Zinc tolerance and uptake by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis halleri ssp. gemmifera</Emphasis> grown in nutrient solution

Background, aim, and scope  

Zinc is an essential micronutrient element but its concentrations found in contaminated soils frequently exceed those required by the plant and soil organisms, and thus create danger to animal and human health. Phytoremediation is a technique, often employed in remediation of contaminated soils, which aims to remove heavy metals or other contaminants from soils or waters using plants. Arabidopsis (A.) halleri ssp. gemmifera is a plant recently found to be grown vigorously in heavy metal contaminated areas of Japan and it contained remarkably high amount of heavy metals in its shoots. However, the magnitude of Zn accumulation and tolerance in A. halleri ssp. gemmifera need to be investigated for its use as a phytoremediation plant.     

Patinas developed in environmental burial conditions: the Neolithic steles of Reguers de Seró (Lleida,Spain)

Background, aim and scope  

Weathering patinas in rocks are the result of interaction processes between rock surfaces and atmosphere, biosphere and soil. Therefore, their textural and mineral composition is strongly related to environmental and bioactivity conditions. Whereas the development of weathering patinas in atmospheric conditions is well documented (e.g. typical Mediterranean patina), only very few studies focus on their formation in a burial environment. Our study of patinas developed on the tumular structure of Reguers de Seró deals with the knowledge of burial patinas from a textural and mineralogical point of view. The aims of this study include: (1) the characterisation of the rock used in this megalithic monument as well as inferences regarding the origin of the raw material; (2) the evaluation of the patinas developed on the surface of the carved steles; and (3) the discussion of the environmental conditions (atmospheric or burial) that favoured the development of the patinas.     

Turning calcium carbonate into a cost-effective wastewater-sorbing material by occluding waste dye

Background, aim, and scope  

Over the years, organic pollution in the environment has aroused people’s concern worldwide, especially persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Particularly in developing countries, plenty of concentrated organic wastewaters treated noneffectively are discharged into aquatic environments from chemical, textile, paper-making, and other industries to seriously threaten the surface and drinking water. The conventional wastewater treatment techniques are often helpless due to high cost with multilevel processing. Adsorption as an efficient method is often applied to the treatment of wastewater. The aim of this work is to develop an eco-friendly and cost-effective wastewater-sorbing material with weak acidic pink red B (APRB) and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) by reusing highly concentrated dye wastewater.     

Pollution in coastal fog at Alto Patache,Northern Chile

Background  

The Atacama Desert in Northern Chile is one of the most arid places on earth. However, fog occurs regularly at the coastal mountain range and can be collected at different sites in Chile to supply settlements at the coast with freshwater. This is also planned in the fog oasis Alto Patache (20°49′S, 70°09′W). For this pilot study, we collected fog water samples in July and August 2008 for chemical analysis to find indications for its suitability for domestic use.     

A method of detecting carbonyl compounds in tree leaves in China

Background, aim, and scope  

Carbonyl compounds have been paid more and more attention because some carbonyl species have been proven to be carcinogenic or a risk for human health. Plant leaves are both an important emission source and an important sink of carbonyl compounds. But the research on carbonyl compounds from plant leaves is very scarce. In order to make an approach to the emission mechanism of plant leaves, a new method was established to extract carbonyl compounds from fresh plant leaves.     

Information system for monitoring environmental impacts of genetically modified organisms

Background, aim and scope  

European legislation stipulates that genetically modified organisms (GMO) have to be monitored to identify potential adverse environmental effects. A wealth of different types of monitoring data from various sources including existing environmental monitoring programmes is expected to accumulate. This requires an information system to efficiently structure, process and evaluate the monitoring data.     

污泥热解残渣制备聚合氯化铝的实验研究＊

含铝污泥热解或焚烧残渣制备聚合氯化铝的研究,有利于实现污水处理过程投加的铝盐絮凝药剂的回收与高效循环利用,减少污染物排放和资源消耗。针对辽河油田欢三联稠油污水处理污泥的热解残渣具有较高铝含量的特点,开展采用盐酸进行铝溶出及制备聚合氯化铝的实验研究。结果表明:焙烧温度为700～750℃,焙烧时间控制在1h即可。将经过焙烧活化的残渣在常温下进行酸溶,酸溶时间为2～5h,选用25%～30%盐酸,氧化铝与盐酸的摩尔比为1∶1.0～1∶1.2为宜。将溶出的铝溶液制备聚合氯化铝,在常温下采用CaO粉末来调节pH值为3.5,聚合反应时间为1d,即可得聚合氯化铝溶液。     

多输入多输出(MIMO)振动试验技术

多输入多输出(MIMO)振动试验由于可以更好的模拟产品的真实工作环境,是振动试验的一个发展方向。本文分析了其产生需求的根本原因,同时介绍了国内外的发展现状及其应用情况,之后对MIMO试验系统进行了分类,介绍了试验控制器和控制方法,并探讨了其工程实施所存在困难。最后针对我国MIMO试验技术的发展提出了建议,并对前景进行了展望。     

秦皇岛市土壤侵蚀的特点、原因及保护对策

土壤侵蚀是一种危害严重、分布范围广的生态环境问题,影响人与自然的和谐共存,以及各业生产的可持续发展。通过分析秦皇岛市土壤侵蚀特点、原因,提出综合治理土壤侵蚀的对策和措施,以期为今后该区土壤侵蚀防治与治理提供科学依据。