Polyurethane for removal of organic dyes from textile wastewater

Synthetic organic dyes are extensively used in consumer products from textile to pharmaceuticals. A large amount of organic dyes is ultimately discharged as effluent into water bodies, thus posing a serious threat to environment and life. Therefore, removal of dyes from water bodies is needed. To address this problem, various synthetic and natural materials have been used to adsorb dyes. Here, we review the application of polyurethane for removal of organic dyes. First, we review the application of simple and modified polyurethane as efficient and economic adsorbents for dyes. Secondly, we review the polyurethane-based membranes for separation and adsorption of various dyes. Thirdly, we describe polyurethane composites with improved efficiency of dyes removal. Finally, we review the bioremediation of dyes where polyurethane has been proven as an excellent inert support.     

Aboveground biomass and carbon stock are related with soil humidity in a mangrove at the Piraquê-Açu River,Southeastern Brazil

In Brazil, few studies have been conducted about the assimilation of carbon and biomass accumulation in mangroves despite its great role as a carbon sink. In this sense, this study aimed to estimate the aboveground biomass (AGB) and carbon stocked by mangrove species in a stretch along the Piraquê-Açu River in southeastern Brazil, and to verify their relation with some soil parameters. For such, the height and diameter of all trees inside six plots of 100 m² were measured and used to quantify AGB through an allometric equation, and soil samples were collected to calculate granulometry, humidity, time of infiltration and permeability. Multiple regressions were used to identify relations between AGB and soil parameters. A total of 296 trees were found in the area and the AGB and carbon assimilated were 2.92 t ha^?1 and 1.46 t ha^?1, respectively. Laguncularia racemosa was the most abundant species and contributed with 61% of these values. Only a positive relation between AGB/carbon of L. racemosa and soil humidity was found, probably due to the substrate characteristics which contain a large concentration of silt/clay, and may store more water and do not yet provide firmness to the roots. By comparison, this mangrove had a low amount of AGB and carbon stocked and has yet to develop structurally. Along with other ecological functions and its associated ecosystem services such as supplying food for the local community, these features highlight the importance to conserve the studied mangrove and the interlinked coastal ecosystems.     

Spatiotemporal changes and fragmentation of mangroves and its effects on fish diversity in Ca Mau Province (Vietnam)

Mangroves are important economically and ecologically, however mangrove cover has declined dramatically leading to habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss. Information on mangrove cover change, fragmentation and impacts on fish diversity is poorly understood. The aims of this study are to detect spatiotemporal changes and mangrove status, examine fragmentation changes and associated effects on fish diversity. Landsat images in1989, 2000, and 2013 were used to classify mangrove cover in Ca Mau Province (Vietnam) and validated against high resolution Pleiades imagery. Fragmentation changes in mangrove cover were examined using series of landscape metrics evaluated against fish diversity indices (Simpson’s index, Jaccard’s coefficient and relative abundance). Results show that mangrove cover has declined 24.6% in the province. Currently, high and moderately dense mangroves distribute in southern half of the region while the low density mangroves occurs in the northern half. Over the 24 year study periods, the number of patches and edge density has increased 58% and 53.9%, respectively, while the mean patch size and mean patch edge has decreased 52.3% and 26.6%. Fish diversity in the more highly fragmented mangrove area was 1.78 times lower than the less fragmented mangrove. The study illustrates the applicability of using Landsat satellite imagery for use in mangrove fragmentation studies as well as the impact of fragmentation.     

The fungicide difenoconazole alters mRNA expression levels of human CYP3A4 in HepG2 cells

The fungicide difenoconazole has been frequently detected in agricultural products, soils and surface waters, causing increasingly public concern due to toxicological properties. Although systemic triazole fungicides can inhibit the enzymatic activity of many CYP450 isozymes, how difenoconazole affects the human CYP3A4 still remains largely unknown. We thus investigated the effect of difenoconazole on normal mRNA expression and protein expression of human CYP3A4 by real-time quantitative PCR and western blot, respectively. Results show that the exposure to difenoconazole from 0.01 to 0.5 μM for 24 h down-regulates mRNA expression levels of human CYP3A4 in HepG2 cells. We also found that difenoconazole could inhibit the enzymatic activity of human CYP3A4 in a concentration-dependent mode. The IC₅₀ of difenoconazole for inhibition of CYP3A4 activity is 0.41 µM, showing a stronger inhibitor in comparison with ketoconazole. Overall, our findings indicate the potential risk of difenoconazole for the disruption of human CYP3A4.     

H and O isotopic differences in typhon and urban-induced heavy rain in Tokyo

Stable isotope ratios of hydrogen and oxygen of water are useful tracers of the hydrological cycle. For example, isotopes monitor the evapotranspiration in vegetated areas, local snow ice processes and stream water flow processes. δ¹⁸O and δD in rainwater reflect the processes of evaporation, condensation and precipitation. Heavy rains thus modify the stable isotope ratio of ground water, stream water and transpiration water vapor. However, the controlling factors of δ¹⁸O and δD are not clear. Here we analyzed the inorganic ion concentration and stable isotope ratio in 38 normal rainwater and 15 heavy rainwater samples were collected in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, during four years from October 2012 to December 2015. Results show a decrease in δ¹⁸O and δD values with the total rainfall amount, thus highlighting the amount effect. δ¹⁸O and δD volume-weighted mean values in typhoon heavy rain were higher than the values estimated from amount effect, whereas δ¹⁸O and δD volume-weighted mean values in urban-induced heavy rain were lower. Typhoon heavy rain has high Na⁺ ratio and stable isotope ratios, while urban-induced heavy rain has low Na⁺ ratio and stable isotope ratio.     

