The effect of modification on the physicochemical characteristics of shungite

The influence of thermo- and mechanochemical modification of mineral shungite-III (Karelia, Russia) on its chemical composition and physicochemical properties has been studied. A method has been proposed for the mechanochemical modification of shungite, which yields a finely dispersed sorbent with a specific surface area of 70.6 m²/g, a total pore volume of 0.336 cm³/g, and a carbon concentration of higher than 75%. The comparative analysis of the thermolysis of the mineral and modified shungites in air has revealed a difference between the thermal stabilities of the samples. Almost all of the carbon of modified finely dispersed shungite combusts below 500°C, whereas the decomposition of mineral shungite starts above 600°C and only 60% of carbon combusts at 800°C.     

Enhanced Biodegradation of Alkane Hydrocarbons and Crude Oil by Mixed Strains and Bacterial Community Analysis

In this study, two strains, Acinetobacter sp. XM-02 and Pseudomonas sp. XM-01, were isolated from soil samples polluted by crude oil at Bohai offshore. The former one could degrade alkane hydrocarbons (crude oil and diesel, 1:4 (v/v)) and crude oil efficiently; the latter one failed to grow on alkane hydrocarbons but could produce rhamnolipid (a biosurfactant) with glycerol as sole carbon source. Compared with pure culture, mixed culture of the two strains showed higher capability in degrading alkane hydrocarbons and crude oil of which degradation rate were increased from 89.35 and 74.32?±?4.09 to 97.41 and 87.29?±?2.41 %, respectively. In the mixed culture, Acinetobacter sp. XM-02 grew fast with sufficient carbon source and produced intermediates which were subsequently utilized for the growth of Pseudomonas sp. XM-01 and then, rhamnolipid was produced by Pseudomonas sp. XM-01. Till the end of the process, Acinetobacter sp. XM-02 was inhibited by the rapid growth of Pseudomonas sp. XM-01. In addition, alkane hydrocarbon degradation rate of the mixed culture increased by 8.06 to 97.41 % compared with 87.29 % of the pure culture. The surface tension of medium dropping from 73.2?×?10^?3 to 28.6?×?10^?3 N/m. Based on newly found cooperation between the degrader and the coworking strain, rational investigations and optimal strategies to alkane hydrocarbons biodegradation were utilized for enhancing crude oil biodegradation.     

Equilibrium,kinetics and thermodynamics studies of Cd sorption onto a dithizone-impregnated Amberchrom CG-300m polymer resin

Amberchrom CG-300m, a styrene acrylic ester polymer resin, was studied for the first time as sorbent for metal ion sorption in a solid-phase extraction system. The polymer sorbent was modified via impregnation with dithizone to improve its efficiency. Efficiency of the modified sorbent improved by more than 47%. The loading capacity of the resin is 3.2 mg dithizone per gram of sorbent. The mechanisms of Cd(II) sorption from aqueous solutions are presented. Capacity of the modified resin for Cd(II) was investigated in batch experiments as a function of pH, initial metal ion concentration, temperature and time. Maximum capacity of 0.551 mg Cd(II) per gram of sorbent was achieved. The dimensionless separation factor, 0 < R_L < 1, associated with the Langmuir isotherm (at T = 294 K) signifies sorption of Cd(II) was favorable, as do negative values of free energy of sorption (ΔG) at temperatures exceeding 293 K. Sorption was endothermic (ΔH > 0) while ΔS > 0 reflects the affinity of the sorbent towards Cd(II). The pseudo-second order model proved to be the best fit model for Cd(II) sorption kinetics data. Particle-diffusion models suggest sorption follows film as well as pore diffusion mechanisms.     

Intrinsic Characteristics of Cr6+-Resistant Bacteria Isolated from an Electroplating Industry Polluted Soils for Plant Growth-Promoting Activities

