Distribution of heavy metals in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary, Southern China: Implications for sources and historical changes

The distribution of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cd and As) in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary was investigated. The spatial distribution of heavy metals displayed a decreasing pattern from the turbidity maxima to both upstream and downstream of the estuary, which suggested that suspended sediments played an important role in the trace metal distribution in the Pearl River Estuary. In addition, metal concentrations were higher in the west part of the estuary which received most of the pollutants from the Pearl River. In the sediment cores, fluxes of heavy metals were consistent with a predominant anthropogenic input in the period 1970-1990. From the mid-1990s to the 2000s, there was a significant decline in heavy metal pollution. The observed decline has shown the result of pollution control in the Pearl River Delta. However, it is noteworthy that the metal concentrations in the most recent sediment still remained considerably high. Taken together, the enrichment of heavy metals in sediments was largely controlled by anthropogenic pollution.     

Ammonia volatilization and availability of Cu, Zn induced by applications of urea with and without coating in soils

Ammonia volatilization and the distribution of Cu and Zn were investigated in two types of soil treated with coated and uncoated urea. The rate of ammonia volatilization in two weeks after fertilizing with coated urea was 8% in soil 1 (soil derived from river alluvial deposits in Dongting Lake Plain) and 5.15% in soil 2 (red soil derived from quaternary red clay), about half the rates observed when fertilizing with common urea, implying that the hydrolysis speed of the coated urea was lower than for common urea, and that the coated urea can increase nitrogen use efficacy. As for the availability of Cu and Zn, their concentrations decreased in the first week after fertilization, and then increased, which was contrary to the effect of treatment on soil pH. For example, when the pH was 7.99, there was 0.79 mg/kg exchangeable Cu and 0.85 mg/kg exchangeable Zn in the soil derived from river alluvial deposits in Dongting Lake Plain. However, the concentrations of exchangeable Cu and Zn were generally lower for the common urea treatments than those with the coated urea because the peak pH for the common urea treatment was greater. The concentrations of these elements correlated well with pH in the range 4-8 in second order polynomial fits.     

Shellac-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for removal of cadmium(II) ions from aqueous solution

This study describes a new effective adsorbent for cadmium removal from aqueous solution synthesized by coating a shellac layer, a natural biodegradable and renewable resin with abundant hydroxyl and carboxylic groups, on the surface of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) imaging showed shellac-coated magnetic nanoparticle (SCMN) adsorbents had a core-shell structure with a core of 20 nm and shell of 5 nm. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic analysis suggested the occurrence of reaction between carboxyl groups on the SCMN adsorbent surface and cadmium ions in aqueous solution. Kinetic data were well described by pseudo second-order model and adsorption isotherms were fitted with both Langmuir and Freundlich models with maximum adsorption capacity of 18.80 mg/g. SCMN adsorbents provided a favorable adsorption capacity under high salinity conditions, and cadmium could easily be desorbed using mild organic acid solutions at low concentration.     

Photodegradation of amoxicillin by catalyzed Fe3+/H2O2 process

Three oxidation processes of UV-Fe³⁺(EDTA)/H₂O₂ (UV: ultraviolet light; EDTA: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), UV-Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ and Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ were simultaneously investigated for the degradation of amoxicillin at pH 7.0. The results indicated that, 100% amoxicillin degradation and 81.9% chemical oxygen demand (COD_Cr) removal could be achieved in the UV-Fe³⁺ (EDTA)/H₂O₂ process. The treatment efficiency of amoxicillin and COD_Cr removal were found to decrease to 59.0% and 43.0% in the UV-Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ process; 39.6% and 31.3% in the Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ process. Moreover, the results of biodegradability (biological oxygen demand (BOD₅)/COD_Cr ratio) revealed that the UV-Fe³⁺ (EDTA)/H₂O₂ process was a promising strategy to degrade amoxicillin as the biodegradability of the effluent was improved to 0.45, compared with the cases of UV-Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ (0.25) and Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ (0.10) processes. Therefore, it could be deduced that EDTA and UV light performed synergetic catalytic effect on the Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ process, enhancing the treatment efficiency. The degradation mechanisms were also investigated via UV-Vis spectra, and high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectra. The degradation pathway of amoxicillin was further proposed.     

