The Effect of Atmospheric Organic Compounds on the Fe-Catalyzed S(IV) Autoxidation in Aqueous Solution

Laboratory experiments were conducted with real atmospheric aerosol particles as well as with synthetic solutions under dark conditions, to simulate some of the chemical features of aerosols. In solutions obtained by the leaching of aerosols (size range >D _ae: 0.4–1.6 m) that contained sufficient amounts of transition metal ions (e.g. Fe) and organic species (e.g. oxalate), S(IV) oxidation rates were significantly lower than those expected from the Fe-catalyzed S(IV) autoxidation in Milli-Q water. The results suggest that oxalate is responsible for much of the observed inhibition. Acetate and formate also inhibit the reaction, but to a much lesser extent. Oxalate has a strong inhibiting effect on the Fe-catalyzed S(IV) autoxidation at all investigated pH values (2.8, 3.7 and 4.5). It was established that Fe(III)-oxalato complexes affect the redox cycling of Fe(II)/Fe(III) and that the observed decrease of the reaction rate is caused by the reduced amount of catalytically active Fe(III) due to the complexation with oxalate. For the system Fe-S(IV)-O₂-oxalate at initial pH 3.7 the reaction rate was calculated using exponential simplification to account for oxalate influence on the amount of free Fe(III) by the following equation:–r_S(IV) = k · [S(IV)] · [Fe(III))] · e ^-b·[Ox]     

A comparative analysis of enzyme leach and mobile metal ion selective extractions; case studies from glaciated terrain, northern Ontario

The enzyme leach and MMI (mobile metal ion) selective digestions are rapidly gaining popularity in the exploration community because of their successful track record in non-glaciated, arid and tropical climatic regions. Few successful case studies from high-latitude, temperate regions have been published to date. Also lacking is a comprehensive discussion of the constraints and limitations of these geochemical methods and how they affect the successful interpretation of selective-leach survey results in glaciated regions. This paper evaluates each method using specific examples from four case studies undertaken in the glaciated region of northern Ontario. The case studies clearly demonstrate that both the MMI and enzyme leach selective digestions provide the explorationist with useful information, which, when used in conjunction with other exploration tools, can assist with the identification of potential diamond drill targets. Notwithstanding this, the techniques do not appear to work well as ‘stand alone' methods. The importance of following strict sampling protocols and obtaining high-quality observational information on the sampling site and media collected cannot be overstressed. It is only by filtering out the many variables that arise in any sampling program that a sound interpretation of the data can be made. The case studies have drawn attention to some of the apparent shortfalls of the techniques. Of these, issues such as the ability to reproduce survey results from year to year and the recognition of anomalous element associations which specifically target blind mineralisation are probably those which require significant follow-up work. Clearly, additional case studies are required from the glaciated regions of the world to assist with the optimisation of geochemical response of MMI and enzyme leach selective extractions. The mechanisms responsible for the formation of surface geochemical anomalies over deeply buried mineralisation are not well understood. The observed patterns of geochemical response in surface soils and both shallow and deep ground waters over concealed mineralisation should assist with the development of new dispersion models.     

Surface associations of enzymes and of organic matter: Consequences for hydrolytic activity and organic matter remineralization in marine systems

The extent to which marine organic matter is associated with surfaces and the consequences of such associations for organic matter remineralization are the focus of considerable attention. Since extracellular enzymes operating outside microbial cells are required to hydrolyze organic macromolecules to sizes sufficiently small for substrate uptake, the effects of surface interactions–on enzymes as well as on substrates–for hydrolytic activity also require investigation. We used a simplified laboratory system consisting of a free (dissolved) polysaccharide (pullulan) and the same polysaccharide tethered to agarose beads to restrict mobility, plus the corresponding free enzyme (pullulanase) and the same enzyme sorbed to montmorillonite (Mte), to investigate systematically the consequences of surface associations of enzymes and of substrates on hydrolytic activity. Changes in substrate molecular weight were monitored with time to measure the course of enzymatic hydrolysis. Although hydrolysis of free substrate was nearly complete after 2 min incubation with the free enzymes, the sorbed enzymes also effectively hydrolyzed free substrate, and the data suggest that they retained activity longer in solution compared to the free enzymes. Sorbed enzymes progressively hydrolyzed the free substrate from > 50 kD to lower molecular weights during a 24 h incubation, with a final product distribution on average showing only 1.4% and 10.3% of substrate still in the > 50 kD and 10 kD size classes, while 46.6%, 29.3%, and 12.5% of substrate was in the 4 kD, monomer, and free tag size classes, respectively. This product distribution was very similar to that of the free substrate/free enzyme experiment. Tethering the substrate to agarose beads led to lower substrate release (2–3% of total substrate after 98 h incubation) into solution compared to the free substrate case. For tethered substrates, the state of the enzyme (free or sorbed) measurably affected the molecular weight distribution of the hydrolysis products, with free enzymes producing a higher fraction of high molecular weight hydrolysis products (28.7 ± 5.4% of substrate > 50 kD at the end of the incubation) compared to sorbed enzymes (11.6 ± 2.8% of substrate > 50 kD at the end of the incubation.) Tethered substrates were also hydrolyzed in a sediment slurry from surface sediments from Cape Lookout Bight, North Carolina; 0.1% of total substrate was released by enzymes naturally present in 1 cm³ of sediment after 144 h incubation, demonstrating that the enzymes naturally present in marine sediments are also capable of accessing tethered substrates. These investigations suggest that surface associations of enzymes in marine systems may extend the active lifetime of such enzymes, providing an opportunity for hydrolysis over longer periods of time and producing a different size spectrum of hydrolysis products relative to free enzymes. Furthermore, in well-mixed systems, surface-associated enzymes can hydrolyze substrates whose mobility is restricted, highlighting the importance of processes such as resuspension and bioturbation on organic matter remineralization.     

