Initial Study on Phytoextraction for Recovery of Metals from Sorted and Aged Waste-to-Energy Bottom Ash

Sorted and aged bottom ash from Waste-to-Energy plants, i.e., MIBA (the Mineral fraction of Incinerator Bottom Ash) are potential source of metals that could be utilized to meet the increased demand from society. In this work, sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) and rapeseed (Brassica napus) were cultivated in conventional MIBA to evaluate the possibility for phytoextraction, mainly of Zn, during the period of one cultivation season in the Nordic climate. The results show that metal extraction from MIBA using rapeseed and sunflowers is workable but that neither of the used plants is optimal, mainly due to the inhibited root development and low water- and nutrient-holding capacities of MIBA. The addition of fertilizer is also important for growth. There was a simultaneous accumulation of numerous metals in both plant types, and the highest metal content was generally found in the roots. Calculations indicated that the ash from rapeseed root incineration contained about 2% Zn, and the contents of Co, Cu, and Pb were comparable to those in workable ores. This initial study shows that cultivation in and phytoextraction on MIBA is possible, and that the potential for increased metal extraction is high.

Deposition of Phosphorylated α-Synuclein and Activation of GSK-3β and PP2A in the PS19 Mouse Model of Tauopathy

The simultaneous accumulation of multiple pathological proteins, such as hyperphosphorylated tau (hp-tau) and phosphorylated α-synuclein (p-αSyn), has been reported in the brains of patients with various neurodegenerative diseases. We previously demonstrated that hp-tau-dependent p-αSyn accumulation was associated with the activation of GSK-3β in the brains of P301L tau transgenic mice. To confirm the effects of another mutant tau on p-αSyn accumulation in vivo, we herein examined the brains of PS19 mice that overexpress human P301S mutant tau. Immunohistochemically, hp-tau and p-αSyn aggregates were detected in the same neuronal cells in the cerebrum and brain stem of aged PS19 mice. A semiquantitative analysis showed a positive correlation between hp-tau and p-αSyn accumulation. Furthermore, an activated form of GSK-3β was detected within cells containing both hp-tau and p-αSyn aggregates in PS19 mice. Western blotting showed a decrease in inactivated PP2A levels in PS19 mice. The present results suggest that the overexpression of human P301S mutant tau induces p-αSyn accumulation that is accompanied by not only GSK-3β, but also PP2A activation in PS19 mice, and highlight the synergic effects between tau and αSyn in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases that show the codeposition of tau and αSyn.

Evaluación de los efectos sinérgicos de cromo y plomo durante el proceso de fitorremediación con berro (Nasturtium officinale) en un humedal artificial//Evaluation of the synergistic effects of chromium and lead during the process of phytoremediation with watercress (Nasturtium officinale) in an artificial wetland

La contaminación por metales pesados ha aumentado con los años debido a sus diferentes aplicaciones. Se han evaluado distintas especies vegetales para bioacumular metales pesados, el berro es una especie con capacidad de fitorremediación. Sin embargo, falta información sobre la sinergia que ocurre cuando dos metales en el medio están presentes y condicionan su acumulación en las plantas. El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar el efecto sinérgico en la acumulación simultánea de Pb y Cr (VI) en berro. Se utilizó un sistema cerrado y un humedal artificial para evaluar el comportamiento de los metales en presencia de berro, cuantificando al final de cada experimento la concentración acumulada en tallos, hoja y raíz. La mayor concentración de ambos metales fue en raíz (Pb > Cr). Al incrementarse la presencia de Cr (VI) en solución, la planta absorbe más metal, y en combinación con Pb el índice de tolerancia se aumenta y el factor de translocación disminuye. Dentro del humedal construido el porcentaje de remoción de Pb y Cr total fue del >99.9% (100 mg L-1) y 95% (28.5 mg L-1), respectivamente. Los resultados obtenidos indican que existen interacciones ambientales, físicas y químicas que determinan la capacidad de bioacumulación en el berro, de los metales evaluados.ABSTRACTHeavy metal pollution has increased over the years due to its different applications. Different plant species have been evaluated to bioaccumulate heavy metals; watercress is a species with phytoremediation capacity. However, there is little information on the synergy that occurs when two metals in the medium are present and condition their accumulation in plants. The objective of this research was to evaluate the synergistic effect on the simultaneous accumulation of Pb and Cr (VI) in watercress. We used a batch system and an artificial wetland to evaluate the behavior of metals in the presence of watercress, quantifying at the end of each experiment the cumulative concentration in stems, leaf, and root. The highest concentration of both metals occurred in the root section (Pb> Cr). As the presence of Cr (VI) in solution increases, the plant absorbs more metal, and combination with Pb the tolerance index is increased and the translocation factor decreases. Within the constructed wetland the percentage of total Pb and Cr removal was >99.9 % (100 mg L-1) and 95% (28.5 mg L-1) respectively. The results show the presence of effects of environmental, physical and chemical interactions that determine the capacity of bioaccumulation of the metals evaluated in watercress.

Simultaneous Use of Stimulatory Agents to Enhance the Production and Hypoglycaemic Activity of Polysaccharides from Inonotus obliquus by Submerged Fermentation

This study aimed to determine the effect of applying stimulatory agents to liquid cultured Inonotus obliquus on the simultaneous accumulation of exo-polysaccharides (EPS) and their monosaccharide composition. Different stimulatory agents (VB6, VB1, betulin and birch extract) were investigated for their effects on active exo-polysaccharides by submerged fermentation of I. obliquus. The mycelial biomass, reducing sugar content, EPS yield and α-glucosidase inhibition rate were determined, and the EPS obtained was analyzed for monosaccharide composition. The results showed that the addition of all the four stimulatory agents could significantly increase the inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase of EPS than the control, whereas EPS from 4 μg/mL VB1-containing medium had the best effect with an estimated IC50 value 24.34 μg/mL. Among the four stimulatory agents, VB6 gave maximum production of mycelial biomass and EPS at the concentration of 4 μg/mL with a increase of 50.79% and 114.46%, respectively. In addition, betulin had a significant effect on increasing the EPS yield and activity, and birch extract had a significantly stimulatory effect on the mycelial growth and the polysaccharides activity, only slightly worse than VB6 and VB1. Moreover, the addition of different stimulatory agents changed the monosaccharide composition of polysaccharides, which had a correlation with polysaccharide activity.