四角蛤蜊Mactra veneriformis对镉和汞污染胁迫的生理响应

本论文基于对我国沿海重金属污染加剧以及滩涂贝类资源衰退现象的关注，围绕典型滩涂贝类四角蛤蜊生物化学、细胞生物学和免疫学特征开展研究，调查了渤海湾天津近岸海域四角蛤蜊体内重金属含量和分布规律，以及四角蛤蜊对沉积物重金属的富集能力。室内模拟研究了四角蛤蜊对重金属镉和汞的富集能力及同化机制（assimilation mechanism）差异性，四角蛤蜊各组织对镉和汞的解毒机理和负载能力，以及重金属胁迫对四角蛤蜊血细胞结构和功能的损伤效应。研究结果可望为探讨四角蛤蜊受重金属胁迫细胞水平上的响应机制，揭示重金属污染和贝类资源衰退的关系，建立快速可靠的重金属污染生物标志物指标体系，开展生态健康评估和生境修复等提供科学依据。主要研究结果如下： 1．查明了渤海湾天津近岸四角蛤蜊体内和表层沉积物中Cd、Pb、Cu、Zn、Mn、Cr和Ni七种重金属的含量和周年时空分布特征；表层沉积物中Cd具有较强的污染程度和潜在生态风险，四角蛤蜊对重金属元素Cd和Pb具有较高的富集能力，对环境重金属污染具有很好的指示作用。 2．查明了Cd对四角蛤蜊在24h，48h和96h的半致死浓度（LC50）分别为15.96mg/L、5.15mg/L和2.38mg/L，汞的24h，48h和96h LC50分别为3.71mg/L，0.61mg/L和0.21mg/L。镉和汞对四角蛤蜊的安全质量浓度分别为0.0238mg/L和0.0021mg/L。 3．四角蛤蜊软体部对Cd和Hg的富集能力有显著差异。暴露过程中，四角蛤蜊软体部Cd和Hg的增加量分别为0.12-7.7µg/g和0.002-0.024µg/g，富集率分别为0.3-6.2%和0.11-0.68%，吸收率常数分别为0.07-1.10和0.001-0.005。 4．四角蛤蜊受Cd和Hg胁迫后，外套膜、鳃和肝胰腺的金属硫蛋白（MT）含量均在暴露浓度和胁迫时间上都有极显著变化。组织内MT含量的大小关系为：肝胰腺＞鳃＞外套膜。肝胰腺可以作为双壳贝类MT重金属污染指示研究的目标组织。四角蛤蜊对Cd和Hg不同的解毒机制，导致组织中MT的表达含量和Cd胁迫显著相关，而与Hg胁迫无显著相关性。 5．四角蛤蜊肝胰腺和鳃中抗氧化系统酶、脂质过氧化产物、酸性磷酸酶（ACP）和碱性磷酸酶（ALP）在不同Cd胁迫浓度和暴露时间下有显著差异。与对照组相比，超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GPx）的活力和丙二醛（MDA）含量均随着暴露时间的增加而增加，达到一个峰值，然后减低。而ACP和ALP活力则表现出先被抑制，然后升高的变化趋势。肝胰腺中CAT和GPx活力高于鳃，鳃中SOD和MDA含量高于肝胰腺，这种差异与两种组织不同的解毒机理有关。 6．重金属胁迫能够造成四角蛤蜊血细胞超微结构的损伤、溶酶体膜稳定性改变、微核和总畸形核生成，各种损伤均表现出明显的浓度依赖效应。2μg/L Hg暴露14天后，血细胞溶酶体膜中性红保持时间（NRR）、微核生成率（MN）和总畸形核生成率（TNA）与对照组相比没有显著差异。相同暴露时间下，25 μg/L Hg处理组血细胞NRR值低于25 μg/L Cd处理组，而MN和TNA值则相反，说明Hg胁迫对四角蛤蜊血细胞溶酶体膜具有较强的损伤作用。研究发现，NRR、MN和TNA三种指标对于衡量重金属污染对四角蛤蜊血细胞的毒性效应有很好的协同检测作用，可望作为有效的生物标志物在环境监测技术中得以应用。

