Combined use of molecular biology taxonomy, Raman spectrometry, and ESEM imaging to study natural biofilms grown on filter materials at waterworks

DNA-based population analysis was applied in combination with Raman spectrometry and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy for the characterisation of natural biofilms from sand and activated carbon filters operated for a long term at a municipal waterworks. Whereas the molecular biology polymerase chain reaction combined with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis approach provides a deeper insight into the bacterial biofilm diversities, Raman spectrometry analyses the chemical composition of the extracellular polymer substances (EPS), microorganisms embedded in EPS as well as other substances inside biofilm (inorganic compounds and humic substances). Microscopy images the spatial distribution of biofilms on the two different filter materials. In addition, bacterial bulk water populations were compared with biofilm consortia using the molecular fingerprint technique mentioned.Population analysis demonstrated the presence of more diverse bacterial species embedded in a matrix of EPS (polysaccharides, peptides, and nucleic acids) on the sand filter materials. In contrast to this, activated carbon granules were colonised by reduced numbers of bacterial species in biofilms. Besides α-, β-, and γ-Proteobacteria, a noticeable specific colonisation with Actinobacteria was found on activated carbon particles. Here, the reduced biofilm formation came along with a decreased EPS synthesis. The taxonomy profiles of the different biofilms revealed up to 60% similarity on the same filter materials and 32% similarity of different materials. Similarity of adherent communities from filter materials and bulk water populations from the filter effluent varied between 36% and 58% in sand filters and 6–40% in granular activated carbon filters.The biofilm investigation protocols are most crucial to subsequent acquisition of knowledge on biofilm dynamics and bacterial contributions to transformation or adsorption processes in waterworks facilities.     

环境扫描电镜在火炸药微观形态分析中的应用

阐述了采用环境扫描电镜（ESEM）直接分析非导电样品的结构特点,分析了ESEM在火炸药组成的微粒形态、分布与粒径、成分与杂质分析等微观形态分析中的作用和用途,并用ESEM分析了奥克托今晶粒的形态和尺寸,HTPB推进剂的表面、拉伸断口微观形态和微区成分。     

Characterization of water-in-crude oil emulsions in oil spill response

The formation of water-in-crude oil emulsions occurs when crude oils are spired into sea. The water-in-crude oil emulsions significantly change the properties of the spilled crude oils and in turn influence the choices made relating to oil spill countermeasures. The water-in-crude oil emulsions were characterized using various techniques in this study. The environmental scanning dectron microscopy observation of water droplets in the emulsions is also presented. It is a powerful tool in emulsion observations.     

利用邻苯二甲酸二甲酯培养好氧颗粒污泥研究

以活性污泥为接种污泥,葡萄糖为共代谢基质,通过控制有机负荷、污泥沉降时间,在序批式反应器(sequencing batchreactor,SBR)内培养得到具有邻苯二甲酸二甲酯(dimethyl phthalate,DMP)降解性能的好氧颗粒污泥.结果表明,好氧颗粒污泥对DMP具有很好的去除效果,驯化75 d后,DMP与COD去除率分别达到92.3%与90.6%.好氧颗粒污泥降解DMP的中间产物为邻苯二甲酸单酯(monomethyl phthalate,MMP)和邻苯二甲酸(phthalic acid,PA).动力学研究表明,DMP降解过程符合haldane抑制模型,Vmax为643.2 mg.(g.h)-1,Ks和Ki分别171.0 mg.L-1和337.5 mg.L-1.电镜观察表明,颗粒污泥表面粗糙,微生物相丰富,含有丝状菌、球菌和短杆菌.     

Investigation of the role of biopolymer clusters in MBR membrane fouling using flash freezing and environmental scanning electron microscopy

The technique that employs flash freezing and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) was utilised for detailed investigation of the fouling materials in a membrane bioreactor (MBR). The method involves the flash freezing of a wet sample in liquid nitrogen for 10 s to preserve its structure for direct ESEM observation with a high image resolution. ESEM images show that the sludge cake formed by simple filtration of the MBR bulk sludge has a highly porous, sponge-like structure with a fairly low resistance. However, the fouling layer attached to the membrane surface contains a thin gel layer under the main body of the sponge-like sludge cake, which is similar to that formed by filtration of a dispersion of biopolymer clusters (BPCs). It is apparent that BPCs tend to accumulate on the membrane surface, and the gel layer is largely responsible for the high filtration resistance of the cake layer on the fouled membranes.     

