Accumulation and phytoavailability of benzo[a]pyrene in an acid sandy soil

Effects of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) on ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) growth, plant accumulation and dissipiation of B[a]P in a red sandy soil (Hapli-Udic Argosol) were studied in a pot experiment. The plants were grown for 61 days in soil spiked with B[a]P at 0, 12.5, 25 and 50 mg kg⁻¹. Control pots without plants were also set up. Soil extractable B[a]P, plant shoot and root biomass, and concentrations of B[a]P in plant shoots and roots were determined. Ryegrass biomass was increased by addition of B[a]P and root B[a]P concentrations were significantly correlated with B[a]P application rate, but no such correlation was found for shoot B[a]P concentrations. This indicates that B[a]P enhanced the growth of the ryegrass. The extractable B[a]P concentration in the planted soil was significantly lower than that in the unplanted control soil at the rate of 50 mg B[a]P kg⁻¹. This indicates that ryegrass may help to dissipate B[a]P in soil at concentrations over 50 mg kg⁻¹ soil although the mechanism for this is not understood.     

新型聚乙烯填料生物滴滤床净化硫化氢气体的启动研究

研究了新型高密度聚乙烯改良型拉西环填料生物滴滤床净化硫化氢气体的启动过程,重点比较了启动过程中不同的挂膜方式对启动时间及效能的影响.结果表明,采用液相连续流强化挂膜法成膜时间短,在环境温度20～28℃时7 d可以挂膜成功.在启动过程中,随着工艺参数的突然改变(GRT缩短)和入口浓度波动,液相连续流强化挂膜后反应器的硫化氢去除率更稳定.在进气浓度最高为343 mg/m³时硫化氢去除率稳定在95%以上.试验过程中还发现,将SO₄^2-浓度作为活性污泥驯化完成的监测指标、液相S^2-去除率作为挂膜完成的监测指标更合理.启动结束后,通过2种途径减去喷淋液中的碳源并未影响硫化氢的去除率,这进一步表明生物滴滤床中硫化氢的净化主要由自养菌完成.     

Decomposition of silicate minerals by Bacillus mucilaginosus in liquid culture

The extraction of K⁺ and SiO₂ from silicate minerals by Bacillus mucilaginosus in liquid culture was studied in incubation experiments. B. mucilaginosus was found to dissolve soil minerals and mica and simultaneously release K⁺ and SiO₂ from the crystal lattices. In contrast, the bacterium did not dissolve feldspar. B. mucilaginosus also produced organic acids and polysaccharides during growth. The polysaccharides strongly adsorbed the organic acids and attached to the surface of the mineral, resulting in an area of high concentration of organic acids near the mineral. The polysaccharides also adsorbed SiO₂ and this affected the equilibrium between the mineral and fluid phases and led to the reaction toward SiO₂ and K⁺ solubilization. These two processes led to the decomposition of silicate minerals by the bacterium.     

Seasonal variation of the distribution of PCBs in sediments and biota in a PCB-contaminated estuary

To elucidate the effects of seasonal variation of precipitation on the distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in estuarine sediments and benthic feeders, PCB concentrations of river surface sediments and mullet fish (Liza macrolepis) were investigated in the estuary of Er-Jen River near former PCB contamination sites before and after each wet season from 2002 to 2004. Analyses of grain size distribution and organic matter revealed that the pre-existing surface sediments were covered by and mixed with the soil particulates brought by surface runoff after each wet season. Obvious increment of PCB content and significantly elevated fraction (p < 0.005) of light PCBs of the river mouth’s sediments after each wet season indicated that the invading particles were rich in unweathered PCBs. PCBs previously buried in the surface soil of heavily contaminated sites were flushed into this estuary through surface runoff. The precipitation altered the PCB patterns in sediment organic matter, the dietary source of mullet, and consequently changed that of mullets accordingly, which all possessed significant greater fraction of light PCBs. In this study, it was demonstrated that seasonal summer precipitation affected the distribution of PCBs on surface sediments and the mullets of this estuary. PCB residuals retained in this region still pose potential threats to biota resided here.     

Removal of trichloroethylene from water by cellulose acetate supported bimetallic Ni/Fe nanoparticles

In this study, cellulose acetate (CA) supported Ni/Fe nanoparticles were prepared and the ability of these nanoparticles to remove trichloroethylene (TCE) from water was studied. The effects of TCE reduction by the nanoparticles and sorption by the CA support were accounted for separately in the model. CA supported post-coated Ni/Fe nanoparticles were used to investigate the effect of metal particle composition on the observed reduction rate constant. The results show that the metal mass normalized observed reduction rate constant was proportional to the Ni content in the post-coated Ni/Fe nanoparticles in the range of 0-14.3 wt.%. This constant reached a maximum between 14.3 and 21.4 wt.% and decreased with further increase in Ni content. CA supported co-reduced Ni/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles gave poorer performance compared to CA supported post-coated Ni/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles at the same Ni content in Ni/Fe nanoparticles.     

