Quantitative Detection for Porphyromonas gingivalis in Tooth Pocket and Saliva by Portable Electrochemical DNA Sensor Linked with PCR

Here, a quantitative electrochemical analysis of periodontal bacteria in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and saliva by direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is presented. The electrochemical measurement was performed by mixing with PCR products and electrochemical indicator (bisbenzimidazole trihydrochloride). The peak current of indicator is reduced due to slower diffusion when the dye intercalates into the amplified DNA, and the degree of reduction in the peak current is correlates with the quantity of amplified DNA. Therefore, a quantitative analysis is possible by using our electrochemical method at the end point of PCR. In the GCF testing, The number of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) detected by our electrochemical method at the end point of PCR were almost same compared with that were calculated by the conventional method of quantitative real? time PCR. In the saliva testing, the relationship between number of Pg in saliva and average pocket depth, and age‐dependence were also clearly observed. Since the saliva sample is obtained in a non‐invasive manner, this method is useful for the primary screening of periodontal disease. Moreover, our detection method is simple and uses a hand‐held potentiostat making it suitable for development of an on‐site periodontal diagnosis system.     

磁性氧化石墨烯的制备及其在环境水样中7种内分泌干扰物检测中的应用

制备了十二胺修饰的磁性氧化石墨烯纳米材料并将其用于磁固相萃取。在对磁固相萃取材料合成与萃取条件以及液相色谱分离等条件进行优化的基础上,建立了磁固相萃取与高效液相色谱-紫外检测对环境水样中7种内分泌干扰物的分析方法。该方法对雌酮、雌二醇、雌三醇、双酚A、17α-乙炔基雌二醇、己烷雌酚和雄烯二酮7种内分泌干扰物的检出限在0.10~0.23 nmol/L之间。将该方法分别应用于废水样品和湖水样品的加标回收试验,回收率在73.9%~112.9%和74.9%~114.7%之间。该方法操作简便,分析成本较低,可为环境水体中内分泌干扰物的分析提供技术支持。     

环境化学开放性实验设计:重金属污染土壤的化学淋洗*

介绍了一个开放性环境化学实验。该实验以被重金属污染的土壤为研究对象,分别使用稀盐酸、乙二胺四乙酸、氯化钙为淋洗剂,对其进行化学淋洗修复。通过电感耦合等离子体光谱仪分析比较修复前后土壤中铅、镉的含量,用以帮助学生加深理解配合/螯合作用、酸-碱反应、离子交换反应、胶体的性质、土壤重金属形态、土壤性质与组成等相关环境化学知识。实验所用的土壤样品由学生自选,不同类型土壤的理化性质影响淋洗效果,从而增加了实验结果的不确定性。本实验贴近学科前沿且联系工程实际,可激发学生独立思考和探索精神,提高学生的科研能力与解决复杂问题的能力。     

pH electrodes based on iridium oxide films for marine monitoring

The pH is an important parameter that affects the growth and development of marine organisms, environmental changes, and industrial and agricultural production processes. Nowadays, important trends in pH detection and analysis are higher stability, adaptation to extreme environmental conditions, miniaturization, portability, and digital intelligence. Several studies have focused on the application of the iridium oxide film (IROF) pH electrodes in water quality monitoring and physiological analysis. The central aim of this work was to review the preparation techniques of the IROF pH electrodes and to expand their application in the field of marine monitoring. The studied methods include electrochemical deposition, electrochemical growth, sputtering deposition, heat treatment, and novel preparation methods. The IROF pH electrodes prepared via these methods are more sensitive, have a wider pH measurement ranges, and can be miniaturized further than traditional glass and pH photometer. Hence, in environmental analysis, combining IROF pH electrodes with wireless technology for the physiological and biochemical analysis of marine organisms, seawater, and sediment pore water is an important development tendency.     

Real‐Time Atomic‐Scale Visualization of Reversible Copper Surface Activation during the CO Oxidation Reaction

By using in situ aberration‐corrected environmental transmission electron microscopy, for the first time at atomic level, the dynamic evolution of the Cu surface is captured during CO oxidation. Under reaction conditions, the Cu surface is activated, typically involving 2–3 atomic layers with the formation of a reversible metastable phase that only exists during catalytic reactions. The distinctive role of CO and O₂ in the surface activation is revealed, which features CO exposure to lead to surface roughening and consequently formation of low‐coordinated Cu atoms, while O₂ exposure induces a quasi‐crystalline CuOx phase. Supported by DFT calculations, it is shown that crystalline CuOx reversibly transforms into the amorphous phase, acting as an active species to facilitate the interaction of gas reactants and catalyzing CO oxidation.     

