Genotoxicity of chromium in vitro on yeast: Interaction with DNA†

The genotoxicity of chromium chloride was investigated in cells of D₇ strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae harvested either from logarithmic or stationary growth phase.

A weak induction of mifotic gene conversion and point reverse mutation was obtained when the incubations were performed using phosphate buffer. No genetic effect was observed when the incubations were performed using Tris‐HCl buffer.

The experiments with ⁵¹Cr radiotracer demonstrated that Cr³⁺ ion enters the yeast cells and binds to DNA even if the incubation mixture was performed with Tris HCl buffer. This behaviour could be due to the highest concentration of CrCl₃ that cause some damages to cytoplasmatic membrane.     

离子液体氯化1-辛基-3-甲基咪唑对酵母细胞增殖生长和细胞膜通透性的影响

为探讨咪唑类离子液体氯化1-辛基-3-甲基咪唑([C₈mim][Cl])对酵母细胞的增殖生长和细胞膜通透性的影响,以不同浓度的[C₈mim][Cl]处理酵母细胞,研究离子液体对酵母细胞增殖和菌落形成的影响,通过测定酵母细胞外液蛋白质和核酸的含量,判断膜通透性的大小和[C₈mim][Cl]对细胞膜性结构的损伤。结果显示,0.1 mmol·L^-1的[C₈mim][Cl]延长了酵母细胞到达对数生长期的时间,在6～9 h之间对酵母细胞的增殖存在明显的抑制作用。1 mmol·L^-1的[C₈mim][Cl]使酵母细胞增殖不能到达对数生长期,对酵母细胞的增殖一直具有较强的抑制作用。随着离子液体浓度的增加,小菌落的数量增多。当平板内[C₈mim][Cl]浓度达到10 mmol·L^-1时,完全抑制了菌落的形成。[C₈mim][Cl]处理酵母细胞后,细胞外液中OD₂₈₀、OD₂₆₀的值显著升高。研究表明,细胞膜等膜性结构通透性的增加是离子液体[C₈mim][Cl]抑制酵母细胞增殖生长的原因之一。     

Natural gas engine driven heat pump system – a case study of an office building

ABSTRACT

An eQUEST model was developed to conduct a simulation study of a natural gas engine-driven heat pump (GEHP) for an office building in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. Prior to the installation of the GEHP, the heating and cooling demands of the office building were provided by rooftop units (RTUs), comprising of natural gas heater and electric air conditioner. Energy consumption for both GEHP and RTUs were monitored for operation in alternating months. These recorded energy consumptions along with weather data were used in the regression analysis. The developed eQUEST models were validated and calibrated with the regression analysis results with respect to the ASHRAE Guideline 14–2014. The eventual models were then applied to investigate the potential annual energy consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and energy cost savings achieved by using the GEHP in Woodstock, and other cities in Canada, particularly in Ontario.     

Effect of iron addition on the performance of anoxic-oxic membrane process and biological phosphorus removal北大核心CSCD

In order to solve the problem of poor treatment of phosphorus in membrane bioreactor (MBR) with long sludge retention time (SRT), a ferric salt was added to enhance phosphorus removal; FeCl36H2O (Fe/P = 2.0) was added to the reactor. The removal efficiency of nitrogen, organic matters, and phosphorus in the MBR was investigated systematically. Moreover, this study focused on the membrane performance, the change of active sludge flora, and the effect of adding a ferric salt on membrane fouling before and after the addition. It was seen that adding the ferric salt could not affect the removal of COD and NH4 +-N and the removal rate of COD and NH4 +-N reached over 90%. However, the average removal rate of phosphorus was 52%, while the removal rate increased by nearly 40% after adding the ferric salt. The effects of adding ferric salts on the dominant bacteria and biological phosphorus removal of activated sludge were further studied. The results showed that the addition of ferric salt (Fe/P = 2.0) decreased the diversity of active sludge flora and relative abundance of some phosphorusaccumulating organisms and had a negative effect on biological phosphorus removal. The analysis of transmembrane pressure difference (TMP) recording revealed that the concentration of iron salts did not exacerbate membrane fouling. The results showed that the concentration of iron salts entering the membrane bioreactor would reduce the relative abundance and phosphorus removal efficiency of the activated sludge in the system to a certain extent, but it had no obvious effect on membrane fouling. It allowed the effluent to attain acceptable standards, especially with respect to phosphorus removal efficiency. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Energy reduction of a submerged membrane bioreactor using a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hollow-fiber membrane

