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Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are widely used as a fungicide in agriculture. The application of CuO NPs in agriculture affects the growth of rice and metal accumulation in rice. However, the mechanism of CuO NPs on arsenic (As) accumulation in rice remains unclear. In this study, a hydroponic culture was produced to investigate the mechanism of the effect of 50 and 100 mg L−1 CuO NPs on As accumulation in rice. Our results showed that CuO NPs decreased As(III/V) accumulation in the roots and shoots by adsorbing As(III/V), oxidizing of As(III) on the surface, and thickening the root cell wall. The addition of CuO NPs regulated the expression of the OsNIP1;1, OsHAC1;1, and OsHAC4 genes, which decreased As(III) transport and promoted As(V) reduction in the roots. Moreover, when CuO NPs were co-exposed to As, a negative correlation between the concentration of Cu and As in rice was also found in our study. However, CuO NPs significantly increased Cu accumulation in rice and constrained the rice growth. In conclusion, CuO NPs might be a promising way to decrease As accumulation in rice, but the negative effects such as growth inhibition should be further considered. Therefore, the application of CuO NPs in rice plants should take a more restrained approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution and mobility of manganese (Mn) in the hyperaccumulator plant species Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. (Phytolaccaceae) were investigated in a hydroponic system. The plants were exposed to 2 or 5 m M Mn for up to 28 days. For any given plant, the Mn content in the mature leaves (nos. 5–9) was always higher than that in the old (nos. 1–4) and young leaves (nos. 10–14). Within the different parts of a leaf, Mn was preferentially accumulated in the leaf marginal area, where the observed level was threefold higher than that in the midrib. Cross-sectional analysis of the leaf revealed that the concentration of Mn was higher in the leaf epidermis than in the mesophyll. Cell fractionation analysis with P. acinosa leaves showed that most of the Mn (78.4%) was present in the final supernatant fraction (following centrifugation at 20,000 g for 45 min). The distribution of Mn in the leaves of P. acinosa was controlled mainly by the transpiration rate. Our investigation demonstrated that Mn was readily transported from the roots to shoots of P. acinosa but that it could not be remobilized readily after it reached leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wide use of metal-based nanoparticles (MNPs) will inevitably lead to their release into soil, and consequently affect the quality and ecological functions of soil environments. In this study, two paddy soils with different properties were exposed to CuO NPs to evaluate the transformation of CuO NPs and their effects on soil properties and components. The results of single chemical extraction and X-ray absorption fine structure analysis showed that CuO NPs could release Cu ions once being applied into the flooding paddy soil and then progress toward the more stable forms (Cu2S and Cu(OH)2). CuO NPs could change the soil properties by increasing the pH and Eh of the lower organic matter-soil rather than those of the higher organic matter-soil. Furthermore, we found that the 1000 mg/kg CuO NPs could accelerate the degradation or mineralization of the organic matter, as well as the Fe reduction process, by increasing the Fe(II) content by 293% after flooding for 60 days in the lower organic matter soil. The microbial biomass in both soils was severely inhibited by CuO NPs and the organic matter could partly mitigate the negative effects of CuO NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanide tailings are the major hazardous wastes generated in the production process of the gold industry, which not only contain highly toxic cyanide, but also contain heavy metals with recycling value and other substances suitable for building materials or filling. These tailings are in urgent need of purification treatment and safe utilization. In this study, the impacts of treatment methods, types and combinations of reagents on decyanation effect were researched. Gold in cyanide tailings was recovered by flotation, and flotation tailings were used for filling after identifying the properties of solid waste. Results are as follows: (1) INCO method and 5 reagents (sodium sulfite, sodium persulfate, copper sulfate, ferrous sulfate and zinc sulfate) were selected for synergistic decyanation treatment, and cyanide concents in slurry and leaching solution were decreased to the minimum. (2) The gold recovery rate of the tailings through flotation was increased by 27.8% than without detoxification. (3) Flotation tailings were identified as general industrial solid wastes by leaching toxicity and toxic substance content analysis. (4) As filling aggregate, under the conditions of slurry concentration of 63% and cement-sand ratio of 1:6, the strength filling body of flotation tailings reached 1.32 Mpa after 28 days of maintenance. (5) This process and combined reagents were applied to engineering. The cyanide content in the leaching solution and the flotation recovery rate of gold were kept below 0.2 mg/L and above 60% respectively, and