Combined fluorescence and electrochemical investigation on the binding interaction between organic acid and human serum albumin

Human serum albumin (HSA) is a plasma protein responsible for the binding and transport of fatty acids and a variety of exogenous chemicals such as drugs and environmental pollutants. Such binding plays a crucial role in determining the ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) and bioavailability of the pollutants. We report investigation on the binding interaction between HSA and acetic acid (C2), octanoic acid (C8) and dodecanoic acid (C12) by the combination of site-specific fluorescent probe, tryptophan intrinsic fluorescence and tyrosine electrochemistry. Two fluorescent probes, dansylamide and dansyl-L-proline, were employed in the displacement measurement to study fatty acid interaction with the two drug-binding sites on HSA. Intrinsic fluorescence of tryptophan in HSA was monitored upon addition of the fatty acids into HSA. Electrocatalyzed response of the tyrosine residues in HSA by a redox mediator was used to investigate the binding interaction. Qualitatively, observations made by the three approaches are very similar. HSA did not show any change in either fluorescence or electrochemistry after mixing with C2, suggesting there is no significant interaction with the short-chain fatty acid. For C8, the measured signal dropped in a single-exponential fashion, indicative of independent and non-cooperative binding. The calculated association constant and binding ratio is 3.1×106 L/mol and 1 with drug binding Site I, 1.1×107 L/mol and 1 with Site II, and 7.0×104 L/mol and 4 with the tryptophan site. The measurement with C12 displayed multiple phases of fluorescence change, suggesting cooperativity and allosteric effect of C12 binding. These results correlate well with those obtained by the established methods, and validate the new approach as a viable tool to study the interactions of environmental pollutants with biological molecules.     

Development and application of a two-dimensional water quality model for the Daqinghe River Mouth of the Dianchi Lake

Water quality models are important tools to support the optimization of aquatic ecosystem rehabilitation programs and assess their efficiency. Basing on the flow conditions of the Daqinghe River Mouth of the Dianchi Lake, China, two-dimensional water quality model was developed in the research. The hydrodynamics module was numerically solved by the alternating direction iteration (ADI) method. The parameters of the water quality module were obtained through the in situ experiments and the lab analyses that were conducted from 2006 to 2007. The model was calibrated and verified by the observation data in 2007. Among the four modelled key variables that were water level, CODcr, NH3-N and PO4-P, the minimum value of the coefficient of determination (CoD) was 0.69, which mean the model performed reasonably well. The developed model was then applied to simulate the water quality changes at the downstream cross-section assuming that the designed restoration programs were implemented. According to the simulated results, the restoration programs could cut down the loads of CODcr and PO4-P about 15%, however, they would have very little effect on the NH3-N removal. Besides, the water quality at the outlet cross-section would be still in class V (3838-02), indicating more measures should be taken to further reduce the loads. The study demonstrated the capability of water quality models to support aquatic ecosystem restorations.     

Influence of temperature on the characteristics of aerobic granulation in sequencing batch airlift reactors

Aerobic granular sludge was cultivated in sequencing batch airlift reactors(SBAR) at 25,30,and 35°C,respectively.The effect of temperature on the granules characteristics was analyzed and the microbial community structures of the granules were probed using scanning electron microscope(SEM) and polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis(PCR-DGGE).The results showed that 30°C is optimum for matured granule cultivation,where the granules had a more compact structure,better settling abili...     

Combined alkaline and ultrasonic pretreatment of sludge before aerobic digestion

Alkaline and ultrasonic sludge disintegration can both be used as pretreatments of waste activated sludge (WAS) for improving the subsequent anaerobic or aerobic digestion. The pretreatment has been carried out using different combination of these two methods in this study. The effect was evaluated based on the quantity of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) in the pretreated sludge as well as the degradation of organic matter in the following aerobic digestion. For WAS samples with combined pretreatment, the released COD was in high level than those with ultrasonic or alkaline treatment. When combined with the same ultrasonic treatment, NaOH treatment resulted in more solubilization of WAS than Ca(OH)2. For combined NaOH and ultrasonic treatments with different sequences, the released COD were in the order: simultaneous treatment > ultrasonic treatment following NaOH treatment > NaOH treatment following ultrasonic treatment. For simultaneous treatment, low NaOH dosage (100 g/kg dry solid), short duration (30 min) of NaOH treatment, and low ultrasonic specific energy (7 500 kJ/kg dry solid) were beneficial for sludge disintegration. Using combined NaOH and ultrasonic pretreatment with the optimium parameters, the degradation efficiency of organic matter was increased from 38.0% to 50.7%, which is much higher than with ultrasonic (42.5%) or with NaOH pretreatment (43.5%) in the subsequent aerobic digestion at the same retention time.     

