Characterisation of cobalt‐binding proteins in occupational cobalt exposuret†

In animal experimentations cobalt is found to be carcinogenic under conditions which are comparable with a possible exposure of human beings at the workplace.^1,2 Little is known about binding and distribution of incorporated cobalt in blood.

Blood, serum and plasma of workers occupationally exposed to cobalt were analyzed concerning cobalt‐binding. The samples were focused by preparative IEF in layers of granulated gels. The cobalt concentrations in the isolated fractions were measured with the aid of flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. The whole blood samples exhibit peaks with different sizes in the pH‐5‐ and ‐7‐range. The proportion of these peaks can change with individual samples. In serum and plasma cobalt is found only in the pH‐5‐range.

When separated by gelelectrophoresis under denaturating conditions the cobalt‐fractions in all blood, serum and plasma samples shows a similar protein pattern. Several proteins with different molecular weights are detected in the pH‐5‐fractions, whereas only hemoglobin is found in the pH‐7‐fractions. In agreement with these results is the refocusing in ultrathin‐layer of polyacrylamide. Heterogeneous protein patterns are demonstrated with the pH‐5‐fractions; the pH‐7‐fractions yield only the hemoglobin pattern.

In vivo cobalt is bound to plasma proteins‐perhaps‐albumin^3,4‐and hemoglobin. Till now the chemical structure of the binding is unknown.     

Induction of mercury‐binding peptide in whole cells and anucleated cells of Acetabularia calyculus

The present study reports the isolation and partial purification of a mercury‐binding polypeptide in whole and anucleated cells of Acetabularia calyculus. Sephadex G‐75 Gel filtration showed that cells exposed to Hg exhibit a major peak of protein(s) concomitant with both, a major peak of Hg (revealed by atomic absorption spectroscopy), and the major peak of mercury‐thiolate complex (based on a high 254 nm absorbance) accompanied by high content of SH groups. SDS‐Page electrophoresis showed that this peak contains one major polypeptide of apparent molecular weight 27.000 dalton. These results are in agreement with our previous finding of unusually high bioconcentration factor of Hg in Acetabularia related to the induction of a polypeptide in both, whole and anucleated cells of Acetabularia, in presence of Hg.     

Investigation on removal pathways of Di 2-ethyl hexyl phthalate from synthetic municipal wastewater using a submerged membrane bioreactor

Highly hydrophobic Di 2-ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) is one of the most prevalent plasticizers in wastewaters. Since its half-life in biological treatment is around 25 days, it can be used as an efficiency indicator of wastewater treatment plant for the removal of hydrophobic emerging contaminants. In this study, the performance of submerged membrane bioreactor was monitored to understand the effect of DEHP on the growth of aerobic microorganisms. The data showed that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia concentration were detected below 10 and 1.0 mg/L, respectively for operating conditions of hydraulic retention time (HRT) = 4 and 6 hr, sludge retention time (SRT) = 140 day and sludge concentration between 11.5 and 15.8 g volatile solid (VS)/L. The removal efficiency of DEHP under these conditions was higher and ranged between 91% and 98%. Results also showed that the removal efficiency of DEHP in biological treatment depended on the concentration of sludge, as adsorption is the main mechanism of its removal. For the submerged membrane bioreactor, the pore size is the pivotal factor for DEHP removal, since it determines the amount of soluble microbial products coming out of the process. Highly assimilated microorganisms increase the biodegradation rate, as 74% of inlet DEHP was biodegraded; however, the concentration of DEHP inside sludge was beyond the discharge limit. Understanding the fate of DEHP in membrane bioreactor, which is one of the most promising and futuristic treatment process could provide replacement for conventional processes to satisfy the future stricter regulations on emerging contaminants.     

1株异养硝化菌胞外聚合物的研究

研究异养硝化菌(Acinetobacter sp.YY-5)在不同生长时期胞外聚合物(EPS)组成成分及其变化规律.利用热处理提取YY-5菌的EPS,分析该菌株在不同生长时期EPS组分,包括蛋白质、总糖、核酸和游离氨基酸等.并进一步把蛋白质水解成氨基酸,分析其氨基酸的变化规律及其对蛋白质理化性质的影响.结果表明,该菌株具有较高含量的EPS,且其在稳定期时EPS含量最高.在不同时期分泌的EPS组分均以蛋白质为主.EPS中各组分含量及其变化规律与该菌生长状态密切相关,在该菌株生长过程中,EPS中各组分的变化情况:蛋白质从14.599 mg.g-1增加到28.489 mg.g-1后减少为15.139 mg.g-1;总糖从6.757 mg.g-1增加到10.199 mg.g-1后减少为7.857 mg.g-1.核酸从1.56 mg.g-1一直增加到6.287 mg.g-1;游离氨基酸从3.713 mg.g-1增加到4.374 mg.g-1后减少为1.299 mg.g-1.蛋白质水解后,其中极性氨基酸呈先增加后减少的趋势,非极性氨基酸一直呈增加趋势;在生长过程中一直以带负电的氨基酸占优.     

