Enantioselectivity of racemic metolachlor and S-metolachlor in maize seedlings

Chiral herbicides may have enantioselective effects on plants. In this study, we assessed and compared the enantioselectivity of the chiral herbicides rac-metolachlor and S-metolachlor to maize seedlings. The superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) activity of roots and stem leaves treated by rac-metolachlor was 1.38 and 1.99 times that of roots and stem leaves treated by S-metolachlor. The peroxidase activity (POD) activity of roots and stem leaves was 1.48 and 2.79 times that of roots and stem leaves treated by S-metolachlor, respectively, while the catalase activity (CAT) activity was 4.77 and 8.37 times greater, respectively. The Hill reaction activity of leaves treated by rac-metolachlor were 1.45, 1.33, and 1.14 times those treated by S-metolachlor with treatments of 18.6, 37.2, and 74.4 μM. The differences observed between treatments of rac- and S-metolachlor were significant. Significant differences in maize seedling morphology were also observed between rac- and S-metolachlor treatments. The degradation rate of S-metolachlor in roots was greater than that of rac-metolachlor. The half-lives of rac- and S-metolachlor were 80.6 and 60.3 h at 18.6 μM; 119.5 and 90 h at 37.2 μM; and 169 and 164.8 h at 74.4 μM, respectively. Using the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method, hydroxymetolachlor, deschlorometolachlor and deschlorometolachlor propanol were considered to be possible metabolites. We determined the enantioselective toxicity of rac- and S-metolachlor to maize and speculated on the proposed metabolic pathway of metolachlor in maize roots. These results will help to develop an understanding of the proper application of rac- and S-metolachlor in crops, and give some information for environmental safety evaluation of rac- and S-metolachlor.     

Long-Term Operation of a Biofilter for Simultaneous Removal of H2S and NH3

Abstract

Simultaneous removal of NH₃ and H₂S was investigated using two types of biofilters—one packed with wood chips and the other with granular activated carbon (GAC). Experimental tests and measurements included analyses of removal efficiency (RE), metabolic products, and results of long-term operation (around 240 days). The REs for NH₃ and H₂S were 92 and 99.9%, respectively, before deactivation. After deactivation, the RE for NH₃ and H₂S were decreased to 30–50% and 75%, respectively. The activity of nitrifying bacteria was inhibited by high concentrations of H₂S (over 200 ppm) but recovered gradually after H₂S addition was ceased. However, the Thiobacillus thioparus as sulfur oxidizing bacteria did not show inhibition at the NH₃ concentration under 150-ppm conditions. The deactivation of the biofilter was caused by metabolic products [elemental sulfur and (NH₄)₂SO₄] ac-cumulating on the packing materials during the extended operation. The removal capacities for NH₃ and H₂S were 6.0–8.0 and 45–75 mg N, S/L/hr, respectively.     

Characteristics and management of domestic waste in a rural area of the Tibetan Plateau

In the rural area of the Tibetan Plateau (RATP), the characteristics of domestic waste, people’s environmental awareness, people’s willingness to pay and their influence factors were firstly studied by questionnaires, field samplings and laboratory tests. The results showed that, in the RATP, the generation of domestic waste was 85 g?d-1 per capita and it was mainly composed of plastics, inert waste, kitchen waste, glass and paper. The waste bulk density, moisture content, ash, combustible and low calorific value were 65 kg?m-3, 19.25%, 44.90%, 35.85% and 10,520 kJ?kg-1 respectively. These characteristics are influenced by income sources and geographical position to some extent. Classified collection should be promoted widely on the household and the village basis. Compost, fermentation, landfill, bioreactor landfill and semi-aerobic landfill have been approved as effective techniques to treat domestic waste, except incineration. The distance of 50–800 m between each collection facility and the disposal fee of around $0.8 per month per household are suggested. For suburbs or large population villages, it’s better to treat domestic waste by the centralized way. But for the remote rural areas, a decentralized way is proposed. Significantly, the educational and economic influence should be considered into an effective domestic waste management program.

Implications:?The current situatio n of the environment in the rural areas of the Tibetan Plateau (RATP) was surveyed. There, the generation of organics and moisture of domestic waste were low but ash, recyclables, and combustibles were high. People’s knowledge of domestic waste was absent but their participation in management was strong. Based on the current situation, compost, fermentation, and landfill were effective but incineration was inappropriate. Also, a localized mini landfill for a cluster of villages and or settlements was the best method there.     

回收与降解聚驱采出水的工艺探讨

含聚污水的处理是困扰石油行业的难题之一。基于聚驱采出水的特点,围绕聚合物的回收利用和降解理论及技术,探讨国内外含聚污水处理技术的研究与应用现状,对比分析现有处理技术存在的问题及适应性,提出采用化学混凝、气浮和水质改性等技术来回收利用PAM(聚丙烯酰胺)的新思路,打破了降解PAM的传统思维,同时分析含聚污水处理与利用技术的可行性与应用前景,有望实现含聚污水的循环利用。     