Organophosphate esters by GC–MS: An optimized method for aquatic risk assessment

Organophosphate esters used as flame retardants and plasticizers are ubiquitous contaminants in surface waters. Many studies indicate that these compounds are neurotoxicants, endocrine disruptors, and may affect reproduction and development of aquatic organisms. Thus, analytical methods that allow accurate quantification of these contaminants at environmentally relevant concentrations are desirable for risk assessment studies. In this study, a method based on solid phase extraction and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was developed for determination of organophosphate esters in river water extracts. Multivariate optimization was used to determine the best conditions for injection of larger volumes of sample in a Programmable Temperature Vaporization inlet. Furthermore, the matrix effect on the instrumental response was evaluated and compensated by association of extraction‐blank‐matched calibration and isotopically labeled focus standards. The method quantification limits ranged from 0.009 to 0.11 µg/L, staying below the predicted non‐effect concentration for the aquatic compartment for all analytes, which is a requisite for using in risk assessment studies. The method was applied to freshwater samples collected in rivers from the Sao Paulo State, Brazil, and eight out of the ten target organophosphate esters were quantified, being tris(2‐chloroisopropyl) phosphate and tris(phenyl) phosphate the most frequently detected compounds.     

The Cradle-to-Cradle Life Cycle Assessment of Polyethylene terephthalate: Environmental Perspective

Over the last several years, the number of concepts and technologies enabling the production of environmentally friendly products (including materials, consumables, and services) has expanded. One of these ways is cradle-to-cradle (C2C) certified^TM. Life cycle assessment (LCA) technique is used to highlight the advantages of C2C and recycling as a method for reducing plastic pollution and fossil depletion by indicating the research limitations and gaps from an environmental perspective. Also, it estimates the resources requirements and focuses on sound products and processes. The C2C life cycle measurements for petroleum-based poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) bottles, with an emphasis on different end-of-life options for recycling, were taken for mainland China, in brief. It is considered that the product is manufactured through the extraction of crude oil into ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. The CML analysis method was used in the LCIA for the selected midpoint impact categories. LCA of the product has shown a drastic aftermath in terms of environmental impacts and energy use. But the estimation of these consequences is always dependent on the system and boundary conditions that were evaluated throughout the study. The impacts that burden the environment are with the extraction of raw material, resin, and final product production. Minor influences occurred due to the waste recycling process. This suggests that waste degradation is the key process to reduce the environmental impacts of the production systems. Lowering a product’s environmental impact can be accomplished in a number of ways, including reducing the amount of materials used or choosing materials with a minimal environmental impact during manufacture processes.     

Analytical Methods for the Determination of 90Sr and 239,240Pu in Environmental Samples

Artificial long-lived radionuclides such as ⁹⁰Sr and ^239,240Pu have been long released into the environment by human nuclear activities, which have a profound impact on the ecological environment. It is of great significance to monitor the concentration of these radionuclides for environmental safety. This paper summarizes and critically discusses the separation and measurement methods for ultra-trace determination of ⁹⁰Sr, ²³⁹Pu, and ²⁴⁰Pu in the environment. After selecting the measurement method, it is necessary to consider the decontamination of the interference from matrix elements and the key elements, and this involves the choice of the separation method. Measurement methods include both radiometric methods and non-radiometric methods. Radiometric methods, including alpha spectroscopy, liquid scintillation spectrometry, etc., are commonly used methods for measuring ^239+240Pu and ⁹⁰Sr. Mass spectrometry, as the representative of non-radiometric measurement methods, has been regarded as the most promising analytical method due to its high absolute sensitivity, low detection limit, and relatively short sample-analysis time. Through the comparison of various measurement methods, the future development trend of radionuclide measurement is prospected in this review. The fully automatic and rapid analysis method is a highlight. The new mass spectrometer with ultra-high sensitivity shows strong analytical capabilities for extremely low concentrations of ⁹⁰Sr, ²³⁹Pu, and ²⁴⁰Pu, and it is expected to develop determination methods with higher sensitivity and lower detection limit.