土壤酶和微生物量碳对土壤低浓度重金属污染的响应及其影响因子研究

土壤酶和微生物量碳是反映土壤健康的重要微生物性质指标。土壤重金属污染能够对土壤微生物性质产生影响,然而土壤酶和微生物量碳对土壤重金属污染的响应受到土壤本身理化性质的影响。通过北京市建成区233个样点的数据监测和实验室模拟,研究了土壤脲酶活性和微生物量碳对土壤低浓度重金属污染的响应以及受土壤理化性质的影响。研究结果表明:在野外主要重金属污染的浓度范围内(Cd 0.003~0.98μg·g-1,Cu 13.4~207.9μg·g-1,Zn 29.4~322μg·g-1,Pb 4.02~174μg·g-1),土壤脲酶活性、微生物量碳(MBC)和有机碳(SOC)的含量与土壤中Cd、Cu、Zn和Pb的浓度正相关,而微生物量碳占有机碳的比率(MBC/SOC)与重金属浓度负相关;脲酶活性、MBC/SOC与重金属浓度建立的相关关系只能解释总变异的5%~10%。实验室模拟试验表明,土壤酶活性受土壤重金属含量和土壤性质联合效应的影响;土壤有机质含量和pH是影响酶活性的主要土壤理化性质。引入土壤有机碳含量和pH两个参数,重新建立脲酶活性、MBC/SOC与土壤中重金属浓度的关系,建立的相关关系的决定系数变大,能够解释总变异的14%~17%。     

Responses of bacterial strains isolated from drinking water environments to N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones and their analogs during biofilm formation

Often as a result ofbiofilm formation, drinking water distribution systems （DWDS） are regularly faced with the problem of microbial contamination. Quorum sensing （QS） systems play a marked role in the regulation of microbial biofilm formation; thus, inhibition of QS systems may provide a promising approach to biofilm formation control in DWDS. In the present study, 22 bacterial strains were isolated from drinking water-related environments. The following properties of the strains were investigated： bacterial biofilm formation capacity, QS signal molecule N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones （AHLs） production ability, and responses to AHLs and AHL analogs, 3-chloro-4-（dichloromethyl）-5-hydroxy-2（5H）- furanone （MX） and 2（5H）-furanone. Four AHLs were added to developed biofilms at dosages ranging from 0.1 nmol.L J to 100nmol.L1. As a result, the biofilm growth of more than 1/4 of the isolates, which included AHL producers and non-producers, were significantly promoted. Further, the biofilm biomasses were closely associated with respective AHLs concentrations. These results provided evidence to support the idea that AHLs play a definitive role in biofilm formation in many of the studied bacteria. Meanwhile, two AHLs analogs demon- strated unexpectedly minimal negative effects on biofilm formation. This suggested that, in order to find an applicable QS inhibition approach for biofilm control in DWDS, the testing and analysis of more analogs is needed.     

MiRNA-451 is a potential biomarker for estrogenicity in mouse uterus

The uterotrophic assay has been commonly used to test environmental estrogens in vivo, however, it is often not sensitive enough sometimes. An alternative way is to evaluate estrogenicity through biomarker genes. MicroRNA （miRNA） is a class of regulatory gene, which has been shown to be a good biomarker for many diseases and toxicological effects in recent years, and some evidences showed that estrogen induced response was partially mediated by miRNAs. In this study, two types of microarrays were used to test the 17[3-estradiol （E2） induced miRNA expression profile at different time points in the immature mouse uterus. Statistical analysis showed the aldehyde slide based array had less variation than the amino slide based array, and 11 dysregulated miRNAs were screened out for significant fold change. Real-time PCR was performed to further confirm that 4 out of 7 selected miRNAs, namely miR-451, miR-155, miR-335- 5p, and miR-365, are E2 regulated miRNAs in the uterus. The function of the predicted targets of these miRNAs is involved in cell grow control, which is consistent with the main E2 function in the uterus. MiR-451 had similar strong responses to E2 in the uterus of both immature and overiectomized mice, and could be a potential biomarker for estrogenicity in the uterus.     

Investigation on sampling artifacts of particle associated PAHs using ozone denuder systems

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs） are complex organic compounds which are identified as significant carcinogenic to human health. PAHs （mainly in particle phase） are susceptible to atmospheric oxidant gases, especially ozone, nitrogen oxides （NOx）, hydroxyl radical （OH）, and could be degraded on filters during sampling process, leading to an underestimation of ambient PAH concentrations. The goal of this work was to investigate particle associated PAHs sampling artifacts caused by ozone in summer of Beijing. Comparative sampling systems were operated simultaneously during the whole campaign, one with activated carbon ozone denuder, the other being set as conventional sampling system. Activated carbon denuder was testified to be highly efficient to eliminate ozone from air stream. In general, nine particle-bound PAHs observed from conventional sampler were all lower than those from ozone denuder system. The total PAHs （particle phase） concentration was averagely underestimated by 35.9% in conventional sampling procedure. Benzo[a]pyrene （BaP） had the highest percentage of mass loss. founded to have influences Ambient temperature was on PAHs sampling artifacts. High temperature can increase loss of particle associated PAHs during sampling.     

