Trends in solventless sample preparation techniques for environmental analysis

The paper presents recent trends in solventless sample preparation techniques for environmental analysis. First, a general classification of solventless methods is given. Next, three of them, treated as preferable techniques, i.e. SPME, SDME and HS, are presented in detail, with respect to their usability and effectiveness for environmental samples. Examples of all discussed techniques are given in the tables.     

Dimensionality Reduction and Visualization of the Environmental Impacts of Domestic Appliances

There is an increasing worldwide concern about the problem of dealing with the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), given the high volume of appliances that are disposed of every day. In this article, an environmental evaluation of WEEE is performed that combines life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology and multivariate statistical techniques. Because LCA handles a large number of data in its different phases, when one is trying to uncover the structure of large multidimensional data sets, multivariate statistical techniques can provide useful information. In particular, principal‐component analysis and multidimensional scaling are two important dimension‐reducing tools that have been shown to be of help in understanding this type of complex multivariate data set. In this article, we use a variable selection method that reduces the number of categories for which the environmental impacts have to be computed; this step is especially useful when the number of impact categories or the number of products or processes to benchmark increases. We provide a detailed illustration showing how we have used the proposed approach to analyze and interpret the environmental impacts of different domestic appliances.     

Developments in multiple headspace extraction

This paper reviews new developments in multiple headspace extraction (MHE), especially its combination with two miniaturized extraction techniques, solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and single-drop microextraction (SDME). The combination of the techniques broadens the applicability of SPME and SDME to quantitative determination of analytes in complex liquid and solid matrixes. These new methods offer several advantages over traditional liquid-solid, liquid-liquid and headspace extraction techniques. The potential applications include extraction of volatiles and semivolatiles from environmental and physiological samples and from different polymer products such as medical and biomedical materials, food packaging and building materials. The theoretical principals of the techniques are also briefly reviewed.     

CLEAs of Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) with a bovine serum albumin (BSA) cofeeder core: Study of their catalytic activity

Highly active CALB cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) were synthesized using a layered methodology based on the synthesis of a cross-linked protein cofeeder core over which an external layer of lipase was later cross-linked. The layered CALB CLEAs were characterized in terms of their catalytic activity in three different test reactions: esterification of oleic acid and ethanol in absence of solvents, esterification of oleic acid and heptanol in organic medium, and hydrolysis of triolein in emulsioned medium. The impact of the cross-linker/protein mass ratio on CLEAs activity, and its evolution with storage time were evaluated in the solventless synthesis of ethyloleate. The amount of cross-linker used showed to be a key parameter for the evolution of the catalytic activity of CLEAs during storage. Under the best conditions found, hyperactivated CALB CLEAs with up to 188% of recovered activity in ethyl oleate synthesis were obtained. In terms of hydrolytic activity mature layered CALB CLEAs showed a retained activity of 68%. The assay of dried mature layered CALB CLEAs in heptyl oleate synthesis showed catalytic activities much higher than the one exhibited by free CALB, reaching 1 h-fatty acid conversions of 14% and 2%, respectively. The high catalytic activity shown by layered CALB CLEAs, suggests that they are an interesting alternative specially for the catalysis of fatty acid esterifications in both organic and solventless medium.     

Empirical orthogonal function regression: Linking population biology to spatial varying environmental conditions using climate projections

