Photochemical oxidation of p-chlorophenol by UV/H2O2 and photo-Fenton process. A comparative study

In this study, photochemical advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) utilizing the combinations of UV/H2O2 and the photo-Fenton reaction (UV + classical Fenton reaction) were investigated in lab-scale experiments for the degradation of p-chlorophenol. The study showed that the photo-Fenton process, (a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and ferrous or ferric ion), was the most effective treatment process under acidic conditions and produced a higher rate of degradation of p-chlorophenol at a very short radiation time. It accelerated the oxidation rate by 5-9 times the rate for the UV/H2O2 process. The reaction was found to follow the first order, the reaction was influenced by the pH, the input concentration of H2O2 and the amount of the iron catalyst and the type of iron salt. The experimental results showed that the optimum conditions were obtained at a pH value of 3, with 0.03 mol/l H2O2, and 1 mmol/l Fe(II) for the UV/H2O2/Fe(II) system and 0.01 mol/l H2O2 and, 0.4 mmol/l Fe(III) for the UV/H2O2/Fe(III) system. The reactions were accompanied by the generation of Cl- which reached its maximum value at a short reaction time when using the photo-Fenton process. Finally a rough comparison of the specific energy consumption shows that photo-Fenton process reduced the energy consumption by at least 73 to 83% compared with the UV/H2O2 process.     

Response patterns in adult forest trees to chronic ozone stress: identification of variations and consistencies

The responsiveness of adult beech and spruce trees to chronic O(3) stress was studied at a free-air O(3) exposure experiment in Freising/Germany. Over three growing seasons, gas exchange characteristics, biochemical parameters, macroscopic O(3) injury and the phenology of leaf organs were investigated, along with assessments of branch and stem growth as indications of tree performance. To assess response pattern to chronic O(3) stress in adult forest trees, we introduce a new evaluation approach, which provides a comprehensive, readily accomplishable overview across several tree-internal scaling levels, different canopy regions and growing seasons. This new approach, based on a three-grade colour coding, combines statistical analysis and the proficient ability of the "human eye" in pattern recognition.     

Performance of some growth variables

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) and Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) were exposed to low concentrations of ozone (O(3)) and sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), alone and combined, and simulated acid rain (pH 4.0) in sheltered open-top chambers in Hohenheim (Southwest Germany) for almost five years. The concentrations of O(3) and SO(2) used were related to annual ambient average found in southern West Germany. Two control chambers were ventilated with charcoal filtered air and rainfall was simulated at pH 4.0 and 5.0. Because of large dense plant growth in the chambers it was only possible to measure uncompleted growth of shoots in the upper canopy. Therefore, growth analysis was restricted to this area. The treatment with acidic precipitation decreased the annual shoot growth of beech and reduced leaf surface area of those trees. Exposure to SO(2), O(3) alone and in combination resulted in further reduction of shoot length and leaf surface area. Fumigation with SO(2) and O(3) + SO(2) caused insignificant decreases of shoot length, total dry weight and needle surface area of spruce. The lateral leader shoot growth of spruce exposed to O(3) was significantly reduced only in the last year of the experiment. Growth rates of the spruce exposed to charcoal filtered air and non-acidic precipitation were reduced more than those of beech and fir. Growth variables determined for fir reflected different rates of incremental change. Exposure to O(3) resulted in the largest dry matter production of all fir groups but those exposed to charcoal filtered air and non-acidic precipitation responded with the best lateral leader shoot growth, lowest specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf area ratio (LAR) respectively indicating best metabolic efficiency. At the conclusion of this study a classification of sensitivity was developed for the tree species.     

An empirically tested overlap between indigenous and scientific knowledge of a changing climate in Bolivian Amazonia

Regional Environmental Change - Existing climate data for Bolivian Amazonia rely on observations from a few sparse weather stations, interpolated on coarse-resolution grids. At the same time, the...     

Embryotoxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in three domestic avian species, and of PAHs and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the common eider

The embryotoxicity of an artificial mixture of 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was tested by injection into the yolk sacs of eggs of four avian species: chicken Gallus domesticus, turkey Meleagris gallopavo, domestic duck Anas platyrhynchos and common eider Somateria mollissima. A dose of 2.0 mg kg egg(-1) of the PAH mixture increased the mortality among the embryos of all four species. In the domestic duck, but not in the three other species, there was a significantly increased embryonic mortality at a dose of 0.2 mg kg(-1) of this mixture. All 18 individual compounds in the mixture were tested for embryotoxicity in the chicken. The compound most toxic to chick embryos was benzo[k]fluoranthene. This substance also proved to be highly embryotoxic in the three other species. Previous studies have shown coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to be much more embryotoxic in the chicken than in other avian species studied. In accordance with this, eider duck embryos proved to be considerably less sensitive to 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl and 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl than was previously found for chick embryos. For PAHs, however, chick embryos did not have a higher sensitivity than the other species tested.     

Moderne Analysenverfahren in der Gerichtlichen Chemie

The use of modern chemical and physical methods in forensic chemistry and crime investigation is steadily increasing and gaining in importance. For forensic purpose special modifications of the procedures are generally required in order to give results which are acceptable to legal authorities as proof of some specific points. The chemical toxicology can also help in cases of acute intoxications or in environmental problems.     

The spread of cancer in the organism facts and problems

In this review, cancer is conceived as an alteration of the surface-monitored social behavior of cells. Apart from impaired growth control, loss of residency (tissue affiliation) is the most important consequence of this homeostatic disorder. It results in local spread (penetration) which is initiated by locomotive and/or destructive activities of the neoplastic cells. Access of cancer elements to the circulation possibly leads to distant spread (metastasis). Penetration and metastasis largely depend upon reactions of the organism, which are of an ill-understood, ambiguous nature favoring both the tumor and the host.