Fluorescence microscopy techniques for quantitative evaluation of organic biocide distribution in antifouling paint coatings: application to model antifouling coatings

A test matrix of antifouling (AF) coatings including pMMA, an erodible binder and a novel trityl copolymer incorporating Cu₂O and a furan derivative (FD) natural product, were subjected to pontoon immersion and accelerated rotor tests. Fluorescence and optical microscopy techniques were applied to these coatings for quantification of organic biocide and pigment distribution. Total leaching of the biocide from the novel copolymer binder was observed within 6 months of rotor immersion, compared to 35% from the pMMA coating. In pontoon immersions, 61% of the additive was lost from the pMMA coating, and 53% from the erodible binder. Profiles of FD content in the binders revealed an accelerated loss of additive from the surface of the CDP resulting from rosin degradation, compared to even depletion from pMMA. In all samples, release of the biocide was inhibited beyond the Cu₂O front, corresponding to the leached layer in samples where Cu₂O release occurred.     

Phytotoxicity and metal leaching in EDDS‐assisted phytoextraction from pyrite wastes with Ethiopian mustard and fodder radish

Abstract

This study examines the influence of a low‐persistent chelator, [S,S]‐EDDS (ethylene diamine disuccinic acid), on the growth of Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) and fodder radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. oleiformis) and on metal leaching (ML) in As–Co–Cu–Pb–Zn‐contaminated pyrite wastes. Plants were grown in pots for 75 days with test doses of 2.5 and 5 mmol EDDS per kg of soil applied through irrigation one week before harvest, and 1 mmol EDDS per kg of soil repeated five times at 5‐ and 10‐day intervals, in comparison with untreated controls. Fodder radish treated with 1 mmol at the five‐day interval was also irrigated with 1 mg IBA (indole‐3‐butyric acid) per kg of soil every 10 days. Shoot biomass, leaf area and root growth were generally reduced by EDDS in both species, particularly in repeated applications and in radish, regardless of IBA supply, with root biomass being more affected than length and electrical capacitance (EC). EDDS generally improved shoot concentrations of Cu, Co, Zn and Pb, but repeated treatments caused significant ML (mainly of Cu), explained by a multivariate relationship (R ² = 0.52) including the integral over time of both leaf area (R ² = 0.43) and root EC (R ² = 0.09). We conclude that roots play a secondary role in preventing ML, because of the prevailing effect of leaf transpiration in controlling percolation. The best metal phytoextraction was achieved with EDDS applied at harvest – a safe ML strategy, especially at the low dose of 2.5 mmol per kg of soil.

Abbreviations: DTPA, diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid; EC, electrical capacitance; EDDS, ethylene diamine disuccinic acid; EDTA, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid; HM, heavy metals; IAA, indoleacetic acid; IBA, indolebutyric acid; ICP‐OES, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy; LA, leaf area; ML, metal leaching     

Optimization of Microbial Leaching of Base Metals from a South African Sulfidic Nickel Ore Concentrate by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that pentlandite and chalcopyrite were the prominent mineral phases in a South African sulfidic nickel ore concentrate that hosted nickel and copper. Cobalt was found to be closely associated with the nickel-bearing pentlandite phase of the ore sample. Microbial batch leaching experiments designed according to a central composite design model were run for 15 days in a shaking incubator (150 rpm) at a constant temperature (30°C) with variations in experimental parameters like ore pulp density, particle size, bacterial inoculum, pH of the culture medium, and residence time. Quadratic mathematical models were developed to predict the rate of metal extractions. The suitability of the model of the microbial leaching process was confirmed from normal probability curves. An analysis of variance indicated that the residence time, pulp density of the ore, and particle size were the most significant factors. Bacterial inoculum size hardly showed any effect on the total metal extractions. Maximum nickel (82%), cobalt (76%) and copper (25.6%) extractions were achieved under optimum conditions, operated for 15 days at pulp density of 2% and particle size of ?75 µm at pH 1.5.     

Fate of urine nitrogen on mineral and peat soils in New Zealand

A field lysimeter experiment was conducted over 150 days to examine the fate of synthetic urinary nitrogen (N) applied to peat and mineral soils, with and without a water table. At the start of the winter season, synthetic urine labelled with ¹⁵N, was applied at 500 kg N ha^–1. Plant uptake, leaching losses and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes were monitored. Total plant uptake ranged from 11% to 35% of the urine-N applied depending on soil type and treatment. Plant uptake of applied N was greater in the presence of a water table in the mineral soil. Nitrate-N (NO₃ ^--N) was only detected in leachates from the mineral soil, at concentrations up to 146 g NO₃ ^--N mL^–1. Presence of a water table in the mineral soil reduced leaching losses (as inorganic-N) from 47% to 6%, incrased plant uptake and doubled apparent denitrification losses. In the peat soils leaching losses of applied urine-N as inorganic-N were low (<5%). Losses of N as N₂O were greater in the mineral soil than in the peat soils, with losses of 3% and <1% of N applied respectively after 100 days. Apparent denitrification losses far exceeded N₂O losses and it is postulated that the difference could be due to dinitrogen (N₂) loss and soil entrapment of N₂.     

Future trends in nitrogen research

N research effort has undergone major changes over recent decades with changing emphasis because of environmental problems and issues. This driving force, coupled with a universal desire to improve N-use efficiency, appreciation of the importance of maintaining soil resource quality and a need to provide integrated landscape managements, will continue to prompt new research areas and issues for study. Already, much information has been provided and new approaches and needs defined. It will be essential in future research to take full note of the many interactions that occur and to provide a mechanistic basis so that scaling of effects can be undertaken with the appropriate simplification without being superficial. Examples of interactions, as well as fundamental gaps in the basic processes are discussed and needs for future research identified.     

