Thiocyanate-induced labilization of schwertmannite: Impacts and mechanisms

Schwertmannite is an amorphous iron(III)-oxyhydroxysulfate that forms in acid mine drainage(AMD) environments. The characteristic of high heavy metal adsorption capability makes schwertmannite a potentially useful, environmentally friendly material in wastewater treatment. Unstable schwertmannite is prone to recrystallization.Understanding the mechanisms that induce schwertmannite labilization and affect its capacity to remove heavy metals are of great environmental and geochemical significance.Thiocyanate(SCNˉ) is a hazardous pseudohalide that is also normally found in AMD.However, little is known about the impact of Fe(III)-binding ligand SCNˉ on schwertmannite stability and its subsequent capacity to bind trace elements. Here, we investigated the adsorption of SCNˉ on schwertmannite and subsequent mineral transformation to characterize this little-known process. The appearance of Fe2+indicated that the interactions between schwertmannite and SCNˉ may involve complexation and reduction reactions. Results showed that the majority of the adsorbed-SCNˉ was immobilized on schwertmannite during the 60-days transformation. The transformation rates of schwertmannite increased with increasing concentrations of SCNˉ. Goethite was detected as the dominant transformation product with or without SCNˉ. The mechanisms of SCNˉ-promoted dissolution of schwertmannite can be described as follows:(1) formation of Fe(III)–NCS complexes on the schwertmannite surface and in solution, a process which increases the reactivity of solid phase Fe(III);(2) the extraction of Fe(III) from schwertmannite by SCNˉ and subsequent schwertmannite dissolution; and(3) the formation of secondary minerals from extracted Fe(III). These findings may improve AMD treatment strategies and provide insight into the use and potential reuse of schwertmannite as a trace element sorbent.     

Brominated dioxins and furans in a cement kiln co-processing municipal solid waste

A field study and theoretical calculations were performed to clarify the levels, profiles, and distributions of polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans(PBDD/Fs) in a cement kiln co-processing solid waste, with a focus on the PBDF formation mechanism.The raw materials contributed greatly to input of PBDD/Fs into the cement kiln. The PBDD/F concentrations in the raw materials were much higher than those in particle samples from different process stages in the cement kiln. The PBDD/F concentrations in the clinkers were1.40% of the concentrations in the raw materials, which indicated that the high destruction efficiencies for PBDD/Fs by cement kiln. PBDD/F distribution patterns in particle samples collected from different process stages indicated the cement kiln backend was a major site for PBDD/F formation. PBDFs with high levels of halogenation, such as heptabrominated furans(Hp BDF), were the dominant contributors to the total PBDD/F concentrations and accounted for 42%–73% of the total PBDD/F concentrations in the particle samples. Our results showed that co-processing of municipal solid waste in a cement kiln may influence the congener profile of PBDD/Fs, especially for the higher halogenated PBDD fraction. In addition, there were significant correlations between the decabromodiphenyl ether and heptabrominated furan concentrations, which is an indicator of transformation from polybrominated diphenyl ethers to PBDD/Fs. Theoretical calculations were performed and demonstrated that elimination of HBr and Br_2 from polybrominated diphenyl ethers were the dominant formation pathways for PBDD/Fs. These pathways differed from that for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans(PCDD/Fs).     

Characteristics of biomass ashes from different materials and their ameliorative effects on acid soils

The chemical characteristics, element contents, mineral compositions, and the ameliorative effects on acid soils of five biomass ashes from different materials were analyzed. The chemical properties of the ashes varied depending on the source biomass material. An increase in the concrete shuttering contents in the biomass materials led to higher alkalinity, and higher Ca and Mg levels in biomass ashes, which made them particularly good at ameliorating effects on soil acidity. However, heavy metal contents, such as Cr, Cu, and Zn in the ashes, were relatively high. The incorporation of all ashes increased soil pH, exchangeable base cations, and available phosphorus, but decreased soil exchangeable acidity. The application of the ashes from biomass materials with a high concrete shuttering content increased the soil available heavy metal contents. Therefore, the biomass ashes from wood and crop residues with low concrete contents were the better acid soil amendments.     

