Degradation of organochlorine compounds in spent sulfite bleach plant effluents by actinomycetes.

Actinomycetes isolated from different soil samples were tested for their abilities to utilize spent sulfite bleach effluents from a paper mill. Degradation and dechlorination of the chlorinated compounds in the effluents of the first two bleaching stages, i.e., chlorination stage [(C + D)red.] and alkaline extraction stage (E1O), were monitored by determining total organic carbon (TOC) and activated-carbon-adsorbable organic-bound halogen (AOX). The isolates showed increased degradation rates after repeated incubations in the effluent-containing medium. Separation of the culture supernatants by ultrafiltration into three fractions of different molecular weights revealed substantial AOX and TOC reductions in the low-molecular-weight fraction. The AOX values of the higher-molecular-weight fractions were also reduced. Extracellular peroxidase and cell wall-bound catalase activities were produced during growth of the microorganisms on bleach effluents.     

Dechlorination of high-molecular-mass compounds in spent sulphite bleach effluents by free and immobilized cells of streptomycetes

Streptomyces chromofuscus and S. rochei dechlorinated high-molecular-mass compounds (HMM) from industrial bleach effluents. Compounds of the effluents from the first chlorination [(C + D)_red] and the subsequent alkaline extraction stage (E₁O) of a sulphite cellulose pulp mill were used as substrates for the microbial transformations. HMM bleach effluent fractions obtained by ultrafiltration were treated by free and immobilized cells in two types of bioreactors. The dechlorination was followed by measuring the reduction of activated-carbon-adsorbable organic-bound halogen (AOX) and the release of inorganic chloride. While 38–45% of the organic bound chlorine was released from a mixture of (C + D)_red and E₁O stage effluents within 20 days of incubation with S. chromofuscus, only 11–16% were liberated from E₁O-stage HMM bleach-effluent compounds by S. chromofuscus and S. rochei. Immobilized cells of both strains remained active for over 100 days in successive batches, each releasing 12–24% of chloride from HMM bleach-effluent compounds.     

A comparison of organochlorine removal from bleached kraft pulp and paper-mill effluents by dehalogenating Pseudomonas,Ancylobacter and Methylobacterium strains

The relative importance of each of three dechlorinating species to overall organochlorine removal from bleached kraft-mill effluents (BKME) was assessed. Ancylobacter aquaticus A7, Pseudomonas P1, and Methylobacterium CP13, strains indigenous to a BKME treatment system, were tested for growth on chlorinated acetic acids and alcohols, and for adsorbable organic halogen (AOX) reduction in batch cultures of sterile BKME from three sources. A. aquaticus A7 exhibited the broadest substrate range, but could only affect significant AOX reduction in softwood effluents. Methylobacterium CP13 exhibited a limited substrate range, but was capable of removing significant amounts of AOX from both hardwood and softwood effluents. By contrast, Pseudomonas sp. P1 exhibited a limited substrate range and poor to negligible reductions in AOX levels from both effluent types. Mixed inocula of all three species combined and inocula of sludge from mill treatment systems removed as much AOX from softwood effluents as did pure populations of Methylobacterium CP13. When BKME was hydrolysed prior to AOX analysis, the subsequent estimates of recalcitrant, or non-hydrolysable, AOX levels were far less variable than their counterpart total AOX measures. It is suggested that this is a relevant and useful measure of AOX for biodegradation studies.     

不同水旱复种轮作方式对稻田土壤有机碳及其组分的影响

通过连续2年的田间试验,研究不同水旱复种轮作方式对土壤有机碳及其组分的影响.结果表明: 稻田2年水旱复种轮作后的土壤总有机碳(TOC)呈现先升高后下降的趋势,易氧化有机碳(ROC)分蘖期最高、成熟期最低,土壤微生物生物量碳(SMBC)在分蘖期最高,可溶性有机碳(DOC)则在成熟期达到最高.土壤TOC的差异变化最大值和最小值分别出现在孕穗期和成熟期,ROC出现在返青期和孕穗期,DOC出现在成熟期和返青期,SMBC出现在分蘖期和返青期.“冬闲-早稻-晚稻→冬闲-早稻-晚稻”的土壤TOC、DOC变化幅度最大,“紫云英-早稻-晚稻→油菜-花生-晚稻”的土壤ROC变化幅度最大,“蔬菜-花生/玉米-晚稻→紫云英-早稻-晚稻”模式的SMBC变化幅度最大.“马铃薯-玉米/大豆-晚稻→蔬菜-花生/玉米-晚稻”在孕穗期的TOC含量较高;“紫云英-早稻-晚稻→油菜-花生-晚稻”能在晚稻生长的前期和中期积累较多的土壤ROC;“油菜-花生-晚稻→马铃薯-玉米/大豆-晚稻”在返青期和成熟期的土壤DOC含量较高,在孕穗期和抽穗期的SMBC较高.土壤各有机碳及其组分的大小关系为:TOC>ROC>SMBC>DOC.可见在当地土壤肥力条件下,水旱复种轮作方式能提高土壤有机碳及其组分的含量,有利于改善土壤质量,提高土壤肥力.     

