Dual <Superscript>14</Superscript>C/residue analysis method to assess the microbial accessibility of native phenanthrene in environmental samples

The aim of this work was to develop a method to assess the microbial accessibility of native phenanthrene present in soils and sediments. We developed an accelerated biodegradation assay, characterized by (a) inoculation with a sufficient number of phenanthrene-degrading microorganisms, (b) monitoring of the biodegradation activity through ¹⁴C-mineralization measurements, and (c) single-step chemical analysis of the native compound in the residue. The use of ¹⁴C-labeling allowed the determination of the time period needed for biodegradation of the bioaccessible fraction of the native chemical. The method was tested with environmental samples having a wide range of phenanthrene concentrations, i.e., from background levels (μg kg^-1) originating in soil from atmospheric deposition, to acute concentrations (g kg^-1) corresponding to industrial pollution of soils and sediments. The results showed a wide range of bioaccessibility (15–95% of the initial amount). The method can be used for the assessment of bioaccessibility involved in the management of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution.     

The convergence of alternative food networks within “rural development” initiatives: the case of the New Rural Reconstruction Movement in China†

Rural sociologists and geographers have conceptualised different rural development trajectories including “the agri-industrial model”, “the post-productivist model” and “the rural development model”. Alternative food networks (AFNs) are increasingly recognised as a “forerunner” and a critical component of the emerging “rural development model” in the West. Meanwhile, Marsden and Franklin [2013. Replacing neoliberalism: theoretical implications of the rise of local food movements. Local Environment, 18 (5), 636–641] pointed out that there is a “local trap” in the current conceptualisation of AFNs that overemphasises their local embeddedness and heterogeneity. This “local trap” marginalises AFNs and, therefore, hinders their potential for transforming the industrialised conventional food system. The convergence and scaling-up of fragmented AFNs have been recognised as important ways to address this marginalisation issue and thus have attracted considerable attention. However, current studies of the convergence of AFNs focus mainly on the role of food-centred organisations without recognising the role of the emerging “rural development” initiatives in the convergence of AFNs. Based on in-depth interviews with key stakeholders and analysis of secondary data, this paper uses the New Rural Reconstruction Movement (NRRM), an emerging alternative rural development movement in China, as an example to illustrate how the NRRM opens up a novel space for the convergence of AFNs. We argue that the interrelationship between AFNs and rural development is indeed reciprocal. The NRRM, following the “rural development” trajectory, functions as a hub for the convergence and scaling-up of various alternative food initiatives. Strategies for achieving convergence include constructing a “common ground” for these initiatives, establishing national alliances and organisations, sharing knowledge and exchanging personnel among them.     

吹扫捕集-气相色谱／质谱法测定水中25种挥发性有机物研究

建立了吹扫捕集与气相色谱／质谱联用测定水中25种挥发性有机物的分析方法。该方法的加标回收率在90％-119％之间,响应因子（RF）的相对标准偏差均小于20％,检出限在0．04μg／L-0．22μg／L之间。该方法具有简单、快速、准确、灵敏,无其他有机物的污染等优点,适用于地表水、地下水和饮用水中挥发性有机物的测定,结果令人满意。     

青海湖湖水性质、颗粒物沉积通量季节和年际变化——来自沉积物捕获器的研究

本文通过在青海湖南盆沉积中心试验性放置的Mark 8-13型时间序列沉积物捕获器所收集到的为期15个月的自然沉降颗粒物,分析了颗粒物沉积通量和物质组成,结合温盐传感器（CTD）所记录湖水参数数据的分析,讨论了青海湖上部10 m左右湖水中所发生沉积作用的季节与年际变化特征及其与环境参数的相互关系。结果表明,采集期间所沉降的总颗粒物具有显著季节和年际变化特征,其平均年沉降通量为112 g·m^-2·yr^-1,其组成主要是自生碳酸盐（高Mg方解石、文石）、生物壳体（介形虫、硅藻等）等内生作用形成的物质,以及少量的碎屑矿物。与实时监测的湖水参数比较表明,具有显著季节和年际变化的青海湖内生物质通量变化主要受控于夏季温度的变化。其沉积机制为：湖水温度的升高,有利于高Mg方解石和文石等自生矿物从碳酸盐过饱和的碱性湖水中结晶沉淀（盐度降低）,也有利于藻类和介形虫等微体生物大量繁殖,表现为温度偏高的2010年比2011年具有较低的湖水盐度和高得多的沉积通量。因此,青海湖自生碳酸盐沉淀通量可以用来反映湖水盐度和/或温度的变化,尽管这些内生作用形成的物质可能只约占到湖底沉积物的5%~20%。为更全面地了解青海湖现代沉积过程,有必要在更多点位、不同的深度进行长期放置捕获器和实时监测湖水参数变化。     

