Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueous solution by raw and modified plant residue materials as biosorbents

Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs）, e.g., naphthalene, acenaphthene, phenanthrene and pyrene, from aqueous solution by raw and modified plant residues was investigated to develop low cost biosorbents for organic pollutant abatement. Bamboo wood, pine wood, pine needles and pine bark were selected as plant residues, and acid hydrolysis was used as an easily modification method. The raw and modified biosorbents were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The sorption isotherms of PAHs to raw biosorbents were apparently linear, and were dominated by a partitioning process. In comparison, the isotherms of the hydrolyzed biosorbents displayed nonlinearity, which was controlled by partitioning and the specific interaction mechanism. The sorpfion kinetic curves of PAHs to the raw and modified plant residues fit well with the pseudo second-order kinetics model. The sorption rates were faster for the raw biosorbents than the corresponding hydrolyzed biosorbents, which was attributed to the latter having more condensed domains （i.e., exposed aromatic core）. By the consumption of the amorphous cellulose component under acid hydrolysis, the sorption capability of the hydrolyzed biosorbents was notably enhanced, i.e., 6-18 fold for phenanthrene, 6-8 fold for naphthalene and pyrene and 5-8 fold for acenaphthene. The sorpfion coefficients （Kd） were negatively correlated with the polarity index [（O＋N）/C], and positively correlated with the aromaticity of the biosorbents. For a given biosorbent, a positive linear correlation between logKoc and logKow for different PAHs was observed. Interestingly, the linear plots of logKoc-logKow were parallel for different biosorbents. These observations suggest that the raw and modified plant residues have great potential as biosorbents to remove PAHs from wastewater.     

Primary neuronal-astrocytic co-culture platform for neurotoxicity assessment of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Plastics such as polyvinyl chlorides （PVC） are widely used in many indoor constructed environments; however, their unbound chemicals, such as di-（2-ethylhexyl） phthalates （DEHP）, can leach into the surrounding environment. This study focused on DEHP＇s effect on the central nervous system by determining the precise DEHP content in mice brain tissue after exposure to the chemical, to evaluate the specific exposure range. Primary neuronal-astrocyte co-culture systems were used as in vitro models for chemical hazard identification of DEHP. Oxidative stress was hypothesized as a probable mechanism involved, and therefore the total reactive oxygen species （ROS） concentration was determined as a biomarker of oxidative stress. In addition, NeuriteTracer, a neurite tracing plugin with ImageJ, was used to develop an assay for neurotoxicity to provide quantitative measurements of neurological parameters, such as neuronal number, neuron count and neurite length, all of which could indicate neurotoxic effects. The results showed that with 1 nmol/L DEHP exposure, there was a significant increase in ROS concentrations, indicating that the neuronal-astrocyte cultures were injured due to exposure to DEHP. In response, astrocyte proliferation （gliosis） was initiated, serving as a mechanism to maintain a homeostatic environment for neurons and protect neurons from toxic chemicals. There is a need to assess the cumulative effects of DEHP in animals to evaluate the possible uotake and effects on the human neuronal system from exoosure to DEHP in the indoor environment.     

Experimental study on filtration and continuous regeneration of a particulate filter system for heavy-duty diesel engines

This study investigated the filtration and continuous regeneration of a particulate filter system on an engine test bench, consisting of a diesel oxidation catalyst（DOC） and a catalyzed diesel particulate filter（CDPF）. Both the DOC and the CDPF led to a high conversion of NO to NO2 for continuous regeneration. The filtration efficiency on solid particle number（SPN） was close to100%. The post-CDPF particles were mainly in accumulation mode. The downstream SPN was sensitively influenced by the variation of the soot loading. This phenomenon provides a method for determining the balance point temperature by measuring the trend of SPN concentration.     

Inhibitory effects of nisin-coated multi-walled carbon nanotube sheet on biofilm formation from Bacillus anthracis spores

Multi-walled carbon nanotube（MWCNT） sheet was fabricated from a drawable MWCNT forest and then deposited on poly（methyl methacrylate） film. The film was further coated with a natural antimicrobial peptide nisin. We studied the effects of nisin coating on the attachment of Bacillus anthracis spores, the germination of attached spores, and the subsequent biofilm formation from attached spores. It was found that the strong adsorptivity and the super hydrophobicity of MWCNTs provided an ideal platform for nisin coating. Nisin coating on MWCNT sheets decreased surface hydrophobicity, reduced spore attachment, and reduced the germination of attached spores by 3.5 fold, and further inhibited the subsequent biofilm formation by 94.6% compared to that on uncoated MWCNT sheet. Nisin also changed the morphology of vegetative cells in the formed biofilm.The results of this study demonstrated that the anti-adhesion and antimicrobial effect of nisin in combination with the physical properties of carbon nanotubes had the potential in producing effective anti-biofilm formation surfaces.     