the strength of the filling body was stable to meet the requirements of underground filling. [Display omitted] • Different decyanation methods and reagents of cyanide tailings were researched. • Five reagents were screened for decyanation and their interaction mechanism was expounded. • Gold was extracted by flotation after detoxification and the gold recovery rate was much higher than that of non-detoxification. • Flotation tailings were identified as general industrial solid wastes for filling, and filling parameters were explored. • Efficient detoxification and full resource utilization of cyanide tailings were realized and applied to industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The sources, preparation, modification, and environmental remediation applications of biochar have been discussed in detail. • The application of biochar activated persulfate for pollutant removal in water and soil has been extensively discussed. • The mechanism of biochar activation of persulfate has been extensively discussed. • DFT calculations are used to explain the mechanism of action of biochar and the microscopic activities of catalytic adsorption processes. Soil and water environmental pollution continues to pose a substantial threat, accounting for approximately 30 % of all global environmental issues. Among the various remediation strategies, biochar, characterized by its exceptional porous structure, a specific surface area ranging from 500 to 1500 m2/g, and a diverse array of functional groups, stands as a highly effective adsorbent and catalytic material. It has been extensively applied in environmental restoration efforts. Notably, in recent years, the technology involving biochar-activated persulfate (PS) has garnered significant attention, accounting for over 20 % of all published research in this field. A detailed discussion was conducted on the preparation methods of biochar, the research progress and mechanism of activating PS to remediate organic pollutants in soil and water by summarizing and refining relevant research. Specifically, the application of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations in elucidating the interaction mechanisms between biochar and PS has been thoroughly investigated, uncovering the electron transfer process between the functional groups on the biochar surface and PS, thus facilitating the degradation of organic pollutants. Moreover, this article also explores the challenges and future directions of the biochar-activated PS technology in practical applications, aiming to offer new insights and methods for the restoration of soil and water environments. It provides a theoretical foundation for further exploration of its mechanism of action and the optimization of application conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bacterial–mineral composites are important in the retention of heavy metals due to their large sorption capacity under a wide range of environmental conditions. This study provides the first quantitative comparison of the metal-binding capacities of P. putida CZ1–goethite composite to its individual components. When the same amount (on a dry weight basis) of living and nonliving cells of P. putida CZ1, goethite or their composites was separately exposed to solutions of 0.5mM Cu(II) and Zn(II) in 0.01M KNO3, the living cells removed the largest quantity of heavy metals. The results of calculated metal retention values indicated that the adsorption of goethite to bacteria has not mask or neutralize chemically reactive adsorption sites normally available to metal ions. Moreover, the nonliving cells–goethite composite retained approximately 82% more Zn than that predicted by their individual behavior. The preferential association of Zn with P. putida CZ1 was observed by TEM and EDS analyses of a mixture consisting of the bacteria and goethite. Desorption of Cu and Zn with 1.0M CH3COOK solution from P. putida CZ1 and goethite indicated the differences in the functional groups able to bind heavy metals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The adsorption and desorption processes of Cu(II) and Zn(II) on the biomass of Pseudomonas putida CZ1 as a function of particle concentrations (C p) were studied. In a 0.01M KNO3 solution, the Cu-biomass and Zn-biomass adsorption systems displayed a clear C p effect. The overall adsorption isotherms under three C p conditions could be described as a Freundlich-type C p effect isotherm equation: for Cu-biomass system, for Zn-biomass system. The results of experiments, designed to eliminate several typical sources of experimental artifact, agree with the prediction of the metastable-equilibrium adsorption theory. Results from laboratory equilibration studies also indicate that biomass-adsorbed Cu(II) or Zn(II) fractions may be comprised of both reversibly and strongly bound or resistant components. A computational method has been derived to allow prediction of the magnitude of the reversible and more strongly adsorbed Cu(II) or Zn(II) fractions from conventional isotherm data. This methodology provides an initial quantitative approximation of the strongly bound, resistant, biomass fractions while utilizing relatively simple experimental adsorption–desorption data. