Retrospective future proofing of a copper mine: Quantification of errors and omissions in ‘As-built’ documentation

The electrical instrumentation control systems (EICS) ‘As-built’ documentations of a copper mine were found to possess a significant errors and omissions, which hindered the asset owner’s ability to undertake effective and efficient operations and maintenance. A Systems Information Model (SIM) was used to retrospectively create a connected system to ensure all physical equipment and the associated connections that were constructed are modelled in an object-orientated database. In creating the SIM, the existing errors and omissions in the ‘As-built’ documentation were quantified, and cost savings that could be achieved for a future planned copper mine, with a similar design, were identified. The limitations of using conventional computer-aided-design (CAD) to design and document EICS are discussed. It is recommended that retrospectively creating a SIM can provide owners and operators with significant productivity benefits as well as ensure the asset’s integrity. The case study presented provides asset owners and operators with the empirical evidence to challenge conventional thinking surrounding the design, engineering and documentation of EICS using CAD and alternatively consider the use of SIM.     

商陆耐重金属Cd关键酶抗氧化酶的研究

研究商陆(Phytolacca americana L.)对Cd胁迫的抗氧化酶响应,对于揭示其耐Cd机制具有重要意义.商陆幼苗在200μmol/L或400 μmol/L CdCl2营养液中处理4 d,叶片活性氧自由基和MDA含量升高,膜透性增加,光合速率降低,表明Cd胁迫诱导产生氧化胁迫.随着Cd处理含量的提高和时间的...     

铜对大鼠肝脏脂质过氧化作用的影响

观察了铜（CuSo₄）在离体大鼠肝微粒体脂质过氧化模型中的反应性及对在体大鼠肝脏脂质过氧化中的抑制作用,结果表明：离体模型中25、50μmol铜对Vc/Fe₂₊及ADP/Fe²⁺激发的肝微粒体脂质过氧化有抑制作用;在体内实验中5、10,20ppm铜灌胃可使大鼠肝匀浆及微粒体中丙二醛含量明显减少,且有剂量依从性,但同时高铜组仍出现铜中毒的病理改变。实验提示,本实验条件下铜与脂质过氧化的关系与给铜剂量、实验模型有关,而铜的抗氧化机制与Cu,Zn－SOD活性提高无关。     

Heavy Metal Toxicity Responses of Two Willow (Salix) Varieties Grown Hydroponically: Development of a Tolerance Screening Test

The E.U. funded BIORENEW project is investigating bioremediation of industrially degraded land using biomass fuel crops, including willow. One of its goals is to develop a rapid screening test to assess the metal tolerance of large numbers of willow varieties. This should reflect how a plant will respond to heavy metals under various field conditions and in the long term. A preliminary experiment tested two varieties of contrasting ability to thrive in metal-contaminated soils. Trees were exposed to a metal cocktail in three different strengths of background solution. An appropriate strength solution (1/4 strength Hoaglands) was identified for differentiating variety performance, based on its effect on the biomass of plant fractions relative to control fractions. This is a response to heavy metals which can be quantified rapidly and simply. The relative performance of the varieties was comparable to their performance in field studies. This test will be used to assess the tolerance of further varieties.     

A pyrazine based metal-organic framework for selective removal of copper from strongly acidic solutions

● pz-UiO-66 was synthesized facilely by a solvothermal method. ● Efficient capture of copper from highly acidic solution was achieved by pz-UiO-66. ● pz-UiO-66 exhibited excellent selectivity and capacity for copper capture. ● Pyrazine-N in pz-UiO-66 was shown to be the dominant adsorption site. The selective capture of copper from strongly acidic solutions is of vital importance from the perspective of sustainable development and environmental protection. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted the interest of many scholars for adsorption due to their fascinating physicochemical characteristics, including adjustable structure, strong stability and porosity. Herein, pz-UiO-66 containing a pyrazine structure is successfully synthesized for the efficient separation of copper from strongly acidic conditions. Selective copper removal at low pH values is accomplished by using this material that is not available in previously reported metal–organic frameworks. Furthermore, the material exhibits excellent adsorption capacity, with a theoretical maximum copper uptake of 247 mg/g. As proven by XPS and FT-IR analysis, the coordination of pyrazine nitrogen atoms with copper ions is the dominant adsorption mechanism of copper by pz-UiO-66. This work provides an opportunity for efficient and selective copper removal under strongly acidic conditions, and promises extensive application prospects for the removal of copper in the treatment for acid metallurgical wastewater.     

植物镉耐性/富集基因的筛选方法

植物耐受/富集镉（Cd）是一个复杂的过程,涉及转运蛋白家族、螯合蛋白家族、抗氧化系统等多个方面的参与。文章综述了植物Cd耐性/富集基因的筛选方法,包括抗性表达文库、Cd抗性突变体的图位克隆、基因差异表达、电子克隆。筛选Cd抗性植物cDNA酵母表达文库可鉴定与金属束缚、隔离及外排相关的膜转运蛋白;筛选重金属敏感拟南芥突变体和图位克隆突变基因可鉴定与谷胱甘肽和植物螯合肽合成相关的酶;第二代测序技术、基因差异表达分析则是鉴定Cd响应基因以及揭示金属型植物与非耐性植物表型差异分子基础的有效方法;电子克隆也被应用在模式植物中鉴定重金属转运蛋白家族的编码基因。在此基础上,简述了Cd耐性/富集基因在改良植物Cd耐性或富集上的应用。     

Cu/Cr co-stabilization mechanisms in a simulated Al2O3-Fe2O3-Cr2O3-CuO waste system

