植物络合素合酶基因的功能分析及其应用

植物络合素（phytochelatins，PCs）是含有γ-Glu-Cys重复结构的小分子多肽，其结构通式为：（γ-Glu-Cys）n-Gly（n=2-11）。植物络合素（PCs）由植物络合素合酶（PCS）催化谷胱甘肽（GSH）聚合而成，能够络合重金属离子而具有解毒功能，这是植物解毒重金属胁迫的重要机制之一。本文克隆了来源于重金属抗性植物绊根草（Cynodon dactylon cv Goldensun）的植物络合素合酶基因，通过基因工程手段使其在烟草中过量表达，得到了一些有望用于植物修复（phytoremediation）的工程植株。同时，在水稻（Oryza sativa）种子中利用RNAi技术抑制植物络合素合酶基因的表达，以降低重金属离子在人类最重要的粮食作物水稻的籽粒中的积累。 1. 通过RACE（Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends）方法从抗性植物绊根草中克隆了植物络合素合酶基因CdPCS1，其1515 bp的读码框编码一个含505个氨基酸的蛋白质，蛋白质序列分析表明它具有植物络合素合酶的结构特征，同时还具有磷酸化位点和亮氨酸拉链结构。 2. CdPCS1基因可以互补对铜和镉离子敏感的酵母突变株ABDE-1（cup1Δ）中缺失的金属硫蛋白基因CUP1的功能，也可以互补对砷离子敏感的酵母突变体FD236-6A（acr-3Δ）中的离子外排载体基因ARC3的缺失。 3. 将CdPCS1转入烟草，共获得过表达CdPCS1的烟草44个株系，其中融合GFP的株系16个。对T0代的转基因植株的PCs含量以及重金属抗性和吸收能力进行了分析，其中抗性实验表明，在300μmol/L 的Cd2+离子胁迫11天之后，野生型植株的叶片出现斑点状坏死，而两个转基因烟草株系S6和K49的植株没有出现受伤害症状。在100μmol/L的CdSO4处理一周后，转基因植株中的PCs含量比对照有不同程度的提高，最多提高了2.88倍。当用300μmol/L Cd2+处理9天再用600μmol/L Cd2+处理2天后，Cd的积累量比野生型植株增加了2倍多;用50μmol/L As3+处理7天再用100μmol/L As3+处理2天后，转基因植株对As的积累量最多增加了3倍多。说明转入绊根草PC合酶基因的烟草增加了植物络合素的合成，并由此增加了对镉离子的抗性以及对镉离子和砷离子的积累。 4. 对转基因烟草中的CdPCS1进行了亚细胞定位研究。在激光共聚焦显微镜和荧光显微镜下分别用转基因烟草叶片组织和叶肉细胞原生质体观察融合GFP的CdPCS1，结果表明融合蛋白定位于细胞核中。 5. .利用RNAi技术抑制水稻种子中植物络合素合酶基因的表达，共获得39个转基因株系。其中35个株系为种子特异性ZMM1启动子驱动OsPCS1基因的RNAi，其余4个株系由组成型的Ubiquitin启动子驱动。RT-PCR的分析结果表明：一个由ZMM1启动子驱动的RNAi转基因水稻株系的种子中，OsPCS1的mRNA水平比对照中的下降了一半。