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Passivation of nanoscale zerovalent iron hinders its efficiency in water treatment, and loading another catalytic metal has been found to improve the efficiency significantly. In this study, Cu/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared by liquid-phase chemical reduction for removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) from wastewater. Synthesized bimetallic nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmet–Teller isotherm, and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that Cu loading can significantly enhance the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) by 29.3% to 84.0%, and the optimal Cu loading rate was 3% (wt%). The removal efficiency decreased with increasing initial pH and Cr(VI) concentration. The removal of Cr(VI) was better fitted by pseudo-second-order model than pseudo-first-order model. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the Cr(VI) removal was spontaneous and endothermic, and the increase of reaction temperature facilitated the process. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis indicated that Cr(VI) was completely reduced to Cr(III) and precipitated on the particle surface as hydroxylated Cr(OH)3 and CrxFe1−x(OH)3 coprecipitation. Our work could be beneficial for the application of iron-based nanomaterials in remediation of wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in paddy soil has become a worldwide concern and severely endangered human health. Nano hydroxyapatite (n-HAP) is a practical material to manage paddy Cd pollution, but its dosage should not be excessive. Based on previous studies, we validated the effect of n-HAP pre-treatment on rice Cd uptake in pot and field experiments. The results indicated that n-HAP pre-treatment effectively restricted Cd translocation in the soil-rice system. In pot experiment, when soil n-HAP concentration was 5000 mg/kg, the Cd content in the grains of n-HAP pre-treated rice was 0.171 mg/kg, decreased by 29.3% compared with normal rice (0.242 mg/kg). In field experiment, when soil n-HAP concentration was 20,000 mg/kg, the Cd content in the grains of n-HAP pre-treated rice was 0.156 mg/kg, decreased by 35.3% compared with normal rice (0.241 mg/kg). The primary mechanism was that n-HAP pre-treatment altered the formation and composition of iron plaque and therefore enhanced the Cd binding ability of iron plaque. The available N and P content and urease activity in paddy field were increased. We further investigated the impact of n-HAP on the diversity and structure of paddy microbial communities. The Chao1 and Shannon diversity indices showed no significant difference. The relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria was significantly decreased by n-HAP, indicating that Cd pollution might be alleviated. Desulfobacterota , Gemmatimonadota , and Geobacteraceae were significantly enriched by n-HAP. The declining relative abundance of Basidiomycota and the increasing relative abundance of other fungal taxa also suggested that n-HAP could alleviate Cd toxicity in soil. [Display omitted] • n-HAP pre-treatment reduced Cd accumulation in rice grains effectively. • n-HAP pre-treatment restricted Cd translocation from root to stem by regulating iron plaque formation and composition. • n-HAP significantly increased available N, P content and urease activity in paddy field. • n-HAP did not significantly affect the abundance and diversity of paddy microbial communities but altered their structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice is an important worldwide environmental concern. Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles (Fe 3 O 4 NPs) and Nano hydroxyapatite (n-HAP) are promising materials to manage Pb and Cd contamination. This study systematically investigated the effect of Fe 3 O 4 NPs and n-HAP on Pb and Cd stressed rice seedlings' growth, oxidative stress, Pb and Cd uptake and subcellular distribution in roots. Furthermore, we clarified the immobilization mechanism of Pb and Cd in the hydroponic system. Fe 3 O 4 NPs and n-HAP could reduce Pb and Cd uptake of rice mainly through decreasing Pb and Cd concentrations in culture solution and combining with Pb and Cd in root tissues. Pb and Cd were immobilized by Fe 3 O 4 NPs through complex sorption processes and by n-HAP through dissolution-precipitation and cation exchange, respectively. On the 7th day, 1000 mg/L Fe 3 O 4 NPs reduced the contents of Pb and Cd in shoots by 90.4% and 95.8%, in roots by 23.6% and 12.6%, 2000 mg/L n-HAP reduced the contents of Pb and Cd in shoots by 94.7% and 97.3%, in roots by 93.7% and 77.6%, respectively. Both NPs enhanced the growth of rice seedlings by alleviating oxidative stress and upregulating glutathione secretion and antioxidant enzymes activity. However, Cd uptake of rice was promoted at certain concentrations of NPs. The subcellular distribution of Pb and Cd in roots indicated that both NPs decreased the percentage of Pb and Cd in the cell wall, which was unfavorable for Pb and Cd immobilization in roots. Cautious choice was needed when using these NPs to manage rice Pb and Cd contamination. [Display omitted] • Fe 3 O 4 NPs immobilized Pb and Cd through complex sorption processes. • n-HAP immobilized Pb and Cd through dissolution-precipitation and cation exchange. • Cd accumulation in rice roots could