Screening Capsicum chinense fruits for heavy metals bioaccumulation

Elevated concentrations of heavy metals in edible plants could expose consumers to excessive levels of potentially hazardous chemicals. Sixty-three accessions (genotypes) of Capsicum chinense Jacq, collected from 8 countries of origin were grown in a silty-loam soil under field conditions. At maturity, fruits were collected and analyzed for seven heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Mo) concentrations. The main objectives of this investigation were: 1) to determine the concentrations of seven heavy metals in the soil and monitor their accumulation in mature fruits, 2) to categorize the pepper accessions as low or high heavy metal accumulators, and 3) to determine if heavy metal content of the pepper fruit was lower than the permitted limits. Concentrations and relative proportions of heavy metals in pepper fruits of C. chinense varied among accessions. Fruits of Plant Introduction (PI) 355820 accumulated significant concentrations of Cd (0.47 μ g g^?1dry fruit). PI-260522 accumulated the highest concentration of Pb (2.12 μ g g^?1 dry fruit) among the 63 accessions tested. This accession (PI-260522) contained about twice the Pb limit on a fresh weight basis. Among the 63 accessions analyzed, PI-238051 contained the highest levels of Ni (17.2 μ g g^?1). We concluded that high accumulator genotypes may be useful for phytoremediation, while, low accumulator accessions might be appropriate selections for growing on Cd-, Pb-, or Ni-contaminated soils to prevent potential human exposure to heavy metals and health hazards through the food chain.     

Evaluation and validation of two different chromatographic methods (HPLC and LC-MS/MS) for the determination and confirmation of ochratoxin A in pig tissues

This study was undertaken to compare two different analytical methods for the determination and confirmation of ochratoxin A (OTA) in blood serum, kidney and liver of pigs. Sample clean-up was based on liquid-liquid phase extraction. The detection of OTA was accomplished with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined either with fluorescence detection (FL) or electro spray ionization (ESI+) tandem mass spectrometry (MS–MS). Comparative method evaluation was based on the investigation of 90 samples of blood serum, kidney and liver per animal originating from different regions of Serbia. The analytical results are discussed in view of the respective method validation data and the corresponding experimental protocols. In general, analytical data obtained with (LC–MS–MS) liquid chromatography electro spray tandem mass spectro metry detection offered comparable good results at the sub-ppb concentration level. The results indicate that the liquid chromatography electro spray tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was more specific and sensitive for the analysis and confirmation of ochratoxin A in pig tissues then high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method after methylation of OTA.     

高压实新疆阿尔泰膨润土微观结构随吸力变化特征

采用压汞法(MIP)和扫描电镜(SEM)法,在自由和侧限状态下,试验研究了高压实新疆阿尔泰膨润土在不同吸力条件下的微观结构变化特征。吸力的控制采用了气相法和渗析(液相)法。研究结果表明:(1)低吸力范围内,自由膨胀和侧限条件下的高压实膨润土土水特征存在明显差异;(2)膨润土在自由和侧限状态下的水化过程中呈现出了截然不同的微结构变化特征。自由膨胀条件下,土的吸水膨胀量主要来自土中大孔隙的逐渐膨胀。侧限状态下,随着控制吸力的降低,膨润土的大孔隙逐渐被压缩,较小孔隙的数量不断增加,土中孔隙分布变得更加均匀。     

Plant steroid hormones produced under Ni stress are involved in the regulation of metal uptake and oxidative stress in Brassica juncea L

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are involved in the amelioration of various biotic and abiotic stresses. With an aim to explore the role of BRs under heavy metal stress, plants of Brassica juncea L. were grown in pots. The plants were subjected to various concentrations of Nickel metal (0.0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mM) and harvested on 60th day in order to observe the expression of these hormones. The isolated BRs from the leaves of Brassica plants characterized by GC-MS include 24-Epibrassinolide (24-EBL), Castasterone, Dolicholide and Typhasterole. The effect of isolated 24-EBL was studied on Ni metal uptake and antioxidative defense system in 60 d old plants of Brassica. It was observed that 24-EBL significantly increased the activities of stress ameliorating enzymes and lowered the metal uptake in plants. This is the first report in B. juncea L. plants showing the expression of BRs under metal treatments and effect of the isolated 24-EBL on metal uptake and in oxidative stress management.     

The structure of the fire fighting foam surfactant Forafac®1157 and its biological and photolytic transformation products

For several decades, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) has widely been used as a fluorinated surfactant in aqueous film forming foams used as hydrocarbon fuel fire extinguishers. Due to concerns regarding its environmental persistence and toxicological effects, PFOS has recently been replaced by novel fluorinated surfactants such as Forafac®1157, developed by the DuPont company. The major component of Forafac®1157 is a 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide alkylbetaine (6:2 FTAB), and a link between the trade name and the exact chemical structure is presented here to the scientific community for the first time. In the present work, the structure of the 6:2 FTAB was elucidated by ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁹F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Moreover, its major metabolites from blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) and its photolytic transformation products were identified. Contrary to what has earlier been observed for PFOS, the 6:2 FTAB was extensively metabolized by blue mussel and turbot exposed to Forafac®1157. The major metabolite was a deacetylated betaine species, from which mono- and di-demethylated metabolites also were formed. Another abundant metabolite was the 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide. In another experiment, Forafac®1157 was subjected to UV-light induced photolysis. The experimental conditions aimed to simulate Arctic conditions and the deacetylated species was again the primary transformation product of 6:2 FTAB. A 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide was also formed along with a non-identified transformation product. The environmental presence of most of the metabolites and transformation products was qualitatively demonstrated by analysis of soil samples taken in close proximity to an airport fire training facility.     

