Iron improving bio-char derived from microalgae on removal of tetracycline from aqueous system

Novel magnetic carbonaceous bio-char was hydrothermal prepared from microalgae under different loadings of iron and its structures and surface chemistry were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm (BET). The morphology of bio-char changed from sheet to particle as iron loading increased and its surface area also increased. When 3.0 g of dried microalgae and 6.0 mmol iron salt ((NH₄)₂SO₄·FeSO₄·6H₂O) were mixed and treated, the obtained bio-char possessing the highest amount of oxygen-containing functional groups resulted in the best adsorption performance on tetracycline (TC). This adsorption process was fitted to Langmuir adsorption isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacity was 95.86 mg/g, which is higher than other bio-char reported. The iron loading contributed to the higher adsorption capacity of bio-char, which may be due to three factors, the high surface area, more hydrogen bonding, and bridging effects of the structural Fe for TC. Our data suggest that bio-char may have more important role in stabilization of pollutants in the environment.     

Biodegradation of methyl red by Bacillus sp. strain UN2: decolorization capacity,metabolites characterization,and enzyme analysis

Azo dyes are recalcitrant and refractory pollutants that constitute a significant menace to the environment. The present study is focused on exploring the capability of Bacillus sp. strain UN2 for application in methyl red (MR) degradation. Effects of physicochemical parameters (pH of medium, temperature, initial concentration of dye, and composition of the medium) were studied in detail. The suitable pH and temperature range for MR degradation by strain UN2 were respectively 7.0–9.0 and 30–40 °C, and the optimal pH value and temperature were respectively 8.0 and 35 °C. Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ (1 mM) were found to significantly accelerate the MR removal rate, while the enhancement by either Fe³⁺ or Fe²⁺ was slight. Under the optimal degradation conditions, strain UN2 exhibited greater than 98 % degradation of the toxic azo dye MR (100 ppm) within 30 min. Analysis of samples from decolorized culture flasks confirmed biodegradation of MR into two prime metabolites: N,N′dimethyl-p-phenyle-nediamine and 2-aminobenzoic acid. A study of the enzymes responsible for the biodegradation of MR, in the control and cells obtained during (10 min) and after (30 min) degradation, showed a significant increase in the activities of azoreductase, laccase, and NADH-DCIP reductase. Furthermore, a phytotoxicity analysis demonstrated that the germination inhibition was almost eliminated for both the plants Triticum aestivum and Sorghum bicolor by MR metabolites at 100 mg/L concentration, yet the germination inhibition of parent dye was significant. Consequently, the high efficiency of MR degradation enables this strain to be a potential candidate for bioremediation of wastewater containing MR.     

Medium optimization for the production of anti-cyanobacterial substances by Streptomyces sp. HJC-D1 using response surface methodology

Bioremediation using isolated anti-cyanobacterial microorganism has been widely applied in harmful algal blooms (HABs) control. In order to improve the secretion of activated anti-cyanobacterial substances, and lower the cost, a sequential optimization of the culture medium based on statistical design was employed for enhancing the anti-cyanobacterial substances production and chlorophyll a (Chl a) removal by Streptomyces sp. HJC-D1 in the paper. Sucrose and KNO₃ were selected as the most suitable carbon and nitrogen sources based on the one-at-a-time strategy method, and sucrose, KNO₃ and initial pH were found as major factors that affected the anti-cyanobacterial ability of the isolated stain via the Plackett–Burman design. Based on the response surface and canonical analysis, the optimum condition of culture medium was obtained at 22.73 g l^-1 of sucrose, 0.96 g l^-1 of KNO₃, and initial pH 8.82, and the Chl a removal efficiency by strain HJC-D1 increased from 63?±?2 % to 78?±?2 % on the optimum conditions.     

Simultaneous separation of apigenin,luteolin and rosmarinic acid from the aerial parts of the copper-tolerant plant Elsholtzia splendens

Elsholtzia splendens is a copper-tolerant plant species which grows on copper deposits in China. The generation of a valuable E. splendens biomass on specific contaminated sites has become one of the promising phytotechnologies. The simultaneous separations of apigenin, luteolin, and rosmarinic acid yielded in the ethyl acetate extracts of the flowering aerial parts was achieved by the use of a macroporous resin, polyamide, and silicagel columns during chromatography. Chemical identification confirmed the structures based on the spectra of FTIR, NMR, and HPLC/ESI-MS. The isolated compounds of purity above 98.3 % were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activities against human cancer cell lines including A549 (non-small lung), A431 (skin), and Bcap37 (breast). Among these compounds, luteolin and apigenin presented the best cytotoxic activities against A549, A431, and Bcap37 cells and, therefore, both could be the valuable products for the post-harvest processing of E. splendens biomass.     

Influence of UV radiation on chlorophyll,and antioxidant enzymes of wetland plants in different types of constructed wetland

A surface- and vertical subsurface-flow-constructed wetland were designed to study the response of chlorophyll and antioxidant enzymes to elevated UV radiation in three types of wetland plants (Canna indica, Phragmites austrail, and Typha augustifolia). Results showed that (1) chlorophyll content of C. indica, P. austrail, and T. augustifolia in the constructed wetland was significantly lower where UV radiation was increased by 10 and 20 % above ambient solar level than in treatment with ambient solar UV radiation (p?C. indica, P. australis, and T. angustifolia by elevated UV radiation of 10 % was higher in vertical subsurface-flow-constructed wetland than in surface-flow-constructed wetland. The sensitivity of MDA, SOD, POD, and CAT activities of C. indica, P. austrail, and T. augustifolia to the elevated UV radiation was lower in surface-flow-constructed wetland than in the vertical subsurface-flow-constructed wetland, which was related to a reduction in UV radiation intensity through the dissolved organic carbon and suspended matter in the water. C. indica had the highest SOD and POD activities, which implied it is more sensitive to enhanced UV radiation. Therefore, different wetland plants had different antioxidant enzymes by elevated UV radiation, which were more sensitive in vertical subsurface-flow-constructed wetland than in surface-flow-constructed wetland.     