砷超富集植物蜈蚣草(Pteris vittata L.)中砷解毒机制的研究

砷是一种具有致癌、致畸、致突变的有毒元素，在地表的含量本来很低。然而，随着现代社会的发展和工业活动的增加导致砷污染日趋严重。土壤和水体中的砷污染可以通过食物链进入人体，对人类的健康造成极大的危害。植物修复是一种利用植物对污染物的超富集能力来清除或减低污染的新型环境生物技术。植物修复的实际应用依赖于超富集植物的发现和超富集机制的阐明，特别是砷解毒过程(砷的吸收、还原和区域化)的研究及相关基因的克隆。砷超富集植物蜈蚣草(Pteris vittata L.)中砷解毒机制的阐明将为砷污染的植物修复及新型工程植物的研发提供理论基础。 本论文以蜈蚣草为试材，针对蜈蚣草的砷解毒机制取得了如下研究进展： 1.以砷超富集植物蜈蚣草为材料，建立了一个适于研究蜈蚣草砷吸收和解毒机制的新系统—愈伤组织悬浮培养体系。首次证明蜈蚣草愈伤组织与其孢子体及配子体一样具有对砷的抗性和砷超富集的能力。 2.以蜈蚣草愈伤组织为材料，通过比较亚砷酸盐、砷酸盐和二甲基胂酸盐对蜈蚣草和拟南芥植物毒性的差异，表明砷的还原可能是蜈蚣草对砷解毒的重要机制之一而砷的甲基化对蜈蚣草的砷解毒作用甚微。 3.以蜈蚣草愈伤组织为材料，通过对砷在蜈蚣草愈伤组织细胞中的亚细胞定位，首次直接证明植物液泡对砷具有非常明显的区隔化作用。暗示区隔化作用在蜈蚣草对砷的解毒过程中发挥着重要的作用。 4.通过测定蜈蚣草愈伤组织对不同化学态的砷处理下抗氧化物质的变化发现酸溶性巯基在蜈蚣草砷解毒中也发挥着重要作用。 5.以蜈蚣草愈伤组织为材料，发现磷和砷的吸收在高浓度范围下（﹥0.2 mM）存在明显的协同效应。对蜈蚣草高亲和磷酸盐转运蛋白基因－PvPHT基因功能的初步分析则表明PvPHT参与了蜈蚣草对磷和砷的吸收过程。

利用多基因转化技术培育重金属超富集植物的研究

植物耐受和积累重金属的细胞学基础是植物细胞内存在一些能够络合和区隔化金属离子的机制。细胞中络合重金属离子最重要的小肽分子是谷胱甘肽(GSH)和植物络合素(PCs)，而YCFⅠ基因编码的ABC-type 液泡膜转运蛋白负责将重金属离子及其与上述小肽形成的复合物转运进入细胞液泡中，即将重金属离子区隔化。植物细胞中合成GSH 和PCs 的关键酶分别是γ－谷氨酰氨半胱氨酸合成酶(GSHⅠ)和植物络合素合酶(PCS)，他们的编码基因分别为GSHⅠ 和PCS 。此外定位于细胞质中的小囊泡上且对二价阳离子的吸收和转运有重要作用的SMF2 蛋白可能也参与重金属离子的区隔化过程。 为了改良植物使之能够应用于清除土壤中的重金属污染，本研究基于植物耐受和积累重金属的细胞学机制，分别将酿酒酵母来源的GSHⅠ、YCFⅠ和SMF2 基因，以及GSHⅠ、YCFⅠ基因分别与镉抗性植物大蒜来源的AsPCSⅠ 基因构建为不同的基因组合表达载体，转化模式植物拟南芥。对不同组合转基因拟南芥的功能分析表明： 1、酵母来源的基因GHSⅠ、YCFⅠ分别在拟南芥中异源超表达可以在一定程度上提高转基因拟南芥耐受、积累重金属的能力;其中GSHⅠ基因在拟南芥超表达可以提高转基因拟南芥合成GSH 的能力，转基因拟南芥细胞中GSH 浓度比野生型增加。 2、将GSHⅠ基因和来自大蒜的AsPCSⅠ基因同时在拟南芥中超表达能够显著提高转基因拟南芥耐受和积累重金属的能力，且积累和耐受能力显著高于分别转GSHⅠ或AsPCSⅠ的单价转基因株系;将YCFⅠ基因和AsPCSⅠ基因同时在拟南芥中超表达也能够显著提高转基因拟南芥耐受和积累重金属的能力，且积累和耐受能力显著高于分别转YCFⅠ或AsPCSⅠ的单价转基因株系。两种双价转基因株系GSHⅠ＋AsPCSⅠ和YCFⅠ＋AsPCSⅠ在积累和耐受不同重金属胁迫方面没有明显差别。 3、将SMF2 基因在拟南芥中异源表达，研究了植物中囊泡转运是否参与了重金属离子的吸收和区隔化过程。研究结果表明：超表达SMF2 基因的拟南芥尽管耐受重金属胁迫的能力与野生型没有明显差异，但其积累重金属的能力显著提高。这为证明植物中小囊泡转运参与重金属转运提供了间接证据。 综上所述，同时将多个参与植物对重金属络合、转运和区隔化作用的关键基因在转基因植物中表达可以提高植物耐受和积累重金属的能力，是培育可用于植物修复的新型工程植物的值得探索的途径。本论文所设计和构建的双价基因组合及其对目标植物的转化，在环境重金属污染的清除中有潜在的应用价值。