Sorption and desorption of Cu and Cd by macroalgae and microalgae

The sorption and desorption of Cu and Cd by two species of brown macroalgae and five species of microalgae were studied. The two brown macroalgae, Laminaria japonica and Sargassum kjellmanianum, were found to have high capacities at pHs between 4.0 and 5.0 while for microalgae, optimum pH lay at 6.7. The presence of other cations in solution was found to reduce the sorption of the target cation, suggesting a competition for sorption sites on organisms. Sorption isotherms obeyed the Freundlich equation, suggesting involvement of a multiplicity of mechanisms and sorption sites. For the microalgae tested, Spirulina platensis had the highest capacity for Cd, followed by Nannochloropsis oculata, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Platymonas cordifolia and Chaetoceros minutissimus. The reversibility of metal sorption by macroalgae was examined and the results show that both HCl and EDTA solutions were very effective in desorbing sorbed metal ions from macroalgae, with up to 99.5% of metals being recovered. The regenerated biomass showed undiminished sorption performance for the two metals studied, suggesting the potential of such material for use in water and wastewater treatment. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

云南兰坪金顶超大型铅锌矿区镉的环境地球化学研究

矿产资源开采利用过程中导致的重金属环境污染问题日益严重。我国铅锌矿资源丰富，其开采利用过程中镉的环境污染也日益突出。本文通过对云南兰坪金顶Pb-Zn矿区矿床开采利用过程中镉等重金属元素的环境地球化学行为及矿区生态环境的研究，得出如下主要结论。 1. 矿石淋滤实验表明矿区部分氧化铅锌矿石可以很快被再次氧化或者被溶解并释放出大量镉等有害元素，滤出元素可以迅速发生沉淀或被沉淀物包裹，其释放能力表现为Zn>Pb>Cd。铅锌氧化矿石中菱锌矿组分含量是影响镉淋失的主要因素。在开放体系的水-岩作用下，矿区岩石、矿物的自然风化极易造成当地水系统中镉污染。 2. 矿区不同岩（矿）石中镉含量分布差异比较大，围岩中镉含量为50-650 ppm，平均310 ppm，原生矿中镉含量为14-2800 ppm，平均767 ppm，氧化矿中镉含量为110-8200 ppm，平均1661 ppm，其平均值最高。Zn、Cd地球化学性质的差异导致了二者在原生矿和氧化矿中的不同地球化学分配特点，原生矿Zn/Cd高于氧化矿Zn/Cd，表明氧化环境中镉更容易在氧化矿中富集，而锌更容易被氧化析出到环境中。氧化矿中Cd与Ca呈负相关，这表明Cd的富集和Ca的氧化淋失是同时进行的，并且还可能有Cd对Ca的类质同像代替存在。 3. 矿区上游对照区土壤中的高含量Cd浓度是因土壤母质层重金属高背景值造成的，而非人为污染。矿区中心区土壤受到严重Cd污染，可能与选厂、采场废石堆、尾矿库和露采矿山大范围暴露有关。矿区沿沘江下游两岸土壤中Cd含量远远超出上游土壤背景值和金顶全区土壤背景值，这可能是与污水灌溉有关。通过加权综合污染指数评价法发现矿区土壤污染的主要因子是Cd，其次是Zn和Pb，矿区土壤重金属污染贡献顺序为：Cd>Zn>Pb。矿区土壤污染主要表现为：矿区土壤污染有从中心区向沘江下游扩散区土壤中蔓延的趋势。 4. 矿区水体中出现较高含量的镉，高出天然河流中镉含量的50-100倍。矿区架崖山、北厂和跑马坪等采矿区水体中镉浓度范围在15-30 µg/L之间。矿区水体中镉含量水平表现为：矿山浅层地下水>矿山溪流水>沘江河水。研究结果表明，矿区沘江下游河段水体明显受镉污染，其中水体中镉的平均含量为15.7 µg/L，悬浮物中镉含量为49.3 mg/kg，沉积物中镉含量为203.7 mg/kg。矿区载镉岩石和矿物的自然风化是造成矿区水环境中镉污染的直接原因。 5. 跑马坪采场的废弃石具有较低的Cd含量，而北厂、架崖山采场的废弃石具有较高的Cd浓度，可能与废弃矿石类型本身差异有关。尾矿剖面中的Cd含量，在表层中随剖面深度呈递减趋势，在中层随剖面深度变化不明显，而在底层中明显富集。尾矿库表层尾矿样品中弱酸提取态和可还原态Cd高于底层尾矿样品，相比之下，表层尾矿中Cd等重金属元素易于释放到环境中，对环境的潜在危害大。老尾矿库尾矿砂中Cd金属总量高于新尾矿库尾矿砂，可能还是因为选矿工艺、技术的差异造成的。 6. 矿区污染段水体中硫同位素值较低，远远低于上游非污染区硫同位素值。矿区水体中δ34S值保持了金顶铅锌矿山源区矿山物质硫同位素的特征，显示了矿山来源物质的影响。根据水体硫酸盐中硫同位素稀释原理，研究发现沘江下游水体SO42-中85 %的硫来源于矿山物质。 7. 从矿区筛选出Cd、Zn、Pb的超富集植物共有4种：其中Cd超富集植物有2种，分别是本地生条裂萎陵菜（Potentilla lancinata Card. In Lecomte）和辣子草（Galinsoga parviflora Cav.）；Zn超富集植物仅发现有1种植物，为节节草（Equisetum ramosissmum Desf.）；Pb超富集植物发现了1种植物，为毛莲菜（Picris hieracioides L.）。这些植物均具备了超富集植物的基本特征，在污染土壤治理与修复方面具有一定的实践意义。 8. 建立了金顶铅锌矿山（床）地质环境模型。Cd的释放、迁移扩散模式为：雨水淋滤时，矿山固体废弃物产生富Cd的酸性或弱酸性矿山排水，通过下渗淋滤发生测向和垂向迁移，进入周边水体和土壤，然后被水系沉积物中针铁矿、方解石等吸附，并在沉降物中沉淀富集，导致矿区主要河流沘江水体的自净能力下降，加速水体的进一步恶化，破坏生物生存环境。矿区受污染水体、土壤和大气中的有害物质通过生物链进入动植物体内，进而危害人类健康。

