Combined application of Triton X-100 and Sinorhizobium sp. Pb002 inoculum for the improvement of lead phytoextraction by Brassica juncea in EDTA amended soil

The process of EDTA-assisted lead phytoextraction from the Bovisa (Milan, Italy) brownfield soil was optimized in microcosms vegetated with Brassica juncea. An autochthonous plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR), Sinorhizobium sp. Pb002, was isolated from the rhizosphere of B. juncea grown on the Pb-contaminated soil in presence of 2 mM EDTA. The strain was augmented (10(8) CFU g(-1) soil) in vegetated microcosms to stimulate B. juncea biomass production and, hence, its phytoextraction potential. Triton X-100 was also added to microcosms at 5 and 10 times the critical micelle concentration (cmc) to increase the permeability of root barriers to the EDTA-Pb complexes. Triton X-100 amendment determined an increase in Pb concentration within plant tissues. However it contextually exerted a phytotoxic effect. Sinorhizobium sp. Pb002 augmentation was crucial to plant survival in presence of both bioavailable lead and Triton X-100. The combination of the two treatments produced up to 56% increase in the efficiency of lead phytoextraction by B. juncea. The effects of these treatments on the structure of the soil bacterial community were evaluated by 16S rDNA denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE).     

Chromium adsorption by aligned carbon nanotubes supported ceria nanoparticles

Ceria nanoparticles supported on aligned carbon nanotubes (CeO(2)/ACNTs), a novel adsorbent for Cr(VI) from drinking water, were prepared by chemical reaction of CeCl(3) with NaOH in aligned carbon nanotube solution and subsequent heat treatment. The best Cr(VI) adsorption effect of CeO(2)/ACNTs occurs at a pH range of 3.0-7.4. The largest adsorption capacity of CeO(2)/ACNTs reaches 30.2 mg g(-1) at an equilibrium Cr(VI) concentration of 35.3 mg l(-1) at pH 7.0. The experiment results suggest that CeO(2)/ACNTs have great potential applications in environmental protection.     

Anaerobic degradation of naphthalene in a fluvial aquifer: a radiotracer study

A radiotracer study was conducted in a creosote-contaminated aquifer beneath the Fraser River, British Columbia Canada to investigate the in situ degradation of naphthalene. The groundwater is anaerobic, with abundant methane, ferrous iron and carbon dioxide. This study followed earlier work at the site where the contaminant distribution could only be explained by invoking a mass loss through degradation, even though extensive field and laboratory microcosm studies closer to the source zone onshore could not confirm degradation. Accordingly, 14C-naphthalene was injected into the aquifer offshore, further from the source zone where modeling suggested degradation was occurring. During the 230-day monitoring period, 14CO2 was detected, confirming the degradation of the radio-labeled naphthalene tracer. A zero-order degradation rate of naphthalene of 5 microg/L-day was estimated based on the decrease in 14C-naphthalene concentration with time. While the degradation pathway could not be determined from the radiotracer study alone, the geochemistry of the site suggests that either iron reduction or methanogenesis is the terminal electron accepting processes responsible for naphthalene oxidation.     

Derivation of a household-level vulnerability index for empirically testing measures of adaptive capacity and vulnerability

Recent studies have projected significant climate change impacts in Africa. In order to understand what this means in terms of human well-being at local level, we need to understand how households can cope and adapt. This need has led many authors to argue for approaches to adaptation that are based on vulnerability analysis. Vulnerability is one of the key terms in the climate change literature, but little progress has been made in the field of its quantification. Typically, indicators are combined according to a weighing scheme, with the identification of indicators and the weighing schemes based on expert judgment rather than empirical evidence. In addition, most quantitative assessments are applied to countries or other administrative units, whereas managing climate risk has traditionally been the responsibility of households. We therefore focus on the adaptive capacity of households. We analyze the coping strategies and vulnerability to climatic stresses of agro-pastoralists in Mozambique and test the validity of a number of commonly used vulnerability indicators. We derive a household-level vulnerability index based on survey data. We find that only 9 out of 26 indicators tested exhibit a statistically significant relationship with households’ vulnerability. In total, they explain about one-third of the variation in vulnerability between households, confirming the need for more research on underlying determinants and processes of vulnerability. With inclusion of local knowledge, our study findings can be used for local targeting, priority setting and resource allocation. Complemented with studies analyzing climate change impacts and findings from country-level adaptive capacity studies, governmental policy can be informed.     

