Sample records for acenaphthene fluorene phenanthrene

  1. Mechanistic Studies on the Dibenzofuran Formation from Phenanthrene, Fluorene and 9–Fluorenone

    PubMed Central

    Li, Shanqing; Zhang, Qingzhu

    2015-01-01

    We carried out molecular orbital theory calculations for the homogeneous gas‑phase formation of dibenzofuran from phenanthrene, fluorene, 9-methylfluorene and 9-fluorenone. Dibenzofuran will be formed if ∙OH adds to C8a, and the order of reactivity follows as 9-fluorenone > 9-methylfluorene > fluorene > phenanthrene. The oxidations initiated by ClO∙ are more favorable processes, considering that the standard reaction Gibbs energies are at least 21.63 kcal/mol lower than those of the equivalent reactions initiated by ∙OH. The adding of ∙OH and then O2 to phenanthrene is a more favorable route than adding ∙OH to C8a of phenanthrene, when considering the greater reaction extent. The reaction channel from fluorene and O2 to 9-fluorenone and H2O seems very important, not only because it contains only three elementary reactions, but because the standard reaction Gibbs energies are lower than −80.07 kcal/mol. PMID:25756381

  2. Fluorene and Phenanthrene Uptake and Accumulation by Wheat, Alfalfa and Sunflower from the Contaminated Soil.

    PubMed

    Salehi-Lisar, Seyed Yahya; Deljoo, Somaye; Harzandi, Ahmad Mosen

    2015-01-01

    Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are diverse organic contaminants released into the environment by both natural and anthropogenic activities. These compounds have negative impacts on plants growth and development. Although there are many reports on their existence in different parts of plant, their uptake and translocation pathways and mechanisms are not well understood yet. This paper highlights the uptake, translocation and accumulation of PAHs by wheat, sunflower and alfalfa through an experimental study under controlled conditions. Seeds were cultivated in a soil containing 50 mg/kg of phenanthrene and fluorene and their concentrations in plants roots and shoots were determined using a gas chromatograph after 7 and 14 days. The results showed that phenanthrene and fluorene concentrations in the treated plants were increased over the time. PAHs bioavailability was time and species dependent and generally, phenanthrene uptake and translocation was faster than that of fluorene, probably due to their higher Kow. Fluorene tended to accumulate in roots, but phenanthrene was transported to aerial parts of plants.

  3. Bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds: (acenaphthene and fluorene) in water using indigenous bacterial species isolated from the Diep and Plankenburg rivers, Western Cape, South Africa.

    PubMed

    Alegbeleye, Oluwadara Oluwaseun; Opeolu, Beatrice Olutoyin; Jackson, Vanessa

    This study was conducted to investigate the occurrence of PAH degrading microorganisms in two river systems in the Western Cape, South Africa and their ability to degrade two PAH compounds: acenaphthene and fluorene. A total of 19 bacterial isolates were obtained from the Diep and Plankenburg rivers among which four were identified as acenaphthene and fluorene degrading isolates. In simulated batch scale experiments, the optimum temperature for efficient degradation of both compounds was determined in a shaking incubator after 14 days, testing at 25°C, 30°C, 35°C, 37°C, 38°C, 40°C and 45°C followed by experiments in a Stirred Tank Bioreactor using optimum temperature profiles from the batch experiment results. All experiments were run without the addition of supplements, bulking agents, biosurfactants or any other form of biostimulants. Results showed that Raoultella ornithinolytica, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus megaterium and Aeromonas hydrophila efficiently degraded both compounds at 37°C, 37°C, 30°C and 35°C respectively. The degradation of fluorene was more efficient and rapid compared to that of acenaphthene and degradation at Stirred Tank Bioreactor scale was more efficient for all treatments. Raoultella ornithinolytica, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus megaterium and Aeromonas hydrophila degraded a mean total of 98.60%, 95.70%, 90.20% and 99.90% acenaphthene, respectively and 99.90%, 97.90%, 98.40% and 99.50% fluorene, respectively. The PAH degrading microorganisms isolated during this study significantly reduced the concentrations of acenaphthene and fluorene and may be used on a larger, commercial scale to bioremediate PAH contaminated river systems. Copyright © 2016 Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

  4. Destruction of acenaphthene, fluorene, anthracene and pyrene by a dc gliding arc plasma reactor.

    PubMed

    Yu, Liang; Tu, Xin; Li, Xiaodong; Wang, Yu; Chi, Yong; Yan, Jianhua

    2010-08-15

    In this study, four kinds of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) i.e. acenaphthene, fluorene, anthracene and pyrene are used as targets for investigation of PAHs treatment process assisted by dc gliding arc discharge. The effects of carrier gas and external resistance on the PAHs decomposition process are discussed. The results indicate that the destruction rate can be achieved to the highest with the carrier gas of oxygen and the external resistance of 50 kOmega independent of type of PAHs. Furthermore, experimental results suggest that destruction energy efficiency of gliding arc plasma would be improved by treating higher concentration pollutants. Based on the analysis of experimental results, possible destruction mechanisms in different gas discharge are discussed. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Actions of a versatile fluorene-degrading bacterial isolate on polycyclic aromatic compounds.

    PubMed Central

    Grifoll, M; Selifonov, S A; Gatlin, C V; Chapman, P J

    1995-01-01

    Pseudomonas cepacia F297 grew with fluorene as a sole source of carbon and energy; its growth yield corresponded to an assimilation of about 40% of fluorene carbon. The accumulation of a ring meta-cleavage product during growth and the identification of 1-indanone in growth media and washed-cell suspensions suggest that strain F297 metabolizes fluorene by mechanisms analogous to those of naphthalene degradation. In addition to fluorene, strain F297 utilized for growth a wide variety of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), including naphthalene, 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene, and dibenzothiophene. Fluorene-induced cells of the strain also transformed 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, biphenyl, dibenzofuran, acenaphthene, and acenaphthylene. The identification of products formed from those substrates (by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) in washed-cell suspensions indicates that P. cepacia F297 carries out the following reactions: (i) aromatic ring oxidation and cleavage, apparently using the pyruvate released for growth, (ii) methyl group oxidations, (iii) methylenic oxidations, and (iv) S oxidations of aromatic sulfur heterocycles. Strain F297 grew with a creosote-PAC mixture, producing an almost complete removal of all aromatic compounds containing 2 to 3 rings in 14 days, as demonstrated by gas chromatography analysis of the remaining PACs recovered from cultures. The identification of key chemicals confirmed that not only are certain compounds depleted but also the anticipated reaction products are found. PMID:7487007

  6. Actions of a versatile fluorene-degrading bacterial isolate on polycyclic aromatic compounds.

    PubMed

    Grifoll, M; Selifonov, S A; Gatlin, C V; Chapman, P J

    1995-10-01

    Pseudomonas cepacia F297 grew with fluorene as a sole source of carbon and energy; its growth yield corresponded to an assimilation of about 40% of fluorene carbon. The accumulation of a ring meta-cleavage product during growth and the identification of 1-indanone in growth media and washed-cell suspensions suggest that strain F297 metabolizes fluorene by mechanisms analogous to those of naphthalene degradation. In addition to fluorene, strain F297 utilized for growth a wide variety of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), including naphthalene, 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene, and dibenzothiophene. Fluorene-induced cells of the strain also transformed 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, biphenyl, dibenzofuran, acenaphthene, and acenaphthylene. The identification of products formed from those substrates (by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) in washed-cell suspensions indicates that P. cepacia F297 carries out the following reactions: (i) aromatic ring oxidation and cleavage, apparently using the pyruvate released for growth, (ii) methyl group oxidations, (iii) methylenic oxidations, and (iv) S oxidations of aromatic sulfur heterocycles. Strain F297 grew with a creosote-PAC mixture, producing an almost complete removal of all aromatic compounds containing 2 to 3 rings in 14 days, as demonstrated by gas chromatography analysis of the remaining PACs recovered from cultures. The identification of key chemicals confirmed that not only are certain compounds depleted but also the anticipated reaction products are found.

  7. Evidence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation in a contaminated aquifer by combined application of in situ and laboratory microcosms using (13)C-labelled target compounds.

    PubMed

    Bahr, Arne; Fischer, Anko; Vogt, Carsten; Bombach, Petra

    2015-02-01

    The number of approaches to evaluate the biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) within contaminated aquifers is limited. Here, we demonstrate the applicability of a novel method based on the combination of in situ and laboratory microcosms using (13)C-labelled PAHs as tracer compounds. The biodegradation of four PAHs (naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and acenaphthene) was investigated in an oxic aquifer at the site of a former gas plant. In situ biodegradation of naphthalene and fluorene was demonstrated using in situ microcosms (BACTRAP(®)s). BACTRAP(®)s amended with either [(13)C6]-naphthalene or [(13)C5/(13)C6]-fluorene (50:50) were incubated for a period of over two months in two groundwater wells located at the contaminant source and plume fringe, respectively. Amino acids extracted from BACTRAP(®)-grown cells showed significant (13)C-enrichments with (13)C-fractions of up to 30.4% for naphthalene and 3.8% for fluorene, thus providing evidence for the in situ biodegradation and assimilation of those PAHs at the field site. To quantify the mineralisation of PAHs, laboratory microcosms were set up with BACTRAP(®)-grown cells and groundwater. Naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, or acenaphthene were added as (13)C-labelled substrates. (13)C-enrichment of the produced CO2 revealed mineralisation of between 5.9% and 19.7% for fluorene, between 11.1% and 35.1% for acenaphthene, between 14.2% and 33.1% for phenanthrene, and up to 37.0% for naphthalene over a period of 62 days. Observed PAH mineralisation rates ranged between 17 μg L(-1) d(-1) and 1639 μg L(-1) d(-1). The novel approach combining in situ and laboratory microcosms allowed a comprehensive evaluation of PAH biodegradation at the investigated field site, revealing the method's potential for the assessment of PAH degradation within contaminated aquifers. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by a mixed culture and its component pure cultures, obtained from PAH-contaminated soil.

    PubMed

    Trzesicka-Mlynarz, D; Ward, O P

    1995-06-01

    A mixed culture, isolated from soil contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), grew on and degraded fluoranthene in aqueous media supplemented with glucose, yeast extract, and peptone. Increased complex nitrogen levels in the medium promoted bacterial growth and a greater extent of fluoranthene degradation. Amendment of the media with high glucose levels also diminished specific fluoranthene degradation. The mixed culture was capable of degrading a range of other PAHs, including benzo[a]pyrene, anthracene, phenanthrene, acenaphthene, and fluorene. The mixed culture contained four predominant isolates, all of which were Gram-negative rods, three of which were identified as Pseudomonas putida, Flavobacterium sp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Better degradation of a defined PAH mixture was observed with the mixed culture than with individual isolates. A reconstituted culture, prepared by combining the four individual isolates, manifested a similar PAH biodegradation performance to the original mixed culture. When compared with the mixed culture, individual isolates exhibited a relatively good capacity to remove more water-soluble PAHs (acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene). In contrast, removal of less water-soluble PAHs (anthracene and pyrene) was low or negligible with isolated cultures compared with the mixed culture.

  9. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons bioaccessibility in seafood: Culinary practices effects on dietary exposure.

    PubMed

    Dos Santos Fogaça, Fabíola Helena; Soares, Cristina; Oliveira, Marta; Alves, Ricardo N; Maulvault, Ana L; Barbosa, Vera L; Anacleto, Patrícia; Magalhães, João Avelar; Bandarra, Narcisa M; Ramalhosa, Maria João; Morais, Simone; Marques, António

    2018-07-01

    This work aimed to determine the effect of culinary practices on the contamination level and bioaccessibility of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seafood. The selected farmed seafood species (marine shrimp, clams and seaweed) were commercially available in Portugal. The mean concentrations of PAHs varied between 0.23 and 51.8 µg kg -1 , with the lowest value being observed in raw shrimp and the highest in dried seaweed. The number of compounds detected in seaweed and clams (naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and benzo(j)fluoranthene) were higher than in shrimp (fluorene and pyrene). Among the PAHs measured, fluorene was the predominant one. There was a significant interaction effect between species and culinary treatment (p < 0.05), thus boiled and dried seaweed samples presented the lowest and the highest levels of fluorene (0.13 and 1.8 µg kg -1 ), respectively. The daily intake of PAHs decreased with bioaccessibility, varying from 22% for benzo(k)fluoranthene (in raw clam) to 84% for phenanthrene (in steamed clam). According to the potency equivalent concentrations, screening values and bioaccessibility of PAHs, the consumption of marine shrimp, clam and seaweed is considered as safe for consumers. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. Acenaphthene

    Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)

    Acenaphthene ; CASRN 83 - 32 - 9 Human health assessment information on a chemical substance is included in the IRIS database only after a comprehensive review of toxicity data , as outlined in the IRIS assessment development process . Sections I ( Health Hazard Assessments for Noncarcinogenic Effec

  11. Water quality, organic chemistry of sediment, and biological conditions of streams near an abandoned wood-preserving plant site at Jackson, Tennessee

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Bradfield, A.D.; Flexner, N.M.; Webster, D.A.

    1993-01-01

    An investigation of water quality, organic sediment chemistry, and biological conditions of streams near an abandoned wood-preserving plant site at Jackson, Tennessee, was conducted during December 1990. The study was designed to assess the extent of possible contamination of water and biota in the streams from creosote-related discharge originating at this Superfund site. Central Creek, adjacent to the plant, had degraded water quality and biological conditions. Water samples from the most downstream station on Central Creek contained 30 micrograms per liter of pentachlorophenol, which exceeds the State's criterion maximum concentrations of 9 micrograms per liter for fish and aquatic life. Bottom-sediment samples from stations on Central Creek contained concentrations of acenaphthene, napthalene, and phenanthrene ranging from 1,400 to 2,500 micrograms per kilogram. Chronic or acute toxicity resulted during laboratory experiments using test organisms exposed to creosote-related contaminants. Sediment elutriate samples from Central Creek caused slightly to highly toxic effects on Ceriodaphnia dubia. Pimephales promelas, and Photobacterium phosphoreum. Fish-tissue samples from this station contained concentrations of naphthalene. dibenzofuran, fluorene, and phenanthrene ranging from 1.5 to 3.9 micrograms per kilogram Blue-green algae at this station represented about 79 percent of the organisms counted, whereas diatoms accounted for only 11 percent. Benthic invertebrate and fish samples from Central Creek had low diversity and density. Sediment samples from a station on the South Fork Forked Deer River downstream from its confluence with Central Creek contained concentrations of acenaphthene, anthracene, chrysene, fluoranthene, fluorene, pyrere, and phenanthrene ranging from 2,800 to 69,000 micrograms per kilogram. Sediment elutriate samples using water as elutriate from this station contained concentrations of extractable organic compounds ranging from an estimated

  12. Application of solid-phase microextraction method to determine bioavailable fraction of PAH in hazardous waste.

    PubMed

    Jefimova, J; Irha, N; Mägi, R; Kirso, U

    2012-10-01

    The solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method was developed to determine PAH free dissolved concentration (C(free)) in field leachates from hazardous waste disposal. SPME technique, involving a 100-μm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fiber coupled to GC-MS was optimized for determination of C(free). The following PAH were found in bioavailable form: acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, with C(free) varying between 2.38 and 62.35 ng/L. Conventional solvent extraction was used for measurement of total concentration (C(total)) in the same samples, and ranging from 1.26 to 77.56 μg/L. Determining C(free) of the hydrophobic toxic pollutants could give useful information for risk assessment of the hazardous waste.

  13. Sediments from stormwater drainage system as sorbents of organic and inorganic pollutants

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sałata, Aleksandra; Dąbek, Lidia

    2017-11-01

    The study presents the results of tests aimed at determining variations in concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[a, h]anthracene, benzo[g, h, i]perylene and indeno[1, 2, 3-c, d]pyrene) and heavy metals (copper, cadmium, chromium, nickel, lead and zinc) in the sediments from the stormwater sewer system. Results of this study were then compared to Polish regulations and established ecological screening values to determine their potential risk to environment. The results suggest that stormwater sediments are moderately contaminated with PAHs and heavy metals according to domestic regulations and highly contaminated according to ecological benchmarks.

  14. Health Effects Assessment for Acenaphthene

    EPA Science Inventory

    Because of the lack of data for the carcinogenicity and threshold toxicity of acenaphthene risk assessment values cannot be derived. The ambient water quality criterion of 0.2 mg/l is based on organoleptic data, which has no known relationship to potential human health effects. A...

  15. Bacterial oxidation of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons acenaphthene and acenaphthylene.

    PubMed Central

    Schocken, M J; Gibson, D T

    1984-01-01

    A Beijerinckia sp. and a mutant strain, Beijerinckia sp. strain B8/36, were shown to cooxidize the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons acenaphthene and acenaphthylene. Both organisms oxidized acenaphthene to the same spectrum of metabolites, which included 1-acenaphthenol, 1-acenaphthenone, 1,2-acenaphthenediol, acenaphthenequinone, and a compound that was tentatively identified as 1,2-dihydroxyacenaphthylene. In contrast, acenaphthylene was oxidized to acenaphthenequinone and the compound tentatively identified as 1,2-dihydroxyacenaphthylene by the wild-type strain of Beijerinckia. Both of these products were also formed when the organism was incubated with synthetic cis-1,2-acenaphthenediol. A metabolite identified as cis-1,2-acenaphthenediol was formed from acenaphthylene by the mutant Beijerinckia sp. strain B8/36. Cell extracts prepared from the wild-type Beijerinckia strain contain a constitutive pyridine nucleotide-dependent dehydrogenase which can oxidize 1-acenaphthenol and 9-fluorenol. The results indicate that although acenaphthene and acenaphthylene are both oxidized to acenaphthenequinone, the pathways leading to the formation of this end product are different. PMID:6089663

  16. Interactions among buffelgrass, phenanthrene and phenanthrene-degrading bacteria in gnotobiotic microcosms.

    PubMed

    Robert, Francoise M; Sun, Wenhao H; Toma, Marisa; Jones, Ryan K; Tang, Chung-Shih

    2008-07-15

    An experiment was undertaken in gnotobiotic microcosms to determine the role of buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris) and a phenanthrene-degrading bacterium (strain PM600) in the degradation of phenanthrene. The Gram-negative bacterium was identified as a Sphingomonas sp. by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and as S. paucimobilis by biochemical tests (API 20 NE strips). Its yellow pigment corresponded to nostoxanthin and its cellular fatty acids were typical of the genus Sphingomonas. Moreover, it was devoid of lipopolysaccharides. Strain PM600 was tested for growth on mineral medium supplemented with No. 2 diesel, hexadecane, mineral oil, pristane, phenanthrene, and pyrene as single carbon sources. It was capable of utilizing phenanthrene only. In the gnotobiotic microcosms silica sand was either or not supplemented with 150 mg of phenanthrene kg(-1) sand, inoculated with strain PM600, and planted to sterile young seedlings of buffelgrass. After 28 days, 67% of the reduction of the phenanthrene concentration was assigned to degradation by the bacterium and ca. 20% to abiotic factors. No statistically significant effect of the young buffelgrass was found. In the absence of phenanthrene, the bacterial population significantly increased in the rhizosphere of buffelgrass. However, in the presence of buffelgrass and phenanthrene, the bacterial population preferentially responded to phenanthrene. The growth of buffelgrass was severely curtailed by phenanthrene in the absence of the bacterium. However, strain PM600 effectively protected buffelgrass against the phytotoxicity of phenanthrene.

  17. Removing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from water using granular activated carbon: kinetic and equilibrium adsorption studies.

    PubMed

    Eeshwarasinghe, Dinushika; Loganathan, Paripurnanda; Kalaruban, Mahatheva; Sounthararajah, Danious Pratheep; Kandasamy, Jaya; Vigneswaran, Saravanamuthu

    2018-05-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) constitute a group of highly persistent, toxic and widespread environmental micropollutants that are increasingly found in water. A study was conducted in removing five PAHs, specifically naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene and phenanthrene, from water by adsorption onto granular activated carbon (GAC). The pseudo-first-order (PFO) model satisfactorily described the kinetics of adsorption of the PAHs. The Weber and Morris diffusion model's fit to the data showed that there were faster and slower rates of intra-particle diffusion probably into the mesopores and micropores of the GAC, respectively. These rates were negatively related to the molar volumes of the PAHs. Batch equilibrium adsorption data fitted well to the Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich models, of which the Freundlich model exhibited the best fit. The adsorption affinities were related to the hydrophobicity of the PAHs as determined by the log K ow values. Free energies of adsorption calculated from the Dubinin-Radushkevich model and the satisfactory kinetic data fitting to the PFO model suggested physical adsorption of the PAHs. Adsorption of naphthalene, acenaphthylene and acenaphthene in fixed-bed columns containing a mixture of GAC (0.5 g) + sand (24.5 g) was satisfactorily simulated by the Thomas model.

  18. Oxidation of Naphthenoaromatic and Methyl-Substituted Aromatic Compounds by Naphthalene 1,2-Dioxygenase

    PubMed Central

    Selifonov, S. A.; Grifoll, M.; Eaton, R. W.; Chapman, P. J.

    1996-01-01

    Oxidation of acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, and fluorene was examined with recombinant strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1(pRE695) expressing naphthalene dioxygenase genes cloned from plasmid NAH7. Acenaphthene underwent monooxygenation to 1-acenaphthenol with subsequent conversion to 1-acenaphthenone and cis- and trans-acenaphthene-1,2-diols, while acenaphthylene was dioxygenated to give cis-acenaphthene-1,2-diol. Nonspecific dehydrogenase activities present in the host strain led to the conversion of both of the acenaphthene-1,2-diols to 1,2-acenaphthoquinone. The latter was oxidized spontaneously to naphthalene-1,8-dicarboxylic acid. No aromatic ring dioxygenation products were detected from acenaphthene and acenaphthylene. Mixed monooxygenase and dioxygenase actions of naphthalene dioxygenase on fluorene yielded products of benzylic 9-monooxygenation, aromatic ring dioxygenation, or both. The action of naphthalene dioxygenase on a variety of methyl-substituted aromatic compounds, including 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene and isomers of dimethylnaphthalene, resulted in the formation of benzylic alcohols, i.e., methyl group monooxygenation products, which were subsequently converted to the corresponding carboxylic acids by dehydrogenase(s) in the host strain. Benzylic monooxygenation of methyl groups was strongly predominant over aromatic ring dioxygenation and essentially nonspecific with respect to the substitution pattern of the aromatic substrates. In addition to monooxygenating benzylic methyl and methylene groups, naphthalene dioxygenase behaved as a sulfoxygenase, catalyzing monooxygenation of the sulfur heteroatom of 3-methylbenzothiophene. PMID:16535238

  19. Fluorene

    Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)

    Fluorene ; CASRN 86 - 73 - 7 Human health assessment information on a chemical substance is included in the IRIS database only after a comprehensive review of toxicity data , as outlined in the IRIS assessment development process . Sections I ( Health Hazard Assessments for Noncarcinogenic Effects )

  20. Comparison of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons level between suspended solid and sediment samples of Pengkalan Chepa River, Kelantan state, Malaysia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Muslim, Noor Zuhartini Md; Babaheidari, Seyedreza Hashemi; Zakaria, Mohamad Pauzi

    2015-09-01

    Sixteen type of common Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) which consist of naphthalene, acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[ghi]-perylene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]-pyrene and dibenz[a,h]-anthracene in suspended solid and sediment samples of Pengkalan Chepa River, Kelantan state, Malaysia were investigated. The analysis samples were taken from six different sites of Pengkalan Chepa River during sunny day. The samples were subjected to a series of pre-treatment before the level of PAHs can be determined. A Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was the prime method for the analysis of PAHs level. A total of 16 PAHs concentration in suspended solid of the whole Pengkalan Chepa River was found to be 2144.6 ng/g dry weights. This concentration was about eight times more than 16 PAHs concentration in sediment which found to be 266.5 ng/g dry weights.

  1. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal hyphae contribute to the uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by plant roots.

    PubMed

    Gao, Yanzheng; Cheng, Zhaoxia; Ling, Wanting; Huang, Jing

    2010-09-01

    The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) hyphae-mediated uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by the roots of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was investigated using three-compartment systems. Glomus mosseae and Glomus etunicatum were chosen, and fluorene and phenanthrene were used as representative PAHs. When roots were grown in un-spiked soils, AM hyphae extended into PAH-spiked soil and clearly absorbed and transported PAHs to roots, resulting in high concentrations of fluorene and phenanthrene in roots. This was further confirmed by the batch equilibration experiment, which revealed that the partition coefficients (K(d)) of tested PAHs by mycorrhizal hyphae were 270-356% greater than those by roots, suggesting the great potential of hyphae to absorb PAHs. Because of fluorene's lower molecular weight and higher water solubility, its translocation by hyphae was greater than that of phenanthrene. These results provide new perspectives on the AM hyphae-mediated uptake by plants of organic contaminants from soil. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. [Simultaneous determination of 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cigarette filter by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

    PubMed

    Zhang, Xiaotao; Zhang, Li; Ruan, Yibin; Wang, Weiwei; Ji, Houwei; Wan, Qiang; Lin, Fucheng; Liu, Jian

    2017-10-08

    A method for the simultaneous determination of 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cigarette filter was developed by isotope internal standard combined with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The cigarette filters were extracted with dichloromethane, and the extract was filtered with 0.22 μm organic phase membrane. The samples were isolated by DB-5MS column (30 m×0.25 mm, 0.25 μm) and detected using multiple reaction monitoring mode of electron impact source under positive ion mode. The linearities of the 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (acenapthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, ben[ a ]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[ b ]fluoranthene, benzo[ k ]fluoranthene, benzo[ a ]pyrene, dibenzo[ a,h ]anthracene, benzo[ g,h,i ]perylene and indeno[1,2,3- c,d ]pyrene) were good, and the correlation coefficients ( R 2 ) ranged from 0.9914 to 0.9999. The average recoveries of the 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were 81.6%-109.6% at low, middle and high spiked levels, and the relative standard deviations were less than 16%, except that the relative standard deviation of fluorene at the low spiked level was 19.2%. The limits of detection of the 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were 0.02 to 0.24 ng/filter, and the limits of quantification were 0.04 to 0.80 ng/filter. The method is simple, rapid, accurate, sensitive and reproducible. It is suitable for the quantitative analysis of the 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cigarette filters.

  3. Degradation of phenanthrene by Trametes versicolor and its laccase.

    PubMed

    Han, Mun-Jung; Choi, Hyoung-Tae; Song, Hong-Gyu

    2004-06-01

    Phenanthrene is a three-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and commonly found as a pollutant in various environments. Degradation of phenanthrene by white rot fungus Trametes versicolor 951022 and its laccase, isolated in Korea, was investigated. After 36 h of incubation, about 46% and 65% of 100 mg/l of phenanthrene added in shaken and static fungal cultures were removed, respectively. Phenanthrene degradation was maximal at pH 6 and the optimal temperature for phenanthrene removal was 30 degrees C. Although the removal percentage of phenanthrene was highest (76.7%) at 10 mg/l of phenanthrene concentration, the transformation rate was maximal (0.82 mg/h) at 100 mg/L of phenanthrene concentration in the fungal culture. When the purified laccase of T versicolor 951022 reacted with phenanthrene, phenanthrene was not transformed. The addition of redox mediator, 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) or 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT) to the reaction mixture increased oxidation of phenanthrene by laccase about 40% and 30%, respectively.

  4. 2,2′-Bi(9,9-di­ethyl­fluorene)

    PubMed Central

    Park, Ki-Min; Oh, Hankook; Kang, Youngjin

    2014-01-01

    The title compound, C34H34, systematic name 9,9,9′,9′-tetra­ethyl-2,2′-bi(9H-fluorene), crystallized with two crystallographically independent mol­ecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit. These differ mainly in the orientation of the lateral ethyl chains: in mol­ecule A, they are both on the same side of the mol­ecule whereas in mol­ecule B, one di­ethyl­fluorene moiety has undergone a 180° rotation such that the two pairs of ethyl residues appear on opposite sides of the mol­ecule. The fluorene ring systems subtend dihedral angles of 31.37 (4) and 43.18 (3)° in mol­ecules A and B, respectively. Hence the two fluorene moieties are tilted slightly toward one another. This may be due to the presence of inter­molecular C—H⋯π inter­actions between neighboring mol­ecules. The lateral ethyl chains (excluding H atoms) are also almost planar, with each pair almost perpendicular to the plane of the fluorene system to which they are attached with dihedral angles between the ethyl and fluorene planes in the range 86.04 (8)–89.5 (1)°. PMID:24764898

  5. Phenanthrene

    Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)

    Phenanthrene ; CASRN 85 - 01 - 8 Human health assessment information on a chemical substance is included in the IRIS database only after a comprehensive review of toxicity data , as outlined in the IRIS assessment development process . Sections I ( Health Hazard Assessments for Noncarcinogenic Effec

  6. PHOTOACTIVATION AND TOXICITY OF MIXTURES OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON COMPOUNDS IN MARINE SEDIMENT

    EPA Science Inventory

    The direct toxicity and photoinduced toxicity of sediment-associated acenaphthene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene were determined for the marine amphipod Rhepoxynius abronius. The four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were spiked into sediment in a concentration se...

