Release of methane from aerobic soil: an indication of a novel chemical natural process?

Methane (CH₄) formation under aerobic conditions has been intensely debated, especially since the discovery of CH₄ generation by both dried plant material and living plants. In this study we test the hypothesis that non-microbial CH₄ formation also occurs in soils. All lyophilised soil samples investigated under aerobic conditions released CH₄ at temperatures ranging from 30 to 70 °C exceeding that allowing normal enzymatic activity to proceed. No emissions were observed for single mineral soil components such as quartz sand, clay mineral and iron oxide. Methane release rates from the soils investigated were found to increase both with increasing temperature and higher organic carbon content. Addition of water to dried soils increased CH₄ release rates up to 8-fold those observed with the dried material. Our results suggest the existence of a chemical process in soils that produces CH₄ under aerobic conditions, a finding which has not been hitherto reported.     

Oral administration of potassium bromate, a major water disinfection by-product, induces oxidative stress and impairs the antioxidant power of rat blood

Potassium bromate (KBrO₃) is a widely used food additive, a water disinfection by-product and a known nephrotoxic agent. The effect of KBrO₃ on rat blood, especially on the anti-oxidant defense system, was studied in this work. Animals were given a single oral dose of KBrO₃ (100 mg/kg body weight) and sacrificed 12, 24, 48, 96 and 168 h after this treatment. Blood was collected from the animals and separated into plasma and erythrocytes. KBrO₃ administration resulted in increased lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, hydrogen peroxide levels and decreased the reduced glutathione content indicating the induction of oxidative stress in blood. Methemoglobin levels and methemoglobin reductase activity were significantly increased while the total anti-oxidant power was greatly reduced upon KBrO₃ treatment. Nitric oxide levels were enhanced while vitamin C concentration decreased in KBrO₃ treated animals. The activities of major anti-oxidant enzymes were also altered upon KBrO₃ treatment. The maximum changes in all these parameters were 48 h after the administration of KBrO₃ and then recovery took place. These results show for the first time that KBrO₃ induces oxidative stress in blood and impairs the anti-oxidant defense system. Thus impairment in the anti-oxidant power and alterations in the activities of major anti-oxidant enzymes may play an important role in mediating the toxic effects of KBrO₃ in the rat blood. The study of such biochemical events in blood will help elucidate the molecular mechanism of action of KBrO₃ and also for devising methods to overcome its toxic effects.     

Seasonal variations of CH(4) and N(2)O emissions in response to water management of paddy fields located in Southeast China

Water management is one of the most important practices that affect methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from paddy fields. A field experiment was designed to study the effects of controlled irrigation (CI) on CH₄ and N₂O emissions from paddy fields, with traditional irrigation (TI) as the control. The effects of CI on CH₄ and N₂O emissions from paddy fields were very clear. The peaks of CH₄ emissions from the CI paddies were observed 1-2 d after the water layer disappeared. Afterward, the emissions reduced rapidly and remained low until the soil was re-flooded. A slight increase of CH₄ emission was observed in a short period after re-flooding. N₂O emissions peaks from CI paddies were all observed 8-10 d after the fertilization at the WFPS ranging from 78.1% to 85.3%. Soil drying caused substantial N₂O emissions, whereas no substantial N₂O emissions were observed when the soil was re-wetted after the dry phase. Compared with TI, the cumulative CH₄ emissions from the CI fields were reduced by 81.8% on the average, whereas the cumulative N₂O emissions were increased by 135.4% on the average. The integrative global warming potential of CH₄ and N₂O on a 100-year horizon decreased by 27.3% in the CI paddy fields, whereas no significant difference in the rice yield was observed between the CI and TI fields. These results suggest that CI can effectively mitigate the integrative greenhouse effect caused by CH₄ and N₂O emissions from paddy fields while ensuring the rice yield.     

淮北平原典型农田土壤N2O产生途径及相关功能基因丰度研究

温室气体氧化亚氮(N₂O)已成为全球关注的焦点,全球约60%的人为N₂O排放来自农业土壤.虽然已知微生物硝化和反硝化是土壤N₂O产生的主要过程,但N₂O产生的关键生物学机制以及其调控环境变量之间的相互作用仍然难以预测.本研究选取安徽省亳州市冬、夏两季农田垂向土壤(0～200 cm)为研究对象,通过乙炔抑制法、¹⁵N-¹⁸O同位素示踪技术分别测定了N₂O产生潜势及产生途径,并利用宏基因组测序技术分析不同N₂O产生途径中功能基因的丰度变化以解析农田土壤N₂O产生的微生物机理.结果显示,在空间尺度上,表层土壤(0～20 cm)是N₂O产生热区,其N₂O产生潜势最高,为(0.364±0.048)ng·g^-1·h^-1.硝化和反硝化潜势均在表层土壤达到最高.在时间尺度上,冬季(15℃)是N₂O产...     