increase due to using Fe 3 O 4 NPs and n-HAP. • Fe 3 O 4 NPs and n-HAP decreased the percentage of Pb and Cd in the cell wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 10 μM Erythrosine reduced the coronavirus titer by more than 99.999% within 30 min. • Erythrosine inactivated the virus by producing singlet oxygen induced by light. • The color loss of erythrosine can indicate the complete inactivation of the virus. • The filtration efficiency of the mask remained at > 95% after erythrosine treatment. The global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in demand and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, putting great pressure on social production and the environment. It is urgent to find an efficient and non-destructive disinfection method for the safe reuse of PPE. This study proposes a PPE disinfection method that uses erythrosine, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved food dye, as photosensitizer to produce singlet oxygen for virus inactivation, and indicates the completion of disinfection by its photobleaching color change. After spraying 100 μL of 10 μM erythrosine on the surface of the mask for 3 times and light exposure for 25 min, the titer of coronavirus decreased by more than 99.999%, and the color of erythrosine on the mask surface disappeared. In addition, the structure of the mask was intact and the filtration efficiency was maintained at > 95% after 10 cycles of erythrosine treatment. Therefore, this disinfection method can provide at least 10 cycles of reuse with the advantages of high safety and convenient, and the completion of disinfection can be indicated by its photobleaching, which is suitable for hospitals and daily life to reduce the consumption of PPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removal of toxic Cr(VI) by microbial reduction is a promising approach to reducing its ecotoxicological impact. To develop bioremediation technologies, many studies have evaluated the application of microorganisms isolated from Cr(VI)-contaminated sites. Nonetheless, little attention has been given to microbes from the environments without a history of Cr(VI) contamination. In this study, we aimed to characterize the Cr(VI) tolerance and removal abilities of a filamentous fungus strain, SL2, isolated from indoor air. Based on phenotypic characterization and rDNA sequence analysis, SL2 was identified as Penicillium oxalicum, a species that has not been extensively studied regarding Cr(VI) tolerance and reduction abilities. SL2 showed high tolerance to Cr(VI) on solid and in liquid media, facilitating its application to Cr(VI)-contaminated environments. Growth curves of SL2 in the presence of 0, 100, 400, or 1000 mg/L Cr(VI) were well simulated by the modified Gompertz model. The relative maximal colony diameter and maximal growth rate decreased as Cr(VI) concentration increased, while the lag time increased. SL2 manifested remarkable efficacy of removing Cr(VI). Mass balance analysis indicated that SL2 removed Cr(VI) by reduction, and incorporated 0.79 mg of Cr per gram of dry biomass. In electroplating wastewater, the initial rate of Cr(VI) removal was affected by the initial contaminant concentration. In conclusion, P. oxalicum SL2 represents a promising new candidate for Cr(VI) removal. Our results significantly expand the knowledge on potential application of this microorganism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxalic acid is the most abundant low molecular weight organic acid (LMWOA) in many environments and offers enormous prospects for treating Cr(VI) contamination. In this study, laboratory batch experiments were conducted to estimate the roles of oxalic acid in Cr(VI) removal by Penicillium oxalicum SL2. Oxalic acid changed the initial pH and provided a suitable condition for the growth of strain SL2 when the penicillium was applied to bioremediation of Cr(VI) contamination in alkaline soil. Gompertz model analysis indicated that initial pH affected the lag time of the growth curve of strain SL2. Scanning electron microscopy and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy analysis showed strain SL2 sufficiently contacted with contaminated soil and reduced Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in the hyphae. The results suggested that oxalic acid could enhance the bioremediation efficiency of strain SL2 though improving chromium bioleaching from the contaminated soil and strengthening Cr(VI) removal in the leaching solution. This study provided oxalic acid as a green reagent for stimulating Cr(VI) removal by strain SL2 and would expand knowledge on the roles of LMWOA in Cr(VI) bioremediation. [Display omitted] • Gompertz model could simulate the growth curve of strain SL2 under initial pH5 to pH9. • Growth of strain SL2 had a strong correlation with Cr(VI) removal. • Oxalic acid improved chromium bioleaching by strain SL2 from contaminated soil. • Oxalic acid enhanced Cr(VI) removal by strain SL2 in the leaching solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The toxic chemical element cadmium (Cd) in paddy fields triggered increasing problems of growth inhibition and food security in rice consistently. In this study, we found Metarhizium robertsii , which is widely used as a bioinsecticide and biofertilizer in agriculture and