Interaction of latex colloids with mineral surfaces and Grimsel granodiorite

Bentonite clay is considered as possible backfill material for nuclear waste repositories in crystalline rock. The same material may also be a source of clay colloids, which may act as carriers for actinide ions possibly released from the repository. Depending on the geochemical parameters, these colloids may be retained by interaction with mineral surfaces of the host rock. In the present study interaction of carboxylated fluorescent latex colloids, used as a model for bentonite colloids, with natural Grimsel granodiorite and some of its component minerals is studied by fluorescence microscopy and SEM/EDX. The experiments are carried out by varying the pH from 2–10. Strong adsorption is observed at pH values close to or below the points of zero charge (pH_pzc) of the mineral surfaces. The influence of Eu(III), used as a chemical homologue for trivalent actinide ions, on colloid adsorption is investigated. Depending on mineral phase and pH, a significant increase of colloid adsorption is observed in the presence of Eu(III).     

香溪河库湾浮游细菌和病毒计数方法比较研究

液氮速冻后转入-80℃保存是流式细胞仪计数浮游细菌及病毒的样品保存之标准条件。以荧光显微镜计数法为参照,利用流式细胞仪对温和冷冻保存(-20℃冷冻2周后转入-80℃保存)的香溪河库湾水样分别计数了浮游细菌和浮游病毒丰度。结果显示,利用流式细胞仪计数香溪河库湾水样中的浮游细菌丰度与荧光显微镜计数法等效(P>0.05);流式细胞仪计数浮游病毒丰度高于荧光显微镜计数结果2.0±0.1倍(Z=-4.704,P<0.01),且具有强正相关(r=0.979,P<0.01)。计数结果间的差异与其他环境中样品标准保存方法下计数结果相近,表明温和冷冻保藏条件对流式细胞仪计数香溪河库湾水样中浮游细菌和浮游病毒丰度结果无明显影响。     

磷对降低土壤中铅的生物有效性的X-衍射及电镜分析

通过盆栽实验,对不同磷化合物处理的铅污染土壤和植物分别进行X-衍射(XRD)、能谱扫描电镜(SEM-EDS)及能谱透射电镜(TEM-EDS)分析.结果显示,不同磷化合物处理土样的X-衍射图在0.288 nm、0.296 nm及0.321 nm处有明显衍射峰生成,以SSP5、HA5及HASSP2处理土样的X-衍射谱图中生成的衍射峰比较明显,而PR5处理的衍射峰相对较弱,其原因可能与磷矿粉的弱溶解特性有关.这显示了土壤经不同磷化合物处理后,土壤中新生成了较多的磷酸铅及Ca-Pb磷酸铅盐的沉淀,不同程度地降低了土壤中铅的迁移和转化特性.对植株根系的SEM分析结果表明,土壤中加入不同的磷化合物处理后,磷酸铅类化合物在植株根表细胞有明显的晶体沉淀物.对植物根细胞的透射电镜分析结果发现,在不同磷处理土壤中,铅以不同的磷酸盐化合物的形式沉淀在植物的细胞壁及细胞间隙,从而有效地阻止了铅离子向原生质细胞及植物中柱内的迁移,不同程度地降低了污染土壤中铅的蓄积毒性.     

Biomonitoring of the distribution of dust emissions by means of a new SEM/EDX technique

A new application of the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with an Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalyzer (EDX) has been developed to study the distribution of airborne dust emissions. This technique makes it possible to identify the particles and measure the amount of dust deposition on the surface of the biomonitoring material. Pine bark or needles and moss can easily be used as the study material. A map indicating pollution levels and distribution can be drawn on the basis of the measured data.     

Development of a novel myconanomining approach for the recovery of agriculturally important elements from jarosite waste

In this study, an ecofriendly and economically viable waste management approach have been attempted towards the biosynthesis of agriculturally important nanoparticles from jarosite waste. Aspergillus terreus strain J4 isolated from jarosite(waste from Debari Zinc Smelter,Udaipur, India), showed good leaching efficiency along with nanoparticles(NPs) formation under ambient conditions. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) confirmed the formation of NPs. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDX analysis) showed strong signals for zinc, iron, calcium and magnesium,with these materials being leached out. TEM analysis and high resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM) showed semi-quasi spherical particles having average size of 10‐50 nm. Thus, a novel biomethodology was developed using fungal cell-free extract for bioleaching and subsequently nanoconversion of the waste materials into nanostructured form. These biosynthesized nanoparticles were tested for their efficacy on seed emergence activity of wheat(Triticum aestivum) seeds and showed enhanced growth at concentration of 20 ppm. These nanomaterials are expected to enhance plant growth properties and being targeted as additives in soil fertility and crop productivity enhancement.     