Ecologists and oceanographers inform population and ecosystem management by identifying the physical drivers of ecological dynamics. However, different research communities use different analytical tools where, for example, physical oceanographers often apply rank‐reduction techniques (a.k.a. empirical orthogonal functions [EOF]) to identify indicators that represent dominant modes of physical variability, whereas population ecologists use dynamical models that incorporate physical indicators as covariates. Simultaneously modeling physical and biological processes would have several benefits, including improved communication across sub‐fields; more efficient use of limited data; and the ability to compare importance of physical and biological drivers for population dynamics. Here, we develop a new statistical technique, EOF regression, which jointly models population‐scale dynamics and spatially distributed physical dynamics. EOF regression is fitted using maximum‐likelihood techniques and applies a generalized EOF analysis to environmental measurements, estimates one or more time series representing modes of environmental variability, and simultaneously estimates the association of this time series with biological measurements. By doing so, it identifies a spatial map of environmental conditions that are best correlated with annual variability in the biological process. We demonstrate this method using a linear (Ricker) model for early‐life survival (“recruitment”) of three groundfish species in the eastern Bering Sea from 1982 to 2016, combined with measurements and end‐of‐century projections for bottom and sea surface temperature. Results suggest that (a) we can forecast biological dynamics while applying delta‐correction and statistical downscaling to calibrate measurements and projected physical variables, (b) physical drivers are statistically significant for Pacific cod and walleye pollock recruitment, (c) separately analyzing physical and biological variables fails to identify the significant association for walleye pollock, and (d) cod and pollock will likely have reduced recruitment given forecasted temperatures over future decades.     

生命周期管理研究述评

生命周期管理起源于生命周期思想,它是生命周期思想在实践中的具体应用,是面向可持续生产和消费,对产品、工艺和服务的全生命周期环境影响进行的综合管理,是解决复合生态系统中结构无序、效率不高和代谢冗余的有效途径,是基于生命周期评价原则与框架的一种环境管理手段或环境管理体系。全面回顾了生命周期管理的起源与内涵,阐述了生命周期管理与生命周期评价的区别与联系,梳理了生命周期管理与环境管理体系的关系。对生命周期管理在产品、企业、行业及城市等层次上的具体应用进行了总结与述评,并对其今后需深入研究的方向进行了展望。     

农业土壤中邻苯二甲酸酯污染研究进展

由邻苯二甲酸酯(PAEs)引起的环境污染和食品安全问题已经引起全球性关注.我国既是邻苯二甲酸酯生产大国,又是消费大国,其环境污染问题不容忽视.本文综述了美国国家环保署所列出的6种优先控制PAEs污染物在我国农田土壤中的污染现状,分析了其来源,重点阐述了不同类型农作物对PAEs化合物的吸收累积特征及PAEs类污染物的生物毒害效应.我国多数地区农业土壤中PAEs的含量显著高于美国和欧洲等国家.大气沉降、农用薄膜、施用污泥和污水灌溉是我国农业土壤中PAEs的主要来源.不同作物对PAEs的吸收、累积和分配特征具有显著的差异性.PAEs不但影响土壤质量、作物生长和生理生化性质,而且具有生物累积效应.最后指出了当前研究中的不足及对今后研究的展望,建议扩大PAEs污染调查范围,深入揭示PAEs对农作物的毒害机理,重点研发PAEs污染土壤的原位修复技术.     

河口生态系统氨氧化菌生态学研究进展

由amoA基因编码的氨单加氧酶(AMO)所调控的氨氧化作用,是硝化作用的限速步骤和中心环节,而含有amoA基因的氨氧化细菌(AOB)和氨氧化古菌(AOA)多样性与环境因子关系密切,对缓解河口生态系统因人类活动造成的富营养化等环境问题具有特别重要的意义。水、陆和海交汇形成高度变异的具环境因子梯度的河口生态系统,是研究AOA和AOB生态学的天然实验室。河口AOA与AOB的群落组成、丰富度特征和生物有效性,与河口主要环境因子盐度、富营养化程度、植被、温度、碳、氮、硫、铁等,尤其是对盐度和富营养化有着较为强烈的响应。AOA和AOB多样性变化规律及其与河口特有的环境因子之间的相关性,应当是今后我国河口氨氧化菌研究的方向和重点。包括:(1)建立有效的氨氧化菌活性评价方法;(2)研究AOA的同化作用方式;(3)依据氨氧化菌分类和组成对河口环境变化的适应进化机制,建议可作为指示河口环境质量变化的生物标记;(4)将传统的分离培养方法与现代分子生物学研究方法相结合,筛选我国河口高效的氨氧化菌,并将其应用于生产。     

黄瓜化学成分的提取与研究

本文分别采用减压蒸馏-冷冻浓缩、微波-超声波萃取和固相微萃取(SPME)技术,对鲜黄瓜(带皮)、黄瓜皮、肉、籽进行了化学成分的提取及气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)分析,共检测出109种化合物,其中大部分化合物尚未从黄瓜中分离得到.实验结果证明黄瓜皮及黄瓜籽中含有较多芳香类物质、生育酚、角鲨烯、姜烯、阿茶碱、亚油酸与油酸等营养物质.     