富镉铅锌矿床表生地球化学研究及其环境意义－以贵州都匀牛角塘矿床为例

丰富的铅锌矿资源为我国经济社会的发展作出了重要贡献，但也不可避免带来严重的环境污染，特别是酸性矿山废水及重金属污染已成为当今世界面临的两大环境难题。最让人们不安的是，即使在矿山关闭数十年、数百年，甚至更长时间，矿山尾矿等浸出液对矿区生态环境的影响依然存在。闪锌矿是铅锌矿中主要矿物之一，也是镉的主要载体矿物，而镉是有毒重金属元素，其毒性仅次于汞。大量含硫化物废石、尾矿暴露于地表环境，发生水－岩－气之间的反应(即氧化淋滤作用)产生酸性矿山废水和释放大量Zn、Cd等重金属元素，进入矿区水体、土壤，影响甚至破坏矿区生态环境，危害人类健康。通过表生环境条件下矿石风化淋滤实验和闪锌矿氧化动力学实验研究，认识铅锌矿石及闪锌矿氧化淋滤过程、速率及其影响因素，揭示Zn、Cd等重金属元素的释放、迁移及富集规律，并建立定量模型，为正确预测、评价和控制铅锌矿山的环境污染提供科学依据。 本文以牛角塘富镉锌矿床为研究对象，主要通过闪锌矿氧化动力学实验、矿石风化淋滤实验及矿区环境调查将闪锌矿氧化－矿石风化淋滤－环境污染有机地联系在一起，主要取得以下几点认识： 1、矿石风化淋滤实验表明，牛角塘铅锌矿石淋滤后淋滤液主要呈碱性，淋滤释放出大量Zn2+、Cd2+、Ca2+、Mg2+等阳离子及SO42-、CO32-等阴离子，淋滤过程中形成大量以石膏为主要成分的沉淀物，淋滤液中Zn、Cd主要以沉淀形式存在(可能被沉淀吸附或包裹)，而水溶态Zn、Cd浓度极低。 2、牛角塘矿床中黄铁矿锌矿石中Zn和Cd淋滤率较半氧化锌矿石低得多，表明半氧化或氧化锌矿石的风化淋滤作用更强烈。 3、在Fe2(SO4)3为氧化剂时，闪锌矿氧化速率随着Fe3+浓度的增加、温度升高、pH值降低而增加，且闪锌矿氧化过程中Zn、Cd的释放速率大致相同；在有限实验时间内(本文中小于60h)黄铁矿的混入对闪锌矿氧化速率起抑制作用，可能是黄铁矿与闪锌矿与Fe3+反应过程中存在竞争关系；反应的活化能分别为Ea(Zn)41.75 kJ.mol-1、Ea(Cd)42.51 kJ.mol-1，说明闪锌矿氧化速率受矿物表面反应控制。氧气氧化闪锌矿时，随着pH值的变化闪锌矿的氧化机理发生变化，在2＜pH≤6范围内，闪锌矿氧化速率随着pH值的增加而降低，而在6＜pH≤7.8范围内，随着pH值增加，闪锌矿氧化速率反而增加。Fe3+和氧气均对闪锌矿的氧化起重要作用，但以Fe3+氧化为主。 4、大多数闪锌矿氧化实验中Zn、Cd的溶解曲线非常相似、活化能相近，表明Zn和Cd存在相似的地球化学行为。但在闪锌矿溶解过程中Zn、Cd的释放速率存在差异，在酸性介质条件下Cd的释放速率比Zn略快，而中碱性介质条件，Cd的释放速率比Zn慢。这与Zn、Cd同处元素周期表第ⅡB族，它们之间既存在许多相似的地球化学性质，也存在不少差异有关。 5、利用双对数图法处理实验数据，得出表生环境条件下闪锌矿氧化速率公式为： 或 该公式可用于估算一定时间内闪锌矿氧化所释放的Zn、Cd等重金属元素的总量，为正确预测、评价和控制铅锌矿山的环境影响提供科学依据。 6、牛角塘矿区环境调查结果表明，牛角塘矿山水体主要呈中碱性，水体污染较轻，大多水体中Zn、Cd含量未超过农业灌溉标准及饮用水国家标准，这主要受矿区碳酸盐岩地层的影响。但矿区土壤、河流沉积物及植物中Zn、Cd均超过相关国家标准，遭到不同程度污染。 7、本文研究表明，闪锌矿氧化及铅锌矿风化淋滤过程中，将产生矿山酸性废水和释放Zn、Cd等重金属元素，污染矿区及其下游生态环境，危害人类健康。我们可以采取以下措施进行防范和控制环境污染：第一，提高矿区水体pH值，降低闪锌矿等硫化物矿物氧化速率；第二，尽量减少废石、尾矿直接暴露于空气、Fe3+等氧化剂环境中，如可在废石（渣）、尾矿表面盖上覆土等，也可降低闪锌矿等硫化物矿物的氧化速率。

Determinação de cádmio e chumbo em brinquedos para crianças com idade inferior a 3 anos

Projeto de Pós-Graduação/Dissertação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ciências Farmacêuticas

Plasmid biology of natural Lactococcus lactis strains and molecular mechanisms of bacteriophage-host interaction