蜈蚣草(Pteris vittata L.)对砷和铜复合污染的响应及生理机制研究

随着现代工农业的发展，环境污染日益加剧。农用土壤作为我们赖以生存的基础，大量含砷（Arsenic, As）和铜（Copper, Cu）的化肥和农药的应用造成As、Cu及其他重金属的复合污染日趋加重。蜈蚣草作为一种天然的砷超富集植物，在清除土壤砷污染的应用中备受人们关注。然而，目前的研究多集中在蜈蚣草对单一砷污染的吸收、转运和超富集等方面，几乎没有对土壤复合污染尤其是As、Cu复合污染的的响应和生理机制的研究。本文针对As、Cu复合污染的现实，研究了不同浓度砷、铜复合污染胁迫对蜈蚣草生长和发育的影响，探讨了蜈蚣草对砷、铜复合污染抗性和富集的生理生化机制，以期为蜈蚣草在植物修复复合污染的应用提供理论基础。 主要研究结果如下： 1、以砷超富集植物蜈蚣草成熟孢子为外植体材料，建立了一套成熟的蜈蚣草孢子植株再生体系，包括配子体分化和愈伤组织分化两条途径。为蜈蚣草的生理生化机制以及将来的遗传转化奠定了基础。同时证明了蜈蚣草愈伤组织与其孢子体及配子体一样具有对砷的抗性和超富集特性以及铜抗性。 2、以组培的蜈蚣草孢子体为材料，通过比较高浓度砷、低浓度砷以及高浓度铜、低浓度铜的相互组合对孢子体毒性的差异，表明适度浓度砷可以增强蜈蚣草对铜的抗性，但高、低浓度铜都不能增强砷的抗性。同时测定了不同浓度砷、铜处理对蜈蚣草体内砷和铜的吸收分配情况，探讨了蜈蚣草对砷铜复合污染土壤的植物修复的潜在可能性 。 3、以蜈蚣草组培的配子体为材料，研究了蜈蚣草对不同浓度铜砷复合处理的生理生化响应。结果表明砷的加入可以缓解铜对蜈蚣草配子体的植物毒性，而铜的加入并没有缓解砷的植物毒性。而且随着砷浓度的提高可以显著降低铜在配子体中的积累，显著提高了配子体细胞生存能力，降低了配子体细胞膜透性，且可以改变铜砷在配子体中亚细胞定位，暗示砷对铜的积累具有拮抗作用。同时观察到适度的铜也可以降低砷在孢子体根中的积累，对砷在叶柄以及羽叶中的积累有一定的降低作用，但并不显著。 4、以蜈蚣草愈伤组织为材料，研究了蜈蚣草愈伤组织对砷和铜复合污染胁迫的生理生化响应，结果表明适度的砷可以显著提高蜈蚣草愈伤组织中抗氧化酶系统，进而提高抵御铜胁迫引起的ROS胁迫的能力而显著缓解铜对蜈蚣草愈伤组织的毒性。低浓度砷加入显著诱导POD、CAT活性的升高，提高了蜈蚣草愈伤组织抵抗ROS胁迫能力，尤其是POD与生长呈显著的正相关;SOD活性在0-1.0 mM Na3AsO4条件下并没有显著增加，暗示在相对较低的砷胁迫和铜胁迫条件下POD对蜈蚣草愈伤组织解毒起到重要作用。同时在高砷或者高铜胁迫条件下GR活性和GPx活性与之的相关系数可以达到显著水平，这说明高砷或者高铜胁迫条件下GR和GPx在蜈蚣草解毒中起到重要作用。 5、首次证明NO可能参与砷缓解铜对蜈蚣草的植物毒性的过程。发现加入0.2 μM NO加入并没有显著改善蜈蚣草砷的植物毒性，清除蜈蚣草愈伤组织内的NO后，显著增强了砷胁迫条件下对蜈蚣草愈伤组织生长的抑制作用。同时加入NO后却显著改善了蜈蚣草铜胁迫条件下愈伤组织的生长。测定了As、Cu处理后蜈蚣草愈伤组织内源NO含量的变化以及CAT抗ROS能力的变化，结果表明蜈蚣草愈伤组织NO合成显著受As诱导，但不受铜的诱导，同时内源NO浓度的升高，伴随着抵抗ROS胁迫的抗氧化的CAT活性升高。暗示砷可能是通过诱导内源NO浓度升高提高蜈蚣草愈伤组织抵抗ROS胁迫能力来缓解对铜的植物毒性。