First combined resistance to Hessian fly and Sunn pest identified in synthetic hexaploid wheat

Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say), and Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps (Puton), are the two most damaging insect pests of wheat in North Africa, West and Central Asia. Host plant resistance is the most environmental friendly, cost-effective and practical means of controlling insect pests. Twenty synthetic hexaploid wheat lines selected as resistant to Syrian Sunn pest in 2010 were screened for resistance to Moroccan Hessian fly biotype in 2016. The Hessian fly screening was carried out in standard greenhouse flats using a randomized complete block design with three replications, with susceptible and resistant checks in every test flat. The results showed that three synthetic hexaploid wheat lines exhibited resistance to both Moroccan Hessian fly biotype and Syrian Sunn pest. This is the first record of combined resistance to these two pests in wheat. Mapping populations using these sources of resistance are being developed using double haploid techniques for subsequent genetic characterization and identification of linked molecular markers for marker assisted selection.     

Environmental DNA analysis for macro-organisms: species distribution and more

In an era of severe biodiversity loss, biological monitoring is becoming increasingly essential. The analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a new approach that could revolutionize the biological monitoring of aquatic ecosystems. Over the past decade, macro-organismal eDNA analysis has undergone significant developments and is rapidly becoming established as the golden standard for non-destructive and non-invasive biological monitoring. In this review, I summarize the development of macro-organismal eDNA analysis to date and the techniques used in this field. I also discuss the future perspective of these analytical methods in combination with sophisticated analytical techniques for DNA research developed in the fields of molecular biology and molecular genetics, including genomics, epigenomics, and single-cell technologies. eDNA analysis, which to date has been used primarily for determining the distribution of organisms, is expected to develop into a tool for elucidating the physiological state and behaviour of organisms. The fusion of microbiology and macrobiology through an amalgamation of these technologies is anticipated to lead to the future development of an integrated biology.     

植物蛋白质组学研究进展

 蛋白质组学是后基因组时代功能基因组学研究的新兴学科和热点领域。该文简要介绍了蛋白质组学产生的科学背景、研究方法和研究内容。蛋白质组学研究方法主要有双向聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳（2D-PAGE）、质谱(Mass-spectrometric)技术、蛋白质芯片（Protein chips）技术、酵母双杂交系统（Yeast two-hybrid system）、植物蛋白质组数据库等。其应用的范围包括植物群体遗传学、在个体水平上植物对生物和非生物环境的适应机制、植物的发育和组织器官的分化过程,以及不同亚细胞结构在生理生态过程中的作用等诸多方面。同时对植物蛋白质组学的发展前景进行了展望。     

A Carbon Footprint of Textile Recycling: A Case Study in Sweden

Global population growth and rising living standards are increasing apparel consumption. Consequently, consumption of resources and generation of textile waste are increasing. According to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, textile consumption increased by 40% between the years 2000 and 2009 in Sweden. Given that there is currently no textile recycling plant in Sweden, the aim of this article is to explore the potential environmental benefits of various textile recycling techniques and thereby direct textile waste management strategies toward more sustainable options. Three different recycling techniques for a model waste consisting of 50% cotton and 50% polyester were identified and a life cycle assessment (LCA) was made to assess the environmental performance of them. The recycling processes are: material reuse of textile waste of adequate quality; separation of cellulose from polyester using N‐methylmorpholine‐N‐oxide as a solvent; and chemical recycling of polyester. These are compared to incineration, representing conventional textile waste treatment in Sweden. The results show that incineration has the highest global warming potential and primary energy usage. The material reuse process exhibits the best performance of the studied systems, with savings of 8 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂‐eq) and 164 gigajoules (GJ) of primary energy per tonne of textile waste. Sensitivity analyses showed that results are particularly sensitive to the considered yields of the processes and to the choice of replaced products. An integration of these recycling technologies for optimal usage of their different features for treatment of 1 tonne of textile waste shows that 10 tonnes CO₂‐eq and 169 GJ of primary energy could be saved.     

