Toxicity of arsenate and arsenite on germination, seedling growth and amylolytic activity of wheat

Effects of different concentrations of arsenite and arsenate (0-16 mg/l) on seed germination, relative root length and shoot height, arsenic accumulation in young seedlings, alpha-amylase, beta-amylase and total amylolytic activity in wheat were investigated in order to elucidate the toxicity of arsenic in the early developmental stage. Germination percentages of different wheat varieties had different responses to arsenic species and decreased significantly with increasing arsenic concentrations except Duokang 1. Relative root length (RRL) and relative shoot height (RSH) of wheat seedlings decreased with increasing concentrations of arsenite and arsenate. The relative root lengths were correlated with the relative shoot heights for arsenite (r2 = 0.79) and arsenate (r2 = 0.77). Arsenic uptake by seedlings increased with the increasing concentrations of arsenite or arsenate and followed the Michaelis-Menten kinetics function. The average total amylolytic activity and beta-amylase activity had no significant difference comparable to that of controls at the concentration 2 mg/l arsenite or arsenate, but decreased apparently when the concentration was higher than 2 mg/l. Whereas the alpha-amylase activity decreased with increasing concentrations of arsenite or arsenate over the whole concentration range. Arsenite decreased all the endpoints more remarkably than arsenate. In comparison, shoot height and root length were more sensitive to arsenic than other endpoints and might be used as indicators for arsenic toxicity.     

Hybrid process for heavy metal removal from wastewater sludge.

Bioleaching processes have been demonstrated to be effective technologies in removing heavy metals from wastewater sludge, but long hydraulic retention times are typically required to operate these bioprocesses. A hybrid process (coupling biological and chemical processes) has been explored in laboratory pilot-scale experiments for heavy metals (cadmium [Cd], copper [Cu], chromium [Cr], and zinc [Zn]) removal from three types of sludge (primary sludge, secondary activated sludge, and a mixture of primary and secondary sludge). The hybrid process consisted of producing a concentrate ferric ion solution followed by chemical treatment of sludges. Ferric iron solution was produced biologically via oxidation of ferrous iron by A. ferrooxidans in a continuous-flow stirred tank (5.2 L) reactor (CSTR). Wastewater sludge filtrate (WSF) containing nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) has been used as culture media to support the growth and activity of indigenous iron-oxidizing bacteria. Results showed that total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations of the culture media in excess of 235 mg/L were found to be inhibitory to bacterial growth. The oxidation rate increased as ferrous iron concentrations ranged from 10 to 40 g Fe2+/L. The percentage of ferrous iron (Fe2+) oxidized to ferric iron (Fe3+) increased as the hydraulic retention time (HRT) increased from 12 to 48 h. Successful and complete Fe2+ oxidation was recorded at a HRT of 48 h using 10 g Fe2+/L. Subsequently, ferric ion solution produced by A. ferrooxidans in sludge filtrate was used to solubilize heavy metals contained in wastewater sludge. The best solubilization was obtained with a mixture of primary and secondary sludge, demonstrating a removal efficiency of 63, 71, 49, and 80% for Cd, Cu, Cr, and Zn, respectively.     

Treatment of refectory oily wastewater by electro-coagulation process

Electro-coagulation was used to treat refectory wastewater with high oil and grease contents. Different operational conditions were examined, including pH, current density, reaction time, conductivity, electrode distance and inlet concentration. The optimum current density was 10-14 A m(-2) within 30 min depending on the wastewater properties tested. Conductivity had little effect on the treatment efficiency. Although the addition of extra salts (e.g., sodium chloride) to the wastewater did not help increase the pollutant removal efficiency, it could save the power consumption significantly. The COD(Cr) and oil removal efficiency descended with increasing electrode distance. The optimal electrode distance was determined to be 10 mm for this equipment in consideration of the treatment cost and efficiency together. The pH effect on the performance of the electro-coagulation process was not very significant in the range of 3-10. The removal efficiency of oil and COD(Cr) under normal condition exceeded 95% and 75%, respectively.     

Kinetics of benzene adsorption onto activated carbon

An activated carbon bed adsorption process is influenced by the adsorbents' characteristics, volatile organic compound (VOC) characteristics, and process conditions. In the literatures, the adsorption processes of the adsorbents and VOCs were usually considered to be in equilibrium. In this study, the VOC adsorption processes by activated carbon were considered to be a kinetic process, i.e. they are not in equilibrium. Then, isothermal adsorption curves and a small column experiment were simulated.     

PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs and HCB in marine and estuarine sediments from Queensland, Australia.

Concentrations of 2,3,7,8-chlorine substituted PCDDs, PCDFs, selected PCB congeners and HCB were determined in sediment samples collected from sites along the east coast of Queensland in northern Australia. PCDDs were detectable in all sediment samples while PCDFs, PCBs and HCB were mainly found in sediment samples collected from sites in the Brisbane metropolitan area. The results provide evidence that an unidentified source for higher chlorinated PCDDs exists along the Queensland coast.     

采用泥回流处理彩色显像管含氟废水

本文通过中和、混凝沉降法除氟过程,研究了彩色显像管工业废水除氟的适宜工艺条件。现场试验表明:应用泥回流处理技术,采用高效絮凝剂处理含氟废水,排放废水氟含量可稳定在4-6mg/L之间,低于排放标准（10mg/L）,同时废水处理的成本大大降低。     

Gestaltungsoptionen für handlungsf?hige Innovationssysteme zur erfolgreichen Substitution gef?hrlicher Stoffe (SubChem)

Ohne Zusammenfassung Online First: 27. 03. 2002 ‚Sustainable Substitution of Hazardous Substances‚; Projektbeschreibung unter wwwoekopolde oder wwwfh-hamburgdelpers/gleich_von bzw. www.uni-hamburgde/kooperationssteI1e-hh. Das Vorhaben wird vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) im F?rderschwerpunkt ‚Rahmenbedingungen für Innovationen zum nachhaitigen Wirtschaften’ (RIW) gef?rdert und von der GSF als Projekttr?ger betreut (FkZ. O7Riw4).