The Cr⁶⁺-resistant plant growth-promoting bacteria was isolated from soil samples that were collected from an electroplating industry at Coimbatore, India, that had tolerated chromium concentrations up to 500?mg Cr⁶⁺/L in Luria-Bertani medium. Based on morphology, physiology, and biochemical characteristics, the strain was identified as Bacillus sp. following the Bergey's manual of determinative bacteriology. Evaluation of plant growth-promoting parameters has revealed the intrinsic ability of the strain for the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophore, and solubilization of insoluble phosphate. Bacillus sp. have utilized tryptophan as a precursor for their growth and produced IAA (122???g/mL). Bacillus sp. also exhibited the production of siderophore that was tested qualitatively using Chrome Azurol S (CAS) assay solution and utilized the insoluble tricalcium phosphate as the sole source of phosphate exhibiting higher rate of phosphate solubilization after 72?h of incubation (1.45???g/mL). Extent of Cr⁶⁺ uptake and accumulation of Cr⁶⁺ in the cell wall of Bacillus sp. was investigated using atomic absorption spectrophotometer and scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectroscopy, respectively. The congenital capability of this Cr⁶⁺-resistant plant growth-promoting Bacillus sp. could be employed as bacterial inoculum for the improvement of phytoremediation in heavy metal contaminated soils.     

Synergistic Effect of Sarocladium sp. and Cryptococcus sp. Co-Culture on Crude Oil Biodegradation and Biosurfactant Production

This study was conducted to evaluate the co-culture ability of two yeast (Sarocladium sp. and Cryptococcus sp.) isolates as compared to their individual cultures in surfactant production and oil degradation. The results showed that individual culture of each strain was capable of producing surfactant, degrading oil, and pyrene; also, a synergistic effect was observed when a co-culture was applied. Oil removal and biomass production were 28 and 35% higher in the co-culture than in individual cultures, respectively. To investigate the synergistic effects of mix culture on oil degradation, the surface tension, emulsification activity (EA), and cell surface hydrophobicity of individual and co-culture were studied. A comparison between the produced biosurfactant and chemical surfactants showed that individual culture of each yeast strain could reduce the surface tension like SDS and about 10% better than Tween 80. The results showed that the microbial consortium could reduce the surface tension more, by 10 and 20%, than SDS and Tween 80, respectively. Both individual cultures of Sarocladium sp. and Cryptococcus sp. showed good emulsification activity (0.329 and 0.412, respectively) when compared with a non-inoculated medium. Emulsification activity measurement for the two yeast mix cultures showed an excellent 33 and 67% increase as compared to the individual culture of Sarocladium sp. and Cryptococcus sp., respectively. The cell surface hydrophobicity of Sarocladium sp. and Cryptococcus sp. increased (38 and 85%) when the cells were treated with pyrene as a hydrophobic substrate for four generations. Finally, a 40% increase for pyrene degradation was measured in a co-culture of the two yeast mix culture. According to the results of the present study, the co-culture system exhibited better performance and this study will enhance the understanding of the synergistic effects of yeast co-culture on oil degradation.

     

Biodegradation of Crude Oil by a Newly Isolated Strain Rhodococcus sp. JZX-01

A highly efficient oil-degrading bacteria JZX-01 was isolated from the oil-contaminated soil of the seacoast near the Boxi Offshore Oil Field of China. Morphological, physiological, and 16S rDNA gene sequence analyses indicated that JZX-01 was assigned to the genus Rhodococcus sp. This strain decomposed 65.27?±?5.63 % of the crude oil in 9 days. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis showed that even the long-chain hydrocarbons (C31–C38) and branched alkanes (pristine and phytane), which were regarded as the stubborn ones, could be degraded. Further study showed that the bacteria still has good oil degradation ability at low temperatures as well as under high salt conditions. Moreover, JZX-01 was found to have a biosurfactant-producing capacity, which significantly favors the surface tension reduction and crude oil degradation. The promising isolated strain Rhodococcus sp. JZX-01 could be further used for the bioremediation of oil-polluted soil or seawater in a wide range of temperatures and high salt conditions.     

Role of Brucella sp. and Gallionella sp. in oil degradation and corrosion

Microbiologically influenced corrosion is responsible for most of the internal corrosion in oil transmission pipelines and storage tanks. In the present study, the role of bacteria on oil degradation and its influence on corrosion have been studied. Two systems (biotic and abiotic) with and without inorganic content and bacteria were employed for studying degradation and corrosion. The aerobic heterotrophic bacterial population (HB) was found to be higher in the presence of inorganic medium than its absence. The oil degradation by microbes was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The corrosion studies were carried out by gravimetric method. It was found that Gallionella sp. degraded aliphatic protons CH₂CH₂ to OCH₂ whereas Brucella sp. converted only aromatic ring to aliphatic protons. The following inferences have been made from this study: (a) inorganic contents in contaminated water determine the oil degradation in storage tanks and transporting pipelines; (b) the degraded product may adsorb on pipeline, which would enhance the rate of microbial corrosion.     

