A batch study on the bio-fixation of carbon dioxide in the absorbed solution from a chemical wet scrubber by hot spring and marine algae

Carbon dioxide mass transfer is a key factor in cultivating micro-algae except for the light limitation of photosynthesis. It is a novel idea to enhance mass transfer with the cyclic procedure of absorbing CO(2) with a high performance alkaline abosorber such as a packed tower and regenerating the alkaline solution with algal photosynthesis. Hence, the algae with high affinity for alkaline condition must be purified. In this study, a hot spring alga (HSA) was purified from an alkaline hot spring (pH 9.3, 62 degrees C) in Taiwan and grows well over pH 11.5 and 50 degrees C. For performance of HSA, CO(2) removal efficiencies in the packed tower increase about 5-fold in a suitable growth condition compared to that without adding any potassium hydroxide. But ammonia solution was not a good choice for this system with regard to carbon dioxide removal efficiency because of its toxicity on HSA. In addition, HSA also exhibits a high growth rate under the controlled pHs from 7 to 11. Besides, a well mass balance of carbon and nitrogen made sure that less other byproducts formed in the procedure of carboxylation. For analysis of some metals in HSA, such as Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, related to the photosynthesis increased by a rising cultivated pH and revealed that those metals might be accumulated under alkaline conditions but the growth rate was still limited by the ratio of bicarbonate (useful carbon source) and carbonate. Meanwhile, Nannochlopsis oculta (NAO) was also tested under different additional carbon sources. The results revealed that solutions of sodium/potassium carbonate are better carbon sources than ammonia carbonate/bicarbonate for the growth of NAO. However, pH 9.6 of growth limitation based on sodium was lower than one of HSA. The integrated system is, therefore, more feasible to treat CO(2) in the flue gases using the algae with higher alkaline affinity such as HSA in small volume bioreactors.     

PCDD/PCDF Isomer patterns in waste incinerator flyash and desorbed into the gas phase in relation to temperature

The influence of temperature on the PCDD and PCDF isomer profiles of a municipal waste incinerator flyash and the PCDD/PCDF desorbed from the ash under an inert atmosphere was investigated using a bench-scale reactor. Exposure to temperatures of 250 degrees C and above resulted in significant changes in the distribution of isomers within most dioxin and furan congener groups. The PCDD content tended to become more evenly distributed across the range of isomers than was the case for the raw flyash, while the PCDF content became concentrated across a relatively lower number of isomers. In most cases the desorbed PCDD/PCDF were mainly mono- to tri-chlorinated, and hence had a relatively low I-TEQ value. The isomer profiles of the desorbed species were also influenced by temperature. There were some significant differences between the PCDF isomer profiles of the desorbed species and those of the treated flyashes under the same conditions, but no clear differences between the PCDD isomer profiles.     

Risk assessment of trace elements in the stomach contents of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins and Finless Porpoises in Hong Kong waters

The potential health risks due to inorganic substances, mainly metals, was evaluated for the two resident marine mammals in Hong Kong, the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin (Sousa chinensis) and the Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides). The stomachs from the carcasses of twelve stranded dolphins and fifteen stranded porpoises were collected and the contents examined. Concentrations of thirteen trace elements (Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Se, V and Zn) were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). An assessment of risks of adverse effects was undertaken using two toxicity guideline values, namely the Reference Dose (RfD), commonly used in human health risk assessment, and the Toxicity Reference Value (TRV), based on terrestrial mammal data. The levels of trace metals in stomach contents of dolphins and porpoises were found to be similar. Risk quotients (RQ) calculated for the trace elements showed that risks to the dolphins and porpoises were generally low and within safe limits using the values based on the TRV, which are less conservative than those based on the RfD values. Using the RfD-based values the risks associated with arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel and mercury were comparatively higher. The highest RQ was associated with arsenic, however, most of the arsenic in marine organisms should be in the non-toxic organic form, and thus the calculated risk is likely to be overestimated.     

