RADIOACTIVE REMEDIATION OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS USING MICROALGAE

2019 ◽  
Vol 186 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 296-300
Author(s):  
Dušan Galanda ◽  
Dominika Tatarová ◽  
Jozef Kuruc ◽  
Barbora Gaálová ◽  
Jana Slimáková

Abstract Radionuclides that have entered the environment through nuclear weapon tests, nuclear accidents or other human activities represent an ecological hazard. Many decontamination techniques are technically and financially demanding and often not environmentally beneficial. A suitable alternative is bioremediation techniques. One of them, phycoremediation utilizes the metabolic activity of microorganisms that degrade or eliminate contaminants from the environment. In our work, we focused on phycoremediation with microalgae Dunaliella salina and Chlorella vulgaris. An important parameter was the determination of the optimal pH values of the environment and subsequent monitoring of the radionuclide activity decline over time.

2015 ◽  
Vol 185 ◽  
pp. 381-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suma S. Thomas ◽  
Cornelia Bohne

The binding dynamics of the 2-aminoanthracenium cation (AH+) and 2-aminoanthracene (A) with cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) was studied using stopped-flow experiments. The kinetics was followed by measuring the fluorescence changes over time for AH+ and A, which emit at different wavelengths. The studies at various pH values showed different mechanisms for the formation of the AH+@CB[7] complex, with this complex formed either by the binding of AH+ or by the initial binding of A followed by protonation. In the latter case, it was possible to determine the protonation ((1.5 ± 0.4) × 109 M−1 s−1) and deprotonation (89 ± 7 s−1) rate constants for complexed A/AH+, which showed that the pKa shift of +3.1 for A/AH+ in the complex is mainly due to a lower deprotonation rate constant.


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (11) ◽  
pp. 3903-3907
Author(s):  
Galina Marusic ◽  
Valeriu Panaitescu

The paper deals with the issues related to the pollution of aquatic ecosystems. The influence of turbulence on the transport and dispersion of pollutants in the mentioned systems, as well as the calculation of the turbulent diffusion coefficients are studied. A case study on the determination of turbulent diffusion coefficients for some sectors of the Prut River is presented. A new method is proposed for the determination of the turbulent diffusion coefficients in the pollutant transport equation for specific sectors of a river, according to the associated number of P�clet, calculated for each specific area: the left bank, the right bank and the middle of the river.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 3719
Author(s):  
Ana Catarina Sousa ◽  
Lígia O. Martins ◽  
M. Paula Robalo

Laccases are multicopper oxidases that have shown a great potential in various biotechnological and green chemistry processes mainly due to their high relative non-specific oxidation of phenols, arylamines and some inorganic metals, and their high redox potentials that can span from 500 to 800 mV vs. SHE. Other advantages of laccases include the use of readily available oxygen as a second substrate, the formation of water as a side-product and no requirement for cofactors. Importantly, addition of low-molecular-weight redox mediators that act as electron shuttles, promoting the oxidation of complex bulky substrates and/or of higher redox potential than the enzymes themselves, can further expand their substrate scope, in the so-called laccase-mediated systems (LMS). Laccase bioprocesses can be designed for efficiency at both acidic and basic conditions since it is known that fungal and bacterial laccases exhibit distinct optimal pH values for the similar phenolic and aromatic amines. This review covers studies on the synthesis of five- and six-membered ring heterocyclic cores, such as benzimidazoles, benzofurans, benzothiazoles, quinazoline and quinazolinone, phenazine, phenoxazine, phenoxazinone and phenothiazine derivatives. The enzymes used and the reaction protocols are briefly outlined, and the mechanistic pathways described.


1989 ◽  
Vol 258 (2) ◽  
pp. 357-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
D J Chapman ◽  
J De Felice ◽  
K Davis ◽  
J Barber

Incubation of a membrane preparation enriched in Photosystem Two (PSII) at alkaline pH inhibited the water-splitting reactions in two distinct steps. Up to pH 8.5 the inhibition was reversible, whereas at higher alkalinities it was irreversible. It was shown that the reversible phase correlated with loss and rebinding of the 23 kDa extrinsic polypeptide. However, after mild alkaline treatments a partial recovery was possible without the binding of the 23 kDa polypeptide when the assay was at the optimal pH of 6.5 and in a medium containing excess Cl-. The irreversible phase was found to be closely linked with the removal of the 33 kDa extrinsic protein of PSII. Treatments with pH values above 8.5 not only caused the 33 kDa protein to be displaced from the PSII-enriched membranes, but also resulted in an irreversible modification of the binding sites such that the extrinsic 33 kDa protein could not reassociate with PSII when the pH was lowered to 6.5. The results obtained with these more extreme alkaline pH treatments support the notion that the 23 kDa protein cannot bind to PSII unless the 33 kDa protein is already bound. The differential effect of pH on the removal of the 23 kDa and 33 kDa proteins contrasted with the data of Kuwabara & Murata [(1983) Plant Cell Physiol. 24, 741-747], but this discrepancy was accounted for by the use of glycerol in the incubation media.


Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 394
Author(s):  
Sevasti-Kiriaki Zervou ◽  
Kimon Moschandreou ◽  
Aikaterina Paraskevopoulou ◽  
Christophoros Christophoridis ◽  
Elpida Grigoriadou ◽  
...  

Cyanotoxins (CTs) produced by cyanobacteria in surface freshwater are a major threat for public health and aquatic ecosystems. Cyanobacteria can also produce a wide variety of other understudied bioactive metabolites such as oligopeptides microginins (MGs), aeruginosins (AERs), aeruginosamides (AEGs) and anabaenopeptins (APs). This study reports on the co-occurrence of CTs and cyanopeptides (CPs) in Lake Vegoritis, Greece and presents their variant-specific profiles obtained during 3-years of monitoring (2018–2020). Fifteen CTs (cylindrospermopsin (CYN), anatoxin (ATX), nodularin (NOD), and 12 microcystins (MCs)) and ten CPs (3 APs, 4 MGs, 2 AERs and aeruginosamide (AEG A)) were targeted using an extended and validated LC-MS/MS protocol for the simultaneous determination of multi-class CTs and CPs. Results showed the presence of MCs (MC-LR, MC-RR, MC-YR, dmMC-LR, dmMC-RR, MC-HtyR, and MC-HilR) and CYN at concentrations of <1 μg/L, with MC-LR (79%) and CYN (71%) being the most frequently occurring. Anabaenopeptins B (AP B) and F (AP F) were detected in almost all samples and microginin T1 (MG T1) was the most abundant CP, reaching 47.0 μg/L. This is the first report of the co-occurrence of CTs and CPs in Lake Vegoritis, which is used for irrigation, fishing and recreational activities. The findings support the need for further investigations of the occurrence of CTs and the less studied cyanobacterial metabolites in lakes, to promote risk assessment with relevance to human exposure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 152-152
Author(s):  
Garrett R Seltzer ◽  
Ashley R Hartman ◽  
Sharon K Tucker ◽  
David M Grieger

Abstract To find an in vitro predictor of in vivoM/em&gt; semen motility prompted this study. Our objective was to evaluate semen motility for an 8-hour period immediately following a breeding soundness exam. Ejaculates from 52 Angus and 56 Charolais bulls were evaluated. Motility, morphology, scrotal circumference and pH of ejaculate were evaluated at the time of collection. Ejaculates were then extended using a one to one ratio and incubated in a water bath held at 37 degrees Celsius and evaluated hourly. Motility was evaluated hourly for 8 hours, or until motility of the sample reached zero. Data were analyzed for breed and hourly effects using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. There was statistical evidence for difference (P &lt; 0.0001) between breeds for motility over time. Angus ejaculates had higher pH values than Charolais ejaculates showing an association between breed and pH (6.82 vs 6.76, respectively). Primary spermatozoa abnormalities were greater (P &lt; 0.0001) for Angus bulls compared to Charolais bulls (13.33% vs. 10.91%, respectively). Scrotal circumference between breeds tended to be different (P &lt; 0.07), with Charolais bulls having a larger scrotal circumference compared to Angus bulls (38.29 vs. 38.03 centimeters, respectively). There was no difference (P &gt; 0.05) between breeds for secondary abnormalities. There was a significant interaction (P &lt; 0.01) between breed and time of motility measurement. Angus bull’s motility decreased drastically until hour 4, it then had a more gradual decrease until hour 8. Charolais bulls had a more gradual decrease in the percentage of motile sperm over time. In conclusion, there was evidence for difference between breeds for pH, primary spermatozoa abnormalities, and long-term motility, and a scrotal tendency. Understanding the effects of breed and individual biological factors may help producers adjust BSE expectations and lead to future research in long term semen motility.


