The Possibility of Using Endophytic Micromycetes for Increasing Plant Metal Resistance

The aim of this research was to study the effect of inoculation with the Cylindrocarpon magnusianum endotrophic micromycete on the physiological and biochemical parameters of tomato test plants under the action of heavy metal salts. The plants were inoculated with the fungus culture (control population) and populations of this fungus preliminarily adapted to the action of the stress factor. Then, inoculated plants were grown under control conditions and on substrates with different concentrations of heavy metal salts (zinc, copper, lead and chromium). After the plants were inoculated with the control population of the C. magnusianum fungus, a stimulating effect increasing the plants’ resistance to the action of the heavy metal salts was not detected. When the plants were inoculated with adapted populations of the C. magnusianum fungus, adaptive reactions of the plants associated with the content of photosynthetic pigments in the leaves and the formation of plant biomass were significantly manifested. Under these conditions, a more intense development of fungal infection in plant roots was observed in contrast to the use of the control fungal population. These findings therefore demonstrated an effective partnership between the C. magnusianum fungus and the root system of plants under extreme conditions for plant life. Keywords: Cylindrocarpon magnusianum, micromycetes, heavy metals, inoculation, biochemical indicators

Morphofunctional State of the Mature Rats Pituitary Gland under Readaptation Conditions to the Long Influence of Heavy Metal Salts Complex and Correction with L-Tocopherol

The purpose of the study was to study the morphofunctional rearrangements of the structural components of the adenohypophysis of sexually mature male rats under the condition of a 30-day period of readaptation to the long-term influence of salts of heavy metals (zinc, copper, iron, manganese, lead and chromium) and taking a corrector drug. Materials and methods. The experiment was carried out on 24 white sexually mature male rats, which were divided into 1 control and 1 experimental group. The experimental group consisted of rats that consumed ordinary drinking water for 30 days after 90 days of receiving water saturated with a combination of heavy metal salts: zinc (ZnSO4 7H2O) – 5 mg / l, copper (CuSO4 5H2O) mg / l, iron (FeSO4) – 10 mg / l, manganese (MnSO4 5H2O) – 0.1 mg / l, lead (Pb (NO3) 2) – 0.1 mg / l and chromium (K2Cr2O7) – 0.1 mg / l and L-tocopherol corrector. Results and discussion. With a 30-day period of readaptation to the action of a complex of salts of heavy metals, combined with the intake of a corrector drug L-tocopherol, morphological rearrangements of a nonspecific polymorphic nature developed in the structural components of the pituitary gland: compensatory hypertrophy and increased vascularization of the pituitary gland were observed, the state of rheological properties of the blood improved, the number of chromophiles increased and the number of chromophobes decreased, the processes of cyst formation disappeared, the stress from the adaptive processes in the glandulocytes of the adenohypophysis decreased, namely their secretory activity, the expression of Hsp90α receptors in the cytoplasm of adenocytes significantly increased. Negative rearrangements include an increased value of the fibrous component of the connective tissue of the intertrabecular spaces, increased collagenization of the wall of veins and capillaries, preservation of stromal edema, plethora of hemocapillaries, the presence of a small number of adenocytes with signs of vacuolization of the cytoplasm, balloon dystrophy. Conclusion. A comprehensive study of the structural components of the adenohypophysis of the test animals under the condition of a 30-day period of readaptation to long periods of consumption of heavy metal salts and correction with L-tocopherol certainly indicate a number of adaptive and regenerative morphofunctional changes aimed at reducing the stress of adaptive processes on the part of the adenohypophysis in response to cancel the action of the stress factor

FEATURES OF MORPHOLOGICAL REARRANGEMENTS OF STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS IN THE RAT PINEAL GLAND UNDER THE IMPACT OF HEAVY METAL SALTS

The development of the pathology of individual organs and systems undoubtedly depends on adverse environmental factors. Particular attention of researchers attracts heavy metal salts. Epiphyseal hormones play a key role in regulating and maintaining basic body functions. The article presents the results of the study on morphological and morphometric rearrangements of structural changes in the rat pineal gland influence for 30 days of heavy metal salts (sulfates of zinc, copper, iron, manganese, plumbers’ nitrite and chrome oxide). The selected concentration of salts in the mixture was due to the presence of similar concentrations of these salts in the soil and drinking water in some regions of Ukraine according to literature sources. General morphological and statistical research methods were used (histological, morphometric and variational statistics methods). The 30-days impact of the heavy metal salts combination on the rat body caused in the pineal gland morphological changes of nonspecific polymorphic nature, which were expressed in the increased vascular area, active glial response, hypertrophy of pinealocyte nuclei and increase of their optical density. Cytological signs in most pinealocytes indicated the predominance of indolamine synthesis over polypeptides. The main pathogenetic mechanisms of the influence of heavy metal salts on the organ have been established: change in the vascular lumen area, blood rheological properties impairment, tissue hypoxia, nucleus hypertrophy and change in their optical density. Morphological changes in the gland comply with the stress phase of the general adaptation syndrome. The above morphological changes negatively affected the processes of hormones evacuation into the blood, the course of the general adaptation syndrome and the homeostasis restoration in the organ.

