Degradation and mineralization of cellulose acetate in simulated thermophilic compost environments

Residual cellulose acetate (CA) films with initial degree of substitution (DS) values of 1.7 and 2.5 (CA DS-1.7 and DS-2.5) were recovered from a simulated thermophilic compost exposure and characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine changes in polymer molecular weight and DS and to study microbial colonization and surface morphology, respectively. During the aerobic degradation of CA DS-1.7 and CA DS-2.5 films exposed for 7 and 18 days, respectively, the number-average molecular weight (M _n) of residual polymer decreased by 30.4% on day 5 and 20.3% on day 16, respectively. Furthermore, a decrease in the degree of substitution from 1.69 to 1.27 (4-day exposure) and from 2.51 to 2.18 (12-day exposure) was observed for the respective CA samples. In contrast, CA films (DS-1.7 and DS-2.5) which were exposed to abiotic control vessels for identical time periods showed no significant changes inM _n and DS. SEM photographs of CA (DS-1.7 and DS-2.5) film surfaces after compost exposures revealed severe erosion and corresponding microbial colonization. Similar exposure times for CA films in abiotic control vessels resulted in only minor changes in surface characteristics by SEM observations. The conversion of CA DS-1.7 and DS-2.5 to CO₂ was monitored by respirometry. In these studies, powdered CA was placed in a predigested compost matrix which was maintained at 53°C and 60% moisture content throughout the incubation period. A lag phase of 10- and 25-day duration for CA DS-1.7 and DS-2.5, respectively, was observed, after which the rate of degradation increased rapidly. Mineralization of exposed CA DS-1.7 and DS-2.5 powders reported as the percentage theoretical CO₂ recovered reached 72.4 and 77.6% in 24 and 60 days, respectively. The results of this study demonstrated that microbial degradation of CA films exposed to aerobic thermophilic laboratory-scale compost reactors not only results in film weight loss but also causes severe film pitting and a corresponding decrease in chainM _n and degree of substitution for the residual material. Furthermore, conversions to greater than 70% of the theoretical recovered CO₂ for CA (DS 1.7 and 2.5) substrates indicate high degrees of CA mineralization.Guest Editor: Dr. Graham Swift, Rohm & Haas.     

Ecological recovery of vegetation at a former industrial sludge basin and its implications to phytoremediation

Examination of a former industrial sludge basin containing organic pollutants showed that the basin had undergone substantial ecological recovery through natural forces following the removal of surface water in 1982. Conventional phases of ecological recovery (plant invasion and succession) have occurred, but the structure of the biodiverse plant community (51 species and 22 families) was different from that at a recovering non-polluted disturbed site. Three plant species (Bermuda grass, mulberry, and sunflower) believed to be early invaders of the basin still persist in large numbers indicating that these species are well suited to cope with normal environmental stresses at this area (i.e. seasonal drought and flood) as well as organic pollutants. There was an indication that early invaders of the site fostered disappearance of contaminants thereby creating more favorable conditions for a broader spectrum of plants to grow. Vegetation analyses of naturally vegetated hazardous waste sites hold promise as a screening device for identifying plant species and management practices worthy of further phytoremediation investigations.     

混凝土生态膜污水处理工艺生物相变化研究

通过试验方法,研究了混凝土生态膜污水处理工艺的循环挂膜过程,综合考察了混凝土膜片表面生物膜的生长变化情况,细菌数量及其微型动物的组成演化。同时在挂膜一定时间后投加生活污水,考察对COD、NH3-N的去除率。     

Ecotoxicity and fungal deterioration of recycled polypropylene/wood composites: Effect of wood content and coupling

Recycled polypropylene (rPP) was recovered from an industrial shredder and composites were prepared with a relatively wide range of wood content and with two coupling agents, a maleated PP (MAPP) and a maleated ethylene-propylene-diene elastomer (MAEPDM). The mechanical properties of the composites showed that the coupling agents change structure only slightly, but interfacial adhesion quite drastically. The durability of the materials was determined by exposing them to a range of fungi and, ecotoxicity was studied on the aquatic organism Vibrio fischeri. The composites generally exhibit low acute toxicity, with values below the levels considered to have direct ecotoxic effect on aquatic ecosystems (<2 toxic units). Their toxicity to V. fischeri depended on the presence of the coupling agents with larger E₅₀ values in 24-h aqueous extracts from composites containing MAPP or MAEPDM in comparison to composites without any coupling agent. Evaluation of resistance against fungal colonization and deterioration proved that wood facilitates fungal colonization. Fungi caused slight mass loss (below 3%) but it was not correlated with substantial deterioration in material properties. MAPP seems to be beneficial in the retention of mechanical properties during fungal attack. rPP/wood composites can be considered non-ecotoxic and quite durable, but the influence of wood content on resistance to fungal attack must be taken into account for materials intended for applications requiring long-term outdoor exposure.     