  7. Use of bromodeoxyuridine immunocapture to identify psychrotolerant phenanthrene-degrading bacteria in phenanthrene-enriched polluted Baltic Sea sediments

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Edlund, A.; Jansson, J.

    The aim of this study was to enrich and identify psychrotolerant phenanthrenedegrading bacteria from polluted Baltic Sea sediments. Polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated sediments were spiked with phenanthrene and incubated for 2 months in the presence of bromodeoxyuridine that is incorporated into the DNA of replicating cells. The bromodeoxyuridine-incorporated DNA was extracted by immunocapture and analyzed by terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism and 16S rRNA gene cloning and sequencing to identify bacterial populations that were growing. In addition, degradation genes were quantified in the bromodeoxyuridine-incorporated DNA by real-time PCR. Phenanthrene concentrations decreased after 2 months of incubation in the phenanthrene-enriched sediments and thismore » reduction correlated to increases in copy numbers of xylE and phnAc dioxygenase genes. Representatives of Exiguobacterium, Schewanella,Methylomonas, Pseudomonas, Bacteroides and an uncultured Deltaproteobacterium and a Gammaproteobacterium dominated the growing community in the phenanthrene spiked sediments. Isolates that were closely related to three of these bacteria (two pseudomonads and an Exiguobacterium sp.) could reduce phenanthrene concentrations in pure cultures and they all harbored phnAc dioxygenase genes. These results confirm that this combination of culture-based and molecular approaches was useful for identification of actively growing bacterial species with a high potential for phenanthrene degradation.« less

  8. Sample preparation of sewage sludge and soil samples for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons based on one-pot microwave-assisted saponification and extraction.

    PubMed

    Pena, M Teresa; Pensado, Luis; Casais, M Carmen; Mejuto, M Carmen; Cela, Rafael

    2007-04-01

    A microwave-assisted sample preparation (MASP) procedure was developed for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sewage sludge and soil samples. The procedure involved the simultaneous microwave-assisted extraction of PAHs with n-hexane and the hydrolysis of samples with methanolic potassium hydroxide. Because of the complex nature of the samples, the extracts were submitted to further cleaning with silica and Florisil solid-phase extraction cartridges connected in series. Naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[e]pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, were considered in the study. Quantification limits obtained for all of these compounds (between 0.4 and 14.8 microg kg(-1) dry mass) were well below of the limits recommended in the USA and EU. Overall recovery values ranged from 60 to 100%, with most losses being due to evaporation in the solvent exchange stages of the procedure, although excellent extraction recoveries were obtained. Validation of the accuracy was carried out with BCR-088 (sewage sludge) and BCR-524 (contaminated industrial soil) reference materials.

  9. Evidence for a novel pathway in the degradation of fluorene by Pseudomonas sp. strain F274.

    PubMed Central

    Grifoll, M; Selifonov, S A; Chapman, P J

    1994-01-01

    A fluorene-utilizing microorganism, identified as a species of Pseudomonas, was isolated from soil severely contaminated from creosote use and was shown to accumulate six major metabolites from fluorene in washed-cell incubations. Five of these products were identified as 9-fluorenol, 9-fluorenone, (+)-1,1a-dihydroxy-1-hydro-9-fluorenone, 8-hydroxy-3,4-benzocoumarin, and phthalic acid. This last compound was also identified in growing cultures supported by fluorene. Fluorene assimilation into cell biomass was estimated to be approximately 50%. The structures of accumulated products indicate that a previously undescribed pathway of fluorene catabolism is employed by Pseudomonas sp. strain F274. This pathway involves oxygenation of fluorene at C-9 to give 9-fluorenol, which is then dehydrogenated to the corresponding ketone, 9-fluorenone. Dioxygenase attack on 9-fluorenone adjacent to the carbonyl group gives an angular diol, 1,1a-dihydroxy-1-hydro-9-fluorenone. Identification of 8-hydroxy-3,4-benzocoumarin and phthalic acid suggests that the five-membered ring of the angular diol is opened first and that the resulting 2'-carboxy derivative of 2,3-dihydroxy-biphenyl is catabolized by reactions analogous to those of biphenyl degradation, leading to the formation of phthalic acid. Cell extracts of fluorene-grown cells possessed high levels of an enzyme characteristic of phthalate catabolism, 4,5-dihydroxyphthalate decarboxylase, together with protocatechuate 4,5-dioxygenase. On the basis of these findings, a pathway of fluorene degradation is proposed to account for its conversion to intermediary metabolites. A range of compounds with structures similar to that of fluorene was acted on by fluorene-grown cells to give products consistent with the initial reactions proposed. PMID:8074523

  10. Thermodynamics of phenanthrene partition into solid organic matter from water.

    PubMed

    Chen, Bao-liang; Zhu, Li-zhong; Tao, Shu

    2005-01-01

    The thermodynamic behavior of organic contaminants in soils is essential to develop remediation technologies and assess risk from alternative technologies. Thermodynamics of phenanthrene partition into four solids(three soils and a bentonite) from water were investigated. The thermodynamics parameters (deltaH, deltaG degrees, deltaS degrees) were calculated according to experimental data. The total sorption heats of phenanthrene to solids from water ranged from -7.93 to -17.1 kJ/mol, which were less exothermic than the condensation heat of phenanthrene-solid (i.e., -18.6 kJ/mol). The partition heats of phenanthrene dissolved into solid organic matter ranged from 23.1 to 32.2 kJ/mol, which were less endothermic than the aqueous dissolved heat of phenanthrene (i.e., 40.2 kJ/mol), and were more endothermic than the fusion heat of phenanthrene-solid (i.e., 18.6 kJ/mol). The standard free energy changes, deltaG degrees, are all negative which suggested that phenanthrene sorption into solid was a spontaneous process. The positive values of standard entropy changes, deltaS degrees, show a gain in entropy for the transfer of phenanthrene at the stated standard state. Due to solubility-enhancement of phenanthrene, the partition coefficients normalized by organic carbon contents decrease with increasing system temperature (i.e., ln Koc = -0.284 ln S + 9.82 (n = 4, r2 = 0.992)). The solubility of phenanthrene in solid organic matter increased with increasing temperatures. Transports of phenanthrene in different latitude locations and seasons would be predicted according to its sorption thermodynamics behavior.

  11. Oxidation kinetics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by permanganate.

    PubMed

    Forsey, Steven P; Thomson, Neil R; Barker, James F

    2010-04-01

    The reactivity of permanganate towards polycyclic aromatics hydrocarbons (PAHs) is well known but little kinetic information is available. This study investigated the oxidation kinetics of a selected group of coal tar creosote compounds and alkylbenzenes in water using permanganate, and the correlation between compound reactivity and physical/chemical properties. The oxidation of naphthalene, phenanthrene, chrysene, 1-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, carbazole isopropylbenzene, ethylbenzene and methylbenzene closely followed pseudo first-order reaction kinetics. The oxidation of pyrene was initially very rapid and did not follow pseudo first-order kinetics at early times. Fluoranthene was only partially oxidized and the oxidation of anthracene was too fast to be captured. Biphenyl, dibenzofuran, benzene and tert-butylbenzene were non-reactive under the study conditions. The oxidation rate was shown to increase with increasing number of polycyclic rings because less energy is required to overcome the aromatic character of a polycyclic ring than is required for benzene. Thus the rate of oxidation increased in the series naphthalene<phenanthrene

  12. Bioremoval of priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by a microbial community with high sorption ability.

    PubMed

    Sanches, Sandra; Martins, Mónica; Silva, Ana F; Galinha, Claudia F; Santos, Maria A; Pereira, Inês A C; Crespo, Maria Teresa Barreto

    2017-02-01

    The treatment of large volumes of wastewater during oil refining is presently a challenge. Bioremediation has been considered an eco-friendly approach for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are one of the most hazardous groups of organic micropollutants. However, it is crucial to identify native PAH-removing microorganisms for the development of an effective bioremediation process. This study reports the high potential of an anaerobic microbial consortium enriched from a petrochemical refinery wastewater to remove two priority PAHs-acenaphthene and phenanthrene. Seventy-seven percent of acenaphthene was removed within 17 h, whereas phenanthrene was no longer detected after 15 h. Bioremoval rates were extremely high (0.086 and 0.156 h -1 for acenaphthene and phenanthrene, respectively). The characterization of the microbial communities by next-generation sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that the PAH-removing consortium was mainly composed by bacteria affiliated to Diaphorobacter and Paracoccus genera, independently of the PAH tested. Moreover, besides biodegradation, biosorption was a relevant mechanism involved in the removal of both PAHs, which is an important finding since biosorption is less expensive than biodegradation and can be carried out with dead biomass. Although biodegradation is the most commonly reported biological mechanism for PAH removal, this study demonstrated that biosorption by this microbial community may be extremely efficient for their removal. Given the outstanding ability of this microbial consortium to quickly remove the compounds addressed, it could be further applied for the bioremediation of PAHs in refinery wastewaters and other contaminated environments.

  13. Toxicity and photoactivation of PAH mixtures in marine sediment

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Swartz, R.; Ferraro, S.; Lamberson, J.

    1995-12-31

    The toxicity and toxicological photoactivation of mixtures of sediment-associated fluoranthene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and acenaphthene were determined using standard 10 d sediment toxicity tests with the marine amphipod, Rhepoxynius abronius. The four PAHs were spiked into sediment in a concentration series of either single compounds or an equitoxic mixture. Spiked sediment was stored at 4 C for 28 d before testing. Toxicity tests were conducted under fluorescent lighting. Survivors after 10 d in PAH-contaminated sediment were exposed for 1 h to UV light in the absence of sediment and then tested for their ability to bury in clean sediment. The 10more » d LC50s for single PAHs were 3.3, 2.2, 2.8, and 2.3 mg/g oc for fluoranthene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and acenaphthene, respectively. These LC50s were used to calculate the sum of toxic units ({Sigma}TU) of the four PAHs in the equitoxic mixture treatments. The {Sigma}TU LC50 was then calculated for the mixture treatments. If the toxicological interaction of the four PAHs in the mixture was additive, the {Sigma}TU LC50 should equal 1.0. The observed {Sigma}TU LC50 in the mixture was 1.55, indicating the interaction was slightly less than additive. UV enhancement of toxic effects of individual PAHs was correctly predicted by photophysical properties, i.e. pyrene and fluoranthene were photoactivated and phenanthrene and acenaphthene were not. UV effects in the mixture of four PAHs can be explained by the photoactivation of pyrene and fluoranthene alone.« less

  14. New metabolites in the degradation of fluorene by Arthrobacter sp. strain F101.

    PubMed

    Casellas, M; Grifoll, M; Bayona, J M; Solanas, A M

    1997-03-01

    Identification of new metabolites and demonstration of key enzyme activities support and extend the pathways previously reported for fluorene metabolism by Arthrobacter sp. strain F101. Washed-cell suspensions of strain F101 with fluorene accumulated 9-fluorenone, 4-hydroxy-9-fluorenone, 3-hydroxy-1-indanone, 1-indanone, 2-indanone, 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl) propionate, and a compound tentatively identified as a formyl indanone. Incubations with 2-indanone produced 3-isochromanone. The growth yield with fluorene as a sole source of carbon and energy corresponded to an assimilation of about 34% of fluorene carbon. About 7.4% was transformed into 9-fluorenol, 9-fluorenone, and 4-hydroxy-9-fluorenone. Crude extracts from fluorene-induced cells showed 3,4-dihydrocoumarin hydrolase and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase activities. These results and biodegradation experiments with the identified metabolites indicate that metabolism of fluorene by Arthrobacter sp. strain F101 proceeds through three independent pathways. Two productive routes are initiated by dioxygenation at positions 1,2 and 3,4, respectively. meta cleavage followed by an aldolase reaction and loss of C-1 yield the detected indanones. Subsequent biological Baeyer-Villiger reactions produce the aromatic lactones 3,4-dihydrocoumarin and 3-isochromanone. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the former gives 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl) propionate, which could be a substrate for a beta oxidation cycle, to give salicylate. Further oxidation of the latter via catechol and 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde connects with the central metabolism, allowing the utilization of all fluorene carbons. Identification of 4-hydroxy-9-fluorenone is consistent with an alternative pathway initiated by monooxygenation at C-9 to give 9-fluorenol and then 9-fluorenone. Although dioxygenation at 3,4 positions of the ketone apparently occurs, this reaction fails to furnish a subsequent productive oxidation of this compound.

  15. New metabolites in the degradation of fluorene by Arthrobacter sp. strain F101.

    PubMed Central

    Casellas, M; Grifoll, M; Bayona, J M; Solanas, A M

    1997-01-01

    Identification of new metabolites and demonstration of key enzyme activities support and extend the pathways previously reported for fluorene metabolism by Arthrobacter sp. strain F101. Washed-cell suspensions of strain F101 with fluorene accumulated 9-fluorenone, 4-hydroxy-9-fluorenone, 3-hydroxy-1-indanone, 1-indanone, 2-indanone, 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl) propionate, and a compound tentatively identified as a formyl indanone. Incubations with 2-indanone produced 3-isochromanone. The growth yield with fluorene as a sole source of carbon and energy corresponded to an assimilation of about 34% of fluorene carbon. About 7.4% was transformed into 9-fluorenol, 9-fluorenone, and 4-hydroxy-9-fluorenone. Crude extracts from fluorene-induced cells showed 3,4-dihydrocoumarin hydrolase and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase activities. These results and biodegradation experiments with the identified metabolites indicate that metabolism of fluorene by Arthrobacter sp. strain F101 proceeds through three independent pathways. Two productive routes are initiated by dioxygenation at positions 1,2 and 3,4, respectively. meta cleavage followed by an aldolase reaction and loss of C-1 yield the detected indanones. Subsequent biological Baeyer-Villiger reactions produce the aromatic lactones 3,4-dihydrocoumarin and 3-isochromanone. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the former gives 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl) propionate, which could be a substrate for a beta oxidation cycle, to give salicylate. Further oxidation of the latter via catechol and 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde connects with the central metabolism, allowing the utilization of all fluorene carbons. Identification of 4-hydroxy-9-fluorenone is consistent with an alternative pathway initiated by monooxygenation at C-9 to give 9-fluorenol and then 9-fluorenone. Although dioxygenation at 3,4 positions of the ketone apparently occurs, this reaction fails to furnish a subsequent productive oxidation of this compound. PMID:9055403

  16. Biomonitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in pregnant women in Trujillo, Peru — Comparison of different fuel types used for cooking☆

    PubMed Central

    Adetona, Olorunfemi; Li, Zheng; Sjödin, Andreas; Romanoff, Lovisa C.; Aguilar-Villalobos, Manuel; Needham, Larry L.; Hall, Daniel B.; Cassidy, Brandon E.; Naeher, Luke P.

    2016-01-01

    Women and children in developing countries are often exposed to high levels of air pollution including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which may negatively impact their health, due to household combustion of biomass fuel for cooking and heating. We compared creatinine adjusted hydroxy-PAH (OH-PAH) concentrations in pregnant women in Trujillo, Peru who cook with wood to levels measured in those who cook with kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas or a combination of fuels. Seventy-nine women were recruited for the study between May and July 2004 in the first trimester of their pregnancy. Urine samples were collected from the subjects in the first, second and third trimesters for OH-PAH analyses. The concentrations of the OH-PAHs were compared across the type of fuel used for cooking and pregnancy trimesters. The relationships between OH-PAHs levels in the first trimester and concurrently measured personal exposures to PM2.5, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide together with their indoor and outdoor air concentrations were also investigated. Women cooking with wood or kerosene had the highest creatinine adjusted OH-PAH concentrations compared with those using gas, coal briquette or a combination of fuels. Concentrations of creatinine adjusted 2-hydroxy-fluorene, 3-hydroxy-fluorene, 1-hydroxy-fluorene, 2-hydroxy-phenanthrene and 4-hydroxy-phenanthrene were significantly higher (p<0.05) in women who used wood or kerosene alone compared with women who used liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), coal briquette or a combination of fuels. An increase in the concentrations of creatinine adjusted 9-hydroxy-fluorene, 1-hydroxy-phenanthrene, 2-hydroxy-phenanthrene, 4-hydroxy-phenanthrene and 1-hydroxy-pyrene in the third trimesters was also observed. Weak positive correlation (Spearman correlation coefficient, ρ<0.4; p<0.05) was observed between all first trimester creatinine adjusted OH-PAHs and indoor (kitchen and living room), and personal 48-h TWA PM2.5. Women who cooked

  17. Inoculation of a phenanthrene-degrading endophytic bacterium reduces the phenanthrene level and alters the bacterial community structure in wheat.

    PubMed

    Liu, Juan; Xiang, Yanbing; Zhang, Zhiming; Ling, Wanting; Gao, Yanzheng

    2017-06-01

    Colonization by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading endophytic bacteria (PAHDEB) can reduce the PAH contamination risk in plant. However, little information is available on the impact of PAHDEB colonization on the endophytic bacterial community of inner plant tissues. A phenanthrene-degrading endophytic bacterium (PDEB), Massilia sp. Pn2, was inoculated onto the roots of wheat and subjected to greenhouse container experiments. The endophytic bacterial community structure in wheat was investigated using high-throughput sequencing technology. The majority of endophytic bacteria in wheat were Proteobacteria, and the dominant genus was Pseudomonas. Phenanthrene contamination clearly increased the diversity of endophytic bacteria in wheat. The cultivable endophytic bacteria counts in wheat decreased with increasing the level of phenanthrene contamination; the endophytic bacterial community structure changed correspondingly, and the bacterial richness first increased and then decreased. Inoculation of strain Pn2 reduced the phenanthrene contamination in wheat, enlarged the biomass of wheat roots, changed the bacterial community structure and enhanced the cell counts, diversity and richness of endophytic bacteria in phenanthrene-contaminated wheat in a contamination level-dependent manner. The findings of this investigation provide insight into the responses of endophytic bacterial community in plant to external PAH contamination and PAHDEB colonization.

  18. [Degradation of fluorene and fluoranthene by the basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus].

    PubMed

    Pozdnyakova, N N; Chernyshova, M P; Grinev, V S; Landesman, E O; Koroleva, O V; Turkovskaya, O V

    2016-01-01

    The dependence of the degree of fluorene and fluoranthene degradation by the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus D1 on the culture medium composition has been studied. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been transformed in Kirk’s medium (under conditions of laccase production) with the formation of a quinone metabolite and 9-fluorenone upon the use of fluoranthene and fluorene as substrates, respectively. More complete degradation with the formation of an intermediate metabolite, phthalic acid that has undergone subsequent utilization, has occurred in basidiomycete-rich medium (under the production of both laccase and versatile peroxidase). The formation of phthalic acid as a metabolite of fluoranthene degradation by lignolytic fungi has been revealed for the first time. The data allow the supposition that both extracellular laccase and laccase on the mycelium surface can participate in the initial stages of PAH metabolism, while versatile peroxidase is necessary for the oxidation of the formed metabolites. A scheme of fluorene metabolism by Pleurotus ostreatus D1 is suggested.

  19. Uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their cellular effects in the mangrove Bruguiera gymnorrhiza.

    PubMed

    Naidoo, Gonasageran; Naidoo, Krishnaveni

    2016-12-15

    The uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their cellular effects were investigated in the mangrove Bruguiera gymnorrhiza. Seedlings were subjected to sediment oiling for three weeks. In the oiled treatment, the ƩPAHs was higher in roots (99%) than in leaves (1%). In roots, PAHs included phenanthrene (55%), acenaphthene (13%), fluorine (12%) and anthracene (8%). In leaves, PAHs possessed two to three rings and included acenaphthene (35%), naphthalene (33%), fluorine (18%) and phenanthrene (14%). In the roots, oil caused disorganization of cells in the root cap, meristem and conducting tissue. Oil contaminated cells were distorted and possessed large and irregularly shaped vacuoles. Ultrastructural changes included loss of cell contents and fragmentation of the nucleus and mitochondrion. In the leaves, oil caused dilation and distortion of chloroplasts and disintegration of grana and lamellae. Oil targets critical organelles such as nuclei, chloroplasts and mitochondria which are responsible for cell vitality and energy transformation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Impact of methylene chloride on microorganisms and phenanthrene mineralization in soil.

    PubMed

    Schwartz, Egbert; Trinh, Sinh V; Scow, Kate M

    2002-01-01

    This study investigated the effects of the quantity of methylene chloride, used as a carrier solvent for phenanthrene when added to soil, on phenanthrene mineralization kinetics, soil phospholipid fatty add profiles (PLFA), and phenanthrene distribution. Methylene chloride dosages of 25 microL/g soil or more resulted in an enrichment of saturated PLFAs, suggesting soil microorganisms had adjusted their cell membranes in response to the solvent. A greater fraction of phenanthrene mineralized when spiked in 5 microL/g than in 25 microL/g methylene chloride suggesting that the methylene chloride became toxic to phenanthrene-degrading organisms in soil. Phenanthrene was more equally distributed among 0.1 g soil subsamples if spiked in 25 than 5 or 1 microL methylene chloride per gram soil. Thus the amount of methylene chloride used to spike phenanthrene in soil strongly impacted the mineralization kinetics, phenanthrene distribution, and microbial community in soil. Because a variety of spiking methods are used in biodegradation research, scientists should consider the quantity of solvents used when comparing results among different studies.

  1. Dependence of the Intensity of Components of the Multiplet in Sensitized Phosphorescence of Acenaphthene in N-Hexane on the Exciting Pulse Duration at 77 K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhdanova, N. V.; Deryabin, M. I.; Valyukhov, D. P.

    2017-10-01

    The special features of the multiplet structure in spectra of sensitized acenaphthene phosphorescence caused by triplet-triplet energy transfer from 2,7-dibromodiphenylen sulfide (the energy donor) molecules in n-hexane matrices are investigated at 77 K. It is demonstrated that the distribution of intensities between components of the multiplet in quasi-line spectrum of sensitized acenaphthene phosphorescence depends on the freezing rate of the solution and the exciting pulse duration. The possible reasons for these dependences are discussed.

  2. Photoactivation and toxicity of mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds in marine sediment

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Swartz, R.C.; Ferraro, S.P.; Lamberson, J.O.

    1997-10-01

    The direct toxicity and photoinduced toxicity of sediment-associated acenaphthene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene were determined for the marine amphipod Rhepoxynius abronius. The four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were spiked into sediment in a concentration series of either single compounds or as approximately equitoxic mixtures of all four compounds. Standard 10-d sediment toxicity tests were conducted under fluorescent lighting. After 10 d, survivors were exposed for 1 h to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the absence of sediment and then tested for their ability to bury in uncontaminated sediment. The 10-d median lethal concentrations (LC50s) were 2.31 mg acenaphthene/g organic carbon (OC),more » 2.22 mg phenanthrene/g OC, 3.31 mg fluoranthene/g OC, and 2.81 mg pyrene/g OC. These LC50s were used to calculate the sum of toxic units ({Sigma}TU) of the four PAHs in the approximately equitoxic mixtures. The {Sigma}TU LC50 was then calculated for the mixture treatments. If the toxicologic interaction of a mixture of contaminants is additive, {Sigma}TU LC50 = 1.0. The observed LC50 (1.55 {Sigma}TU) was slightly, but significantly, greater than unity, indicating that the interaction of PAHs in the mixture was less than additive. Exposure to UV radiation enhanced the toxic effects of fluoranthene and pyrene, but did not affect the toxicity of acenaphthene and phenanthrene. Effects of UV radiation on the toxicity of the mixture of four PAHs could be explained by the photoactivation of fluoranthene and pyrene alone. These results are consistent with predictions based on photophysical properties of PAH compounds.« less

  3. Photodegradation of fluorene in aqueous solution: Identification and biological activity testing of degradation products.

    PubMed

    Kinani, Said; Souissi, Yasmine; Kinani, Aziz; Vujović, Svetlana; Aït-Aïssa, Sélim; Bouchonnet, Stéphane

    2016-04-15

    Degradation of fluorene under UV-vis irradiation in water was investigated and structural elucidation of the main photoproducts was achieved using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Twenty-six photoproducts were structurally identified, mainly on the basis of electron ionization mass spectra interpretation. The main generated transformation products are hydroxy derivatives. Some secondary photoproducts including fluorenone, hydroxy fluorenone, 2-biphenyl carboxylic acid, biphenylene, methanol fluorene congeners and hydroxy fluorene dimers were also observed. A photodegradation pathway was suggested on the basis of the chemical structures of photoproducts. Fluorene as well as its main photoproducts for which chemical standards were commercially available were tested for their ability to elicit cytotoxic, estrogenic and dioxin-like activity by using in vitro cell-based bioassays. None of the tested compounds was cytotoxic at concentrations up to 100 μM. However, 2-hydroxyfluorene and 3-hydroxyfluorene exerted significant estrogenic and dioxin-like activity on a concentration range of 3-30 μM, while fluorene and 9-hydroxyfluorene were weakly or not active, respectively, in our assays. This supports the view that photodegradation processes can generate by-products of higher toxicological concern than the parent compound and strengthens the need to further identify transformation products in the aquatic environment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Isolation of Soil Bacteria Adapted To Degrade Humic Acid-Sorbed Phenanthrene

    PubMed Central

    Vacca, D. J.; Bleam, W. F.; Hickey, W. J.

    2005-01-01

    The goal of these studies was to determine how sorption by humic acids affected the bioavailability of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to PAH-degrading microbes. Micellar solutions of humic acid were used as sorbents, and phenanthrene was used as a model PAH. Enrichments from PAH-contaminated soils established with nonsorbed phenanthrene yielded a total of 25 different isolates representing a diversity of bacterial phylotypes. In contrast, only three strains of Burkholderia spp. and one strain each of Delftia sp. and Sphingomonas sp. were isolated from enrichments with humic acid-sorbed phenanthrene (HASP). Using [14C]phenanthrene as a radiotracer, we verified that only HASP isolates were capable of mineralizing HASP, a phenotype hence termed “competence.” Competence was an all-or-nothing phenotype: noncompetent strains showed no detectable phenanthrene mineralization in HASP cultures, but levels of phenanthrene mineralization effected by competent strains in HASP and NSP cultures were not significantly different. Levels and rates of phenanthrene mineralization exceeded those predicted to be supported solely by the metabolism of phenanthrene in the aqueous phase of HASP cultures. Thus, competent strains were able to directly access phenanthrene sorbed by the humic acids and did not rely on desorption for substrate uptake. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of (i) a selective interaction between aerobic bacteria and humic acid molecules and (ii) differential bioavailability to bacteria of PAHs sorbed to a natural biogeopolymer. PMID:16000791

  5. Numerical taxonomy of phenanthrene-degrading bacteria isolated from the Chesapeake Bay

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    West, P.A.; Okpokwasili, G.C.; Brayton, P.R.

    1984-11-01

    Phenanthrene-degrading bacteria were isolated from Chesapeake Bay samples by the use of a solid medium which had been overlaid with an ethanol solution of phenanthrene before inoculation. Eighteen representative strains of phenanthrene-degrading bacteria with 21 type and reference bacteria were examined for 123 characteristics representing physiological, biochemical, and nutritional properties. Relationships between strains were computed with several similarity coefficients. The phenogram constructed by unweighted-pair-group arithmetic average linkage and use of the simple Jaccard (S/sub J/) coefficient was used to identify seven phena. Phenanthrene-degrading bacteria were identified as Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio fluvialis by their clustering with type and reference strains.more » Several phenanthrene-degrading bacteria resembled Enterobacteriaceae family members, although some Vibrio-like phenanthrene degraders could not be identified. 22 references, 1 figure, 2 tables.« less

  6. Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 82-309-1630, Inland Steel, East Chicago, Indiana

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Almaguer, D.; Orris, P.

