Responses of free amino acids in rice seedlings during cyanide metabolism

Responses of free amino acids to botanical assimilation of free cyanide were investigated. Young rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L. cv. XZX 45) were grown in nutrient solution amended with free cyanide (KCN). Cyanide was analyzed in solution as well as in plant materials to estimate the phyto-assimilation potential. Free amino acids in different parts of plants were also measured to determine metabolic responses to KCN exposure. Phyto-assimilation of KCN was obvious, and the rates were positively correlated to the concentration supplied. Although changes in total amino acid content in plant materials were negligible during KCN metabolism (p?>?0.05), responses of different amino acids to KCN treatments were quite different. All treatments with KCN increased the content of proline (Pro) and isoleucine (Ile) in roots significantly compared with control (p?<?0.05), while changes of aspartic acid, lysine, and histidine in roots were more evident at higher KCN treatments (p?<?0.05). Results indicate that the content of Pro, Ile, and tyrosine showed pronounced increase in shoots of rice seedlings exposed to KCN at 1.44 mg CN/L or higher (p?<?0.05). Other amino acids slightly changed in all plant materials exposed to KCN (p?>?0.05). Results indicate that specific amino acids in rice seedlings showed positive response to non-toxic concentrations of exogenous KCN. These findings could provide additional insights into the inducible mechanisms underlying the involvement of amino acids in KCN metabolism.     

Impact assessment of human diet changes with rapid urbanization on regional nitrogen and phosphorus flows—a case study of the megacity Shanghai

Regional material flows are strongly influenced by human diets. To diagnose and prevent environmental problems that threaten urban sustainability, the impact of human diet changes with rapid urbanization on the regional nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) flows were quantitatively evaluated. A survey of day-to-day activities was conducted of 450 individuals surveyed (adults over 18 years old) in three representative areas (the central district, the new district, and the suburban/rural areas) of Shanghai, a megacity which has attracted worldwide attention. The lifestyle (eating habits, domestic sanitation, drainage facilities, etc.) pattern was determined and the potential N and P loads from human diets on the environment were calculated. The daily potential nitrogen and phosphorus loads from human diets was 19.36 g-N, 1.80 g-P in the central district, 16.48 g-N, 1.52 g-P in the new district, and 13.04 g-N, 1.20 g-P in the suburban/rural areas of Shanghai. Respondents in all three areas, especially those in the suburban/rural areas reported a preference for increasing the intake of animal-derived as well as processed foods, which means that the potential N and P load from human diets to the environment will increase further. In addition, most respondents consider industrial wastewater discharge as the main cause of eutrophication of waterbodies, though in recent years water pollution caused by domestic wastewater has increased rapidly, but this has received much less attention. Environment-friendly eating habits and improvements in the environmental awareness will be required.     

基于智能优化算法的河流水质模型参数的优化简

为探索河流水质模型参数新的求解方法,根据有限的实测数据,分别应用免疫进化优化算法和免疫进化优选的捕食搜索算法,对河流水质模型计算公式中的多参数进行优化。将优化得到的计算公式用于国内外若干河流的河段中DO浓度值的拟合,并与实测结果进行了比较。结果表明,将免疫进化优化算法或免疫进化优选的捕食搜索算法优化得到的水质模型参数精度不仅较高,而且相对稳定,从而为河流水质模型参数的优化提供了一种新方法。     

氯化镁复配硫酸铝混凝性能及絮体特性

在研究氢氧化镁混凝特性的基础上,复配氯化镁和硫酸铝作为混凝剂,以高岭土配水水样为研究对象,运用iPDA在线监测技术对混凝过程絮体形成进行监测,探讨了单独使用氯化镁和硫酸铝以及二者复配使用的混凝效果和絮体特性,确定复配使用的各种条件。结果表明,对于浊度20 NTU,pH 11.5的高岭土配水水样,氯化镁、硫酸铝最佳投加量分别为7.2 mg/L(Mg2+计)和3 mg/L(Al3+计);硫酸铝跟氯化镁复配使用时,先投加硫酸铝,间隔30 s后投加氯化镁,混凝效果较好;在镁离子最佳投加量7.2 mg/L时,铝和镁最佳质量比在1∶3~1∶2之间;镁铝复配时其FI值明显大于单独作用时,即絮体尺寸大小:二者复配硫酸铝氯化镁,而且复配条件下Zeta电位值在零电势左右浮动,浮动范围小,更利于聚集沉淀;镁铝复配时发生了协同效应,弥补了单独使用氯化镁混凝过程的不足。     