• Cu and Cr can be mostly incorporated into CuFe_xAl_yCr_2−x−yO₄ with a spinel structure. • Spinel phase is the most crucial structure for Cu and Cr co-stabilization. • Compared to Al, Fe and Cr are easier to be incorporated into the spinel structure. • ‘Waste-to-resource’ by thermal process at attainable temperatures can be achieved. Chromium slag usually contains various heavy metals, making its safe treatment difficult. Glass-ceramic sintering has been applied to resolve this issue and emerged as an effective method for metal immobilization by incorporating heavy metals into stable crystal structures. Currently, there is limited knowledge about the reaction pathways adopted by multiple heavy metals and the co-stabilization functions of the crystal structure. To study the Cu/Cr co-stabilization mechanisms during thermal treatment, a simulated system was prepared using a mixture with a molar ratio of Al₂O₃:Fe₂O₃:Cr₂O₃:CuO= 1:1:1:3. The samples were sintered at temperatures 600–1300°C followed by intensive analysis of phase constitutions and microstructure development. A spinel phase (CuFe_xAl_yCr_2−x−yO₄) started to generate at 700°C and the incorporation of Cu/Cr into the spinel largely complete at 900°C, although the spinel peak intensity continued increasing slightly at temperatures above 900°C. Fe₂O₃/Cr₂O₃ was more easily incorporated into the spinel at lower temperatures, while more Al₂O₃ was gradually incorporated into the spinel at higher temperatures. Additionally, sintered sample microstructures became more condensed and smoother with increased sintering temperature. Cu / Cr leachability substantially decreased after Cu/Cr incorporation into the spinel phase at elevated temperatures. At 600°C, the leached ratios for Cu and Cr were 6.28% and 0.65%, respectively. When sintering temperature was increased to 1300°C, the leached ratios for all metal components in the system were below 0.2%. This study proposes a sustainable method for managing Cu/Cr co-exist slag at reasonable temperatures.     

水培和盆栽条件下碎米莎草对铀的耐受性及富集特征

碎米莎草(Cyperus iria L.)作为铀的超耐受植物,它的发现为探讨铀污染环境的植物修复和铀在植物体中的吸收和耐受机理提供了一种新的资源. 在Hoagland's营养液中加入铀标准溶液模拟铀污染水环境,以及直接在铀尾沙条件分析不同铀供应水平下碎米莎草对铀的耐受性能和富集特征. 结果表明:①碎米莎草对铀的富集特征依赖于生长介质中铀的供应水平和植物生长期等多重因素. 碎米莎草不同生长期各部位w(U)均高于生长介质中的铀供应水平,根系和地上部分w(U)最高可分别达(48 605±1 266)和(824±856)mg/kg. 根、茎和叶中w(U)基本随着铀供应水平的升高而增加,在开花期时较低,根系吸收的铀有1/10~1/5能转移至茎、叶、花籽部位,ρ(U)<250 mg/L的铀溶液对碎米莎草的生长无抑制作用. ②碎米莎草对铀尾沙具有很强的耐受性,但地上部分的富集系数在某些条件下可大于1;地上部分的w(U)在开花期相对较高,至成熟期时下降;在成熟期添加柠檬酸有助于碎米莎草根、茎和叶将铀转移至籽部位.      

Levels of plasma B-esterases and glutathione-S-transferase activities in three South American toad species

We determined the normal levels of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), carboxylesterase (CbE), and glutathione S-transferases (GST) activities in three South American toad species in order to establish reference values for field pesticide monitoring purposes. Interspecies variations in B-esterase and GST activities were examined according to body mass. In addition, comparative inhibition of BChE and CbE activities using malaoxon, and chemical reactivation of malaoxon-inhibited BChE activity using pyridine-2-aldoxime methochloride (2-PAM) were investigated. Bufo fernandezae had average activity values for BChE: 17.31 mmol min^?1 ml^?1; CbE: 621.49 nmol min^?1 ml^?1 and GST: 1.94 mmol min^?1 ml^?1 while B. arenarum enzymatic average activities were BChE: 9.51 mmol min^?1 ml^?1; CbE: 270.07 nmol min^?1 ml^?1, and GST: 1.59 mmol min^?1 ml^?1; finally Bufo schneideri had enzymatic mean values of BChE: 2.08 mmol min^?1 ml^?1; CbE: 301.95 nmol min^?1 ml^?1, and GST: 1.60 mmol min^?1 ml^?1. Moreover, we found an allometric relationship between plasma BChE and CbE activities and body size for the three toad species. We suggest that B. fernandezae would be the species with a higher tolerance capacity to organophosphorous insecticides compared to the other toad species, while B. schneideri may be the most vulnerable toad species to field pesticide exposure, although some other factors (e.g., brain AChE sensitivity or pesticide metabolism by phosphotriesterases) should be also taken into account. The malaoxon-inhibited BChE activity of the three toad species was reactivated in the presence of 2-PAM, and it is recommended as a specific and sensitive methodology in the assessment of field exposure to OP insecticides together to compare BChE activity levels between OP-exposed and nonexposed individuals.     

Effect Of pH on the complexation of U(II) with organic matter dissolved in resh waters

In the present work we study the effect of pH on the complexation of copper with organic matter dissolved in fresh surface waters. Samples collected in rivers of Galicia (NW of Spain) were titrated with copper solution at pH values in the range 5.5–7.5. Copper concentration was measured by DPASV technique. The complexation parameters were obtained from the simple model of 1 : 1 complex formation. The obtained values show a linear increase of the logarithm of the conditional stability constant as the pH increases.