Comparison of the removal of monovalent and divalent cations in the microbial desalination cell

Microbial desalination cell (MDC) is a promising technology to desalinate water and generate electrical power simultaneously. The objectives of this study were to investigate the desalination performance of monovalent and divalent cations in the MDC, and discuss the effect of ion characteristics, ion concentrations, and electrical characteristics. Mixed salt solutions of NaCl, MgCl₂, KCl, and CaCl₂ with the same concentration were used in the desalination chamber to study removal of cations. Results showed that in the mixed salt solutions, the electrodialysis desalination rates of cations were: Ca²⁺ >Mg²⁺>Na⁺>K⁺. Higher ionic charges and smaller hydrated ionic radii resulted in higher desalination rates of the cations, in which the ionic charge was more important than the hydrated ionic radius. Mixed solutions of NaCl and MgCl₂ with different concentrations were used in the desalination chamber to study the effect of ion concentrations. Results showed that when ion concentrations of Na⁺ were one-fifth to five times of Mg²⁺, ion concentration influenced the dialysis more profoundly than electrodialysis. With the current densities below a certain value, charge transfer efficiencies became very low and the dialysis was the main process responsible for the desalination. And the phosphate transfer from the anode chamber and potassium transfer from the cathode chamber could balance 1%–3% of the charge transfer in the MDC.     

一株苯酚降解菌的分离鉴定及响应面法优化其固定化

从太原市焦化厂废水活性污泥中分离、筛选出一株苯酚降解细菌,经生理生化反应和16S rRNA鉴定,该菌株为Diaphorobacter属细菌,命名为PD-07.代谢机制研究表明,苯酚可诱导该菌合成邻苯二酚2,3-加氧酶降解苯酚.为了提高该菌株对苯酚的降解率,以海藻酸钙为材料,对该菌株进行包埋固定化研究.首先采用Plackett–Burman实验设计筛选出影响固定化菌株苯酚降解率的关键因素,然后采用最陡爬坡实验逼近最大苯酚降解率响应区域.最后用Box–Behnken实验设计及响应面回归分析,应用二次方程对实验数据进行拟合得,拟合曲线与实验实测值相关性良好,最佳条件为海藻酸钠浓度3.83%(m/V)、CaCl2 0.3mol/L、菌胶比1:26.73、固定化时间2h、摇床转速180r/min、培养温度30℃、初始pH值7.2、液固比4.86:1,在此条件下苯酚降解率可达96.89%.     

西太湖秋季蓝藻水华过后细胞裂解对溶解性有机碳影响

从2009年7月~2010年3月每月采集西太湖表层水样,分析叶绿素含量﹑蓝藻细胞裂解速率﹑磷酸盐浓度的变化,并通过切向流超滤系统分离得到的高分子量(1kDa~0.5μm)溶解性有机物的碳氮比值和高分子量溶解性有机碳浓度的变化.结果表明,西太湖蓝藻细胞裂解速率在11月达到最大值(0.43d-1),而磷酸盐和高分子量溶解性有机碳浓度分别在12月与9月达到最大值.细胞裂解速率与磷酸盐﹑高分子量溶解性有机碳浓度之间没有相关性,说明水华过后影响磷酸盐浓度﹑高分子量溶解性有机碳的因素很多,蓝藻细胞裂解只是其中重要因素之一.藻类水华的出现可能导致水体中其它磷形态(如有机磷)与磷酸盐之间的迁移转化,而大型浅水湖泊扰动导致的沉积物再悬浮和水华过后频繁的细菌活动都可能是影响高分子量溶解性有机碳的因素.秋季水华过后蓝藻细胞裂解释放的有机碳进入微食物网循环,引起细菌活动频繁,而溶解性有机物中含碳化合物比含氮化合物容易降解,所以碳氮比值逐渐减少.此外细菌通过硝酸盐合成溶解性有机氮也可能是碳氮比值减少的一个重要原因.     

Preliminary study of groundwater denitrification using a composite membrane bioreactor

A composite membrane bioreactor (CMBR) integrating the immobilized cell technique and the membrane separation technology was developed for groundwater denitrification. The CMBR had two well mixed compartments with one filled with the nitrate- containing influent and the other with a dilute ethanol solution; the compartments were separated by the composite membrane consisting of a microporous membrane facing the influent and an immobilized cell membrane facing the ethanol solution. Nitrate and ethanol molecules diffused from the respective compartments into the immobilized cell membrane where nitrate was reduced to gaseous nitrogen by the denitrifying bacteria present there with ethanol as the carbon source. The microporous membrane was attached to one side of the immobilized cell membrane for retention of the disaggregated bacteria. Relative to the single dose of external ethanol, the two-dose supplementation produced better treatment results as evidenced by the lower concentrations of NO3--N and ethanol (as measured by total organic carbon) of the effluent. The batch treatment in CMBR removed most of the nitrate in the influent and attained a stable denitrification rate of 0.1 g·m^-2·h^-1 for most of the 96-h cycles during the 30-cycle study. The effluent was essentially free of ethanol and nitrite nitrogen.     