Lacticin 3147, enterocin AS-48, lacticin 481, variacin, and sakacin P are bacteriocins offering promising perspectives in terms of preservation and shelf-life extension of food products and should find commercial application in the near future. The studies detailing their characterization and bio-preservative applications are reviewed. Transcriptomic analyses showed a cell wall-targeted response of Lactococcus lactis IL1403 during the early stages of infection with the lytic bacteriophage c2, which is probably orchestrated by a number of membrane stress proteins and involves D-alanylation of membrane lipoteichoic acids, restoration of the physiological proton motive force disrupted following bacteriophage infection, and energy conservation. Sequencing of the eight plasmids of L. lactis subsp. cremoris DPC3758 from raw milk cheese revealed three anti-phage restriction/modification (R/M) systems, immunity/resistance to nisin, lacticin 481, cadmium and copper, and six conjugative/mobilization regions. A food-grade derivative strain with enhanced bacteriophage resistance was generated via stacking of R/M plasmids. Sequencing and functional analysis of the four plasmids of L. lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis DPC3901 from raw milk cheese revealed genes novel to Lactococcus and typical of bacteria associated with plants, in addition to genes associated with plant-derived lactococcal strains. The functionality of a novel high-affinity regulated system for cobalt uptake was demonstrated. The bacteriophage resistant and bacteriocin-producing plasmid pMRC01 places a metabolic burden on lactococcal hosts resulting in lowered growth rates and increased cell permeability and autolysis. The magnitude of these effects is strain dependent but not related to bacteriocin production. Starters’ acidification capacity is not significantly affected. Transcriptomic analyses showed that pMRC01 abortive infection (Abi) system is probably subjected to a complex regulatory control by Rgg-like ORF51 and CopG-like ORF58 proteins. These regulators are suggested to modulate the activity of the putative Abi effectors ORF50 and ORF49 exhibiting topology and functional similarities to the Rex system aborting bacteriophage λ lytic growth.

Comparing impacts of new cropping systems on biodiversity in traditional rural China

This study selected six geographically-similar villages with traditional and alternative cultivation methods (two groups of three, one traditional and two alternatives) in two counties of Henan Province, China—a representative area of the Huang-huai-hai Plain representing traditional rural China. Soil heavy metal concentrations, floral and faunal biodiversity, and socio-economic data were recorded. Heavy metal concentrations of surface soils from three sites in each village were analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS, chromium, nickel, copper, cadmium, and lead) and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS, zinc). The floral biodiversity of four land-use types was recorded following the Braun-Blanquet coverage-abundance method using 0.5×0.5m quadrats. The faunal biodiversity of two representative farmland plots was recorded using 0.3×0.3m quadrats at four 0.1m layers. The socio-economic data were recorded through face-to-face interviews of one hundred randomly selected households at each village. Results demonstrate different cultivation methods lead to different impact on above variables. Traditional cultivation led to lower heavy metal concentrations; both alternative managements were associated with massive agrochemical input causing heavy metal pollution in farmlands. Floral distribution was significantly affected by village factors. Diverse cultivation supported high floral biodiversity through multi-scale heterogeneous landscapes containing niches and habitats. Faunal distribution was also significantly affected by village factor nested within soil depth. Different faunal groups responded differently, with Acari being taxonomically diverse and Collembola high in densities. Increase in manual labour and crop number in villages using alternative cultivation may positively affect biodiversity. The results point to the conservation potential of diverse cultivation methods in traditional rural China and other regions under social and political reforms, where traditional agriculture is changing to unified, large-scale mechanized agriculture. This study serves as a baseline for conservation in small-holding agricultural areas of China, and points to the necessity of further studies at larger and longer scales.

Evidence of various mechanisms of Cd sequestration in the hyperaccumulator Arabidopsis halleri, the non accumulator Arabidopsis lyrata and their progenies by combined synchrotron-based techniques

Arabidopsis halleri is a model plant for Zn and Cd hyperaccumulation. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the chemical forms of Cd, its distribution in leaves, and Cd accumulation and tolerance. An interspecific cross was carried out between A. halleri and the non-tolerant and non-hyperaccumulating relative A. lyrata providing progenies segregating for Cd tolerance and accumulation. Cd speciation and distribution were investigated using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and microfocused X-ray fluorescence. In A. lyrata and non-tolerant progenies, Cd was coordinated by S atoms only or with a small contribution of O groups. Interestingly, the proportion of O ligands increased in A. halleri and tolerant progenies, and they were predominant in most of them, while S ligands were still present. Therefore, the binding of Cd with O ligands was associated with Cd tolerance. In A. halleri, Cd was mainly located in the xylem, phloem, and mesophyll tissue, suggesting a reallocation process for Cd within the plant. The distribution of the metal at the cell level was further discussed. In A. lyrata, the vascular bundles were also Cd enriched, but the epidermis was richer in Cd as compared with the mesophyll. Cd was identified in trichomes of both species. This work demonstrated that both Cd speciation and localization were related to the tolerance character of the plant.

