Copper complexation by fulvic acid affects copper toxicity to the larvae of the polychaete Hydroides elegans

Copper toxicity is influenced by a variety of environmental factors including dissolved organic matter (DOM). We examined the complexation of copper by fulvic acid (FA), one of the major components of DOM, by measuring the decline in labile copper by anodic stripping voltammetrically (ASV). The data were described using a one-site ligand binding model, with a ligand concentration of 0.19 mu mol site mg(-1) C, and a logK' of 6.2. The model was used to predict labile copper concentration in a bioassay designed to quantify the extent to which Cu-FA complexation affected copper toxicity to the larvae of marine polychaete Hydroides elegans. The toxicity data, when expressed as labile copper concentration causing abnormal development, were independent of FA concentration and could be modeled as a logistic function, with a 48-h EC50 of 58.9 mu g 1(-1). However, when the data were expressed as a function of total copper concentration, the toxicity was dependent on FA concentration, with a 48-h EC50 ranging from 55.6 mu g 1(-1) in the no-FA control to 137.4 mu g 1(-1) in the 20 mg 1(-1) FA treatment. Thus, FA was protective against copper toxicity to the larvae, and such an effect was caused by the reduction in labile copper due to Cu-FA complexation. Our results demonstrate the potential of ASV as a useful tool for predicting metal toxicity to the larvae in coastal environment where DOM plays an important role in complexing metal ions. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Interactions of chlorine with tropical aquatic fulvic acids and formation of intermediates observed by fluorescence spectroscopy

The interactions of tropical aquatic fulvic acids (AFA) with chlorine and formation of trihalomethanes were characterized by fluorescence spectroscopy. The aquatic humic substances (AHS) were isolated from a dark-brown stream (located in a environmental protection area near Cubatão city in São Paulo State, Brazil) by means of the collector XAD 8 according the procedure recommended by the International Humic Substances Society. The photoluminescence measurements were made by using a Perkin Elmer spectrometer; AHS, aquatic humic acids (AHA) and AFA samples were assayed. The interactions of AFA and chlorine were characterized by using different reaction times (1, 24, 48, 72 and 168 h) and chlorine concentrations (2.5, 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 mg L-1). The relative fluorescence intensity for AFA was significantly decreased with the increasing of chlorine concentration and reaction time. The reduction of fluorescence intensity in the region of longer wavelength was interpreted as an indicative of interaction between condensed aromatic groups of AFA and chlorine.

Conformational changes of dissolved humic and fulvic superstructures with progressive iron complexation

Conformational changes of a humic acid (HA) and a fulvic acid (FA) induced by iron complexation were followed by high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) with both UV–vis and refractive index (RI) detectors. Molecular size distribution was reduced for HA and increased for FA with progressive iron complexation. Since interactions of Fe with humic components are electrostatic, it is likely that the triple-charged Fe ions formed stronger complexes with the more acidic hydrophilic and hydrated FA than with the less acidic and more hydrophobic HA. The large content of ionized carboxyl groups in FA, thus favored the formation of intra- or intermolecular bridges between the negatively charged fulvic acid molecules, and led to more compact and larger size network than for HA. Conversely, iron complexation with HA disrupted the humic conformational arrangements stabilized by only weak hydrophobic bonds into smaller-size aggregates of greater conformational stability due to formation of strong metal complexes. These results confirmed that humic molecules in solution were organized in supramolecular associations of relatively small molecules loosely bound together by dispersive interactions and hydrogen bonds, and they specifically responded to chemical changes brought about by metal additions. The present study revealed the molecular changes occurring in superstructures of natural organic matter when in metal complexes and contributed to understand and predict the environmental behavior in waters and soil of metal complexes with natural organic matter.

