Sedimentary Pigments and Organic Matter in Relation to Benthic Fauna in the Tan-Shui Estuary,Taiwan

The benthic ecological structure of the Tan-Shui estuary, Taiwan is changed due to long term effects of dumping of urban wastewater and of engineering actions. to monitor these changes, we sampled and analyzed benthos and sediment from 12 stations on the estuary.

The composition of the dominant species of benthos varied seasonally, with molluscan and crustacean species having greater numbers and higher frequencies of occurrence than other species. the dominant taxa during winter were Nassarius sp. and Maldanidae at two stations. Analysis using Simpson's index and Shannon's index showed the benthic community varied more in coastal areas than in offshore areas.

Physicochemical analysis showed that most of the Tan-Shui estuary consisted of sandy sediment. the variations in concentrations of organic carbon and total nitrogen at each station were small. Although the concentrations of chlorophyll-a and carotenoid at all stations were generally low, the two stations had the highest concentrations, and we concluded that the concentration of pigments in these sediments was related to the abundance of benthos. the community structure of the benthos reflected the characteristics of the sediments, and benthic species exhibited selection of and adaptation to specific sedimentary environments.     

PCB 105-induced ultrastructural alterations in the rat liver: A stereological study

Liver alterations were stereologically determined in five groups, each of 10 male and female Sprague–Dawley weanling rats fed PCB 105 (2,3,3′,4,4′-pentachlorobiphenyl) for 13 weeks at concentrations of 0.05, 0.5, 5, and 50?ppm mixed with corn oil. Animals from two groups receiving the oil in diets served as controls for each gender. A significant increase in mean volume fraction (VF) of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) profiles was estimated in hepatocytes of female rats in 0.5, 5, and 50?ppm groups. A significant decrease in VF of mitochondria in female rats at 50?ppm was detected. In addition, a decrease in VF of lipid droplets was measured in female rats at 0.5, 5, and 50?ppm groups. No difference was found in VF of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) cisternae, and peroxisome profiles at any concentration of the PCB in either male or female animals as compared to baseline values from controls. A significant elevation of baseline VF for RER in female rats was detected in comparison with males. In the present study, no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) for PCB 105 was estimated at <0.5?ppm for hepatocyte alterations in female Sprague–Dawley rats.     

A Marine Pollution Study of Northeast Coastal Water Off Taiwan Island

Abstract

The coastal water of northeast Taiwan island, called ‘Yin-Yang Hai’ for its distinct yellow colour compared with blue offshore water, was investigated from 1989 to 1990 by the authors. Biological study showed the dominant species of plankton to be Copepoda, Cladocera, planktonic eggs and Diatoma. Dominant species of benthos were young crabs, Amphipoda and Annelida, with Amphipoda usually occurring in heavily polluted areas. Heavy metal data showed that the concentration of copper was high. the copper and iron concentration in algae of the intertidal zone was also high. the concentrations of iron and copper in inshore water were also higher than in offshore water. By comparison of the pH and salinity distribution of this area, we conclude that this coastal water has been polluted by acid waste water from coastal industry. the suspended solids concentration in sea water is high. Flocculation occurring at the boundary of fresh and saline water might be a reason for the distinct yellow colour of the water of this area. Further study is required.     

Formation of nitrogenous disinfection by-products from pre-chloramination

A sampling survey investigated the formation of nitrogenous disinfection by-products (N-DBPs) and carbonaceous DBPs (C-DBPs) from pre-chloramination, an increasingly common treatment strategy in China for regulated C-DBP control, followed by subsequent conventional water treatment processes, i.e., coagulation, sedimentation, and filtration. Dihalogenated N-DBPs typically peaked in the summer and early autumn with a relatively higher temperature, with the maximum levels of dichloroacetamide (DCAcAm), dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN), bromochloroacetonitrile, dibromoacetonitrile and dichloroacetone at 1.8, 6.3, 6.0, 2.6 and 1.8 μg L⁻¹ in the finished water, respectively. Also, the levels of all the dichlorinated N-DBPs were correlated with the ratio of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) to dissolved organic carbon, implying autochthonous DON played an essential role in the formation of these DBPs. In contrast, the yields of trihalogenated DBPs [chloroform (CF), trichloronitromethane (TCNM) and trichloroacetone (TCAce)] appeared not to be significantly affected by seasons. CF and DCAN were the dominant species in trihalomethanes (THMs) and dihaloacetonitriles (DHANs), respectively. Bromine was more readily incorporated into DHANs to form brominated DBPs than THMs during pre-chloramination. Although pre-chloramination can ensure the finished water to meet with the current Chinese THM regulatory limits, the increased levels of TCNM and TCAce may be a new water quality concern.     