    1985-10-01

    Environmental and breathing-zone samples were analyzed for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and coal-tar-pitch volatiles at the Inland Steel Company, East Chicago, Indiana in November, 1982 and September, 1984. The evaluation was requested because of concern about employee exposures during maintenance of the coke battery precipitator at the number 2 facility. Four former employees were interviewed. The cyclohexane soluble fraction of coal-tar-pitch volatiles ranged from 0.232 to 0.668 mg/m/sup 3/. The OSHA standard is 0.15mg/m/sup 3/. Naphthalene concentrations up to 0.107mg/m/sup 3/ were detected. The OSHA standard for naphthalene is 50mg/m/sup 3/. Other PAHs detected included phenanthrene, fluorene and acenaphthene. Themore » employees reported experiencing local skin, eye, ear, nose, and throat irritation while working on the coke battery precipitator in the past. Personal protective measures such as wearing safety boots, barrier creams on exposed skin surfaces, and showering and changing clothes before leaving the facility were implemented. The authors conclude that a potential health hazard from PAHs and coal-tar-pitch volatiles is being adequately addressed by the facility. Recommendations include continuing the present personal protective measures and providing emergency rescue training.« less

  7. MULTISUBSTRATE BIODEGRADATION KINETICS FOR BINARY AND COMPLEX MIXTURES OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS

    EPA Science Inventory

    Biodegradation kinetics were studied for binary and complex mixtures of nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, 2-ethylnaphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, fluorene and fluoranthene. Discrepancies between the ...

  8. The mechanisms by which phenanthrene affects the photosynthetic apparatus of cucumber leaves.

    PubMed

    Jin, Liqiao; Che, Xingkai; Zhang, Zishan; Li, Yuting; Gao, Huiyuan; Zhao, Shijie

    2017-02-01

    Phenanthrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) that is widely distributed in the environment and seriously affects the growth and development of plants. To clarify the mechanisms of the direct effects of phenanthrene on the plant photosynthetic apparatus, we measured short-term phenanthrene-treated cucumber leaves. Phenanthrene inhibited Rubisco carboxylation activity, decreasing photosynthesis rates (Pn). And phenanthrene inhibited photosystem II (PSII) activity, thereby blocking photosynthetic electron transport. The inhibition of the light and dark reactions decreased the photosynthetic electron transport rate (ETR) and increased the excitation pressure (1-qP). Under high light, the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (F v /F m ) in phenanthrene-treated cucumber leaves decreased significantly, but photosystem I (PSI) activity (Δ I/I o ) did not. Phenanthrene also caused a J-point rise in the OJIP curve under high light, which indicated that the acceptor side of PSII Q A to Q B electron transfer was restricted. This was primarily due to the net degradation of D1 protein, which is caused by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in phenanthrene-treated cucumber leaves under high light. This study demonstrated that phenanthrene could directly inhibit photosynthetic electron transport and Rubisco carboxylation activity to decrease net Pn. Under high light, phenanthrene caused the accumulation of ROS, resulting in net increases in D1 protein degradation and consequently causing PSII photoinhibition. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Electron-intramolecular-vibration interactions in positively charged phenanthrene-edge-type hydrocarbons

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kato, Takashi; Yamabe, Tokio

    2004-02-01

    Electron-phonon interactions in positively charged phenanthrene-edge-type hydrocarbons such as phenanthrene, chrysene, and picene are studied. The C-C stretching modes around 1500 cm-1 and the low-frequency modes around 500 cm-1 strongly couple to the highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO) in phenanthrene-edge-type hydrocarbons. The total electron-phonon coupling constants for the monocations (lHOMO) of 0.251, 0.135, and 0.149 eV for phenanthrene, chrysene, and picene, respectively, are estimated to be larger than those of 0.130, 0.107, and 0.094 eV for anthracene, tetracene, and pentacene, respectively. The phase patterns difference between the HOMO localized on carbon atoms which are located at the molecular edge in acene-edge-type hydrocarbons and the delocalized HOMO in phenanthrene-edge-type hydrocarbons is the main reason for the result. Strengths of orbital interactions between two neighboring carbon atoms in the HOMO become weaker with an increase in molecular size because the electron density on each carbon atom in the HOMO becomes smaller with an increase in molecular size in phenanthrene-edge-type hydrocarbons. On the other hand, the frontier orbitals of acene-edge-type hydrocarbons have somewhat nonbonding characters and thus cannot strongly couple to the totally symmetric vibrational modes compared with the frontier orbitals of phenanthrene-edge-type hydrocarbons. This is the reason why the lHOMO value for phenanthrene-edge-type hydrocarbons decreases with an increase in molecular size more significantly than that for acene-edge-type hydrocarbons, and the reason why the lHOMO value for polyphenanthrene with C2v geometry (0.033 eV) is estimated to be similar to that for polyacene (0.036 eV). The reorganization energies between the neutral molecules and the corresponding monocations for phenanthrene-edge-type hydrocarbons with large molecular size are estimated to be larger than those for acene-edge-type hydrocarbons with large molecular size.

  10. The first-principles investigations on magnetic ground-state in Sm-doped phenanthrene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Han, Jia-Xing; Zhong, Guo-Hua; Wang, Xiao-Hui; Chen, Xiao-Jia; Lin, Hai-Qing

    2017-05-01

    Based on the density functional theory plus the effective Coulomb repulsion U, we have investigated the crystal structure, electronic properties and magnetic characteristics in Sm-doped phenanthrene, recently characterized as a superconductor with Tc˜5 -6 Kelvin. Calculated total energies of different magnetic states indicate that Sm-doped phenanthrene is stable at the ferromagnetic ground-state. Considered the strong electronic correlations effect due to the intercalation of Sm-4f electrons, we found that the Sm-4f contributes to the Fermi surface together with C-2p, which is different from K-doped phenanthrene. Compared with alkali-metal-doped phenanthrene, Sm atom has larger local magnetic moment, which suppresses the superconductivity in conventional superconductors. Our results indicate that the electron-electron correlations play an important role in superconductivity of Sm-doped phenanthrene.

  11. Biodegradation of naphthalene and phenanthren by Bacillus subtilis 3KP

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ni'matuzahroh, Trikurniadewi, N.; Pramadita, A. R. A.; Pratiwi, I. A.; Salamun, Fatimah, Sumarsih, Sri

    2017-06-01

    The purposes of this research were to know growth response, degradation ability, and uptake mechanism of naphthalene and phenanthrene by Bacillus subtilis 3KP. Bacillus subtilis 3KP was grown on Mineral Synthetic (MS) medium with addition of 1% yeast extract and naphthalene and phenanthrene respectively 200 ppm in different cultures. Bacillus subtilis 3KP growth response was monitored by Total Plate Count (TPC) method, the degradation ability was monitored by UV-Vis spectrophotometer, and the uptake mechanism of hydrocarbon was monitored by emulsification activity, decrease of surface tension, and activity of Bacterial Adherence to Hydrocarbon (BATH). Bacillus subtilis 3KP was able to grow and show biphasic growth pattern on both of substrates. Naphthalene and phenanthrene were used as a carbon source for Bacillus subtilis 3KP growth that indicated by the reduction of substrate concomitant with the growth. At room temperature conditions (± 30°C) and 90 rpm of agitation for 7 days, Bacillus subtilis 3KP could degrade naphthalene in the amount of 70.5% and phenanthrene in the amount of 24.8%. Based on the analysis of UV-Vis spectrophotometer, three metabolites, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, salicylic acid, and pyrocatechol were found in both cultures. The metabolite identification became basis of propose degradation pathway of naphthalene and phenanthrene by Bacillus subtilis 3KP. The results of hydrocarbon uptake mechanism test show that Bacillus subtilis 3KP used all of the mechanism to degrade naphthalene and phenanthrene.

  12. Bioventing remediation and ecotoxicity evaluation of phenanthrene-contaminated soil.

    PubMed

    García Frutos, F Javier; Escolano, Olga; García, Susana; Babín, Mar; Fernández, M Dolores

    2010-11-15

    The objectives of soil remediation processes are usually based on threshold levels of soil contaminants. However, during remediation processes, changes in bioavailability and metabolite production can occur, making it necessary to incorporate an ecotoxicity assessment to estimate the risk to ecological receptors. The evolution of contaminants and soil ecotoxicity of artificially phenanthrene-contaminated soil (1000 mg/kg soil) during soil treatment through bioventing was studied in this work. Bioventing was performed in glass columns containing 5.5 kg of phenanthrene-contaminated soil and uncontaminated natural soil over a period of 7 months. Optimum conditions of mineralisation (humidity=60% WHC; C/N/P=100:20:1) were determined in a previous work. The evolution of oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, phenanthrene concentration and soil toxicity were studied on sacrificed columns at periods of 0, 3 and 7 months. Toxicity to soil and aquatic organisms was determined using a multispecies system in the soil columns (MS-3). In the optimal bioventing treatability test, we obtained a reduction rate in phenanthrene concentration higher that 93% after 7 months of treatment. The residual toxicity obtained at the end of the treatment was not attributed to the low phenanthrene concentration, but to the ammonia used to restore the optimal C/N ratio. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. Two-Electron Carbon Dioxide Reduction Catalyzed by Rhenium(I) Bis(imino)acenaphthene Carbonyl Complexes

    PubMed Central

    Portenkirchner, Engelbert; Kianfar, Elham; Sariciftci, Niyazi Serdar; Knör, Günther

    2014-01-01

    Rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes carrying substituted bis(arylimino)acenaphthene ligands (BIAN-R) have been tested as potential catalysts for the two-electron reduction of carbon dioxide. Cyclic voltammetric studies as well as controlled potential electrolysis experiments were performed using CO2-saturated solutions of the complexes in acetonitrile and acetonitrile–water mixtures. Faradaic efficiencies of more than 30 % have been determined for the electrocatalytic production of CO. The effects of ligand substitution patterns and water content of the reaction medium on the catalytic performance of the new catalysts are discussed. PMID:24737649

  14. Characterization of the Upper Pathway Genes for Fluorene Metabolism in Terrabacter sp. Strain DBF63

    PubMed Central

    Habe, Hiroshi; Chung, Jin-Sung; Kato, Hiroyuki; Ayabe, Yuko; Kasuga, Kano; Yoshida, Takako; Nojiri, Hideaki; Yamane, Hisakazu; Omori, Toshio

    2004-01-01

    Genes involved in the degradation of fluorene to phthalate were characterized in the fluorene degrader Terrabacter sp. strain DBF63. The initial attack on both fluorene and 9-fluorenone was catalyzed by DbfA to yield 9-fluorenol and 1,1a-dihydroxy-1-hydro-9-fluorenone, respectively. The FlnB protein exhibited activities against both 9-fluorenol and 1,1a-dihydroxy-1-hydro-9-fluorenone to produce 9-fluorenone and 2′-carboxy-2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl, respectively. FlnD is a heteromeric protein encoded by flnD1 and ORF16, being a member of the class III two-subunit extradiol dioxygenase. FlnE was identified as a serine hydrolase for the meta-cleavage products that yield phthalate. PMID:15317800

  15. BIODEGRADATION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAH) FROM CRUDE OIL IN SANDY-BEACH MICROCOSMS.

    EPA Science Inventory

    Though the lower n-alkanes are considered the most degradable components of crude oil, our experiments with microcosms simulating oiled beaches showed substantial depletion of fluorene, phenanthrene, dibenzothiophene, and other PAH in control treatments consisting of raw seawater...

  16. Degradation of some representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by the water-soluble protein extracts from Zea mays L. cv PR32-B10.

    PubMed

    Barone, Roberto; de Biasi, Margherita-Gabriella; Piccialli, Vincenzo; de Napoli, Lorenzo; Oliviero, Giorgia; Borbone, Nicola; Piccialli, Gennaro

    2016-10-01

    The ability of the water-soluble protein extracts from Zea mais L. cv. PR32-B10 to degrade some representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), has been evaluated. Surface sterilized seeds of corn (Zea mais L. Pioneer cv. PR32-B10) were hydroponically cultivated in a growth chamber under no-stressful conditions. The water-soluble protein extracts isolated from maize tissues showed peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and catalase activities. Incubation of the extracts with naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene and pyrene, led to formation of oxidized and/or degradation products. GC-MS and TLC monitoring of the processes showed that naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluorene and pyrene underwent 100%, 78%, 92% and 65% oxidative degradation, respectively, after 120 min. The chemical structure of the degradation products were determined by (1)H NMR and ESI-MS spectrometry. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Effect of Cosolutes on the Sorption of Phenanthrene onto Mineral Surface of River Sediments and Kaolinite

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Sorption of phenanthrene onto the natural sediment with low organic carbon content (OC%), organic-free sediment, and kaolinite was investigated through isotherm experiments. Effects of cosolutes (pyrene, 4-n-nonyphenol (NP), and humic acid (HA)) on phenanthrene sorption were also studied by comparing apparent solid-water distribution coefficients (K d app) of phenanthrene. Two addition sequences, including “cosolute added prior to phenanthrene” and “cosolute and phenanthrene added simultaneously,” were adopted. The Freundlich model fits phenanthrene sorption on all 3 sorbents well. The sorption coefficients on these sorbents were similar, suggesting that mineral surface plays an important role in the sorption of hydrophobic organic contaminants on low OC% sediments. Cosolutes could affect phenanthrene sorption on the sorbents, which depended on their properties, concentrations, and addition sequences. Pyrene inhibited phenanthrene sorption. Sorbed NP inhibited phenanthrene sorption at low levels and promoted sorption at high levels. Similar to NP, effect of HA on phenanthrene sorption onto the natural sediment depended on its concentrations, whereas, for the organic-free sediment and kaolinite, preloading of HA at high levels led to an enhancement in phenanthrene K d app while no obvious effect was observed at low HA levels; dissolved HA could inhibit phenanthrene sorption on the two sorbents. PMID:25147865

  18. Multivariate analysis of mixed contaminants (PAHs and heavy metals) at manufactured gas plant site soils.

    PubMed

    Thavamani, Palanisami; Megharaj, Mallavarapu; Naidu, Ravi

    2012-06-01

    Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to provide an overview of the distribution pattern of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals in former manufactured gas plant (MGP) site soils. PCA is the powerful multivariate method to identify the patterns in data and expressing their similarities and differences. Ten PAHs (naphthalene, acenapthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo[a]pyrene) and four toxic heavy metals - lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and zinc (Zn) - were detected in the site soils. PAH contamination was contributed equally by both low and high molecular weight PAHs. PCA was performed using the varimax rotation method in SPSS, 17.0. Two principal components accounting for 91.7% of the total variance was retained using scree test. Principle component 1 (PC1) substantially explained the dominance of PAH contamination in the MGP site soils. All PAHs, except anthracene, were positively correlated in PC1. There was a common thread in high molecular weight PAHs loadings, where the loadings were inversely proportional to the hydrophobicity and molecular weight of individual PAHs. Anthracene, which was less correlated with other individual PAHs, deviated well from the origin which can be ascribed to its lower toxicity and different origin than its isomer phenanthrene. Among the four major heavy metals studied in MGP sites, Pb, Cd and Cr were negatively correlated in PC1 but showed strong positive correlation in principle component 2 (PC2). Although metals may not have originated directly from gaswork processes, the correlation between PAHs and metals suggests that the materials used in these sites may have contributed to high concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cr and Zn. Thus, multivariate analysis helped to identify the sources of PAHs, heavy metals and their association in MGP site, and thereby better characterise the site risk, which would not be possible if one uses chemical analysis

  19. PAHs in leachates from thermal power plant wastes and ash-based construction materials.

    PubMed

    Irha, Natalya; Reinik, Janek; Jefimova, Jekaterina; Koroljova, Arina; Raado, Lembi-Merike; Hain, Tiina; Uibu, Mai; Kuusik, Rein

    2015-08-01

    The focus of the current study is to characterise the leaching behaviour of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from oil shale ashes (OSAs) of pulverised firing (PF) and circulating fluidised-bed (CFB) boilers from Estonian Thermal Power Plant (Estonia) as well as from mortars and concrete based on OSAs. The target substances were 16 PAHs from the EPA priority pollutant list. OSA samples and OSA-based mortars were tested for leaching, according to European standard EN 12457-2 (2002). European standard CEN/TC 15862(2012) for monolithic matter was used for OSA-based concrete. Water extracts were analysed by GC-MS for the concentration of PAHs. Naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene and pyrene were detected. Still, the release of PAHs was below the threshold limit value for inert waste. The amount of the finest fraction (particle size <0.045 mm), the content of the Al-Si glass phase and the surface characteristics were the main factors, which could affect the accessibility of PAHs for leaching. The mobility of PAHs from OSA of CFB and PF boilers was 20.2 and 9.9%, respectively. Hardening of OSA-based materials did not lead to the immobilisation of soluble PAHs. Release of PAHs from the monolith samples did not exceed 0.5 μg/m(2). In terms of leaching of PAHs, OSA is safe to be used for construction purposes.

  20. Initial environmental impacts of the Obed Mountain coal mine process water spill into the Athabasca River (Alberta, Canada).

    PubMed

    Cooke, Colin A; Schwindt, Colin; Davies, Martin; Donahue, William F; Azim, Ekram

    2016-07-01

    On October 31, 2013, a catastrophic release of approximately 670,000m(3) of coal process water occurred as the result of the failure of the wall of a post-processing settling pond at the Obed Mountain Mine near Hinton, Alberta. A highly turbid plume entered the Athabasca River approximately 20km from the mine, markedly altering the chemical composition of the Athabasca River as it flowed downstream. The released plume traveled approximately 1100km downstream to the Peace-Athabasca Delta in approximately four weeks, and was tracked both visually and using real-time measures of river water turbidity within the Athabasca River. The plume initially contained high concentrations of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); some Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environmental (CCME) Guidelines were exceeded in the initial days after the spill. Subsequent characterization of the source material revealed elevated concentrations of both metals (arsenic, lead, mercury, selenium, and zinc) and PAHs (acenaphthene, fluorene, naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene). While toxicity testing using the released material indicated a relatively low or short-lived acute risk to the aquatic environment, some of the water quality and sediment quality variables are known carcinogens and have the potential to exert negative long-term impacts. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Assessment of hydrocarbons concentration in marine fauna due to Tasman Spirit oil spill along the Clifton beach at Karachi coast.

    PubMed

    Siddiqi, Hina A; Ansari, Fayyaz A; Munshi, Alia B

    2009-01-01

    On 27 July 2003, Tasman Spirit spilled 31,000 tonnes of crude oil into the sea at the Karachi coast. This disaster badly affected the marine life (Flora and Fauna.) Present research has been proposed to ascertain the level of Polycyclic Aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination in different fisheries including Fishes, Crustaceans; Crabs and Shrimps, Mollusks and Echinoderms along with passing time. Heavier components of crude oil such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) appear to cause most damages as these are relatively unreactive and persist in water. High concentrations of toxic PAHs were observed in all the fisheries and shellfishes caught form oil-impacted area. In this study fishes were found most contaminated than shellfishes i.e. summation operator 16 PAH = 1821.24 microg/g and summation operator 1164.34 microg/g, respectively. Naphthalene was found in the range of 0.042-602.23 microg/g. Acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene and anthracene were detected in the range 0.008-80.03 microg/g, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene and chrysene 0.0008-221.32 microg/g, benzo(b) fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene and benzo(a) pyrene 0.0005-7.71 microg/g, benzo(g,h,i)perylene and indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene 0.02-503.7 microg/g. Dibenzo(a,h)anthracenre was not detected in any specie.

  2. Vectorial photoinduced energy transfer between boron-dipyrromethene (Bodipy) chromophores across a fluorene bridge.

    PubMed

    Puntoriero, Fausto; Nastasi, Francesco; Campagna, Sebastiano; Bura, Thomas; Ziessel, Raymond

    2010-08-02

    A series of novel multichromophoric, luminescent compounds has been prepared, and their absorption spectra, luminescence properties (both at 77 K in rigid matrix and at 298 K in fluid solution), and photoinduced intercomponent energy-transfer processes have been studied. The series contains two new multichromophoric systems 1 and 2, each one containing two different boron-dipyrromethene (Bodipy) subunits and one bridging fluorene species, and two fluorene-Bodipy bichromophoric species, 6 and 7. Three monochromophoric compounds, 3, 4, and 5, used as precursors in the synthetic process, were also fully characterized. The absorption spectra of the multichromophoric compounds are roughly the summation of the absorption spectra of their individual components, thus demonstrating the supramolecular nature of the assemblies. Luminescence studies show that quantitative energy transfer occurs in 6 and 7 from the fluorene chromophore to the Bodipy dyes. Luminescence studies, complemented by transient-absorption spectroscopy studies, also indicate that efficient inter-Bodipy energy transfer across the rigid fluorene spacer takes place in 1 and 2, with rate constants, evaluated by several experimental methods, between 2.0 and 7.0 x 10(9) s(-1). Such an inter-Bodipy energy transfer appears to be governed by the Förster mechanism. By taking advantage of the presence of various protonable sites in the substituents of the lower-energy Bodipy subunit of 1 and 2, the effect of protonation on the energy-transfer rates has also been investigated. The results suggest that control of energy-transfer rate and efficiency of inter-Bodipy energy transfer in this type of systems can be achieved by an external, reversible input.

  3. Synthesis, spectral studies, antimicrobial, antioxidant and insect antifeedant activities of some 9 H-fluorene-2-yl keto-oxiranes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thirunarayanan, G.; Vanangamudi, G.

    2011-10-01

    Thirteen ee (α S, β R) 9 H-fluorene-2-yl keto-oxiranes (2-(9 H)-fluorene-4-yl[3-(substituted phenyl)oxiran-2-yl]methanones) have been synthesized by phase transfer catalysed epoxidation of 9 H-fluorene-2-yl chalcones. The yields of oxiranes are more than 95%. The synthesized oxiranes have been characterized by IR, 1H, 13C and GC-MS spectral data. The spectral data are correlated with Hammett substituent constants and Swain-Lupton parameters. From the regression analysis, the effect of substituents on the group frequencies has been predicted. The antimicrobial, antioxidant and insect antifeedant activities of all the synthesized oxiranes have been studied.

  4. Desorption and mobility mechanisms of co-existing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals in clays and clay minerals.

    PubMed

    Saeedi, Mohsen; Li, Loretta Y; Grace, John R

    2018-05-15

    The effects of soil components such as clay minerals and as humic acids, as well as co-existing metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, on desorption and mobility are examined. Three types of artificially blended clay and clay mineral mixtures (pure kaolinite, kaolinite + sand and kaolinite + sand + bentonite), each with different humic acid content, were tested for desorption and mobility of acenaphthene, fluorene and fluoranthene by three extracting solutions CaCl 2 (0.01 M) and EDTA (0.01M) with non-ionic surfactants (Tween 80 and Triton X100). Heavy metals (Ni, Pb and Zn) were also studied for desorption and mobility. The influence of co-present metals on simultaneous desorption and mobility of PAHs was investigated as well. The results showed that <10% of metals in the clay mineral mixtures were mobile. Combined EDTA and non-ionic solutions can enhance the desorption and mobility of PAHs to >80% in clay mineral mixtures containing no sand, while in the same soils containing ∼40% sand, the desorption exceeded 90%. Heavy metals, as well as increasing humic acids content in the clay mineral mixtures, decreased the desorption and mobility of PAHs, especially for soils containing no sand, and for fluoranthene compared with fluorene and acenaphthene. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Microbial Degradation of Phenanthrene in Pristine and Contaminated Sandy Soils.

    PubMed

    Schwarz, Alexandra; Adetutu, Eric M; Juhasz, Albert L; Aburto-Medina, Arturo; Ball, Andrew S; Shahsavari, Esmaeil

    2018-05-01

    Phenanthrene mineralisation studies in both pristine and contaminated sandy soils were undertaken through detailed assessment of the activity and diversity of the microbial community. Stable isotope probing (SIP) was used to assess and identify active 13 C-labelled phenanthrene degraders. Baseline profiling indicated that there was little difference in fungal diversity but a significant difference in bacterial diversity dependent on contamination history. Identification of dominant fungal and bacterial species highlighted the presence of organisms capable of degrading various petroleum-based compounds together with other anthropogenic compounds, regardless of contamination history. Community response following a simulated contamination event ( 14 C-phenanthrene) showed that the microbial community in deep pristine and shallow contaminated soils adapted most to the presence of phenanthrene. The similarity in microbial community structure of well-adapted soils demonstrated that a highly adaptable fungal community in these soils enabled a rapid response to the introduction of a contaminant. Ten fungal and 15 bacterial species were identified as active degraders of phenanthrene. The fungal degraders were dominated by the phylum Basidiomycota including the genus Crypotococcus, Cladosporium and Tremellales. Bacterial degraders included the genera Alcanivorax, Marinobacter and Enterococcus. There was little synergy between dominant baseline microbes, predicted degraders and those that were determined to be actually degrading the contaminant. Overall, assessment of baseline microbial community in contaminated soils provides useful information; however, additional laboratory assessment of the microbial community's ability to degrade pollutants allows for better prediction of the bioremediation potential of a soil.

  6. Determination of phenanthrene bioavailability by using a self-dying reporter bacterium: test with model solids and soil.

    PubMed

    Shin, Doyun; Nam, Kyoungphile

    2012-02-20

    The present study was conducted to investigate the performance and feasibility of a self-dying reporter bacterium to visualize and quantify phenanthrene bioavailability in soil. The self-dying reporter bacterium was designed to die on the initiation of phenanthrene biodegradation. The viability of the reporter bacterium was determined by a fluorescence live/dead cell staining method and visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopic observation. Phenanthrene was spiked into four types of model solids and a sandy loam. The bioavailability of phenanthrene to the reporter bacterium was remarkably declined with the hydrophobicity of the model solids: essentially no phenanthrene was biodegraded in the presence of 9-nm pores and about 35.8% of initial phenanthrene was biodegraded without pores. Decrease in bioavailability was not evident in the nonporous hydrophilic bead, but a small decrease was observed in the porous hydrophilic bead at 1000 mg/kg of phenanthrene. The fluorescence intensity was commensurate with the extent of phenanthrene biodegradation by the reporter bacterium at the concentration range from 50 to 500 mg/kg. Such a quantitative relationship was also confirmed with a sandy loam spiked up to 1000 mg/kg of phenanthrene. This reporter bacterium may be a useful means to determine phenanthrene bioavailability in soil. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  7. Extractive biodegradation and bioavailability assessment of phenanthrene in the cloud point system by Sphingomonas polyaromaticivorans.

    PubMed

    Pan, Tao; Deng, Tao; Zeng, Xinying; Dong, Wei; Yu, Shuijing

    2016-01-01

    The biological treatment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is an important issue. Most microbes have limited practical applications because of the poor bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In this study, the extractive biodegradation of phenanthrene by Sphingomonas polyaromaticivorans was conducted by introducing the cloud point system. The cloud point system is composed of a mixture of (40 g/L) Brij 30 and Tergitol TMN-3, which are nonionic surfactants, in equal proportions. After phenanthrene degradation, a higher wet cell weight and lower phenanthrene residue were obtained in the cloud point system than that in the control system. According to the results of high-performance liquid chromatography, the residual phenanthrene preferred to partition from the dilute phase into the coacervate phase. The concentration of residual phenanthrene in the dilute phase (below 0.001 mg/L) is lower than its solubility in water (1.18 mg/L) after extractive biodegradation. Therefore, dilute phase detoxification was achieved, thus indicating that the dilute phase could be discharged without causing phenanthrene pollution. Bioavailability was assessed by introducing the apparent logP in the cloud point system. Apparent logP decreased significantly, thus indicating that the bioavailability of phenanthrene increased remarkably in the system. This study provides a potential application of biological treatment in water and soil contaminated by phenanthrene.

  8. Proteomic analysis of plasma membrane proteins in wheat roots exposed to phenanthrene.

    PubMed

    Shen, Yu; Du, Jiangxue; Yue, Le; Zhan, Xinhua

    2016-06-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are potentially carcinogenic and toxic to humans through ingestion of contaminated food crops. PAHs can enter crop roots through proton/PAH symporters; however, to date, the symporter remains unclear. Here we reveal, for the first time, the plasma membrane proteome of Triticum aestivum seedling roots in response to phenanthrene (a model PAH) exposure. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled with MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS and protein database search engines were employed to analyze and identify phenanthrene-responsive proteins. Over 192 protein spots are reproducibly detected in each gel, while 8 spots are differentially expressed under phenanthrene treatment. Phenanthrene induces five up-regulated proteins distinguished as 5-methyltetrahydropteroyltriglutamate-homocysteine methyltransferase 2, enolase, heat shock protein 80-2, probable mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 37e (heat shock 70-kDa protein 1), and lactoylglutathione lyase. Three proteins identified as adenosine kinase 2, 4-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-2-yl glucoside beta-D-glucosidase 1c, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 3 are down-regulated under exposure to phenanthrene. The up-regulated proteins are related to plant defense response, antioxidant system, and glycolysis. The down-regulated proteins involve the metabolism of high-energy compounds and plant growth. Magnesium, which is able to bind to enolase, can enhance the transport of phenanthrene into wheat roots. Therefore, it is concluded that phenanthrene can induce differential expression of proteins in relation to carbohydrate metabolism, self-defense, and plant growth on wheat root plasma membrane. This study not only provides novel insights into PAH uptake by plant roots and PAH stress responses, but is also a good starting point for further determination and analyses of their functions using genetic and other approaches.

