Urban geochemistry: research strategies to assist risk assessment and remediation of brownfield sites in urban areas

Urban geochemical maps of Wolverhampton and Nottingham, based on multielement analysis of surface soils, have shown distribution patterns of “total” metals concentrations relating to past and present industrial and domestic land use and transport systems. Several methods have been used to estimate the solubility and potential bioavailability of metals, their mineral forms and potential risks to urban population groups. These include sequential chemical extraction, soil pore water extraction and analysis, mineralogical analysis by scanning electron microscopy, source apportionment by lead isotope analysis and the development of models to predict metal uptake by homegrown vegetables to provide an estimate of risk from metal consumption and exposure. The results from these research strategies have been integrated with a geographical information system (GIS) to provide data for future land-use planning.     

16种蛇鳞的微皮纹分析

对16种蛇鳞的扫描电镜观察表明,蛇类鳞片微皮纹的基本结构是由d约05μm横行排列的小孔和介于小孔间向后延伸的指状突构成背鳞的微皮纹结构有种的特异性同一种蛇的原动物、蛇蜕和药材标本相同部位的鳞片具有相同的微皮纹特征因此蛇鳞的微皮纹特征亦可作为蛇类药材的鉴别依据之一,并以背鳞的微皮纹特征为依据,编制了16种蛇背鳞微皮纹特征检索表。     

Preparation of Alginic Acid and Metal Alginate from Algae and their Comparative Study

Alginic acid and metal alginates are prepared from fresh algae using extraction method. A FTIR spectrum indicates that alginic acid is converted into the metal alginate. Comparing calcium and cobalt alginates, asymmetric stretching of free carboxyl group of calcium alginate at 1630 cm⁻¹ is shifted to 1585 cm⁻¹ in cobalt alginate, due to the change of charge density, radius and atomic weight of the cation, creating a new environment around the carbonyl group. The strong exothermic peak of alginic acid in DSC thermogram indicates the decomposition of biopolymer, whereas strong exothermic peak of metal alginate in DSC thermogram attributed to the decomposition of biopolymer and formation of respective carbonate. Based on DSC study, the decomposition of cobalt alginate occurs at higher temperature comparing to those of sodium and calcium alginate, which may conclude into the higher stability of cobalt alginate. TGA results reveal that, cobalt alginate is more stable than calcium and sodium alginate at 300 °C temperature. Surface morphology (at same magnification), as well as porosity (%) and pore size distribution results change with metals present in different metal alginates.     

表面增强拉曼光谱技术检测高氯酸根离子

高氯酸根离子是水质污染物中常见的污染源之一.通过化学还原法制备稳定、分散性好的纳米银溶胶颗粒(粒径为30～40 nm),并以此为基底,探究了利用表面增强拉曼光谱技术迅速准确地检测质量浓度为10-6～10-1 g/L的高氯酸根离子溶液的表面增强拉曼光谱.结果表明,当高氯酸根离子质量浓度为10-5～10-1 g/L时,随着高氯酸根离子浓度的降低,表面增强拉曼光谱强度逐渐减弱.     

Sorption mechanisms of cephapirin, a veterinary antibiotic, onto quartz and feldspar minerals as detected by Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate sorption mechanisms of cephapirin (CHP), a veterinary antibiotic, onto quartz (SiO₂) and feldspar (KAlSi₃O₈) at different pH. Sorption occurs by electrostatic attraction, monodentate and bidentate complexation. The zwitterion (CHP^o) adsorbs to a quartz⁽⁺⁾ surface by electrostatic attraction of the carboxylate anion group (-COO⁻) at low pH, but adsorbs to a quartz⁽⁻⁾ surface through electrostatic attraction of the pyridinium cation, and possibly COO⁻ bridge complexes, at higher pH. CHP⁻ bonds to quartz⁽⁻⁾ surfaces by bidentate complexation between one oxygen of -COO⁻ and oxygen from carbonyl of an acetoxymethyl group. On a feldspar^(+/−) surface, CHP^o forms monodentate complexes between CO, and possible -COO⁻ bridges and/or electrostatic attachments to localized edge (hydr)oxy-Al surfaces. CHP⁻ adsorbs to feldspar⁽⁻⁾ through monodentate CO complexation. Similar mechanisms may operate for other cephalosporins. Results demonstrate, for the first time, that Raman techniques can be effective for evaluating sorption mechanisms of antibiotics.     

