of waste biomass/waste wood feedstocks abundantly available at mine sites provide the opportunity to produce biochars for cost-effective improvement of mine tailings and contaminated land at metal mines. In the present study, soft- and hardwood biochars derived from pine and jarrah woods at high temperature (700 °C) were characterized for their physiochemical properties including chemical components, electrical conductivity, pH, zeta potential, cation-exchange capacity (CEC), alkalinity, BET surface area and surface morphology. Evaluating and comparing these characteristics with available data from the literature have affirmed the strong dictation of precursor type on the physiochemical properties of the biochars. The pine and jarrah wood feedstocks are mainly different in their proportions of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, resulting in biochars with heterogeneous physiochemical properties. The hardwood jarrah biochar exhibits much higher microporosity, alkalinity and electrostatic capacity than the softwood pine. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis also show a good correlation between CEC–BET–alkalinity, and alkalinity–ash content. These comprehensive characterization and analysis results on biochars’ properties from feedstocks of hardwood (from forest land clearance at mine construction) and waste pine wood (from mining operations) will provide a good guide for tailoring biochar functionalities for remediating metal mine tailings. The relatively inert high-temperature biochars can be stored for a long term at mine closure after decades of operations.     

Direct methanol fuel cell bubble removal mechanism using magnetic actuation

This article develops a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) with a magnet-actuated bubble removal mechanism. A micro-DC motor is used to control the bubble removal mechanism. The lower magnetic device is operated to extrude a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) runner to compress the liquid fuel in the anode flow channel, forcing the CO₂ bubbles in the runner to flow toward the outlet end. The bubble retention in the anode flow channel is thereby improved, enhancing the cell performance. The proposed mechanism stability and performance and Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) runner are also discussed.     

水泥窑共处置废物过程中重金属的流向分布

为了探索水泥窑共处置危险废物过程中重金属流向分布规律,研究了不同温度条件下Cr、As、Pb在煅烧熟料、颗粒物和尾气中的残留率。在900、1 000、1 100、1 200、1 300和1 450℃温度条件下,将添加Cr、As和Pb化学试剂的生料分别进行煅烧,模拟重金属在水泥窑内不同温度带的煅烧过程。结果表明,6个温度条件下,Cr主要分布在熟料中并且呈现不规则变化;颗粒物中的Cr在1 200℃条件下分布量最大,所占比例为32.79%(w);在900℃和1450℃条件下,烟气中的Cr分布量最大,所占比例为0.24%(w)。6个温度条件下As主要分布在熟料中并且1 000~1 450℃条件下稳定在81%~83%之间;在900℃条件下,As在熟料中的残留率最大,所占比例为97%(w);在1450℃条件下,As在尾气中的分布达到最大值,所占比例为0.0023%(w)。6个温度条件下,Pb在熟料中的残留率随着温度升高而逐渐减少,挥发颗粒物中的含量呈现相反的趋势;尾气中Pb的含量随着温度的升高逐渐增加。     

PCBs污染土壤的CaO诱导低温热处理脱氯研究

研究了低温热处理脱氯技术对废弃电容器封存点附近污染土壤中多氯联苯脱氯的效果,考察反应温度、反应时间及CaO添加比例对PCBs去除率、脱氯率的影响以及反应前后土壤中污染物的组分变化。实验土样中PCBs浓度为107.7 mg/g,属于罕见高浓度PCBs污染土壤。当反应温度为400℃、停留时间4h、CaO添加比例为10%,PCBs的去除率为87.7%,脱氯率为85.3%。土壤样品中五氯联苯和四氯联苯反应后含量降低或未检出,部分反应后样品检出一氯联苯和联苯,说明在CaO诱导PCBs低温热处理脱氯反应中存在逐步脱氯/加氢反应途径。     