Effectiveness of algae in the treatment of a wood-based pulp and paper industry wastewater

In this study, the ability of algae to treat a wood-based pulp and paper industry wastewater was investigated. Tests were performed in batch reactors seeded with a mixed culture of algae. Under different lighting and initial wastewater strength conditions, changes in COD, AOX and color contents of reactors were followed with time. Algae were found to remove up to 58% of COD, 84% of color and 80% of AOX from pulp and paper industry wastewaters. No remarkable differences were observed in COD and color when light intensity and wastewater strength were changed, while AOX removals were strongly affected. Algal species identification studies revealed that some green algae (Chlorella) and diatom species were dominant in the treatment. The study also showed that algae grew mixotrophically, while the main mechanism of color and organics removal from pulping effluents was partly metabolism and partly metabolic conversion of colored and chlorinated molecules to non-colored and non-chlorinated molecules. Adsorption onto algal biomass was not so effective.     

Oxidative degradation of high molecular weight chlorolignin by manganese peroxidase of Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Phanerochaete chrysosporium was able to degrade high molecular weight chlorolignins (Mr greater than 30,000) from bleach plant effluents, although a direct contact between ligninolytic enzymes and chlorolignin was prevented by a dialysis tubing. In the absence of the enzymes, Mn3+ depolymerized chlorolignin when complexed with lactate causing the color, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and dry weight to decrease by 80%, 60% and 40%, respectively. Manganese peroxidase effectively catalyzed the depolymerization of chlorolignin in the presence of Mn2+ and H2O2. It can be concluded from these results that manganese peroxidase plays the major role in the initial breakdown and decolorization of high molecular weight chlorolignin in bleach plant effluents by P. chrysosporium in vivo.     

TCF bleaching of wheat straw pulp using ozone and xylanase. Part A: paper quality assessment

The XOAZRP TCF sequence was applied to bleach wheat straw pulp. Following each bleaching stage, the properties of the pulp (viz. kappa number, standard viscosity, borohydride viscosity and brightness) and of the resulting effluents were determined. The performance of the reagents was analyzed through the studies of xylanase treatment and crystallinity and scanning electron microscopy of the pulps. Finally, the pulp was refined at 1000 revolutions in a PFI mill and the mechanical properties of the resulting paper were determined and compared with those of paper from a eucalyptus pulp. Despite its shortcomings, wheat straw pulp can be effectively bleached with the proposed TCF sequence.     

Cyanide-resistant, ATP-synthesis-sustained, and uncoupling-protein-sustained respiration during postharvest ripening of tomato fruit

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) mitochondria contain both alternative oxidase (AOX) and uncoupling protein as energy-dissipating systems that can decrease the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation. We followed the cyanide (CN)-resistant, ATP-synthesis-sustained, and uncoupling-protein-sustained respiration of isolated mitochondria, as well as the immunologically detectable levels of uncoupling protein and AOX, during tomato fruit ripening from the mature green stage to the red stage. The AOX protein level and CN-resistant respiration of isolated mitochondria decreased with ripening from the green to the red stage. The ATP-synthesis-sustained respiration followed the same behavior. In contrast, the level of uncoupling protein and the total uncoupling-protein-sustained respiration of isolated mitochondria decreased from only the yellow stage on. We observed an acute inhibition of the CN-resistant respiration by linoleic acid in the micromolar range. These results suggest that the two energy-dissipating systems could have different roles during the ripening process.     

The Relationship Between the Activity of Cyanide-resistant Respiration and the Expression of Alternative Oxidase in Different Organs of Mung Bean Seedlings

