Resistance and biosorption mechanism of silver ions by Bacillus cereus biomass

Biosorption of silver ions onto Bacillus cereus biomass was investigated. Overall kinetic experiments were performed for the determination of the necessary contact time for the attainment of equilibrium. It was found that the overall biosorption process was best described by pseudo second-order kinetic model. The crystals detected by scanning electron microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy suggested the precipitation was a possible mechanism of biosorption. The molecular genetics of silver resistance of B. cereus biomass was also detected and illustrated by a whole cell sensor tool.     

Nitrogen cycle of a typical Suaeda salsa marsh ecosystem in the Yellow River estuary

The nitrogen (N) biological cycle of the Suaeda salsa marsh ecosystem in the Yellow River estuary was studied during 2008 to 2009. Results showed that soil N had significant seasonal fluctuations and vertical distribution. The N/P ratio (15.73±1.77) of S. salsa was less than 16, indicating that plant growth was limited by both N and P. The N absorption coefficient of S. salsa was very low (0.007), while the N utilization and cycle coefficients were high (0.824 and 0.331, respectively). The N turnover among compartments of S. salsa marsh showed that N uptake from aboveground parts and roots were 2.539 and 0.622 g/m2, respectively. The N translocation from aboveground parts to roots and from roots to soil were 2.042 and 0.076 g/m2, respectively. The N translocation from aboveground living bodies to litter was 0.497 g/m2, the annual N return from litter to soil was far less than 0.368 g/m2, and the net N mineralization in topsoil during the growing season was 0.033 g/m2. N was an important limiting factor in S. salsa marsh, and the ecosystem was classified as unstable and vulnerable. S. salsa was seemingly well adapted to the low-nutrient status and vulnerable habitat, and the nutrient enrichment due to N import from the Yellow River estuary would be a potential threat to the S. salsa marsh. Excessive nutrient loading might favor invasive species and induce severe long-term degradation of the ecosystem if human intervention measures were not taken. The N quantitative relationships determined in our study might provide a scientific basis for the establishment of effective measures.     

Modeling assessment for ammonium nitrogen recovery from wastewater by chemical precipitation

Chemical precipitation to form magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) is an effective technology for recovering ammonium nitrogen (NH4 +-N). In the present research, we investigated the thermodynamic modeling of the PHREEQC program for NH4 +-N recovery to evaluate the effect of reaction factors on MAP precipitation. The case study of NH4 +-N recovery from coking wastewater was conducted to provide a comparison. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to assist in understanding the relative significance of reaction factors and the interactive effects of solution conditions. Thermodynamic modeling indicated that the saturation index (SI) of MAP followed a polynomial function of pH. The SI of MAP increased logarithmically with the Mg2+/NH4 + molar ratio (Mg/N) and the initial NH4 +-N concentration (CN), respectively, while it decreased with an increase in Ca2+/NH4 + and CO3 2??/NH4 + molar ratios (Ca/N and CO3 2??/N), respectively. The trends for NH4 +-N removal at different pH and Mg/N levels were similar to the thermodynamic modeling predictions. The RSM analysis indicated that the factors including pH, Mg/N, CN, Ca/N, (Mg/N) (CO3 2??/N), (pH)2, (Mg/N)2, and (CN)2 were significant. Response surface plots were useful for understanding the interaction effects on NH4 +-N recovery.     

血铅事件根源在地方保护有恃无恐

新年伊始,安徽省怀宁县发生血铅超标事件,引起广泛关注。近几年,血铅事件一次次牵动人们的神经。2009年发生了6起较大血铅事件,     

《中华人民共和国国民经济和社会发展第十二个五年规划纲要》发布

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周生贤部长在中国环境与发展国际合作委员会2010年年会上的总结讲话

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环境保护大事记（2010年）（11月1日～11月30日）

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基于能效标杆的城市节能管理新思路

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邗江：生态与发展和谐共生

江苏省扬州市邗江区因春秋时期吴王夫差开邗沟,筑邗城而得名,距今已有近2500年的历史。2001年撤县设区,现辖11个镇、3个街道,总面积约700平方公里,总人口约50万人,是扬州市区域面积最大、综合实力最强的一个区。2010年,人均GDP突破1万美元,财政收入突破50亿元。在经济社会加快发展的同时,     

韶关：创生态文明市，还优美环境于民

2010年,韶关市紧紧围绕创建“全国生态文明示范市”目标,采取加快经济发展方式转变、维护生态屏障、创建优美宜居乡村等措施,综合整治环境,还优美环境于民。加快经济发展方式转变大力发展生态经济,加快推进以资源高效利用和循环利用为核心、以“减量化、再利用、资源化”为原则的低消耗、低排放、高效率的经济增长模式,