吹扫捕集气质联用法测定水中4种挥发性有机物

建立了吹扫捕集气相色谱质谱联用法测定水中吡啶、丙烯腈、四乙基铅和松节油的方法,对吹扫时间进行了优化,研究了pH值对吹扫捕集率的影响。结果表明,在pH值为6¹0时,吹扫时间为11 min时吹扫捕集效率最高,用脉冲控制自动进标样的方法绘制工作曲线,曲线相关系数在0.99610时,吹扫时间为11 min时吹扫捕集效率最高,用脉冲控制自动进标样的方法绘制工作曲线,曲线相关系数在0.996⁰.999 9之间,方法的检出限在0.060.999 9之间,方法的检出限在0.06¹.0μg/L之间,相对标准偏差在1.1%1.0μg/L之间,相对标准偏差在1.1%⁶.2%之间,方法具有很好的线性和精密度。方法用于地表水、生活污水和化工废水中吡啶、丙烯腈、四乙基铅和松节油测定,并进行了加标回收实验,地表水回收率在86.8%6.2%之间,方法具有很好的线性和精密度。方法用于地表水、生活污水和化工废水中吡啶、丙烯腈、四乙基铅和松节油测定,并进行了加标回收实验,地表水回收率在86.8%¹12.1%之间,生活污水回收率在91.9%112.1%之间,生活污水回收率在91.9%⁹9%之间,废水回收率在82.2%～104.3%之间,表明方法具很好的准确度,可用于地表水、生活污水和化工废水中吡啶、丙烯腈、四乙基铅和松节油测定。     

Nutrients regeneration pathway, release potential, transformation pattern and algal utilization strategies jointly drove cyanobacterial growth and their succession

In order to better understand the contribution of nutrients regeneration pathway, release potential and transformation pattern to cyanobacterial growth and succession, 7 sampling sites in Lake Chaohu with different bloom degree were studied every two months from February to November 2018. The carbon, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) forms or fractions in surface, interstitial water and sediments as well as extracellular enzymatic activities, P sorption, specific microbial abundance and community composition in sediments were analyzed. P regeneration pathway was dominated by iron-bound P desorption and phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria solubilization in severe-bloom and slight-bloom area respectively, which both resulted in high soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) accumulation in interstitial water. However, in severe-bloom area, higher P release potential caused the strong P release and algal growth, compared to slight-bloom area. In spring, P limitation and N selective assimilation of Dolichospermum facilitated nitrate accumulation in surface water, which provided enough N source for the initiation of Microcystis bloom. In summer, the accumulated organic N in Dolichospermum cells during its bloom was re-mineralized as ammonium to replenish N source for the sustainable development of Microcystis bloom. Furthermore, SRP continuous release led to the replacement of Dolichospermum by Microcystis with the advantage of P quick utilization, transport and storage. Taken together, the succession from Dolichospermum to Microcystis was due to both the different forms of N and P in water column mediated by different regeneration and transformation pathways as well as release potential, and algal N and P utilization strategies.     

湖底陷阱捕获内污染技术在浅水湖泊的应用

基于研发的湖底陷阱捕获内污染技术,在巢湖进行应用研究.结果表明,湖底陷阱可有效收集叶绿素a、有机质、总氮和总磷等湖底沉积物中内源污染物.不同位置和季节湖底陷阱收集的沉积物厚度差异显著,西巢湖收集的污染物含量最多,湖心区域收集污染物量最少;夏秋季节淤积较快,冬春季节淤积略慢.单位面积（1m²）湖底陷阱年收集叶绿素a、有机质、总氮和总磷可分别达2.37~15.28g、8.96~21.82kg、0.78~1.88kg和0.30~0.93kg.综合考虑湖流场、风浪场、湖底污染物分布及厚度,巢湖湖体内沿湖流汇集区可布置6条11~33km的湖底陷阱,并在7个主要入河口布置湖底陷阱,同时可利用现有航道,进一步加深后形成湖底陷阱,可为巢湖内源控制提供新的治理手段和管理方法.     

