Geochemistry of porewater and sulfate-reducing bacteria in sediment cores from the Chianan Plain, Taiwan

High concentrations of arsenic and humic substances in groundwater from the southwestern coastal plain of Taiwan were well known for their probable relationships with black-foot disease. In order to realize the relationships between the concentrations of humic substances and arsenic in this area, 24 well water samples were analyzed. After filtered through 0.45 μm glass fiber membrane in the field, samples were kept in the dark at 4℃ and then separated into six fractions with varying range of molecular weight （〈0.5, 0.5-1, 1-5, 5-10, 10-50 and 〉50 k Da） by ultrafiltration apparatus （Molecular/Por Stirred Cell system） in the lab. Concentrations of humic substances were measured by fluorescence spectrometer （HITACHI F-2000, ex=370, em=445） and arsenic by FIAS-AA （Perkin Elmer AAnalyst 100, FIAS-400）. On average, only 6.2% of the total arsenic in water existed in the fraction of 〉0.5 k Da. and the others were complexed with humic substances （including humic acid and fulvic acid）. The results demonstrated a distinct positive correlation between the concentrations of humic substances and arsenic.     

XANES analysis of the mechanisms of arsenic removal in biological iron and manganese treatment unit

Biological iron and manganese removal utilizing indigenous iron and manganese oxidizing bacteria （IRB hereafter） in groundwater can also be applied to arsenic removal according to our pilot-scale test. The arsenic removal probably occurred through sorption and complexation of arsenic to iron and manganese oxides formed by enzymic action of IRB. We investigated the chemical properties of iron and manganese oxides in IRB floc and the valence state of arsenic sorbed to the floc to clarify the mechanisms of the arsenic [especially As （Ⅲ）] removal. The floc samples were collected from two drinking water plants using IRB （Jyoyo and Yamatokoriyama, Japan）, and our pilot - scale test site where arsenic and iron removal using IRB is under way （Mukoh, Japan）. The Jyoyo and Yamatokoriyama IRB floc samples were subjected to As （Ⅲ） and As（Ⅴ） sorption experiments. The elemental composition of the floc samples was measured. XANES spectra were collected on As, Fe and Mn K-edges at synchrotron radiation facility Spring 8 （Hyogo, Japan）. FT-IR and the X-ray diffraction spectra of the samples were also obtained. The IRB floc contained ca. 35 % Fe, 0.3%-3.5% Mn and 2%-6% P. The samples were highly amorphous and contained ferrihidrites and hydrated iron phosphate. According to XANES analyses of IRB, As associated with IRB was in ＋5 valence state when As （Ⅲ） （or As （Ⅴ）） was added in laboratory sorption test, Fe in ＋3 valence state, and Mn a mixture of＋3 and ＋4 valence states. Small shift was observed in the XANES spectra of IRB on As K-edge as the equilibration time of the sorption experiment was increased. Gradual oxidation of a small amount of As （Ⅲ） associated with IRB or change in arsenic binding with sorption site were the probable mechanism.     

Characterization of microbial communities associated with African desert dust and their implications for human and ecosystem health

Desert winds aerosolize several billion tons of soil-derived dust each year, including concentrated seasonal pulses from Africa and Asia. Huge dust events create an atmospheric bridge over continents and oceans, and eject a large pulse of soil-associated microorganisms into the atmosphere. These dust events might therefore have a role in expanding the biogeographical range of some microorganisms by facilitating rare long-distance dispersal events. The goal of this study is to characterize the microbes associated with African dust events and determine if they pose a risk to humans or downwind ecosystems. Air samples were collected by vacuum filtration in a source region （Mali, West Africa） during dust events and plated on R2A media to culture microorganisms. These organisms were compared to those in similar samples collected in the Caribbean during Saharan/Sahelian dust events. A high-volume liquid impinger is currently being tested in Barbados, collecting aerosol samples during African dust events. Over 100 bacteria and fungi （19 genera of bacteria and three genera of fungi） have been characterized from source region dust events.     

南极菌Pseudoalteromonas sp．S-15-13产胞外多糖的研究及其分子鉴定

本文对影响南极细菌S-15-13生长和胞外多糖产量的主要环境因子进行了研究,同时采用16S rDNA序列分析及系统发育分析方法对其进行了分子鉴定。结果表明：菌株S-15-13最佳产糖条件为：培养时间,56h；培养温度,8℃；碳源,1．0%葡萄糖；NaCl浓度,3．0%；pH,6．0-7．0。16S rDNA序列分析和系统发育分析表明,菌株S-15-13属于假交替单胞菌属(Pseudoaltero- monas)。     

上扬子台地晚震旦世灯影组中葡萄状-雪花状白云岩的成因意义

葡萄状 -雪花状白云岩是白云岩形成之后经淡水淋滤作用而成 ,葡萄内或雪花周围的有机物质不是原生藻 ,而是蓝绿藻经细菌腐解后形成的细菌集合体。该套白云岩的形成与沉积环境关系密切 ,与藻类多少无关。葡萄状白云岩富含有机物质 ,而雪花状白云岩孔洞发育 ,因此葡萄状 -雪花状白云岩既是生油层 ,又是良好的储集层 ,对其重新认识和定位 ,必将为寻找深部油气资源提供极为重要场所     

