Release of methane from aerobic soil: an indication of a novel chemical natural process?

Methane (CH₄) formation under aerobic conditions has been intensely debated, especially since the discovery of CH₄ generation by both dried plant material and living plants. In this study we test the hypothesis that non-microbial CH₄ formation also occurs in soils. All lyophilised soil samples investigated under aerobic conditions released CH₄ at temperatures ranging from 30 to 70 °C exceeding that allowing normal enzymatic activity to proceed. No emissions were observed for single mineral soil components such as quartz sand, clay mineral and iron oxide. Methane release rates from the soils investigated were found to increase both with increasing temperature and higher organic carbon content. Addition of water to dried soils increased CH₄ release rates up to 8-fold those observed with the dried material. Our results suggest the existence of a chemical process in soils that produces CH₄ under aerobic conditions, a finding which has not been hitherto reported.     

A dynamic contaminant fate model of organic compound: a case study of Nitrobenzene pollution in Songhua River, China

A one-dimensional dynamic contaminant fate model, coupling kinematic wave flow option with advection-dispersion-reaction equation, has been applied to predict Nitrobenzene pollution emergency in Songhua River, China that occurred on November 13, 2005. The model includes kinetic processes including volatilization, photolysis and biodegradation, and diffusive mass exchange between water column and sediment layer as a function of particles settling and resuspension. Four kinds of quantitative statistical tests, namely Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency, percent bias, ratio of root-mean-square to the standard deviation of monitoring data and Theil’s inequality coefficient, are adopted to evaluate model performance. The results generally show that the modeled and detected concentrations exhibit good consistency. Flow velocity in the river is most sensitive parameter to Nitrobenzene concentration in water column based on sensitivity analysis of input parameters. It indicates flow velocity has important impact on both distribution and variance of contaminant concentration. The model performs satisfactory for prediction of organic pollutant fate in Songhua River, with the ability to supply necessary information for pollution event control and early warning, which could be applied to similar long natural rivers.     

Polychlorobiphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in conventional and organic brands of milk: occurrence and dietary intake in the population of the Canary Islands (Spain)

The population of the Spanish archipelago of the Canary Islands has been studied in depth regarding its levels of contamination by organochlorine pesticides (OCs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Foodstuffs of animal origin, such as milk, are prominent contributors to the body burden of these contaminants. As this population presents one of the highest milk-intake in Spain and Europe, we evaluated the level of OCs and PCBs in 26 commercially available brands of milk (16 conventional and 10 organic brands) present in the market of these Islands, in order to estimate the relevance of milk as a source of these chemicals for the Canary population. Our findings showed that hexachlorobenzene, trans-chlordane, and PCB153 were present in almost all the samples with independence of the type of milk. For both types of milks, the concentration of OCs was very low, showing organic milks lower levels than conventional ones. As a consequence, the estimated daily intake for OCs was lower than the tolerable daily intake (TDI) established by International Agencies. The levels of PCBs in milk were also found to be very low, but, in this case, the situation was the opposite: there were higher levels of PCBs in organic than in conventional brands of milk. Unexpectedly, levels of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) reached values higher than 25 pg WHO-TEQ g⁻¹ fat in percentile 75 for both types of milk indicating the existence of a number of brands of milk highly contaminated by these toxicants. Consequently, the population who consume the most contaminated milk brands could have estimated daily intakes well above the recommended TDI (2 pg WHO-TEQ kg⁻¹ b.w. d⁻¹) established by European Union Authorities. These results are of concern if we consider the well known adverse health effects exerted by dioxin-like compounds.     

Purification of carbonic anhydrase from bovine erythrocytes and its application in the enzymic capture of carbon dioxide

This work presents a study of industrially applicable techniques to obtain a biologically supported carbon dioxide capture system, based on the extraction of carbonic anhydrase from bovine blood. Carbonic anhydrase is a metalloenzyme which catalyzes the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide. The objective of this study was to establish conditions to obtain carbonic anhydrase from bovine erythrocytes and apply it in the capture of carbon dioxide. To achieve this, two different purification techniques were evaluated: one by extraction with the organic solvents chloroform and ethanol, where different solvent proportions were studied; and the other by ammonium sulfate precipitation, testing percent saturations between 10% and 80%. Carbon dioxide was enzymatically captured by its precipitation as calcium carbonate with the enzyme obtained by both techniques. The enzyme extracted by ethanol and chloroform showed an activity of 2623 U mL⁻¹, recovery of 98% and purification factor of 104-fold. That precipitated by ammonium sulfate showed an activity of 2162 U mL⁻¹, recovery of 66% and purification factor of 1.4-fold using 60% ammonium sulfate saturation. The results obtained in the carbon dioxide capture experiments showed that the carbonic anhydrase extracted in this study not only enhanced the hydration of CO₂, but also promoted the formation of CaCO₃.     