Twelve peptides, including eight conservative amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of hydrophilic S helix of the alternative oxidase (AOX), were synthesized by solid-phase method. The polypeptide was coupled to αchymotrypsinogen, and the antibodies against this complex were obtained in rabbit. By using these antibodies, which were raised to immunoreact with total proteins of purified mitochondria from different organs of mung bean (Phaseolous radiatus L.) seedlings, it was found that there were two hybridizable AOX fractions in the mitochondria of mung bean seedlings. Their molecular weight was about 35 kD and 38 kD, respectively. Moreover, among the respiratory parameters obtained in hypocotyl, true leaf and cotyledon of mung bean seedlings true leaf had the highest total respiration (Vt), alternative pathway (AP) capacity(Valt) and the activity of AP (ρValt). Hypocotyl Vt and ρValt were the lowest, but its Vt was higher than that of the cotyledon. The activities of total and cyanide-resistant respiration were consistant with the analysis of Western blotting of AOX expression. The highest Vt and ρValt in true leaf were accompanied by two hybridizable polypeptides of AOX protein. The next was cotyledon Vt and ρValt with only one 38 kD hybridizable polypeptide of AOX protein. Hypocotyl Vt and ρValt were the lowest and its immunobloting band was similar to that of the cotyledon, but the expression amount of 38 kD protein was less than that of the cotyledon. The 35 kD AOX may make the main contribution to the true leaf ρValt.     

The flexible interrelation between AOX respiratory pathway and photosynthesis in rice leaves.

Alternative respiratory pathway was investigated in rice seedlings grown under total darkness, light/dark cycle, or continuous light. The capacity of the alternative pathway was relatively higher in leaves that had longer light exposure. An analysis of rice AOX1 multigene family revealed that AOX1c, but not AOX1a and AOX1b, had a light-independent expression. The alternative oxidase (AOX) inhibitor, salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM, 1mM), inhibited nearly 68% of the capacity of the alternative pathway in leaves grown under different light conditions. The plants grown under different light periods were treated with SHAM and then were exposed to illumination for 4h. The transition from dark to 4h of light stimulated the capacity of alternative pathway in etiolated rice seedlings and in those grown under light/dark cycle, whereas the capacity of the alternative pathway was constant in seedlings grown under continuous light with additional 4h of illumination. Etiolated leaves did not show any CO(2) fixation after 4h of illumination, and the increase in chlorophyll content was delayed by the SHAM pretreatment. When seedlings grown under light/dark cycle were moved from dark and exposed to 4h of light, increases in chlorophyll content and CO(2) fixation rate were reduced by SHAM. Although these parameters were stable in plants grown under continuous light, SHAM decreased CO(2) fixation rate but not the chlorophyll content. These results indicate that the role and regulation of AOX in light are determined by the developmental stage of plant photosynthetic apparatus.     

Effect of Fishing Industries Effluents pH and Organic Load on the Methanogenic Bacteria Biofilm Developed over Support in Fixed Biomass Reactor

The effect of pH and organic matter (total organic carbon, TOC) of effluents originating from fishing industries located in Talcahuano, Chile, on the ability to colonize different trophic group methanogenic bacteria (MB) over clay and polyethylene supports was evaluated. Both support materials enhanced all types of methanogenic bacterial growth compared to systems without support. The highest adherence was obtained at pH 8. At 8000 mg/l TOC, this had a significant effect on the growth rate of hydrogenotropic and methylaminotrophic methanogens on polyethylene and clay, respectively.     

Norfloxacin Sorption to Different Fractions in Sediments from Typical Water Systems in China

Sorption isotherms of Norfloxacin (NOF) to different fractions from six typical sediments in China were determined to compare the NOF sorption behavior and contribution of different fractions to total sorption. All sorption isotherms were nonlinear and fitted well with the Freundlich model. Sorption coefficients (K _f) by original sediments changed in larger magnitude, from 114 (mg/g)/(mg/L)ⁿ to 5271 (mg/g)/(mg/L)ⁿ, and black carbon with more aromatic carbon has more sorption capacity and nonlinearity. The sorption capacity K _f values were found to significantly correlate with SSA (specific surface area), OC (organic carbon), BC (black carbon), and TON (total organic nitrogen) (p < 0.05), but had no obvious relation with pH, CEC (cation exchange capacity), TOC/TON, and BC/TOC. The DOC removed, NaOH extracted, and 375°C heated fractions showed more nonlinear sorption than the original sediments, suggesting more heterogeneous sorption sites in these fractions. Among different sediment fractions, the 375°C heating fractions were responsible for >50% of the total NOF sorption over the whole concentration range. The contribution of DOC removed fractions to the total sorption was the highest at higher NOF concentration.     