北极海冰细菌产胞外酶及主要环境因子的初步研究

覆盖在北极海洋上的广阔海冰为其内部生存的微生物群落提供了一个独特的生境。研究表明 ,大量海冰细菌能够分泌产生胞外酶 ,其中产蛋白或脂质水解酶细菌的比例远高于产多糖水解酶的细菌。温度、盐度是直接影响海冰细菌生存与活力的 2个主要环境因子。 76%的产酪蛋白酶海冰细菌为低温菌 ,菌株只能在 <35°C条件下生长 ;而 98%的酪蛋白酶最适作用温度≥ 35°C ,其中 62 %的酶最适作用温度≥ 45°C。几乎所有的产酪蛋白酶海冰细菌都耐盐或嗜盐     

滇池微生物解磷与聚磷作用的实验研究及磷的现代沉积与微生物成矿作用

滇池是世界上磷质来源最丰富的湖泊，是研究磷的现代沉积和微生物对磷循环作用及微生物成矿的天然场所。研究发现，滇池微生物种群和数量繁多，但能对磷溶解、转化、迁移、聚集、沉积的微生物主要有解磷菌和聚磷菌两类。这两类微生物与滇池磷的含量之间有一系列规律的相关性：在底泥磷高含量区域，解磷菌的种群和数量与底泥磷含量成负相关关系，与水体磷含量成正相关关系，而聚磷菌的种群和数量与底泥磷含量成正相关关系，与水体磷含量成负相关关系；在底泥磷低含量区域，上述相关性则相反。滇池中这种活着的微生物在自然环境条件下对磷的溶解、转化、迁移、聚集和沉积的作用，对古磷块岩微生物成矿说提供了可靠的依据，而且对以磷为限制性因子的湖、海、江河环境污染的防治提供了理论资料。     

Experimental study on reduction of U (Ⅵ) by an anaerobic bacterium, Shewanella putrefaciens: Application to sandstone-hosted interlayer oxidation-zone type uranium deposits, China

An experimental study on reduction of U (Ⅵ) by anaerobic bacteria, Shewane//a putrefaciens, is first reported here in China. The experimental conditions were: 35℃ and pH =7.0-7.4, corresponding to a physicochemical environments in which the sandstone-hosted interlayer oxidation-zone type uranium deposit formed in Northwest China's Xinjiang. Bacteria adopted in the present experiment, Shewanella putrefaciens, occur extensively in natural environment. Our study shows that nano-crystal precipitates of uraninite quickly occurred on the surface of the cells within one week. It was found that the pitchblende was characterized by a random arrangement of uraninite nanocrystals (2-4 nm) in it, significantly different from natural pitchblende in which uraninite nanocrystals are arranged in order. Finally, a possible mechanism of uranium biomineralization by microorganisms in the deposits is discussed. Our investigation may supply a technical train of thoughts for bioremediation of nuclear-contaminated water environments and for underground dissolving extraction of the sandstone-hosted uranium ores.     

Biomineralization of Uranium: A Simulated Experiment and Its Significance

A simulated experimental reduction of U^v1 and the synthesis of uraninite by a sulfate-reducing bacteria,Desulfovibrio desulfuricans DSM 642, are first reported. The simulated physicochemical experimental conditions were:35℃, pH=7.0-7.4, corresponding to the environments of formation of the sandstone-hosted interlayer oxidation-zone type uranium deposits in Xinjiang, NW China. Uraninite was formed on the surface of the host bacteria after a one-week‘s incubation. Therefore, sulfate-reducing bacteria, which existed extensively in Jurassic sandstone-producing environments,might have participated in the biomineralization of this uranium deposit. There is an important difference in the orderdisorder of the crystalline structure between the uraninite produced by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and naturally occurring uraninite. Long time and slow precipitation and growth of uraninite in the geological environment might have resulted in larger uraninite crystals, with uraninite nanocrystals arranged in order, whereas the experimentally produced uraninite is composed of unordered uraninite nanocrystals which, in contrast, result from the short time span of formation and rapid precipitation and growth of uraninite. The discovery has important implications for understanding genetic significance in mineralogy, and also indicates that in-situ bioremediation of U-contaminated environments and use of biotechnology in the treatment of radioactive liquid waste is being contemplated.     

我国砂岩型铀矿分带特征研究现状及存在问题

作为一种重要的国家战略资源,砂岩型铀矿床是当今世界上最重要的铀矿床类型之一。本文详细地介绍了砂岩型铀矿在国内外的分布特征及占比情况,并对外生地质作用矿床类型中表生流体作用形成的层间渗透砂岩型和潜水渗透砂岩型铀矿床进行了讨论,发现层间渗透砂岩型铀矿床在外表颜色、矿物组合以及地球化学等方面均具有明显的氧化-还原分带现象,此外,矿床内部还具有细菌分带现象。颜色分带在氧化带、氧化-还原过渡带以及还原带之间具有明显不同的特征;矿物组合在不同分带之间各不相同;地球化学分带表现为U、TOC含量以及Fe~(2+)/Fe~(3+)、Th/U比值在各分带之间差异较大。此外,硫酸盐还原菌、硫杆菌、铁细菌及硝化菌等细菌在不同分带之间的数量相差悬殊,而且硫酸盐还原菌数量与TOC呈明显正相关性。通过矿化带内的碳、硫同位素分析,发现硫酸盐还原菌参与了成矿过程,推测其可能是导致碳、硫同位素分馏的主要因素。总体来看,颜色分带、矿物分带、地球化学分带以及细菌分带均与氧化-还原分带呈耦合关系。本文通过总结层间渗透砂岩型和潜水渗透砂岩型铀矿床的成矿模式和当前分带研究中存在的问题,提出了由细菌、地球化学反应参与的砂岩型铀矿床成矿机理,以及未来亟需解决的若干关键科学问题。典型砂岩型铀矿床的分带现象在物、化、探、遥等领域的异常响应对寻找砂岩型铀矿床具有重要的指导意义。