Biodegradation of nicotine by a novel Strain Shinella sp. HZN1 isolated from activated sludge

The nicotine-degrading bacterium HZN1 was isolated from activated sludge and identified as Shinella sp. based on its physiological characteristics and analysis of 16S rDNA gene. Strain HZN1 is capable of using nicotine as the sole carbon source in the mineral salts medium. The optimum temperature and pH for strain HZN1 growth and nicotine degradation were 30°C and 7.0, respectively. It could degrade approximately 100 % of 0.5 g L(-1) of nicotine within 9 h. Three intermediate metabolites were produced by the strain HZN1 and identified as cotinine, myosmine and nicotyrine using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. This is the first report of nicotine-degrading strain from the genus of Shinella. The results showed that strain HZN1 could be potentially employed in bioremediation of nicotine. Our findings would provide a new insight into the biodegradation of nicotine.     

Removal of 2-chlorophenol from water using rice-straw derived ash

Removal of 2-chlorophenol from water using rice-straw derived ash (RSDA) was evaluated in this study to compare with commercial activated carbon. RSDA was obtained by burning rice-straw at 400 °C and 700 °C for 1 h. This ash can provide a better adsorbent for 2-chlorophenol. The adsorption capacities of RSDA at 400 °C and 700 °C are 37 and 52 mg g?1 at pH 4, respectively, and decrease to 9.0 and 40 mg g?1 at pH 10. Adsorption of either neutral or anionic 2-cholorphenol by the RSDA are shown as L-shaped nonlinear isotherms, suggesting surface adsorption rather than partitioning is occurring. At higher-burning temperatures, the surface area, porosity, point of zero charge and aromaticity of the resultant RSDA increase, but the oxygen content and surface acidity decrease. The combined effects result in a higher 2-chlorophenol adsorption of RSDA at 700 °C, which shows a slight pH effect on the adsorption of 2-chlorophenol, due to the lower content of oxygen-containing functional groups. Oxygen-containing functional groups contribute to surface acidity and H-bonding sites for adsorbed water, which compromises the interaction between 2-chlorophenol and the adsorbents. Thus, it suggests that rice-straw derived carbon (RSDC) can be used as an effective low-cost substitute material for activated carbon for removal of chlorophenols from wastewater.     

Investigation on gene transfer from genetically modified corn (Zea mays L.) plants to soil bacteria

Knowledge about the prevalence and diversity of antibiotic resistance genes in soil bacteria communities is required to evaluate the possibility and ecological consequences of the transfer of these genes carried by genetically modified (GM) plants to soil bacteria. The neomycin phosphotransferase gene (nptII) conferring resistance to kanamycin and neomycin is one of the antibiotic resistance genes commonly present in GM plants. In this study, we investigated kanamycin-resistant (Km(R)) and neomycin-resistant (Nm(R)) soil bacterial populations in a 3-year field trial using a commercial GM corn (Zea mays L.) carrying the nptII gene and its near isogenic line. The results showed that a portion (2.3 - 15.6 %) of cultivable soil bacteria was naturally resistant to kanamycin or neomycin. However, no significant difference in the population level of Km(R) or Nm(R) soil bacteria was observed between the GM and non-GM corn fields. The nptII gene was not detected in any of the total 3000 Km(R) or Nm(R) isolates screened by PCR. Further, total soil bacterial cells were collected through Nycodenz gradient centrifugation and bacterial community DNA was subjected to PCR. Detection limit was about 500 cells per gram of fresh soil. Our study suggests that the nptII gene was relatively rare in the soil bacterial populations and there was no evidence of gene transfer from a GM corn plant to soil bacteria based on the data from total soil bacterial communities.     

Marine and farmed fish on the Polish market: comparison of the nutritive value and human exposure to PCDD/Fs and other contaminants

Chemical analyses were performed in nine fish species that are popular on the Polish market. These included Baltic fish (cod, herring, salmon), fish farmed in Poland (carp, trout), marine fish imported from China (Alaska pollock, sole), and farmed fish imported from Vietnam and China (sutchi catfish, tilapia). The nutritional composition (amino acid, micro- and macronutrients, fat-soluble vitamins - A₁, D₃, E) and certain contaminants (organochlorine pesticides, OCPs; indicator polychlorinated biphenyl, PCB₆; polychlorinated dibenzo-paradioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans, PCDD/Fs; dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, dl-PCBs; organotin compounds, OCTs; dyes, malachite green and crystal violet; veterinary drug residues, nitrofurans and chloramphenicol; toxic metals, Cd, Pb, Hg) in the muscle tissues of fish were determined. It was confirmed that the fish species analyzed were excellent sources of amino acids, and were rich in phosphorous and selenium. Baltic Sea fish (salmon, herring), fish farmed in Poland (carp and trout), and tilapia were also rich in vitamin D₃.Traces of OCP, PCB₆, OCT, dyes, veterinary drug residues, and heavy metals were detected in concentrations which do not pose a threat to consumers at the current rate of fish consumption in Poland. However, the problem might arise from the content of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in fatty Baltic fish. The fish species analyzed, differed in their nutritional values and degrees of contamination. We suggest that for optimum health and safety, it is advisable that consumers include a variety of different fish species in their diets.     