降水变率对森林土壤有机碳组分与分布格局的影响

2006年12月-2008年6月,通过加倍降水、自然降水和去除降水3种处理的人工控制试验,研究了降水变率改变对南亚热带不同演替阶段的季风常绿阔叶林、针阔叶混交林和马尾松针叶林土壤有机碳组分与空间分布格局的影响.结果表明：在3种降水强度条件下,相同森林类型的同一层次土壤总有机碳（TOC）含量差异不显著（P>0.05）;去除降水处理下土壤表层（0～10 cm）颗粒有机碳（POC）和轻组有机碳(LFOC)含量有明显的积累趋势,加倍降水和自然降水处理下增加了POC、LFOC向下层土壤（10～20 cm、20～30 cm、30～50 cm）的运输;去除降水处理下,马尾松林土壤易氧化有机碳（ROC）含量显著高于降水处理（P<0.05）;演替早期森林土壤的POC、ROC、LFOC占总有机碳的比例大于演替后期土壤,不利于土壤有机碳的存埋.森林土壤总有机碳含量变化缓慢,而其活性有机碳组分（POC、LFOC、ROC）对降水变率改变的响应更敏感.     

Sustainable decontamination of an actual-site aged PCB-polluted soil through a biosurfactant-based washing followed by a photocatalytic treatment

A two phases process consisting of a soya lecithin (SL)-based soil washing process followed by the photocatalytic treatment of resulting effluents was developed and applied at the laboratory scale in the remediation of an actual-site soil historically contaminated by 0.65 g/kg of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Triton X-100 (TX) was employed in the same process as a control surfactant. SL and TX, both applied as 2.25 g/L aqueous solutions, displayed a comparable ability to remove PCBs from the soil. However, SL solution displayed a lower ecotoxicity, a lower ability to mobilize soil constituents and a higher soil detoxification capacity with respect to the TX one. The photocatalytic treatment resulted in marked depletions (from 50% to 70%) of total organic carbon (TOC) and PCBs initially occurring in the SL and TX contaminated effluents. Despite the ability of SL to adversely affect the rate of TOC and PCB photodegradation, higher PCB depletion and dechlorination yields along with lower increases of ecotoxicity were observed in SL-containing effluents with respect to the TX ones at the end of 15 days of treatment. The two phases process developed and tested for the first time in this study seems to have the required features to become, after a proper optimization and scale up, a challenging procedure for the sustainable remediation of actual site, poorly biotreatable PCB-contaminated soils.     

Determination of Heavy Metals and Their Distribution In Different Size Fractionated Sediment Samples Using Different Analytical Techniques

Distribution of heavy metals (Pb, Cu and Cd) in different size-fractionated sediment samples was studied using different analytical techniques such as flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). Pb and Cu concentrations were found to have respective variations of 6.58% and 9.45% from FAAS, ICP-AES and DPASV analysis. Cadmium was detectable only by DPASV because of its lower abundance in different size fractions. The percentage distribution of total organic carbon (TOC) and heavy metals increased with decrease in particle size. Metal concentrations increase with increasing TOC content in different size-fractionated sediment samples studied. Although the smallest fractions (< 53 μm) of sediment contributed only 3.4–17.8%, they had the highest mean distribution factor of 1.08 for Pb, 1.04 for Cu and 1.06 for Cd, respectively. Pb, Cu and Cd were correlated positively with organic carbon content in the sediment samples.     

Colour and AOX removal from pulping effluents by algae

A mixed culture of algae was used to treat pulping mill effluent in terms of removing both colour and adsorbably organic halides (AOX). The removal of AOX from pulping effluent increased with increasing initial colour value of the effluent. However, for the total mill effluent (composed of both pulping and bleaching effluents), AOX removal was found to be independent of initial colour value, and was around 70%. Up to 80% removal of colour from pulping effluent was achieved within 30 days under continuous lighting conditions. It was found that algae reduced the colour of pulping effluent of relatively low initial colour more efficiently than that of high initial colour. Under simulated field lighting conditions, up to 60% colour removal from pulping effluent was observed after 60 days of exposure, whereas for the total mill effluent it was up to 64% after 45 days. Total organic carbon and lignin (UVA₂₈₀) were also removed to a significant extent, suggesting that the mechanism of colour removal might not be transformation of the coloured lignin molecules to non-coloured ones. Analysis of alkaline extraction of the algal biomass and material balance findings indicated that the main colour removal mechanism was metabolism rather than adsorption. The experimental results were also analysed using multiple regression techniques and a mathematical model was developed to express the removal of colour from pulping effluents in terms of initial colour value, exposure time and lighting periods as well as interactions between these variables. Received: 12 January 1999 / Revision received: 25 March 1999 / Accepted: 26 March 1999     