Studies on recovery of heavy metals from tannery wastewater

Heavy metal salts are widely used in the tanning process in the form of Chrome alum and Chromium[III] sulfate. It is a highly toxic metal and cannot be degraded thus deposited and incorporated in water, sediment and aquatic ecosystems which poses various respiratory, skin and other health issues to humans and also cause serious issues to microbial, plant and aquatic life. The cost of these heavy metal salts is high due to which the tanners need a lot of investment for the tanning process because of its abundant use. So, to overcome such issues numerous techniques have been developed for the recovery and reuse of these heavy metal salts from the wastewater of the tanneries to reduce the pollution in the wastewater streams and exempt the tanners from the high cost of these salts.

The effect of copper ions on the growth and content of proline in wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.)

The article presents the results of the study of the influence of copper heavy metals on the germination and growth of wheat seeds (Triticum aestirum L.) of the variety Akmola 2. The study was conducted under laboratory conditions. As a source of copper, concentrations of the CuSO4 salt of 50 μmol, 100 μmol, 150 μmol, and 300 μmol were taken. The seeds were pre-primed in a solution of molybdate (75 mM Na2MoO4*2H2O) for uniform germination. The results of the influence of primed and non-primed seeds on some physiological indicators of growth and development in these concentrations of copper are discussed. The germination rate of seeds primed for heavy metal salts remains higher than that of seeds not primed. It is shown that in response to stress caused by copper metal salts, plants are responsible for the accumulation of a significant amount of proline in the leaves and roots that perform a protective function. The results obtained indicate the resistance of the wheat plant to the effects of heavy metals of copper, seeds primed with molybdate.

STUDY OF SEDIMENTS OF COLLECTING AGENTS IN ELEMENTARY FLOTATION ACT

The operating mechanism of physically sorbed derivatives of collector obtained at a nonstoichiometric ratio between collecting agents with heavy metal salts is proposed. It is found that by changing the ratio of the components, it is possible to adjust their surface-active properties with respect to the gas-liquid interface and, consequently, the ability to remove the kinetic restriction to the formation of flotation contact. The physical form of sorption on a mineral can be represented by collector sediments and ion-molecular associates. The research results show that when the interlayer breaks through, these forms can desorb from the mineral and spread over the bubble surface, dragging the liquid from the interlayer into motion, thereby “drying” the mineral surface. In turn, the removal of liquid from the interlayer leads to a reduction in the induction time, which affects the efficiency of flotation. The results make it possible to reveal the mechanism of flotation activation with heavy metal salts and can be used in the development of fundamentally new engineering solutions.

Electrodialysis concentration of sulfuric acid

An urgent task is the development of new resource-saving technologies for deep processing of wastes from the hydrometallurgical industry for the purpose of their reuse. Membrane technologies make it possible to create closed technological cycles with the reuse of recovered components in production, which allows solving many environmental problems. At the Abinsk Electric Steel Works Ltd. (Russia), during the production of copper-coated steel wire, a large amount of waste containing sulfuric acid and heavy metal salts is generated. The chemical treatment of such effluents with slaked lime and alkali produces a large amount of sludge, which causes environmental problems and leads to the irreversible loss of sulfuric acid. The problem of separating acids and salts can be solved using diffusion dialysis through anion-exchange membranes, however, to return the acid to the production cycle, the purified acid must be additionally concentrated. In this work, we studied the process of electrodialysis concentration of sulfuric acid using heterogeneous ion-exchange membranes Ralex® CMHPP and Ralex® AMHPP (manufactured by MEGA a.s., Czech Republic) which have a polypropylene reinforcing mesh resistant to acids. The main parameters of the electrodialysis concentration process have been determined – the dependence of the concentration of the regenerated sulfuric acid on the concentration at the inlet to the electrodialysis cell and on the current density, as well as the energy consumption for the process. It is shown that with the help of electrodialysis concentration it is possible to obtain sulfuric acid with a concentration of up to 180 g/L, which makes it possible to return it to the production cycle.

THE IMPACT OF LEAD SALTS ON BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN THE LYMPH OF ANIMALS

The article establishes the effect on the biochemical parameters of animal lymphocytes in case of poisoning with lead salts. The impact of lead salts, their spread, the effect of the harmful factors and the strengthening of the ecological situation in the environment determine the urgency of this problem. It is known that heavy metal ions gradually accumulate in the elements of the environment and then pass from the atmosphere to water and the human body. It was found that the effect of heavy metal salts in rats, including lead salts, has a negative effect on the lymphatic and circulatory system compared to the control group of biochemical parameters, which leads to metabolic disorders in the blood and lymph circulation. As a result of the study, the activity of rat enzymes was detected in normal and after poisoning with a toxicant. In acute poisoning, there was an increase in the amount of alkaline phosphatase in the lymphatic system by 40%, as well as an increase in the level of amino-transferase enzymes by 71% and 83%, respectively, and a decrease in the content of total bilirubin and associated bilirubin, all this indicates a violation of liver function, increased cytological processes in the liver and pancreas, decreased protein synthesis and impaired metabolism. When exposed to lead salts on the biochemical parameters of the lymph, the activity of α-amylase was reduced by 22.7%. based on the experiments, it was found that heavy metal salts significantly reduce the level of glucose in the blood, which negatively affects the parenchyma of the liver, kidney and kidney, increasing its consumption in tissues. The results obtained in the course of the study allowed us to form comprehensive data on the effect of lead on lymphatic and circulatory activity, biochemical parameters of the lymph of animal rats and can serve as a scientific basis for finding solutions to this problem.