Effects of nicotinamide and riboflavin on the biodesulfurization activity of dibenzothiophene by Rhodococcus erythropolis USTB-03

Rhodococcus erythropolis USTB-03 is a promising bacterial strain for the biodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene (DBT) via a sulfurspecific pathway in which DBT is converted to 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2HBP) as an end product. The effects of nicotinamide and riboflavin on the sulfur specific activity (SA) of DBT biodesulfurization by R. erythropolis USTB-03 were investigated. Both nicotinamide and riboflavin were found to enhance the expression of SA, which was not previously reported. When R. erythropolis USTB-03 was grown on a medium containing nicotinamide of 10. 0 mmol or riboflavin of 50. 0 μnol, SA was raised from 68. 0 or so to more than 130 mmol 2HBP/(kg dry cells. h). When R. erythropolis USTB-03 was grown in the presence of both nicotinamide of 5. 0 mmol and riboflavin of 25. 0 μmol, SA was further increased to 159. 0 mmol 2HBP/(kg dry cells. h). It is suggested that the biological synthesis of reduced form of flavin mononucleotide (FMNH2), an essential coenzyme for the activities of biodesulfurization enzyme Dsz C and A, might be enhanced by nicotinamide and riboflavin, which was responsible for the increased SA of R. erythropolis USTB-03.     

Validation of an agricultural non-point source （AGNPS） pollution model for a catchment in the Jiulong River watershed, China

This study tested and evaluated the agricultural non-point source(AGNPS)model for the Wuchuan catchment, a typical agricultural area in the Jiulong River watershed, Fujian Province. China. The AGNPS model was calibrated and validated for the study area with observed data onten storms. Thedata on eight stormsin 2002 were used for calibration while data on two stormswere used for validation of the model. Considering the lack of water quality data over a long-term series, a novel method, comparing an internal nested catchment with its surrounding catchment, was used to supplement the less long-term series data. Dual calibration and validation of the AGNPS model was obtained by this comparison. The results indicate that the correlation coefficients were 0. 99 and 0. 98 for runoff, 0. 94 and 0. 95 forthe peak runoff rate of the large catchment and the small catchment, respectively, and 0. 76 forthe sediment of the small catchment only. Each pair of correlation coefficients is homogeneous for the same event for the two catchments. With the exception of the sediment yield and particulate phosphorus, the peak nmofr rate and other nutrients were well predicted. Sensitivity analysis showed that the Soil Conservation Service curve number and rainfall quantity were the most sensitive parameters, which resulted in high output variations. Erosivitv and other parameters had little influence on the hydrological and quality outputs.     

Characterization of the Songhua River sediments and evaluation of their adsorption behavior for nitrobenzene

The explosion at a plant of the Jilin Petrochemical Corporation on 13 November,2005,and the spill of an estimated 100 t of toxic substances (nitrobenzene as the main component) into the Songhua River received worldwide attention.This study has focused on the adsorption behavior of nitrobenzene that spilled onto sediments along the Songhua River,which was one of the efforts to evaluate the fate of nitrobenzene after the spillage event.The organic carbon contents of these sediments along the Songhua River ...     

Treatment of tunnel wash waters – experiments with organic sorbent materials. Part II: Removal of toxic metals

In the first part of the article, the column and the bag experiments concerning removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nonpolar oil (NPO) from tunnel wash waters using organic sorbent materials have been described. This part presents the results of removal of toxic metals. The metals of concern (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mo, Ni, and Zn) were selected based on the priority toxicant pollutants defined in surface water quality criteria. Concentrations of these metals in the collected effluent...     

Indoor and outdoor BTX levels in Barcelona City metropolitan area and Catalan rural areas

Five aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, and three isomeric xylenes) were monitored in indoor and outdoor air of 7 public buildings and 54 private homes, located in Barcelona City metropolitan area and in several rural areas of Catalonia. The sampling was carried out over four periods: spring-summer and winter of 2000, and summer and winter of 2001. Passive ORSA 5 Dra¨ger samplers were used for benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX) adsorption. BTX were extracted with carbon disulphide and analysed using ...     

Profiling of microbial communities in a bioreactor for treating hydrocarbon-sulfide-containing wastewater

A technology of polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis(PCR-DGGE)was used to profile the structure and dynamic changes of microbial communities in a bioreactor for treating hydrocarbon-sulfide-containing(HSC)wastewater.The results showed that the heterotrophic genus of Acinetobacter and the autotrophic genera of Thiobacillus and Thiomonas could survive well in all of three operating conditions.Some special genera were also observed with changes of micro-ecoenvironment in the rea...     

Improved speciation of dissolved organic nitrogen in natural waters: amide hydrolysis with fluorescence derivatization

The objective of this study was to improve primary-amine nitrogen (1°-N) quantification in dissolved organic matter (DOM) originating from natural waters where inorganic forms of N, which may cause analytical interference, are commonly encountered. Efforts were targeted at elucidating organic-N structural criteria influencing the response of organic amines to known colorimetric and fluorescent reagents and exploring the use of divalent metal-assisted amide hydrolysis in combination with fluorescence analyse...     

Assessment of Pb uptake, translocation and immobilization in kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) for phytoremediation of sand tailings

The potential of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) for phytoremediation of lead (Pb) on sand tailings was investigated.A pot experiment employing factorial design with two main effects of fertilizer and lead was conducted in a nursery using sand tailings from an ex-tin mine as the growing medium.Results showed that Pb was found in the root,stem,and seed capsule of kenaf but not in the leaf.Application of organic fertilizer promoted greater biomass yield as well as higher accumulation capacity of Pb.In Pb-spike...     

Metabolism-independent chemotaxis of Pseudomonas sp. strain WBC-3 toward aromatic compounds

Pseudomonas sp. strain WBC-3 utilized methyl parathion or para-nitrophenol (PNP) as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy, and methyl parathion hydrolase had been previously characterized. Its chemotactic behaviors to aromatics were investigated. The results indicated that strain WBC-3 was attracted to multiple aromatic compounds, including metabolizable or transformable substrates PNP, 4-nitrocatechol, and hydroquinone. Disruption of PNP catabolic genes had no e?ect on its chemotactic behaviors w...     

Adsorption of mercury on laterite from Guizhou Province, China

The adsorption behaviors of Hg(Ⅱ) on laterite from Guizhou Province,China,were studied and the adsorption mechanism was discussed.The results showed that different mineral compositons in the laterite will cause differences in the adsorption capacity of laterite to Hg(Ⅱ).Illite and non-crystalloids are the main contributors to enhancing the adsorption capacity of laterite to Hg(Ⅱ).The pH of the solution is an important factor affecting the adsorption of Hg(Ⅱ) on laterite.The alkalescent environment (pH 7-9) ...