Identification of pakchoi cultivars with low cadmium accumulation and soil factors that affect their cadmium uptake and translocation

The selection and use of low-Cd-accumulating cultivar （LCAC） has been proposed as one of the promising approaches in minimizing the entry of Cd in the human food chain. This study suggests a screening criterion of LCACs focusing on food safety. Pot culture and plot experiments were conducted to screen out LCACs from 35 pakchoi cultivars and to identify the crucial soil factors that affect Cd accumulation in LCACs. Results of the pot culture experiment showed that shoot Cd concentrations under the three Cd treatments significantly varied across cultivars. Two cultivars, Hualv 2 and Huajun 2, were identified as LCACs because their shoot Cd concentrations were lower than 0.2 mg. kg-1 under low Cd treatment and high Cd exposure did not affect the biomass of their shoots. The plot experiment further confirmed the consistency and genotypic stability of the low-Cd- accumulating traits of the two LCACs under various soil conditions. Results also showed that soil phosphorus availability was the most important soil factor in the Cd accumulation of pakchoi, which related negatively not only to Cd uptake by root but also to Cd translocation from root to shoot. The total Cd accumulation and translocation rates were lower in the LCACs than in the high-Cd cultivar, suggesting that Cd accumulation in different cultivars is associated with the Cd uptake by root as well as translocation from root to shoot. This study proves the feasibility of the application of the LCAC strategy in pakchoi cultivation to cope with Cd contamination in agricultural soils.     

Comparison of growth and lipid accumulation properties of two oleaginous microalgae under different nutrient conditions

This study compared the growth and lipid accumulation properties of two oleaginous microalgae, namely, Scenedesmus sp. LX1 and Chlorella sp. HQ, under different nutrient conditions. Both algal species obtained the highest biomass, lipid content and lipid yield under low-nutrient conditions （mBGll medium）. The biomass, lipid content and lipid yield of Scenedesmus sp. LX1 were 0.42g·L^-1, 22.5% and 93.8mg·L^-1, respectively. These values were relatively higher than those of Chlorella sp. HQ （0.30g·L^-1, 17.1% and 51.3mg·L^-1, respectively）. These algae were then cultivated in an SE medium that contained more nutrients; as a result, the biomass and lipid yield of Scenedesmus sp. LX1 reduced more significantly than those of Chlorella sp. HQ. Opposite results were observed in lipid and triacylglycerols （TAGs） contents. The cell sizes of both algal species under low-nutrient conditions were larger than those under high-nutrient conditions. Chlorella sp. HQ cells did not aggregate, but Scenedesmus sp. LX1 cells flocculated easily, particularly under low-nutrient conditions. In summary, low-nutrient conditions favour the growth and lipid production of both algae, but Scenedesmus sp. LX1 outperforms Chlorella sp. HQ.     

Applications of nanomaterials in water treatment and environmental remediation

Nanotechnology has revolutionized plethora of scientific and technological fields; environmental safety is no exception. One of the most promising and well- developed environmental applications of nanotechnology has been in water remediation and treatment where different nanomaterials can help purify water through different mechanisms including adsorption of heavy metals and other pollutants, removal and inactivation of patho- gens and transformation of toxic materials into less toxic compounds. For this purpose, nanomaterials have been produced in different shapes, integrated into various composites and functionalized with active components. Nanomaterials have also been incorporated in nanostructured catalytic membranes which can in turn help enhance water treatment. In this article, we have provided a succinct review of the most common and popular nanomaterials （titania, carbon nanotubes （CNTs）, zero-valent iron, dendrimers and silver nanomaterials） which are currently used in environmental remediation and particularly in water purification. The catalytic properties and functionalities of the mentioned materials have also been discussed.     

磷元素在饮用水生物处理中的限制因子作用

应用细菌生长潜力(BGP)法,考察了磷元素在淮河流域某地面水厂饮用水生物处理工艺中的限制因子作用原水添加50μg·L^-1KH₂PO₄-P后,BGP可以提高54%,添加其它无机元素和添加磷元素对BGP的影响没有显著差异;原水添加20mg·L^-1C₆H₁₂O₆对BGP的影响要小于添加50μg·L^-1KH₂PO₄-P的影响;原水添加磷后生物滤池对COD_Mn的去除率比对照生物滤池提高了7.5%,其出水明显表现为碳限制型,对照生物滤池出水则为磷限制型.结果说明磷元素是该水厂饮用水生物处理的限制因子,且限制作用强于碳元素,可以通过外加磷源的方法提高饮用水生物处理工艺对有机物的去除效率.     

非均相催化湿式氧化法再生活性炭实验

使用自制的CuO-Al₂O₃催化剂对苯酚饱和活性炭进行非均相催化湿式氧化再生研究,系统观察了反应条件对非均相催化湿式氧化再生活性炭的影响.实验中得到非均相CuO-Al₂O₃催化湿式氧化再生活性炭的最佳条件为:反应温度210℃,反应时间60min,催化剂投加量25mg(以铜离子计),反应氧分压0.6MPa(25℃),投炭量15g(干炭量),加水量300mL.通过对催化剂进行X衍射分析,并对催化剂的稳定性进行实验,可以得出该催化剂在催化湿式氧化再生活性炭的过程中具有较好的稳定性.     

聚硫代酰胺修饰活性炭对Au(Ⅲ)的选择性吸附效果与机制

通过在活性炭(AC)上原位合成聚硫代酰胺(PTA),成功制备了一种聚硫代酰胺修饰的活性炭基吸附材料(AC-PTA),研究其对废水中三价金[Au(Ⅲ)]的选择性吸附效果及机制.结果表明,AC-PTA在较宽的pH范围(＜5.0)内对多金属离子共存溶液中的Au(Ⅲ)表现出优异的选择性吸附性能,Au(Ⅲ)的剩余浓度小于0.1m...