不同低温胁迫对烟草愈伤组织抗氰交替途径诱导和交替氧化酶表达影响的比较

比较了不同低温(14℃和4℃)胁迫对烟草(Nicotiana rusticaL．)愈伤组织抗氰交替途径诱导和交替氧化酶表达的影响。结果显示,不同低温胁迫处理能显著诱导烟草愈伤组织交替途径容量和实际运行的增加,且都呈现出基本相同的变化模式：在胁迫的初期(1—3d)持续增加,在3d时达到最高,而后下降到一个相对恒定的水平。但交替途径容量增加的幅度与温度下降的程度密切相关,而交替途径实际运行量的诱导程度在不同低温胁迫下的差异却很小。表明交替途径容量和实际运行对低温胁迫的响应是不同的。免疫印迹分析结果表明：低温胁迫明显诱导了交替氧化酶总蛋白的增加,且其随低温胁迫进程的变化与交替途径容量的变化基本一致;而对交替氧化酶单体与二聚体在低温胁迫下的含量变化检测结果则显示,烟草愈伤组织中交替氧化酶主要以二聚体形式存在,且这一存在形式并不随低温胁迫程度的加深而发生改变。两种形式的交替氧化酶蛋白含量都能被低温胁迫诱导增加,但其单体水平在两种不同的低温胁迫下并无明显差别,而4℃低温胁迫诱导的二聚体交替氧化酶蛋白含量明显高于14℃。表明不同程度低温对抗氰交替途径发生的不同影响主要是由于对交替氧化酶蛋白二聚体形式的不同诱导程度所致;而高活性的交替氧化酶单体形式则不因低温胁迫程度的加重而被明显诱导升高,使得抗氰交替途径的运行程度在两种不同的低温胁迫处理条件下无显著差异。     

不同低温胁迫对烟草愈伤组织抗氰交替途径诱导和交替氧化酶表达影响的比较

比较了不同低温（14℃和4℃）胁迫对烟草（Nicotiana rustica L.）愈伤组织抗氰交替途径诱导和交替氧化酶表达的影响。结果显示,不同低温胁迫处理能显著诱导烟草愈伤组织交替途径容量和实际运行的增加,且都呈现出基本相同的变化模式：在胁迫的初期（1～3 d）持续增加,在3 d时达到最高,而后下降到一个相对恒定的水平。但交替途径容量增加的幅度与温度下降的程度密切相关,而交替途径实际运行量的诱导程度在不同低温胁迫下的差异却很小。表明交替途径容量和实际运行对低温胁迫的响应是不同的。免疫印迹分析结果表明：低温胁迫明显诱导了交替氧化酶总蛋白的增加,且其随低温胁迫进程的变化与交替途径容量的变化基本一致;而对交替氧化酶单体与二聚体在低温胁迫下的含量变化检测结果则显示,烟草愈伤组织中交替氧化酶主要以二聚体形式存在,且这一存在形式并不随低温胁迫程度的加深而发生改变。两种形式的交替氧化酶蛋白含量都能被低温胁迫诱导增加,但其单体水平在两种不同的低温胁迫下并无明显差别,而4℃低温胁迫诱导的二聚体交替氧化酶蛋白含量明显高于14℃。表明不同程度低温对抗氰交替途径发生的不同影响主要是由于对交替氧化酶蛋白二聚体形式的不同诱导程度所致;而高活性的交替氧化酶单体形式则不因低温胁迫程度的加重而被明显诱导升高,使得抗氰交替途径的运行程度在两种不同的低温胁迫处理条件下无显著差异。     

The physiologic role of alternative oxidase in Ustilago maydis

Alternative oxidase (AOX) is a ubiquitous respiratory enzyme found in plants, fungi, protists and some bacterial species. One of the major questions about this enzyme is related to its metabolic role(s) in cellular physiology, due to its capacity to bypass the proton-pumping cytochrome pathway, and as a consequence it has great energy-wasting potential. In this study, the physiological role and regulatory mechanisms of AOX in the fungal phytopathogen Ustilago maydis were studied. We found evidence for at least two metabolic functions for AOX in this organism, as a major part of the oxidative stress-handling machinery, a well-described issue, and as part of the mechanisms that increase the metabolic plasticity of the cell, a role that might be valuable for organisms exposed to variations in temperature, nutrient source and availability, and biotic or abiotic factors that limit the activity of the cytochrome pathway. Experiments under different culture conditions of ecological significance for this organism revealed that AOX activity is modified by the growth stage of the culture, amino acid availability and growth temperature. In addition, nucleotide content, stimulation of AOX by AMP and respiratory rates obtained after inhibition of the cytochrome pathway showed that fungal/protist AOX is activated under low-energy conditions, in contrast to plant AOX, which is activated under high-energy conditions. An estimation of the contribution of AOX to cell respiration was performed by comparing the steady-state concentration of adenine nucleotides, the mitochondrial membrane potential, and the respiratory rate.