Comparison of a rhizosphere-based method with other one-step extraction methods for assessing the bioavailability of soil metals to wheat

There is no method recognized as a universal approach for evaluation of bioavailability of heavy metals in soil. Based on the simulation of the rhizosphere soil conditions and integration of the combined effects of root-soil interactions as a whole, a rhizosphere-based method has been proposed. Wet fresh rhizosphere soil was extracted by low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) to fractionate metal fractions of soil pools, which were then correlated with the metal contents of wheat roots and shoots. The rhizosphere-based method was compared with other one-step extraction methods using DTPA, EDTA, CaCl2, and NaNO3 as extractants and the first step of the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) method. Simple correlation and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used for the comparison. Simple correlation indicated that the extractable Cu, Zn, Cr, and Cd of soils by the rhizosphere-based method were significantly correlated with the metal contents of wheat roots. For DTPA, BCR1 and EDTA methods there was a relatively poor correlation between the extractable Cu, Zn and Cd of soil and metal contents of wheat roots. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the equation of the rhizosphere-based method was the simplest one, and no soil properties variables needed to be added. In contrast, the equations of other one-step extraction methods were more complicated, and soil properties variables needed to be entered. The most distinct feature of the rhizosphere-based method was that the recommended method was suitable for acidic, neutral and near alkaline soils. However, the DTPA and EDTA extraction methods were suitable for calcareous soils only-or-only for acidic soils. The CaCl2, and NaNO3 extraction methods were only suitable for exchangeable metals. In short, the rhizosphere-based method was the most robust approach for evaluation of bioavailability of heavy metals in soils to wheat.     

A model for evaluation of the phytoavailability of trace elements to vegetables under the field conditions

Currently, several single extraction methods are used for the evaluation of the phytoavailability of metals using pot experiments. A systematic comparison, however, is lacking. It is especially true for the field studies. This study was to investigate the phytoavailability of trace elements to vegetables grown on metal-contaminated soils under the field conditions. All soils collected were typical calcareous soils in northern China. Four frequently used methods using CaCl2, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), CH3COOH, and water as extractants were compared for phyto-availability. The concentrations of metals extracted by these four extraction methods ranged from 3.42 to 815, 1.51- 6965, 0.732-24473, 0.688-7863, 0.246-685, 1.99-5337 0.203-4649 ng/g for Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb and REEs, respectively. Simple correlation analysis indicated that a significant correlation (Cr: r = 0.5411**; Zn: r = 0.6352**; Cd: r = 0.6979**; Pb: r = 0.5537** and REEs: r = 0.5185** -0.6684**) was observed between the CaCl2-extractable metals in soil solution and that in Chinese cabbage. In addition, soil pH, organic matter (OM), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) also affect the phytoavailability. An empirical model was developed to express the combined effect of soil properties on the phytoavailability. The stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the phytoavailability of trace elements strongly correlated with the extractable fraction by CaCl2, total metal concentration in soils, and soil pH, OM, CEC. This model can describe approximately 75-95% of the variability of metal uptake and the r2 values ranged from 0.741** to 0.954**, which were much better than the single correlation analysis. For celery and cole, a strong correlation was obtained for Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, Cd, La, Ce, Pr and Nd. For spinach and Chinese cabbage, however, a positive correlation was only observed for 1 and 3 metals, respectively. Generally, the developed empirical model can integrate the combined effects of soil properties, extractable metal fractions in soil solutions and plant species on the phytoavailability of metals to vegetables in the field conditions.     

Photocatalytic oxidation of pesticide rinsate

Pesticide rinsate has been considered as one of the major threats for the environment. In this study, photocatalysts such as TiO2 and O3 were used to promote the efficiency of direct UV photolysis to prevent such wastewater pollution. Carbofuran (a carbamate pesticide) and mevinphos (an organophosphate pesticide) with a concentration of 100 mg/L were selected as the test pesticide rinsates. Parent pesticide compound, COD, and microtoxicity analysis were employed to investigate the effect of photocatalyst on the degradation efficiency of pesticide in rinsate. It was found that the photocatalytic oxidation process (UV/O3, UV/TiO2) showed much higher COD removal and microtoxicity reduction efficiency for pesticide rinsate than did direct UV photolysis under the imposed conditions, suggesting that photocatalytic oxidation processes such as UV/O3 and UV/TiO2 could be a better alternative to treat pesticide rinsate. In addition, it was noted that increasing the initial pH of mevinphos rinsate to a basic level was required to reach higher COD removal efficiency and positive microtoxicity reduction efficiency while it was not necessary for the treatment of carbofuran rinsate.     