Lignocellulose degradation and humus modification by the fungus Paecilomyces inflatus

Composting is the biological conversion of solid organic waste into usable end products such as fertilizers, substrates for mushroom production and biogas. Although composts are highly variable in their bulk composition, composting material is generally based on lignocellulose compounds derived from agricultural, forestry, fruit and vegetable processing, household and municipal wastes. Lignocellulose is very recalcitrant; however it is rich and abundant source of carbon and energy. Therefore lignocellulose degradation is essential for maintaining the global carbon cycle. In compost, the active component involved in the biodegradation and conversion processes is the resident microbial population, among which microfungi play a very important role. In composting pile the warm, humid, and aerobic environment provides the optimal conditions for their development. Microfungi use many carbon sources, including lignocellulosic polymers and can survive in extreme conditions. Typically microfungi are responsible for compost maturation. In order to improve the composting process, more information is needed about the microbial degradation process. Better knowledge on the lignocellulose degradation by microfungi could be used to optimize the composting process. Thus, this thesis focused on lignocellulose and humic compounds degradation by a microfungus Paecilomyces inflatus, which belongs to a flora of common microbial compost, soil and decaying plant remains. It is a very common species in Europe, North America and Asia. The lignocellulose and humic compounds degradation was studied using several methods including measurements of carbon release from 14C-labelled compounds, such as synthetic lignin (dehydrogenative polymer, DHP) and humic acids, as well as by determination of fibre composition using chemical detergents and sulphuric acid. Spectrophotometric enzyme assays were conducted to detect extracellular lignocellulose-degrading hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes. Paecilomyces inflatus secreted clearly extracellular laccase to the culture media. Laccase was involved in the degradation process of lignin and humic acids. In compost P. inflatus mineralised 6-10% of 14C-labelled DHP into carbon dioxide. About 15% of labelled DHP was converted into water-soluble compounds. Also humic acids were partly mineralised and converted into water-soluble material, such as low-molecular mass fulvic acid-like compounds. Although laccase activity in aromatics-rich compost media clearly is connected with the degradation process of lignin and lignin-like compounds, it may preferentially effect the polymerisation and/or detoxification of such aromatic compounds. P. inflatus can degrade lignin and carbohydrates also while growing in straw and in wood. The cellulolytic enzyme system includes endoglucanase and β-glucosidase. In P. inflatus the secretion of these enzymes was stimulated by low-molecular-weight aromatics, such as soil humic acid and veratric acid. When strains of P. inflatus from different ecophysiological origins were compared, indications were found that specific adaptation strategies needed for lignocellulosics degradation may operate in P. inflatus. The degradative features of these microfungi are on relevance for lignocellulose decomposition in nature, especially in soil and compost environments, where basidiomycetes are not established. The results of this study may help to understand, control and better design the process of plant polymer conversion in compost environment, with a special emphasis on the role of ubiquitous microfungi.

Trace metal (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr and Cd) concentrations of three subfractions of organic matter from Lake Mariut sediments, Egypt

Trace elements associated with organic subfractions (humic, fulvic, and non-humic substances) were identified for seven core sediments from Lake Mariut, Egypt. Results indicated that the amounts of trace metals in humic acid and non-humic substances decreased in the following order: Zn>Cu>Pb>Cr>Cd, while in fulvic acid the order the order was Cu>Zn>Pb>Cr>Cd. There is a higher contribution of Zn, Pb, Cu and Cr in humic acid compared to fulvic acid in most samples. Slight changes in the amounts of cadmium bounded with humic and fulvic acids was also found.

