Development of a hybrid microbial fuel cell (MFC) and fuel cell (FC) system for improved cathodic efficiency and sustainability: the M2FC reactor

In an effort to improve the efficiency and sustainability of microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology, a novel MFC reactor, the M2FC, was constructed by combining a ferric-based MFC with a ferrous-based fuel cell (FC). In this M2FC reactor, ferric ion, the catholyte in the MFC component, is regenerated by the FC system with the generation of additional electricity. When the MFC component was operated separately, the electricity generation was maintained for only 98 h due to the depletion of ferric ion in the catholyte. In combination with the fuel cell, however, the production of power was sustained because ferric ion was continually replenished from ferrous ion in the FC component. Moreover, the regeneration process of ferric ion by the FC produced additional energy. The M2FC reactor yielded a power density of up to 2 W m⁻² (or time-averaged value of approximately 650 mW m⁻²), density up to 20 times (or approximately six times based on time-averaged value) higher than the corresponding MFC system.     

Comparison of EDTA-enhanced phytoextraction and phytostabilisation strategies with Lolium perenne on a heavy metal contaminated soil

Phytoremediation is a promising and cost-effective strategy to manage heavy metal polluted sites. In this experiment, we compared simultaneously phytoextraction and phytostabilisation techniques on a Cd and Zn contaminated soil, through monitoring of plant accumulation and leaching. Lolium perenne plants were cultivated for 2 months under controlled environmental conditions in a 27.6 dm³-pot experiment allowing the collect of leachates. The heavy metal phytoextraction was promoted by adding Na-EDTA (0.5 g kg⁻¹ of soil) in watering solution. Phytostabilisation was assessed by mixing soil with steel shots (1%) before L. perenne sowing. Presence of plants exacerbated heavy metal leaching, by improving soil hydraulic conductivity. Use of EDTA for phytoextraction led to higher concentration of heavy metal in shoots. However, this higher heavy metal extraction was insufficient to satisfactory reduce the heavy metal content in soil, and led to important heavy metal leaching induced by EDTA. On the other hand, addition of steel shots efficiently decreased both Cd and Zn mobility, according to 0.01 M CaCl₂ extraction, and leaching. However, improvement of growth conditions by steel shots led to higher heavy metal mass in shoot tissues. Therefore, soil heavy metal mobility and plant metal uptake are not systematically positively correlated.     

Analysis of phytochelatin complexes in the lead tolerant vetiver grass [Vetiveria zizanioides (L.)] using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

Ethylenediamene tetraacetic acid (EDTA) has been used to mobilize soil lead (Pb) and enhance plant uptake for phytoremediation. Chelant bound Pb is considered less toxic compared to free Pb ions and hence might induce less stress on plants. Characterization of possible Pb complexes with phytochelatins (PC_n, metal-binding peptides) and EDTA in plant tissues will enhance our understanding of Pb tolerance mechanisms. In a previous study, we showed that vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides L.) can accumulate up to 19,800 and 3350 mg Pb kg⁻¹ dry weight in root and shoot tissues, respectively; in a hydroponics set-up. Following the basic incubation study, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to elucidate the efficiency of vetiver grass (with or without EDTA) in remediating Pb-contaminated soils from actual residential sites where Pb-based paints were used. The levels of total thiols, PC_n, and catalase (an antioxidant enzyme) were measured in vetiver root and shoot following chelant-assisted phytostabilization. In the presence of 15 mM kg ⁻¹ EDTA, vetiver accumulated 4460 and 480 mg Pb kg⁻¹ dry root and shoot tissue, respectively; that are 15- and 24-fold higher compared to those in untreated controls. Despite higher Pb concentrations in the plant tissues, the amount of total thiols and catalase activity in EDTA treated vetiver tissues was comparable to chelant unamended controls, indicating lowered Pb toxicity by chelation with EDTA. The identification of glutathione (referred as PC₁) (m/z 308.2), along with chelated complexes like Pb-EDTA (m/z 498.8) and PC₁-Pb-EDTA (m/z 805.3) in vetiver root tissue using electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ES-MS) highlights the possible role of such species towards Pb tolerance in vetiver grass.     

微型测定法测定白醋中的总酸度

利用微型滴定法测定白醋中的总酸度,并对常量实验和微型实验的测定结果进行了比较分析。结果两种方法无显著性差异,F检验、t检验均在允许范围内,微型实验的准确度和精密度均达到常量实验的测定水平,完全满足化学分析要求,并且有效地节省了实验试剂,大大降低了实验成本。     

Recycling of EDTA solution after soil washing of Pb, Zn, Cd and As contaminated soil

Soil washing with EDTA is known to be an effective means of removing toxic metals from contaminated soil. A practical way of recycling of used soil washing solution remains, however, an unsolved technical problem. We demonstrate here, in a laboratory scale experiment, the feasibility of using acid precipitation to recover up to 50% of EDTA from used soil washing solution obtained after extraction of Pb (5330 mg kg⁻¹), Zn (3400 mg kg⁻¹), Cd (35 mg kg⁻¹) and As (279 mg kg⁻¹) contaminated soil. Up to 100% of EDTA residual in the washing solution and 100%, 97%, 98% and 100% of initial Pb, Zn, Cd and As concentration in the solution, respectively, were removed in an electrolytic cell using a graphite anode. We employed the recovered EDTA and treated washing solution to prepare recycled soil washing solution with the same potential for extracting toxic metals from soil as the original. The efficiency of soil washing depends on the EDTA concentration. Using twice recycled 30 mmol EDTA kg⁻¹ soil, we removed 44%, 20%, 53% and 61% of Pb, Zn, Cd and As, respectively, from contaminated soil.     