Enhanced‐efficiency fertilizers are not a panacea for resolving the nitrogen problem

Improving nitrogen (N) management for greater agricultural output while minimizing unintended environmental consequences is critical in the endeavor of feeding the growing population sustainably amid climate change. Enhanced‐efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) have been developed to better synchronize fertilizer N release with crop uptake, offering the potential for enhanced N use efficiency (NUE) and reduced losses. Can EEFs play a significant role in helping address the N management challenge? Here we present a comprehensive analysis of worldwide studies published in 1980–2016 evaluating four major types of EEFs (polymer‐coated fertilizers PCF, nitrification inhibitors NI, urease inhibitors UI, and double inhibitors DI, i.e. urease and nitrification inhibitors combined) regarding their effectiveness in increasing yield and NUE and reducing N losses. Overall productivity and environmental efficacy depended on the combination of EEF type and cropping systems, further affected by biophysical conditions. Best scenarios include: (i) DI used in grassland (n = 133), averaging 11% yield increase, 33% NUE improvement, and 47% decrease in aggregated N loss (sum of NO₃^‐, NH₃, and N₂O, totaling 84 kg N/ha); (ii) UI in rice‐paddy systems (n = 100), with 9% yield increase, 29% NUE improvement, and 41% N‐loss reduction (16 kg N/ha). EEF efficacies in wheat and maize systems were more complicated and generally less effective. In‐depth analysis indicated that the potential benefits of EEFs might be best achieved when a need is created, for example, by downward adjusting N application from conventional rate. We conclude that EEFs can play a significant role in sustainable agricultural production but their prudent use requires firstly eliminating any fertilizer mismanagement plus the implementation of knowledge‐based N management practices.     

Cationic polypeptide-induced fusion of acidic liposomes

Fusion of acidic liposomes was induced by Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, polylysine and polymyxin B. The extent of fusion and the concomitant change in liposome permeability induced by divalent cations depended on the concentration of liposomes in the suspension as well as on the cation concentration. In contradistinction, the extent of fusion and the change in permeability induced by the polypeptides depended only on the polycation concentration. The difference in the pattern of interaction, between the liposomes and the various cations, is a result of different binding affinities. The binding of the polypeptides to the liposomes, in contrast to divalent cations, is practically irreversible. The potential of polylysine to induce fusion of acidic phosphatidylethanolamine-devoid liposomes was used to demonstrate that in order to obtain fusion, both membranes involved must be susceptible, at least to a certain degree, to fusion by the proper inducer. When lysophosphatidylcholine substituted for phosphatidylcholine in phosphatidylethanolamine-rich acidic liposomes, extensive polylysine-induced fusion was obtained without concomitant spillage of the liposome contents.     

Local anesthetics and divalent cations have the same effect on the headgroups of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine

The effects of the local anesthetic dibucaine on the membrane headgroup conformations of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were determined using ²H- and ³¹P-NMR. The size of the deuterium quadrupole splittings of the two methylene segments of the choline and ethanolamine groups changed dramatically and the 31-phosphorus chemical shift anisotropy of the phosphatidylcholine headgroup decreased by about 7 ppm in the presence of local anesthetic. The quadrupole splittings of the 3-glycerol and choline methyl segments were relatively insensitive to the addition of dibucaine. The headgroup data for dibucaine addition paralleled similar data for the addition of various cations. These NMR results agree with the previous observation that these drugs displace calcium from phospholipids. The effects of this local anesthetic on these headgroups were distinctly different from the changes induced by cholesterol, heat and the general anesthetic chloroform.     

南京郊区番茄地中氮肥的效应与去向

采用田间小区和微区试验,研究了施用化学氮肥对南京郊区菜地番茄产量、氮肥去向及氮素损失的影响.结果表明, 由于土壤和有机肥供氮充分,氮肥施用未增加番茄产量.用差值法计算得到的氮肥利用率在14.5%～22.5%之间.¹⁵N标记尿素微区试验表明,施入氮量的16.6%～28.8%被作物吸收,氮素总损失为34.2%～46.0%.施用化学氮肥增加了土壤剖面中的硝酸盐含量,番茄收获时,10%～10.2%的标记尿素被淋洗到40 cm以下土层.增施化学氮肥也显著增加了菜地土壤的反硝化损失和N₂O排放,其中反硝化损失占施入氮量的5.50%～6.01%;N₂O排放量占施入氮量的2.62%～4.92%.但番茄生长期间未检测到氨挥发.减少氮肥用量或施用包衣尿素可降低菜地施用氮肥的环境风险,特别是减少硝酸盐淋洗和硝化反硝化损失.     

酸雨对缙云山林地黄壤汞溶出的影响

Forest yellow soil and arable yellow soil in Jinyun Mountain were collected to study the effect of simulated acid rain(adjusted to pH 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0) on the Hg leaching from soils by the methods of static extraction and dynamic leaching. The results showed that in forest yellow soils, surface accumulation of Hg occurred, and the accumulated Hg was easier to be leached out than that in arable yellow soil by acid rain. The amount of leached Hg was the largest at pH 4.0. To abate the risk of Hg pollution in water bodies by the Hg leaching from this forest soil, the Mountain should be closed, and timber-felling should be forbidden.