Hepatic effects of yttrium oxide nanoflowers: in vitro risk evaluation

Yttrium oxide nanoflowers were prepared by a hydrothermal technique, and X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to determine their structures. The cytotoxic and genotoxic potentials of aqueous dispersions of the nanoflowers to cultured primary rat hepatocytes were examined at concentrations up to 500 mg L^?1 for 72 h. Cell viability was determined by monitoring the reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, release of lactate dehydrogenase, and uptake of neutral red. Genotoxicity was assessed by the liver micronucleus assay. Exposure to Y₂O₃ nanoflowers at concentrations lower than 100 mg L^?1 did not lead to any cytotoxicity or genotoxicity. At higher concentrations (200, 400, and 500 mg L^?1), cell viability decreased and induction of micronuclei increased (400 and 500 mg L^?1).     

芹菜根细胞壁对镉的吸附固定机制及其FTIR表征研究

对芹菜根细胞壁Cd的吸附固定机制开展了相关研究.芹菜根细胞壁Cd吸附的动力学实验研究表明,根细胞壁经酯化改性处理后其对Cd的累积吸附量相对降低了42.6%,经氨基甲基化改性处理后其对Cd的累积吸附量相对降低了21.0%,经果胶酶改性处理后其对Cd的累积吸附量相对降低了40.5%.同时,利用傅立叶红外光谱技术表征了芹菜根细胞壁上Cd吸附位点的官能团信息.研究结果表明,Cd主要与细胞壁纤维素、半纤维素和木质素中的羧基官能团发生结合作用,同时,根细胞壁上的蛋白质和果胶质也参与了Cd的结合.     

燃料电池汽车氢源基础设施的生命周期评价

为了推动生命周期评价的应用和发展并为我国制定燃料电池汽车氢源基础设施的近期规划提供参考,根据现有的生产、储存和输运氢的技术,针对燃料电池汽车氢源基础设施,设计了10种可行方案,运用生命周期评价方法对这些方案的环境影响进行了全面评价,得到了每种方案的分类环境效应标准化指标,并对若干参数进行了敏感性分析.结果表明,环境性最好的燃料电池汽车氢源基础设施方案是:天然气集中制氢厂制氢,然后用管道将氢气输运到加注站,加注给以氢气为燃料的燃料电池汽车.     

彗星实验技术及其应用

彗星实验是瑞典科学家Ostling和Johanson于1984年发明的检测毒物DNA损伤效应的方法。它经历了从最初的微电泳技术、中性彗星实验、碱性彗星实验、酶切彗星实验和双向垂直彗尾彗星实验等不断完善的发展过程。在毒理学、遗传学和环境生态科学等领域有着重要的应用,是经济合作与发展组织(OECD)和欧洲食品安全局等国际组织推荐的测定遗传毒性的方法之一。彗星实验的关键点包括单细胞悬液的制备、细胞裂解液的成分与比例,低熔点琼脂糖凝胶的浓度,电泳条件等。在典型应用领域,如蚯蚓、鱼、两栖动物、鼠和人的彗星实验很难找到标准实验方案。成功的彗星实验还需关注,实验设计时必须包括阳性对照,结果表述时必须有图为证,实验方案可能因物种或细胞而异。     

Simultaneously recovering electricity and water from wastewater by osmotic microbial fuel cells: Performance and membrane fouling

Since the concept of the osmotic microbial fuel cell (OsMFC) was introduced in 2011, it has attracted growing interests for its potential applications in wastewater treatment and energy recovery. However, forward osmosis (FO) membrane fouling resulting in a severe water flux decline remains a main obstacle. Until now, the fouling mechanisms of FO membrane especially the development of biofouling layer in the OsMFC are not yet clear. Here, the fouling behavior of FO membrane in OsMFCs was systematically investigated. The results indicated that a thick fouling layer including biofouling and inorganic fouling was existed on the FO membrane surface. Compared to the inorganic fouling, the biofouling played a more important role in the development of the fouling layer. Further analyses by the confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) implied that the growth of biofouling layer on the FO membrane surface in the OsMFC could be divided into three stages. Initially, microorganisms associated with ß-D-glucopyranose polysaccharides were deposited on the FO membrane surface. After that, the microorganisms grew into a biofilm caused a quick decrease of water flux. Subsequently, some of microorganisms were dead due to lack of nutrient source, in the meantime, polysaccharide and proteins in the biofouling layer were decomposed as nutrient source, thus leading to a slow development of the biofouling layer. Moreover, the microorganisms played a significant role in the formation and development of the biofouling layer, and further studies are needed to mitigate the deposition of microorganisms on FO membrane surfaces in OsMFCs.

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