  9. Heavy metal effects on the biodegradation of fluorene by Sphingobacterium sp. KM-02 isolated from PAHs-contaminated mine soil

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nam, I.; Chon, C.; Jung, K.; Kim, J.

    2012-12-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAHs) are widely distributed in the environment and occur ubiquitously in fossil fuels as well as in products of incomplete combustion and are known to be strongly toxic, often with carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. Fluorene is one of the 16 PAHs included in the list of priority pollutants of the Environmental Protection Agency. The fluorene-degrading bacterial strain Sphingobacterium sp. KM-02 was isolated from PAHs-contaminated soil near an abandoned mine impacted area by selective enrichment techniques. Fluorene added to the Sphingobacterium sp. KM-02 culture as sole carbon and energy source was 78.4% removed within 120 h. A fluorene degradation pathway is tentatively proposed based on mass spectrometric identification of the metabolic intermediates 9-fluorenone, 4-hydroxy-9-fluorenone, and 8-hydroxy-3,4-benzocoumarin. Further the ability of Sphingobacterium sp. KM-02 to bioremediate 100 mg/kg fluorene in mine soil was examined by composting under laboratory conditions. Treatment of microcosm soil with the strain KM-02 for 20 days resulted in a 65.6% reduction in total amounts. These results demonstrate that Sphingobacterium sp. KM-02 could potentially be used in the bioremediation of fluorene from contaminated soil. Mine impacted area comprises considerable amounts of heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, and copper. Although some of these metals are necessary for biological life, excessive quantities often result in the inhibition of essential biological reactions via numerous pathways. A number of reports collectively show that various metals, such as Al, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Hg at a range of concentrations have adverse effects on the degradation of organic compounds. However, at present there is only limited information on the effect of individual heavy metals on the biological degradation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including fluorene. Moreover, heavy metal effects were not

  10. Rhizoremediation of phenanthrene and pyrene contaminated soil using wheat.

    PubMed

    Shahsavari, Esmaeil; Adetutu, Eric M; Taha, Mohamed; Ball, Andrew S

    2015-05-15

    Rhizoremediation, the use of the plant rhizosphere and associated microorganisms represents a promising method for the clean up of soils contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including phenanthrene and pyrene, two model PAHs. Although numerous studies have been published reporting the degradation of phenanthrene and pyrene, very few evaluate the microbial basis of the rhizoremediation process through the application of molecular tools. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of wheat on the degradation of two model PAHs (alone or in combination) and also on soil bacterial, fungal and nidA gene (i.e. a key gene in the degradation of pyrene) communities. The addition of wheat plants led to a significant enhancement in the degradation of both phenanthrene and pyrene. In pyrene-contaminated soils, the degradation rate increased from 15% (65 mg/kg) and 18% (90 mg/kg) in unplanted soils to 65% (280 mg/kg) and 70% (350 mg/kg) in planted treatments while phenanthrene reduction was enhanced from 97% (394 mg/kg) and 87% (392 mg/kg) for unplanted soils to 100% (406 mg/kg) and 98% (441 mg/kg) in the presence of wheat. PCR-DGGE results showed that the plant root let to some changes in the bacterial and fungal communities; these variations did not reflect any change in hydrocarbon-degrading communities. However, plate counting, traditional MPN and MPN-qPCR of nidA gene revealed that the wheat rhizosphere led to an increase in the total microbial abundance including PAH degrading organisms and these increased activities resulted in enhanced degradation of phenanthrene and pyrene. This clearer insight into the mechanisms underpinning PAH degradation will enable better application of this environmentally friendly technique. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Fluorene-Based Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Framework with Thermoelectric Properties through Doping.

    PubMed

    Wang, Liangying; Dong, Bin; Ge, Rile; Jiang, Fengxing; Xu, Jingkun

    2017-03-01

    Organic semiconductors have great potential as flexible thermoelectric materials. A fluorene-based covalent organic framework (FL-COF-1) was designed with the aim of creating an enhanced π-π interaction among the crystalline backbones. By the introduction of fluorene units into the frameworks, the FL-COF-1 had high thermal stability with a BET surface area over 1300 m 2 g -1 . The open frameworks were favorable for doping with iodine and followed with the improved charge carrier mobility. The compressed pellet of I 2 @FL-COF-1 exhibited a high Seebeck coefficient of 2450 μV K -1 and power factor of 0.063 μW m -1 K -2 at room temperature, giving the first example of COFs' potential application as thermoelectric materials.

  12. Fluorene biodegradation and identification of transformation products by white-rot fungus Armillaria sp. F022.

    PubMed

    Hadibarata, Tony; Kristanti, Risky Ayu

    2014-06-01

    A diverse surfactant, including the nonionic Tween 80 and Brij 30, the anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate, the cationic surfactant Tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide, and biosurfactant Rhamnolipid were investigated under fluorine-enriched medium by Armilaria sp. F022. The cultures were performed at 25 °C in malt extract medium containing 1 % of surfactant and 5 mg/L of fluorene. The results showed among the tested surfactants, Tween-80 harvested the highest cell density and obtained the maximum specific growth rate. This due Tween-80 provide a suitable carbon source for fungi. Fluorane was also successfully eliminated (>95 %) from the cultures within 30 days in all flasks. During the experiment, laccase production was the highest among other enzymes and Armillaria sp. F022-enriched culture containing Non-ionic Tween 80 showed a significant result for laccase activity (1,945 U/L). The increased enzyme activity was resulted by the increased biodegradation activity as results of the addition of suitable surfactants. The biotransformation of fluorene was accelerated by Tween 80 at the concentration level of 10 mg/L. Fluorene was initially oxidized at C-2,3 positions resulting 9-fluorenone. Through oxidative decarboxylation, 9-fluorenone subjected to meta-cleavage to form salicylic acid. One metabolite detected in the end of experiment, was identified as catechol. Armillaria sp. F022 evidently posses efficient, high effective degrader and potential for further application on the enhanced bioremediation technologies for treating fluorene-contaminated soil.

  13. Effect of amphiphilic polyurethane nanoparticles on sorption-desorption of phenanthrene in aquifer material.

    PubMed

    Kim, Ju-Young; Shim, Sun-Bo; Shim, Jin-Kie

    2003-03-17

    Micelle-like amphiphilic nano-sized polyurethane (APU) nanoparticles were synthesized via chemical cross-linking reaction of nano-aggregates of urethane acrylate nonionomer (UAN) chain and were tested for extraction efficiency of sorbed phenanthrene from aquifer material. Even though the solubilizing performance and interfacial activity of APU nanoparticles were inferior to that of Triton X-100, in the low concentration region, APU nanoparticles could effectively reduce phenanthrene sorption on the aquifer material and extracted sorbed phenanthrene from the aquifer material, whereas Triton X-100 could not extract sorbed phenanthrene and rather increased phenanthrene sorption onto the aquifer materials. At higher concentrations, APU nanoparticles and Triton X-100 had almost the same soil washing effectiveness. This interesting result is mainly due to a lower degree of sorption of APU nanoparticles onto the aquifer material. The sorption of APU nanoparticles onto aquifer sand is largely hindered by their chemically cross-linked nature, resulting in better soil-washing performance of APU nanoparticles than Triton X-100. Copyright 2003 Elsevier Science B.V.

  14. Removal of anthracene and phenanthrene by filamentous fungi capable of cortexolone 11-hydroxylation.

    PubMed

    Lisowska, K; Długoński, J

    1999-01-01

    Nine fungal strains showing ability of cortexolone hydroxylation to epicortisol and/or cortisol were screened in this work for anthracene and phenanthrene elimination (250 mg/l). All of the strains (Cylindrocladium simplex IM 2358, C. simplex IM 2358/650, Monosporium olivaceum IM 484, Curvularia lunata IM 2901, C. lunata IM 2901/366, C. tuberculata IM 4417, Cunninghamella elegans IM 1785, C. elegans IM 1785/21Gp, C. elegans IM 1785/10Gi) significantly removed anthracene and phenanthrene. During incubation with anthracene formation of intermediate products was observed. The amount of the main intermediate product, identified as 9, 10-anthraquinone, was not greater than 22.2% of the anthracene introduced to the fungal cultures. C. elegans IM 1785/21Gp was the best degrader of both anthracene and phenanthrene, removing 81.6 and 99.4% of these compounds after 7 days, respectively. Phenanthrene removal by C. elegans IM 1785/21Gp was preceded by PAHs accumulation in mycelium and growth inhibition. Elimination of phenanthrene started after one day of incubation and was related to the fungus growth.

  15. Fluorene- and benzofluorene-cored oligomers as low threshold and high gain amplifying media

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kazlauskas, Karolis; Kreiza, Gediminas; Bobrovas, Olegas; AdomÄ--nienÄ--, Ona; AdomÄ--nas, Povilas; Jankauskas, Vygintas; JuršÄ--nas, Saulius

    2015-07-01

    Deliberate control of intermolecular interactions in fluorene- and benzofluorene-cored oligomers was attempted via introduction of different-length alkyl moieties to attain high emission amplification and low amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) threshold at high oligomer concentrations. Containing fluorenyl peripheral groups decorated with different-length alkyl moieties, the oligomers were found to express weak concentration quenching of emission, yet excellent carrier drift mobilities (close to 10-2 cm2/V/s) in the amorphous films. Owing to the larger radiative decay rates (>1.0 × 109 s-1) and smaller concentration quenching, fluorene-cored oligomers exhibited down to one order of magnitude lower ASE thresholds at higher concentrations as compared to those of benzofluorene counterparts. The lowest threshold (300 W/cm2) obtained for the fluorene-cored oligomers at the concentration of 50 wt % in polymer matrix is among the lowest reported for solution-processed amorphous films in ambient conditions, what makes the oligomers promising for lasing application. Great potential in emission amplification was confirmed by high maximum net gain (77 cm-1) revealed for these compounds. Although the photostability of the oligomers was affected by photo-oxidation, it was found to be comparable to that of various organic lasing materials including some commercial laser dyes evaluated under similar excitation conditions.

  16. Solubilization of phenanthrene above cloud point of Brij 30: a new application in biodegradation.

    PubMed

    Pantsyrnaya, T; Delaunay, S; Goergen, J L; Guseva, E; Boudrant, J

    2013-06-01

    In the present study a new application of solubilization of phenanthrene above cloud point of Brij 30 in biodegradation was developed. It was shown that a temporal solubilization of phenanthrene above cloud point of Brij 30 (5wt%) permitted to obtain a stable increase of the solubility of phenanthrene even when the temperature was decreased to culture conditions of used microorganism Pseudomonas putida (28°C). A higher initial concentration of soluble phenanthrene was obtained after the cloud point treatment: 200 against 120μM without treatment. All soluble phenanthrene was metabolized and a higher final concentration of its major metabolite - 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid - (160 against 85μM) was measured in the culture medium in the case of a preliminary cloud point treatment. Therefore a temporary solubilization at cloud point might have a perspective application in the enhancement of biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Visible light photodegradation of phenanthrene catalyzed by Fe(III)-smectite: role of soil organic matter.

    PubMed

    Jia, Hanzhong; Li, Li; Fan, Xiaoyun; Liu, Mingdeng; Deng, Wenye; Wang, Chuanyi

    2013-07-15

    In the present study, phenanthrene is employed as a model to explore the roles played by three soil organic matter (SOM) fractions, i.e., dissolved organic matter (DOM), humic acid (HA), and fulvic acid (FA), in its photodegradation with assistance of Fe(III)-smectite under visible-light. Slight decrease in phenanthrene photodegradation rate was observed in the presence of DOM, which is explained in terms of oxidative-radical competition between DOM and target phenanthrene molecules due to the high electron-donor capacity of phenolic moieties in DOM. On the other hand, a critic content is observed with FA (0.70mg/g) and HA (0.65mg/g). Before reaching the critic content, the removal of phenanthrene is accelerated; while after that, the photodegradation rate is suppressed. The acceleration of phenanthrene degradation can be attributed to the photosensitization of FA and HA. Due to the strong interaction between phenanthrene and the phenyl rings, however, the retention of phenanthrene on SOM-Fe(III)-smectite in the presence of high content of HA or FA is enhanced, thus slowing down its photodegradation. Those observations provide valuable insights into the transformation and fate of PAHs in the natural soil environment and open a window for using clay-humic substances complexes for remediation of contaminated soil. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. 40 CFR 464.31 - Specialized definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... § 464.31 Specialized definitions. For the purpose of this subpart: (a) Total Toxic Organics (TTO). TTO... comprised of a discrete list of toxic organic pollutants for each process segment where it is regulated, as...-benzanthracene) 76. chrysene 77. acenaphthylene 78. anthracene 80. fluorene 81. phenanthrene 84. pyrene (5) Mold...

  19. The Study of Acenaphthene and its Complexation with Water

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Steber, Amanda; Perez, Cristobal; Rijs, Anouk; Schnell, Melanie

    2016-06-01

    Acenaphthene (Ace) is a three ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), which consists of naphthalene and a non-aromatic five member ring. Ace has been previously been studied by microwave spectroscopy where the rotational constants were reported[1]. New measurements from 2-8 GHz using chirped pulse-Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy (CP-FTMW) will be presented. The high sensitivity achieved enabled us to observe all 13C isotopologues in natural abundance and determine the Kraitchman substitution structure. The spectra of Ace complexed with water and H218O were also recorded at this frequency range. From these spectra, we have been able to assign the complexes Ace-(H2O)n, n=1-3 and (Ace)2-H2O and experimentally derive the O-atom position of the H2O. The Ace-(H2O)3 complex is especially interesting as the water aggregate forms a slightly distorted cyclic water trimer from that observed in the IR[2]. These complexes could give insight about the formation of ice grains in the interstellar medium. [1] Thorwirth, S., Theulé, P., Gottlieb, C.A., McCarthy, M.C., Thaddeus, P. Astrophys. J., 662, 1309-1314, 2007. [2] Keutsch, F.N., Cruzan, J.D., Saykally, R.J. Chem. Rev., 103, 2533-2577, 2003.

  20. Specific adsorption of cadmium on surface-engineered biocompatible organoclay under metal-phenanthrene mixed-contamination.

    PubMed

    Biswas, Bhabananda; Sarkar, Binoy; Mandal, Asit; Naidu, Ravi

    2016-11-01

    Bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is extremely challenging when they coexist with heavy metals. This constrain has led to adsorption-based techniques that help immobilize the metals and reduce toxicity. However, the adsorbents can also non-selectively bind the organic compounds, which reduces their bioavailability. In this study we developed a surface-engineered organoclay (Arquad ® 2HT-75-bentonite-palmitic acid) which enhanced bacterial proliferation and adsorbed cadmium, but elevated phenanthrene bioavailability. Adsorption models of single and binary solutes revealed that the raw bentonite adsorbed cadmium and phenanthrene non-selectively at the same binding sites and sequestrated phenanthrene. In contrast, cadmium selectively bound to the deprotonated state of carboxyl groups in the organoclay and phenanthrene on the outer surface of the adsorbent led to a microbially congenial microenvironment with a higher phenanthrene bioavailability. This study provided valuable information which would be highly important for developing a novel clay-modulated bioremediation technology for cleaning up PAHs under mixed-contaminated situations. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Linking of Microorganisms to Phenanthrene Metabolism in Soil by Analysis of 13C-Labeled Cell Lipids

    PubMed Central

    Johnsen, Anders R.; Winding, Anne; Karlson, Ulrich; Roslev, Peter

    2002-01-01

    Phenanthrene-metabolizing soil microbial communities were characterized by examining mineralization of [14C]phenanthrene, by most-probable-number (MPN) counting, by 16S-23S spacer DNA analysis of the numerically dominant, culturable phenanthrene-degrading isolates, and by examining incorporation of [13C]phenanthrene-derived carbon into sterols and polar lipid fatty acids (PLFAs). An unpolluted agricultural soil, a roadside soil diffusely polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and two highly PAH-polluted soils from industrial sites were analyzed. Microbial phenanthrene degraders were not detected by MPN counting in the agricultural soil and the roadside soil. In the industrial soils, phenanthrene degraders constituted 0.04 and 3.6% of the total number of CFU. 16S-23S spacer DNA analysis followed by partial 16S DNA sequencing of representative isolates from one of the industrial soils showed that one-half of the isolates belonged to the genus Sphingomonas and the other half were closely related to an unclassified beta-proteobacterium. The 13C-PLFA profiles of the two industrial soils were relatively similar and resembled the profiles of phenanthrene-degrading Sphingomonas reference strains and unclassified beta-proteobacterium isolates but did not match the profiles of Pseudomonas, Mycobacterium, or Nocardia reference strains. The 13C-PLFA profiles of phenanthrene degraders in the agricultural soil and the roadside soil were different from each other and different from the profiles of the highly polluted industrial soils. Only in the roadside soil were 10me/12me18:0 PLFAs enriched in 13C, suggesting that actinomycetes metabolized phenanthrene in this soil. The 13C-PLFA profiles of the unpolluted agricultural soil did not resemble the profiles of any of the reference strains. In all of the soils investigated, no excess 13C was recovered in the 18:2ω6,9 PLFA, suggesting that fungi did not contribute significantly to assimilation of [13C]phenanthrene

  2. Remediation of phenanthrene from contaminated kaolinite by electroremediation-Fenton technology.

    PubMed

    Alcantara, T; Pazos, M; Gouveia, S; Cameselle, C; Sanroman, M A

    2008-07-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) cause a high environmental impact when released into the environment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity to decontaminate polluted soils with phenanthrene as a model PAH using a combination of two technologies: electrokinetic remediation and Fenton process. Kaolinite was used as a model sample that was artificially polluted at the laboratory at an initial concentration of phenanthrene of 500 mg kg(-1) of dried kaolinite. The standard electrokinetic process resulted in negligible removal of phenanthrene from the kaolinite sample. Faster and more efficient degradation of this compound can be promoted by introduction of a strong oxidant into the soil such as hydroxyl radicals. For this reason, the Fenton reactions have been induced in several experiments in which H(2)O(2) (10%) was used as flushing solution, and kaolinite polluted with iron was used. When anode and cathode chambers were filled with H(2)O(2) (10%), the kaolinite pH is maintained at an acid value around 3.5 without pH control and an overall removal and destruction efficiency of phenanthrene of 99% was obtained in 14 days by applying a voltage gradient of 3 V cm(-1). Therefore, it is evident that a combined technology of electrokinetic remediation and Fenton reaction is capable of simultaneously removing and degrading of PAHs in polluted model samples with kaolinite.

  3. Novel Phenanthrene-Degrading Bacteria Identified by DNA-Stable Isotope Probing

    PubMed Central

    Luo, Chunling; Zhang, Dayi; Zhang, Gan

    2015-01-01

    Microorganisms responsible for the degradation of phenanthrene in a clean forest soil sample were identified by DNA-based stable isotope probing (SIP). The soil was artificially amended with either 12C- or 13C-labeled phenanthrene, and soil DNA was extracted on days 3, 6 and 9. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) results revealed that the fragments of 219- and 241-bp in HaeIII digests were distributed throughout the gradient profile at three different sampling time points, and both fragments were more dominant in the heavy fractions of the samples exposed to the 13C-labeled contaminant. 16S rRNA sequencing of the 13C-enriched fraction suggested that Acidobacterium spp. within the class Acidobacteria, and Collimonas spp. within the class Betaproteobacteria, were directly involved in the uptake and degradation of phenanthrene at different times. To our knowledge, this is the first report that the genus Collimonas has the ability to degrade PAHs. Two PAH-RHDα genes were identified in 13C-labeled DNA. However, isolation of pure cultures indicated that strains of Staphylococcus sp. PHE-3, Pseudomonas sp. PHE-1, and Pseudomonas sp. PHE-2 in the soil had high phenanthrene-degrading ability. This emphasizes the role of a culture-independent method in the functional understanding of microbial communities in situ. PMID:26098417

  4. Isolation and Characterization of Phenanthrene Degrading Bacteria from Diesel Fuel-Contaminated Antarctic Soils

    PubMed Central

    Gran-Scheuch, Alejandro; Fuentes, Edwar; Bravo, Denisse M.; Jiménez, Juan Cristobal; Pérez-Donoso, José M.

    2017-01-01

    Antarctica is an attractive target for human exploration and scientific investigation, however the negative effects of human activity on this continent are long lasting and can have serious consequences on the native ecosystem. Various areas of Antarctica have been contaminated with diesel fuel, which contains harmful compounds such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Bioremediation of PAHs by the activity of microorganisms is an ecological, economical, and safe decontamination approach. Since the introduction of foreign organisms into the Antarctica is prohibited, it is key to discover native bacteria that can be used for diesel bioremediation. By following the degradation of the PAH phenanthrene, we isolated 53 PAH metabolizing bacteria from diesel contaminated Antarctic soil samples, with three of these isolates exhibiting a high phenanthrene degrading capacity. In particular, the Sphingobium xenophagum D43FB isolate showed the highest phenanthrene degradation ability, generating up to 95% degradation of initial phenanthrene. D43FB can also degrade phenanthrene in the presence of its usual co-pollutant, the heavy metal cadmium, and showed the ability to grow using diesel-fuel as a sole carbon source. Microtiter plate assays and SEM analysis revealed that S. xenophagum D43FB exhibits the ability to form biofilms and can directly adhere to phenanthrene crystals. Genome sequencing analysis also revealed the presence of several genes involved in PAH degradation and heavy metal resistance in the D43FB genome. Altogether, these results demonstrate that S. xenophagum D43FB shows promising potential for its application in the bioremediation of diesel fuel contaminated-Antarctic ecosystems. PMID:28894442

  5. Fate of phenanthrene and mineralization of its non-extractable residues in an oxic soil.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yongfeng; Xu, Jun; Shan, Jun; Ma, Yini; Ji, Rong

    2017-05-01

    The fate of organic pollutants in the environment, especially the formation and stability of non-extractable (i.e., bound) residues (NERs) determines their environmental risk. Using 14 C-tracers, we studied the fate of the carcinogen phenanthrene in active or sterilized oxic loamy soil in the absence and presence of the geophagous earthworm Metaphire guillelmi and characterized the NERs derived from phenanthrene. After incubation of 14 C-phenanthrene in active soil for 28 days, 40 ± 3.1% of the initial amount was mineralized and 70.1 ± 1.9% was converted to NERs. Most of the NERs (>92%) were bound to soil humin. Silylation of the humin-bound residues released 45.3 ± 5.3% of these residues, which indicated that they were physically entrapped, whereas the remainder of the residues were chemically bound or biogenic. By contrast, in sterilized soil, only 43.4 ± 12.6% of the phenanthrene was converted to NERs and all of these residues were completely released upon silylation, which underlines the essential role of microbial activity in NER formation. The presence of M. guillelmi in active soil significantly inhibited phenanthrene mineralization (24.4 ± 2.6% mineralized), but NER formation was not significantly affected. Only a small amount of phenanthrene-derived residues (1.9-5.3% of the initial amount) accumulated in the earthworm body. When humin-bound residues were mixed with fresh soil, 33.9% (humin recovered from active soils) and 12.4% (humin recovered from sterilized soils) of the residues were mineralized after 75 days of incubation, respectively, which indicated a high bioavailability of NERs, albeit lower than the initial addition of phenanthrene. Our results indicated that many phenanthrene-derived NERs, especially those physically entrapped, are still bioavailable and may pose a toxic threat to soil organisms. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. Uptake of aromatic hydrocarbon vapors (benzene and phenanthrene) at the air-water interface of micron-size water droplets.

    PubMed

    Raja, Suresh; Valsaraj, Kalliat T

    2004-12-01

    Uptake of aromatic hydrocarbon vapors (benzene and phenanthrene) by typical micrometer-sized fog-water droplets was studied using a falling droplet reactor at temperatures between 296 and 316 K. Uptake of phenanthrene vapor greater than that predicted by bulk (air-water)-phase equilibrium was observed for diameters less than 200 microm, and this was attributed to surface adsorption. The experimental values of the droplet-vapor partition constant were used to obtain the overall mass transfer coefficient and the mass accommodation coefficient for both benzene and phenanthrene. Mass transfer of phenanthrene was dependent only on gas-phase diffusion and mass accommodation at the interface. However, for benzene, the mass transfer was limited by liquid-phase diffusion and mass accommodation. A large value of the mass accommodation coefficient, alpha = (1.4 +/- 0.4) x 10(-2) was observed for the highly surface-active (hydrophobic) phenanthrene, whereas a small alpha = (9.7 +/- 1.8) x 10(-5) was observed for the less hydrophobic benzene. Critical cluster numbers ranging from 2 for benzene to 5.7 for phenanthrene were deduced using the critical cluster nucleation theory for mass accommodation. The enthalpy of mass accommodation was more negative for phenanthrene than it was for benzene. Consequently, the temperature effect was more pronounced for phenanthrene. A linear correlation was observed for the enthalpy of accommodation with the excess enthalpy of solution. A natural organic carbon surrogate (Suwannee Fulvic acid) in the water droplet increased the uptake for phenanthrene and benzene, the effect being more marked for phenanthrene. A characteristic time constant analysis showed that uptake and droplet scavenging would compete for the fog deposition of phenanthrene, whereas deposition would be unimpeded by the uptake rate for benzene vapor. For both compounds, the characteristic atmospheric reaction times were much larger and would not impact fog deposition.

  7. Constraint on the potassium content for the superconductivity of potassium-intercalated phenanthrene.

    PubMed

    Huang, Qiao-Wei; Zhong, Guo-Hua; Zhang, Jiang; Zhao, Xiao-Miao; Zhang, Chao; Lin, Hai-Qing; Chen, Xiao-Jia

    2014-03-21

    Raman-scattering measurements were performed on K(x)phenanthrene (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 6.0) at room temperature. Three phases (x = 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0) are identified based on the obtained Raman spectra. Only the K3phenanthrene phase is found to exhibit the superconducting transition at 5 K. The C-C stretching modes are observed to broaden and become disordered in K(x)phenanthrene with x = 2.0, 2.5, 6.0, indicating some molecular disorder in the metal intercalation process. This disorder is expected to influence the nonmetallic nature of these materials. The absence of metallic character in these nonsuperconducting phases is found from the calculated electronic structures based on the local density approximation.

  8. Effects of nanoplastics and microplastics on toxicity, bioaccumulation, and environmental fate of phenanthrene in fresh water.

    PubMed

    Ma, Yini; Huang, Anna; Cao, Siqi; Sun, Feifei; Wang, Lianhong; Guo, Hongyan; Ji, Rong

    2016-12-01

    Contamination of fine plastic particles (FPs), including micrometer to millimeter plastics (MPs) and nanometer plastics (NPs), in the environment has caught great concerns. FPs are strong adsorbents for hydrophobic toxic pollutants and may affect their fate and toxicity in the environment; however, such information is still rare. We studied joint toxicity of FPs with phenanthrene to Daphnia magna and effects of FPs on the environmental fate and bioaccumulation of 14 C-phenanthrene in fresh water. Within the five sizes particles we tested (from 50 nm to 10 μm), 50-nm NPs showed significant toxicity and physical damage to D. magna. The joint toxicity of 50-nm NPs and phenanthrene to D. magna showed an additive effect. During a 14-days incubation, the presence of NPs significantly enhanced bioaccumulation of phenanthrene-derived residues in daphnid body and inhibited the dissipation and transformation of phenanthrene in the medium, while 10-μm MPs did not show significant effects on the bioaccumulation, dissipation, and transformation of phenanthrene. The differences may be attributed to higher adsorption of phenanthrene on 50-nm NPs than 10-μm MPs. Our findings underlined the high potential ecological risks of FPs, and suggested that NPs should be given more concerns, in terms of their interaction with hydrophobic pollutants in the environment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Indigenous 14C-phenanthrene biodegradation in "pristine" woodland and grassland soils from Norway and the United Kingdom.

    PubMed

    Okere, Uchechukwu V; Schuster, Jasmin K; Ogbonnaya, Uchenna O; Jones, Kevin C; Semple, Kirk T

    2017-11-15

    In this study, the indigenous microbial mineralisation of 14 C-phenanthrene in seven background soils (four from Norwegian woodland and three from the UK (two grasslands and one woodland)) was investigated. ∑PAHs ranged from 16.39 to 285.54 ng g -1 dw soil. Lag phases (time before 14 C-phenanthrene mineralisation reached 5%) were longer in all of the Norwegian soils and correlated positively with TOC, but negatively with ∑PAHs and phenanthrene degraders for all soils. 14 C-phenanthrene mineralisation in the soils varied due to physicochemical properties. The results show that indigenous microorganisms can adapt to 14 C-phenanthrene mineralisation following diffuse PAH contamination. Considering the potential of soil as a secondary PAH source, these findings highlight the important role of indigenous microflora in the processing of PAHs in the environment.

