The Evaluation on Biological Properties of Carboxymethylchitosan and Carboxymethyl-chitin

Carboxymethyl-chitosan and carboxymethyl-chitin were prepared with the methods developed in our laboratory. The DS （degree of substitution） and DD （degree of deacetylation） of the carboxymethyl-chitosan were 103.14% and 97.18% respectively, while the DS of the carboxymethyl-chitin was 96.37%. Their effects on human fibroblasts, intradermal irritation test, in vitro and vivo degradability, and biocompatibility were evaluated. The results indicate that the polysaccharides at low concentrations can facilitate the growth of human fibroblasts and the carboxymethyl-chitosan at 100 μg mL^-1 is the most effective. The polysaccharides at higher concentrations, however, inhibit the growth of fibroblasts. The PII （Primary Irritation Index） values of CM-chitosan and CM-chitin are both 0.0, which shows that they have no irritation reaction. Both of the polysaccharides show good degradability and biocompatibility. Carboxymethyl-chitin degrades faster in vitro than carboxymethyl-chitosan. The latter, however, has no inflammatory reaction after being implanted in vivo for 7 d and shows better biocompatibility. This study may provide a scientific basis for the use of earboxymethyl-ehitosan and carboxymethyl-chitin as biomaterials.     

石灰岩含水介质中苯系物（BTEX） 生物可降解性判识

    岩溶含水系统遭受石油烃污染的环境问题十分普遍。相对于多孔含水介质,石油烃BTEX在石灰岩含水介质中的生 物可降解性还不确定。为此,本研究开展了BTEX在石灰石和岩溶地下水介质中的静态微元体实验。经过77天的实验检测 分析,结果表明：（1） BTEX化合物在可利用电子受体溶解氧或硝酸盐存在条件下具有生物可降解性;（2） 向系统中补充 电子受体硝酸盐,具有促进生物降解的作用,其对BTEX的去除率可高达94%;（3） 未发现补充硫酸盐能够促进BTEX生物 可降解性;（4） 甲苯和二甲苯容易被生物降解,但苯的去除具有一定的难度。     

Sources and biodegradability of dissolved organic matter in two headwater peatland catchments at the Marcell Experimental Forest,northern Minnesota,USA

Where they are present in catchments, peatlands are a dominant source of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to surrounding waterways due, in part, to high production rates. Despite the preponderance of peatlands in northern latitudes and expected peatland vulnerability to climate change, little is known about peatland DOM degradation relative to a more comprehensive understanding of degradation when DOM is sourced from upland-dominated catchments. We compared DOM biodegradability of various sources of stream water in two catchments having peatlands (22%–33% of the area) surrounded by upland forests (70%–90% of the area, either deciduous or coniferous). We measured total organic carbon (TOC), and biodegradable dissolved organic carbon concentrations; bacterial respiration rates; streamflow; and upland runoff during and after snowmelt (March to June, 2009–2011). We also explored if DOM in upland runoff stimulated biodegradation of peatland-derived DOM (i.e., a priming effect), and if forest cover type affected DOM biodegradability. As expected, the peatlands were the largest sources of both water (72%–80%) and TOC (92%–96%) to the streams although more area in each catchment was in uplands (70%–90%). Several results were unexpected, yet revealing: (1) DOM from peatlands sometimes had the same biodegradability as DOM from uplands, (2) upland sources of DOM had negligible effects on biodegradability in the peatland and downstream, and (3) upland deciduous cover did not yield more degradable DOM than conifer cover. The most pronounced effect of upland runoff was dilution of downstream TOC concentrations when there was upland runoff. Overall, the effects of upland DOM may have been negligible due to the overriding effect of the large amount of biodegradable DOM that originated in bogs. This research highlights that peatland-sourced DOM has important effects on downstream DOM biodegradability even in catchments where upland area is substantially larger than peatland area.     