植物克隆性在生态修复中的意义：鄂尔多斯高原赖草和沙鞭的案例

克隆植物通过克隆生长能够很好的适应异质性的生境。在进行植被修复的研究和实践中，注意发扬或引进具有重要资源价值的克隆植物是重要的恢复生态学思考和途径。本文主要应用实验生态学的方法，通过对鄂尔多斯高原不同克隆植物克隆性及其对水分条件的反应的比较，以及对不同克隆植物抵抗风蚀和风蚀坑修复的能力的比较，探讨克隆植物对干旱(水分条件)及风蚀的适应机制，从而对克隆植物的克隆性在生态修复中的意义进行了研究和阐述。 　　对不同水分条件下赖草(Leymus secalinus (Georgi.) Tzvel)和沙鞭(Psammochloa villosa (Trin.) Bor)克隆性的研究表明：克隆生长开始时间和克隆生长率二者与克隆植物新产生子代分株数量之间存在着显著的相关关系，说明克隆生长开始时间和克隆生长率能够作为准确评价克隆性的指标;相对于沙鞭来说，赖草具有更强的克隆性，表现在它的早的克隆生长开始时间、高的克隆生长率，并且这种差异可以被水分条件所修饰;植物的克隆性对水分条件具有较强的可塑性，这种可塑性具有种间差异。相对赖草来说，沙鞭能更好地适应干旱条件。 　　克隆植物植株有两种繁殖体类型，分株和种子。本研究对分别从分株来源和种子来源的赖草与沙鞭植株在不同水分条件下生长状况及克隆性进行了比较，结果表明：水分的增加，有利于赖草的生长;而对于沙鞭来说，水分抑制了分株来源的沙鞭植株的生长，但对种子来源的沙鞭植株的生长有着促进作用。克隆植物的克隆性在水分条件较好的情况下能够得到更好的表达。不同来源有赖草植株之间克隆性没有明显差异;对于沙鞭来说，分株来源的沙鞭植株克隆性受水分条件的影响不明显，但水分有利于种子来源的沙鞭植株克隆性的表达。说明不同繁殖体类型来源的植株，克隆性对水分的反应格局存在着一定的差异。分株来源的沙鞭植株对干旱条件具有比种子来源的植株更强的适应性。 　　通过对沙鞭和赖草实生幼苗在不同风蚀程度下生长状况的比较，结果表明二者幼苗在抵抗风蚀时采取不同的策略。风蚀显著降低了赖草产生新生分株的能力，而对沙鞭潜在分株数没有显著影响。赖草实生幼苗生长状况在轻中度风蚀条件下与对照处理没有显著差异，说明对风蚀具有较强的抵抗能力，其策略可能是风险分担，赖草具有的强克隆性使之能快速产生新的子代分株，从而分担了风蚀造成的风险;沙鞭实生幼苗的生长状况受风蚀影响较为明显，但风蚀没有能对其产生潜在分株(芽)的能力产生显著的影响，说明沙鞭实生幼苗对风蚀可能采取的是通过芽的产生贮存资源、逃避风险、等待机会的策略。赖草和沙鞭对风蚀所采用的不同适应策略，可能会影响到二者在自然条件下种群更新方式的选择。 　　为了探讨克隆植物对风蚀坑修复能力及机理，研究了沙鞭和赖草对种群内风蚀坑的修复过程，结果表明：合轴型克隆草本赖草具有比单轴型克隆草本沙鞭更强的植被修复能力，能够在风蚀坑中产生更多的新生分株，这主要归功于赖草的强克隆性，而赖草间隔子的可塑性反应也有利于将更多的新生分株放置在风蚀坑内。二者进行植被修复的机理有所差异，赖草对风蚀坑的修复主要是通过周围根茎扩展进入坑中，然后产生新的分株;而沙鞭不仅可以通过周边根茎进入产生新的分株，同时也可以通过刺激深层休眠芽来产生新的分株。二者都能在风蚀坑中产生比自然条件下更多的分株，以更好利用风蚀坑中充足的光照;但同时这些分株的生长也受到风蚀坑中养分条件的制约，生物量和生长状况都不如自然条件下形成的分株。 　　 　　

Alternative uses of partitioning interwell tracer tests for DNAPL source zone characterisation