The fiber length and packing density of the PTFE membrane element were increased. The MBR was stably operated under an SAD^m of 0.13 m³·m^-2·hr^-1. Specific energy consumption was estimated to be less than 0.4 kWh·m^-3. In this study, we modified a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hollow-fiber membrane element used for submerged membrane bioreactors (MBRs) to reduce the energy consumption during MBR processes. The high mechanical strength of the PTFE membrane made it possible to increase the effective length of the membrane fiber from 2 to 3 m. In addition, the packing density was increased by 20% by optimizing the membrane element configuration. These modifications improve the efficiency of membrane cleaning associated with aeration. The target of specific energy consumption was less than 0.4 kWh·m^-3 in this study. The continuous operation of a pilot MBR treating real municipal wastewater revealed that the MBR utilizing the modified membrane element can be stably operated under a specific air demand per membrane surface area (SAD_m) of 0.13 m³·m^-2·hr^-1 when the daily-averaged membrane fluxes for the constant flow rate and flow rate fluctuating modes of operation were set to 0.6 and 0.5 m³·m^-2·d^-1, respectively. The specific energy consumption under these operating conditions was estimated to be less than 0.37 kWh·m^-3. These results strongly suggest that operating an MBR equipped with the modified membrane element with a specific energy consumption of less than 0.4 kWh·m^-3 is highly possible.     

内置转盘式PVDF膜生物反应器污水处理的试验研究

对内置转盘式PVDF膜生物反应器(SRMBR)处理污水工艺及膜清洗进行了研究.SRMBR处理污水可以长期稳定运行,在实验模拟污水COD为180～368 mg/L时,出水COD在运行1d后稳定在20 mg/L以内,COD去除率>93%.增大转盘式平板膜组件转速可以增大SRMBR的平衡水通量,转速从15 r/min增大到25 r/min,平衡水通量从42.5 L/(m2·h)增大到47.5L/(m2·h).在一定自吸泵停抽时间内(0～1 min),延长停抽时间有利于减缓膜污染、提高平衡水通量.对污染的膜进行水洗、水洗 碱洗、水洗 碱洗 酸洗,3种清洗方式分别使膜平衡水通量恢复至新膜平衡水通量的48.4%、83.5%、90.2%.     

Humic substances

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Freshwater bodies which chemistry is dominated by dissolved humic substances (HS) seem to be the major type on Earth, due to huge non-calcareous geological formations in the Northern Hemisphere and in the tropics. Based on the paradigm of the inertness of being organic, direct interactions of dissolved HS with freshwater organisms are mostly neglected. However, dissolved organic carbon, the majority of which being HS, are natural environmental chemicals and should therefore directly interact with organisms. Major results that widened our perspective on humic substance ecology come from experiments with the compost nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, which behaved contradictorily to textbook knowledge and provoked an in-depth re-consideration of some paradigms. APPROACH: To overcome old paradigms on HS and their potential interactions with organisms, we reviewed recent international literature, as well as 'grey' literature. We also include results from own ongoing studies. RESULTS: This review focuses on direct interactions of dissolved HS with freshwater organisms and disregards indirect effects, such as under-water light quenching. Instead we show with some macrophyte and algal species that HS adversely interfere with photosynthesis and growth, whereby closely related algal species show different response patterns. In addition to this, HS suppress cyanobacteria more than eukaryotic algae. Quinones in the HS appear to be the effective structure. Furthermore, HS can modulate the offspring numbers in the nematode C. elegans and cause feminization of fish and amphibians--they possess hormone-like properties. The ecological consequences of this potential remain obscure at present. HS also have the potential to act as chemical attractants as shown with C. elegans and exert a mild chemical stress upon aquatic organisms in many ways: induction of molecular chaperons (stress proteins), induction and modulation of biotransformation and anti-oxidant enzymes. Furthermore, they produce an oxidative stress with lipidperoxidation as one clear symptom or even stress defense strategy. Stronger chemical stresses by HS may even lead to teratogenic effects as shown with fish embryos; all physiological responses to HS-mediated stress require energy, which were compensated on the expense of yolk as shown with zebra fish embryos. One Finnish field survey supports the view of a strong chemical stress, as the weight yield in fish species decreases with increasing HS content in the lakes. DISCUSSION: HS exert a variety of stress symptoms in aquatic and compost organisms. According to current paradigms of ecotoxicology, these symptoms have to be considered adverse, because their compensation consumes energy which is deducted from the main metabolism. However, the nematode C. elegans looks actively for such stressful environments, and this behavior is only understandable in the light of new paradigms of aging mechanisms, particularly the Green Theory of Aging. In this respect, we discuss the mild HS-mediated stress to aquatic and compost organisms. New empirical findings with HS themselves and HS building blocks appear to be consistent with this emerging paradigm and show that the individual lifespan may be expanded. At present the ecological consequences of these findings remain obscure. However, a multiple-stress resistance may be acquired which improves the individual fitness in a fluctuating environment. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that dissolved HS have to be considered abiotic ecological driving forces, somewhat less obvious than temperature, nutrients, or light. PERSPECTIVES: The understanding of the ecological control by dissolved humic substances is still fragmentary and needs to be studied in more details.     