Bioaccumulation Trends of Ten Metals in a Pelagic Food Web of Lake Champlain

Many metals have serious toxic effects when ingested by aquatic organisms, and the process of bioaccumulation intensifies this problem. A better understanding of bioaccumulation trends of anthropogenically introduced metals in freshwater food webs is necessary for the development of effective management strategies to protect aquatic organisms, as well as organisms (including humans) that consume top-predator fish in these food webs. Various fish species representing different trophic levels of a pelagic food chain were sampled from Lake Champlain (VT/NY). Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was used to determine levels of chromium, copper, cobalt, cadmium, lead, zinc, nickel, rubidium, cesium and potassium in the fish samples. Metal concentrations for chromium, cobalt, nickel, cesium, cadmium (<5.0 ppm) and lead (<10.0 ppm) were found to be all below detection limits. Carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios were analyzed to determine the trophic relationship of each fish species. Stable isotope and AAS metal data were used in tandem to produce linear regressions for each metal against trophic level to assess biomagnification. Both potassium and zinc showed no biomagnification because they are homeostatically regulated essential trace metals. Copper was under the detection limits for all fish species with the exception of the sea lamprey; but showed a significant biodiminution among the invertebrates and lamprey. Rubidium, a rarely studied metal, was shown to increase with trophic level in a marginally significant linear relationship suggesting biomagnification is possible where more trophic levels are sampled.

Self-assembled triple helicates with preferential helicity

The enantiomerically pure ligands LRR and LSS (N,N'-bis(-2,2'-bipyridyl-5-yl)carbonyl-(1S/R,2S/R)-(+/-)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane) have been synthesised by linking two 2,2'-bipyridine units by (R,R)- and (S,S)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane respectively. The crystal structure confirmed that the ligand had a twisted orientation between the two chelating units. The reaction of LRR and LSS with Fe(II), Co(III), Cd(II) and Zn(II) afforded dinuclear complexes confirmed by ES mass spectroscopy. CD spectroscopy indicated that the chiral diaminocyclohexane conferred helicity to the metal centre giving a dominant triple helicate diastereoisomer, with the LRR ligand giving a delta-configuration of each metal centre (P helicate) and the LSS ligand a lambda configuration (M helicate). 1H NMR spectroscopy confirmed a dominant major diastereoisomer with cadmium. The Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes however were observed to undergo rapid ligand dissociation in solution.

The stereoselective coordination chemistry of the helicating ligand N,N '-bis(-2,2 '-dipyridyl-5-yl)carbonyl-(S/R,S/R)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine

Enantiomerically pure N,N'-bis(-2,2'-dipyridyl-5-yl)carbonyl-(S/R,S/R)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine has been synthesised by linking two 2,2'-bipyridine units by (R,R)- and (S,S)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine. The ligands possess a hindered rotation between the bipyridine chromophores, which are held together by intramolecular hydrogen bonds. ES mass spectroscopy confirmed that reaction with Fe(II), Co(III) and Cd(II) afforded dinuclear complexes. CD spectroscopy implied that enantiopure ligands conferred helicity to the metals centre giving a dominant triple helicate diastereoisomer (with the RR isomer giving a P helicate). H-1 NMR spectroscopy of the cadmium complex confirmed the presence of a single diastereoisomer. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Task-specific ionic liquid for solubilizing metal oxides

