Cornmeal-induced resistance to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin in enterococci

Triclosan is used as an antibacterial agent in household items and personal care products. Since this compound is found in maternal milk of humans and bodies of wild animals, there is growing concern among some consumer groups and scientific community that triclosan is adverse for humans and wild animals. In order to estimate adverse actions of triclosan, the effects of triclosan on intracellular Zn²⁺ concentration and cellular thiol content were studied in rat thymocytes by the use of flow cytometer with appropriate fluorescent probes. Triclosan at 1-3 μM (sublethal concentrations) increased the intensity of FluoZin-3 fluorescence (intracellular Zn²⁺ concentration) and decreased the intensity of 5-chloromethylfluorescein (5-CMF) fluorescence (cellular thiol content). Negative correlation (r = −0.985) between triclosan-induced changes in FluoZin-3 and 5-CMF fluorescences was found. Removal of external Zn²⁺ did not significantly affect the triclosan-induced augmentation of FluoZin-3 fluorescence, suggesting an intracellular Zn²⁺ release by triclosan. These actions of triclosan were similar to those of H₂O₂ and triclosan significantly potentiated the cytotoxicity of H₂O₂. Therefore, the results may suggest that triclosan at sublethal concentrations induces oxidative stress that decreases cellular thiol content, resulting in an increase in intracellular Zn²⁺ concentration by Zn²⁺ release from intracellular store(s). Since recent studies show many physiological roles of intracellular Zn²⁺ in cellular functions, the triclosan-induced disturbance of cellular Zn²⁺ homeostasis may induce adverse actions on the cells.     

Effect of humic acids on physicochemical property and Cd(II) sorption of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Zinc pyrithione is used as an antifouling agent. However, the environmental impacts of zinc pyrithione have recently been of concern. Zinc induces diverse actions during oxidative stress; therefore, we examined the effect of zinc pyrithione on rat thymocytes suffering from oxidative stress using appropriate fluorescent probes. The cytotoxicity of zinc pyrithione was not observed when the cells were incubated with 3 μM zinc pyrithione for 3 h. However, zinc pyrithione at nanomolar concentrations (10 nM or more) significantly increased the lethality of cells suffering from oxidative stress induced by 3 mM H₂O₂. The application of zinc pyrithione alone at nanomolar concentrations increased intracellular Zn²⁺ level and the cellular content of superoxide anions, and decreased the cellular content of nonprotein thiols. The simultaneous application of nanomolar zinc pyrithione and micromolar H₂O₂ synergistically increased the intracellular Zn²⁺ level. Therefore, zinc pyrithione at nanomolar concentrations may exert severe cytotoxic action on cells simultaneously exposed to chemicals that induce oxidative stress. If so, zinc pyrithione leaked from antifouling materials into surrounding environments would be a risk factor for aquatic ecosystems. Alternatively, zinc pyrithione under conditions of oxidative stress may become more potent antifouling ingredient.     

Formation of PCDD/Fs from oxidation of 2-monochlorophenol over an Fe2O3/silica surface

The role of iron in surface-mediated formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) from 2-chlorophenol (2-MCP) was investigated over the temperature range of 200-550 °C under oxidative conditions. In order to compare and contrast with previous work on copper and ferric oxide-mediated pyrolysis of 2-MCP, identical reaction conditions were maintained (50 ppm 2-MCP, model fly-ash particles containing 5% Fe₂O₃ on silica). Observed products included dibenzo-p-dioxin (DD), 1-monochlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (1-MCDD), dibenzofuran (DF), 4,6-dichlorodibenzofuran (4,6-DCDF), 2,4- and 2,6-dichlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, quinone, catechol, chloro-o-quinone, chlorocatechol and polychlorinated benzenes. Yields of DD and 1-MCDD were 2 and 5 times higher than under pyolysis conditions, respectively. Although 4,6-DCDF was the major PCDD/F product formed with a yield that was 2.5× greater than under pyrolysis, the yield of non-chlorinated DF, which was the dominant PCDD/F product under pyrolysis, decreased by a factor of 3. Furthermore, the ∼2× higher yield of PCDDs under oxidative conditions resulted in a PCDD to PCDF ratio of 0.75 compared to a relatively low ratio of 0.39 previously observed under pyrolytic conditions.     

The structure of the fire fighting foam surfactant Forafac®1157 and its biological and photolytic transformation products

For several decades, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) has widely been used as a fluorinated surfactant in aqueous film forming foams used as hydrocarbon fuel fire extinguishers. Due to concerns regarding its environmental persistence and toxicological effects, PFOS has recently been replaced by novel fluorinated surfactants such as Forafac®1157, developed by the DuPont company. The major component of Forafac®1157 is a 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide alkylbetaine (6:2 FTAB), and a link between the trade name and the exact chemical structure is presented here to the scientific community for the first time. In the present work, the structure of the 6:2 FTAB was elucidated by ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁹F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Moreover, its major metabolites from blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) and its photolytic transformation products were identified. Contrary to what has earlier been observed for PFOS, the 6:2 FTAB was extensively metabolized by blue mussel and turbot exposed to Forafac®1157. The major metabolite was a deacetylated betaine species, from which mono- and di-demethylated metabolites also were formed. Another abundant metabolite was the 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide. In another experiment, Forafac®1157 was subjected to UV-light induced photolysis. The experimental conditions aimed to simulate Arctic conditions and the deacetylated species was again the primary transformation product of 6:2 FTAB. A 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide was also formed along with a non-identified transformation product. The environmental presence of most of the metabolites and transformation products was qualitatively demonstrated by analysis of soil samples taken in close proximity to an airport fire training facility.     