The heterogeneous nature of the subsurface and associated DNAPL morphologies often poses the greatest limitation to source zone clean-up strategies. Hence, detailed site characterisation techniques are required. The data presented in this paper has been collected from a series of laboratory 2-D tank experiments and numerical simulations of Partitioning Interwell Tracer Tests (PITT) in a wide range of aquifer conditions and DNAPL morphologies. Alternative uses of tracer breakthrough data have been developed In order to characterise the mass flux generated from the DNAPL source. By combining the laboratory and numerical data, a relationship between normalised mass flux and tracer-based average source zone DNAPL saturation has been established. Knowledge of such a relationship allows remediation targets to be identified, clean-up efficiencies to be evaluated, and increases the accuracy of any risk assessment.

Cadmium leachability and microbial population dynamics in a stabilized and bioaugmented model contaminated soil

This article presents a laboratory study on the consequences of the application of combined soil stabilization and bioaugmentation in the remediation of a model contaminated soil. Stabilization and bioaugmentation are two techniques commonly applied independently for the remediation of heavy metal and organic contamination respectively. However, for a cocktail of contaminants combined treatments are currently being considered. The model soil was contaminated with a cocktail of organics and heavy metals based on the soil and contaminant conditions in a real contaminated site. The soil stabilization treatment was applied using either zeolite or green waste compost as additives and a commercially available hydrocarbon degrading microbial consortium was used for the bioaugmentation treatment. The effects of stabilization with or without bioaugmentation on the leachability of cadmium and copper was observed using an EU batch leaching test procedure and a flow-through column leaching test, both using deionized water at a pH of 5.6. In addition, the population of hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms was monitored using a modified plate count procedure in cases where bioaugmentation was applied. It was found that while the stabilization treatment reduced the metal leachability by up to 60%, the bioaugmentation treatment increased it by up to 100% Microbial survival was also higher in the stabilized soil samples.

Heavy metal concentrations in some organs of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) from Eko-Ende Dam, Ikirun, Nigeria

The contents of the heavy metals Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb, Cd and As were examined in the liver, heart, gills, kidney and muscles of the fish Clarias gariepinus from Eko-Ende dam in Ikirun, the capital of Ifelodun Local Government of Osun State, Nigeria. C. gariepinus is the fish of choice and the most demanded in the southwest of Nigeria. The highest metal concentrations were in the liver and the gills while the lowest was in the muscles. The general deceasing order of metal accumulation in the organs was Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Cd. Lead and arsenic were not detected in any organ. The values were of lower concentrations than found in many other dams and rivers in Nigeria and some other countries. The values were also lower than the FAO/WHO recommended maximum limits in fish samples, making the fish to be safe and not of any hazards for the consumers.

Studies on arsenical creosote as a wood preservative for marine structures. Part 2. Observation on leaching, corrosion and resistance to borer attack

A detailed study on arsenical creosote with reference to leaching, corrosion and anti-borer properties was carried out. Results showed that aging had very little effect on the preservative which suggested better fixation of the preservative into the wood. Corrosion of mild steel, galvanised iron, aluminium-magnesium alloy (M57S) and copper panels in the preservative was found to be negligible. Normal creosote and low temperature creosote of Regional Research Laboratory, Hyderabad, both fortified with arsenic trioxide resisted borer damage on wooden panels for a period of over five months in the port of Cochin. The performance of low temperature creosote fortified with arsenic was found to be equally satisfactory when compared to normal creosote fortified in the same manner. A loading of 208.6 Kgs/ml³ for Haldu (Adina cordifolia) and 138 Kgs/m³ for Mango (Mangifera indica) in the case of normal creosote and 177 Kgs/m³ for Mango the case of RRL creosote were found to be sufficient for treating the wood.

The zonation of soft-bottom sediments in Gorgan Bay (Caspian Sea) using macrobenthos as indicator of ecological health