Protonated betaine bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide is an ionic liquid with the ability to dissolve large quantities of metal oxides. This metal-solubilizing power is selective. Soluble are oxides of the trivalent rare earths, uranium(VI) oxide, zinc(II) oxide, cadmium( II) oxide, mercury( II) oxide, nickel( II) oxide, copper(II) oxide, palladium(II) oxide, lead(II) oxide, manganese( II) oxide, and silver( I) oxide. Insoluble or very poorly soluble are iron(III), manganese(IV), and cobalt oxides, as well as aluminum oxide and silicon dioxide. The metals can be stripped from the ionic liquid by treatment of the ionic liquid with an acidic aqueous solution. After transfer of the metal ions to the aqueous phase, the ionic liquid can be recycled for reuse. Betainium bis( trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide forms one phase with water at high temperatures, whereas phase separation occurs below 55.5 degrees C ( temperature switch behavior). The mixtures of the ionic liquid with water also show a pH-dependent phase behavior: two phases occur at low pH, whereas one phase is present under neutral or alkaline conditions. The structures, the energetics, and the charge distribution of the betaine cation and the bis( trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide anion, as well as the cation-anion pairs, were studied by density functional theory calculations.

Adsorption mechanisms of removing heavy metals and dyes from aqueous solution using date pits solid adsorbent

A potential usefulness of raw date pits as an inexpensive solid adsorbent for methylene blue (MB), copper ion (Cu2+), and cadmium ion (Cd2+) has been demonstrated in this work. This work was conducted to provide fundamental information from the study of equilibrium adsorption isotherms and to investigate the adsorption mechanisms in the adsorption of MB, Cu2+, and Cd2+ onto raw date pits. The fit of two models, namely Langmuir and Freundlich models, to experimental data obtained from the adsorption isotherms was checked. The adsorption capacities of the raw date pits towards MB and both Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions obtained from Langmuir and Freundlich models were found to be 277.8, 35.9, and 39.5 mg g(-1), respectively. Surface functional groups on the raw date pits surface substantially influence the adsorption characteristics of MB, Cu2+, and Cd2+ onto the raw date pits. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies show clear differences in both absorbances and shapes of the bands and in their locations before and after solute adsorption. Two mechanisms were observed for MB adsorption, hydrogen bonding and electrostatic attraction, while other mechanisms were observed for Cu2+ and Cd2+. For Cu2+, binding two cellulose/lignin units together is the predominant mechanism. For Cd2+. the predominant mechanism is by binding itself using two hydroxyl groups in the cellulose/lignin unit. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Holothurians – potential biomonitors for metal levels in deep-sea sediments

Levels of cadmium, copper, aluminium, iron, manganese and zinc (Cd, Cu, Al, Fe, Mn and Zn) in deep-sea sediments and sediment-feeding holothurians are reported. Profiles of metals were found to vary with depth in the sediment. Holothurian foregut metal values are generally closer to surficial sediment levels, whereas body wall levels, with the exception of Cd and Cu, were generally lower. Holothurians are presented as potential biomonitors of metal concentrations in the deep-sea floor environment.

FhCaBP3: A Fasciola hepatica calcium binding protein with EF-hand and dynein light chain domains

A DNA sequence encoding a protein with predicted EF-hand and dynein light chain binding domains was identified in a Fasciola hepatica EST library. Sequence analysis of the encoded protein revealed that the most similar known protein was the Fasciola gigantica protein FgCaBP3 and so this newly identified protein was named FhCaBP3. Molecular modelling of FhCaBP3 predicted a highly flexible N-terminal region, followed by a domain containing two EF-hand motifs the second of which is likely to be a functioning divalent ion binding site. The C-terminal domain of the protein contains a dynein light chain like region. Interestingly, molecular modelling predicts that calcium ion binding to the N-terminal domain destabilises the ß-sheet structure of the C-terminal domain. FhCaBP3 can be expressed in, and purified from, Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein dimerises and the absence of calcium ions appeared to promote dimerisation. Native gel shift assays demonstrated that the protein bound to calcium and manganese ions, but not to magnesium, barium, zinc, strontium, nickel, copper or cadmium ions. FhCaBP3 interacted with the calmodulin antagonists trifluoperazine, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide and chlorpromazine as well as the myosin regulatory light chain-binding drug praziquantel. Despite sequence and structural similarities to other members of the same protein family from F. hepatica, FhCaBP3 has different biochemical properties to the other well characterised family members, FH22 and FhCaBP4. This suggests that each member of this trematode calcium-binding family has discrete functional roles within the organism.