詹姆斯·洛夫洛克

詹姆斯·洛夫洛克（James Ephraim Lovelock）,英国科学家,也是环境领域的主要作家,1919年毕业于哈佛大学,被誉为世界环境科学宗师。最使他著名的是他的“盖亚假说”。从上世纪60年代开始,他以气象学家的身份开始研究地球。他发现,从大气化学角度看,地球极其不稳定。但它却依然存在了几十亿年。在他的邻居、小说家威廉·戈尔登启发下,     

钙镁磷肥生产富氧空气助燃节能可行性分析

介绍了钙镁磷肥传统生产方法,分析了钙镁磷肥高炉富氧空气助燃的可行性,认为该方法可行。     

富营养化水体中微囊藻毒素（MCs）去除技术研究进展

当前,随着工业的发展水体富营养化程度日益严重。引起富营养化的主要藻类一蓝藻,能够释放对人体及鱼类具有多器官毒性、遗传性和致癌性的毒素——微囊藻毒素（MCs）。MCs治理技术种类繁多,传统的物理法如：混凝沉淀、膜过滤、活性炭吸附、气浮以及直接过滤只能对简单的处理细胞内的MCs;化学氧化法、光催化氧化法以及高级氧化法虽然能有效处理水体中的MCs．但有成本高、易二次污染和操作复杂等缺点,难以满足日益严格的环保要求;生物酶法除了具有生物降解法所具有的廉价、无二次污染、降解彻底和易操作等特点外,还被刺用来监控水体中MCs,它将成为今后重点研究的技术领域．     

序批式颗粒污泥系统中磷的变化和去向分析

在实验室序批式活性污泥法(SBR)处理系统中以普通活性污泥为接种污泥,采用厌氧-好氧的运行方式提高系统的除磷效果.同时培养颗粒污泥,并对系统中磷的变化和去向进行分析.结果表明,整个试验共运行146 d,成熟颗粒污泥平均粒径为603μm,污泥体积指数(SVI)约为30 mL.g-1,COD去除率可达90%,磷的去除率可达95%左右.颗粒污泥系统除厌氧放磷和好氧聚磷以外,还存在明显的污泥颗粒积磷现象.磷的去除途径主要为:系统排泥(出水悬浮物和专门排泥)和污泥积磷.由厌氧末期颗粒污泥的X射线衍射(XRD)分析结果可知,化学沉淀是污泥积磷的一种重要方式,大量的金属离子会与磷形成无机盐沉积在污泥颗粒上.     

Selective removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid from water by molecularly-imprinted amino-functionalized silica gel sorbent

A molecularly-imprinted amino-functionalized sorbent for selective removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid(2,4-D) was prepared by a surface imprinting technique in combination with a sol-gel process.The 2,4-D-imprinted amino-functionalized silica sorbent was characterized by FT-IR,nitrogen adsorption and static adsorption experiments.The selectivity of the sorbent was investigated by a batch competitive binding experiment using an aqueous 2,4-D and 2,4-dichlorophenol(2,4-DCP) mixture or using an aqueous 2...     

Influence of Indian mustard （Brassicajuncea） on rhizosphere soil solution chemistry in long-term contaminated soils： A rhizobox study

This study investigated the influence of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) root exudation on soil solution properties (pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), metal solubility) in the rhizosphere using a rhizobox. Measurement was conducted following the cultivation of Indian mustard in the rhizobox filled four di erent types of heavy metal contaminated soils (two alkaline soils and two acidic soils). The growth of Indian mustard resulted in a significant increase (by 0.6 pH units) in rhizosphere soil solution pH of acidic soils and only a slight increase (< 0.1 pH units) in alkaline soils. Furthermore, the DOC concentration increased by 17–156 mg/L in the rhizosphere regardless of soil type and the extent of contamination, demonstrating the exudation of DOC from root. Ion chromatographic determination showed a marked increase in the total dissolved organic acids (OAs) in rhizosphere. While root exudates were observed in all soils, the amount of DOC and OAs in soil solution varied considerably amongst di erent soils, resulting in significant changes to soil solution metals in the rhizosphere. For example, the soil solution Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations increased in the rhizosphere of alkaline soils compared to bulk soil following plant cultivation. In contrast, the soluble concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn in acidic soils decreased in rhizosphere soil when compared to bulk soils. Besides the influence of pH and DOC on metal solubility, the increase of heavy metal concentration having high stability constant such as Cu and Pb resulted in a release of Cd and Zn from solid phase to liquid phase.