Acute and chronic toxic effects of Pb2+ on polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis：Morphological changes and responses of the antioxidant system

Perinereis aibuhitensis was used to assess adverse biological effects caused by acute and chronic Pb2＋exposure in artificial seawater under controlled laboratory conditions. In 96-hr acute toxicity experiments,the morphological changes showed a positive time/dose-dependent tendency,and the 96-hr LC50 value of Pb2＋was 686.41 mg/L. The responses of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in tissues including catalase（CAT）,peroxidase（POD）,superoxide dismutase（SOD）,glutathione peroxidase（GSH-PX）,malondialdehyde（MDA） and the content of total soluble protein（TSP）,were investigated on days 1,4,7 and 10 after Pb2＋exposure under chronic toxicity testing. Results showed that the activation of the antioxidant system in P. aibuhitensis depended on the Pb2＋concentration and the duration of exposure time.Specifically,POD and SOD activities were induced on the first day of the exposure and decreased to the control level on day 10 after exposure. Therefore,these two indexes could be used to indicate oxidative stress associated with P. aibuhitensis exposure to Pb2＋.     

餐厨/厨余垃圾“不入土”,变废为宝“再消化”——北京绿色空间生物科技有限公司的循环之道

餐厨及厨余垃圾是有机垃圾的一种,餐厨垃圾是指餐饮服务单位在食品加工、饮食服务、单位供餐活动中产生的食物残渣、残液和废弃油脂等废弃物。厨余垃圾是指,家庭中产生的易腐食物垃圾,主要包括剩菜、剩饭、菜帮菜叶、瓜果皮核废弃食物等。餐厨及厨余垃圾含有大量的有机质,如果将它们能就地处理变成有机肥,既可省下用作填埋场的土地,还能节约运输它们的车辆和能源,防止滋生蚊蝇和细菌。不仅保护了环境,还滋养了土地。     

水龙头直饮有多难？

首先,水源水质要好。经过三十多年的发展,我国成为世界第二大经济体。当然,水源水质变化也很大,我认为,既然我们享受了21世纪的物质文明,同样的,也要忍受发展带来的污染。但是治理污染需要时间,在我国水源水质污染较重的严峻形势下,需要整个环保系统、政府以及各界人士的共同关心和努力,有可能经过三十年到五十年,我们的水环境会得到很大提升。     

我国辐射环境自动监测系统建设的回顾与展望

辐射环境自动监测是我国辐射环境监测工作的重要内容,是核与辐射安全监管工作的重要手段.本文回顾了“十一五”以来,我国辐射环境自动监测系统建设的进展情况和在核与辐射监管工作中所发挥的作用,总结了辐射环境自动监测系统的建设和运行经验,并对今后的工作进行了展望,提出了完善系统建设和运行的合理化建议.研究指出,作为国家辐射环境监测网的重要组成部分,辐射环境自动监测系统初步具备了对我国省会城市和主要地级城市的辐射环境质量状况的实时监测能力.但由于我国辐射环境自动监测站于2008年底才开始在全国范围内建设,起步较晚、经验不足,依然存在点位数量和代表性不够、自动化程度不够高、软件系统功能不成熟、标准化和规范化问题比较突出,缺乏质量控制技术、运行维护难度大等问题.为此本文提出：第一,增加自动监测站数量,点位布设更有针对性;第二,增加自动监测站的类型;第三,加强软件系统的分析和控制能力;第四,完善相关标准、技术规范和质保体系;第五,完善运行维护体系;第六,增强国际学习和交流.     

《环境工程技术学报》投稿须知

正文稿应具有创新性、科学性、先进性、实用性,内容务求论点明确、论证可信、论据充分、数据准确、逻辑推理正确,文章结构严谨、层次清楚、重点突出、文笔精练、图表规范,并且是未在其他公开发行期刊或正式出版的论文集发表的作品。稿件需要清楚地提出问题。对所研究问题的背景,研究工作的目的,主要方法、原理与主要仪器设备,结果(包括主要数据)与分析以及结论等内容有清楚的描述。     

《环境工程技术学报》投稿须知

正文稿应具有创新性、科学性、先进性、实用性,内容务求论点明确、论证可信、论据充分、数据准确、逻辑推理正确,文章结构严谨、层次清楚、重点突出、文笔精练、图表规范,并且是未在其他公开发行期刊或正式出版的论文集发表的作品。稿件需要清楚地提出问题。对所研究问题的背景,研究工作的目的,主要方法、原理与主要仪器设备,结