三氯卡班对小鼠血浆内源性物质影响的代谢组学研究

三氯卡班被认定为一种新型的环境污染物,可能对动植物和人体产生危害,为探究三氯卡班的有害作用机制,选择C57BL6小鼠作为载体,利用分子生物学和报告基因方法考察了三氯卡班对肝脏的作用,同时利用代谢组学技术考察三氯卡班对血浆内源性代谢物变化的影响。结果表明,三氯卡班是核受体CAR的激活剂,可以提高肝脏CYP2b10的m RNA表达。同时血浆主要的内源性代谢物也产生了显著性变化,血浆中的脂肪酸比例都呈下降趋势,肉毒碱与乙酰肉碱的比例都呈上升趋势,花生四烯酸与肌酸的比例都呈上升趋势,这都与核受体CAR被激活密切相关,由此说明利用代谢组学技术能够全面地反映三氯卡班所造成的对机体的影响。     

农药混配制剂环境风险评估现状与展望

本文综述了欧洲和美国农药混配制剂的环境风险评估方法。详细介绍了欧洲食品安全局(EFSA)评估体系中的2种方法,即,基础的"整体测试法"和近年来提倡的"基于组分的方法"。"基于组分的方法"的特点是以浓度加和模型(CA模型)作为默认假设进行初级评估,以独立作用模型(IA模型)等作为高级评估手段的农药混配制剂环境风险评估方法。此外,本文还介绍了模型偏差率(MDR)、毒性相似度及毒力单元(TU)等概念以及混配制剂风险评估流程。本文的目的旨在为建立我国农药混配制剂的环境风险评估方法体系提供参考。     

Copper recovery from waste printed circuit boards concentrated metal scraps by electrolysis

Copper recovery is the core of waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) treatment. In this study, we proposed a feasible and efficient way to recover copper from WPCBs concentrated metal scraps by direct electrolysis and factors that affect copper recovery rate and purity, mainly CuSO₄·5H₂O concentration, NaCl concentration, H₂SO₄ concentration and current density, were discussed in detail. The results indicated that copper recovery rate increased first with the increase of CuSO₄·5H₂O, NaCl, H₂SO₄ and current density and then decreased with further increasing these conditions. NaCl, H₂SO₄ and current density also showed a similar impact on copper purity, which also increased first and then decreased. Copper purity increased with the increase of CuSO₄·5H₂O. When the concentration of CuSO₄·5H₂O, NaCl and H₂SO₄ was respectively 90, 40 and 118 g/L and current density was 80 mA/cm², copper recovery rate and purity was up to 97.32% and 99.86%, respectively. Thus, electrolysis proposes a feasible and prospective approach for waste printed circuit boards recycle, even for e-waste, though more researches are needed for industrial application.

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Recycling polymeric waste from electronic and automotive sectors into value added products

The environmentally sustainable disposal and recycling of ever increasing volumes of electronic waste has become a global waste management issue. The addition of up to 25% polymeric waste PCBs (printed circuit boards) as fillers in polypropylene (PP) composites was partially successful: while the tensile modulus, flexural strength and flexural modulus of composites were enhanced, the tensile and impact strengths were found to decrease. As a lowering of impact strength can significantly limit the application of PP based composites, it is necessary to incorporate impact modifying polymers such as rubbery particles in the mix. We report on a novel investigation on the simultaneous utilization of electronic and automotive rubber waste as fillers in PP composites. These composites were prepared by using 25 wt.% polymeric PCB powder, up to 9% of ethylene propylene rubber (EPR), and PP: balance. The influence of EPR on the structural, thermal, mechanical and rheological properties of PP/PCB/ EPR composites was investigated. While the addition of EPR caused the nucleation of the β crystalline phase of PP, the onset temperature for thermal degradation was found to decrease by 8%. The tensile modulus and strength decreased by 16% and 19%, respectively; and the elongation at break increased by ~71%. The impact strength showed a maximum increase of ~18% at 7 wt.%–9 wt.% EPR content. Various rheological properties were found to be well within the range of processing limits. This novel eco-friendly approach could help utilize significant amounts of polymeric electronic and automotive waste for fabricating valuable polymer composites.

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Assessment of leaching behavior and human bioaccessibility of rare earth elements in typical hospital waste incineration ash in China

Leaching behavior and gastrointestinal bioaccessibility of rare earth elements (REEs) from hospital waste incineration (HWI) fly and bottom ash samples collected from Beijing and Nanjing Cities were assessed. In the same ash sample, the leaching concentrations of individual REEs determined by the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) were higher than those detected by the European standard protocol (EN-type test), thereby suggesting that the low pH value of leaching solution was an important factor influencing the leachability of REE. The REE bioaccessibility results, which were evaluated using the physiologically based extraction test (PBET), indicated that REEs were highly absorbed during gastric phase by dissolution; and subsequently precipitated and/or re-adsorbed in small intestinal phase. The relative amounts of the total REEs extracted by the TCLP method, EN-type test and PBET test were compared. In addition to the pH value of extraction solutions, the chelating role of REEs with organic ligands used in the PBET method was also an important parameter affecting REE adsorption in human body. Additionally, this study showed that REEs were extracted by these methods as concomitants of heavy metals and anions (NO₃ ^–, F^–, SO₄ ^2–, and Cl^–) from HWI ash, which probably caused the remarkably complex toxicity on human body by the exposure pathway.

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