Sorption of Oil by Swollen Graphite: Contributions of Specific Surface Area and Specific Volume

Sorption of heavy oil by swollen graphites obtained from residual graphite hydrosulfate at 300- 900°C was studied. The dependence of the sorption capacity for oil on the specific surface area and specific volume of the swollen graphite sorbent was analyzed.     

Biochemical Basis of Mercury Remediation and Bioaccumulation by Enterobacter sp. EMB21

The aims of this study were to isolate metal bioaccumulating bacterial strains and to study their applications in removal of environmental problematic heavy metals like mercury. Five bacterial strains belonging to genera Enterobacter, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas were isolated from oil-spilled soil. Among these, one of the strains Enterobacter sp. EMB21 showed mercury bioaccumulation inside the cells simultaneous to its bioremediation. The bioaccumulation of remediated mercury was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray. The mercury-resistant loci in the Enterobacter sp. EMB21 cells were plasmid-mediated as confirmed by transformation of mercury-sensitive Escherichia coli DH5α by Enterobacter sp. EMB21 plasmid. Effect of different culture parameters viz-a-viz inoculum size, pH, carbon, and nitrogen source revealed that alkaline pH and presence of dextrose and yeast extract favored better remediation. The results indicated the usefulness of Enterobacter sp. EMB21 for the effective remediation of mercury in bioaccumulated form. The Enterobacter sp. EMB21 seems promising for heavy metal remediation wherein the remediated metal can be trapped inside the cells. The process can further be developed for the synthesis of valuable high-end functional alloy, nanoparticles, or metal conjugates from the metal being remediated.     

Oil from the Tropical Marine Benthic-Diatom Navicula sp.

The potential of the tropical marine benthic-diatom Navicula sp. for biodiesel feedstock was investigated. Growth profiles were analyzed by changing nutrient compositions in three different media (Walne, plain seawater, and modified seawater) and irradiance intensities. Navicula sp. cells showed significant growth in Walne and modified seawater medium but not in plain seawater medium. The microalgae grew well in a pH range of 7.8?C8.4, and the cells were very sensitive to the intensity of direct sunlight exposure. The average cell concentration obtained from the cultures in plain seawater, Walne, and modified seawater media at the beginning of the stationary phase was 0.70, 2.17, and 2.54?g/L, respectively. Electron spray ionization-ion trap-mass spectrometry showed that the triacylglycerols of the algae oil were identified as POP (palmitic-oleic-palmitic), POO (palmitic-oleic-oleic), and OOLn (oleic-oleic-linoleic). The oil productivity of Navicula sp. cultivated in Walne and modified seawater media was 90 and 124???L?L^?1 culture d^?1. The Navicula sp. biodiesel exhibited a kinematic viscosity of 1.299?mm²/s, density of 0.8347?g/mL, and internal energy of 0.90?kJ/mL.     

Sorption equilibria of CO2 on silica-gels in the presence of water

The sorption equilibria of carbon dioxide on three types of silica gel (SG) with different pore size distributions in the presence of water were studied experimentally using a volumetric method at 275?K with pressures from 0 to 3.7?MPa. Both the pore size distribution of the silica gel and the quantity of pre-sorbed water impact the formation of the CO₂ hydrates. For wet silicon gel A(SG-A) with water loading ratio of 0.75, the highest CO₂ sorption was about 2.5?mmol of CO₂ per gram of dry sorbent at 275?K. Similarly, the highest sorption was about 2.7?mmol for wet SG-B with R _w =0.81. However, CO₂ hydrate did not form on the wet surface of SG-C due to its large pore sizes.     

Study of the effect of oxidative-bisulfite modification of the cotton cellulose on its ion exchange properties

The effect of chemical modification on the sorption properties of cotton cellulose toward Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions was studied. The modification was carried out in two stages: oxidation of cellulose with the formation of dialdehydocellulose, followed by its sulfonation. The optimal conditions for modifying the cellulose to produce a sorbent capable to remove effectively the heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions of corresponding salts were elucidated. The modified sorbent exceeds the native cellulose in the sorption capacity (in terms of sorption maximum) about 3 times, therewith the time of extraction of heavy metal ions is reduced from 45 to 8 min. The high sorption properties are defined by the formation of new sorption sites -SO₃Na along with initially formed -COOH groups on the sorbent surface.     