Calibration of Ellenberg indicator values for the Faroe Islands

Abstract. Elenberg's bio‐indication system for soil moisture (F), soil nitrogen (N) and soil reaction (R) was examined, based on 559 vegetation samples and environmental characteristics (vegetation cover, soil depth, soil moisture, chemical soil properties) from four Faroe islands. The original indicator values from central Europe were used for the calculation of weighted community indicator values of F, N and R. These were regressed with respect to environmental data, applying standard curvilinear regression and generalized linear modelling (GLM) and new predicted values of community indicator values were obtained from the best model. Faroe species optima values of 162 taxa for one or more of the three EUenberg scales were derived from fitting Huisman‐Olff‐Fresco (HOF) models of species abundance with respect to predicted community indicator values and are proposed as new EUenberg species indicator values to be used in the Faroe Islands. F was best correlated with a GLM model containing soil moisture, organic soil fraction, soil depth and total vegetation cover, R with a GLM model containing pH and calcium in % organic soil fraction, N with total phosphorus in % organic soil fraction. The calibrated species indicator scales are much truncated, as compared with the original values, resulting in significantly different overall distributions of the original and new species indicator values. The recalculated community indicator values are much better correlated to environmental measurements. Several species do not have clear optima, but linear or monotone relationships to the examined indicator scales. This probably indicates that the occurrence of some species in the Faroe Islands are either determined by factors other than moisture, pH or soil nutrient status or, given the young age and environmental instability of the islands, are governed by stochastic mechanisms. Extension of Ellenberg indicator values outside central Europe should always be carefully calibrated by means of adequate environmental data and adequate statistical models, such as HOF models, should be applied.     

基于居民生态认知的非使用价值支付意愿空间分异研究——以三江平原湿地为例

在WTP距离衰减性研究基础上,将菲什拜因理论与条件价值法相结合,假设个人对于物品的认知在空间上并不是均衡分布的,不同空间内的受访者的支付意愿存在差异,以三江平原湿地生态系统为应用对象,将样本分为核心区、辐射区、外围区,采用双边界二分式CVM,探讨受访者对三江平原湿地生态环境保护的支付意愿水平及支付意愿的影响因素,建立基于居民生态认知的支付意愿空间分异模型。计算得到核心区、辐射区、外围区居民平均支付意愿分别为142.23元人-1a-1、105.01元人-1a-1、77.62元/人,总体呈递减趋势,验证了距离、认知和WTP之间相关性。研究结果表明,通过空间视角将居民的认知程度纳入支付意愿的计算,能提高CVM在环境价值评估应用中的有效性及可靠性。研究结论将为政府相关政策的制定和决策提供参考依据。     

细菌硝酸盐异化还原成铵过程及其在河口生态系统中的潜在地位与影响

细菌硝酸盐异化还原成铵(DNRA)过程能够将河口沉积物中的硝氮转化为氨氮,是河口生态系统中潜在的重要氮循环过程之一。本文介绍DNRA机理与分类,综述河口生态系统中DNRA的地位与影响,并总结河口生态系统中几种重要生态因子对DNRA过程的调控与影响。目前DNRA的机理还有待完善。深入研究各类河口生态系统中环境因子对DNRA的调控与影响机制,并研发新的研究方法,将为我国河口地区的水资源保护和生态治理提供科学依据。     

Differential display of mRNA

Differential display of mRNA (DD) is a technique in which mRNA species expressed by a cell population are reverse transcribed and then amplified by many separate polymerase chain reactions (PCR). PCR primers and conditions are chosen so that any given reaction yields a limited number of amplified cDNA fragments, permitting their visualization as discrete bands following gel electrophoresis. This robust and relatively simple procedure allows identification of genes that are differentially expressed in different cell populations. Here we review DD including some recent modifications, and compare it with other techniques for analyzing differential mRNA expression.     

