Evaluation of the Effect of Chemical or Enzymatic Synthesis Methods on Biodegradability of Polyesters

This work compares the biodegradability of polyesters produced by an esterification reaction between glycerol and oleic di-acid (D 18:1) issued from green chemical pathways, via either classical thermo-chemical methods, or an enzymatic method using the immobilized lipase of Candida antartica B (Novozym 435). An elastomeric polymer synthesized by enzymatic catalysis is more biodegradable than an elastomeric thermo-chemical polyester synthesized by a standard chemical procedure. This difference lies in percentage of the dendritic motifs, in values of the degree of substitution, and certainly in cross-links inducing an hyper-branched structure less accessible to the lipolytic enzymes in a waste treatment plant. However, when the elastomeric polymer synthesized by enzymatic catalysis is processed at high temperature as required for certain industrial applications, it presents an identical rate of biodegradation than the chemical polyester. The advantages of the thermo-chemical methods are greater speed and lower cost. Enzymatic synthesis appears be suited to producing polyesters, devoid of metallic catalysts, which must be used without processing at high temperature to keep a high biodegradability.     

Itaconic Acid Grafted Starch Hydrogels as Metal Remover: Capacity,Selectivity and Adsorption Kinetics

Hydrogels were synthesized by free radical graft copolymerization of itaconic acid (IA) onto corn starch (S-g-IA). For this purpose, potassium permanganate (KMnO₄)-sodium bisulfite (NaHSO₃) was used as redox initiation system. The formation of grafted starches was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wide angle X-ray scattering, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of monomer concentration, neutralization, addition of crosslinking agent, N,N-bismetilenacrilamide (MBAm), and initiator concentration on grafting efficiency and adsorption capacity of the starch hydrogels was investigated. It was demonstrated that the introduction of carboxyl and carbonyl groups promoted starch hydration and swelling. Grafting degree increased with the decrease of monomer concentration, increase of initiator concentration, grade of neutralization and the addition of MBAm without neutralization. Remarkably the resulting materials exhibited water absorption capacities between 258 and 1878% and the ability to adsorb metal ions. It was experimentally confirmed the metal uptake, obtaining the higher adsorption capacity (q _e  = 35 mg/g) for the product prepared with the pre-oxidation and lower initiator concentration. The removal capacity order was Pb²⁺>Ni²⁺>Zn²⁺>Cd²⁺. Moreover, the experimental kinetic and the equilibrium adsorption data for Ni²⁺ and Pb²⁺ were best fitted to the pseudo-second order and Freundlich isotherm models, respectively. This work describes for the first time the preparation of metal removal hydrogels based on starch and itaconic acid using the pair redox system KMnO₄/NaHSO₃, which avoids the starch hydrolysis and allows itaconic acid grafting incorporation without the requirement of more reactive comonomers.     

Benefits and risks associated with consumption of Great Lakes fish containing omega-3 fatty acids and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

正Introduction Assessment of environmental health effects arising from exposure to multiple substances is often very challenging.This is particularly true when humans are exposed to a mixture that contains both beneficial and harmful substances.A good example relates to the risk and benefits of fish consumption.     

Comparative cytotoxicity of fourteen trivalent and pentavalent arsenic species determined using real-time cell sensing

The occurrence of a large number of diverse arsenic species in the environment and in biological systems makes it important to compare their relative toxicity. The toxicity of arsenic species has been examined in various cell lines using different assays, making comparison difficult. We report real-time cell sensing of two human cell lines to examine the cytotoxicity of fourteen arsenic species: arsenite(As~Ⅲ), monomethylarsonous acid(MMA~Ⅲ) originating from the oxide and iodide forms, dimethylarsinous acid(DMA~Ⅲ), dimethylarsinic glutathione(DMAG~Ⅲ), phenylarsine oxide(PAO~Ⅲ), arsenate(AsV), monomethylarsonic acid(MMA~Ⅴ), dimethylarsinic acid(DMA~Ⅴ),monomethyltrithioarsonate(MMTTA~Ⅴ), dimethylmonothioarsinate(DMMTA~Ⅴ),dimethyldithioarsinate(DMDTA~Ⅴ), 3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid(Roxarsone, Rox),and 4-aminobenzenearsenic acid(p-arsanilic acid, p-ASA). Cellular responses were measured in real time for 72 hr in human lung(A549) and bladder(T24) cells. IC50 values for the arsenicals were determined continuously over the exposure time, giving rise to IC50 histograms and unique cell response profiles. Arsenic accumulation and speciation were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry(ICP-MS). On the basis of the 24-hr IC50 values, the relative cytotoxicity of the tested arsenicals was in the following decreasing order: PAO~Ⅲ? MMA~Ⅲ≥ DMA~Ⅲ≥ DMAG~Ⅲ≈ DMMTA~Ⅴ≥ As~Ⅲ? MMTTA~Ⅴ AsV DMDTA~ⅤDMA~Ⅴ MMA~Ⅴ≥ Rox ≥ p-ASA. Stepwise shapes of cell response profiles for DMA~Ⅲ, DMAG~Ⅲ,and DMMTA~Ⅴcoincided with the conversion of these arsenicals to the less toxic pentavalent DMA~Ⅴ. Dynamic monitoring of real-time cellular responses to fourteen arsenicals provided useful information for comparison of their relative cytotoxicity.     