Elimination of Acetate Production to Improve Ethanol Yield During Continuous Synthesis Gas Fermentation by Engineered Biocatalyst Clostridium sp. MTEtOH550

Acetogen strain Clostridum sp. MT653 produced acetate 273?mM (p?<?0.005) and ethanol 250?mM (p?<?0.005) from synthesis gas blend mixture of 64?% CO and 36?%?H₂. Clostridum sp. MT653 was metabolically engineered to the biocatalyst strain Clostridium sp. MTEtOH550. The biocatalyst increased ethanol yield to 590?mM with no acetate production during single-stage continuous syngas fermentation due to expression of synthetic adh cloned in a multi-copy number expression vector. The acetate production was eliminated by inactivation of the pta gene in Clostridium sp. MTEtOH550. Gene introduction and gene elimination were achieved only using Syngas Biofuels Energy, Inc. electroporation generator. The electrotransformation efficiencies were 8.0?±?0.2?×?10⁶ per microgram of transforming DNA of the expression vector at cell viability ~15?%. The frequency of suicidal vector integration to inactivate pta was ~10^?5 per the number of recipient cells. This is the first report on elimination of acetate production and overexpression of synthetic adh gene to engineer acetogen biocatalyst for selective biofuel ethanol production during continuous syngas fermentation.     

Biosynthesis and characterization of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) copolymer from wild-type Comamonas sp. EB172

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] homopolymer and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB-co-3HV)] copolymer was produced by Comamonas sp. EB172 using single and mixture of carbon sources. Poly(3-hydroxyvalerate) P(3HV) incorporation in the copolymer was obtained when propionic and valeric acid was used as precursors. Incorporation of 3HV fractions in the copolymer varied from 45 to 86 mol% when initial pH of the medium was regulated. In fed-batch cultivation, organic acids derived from anaerobically treated palm oil mill effluent (POME) were shown to be suitable carbon sources for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production by Comamonas sp. EB172. Number average molecular weight (M_n) produced by the strain was in the range of 153-412 kDa with polydispersity index (M_w/M_n) in the range of 2.2-2.6, respectively. Incorporation of higher 3HV units improved the thermal stability of P(3HB-co-3HV) copolymer. Thus the newly isolated bacterium Comamonas sp. EB172 is a suitable candidate for PHA production using POME as renewable and alternative cheap raw materials.     

Microbial fuel cell based on Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilm

In this paper we reported a novel microbial fuel cell (MFC) based on Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) strain L17 biofilm, which can utilize directly starch and glucose to generate electricity. The electrochemical activity of K. pneumoniae and the performance of the MFC were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and polarization curve measurement. The results indicated that an established K. pneumoniae biofilm cells were responsible for the direct electron transfer from fuels to electrode during electricity production. The SEM observation proved the ability of K. pneumoniae to colonize on the electrode surface. This MFC generated power from the direct electrocatalysis by the K. pneumoniae strain L17 biofilm.     

Characterization of a Heavy Metal Translocating P-Type ATPase Gene from an Environmental Heavy Metal Resistance Enterobacter sp. Isolate

Heavy metals are common contaminants found in polluted areas. We have identified a heavy metal translocating P-type ATPase gene (hmtp) via fosmid library and in vitro transposon mutagenesis from an Enterobacter sp. isolate. This gene is believed to participate in the bacterium’s heavy metal resistance traits. The complete gene was identified, cloned, and expressed in a suitable Escherichia coli host cell. E. coli W3110, RW3110 (zntA::Km), GG48 (ΔzitB::Cm zntA::Km), and GG51 (ΔzitB::Cm) were used to study the possible effects of this gene for heavy metal (cadmium and zinc in particular) resistance. Among the E. coli strains tested, RW3110 and GG48 showed more sensitivity to cadmium and zinc compared to the wild-type E. coli W3110 and strain GG51. Therefore, strains RW3110 and GG48 were chosen for the reference hosts for further evaluation of the gene’s effect. The results showed that expression of this heavy metal translocating P-type ATPase gene could increase the ability for zinc and cadmium resistance in the tested microorganisms.     