Photocatalytic reactions of pyrene at TiO2/water interfaces

The photocatalytic oxidation of pyrene preadsorbed on TiO2 is examined in aqueous suspension under UV irradiation. Chemical oxygen demand measurements, UV-VIS spectrophotometer, infrared spectrometer and GC-MS analytical techniques were used to monitor the formed intermediates. During the oxidation processes, the ring-open reaction, hydroxylation and ketolysis occurred to produce some intermediate products (4-oxapyrene-5-one, 1,6- or 1,8-pyrenediones, 4,5-phenanthrenedialdehyde, cyclopenta[def]phenanthrene). Some factors affecting the photodegradation rate were also studied. The results were different from other studies: The pH of the dispersion, ratio of Py/TiO2:water had little effect on the photooxidation rate of pyrene catalyzed by TiO2, while the surface coverage, addition of Fe3+ affected it greatly.     

Properties of pyrolytic chars and activated carbons derived from pilot-scale pyrolysis of used tires

Used tires were pyrolyzed in a pilot-scale quasi-inert rotary kiln. Influences of variables, such as time, temperature, and agent flow, on the activation of obtained char were subsequently investigated in a laboratory-scale fixed bed. Mesoporous pores are found to be dominant in the pore structures of raw char. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surfaces of activated chars increased linearly with carbon burnoff. The carbon burnoff of tire char achieved by carbon dioxide (CO2) under otherwise identical conditions was on average 75% of that achieved by steam, but their BET surfaces are almost the same. The proper activation greatly improved the aqueous adsorption of raw char, especially for small molecular adsorbates, for example, phenol from 6 to 51 mg/g. With increasing burnoff, phenol adsorption exhibited a first-stage linear increase followed by a rapid drop after 30% burnoff. Similarly, iodine adsorption first increased linearly, but it held as the burnoff exceeded 40%, which implied that the reduction of iodine adsorption due to decreasing micropores was partially made up by increasing mesopores. Both raw chars and activated chars showed appreciable adsorption capacity of methylene-blue comparable with that of commercial carbons. Thus, tire-derived activated carbons can be used as an excellent mesoporous adsorbent for larger molecular species.     

水中钙离子现场快速测定方法研究

通过研制一种测试管 ,从而能简便、快速的测定水中的钙离子。该测试管尤其适宜于现场即时监测 ,具有快速、简便、抗干扰能力强和价格低廉等特点     

PCR-DGGE技术在水解酸化-缺氧法处理采油废水的微生物研究中的应用

采用PCR-DGGE技术直接从水解酸化和缺氧反应器中的污泥样品提取DNA,测定部分菌种的16S rDNA V3区片段序列,通过NCBI基因库比对,初步确定不同生物反应器内优势菌种,并进行了多样性指数分析.结果表明,水解酸化反应器中的生物膜与缺氧反应器中悬浮污泥微生物种群结构存在较大的差异,显示了在不同环境条件下,微生物群落结构的连续动态变化过程.     

各种影响因子对电解法预处理医药废水的影响研究

探讨了电解法预处理医药废水时停留时间、电解电压、废水初始浓度、温度和废水pH值等影响因子对去除色度、COD和提高废水可生化性等处理效果的影响，并考察了其应用于工业实际废水处理的可行性。实验结果表明：电解法更适合高浓度医药废水的处理，色度的去除率可达到90％以上；电解时间宜控制在40-60min；电解电压越高，废水COD和色度去除效果越好；在实验温度范围内，温度对色度和COD去除率的影响不大；废水pH值为7．5时电解效果最佳，工程运用宜控制在6—9之间。     

酸性媒介黄GG生物降解性能的试验研究

通过试验研究酸性媒介黄GG染料在厌氧、好氧条件下的生物降解机理、降解能力及共代谢降解效果.试验结果表明,厌氧菌能够通过葡萄糖共代谢作用很快降解酸性媒介黄GG;而好氧条件下经驯化活性污泥不能降解酸性媒介黄GG,经过较长时间驯化活性污泥能降解酸性媒介黄GG,但降解效果很差.葡萄糖浓度的升高对提高酸性媒介黄GG厌氧生物降解率有利,当葡萄糖浓度为2000 mg/L时,40mg/L酸性媒介黄GG的12和60 h厌氧生物降解率分别达到81.5%和93.5%.酸性媒介黄GG浓度对厌氧菌的生物降解能力也有影响.当葡萄糖浓度为2000 mg/L,酸性媒介黄GG(浓度为20～100 mg/L)的厌氧降解率最好,降解效率达到了94%,说明厌氧菌对酸性媒介黄GG的降解能力较好.     

水解酸化-缺氧法处理采油废水的污染物迁移降解试验研究

水解酸化．缺氧法对采油废水有较好的处理效果，采用GC／MS技术对水解酸化-缺氧法处理采油废水过程中污染物的迁移降解进行的研究表明：水解酸化段和缺氧段对采油废水中碳原子为C6-C9、分子量为100—140的有机物均有较好的降解能力。其中，在水解酸化段中酮类、芳烃得到较好的降解，缺氧段中酚类和醚类化合物降解明显。水解酸化-缺氧工艺对于采油废水中的甲苯和二甲苯具有较好的降解能力。