Improved bioavailability and biodegradation of a model polyaromatic hydrocarbon by a biosurfactant producing bacterium of marine origin

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic pollutants mostly derived from the processing and combustion of fossil fuels and cause human health hazards. In the present study a marine biosurfactant producing strain of Bacillus circulans was used to increase the bioavailability and consequent degradation of a model polyaromatic hydrocarbon, anthracene. Although the organism could not utilize anthracene as the sole carbon source, it showed better growth and biosurfactant production in an anthracene supplemented glycerol mineral salts medium (AGlyMSM) compared to a normal glycerol mineral salts medium (GlyMSM). The biosurfactant product showed high degree of emulsification of various hydrocarbons. Analysis by gas chromatography (GC), high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that the biosurfactant could effectively entrap and solubilize PAH. Thin layer chromatographic analysis showed that anthracene was utilized as a carbon substrate for the production of biosurfactant. Thus organic pollutant anthracene was metabolized and converted to biosurfactants facilitating its own bioremediation.     

INCREASING WATER SUPPLY BY MIXING OF FRESH AND SALINE GROUND WATERS1

ABSTRACT: The quality of ground water in any aquifer takes its final form due to natural mixture of waters, which may originate from different sources. Water quality varies from one aquifer to another and even within the same aquifer itself. Different ground water quality is obtained from wells and is mixed in a common reservoir prior to any consumption. This artificial mixing enables an increase in available ground water of a desired quality for agricultural or residential purposes. The question remains as to what proportions of water from different wells should be mixed together to achieve a desired water quality for this artificial mixture. Two sets of laboratory experiments were carried out, namely, the addition of saline water to a fixed volume of fresh water. After each addition, the mixture volume and the electric conductivity value of the artificially mixed water were recorded. The experiments were carried out under the same laboratory temperature of 20°C. A standard curve was developed first experimentally and then confirmed theoretically. This curve is useful in determining either the volume or discharge ratio from two wells to achieve a predetermined electrical conductivity value of the artificial mixture. The application of the curve is given for two wells within the Quaternary deposits in the western part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.     

城市工业区周边土壤-水稻系统中重金属的迁移累积特征

对H市工业区土壤-稻米-谷壳体系中重金属的迁移累积特征进行分析,结果显示,不同重金属元素的迁移累积特征不同,Cd易于从土壤中向稻谷籽实迁移,而Cu,Zn,Cr,Ni,As和Hg等迁移能力则较弱.水稻籽实中不同重金属在稻米和谷壳之间的分配规律不同.营养元素Cu和Zn有向稻米迁移累积的趋势,而有毒有害重金属Pb,Cd,Cr,Ni和As则主要累积于谷壳中,Cr和Nj在稻米和谷壳之间的分配较均衡.重金属在稻米中的累积能力为:Cd>Zn>Ni>Cu>Pb>Cr>Hg>As,而在谷壳中则为:Cd>Pb>Ni>Zn>Cr>Cu>As>Hg.     

Comparison of a plant based natural surfactant with SDS for washing of As(Ⅴ) from Fe rich soil

This study explores the possible application of a biodegradable plant based surfactant, obtained from Sapindus mukorossi, for washing low levels of arsenic （As） from an iron （Fe） rich soil. Natural association of As（Ⅴ） with Fe（Ⅲ） makes the process difficult. Soapnut solution was compared to anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate （SDS） in down-flow and a newly introduced suction mode for soil column washing. It was observed that soapnut attained up to 86% efficiency with respect to SDS in removing As. Full factorial design of experiment revealed a very good fit of data. The suction mode generated up to 83 kPa pressure inside column whilst down-flow mode generated a much higher pressure of 214 kPa, thus making the suction mode more efficient. Micellar solubilisation was found to be responsible for As desorption from the soil and it followed 1st order kinetics. Desorption rate coefficient of suction mode was found to be in the range of 0.005 to 0.01, much higher than down-flow mode values. Analysis of the PT-IR data suggested that the soapnut solution did not interact chemically with As, offering an option for reusing the surfactant. Soapnut can be considered as a soil washing agent for removing As even from soil with high Fe content.     

温度对蚯蚓生物滤池处理小城镇污泥效果影响

试验在9¹0,1410,14¹5,1815,18¹9,2419,24²5℃4个温度水平下进行,在蚯蚓生物滤池试验的同时进行了无蚯蚓对照试验,对蚯蚓生物滤池的蚯蚓与微生物的协同作用,以及对污泥的稳定性、污泥性状、污泥含有的微量元素的变化进行试验研究。结果表明在前3个温度水平下随着温度的升高,降解污泥有机质能力、总氮去除效果、硝化能力、聚磷效果方面蚯蚓生物滤池与无蚯蚓生物滤池都有明显提高,并且有蚯蚓的处理效果始终高于无蚯蚓的,但第4个温度水平下,无蚯蚓的处理效果与有蚯蚓的基本相同。     

折叠翼机构加载展开试验系统设计和仿真研究

设计了一种折叠翼加载展开试验装置,并进行了不同装药量时的加载展开试验,测试了展开时间。建立了折叠翼机构仿真模型,在试验数据的基础上,确定了模型的加力情况。仿真数据表明,加载汽缸引起的附加质量对展开时间影响较小,加载试验方法可行;弹翼加上模拟升力后,展开时间比不加模拟升力长20%左右,对展开时间影响显著。     

Effects of penconazole enantiomers exposure on hormonal disruption in zebrafish Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - PEN is a widely used triazole fungicide, usually used to control grape white rot. In the process of agricultural use, PEN will be scattered to the...