一带一路背景下西部生态与绿色发展的改革与创新研究

西部地区资源开发、环境导向、经济发展等因素的制约下,西部地区的生态发展以及改革方案受到了严重的冲击,文中提出一带一路背景下西部生态与绿色发展的改革与创新方案.通过一带一路指示精神融合西部地区的特有生态水平,进行了综合分析,并根据实际的发展要求进行深入指导.对一带一路背景下西部生态与绿色发展的改革进行了详细的解读,把西部生态环境与绿色生态发展之间的矛盾进行分析,通过一带一路的思想和方针解决了现有改革中的矛盾.结合一带一路的实质路线对西部生态与绿色发展的创新进行了深入的探讨,基于"一带一路"战略带来各种促进的政策,确定了西部地区生态与绿色发展创新方向.     

柳江流域饮用水源地重金属污染与健康风险评价

为说明柳江流域饮用水源地的重金属元素含量特征及饮用水水质对人体健康的潜在危害,于2016年1~12月对柳江干流及主要支流的水体进行常规水质指标和Cd、As、Cr、Hg、Zn、Cu、Pb、Fe、Mn等金属元素进行分析检测,并采用美国EPA推荐使用的健康风险评价模型对饮用水源地的健康风险进行评价.结果表明,Cd、As、Cr、Zn、Cu、Pb、Fe、Mn含量未超过我国地表水环境质量标准（GB 3838-2002）的限值,Hg含量存在超标.对重金属含量进行Pearson相关性分析,其中Cd、Pb、As与Fe可能具有相似的来源,Cu、Cr、Hg、Zn之间污染具有多源性,9种重金属含量与pH值间均不存在显著相关性.柳江流域饮用水源地致癌重金属元素健康风险成人和儿童分别为4.52E-04 a^-1和5.91E-04 a^-1,非致癌健康风险成人和儿童分别为8.96E-09 a^-1和1.14E-08 a^-1.致癌重金属Cr、As、Cd通过饮水途径所造成的人均年健康风险分别表现为Cr > As > Cd,风险值范围为3.58E-06~1.21E-04 a^-1,Cr和As的风险值大于ICRP所推荐的风险水平5.0×10^-5 a^-1.该研究区内重金属元素非致癌健康风险值范围为3.53E-12~2.87E-09 a^-1,均在EPA推荐的可接受水平内,初步认为不会对人体健康产生明显危害.流域主要健康风险来源于致癌物.Cr和As是柳江流域水环境产生健康风险的主要污染物,应当优先列为柳江流域水环境风险管理的主要对象.     

西藏拉萨河流域河水主要离子化学特征及来源

为掌握拉萨河流域水化学的时空变化特征、来源以及主要控制因子,于2014年8月~2015年7月在拉萨河拉萨水文站断面定点采集水样,并对其主要的化学离子进行分析.结果表明:HCO_3~-是主要的阴离子,占离子总量的68.73%,SO_4~(2-)含量其次,Ca~(2+)是主要的阳离子,占离子总量的67.75%,其次为Mg~(2+),拉萨河流域四季的pH值介于8.31~8.90,平均值为8.59,整体偏碱性,其中夏季的pH平均值最高,主要是因为水生植物光合作用以及浮游植物生长的影响.EC值介于155.0~257.0μS·cm-1之间,平均值为210.5μS·cm-1,TDS均值为181.35 mg·L-1,高于世界河流平均值.这是因为高原构造抬升活动频繁,造成岩石机械风化加强,从而加速岩石溶解.拉萨河流域的主要离子浓度大小表现为冬季春季秋季夏季的变化规律.离子来源分析表明,HCO_3~-、Ca~(2+)和Mg~(2+)主要来源于碳酸盐岩的风化,Cl-、SO_4~(2-)、NO_3~-离子主要来源于大气和岩石风化.此外,由于降雨和冰川融水的稀释作用,河流中的主要离子浓度与河流径流量呈现负相关的关系.     