  10. A Novel Phenanthrene Dioxygenase from Nocardioides sp. Strain KP7: Expression in Escherichia coli

    PubMed Central

    Saito, Atsushi; Iwabuchi, Tokuro; Harayama, Shigeaki

    2000-01-01

    Nocardioides sp. strain KP7 grows on phenanthrene but not on naphthalene. This organism degrades phenanthrene via 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoate, o-phthalate, and protocatechuate. The genes responsible for the degradation of phenanthrene to o-phthalate (phd) were found by Southern hybridization to reside on the chromosome. A 10.6-kb DNA fragment containing eight phd genes was cloned and sequenced. The phdA, phdB, phdC, and phdD genes, which encode the α and β subunits of the oxygenase component, a ferredoxin, and a ferredoxin reductase, respectively, of phenanthrene dioxygenase were identified. The gene cluster, phdAB, was located 8.3 kb downstream of the previously characterized phdK gene, which encodes 2-carboxybenzaldehyde dehydrogenase. The phdCD gene cluster was located 2.9 kb downstream of the phdB gene. PhdA and PhdB exhibited moderate (less than 60%) sequence identity to the α and β subunits of other ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases. The PhdC sequence showed features of a [3Fe-4S] or [4Fe-4S] type of ferredoxin, not of the [2Fe-2S] type of ferredoxin that has been found in most of the reported ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases. PhdD also showed moderate (less than 40%) sequence identity to known reductases. The phdABCD genes were expressed poorly in Escherichia coli, even when placed under the control of strong promoters. The introduction of a Shine-Dalgarno sequence upstream of each initiation codon of the phdABCD genes improved their expression in E. coli. E. coli cells carrying phdBCD or phdACD exhibited no phenanthrene-degrading activity, and those carrying phdABD or phdABC exhibited phenanthrene-degrading activity which was significantly less than that in cells carrying the phdABCD genes. It was thus concluded that all of the phdABCD genes are necessary for the efficient expression of phenanthrene-degrading activity. The genetic organization of the phd genes, the phylogenetically diverged positions of these genes, and an unusual type of ferredoxin component

  11. Ice growth from supercooled aqueous solutions of benzene, naphthalene, and phenanthrene.

    PubMed

    Liyana-Arachchi, Thilanga P; Valsaraj, Kalliat T; Hung, Francisco R

    2012-08-23

    Classical molecular dynamics (MD) were performed to investigate the growth of ice from supercooled aqueous solutions of benzene, naphthalene, or phenanthrene. The main objective of this study is to explore the fate of those aromatic molecules after freezing of the supercooled aqueous solutions, i.e., if these molecules become trapped inside the ice lattice or if they are displaced to the QLL or to the interface with air. Ice growth from supercooled aqueous solutions of benzene, naphthalene, or phenanthrene result in the formation of quasi-liquid layers (QLLs) at the air/ice interface that are thicker than those observed when pure supercooled water freezes. Naphthalene and phenanthrene molecules in the supercooled aqueous solutions are displaced to the air/ice interface during the freezing process at both 270 and 260 K; no incorporation of these aromatics into the ice lattice is observed throughout the freezing process. Similar trends were observed during freezing of supercooled aqueous solutions of benzene at 270 K. In contrast, a fraction of the benzene molecules become trapped inside the ice lattice during the freezing process at 260 K, with the rest of the benzene molecules being displaced to the air/ice interface. These results suggest that the size of the aromatic molecule in the supercooled aqueous solution is an important parameter in determining whether these molecules become trapped inside the ice crystals. Finally, we also report potential of mean force (PMF) calculations aimed at studying the adsorption of gas-phase benzene and phenanthrene on atmospheric air/ice interfaces. Our PMF calculations indicate the presence of deep free energy minima for both benzene and phenanthrene at the air/ice interface, with these molecules adopting a flat orientation at the air/ice interface.

  12. Phenanthrene binding by humic acid-protein complexes as studied by passive dosing technique.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Jian; Wang, Zhenyu; Ghosh, Saikat; Xing, Baoshan

    2014-01-01

    This work investigated the binding behavior of phenanthrene by humic acids (HA-2 and HA-5), proteins (bovine serum albumin (BSA)), lysozyme and pepsin), and their complexes using a passive dosing technique. All sorption isotherms were fitted well with Freundlich model and the binding capability followed an order of HA-5 > HA-2 > BSA > pepsin > lysozyme. In NaCl solution, phenanthrene binding to HA-BSA complexes was much higher than the sum of binding to individual HA and BSA, while there was no enhancement for HA-pepsin. Positively charged lysozyme slightly lowered phenanthrene binding on both HAs due to strong aggregation of HA-lysozyme complexes, leading to reduction in the number of binding sites. The binding enhancement by HA-BSA was observed under all tested ion species and ionic strengths. This enhancement can be explained by unfolding of protein, reduction of aggregate size and formation of HA-BSA complexes with favorable conformations for binding phenanthrene. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Theoretical investigation on the mechanism of NO3 radical-initiated atmospheric reactions of phenanthrene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhao, Nan; Shi, Xiangli; Xu, Fei; Zhang, Qingzhu; Wang, Wenxing

    2017-07-01

    Phenanthrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon from fossil fuel combustion with toxic properties. The products arising from atmospheric reaction can be more mutagenic and carcinogenic compared to unmodified phenanthrene, and are therefore important to be studied. The products of the specific NO3-radical reactions with phenanthrene where therefore investigated in this study by means of Density Functional Theory (DFT). The results show that the main products are proposed to be 10-(nitrooxy)-10-hydro-phenanthrene-9-one, 2,2‧-diformylbiphenyl, 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, 9-fluorenone and dibenzopyranone. 10-(nitrooxy)-10-hydro-phenanthrene-9-one and 2,2‧-diformylbiphenyl are classified as first-generation products which are subject to secondary reactions to produce 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, 9-fluorenone and dibenzopyranone. The rate constants of elementary reactions were assessed by Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) theory. The atmospheric lifetime of Phe determined by the gas-phase reaction with NO3 is estimated to be 1.8 h, based on the calculated overall rate constant of 3.04 × 10-13 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 at 298 K and 1 atm. Combined with available experimental observation, this work should help to clarify the transformation and potential health risk of Phe in the atmosphere.

  14. Comparative transcriptomic evidence for Tween80-enhanced biodegradation of phenanthrene by Sphingomonas sp. GY2B.

    PubMed

    Liu, Shasha; Guo, Chuling; Lin, Weijia; Wu, Fengji; Lu, Guining; Lu, Jing; Dang, Zhi

    2017-12-31

    Previous study of the effects of surfactants on the biodegradation of phenanthrene focused on investigating alterations of the cell characteristics of Sphingomonas sp. GY2B. However, genes regulation associated with biodegradation and biological processes in response to the presence of surfactants, remains unclear. In this study, comparative transcriptome analysis was conducted to observe the gene expression of GY2B during phenanthrene biodegradation in the presence and absence of Tween80. A diverse set of genes was regulated by Tween80, leading to increased biodegradation of phenanthrene by GY2B: (i) Tween80 increased expression of genes related to H + transport in the plasma membrane to provide a driving force (i.e., ATP) for accelerating transmembrane transport of phenanthrene with increasing Tween80 concentrations, thereby enhancing the uptake and degradation of phenanthrene by GY2B; (ii) Tween80 (1 and 8 CMC) promoted intracellular biodegradation of phenanthrene by stimulating expression of genes encoding dioxygenases and monooxygenase, increasing expression of genes involved in intracellular metabolic processes (e.g., TCA cycle); and (iii) Tween80 likely increased GY2B vitality and growth by inducing expression of genes associated with ABC transporters and protein transport, regulating genes involved in other biological processes (e.g., transcription, translation). Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  15. SYNTHESIS OF p-TRIFLUOROMETHYL-TOLUENE AND 3,6-BIS(TRIFLUOROMETHYL) PHENANTHRENE USING SULFUR TETRAFLUORIDE

    DTIC Science & Technology

    studies on the soxhlet extractors showed promise that separation and isolation is possible. Corrosion data gathered during the course of the p-toluic...production of 3, 6-bis(trifluoromethyl) phenanthrene based on a 20% conversion to 3,6- bis(trifluoromethyl) phenanthrene plus an additional 30% yield of

  16. Sorption of phenanthrene and benzene on differently structural kerogen: important role of micropore-filling.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Yulong; Ma, Xiaoxuan; Ran, Yong

    2014-02-01

    Shale was thermally treated to obtain a series of kerogen with varied maturation. Their chemical, structural and porous properties were related to the sorption and/or desorption behaviors of phenanthrene and benzene. As the treatment temperature increases, aliphatic and carbonyl carbon of the kerogen samples decrease, while their aromaticity and maturation increase. Meanwhile, the isothermal nonlinearity of phenanthrene and benzene increases whereas the sorption capacity and micropore adsorption volumes (Vo,d) initially increase and then decrease. The Vo,d of benzene is significantly correlated with, but higher than that of phenanthrene, suggesting similar micropore filling mechanism and molecular sieve effect. The benzene desorption exhibits hysteresis, which is related to the pore deformation of the kerogen and the entrapment of solute in the kerogen matrix. The Vo,d of phenanthrene and benzene on the kerogen samples accounts for 23-46% and 36-65% of the maximum sorption volumes, respectively, displaying the importance of the micropore filling. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Spatial Distribution of Bacterial Communities and Phenanthrene Degradation in the Rhizosphere of Lolium perenne L.

    PubMed Central

    Corgié, S. C.; Beguiristain, T.; Leyval, C.

    2004-01-01

    Rhizodegradation of organic pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, is based on the effect of root-produced compounds, known as exudates. These exudates constitute an important and constant carbon source that selects microbial populations in the plant rhizosphere, modifying global as well as specific microbial activities. We conducted an experiment in two-compartment devices to show the selection of bacterial communities by root exudates and phenanthrene as a function of distance to roots. Using direct DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and thermal gradient gel electrophoresis screening, bacterial population profiles were analyzed in parallel to bacterial counts and quantification of phenanthrene biodegradation in three layers (0 to 3, 3 to 6, and 6 to 9 mm from root mat) of unplanted-polluted (phenanthrene), planted-polluted, and planted-unpolluted treatments. Bacterial community differed as a function of the distance to roots, in both the presence and the absence of phenanthrene. In the planted and polluted treatment, biodegradation rates showed a strong gradient with higher values near the roots. In the nonplanted treatment, bacterial communities were comparable in the three layers and phenanthrene biodegradation was high. Surprisingly, no biodegradation was detected in the section of planted polluted treatment farthest from the roots, where the bacterial community structure was similar to those of the nonplanted treatment. We conclude that root exudates and phenanthrene induce modifications of bacterial communities in polluted environments and spatially modify the activity of degrading bacteria. PMID:15184156

  18. Anti-inflammatory phenanthrene derivatives from stems of Dendrobium denneanum.

    PubMed

    Lin, Yuan; Wang, Fei; Yang, Li-Juan; Chun, Ze; Bao, Jin-Ku; Zhang, Guo-Lin

    2013-11-01

    Cultivated Dendrobium denneanum has been substituted for other endangered Dendrobium species in recent years, but there have been few studies regarding either its chemical constituents or pharmacological effects. In this study, three phenanthrene glycosides, three 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes, two 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes glycosides, and four known phenanthrene derivatives, were isolated from the stems of D. denneanum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of MS and NMR spectroscopic data. Ten compounds were found to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells with IC50 values of 0.7-41.5 μM, and exhibited no cytotoxicity in RAW264.7, HeLa, or HepG2 cells. Additionally, it was found that 2,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-phenanthrene 2-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, and 5-methoxy-2,4,7,9S-tetrahydroxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene suppressed LPS-induced expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) inhibited phosphorylation of p38, JNK as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and inhibitory kappa B-α (IκBα). This indicated that both compounds exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting MAPKs and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathways. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Two-electron carbon dioxide reduction catalyzed by rhenium(I) bis(imino)acenaphthene carbonyl complexes.

    PubMed

    Portenkirchner, Engelbert; Kianfar, Elham; Sariciftci, Niyazi Serdar; Knör, Günther

    2014-05-01

    Rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes carrying substituted bis(arylimino)acenaphthene ligands (BIAN-R) have been tested as potential catalysts for the two-electron reduction of carbon dioxide. Cyclic voltammetric studies as well as controlled potential electrolysis experiments were performed using CO2-saturated solutions of the complexes in acetonitrile and acetonitrile-water mixtures. Faradaic efficiencies of more than 30 % have been determined for the electrocatalytic production of CO. The effects of ligand substitution patterns and water content of the reaction medium on the catalytic performance of the new catalysts are discussed. © 2014 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

  20. Effects of the inoculant strain Sphingomonas paucimobilis 20006FA on soil bacterial community and biodegradation in phenanthrene-contaminated soil.

    PubMed

    Coppotelli, B M; Ibarrolaza, A; Del Panno, M T; Morelli, I S

    2008-02-01

    The effects of the inoculant strain Sphingomonas paucimobilis 20006FA (isolated from a phenanthrene-contaminated soil) on the dynamics and structure of microbial communities and phenanthrene elimination rate were studied in soil microcosms artificially contaminated with phenanthrene. The inoculant managed to be established from the first inoculation as it was evidenced by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis, increasing the number of cultivable heterotrophic and PAH-degrading cells and enhancing phenanthrene degradation. These effects were observed only during the inoculation period. Nevertheless, the soil biological activity (dehydrogenase activity and CO(2) production) showed a late increase. Whereas gradual and successive changes in bacterial community structures were caused by phenanthrene contamination, the inoculation provoked immediate, significant, and stable changes on soil bacterial community. In spite of the long-term establishment of the inoculated strain, at the end of the experiment, the bioaugmentation did not produce significant changes in the residual soil phenanthrene concentration and did not improve the residual effects on the microbial soil community.

  1. Metabolism of a Representative Oxygenated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Phenanthrene-9,10-quinone in Human Hepatoma (HepG2) Cells

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the food chain is the major human health hazard associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Phenanthrene is a representative PAH present in crude oil, and it undergoes biological transformation, photooxidation, and chemical oxidation to produce its signature oxygenated derivative, phenanthrene-9,10-quinone. We report the downstream metabolic fate of phenanthrene-9,10-quinone in HepG2 cells. The structures of the metabolites were identified by HPLC–UV–fluorescence detection and LC–MS/MS. O-mono-Glucuronosyl-phenanthrene-9,10-catechol was identified, as reported previously. A novel bis-conjugate, O-mono-methyl-O-mono-sulfonated-phenanthrene-9,10-catechol, was discovered for the first time, and evidence for both of its precursor mono conjugates was obtained. The identities of these four metabolites were unequivocally validated by comparison to authentic enzymatically synthesized standards. Evidence was also obtained for a minor metabolic pathway of phenanthrene-9,10-quinone involving bis-hydroxylation followed by O-mono-sulfonation. The identification of 9,10-catechol conjugates supports metabolic detoxification of phenanthrene-9,10-quinone through interception of redox cycling by UGT, COMT, and SULT isozymes and indicates the possible use of phenanthrene-9,10-catechol conjugates as biomarkers of human exposure to oxygenated PAH. PMID:24646012

  2. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in yogurt samples.

    PubMed

    Battisti, Chiara; Girelli, Anna Maria; Tarola, Anna Maria

    2015-01-01

    The concentrations and distributions of major polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in 20 kinds of yogurt specimens collected from Italian supermarkets using reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with fluorescence detection. The method was validated by determination of recovery percentages, precision (repeatability) and sensitivity (limits of detection) with yogurt samples fortified at 0.25, 0.5 and 1 µg/kg concentration levels. The recovery of 13 PAHs, with the exception of naphthalene and acenaphthene, ranged from 61% to 130% and from 60% to 97% at all the levels for yogurts with low (0.1%) and high (3.9%) fat content, respectively. The method is repeatable with relative standard deviation values <20% for all analytes. The results obtained demonstrate that acenaphthene, fluorantene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene and pyrene were found in all samples with a similar distribution, but different content when yogurts with low and high fats were compared.

  3. Distribution of phenanthrene between soil and an aqueous phase in the presence of anionic micelle-like amphiphilic polyurethane particles.

    PubMed

    Lee, Kangtaek; Choi, Heon-Sik; Kim, Ju-Young; Ahn, Ik-Sung

    2003-12-12

    Sorption of micelle-like amphiphilic polyurethane (APU) particles to soil was studied and compared to that of a model anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Three types of APU particles with different hydrophobicity were synthesized from urethane acrylate anionomers (UAA) and used in this study. Due to the chemically cross-linked structure, APU exhibited less sorption to the soil than SDS and a greater reduction in the sorption of phenanthrene, a model soil contaminant, to the soil was observed in the presence of APU than SDS even though the solubility of phenanthrene was higher in the presence of SDS than APU. A mathematical model was developed to describe the phenanthrene distribution between soil and an aqueous phase containing APU particles. The sorption of phenanthrene to the test soil could be well described by Linear isotherm. APU sorption to the soil was successfully described by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The partition of phenanthrene between water and APU were successfully explained with a single partition coefficient. The model, which accounts for the limited solubilization of phenanthrene in sorbed APU particles, successfully described the experimental data for the distribution of phenanthrene between the soil and the aqueous phase in the presence of APU.

  4. Different effects of copper (II), cadmium (II) and phosphate on the sorption of phenanthrene on the biomass of cyanobacteria.

    PubMed

    Tao, Yuqiang; Li, Wei; Xue, Bin; Zhong, Jicheng; Yao, Shuchun; Wu, Qinglong

    2013-10-15

    Due to the large surface area and high organic carbon content of cyanobacteria, organic contaminants can be readily sorbed on cyanobacteria during algal blooms, and then be transferred to the food web. This process is likely to be affected by the coexisting metals and nutrients, however, the possible impacts remain unclear. Effects of Cu(2+), Cd(2+), and phosphate on the sorption of phenanthrene on cyanobacterial biomass collected from an algal bloom were therefore studied. Continuous decrease in phenanthrene sorption was observed in the presence of low concentrations of Cu(2+), and Cd(2+) (<0.04 mmol L(-1)), because Cu(2+) and Cd(2+) were coadsorbed with phenanthrene on the surface of cyanobacteria as suggested by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses. Phenanthrene sorption began to increase with the further increase in Cu(2+) concentration, but remained lower than that in the absence of Cu(2+). This increase in sorption was ascribed to the cation-π interaction between Cu(2+) and phenanthrene, as suggested by the enhanced ultraviolet absorbance at 251 nm. In contrast, sorption rebounding of phenanthrene did not occur in the presence of higher concentrations of Cd(2+). The different effects of Cu(2+) and Cd(2+) on phenanthrene sorption were attributed to that Cd(2+) required much more energy than Cu(2+) to form cation-π complexes with phenanthrene in the solutions. Phenanthrene sorption decreased continuously with the increase in phosphate concentration. Phosphate blocked the binding sites, modified the cell morphology, and increased the negative charge as well as the hydrophilicity of the cyanobacterial surface, thereby suppressing phenanthrene sorption. This study indicates that sorption of aromatic organic compounds by cyanobacteria could be significantly alerted by concentrations and properties of the coexisting transition metals and phosphates, which may subsequently affect their

  5. Preparation and characterization of a novel graphene/biochar composite for aqueous phenanthrene and mercury removal.

    PubMed

    Tang, Jingchun; Lv, Honghong; Gong, Yanyan; Huang, Yao

    2015-11-01

    A graphene/biochar composite (G/BC) was synthesized via slow pyrolysis of graphene (G) pretreated wheat straw, and tested for the sorption characteristics and mechanisms of representative aqueous contaminants (phenanthrene and mercury). Structure and morphology analysis showed that G was coated on the surface of biochar (BC) mainly through π-π interactions, resulting in a larger surface area, more functional groups, greater thermal stability, and higher removal efficiency of phenanthrene and mercury compared to BC. Pseudo second-order model adequately simulated sorption kinetics, and sorption isotherms of phenanthrene and mercury were simulated well by dual-mode and BET models, respectively. FTIR and SEM analysis suggested that partitioning and surface sorption were dominant mechanisms for phenanthrene sorption, and that surface complexation between mercury and C-O, CC, -OH, and OC-O functional groups was responsible for mercury removal. The results suggested that the G/BC composite is an efficient, economic, and environmentally friendly multifunctional adsorbent for environmental remediation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. The efficacy of an oxidation pond in mineralizing some industrial waste products with special reference to fluorene degradation: A case study

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ahmed, M.T.; Dewedar, A.; Mekki, L.

    1999-07-01

    The efficacy of the oxidation pond on the outskirts of the 10th of Ramadan, the main industrial city in Egypt, was examined. Samples of wastewater collected from the inlet and the outlet were screened for some priority pollutants. Acenaphethene and fluorene were the most frequently detected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, while dimethyl phthalate was the most frequently detected phthalate ester. The spectrum of pollutants, their concentrations and frequencies were similar in the inlet and the outlet, indicating an inferior mineralization capability of the pond. Several degradative bacterial strains were isolated from the pond and grown on M56 minimal media supplemented withmore » different pollutants as the carbon source. The efficacy of pure and mixed cultures to break down fluorene, the most frequently detected pollutant was examined. Fluorene degradation was fast in the first 10 days, the followed by a slow phase. Mixed culture had a higher rate of fluorene degradation in comparison to pure cultures. High performance liquid chromatography analysis of fluorene degradation showed three degradative metabolites. But GC/MS analysis detected one compound, identified as acetamide. The present work has indicated the poor efficacy of the pond. Lack of primary treatment of industrial effluent at factory level, coupled with shock loads of toxicants that may damage the microorganisms and their degradative capabilities are presumably main factors behind such inferior performance. Moreover, the type of pollutants discharged into the pond tend to fluctuate and change depending on the rate from the factories discharge and work shifts. Such irregular feeding of persistent pollutants may have led to a wash out of specialized strains of bacteria capable to degrade such persistent pollutants.« less

  7. Biodegradation of phenanthrene in bioaugmented microcosm by consortium ASP developed from coastal sediment of Alang-Sosiya ship breaking yard.

    PubMed

    Patel, Vilas; Patel, Janki; Madamwar, Datta

    2013-09-15

    A phenanthrene-degrading bacterial consortium (ASP) was developed using sediment from the Alang-Sosiya shipbreaking yard at Gujarat, India. 16S rRNA gene-based molecular analyses revealed that the bacterial consortium consisted of six bacterial strains: Bacillus sp. ASP1, Pseudomonas sp. ASP2, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain ASP3, Staphylococcus sp. ASP4, Geobacillus sp. ASP5 and Alcaligenes sp. ASP6. The consortium was able to degrade 300 ppm of phenanthrene and 1000 ppm of naphthalene within 120 h and 48 h, respectively. Tween 80 showed a positive effect on phenanthrene degradation. The consortium was able to consume maximum phenanthrene at the rate of 46 mg/h/l and degrade phenanthrene in the presence of other petroleum hydrocarbons. A microcosm study was conducted to test the consortium's bioremediation potential. Phenanthrene degradation increased from 61% to 94% in sediment bioaugmented with the consortium. Simultaneously, bacterial counts and dehydrogenase activities also increased in the bioaugmented sediment. These results suggest that microbial consortium bioaugmentation may be a promising technology for bioremediation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Comparison between Soil- and Biochar-Derived Humic Acids: Composition, Conformation, and Phenanthrene Sorption.

    PubMed

    Jin, Jie; Sun, Ke; Yang, Yan; Wang, Ziying; Han, Lanfang; Wang, Xiangke; Wu, Fengchang; Xing, Baoshan

    2018-02-20

    Biochar-derived organic matter (BDOM) plays an important role in determining biochar's application potential in soil remediation. However, little is known about the physicochemical properties of BDOM and its sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs). Humic acids (HAs) were extracted from oxidized biochars produced from plant straws and animal manures at 450 °C, and their sorption of phenanthrene, a representative of HOCs, was investigated. The organic carbon recovery of biochar-derived HAs (BDHAs) was 13.9-69.3%. The 13 C NMR spectra of BDHAs mainly consisted of aromatic and carboxylic C, while those of soil-derived HAs (SDHAs) contained abundant signals in aliphatic region. BDHAs and SDHAs had comparable CO 2 cumulative surface areas. BDHAs were found to exhibit higher phenanthrene sorption than SDHAs. After the removal of amorphous aromatic components, the logK oc values of BDHAs were significantly decreased, implying that amorphous aromatic C regulated phenanthrene sorption by BDHAs. In contrast, aliphatic moieties dominated phenanthrene sorption by SDHAs, as evidenced by the enhanced sorption after the removal of amorphous aromatics. This study clearly demonstrated the contrasting characteristics and sorption behaviors of BDHA and SDHA, indicating that biochar addition and subsequent weathering could greatly affect native organic matter properties and the fate of HOCs in biochar-amended soils.

  9. Single-photon and two-photon excited fluorescence behavior of a novel fluorene-based compound

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ma, Wenbo; Wu, Yiquan; Gu, Donghong; Gan, Fuxi

    2005-09-01

    A D-π-D type compound, 2,7-bis(4-methoxystyryl)-9,9-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-9H-fluorene (abbreviated as MO-Flu-MO), where electron-donor D is methoxy group andπis fluorene unit, has been synthesized. The molecular structures of the compound were characterized by elemental analyses, EI-MS and FT-IR spectra. UV-Vis spectra in the region 230--1000 nm and single-photon excited fluorescence in tetrahydrofuran (THF) of the compound were measured. It is found that the new compound exhibits strong two-photon excited fluorescence in the region 380--500 nm and moderate two-photon absorption (TPA) value in the femtoseconds regime (TPA cross-section as high as 55×10-50 cm4 s photon-1 with 13fs laser pulses). The results demonstrate that the compound is a promising candidate for two-photon three-dimensional (3D) optical data storage.

  10. Emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from diesel engine in a bus station, Londrina, Brazil

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tavares, Moacir; Pinto, Jurandir P.; Souza, Alexandre L.; Scarmínio, Ieda S.; Cristina Solci, Maria

    2004-09-01

    The concentrations of vapor phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured at the Central Bus Station of Londrina, where only diesel-powered vehicles circulate. The samples were collected within a period of 24 h for 14 consecutive days in January 2002. The semi-volatile PAHs were collected using a cartridge packed with XAD-2 resin, extracted under sonication and subsequently analyzed by gas chromatograph equipped with the flame ionization and mass spectrometer detectors (GC-FID and GC/MS). Ten PAH compounds were found (naphthalene, acenapthylene, acenapthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene and chrysene). The average concentrations ranged from 1.4±0.3 ng m-3 for benzo(a)anthracene to 348.0±32.7 ng m-3 for phenanthrene. The species that presented higher concentration were phenanthrene (348.0±32.7 ng m-3), fluorene (140.2±17.3 ng m-3) and naphthalene (97.7±10.3 ng m-3). The PAHs with two and three rings were responsible by 90.2% of the total concentration among 10 PAHs. The concentrations of PAHs were lower on Sunday in comparison with the workdays, due to the reduction of bus traffic in the station. Correlations and principal component analysis with Varimax rotation were used to estimate the local PAH emission source profile originating from the diesel exhaust. The ratio PHEN/FLU of 2.5 calculated from the results is suggested as indication from diesel combustion exhaust.

  11. Effect of short-chain organic acids on the enhanced desorption of phenanthrene by rhamnolipid biosurfactant in soil-water environment.