基于生命周期方法的生活垃圾资源化利用系统生态效率分析

我国生活垃圾产量大但处理能力不足,产生多种环境危害,对其资源化利用能够缓解环境压力并回收资源。为探讨生活垃圾资源化利用策略,综合生命周期评价与生命周期成本分析方法,建立生态效率模型。以天津市为例,分析和比较焚烧发电、卫生填埋-填埋气发电、与堆肥+卫生填埋3种典型生活垃圾资源化利用情景的生态效率。结果表明,堆肥+卫生填埋情景具有潜在最优生态效率;全球变暖对总环境影响贡献最大,而投资成本对经济影响贡献最大。考虑天津市生活垃圾管理现状,建议鼓励发展生活垃圾干湿组分分离及厨余垃圾堆肥的资源化利用策略。     

Chemical differences in volatiles between Melittis melissophyllum L. subsp. melissophyllum and subsp. albida (Guss) P. W. Ball (Lamiaceae) determined by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with GC/FID and GC/MS

Melittis melissophyllum (Lamiaceae) is a perennial herb, typical of woody places, occurring in Italy with two subspecies, i.e., melissophyllum and albida. So far, the classification of these two taxa was only based on morphology, i.e., the presence of glandular trichomes, the dimension of the leaves, and the number of teeth on each side as the main discriminant characters. To find marker compounds to chemically discriminate the subsp. melissophyllum with respect to the subsp. albida, a solid-phase microextraction SPME analysis coupled with GC/FID (=flame ionization detector) and GC/MS was carried out. SPME proved to be a chemotaxonomically useful technique that permitted a clearly differentiation of the two subspecies at headspace level. The subsp. melissophyllum was characterized by high amount of the mushroom alcohol oct-1-en-3-ol and the phenolic coumarin, whilst the subsp. albida exhibited a high content in monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, α-pinene, sabinene, and (E)-caryophyllene being the major compounds. Multivariate chemometric techniques, such as cluster analysis (CA) and principal-component analysis (PCA), were used to support chemical data and characterize the population according to the taxonomy. In addition, the micromorphology and distribution of glandular trichomes of both subspecies were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Applying Life Cycle Tools and Process Engineering to Determine the Most Adequate Treatment Process Conditions. A Tool in Environmental Policy (12 pp)

Background The analysis of a wastewater treatment technology, under a expanded boundaries system which includes both the technology and the inputs required for its operation, quantifies the overall environmental impact that may result from the treatment of a wastewater stream. This is particularly useful for environmental policy makers being that a expanded boundaries system tends to provide a holistic view. The former view can be highly enriched with the use of process engineering tools, such as mathematical process modelling, process design, performance assessment and cost optimised models. Main Features The traditional approach used to assess waste treatment technologies is contrasted with a life cycle analysis (LCA) approach. The optimal design of a granular activated carbon adsorption (GAC) process is used as a model system to demonstrate the advantages of LCA approaches over traditional approaches. Further sections of the paper describe a mathematical framework for the assessment of technologies, design considerations applied in the cost optimised carbon adsorption model, the use of LCA techniques to perform an inventory of all emissions associated to the process system and, some of its environmental impacts. Results Economic and environmental considerations regarding the optimum process design are introduced as a basis for decision towards the selection and operating conditions of wastewater treatment technologies. Moreover, the use of LCA has revealed that the environmental burden associated with the wastewater treatment may produce a higher environmental impact than one that can be caused by untreated discharges. Conclusion The paper highlights the string advantages that environmental policy makers may have by combining LCA and process engineering tools. Furthermore, this approach can be incorporated into other existing treatment processes or for process designers.