迪庆藏族自治州生态经济能值分析

运用能值分析的方法,对迪庆藏族自治州生态经济的主要能值指标做了定量研究,并与其它地区的有关指标进行了比较研究,以此为迪庆藏区资源开发和可持续发展提出了政策建议.     

分岔管道阻塞条件下对瓦斯爆炸压力影响的试验研究

为了进一步探究瓦斯爆炸压力的传播特性,搭建拱形60°单分岔管道瓦斯爆炸试验平台.在支管道内分别增加阻塞率为20％、40％、60％的拱形环状阻塞板,阻塞率为40％的矩形和圆形通道阻塞板.监测不同位置处测点的压力变化,研究瓦斯爆炸时拱形单分叉管道内测点的压力峰值变化特性,定性分析阻塞板对分叉前管道内不同测点最大压力的影响.结果表明:随距离增加,管道内的测点最大压力呈先增大后减小的变化趋势;在没有阻塞板的条件下,传播管道内瓦斯爆炸的最大压力出现在8 250 mm处,且大于增加拱形环状阻塞板条件下8 250 mm处的压力峰值;随拱形环状阻塞板阻塞率增加,8 250 mm处的最大压力呈现先增加后减小的变化趋势,阻塞率为20％～40％时,8 250 mm处测得的压力峰值变化较小;对比阻塞率60％时与没有阻塞板条件下最大压力,4号测点压力减小40％以上;在支管增加阻塞板,阻碍了管道泄压,在管道11 250 mm、12 200 mm处的压力峰值均大于没有阻塞板条件下压力峰值;圆形通道阻塞板和矩形阻塞板条件下管道内最大压力出现在6 750 mm处;阻塞率为40％时,矩形阻塞板对瓦斯爆炸管道内最大压力的减小最明显.     

How application of agricultural waste can enhance soil health in soils acidified by tea cultivation: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Tea is one of the world’s most consumed beverages and an important crop of many developing countries. Intensive tea cultivation has negative impacts on soil...     

In Situ Compatibilization of Isotactic Polypropylene and High-Density Polyethylene by a Melt Cobranching Reaction

Incompatible polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) are difficult to separate in mixed recycling streams such as waste plastic packaging, which makes polyolefin mixtures unsuitable for high-quality products. In this work, based on the free radical branching reaction, a co-branching reaction of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blends was carried out in the presence of the peroxide, free radical regulator and multifunctional acrylate monomer, and a star-like long-chain branching (LCB) copolymer was obtained. The effect of in situ compatibilization on the structures and mechanical properties of iPP/HDPE was investigated, and the compatibilization mechanism was discussed. Results showed that the mechanical properties of the modified blends were largely improved, and efficient in-situ compatibilization of iPP and HDPE could be taken place in a wide process window. Moreover, the sizes of the dispersed phase in the modified blends were clearly decreased, and the interfacial thickness increased. Compared with the pure iPP/HDPE blend, the initial crystallization temperature of iPP in the modified iPP/HDPE blend was increased, and long branched chains of the LCB copolymers were physically entangled with the chemical identical homopolymers or even participated in the crystallization of iPP and HDPE. Thanks to the in situ compatibilization strategy, the compatibility of iPP/HDPE was significantly improved.

     

Consumer Choice and Farmers’ Markets

The increasing popularity of local food consumption can be attributed to the heightened awareness of food safety concerns, carbon emissions produced from food transportation, and an understanding of how large corporations’ obtain their food supplies. Although there is increasing discussion on both the local and organic food movement independently, there is not a wide availability of literature examining the motivations and perceptions of consumers with regard to farmers’ markets. Issues such as perceptions about what type of food consumers are purchasing at markets, nor the main motivations for frequenting such establishments are discussed. Therefore the purpose of this study was to determine consumer motivations, benefits, and perceptions of farmers’ markets. Using the case study location of Toronto, Canada, this study surveyed 300 participants during the fall of 2011. Findings indicated that the main purpose for visiting famers’ markets is not solely to fulfill grocery needs. Quality of products offered and the ability to support the local community were the primary motivators to visit the markets.     

石羊河流域降水稳定同位素变化的区域差异

为了了解干旱内陆河流域降水稳定同位素变化过程及其影响因素,基于石羊河流域荒漠区、绿洲区和山区8个站点2013年7月至2014年7月,497个降水样品氢氧稳定同位素数据及相应气象数据,研究了石羊河流域降水稳定同位素的时空变化、环境效应以及降水水汽来源.结果显示：石羊河流域局地大气水线斜率和截距表现出夏低冬高的变化趋势;降水稳定同位素表现出夏高冬低的变化趋势,从荒漠区、绿洲区到山区,稳定同位素值随海拔升高而降低,海拔效应为-0.22‰/100m,这是温度效应的另一种体现;流域降水稳定同位素表现出显著的温度效应,温度效应为0.43‰/℃,在天气尺度下受季风水汽和降水淋洗过程的影响表现出降水量效应;流域降水来源主要受西风水汽控制,夏季也会会受到季风水汽影响,冬季也受到极地气团影响.