Recovery of gold by chicken egg shell membrane-conjugated chitosan beads

We have successfully prepared a bead-type adsorbent from two materials with different adsorption characteristics. Heavy metals were removed by greatly swollen egg shell membrane-conjugated chitosan beads. The egg shell membrane accumulated and removed precious metal ions from a dilute aqueous solution with a high affinity in a short contact time. Experiments suggested that chitosan beads could take up gold ions with great capacity and selectivity by conjugation with egg shell membrane. Under certain conditions, the selective removal of gold and copper in a mixture of gold and copper ions by egg shell membrane-conjugated chitosan beads was 100% and 2%, respectively. Egg shell membrane-conjugated chitosan beads can be seen as a promising material to recover gold in wastewater from various industries, such as electroplating.     

Preliminary ecotoxicological characterization of a new energetic substance, CL-20

A new energetic substance hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (or CL-20) was tested for its toxicities to various ecological receptors. CL-20 (epsilon-polymorph) was amended to soil or deionized water to construct concentration gradients. Results of Microtox (15-min contact) and 96-h algae growth inhibition tests indicate that CL-20 showed no adverse effects on the bioluminescence of marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri and the cell density of freshwater green algae Selenastrum capricornutum respectively, up to its water solubility (ca. 3.6 mg l(-1)). CL-20 and its possible biotransformation products did not inhibit seed germination and early seedling (16-19 d) growth of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) up to 10,000 mg kg(-1) in a Sassafras sandy loam soil (SSL). Indigenous soil microorganisms in SSL and a garden soil were exposed to CL-20 for one or two weeks before dehydrogenase activity (DHA) or potential nitrification activity (PNA) were assayed. Results indicate that up to 10,000 mg kg(-1) soil of CL-20 had no statistically significant effects on microbial communities measured as DHA or on the ammonium oxidizing bacteria determined as PNA in both soils. Data indicates that CL-20 was not acutely toxic to the species or microbial communities tested and that further studies are required to address the potential long-term environmental impact of CL-20 and its possible degradation products.     

渚滑川河口拦门沙演变特性

河口拦门沙的存在可导致径流流出不畅，并能引起一系列的河口生态及环境问题。特别是弯曲型河口，在波浪流、河川径流及弯道副流的共同作用下，拦门沙的形成及演变将更为复杂。通过对日本渚滑川河口多次实地调查资料的分析，揭示了渚滑川河口拦门沙的演变特性。结果表明：渚滑川河口修筑防波堤后，在东北方向的海洋入射波作用下，拦门沙由河口右岸发育并向左岸逐渐延伸扩展，其河水流动也相应由右岸偏向左岸一侧；不论河口有无拦门沙，3次洪水在右岸的最大冲深均稳定在-6m高程，且河床横剖面的形状基本不变，即汛期时该河口河床形状已达平衡状态。     

Immobilization of tritiated water by hydrothermal hot-pressing

Tritium is generally disposed of as an oxide form, and immobilization of tritium oxide with Portland cement is the most popular disposal method. However, the cement solidified body is rather leachable for tritium and is poor in some physical properties. A silicate powder, such as borosilicate glass powder, forms a synthetic rock by the hydrothermal hot-pressing (HHP) technique, making it a technique for immobilization of tritium oxide. Tritium oxide with borosilicate glass powder was solidified by the HHP technique. Leachability of tritium from the produced solidified bodies and the behavior of fixed tritium oxide during the heating were studied and discussed. The amount of tritium oxide fixed by the present procedure was almost the same as that fixed by the ordinary cement solidifying procedure. The diffusivity of tritium from the body by this procedure was much lower than that from the cement body and the compressive strength of the body was higher than that of the cement body.     

IMPACT ON GROUNDWATER RESOURCES OF CONVERSION FROM FURROW TO DRIP IRRIGATION1

ABSTRACT A model is developed to analyze the groundwater conservation and depletion effects of converting sugarcane irrigation from the furrow to the drip method. The results do not support the commonly held notion that more efficient use of irrigation water will release scarce water supplies for metropolitan growth.     

Reproductive effects and bioconcentration of 4-nonylphenol in medaka fish (Oryzias latipes)

The objective of this study was to investigate the reproductive success (fertility and fecundity) of medaka (Oryzias latipes) exposed to 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) in water and the viability of their F(1) offspring. In addition, we measured the bioconcentration of 4-NP in eggs. After a 21-d exposure to 100microg/l 4-NP, medaka showed reduced egg production and fertility. Hepatic vitellogenin levels were increased significantly in males treated with 10, 50 and 100microg/l of 4-NP. In the F(1) generations, the hatchability and time to hatching of embryos in the 100microg/l treatment group were adversely affected, and 2-7microg 4-NP/g egg was found in spawned eggs (the bioconcentration factor: 30-100). These results indicate that (1) 4-NP adversely affected the reproduction (fecundity and fertility) of adult medaka, (2) 4-NP accumulated in eggs through maternal transfer and (3) these levels of 4-NP were associated with adverse effects in the F(1) offspring.     

Humic-like substances global levels and extraction methods in aerosols

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The abundance of humic-like substances in the atmosphere has received considerable attention since these substances play an important role in various atmospheric...