A field trial for an ex-situ bioremediation of a drilling mud-polluted site

The remediation of drilling mud-polluted sites in the Southeast of Mexico is a top priority for Mexican oil industry. The objective of this work was to find a technology to remediate these sites. A field trial was performed by composting in biopiles, where four 1ton soil-biopiles were established, one treatment in triplicate and one unamended biopile. Amended biopiles were added with nutrients to get a C/N/P ratio of 100/3/0.5 plus a bulking agent (straw) at a soil/straw ratio of 97/3. Moisture content was maintained around 30-35%. Results showed that, after 180 d, total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations decreased from 99300+/-23000mgTPHkg(-1) soil to 5500+/-770mgTPHkg(-1) for amended biopiles and to 22900+/-7800mgTPHkg(-1) for unamended biopile. An undisturbed soil control showed no change in TPH concentrations. Gas chromatographic analysis showed residual alkyl dibenzothiophene type compounds. Highest bacterial counts were observed during the first 30 d which correlated with highest TPH removal, whereas fungal count increased at the end of the experimentation period. Results suggested an important role of the straw, nutrient addition and water content in stimulating aerobic microbial activity and thus hydrocarbon removal. This finding opens an opportunity to remediate old polluted sites with recalcitrant and high TPH concentration.     

Antimony distribution and mobility in topsoils and plants (Cytisus striatus, Cistus ladanifer and Dittrichia viscosa) from polluted Sb-mining areas in Extremadura (Spain)

A study about topsoil antimony distribution and mobility from the soils to the biomass has been afforded in three abandoned Sb mining areas located at Extremadura. Physico-chemical characteristics of the soils and total antimony levels were measured in soils and autochthonous plant species (Cytisus striatus, Cistus ladanifer and Dittrichia viscosa). Comparison with corresponding values in reference areas isolated from the mining activities is discussed. Antimony mobility in the soils was estimated by measuring the water extractable fraction; low results were obtained for the three soil areas, with no statistical differences. Plant ability to accumulate antimony was estimated by use of plant accumulation coefficients (PAC). Seasonal (spring vs. autumn) effects on the antimony content in the plant species. Cytisus striatus from Mari Rosa mine presented antimony excluder characteristics, whereas Dittrichia viscosa specimens growing in San Antonio mine showed a significant antimony bioaccumulation.     

Epiphytic lichen growth abnormalities and element concentrations as early indicators of forest decline

Thallus morphology and element concentrations (S, Al, Fe, Sr, Mn, Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb, As, F, and Cl) were compared in samples of the fruticose lichen genus Usnea at two heights of the Abies sibirica canopy in the East Sayan Mountains (Krasnoyarsk District, Russia) sampled from three stations at 15, 25 and 35 km from Krasnoyark. Usnea species with an abnormal morphology dominated on branches in the upper canopy, 15-22 m above ground level, and normal thalli on lower tree branches, 2-5 m above ground. Abnormal thalli at the tree-top level contained higher Al, Fe, Zn, F, Sr and Pb concentrations compared with normal thalli growing below, confirming a dust impact. No such clear trend was observed between sampling stations. Crown canopy architecture, surface microtopography and the balance between the processes of deposition and the movement and loss of particles play a major role in particle interception and in pollutant delivery to Usnea.     

The impact of UV-B and sulphur- or copper-containing solutions in acidic conditions on chlorophyll fluorescence in selected Ramalina species

Ramalina maciformis and Ramalina lacera were exposed to different solutions and UV-B to seek for alterations in the PSII photosynthetic quantum yield (F(v)/F(m)), in response to chemicals and radiation. For R. maciformis, significant alterations of the F(v)/F(m) ratio occurred only in response to different bisulphite solutions. The F(v)/F(m) ratio decreased most in R. maciformis and R. lacera following exposure to 5 and 1 mM bisulphite, respectively. Significant differences in F(v)/F(m) ratios were observed for R. lacera in response to different solutions and light at different wavelengths, this being synergistic. The PSII system was unaffected by simulated acid rain in both lichens. R. maciformis, in particular, may survive limited acid rain exposure owing to high Ca oxalate accumulation. The F(v)/F(m) ratio decreased most in R. lacera following short-term exposures to CuSO(4), suggesting that this species is more sensitive to Cu ions under acidic conditions.     