recently found to be resistant to Cd, developed intraradical and extraradical symbiotic hyphae in rice seedlings, and successfully colonized in the rice rhizosphere soil to more than 103 CFUs g−1 soil at harvesting. M. robertsii colonization significantly reduced Cd accumulations in both hydroponically cultured seedlings and the matured rice cultured in Cd contaminated potting soil (2 ppm). Notably, Cd accumulation reduction of the roots, stems, leaves, husks and grains of the matured rice induced by the fungus were 44.3%, 32.1%, 35.3%, 31.9% and 24.7%, respectively. It was caused by the M. robertsii -induced suppression of Cd intake transporter gene osNramp5 in the rice roots, and the chemical stabilizing of Cd to the residual fraction in the rhizosphere soil. In addition, the colonization of M. robertsii significantly promoted the growth characters and the photosynthesis of the rice plants. This is achieved by the increase of endogenous hormone levels of indole-3-acetic, gibberellin A 3 and brassinolide induced by M. robertsii. Furthermore, the fungus enhanced the antioxidative capacities via increasing enzyme activities of catalase, peroxidase and the production of glutathione, ascorbic acid, proline in the rice plants. Our work provides theoretical basis for expanding the use of M. robertsii as in situ Cd accumulation reduction and detoxification agents for rice in contaminated paddy fields. [Display omitted] • M. robertsii colonized well in the rice roots and the rhizosphere soil. • M. robertsii reduced Cd accumulation and promoted plant growth of rice. • Rice osNramp5 was suppressed and soil Cd ions were stabilized by the fungus. • Endogenous phytohormones IAA, GA 3 and BL were elevated by the fungus. • M. robertsii stimulated antioxidative capacities of rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial remediation is preferred as a clean and cost-effective method for restoring environments polluted by organics. But the biodegradation rates of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) are usually extremely restricted by their low bioavailability, especially in soil. Here, a physical method (mechanical mixing) and a chemical method (randomly methylated- β -cyclodextrins, RAMEB) were adopted to improve the bioavailability and biodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) of an aged soil. The bioavailability of tri-CBs was increased by adding RAMEB in soil/slurry or assisting mechanical mixing in slurry, but these methods had no effects on the bioavailability of tetra-CBs and high chlorinated PCBs (Cl > 4). The degradation rate of tri-CBs could be obviously enhanced by adding RAMEB in soil or assisting mechanical mixing in slurry. The highest removal amount of tri-CBs reached 43.8% in 100 d with a first-order decay kinetics constant of 0.0059 d −1 . But the removal of tetra-CBs and high chlorinated PCBs (Cl > 4) were not significant in all mesocosms, possibly due to the lack or weakness of the native degrading microflora. Based on the analysis of the richness and diversity of bacterial communities, the characteristics of the heatmap and the variation of bphC copy numbers in the soil/slurry mesocosms, it could be inferred that there was no obvious corresponding relationship between the variation of the bacterial communities and the physical/chemical measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using manure-derived-biochar as an alternative phosphorus (P) source has bright future prospects to improve soil P status. A 98-day microcosm incubation experiment was set up for two soils which were amended with manure biochar at proportions of 0, 0.5% and 1.5%. Swine manure samples were air-dried and manure biochar was prepared by pyrolysis at 400 °C for 4 h. As determined by P-31 nuclear magnetic resonance ( 31 P NMR) spectroscopy, manure biochar mainly increased the contents and fractions of orthophosphate and pyrophosphate in two soils, while decreased those of monoesters ( P < 0.05). At the end of incubation, 1.5% of manure biochar raised soil pH by 0.5 and 0.6 units, cation exchange capacity by 16.9% and 32.2%, and soil total P by 82.1% and 81.1% for silt loam and clay loam soils, respectively, as compared with those soils without biochar. Simultaneously, 1.5% of manure biochar decreased acid phosphomonoesterase activities by 18.6% and 34.0% for clay loam and silt loam, respectively; while it increased alkaline phosphomonoesterase activities by 28.5% and 95.1% for clay loam and silt loam, respectively. The enhancement of soil P availability after manure biochar addition was firstly due to the orthophosphate and pyrophosphate as the major P species in manure biochar which directly increased contents of soil inorganic P, and also attributed to the decomposition of some organic P like monoesters by enhanced alkaline phosphomonoesterase activities from manure biochar addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the biogeochemical cycling of S in soil is closely associated with the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals, in this study, we investigated the influence of S fertilization (S and SO) in paddy soils on rice growth, iron plaque formation over root surface, and Cu speciation of rice rhizosphere soil under flooding conditions. The dry weight and height of rice plants increased significantly