Effective synthesis of sulfate metabolites of chlorinated phenols

Chlorophenols are an important class of persistent environmental contaminants and have been implicated in a range of adverse health effects, including cancer. They are readily conjugated and excreted as the corresponding glucuronides and sulfates in the urine of humans and other species. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of a series of ten chlorophenol sulfates by sulfation of the corresponding chlorophenols with 2,2,2-trichloroethyl (TCE) chlorosulfate using N,N-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) as base. Deprotection of the chlorophenol diesters with zinc powder/ammonium formate yielded the respective chlorophenol sulfate ammonium salts in good yield. The molecular structure of three TCE-protected chlorophenol sulfate diesters and one chlorophenol sulfate monoester were confirmed by X-ray crystal structure analysis. The chlorophenol sulfates were stable for several months if stored at −20 °C and, thus, are useful for future toxicological, environmental and human biomonitoring studies.     

Biomonitoring of the distribution of dust emissions by means of a new SEM/EDX technique

A new application of the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with an Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalyzer (EDX) has been developed to study the distribution of airborne dust emissions. This technique makes it possible to identify the particles and measure the amount of dust deposition on the surface of the biomonitoring material. Pine bark or needles and moss can easily be used as the study material. A map indicating pollution levels and distribution can be drawn on the basis of the measured data.     

垂序商陆叶细胞壁结合锰机制研究

垂序商陆是一种典型的锰超积累植物,细胞壁在其累积解毒锰的过程中起了一定的作用.通过细胞壁吸附实验,研究不同p H和不同锰浓度对细胞壁吸附锰的影响,并采用傅立叶红外光谱及同步辐射X-射线吸收光谱技术探讨了其吸附机制.结果表明,垂序商陆叶细胞壁吸附锰的最适p H值为5~6;其吸附行为可用Langmuir模型较好地描述(R2=0.978 5),并计算得其最大吸附量为62.50μmol·g-1.细胞壁上的羟基(—OH)和羰基(—CO)是结合锰的主要位点;锰周围第一配层为氧原子,其配位数为6.3,Mn—O键长为0.216 nm,细胞壁与锰主要以内配层模式相结合.     

The impact of iodinated X-ray contrast agents on formation and toxicity of disinfection by-products in drinking water

The presence of iodinated X-ray contrast media (ICM) in source waters is of high concern to public health because of their potential to generate highly toxic disinfection by-products (DBPs). The objective of this study was to determine the impact of ICM in source waters and the type of disinfectant on the overall toxicity of DBP mixtures and to determine which ICM and reaction conditions give rise to toxic by-products. Source waters collected from Akron, OH were treated with five different ICMs, including iopamidol, iopromide, iohexol, diatrizoate and iomeprol, with or without chlorine or chloramine disinfection. The reaction product mixtures were concentrated with XAD resins and the mammalian cell cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the reaction mixture concentrates was measured. Water containing iopamidol generated an enhanced level of mammalian cell cytotoxicity and genotoxicity after disinfection. While chlorine disinfection with iopamidol resulted in the highest cytotoxicity overall, the relative iopamidol-mediated increase in toxicity was greater when chloramine was used as the disinfectant compared with chlorine. Four other ICMs (iopromide, iohexol, diatrizoate, and iomeprol) expressed some cytotoxicity over the control without any disinfection, and induced higher cytotoxicity when chlorinated. Only iohexol enhanced genotoxicity compared to the chlorinated source water.     

干发酵对稻草结构及产沼气的影响

为了防止稻草焚烧产生的环境污染,采用厌氧干发酵方式对稻草进行资源化处理.通过稻草元素的分析、X射线衍射(XRD)及红外光谱(FT-IR)的分析,考察了干发酵及预处理对稻草结构的改变.结果表明,稻草干发酵60d单位挥发固体累积产气量278.1mL/g (0℃),前30d产气占总产气量的90.3%;XRD显示稻草纤维晶体为纤维素Ⅰ型,堆沤预处理和厌氧发酵未改变纤维素的晶型,但略微增加纤维素的结晶度;FT-IR表明:堆沤预处理使聚糖脱聚、纤维素分子键氢键增强和木质素结构部分改变;发酵主要使聚糖脱聚与降解.     