Study of transportation and distribution of PCBs using an ecologically simulated growth chamber

This study was designed to investigate the transportation, distribution, and bioaccumulation of PCBs in various environmental media and compartments using an ecologically simulated growth chamber. Spatial and temporal trends of PCBs in the growth chamber were discussed. The release of PCB congeners in soil was affected by the amount of rainfall with the transporting direction moving away from PCBs contaminated point. Two pathways of PCBs accumulation in plants were the uptake of roots and the deposition on shoots/leaves. There were 29 PCB congeners been found in the lalang grass. Higher concentrations of lower chlorinated PCBs were identified than higher chlorinated PCBs because of relatively higher vapor pressure for lower chlorinated congeners. After 10months of monitoring, PCBs were detected in water samples which were contributed by the release of PCBs from leached soil. Analysis of sediment showed that the percentages of low- and mid-chlorinated biphenyls were decreased 1% and 13%, respectively compared to the increase (14%) of high-chlorinated biphenyls. The increase of high-chlorinated PCBs was possibly caused by their low hydrophilicity which had resulted higher adsorption rate in sediment. All of five species of fish had been found significant amount of PCBs accumulation ( summation operatorPCBs: 21.7-102.1 microg/g-lipid). The concentrations of PCBs in fish were varied significantly among species. The range of bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) among different species of fish could be as much as 5 times depending on the consumption habits of fish. The mass balance of PCBs distribution in the growth chamber was also discussed.     

Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Asia: a review from 1999 to 2004

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are present in both gaseous and particulate phases. These compounds are considered to be atmospheric contaminants and are human carcinogens. Many studies have monitored atmospheric particulate and gaseous phases of PAH in Asia over the past 5 years. This work compares and discusses different sample collection, pretreatment and analytical methods. The main PAH sources are traffic exhausts (AcPy, FL, Flu, PA, Pyr, CHR, BeP) and industrial emissions (BaP, BaA, PER, BeP, COR, CYC). PAH concentrations are highest in areas of traffic, followed by the urban sites, and lowest in rural sites. Meteorological conditions, such as temperature, wind speed and humidity, strongly affect PAH concentrations at all sampling sites. This work elucidates the characteristics, sources and distribution, and the healthy impacts of atmospheric PAH species in Asia.     

Photodegradation of bisphenol A in simulated lake water containing algae, humic acid and ferric ions

The photodegradation of bisphenol A (BPA), a suspected endocrine disruptor (ED), in simulated lake water containing algae, humic acid and Fe3+ ions was investigated. Algae, humic acid and Fe3+ ions enhanced the photodegradation of BPA. Photodegradation efficiency of BPA was 36% after 4h irradiation in the presence of 6.5 x 10(9) cells L(-1) raw Chlorella vulgaris, 4 mg L(-1) humic acid and 20 micromol L(-1) Fe3+. The photodegradation efficiency of BPA was higher in the presence of algae treated with ultrasonic than that without ultrasonic. The photodegradation efficiency of BPA in the water only containing algae treated with ultrasonic was 37% after 4h irradiation. The algae treated with heating can also enhance the photodegradation of BPA. This work helps environmental scientists to understand the photochemical behavior of BPA in lake water.     

Organochlorine contaminants in complete clutches of Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) eggs from Belize

Seven complete clutches of Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) eggs were collected in northern Belize and examined for organochlorine (OC) pesticide residues. The primary OC detected, p,p-DDE, was found in every egg analyzed (n=175). Other OCs detected included p,p-DDT, p,p-DDD, methoxychlor, aldrin, and endosulfan I. Concentrations of individual OCs ranged from 4 ppb (ng chemical/g egg wet weight) to greater than 500 ppb. A statistical evaluation of p,p-DDE levels in three complete clutches was used to derive the minimum number of eggs needed from a clutch to precisely determine the mean p,p-DDE concentration representative of that clutch. Sample sizes of 8 (80% confidence level) and 11 (90% confidence level) were determined to yield an accurate estimate of contaminant levels in a full clutch of eggs. The statistically recommended sample size of 11 eggs (at 90% confidence level) was successfully tested on the four additional clutches.     

Enhanced photocatalysis of pentachlorophenol by metal-modified titanium (IV) oxide

The effects of four metals (Ag, Au, Pt, and Cu) doped on TiO2 on the photocatalysis of pentachlorophenol (PCP) were investigated. The results of this study indicated that all four metals-doped TiO2 catalysts were able to enhance the efficiency of PCP photocatalysis with an optimum metallic content of 0.1 wt%. For the metal-doped TiO2 samples (Au, Pt, and Cu), the patterns of light absorption were significantly extended toward visible light spectra in the wavelengths between 400 and 800 nm. The photocatalysis of PCP was pH dependent with the maximum degradation rate achieved in the solution at pH 3. The formation of chloride ion corresponded with the concentration of PCP degraded which confirmed that dechlorination was the major pathway of PCP photocatalysis. The overall toxicities of PCP samples were reduced with the extension of light exposure using the microtox test. The results of PCP photocatalysis are also discussed based on the characteristics of metal/TiO2 including X-ray differential (XRD) patterns, Brunquer Emmett Teller (BET) specific area analysis, and Ultra Violet (UV)-Vis absorption spectra.