Glycosylation of bisphenol A by freshwater microalgae

The endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA, 4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol) is used to manufacture polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resin linings of food and beverage cans, and the residues from these products are then sometimes discharged into rivers and lakes in waste leachates. However, the fate of BPA in the environment has not yet been thoroughly elucidated. Considering the effect of BPA on aquatic organisms, it is important that we estimate the concentration of BPA and its metabolites in the aquatic environment, but there are few data on the metabolites of BPA. Here, we focused on freshwater microalgae as organisms that contribute to the biodegradation or biotransformation of BPA in aquatic environments. When we added BPA to cultures of eight species of freshwater microalgae, a reduction in the concentration of BPA in the culture medium was observed in all cultures. BPA was metabolized to BPA glycosides by Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Scenedesmus acutus, Scenedesmus quadricauda, and Coelastrum reticulatum, and these metabolites were then released into the culture medium. The metabolite from P. subcapitata, S. acutus, and C. reticulatum was identified by FAB-MS and (1)H-NMR as bisphenol A-mono-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (BPAGlc), and another metabolite, from S. quadricauda, was identified as bisphenol A-mono-O-beta-d-galactopyranoside (BPAGal). These results demonstrate that freshwater microalgae that inhabit universal environments can metabolize BPA to its glycosides. Because BPA glycosides accumulate in plants and algae, and may be digested to BPA by beta-glycosidase in animal intestines, more attention should be given to levels of BPA glycosides in the environment to estimate the ecological impact of discharged BPA.     

Correlation of low-volatile organic chlorine (LVOCl) and PCDD/Fs in various municipal waste incinerators (MWIs)

Medium- and low-volatile organic chlorine (M/LVOCl) and PCDD/Fs in flue gas from various municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) were monitored. The sample for M/LVOCl was collected in an adsorption tube which was thermally desorbed and the amount of chlorine was measured by atomic emission spectrometry (AES) detection using radiofrequency helium plasma. The helium plasma excited chlorine having an optical emission line of 837.6 nm was monitored. The MVOCl and LVOCl were organic chlorine groups whose boiling points (bp) ranged from 70-120 degrees C and 170-270 degrees C, respectively. The compounds having bp 120-170 degrees C were distributed in two tubes. LVOCl correlated well with PCDD/Fs (ng/Nm3, r=0.81) in a wide range of 0.01-100 ng/Nm3 of PCDD/Fs, while the correlation of LVOCl vs. TEQ was less related (r=0.69). These results agreed with the fact that LVOCl monitored the amount of organic chlorine without molecular structure information, which is critical to toxicity. Since the bp of LVOCl was not identical with that of PCDD/Fs, the regression was effected by the conditions of the gas treatment devices. Because most data of 2001 were collected just after the installation of PCDD/Fs in MWIs, the regression of 2001 was slightly different from that of 2002-2003. Eliminating these initial unsteady data, the regression of LVOCl vs. PCDD/Fs became better, giving r= 0.86. Besides having PCDD/Fs as surrogates, M/LVOCl is valuable as a versatile element-selective organic chlorine monitor to improve thermal process control.     

Analysis of the recycling system for aluminum cans,focusing on collection,transportation, and the intermediate processing methods

In this article, the systems for the collection and intermediate processing of used beverage cans (UBCs) are compared and analyzed, focusing on the time taken and the cost of processing, the energy consumption, and the emissions of CO₂, SO _x , and NO _x , during the process. We found that cases where the UBCs were crushed in the discharging process gave better results, and how the UBCs were collected was the most important factor. It was more desirable to treat UBCs in one place than in two places. When the transportation distance was longer, the pressed form of UBCs was more convenient. When the transportation distance was short, the original form, the crushed form, and the shredded form of UBCs were all suitable. That is, the contribution of the transportation process to the evaluation was large when the transport distance was long, and the contribution of the treatment process was large when the transport distance was short.     