废水生物处理出水中溶解性微生物产物的形成机制与特征

废水生物处理出水中的溶解性微生物产物(SMP)主要产生于基质降解和微生物的内源呼吸过程,它的存在是影响生物处理出水水质和有机物去除率的一个重要因素,已引起人们的普遍关注.简单阐述了SMP的定义,详细探讨了废水生物处理出水中溶解性微生物产物的形成机制与特征.     

好氧活性污泥胞外聚合物的影响因素研究

研究了4种活性污泥处理工艺和两种污泥培养基质对好氧活性污泥胞外聚合物(EPS)的影响,包括对EPS总量和组分的影响。EPS的提取总量以TOC来表示,并以DNA的浓度来衡量提取过程中细胞裂解的程度。结果发现,处理工艺不同,导致EPS的含量和组成不相同,主要体现在蛋白质和多糖含量比的不同;淀粉基质培养的污泥的EPS总量平均值比葡萄糖基质培养的污泥的EPS总量平均值略高一些,它们都比实际污水处理厂污泥的EPS含量高。     

Impact of Hazardous Exposure to Metals in the Nile and Delta Lakes on the Catfish, Clarias lazera

The impact of metal pollution in the Nile and Delta lakes was studied in Clarias lazera. Lake Edku is grouped as the site highest in metal concentrations. Compared to Lakes Maryût and Edku, the Nile stations displayed lower levels of metal contamination signifying their selection as reference sites. Metals were accumulated most by the liver, less by muscles and least by serum. Iron showed the highest bioconcentration factors (BCF) in liver, muscles or serum compared to other metals. Even after the refinement of the surrounding water, fish seem to uphold the metals that have been previously ingested. Mercury, in particular, seems to eventually reside in muscles rather than in liver. The positive relationship between total serum protein and metal contents may indicate the formation of specific metal-binding proteins. Meanwhile, serum hyperalbuminemia in polluted fish is probably a shock response towards the high stress index induced by metals. The hypothesis that most of serum copper is bound to ceruloplasmin is documented also in C. lazera. Moderate, but not extennsive, exposure to metals was quite stimulatory to liver alkaline phosphatase (AP) biosynthesis. AP could, thus, be considered as a promising bioindicator for assessing sublethal water intoxicosis.     

Comparison of membrane fouling during short-term filtration of aerobic granular sludge and activated sludge

Aerobic granular sludge was cultivated adopting internal-circulate sequencing batch airlift reactor.The contradistinctive experiment about short-term membrane fouling between aerobic granular sludge system and activated sludge system were investigated.The membrane foulants was also characterized by Fourier transform infrared(FTIR)spectroscopy technique.The results showed that the aerobic granular sludge had excellent denitrification ability;the removal efficiency of TN could reach 90%.The aerobic granular sludge could alleviate membrane fouling effectively.The steady membrane flux of aerobic granular sludge was twice as much as that of activated sludge system.In addition,it was found that the aerobic granular sludge could result in severe membrane pore-blocking, however,the activated sludge could cause severe cake fouling.The major components of the foulants were identified as comprising of proteins and polysaccharide materials.     

Variation on leaching behavior of caustic compounds in bauxite residue during dealkalization process

Bauxite residue, a byproduct of alumina manufacture, is a serious environmental pollutant due to its high leaching contents of metals and caustic compounds. Four typical anions of CO₃^2?, HCO₃^?, Al(OH)₄^? and OH^? (represented caustic compounds) and metal ions (As, B, Mo and V) were selected to assess their leaching behavior under dealkalization process with different conditions including liquid/solid ratio (L/S ratio), temperature and leaching time. The results revealed that washing process could remove the soluble composition in bauxite residue effectively. The leaching concentrations of typical anions in bauxite residue decreased as follows: c(CO₃^2?) > c(HCO₃^?) > c[Al(OH)₄^?] > c(OH^?). L/S ratio had a more significant effect on leaching behavior of OH^?, whilst the leaching concentration of Al(OH)₄^? varied larger underleaching temperature and time treatment. Under the optimal leaching, the total alkaline, soluble Na concentrations, exchangeable Ca concentrations were 79.52, 68.93, and 136.0 mmol/L, respectively, whilst the soluble and exchangeable content of As, B, Mo and V in bauxite residue changed slightly. However, it should be noted that water leaching has released metal ions such as As, B, Mo and V in bauxite residue to the surrounding environment. The semiquantitative analysis of XRD revealed that water leaching increased the content of gismondine from 2.4% to 6.4%. The SEM images demonstrated the dissolution of caustic compounds on bauxite residue surface. The correlation analysis indicated that CO₃^2? and HCO₃^? could effectively reflect the alkalinity of bauxite residue, and may be regarded as critical dealkalization indicators to evaluate alkalinity removal in bauxite residue.