负载纳米TiO_2凹凸棒黏土的制备表征及对Mn~(2+)的吸附性能

以溶胶-凝胶法制备了负载纳米TiO2凹凸棒黏土吸附剂,采用SEM、XRD等分析方法对负载纳米TiO2凹凸棒黏土前后的结构进行了表征,并对Mn2+进行了吸附性能的研究。结果表明:经过高温焙烧后的负载纳米TiO2凹凸棒黏土吸附剂较负载前的凹凸棒黏土,因其结构中的结晶水和沸石水脱失,内部孔道面积和表面积增加,活性吸附位点的数量增大,吸附能力有了明显提高。在室温条件下(20~25℃),pH为5~6,吸附平衡时间为120 min时,负载纳米TiO2凹凸棒黏土吸附剂对Mn2+有较好的吸附效果。     

添加天然沸石和石灰对土壤镉形态转化的影响

采用土壤培养实验,研究镉污染土壤中添加沸石、石灰及两者配施对土壤pH值和土壤镉形态变化的影响。结果表明,土壤pH值随沸石用量的增加而增加,随培养时间呈现先增加后下降并逐渐趋于稳定的趋势,但均高于对照。高剂量石灰的处理对土壤pH的影响最大,与对照相比土壤pH提高了3.33个单位。在土壤5~50 d培养过程中,石灰处理的土壤交换态镉含量呈现先逐渐降低而后略有升高的趋势,其余处理均呈下降趋势。培养50 d后,高剂量的沸石、石灰及高剂量沸石与石灰配施处理的土壤交换态镉含量从5 d时的67.54、61.95和55.56 mg/kg降低至54.65、49.93和45.96mg/kg。相关分析表明,不同培养时期交换态镉含量与土壤pH值呈负相关关系。在10个处理中,L2Z3(石灰2 g/kg土和沸石60 g/kg土)组合处理效果最好,使土壤交换态镉含量下降了34.68%,碳酸盐结合态镉含量上升了4.30%,铁锰氧化结合态镉含量上升了16.97%,有机结合态镉含量上升了1.31%,残渣态镉含量上升了12.11%。     

The fate of recombinant plasmids during composting of organic wastes

Composting was investigated as a means for safe disposal of organic waste containing bacteria that carry transgenes in recombinant plasmids. To generate model recombinant plasmids, a mobile IncQ plasmid, RSF1010, and a non-mobile plasmid, pGFP, were genetically modified to carry a DNA segment encoding both green fluorescent protein and kanamycin resistance and were designated as RSF1010-GFPK and pGFPK. Escherichia coli (E. coli) C600 harboring these plasmids were inoculated into chicken manure specimens that were placed in compost at 20 and 60 cm from the bottom of a 1.0-m high compost bin. Control specimens were held at ambient temperature. By day 10, compost temperatures at the lower and upper levels of the bin had reached 45.3 and 61.5°C, respectively, and at both levels the target E. coli had been inactivated and the plasmids had lost their capacity to be transformed or mobilized. Furthermore, based on real time Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the transgene fragments along with the host chromosomal DNA fragment from specimens at the upper level had been degraded beyond the detection limit. However, at the lower level where temperatures remained below 48°C these fragment persisted to day 21. At ambient temperatures (0–8°C), the E. coli, plasmids and the transgene fragments persisted in manure specimens throughout the 21 day test period. The study showed the potential for composting as a safe procedure for disposal of bacteria carrying transgenes in recombinant plasmids.     

H(+)/phenanthrene symporter and aquaglyceroporin are implicated in phenanthrene uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) roots

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous organic pollutants that are toxic to human and nonhuman organisms. Dietary intake of PAHs is a dominant route of exposure for the general population because food crops are a major source of dietary PAHs. The mechanism for crop root uptake of PAHs remains unclear. Here we reveal that wheat root uptake of PAHs involves active and passive processes. The passive uptake is mercury and glycerol dependent. Mercury and glycerol inhibit uptake, indicating that aquaglyceroporins sensitive to mercury contribute to passive uptake. Active uptake is mediated by a phenanthrene/H symporter. The electrical response of wheat roots triggered by phenanthrene consists of two sequential phases: depolarization followed by repolarization. The depolarization is phenanthrene concentration dependent, with saturation kinetics that have an apparent of K(m) 10.8 μmol L(-1). As uptake proceeds, external solution pH increase is noticed. Lower pH favors the uptake. Vanadate and 2,4-dinitrophenol suppress the electrical response to phenanthrene and phenanthrene uptake, suggesting that plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase is involved in the establishment of an electrochemical proton gradient acting as a driving force for active uptake. Therefore, it is suggested that aquaglyceroporin and phenanthrene/H symporter are implicated in phenanthrene uptake. Our results provide insight into PAH uptake mechanism in wheat roots that is relevant to strategies for reducing PAH accumulation in wheat for food safety, improving phytoremediation of PAH-contaminated soils or water by agronomic practices and genetic modification to target remedial plants for higher PAH uptake capacity.     

公路项目竣工环境保护验收调查中的重点与难点

公路项目是生态影响类建设项目,本文以达渝高速公路三期工程(大竹城西至重庆段)竣工环境保护验收调查为例,以验收调查的技术路线、方法、工程建设对生态环境的影响及声环境的影响为重点进行调查,对在公路项目竣工环境保护验收调查中存在的问题和重点进行总结。