Seasonal and particle size-dependent variations in gas/particle partitioning of PCDD/Fs

This study monitored particle size-dependent variations in atmospheric polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). Two gas/particle partitioning models, the subcooled liquid vapor pressure (P(L)(0)) and the octanol-air partition coefficient (K(OA)) model, were applied to each particle sizes. The regression coefficients of each fraction against the gas/particle partition coefficient (K(P)) were similar for separated particles within the same sample set but differed for particles collected during different periods. Gas/particle partitioning calculated from the integral of fractions was similar to that of size-segregated particles and previously measured bulk values. Despite the different behaviors and production mechanisms of atmospheric particles of different sizes, PCDD/F partitioning of each size range was controlled by meteorological conditions such as atmospheric temperature, O(3) and UV, which reflects no source related with certain particle size ranges but mixed urban sources within this city. Our observations emphasize that when assessing environmental and health effects, the movement of PCDD/Fs in air should be considered in conjunction with particle size in addition to the bulk aerosol.     

Protection of ash (Fraxinus excelsior) trees from ozone injury by ethylenediurea (EDU): roles of biochemical changes and decreased stomatal conductance in enhancement of growth

Treatments with ethylenediurea (EDU) protect plants from ozone foliar injury, but the processes underlying this protection are poorly understood. Adult ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior), with or without foliar ozone symptoms in previous years, were treated with EDU at 450ppm by gravitational trunk infusion in May-September 2005 (32.5ppmh AOT40). At 30-day intervals, shoot growth, gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and water potential were determined. In September, several biochemical parameters were measured. The protective influence of EDU was supported by enhancement in the number of leaflets. EDU did not contribute its nitrogen to leaf tissue as a fertiliser, as determined from lack of difference in foliar N between treatments. Both biochemical (increase in ascorbate-peroxidase and ascorbic acid, and decrease in apoplastic hydrogen peroxide) and biophysical (decrease in stomatal conductance) processes regulated EDU action. As total ascorbic acid increased only in the asymptomatic trees, its role in alleviating O(3) effects on leaf growth and visible injury is controversial.     

膜基活化溶液中活化剂在回收温室气体CO2过程中的作用

将AMP和PZ作为活化剂添加于MDEA溶液中,形成活化溶液,研究了膜基活化溶液回收温室气体CO2性能,着重考察活化剂的活化作用和对膜接触器传质加强的影响,提出一个活化机理来解释活化现象,建立了阻力层方程模型, 并模拟膜基活化溶液回收CO2的传质过程。结果表明,活化剂对膜接触器传质的加强起到重要作用,具有双氨基环状结构的PZ对传质的加强作用高于具有空间位阻结构的AMP;活化溶液的CO2回收率和传质通量明显高于未活化的MDEA溶液,活化性能PZ＞AMP;活化剂的活化效应与分子结构有关;流体力学的改变对传质的影响有限,活化剂的反应动力学对传质的加强起主导作用;阻力层方程模型能较好地模拟膜基活化溶液回收CO2传质过程,传质通量和总传质系数的模型值与实验值符合较好。