Development and Characterization of Lignin‐Based Hydrogel for Use in Agricultural Soils: Preliminary Evidence

In arid and semi‐arid regions of the world, agricultural production is greatly limited by water scarcity and inefficient water use. Water‐absorbent hydrogels are a technological solution that can retain soil water for plants. A lignin‐based hydrogel as a natural plant‐based water absorbent is prepared from lignin alkali polymers and poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE) in adjusted alkali (NaOH) solution. The maximum swelling capacity of the hydrogel is achieved in 1.5 m NaOH with 0.5 mmol PEGDGE g ${}_{\mathrm{lignin}}^{?1}$. Water swelling capacity is 34 g g ${}_{\mathrm{Hydrogel}}^{?1}$ dry weight of hydrogel in distilled water, which is reduced to 53% and 64% in 0.1 m NaCl and 0.1 m CaCl₂ solution, respectively. Biodegradability and phytotoxicity tests show that 6.5% of the sample mass decomposed after 40 days of incubation in soil solution media and the hydrogel is not phytotoxic to wheat seeds. These findings support the use of the lignin‐based hydrogel as an environmentally friendly additive to promote water retention in dry, saline soils. Due to the limitations of this study, further assessments are needed in order to understand the efficiency of lignin‐based hydrogel application in different soils with different biota.     

The evaluation on biological properties of carboxymethyl-chitosan and carboxymethyl-chitin

Carboxymethyl-chitosan and carboxymethyl-chitin were prepared with the methods developed in our laboratory.The DS(degree of substitution) and DD (degree of deacetylation) of the carboxymethyl-chitosan were 103.14% and 97.18% respectively,while the DS of the carboxymethyl-chitin was 96.37%.Their effects on human fibroblasts,intradermal irritation test,in vitro and vivodegradability,and biocompatibility were evaluated.The results indicate that the polysaccharides at low concentrations can facilitatethe growth of human fibroblasts and the carboxymethyl-chitosan at 100 μg mL<'-1> is the most effective.The polysaccharides at higherconcentrations,however,inhibit the growth of fibroblasts.The PⅡ (Primary Irritation Index) values of CM-chitosan and CM-chitinare both 0.0,which shows that they have no irritation reaction.Both of the polysaccharides show good degradability and biocompati-bility.Carboxymethyl-chitin degrades faster in vitro than carboxymethyl-chitosan.The latter,however,has no inflammatory reactionafter being implanted in vivo for 7 d and shows better biocompatibility.This study may provide a scientific basis for the use of car-boxymethyl-chitosan and carboxymethyl-chitin as biomaterials.     

Effects of Fenton Pre‐Treatment on Waste Activated Sludge Properties

Fenton process was investigated for the purpose of biological sludge disintegration. The Box–Wilson experimental design was employed to evaluate the effects of major process variables (Fe(II) and H₂O₂ concentrations) on both disintegration and dewatering performance of sludge. Results showed that 4 g Fe(II)/kg total solids (TSs) and 60 g H₂O₂/kg TS are efficient for floc disintegration. Fenton pre‐treatment enhanced the biodegradability of sludge. For 4 g Fe(II)/kg TS and 60 g H₂O₂/kg TS, 19.4% higher methane production was achieved compared to raw sludge in biochemical methane potential assay. Fenton pre‐treatment resulted in the release of organic sludge components into the liquid phase. For 4 g Fe(II)/kg TS and 60 g H₂O₂/kg TS, dissolved organic carbon and total nitrogen in sludge's supernatant increased by 75.74 and 60.60%, respectively. Fenton pre‐treatment enhanced the filterability of sludge and it can be applied for conditioning purpose before mechanical dewatering units.     

钙磷酸盐—BMP多孔复合材料的降解与成骨效应

通过X射线照相术、SEM、EPMA等测试手段研究了钙磷酸盐（CP）多孔陶瓷及钙磷酸盐－骨形态发生蛋白质（BMP）多孔复合材料（CPB）在动物体内的生物降解性、成骨效应以及材料－骨界面的显微结构。用统计学τ检验对CP和CPB两种材料植入体内后的新骨形成速率数据进行了处理。结果表明CPB复合材料的新骨形成速率明显高于CP陶瓷；钙磷酸盐矿物有较好的生物降解性，但在体内完全降解是不可能的；BMP与CP复合后，能明显地加快新骨形成，促进钙磷酸盐矿物的降解；多孔结构亦有利于矿物降解及新骨形成，新骨长入陶瓷孔隙后形成一中种互穿网络结构，使植入部位力学性能得到强化，弥补了材料降解中所导致的力学性能的衰减。据此可以预测，通过适当的孔结构和诱导成骨机制，可以制备出近乎完全降解的生物材料。