Subcellular distribution and toxicity of cadmium in Potamogeton crispus L

The submerged macrophyte Potamogeton crispus L. was subjected to varying doses of cadmium (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 μM) for 7 d, and the plants were analyzed for subcellular distribution of Cd, accumulation of mineral nutrients, photosynthesis, oxidative stress, protein content, and ultrastructural distribution of calcium (Ca). Leaf fractionation by differential centrifugation indicated that 48-69% of Cd was accumulated in the cell wall. At all doses of Cd, the levels of Ca and B rose and the level of Mn fell; the levels of Fe, Mg, Zn, Cu, Mo, and P rose initially only to decline later. Exposure to Cd caused oxidative stress as evident by increased content of malondialdehyde and decreased contents of chlorophyll and protein. Photosynthetic efficiency, as indicated by the quenching of chlorophyll a fluorescence (Fv/Fm, Fo and Fm), decreased significantly, the extent of decrease being directly proportional to the concentration of Cd. Increased amounts of precipitates of calcium were noticed in the treated plants, located either outside the cell membrane or in chloroplasts, mitochondria, the nucleus, and the cytoplasm whereas control plants showed small deposits of the precipitates around surface of the vacuole membrane and in the intercellular space but rarely in the cytoplasm. Photosynthetic efficiency and oxidative stress could be used as indicators of physiological end-points in determining the extent of Cd phytotoxicity.     

Influence of root-exudates concentration on pyrene degradation and soil microbial characteristics in pyrene contaminated soil

The effect of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) root-exudates concentration on pyrene degradation and the microbial ecological characteristics in the pyrene contaminated soil was investigated by simulating a gradually reducing concentration of root exudates with the distance away from root surface in the rhizosphere. Results showed that, after the root-exudates were added 15 d, the pyrene residue in contaminated soil responded nonlinearly in the soils with the same pyrene contaminated level as the added root-exudates concentration increased, which decreased first and increased latter with the increase of the added root-exudates concentration. The lowest pyrene concentration appeared when the root exudates concentration of 32.75 mg kg(-1) total organic carbon (TOC) was added. At the same time, changes of microbial biomass carbon (MBC, C(mic)) and microbial quotient (C(mic)/C(org)) were opposite to the trend of pyrene degradation as the added root-exudates concentration increased. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis revealed that bacteria was the dominating microbial community in pyrene contaminated soil, and the changing trends of pyrene degradation and bacteria number were the same. The changing trend of endoenzyme-dehydrogenase activity was in accordance with that of soil microbe, indicating which could reflect the quantitative characteristic of detoxification to pyrene by soil microbe. The changes in the soils microbial community and corresponding microbial biochemistry characteristics were the ecological mechanism influencing pyrene degradation with increasing concentration of the added root-exudates in the pyrene contaminated soil.     

Comparison of homologous and heterologous formats in nanocolloidal gold-based immunoassays for parathion residue determination

The effectiveness of homologous and heterologous formats in a nanocolloidal gold-based immunoassay for pesticide residue determination was investigated. Parathion, one of the most toxic organophosphorus pesticides, was used as the target analyte. One-step homologous and heterologous test strips based on a nanocolloidal gold-labeled monoclonal antibody were developed for the rapid detection of parathion residues. The results showed that the heterologous format was more effective than the homologous format, being more sensitive, more specific to parathion and more tolerant of matrix interferences. The best competitive hapten was found to have a moderate heterology and the opposite electronic distribution to the immunizing hapten. The detection limits for parathion using the preferred heterologous strip were 1 μg/L in water samples and 5 μg/kg in soil and food samples.     

Ti/BDD/PbO_2复合电极在化学需氧量测定中的应用

以钛基掺硼金刚石为基体,采用电沉积的方法制备了Ti/BDD/PbO2复合电极,并将其用于化学需氧量（COD）的测定。采用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）和X射线衍射谱图（XRD）表征了电极的微观形貌及结构,采用电化学工作站考察了电极对有机物响应特性。实验结果表明,在1.45 V的低电位条件下,线性范围为0.5～175 mg/L,检测限为0.3 mg/L（S/N=3）。采用Ti/BDD/PbO2复合电极测定法和重铬酸钾标准方法对市政污水、食品废水及印染废水的对比结果表明,2种方法的相对误差小于10%,具有良好的一致性。     

植物对潜流人工湿地净化微污染水效果的影响研究

以4种湿地植物为实验对象,在野外构建中试潜流人工湿地,研究了不同植物及植物连根收割对湿地运行效果的影响。结果显示,植物明显提升了湿地的去污效果;其中美人蕉湿地的TP和NH4+-N去除率最高,达到55.6%和78%;空心菜湿地的TN去除率最高,达到80.5%;芦竹湿地的COD去除率最高,为26.6%;植物连根收割后,湿地运行效果下降;其中TN去除率降至空白水平之下,而其他污染指标下降至略高于空白的水平。     

玉米深加工废水的混凝实验

在室温条件下,分别选用聚合氯化铝(PAC)、聚合氯化铝铁(PAFC)及三氯化铁(FeCl3)对玉米深加工废水进行混凝实验。综合考虑各种混凝剂对磷、COD以及SS的去除效果,最终选取PAC作为混凝剂。采用PAC和聚丙烯酰胺(PAM)作为复合混凝剂,对其去除效果做进一步研究,并确定了最佳投加量及pH值。实验结果表明,在PAC投加量25mg/L,PAM投加量0.5 mg/L,pH为8条件下,混凝效果最佳。磷、COD、SS去除率可分别达到90.1%、53.3%和88.2%,对应的出水质量浓度分别为0.41、26.8和2 mg/L。