Heavy Metals in Moss and Bark From Urban Area of Florence: A New Cleaness Procedure for Removing Superficial Particulate Matter

Abstract

Hypnum cupressiforme epiphytic moss and tree bark (elm and holm oak) samples have been collected in three sites of the city of Florence in the period 1995–1998. Lead, zinc, copper, and cadmium were determined by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) in about 200 samples collected at different heights above ground. A new clean-up procedure by nitrogen jet has been followed and its efficiency has been also verified by electron microscopy (SEM and ESEM techniques). Lead median contents in moss and bark samples fall within the ranges of 0.052–0.86 and 0.20–1.30 μmoles g^?1 (dry weight), resulting values for moss and bark are proportional to the vehicular traffic density. the increasing use of lead-free gasoline has not been followed by a decrease of lead moss concentration.     

Comparison of the heavy metal bioaccumulation capacity of an epiphytic moss and an epiphytic lichen

This study compared the heavy metal bioaccumulation capacity in the epiphytic moss Scorpiurum circinatum and the epiphytic lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea, exposed in bags for 3 months in the urban area of Acerra (S Italy). The content of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Ti, V, and Zn was measured by ICP-MS. The results showed that both species accumulated all the heavy metals assayed. The moss had the highest bioaccumulation capacity for all metals and showed a more constant and linear accumulation trend than the lichen. Intra-tissue heavy metal bioaccumulation was assessed by X-ray microanalysis applied to ESEM operated in high and low vacuum and ESEM modes.     

堆肥制作中微生物侵染秸秆的环境扫描电镜(ESEM)观察

为了探索堆肥制作中木质纤维素类物质的生物降解过程,在堆肥进程中取不同分解阶段的秸秆样品,利用环境扫描电镜(ESEM)观察微生物的分布情况,并从机械作用的角度探讨了微生物在秸秆分解过程中的作用。结果表明,堆肥制作前新鲜秸秆表面未发现微生物分布,堆肥制作前期微生物开始附着在秸秆表面,随着堆肥进程,秸秆表面微生物密度有所增加,秸秆分解时产生的裂缝中发现也有微生物分布。堆肥制作中,参与秸秆分解的微生物以群落形式分布,从个体形态来看,这些微生物主要由球菌和丝状菌组成,但不同形态微生物个体大小差异较大。分析认为大型丝状菌通过秸秆分解产生的裂缝侵入秸秆内部时所产生的机械作用可促进秸秆的崩解。     

Heavy Metals in Moss and Bark From Urban Area of Florence: A New Cleaness Procedure for Removing Superficial Particulate Matter

Hypnum cupressiforme epiphytic moss and tree bark (elm and holm oak) samples have been collected in three sites of the city of Florence in the period 1995-1998. Lead, zinc, copper, and cadmium were determined by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) in about 200 samples collected at different heights above ground. A new clean-up procedure by nitrogen jet has been followed and its efficiency has been also verified by electron microscopy (SEM and ESEM techniques). Lead median contents in moss and bark samples fall within the ranges of 0.052-0.86 and 0.20-1.30 μmoles g^-1 (dry weight), resulting values for moss and bark are proportional to the vehicular traffic density. the increasing use of lead-free gasoline has not been followed by a decrease of lead moss concentration.     

环境扫描电镜对废水生物样品形态结构的表征研究

采用环境扫描电镜(ESEM)分析颗粒污泥和悬浮填料生物膜的微生物群落形态,并与扫描电镜(SEM)观察结果进行比较.结果表明,ESEM观察悬浮填料生物膜的适宜条件为样品台温度5℃,样品室汽压5.91×102Pa,相对湿度75%,加速电压15.00kV.观察颗粒污泥样品的适宜条件为样品台温度0℃,样品室汽压7.00×102Pa,相对湿度100%,加速电压10.00kV.表面存在的水滴凝聚和含水量高、结构脆弱的样品易因气压和入射电子束轰击收缩变形,是影响ESEM观察样品真实面貌的主要因素.悬浮填料生物膜的ESEM观察说明,相较于SEM,未经任何处理的载体生物膜样品在合适的ESEM条件下可得到的高放大倍数的清晰照片,能更真实的表征生物膜的微生物群落结构.含水量高、结构脆弱,承受能力差的颗粒污泥样品,则需要通过锇酸或者戊二醛等固定剂进行化学固定,降低ESEM的加速电压,并且尽量缩短观察时间,避免因气压和高速入射电子束的轰击而收缩变形,获得其原始形貌照片.