Local Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Change and Local Adaptive Strategies: A Case Study from the Middle Yarlung Zangbo River Valley, Tibet, China

Climate change affects the productivity of agricultural ecosystems. Farmers cope with climate change based on their perceptions of changing climate patterns. Using a case study from the Middle Yarlung Zangbo River Valley, we present a new research framework that uses questionnaire and interview methods to compare local farmers’ perceptions of climate change with the adaptive farming strategies they adopt. Most farmers in the valley believed that temperatures had increased in the last 30 years but did not note any changes in precipitation. Most farmers also reported sowing and harvesting hulless barley 10–15 days earlier than they were 20 years ago. In addition, farmers observed that plants were flowering and river ice was melting earlier in the season, but they did not perceive changes in plant germination, herbaceous vegetation growth, or other spring seasonal events. Most farmers noticed an extended fall season signified by delays in the freezing of rivers and an extended growing season for grassland vegetation. The study results showed that agricultural practices in the study area are still traditional; that is, local farmers’ perceptions of climate change and their strategies to mitigate its impacts were based on indigenous knowledge and their own experiences. Adaptive strategies included adjusting planting and harvesting dates, changing crop species, and improving irrigation infrastructure. However, the farmers’ decisions could not be fully attributed to their concerns about climate change. Local farming systems exhibit high adaptability to climate variability. Additionally, off-farm income has reduced the dependence of the farmers on agriculture, and an agricultural subsidy from the Chinese Central Government has mitigated the farmers’ vulnerability. Nevertheless, it remains necessary for local farmers to build a system of adaptive climate change strategies that combines traditional experience and indigenous knowledge with scientific research and government polices as key factors.     

Fungal inoculum properties: extracellular enzyme expression and pentachlorophenol removal in highly contaminated field soils

This study was conducted to improve the pentachlorophenol (PCP) bioremediation ability of white-rot fungi in highly contaminated field soils by manipulating bioaugmentation variables. These were the dry weight percentage of fungal inoculum addition (31-175 g kg(-1)), PCP concentration (100-2137 mg kg(-1) PCP), fungal inoculum formulation, and time (1-7 wk). Five fungal isolates were used: the New Zealand isolates Trametes versicolor (L.: Fr.) HR131 and Trametes sp. HR577; the North American isolates Phanerochaete chrysosporium Burds. (two isolates) and Phanerochaete sordida (Karst.) Erikss. & Ryv. Pentachlorophenol removal, manganese peroxidase, and laccase activity, and the formation of chloroanisoles in the contaminated field soils were measured. The majority of PCP removed by the Trametes isolates was in the first week after bioaugmentation. The maximum PCP removal by the fungi varied from 50 to 65% from a 1065 mg kg(-1) PCP contaminated field soil. Pentachlorophenol was preferentially converted to pentachloroanisole (PCA) by the Phanerochaete isolates (>60%), while 2 to 9% of the PCP removed by two Trametes isolates was converted to PCA. A pH increase was measured following bioaugmentation that was dependent on PCP concentration, fungal inoculum addition, and formulation. This, together with rapid initial PCP removal, possibly changed the bioavailability of the remaining PCP to the fungi and significantly decreased the sequestering of PCP in the contaminated field soils. The research supports the conclusion that New Zealand Trametes spp. can rapidly remove PCP in contaminated field soils. Bioavailability and extractability of PCP in the contaminated field soil may significantly increase after bioaugmentation.     

块状型煤中甲烷的非等温吸附-解吸试验研究

为揭示煤中甲烷非等温吸附解吸规律,利用实验室试验方法,以块状型煤为研究对象,研究不同温度和压力下的甲烷吸附解吸过程。试验结果表明:相同温度条件下,随着压力的增高,吸附量增加并逐渐趋于平缓;同一压力下,解吸量小于吸附量,解吸出现滞后现象;相同条件下,型煤吸附量小于煤粉试样。不同温度区间,吸附解吸规律不同。在10～30℃,同一压力下,随着温度的升高,吸附量和解吸量下降幅度较大;在30～50℃,吸附量和解吸量出现先升高后降低的趋势,但变化幅度较小,温度变化对于吸附量和解吸量的影响较小。在10～30℃,温度是影响吸附解吸的主要因素。     

基于Matlab软件的突发事故水质解析模型与应用

为快速分析突发性水污染事故可能造成的水环境影响,建立了基于Matlab软件的突发事故水质解析模型。以浙江省某河流为例,分析了上游突发水污染事故形成的污染团在河流中的迁移扩散规律、影响范围、事故下游各断面水质变化过程以及取水口等敏感点的超标时间及超标程度。同时详细分析了近岸和远岸边界对污染物反射所造成的浓度叠加影响、合理的边界反射次数,以及水流流速、扩散系数、降解系数等主要水文水质参数对污染团扩散的影响。     

ARIMA时间序列分析模型在臭氧浓度中长期预报中的应用

近年来,京津冀地区近地面臭氧浓度呈现上升趋势,臭氧污染超标情况严重.目前由于前体物源排放清单、臭氧生成和扩散的物理和化学过程机制存在不足等原因,导致了数值模型在预报夏季臭氧浓度时仍然存在较大偏差,而时间序列分析方法由于具有建模简单、计算成本低的特点,在臭氧污染预报中具有很好的应用前景.本研究利用华北区域大气本底站上甸子站点和环境监测总站天津和保定站点的臭氧观测数据,采用ARIMA时间序列分析模型开展臭氧浓度中长期预报研究.结果表明,季节性ARIMA模型在预报臭氧长期月均值时,预测值和观测值的相关系数R可达0.951,均方根误差RMSE仅为10.2 μg·m^-3.加入了日最高气温及二次项作为协变量的动态ARIMA模型,对臭氧日最大8 h滑动平均值的预报效果得到了很大提升,预测值和观测值的相关系数由0.296~0.455提升至0.670~0.748,RMSE得到了有效降低.