非枝晶半固态金属成形技术的发展概况

此文叙述了非枝晶半固态金属成形技术的发展概况。主要介绍了压铸成形、模锻成形、连续流变铸造成形、注射成形以及半固态金属锭料制造等技术的特点和应用现状。     

锅炉监控仪表的改进与实践

在原有"锅炉高低水位报警器"的基础上,研制出锅炉智能监控仪表.该仪表系统实现了自动操作、失误防护、报警及连锁保护等功能,对锅炉各类事故有积极的预防作用.     

Anthropogenic nitrogen sources and exports in a village-scale catchment in Southeast China

An experimental village-scale catchment was selected for investigation of nitrogen (N) sources and exports. The mean N application rate over the catchment was 350.2 kg N ha⁻¹, but this rate varied spatially and temporally. The N leaching loss rate varied from 8.1 to 52.7 kg N ha⁻¹ under different land use regimes. The average N leaching loss rate was 13.4 kg N ha⁻¹ over the whole catchment, representing about 3.8% of the total N inputs. The N export rate through stormflows was 28.8 kg N ha⁻¹, about 8.2% of the total N inputs. Seasonal patterns showed that 95% of N exports through stormflows occurred during July to September in 2002. Overall, the maximum riverine N exports were 12.1% of total N inputs and 15.5% of the inorganic fertilizer N applied. Understanding N sources and exports in a village-scale catchment can provide a knowledge base for amelioration of diffuse agricultural pollution.     

Methods for the preparation of a biodesulfurization biocatalyst using Rhodococcus sp

Several methods to prepare a biodesulfurization (BDS) biocatalyst were investigated in this study using a strain of Rhodococcus sp. 1awq. This bacterium could selectively remove sulfur from dibenzothiophene (DBT) via the "4S" pathway. DBT, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), sodium sulphate and mixed sulfur sources were used to study their influence on cell density, desulfurization activity, desulfurization ability, and the cost of biocatalyst production. In contrast to that observed from bacteria cultured in DBT, only partial desulfurization activity of strain 1awq was induced by DBT after cultivation in a medium containing inorganic sulfur as the sole sulfur source. The biocatalyst, prepared from culture with mixed sulfur sources, was found to possess desulfurization activity. With DMSO as the sole sulfur source, the desulfurization activity was shown to be similar to that of bacteria incubated in medium with DBT as the sole sulfur source. The biocatalyst prepared by this method with the least cost could remove sulfur from hydrodesulfurization (HDS)-treated diesel oil efficiently, providing a total desulfurization percent of 78% and suggesting its cost-effective advantage.     

2株苯胺降解的分离鉴定及其降解特性研究

从处理印染废水的活性污泥中分离得到2株苯胺降解菌,从菌落、细胞形态、生理生化及16S rRNA基因扩增测序等方面对2株菌进行了鉴定,并比较分析2株菌在好氧与缺氧条件下的苯胺降解、偶氮染料脱色及苯胺脱氨氧化酶基因tdnQ和黄素还原酶基因(fre)的携带情况.结果表明,2株菌属于Pseudomonas属和Shewanella属,分别命名为Pseudomonas sp.AN30和Shewanella sp.DN425.AN30菌株在振荡好氧条件下72h内对250mg/L苯胺的降解率为96.1%,DN425菌株的降解率为13.8%;在静置缺氧条件下AN30菌株的苯胺降解率为39.6%,DN425菌株的降解率仅为8.6%.DN425菌株在静置缺氧条件下4h内可将初始浓度为50 mg/L的偶氮染料酸性大红彻底脱色,而AN30菌株对酸性大红不具有脱色能力.以总DNA为模板,分别用tdnQ基因和fre基因特异性引物进行扩增,2株菌均能扩增出大小分别为380bp和630bp左右的目标条带,显示2菌株均携带有苯胺脱氨氧化酶基因和黄素还原酶基因.