Determination of F2-isoprostanes in cultured human lung epithelial cells after exposure to metal oxide and silica nanoparticles by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

The environmental impact of nanotechnology has caused a great concern. Many in vitro studies showed that many types of nanoparticles were cytotoxic. However, whether these nanoparticles caused cell membrane damage was not well studied. F₂-isoprostanes are specific products of arachidonic acid peroxidation by nonenzymatic reactive oxygen species and are considered as reliable biomarkers of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. In this article, we investigated the cytotoxicity of different nanoparticles and the degree of cellular membrane damage by using F₂-isoprostanes as biomarkers after exposure to nanoparticles. The human lung epithelial cell line A549 was exposed to four silica and metal oxide nanoparticles: SiO₂ (15 nm), CeO₂ (20 nm), Fe₂O₃ (30 nm), and ZnO (70 nm). The levels of F₂-isoprostanes were determined by using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The F₂-isoprostanes’ peak was identified by retention time and molecular ion m/z at 353. Oasis HLB cartridge was used to extract F₂-isoprostanes from cell medium. The results showed that SiO₂, CeO₂, and ZnO nanoparticles increased F₂-isoprostanes levels significantly in A549 cells. Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle also increased F₂-isoprostanes level, but was not significant. This implied that SiO₂, CeO₂, ZnO, and Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles can cause cell membrane damage due to the lipid peroxidation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the investigation of effects of cellular exposure to metal oxide and silica nanoparticles on the cellular F₂-isoprostanes levels.     

Early murine immune responses from endotracheal exposures to biotechnology-related Bacillus strains

An immunology-based in vivo screening regime was used to assess the potential pathogenicity of biotechnology-related microbes. Strains of Bacillus cereus (Bc), Bacillus subtilis (Bs), Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), and Bt commercial products (CPs) were tested. Balb/c mice were endotracheally instilled with purified spores, diluted CP, or vegetative cells (VC) (live or dead). Exposed mice were evaluated for changes in behavioral and physical symptoms, bacterial clearance, pulmonary granulocytes, and pulmonary and circulatory pyrogenic cytokines (interleukins (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α), as well as acute phase biomarkers (fibrinogen and serum amyloid A). Except for some differences in clearance rates, no marked effects were observed in mice exposed to any spore at 10⁶ or 10⁷ colony forming units (cfu). In contrast, live Bc or Bt VCs (10⁵ or 10⁶?cfu) produced shock-like symptoms (lethargy, hunched appearance, ruffled fur, and respiratory distress), and 11–200-fold elevations in pyrogenic cytokines at 2-h post-exposure. In the study, 4-h effects included increased lethargy, ocular discharge, and 1.5–4-fold rise in circulatory acute phase markers, but no indications of recovery. Bs VC did not produce any changes in symptoms or biomarkers. After 2 or 4?h of exposure to dead VC, increases of only plasma IL-1β and TNF-α (4.6- and 12.4-fold, respectively) were observed. These findings demonstrate that purified spores produced no marked effects in mice compared to that of metabolically active bacteria. This early screening regime was successful in distinguishing the pathogenicity of the different Bacillus species, and might be useful for assessing the relative hazard potential of other biotechnology-related candidate strains.     

Protective effect of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Rhodophyta) extract against DNA damage induced by mercury chloride in marine fish

Marine organisms are continuously exposed to agents, both exogenous and endogenous, that damage DNA. Consequently, it is important to determine the ability of compounds to provide protection against damaging chemicals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-genotoxic activity of crude aqueous extracts of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Rhodophyceae), collected from the Southeast coast of India. This study focused on possible anti-genotoxic potential of aqueous extract of K. alverazii to interfere with clastogenicity induced by mercury chloride (HgCl₂) in marine fish, Therapon jarbua as measured by cytogenetic endpoints such as cell viability and comet assay. In the first set of experiments, fish were exposed to a single treatment of Hg at 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, or 2?ppm along with controls. Mercury exposure produced significant DNA damage in all comet classes, maximum as >79% (Class 4) at 0.5, 1, and 2?ppm exposure in a time dependent manner. Algal extract did not induce genotoxicity when given alone and prevented Hg-induced genotoxicity. The algal extract reduction in genotoxicity was significant but not time- and concentration-dependent. Results suggested that under present experimental conditions, K. alvarezii extract exhibit potent anti-genotoxicity effects in this fish model; and thus these extracts may be recommended as a supplement in fish meal and may benefit humans ingesting Hg-contaminated fish.     