Fe(Ⅱ)EDTA络合吸收-铁粉还原再生脱除NO性能

利用Fe(Ⅱ)EDTA络合吸收-铁粉间歇还原再生脱除NO并回收氨资源的方法,实验研究了铁粉还原再生Fe(Ⅱ)(NO)EDTA的过程及其影响因素。结果表明,以0.015 mol/L的Fe(Ⅱ)EDTA做吸收剂,在起始p H 5.5、温度323K条件下吸收400×10-6~500×10-6的NO,脱除率95%以上;铁粉还原再生Fe(Ⅱ)(NO)EDTA过程可用缩芯模型阐释;铁粉添加量与搅拌强度直接决定了铁粉质点数量,是影响反应的重要因素;实验中Fe(Ⅱ)(NO)EDTA络合液150 m L,氧气含量为5%时,搅拌速度900 r/min、粒径为0.12 mm的铁粉浓度5.3 g/L、温度353 K、p H=6为最适宜再生条件。     

Concentration and health risk evaluation of heavy metals in market-sold vegetables and fishes based on questionnaires in Beijing,China

Concentrations of heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni, Fe, Mn, and Zn) in market vegetables and fishes in Beijing, China, are investigated, and their health risk to local consumers is evaluated by calculating the target hazard quotient (THQ). The heavy metal concentrations in vegetables and fishes ranged from not detectable (ND) to 0.21 mg/kg fresh weight (f.w.) (As), ND to 0.10 mg/kg f.w. (Cd), and n.d to 0.57 mg/kg f.w. (Pb), with average concentrations of 0.17, 0.04, and 0.24 mg/kg f.w., respectively. The measured concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni, Fe, Mn, and Zn are generally lower than the safety limits given by the Chinese regulation safety and quality standards of agriculture products (GB2762-2012). As, Cd, and Pb contaminations are found in vegetables and fishes. The exceeding standard rates are 19 % for As, 3 % for Cd, and 25 % for Pb. Pb contaminations are found quite focused on the fish samples from traditional agri-product markets. The paper further analyzed the health risk of heavy metals in vegetables and fishes respectively from supermarkets and traditional agri-product markets; the results showed that the fishes of traditional agri-product markets have higher health risk, while the supermarkets have vegetables of higher heavy metal risk, and the supervision should be strengthened in the fish supply channels in traditional agri-product markets.     

Risk for estrogen-dependent diseases in relation to phthalate exposure and polymorphisms of CYP17A1 and estrogen receptor genes

Evidence has shown that polymorphisms of various genes known to be involved in estrogen biosynthesis and function are associated with estrogen-dependent diseases (EDDs). These genes include CYP17A1, estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), and 2 (ESR2). Phthalates are considered estrogenic endocrine disruptors, and recent research has suggested that they may act as a risk factor for EDDs. However, extremely few studies have assessed the effects of gene–environment interaction on these diseases. We recruited 44 patients with endometriosis or adenomyosis, 36 patients with leiomyoma, and 69 healthy controls from a medical center in Taiwan between 2005 and 2007. Urine samples were collected and analyzed for seven phthalate metabolites using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Peripheral lymphocytes were used for DNA extraction to determine the genotype of CYP17A1, ESR1, and ESR2. Compared to controls, patients with leiomyoma had significantly higher levels of total urinary mono-ethylhexyl phthalate (ΣMEHP) (52.1 vs. 29.6 μg/g creatinine, p?=?0.040), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) (75.4 vs. 51.3 μg/g creatinine, p?=?0.019), and monoethyl phthalate (MEP) (103.7 vs. 59.3 μg/g creatinine, p?=?0.031). In contrast, patients with endometriosis or adenomyosis showed a marginally increased level of urinary MEHP only. Subjects who were homozygous for both the ESR1 C allele (rs2234693) and CYP17A1 C allele (rs743572) showed a significantly increased risk for leiomyoma (OR?=?19.8; 95 % CI, 1.70; 231.5; p?=?0.017) relative to subjects with other genotypes of ESR1 and CYP17A1. These results were obtained after adjusting for age, cigarette smoking, MEHP level, GSTM1 genotype and other covariates. Our results suggested that both CYP17A1 and ESR1 polymorphisms may modulate the effects of phthalate exposure on the development of leiomyoma.