Modified potential ecological risk index （MRI） was proposed based on the potential ecological risk index （RI） and risk assessment code （RAC） by modifying an index. The modified index was relevant to the chemical speciation of heavy metals. Xiawan Port, a typical region contaminated by industrial production, was selected as a case study area. The total concentrations and chemical speciation of heavy metals in sediments of Xiawan Port were analyzed. The experimental data indicate that Xiawan Port is seriously polluted by heavy metals, especially by Cd. The risks of heavy metals are evaluated by RI, RAC and MRI, respectively. The resluts of MRI show that the risks of heavy metals are in the decreasing order of Cd〉Pb〉Cu〉Zn. Comparison of results by different methods reveals that MRI integrates the characters of RI and RAC. MRI is recognized to be useful for risk managemnt of heavy metals in sediments.
With the development of colloid interface and enzyme technologies,enzyme-containing reversed micellar system has been receiving much attention in bioseparation and bioconversion. Because of its high efficiency,it has brought new opportunities for the development of molecular biotechnology. Reversed micelles represent nano-sized aqueous droplets stabilized by surfactant amphiphiles inside the bulk organic solvents. The entrapped enzymes have enhanced activities under those conditions as suited in the lipid bilayers of biological membranes. The fundamentals of enzyme-containing reversed micellar system are described in this paper,with special emphasis on the effects of surfactants varying in concentrations and structures. The latest study progress on the surfactants application in enzyme-containing reversed micelles is reviewed. The introduction of novel functional surfactants in micellar enzymology and their future development are also discussed.
LIANG YunShan,YUAN XingZhong,ZENG GuangMing,ZHONG Hua,LI Hui & WANG WeiWei Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University),Ministry of Education
The effect of rhamnolipids （RL） on Cd^2＋ adsorption by Penicillium simplicissimum （P. simplicissimum） was studied. The maximum adsorption capacities of Cd^2＋ were obtained at pH 6.0 for the intact P. sirnplicissimurn and at pH 5.0 for the RL-pretreated P. simplicissimum, respectively. The adsorption equilibrium was reached after about 4 h. The experimental adsorption isotherms were in good agreement with the Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacities （qmax） for the intact P. simplicissimurn and for the RL-pretreated P. simplicissimum were 51.6 and 70.4 rag/g, respectively. The interactions between Cd^2＋ and functional groups on the cell wall surface of the P. simplicissimum were identified by SEM, EDAX and FTIR analysis. It is indicated that carboxyl, amino and hydroxyl groups play major roles in the Cd^2＋ adsorption. The results suggest that the RL-pretreated P. simplicissimum is a promising candidate for the removal of Cd^2＋ from aqueous solutions.
Static aerobic composting of municipal sewage sludge with forced ventilation or air ventilation using matured compost as bulking conditioner was investigated. Physical and chemical parame ,eters, e.g., temperature, moisture content, VSS, CODcr, pH, and germination index （GI）, were analyzed to characterize the composting process. Fermentation starts quickly in both forced and air ventilation compost heaps and reaches high-temperature stage after 2 d, owing to the bulking function of matured compost. Compared to air ventilation, however, forced ventilation enables the high-temperature stage to last longer for approximately 7 d. The moisture content of both compost bodies decreases from 62% to about 50% as a result of evaporation, and it decreases slightly faster in forced ventilation compost heap after 13 d due to the higher temperature and better ventilation condition. Although no obvious differences of VSS and pH are observed between both compost heaps, the soluble CODcr and GI show differences during the second half period of fermentation. In forced ventilation compost, the soluble CODcr has a small rebound after 13 d, and GI decreases from 46% to 35% but then increases. These results show that in general, the matured compost is a good conditioner and force ventilation with a proper air supply strategy can be more efficient than air ventilation.
An environment friendly bio-surfactant of rhamnolipid(RL) was used as a solvent. The enzymatic reaction of oleic acid catalyzed by lipase and lignin peroxidase(lip) was evaluated. The optimum conditions of enzymatic reaction catalyzed by lipase(lip) were water to amphiphile molar ratio of 30(20), RL of 60(60) critical micelle concentration(CMC), pH of 7.0(3.0) and temperature of 40(30) °C, respectively. The change of enzyme conformation indicates that, for catalytic of lipase, water content is the most important factor of the enzymatic reaction of oleic acid, and p H for lip. With individual optimum conditions, the enzymatic efficiency of oleic acid catalyzed by lipase is higher than that by lip. In the presence of ethanol, the enzymatic reaction of oleic acid catalyzed by lipase suits Ping-Pong Bi-Bi mechanism. As an alternative to chemical reversed micelles, the RL reversed micelles are promising methods to enzymatic reaction of oleic acid.