气液混合脉冲放电体系中偶氮染料的脱色效果

为了深入探究水包气式气液混合脉冲放电体系中各参数对有机物降解效果的影响,建立了多针一板电极形式的气液混合脉冲放电等离子体体系,以典型的偶氮染料——酸性橙Ⅱ（A07）为目标物,考察该体系中影响染料脱色效果的关键因素。研究结果表明,气液混合脉冲放电体系中与脉冲电源输入功率有关的因素（脉冲电压峰值和脉冲频率）对A07脱色效果影响明显。随着脉冲电压峰值和脉冲频率的增加,A07溶液的脱色效率和相应的准一级降解动力学常数增加。在较高的脉冲电压峰值（30kV）和脉冲频率（75Hz）条件下,10mg／LA07溶液的脱色效率和准一级降解动力学常数分别达到r92．7％和3．50×10～／min。同时,研究证明酸性溶液条件较利于染料脱色。     

Arsenite-oxidizing and arsenate-reducing bacteria associated with arsenic-rich groundwater in Taiwan

Drinking highly arsenic-contaminated groundwater is a likely cause of blackfoot disease in Taiwan, but microorganisms that potentially control arsenic mobility in the subsurface remain unstudied. The objective of this study was to investigate the relevant arsenite-oxidizing and arsenate-reducing microbial community that exists in highly arsenic-contaminated groundwater in Taiwan. We cultured and identified arsenic-transforming bacteria, analyzed arsenic resistance and transformation, and determined the presence of genetic markers for arsenic transformation. In total, 11 arsenic-transforming bacterial strains with different colony morphologies and varying arsenic transformation abilities were isolated, including 10 facultative anaerobic arsenate-reducing bacteria and one strictly aerobic arsenite-oxidizing bacterium. All of the isolates exhibited high levels of arsenic resistance with minimum inhibitory concentrations of arsenic ranging from 2 to 200 mM. Strain AR-11 was able to rapidly oxidize arsenite to arsenate at concentrations relevant to environmental groundwater samples without the addition of any electron donors or acceptors. We provide evidence that arsenic-reduction activity may be conferred by the ars operon(s) that were not amplified by the designed primers currently in use. The 16S rRNA sequence analysis grouped the isolates into the following genera: Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Psychrobacter, Vibrio, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, and Bosea. Among these genera, we present the first report of the genus Psychrobacter being involved in arsenic reduction. Our results further support the hypothesis that bacteria capable of either oxidizing arsenite or reducing arsenate coexist and are ubiquitous in arsenic-contaminated groundwater.     

高比表面积活性炭的制备及对Cr(Ⅵ)吸附的研究

以椰树壳为原料,运用水蒸汽和二氧化碳复合物理活化法在4 h内制备了2 162.84 m2/g的高比表面积活性炭,其孔径分布范围为1.1~2.5 nm。应用此吸附剂考察了溶液pH、吸附剂用量、接触时间和初始浓度对Cr(VI)离子吸附效果的影响,并讨论了固定吸附床中不同溶液流量对Cr(VI)去除效果的影响。结果表明:在温度为298 K、溶液pH为1.96、吸附剂用量为0.10 g、铬离子初始浓度为100 mg/L与接触时间为70 min的条件下,活性炭对铬离子具有较高的吸附容量,去除率高达99.32%;铬离子在吸附床中的穿透曲线具有陡峭的传质锋面,但随着铬离子溶液流量的增大脱除果率降低。     

Accumulation, distribution and transformation of DDT and PCBs by Phragmites australis and Oryza sativa L.: I. Whole plant study

Glasshouse experiments were conducted to determine the accumulation, distribution and transformation of o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDT and PCBs by common reed (Phragmites australis) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) under hydroponic conditions. The culture solution was spiked with the organic pollutants and samples were collected daily. Analysis of the plants at harvest showed that both species had removed DDT and PCBs from the solution. DDT appeared to have accumulated within P. australis by both passive adsorption and active absorption. Both o,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDT were transformed within P. australis. DDD was the major metabolite and the transformation was mediated by reductive dehalogenation. Plant long-distance transportation systems may be involved in the translocation of PCBs within P. australis and the affinity of the PCBs for lipids is one of the major factors affecting their uptake and translocation within the plants. Similar but less pronounced results were found in O. sativa and suggest that these wetland plants may be used for the plant-mediated remediation of persistent organic pollutants.     

微生物制剂与玄武岩纤维联用处理城市废水

为了探索一种新型的去除水体中有机物的工艺,以模拟城市废水为研究对象,研究不同工况条件下,复合微生物制剂、组合双环玄武岩纤维填料以及复合微生物制剂与组合双环玄武岩纤维填料结合对模拟城市废水中COD的去除情况。实验结果表明,复合微生物制剂与组合双环玄武岩纤维填料结合在曝气的情况下对COD的去除能力较高。在复合微生物制剂与组合双环玄武岩纤维填料结合的条件下,对COD浓度为500 mg/L左右的模拟城市废水的去除效率可达 97.22%;影响模拟城市废水中COD去除效果的各因素的主次顺序依次为反应时间>曝气时间>投加量=pH;得出最佳工况参数是:复合微生物制剂的投加量为0.05 g/L,曝气时间为72 h,反应时间为96 h,pH为7。     

光纤传导可见光降解亚甲基蓝

针对浓度大、色度高的印染废水难以处理的情况,选用加入光纤的光催化体系进行研究。采用溶胶凝胶法制备了Ag+/TiO2粉体光催化剂,用固体紫外可见光谱、X射线衍射对其进行表征。选用亚甲基蓝溶液作为目标降解物,评价了Ag+/TiO2在可见光下的光催化活性。分别考察了加入石英芯侧光光纤与塑料侧光光纤反应体系下,催化剂量、光纤数量、光照强度和pH值等因素对亚甲基蓝降解实验的影响。结果表明,选用20 mg/L的亚甲基蓝,采用催化剂量为11.67 g/L,500根侧光光纤,300 W的外部光源,pH值约为11时,光催化降解效果最佳,均能达到90%以上。