典型西南岩溶区工业城市降水酸化缓解原因探究——以柳州市为例

利用柳州市环境保护监测站2013—2017年大气降水监测数据,分析近年来柳州岩溶区工业城市降水酸化缓解原因,并对离子来源进行探究.结果表明:①统计柳州近5年的降水pH值发现研究区降水酸化问题有了明显的改善,同时具有季节性差异,春冬季降水酸化相对夏秋季较重.②通过分析降水中主要离子组成及变化特征、计算中和因子(NF)和相对酸度(FA)发现,降水中主要离子浓度出现减少趋势,酸化类型逐渐向硫-硝酸混合型过渡,且99.97%的酸性离子被NH~+_4、Ca~(2+)等离子所中和,所以得出酸性物质的减少和碱性离子的中和作用可能是降水酸化改善的重要因素.③采用Hysplit模型对研究区降水酸化较严重的2016年(共60场)的降水水汽来源进行后向轨迹追踪及聚类分析,显示降水离子组成与浓度不仅与当地污染源有关,还与来自大陆内部西北和西南远距离物质输送有关.上述结果指示由于喀斯特化学风化作用、柳州市严格执行环保规定、大环境改善导致远程传输污染减弱等原因使得柳州市降水酸化情况得到极大改善.此外值得注意的是柳州市酸雨类型逐渐向硫-硝酸混合型过渡,指示随着工业污染的控制得到减弱,日益增长的机动车尾气排放或许成为研究区下一步治理重点方向.     

Genomewide analysis indicates that queen larvae have lower methylation levels in the honey bee (Apis mellifera)

The honey bee is a social insect characterized by caste differentiation, by which a young larva can develop into either a queen or a worker. Despite possessing the same genome, queen and workers display marked differences in reproductive capacity, physiology, and behavior. Recent studies have shown that DNA methylation plays important roles in caste differentiation. To further explore the roles of DNA methylation in this process, we analyzed DNA methylome profiles of both queen larvae (QL) and worker larvae (WL) of different ages (2, 4, and 6 day old), by using methylated DNA immunoprecipitation-sequencing (meDIP-seq) technique. The global DNA methylation levels varied between the larvae of two castes. DNA methylation increased from 2-day- to 4-day-old QL and then decreased in 6-day-old larvae. In WL, methylation levels increased with age. The methylcytosines in both larvae were enriched in introns, followed by coding sequence (CDS) regions, CpG islands, 2 kbp downstream and upstream of genes, and 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs). The number of differentially methylated genes (DMGs) in 2-, 4-, and 6-day-old QL and WL was 725, 3,013, and 5,049, respectively. Compared to 4- and 6-day-old WL, a large number of genes in QL were downmethylated, which were involved in many processes including development, reproduction, and metabolic regulation. In addition, some DMGs were concerned with caste differentiation.     

Pathway of 17��-estradiol degradation by Nitrosomonas europaea and reduction in 17��-estradiol-derived estrogenic activity

In recent years, natural and synthetic estrogens have been recognized as endocrine disruptors in aquatic organisms. Although natural and synthetic estrogens are known to be degraded by microbes, only limited information about their degradation pathways is available. Here, we studied the degradation pathways of a natural estrogen, 17β-estradiol, by the nitrifying microorganism Nitrosomonas europaea, and we determined whether the degradation products of 17β-estradiol had estrogenic activity. To identify the degradation products, we subjected the culture solution to solid-phase extraction, and the extract was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The potential estrogenic activity of the degradation products was investigated by means of a yeast two-hybrid assay. 1,3,5(10),16-Estratetraen-3-ol (estratetraenol) was newly identified as a degradation intermediate produced by dehydration of 17β-estradiol. Estratetraenol was also degraded by N. europaea, and its degradation rate was faster than that of 17β-estradiol. The two-hybrid assay confirmed that estratetraenol acted as a ligand for the estrogen receptor; estratetraenol thus has potential estrogenic activity. N. europaea eliminated the estrogenic activity derived from 17β-estradiol. This paper is the first to report dehydration as a mechanism of microbial estrogen degradation.