CuO/γ-Al2O3类Fenton试剂降解丁基黄药

CuO/γ-Al2O3类Fenton试剂是降解丁基黄药的优良试剂。该试剂与传统的Fenton试剂相比,提高了反应的pH值,可在较高pH(4~5)条件下反应,而传统的Fenton试剂的适宜pH值一般在3以下。采用单因素实验和正交实验相结合的方法研究了pH、催化剂投加量、过氧化氢投加量以及反应时间对丁基黄药降解效果的影响,并对催化剂的使用寿命进行了探讨。研究结果表明,反应的最佳条件为:pH为4~5,催化剂投加量为6 g/L,过氧化氢用量为30 mg/L,反应30min。在此反应条件下,丁基黄药的降解率达98%以上;影响丁基黄药降解效果的因素大小顺序为:pH>反应时间>H2O2用量>催化剂投加量,其中pH对CuO/γ-Al2O3类Fenton试剂降解丁基黄药的影响最为显著。     

Ag/ZnO hollow sphere composites: reusable photocatalyst for photocatalytic degradation of 17α-ethinylestradiol

Characterizations of Ag/ZnO hollow sphere by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectra, and UV–vis absorption spectra have been made after its synthesis. The results showed that the composite was hollow structure with diameters of about 1–4 μm. The samples synthesized were tested and identified as silver doped ZnO, which have extended and boosted the spectral absorption. The photocatalytic activity of Ag/ZnO hollow spheres was assessed using 17α-ethinylestradiol aqueous solution under UV irradiation. It has been observed that the 17α-ethinylestradiol absorption efficiency and degradation rate is higher for Ag/ZnO hollow spheres. As reusable photocatalysts, Ag/ZnO hollow spheres which could be easily separated from a suspension will facilitate their application in wastewater treatment with enhanced photostability.     

Enhanced degradation of ortho-nitrochlorobenzene by the combined system of zero-valent iron reduction and persulfate oxidation in soils

ortho-Nitrochlorobenzene (o-NCB) in soil poses significant health risks to human because of its persistence and high toxicity. The removal of o-NCB by both zero-valent iron (ZVI) and chemical oxidation (persulfate) was investigated by batch experiments. The o-NCB removal rate increases significantly from 15.1 to 97.3 % with an increase of iron dosage from 0.1 to 1.0 mmol g^?1. The o-NCB removal rate increases with the decrease of the initial solution pH, and a removal efficiency of 90.3 % is obtained at an initial pH value of 6.8 in this combined system. It is found that temperature and soil moisture could also increase the o-NCB removal rate. The o-NCB degradation rate increases from 83.9 to 96.2 % and from 41.5 to 82.4 % with an increase of temperature (15 to 35 °C) and soil moisture (0.25 to 1.50 mL g^?1), respectively. Compared to the persulfate oxidation system and ZVI system, the persulfate–iron system shows high o-NCB removal capacity. o-NCB removal rates of 41.5 and 62.4 % are obtained in both the persulfate oxidation system and the ZVI system, while the removal rate of o-NCB is 90.3 % in the persulfate–iron system.     

Quantifying interactions between propranolol and dissolved organic matter (DOM) from different sources using fluorescence spectroscopy

Beta blockers are widely used pharmaceuticals that have been detected in the environment. Interactions between beta blockers and dissolved organic matter (DOM) may mutually alter their environmental behaviors. To assess this potential, propranolol (PRO) was used as a model beta blocker to quantify the complexation with DOM from different sources using the fluorescence quenching titration method. The sources of studied DOM samples were identified by excitation–emission matrix spectroscopy (EEMs) combined with fluorescence regional integration analysis. The results show that PRO intrinsic fluorescence was statically quenched by DOM addition. The resulting binding constants (log K _oc) ranged from 3.90 to 5.20, with the surface-water-filtered DOM samples claiming the lower log K _oc and HA having the highest log K _oc. Log K _oc is negatively correlated with the fluorescence index, biological index, and the percent fluorescence response (P _i,n) of protein-like region (P _I,n) and the P _i,n of microbial byproduct-like region (P _II,n) of DOM EEMs, while it is correlated positively with humification index and the P _i,n of UVC humic-like region (P _III,n). These results indicate that DOM samples from allochthonous materials rich in aromatic and humic-like components would strongly bind PRO in aquatic systems, and autochthonous DOM containing high protein-like components would bind PRO more weakly.     

Some technical issues in managing PCBs

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were important industrial chemicals featuring high thermal and chemical stability and low flammability. They were widely used as dielectric and thermal fluid in closed electro-technical applications (transformers, capacitors…) and also in numerous dispersive uses, ranking from auto-copying paper to sealant or coatings. During the 1960s, severe environmental consequences started becoming apparent. The stability of PCBs contributed to their persistence in the environment, their lipophilic character to bio-magnification. Fish-eating species seemed threatened in their existence. In Japan and in Taiwan, thousands of people consumed PCB-contaminated oil. The production of PCBs stopped completely during the 1980s. Usage could continue in closed applications only. In this paper, particular attention is given to two issues: the cleaning of PCB electric transformers and the potential impact of PCB-containing building materials. Other contributions will cover the management and treatment of PCB-contaminated soil, sludge or fly ash. The complete survey is being prepared by request of the Knowledge Center for Engineers and Professionals.