The colorful chemistry of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI)

正Nanoscale zero-valent iron(nZVI)possesses unique chemistry and capability for the separation and transformation of a growing number of environmental contaminants.A n ZVI particle consists of two nanoscale components,an iron(oxyhydr)oxides shell and a metallic iron core.This classical"core-shell"structure offers n ZVI with unique and multifaceted     

Study of Aging Characteristics of Ternary Blends of Polyethylenes—II

Six film samples of low-density polypropylene (LDPE)/linear LDPE (LLDPE)/high-density polypropylene (HDPE) with varying ratios of LDPE (20–45 ... wt%) and LLDPE (25–50 wt%) having a fixed amount of HDPE at 30 wt% were prepared by blown film extrusion technique. The samples were aged at four different temperatures, 55°, 70°, 85°, and 100°C, for four different time periods in the interval of between 150 hours and up to 600 hours. The change in the structure of various constituents and the formation of various oxygenated (peroxy and hydroperoxy) and unsaturated groups during thermo-oxidative degradation was discussed by infrared spectroscopy. The visiosity-average molecular weight was found to have decreased slowly in the initial aging hours and temperatures, whereas it decreased by 10% with its previous value tensile strength that is, 100°C when aged for 600 hours. The tensile strength of the sample first increased by 67% at 55°C and 89% at 70°C up to 450 hours, whereas the values increased by 52.5% at 85°C and 33.9% at 100°C when aged for 150 hours and then decreased. The percentage elongation at break increased by 2.7% at 55°C and 10.7% at 70°C for 150 and 300 hours of aging, respectively, whereas the percentage decreased when aged at 85°C and 100°C for up to 600 hours of aging. The values of gel content (percent) increased and initial degradation temperature decreased with aging time and temperature.     

SUSPENSOIDS IN NEW YORK CITY'S DRINKING WATER RESERVOIRS: TURBIDITY APPORTIONMENT1

ABSTRACT: The technique of i ndividual p article a nalysis conducted by s canning electron microscopy interfaced with a utomated X ‐ray microanalysis (IPA/SAX) was used to characterize suspended particulate matter in New York City's drinking water reservoirs and their tributaries. The study covered a two year period and involved analyses of more than 300 samples. The particle cross sectional area per unit volume (PAV), or area concentration, was measured to account for the observed turbidity, a representation of light scattering property of the studied medium. A simple linear model with a nearly zero intercept was able to explain more than 85 percent of the variation in the measured turbidity. Moreover, the particle assemblage was categorized into generic particle types with distinctive geochemical or geological origins. Thus, PAV compositions in terms of particle types could be apportioned into turbidity components based on the model. Inorganic tripton, dominated by aluminosilicate (clay) and silicate of nonbiological nature, was found to be the major turbidity causing constituent in most cases. With the exception of one reservoir where organic detritus was significant, the predicted inorganic particle turbidity agreed with the measured turbidity within experimental error.     

Heavy Metals in Moss and Bark From Urban Area of Florence: A New Cleaness Procedure for Removing Superficial Particulate Matter

Hypnum cupressiforme epiphytic moss and tree bark (elm and holm oak) samples have been collected in three sites of the city of Florence in the period 1995-1998. Lead, zinc, copper, and cadmium were determined by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) in about 200 samples collected at different heights above ground. A new clean-up procedure by nitrogen jet has been followed and its efficiency has been also verified by electron microscopy (SEM and ESEM techniques). Lead median contents in moss and bark samples fall within the ranges of 0.052-0.86 and 0.20-1.30 μmoles g^-1 (dry weight), resulting values for moss and bark are proportional to the vehicular traffic density. the increasing use of lead-free gasoline has not been followed by a decrease of lead moss concentration.     

Topographical imaging as a means of monitoring biodegradation of poly(hydroxyalkanoate) films

Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) are a class of bacterially-derived polymers that are naturally biodegradable through the action of extracellular depolymerase enzymes secreted by a number of different bacteria and fungi. In this paper we describe the development of topographical imaging protocols (by both scanning electron microscopy; SEM, and confocal microscopy; CM) as a means of monitoring the biodegradation of solution cast films of poly(3-hydroxybutanoate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (P3HB/3HHx) and medium-chain-length (mcl-) PHA. Pseudomonas lemoignei and Comamonas P37C were used as sources for PHA depolymerase enzymes as these bacteria are known to degrade at least one of the polymers in question. SEM revealed the bacterial colonization of the film surfaces while CM permitted the comparative assessment of the roughness of the film surfaces upon exposure to the two bacterial strains. By dividing the total surface area of the film (A′) by the total area of the scan (A) it was possible to monitor biodegradation by observing differences in the topography of the film surface. Prior to inoculation, P3HB/3HHx films had an A′/A ratio of 1.06. A 24-h incubation with P. lemoignei increased the A′/A ratio to 1.47 while a 48- and 120-h incubation with Comamonas resulted in A′/A ratios of 1.16 and 1.33, respectively. These increases in the A′/A ratios over time demonstrated an increase in the irregularity of the film surface, indicative of PHA polymer breakdown. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.