Author(s):  
Л.А. МАРЧЕНКО ◽  
Т.Н. БОКОВИКОВА ◽  
Е.В. ЛИСОВАЯ ◽  
С.А. ИЛЬИНОВА ◽  
Е.П. ВИКТОРОВА

Исследована возможность применения яблочной кислоты (ЯК) в качестве гидратирующего агента для перевода негидратируемых форм фосфолипидов в гидратируемые. Выбор ЯК обусловлен ее стоимостью, которая в 1,5 раза меньше стоимости янтарной кислоты, широко применяемой в качестве гидратирующего агента, а также большей доступностью с точки зрения промышленного производства. Исследование процесса комплексообразования и определение состава комплексных соединений ЯК с ионами кальция и магния осуществляли методом потенциометрического титрования. Установлено, что внесение в раствор ЯК ионов кальция и магния приводит к снижению значений рН, что свидетельствует о наличии комплексообразования в указанных системах. Наиболее устойчивыми являются комплексы ионов кальция и магния с непротонированным лигандом при соотношении Ме2 : лиганд 1 : 1. В процессе комплексообразования ионы Ca2 и Mg2 вытесняют протоны только карбоксильных групп ЯК, которая с ионами кальция образует более устойчивые комплексы, чем с ионами магния. Показано, что устойчивость комплексов ЯК с ионами кальция и магния значительно выше, чем устойчивость комплексов фосфатидилсеринов и фосфатидных кислот с указанными ионами. Использование водных растворов ЯК в качестве гидратирующего агента позволит повысить эффективность процесса гидратации и увеличить выход фосфолипидов и, следовательно, готового продукта лецитина. The possibility of using malic acid (MA) as a hydrating agent for converting non-hydrated forms of phospholipids into hydrated ones has been investigated. The choice of MA is due to its cost, which is 1,5 times less than the cost of succinic acid, as well as greater availability from the point of view of industrial production. The study of the complexation process and determination of the composition of complex compounds of MA with calcium and magnesium ions was carried out by the method of potentiometric titration. It was found that the introduction of calcium and magnesium ions into the MA solution leads to a decrease in pH values, which indicates the presence of complexation in these systems. Complexes of calcium and magnesium ions with an unprotected ligand at a ratio of ME2 : ligand 1 : 1 are the most stable. In the process of complexing, Ca2 and Mg2 ions displace protons only of the carboxyl groups of MA, which forms more stable complexes with calcium ions than with magnesium ions. It is shown that the stability of MA complexes with calcium and magnesium ions is significantly higher than the stability of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidic acid complexes with these ions. Using water solutions of MA as a hydrating agent will increase the efficiency of the hydration process and increase the yield of phospholipids and, consequently, the finished product lecithin.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah B. Duckworth ◽  
Xavier Gaona ◽  
Alexander Baumann ◽  
Kathy Dardenne ◽  
Jörg Rothe ◽  
...  

Abstract The solubility of 99Tc(IV) was investigated from undersaturation conditions in NaCl–Na2SO4 (0.3 M ≤ I ≤ 5.0 M), MgCl2–MgSO4 (I = 13.5 M) and CaCl2–CaSO4 (I = 13.5 M) systems with 0.001 M ≤ [SO4 2−]tot ≤ 1.0 M and 1 ≤ pH m  ≤ 12 (with pH m  = −log[H+], in molal units). Reducing conditions were set by either Sn(II) or Fe(0). Special efforts were dedicated to accurately characterize the correction factors A m required for the determination of pH m from the experimentally measured pH values in the mixed salt systems investigated, with pH m  = pHexp + A m . The combination of (pe + pH m ) measurements with Pourbaix diagrams of Tc suggests that technetium is present in its +IV redox state. This hypothesis is confirmed by XANES, which unambiguously shows the predominance of Tc(IV) both in the aqueous and solid phases of selected solubility samples. XRD and SEM–EDS support the amorphous character of the solid phase controlling the solubility of Tc(IV). EXAFS data confirm the predominance of TcO2(am, hyd) at pH m  > 1.5, whereas the formation of a Tc(IV)–O–Cl solid phase is hinted at lower pHm values in concentrated NaCl–Na2SO4 systems with ≈5 M NaCl. Solubility data collected in sulfate-containing systems are generally in good agreement with previous solubility studies conducted in sulfate-free NaCl, MgCl2 and CaCl2 solutions of analogous ionic strength. Although the complexation of Tc(IV) with sulfate cannot be completely ruled out, these results strongly support that, if occurring, complexation must be weak and has no significant impact on the solubility of Tc(IV) in dilute up to highly saline media. Solubility upper-limits determined in this work can be used for source term estimations including the effect of sulfate in a variety of geochemical conditions relevant in the context of nuclear waste disposal.


2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Bamert ◽  
R. Kallenbach ◽  
M. Hilchenbach ◽  
C. W. Smith
Keyword(s):  

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