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A strain of autotrophic micro-organism, Rhodococcus sp.zw11, was isolated from pharmaceutical wastewater containing hydrogen sulphide (H2S). The shape, physiological and biochemical characteristics and oxidation capacity of Rhodococcus sp.zw11 were studied, and the effect of inlet concentration and volumetric loading of H2S on the removal efficiency was evaluated by the biotrickling filter inoculated with Rhodococcus sp.zw11. The results suggested that the optimal temperature of Rhodococcus sp.zw11 (aerobic bacilli, short rod and gram-negative) was from 20°C to 28°C and the optimal pH was from 5.5 to 6.5. The criteria necessary for a scale-up design of the biotrickling filter were established, and pressure drops at the start and end of the experiment were investigated. The optimal inlet loading could be noted as 180 g/m³h, corresponding to H2S removal efficiency close to 100%. Furthermore, the inoculated biotrickling filter had good ability to resist shock loading, which was a potential industrialisation method to control H2S emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article investigates whether the polymorphisms of the estrogen-metabolizing enzymes (EME), which are involved in biogenesis, bioavailability and degradation of the estrogens, have any bearing on the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma. According to the authors, findings suggest that the polymorphisms of EMEs may not contribute to the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma.

The article discusses the result of a study suggesting no association of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 7, MMP-8 and MMO-P-21 polymorphisms with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in a Chinese population. The findings indicate that the polymorphisms of MMP-7 A-181G, MMP-8 C-799T and MMP-21 C572T may not play a major role in mediating susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma.

The development and manufacture of an adsorbent to remove phosphate for the prevention of eutrophication in lakes is very important. The use of aluminium oxide (alumina) as an organic adsorbent to remove phosphate from wastewater has been investigated. The characteristics of this absorption process were investigated to determine the important parameters, such as the pU and the aluminium ion concentration. Moreover, chemical treatment methods to enhance the adsorption capacity of alumina were tested. Dynamic studies and equilibrium adsorption isotherm studies were conducted to determine the adsorption capacity and efficiency. The experimental results indicate that it is necessary to increase the temperature above 500 °C in order to obtain a high-capacity adsorbent, and alumina treated with acid or calcium or magnesium has a larger adsorption capacity for phosphate than untreated adsorbent. Moreover, the adsorption of phosphate was enhanced at a lower pH and a higher aluminium ion concentration, and a simple Freundlich isotherm could express the equilibrium adsorption isotherm, and the intragranular the adsorption capacity and the slope is an indicator of the adsorption intensity. It also shows that the acid treatment method is simple and useful to increase the adsorption capacity. The Freundlich exponent is well below 0.5, which indicates that the adsorption process is favourable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]