Variation in copulation duration in Mnais pruinosa pruinosa Selys (Odonata: Calopterygidae)

Summary The Japanese calopterygid damselfly Mnais pruinosa pruinosa shows three distinct copulation durations (Siva-Jothy and Tsubaki 1989). A variety of factors which might influence copulation duration were investigated. Results indicate that the temperature in the vicinity of copulating pairs, the rate at which males encountered receptive females, territory quality, the rate of agonistic interactions between males, female gravidity and female willingness to oviposit have no effect on copulation duration. The most significant factor was the location of the site at which males captured their mates. We suggest that under natural conditions the location of the capture site provides males with reliable, indirect information about a female's intention to oviposit: it is important for males of this species to acquire such information since sperm precedence, and therefore reproductive success, is in part dependant on the interval experienced by females between copulation and subsequent oviposition. The results are discussed and it is suggested that the three observed mate-securing tactics of M.p. pruinosa are facultative and information-dependant.     

Dechlorination of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene in the sediment of Ise Bay

The relation between dechlorination activities of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene and anaerobic microbial activity were studied in the sediment collected at three sites in Ise Bay in Japan. The degradation rate of spiked 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (3nmol ml⁻¹) ranged from 15 to 35 pmol day⁻¹ ml⁻¹ wet sediment and about 1/3 to 1/2 of degraded the trichlorobenzene was recovered as dechlorinated products. Among the dichlorobenzenes, the 1,2-isomer had the highest and 1,3-isomer had the lowest production rate. Comparing the three sampling sites, the trichlorobenzene degradation and dichlorobenzenes production rates were related to the sulfate reducing activity for the unit number of sulfate reducing bacteria. Production rates of dichlorobenzenes were completely inhibited by adding molybdate (20 mM), nitrate (60 mM), and formaldehyde solution (4 %). These results indicated that dechlorination activity in the Ise Bay sediment was supported by sulfate reduction activity in the sediment, and not supported by any other anaerobic microbial activity.     

Utilization of calcite and waste glass for preparing construction materials with a low environmental load

In this study, porous calcite materials are hydrothermally treated at 200 °C using powder compacts consisting of calcite and glasses composed of silica-rich soda-lime. After treatment, the glasses are converted into calcium aluminosilicate hydrates, such as zeolite phases, which increase their strength. The porosity and morphology of new deposits of hydrothermally solidified materials depend up on the chemical composition of glass. The use of calcite and glass in the hydrothermal treatment plays an important role in the solidification of calcite without thermal decomposition.     

Balancing durability and environmental impact in concrete combining low-grade recycled aggregates and mineral admixtures

This paper investigated the effect of various amounts of low-grade recycled aggregates in concrete containing mineral admixtures at three different water-binder ratios on mechanical and environmental performance. The balance between durability and environmental impact for a given strength level similar to normal-use concrete was also examined using analytic hierarchy process. Results showed that increasing the water-binder ratio and volume of recycled aggregates reduced compressive strength and increased air permeability and drying shrinkage relative to normal aggregates. However, compared to normal-use concrete similar or better performance could be achieved, which was attributed to improvement of low-grade recycled aggregate performance when combined with fly ash. Similarly, CO₂ emissions and volume of raw materials were lower than the normal-use concrete for all mixes. Concrete mixes with low air permeability and low CO₂ footprint had the best balance of durability and environmental impact, as decreasing raw material volume tended to more greatly reduce durability.     

Pilot-scale studies of domestic wastewater treatment by typical constructed wetlands and their greenhouse gas emissions

Three typical constructed wetlands (CWs) including Vertical Flow (VF), Free Water Surface (FWS), and Subsurface Flow (SF), and combined VF-SF-FWS constructed wetlands were investigated for the treatment of domestic wastewater with low C/N ratio. The performance of nutrient removal and the characteristics of greenhouse gas emissions, such as CH₄ and N₂O, from these CWs were compared. The results indicated that the four types of CWs had high removal efficiencies for organic matter and suspended solid (SS). The combined wetland also showed a comparatively good performance for nitrogen and phosphorus removal, and the removal efficiencies for total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were 81.3% and 84.5%, respectively. The combined CWs had a comparative lower global warming potential. The FWS CW had the highest tendency to emit CH₄ and led to a higher global warming potential among the four types of CWs, which was about 586 mg CO₂/m²·h.