Application of electrochemical reactor divided by cellulosic membrane for optimized simultaneous removal of phenols,chromium, and ammonia from tannery effluents

The post treatment of simulated tannery wastewater was evaluated in an electrochemical oxidation process under galvanostatic conditions. A continuous flow reactor divided by a cellulosic membrane consisted of Ti/SnO₂–Sb anodes and iron cathodes was used. Central composite design and response surface methodology (RSM) were applied to investigate the effects of six operational parameters, namely initial concentration of total phenols (TPh), total chromium (TCr), total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), flow rate (Q), current intensity (I), and electrode surface area (A). Effectiveness of the innovative cellulosic membrane was proven by considerable pH variations in the anolyte and catholyte chambers. A faster removal rate was observed for TPh and TAN, followed by TCr. The treatment level was very sensitive to Q and I in the studied ranges. RSM showed the removal efficiencies of 78.14%, 63.42%, and 86.09% for TPh, TCr, and TAN, respectively, are achieved under optimal conditions with consumption of only 9.03 kWh m^?3 electrical energy. Chlorinated compounds such as chloroform, 2,4-dichlorophenol, and chlorobenzene were detected as the degradation intermediates. According to the obtained results, electrolysis in the divided cell with cellulosic membrane is a practical, cost-effective method for advanced treatment of tannery effluents.     

Comments on the Carcinogenicity and Mutagenicity of metals and their compounds†

The carcinogenicity of metals has received extensive study, both epidemiologically and in the laboratory. These have included case reports of occasional human occurrence or clusters of cancer cases as well as extensive epidemiologic studies; in addition, there has been significant laboratory research on the whole animals and in vitro systems. This body of information will be examined selectively.

I will not in this paper attempt a comprehensive review of the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of metals and their compounds. Rather, I will attempt to set forth some historical perspectives, and to comment on some current gaps and needs.

Other papers in this workshop have presented thorough and very current reviews of most of the topics briefly noted in this presentation and do not require repetition here.

The cancer issue has been studied and reported on far more extensively than that relating to heritable mutations. There has been in recent years increasing interest in the use of short term tests for mutagenicity and cell transformation. These, however, are primarily with respect to their relationship to cancer production rather than to germ cell injury. Interest in cancer from metal compounds goes back a long time; in fact, one of the earliest reports was on the carcinogenicity of arsenic not many decades after the pioneering report of Sir Perceval Pott on cancer in chimney sweeps. Since then cancer has been definitely associated in humans with chromium compounds, nickel, and with less assurance but probably definitely with beryllium and cadmium. The confirmation of these findings in laboratory animals has been uneven. In the case of arsenic, for example, there has been only limited success in the production of cancer in laboratory animals with arsenic.

Many other metals have been found in laboratory studies to produce cancer, although with most of these, evidence of production of cancer in humans is either absent or extremely uncertain.

The extensive body of recent information relating to the testing of metals with a variety of short term tests will be briefly reviewed.     

The cytotoxicity of nici2 for mammalian cells in culture†

The effects of NiCl₂ were studied in two human cell lines, HeLa and diploid embryonic fibroblasts as well as in V79 Chinese hamster cells and in L‐A mouse fibroblasts. NiCl₂ produces a dose‐dependent depression of proliferation, mitotic rate, and viability, accompanied by an increasing release of lactic dehydrogenase and stimulation of lactic acid production. The plating efficiency is reduced, as are DNA and protein synthesis and, to a lesser degree, RNA synthesis.

The cytotoxicity of NiCl₂ is comparable in degree to those of PbCl₂ and MnCl₂, but is weaker than those of HgCl₂ and CdCl₂. However, the different sensitivities of different cell lines must also be considered.

NiCl₂ effects are more severe in serum‐free medium than in medium containing serum or serum albumin indicating that serum constituents, notably albumin, bind the metal effectively and inhibit cellular uptake; this confirms earlier reports on the serum binding and slow uptake of NiCl₂.

Synchronized cells are most sensitive in the Gl and early S phases of the cell cycle. In the Painter test the depression of DNA synthesis persists following cessation of exposure to NiCI₂. These findings contribute an explanation for the known genotoxic effects of nickel.