Fe3O4对含盐废水厌氧处理系统的影响

通过在固定的水力停留时间下(24h)逐步提升盐度,并设置有无Fe₃O₄的平行反应器作对照,考察不同盐度水平下Fe₃O₄对厌氧系统运行效能和厌氧污泥颗粒化进程的影响.结果表明,在0～2%的NaCl盐度水平下,Fe₃O₄的加入均能有效提升厌氧系统的处理效率并保证其稳定进行.Fe₃O₄对产甲烷过程的促进作用在不同盐度水平下有所差异,当盐度分别为0,0.5%,1%,2%时,实验组的甲烷产量分别为对照组的1.08,1.36,1.33和1.17倍,低盐环境下的促进效果更为显著.污泥特性和胞外聚合物的分析结果发现,Fe₃O₄的引入有利于形成结构更为紧密的厌氧颗粒污泥,进而强化厌氧污泥颗粒化进程.微生物群落结构分析结果表明,随着盐度提升,氢型产甲烷菌得以快速富集,同时主要细菌类型和代谢途径均发生了改变.而Fe₃O₄对厌氧系统中微生物菌群结构和...     

预处理-生化法处理强酸性混合染料废水

采用预处理—生化（包括水解酸化和好氧）法处理强酸性混合染料废水,对工艺流程Ⅰ（预处理为混凝）和工艺流程Ⅱ（预处理为混凝及臭氧氧化）的处理效果进行了比较。实验结果表明：混凝处理时CaO的最佳加入量为16g/L;混凝出水采用臭氧氧化,臭氧通入量为29m g/L时,臭氧氧化出水色度为141度,色度总去除率为91%,但TOC基本没有变化,且臭氧氧化出水经过后续的生化处理后,最终出水色度与工艺流程Ⅰ相比无明显优势。采用工艺流程Ⅰ处理强酸性混合染料废水更合适,最终出水pH为8.5,COD为88m g/L,TOC为48m g/L,色度为359度,SS为25m g/L,SO24-质量浓度小于50m g/L,PO34-未检出。     

La3+-TiO2/斜发沸石光催化剂的制备及其对甲基橙的光催化性能

以钛酸丁酯、La2O3、斜发沸石为原料,采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了La^3＋ -TiO2/斜发沸石光催化剂。利用红外光谱、热重-示差扫描量热、X射线衍射、扫描电子显微镜等方法对所制备的光催化剂进行了表征。以甲基橙为目标物,太阳光为光源,对光催化剂的性能进行了评价。实验结果表明：w（La3＋）=0.5%的光催化剂经400℃热处理3h后对甲基橙的光催化效果最好,甲基橙的降解率达92%;反应温度越高,降解率越高,40℃下反应3h时的降解率达97%;溶液pH为5时,降解率达92%。     

膨胀石墨-ZnO复合材料的制备及其光催化降解原油的性能

采用化学氧化-浸渍法制备出膨胀石墨-ZnO（EG—ZnO）复合材料,采用扫描电镜、X射线衍射仪、紫外-可见分光光度法及傅里叶变换红外光谱仪等表征手段对该复合材料的形貌、结构及其光催化降解水面原油的性能进行了研究。研究结果表明,EG—ZnO复合材料保持了膨胀石墨疏松多孔的蠕虫形貌,六方晶系结构的ZnO晶体均匀地分布于膨胀石墨的层间和表面。经紫外光照射72h后,吸附于EG—ZnO复合材料中的原油发生了显著的光催化降解反应。当该复合材料中ZnO的质量分数为80％时,原油的降解率可达35％,降解产物中有酮、醛及醇类等物质。     

Zn2+/TiO2薄膜光催化剂的制备及对NO的去除

为研究Zn^2＋／TiO2薄膜光催化剂对NO的去除效果,以钛酸四正丁酯和Zn（NO3）2为前驱体、石英玻璃片为基片,用在溶胶中进行浸渍提拉的方法,于500℃下煅烧制备出Zn^2＋加入量不同的Zn^2＋／TiO2薄膜光催化剂,重点考察了Zn^2＋加入量对NO去除率的影响。实验结果表明,Zn^2＋的加入可进一步提高NO的去除率,当Zn^2＋加入量为4％时,NO最高去除率为89％。对各种试样的扫描电镜和X射线衍射表征结果表明,适当加入Zn^2＋可改善纳米TiO2的分散状态,减小粒径尺寸,从而达到提高NO去除率的目的。