The presence of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) protein in earthworms Eisenia fetida has no deleterious effects on their growth and reproduction

Earthworms Eisenia fetida, bred in substances with stover of two genetically-engineered Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corns (5422Bt1 (Event Bt11) and 5422CBCL (MON810)) expressing Cry1Ab and their near-isogenic non-Bt corn (5422), were used to investigate the non-target effects of Bt corn on soil-dwelling organisms. Cry1Ab concentrations in substances, casts and guts of E. fetida were also investigated by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). More than 90% individuals of E. fetida survived over a period of 30 d, irrespective of whether they received Bt corn or non-Bt corn. Compared to 5422 treatments, significantly higher relative growth rate and more number of new offspring and cocoons of E. fetida were found in 5422Bt1 and 5422CBCL treatments. These results were unlikely to be directly caused by Cry1Ab released from Bt corns but rather by differences in other factors of plants such as plant components (soluble sugar, total organic carbon, total protein and available phosphorus of Bt corns were more than 5422). ELISA results indicated immunoreactive Cry1Ab was detectable in substances, and the casts, guts of E. fetida from Bt corns treatments, of which the highest levels were detected in substances under the corresponding experimental conditions. With the increase of treated time, a strong decline was observed in Cry1Ab from substances and casts of E. fetida, whereas Cry1Ab in guts of E. fetida from 5422Bt1 treatments gradually increased and that from 5422CBCL treatments increased between 14 and 30 d. Therefore, the presence of Cry1Ab in E. fetida had no deleterious effects on their growth and reproduction.     

光催化还原CO2的研究进展

介绍了多种将CO2转化为化工产品的光催化还原体系,包括TiO2体系、金属修饰的TiO2体系、有机光敏化剂修饰的TiO2体系和其他光敏半导体材料体系.评述了不同光催化体系的特点及其催化性能.讨论了光源波长、反应温度、CO2压力和浓度、H2O和CO2摩尔比等实验条件对反应产物种类及其产量的影响,指出催化剂的活性、光源波长和...     

活性炭涂层电极电容去离子的性能

采用活性炭涂层电极构建电容去离子吸附装置,以氯化钠模拟含盐原水,研究电压、流量、进水浓度等操作参数对活性炭涂层电极脱盐效率和能耗的影响。实验结果表明,去除率和比吸附量随着电压的增大而增加,且比能耗随之增大。流速越小,出水的浓度越低,当对出水的浓度要求较高时,宜采用小流速。当进水浓度低于活性炭涂层电极的饱和吸附量时,比吸附量随着进水浓度呈线性增加;当达到饱和吸附量时,比吸附量不会随进水浓度的增大而发生改变;比能耗随着进水浓度的增加而降低。     

声凝并联合雾化预处理及其在过滤除尘中的应用

根据声凝并理论和雾化湿式除尘理论,建立了燃煤飞灰在声场联合雾化加湿作为预处理的过滤式除尘实验装置。分别在声场、雾化加湿、声场与雾化加湿相结合3种预处理条件下进行实验,确定合适的加湿量范围,得出不同条件下燃煤飞灰的去除效果。在声场联合雾化加湿条件下,分别研究了声压级和雾化加湿量对飞灰的去除率的影响。结果表明,声场和雾化加湿联合作用能有效提高燃煤PM2.5去除率。以声场联合雾化加湿作为预处理进行过滤除尘实验,结果表明,虽然对高效滤料的除尘效率提高作用有限,但是该预处理可减轻滤袋负荷,有效延缓压差增长,降低清灰频率。由于采用表面覆膜滤材,加湿量控制得当可避免产生"糊袋"现象。     

不同培养条件下锰过氧化物酶(MnP)的合成及其对甲基橙的降解

高效、大规模、低成本合成木质素降解酶是直接采用其降解难降解有机污染物所必须解决的问题.对锰过氧化物酶(MnP)降解甲基橙和在非灭菌的反应器中连续合成MnP的可行性进行考察.结果表明,在采用2 mmol H2O2和1.5 mmol MnSO4的降解体系中,获最大脱色效果,且100、200和300 U/L的MnP可在8h内将甲基橙分别脱色18％、23％和35％;在非灭菌的反应器水平上实现了固定化培养的P.chrysosporium连续23 d合成MnP,但MnP酶活仅为2～ 23 U/L,难以酶解甲基橙;然而,在摇瓶培养条件下固定化的P.chrysosporium合成的MnP却能达1 152 U/L.因此,直接采用MnP对污染物进行降解以及在非灭菌的反应器中持续合成MnP是可行的,但就在非灭菌条件下如何提高MnP的合成量还有待开展深入的研究.     

响应面法优化黄粉虫幼虫处理餐厨垃圾饲养条件的研究

研究了黄粉虫幼虫处理餐厨垃圾的方法.首先在饲养温度、饲料含水量和饲养密度等条件下进行单因素实验,然后,以利用率为指标,运用响应面法优化了黄粉虫幼虫处理餐厨垃圾的饲养条件,结果表明,最佳饲养条件为饲养温度26.7℃、饲料含水量14.5％、饲养密度4.1头/cm2.在此饲养条件下,黄粉虫对餐厨垃圾利用率理论值为38.72％,实际餐厨垃圾利用率为38.88％,相对误差为0.41％,说明利用黄粉虫幼虫处理餐厨垃圾具有较好的效果.