Phenanthrene uptake by Medicago sativa L. under the influence of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus

Phenanthrene uptake by Medicago sativa L. was investigated under the influence of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus. Inoculation of lucerne with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus etunicatum L. resulted in higher phenanthrene accumulation in the roots and lower accumulation in the shoots compared to non-mycorrhizal controls. Studies on sorption and desorption of phenanthrene by roots and characterization of heterogeneity of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots using solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹³C NMR) demonstrated that increased aromatic components due to mycorrhizal inoculation resulted in enhanced phenanthrene uptake by the roots but lower translocation to the shoots. Direct visualization using two-photon excitation microscopy (TPEM) revealed higher phenanthrene accumulation in epidermal cells of roots and lower transport into the root interior and stem in mycorrhizal plants than in non-mycorrhizal controls. These results provide some insight into the mechanisms by which arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation may influence the uptake of organic contaminants by plants.     

Structural characterization and thermal stabilities of the isomers of the brominated flame retardant 1,2,5,6-tetrabromocyclooctane (TBCO)

1,2,5,6-Tetrabromocyclooctane (TBCO) is a commercial brominated flame retardant that is employed mainly as an additive in textiles, paints and plastics. Very little is known about its presence or behavior in the environment or its analysis. TBCO can exist as two diastereomers, the stereochemistries of which have not been previously reported. We have named the first eluting isomer, under HPLC conditions, as alpha-TBCO (α-TBCO) and the later eluting isomer as beta-TBCO (β-TBCO) when using an Acquity UPLC BEH C₁₈ column with methanol/acetonitrile/water as the mobile phase. The structural elucidation of these two isomers was accomplished by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, GC/MS, LC/MS and X-ray structure determinations. α-TBCO is (1R,2R,5S,6S)-1,2,5,6-tetrabromocyclooctane and β-TBCO is rac-(1R,2R,5R,6R)-1,2,5,6-tetrabromocyclooctane. As with some other brominated cycloaliphatic compounds, TBCO is thermally labile and the isomers easily interconvert. A thermal equilibrium mixture of α- and β-TBCO consists of approximately 15% and 85% of these isomers, respectively. Separation of the two diastereomers, with minimal thermal interconversion between them, is achievable by careful selection of GC-capillary column length and injector temperature. LC/MS analyses of TBCO also presents an analytical challenge due to poor resolution of the isomers on chromatographic stationary phases, and weak intensity of molecular ions (or major fragment ions) when using LC-ESI/MS. Only bromide ions were seen in the mass spectra. APCI and APPI also failed to produce the molecular ion with sufficient intensity for identification.     

1H-NMR-based metabolomic study on toxicity of methomyl and methidathion in fish

A ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy with multivariate analysis was applied to detect the toxicity of antiacetylcholinesterase insecticides, methomyl (methyl (1E)-N-(methylcarbamoyloxy)ethanimidothioate) and methidathion (3-(dimethoxyphosphinothioyl sulfanylmethyl)-5-methoxy-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-one), using zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Chinese bleak (Aphyocypris chinensis). Generally, methomyl and methidathion have been believed not to highly accumulate in fish tissues. However, these pesticides showed their toxicity by altering patterns of whole-body metabolites in neurotransmitter balance, energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and muscle maintenance in low concentrations. We used Pearson correlation analysis to contextualize the metabolic markers in pesticide treated groups. We observed that the positive correlations of choline with acetate and betaine in untreated control were shifted to null correlations showing acetylcholinesterase specific toxicity. This research demonstrated the applicability and potential of NMR metabolomics in detecting toxic effects of insecticide with a modicum of concentrations in aquatic environment.     

Polymer coating of copper oxide nanoparticles increases nanoparticles uptake and toxicity in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are frequently used in a polymer-coated form, to be included in paints or fabrics for antimicrobial properties. Their application in antifouling paints may lead to the contamination of aquatic ecosystems. However, the toxicological risk of NPs in the environment is hard to evaluate due to a lack of knowledge on the mechanisms of NP interaction with biological systems. In this study, we investigated the effect of polymer coating on CuO NP toxicity in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by comparing bare and polymer-coated CuO NPs prepared from the same CuO nanopowder. Both CuO NP suspensions were toxic to C. reinhardtii after 6 h treatment to concentrations of 0.005-0.04 g L⁻¹. Bare and polymer-coated CuO NPs induced a decrease of Photosystem II activity and the formation of reactive oxygen species. Polymer-coated CuO NP was found to be more toxic than the uncoated CuO NP. The higher toxicity of CS-CuO NP was mainly associated with the increased capacity of polymer-coated CuO NP to penetrate the cell compared to bare CuO NPs. These results indicates that the high toxicity of polymer-coated CuO NPs in algal cells results of intracellular interactions between NPs and the cellular system.     