天然溶解有机质和环境污染物的相互作用--以铜、汞离子和卡马西平为例

天然溶解有机质（natural dissolved organic matter，DOM）是由动植物残体经过复杂的物理、化学和生物过程形成的高分子有机混合物，它广泛分布于水体、土壤和沉积物中。DOM的结构十分复杂，分子量从几百到几十万不等，元素组成和化学结构随时空和来源不同而变化。腐殖物质是DOM的主要组成部分，以溶解有机碳计约占DOM总量的50%~80%。腐殖物质可以分为：富里酸（fulvic acid， FA任何pH值条件下都溶于水），腐殖酸（humic acid，HA在pH 1时不溶于水）和胡敏素（humin，任何pH条件下都不溶于水）。 DOM能影响许多生物地球化学过程。例如DOM是一个重要的碳汇，它能影响微生物的食物链和全球碳循环；DOM和营养元素含量、食物链结构等一起决定水生生态系统的属性和发展动态；它还能吸收自然光，从而影响紫外线在水中的穿透能力和浮游植物的光合作用；DOM含有多种弱酸和弱碱官能团，是天然水体pH的调节剂和控制因素；DOM和痕量金属离子或有机污染物发生作用，从而影响它们的形态、毒性、迁移转化和生物有效性；在饮用水消毒过程中，DOM能生成致癌物三卤甲烷和其它消毒副产物。 天然水体中的痕量金属离子（如Cu2+和Hg2+）主要以DOM络合态存在。在海水中DOM控制铜的主要存在形态；在淡水中 90%以上的铜离子与DOM发生配位。通过配位作用DOM能抑制浮游生物对Hg的吸收，增加鱼类对Hg的蓄积。目前，人们对金属离子在环境中的迁移转化机理的理解还不够深入，尤其是对有机质参与下的有毒重金属循环还缺乏必要地认识。条件稳定常数是描述重金属离子与DOM配位能力的基本参数。前人运用多种手段对DOM与金属离子的结合能力进行了研究，主要包括：离子选择性电极法、溶出伏安法、超滤及荧光淬灭滴定法等。紫外吸收滴定法可用于研究单一有机化合物和金属离子的相互作用，在这一领域的应用尚未报道。本文首次将紫外吸收滴定法应用于测定DOM与Cu2+和Hg2+的条件稳定常数。实验表明紫外吸收滴定法迅速、简便、可望成为研究DOM和痕量金属离子相互作用的有力工具。 药品和个人护理品（pharmaceuticals and personal care products，PPCPs）在环境中普遍存在。有证据表明，环境中的有些PPCPs能对生物体产生影响，如改变生物体的性别比例，影响植物生长，动物幼虫的孵化，甚至具有明显的致畸效应。卡马西平（Carbamazepine，CBZ）是一种常用的抗癫痫、止痛药物和抗抑郁药。毒理学实验表明，环境中的CBZ能严重影响鱼、蚌等水生生物的免疫和循环系统。CBZ使用量大，在环境中含量高，在地下水渗透过程和常规污水处理中保持稳定，因此CBZ成为衡量人类活动和污水处理工艺效率的标志物。但是目前人们对CBZ的环境地球化学循环知之甚少。DOM能与许多有机污染物发生相互作用，从而影响它们的生物环境地球化学行为，但DOM对CBZ的影响尚未见报道。本论文利用三维荧光光谱技术和同步荧光光谱技术，研究了DOM与CBZ的结合强度、结合类型、影响因素，并且初步总结了DOM对CBZ环境地球化学循环的影响。为理解其它PPCPs的生物地球化学循环，预测它们的迁移转化、归宿和环境毒性提供参考。 本文运用紫外吸收滴定法和荧光淬灭滴定法研究了不同来源的DOM和金属离子（Cu2+和Hg2+）的相互作用，运用三维荧光光谱法和同步扫描荧光光谱法研究了DOM和卡马西平的相互作用。主要成果简述如下： 1、本文首次将紫外吸收滴定法应用于测定金属离子和DOM的条件稳定常数，结果表明紫外吸收滴定法操作更简便、测定迅速、仪器普及率高，可在DOM含量很低（约10-5 ~ 10-7 mol/L）的情况下也可以直接进行测定，不必进行复杂的预富集。可望成为DOM和痕量有毒重金属离子相互作用的有力工具。 2、重金属离子（Hg2+和Cu2+）与DOM的羧基和酚羟基等基团配位。配位后电子的离域性增加，导致紫外吸收增加。与此同时配位后分子极性的改变和铜离子顺磁性作用，引起DOM荧光淬灭。在Cu2+和Hg2+的滴定过程中，紫外吸光度和荧光强度之间呈极显著线性负相关关系（R2=0.99，P<0.001）。这说明荧光和紫外从不同侧面揭示了DOM和金属离子的配位作用。 3、紫外吸收滴定法和荧光淬灭滴定法测定其条件稳定常数（log K）一致，介于3.5 ~ 5.5之间。强配位作用是DOM影响有毒重金属离子环境地球化学行为的根源。研究还表明配位作用的强弱受DOM来源和体系pH的影响。 4、 CBZ和DOM能发生强烈的相互作用，结合常数（log K）介于3.41 ~ 5.04之间。DOM能明显减少游离态CBZ的浓度，提高CBZ溶解度和迁移转化能力。这对认识CBZ和其它PPCPs的环境地球化学循环及其影响因素具有指导意义。 5、荧光光谱研究表明CBZ对DOM发射的荧光具有明显的猝灭作用，其猝灭机理为静态猝灭。疏水作用是CBZ和DOM之间的主要作用力。DOM-CBZ受pH值的影响不大， Cu2+对CBZ和DOM的结合有一定的影响。