含动力学抑制剂的聚合醇钻井液水合物抑制性研究

对含动力学抑制剂的聚合醇钻井液水合物抑制性进行了实验研究。实验结果表明,加入PVP的水基聚合醇钻井液能够有效抑制甲烷水合物的生成,而PVP(K90)的抑制效果明显优于PVP(K30)。在温度为0℃、初始压力为18 MPa的条件下,只需向水基聚合醇钻井液中添加1%的PVP(K90),就能够确保循环管路中20 h内不会生成水合物。     

Growth inhibition to three red tide microalgae by extracts of Ulva pertusa

1 INTRODUCTION In recent decades, red tides that induced by in- creasing eutrophication occur frequently in coastal areas worldwide. This has caused serious problems in marine environment, aquaculture industries and human health (Qi et al., 1993; Horner e…     

米槠天然林土壤真菌对N2O产生的贡献

研究表明亚热带地区森林土壤硝化和反硝化能力都非常低,但却是全球N2O最大的自然源之一,因而推测极有可能存在N2O潜在源未被认识,有迹象表明真菌最有可能是这一潜在源的贡献者,但实际研究证据并不多．为此本研究以中亚热带地区典型常绿阔叶林——武夷山自然保护区米槠天然林土壤为对象,利用室内基质诱导呼吸选择抑制方法,研究在水分60％WHC和温度25℃条件下土壤真菌细菌活性比及其对N2O产生的相对贡献．结果显示真菌和细菌的活性比例分别是0．7±0．3和0．3±0．1,前者显著大于后者（P〈0．05）,真菌与细菌的活性比为2．00±1．00;与对照相比,添加放线菌酮（真菌抑制剂）处理N2O产生速率减少了50．8±11．3％,添加链霉素（细菌抑制剂）处理则减少了43．7±11．8％,前者减少是后者的1．15倍,但差异不显著．研究结果表明该米槠天然林土壤在给定实验条件下真菌活性比细菌的大,但二者对土壤N2O产生的贡献几乎相等．基质诱导呼吸选择抑制方法具有较多的限制条件,若得出可靠结论,还应该利用包括生物化学、分子生物学方法在内的多种方法进行相互验证．同时今后应加强真菌产生N2O途径及机理研究．     

Physico-chemical properties and enzyme activities of the arable soils in Lhasa, Tibet, China

An understanding of the physical,chemical,and biological properties of a soil provides a basis for soil use and management.This paper reports the major physico-chemical properties and enzyme activities of the soils of Lhasa’s main arable lands and the factors that influence these soil properties.Composite and core samples were taken from the three main arable soil types(alluvial soil,subalpine arable steppe soil,and subalpine arable meadow soil) and were analysed using standard methods.The bulk density and the ventilation porosity ratio of the soils were close to the recommended values for arable lands,and the dominant soil texture was sandy.The soil moisture release rates were arable steppe soil > alluvial soil > arable meadow soil.Soil organic matter content,Cation-Exchange Capacity(CEC),total and available nitrogen content,and catalase activity of the arable meadow soil were higher than those of the alluvial and the arable steppe soils,while soil pH in the arable meadow was lower.Most of the measured properties did not show a significant variance among these three soils.However,the measured indices(apart from the total potassium) indicate that there are notable differences among the three types of soil.The results implied that the utilisation patterns of the arable soil or human activities,such as tillage practices and fertiliser applications,have a substantialeffect on the soil properties in this region.Our results suggest that the cultivation practices in the region have apparently positive impact on the soil organic matter,nutrient contents and bulk density probably due to the sound fertiliser management such as the applications of farmyard manure and chemical fertilisers.However,intense cultivation practices lowered the activity of most soil enzymes.The results demonstrate that the choice of soil management strategy had a significant impact on the soil physicochemical and biological properties in the region studied.     

Inhibitory activity of an extract from a marine bacterium Halomonas sp. HSB07 against the red-tide microalga Gymnodinium sp. （Pyrrophyta）

In recent years, red tides occurred frequently in coastal areas worldwide. Various methods based on the use of clay, copper sulfate, and bacteria have been successful in controlling red tides to some extent. As a new defensive agent, marine microorganisms are important sources of compounds with potent inhibitory bioactivities against red-tide microalgae, such as Gymnodinium sp. （Pyrrophyta）. In this study, we isolated a marine bacterium, HSB07, from seawater collected from Hongsha Bay, Sanya, South China Sea. Based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence and biochemical characteristics, the isolated strain HSB07 was identified as a member of the genus Halomonas. A crude ethyl acetate extract of strain HSB07 showed moderate inhibition activity against Gymnodinium sp. in a bioactive prescreening experiment. The extract was further separated into fractions A, B, and C by silica gel column chromatography. Fractions B and C showed strong inhibition activities against Gymnodinium. This is the first report of inhibitory activity of secondary metabolites of a Halomonas bacterium against a red-tide-causing microalga.