    PubMed

    An, Chun-jiang; Huang, Guo-he; Wei, Jia; Yu, Hui

    2011-11-01

    This study investigated the effect of short-chain organic acids on biosurfactant-enhanced mobilization of phenanthrene in soil-water system. The desorption characteristics of phenanthrene by soils were assessed in the presence of rhamnolipid and four SCOAs, including acetic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid and citric acid. The tests with rhamnolipid and different organic acids could attain the higher desorption of phenanthrene compared to those with only rhamnolipid. Among the different combinations, the series with rhamnolipid and citric acid exhibited more significant effect on the desorption performance. The removal of phenanthrene using rhamnolipid and SCOAs gradually increased as the SCOA concentration increased up to a concentration of 300 mmol/L. The effects of pH, soil dissolved organic matter and ionic strength were further evaluated in the presence of both biosurfactant and SCOAs. The results showed that the extent of phenanthrene desorption was more significant at pH 6 and 9. Desorption of phenanthrene was relatively lower in the DOM-removed soils with the addition of biosurfactant and SCOAs. The presence of more salt ions made phenanthrene more persistent on the solid phase and adversely affected its desorption from contaminated soil. The results from this study may have important implications for soil washing technologies used to treat PAH-contaminated soil and groundwater. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Effect of bioaugmentation to enhance phytoremediation for removal of phenanthrene and pyrene from soil with Sorghum and Onobrychis sativa

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    The use of plants to remove Poly-aromatic-hydrocarbons (PAHs) from soil (phytoremediation) is emerging as a cost-effective method. Phytoremediation of contaminated soils can be promoted by the use of adding microorganisms with the potential of pollution biodegradation (bioaugmentation). In the present work, the effect of bacterial consortium was studied on the capability of Sorghum and Onobrychis sativa for the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with phenanthrene and pyrene. 1.5 kg of the contaminated soil in the ratio of 100 and 300 mg phenanthrene and/or pyrene per kg of dry soil was then transferred into each pot (nine modes). The removal efficiency of natural, phytoremediation and bioaugmentation, separately and combined, were evaluated. The samples were kept under field conditions, and the remaining concentrations of pyrene and phenanthrene were determined after 120 days. The rhizosphere as well as the microbial population of the soil was also determined. Results indicated that both plants were able to significantly remove pyrene and phenanthrene from the contaminated soil samples. Phytoremediation alone had the removal efficiency of about 63% and 74.5% for pyrene and phenanthrene respectively. In the combined mode, the removal efficiency dramatically increased, leading to pyrene and phenanthrene removal efficiencies of 74.1% and 85.02% for Onobrychis sativa and 73.84% and 85.2% for sorghum, respectively. According to the results from the present work, it can be concluded that Onobrychis sativa and sorghum are both efficient in removing pyrene and phenanthrene from contamination and bioaugmentation can significantly enhance the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with pyrene and phenanthrene by 22% and 16% respectively. PMID:24406158

  13. Isolation, plant colonization potential, and phenanthrene degradation performance of the endophytic bacterium Pseudomonas sp. Ph6-gfp

    PubMed Central

    Sun, Kai; Liu, Juan; Gao, Yanzheng; Jin, Li; Gu, Yujun; Wang, Wanqing

    2014-01-01

    This investigation provides a novel method of endophyte-aided removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from plant bodies. A phenanthrene-degrading endophytic bacterium Pseudomonas sp. Ph6 was isolated from clover (Trifolium pratense L.) grown in a PAH-contaminated site. After being marked with the GFP gene, the colonization and distribution of strain Ph6-gfp was directly visualized in plant roots, stems, and leaves for the first time. After ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) roots inoculation, strain Ph6-gfp actively and internally colonized plant roots and transferred vertically to the shoots. Ph6-gfp had a natural capacity to cope with phenanthrene in vitro and in planta. Ph6-gfp degraded 81.1% of phenanthrene (50 mg·L−1) in a culture solution within 15 days. The inoculation of plants with Ph6-gfp reduced the risks associated with plant phenanthrene contamination based on observations of decreased concentration, accumulation, and translocation factors of phenanthrene in ryegrass. Our results will have important ramifications in the assessment of the environmental risks of PAHs and in finding ways to circumvent plant PAH contamination. PMID:24964867

  14. Quantifying the biodegradation of phenanthrene by Pseudomonas stutzeri P16 in the presence of a nonionic surfactant.

    PubMed Central

    Grimberg, S J; Stringfellow, W T; Aitken, M D

    1996-01-01

    The low water solubility of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is believed to limit their availability to microorganisms, which is a potential problem for bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated sites. Surfactants have been suggested to enhance the bioavailability of hydrophobic compounds, but both negative and positive effects of surfactants on biodegradation have been reported in the literature. Earlier, we presented mechanistic models of the effects of surfactants on phenanthrene dissolution and on the biodegradation kinetics of phenanthrene solubilized in surfactant micelles. In this study, we combined the biodegradation and dissolution models to quantify the influence of the surfactant Tergitol NP-10 on biodegradation of solid-phase phenanthrene by Pseudomonas stutzeri P16. Although micellized phenanthrene does not appear to be available directly to the bacterium, the ability of the surfactant to increase the phenanthrene dissolution rate resulted in an overall increase in bacterial growth rate in the presence of the surfactant. Experimental observations could be predicted well by the derived model with measured biokinetic and dissolution parameters. The proposed model therefore can serve as a base case for understanding the physical-chemical effects of surfactants on nonaqueous hydrocarbon bioavailability. PMID:8779577

  15. Unraveling the early molecular and physiological mechanisms involved in response to phenanthrene exposure.

    PubMed

    Dumas, Anne-Sophie; Taconnat, Ludivine; Barbas, Evangelos; Rigaill, Guillem; Catrice, Olivier; Bernard, Delphine; Benamar, Abdelilah; Macherel, David; El Amrani, Abdelhak; Berthomé, Richard

    2016-10-21

    Higher plants have to cope with increasing concentrations of pollutants of both natural and anthropogenic origin. Given their capacity to concentrate and metabolize various compounds including pollutants, plants can be used to treat environmental problems - a process called phytoremediation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the stabilization, the extraction, the accumulation and partial or complete degradation of pollutants by plants remain poorly understood. Here, we determined the molecular events involved in the early plant response to phenanthrene, used as a model of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. A transcriptomic and a metabolic analysis strongly suggest that energy availability is the crucial limiting factor leading to high and rapid transcriptional reprogramming that can ultimately lead to death. We show that the accumulation of phenanthrene in leaves inhibits electron transfer and photosynthesis within a few minutes, probably disrupting energy transformation. This kinetic analysis improved the resolution of the transcriptome in the initial plant response to phenanthrene, identifying genes that are involved in primary processes set up to sense and detoxify this pollutant but also in molecular mechanisms used by the plant to cope with such harmful stress. The identification of first events involved in plant response to phenanthrene is a key step in the selection of candidates for further functional characterization, with the prospect of engineering efficient ecological detoxification systems for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

  16. Contamination of agricultural lands by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Tver region, Russia)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhidkin, Andrey; Koshovskii, Timur; Gennadiev, Alexander

    2016-04-01

    It is important to study sources and concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the agriculture soils within areas without intensive contaminations. Our studied object was soil and snow cover in the taiga zone (Tver region, Russia). A total of 52 surface (0-30 cm) and 31 subsurface (30-50 cm) soil samples, and 13 snow samples were collected in 35 soil pits, located in forest, crop and layland soils. Studied concentrations of the following 11 individual compounds: two-ring compounds (diphenyl and naphthalene homologues); three-ring compounds (fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene); four-ring compounds (chrysene, pyrene, tetraphene); five-ring compounds (perylene, benzo[a]pyrene); and six-ring compounds (benzo[ghi]perylene). Analyses made by specrtofluorometry method at the temperature of liquid nitrogen. The total concentrations of all PAHs in soil samples ranged from 9 to 770 ng*g-1 with a median of 96 ng*g-1. The sum of high molecular weight PAHs was significantly lower than the sum of low molecular weight PAHs in the studied soils. The phenanthrene concentration was highest and ranged from 1.2 to 720 ng*g-1 (medium 72 ng*g-1). Compared PAHs reserves in snow cover (μg*m-2) with the reserves in topsoil layer (μg*m-2 in the upper 30 cm). Low molecular weight PAHs (fluorene, phenanthrene, diphenyl, naphthalene) reserves in snow was less than 20% from the reserves in the soil surface layer. High molecular weight PAHs (benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene, perylene, pyrene and tetraphene) reserves in snow was about 50-70% from the reserves in soil surface layer. High molecular weight PAHs (benzo[ghi]perylene and anthracene) reserves in snow was more than in topsoil. PAHs vertical distribution in soil profiles was statistically examined. The total concentration of all PAHs decreased with depth in all studied forest soils. In the arable soils was no significant trend in domination of PAHs total concentrations in the plowing and subsoil layers. The ratio of topsoil

  17. Molecular modelling investigations on the possibility of phenanthrene dimers to be the primary nuclei of soot

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wei, Mingrui; Wu, Sheng; Li, Fan; Zhang, Dongju; Zhang, Tingting; Guo, Guanlun

    2017-11-01

    Pyrene dimerisation was successfully used to model the beginning of soot nucleation in some simulation models. However, the quantum mechanics (QM) calculations proved that the binding energy of a PAH dimer with three six-member rings was similar to that of a pyrene dimer. Meanwhile, the high concentration of phenanthrene at flame conditions indicated high probability of collisions among them. The small difference of the binding energy and high concentration indicated that PAHs structurally smaller than pyrene also could be involved in soot inception. Hence, binary collisions of phenanthrene were simulated to find out whether phenanthrene dimers can serve as soot primary nuclei or not by using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (MD). Three temperatures, six collision orientations and 155 initial translational velocities (ITVs) were considered. The results indicated that the number of dimers with lifetime over 10 ps which can serve as soot nuclei decreased from 52 at 1000 K to 17 at 1600 K, and further to 6 at 2400 K, which means that low temperature was more favourable for phenanthrene to form soot nuclei. Meanwhile, no soot nuclei were formed at the high velocity region (HVR), compared to 43 and 9 at low and middle velocity regions (LVR and MVR), respectively, when temperature was 1000 K. Also, no soot nuclei were formed at HVR when the temperature was raised to 1600 K and 2400 K. This indicated that HVR was unfavourable for phenanthrene to form soot nuclei. The results computationally further illustrated that small PAHs such as phenanthrene could serve as soot primary nuclei, since they have similar mole fractions in some flames. This may be useful for future soot simulation models.

  18. Evaluating phenanthrene sorption on various wood chars

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    James, G.; Sabatini, D.A.; Chiou, C.T.; Rutherford, D.; Scott, A.C.; Karapanagioti, H.K.

    2005-01-01

    A certain amount of wood char or soot in a soil or sediment sample may cause the sorption of organic compounds to deviate significantly from the linear partitioning commonly observed with soil organic matter (SOM). Laboratory produced and field wood chars have been obtained and analyzed for their sorption isotherms of a model solute (phenanthrene) from water solution. The uptake capacities and nonlinear sorption effects with the laboratory wood chars are similar to those with the field wood chars. For phenanthrene aqueous concentrations of 1 ??gl-1, the organic carbon-normalized sorption coefficients (log Koc) ranging from 5.0 to 6.4 for field chars and 5.4-7.3 for laboratory wood chars, which is consistent with literature values (5.6-7.1). Data with artificial chars suggest that the variation in sorption potential can be attributed to heating temperature and starting material, and both the quantity and heterogeneity of surface-area impacts the sorption capacity. These results thus help to corroborate and explain the range of log Koc values reported in previous research for aquifer materials containing wood chars. ?? 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. A new boronic acid fluorescent sensor based on fluorene for monosaccharides at physiological pH

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hosseinzadeh, Rahman; Mohadjerani, Maryam; Pooryousef, Mona; Eslami, Abbas; Emami, Saeed

    2015-06-01

    Fluorescent boronic acids are very useful fluorescent sensor for detection of biologically important saccharides. Herein we synthesized a new fluorene-based fluorescent boronic acid that shows significant fluorescence changes upon addition of saccharides at physiological pH. Upon addition of fructose, sorbitol, glucose, galactose, ribose, and maltose at different concentration to the solution of 7-(dimethylamino)-9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl-2-boronic acid (7-DMAFBA, 1), significant decreases in fluorescent intensity were observed. It was found that this boronic acid has high affinity (Ka = 3582.88 M-1) and selectivity for fructose over glucose at pH = 7.4. The sensor 1 showed a linear response toward D-fructose in the concentrations ranging from 2.5 × 10-5 to 4 × 10-4 mol L-1 with the detection limit of 1.3 × 10-5 mol L-1.

  20. Hybrid metal-organic conductive network with plasmonic nanoparticles and fluorene (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fontana, Laura; Fratoddi, Ilaria; Matassa, Roberto; Familiari, Giuseppe; Venditti, Iole; Batocchio, Chiara; Magnano, Elena; Nappini, Silvia; Leahu, Grigore; Belardini, Alessandro; Li Voti, Roberto; Sibilia, Concita

    2017-05-01

    For the development of new generation portable electronic devices, the realization of thin and flexible electrodes have a crucial role. Conductive organic systems can address this issue in different ways. Indeed, conductance in organic molecules were studied in different papers starting from seminal papers in last 70's [1] up to recent ones [2]. Among organic species, conduction and electronic characteristics of Fluorene derivatives were studied in different configurations [3,4]. Unfortunately, the conductance of organic materials is limited by charge transport mechanism [5]. Hybrid system with organic conductive compounds covalently linked with metal centres can lead to enhanced conductivity [6]. Here we synthesized gold and silver nanoparticles (AuNPs and AgNPs) stabilized with a fluorene thiolate derivative, namely 9,9-Didodecyl-2,7-bis(acetylthio)fluorene (FL). In the synthesis process the metal nanoparticles (MNPs) size results to be around 5 nm in diameter [7]. When deposited on a planar substrate, the hybrid compound form a regular network of MNPs separated each other by fluorene spacers covalently linked by thiol groups [8]. We deposited the network on substrate with two interdigitated electrodes in order to measure conductive properties (I-V characteristics). In I-V measurements it results to be that AgNPs based network is 200 times more conductive than AuNPs one. Selective oxidation of AgNPs network close to positive electrodes gives rise to a Schottky diode behavior in the I-V characteristic that could find potential applications in nano-electronics devices. The fluorescence and extinction spectra of FL-AgNPs and FL-AuNPs where characterised. References [1] C. K. Chiang, C. R. Fincher, Jr., Y. W. Park, A. J. Heeger, H. Shirakawa, E. J. Louis, S. C. Gau, and Alan G. MacDiarmid, Phys. Rev. Lett. 39, 1098 (1977). [2] Hylke B. Akkerman, Paul W. M. Blom, Dago M. de Leeuw and Bert de Boer, Nature 441, 69 (2006). [3] Rajendra Prasad Kalakodimi, Aletha M. Nowak

  1. Longitudinal Study of [D10]Phenanthrene Metabolism by the Diol Epoxide Pathway in Smokers

    PubMed Central

    Hecht, Stephen S.; Hochalter, J. Bradley; Carmella, Steven G.; Zhang, Yan; Rauch, Diane M.; Fujioka, Naomi; Jensen, Joni; Hatsukami, Dorothy K.

    2013-01-01

    The extent of metabolism of [D10]phenanthrene to [D10]r-1,t-2,3,c-4-tetrahydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetradeuterophenanthrene ([D10]PheT) could be a biomarker of human metabolic activation of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, leading to identification of smokers particularly susceptible to lung cancer. The longitudinal stability of [D10]PheT was evaluated in 24 cigarette smokers given 7 – 8 oral doses of [D10]phenanthrene (10 μg) over 5.5 months. [D10]PheT in 6 h urine was quantified after each dose. The overall coefficient of variation for 24 subjects was (mean ± S.D.) 27.4 ± 8.83%. Thus, a single administration of [D10]phenanthrene is likely sufficient to determine a smoker’s ability to metabolize it to [D10]PheT. PMID:23336104

  2. Comparative proteomics reveal the mechanism of Tween80 enhanced phenanthrene biodegradation by Sphingomonas sp. GY2B.

    PubMed

    Liu, Shasha; Guo, Chuling; Dang, Zhi; Liang, Xujun

    2017-03-01

    Previous study concerning the effects of surfactants on phenanthrene biodegradation focused on observing the changes of cell characteristics of Sphingomonas sp. GY2B. However, the impact of surfactants on the expression of bacterial proteins, controlling phenanthrene transport and catabolism, remains obscure. To overcome the knowledge gap, comparative proteomic approaches were used to investigate protein expressions of Sphingomonas sp. GY2B during phenanthrene biodegradation in the presence and absence of a nonionic surfactant, Tween80. A total of 23 up-regulated and 19 down-regulated proteins were detected upon Tween80 treatment. Tween80 could regulate ion transport (e.g. H + ) in cell membrane to provide driving force (ATP) for the transmembrane transport of phenanthrene thus increasing its uptake and biodegradation by GY2B. Moreover, Tween80 probably increased GY2B vitality and growth by inducing the expression of peptidylprolyl isomerase to stabilize cell membrane, increasing the abundances of proteins involved in intracellular metabolic pathways (e.g. TCA cycle), as well as decreasing the abundances of translation/transcription-related proteins and cysteine desulfurase, thereby facilitating phenanthrene biodegradation. This study may facilitate a better understanding of the mechanisms that regulate surfactants-enhanced biodegradation of PAHs at the proteomic level. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. Assigning ecological roles to the populations belonging to a phenanthrene-degrading bacterial consortium using omic approaches

    PubMed Central

    Coppotelli, Bibiana Marina; Madueño, Laura; Loviso, Claudia Lorena; Macchi, Marianela; Neme Tauil, Ricardo Martin; Valacco, María Pía; Morelli, Irma Susana

    2017-01-01

    The present study describes the behavior of a natural phenanthrene-degrading consortium (CON), a synthetic consortium (constructed with isolated strains from CON) and an isolated strain form CON (Sphingobium sp. AM) in phenanthrene cultures to understand the interactions among the microorganisms present in the natural consortium during phenanthrene degradation as a sole carbon and energy source in liquid cultures. In the contaminant degradation assay, the defined consortium not only achieved a major phenanthrene degradation percentage (> 95%) but also showed a more efficient elimination of the intermediate metabolite. The opposite behavior occurred in the CON culture where the lowest phenanthrene degradation and the highest HNA accumulation were observed, which suggests the presence of positive and also negative interaction in CON. To consider the uncultured bacteria present in CON, a metagenomic library was constructed with total CON DNA. One of the resulting scaffolds (S1P3) was affiliated with the Betaproteobacteria class and resulted in a significant similarity with a genome fragment from Burkholderia sp. HB1 chromosome 1. A complete gene cluster, which is related to one of the lower pathways (meta-cleavage of catechol) involved in PAH degradation (ORF 31–43), mobile genetic elements and associated proteins, was found. These results suggest the presence of at least one other microorganism in CON besides Sphingobium sp. AM, which is capable of degrading PAH through the meta-cleavage pathway. Burkholderiales order was further found, along with Sphingomonadales order, by a metaproteomic approach, which indicated that both orders were metabolically active in CON. Our results show the presence of negative interactions between bacterial populations found in a natural consortium selected by enrichment techniques; moreover, the synthetic syntrophic processing chain with only one microorganism with the capability of degrading phenanthrene was more efficient in

  4. Biodegradability of nonaqueous-phase liquids affects the mineralization of phenanthrene in soil because of microbial competition

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Morrison, D.E.; Alexander, M.

    1997-08-01

    A study was conducted to determine the effects of biodegradability of nonaqueous-phase liquids (NAPLs) and microbial competition on the biodegradation in soil of a constituent of the NAPLs. The rates of mineralization of phenanthrene dissolved in 8 mg of 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane (HMN), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), or pristane per g of soil were faster than the rates when the compound was dissolved in hexadecane or dodecane. Addition of inorganic N and P to the soil increased the mineralization rate in the first two but not the last two NAPLs. N and P addition did not enhance mineralization of phenanthrene when added inmore » 500 {micro}g of hexadecane, pristane, or HMN per g of soil. Hexadecane was rapidly degraded, pristane was slowly metabolized, DEHP was still slower, and HMN was not mineralized in the test period. Mixing the soil stimulated mineralization of phenanthrene dissolved in HMN but not in hexadecane. Mineralization of phenanthrene dissolved in HMN was the same if the gas phase contained 21%, 2.1%, or traces of O{sub 2}. In contrast, the biodegradation of phenanthrene dissolved in hexadecane, although the same at 21 and 2.1% O{sub 2}, was not observed if traces of O{sub 2} were present. The mineralization was slower in unshaken soil-water mixtures if phenanthrene was added in hexadecane than in HMN or pristane, but the rates with the 3 NAPLs were increased by shaking the suspensions. The authors suggest that the biodegradability of major components of NAPLs and microbial competition for N, P, or O{sub 2} will have a major impact on the rate of transformation of minor constituents of NAPLs.« less

  5. A new boronic acid fluorescent sensor based on fluorene for monosaccharides at physiological pH.

    PubMed

    Hosseinzadeh, Rahman; Mohadjerani, Maryam; Pooryousef, Mona; Eslami, Abbas; Emami, Saeed

    2015-06-05

    Fluorescent boronic acids are very useful fluorescent sensor for detection of biologically important saccharides. Herein we synthesized a new fluorene-based fluorescent boronic acid that shows significant fluorescence changes upon addition of saccharides at physiological pH. Upon addition of fructose, sorbitol, glucose, galactose, ribose, and maltose at different concentration to the solution of 7-(dimethylamino)-9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl-2-boronic acid (7-DMAFBA, 1), significant decreases in fluorescent intensity were observed. It was found that this boronic acid has high affinity (K(a)=3582.88 M(-1)) and selectivity for fructose over glucose at pH=7.4. The sensor 1 showed a linear response toward d-fructose in the concentrations ranging from 2.5×10(-5) to 4×10(-4) mol L(-1) with the detection limit of 1.3×10(-5) mol L(-1). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Energy transfer of highly vibrationally excited phenanthrene and diphenylacetylene.

    PubMed

    Hsu, Hsu Chen; Tsai, Ming-Tsang; Dyakov, Yuri; Ni, Chi-Kung

    2011-05-14

    The energy transfer between Kr atoms and highly vibrationally excited, rotationally cold phenanthrene and diphenylacetylene in the triplet state was investigated using crossed-beam/time-of-flight mass spectrometer/time-sliced velocity map ion imaging techniques. Compared to the energy transfer between naphthalene and Kr, energy transfer between phenanthrene and Kr shows a larger cross-section for vibrational to translational (V → T) energy transfer, a smaller cross-section for translational to vibrational and rotational (T → VR) energy transfer, and more energy transferred from vibration to translation. These differences are further enlarged in the comparison between naphthalene and diphenylacetylene. In addition, less complex formation and significant increases in the large V → T energy transfer probabilities, termed supercollisions in diphenylacetylene and Kr collisions were observed. The differences in the energy transfer between these highly vibrationally excited molecules are attributed to the low-frequency vibrational modes, especially those vibrations with rotation-like wide-angle motions.

  7. Analysis of Particulate and Chemical Residue Resulting from Exposure to Burning and Abrading Composite Materials

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-05-31

    21 Figure 15. Example of a Possible Foreign Object Observed in a Small Number of Slides. This Object May Be a Hair, Thread, or Plant Material that...h)anthracene Fluoranthene Fluorene Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene Naphthalene Phenanthrene Pyrene 16 Distribution A. Approved for public release...material during sampling. These were subject to particle analysis as described above in order to estimate the coverage ratio and particle density of

  8. Characterization of a Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Degradation Gene Cluster in a Phenanthrene-Degrading Acidovorax Strain▿

    PubMed Central

    Singleton, David R.; Guzmán Ramirez, Liza; Aitken, Michael D.

    2009-01-01

    Acidovorax sp. strain NA3 was isolated from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated soil that had been treated in a bioreactor and enriched with phenanthrene. The 16S rRNA gene of the isolate possessed 99.8 to 99.9% similarity to the dominant sequences recovered during a previous stable-isotope probing experiment with [U-13C]phenanthrene on the same soil (D. R. Singleton, S. N. Powell, R. Sangaiah, A. Gold, L. M. Ball, and M. D. Aitken, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71:1202-1209, 2005). The strain grew on phenanthrene as a sole carbon and energy source and could mineralize 14C from a number of partially labeled PAHs, including naphthalene, phenanthrene, chrysene, benz[a]anthracene, and benzo[a]pyrene, but not pyrene or fluoranthene. Southern hybridizations of a genomic fosmid library with a fragment of the large subunit of the ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase gene from a naphthalene-degrading Pseudomonas strain detected the presence of PAH degradation genes subsequently determined to be highly similar in both nucleotide sequence and gene organization to an uncharacterized Alcaligenes faecalis gene cluster. The genes were localized to the chromosome of strain NA3. To test for gene induction by selected compounds, RNA was extracted from amended cultures and reverse transcribed, and cDNA associated with the enzymes involved in the first three steps of phenanthrene degradation was quantified by quantitative real-time PCR. Expression of each of the genes was induced most strongly by phenanthene and to a lesser extent by naphthalene, but other tested PAHs and PAH metabolites had negligible effects on gene transcript levels. PMID:19270134

  9. Luminescent Fluorene-Based Bis-Pyrazolyl Aniline Ligand for Aluminum Detection.

    PubMed

    Frazer, Andrew; Morales, Alma R; Woodward, Adam W; Tongwa, Paul; Timofeeva, Tatiana; Belfield, Kevin D

    2013-09-29

    The design, synthesis, and photophysical properties of a new fluorene-based fluorescent chemosensor, 4-((E)-2-(2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-9,9-diethyl-9H-fluoren-7-yl)vinyl)-N,N-bis((3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)benzenamine (AXF-Al), is described for the detection of Al 3+ . AXF-Al exhibited absorption at 382 nm and strong fluorescence emission at 542 nm (fluorescence quantum yield, Φ F , of 0.80). The capture of Al 3+ by the pyrazolyl aniline receptor resulted in nominal change in the linear absorption (372 nm) but a large hypsochromic shift of 161 nm in the fluorescence spectrum (542 to 433 nm, Φ F  = 0.88), from which Al 3+ was detected both ratiometrically and colorimetrically. The addition of other metal ions, namely Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Mn 2+ , Fe 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ , Cd 2+ , Hg 2+ and Pb 2+ , produced only minimal changes in the optical properties of this probe. The emission band of this probe was also accessed by two-photon excitation in the near-IR, as two-photon absorption (2PA) is important for potential applications in two-photon fluorescence microscopy (2PFM) imaging. The 2PA cross section of the free fluorenyl ligand AXF-Al was 220 GM at 810 nm and 235 GM at 810 nm for the Al-ligand complex, practically useful properties for 2PFM.

  10. Different conical intersections control nonadiabatic photochemistry of fluorene light-driven molecular rotary motor: A CASSCF and spin-flip DFT study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Yuanying; Liu, Fengyi; Wang, Bin; Su, Qingqing; Wang, Wenliang; Morokuma, Keiji

    2016-12-01

    We report the light-driven isomerization mechanism of a fluorene-based light-driven rotary motor (corresponding to Feringa's 2nd generation rotary motor, [M. M. Pollard et al., Org. Biomol. Chem. 6, 507-512 (2008)]) at the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) and spin-flip time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) (SFDFT) levels, combined with the complete active space second-order perturbation theory (CASPT2) single-point energy corrections. The good consistence between the SFDFT and CASSCF results confirms the capability of SFDFT in investigating the photoisomerization step of the light-driven molecular rotary motor, and proposes the CASPT2//SFDFT as a promising and effective approach in exploring photochemical processes. At the mechanistic aspect, for the fluorene-based motor, the S1/S0 minimum-energy conical intersection (MECIs) caused by pyramidalization of a fluorene carbon have relatively low energies and are easily accessible by the reactive molecule evolution along the rotary reaction path; therefore, the fluorene-type MECIs play the dominant role in nonadiabatic decay, as supported by previous experimental and theoretical works. Comparably, the other type of MECIs that results from pyramidalization of an indene carbon, which has been acting as the dominant nonadiabatic decay channel in the stilbene motor, is energetically inaccessible, thus the indene-type MECIs are "missing" in previous mechanistic studies including molecular dynamic simulations. A correlation between the geometric and electronic factors of MECIs and that of the S1 energy profile along the C═C rotary coordinate was found. The findings in current study are expected to deepen the understanding of nonadiabatic transition in the light-driven molecular rotary motor and provide insights into mechanistic tuning of their performance.

  11. Highly Soluble p-Terphenyl and Fluorene Derivatives as Efficient Dopants in Plastic Scintillators for Sensitive Nuclear Material Detection.

    PubMed

    Yemam, Henok A; Mahl, Adam; Tinkham, Jonathan S; Koubek, Joshua T; Greife, Uwe; Sellinger, Alan

    2017-07-03

    Plastic scintillators are commonly used as first-line detectors for special nuclear materials. Current state-of-the-art plastic scintillators based on poly(vinyltoluene) (PVT) matrices containing high loadings (>15.0 wt %) of 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) offer neutron signal discrimination in gamma radiation background (termed pulse shape discrimination, PSD), however, they suffer from poor mechanical properties. In this work, a series of p-terphenyl and fluorene derivatives were synthesized and tested as dopants in PVT based plastic scintillators as possible alternatives to PPO to address the mechanical property issue and to study the PSD mechanism. The derivatives were synthesized from low cost starting materials in high yields using simple chemistry. The photophysical and thermal properties were investigated for their influence on radiation sensitivity/detection performance, and mechanical stability. A direct correlation was found between the melting point of the dopants and the subsequent mechanical properties of the PVT based plastic scintillators. For example, select fluorene derivatives used as dopants produced scintillator samples with mechanical properties exceeding those of the commercial PPO-based scintillators while producing acceptable PSD capabilities. The physical properties of the synthesized dopants were also investigated to examine their effect on the final scintillator samples. Planar derivatives of fluorene were found to be highly soluble in PVT matrices with little to no aggregation induced effects. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  12. Modeling of experimental data on trace elements and organic compounds content in industrial waste dumps.