Electrochemical methodology to study labile trace metal/natural organic matter complexation at low concentration levels in natural waters

A new electrochemical methodology to study labile trace metal/natural organic matter complexation at low concentration levels in natural waters is presented. This methodology consists of three steps: (i) an estimation of the complex diffusion coefficient (DML), (ii) determination at low pH of the total metal concentration initially present in the sample, (iii) a metal titration at the desired pH. The free and bound metal concentrations are determined for each point of the titration and modeled with the non-ideal competitive adsorption (NICA-Donnan) model in order to obtain the binding parameters. In this methodology, it is recommended to determine the hydrodynamic transport parameter, α, for each set of hydrodynamic conditions used in the voltammetric measurements. The methodology was tested using two fractions of natural organic matter (NOM) isolated from the Loire river, namely the hydrophobic organic matter (HPO) and the transphilic organic matter (TPI), and a well characterized fulvic acid (Laurentian fulvic acid, LFA). The complex diffusion coefficients obtained at pH 5 were 0.4 ± 0.2 for Pb and Cu/HPO, 1.8 ± 0.2 for Pb/TPI and (0.612 ± 0.009) × 10−10 m2 s−1 for Pb/LFA. NICA-Donnan parameters for lead binding were obtained for the HPO and TPI fractions. The new lead/LFA results were successfully predicted using parameters derived in our previous work.

Displacement of Zn through acidic light-textured soils

In order to gain understanding of the movement of pollutant metals in soil. the chemical mechanisms involved in the transport of zinc were studied. The displacement of zinc through mixtures of sand and cation exchange resin was measured to validate the methods used for soil. With cation exchange capacities of 2.5 and 5.0 cmol(c) kg(-1). 5.6 and 8.4 pore volumes of 10 mM CaCl2, respectively, were required to displace a pulse of ZnCl2. A simple Burns-type model (Wineglass) using an adsorption coefficient (K-d) determined by fitting a straight line relationship to an adsorption isotherm gave a good fit to the data (K-d=0.73 and 1.29 ml g(-1), respectively). Surface and subsurface samples of an acidic sandy loam (organic matter 4.7 and 1.0%. cation exchange capacity (CEC) 11.8 and 6.1 cmol(c) kg(-1) respectively) were leached with 10 mM calcium chloride. nitrate and perchlorate. With chloride. the zinc pulse was displaced after 25 and 5 pore volumes, respectively. The Kd values were 6.1 and 2.0 ml g(-1). but are based on linear relationships fitted to isotherms which are both curved and show hysteresis. Thus. a simple model has limited value although it does give a general indication of rate of displacement. Leaching with chloride and perchlorate gave similar displacement and Kd values, but slower movement occurred with nitrate in both soil samples (35 and 7 pore volumes, respectively) which reflected higher Kd values when the isotherms were measured using this anion (7.7 and 2.8 ml g(-1) respectively). Although pH values were a little hi-her with nitrate in the leachates, the differences were insufficient to suggest that this increased the CEC enough to cause the delay. No increases in pH occurred with nitrate in the isotherm experiments. Geochem was used to calculate the proportions of Zn complexed with the three anions and with fulvic acid determined from measurements of dissolved organic matter. In all cases, more than 91% of the Zn was present as Zn2+ and there were only minor differences between the anions. Thus, there is an unexplained factor associated with the greater adsorption of Zn in the presence of nitrate. Because as little as five pore volumes of solution displaced Zn through the subsurface soil, contamination of ground waters may be a hazard where Zn is entering a light-textured soil, particularly where soil salinity is increased. Reductions in organic matter content due to cultivation will increase the hazard. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.