after S fertilization, indicating that S fertilization of Cu-contaminated paddy soils can enhance rice growth. Sulfur fertilization (less than 500 mg/kg) promoted the formation of iron plaque, thus sequestering a large amount of Cu on root surface and decreasing the bioavailability of Cu by inducing transformation of Cu bioavailable fractions (exchangeable, carbonate oxides, or iron and manganese oxide bound to Cu) to Cu bound to organic matter. Copper K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) revealed that S fertilization increased the percentage of Cu present as CuS and Cu-cysteine in rice rhizosphere soil, thus reducing Cu mobility. As Cu concentration in rice plants decreased and the biomass of rice plants increased after S fertilization, it can be suggested that S fertilization may be an effective approach for managing Cu-contaminated paddy soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Cr(VI)-reducing bacteria ( Pseudochrobactrum saccharolyticum LY10) was selected to simulate the biofilm grown in unsaturated habitats containing Cr(VI) and the X-ray fluorescence and absorption methods were used to characterize the temporal and spatial distributions of metal elements in the unsaturated biofilms in the present study. The results indicated that Cr and other elements (Fe, Mn, Ca, K, and Zn) were selectively accumulated in the unsaturated biofilms. Synchrotron radiation micro X-ray fluorescence microscopy (SR-μXRF) analysis revealed that Cr mainly existed in the 10–45 μm layer near the bottom biofilm–membrane interface after 24 h of Cr exposure. The analysis of Cr speciation by X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy analysis further confirmed the bioreduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III), and the precipitate formed in the biofilms after reduction were most similar to CrPO 4 . This systematic understanding of the accumulation, distribution and reduction process of Cr in the unsaturated biofilms will elaborate to enhance the bioremediation efficiencies for Cr pollution in soil and other environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biphenyl and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are typical environmental pollutants. However, these pollutants are hard to be totally mineralized by environmental microorganisms. One reason for this is the accumulation of dead-end intermediates during biphenyl and PCBs biodegradation, especially benzoate and chlorobenzoates (CBAs). Until now, only a few microorganisms have been reported to have the ability to completely mineralize biphenyl and PCBs. In this research, a novel bacterium HC3, which could degrade biphenyl and PCBs without dead-end intermediates accumulation, was isolated from PCBs-contaminated soil and identified as Sphingobium fuliginis. Benzoate and 3-chlorobenzoate (3-CBA) transformed from biphenyl and 3-chlorobiphenyl (3-CB) could be rapidly degraded by HC3. This strain has strong degradation ability of biphenyl, lower chlorinated (mono-, di- and tri-) PCBs as well as mono-CBAs, and the biphenyl/PCBs catabolic genes of HC3 are cloned on its plasmid. It could degrade 80.7% of 100 mg L −1 biphenyl within 24 h and its biphenyl degradation ability could be enhanced by adding readily available carbon sources such as tryptone and yeast extract. As far as we know, HC3 is the first reported that can degrade biphenyl and 3-CB without accumulation of benzoate and 3-CBA in the genus Sphingobium, which indicates the bacterium has the potential to totally mineralize biphenyl/PCBs and might be a good candidate for restoring biphenyl/PCBs-polluted environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient for plants. However, excess amounts of Cu are toxic and result in a wide range of harmful effects on the physiological and biochemical processes of plants. Cell wall has a crucial role in plant defense response to toxic metals. To date, the process of cell wall response to Cu and the detoxification mechanism have not been well documented at the proteomic level. Methods: An recently developed 6-plex Tandem Mass Tag was used for relative and absolute quantitation methods to achieve a comprehensive understanding of Cu tolerance/detoxification molecular mechanisms in the cell wall. LC–MS/MS approach was performed to analyze the Cu-responsive cell wall proteins and polysaccharides. Key Results: The majority of the 22 up-regulated proteins were involved in the antioxidant defense pathway, cell wall polysaccharide remodeling, and cell metabolism process. Changes in polysaccharide amount, composition, and distribution could offer more binding sites for Cu ions. The 33 down-regulated proteins were involved in the signal pathway, energy, and protein synthesis. Conclusions: Based on the abundant changes in proteins and polysaccharides, and their putative functions, a possible protein interaction network can provide new insights into Cu stress response in root cell wall. Cu can facilitate further functional research on target proteins associated with metal response in the cell wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) exist in soil with different ionic forms, and it is difficult to immobilize simultaneously Pb and As in soil. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of water management including flooding (FL), alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and dry farming (DF) combined with addition of phosphate (P) on the accumulation of Pb and As in rice. Our results showed that Pb accumulated in root during vegetative stage, and most of As in root was transported to the above ground parts during the reproductive stage. Pb was evenly distributed in grains, and As was mostly accumulated in bran and aleurone layer. Water management had a reverse effect on the accumulation of Pb and As in rice. However, the effects of P on arid soil environment and Pb, As accumulation in rice were stronger than that in flooded soil. Application of P under AWD treatment could maintain a similar quantity of Fe plaque with flooding, decrease the availability of Pb in rhizosphere soil, reduce Pb and As accumulation in root, and result in the reduction of Pb and As accumulation in grains by 86% and 66% respectively. Besides, our study also found that flooding or AWD during vegetative stage facilitated the formation of iron plaque. In conclusion, AWD combined with P application could maintain a relatively lower concentrations of Pb and As in grains. [Display omitted] • Lead accumulated in root primarily during the vegetative stage. • Arsenic in root was transported to aboveground parts during the reproductive stage. • Flooding or AWD during the vegetative stage in soil would help to form iron plaque. • AWD combined with application of P could decrease simultaneously lead and arsenic in grains. • Lead was distributed evenly in grains, and arsenic was mostly accumulated in bran and aleurone layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A pot experiment was carried out to study the sulfur (S) and lead (Pb) interaction and its impact on soil microbial community composition in rice rhizosphere soil under flooded conditions. Paddy soil was treated with a Pb gradient with and without thiosulfate addition and then planted with rice. The increasing addition of Pb resulted in plant yield reduction and high, phytotoxic concentrations of Pb in roots with relatively low concentration of Pb in shoots. Under the impact of thiosulfate, Pb uptake in plants and NH4OAc extractable Pb did not increase dramatically. PCR-DGGE experiment suggested that S action led to new bands. Specific clones (T3 and T6) found in S addition soils had high similarity to Thiobacillus, which indicated relatively high rates of potential S oxidation. S addition did not affect the availability Pb and the composition of soil microbial community. S addition is not a suitable amendatory tool of phytoremediation for Pb polluted soil. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aggregation of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) particles and their limited transport ability in environmental media hinder their application in environmental remediation. In this study, the Cr(VI) removal efficiency, transport performance, and toxicity of nZVI and bentonite-modified nZVI (B-nZVI) were investigated. Compared with nZVI, B-nZVI improved the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) by 10%, and also significantly increased the transport in quartz sand and soil. Increasing the flow rate can enhance the transport of nZVI and B-nZVI in the quartz sand columns. The transport of the two materials in different soils was negatively correlated with the clay composition. Besides, modification of nZVI by bentonite could reduce toxicity to luminous bacteria (Photobacterium phosphereum T3) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Compared with Fe-EDTA, the transfer factors of nZVI and B-nZVI were 65.0% and 66.4% lower, respectively. This indicated that although iron nanoparticles accumulated in the roots of ryegrass, they were difficult to be transported to the shoots. The results of this study indicate that B-nZVI has a strong application potential in in situ environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rhizosphere is an essential pathway for the uptake of metal-based nanoparticles (MNPs) by plant roots. However, the interaction between root exudates and MNPs is still unclear. In this study, we initially identified the major low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) in the rice root exudates using hydroponics. Then, the individual LMWOAs were added to CuO nanoparticle suspensions to investigate their effects on the environmental behavior of the MNPs. The results showed that both the variety and the concentration of LMWOAs impacted the aggregation, sedimentation, and dissolution of CuO nanoparticles (NPs). Almost all LMWOAs except succinic acid inhibited the aggregation of CuO NPs by enhancing the electrostatic repulsive force between NPs. The presence of citric and oxalic acids rather than lactic acid greatly improved the stability of CuO NP suspensions, but other acids showed a low promoting and high inhibiting effect on NP sedimentation. Moreover, all the LMWOAs from root exudates facilitated the dissolution of CuO NPs with a positive dose-dependent correlation, especially formic acid. Notably, citric acid, as the most abundant LMWOAs in rice root exudates, largely determined the aggregation, sedimentation, and dissolution of CuO NPs. This study provides a better understanding on NP–plant interactions in the rhizosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]