The implications of planting mode on cadmium uptake and remobilization in rice: Field experiments across growth stages

•Direct seeding (DS) method led to more distributed Cd in aerial parts of rice. •The Cd content was significantly higher in brown rice with planting mode of DS. •Using DS lessened the Fe plaque covering the root surface in all growth stages. •Transplantation mode should be considered as a priority in Cd-contaminated areas. Global rice production practices have gradually changed from a reliance on transplanting to direct seeding. Yet how this shift may alter cadmium (Cd) accumulation in rice is poorly known. Here we conducted field experiments with two rice genotypes cultivars that were planted using three methods: via direct seeding (DS), seedling throwing (ST), and manual transplanting (MT). Rice samples were collected during four growth stages. The formation and distribution of iron plaque were analyzed using DCB (dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate) extractions and observed under micro-XRF (micro X-ray fluorescence). The results revealed that, in each growth stage, DS rice was more apt to harbor Cd distributed in the plant’s aerial parts, and the Cd concentration of brown rice from DS was 21.8%–43.3% significantly higher than those from ST and MT at maturity stage (p<0.05). During the vegetative stages, the Cd uptake percentage was higher in DS than MT rice, and those plants arising from the DS method were capable of absorbing more Cd earlier in their growth and development. Conversely, using DS decreased the amount of iron plaque covering the root surface in every growth stage, especially in the critical period of Cd accumulation, such that the roots’ middle areas were distinguished by a near-complete absence of iron plaque, thus weakening its role as an effective barrier to Cd uptake from soil. Collectively, this study demonstrated that implementing the DS mode of planting will increase Cd’s distribution in the aboveground parts of rice, and heightening the risk of Cd contamination in grain.     

活化粉煤灰的结构和组成研究

用化学分析、x光电子能谱、波谱、热谱和扫描电子显微镜等多种方法综合研究粉煤灰的体相和表面相的化学组成、颗粒形貌、表面价态、键型和表面相变过程等结构特征。发现粉煤灰的内部组成与表面组成明显不同;颗粒以微珠为主;粒度分布接近高斯分布;表面有Si－O－Si键,而无羟基;粉煤灰加热时有吸热和放热过程发生,并伴有失重现象。这些为粉煤灰的表面改性和综合利用提供了科学依据。     

A Study of Physicomechanical and Morphological Properties of Starch/Poly(vinylalcohol) Based Films

Starch/Poly(vinylalcohol) blends in two different ratios (60:40 and 50:50) were prepared with glycerol as a plasticizer. Films were cast by a solution casting method. One set of films were filled with 10 wt% of unmodified bentonite clay and another set of films were crosslinked with epichlorohydrin in an alkaline medium. The prepared film samples were subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), mechanical characterization and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Significant changes in the tensile properties were observed depending on the different chemical constituents of the films. The presence of clay and crosslinking with epichlorohydrin were both found to have considerable effect on the morphology and mechanical property of the films. The SEM investigations, XRD analysis and FTIR studies revealed the interaction between the various chemical components of the films.     

城市工业用煤X荧光分析及重金属元素污染研究

燃煤是成都市重金属污染的一个重要来源,目前对成都燃煤中重金属元素含量与城市环境污染的相关性研究相对较少。文章以成都市城东工业区为研究对象,利用X荧光分析方法对煤样、煤渣、煤灰、表层土、深层土4种重金属元素进行定量分析,探讨了燃煤中重金属含量与城市土壤重金属污染的相关关系。结果表明,(1)成都市工业用煤原产地煤样重金属元素的含量不尽相同,因此,企业需合理选择煤源。(2)土壤重金属元素污染与工业用煤正相关,工业用煤中有害元素含量较高的对当地土壤的污染也比较严重,相反工业用煤中含量较少的元素在土壤中含量也较小。(3)热电厂燃煤对城市重金属污染的行为属性表现为,Pb属于直接污染大气和土壤,而Cu、Zn、Cr富集在煤渣样、煤灰样中在后期造成对城市土壤的污染。