静电场轨道阱超高分辨质谱在新污染物分析中的应用

介绍了静电场轨道阱超高分辨质谱在新污染物分析中的应用,包括靶向定量、靶向筛查和非靶向筛查3个方面。在靶向定量方面,静电场轨道阱可以达到μg/L至ng/L检测限,满足环境中新污染物分析的需求。在靶向筛查方面,静电场轨道阱超高分辨质谱配备了包含上千种新污染物的数据库,可从精确质量数、保留时间、同位素峰形、碎片离子、二级谱图等方面,实现对新污染物的快速筛查。在非靶向筛查方面,该系统可通过智能化的数据采集模式(AcquireX)采集丰富的二级信息,然后通过Compound Discoverer软件流程化地处理数据,包括基于本地和网络数据库的谱图搜索,以及不依赖于数据库的特征碎片查找、中性丢失查找、特征同位素查找、质量亏损计算、分子网络分析等,最大程度地查找和发现未知的新污染物。     

白糖为共基质处理有机磷农药废水的试验研究

有机磷农药废水是一种极难处理的高浓度有机废水,因为该废水含有大量的难降解有机物,其中的有机磷对微生物代谢具有很强的抑制作用。采用高效好氧生物反应器(HCR)对有机磷农药废水进行处理试验,对比研究了以白糖为共基质和有机磷农药废水为单基质的两种不同条件下,系统中活性污泥的特性及系统对有机磷农药废水COD去除效果的变化规律。结果表明,白糖为共基质可大大提高HCR系统中活性污泥的活性和系统对有机磷农药废水COD的去除效果。     

Integrated risk assessment framework for transformation products of emerging contaminants: what we know and what we should know

● A better risk assessment can combine the improved non-target analysis method. ● Multi-evidence is advised in molecular determination and risk-based prioritization. ● Combining omics, multi-endpoint EDA, and machine learning to assess product risks. The continuous input of various emerging contaminants (ECs) has inevitably introduced large amounts of transformation products (TPs) in natural and engineering water scenarios. Structurally similar to the precursor species, the TPs are expected to possess comparative, if not more serious, environmental properties and risks. This review summarizes the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding the integrated risk assessment frameworks of TPs of ECs, mainly involving the exposure- and effect-driven analysis. The inadequate information within existing frameworks that was essential and critical for developing a better risk assessment framework was discussed. The main strategic improvements include (1) non-targeted product analysis in both laboratory and field samples, (2) omics-based high-throughput toxicity assessment, (3) multichannel-driven mode of action in conjugation with effect-directed analysis, and (4) machine learning technology. Overall, this review provides a concise but comprehensive insight into the optimized strategy for evaluating the environmental risks and screening the key toxic products from the cocktail mixtures of ECs and their TPs in the global water cycle. This facilitates deciphering the mode of toxicity in complex chemical mixtures and prioritizing the regulated TPs among the unknown products, which have the potential to be considered a class of novel “ECs” of great concern.     

Construction of MOFs-based nanocomposite membranes for emerging organic contaminants abatement in water

● Application of the MOF-composite membranes in adsorption was discussed. ● Recent application of MOFs-membranes for separation was summarized. ● Separation and degradation for emerging organic contaminants were described. Presence of emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) in water is one of the major threats to water safety. In recent decades, an increasing number of studies have investigated new approaches for their effective removal. Among them, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted increasing attention since their first development thanks to their tunable metal nodes and versatile, functional linkers. However, whether or not MOFs have a promising future for practical application in emerging contaminants-containing wastewater is debatable. This review summarizes recent studies about the removal of EOCs using MOFs-related material. The synthesis strategies of both MOF particles and composites, including thin-film nanocomposite and mixed matrix membranes, are critically reviewed, as well as various characterization technologies. The application of the MOF-based composite membranes in adsorption, separation (nanofiltration and ultrafiltration), and catalytic degradation are discussed. Overall, literature survey shows that MOFs-based composite could play a crucial role in eliminating EOCs in the future. In particular, modified membranes that realize separation and degradation might be the most promising materials for such application.     

江苏省汽车零部件涂装行业VOCs排放情况初步调查

收集150家江苏省典型汽车零部件企业VOCs排放信息,对2家典型企业进行排放测试,分析江苏省该行业原辅料使用情况、产排污环节与核查要点、VOCs的排放特征,并提出最佳治理建议。研究表明,江苏省汽车零部件行业使用的涂料以溶剂型为主(占比约为79%)。废气按排放量大小依次为苯类、醇类、酯类和酮类,使用燃烧法处理后排放物种以烷烃为主,使用活性炭吸附法处理前后物种差异较小。吸附浓缩+燃烧组合处理工艺为目前最佳组合技术,处理效率 95%。     

有机物渗透管的研制

介绍了用Wh聚四氟乙烯膜作为渗透材料制作有机物渗透管的方法,并且针对所研制的渗透管的特性、影响渗透率的主要因素及渗透率的稳定性等方面进行了探讨.