Validation of the UN test method N.5

Many substances react with water in such a way that flammable gases are formed. For transport issues this reaction may possess a considerable hazard especially if the cargo is wetted by rain or by water from other sources. In the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods these kinds of problems are addressed. The UN test N.5 “Test method for substances which in contact with water emit flammable gases” corresponds to this hazard. Classification according to the test method is done by measurement of the gas evolution rate of the flammable gas by any suitable procedure. At BAM a gravimetric approach is used to measure the gas evolution rate. In this paper we present the evaluation of the apparatus by means of an absolute calibration routine utilizing a reaction where a known amount of gas is produced as well as the evaluation of important parameters influencing the gas evolution rate using different substances. It can be shown that the apparatus is capable of measuring absolute gas volumes as low as 6 mL with an acceptable error of about 17% as determined from the reaction of Mg with demineralized water.     

Cu(NO3)2在亚甲蓝湿式氧化处理中的应用

用CWAO技术处理COD为2 000 mg/L的亚甲蓝水溶液.以Cu(NO3)2为催化剂,考察了催化剂投加量、反应温度、压力及进水pH值对亚甲蓝水样COD去除率、脱色率、出水pH值的影响.实验表明,亚甲蓝的氧化效率随催化剂投加量的增加,反应温度及压力的升高而升高.然而,综合考虑亚甲蓝的氧化效率、试剂费用、设备成本及能量消耗,实验确定Cu(NO3)2的投加量以Cu2 计为150 mg/L,反应温度及压力分别为200℃和2.0 MPa.在酸性进水条件下,COD去除率随进水pH值的降低而升高;而在碱性进水条件下,COD去除率随进水pH值的升高而升高.pH值按COD去除率由高到低的排列顺序是:3.87、11.23、5.50、7.25、9.47,实验确定最佳进水pH值是3.87.在以上最佳的操作条件下,反应150 min,水样COD去除率达97.4%,脱色率达99.97%,出水pH值3.63.     

DMF降解菌MBYD-1的分离、鉴定及降解特性

从农药厂污水处理池的活性污泥中分离得到一株能以二甲基甲酰胺(DMF)为唯一碳、氮源生长的菌株MBYD-1.经形态观察、生理生化实验及16S rRNA基因序列分析,将菌株初步鉴定为假单胞菌属 (Pseudomonas sp.).菌株MBYD-1降解DMF的最适条件为:pH 7.0,30℃.当DMF浓度为400mg/L,接种量为2%时,菌株能在72h内将DMF完全矿化.底物广谱性实验表明,菌株MBYD-1能在甲酸盐和甲醛中很好地生长,在甲酰胺中的生长情况优于二甲胺.     

光合细菌对2,4,6-三氯苯酚的降解特性研究

研究了混合光合细菌PSB-DR在不同光照、接种量和pH值下对2,4,6-三氯苯酚(2,4,6-TCP)的生物降解特性,确定了PSB-DR生物降解2,4,6-TCP的优化控制条件.结果表明,光照培养下,接种量30%,初始pH值7.0时2,4,6-TCP降解效率最高.在此条件下,50mg/L的2,4,6-TCP经5d后降解率达到82.3%.培养基中醋酸钠的加入对2,4,6-TCP降解有明显的抑制作用.PSB-DR静息细胞对2,4,6-TCP的降解符合高浓度底物抑制的酶促反应类型,其降解动力学参数rmax=1.746h-1,Km=38.333mg/L,Ki=260.87mg/L.     

Fatty acid composition of marine macroalgae from the Black Sea and Dardanelles

The fatty acid (FA) composition was determined in 14 species of marine macroalgae belonging to the Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta, which were collected from ?ile in the Black Sea and Kepez in the Dardanelles. Generally, polyunsaturated FAs and monounsaturated FAs were major components (50–77%). Total saturated FAs ranged from 22% to 50%, with 16?:?0 as the most abundant saturate (32–38%). Two samples of Cystoseira barbata collected from a different station had some differences from each other in their contents of 18?:?2n-6 and 18?:?3n-3 and in the 18?:?2n-6/20?:?4n-6 ratios. Green algal species had a significantly higher proportion of unsaturated FAs and a significantly lower proportion of saturated FAs than the red and brown algae. The amount of n-3 FAs was significantly higher in Ulva rigita, Chaetomorpha linum, Enteromorpha linza and Gracilaria verrucosa (8.88, 6.44, 5.31 and 5.24, respectively).     