    PubMed

    Smoliński, Adam; Drobek, Leszek; Dombek, Václav; Bąk, Andrzej

    2016-11-01

    The main objective of the study presented was to investigate the differences between 20 mine waste dumps located in the Silesian Region of Poland and Czech Republic, in terms of trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contents. The Principal Component Analysis and Hierarchical Clustering Analysis were applied in exploration of the studied data. Since the data set was affected by outlying objects, the employment of a relevant analysis strategy was necessary. The final PCA model was constructed with the use of the Expectation-Maximization iterative approach preceded by a correct identification of outliers. The analysis of the experimental data indicated that three mine waste dumps located in Poland were characterized by the highest concentrations of dibenzo(g,h,i)anthracene and benzo(g,h,i)perylene, and six objects located in Czech Republic and three objects in Poland were distinguished by high concentrations of chrysene and indeno (1.2.3-cd) pyrene. Three of studied mine waste dumps, one located in Czech Republic and two in Poland, were characterized by low concentrations of Cr, Ni, V, naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthen, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo (b) fluoranthene, benzo (k) fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzo(g,h,i)anthracene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene and indeno (1.2.3-cd) pyrene in comparison with the remaining ones. The analysis contributes to the assessment and prognosis of ecological and health risks related to the emission of trace elements and organic compounds (PAHs) from the waste dumps examined. No previous research of similar scope and aims has been reported for the area concerned. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. A comparison of physicochemical methods for the remediation of porous medium systems contaminated with tar

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hauswirth, Scott C.; Miller, Cass T.

    2014-10-01

    The remediation of former manufactured gas plant (FMGP) sites contaminated with tar DNAPLs (dense non-aqueous phase liquids) presents a significant challenge. The tars are viscous mixtures of thousands of individual compounds, including known and suspected carcinogens. This work investigates the use of combinations of mobilization, solubilization, and chemical oxidation approaches to remove and degrade tars and tar components in porous medium systems. Column experiments were conducted using several flushing solutions, including an alkaline-polymer (AP) solution containing NaOH and xanthan gum (XG), a surfactant-polymer (SP) solution containing Triton X-100 surfactant (TX100) and XG, an alkaline-surfactant-polymer (ASP) solution containing NaOH, TX100, and XG, and base-activated sodium persulfate both with and without added TX100. The effectiveness of the flushing solutions was assessed based on both removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) mass and on the reduction of dissolved-phase PAH concentrations. SP flushes of 6.6 to 20.9 PV removed over 99% of residual PAH mass and reduced dissolved-phase concentrations by up to two orders of magnitude. ASP flushing efficiently removed 95-96% of residual PAH mass within about 2 PV, and significantly reduced dissolved-phase concentrations of several low molar mass compounds, including naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, and phenanthrene. AP flushing removed a large portion of the residual tar (77%), but was considerably less effective than SP and ASP in terms of the effect on dissolved PAH concentrations. Persulfate was shown to oxidize tar components, primarily those with low molar mass, however, the overall degradation was relatively low (30-50% in columns with low initial tar saturations), and the impact on dissolved-phase concentrations was minimal.

  14. Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Sphingomonas strains isolated from the terrestrial subsurface

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Shi, T; Fredrickson, Jim K.; Balkwill, David L.

    Several strains of Sphingomonas isolated from deep Atlantic coastal plain aquifers at the US Department of Energy Savannah River Site (SRS) near Aiken, SC were shown to degrade a variety of aromatic hydrocarbons in a liquid culture medium. Sphingomonas aromaticivorans strain B0695 was the most versatile of the five strains examined. This strain was able to degrade acenaphthene, anthracene, phenanthrene, 2,3-benzofluorene, 2-methyl naphthalene, 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene, and fluoranthene in the presence of 400 mg l(-1) Tween 80. Studies involving microcosms composed of aquifer sediments showed that S. aromaticivorans B0695 could degrade phenanthrene effectively in sterile sediment and could enhance the rate atmore » which this compound was degraded in nonsterile sediment. These findings indicate that it may be feasible to carry out (or, at least, to enhance) in situ bioremediation of phenanthrene-contaminated soils and subsurface environments with S. aromaticivorans B0695. In contrast, stra in B0695 was unable to degrade fluoranthene in microcosms containing aquifer sediments, even though it readily degraded this polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in a defined liquid growth medium.« less

  15. Bioactive Phenanthrene and Bibenzyl Derivatives from the Stems of Dendrobium nobile.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Xue-Ming; Zheng, Cai-Juan; Gan, Li-She; Chen, Guang-Ying; Zhang, Xiao-Peng; Song, Xiao-Ping; Li, Gao-Nan; Sun, Chong-Ge

    2016-07-22

    A new enantiomeric pair of spirodiketones, (+)- and (-)-denobilone A (1 and 2), three new phenanthrene derivatives (3-5), and three new biphenanthrenes (22-24), along with 11 known phenanthrene derivatives (6-16), five known bibenzyl derivatives (17-21), and four known biphenanthrenes (25-28), were isolated from Dendrobium nobile. The structures of 1-5 and 22-24 were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods. (+)-Denobilone and (-)-denobilone A (1 and 2) were isolated as a pair of enantiomers by chiral HPLC. The absolute configurations of (+)- and (-)-denobilone A (1 and 2) were determined by comparing their experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. The absolute configuration of denobilone B (3) was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The inhibitory activities of all compounds against nine phytopathogenic fungi and three cancer cell lines were evaluated.

  16. The coupling of the plant and microbial catabolisms of phenanthrene in the rhizosphere of Medicago sativa.

    PubMed

    Muratova, Anna; Dubrovskaya, Ekaterina; Golubev, Sergey; Grinev, Vyacheslav; Chernyshova, Marina; Turkovskaya, Olga

    2015-09-01

    We studied the catabolism of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon phenanthrene by four rhizobacterial strains and the possibility of enzymatic oxidation of this compound and its microbial metabolites by the root exudates of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in order to detect the possible coupling of the plant and microbial metabolisms under the rhizospheric degradation of the organic pollutant. A comparative study of phenanthrene degradation pathways in the PAH-degrading rhizobacteria Ensifer meliloti, Pseudomonas kunmingensis, Rhizobium petrolearium, and Stenotrophomonas sp. allowed us to identify the key metabolites from the microbial transformation of phenanthrene, including 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, 2-carboxybenzaldehyde, and 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic, salicylic, and o-phthalic acids. Sterile alfalfa plants were grown in the presence and absence of phenanthrene (0.03 g kg(-1)) in quartz sand under controlled environmental conditions to obtain plant root exudates. The root exudates were collected, concentrated by ultrafiltration, and the activity of oxidoreductases was detected spectrophotometrically by the oxidation rate for various substrates. The most marked activity was that of peroxidase, whereas the presence of oxidase and tyrosinase was detected on the verge of the assay sensitivity. Using alfalfa root exudates as a crude enzyme preparation, we found that in the presence of the synthetic mediator, the plant peroxidase could oxidize phenanthrene and its microbial metabolites. The results indicate the possibility of active participation of plants in the rhizospheric degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their microbial metabolites, which makes it possible to speak about the coupling of the plant and microbial catabolisms of these contaminants in the rhizosphere. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  17. Soil mineral composition matters: response of microbial communities to phenanthrene and plant litter addition in long-term matured artificial soils.

    PubMed

    Babin, Doreen; Vogel, Cordula; Zühlke, Sebastian; Schloter, Michael; Pronk, Geertje Johanna; Heister, Katja; Spiteller, Michael; Kögel-Knabner, Ingrid; Smalla, Kornelia

    2014-01-01

    The fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil is determined by a suite of biotic and abiotic factors, and disentangling their role in the complex soil interaction network remains challenging. Here, we investigate the influence of soil composition on the microbial community structure and its response to the spiked model PAH compound phenanthrene and plant litter. We used long-term matured artificial soils differing in type of clay mineral (illite, montmorillonite) and presence of charcoal or ferrihydrite. The soils received an identical soil microbial fraction and were incubated for more than two years with two sterile manure additions. The matured artificial soils and a natural soil were subjected to the following spiking treatments: (I) phenanthrene, (II) litter, (III) litter + phenanthrene, (IV) unspiked control. Total community DNA was extracted from soil sampled on the day of spiking, 7, 21, and 63 days after spiking. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal internal transcribed spacer amplicons were quantified by qPCR and subjected to denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). DGGE analysis revealed that the bacterial community composition, which was strongly shaped by clay minerals after more than two years of incubation, changed in response to spiked phenanthrene and added litter. DGGE and qPCR showed that soil composition significantly influenced the microbial response to spiking. While fungal communities responded only in presence of litter to phenanthrene spiking, the response of the bacterial communities to phenanthrene was less pronounced when litter was present. Interestingly, microbial communities in all artificial soils were more strongly affected by spiking than in the natural soil, which might indicate the importance of higher microbial diversity to compensate perturbations. This study showed the influence of soil composition on the microbiota and their response to phenanthrene and litter, which may increase our understanding of

  18. Soil Mineral Composition Matters: Response of Microbial Communities to Phenanthrene and Plant Litter Addition in Long-Term Matured Artificial Soils

    PubMed Central

    Babin, Doreen; Vogel, Cordula; Zühlke, Sebastian; Schloter, Michael; Pronk, Geertje Johanna; Heister, Katja; Spiteller, Michael; Kögel-Knabner, Ingrid; Smalla, Kornelia

    2014-01-01

    The fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil is determined by a suite of biotic and abiotic factors, and disentangling their role in the complex soil interaction network remains challenging. Here, we investigate the influence of soil composition on the microbial community structure and its response to the spiked model PAH compound phenanthrene and plant litter. We used long-term matured artificial soils differing in type of clay mineral (illite, montmorillonite) and presence of charcoal or ferrihydrite. The soils received an identical soil microbial fraction and were incubated for more than two years with two sterile manure additions. The matured artificial soils and a natural soil were subjected to the following spiking treatments: (I) phenanthrene, (II) litter, (III) litter + phenanthrene, (IV) unspiked control. Total community DNA was extracted from soil sampled on the day of spiking, 7, 21, and 63 days after spiking. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal internal transcribed spacer amplicons were quantified by qPCR and subjected to denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). DGGE analysis revealed that the bacterial community composition, which was strongly shaped by clay minerals after more than two years of incubation, changed in response to spiked phenanthrene and added litter. DGGE and qPCR showed that soil composition significantly influenced the microbial response to spiking. While fungal communities responded only in presence of litter to phenanthrene spiking, the response of the bacterial communities to phenanthrene was less pronounced when litter was present. Interestingly, microbial communities in all artificial soils were more strongly affected by spiking than in the natural soil, which might indicate the importance of higher microbial diversity to compensate perturbations. This study showed the influence of soil composition on the microbiota and their response to phenanthrene and litter, which may increase our understanding of

  19. Effect of linear alkyl benzene sulfonates (LAS) on the fate of phenanthrene in a model ecosystem (water-lava-plant-air).

    PubMed

    Jiang, Xia; Jin, Xiang-can; Yan, Chang-zhou; Yediler, Ayfer; Ou, Zi-qing; Kettrup, Antonius

    2004-01-01

    Advanced closed chamber system was used to study the fate of phenanthrene (3-rings PAHs) in the presence of linear alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS). The results showed mineralization and metabolism of phenanthrene are fast in the "culture solution-lava-plant-air" model ecological system. The distribution proportions of applied 14C-activity in this simulative ecological system were 41%-45%, 14% to 10% and 1% in plant, lava and culture solution respectively, and 18% to 29%, 11% to 8% recovered in the forms of VOCs and CO2. Main parts of the applied 14C-activity exist in two forms, one is polar metabolites (25%) which mainly distribute in the root (23%), the other is unextractable part (23%) which have been constructed into plant root (8.98%), shoot (0.53%) or bonded to lava (13.2%). The main metabolites of phenanthrene were polar compounds (25% of applied 14C-activity), and small portion of 14C-activity was identified as non-polar metabolites (6% of applied 14C-activity) and apparent phenanthrene (1.91% of applied 14C-activity). Phenanthrene and its metabolites can be taken up through plant roots and translocated to plant shoots. The presence of LAS significantly increased the the concentration of 14C-activity in the plant and production of VOCs, at the same time it decreased the phenanthrene level in the plant and the production of CO2 at the concentration of 200 mg/L.

  20. Assessing the environmental impact of phenanthrene in different types of land use based on the binding characteristics with dissolved organic matter.

    PubMed

    Chen, Xiao-Meng; Zhao, Yue; Ma, Ying-Ying; Zhu, Long-Ji; Yang, Tian-Xue; Wei, Zi-Min; Dong, Ying-Li; Wei, Qing-Bin

    2018-01-01

    The binding characteristics of phenanthrene with dissolved organic matter (DOM) were studied by the excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy with parallel factor analysis in four types of land use which derived from forest (F), meadow (M), cropland (C), and greenhouse (G). The results showed that the humification degree and binding characteristics of phenanthrene with DOM were distinct differences in the four soils. The binding capacities of humic-like components with phenanthrene were stronger than those of protein-like components. The log K derived from the Stern-Volmer equation significantly correlated with the humification degree of DOM (p < 0.05) in different types of land use. Besides, correlation analysis demonstrated that the potential binding index (Fk) obtained from the modified Stern-Volmer model was a more accurate parameter to describe the combination degree of DOM with phenanthrene than log K, which presented a decrease order of C > F > M > G. Therefore, the environmental impact of phenanthrene in different types of land use could be assessed deeply based on the Fk and DOM concentration. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Flame-retardant EPDM compounds containing phenanthrene to enhance radiation resistance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Jian; Huang, Wei; Jiang, Shu-Bin; Li, Xiao-Yan; An, You; Li, Chuang; Gao, Xiao-Ling; Chen, Hong-Bing

    2017-01-01

    Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) compounds with good flame-retardant and γ-ray radiation resistant properties were prepared by adding complex flame retardants and phenathrene. The resultant EPDM formulations have a long time to ignition (TTI >46 s), a low peak heat release rate (PHRR 341 kW/m2) and a high limited oxygen index (LOI >30). Effects of γ-ray radiation on the resultant flame-retardant EPDM was investigated. The formulated EPDM is a crosslinking dominated polymer under γ-ray radiation. The γ-ray radiation resistant property of EPDM was enhanced by adding phenanthrene. Elongation at break of EPDM formulated with phenanthrene could retain 91% after being irradiated to 0.3 MGy and still retains 40% elongation even after being irradiated to 0.9 MGy, which is much better the control. It is expected that the formulated flame-retardant and radiation resistant EPDM materials could meet the requirements for use in radiation environments.

  2. Removal of phenanthrene from soil by co-cultures of bacteria and fungi pregrown on sugarcane bagasse pith.

    PubMed

    Chávez-Gómez, B; Quintero, R; Esparza-García, F; Mesta-Howard, A M; Zavala Díaz de la Serna, F J; Hernández-Rodríguez, C H; Gillén, T; Poggi-Varaldo, H M; Barrera-Cortés, J; Rodríguez-Vázquez, R

    2003-09-01

    Sixteen co-cultures composed of four bacteria and four fungi grown on sugarcane bagasse pith were tested for phenanthrene degradation in soil. The four bacteria were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginose, Ralstonia pickettii, Pseudomonas sp. and Pseudomonas cepacea. The four fungi were identified as: Penicillium sp., Trichoderma viride, Alternaria tenuis and Aspergillus terrus that were previously isolated from different hydrocarbon-contaminated soils. Fungi had a statistically significant positive (0.0001phenanthrene removal, that ranged from 35% to 50% and bacteria removed the compound by an order of 20%. Co-cultures B. cepacea-Penicillium sp., R. pickettii-Penicillium sp., and P. aeruginose-Penicillium sp. exhibited synergism for phenanthrene removal, reaching 72.84+/-3.85%, 73.61+/-6.38% and 69.47+/-4.91%; in 18 days, respectively.

  3. The variability of standard artificial soils: cadmium and phenanthrene sorption measured by a batch equilibrium method.

    PubMed

    Bielská, Lucie; Hovorková, Ivana; Kuta, Jan; Machát, Jiří; Hofman, Jakub

    2017-01-01

    Artificial soil (AS) is used in soil ecotoxicology as a test medium or reference matrix. AS is prepared according to standard OECD/ISO protocols and components of local sources are usually used by laboratories. This may result in significant inter-laboratory variations in AS properties and, consequently, in the fate and bioavailability of tested chemicals. In order to reveal the extent and sources of variations, the batch equilibrium method was applied to measure the sorption of 2 model compounds (phenanthrene and cadmium) to 21 artificial soils from different laboratories. The distribution coefficients (K d ) of phenanthrene and cadmium varied over one order of magnitude: from 5.3 to 61.5L/kg for phenanthrene and from 17.9 to 190L/kg for cadmium. Variations in phenanthrene sorption could not be reliably explained by measured soil properties; not even by the total organic carbon (TOC) content which was expected. Cadmium logK d values significantly correlated with cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH H2O and pH KCl , with Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.62, 0.80, and 0.79, respectively. CEC and pH H2O together were able to explain 72% of cadmium logK d variability in the following model: logK d =0.29pH H2O +0.0032 CEC -0.53. Similarly, 66% of cadmium logK d variability could be explained by CEC and pH KCl in the model: logKd=0.27pH KCl +0.0028 CEC -0.23. Variable cadmium sorption in differing ASs could be partially treated with these models. However, considering the unpredictable variability of phenanthrene sorption, a more reliable solution for reducing the variability of ASs from different laboratories would be better harmonization of AS preparation and composition. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. The influence of mechanochemical modification on prevention of toxic ability of humic acids towards phenanthrene in aquatic environment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shekhovtsova, N. S.; Maltseva, E. V.; Glyzina, T. S.; Ovchinnikova, I. S.

    2015-11-01

    The aim of the research work is to quantify interaction between phenanthrene with modified humic acids in aquatic environment. The changes in the structure and properties of humic acids after modifications were studied with 1H NMR spectroscopy and potentiometric titration methods. Our research demonstrates that the application of thiourea as a modified agent increases the binding capacity of humic acids towards phenanthrene.

  5. Microbial characterization and hydrocarbon biodegradation potential of natural bilge waste microflora.

    PubMed

    Olivera, N L; Commendatore, M G; Delgado, O; Esteves, J L

    2003-09-01

    Shipping operations produce oily wastes that must be managed properly to avoid environmental pollution. The aim of this study was to characterize microorganisms occurring in ship bilge wastes placed in open lagoons and, particularly, to assess their potential to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). A first-order kinetic was suitable for describing hydrocarbon biodegradation after 17 days of treatment. The calculated rate constants were 0.0668 and 0.0513 day(-1) with a corresponding half-life of 10.3 and 13.5 days for the aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon fractions, respectively. At day 17, PAH removal percentages were: acenaphtylene 100, fluorene 95.2, phenanthrene 93.6, anthracene 70.3, and pyrene 71.5. Methyl phenanthrene removals were lower than that of their parent compound (3-methyl phenanthrene 83.6, 2-methyl phenanthrene 80.8, 1-methyl phenanthrene 77.3, 9-methyl phenanthrene 75.1, and 2,7-dimethyl phenanthrene 76.6). Neither pure cultures nor the microbial community from these wastes showed extracellular biosurfactant production suggesting that the addition of an exogenously produced biosurfactant may be important in enhancing hydrocarbon bioavailability and biodegradation. DNA analysis of bilge waste samples revealed a ubiquitous distribution of the nahAc genotype in the dump pools. Although almost all of the isolates grew on naphthalene as sole carbon source, only some of them yielded nahAc amplification under the experimental conditions used. The variety of PAHs in bilge wastes could support bacteria with multiple degradation pathways and a diversity of catabolic genes divergent from the classical nah-like type.

  6. MEASURING GROWTH OF A PHENANTHRENE DEGRADING BACTERIAL INOCULUM IN SOIL WITH A QUANTITATIVE COMPETITIVE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION METHOD. (R825433)

    EPA Science Inventory

    We measured growth of a phenanthrene-degrading bacterium, Arthrobacter, strain RP17, in Forbes soil, amended with 500 small mu, Greekg g−1 phenanthrene using a quantitati...

  7. Dynamic behavior of semivolatile organic compounds in indoor air. 2. Nicotine and phenanthrene with carpet and wallboard.

    PubMed

    Van Loy, M D; Riley, W J; Daisey, J M; Nazaroff, W W

    2001-02-01

    The surface interactions of nicotine and phenanthrene with carpet, painted wallboard, and stainless steel were investigated in a room-sized environmental test chamber. Adsorption kinetics were tested by flash evaporating a known mass of each compound into a sealed 20 m3 chamber containing one or more of the tested sorbents. In each experiment, one or more emissions were performed after the gas-phase concentration had reached an apparent plateau. At the end of each experiment, the chamber was ventilated and resealed to monitor reemission of the compound from the sorbents. Kinetic sorption parameters were determined by fitting a mass-balance model to the experimental results. The sorption capacity of stainless steel was of similar magnitude for nicotine and phenanthrene. Sorption of nicotine on carpet and wallboard was much stronger, with equilibrium partitioning values 2-3 orders of magnitude higher. The sorption capacities of phenanthrene on carpet and wallboard were smaller, approximately 10-20% of the stainless steel values. The rates of uptake are of similar magnitude for all sorbate--sorbent pairs and are consistent with the limit imposed by gas-phase boundary-layer mass transport. The rates of desorption are much faster for phenanthrene than for nicotine. Model simulations predict average nicotine levels in a typical smoking residence that are consistent with published data.

  8. Combined remediation of Cd-phenanthrene co-contaminated soil by Pleurotus cornucopiae and Bacillus thuringiensis FQ1 and the antioxidant responses in Pleurotus cornucopiae.

    PubMed

    Jiang, Juan; Liu, Hongying; Li, Qiao; Gao, Ni; Yao, Yuan; Xu, Heng

    2015-10-01

    Remediation of soil co-contaminated with heavy metals and PAHs by mushroom and bacteria is a novel technique. In this study, the combined remediation effect of mushroom (Pleurotus cornucopiae) and bacteria (FQ1, Bacillus thuringiensis) on Cd and phenanthrene co-contaminated soil was investigated. The effect of bacteria (B. thuringiensis) on mushroom growth, Cd accumulation, phenanthrene degradation by P. cornucopiae and antioxidative responses of P. cornucopiae were studied. P. cornucopiae could adapt easily and grow well in Cd-phenanthrene co-contaminated soil. It was found that inoculation of FQ1 enhanced mushroom growth (biomass) and Cd accumulation with the increment of 26.68-43.58% and 14.29-97.67% respectively. Up to 100% and 95.07% of phenanthrene were removed in the bacteria-mushroom (B+M) treatment respectively spiked with 200mg/kg and 500mg/kg phenanthrene. In addition, bacterial inoculation alleviated oxidative stress caused by co-contamination with relative decreases in lipid peroxidation and enzyme activity, including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD). This study demonstrated that the integrated remediation strategy of bacteria and mushroom is an effective and promising method for Cd-phenanthrene co-contaminated soil bioremediation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. COSOLVENT EFFECTS ON PHENANTHRENE SORPTION-DESORPTION ON A FRESH-WATER SEDIMENT

    EPA Science Inventory

    This study evaluated the effects of the water-miscible cosolvent methanol on the sorption-desorption of phenanthrene by the natural organic matter (NOM) of a fresh-water sediment. A biphasic pattern was observed in the relationship between the log of the carbon-normalized sorpti...

  10. Biodegradation and adsorption of C1- and C2-phenanthrenes and C1- and C2-dibenzothiophenes in the presence of clay minerals: effect on forensic diagnostic ratios.

    PubMed

    Ugochukwu, Uzochukwu C; Head, Ian M; Manning, David A C

    2014-07-01

    The impact of modified montmorillonites on adsorption and biodegradation of crude oil C1-phenanthrenes, C1-dibenzothiophenes, C2-phenanthrenes and C2-dibenzothiophenes was investigated in aqueous clay/oil microcosm experiments with a hydrocarbon degrading microorganism community. Consequently, the effect on C1-dibenzothiophenes/C1-phenanthrenes, C2-dibenzothiophenes/C2-phenanthrenes, 2+3-methyldibenzothiophene/4-methyldibenzothiophene and 1-methyldibenzothiophene/4-methyldibenzothiophene ratios commonly used as diagnostic ratios for oil forensic studies was evaluated. The clay mineral samples were treated to produce acid activated montmorillonite, organomontmorillonite and homoionic montmorillonite which were used in this study. The different clay minerals (modified and unmodified) showed varied degrees of biodegradation and adsorption of the C1-phenanthrenes, C1-dibenzothiophenes, C2-phenanthrenes and C2-dibenzothiophenes. The study indicated that as opposed to biodegradation, adsorption has no effect on the diagnostic ratios. Among the diagnostic ratios reviewed, only C2-dibenzothiophenes/C2-phenanthrenes ratio was neither affected by adsorption nor biodegradation making this ratio very useful in forensic studies of oil spills and oil-oil correlation.

  11. Effect of low-molecular-weight organic acids on photo-degradation of phenanthrene catalyzed by Fe(III)-smectite under visible light.

    PubMed

    Jia, Hanzhong; Chen, Hongxia; Nulaji, Gulimire; Li, Xiyou; Wang, Chuanyi

    2015-11-01

    The photolysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is potentially an important process for its transformation and fate on contaminated soil surfaces. In this study, phenanthrene is employed as a model to explore PAH photodegradation with the assistance of Fe(III)-smectite under visible-light while focusing on roles played by five low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs), i.e., malic acid, oxalic acid, citric acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and nitrilotriacetic acid. Our results show that oxalic acid is most effective in promoting the photodegradation of phenanthrene, while only a slight increase in the rate of phenanthrene photodegradation is observed in the presence of malic acid. Electron paramagnetic resonance experiments confirm the formation of CO2(-) radicals in the presence of malic and oxalic acid, which provides strong evidence for generating OH and subsequent photoreaction pathways. The presence of EDTA or nitrilotriacetic acid significantly inhibits both Fe(II) formation and phenanthrene photodegradation because these organic anions tend to chelate with Fe(III), leading to decreases in the electron-accepting potential of Fe(III)-smectite and a weakened interaction between phenanthrene and Fe(III)-smectite. These observations provide valuable insights into the transformation and fate of PAHs in the natural soil environment and demonstrate the potential for using some LMWOAs as additives for the remediation of contaminated soil. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Single-layer electroluminescent devices based on fluorene-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoxaline co-polymers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pokladko-Kowar, Monika; Danel, Andrzej; Chacaga, Łukasz

    2013-11-01

    A fluorene based copolymer was synthesized for electroluminescent application. To the main chain of polymer the nitrogen heterocyclic, 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoxaline, unit was introduced. The incorporation of this derivative tuned the emission from the blue to yellow-green one. A simple, single layered device was fabricated with the configuration ITO/PEDOT/co-poly-FLU-PQX/Ca/Mg.

  13. Dearomatization of diesel oil using Pseudomonas sp.

    PubMed

    Khan, Samiya; Gupta, Sanjay; Gupta, Nidhi

    2018-05-25

    To improve the quality of diesel fuel via removal of aromatic compounds using Pseudomonas sp. In the present study Pseudomonas sp. was able to remove 94% of fluorene, 59% of phenanthrene, 49% of anthracene, 52% of fluoranthene, 45% of pyrene and 75% carbazole present in diesel oil. Additionally, it also does not affect the aliphatic content of fuel thus maintaining the carbon backbone of the fuel. Pseudomonas sp. is a potential biocatalyst that can be used in the refining industry.