In this study, in order to assess the ecological health status and zoning of soft bottom of Gorgan Bay, the spatial and temporal distribution of macrofauna and their relationship with environmental stress were investigated. Sediment samples were collected using a Van Veen grab at 22 sampling points, seasonally during 2012-2013. The averages (±SD) of the percentages of sand, silt, clay and TOM (Total Organic Matter) in the sediment samples were determined (44.4± 15, 53.4 ± 14, and 2.2 ±2.2 and 7.2% ± 1.6, respectively). Our results showed that mean (range) of Al, As, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn in the sediment samples were 1.2 % (0.4-2.1), 4.8 (2.5- 10.3) ppm, 10.5 (4.4-16.9) ppm, 1 (0.4 – 1.6) % , 13.6 (6.2-21.5) ppm, 9.1 (4.7-12.9) ppm and 23.9 (3.1-39.4) ppm, respectively. In spring, both Al and Ni were higher than the guideline level. In the event that arsenic was exceeds the guidelines in summer. In this study, 14 species of macrofauna from 12 families were identified. Polychaeta with 3 species was the most dominant group in terms of abundance. The four most abundant taxa making up 85% of all specimens (Streblospio gynobranchiata, Tubificidae, Hediste versicolor and Abra segmentum). The western area were characterized by the higher species diversity (H', 1.94). So Gorgan Bay presents transitional macrobenthic assemblages that are spatially distributed along substrate gradients .The mean of Shannon index, BENTIX, BO2A, AMBI and M-AMBI in the bay was 1.3, 2.2, 0.4, 3.2 and 0.65 respectively. According to the results of these indices, ecological status of the western part of the bay assessed better than the other parts. According to the results of the nmMDS (non-metric Multidimensional Scaling), PCA (Principal Components Analysis), the map of distribution of heavy metals and the map of the ecological status , it seems Gorgan Bay is divided into two separate zones (the eastern and the western parts).M-AMBI finaly introduced reliable index for assessing the ecological status of the Bay.

TRANSIENT SCANNING ELECTRON BEAM ANNEALING METHODS USED TO STUDY DIFFUSION AND DEFECTS IN IMPLANTED SILICON.

Rapid thermal annealing of arsenic and boron difluoride implants, such as those used for source/drain regions in CMOS, has been carried out using a scanning electron beam annealer, as part of a study of transient diffusion effects. Three types of e-beam anneal have been performed, with peak temperatures in the range 900 -1200 degree C; the normal isothermal e-beam anneals, together with sub-second fast anneals and 'dual-pulse' anneals, in which the sample undergoes an isothermal pre-anneal followed by rapid heating to the required anneal temperature is less than 0. 5s. The diffusion occuring during these anneal cycles has been modelled using SPS-1D, an implant and diffusion modelling program developed by one of the authors. This has been modified to incorporate simulated temperature vs. time cycles for the anneals. Results are presented applying the usual equilibrium clustering model, a transient point-defect enhancement to the diffusivity proposed recently by Fair and a new dynamic clustering model for arsenic. Good agreement with SIMS measurements is obtained using the dynamic clustering model, without recourse to a transient defect model.

Accelerated ageing of a stabilised/solidified contaminated soil at elevated temperatures

Despite the widespread use of stabilisation/solidification (S/S) techniques, the validation and the availability of predictive modelling of the behaviour of stabilised/solidified soils in the longer-term is very limited. The authors were involved in the assessment of the behaviour of a contaminated site in the UK treated with cement-based in-situ S/S over the first five years after treatment. In parallel, two experimental methods, namely elevated temperatures and combined elevated temperatures and accelerated carbonation, were used in the laboratory to model accelerated ageing of the site soil. A graphical technique, based on the Arrhenius equation, was then used to model the laboratory observations and the in-situ five-year behaviour. The paper presents the details of the two experimental methods used for the accelerated ageing of stabilised/solidified model site soil, the numerical predictive model and a comparison between the results of the two experimental techniques and with the site results. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Group.

Part I: Binders & technologies - Basic principles

The first three reports in this series (Parts I, II and III) deals with binders and technologies used in stabilisation/ solidification (S/S) practice and research in the UK. This first part covers 'basic principles'while the second covers 'research' and the third 'applications'. The purpose of this work, which forms part of the Network STARNET on stabilisation/solidification treatment and remediation, is to identify the knowledge gaps and future research needs in this field. This paper describes the details and basic principles of available binders and technologies in the UK. The introduction in the report includes background on S/S, legislation aspects, overview of STARNET and its activities and details of commonly used binder selection criteria. The report is then divided into two main sections. The first covers binders and includes cement, blastfurnace slag, pulverised fuel ash, lime, natural and organophilic clays, bitumen, waste binders and concludes with proprietary binders. The second part details implementation processes for S/S treatment systems starting with ex-situ treatment systems, such as plant processing, direct mixing and in-drum processing and finishes with in-situ treatment processes, such as mechanical mixing and pressure mixing. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Group.