基于分布式光纤测温系统的垃圾填埋场渗漏定位

提出了基于拉曼散射温度效应和光时域反射（OTDR）的分布式光纤测温系统的新型无黏土层填埋场渗漏检测定位方法。对检测光缆进行加热后,由于被垃圾渗滤液浸湿的GCL比热容大于干燥的GCL,使得渗漏位置温升明显小于未渗漏位置。利用拉曼散射光捕捉温度信息,利用光时域反射OTDR准确进行渗漏定位。建立了填埋场渗漏检测的数学模型,并进行了理论推导和实验研究,实测结果证明：模拟的防渗膜破损位置与测量结果高度吻合且最大定位引用误差为0.11%。分布式光纤测温系统可实现对GCL层温度场的变化进行实时、准确的监测,且满足填埋场的长距离、大范围、高腐蚀的特殊要求。     

原子力显微观测新生态水合二氧化锰与天然有机物的微观吸附形貌

采用云母片吸附的方式,较好地捕捉到了新生态水合二氧化锰的微观结构,并采用轻敲模式下的原子力显微成像技术,对其吸附天然有机物(NOM)前后的微观形貌进行了观测.与陈化2 h后的水合二氧化锰相比,新生态水合二氧化锰呈现出不定形的穿孔层状结构(厚度仅为0～1.75 nm)和球形颗粒结构,具有大的比表面积和附着能力.当向NOM中加入1 mmol/L新生态水合二氧化锰后,NOM分子的吸附形貌由松散分布的扁平粒状结构(吸附高度为5～8.5 nm)转变为密集分布、水平尺寸均匀的球形结构,表明了NOM分子容易以水合二氧化锰为吸附中心包裹在其表面.从直观上进一步证实了新生态水合二氧化锰的除污染效能,为高锰酸盐的预氧化助凝机理提供了有力的依据.     

基于生物光谱技术的污染物毒性效应研究进展

生物光谱技术能够有效反映生物、组织以及细胞等样本中生物化学的综合信息,能够精确检测和评价生物分子成分或构象的微观变化,具有快速、客观、无损、重现性好等优点。本文系统综述了生物光谱技术在环境污染物毒性效应研究方面的进展,其中常用的2种技术是红外光谱和拉曼光谱技术。红外光谱技术目前已被广泛用于单一污染物(重金属、有机污染物、纳米材料等)以及复合污染对细胞、植物、动物以及微生物的蛋白质、氨基酸、脂质、DNA/RNA、多糖以及碳水化合物等方面的影响研究之中;拉曼光谱技术包括常规拉曼技术和表面增强拉曼光谱技术,二者均可以用于污染物的毒性效应研究之中,表面增强拉曼光谱技术具有信噪比高、检测限低、灵敏度高等特点,并提供丰富的细胞生物化学指纹图谱信息。数据处理是生物光谱技术应用的重要一环,光谱数据分析大致分为光谱数据预处理、提取光谱信息特征、以及信息分类和光谱特征峰解析3个部分。本研究结果将为进一步系统地开展生物光谱技术在污染物毒性效应方面的研究提供支持。     

Mathematical modelling and experimental validation of solar drying of mushrooms

This article presents two mathematical models for drying mushrooms considering the shrinkage effect. Both the models consider the physical changes of mushrooms during drying using the diffusion equation. A convective term is presented in the first model while, in the second model, the effective diffusion co-efficient is employed. Although the diffusion co-efficient is mainly dependent on the water content of the mushrooms, both models are suitable for analyzing the drying process. Moreover, in this study it has been demonstrated that both models are equivalent. The Genetic Algorithmic process was used to estimate the parameter values in different conditions. The information regarding the moisture content and the thickness evaluation taken from the models shows the best fit with the experimental data. The mathematical models developed to simulate the drying curve of mushroom have been evaluated and compared.     

Silica nanoparticles and silver-doped silica nanoparticles induce endoplasmatic reticulum stress response and alter cytochrome P4501A activity

Engineered silica nanoparticles (SiO₂-NPs) find widespread application and may lead to exposure of humans and the environment. Here we compare the effects of SiO₂-NPs and SiO₂-NPs doped with silver (SiO₂-Ag-NPs) on survival and cellular function of human liver cells (Huh7) and Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow) fibroblast cells (FMH). In Huh7 cells we investigate effects on the endoplasmatic reticulum (ER), including ER stress, and interactions of nanoparticles (NPs) with metabolizing enzymes and efflux transporters. The NPs formed agglomerates/aggregates in cell culture media as revealed by SEM and TEM. SiO₂ and SiO₂-1% Ag-NPs were taken up into cells as demonstrated by agglomerates occurring in vesicular-like structures or freely dispersed in the cytosol. Cytotoxicity was more pronounced in Huh7 than in FMH cells, and increased with silver content in silver-doped NPs. Dissolved silver was the most significant factor for cytotoxicity. At toxic and non-cytotoxic concentrations SiO₂-NPs and SiO₂-1% Ag-NPs induced perturbations in the function of ER. In Huh7 cells NPs induced the unfolded protein response (UPR), or ER stress response, as demonstrated in induced expression of BiP and splicing of XBP1 mRNA, two selective markers of ER stress. Additionally, SiO₂-1% Ag-NPs and AgNO₃ induced reactive oxygen species. Pre-treatment of Huh7 cells with SiO₂-1% Ag-NPs followed by exposure to the inducer benzo(a)pyrene caused a significant reduced induction of CYP1A activity. NPs did not alter the activity of ABC transporters. These data demonstrate for the first time that SiO₂-NPs and SiO₂-1% Ag-NPs result in perturbations of the ER leading to the ER stress response. This represents a novel and significant cellular signalling pathway contributing to the cytotoxicity of NPs.