Determination of 4-nonylphenol in carp blood samples by solid phase extraction and chromatographic techniques

In this study, selective methods were developed for isolation, purification, separation and determination of 4-nonylphenol (4NP) in biological samples. Several methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence and diode array detection and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectromotry (GC-MS) are described for the simultaneous determination of 4NP. The nonylphenols in the plasma of fish were extracted through solid phase process by using octadecyl, polymeric and octadecyl endcapping sorbents. The average recoveries in plasma samples spiked with 4NP of levels 1?µg?mL^?1 were between 80–95% using added surrogate standards. The aim of this study was to determine whether trace amounts of 4NP in fish plasma samples could be detected by solid phase extraction and chromatographic methods (HPLC, GC-MS). This technique of monitoring the levels of endocrine-disruptors in plasma samples is consistent, reliable as well as inexpensive.     

In vitro cytotoxicity of multi-wall carbon nanotubes on human cell lines

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro toxicity of two multi-wall carbon nanotubes on four different cell lines: human alveolar epithelial (A549) cells, hepatocytes (Hep 3B cells), human embryonic kidney cells, and intestinal (P407 cells) cells. The adverse effects of carbon nanoparticles were analyzed after 24 h incubation with different cell lines using the trypan blue dye exclusion method. Incubation of carbon nanotubes with different cells produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of growth of the cells. The TC₅₀ or IC₅₀ values (toxic concentration 50, i.e., concentration of particles inducing 50% cell mortality) of two nanoparticles were (1) found to be in the range 23.5–30.5 µg mL^?1, and (2) less than that of quartz (known toxic agent, 28.8–66.9 µg mL^?1), indicating the greater cytotoxic effect of carbon nanoparticles than quartz particles.     

Absence of metallothionein 3 expression in breast cancer is a rare but favorable marker that is under epigenetic control

Cadmium (Cd²⁺), a known carcinogen, mimics the effects of estrogen in the uterus and mammary gland suggesting its possible involvement in the development and progression of breast cancer. This lab showed through analysis of a small set of archival human diagnostic specimens that the third isoform of the classic Cd²⁺ binding protein metallothionein (MT-3) is not expressed in normal breast tissue, but is expressed in some breast cancers and that expression tends to correlate with a poor disease outcome. The goals of this study were to verify that overexpression of MT-3 in a large set of archival human diagnostic specimens tends to correlate with poor disease outcome and define the mechanism of MT-3 gene regulation in the normal breast epithelial cell. The results showed that MT-3 was expressed in approximately 90% of all breast cancers and was absent in normal breast epithelium. The lack of MT-3 staining in some cancers correlated with a favorable patient outcome. High frequency of MT-3 staining was also found for in situ breast cancer suggesting that MT-3 might be an early biomarker for breast cancer. The study also demonstrated that the MCF-10A cell line, an immortalized, non-tumorigenic model of human breast epithelial cells, displayed no basal expression of MT-3, nor was it induced by Cd²⁺. Treatment of the MCF-10A cells with the demethylation agent, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, or the histone deacetylase inhibitor, MS-275, restored MT-3 mRNA expression. It was also shown that the MT-3 metal regulatory elements are potentially active binders of protein factors following treatment with these inhibitors suggesting that MT-3 expression may be subject to epigenetic regulation.     

Protective role of epigallocatechin 3-gallate against lead-induced toxicity in human neuroblastoma cells

Lead (Pb) is a heavy metal, known to induce oxidative stress and produce damage to the antioxidant defence system ultimately leading to cell death. Antioxidants such as epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), a green tea polyphenol, was shown to play a protective role during Pb-exposure. In this study, human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were exposed to different concentrations (0.01–10?µM) of Pb for 48?h to determine effects on the viability of cells. It was observed that IC₅₀ was at 5?µM and at this concentration the cells exhibited a significant increase in caspase-3 activity, an indicator of apoptosis at least by 10-fold and the decrease of 59.4% in glutathione (GSH) content. The total cellular prostaglandin-E₂ (PGE₂) level was found to be elevated at least 10-fold upon Pb exposure. However, the effects of Pb on cells pre-incubated with 50?µM EGCG followed by 5?µM Pb showed 40% inhibition in cell viability, 17.3% decrease in caspase-3 activity, 23% increase in GSH content, and 11.4% fall in PGE₂ levels when compared with cells exposed to Pb only. Data suggest that EGCG exerted a significant protection to cell viability in preventing cell death and elevation in levels of GSH in cells exposed to Pb. However, EGCG did not elicit any significant effect on release of PGE₂ indicating the nature of EGCG as an effective anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory agent.