Effects of vermiculite on the growth process of submerged macrophyte Vallisneria spiralis and sediment microecological environment

Ecological restoration is one of the hot technologies for the reconstruction of eutrophic lake ecosystems in which the restoration and propagation of submerged plants is the key and difficult step. In this paper, the effect of vermiculite on the growth process of Vallisneria spiralis and sediment microenvironment were investigated, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the application of vermiculite in aquatic ecological restoration. Results of growth indexes demonstrated that 5% and 10% vermiculite treatment groups statistically promote the growth of Vallisneria spiralis compared to the control. Meanwhile, the results of ecophysiological indexes showed that photosynthetic pigment, soluble sugar content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activity of 5% and 10% group were increased compared with the control while the malondialdehyde (MDA) content exhibited the opposite result (p < 0.05), which illustrated that vermiculite can improve the resistance of plants and delay the aging process of Vallisneria spiralis. In addition, result of PCA (Principal Component Analysis) demonstrated 5% and 10% group has improved the sediment physical conditions and create more ecological niche for microorganisms directly, and then promoted the growth of plants. The dissolution results showed that vermiculite can dissolve the constant and trace elements needed for plant growth. Furthermore, the addition of vermiculite increased the diversity of microorganisms in the sediments, and promoted the increase of plant growth-promoting bacteria and phosphorus-degrading bacteria. This study could provide a technique reference for the further application of vermiculite in the field of ecological restoration.     

Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) probe for effectively sampling of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in waters and sediments

The passive sampling technique, diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) has attracted increasing interests as an in-situ sampler for organic contaminants including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, its effectiveness has been questioned because of the small effective sampling area (3.1 cm²). In this study, we developed a DGT probe for rapid sampling of eight PFAS in waters and applied it to a water-sediment system. It has a much larger sampling area (27 cm²) and as a result lower method quantification limits (0.15 – 0.21 ng/L for one-day deployment and 0.02 – 0.03 ng/L for one-week deployment) and much higher (by > 10 factors) sampling rate (100 mL/day) compared to the standard DGT (piston configuration). The sampler could linearly accumulate PFAS from wastewater, was sensitive enough even for a 24 hr deployment with performance comparable to grab sampling (500 mL). The DGT probe provided homogeneous sampling performance along the large exposure area. The use of the probe to investigate distributions of dissolved PFAS around the sediment-water interface was demonstrated. This work, for the first time, demonstrated that the DGT probe is a promising monitoring tool for trace levels of PFAS and a research tool for studying their distribution, migration, and fate in aquatic environments including the sediment-water interface.     

Assessing the capacity of biochar to stabilize copper and lead in contaminated sediments using chemical and extraction methods

Because of its high adsorption capacity, biochar has been used to stabilize metals when remediating contaminated soils; to date, however, it has seldom been used to remediate contaminated sediment. A biochar was used as a stabilization agent to remediate Cu- and Pb-contaminated sediments, collected from three locations in or close to Beijing. The sediments were mixed with a palm sawdust gasified biochar at a range of weight ratios (2.5%, 5%, and 10%) and incubated for 10, 30, or 60?days. The performance of the different treatments and the heavy metal fractions in the sediments were assessed using four extraction methods, including diffusive gradients in thin films, the porewater concentration, a sequential extraction, and the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure. The results showed that biochar could enhance the stability of heavy metals in contaminated sediments. The degree of stability increased as both the dose of biochar and the incubation time increased. The sediment pH and the morphology of the metal crystals adsorbed onto the biochar changed as the contact time increased. Our results showed that adsorption, metal crystallization, and the pH were the main controls on the stabilization of metals in contaminated sediment by biochar.