Novel surface molecularly imprinted material modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes as solid-phase extraction sorbent for selective extraction gallium ion from fly ash

A new gallium (Ga(III)) ion-imprinted multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composite sorbent was synthesized by a surface imprinting technique. The Ga(III) ion-imprinted/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Ga(III)-imprinted/CNTs) sorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption experiment, static adsorption experiment, and solid-phase extraction (SPE) experiment. The effects of sample volume, sample pH, washing and elution conditions on the extraction of Ga(III) ion from real sample were studied in detail. The imprinted sorbent offered a fast kinetics for the adsorption of Ga(III). The maximum static adsorption capacity of the imprinted sorbent towards was 58.8 μmol g⁻¹. The largest selectivity coefficient for Ga(III) in the presence of Al(III) was over 57.3. Compared with non-imprinted sorbent, the imprinted sorbent showed good imprinting effect for Ga(III) ion, the imprinting factor (α) was 2.6, the selectivity factor (β) was 2.4 and 2.9 for Al(III) and Zn(II), respectively. The developed imprinted SPE method was applied successfully to the detection of trace Ga(III) ion in fly ash samples with satisfactory results.     

Emission (57Co) Mössbauer spectroscopy as a tool for probing speciation and metabolic transformations of cobalt(II) in bacterial cells

The emission (⁵⁷Co) variant of Mössbauer spectroscopy, rarely used in biology-related studies, was applied to study binding and possible transformations of ⁵⁷Co^II traces in live and dead (hydrothermally treated) cells of the rhizobacterium Azospirillum brasilense (strain Sp7) at T?=?80 K in frozen aqueous suspensions and as their dried residues. The Mössbauer parameters calculated from the spectra were compared with the similarly obtained data reported earlier for another A. brasilense strain, Sp245 (which differs from strain Sp7 by the ecological niche occupied in the rhizosphere and was found earlier to exhibit different metabolic responses under similar environmental conditions). Similarly to strain Sp245, live cells of strain Sp7, rapidly frozen 2 min and 1 h after their contact with ⁵⁷Co²⁺ (measured in frozen suspensions), showed marked differences in their Mössbauer parameters, reflecting metabolic transformations of ⁵⁷Co²⁺ occurring within an hour. However, the parameters for strains Sp7 (this work) and Sp245 (reported earlier), obtained under similar conditions, were found to significantly differ, implying dissimilarity in their metabolic response to Co²⁺. This is in line with their different metabolic responses to several heavy metals, including Co²⁺, detected earlier using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.     

Removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewaters using amine-functionalized nanoporous carbon as a novel sorbent

Nano-porous carbon (NPC) was synthesized by hydrothermal condensation of fructose and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and also nitrogen adsorption analysis. It was then modified with amino groups and used as a sorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions. The formation of amino-modified NPC was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and elemental analysis. NPC was applied for removal of Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions. The effects of sample pH and the adsorption kinetics were studied, and the adsorption capacity was determined. The sorbent was applied to the removal of heavy metal ions in industrial waste water samples.

Use of an o-aminobenzoic acid-functionalized XAD-4 copolymer resin for the separation and preconcentration of heavy metal(II) ions

XAD copolymer resins may be functionalized with heavy metal ion-selective ligands either by covalent linkage to the polymer backbone or by impregnation. These resins may be tailored to be specific for certain heavy metals by adjusting the adsorption and elution parameters, thereby enabling simple and cost-effective spectrophotometric and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) determinations of these metals without requiring the more sophisticated coupled instrumental techniques. For the synthesis of o-aminobenzoic acid (ABA)-immobilized XAD-4 copolymer resin that is expected to preconcentrate a number of transition and heavy metals, the azo-linkage method was chosen. For this purpose the copolymer was nitrated, reduced to the corresponding amine, converted to the diazonium salt with nitrite, and reacted with o-aminobenzoic acid to produce the XAD-ABA sorbent. This sorbent was capable of preconcentrating Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Zn(II) from weakly acidic or neutral aqueous solution. The retained metals were eluted with 1.0 M HNO₃ from the resin column, and were subsequently determinated with by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The developed resin preconcentration and determination method was successfully applied to the analysis of a synthetic metal mixture solution, a certified reference material (CRM) of coal sample, and brackish lake water.