Functional mouthpart morphology of the squat lobster Munida sarsi, with comparison to other anomurans

 The mouthparts of Munida sarsi Huus, 1935, including the labrum and paragnaths, are described using LM and SEM, with special attention to the setal composition and its function. We also used high-resolution macrovideo equipment to record the feeding processes and monitor setae in action. This combination of morphological and preliminary behavioral data enabled us to arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of the functional morphology. M. sarsi was found to be an opportunist and capable of handling and eating most kinds of animal tissue. The species can also be a selective deposit feeder, sorting the sediment by quality and not by size. This sorting is performed by the setae on the medial rim of the bases of maxilla 1, maxilla 2 and maxilliped 1. Many of the other mouthpart functions ranging from food detection to ingestion are mapped with comparison to what has been found for other anomurans. Grooming was shown to be a significant function of many mouthparts, especially the endopod of maxilliped 3. In general the mouthparts closest to the mouth have the least complex movements and functional scheme, with the mandibles being able to perform only one movement, i.e. cutting or crunching food objects. Some functions are attributed to the paragnath, the endopod of maxilla 2 and the epipod of maxilliped 1. Received: 3 October 1999 / Accepted: 22 March 2000     

Metabolic differences between “demersal” and “pelagic” development of the Antarctic sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri

 Early development of the Antarctic sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri was examined under two differ-ent culture regimes: one to simulate development near-bottom (“demersal development”) and the other to simulate the development of embryos in the water column (“pelagic development”). When embryos of both treatments reached the hatching blastula stage at 5 d post-fertilization (−1.5 °C), the blastulae that had undergone demersal development evidenced significant differences (by ANOVA or suitable non-parametric comparison) in the following: a thicker blastoderm layer (12%, P < 0.001), higher ash-free dry weights (19%, P < 0.01), lower mass-specific respiration rates (50%, P < 0.001), higher incorporation rates of ³⁵S-methionine into protein (23%, P < 0.003), and a differential pattern of protein synthesis. When embryos developed demersally, they remained in the jelly-coat material released with the eggs at spawning. Quantitative isolation of this jelly-coat material in S. neumayeri demonstrated that it contained a significant amount of organic matter, 115 ng ash-free dry mass per egg, equivalent to 17% of the egg's initial organic mass. Uptake of external nutrients during embryogenesis may be a significant component of the physiological energetics of this polar invertebrate by allowing the utilization of jelly-coat material released by a female during spawning. Received: 21 April 1999 / Accepted: 5 June 2000     

Parthenogenetic reproduction of Diaphanosoma celebensis (Crustacea: Cladocera): influence of salinity on feeding, survival, growth and neonate production

 Effect of salinity on the feeding rate and parthenogenetic reproduction of asexual females of the cladoceran Diaphanosoma celebensis Stingelin was studied. Short-term (10 h) grazing experiments were conducted using Isochrysis galbana as feed at 5, 17, 25 and 30 psu salinity. Gut pigment concentration showed a significantly higher rate of feeding at lower salinities. Survival, growth, maturity attainment and neonate production of asexual females reared in the above four test salinities indicated preference for lower salinities (5 and 17 psu). The mean size of adult females decreased from 909 to 593 μm, mean life span from 24 to 5 d, mean neonate production from 12 to 2 and mean size of neonates from 434 to 400 μm as the salinity increased from 5 to 30 psu. Salinity variations also affected the size and age of primiparous females. Resting egg formation and sexual reproduction did not occur at the tested salinities. The results indicate that D. celebensis is adapted to low saline, estuarine environments. Received: 14 January 2000 / Accepted: 24 March 2000