荧光假单胞菌群根部定殖的研究进展

本文从定殖动态、引入菌株的特性及其环境条件的影响等方面综述了近１０ａ来有关荧光假单胞菌群根部定殖的研究进展．     

luxAB基因标记甲基对硫磷降解菌DLL-1在土壤和植株根部的生态行为研究

发光酶标记是 1种有效的跟踪微生物在生态环境中动态行为的技术手段。采用luxAB基因标记技术对甲基对硫磷降解菌DLL - 1在土壤中的分布和植株内的定殖情况进行了研究。结果表明 ,DLL - 1可以较长时间的在植株根际定殖 ,3 0d后仍可用X -感光片检测到菌体的存在 ,而根际外未检测到DLL - 1。植株根剖开后在培养基上培养 2 4h后进行X -光片曝光 ,发现DLL - 1能够进入植株根内并定殖。菌株回收后采用测定其农药降解活力和检查质粒图谱 2种方法证实 ,所观测的回收菌株就是接种的DLL - 1菌株     

外源降解菌对黄麻根区净化能力的生物强化作用

通过原生质体电融合得到经EGFP标记的外源细菌(蒽高效降解菌An和表面活性剂产生菌P)与黄麻根际优势菌融合的2株融合子Tu-An与融合子Tu-P,然后将两种融合子以及出发菌株分别定殖到播种了黄麻(Corchoruscapsulari)的蒽污染土壤中,对不同污染物浓度下的细菌定殖、植物生长及蒽降解做了初步研究.研究表明,在相同的初始接种量下,融合子的定殖数量明显高于出发菌株;在两种融合子共存的条件下,定殖数量也略高于单一融合子的定殖数量.在接种外源菌的土壤中,植物获得了更好的生长条件,得以良好生长;而没有投加降解菌的组别中,黄麻的生长明显受到了较严重的抑制.投加外源降解菌可以促进生物降解,达到生物强化的目的.实验研究说明,把外源降解菌投加到污染土壤中进行生物强化修复是可行的.图3表2参20     

广州市区人工湖泊PFU原生动物群落群集过程及其对水质差异的指示作用

应用PFU法(GB／T12990-91)对广州市区主要湖泊——流花湖、荔湾湖和麓湖的原生动物群落与水质进行研究．结果表明：用PFU法所测定和计算的原生动物群集的种类数、植鞭虫指数、群集参数(SeqG、T90%)、群落多样性指数d和群落污染值(CPV)等都能较好地指示3个人工湖泊水质的差异，水质由优到劣的排列顺序为麓湖＞荔湾湖＞流花湖．流花湖、荔湾湖和麓湖目前虽仍处于富营养状态，但清污截流等对城市湖泊污染的综合治理措施可以减少湖泊外部营养物负荷及沉积物内负荷，降低水体的营养盐含量，有助于原生动物群落的恢复．图3表3参16     

作物定植提升滨海盐土质量的研究——以覆盖条件下的甜高粱定植为例

通过开展田间试验,探究了耐盐作物甜高粱单个生长季(4月中旬～8月中旬)定植对新围垦滩涂盐土土壤理化、生物性状以及地表生物量提升作用.结果 表明:高粱定植对垦区盐土土壤理化性状有显著改良效果.与NP(无覆盖+无甜高粱定植)和NpC(有覆盖+无甜高粱定植)处理相比,PC(有覆盖+甜高粱定植)显著降低了土壤含盐量、土壤容重,...     

Translocation of threatened plants as a conservation measure in China

We assessed the current status of plant conservation translocation efforts in China, a topic poorly reported in recent scientific literature. We identified 222 conservation translocation cases involving 154 species, of these 87 were Chinese endemic species and 101 (78%) were listed as threatened on the Chinese Species Red List. We categorized the life form of each species and, when possible, determined for each case the translocation type, propagule source, propagule type, and survival and reproductive parameters. A surprisingly large proportion (26%) of the conservation translocations in China were conservation introductions, largely implemented in response to large‐scale habitat destruction caused by the Three‐Gorge Dam and another hydropower project. Documentation and management of the translocations varied greatly. Less than half the cases had plant survival records. Statistical analyses showed that survival percentages were significantly correlated with plant life form and the type of planting materials. Thirty percent of the cases had records on whether or not individuals flowered or fruited. Results of information theoretic model selection indicated that plant life form, translocation type, propagule type, propagule source, and time since planting significantly influenced the likelihood of flowering and fruiting on the project level. We suggest that the scientific‐based application of species conservation translocations should be promoted as part of a commitment to species recovery management. In addition, we recommend that the common practice of within and out of range introductions in nature reserves to be regulated more carefully due to its potential ecological risks. We recommend the establishment of a national office and database to coordinate conservation translocations in China. Our review effort is timely considering the need for a comprehensive national guideline for the newly announced nation‐wide conservation program on species with extremely small populations, which is expected to stimulate conservation translocations for many species in the near future.