Investigation of metal ions binding of humic substances using fluorescence emission and synchronous‐scan spectroscopy

Abstract

The binding site interactions of IHSS humic substances, Suwannee River Humic Acid, Suwannee River Fulvic Acid, Nordic Fulvic Acid, and Aldrich Humic Acid with various metals ions and a herbicide, methyl viologen were investigated using fluorescence emission and synchronous‐scan spectroscopy. The metal ions used were, Fe(III), Cr(III), Cr(VI), Pb(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II). Stern‐Volmer constants, K_SV for these quenchers were determined at pH 4 and 8 using an ionic strength of 0.1M. For all four humic substances, and at both pH studied, Fe(III) was found to be the most efficient quencher. Quenching efficiency was found to be 3–10 times higher at pH 8. The bimolecular quenching rate constants were found to exceed the maximum considered for diffusion controlled interactions, and indicate that the fluorophore and quencher are in close physical association. Synchronous‐scan spectra were found to change with pH and provided useful information on binding site interactions between humic substances and these quenchers.     

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic analysis of N6-benzylaminopurine residue quantity in sprouts with gold nanoparticles

ABSTRACT

A rapid and quantitative method for the determination of N⁶-Benzylademine (N⁶-BA) was established through the application of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The Raman peak intensities of N⁶-BA at 1002 cm^?1 positively correlated to N⁶-BA concentrations in sprout extracts. The R² reached 0.99, and RSDs calculated below 10% at the concentration range of 0.1 ～5μg mL^?1. The average recoveries were 80.0% ～ 98.2% for blank samples intentionally contaminated at differing levels of 0.04, 0.4, and 1 μg g^?1. The whole procedure, including sample preparation and SERS detection, did not exceed 30 min for a set of 6 samples. This study indicates that SERS is a promising technique for rapid tracing analysis and on-site testing of N⁶-BA.     

交流杂散电流对X80管线钢的腐蚀行为影响

目的 研究交流杂散电流干扰下管线钢的腐蚀机理.方法 采用电化学阻抗谱(EIS)、动电位极化扫描(Tafel)等电化学测试技术和表面分析技术研究不同交流电流密度干扰下(0～80 A/m2)X80管线钢在酸性土壤环境中的腐蚀行为.结果 酸性土壤环境中,即使是10 A/m2的交流电流密度,也会引起X80的交流腐蚀,且钢的腐蚀...     

贵州草海水体溶解性有机物的荧光光谱特征及来源解析

为探明草海水环境污染物分布特征及来源状况,采用三维荧光光谱技术结合平行因子分析法,对草海水体中溶解性有机物组成特征进行剖析,分析有机物组分在枯水期和丰水期的浓度特征及分布差异,并采用多个荧光指数解析水体溶解性有机物的来源.结果表明,草海水体溶解性有机物中包含2种类型的4种组分,即自生源产生的腐殖质类物质C1(360/4...     

能量色散X射线荧光法快速测定生物质燃料中的磷含量

应用能量色散X射线荧光光谱法建立了生物质燃料中磷含量的快速测定方法。对比分析压片压力条件、基体效应和干扰元素,明确了能量色散X射线荧光光谱法的测试条件,通过加标回收率实验、标准样品测试、ICP-OES方法对比等获得实验结果。实验结果表明:能量色散X射线荧光光谱法用于生物质燃料样品的分析,标准工作曲线线性相关系数为0.998 3,方法检出限为0.4 mg/kg,平均加标回收率为98.1%,测定值的相对标准偏差为1.36%~4.92%,标准样品磷含量在标准值不确定度内,能量色散X射线荧光光谱法与行业标准ICP-OES方法的准确度和精密度不存在显著性差异,可应用于生物质中磷含量的环境监测。