高分子量高纯度阳离子聚丙烯酰胺的合成

以丙烯酰胺与丙烯酰氧乙基三甲基氯化铵为单体,在复合引发剂的作用下,选择水溶液共聚法合成高分子量与高纯度阳离子型聚丙烯酰胺(CPAM)。实验表明,有机偶氮引发剂A用量0.5‰、氧化还原引发剂用量0.45‰、还原剂与氧化剂摩尔比2∶1、反应体系pH为4与反应时间5 h条件下,CPAM分子量为1 042万,且溶解性好。通过对聚合物残单含量影响因素添加剂用量、反应时间的研究,结果表明,添加剂EDTA和增溶剂D对残留AM含量影响小,而苯甲酸钠对聚合物残留AM的含量影响显著;延长反应时间至7 h,残单含量可降低至0.27%,CPAM的纯度高。通过与国内外3种同类型产品进行对比,结果表明,自制产品的分子量明显高于其他产品,且残单含量比国内产品降低了50%～75%。     

高效聚合氯化铝对超滤膜污染影响的中试研究

针对某水厂以超滤为核心的短流程水处理工艺,在通过聚氯乙烯(PVC)超滤膜之前选择不同投加量(5、10、15和20 mg/L)的高效聚合氯化铝(HPAC)对长江下游原水进行混凝处理。通过跨膜压差(TMP)增长趋势、CODMn的去除率以及混凝后的水质,可知HPAC的最优投加量为15 mg/L。在此投加量下,运用体积排阻色谱法分析原水、膜前水、膜后水中各相对分子质量有机物的变化,可以发现混凝去除有机物的效果要优于超滤截留的。继而将HPAC与另外4种常用混凝剂:硫酸铝(分析纯)、氯化铁(化学纯)、聚合氯化铝(PAC)、聚合硫酸铁进行对比,结果表明,在它们各自最优投加量下,HPAC能够更有效地减缓超滤膜TMP的增长率,从而降低膜污染。因此,认为HPAC是与PVC超滤合金膜契合效果最佳的混凝剂。     

高硬度富锶地下水的软化沉淀-超滤膜联用工艺

针对一种高硬度富锶地下水,分别采用石灰和石灰-碳酸钠两种方法,利用药剂软化/超滤膜工艺对其进行软化处理,同时考察了药剂投量对出水锶含量的影响。结果表明,采用石灰软化/超滤膜法,Ca(OH)2最佳投加量为270 mg/L时,出水总硬度(以CaCO3计)由287.12 mg/L降低到96.44 mg/L,硬度去除率为66.41%,出水锶含量也由原水中的0.37 mg/L下降为0.21 mg/L;而采用石灰-碳酸钠软化/超滤膜法,Ca(OH)2和Na2CO3最佳投加量分别为270 mg/L、160mg/L时,出水总硬度降低到60.34 mg/L,硬度去除率达78.98%,锶含量仅为0.02 mg/L。2种处理方法出水总硬度均达到预期目标,石灰软化/超滤膜法可使出水锶含量满足富锶水的要求,而石灰-碳酸钠软化/超滤膜法则造成了对人体有益微量元素锶的大量损失。     

莱特生物强化技术处理高浓度有机废水的中试

采用莱特生物强化技术(LTBR—Littoral BioReactor),对兰州石化公司化工园区高浓度有机废水进行了中试试验,进行了正常运行的常规标定、水量冲击标定、浓度冲击标定。结果表明:采用LTBR生物处理工艺,使用特效微生物和营养基质,可以在高COD、高含盐等不利条件下正常进行有机物降解,达到了必须将废水中的COD降至2000mg/L以下的试验要求,为处理高浓度有机化工废水的工程应用开辟了新思路。     

ASBBR-二级SBBR-化学除磷组合工艺处理榨菜腌制废水

针对榨菜腌制废水高盐高氮磷高有机物浓度的特征,提出"厌氧序批式生物膜反应器(ASBBR)-二级序批式生物膜反应器(SBBR)-化学除磷"组合处理工艺,在前期对组合工艺中单元工艺的关键工况参数研究的基础上,考察组合工艺的处理效能。实验结果表明,采用该组合工艺,可使进水COD、NH4+-N、TN及PO43--P分别为10 000、345、550和38.5mg/L的榨菜腌制废水,处理出水COD、NH4+-N、TN及PO43--P分别达到93.6、12.3、18和0.1 mg/L,去除率分别为99.1%、96.4%、96.7%和99.9%,出水达到污水综合排放一级标准。