Evaluation of effectiveness of EDTA and sodium thiosulfate in removing metal toxicity toward sea urchin embryo-larval applying the TIE

Since the development of the TIE (Toxicity Identification and Evaluation) in 1988 it has been assumed that the capacity of EDTA and sodium thiosulfate to complex some metals, and thus remove their toxicity, can be applied to both freshwater and seawater ecotoxicological tests and the results subsequently interpreted. However, it is now known that there is a wide variability in the extent of this complexation. In this context, the removal of toxicity caused by the presence of Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ag¹⁺ and Se²⁺, through metal complexation by EDTA and sodium thiosulfate, in relation to the performance of embryo-larval tests with the sea urchin Arbacia lixula was investigated. It was observed that EDTA was capable of removing the toxicity of Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ while sodium thiosulfate only reduced the toxicity of Ag¹⁺. Compared to the complexation observed in freshwater ecotoxicological tests, the complexing agents used in this study (EDTA and sodium thiosulfate) have a lower capacity to complex metals in the marine ecotoxicological test with A. lixula.     

Subcellular distribution and toxicity of cadmium in Potamogeton crispus L

The submerged macrophyte Potamogeton crispus L. was subjected to varying doses of cadmium (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 μM) for 7 d, and the plants were analyzed for subcellular distribution of Cd, accumulation of mineral nutrients, photosynthesis, oxidative stress, protein content, and ultrastructural distribution of calcium (Ca). Leaf fractionation by differential centrifugation indicated that 48-69% of Cd was accumulated in the cell wall. At all doses of Cd, the levels of Ca and B rose and the level of Mn fell; the levels of Fe, Mg, Zn, Cu, Mo, and P rose initially only to decline later. Exposure to Cd caused oxidative stress as evident by increased content of malondialdehyde and decreased contents of chlorophyll and protein. Photosynthetic efficiency, as indicated by the quenching of chlorophyll a fluorescence (Fv/Fm, Fo and Fm), decreased significantly, the extent of decrease being directly proportional to the concentration of Cd. Increased amounts of precipitates of calcium were noticed in the treated plants, located either outside the cell membrane or in chloroplasts, mitochondria, the nucleus, and the cytoplasm whereas control plants showed small deposits of the precipitates around surface of the vacuole membrane and in the intercellular space but rarely in the cytoplasm. Photosynthetic efficiency and oxidative stress could be used as indicators of physiological end-points in determining the extent of Cd phytotoxicity.     

Lipid peroxidation in the presence of iron oxides

Exposure to iron oxides dusts may lead to lung cancers among exposed population. To evaluate the involvement of iron‐containing particles in lipid peroxidation by production of reactive oxygen species, hematite, magnetite (iron oxides), and crocidolite (asbestos compound) were tested. The peroxidation was followed by the evaluation of some degradation products of lino‐lenic acid. In a buffered medium, magnetite is higher active than hematite. The addition of an iron chelator (EDTA) or of a reducing agent (ascorbate) in this medium enhances the activity of hematite and magnetite, and the combination of both EDTA and ascorbate increases their activity. Crocidolite is the most active whatever the medium. The appearance of the EDTA‐iron‐oxygen complexes related to the reactivity of these oxides is postulated. These results suggest that the oxidizing activity triggered by hematite and magnetite, in a medium containing an iron chelator and a reducing agent, may lead to damages in biological medium.     

自动电位滴定法测定烟气氨法脱硫模拟浆液中氯离子的研究

氯离子含量是氨法脱硫工艺中的一个重要监控指标,用自动电位滴定法测定氨法脱硫浆液中的氯离子。结果表明,实验加入乙醇有利于增大电位突跃幅度;pH值为3~5时实验结果准确;加标回收率为90%~110%;与莫尔法相比,测定结果准确度、精密度更高,且不受灰分颜色干扰;与离子色谱法测定结果准确度、精密度相近,但测定高浓度氯离子电位滴定法更有优势。     

EDTA reduces lead accumulation in Symphytum officinale L. (comfrey) roots

The addition of EDTA in phytoextraction studies has been reported to increase heavy metal accumulation in above-ground parts or to have no negative impact on the overall (root/shoot) accumulation levels in terrestrial plants. At a purely quantitative level, this study assessed the phytoextraction potential of a previously untested high-biomass terrestrial plant, Symphytum officinale L. (comfrey), in the presence of Pb and EDTA. In this hydroponic-based study, we report a small increase in shoot accumulation of Pb with EDTA but, conversely, the presence of EDTA in the nutrient medium markedly reduced the overall quantity of Pb in the plant root by at least 80%. The loss does not appear to be explained by EDTA acting alone, increased transport of Pb to the shoots, or anionic charge repulsion of the [PbEDTA]^2? complex. The elusive action and negative effect of EDTA on Pb accumulation in S. officinale provides additional reasons towards a growing trend away from the use of EDTA as a chelating agent in phytoextraction.