氮掺杂TiO2可见光光催化剂的制备及性能

以尿素和钛酸丁酯为原料,通过溶胶-凝胶法低温下制备了高可见光催化活性的氮掺杂TiO2(NDT)光催化剂,采用XRD、TEM、BET和UV-Vis DRS等测试手段对其进行了表征,并在自制光催化反应器中降解甲基橙评价了样品的光催化活性。结果表明,当氮与钛的摩尔比为0.5∶1时,350℃焙烧的样品(NDT350)具有最佳的可见光光谱吸收和光催化活性,该催化剂为锐钛矿晶相,平均粒径为21 nm,比表面积为89.13 m2/g。可见光辐照下,NDT350降解甲基橙的表观反应速率常数为1.381×10-2min-1,是商业P25催化剂的16.85倍。NDT350优良的可见光催化活性与其大的比表面积和强烈的可见光光谱吸收有关。     

中国陆上油藏CO2封存潜力评估

CO2捕集与封存是减缓气候变化的一种关键的碳减排选择方案。将CO2注入油藏作为一种碳埋存方式引起广泛关注。作为判断某一国家、某一区域或某一具体储层是否适合CO2地质封存开展的重要依据之一,有必要在规划碳捕集与封存(CCS)项目前,对潜在的封存库进行封存潜力评估。本文在已有可公开的地质资料的基础上,评估了中国陆上216个油田实施CO2地质封存的潜力,并与相关研究结果进行了比较。结果表明:在满足埋存深度大于800 m的筛选条件下,当假设我国陆上油田全部用于CO2-EOR时,CO2封存潜力约3.6 Gt;当陆上油田全部视为废弃油藏处理时,CO2理论封存潜力约4.6 Gt。其中,东北和华北地区油藏封存CO2潜力巨大,占陆上油田CO2封存总量的60%以上;同时这里CO2集中排放源分布密集,排放源和封存地间的匹配性良好,可以减少CO2运输和封存成本。在这两个地区可以优先考虑实施油藏封存CO2项目。     

NaClO_2/氨水溶液同时脱除SO_2和NO的热力学研究

利用化学热力学基本原理分别对NaClO2/氨水溶液同时脱除SO2、NO的反应过程中摩尔反应吉布斯自由能变、摩尔反应焓变、化学反应平衡常数以及化学反应达到平衡时的SO2和NO的分压力进行了计算,结果表明：利用NaClO2/氨水溶液同时脱除SO2、NO是可行的,且SO2和NO的脱除效率几乎可以达到100%。     

水体中常见无机阳离子对TiO2薄膜光催化还原Cr（Ⅵ）的影响

选择了6种水体中常见的阳离子（Na^＋、Mg^2＋、Ca^2＋、Al^3＋、Cu^2＋、Ni^2＋）,分别考查了其对TiO2薄膜光催化还原Cr（Ⅵ）的影响;从光吸收、无机离子本身的性质对光生电子的捕获及传递等讨论了上述离子影响TiO2薄膜光催化还原Cr（Ⅵ）的反应速率的原因。结果表明：由于其不能捕获光生电子,Na^＋、Mg^2＋、Ca^2＋本身对TiO2薄膜光催化还原Cr（Ⅵ）的反应速率影响不大;Al^3＋吸引电子能力较强,成为光生电子和Cr（Ⅵ）之间的桥梁,促进了Cr（Ⅵ）的还原;浓度为1 mmmol/L时,Cu^2＋显著地促进了Cr（Ⅵ）的光催化还原,其主要原因是Cu^2＋捕获光生电子的能力很强,起到了催化剂的作用,而浓度大于10 mmol/L时,Cu^2＋形成单质Cu以及对紫外光的吸收都使促进作用降低;Ni^2＋未充满的d轨道具有获得并传递光生电子的能力,也促进了Cr（Ⅵ）的还原;在浓度同为1mmol/L时,对Cr（Ⅵ）光催化还原的促进作用依次为：Cu^2＋〉Al^3＋〉Ni^2＋〉Na^＋、Ca^2＋、Mg^2＋。     

CuO-CeO2/AC吸附燃煤烟气中元素汞的实验研究

通过活性炭负载CuO和CeO2来制备吸附剂,采用固定床吸附方式,在不同反应条件下对吸附剂的吸附性能进行测试,筛选出去除效率最好的吸附剂,并通过BET和XRD对吸附剂的理化性质进行分析。结果表明,CuO和CeO2的加入大大改变了原活性炭的比表面积和孔结构,改善了活性炭的吸附性能。CuO-CeO2/AC中CuO和CeO2质量比不同,对汞的去除效率也不同,在1∶2时去除效率最好;CuO-CeO2/AC中所负载的CuO和CeO的总量为5%时,能大大促进汞的吸附效率,增长有效吸附时间;CuO-CeO2/AC对汞的吸附性能随反应温度的增加呈先增加后减小的趋势,在80℃时达到最大值。