  14. Response of microbial activities and diversity to PAHs contamination at coal tar contaminated land

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhao, Xiaohui; Sun, Yujiao; Ding, Aizhong; Zhang, Dan; Zhang, Dayi

    2015-04-01

    Coal tar is one of the most hazardous and concerned organic pollutants and the main hazards are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The indigenous microorganisms in soils are capable to degrade PAHs, with essential roles in biochemical process for PAHs natural attenuation. This study investigated 48 soil samples (from 8 depths of 6 boreholes) in Beijing coking and chemistry plant (China) and revealed the correlation between PAHs contamination, soil enzyme activities and microbial community structure, by 16S rRNA denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). At the site, the key contaminants were identified as naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene and anthracene, and the total PAHs concentration ranged from 0.1 to 923.9 mg/kg dry soil. The total PAHs contamination level was positively correlated (p<0.05) with the bacteria count (0.9×107-14.2×107 CFU/mL), catalase activities (0.554-6.230 mL 0.02 M KMnO4/g•h) and dehydrogenase activities (1.9-30.4 TF μg/g•h soil), showing the significant response of microbial population and degrading functions to the organic contamination in soils. The PAHs contamination stimulated the PAHs degrading microbes and promoted their biochemical roles in situ. The positive relationship between bacteria count and dehydrogenase activities (p<0.05) suggested the dominancy of PAHs degrading bacteria in the microbial community. More interestingly, the microbial community deterioration was uncovered via the decline of microbial biodiversity (richness from 16S rRNA DGGE) against total PAHs concentration (p<0.05). Our research described the spatial profiles of PAHs contamination and soil microbial functions at the PAHs heavily contaminated sites, offering deeper understanding on the roles of indigenous microbial community in natural attenuation process.

  15. Amine-Reactive Fluorene Probes: Synthesis, Optical Characterization, Bioconjugation, and Two-Photon Fluorescence Imaging

    PubMed Central

    2008-01-01

    With the increasing demand for confocal and two-photon fluorescence imaging, the availability of reactive probes that possess high two-photon absorptivity, high fluorescence quantum yield, and high photostability is of paramount importance. To address the demand for better-performing probes, we prepared two-photon absorbing amine-reactive fluorenyl-based probes 2-(9,9-bis(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl)-2-isothiocyanato-9H-fluoren-7-yl)benzothiazole (1) and 2-(4-(2-(9,9-bis(2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl)-2-isothiocyanato-9H-fluoren-7-yl)vinyl)phenyl)benzothiazole (2), incorporating the isothiocyanate as a reactive linker. Probe design was augmented by integrating high optical nonlinearities, increased hydrophilicity, and coupling with reactive functional groups for specific targeting of biomolecules, assuring a better impact on two-photon fluorescence microscopy (2PFM) imaging. The isothiocyanate (NCS) derivatives were conjugated with cyclic peptide RGDfK and Reelin protein. The study of the chemical and photophysical properties of the new labeling reagents, as well as the conjugates, is described. The conjugates displayed high chemical stability and photostability. The NCS derivatives had low fluorescence quantum yields, while their bioconjugates exhibited high fluorescence quantum yields, essentially “lighting up” after conjugation. Conventional and 2PFM imaging and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) of HeLa, NT2, and H1299 cells, incubated with two-photon absorbing amine-reactive probe (1), RGDfK-dye conjugate (7), and Reelin-dye conjugate (6), was demonstrated. PMID:19090700

  16. Effect of red clover on the microbial transformation of phenanthrene and octadecane in the soil

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nazarov, A. V.; Shestakova, E. A.; Anan'yina, L. N.

    2017-08-01

    The influence of red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.) plants on the decomposition of phenanthrene and octadecane in the soil has been studied. Effect of plant root mass on the abundance of hydrocarbondegrading bacteria, the composition of their communities, and the degradation of hydrocarbons in the soil has been revealed. Changes in the taxonomic composition of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria under the effect of red clover are characterized by an increase in the abundance of species from the genera Acinetobacter, Kaistia, Novosphingobium, Pseudomonas, and Xanthomonas. A positive effect of the studied microbial-plant association on the degradation of octadecane and especially phenanthrene in the soil has been revealed.

  17. Metal oxides, clay minerals and charcoal determine the composition of microbial communities in matured artificial soils and their response to phenanthrene.

    PubMed

    Babin, Doreen; Ding, Guo-Chun; Pronk, Geertje Johanna; Heister, Katja; Kögel-Knabner, Ingrid; Smalla, Kornelia

    2013-10-01

    Microbial communities in soil reside in a highly heterogeneous habitat where diverse mineral surfaces, complex organic matter and microorganisms interact with each other. This study aimed to elucidate the long-term effect of the soil mineral composition and charcoal on the microbial community composition established in matured artificial soils and their response to phenanthrene. One year after adding sterile manure to different artificial soils and inoculating microorganisms from a Cambisol, the matured soils were spiked with phenanthrene or not and incubated for another 70 days. 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer fragments amplified from total community DNA were analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Metal oxides and clay minerals and to a lesser extent charcoal influenced the microbial community composition. Changes in the bacterial community composition in response to phenanthrene differed depending on the mineral composition and presence of charcoal, while no shifts in the fungal community composition were observed. The abundance of ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase genes was increased in phenanthrene-spiked soils except for charcoal-containing soils. Here we show that the formation of biogeochemical interfaces in soil is an ongoing process and that different properties present in artificial soils influenced the bacterial response to the phenanthrene spike. © 2012 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. Surface tailored organobentonite enhances bacterial proliferation and phenanthrene biodegradation under cadmium co-contamination.

    PubMed

    Mandal, Asit; Biswas, Bhabananda; Sarkar, Binoy; Patra, Ashok K; Naidu, Ravi

    2016-04-15

    Co-contamination of soil and water with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and heavy metals makes biodegradation of the former extremely challenging. Modified clay-modulated microbial degradation provides a novel insight in addressing this issue. This study was conducted to evaluate the growth and phenanthrene degradation performance of Mycobacterium gilvum VF1 in the presence of a palmitic acid (PA)-grafted Arquad® 2HT-75-based organobentonite in cadmium (Cd)-phenanthrene co-contaminated water. The PA-grafted organobentonite (ABP) adsorbed a slightly greater quantity of Cd than bentonite at up to 30mgL(-1) metal concentration, but its highly negative surface charge imparted by carboxylic groups indicated the potential of being a significantly superior adsorbent of Cd at higher metal concentrations. In systems co-contained with Cd (5 and 10mgL(-1)), the Arquad® 2HT-75-modified bentonite (AB) and PA-grafted organobentonite (ABP) resulted in a significantly higher (72-78%) degradation of phenanthrene than bentonite (62%) by the bacterium. The growth and proliferation of bacteria were supported by ABP which not only eliminated Cd toxicity through adsorption but also created a congenial microenvironment for bacterial survival. The macromolecules produced during ABP-bacteria interaction could form a stable clay-bacterial cluster by overcoming the electrostatic repulsion among individual components. Findings of this study provide new insights for designing clay modulated PAH bioremediation technologies in mixed-contaminated water and soil. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. [Phenanthrene constituents from rhizome of Arundina graminifolia].

    PubMed

    Liu, Mei-feng; Ding, Yi; Zhang, Dong-ming

    2005-03-01

    To isolate and elucidate the constituents from rhizome of Arundina graminifolia. Theconstituents were extracted with 95% alcohol and isolated by chromatography on silica gel, Sephedax LH-20. The structures were determined by UV, IR, NMR and MS spectral analysis. Five phenanthrene constituents were identified as 7-hydroxy-2, 4-dimethoxy-9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene( I ), 4, 7-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene ( II ), 2, 7-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene ( III ), 7-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenanthrene-1,4-dione ( IV ), 7-hydroxy-2-methoxy-9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene-1,4-dione (V), respectively. All compounds were isolated from rhizome of A. graminifolia for the first time.

  20. Behavioural alterations from exposure to Cu, phenanthrene, and Cu-phenanthrene mixtures: linking behaviour to acute toxic mechanisms in the aquatic amphipod, Hyalella azteca.

    PubMed

    Gauthier, Patrick T; Norwood, Warren P; Prepas, Ellie E; Pyle, Greg G

    2016-01-01

    Phenanthrene (PHE) and Cu are two contaminants commonly co-occurring in marine and freshwater environments. Mixtures of PHE and Cu have been reported to induce more-than-additive lethality in the amphipod, Hyalella azteca, a keystone aquatic invertebrate, yet little is understood regarding the interactive toxic mechanisms that mediate more-than-additive toxicity. Understanding the interactions among toxic mechanisms among Cu and PHE will allow for better predictive power in assessing the ecological risks of Cu-PHE mixtures in aquatic environments. Here we use behavioural impairment to help understand the toxic mechanisms of Cu, PHE, and Cu-PHE mixture toxicity in the aquatic amphipod crustacean, Hyalella azteca. Our principal objective was to link alterations in activity and ventilation with respiratory rates, oxidative stress, and neurotoxicity in adult H. azteca. Adult amphipods were used for all toxicity tests. Amphipods were tested at sublethal exposures of 91.8- and 195-μgL(-1) Cu and PHE, respectively, and a Cu-PHE mixture at the same concentrations for 24h. Neurotoxicity was measured as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, where malathion was used as a positive control. Oxidative stress was measured as reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Phenanthrene-exposed amphipods exhibited severe behavioural impairment, being hyperstimulated to the extent that they were incapable of coordinating muscle movements. In addition, respiration and AChE activity in PHE-exposed amphipods were increased and reduced by 51% and 23% respectively. However, ROS did not increase following exposure to phenanthrene. In contrast, Cu had no effect on amphipod behaviour, respiration or AChE activity, but did lead to an increase in ROS. However, co-exposure to Cu antagonized the PHE-induced reduction in ventilation and negated any increase in respiration. The results suggest that PHE acts like an organophosphate pesticide (e.g., malathion) in H. azteca following 24h sublethal

  1. High-Capacity and Photoregenerable Composite Material for Efficient Adsorption and Degradation of Phenanthrene in Water.

    PubMed

    Liu, Wen; Cai, Zhengqing; Zhao, Xiao; Wang, Ting; Li, Fan; Zhao, Dongye

    2016-10-18

    We report a novel composite material, referred to as activated charcoal supported titanate nanotubes (TNTs@AC), for highly efficient adsorption and photodegradation of a representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), phenanthrene. TNTs@AC was prepared through a one-step hydrothermal method, and is composed of an activated charcoal core and a shell of carbon-coated titanate nanotubes. TNTs@AC offered a maximum Langmuir adsorption capacity of 12.1 mg/g for phenanthrene (a model PAH), which is ∼11 times higher than the parent activated charcoal. Phenanthrene was rapidly concentrated onto TNTs@AC, and subsequently completely photodegraded under UV light within 2 h. The photoregenerated TNTs@AC can then be reused for another adsorption-photodegradation cycle without significant capacity or activity loss. TNTs@AC performed well over a wide range of pH, ionic strength, and dissolved organic matter. Mechanistically, the enhanced adsorption capacity is attributed to the formation of carbon-coated ink-bottle pores of the titanate nanotubes, which are conducive to capillary condensation; in addition, the modified microcarbon facilitates transfer of excited electrons, thereby inhibiting recombination of the electron-hole pairs, resulting in high photocatalytic activity. The combined high adsorption capacity, photocatalytic activity, and regenerability/reusability merit TNTs@AC a very attractive material for concentrating and degrading a host of micropollutants in the environment.

  2. Multisubstrate biodegradation kinetics of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene mixtures

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Guha, S.; Peters, C.A.; Jaffe, P.R.

    Biodegradation kinetics of naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene were studied in sole-substrate systems, and in binary and ternary mixtures to examine substrate interactions. The experiments were conducted in aerobic batch aqueous systems inoculated with a mixed culture that had been isolated from soils contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Monod kinetic parameters and yield coefficients for the individual parameters and yield coefficients for the individual compounds were estimated from substrate depletion and CO{sub 2} evolution rate data in sole-substrate experiments. In all three binary mixture experiments, biodegradation kinetics were comparable to the sole-substrate kinetics. In the ternary mixture, biodegradation of naphthalenemore » was inhibited and the biodegradation rates of phenanthrene and pyrene were enhanced. A multisubstrate form of the Monod kinetic model was found to adequately predict substrate interactions in the binary and ternary mixtures using only the parameters derived from sole-substrate experiments. Numerical simulations of biomass growth kinetics explain the observed range of behaviors in PAH mixtures. In general, the biodegradation rates of the more degradable and abundant compounds are reduced due to competitive inhibition, but enhanced biodegradation of the more recalcitrant PAHs occurs due to simultaneous biomass growth on multiple substrates. In PAH-contaminated environments, substrate interactions may be very large due to additive effects from the large number of compounds present.« less

  3. Turbulent Coagulation of Particles Smaller Than the Length Scales of Turbulence and Equilibrium Sorption of Phenanthrene to Clay: Implications for Pollutant Transport in the Estuarine Water Column

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1997-05-01

    estuaries was modeled using phenanthrene, bacterial extracellular polymer and kaolinite clay as surrogates for a hydrophobic organic pollutant...coefficients obtained for phenanthrene sorption to kaolinite and bentonite in the presence of varying amounts of DOM represented by alginic acid and tannic...acid. 333 Table B.3: Literature values for sorption between phenanthrene, humic acid and kaolinite for [DOM]a = 10 mg/L 334 Table E.1: Sample output data

  4. A new selective fluorene-based fluorescent internal charge transfer (ICT) sensor for sugar alcohols in aqueous solution.

    PubMed

    Hosseinzadeh, Rahman; Mohadjerani, Maryam; Pooryousef, Mona

    2016-03-01

    Sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol, are commonly used as a replacement for sucrose in the food industry, applied as starting material for vitamin C synthesis, and involved as one of the causative factors in diabetic complications. Therefore, their detection and quantification in aqueous solution are necessary. The reversible covalent interactions between boronic acids and diols are the basis of efficient methods for the detection of saccharides. Herein, we report a new internal charge transfer (ICT) fluorene-based fluorescent boronic acid sensor (1) 2-[(9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl-amino)methyl] phenyl boronic acid that shows significant fluorescence changes upon addition of saccharides. The boronic acid has high affinity (K a = 1107.9 M(-1)) and selectivity for sorbitol at pH = 8.31. It showed a linear response toward sorbitol in the concentration range from 1.0 × 10(-5) to 6.0 × 10(-4) mol L(-1) with the detection limit of 7.04 × 10(-6) mol L(-1). Sensor 1 was used to detect sorbitol in real samples with good recovery.

  5. CeO2 nanoparticles induce no changes in phenanthrene toxicity to the soil organisms Porcellionides pruinosus and Folsomia candida.

    PubMed

    Tourinho, Paula S; Waalewijn-Kool, Pauline L; Zantkuijl, Irene; Jurkschat, Kerstin; Svendsen, Claus; Soares, Amadeu M V M; Loureiro, Susana; van Gestel, Cornelis A M

    2015-03-01

    Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) are used as diesel fuel additives to catalyze oxidation. Phenanthrene is a major component of diesel exhaust particles and one of the most common pollutants in the environment. This study aimed at determining the effect of CeO2 NPs on the toxicity of phenanthrene in Lufa 2.2 standard soil for the isopod Porcellionides pruinosus and the springtail Folsomia candida. Toxicity tests were performed in the presence of CeO2 concentrations of 10, 100 or 1000mg Ce/kg dry soil and compared with results in the absence of CeO2 NPs. CeO2 NPs had no adverse effects on isopod survival and growth or springtail survival and reproduction. For the isopods, LC50s for the effect of phenanthrene ranged from 110 to 143mg/kg dry soil, and EC50s from 17.6 to 31.6mg/kg dry soil. For the springtails, LC50s ranged between 61.5 and 88.3mg/kg dry soil and EC50s from 52.2 to 76.7mg/kg dry soil. From this study it may be concluded that CeO2 NPs have a low toxicity and do not affect toxicity of phenanthrene to isopods and springtails. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueous solution by raw and modified plant residue materials as biosorbents.

    PubMed

    Xi, Zemin; Chen, Baoliang

    2014-04-01

    Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), e.g., naphthalene, acenaphthene, phenanthrene and pyrene, from aqueous solution by raw and modified plant residues was investigated to develop low cost biosorbents for organic pollutant abatement. Bamboo wood, pine wood, pine needles and pine bark were selected as plant residues, and acid hydrolysis was used as an easily modification method. The raw and modified biosorbents were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The sorption isotherms of PAHs to raw biosorbents were apparently linear, and were dominated by a partitioning process. In comparison, the isotherms of the hydrolyzed biosorbents displayed nonlinearity, which was controlled by partitioning and the specific interaction mechanism. The sorption kinetic curves of PAHs to the raw and modified plant residues fit well with the pseudo second-order kinetics model. The sorption rates were faster for the raw biosorbents than the corresponding hydrolyzed biosorbents, which was attributed to the latter having more condensed domains (i.e., exposed aromatic core). By the consumption of the amorphous cellulose component under acid hydrolysis, the sorption capability of the hydrolyzed biosorbents was notably enhanced, i.e., 6-18 fold for phenanthrene, 6-8 fold for naphthalene and pyrene and 5-8 fold for acenaphthene. The sorption coefficients (Kd) were negatively correlated with the polarity index [(O+N)/C], and positively correlated with the aromaticity of the biosorbents. For a given biosorbent, a positive linear correlation between logKoc and logKow for different PAHs was observed. Interestingly, the linear plots of logKoc-logKow were parallel for different biosorbents. These observations suggest that the raw and modified plant residues have great potential as biosorbents to remove PAHs from wastewater. Copyright © 2014 The Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of

  7. Endophytic Burkholderia fungorum DBT1 can improve phytoremediation efficiency of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

    PubMed

    Andreolli, Marco; Lampis, Silvia; Poli, Marika; Gullner, Gabor; Biró, Borbala; Vallini, Giovanni

    2013-07-01

    Burkholderia fungorum DBT1 is a bacterial strain isolated from an oil refinery discharge and capable of transforming dibenzothiophene, phenanthrene, naphthalene, and fluorene. In order to evaluate the influence of a policyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-transforming bacterial strain on the phytoremediation of organic contaminants, B. fungorum DBT1 was inoculated into hybrid poplar (Populus deltoides×Populus nigra). The poplar plants were grown for 18-wk with or without naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluorene and dibenzothiophene (488mgkg(-1) soil each) in non-sterile sand-peat substrate. Evidences were gained that B. fungorum DBT1 was present in high concentration in poplar root tissues (2.9-9.5×10(3)CFUg(-1)), while the strain was not detected in stem, leaves and rhizosphere. When poplar was planted in uncontaminated substrate, the infection caused negative effects on biomass index, leaves and stem dry weight, without showing however any disease symptoms. On the other hand, plants inoculated with the strain DBT1 resulted in better tolerance against the toxic effects of PAHs, in terms of root dry weight. Although the presence of plants acted as the main effective treatment for PAH dissipation (82-87%), the inoculum with DBT1 strain lead to the highest PAH abatement (up to 99%). In the present study, an environmental isolate with proper metabolic features was demonstrated to be possibly suitable as a poplar endophyte for improving microbe-assisted phytoremediation in PAH contaminated matrices. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on phytotoxicity of sediments contaminated by phenanthrene and cadmium.

    PubMed

    Song, Biao; Zeng, Guangming; Gong, Jilai; Zhang, Peng; Deng, Jiaqin; Deng, Canhui; Yan, Jin; Xu, Piao; Lai, Cui; Zhang, Chen; Cheng, Min

    2017-04-01

    To implement effective control and abatement programs for contaminants accumulating in sediments, strategies are needed for evaluating the quality of amended sediments. In this study, phytotoxicity of the sediments contaminated by cadmium and phenanthrene was evaluated after in situ remediation with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as adsorbents. Adsorption experiments and measurement of aqueous concentrations of the contaminants in overlying water were used to investigate the remediation effectiveness from physical and chemical aspects. The results indicated that MWCNTs showed a much better adsorption performance towards phenanthrene and Cd(II) compared with the sediments. The in situ remediation with MWCNTs could distinctly decrease the aqueous concentrations of phenanthrene and Cd(II) released from the sediments, reducing environmental risk towards overlying water. Influences of MWCNTs dose, MWCNTs diameter, and contact time on phtotoxicity of the contaminated sediments were studied. No significant inhibition of the amended sediments on germination of the test species was observed in the experiments, while the root growth was more sensitive than biomass production to the changes of contaminant concentrations. The analysis of Pearson correlation coefficients between evaluation indicators and associated remediation parameters suggested that phytotoxicity of sediments might inaccurately indicate the changes of pollutant content, but it was significant in reflecting the ecotoxicity of sediments after remediation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Electronic absorption spectroscopy of matrix-isolated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon cations. II. The phenanthrene cation (C14H10+) and its 1-methyl derivative

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Salama, F.; Joblin, C.; Allamandola, L. J.

    1994-01-01

    The ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared absorption spectra of phenanthrene (C14H10), 1-methylphenanthrene [(CH3)C14H9], and their radical ions [C14H10+; (CH3)C14H9+], formed by vacuum-ultraviolet irradiation, were measured in neon matrices at 4.2 K. The associated vibronic band systems and their spectroscopic assignments are discussed. The oscillator strengths were calculated for the phenanthrene ion and found lower than the theoretical predictions. This study presents the first spectroscopic data for phenanthrene and its methyl derivative trapped in a neon matrix where the perturbation of the isolated species by its environment is minimum; a condition crucial to astrophysical applications.

  10. Stable-Isotope Probing of Bacteria Capable of Degrading Salicylate, Naphthalene, or Phenanthrene in a Bioreactor Treating Contaminated Soil

    PubMed Central

    Singleton, David R.; Powell, Sabrina N.; Sangaiah, Ramiah; Gold, Avram; Ball, Louise M.; Aitken, Michael D.

    2005-01-01

    [13C6]salicylate, [U-13C]naphthalene, and [U-13C]phenanthrene were synthesized and separately added to slurry from a bench-scale, aerobic bioreactor used to treat soil contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Incubations were performed for either 2 days (salicylate, naphthalene) or 7 days (naphthalene, phenanthrene). Total DNA was extracted from the incubations, the “heavy” and “light” DNA were separated, and the bacterial populations associated with the heavy fractions were examined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and 16S rRNA gene clone libraries. Unlabeled DNA from Escherichia coli K-12 was added to each sample as an internal indicator of separation efficiency. While E. coli was not detected in most analyses of heavy DNA, a low number of E. coli sequences was recovered in the clone libraries associated with the heavy DNA fraction of [13C]phenanthrene incubations. The number of E. coli clones recovered proved useful in determining the relative amount of light DNA contamination of the heavy fraction in that sample. Salicylate- and naphthalene-degrading communities displayed similar DGGE profiles and their clone libraries were composed primarily of sequences belonging to the Pseudomonas and Ralstonia genera. In contrast, heavy DNA from the phenanthrene incubations displayed a markedly different DGGE profile and was composed primarily of sequences related to the Acidovorax genus. There was little difference in the DGGE profiles and types of sequences recovered from 2- and 7-day incubations with naphthalene, so secondary utilization of the 13C during the incubation did not appear to be an issue in this experiment. PMID:15746319

  11. A molecularly engineered fluorene-substituted Ru-complex for efficient mesoscopic dye-sensitized solar cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chandrasekharam, Malapaka; Rajkumar, Ganugula; Srinivasa Rao, Chikkam; Suresh, Thogiti; Yella Reddy, Paidi; Yum, Jun-Ho; Khaja Nazeeruddin, Mahammad; Graetzel, Michael

    2011-09-01

    A new high molar extinction coefficient ruthenium(II) bipyridyl complex 'cis-Ru(L1)(2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid) (NCS)2, BDF', where L1=4,4-bis(9,9-dibutyl-9H-fluorene-2-yl)-[2,2] bipyridine, has been synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and electrospray ionization mass (ESI-MASS) spectroscopes. The dye, upon anchoring onto mesoporous nano-crystalline TiO2 solar cells, exhibited a broader photocurrent action spectrum, with a solar-to-electric energy conversion efficiency (η) of 6.58% (JSC=14.66 mA cm-2, VOC=640 mV, fill factor=0.71) under sunlight at air mass (AM) 1.5, larger than the reference Z907 sensitized solar cell fabricated under similar conditions, which exhibited an η-value of 4.65% (JSC=11.52 mA cm-2, VOC=566 mV, fill factor=0.72). Absorption measurements and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations show that the increased conjugation length by introducing 9,9-dibutyl-9H-fluorene moiety relatively enhances the spectral response of the ancillary ligand and the corresponding BDF complex. The calculated dipole moments for BDF and Z907 are 17.71 and 16.34 Debye, respectively. The first three highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs) of BDF have a t2g character, as observed in Z907, while HOMO-4 and HOMO-5 have considerable sizable mixing from Ru-NCS with π-orbitals of L1.

  12. Recovery of Phenanthrene-Degrading Bacteria After Simulated In Situ Persulfate Oxidation in Contaminated Soil

    PubMed Central

    Richardson, Stephen D.; Lebron, Benjamin L.; Miller, Cass T.; Aitken, Michael D.

    2010-01-01

    A continuous-flow column study was conducted to investigate the long-term effects of persulfate oxidation on the abundance and activity of the indigenous microbial community and phenanthrene-degrading bacteria in contaminated soil from a former manufactured gas plant (MGP) site. Approximately six pore volumes of a 20 g/L persulfate solution were introduced into the column, followed by simulated groundwater for 500 d. Soil samples were collected from the surface of the soil bed and along the column length immediately before and after persulfate injection and up to 500 d following injection. Exposure to persulfate led to a two- to three-log reduction in total bacterial 16S rRNA genes, severe inhibition of 14C-acetate mineralization (as a measure of general microbial activity), and a decrease in community diversity. However, relatively rapid recovery of both bacterial gene abundance and activity was observed within 30 d after persulfate exposure. Mineralization of 14C-phenanthrene was also inhibited but did not recover until 100 d post-oxidation. Known phenanthrene-degrading bacterial groups decreased to below detection limits throughout the column, with recovery times from 100 d to 500 d after persulfate injection. These findings suggest that coupling biological processes with persulfate oxidation is possible, although recovery of specific contaminant degraders may occur much later than the general microbial community recovers. Furthermore, the use of total bacterial quantity or non-specific measures of activity as a surrogate for the recovery of contaminant degraders may be inappropriate for evaluating the compatibility of chemical treatment with subsequent bioremediation. PMID:21162560

  13. Impact of nitrogen-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on phenanthrene and benzo[a]pyrene mineralisation in soil.

    PubMed

    Anyanwu, Ihuoma N; Ikpikpini, Ojerime C; Semple, Kirk T

    2018-01-01

    When aromatic hydrocarbons are present in contaminated soils, they often occur in mixtures. The impact of four different (3-ring) nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (N-PAHs) on 12/14 C-phenanthrene and 12/14 C-benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) mineralisation in soil was investigated over a 90 d incubation period. The results revealed that both 12/14 C-phenanthrene and 12/14 C-benzo[a]pyrene showed no significant mineralisation in soils amended with 10mgkg -1 and 100mgkg -1 N-PAHs (p>0.05). However, increases in lag-phases and decreases in the rates and extents of mineralisation were observed, over time. Among the N-PAHs, benzo[h]quinoline impacted 14 C-phenanthrene mineralisation with extended and diauxic lag phases. Furthermore, 12/14 C-B[a]P and 14 C-benzo[a]pyrene-nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( 14 C-B[a]P-N-PAHs) amended soils showed extensive lag phases (> 21 d); with some 14 C-B[a]P-N-PAH mineralisation recording <1% in both concentrations (10mgkg -1 and 100mgkg -1 ), over time. This study suggests that the presence of N-PAHs in contaminated soil may impact the microbial degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the impact was most likely the result of limited success in achieving absolute biodegradation of some PAHs in soil. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. [Influence of Three Low-Molecular-Weight Organic Acids on the Adsorption of Phenanthrene in Purple Soil].

    PubMed

    Xie, Li; Chen, Ben-shou; Zhang, Jin-zhong; Lu, Song; Jiang, Tao

    2016-03-15

    The effects of three low-molecular-weight organic acids (citric acid, malic acid and oxalic acid) on the adsorption of phenanthrene in purple soil were studied by static adsorption experiment. The results showed that the adsorption kinetic process of phenanthrene in purple soil could be described by the second-order kinetic model, and the adsorption rate constant would significantly decrease in the presence of the three low-molecular-weight organic acids ( LMWOAs). The adsorption thermodynamic process could be well described by linear adsorption model, which was dominated by distribution role. The three LMWOAs could promote the adsorption of phenantherene in purple soil when their concentrations were less than 5 mmol · L⁻¹, whereas inhibit the adsorption when their concentrations were more than 10 mmol · L⁻¹, and the inhibition would increase with increasing concentrations. Moreover, the inhibitory ability displayed a decreasing order of citric acid, oxalic acid, and malic acid when their concentrations were 20 mmol · L⁻¹, which is related to the molecular structure and acidity of the three LMWOAs. Compared with the control, the content of dissolved organic matter (DOM) released from purple soil showed a trend of first decrease and then increase with increasing LMWOAs concentration, and the adsorption capacity of phenanthrene in purple soil was negatively related to DOM content.

  15. Bioavailable cadmium during the bioremediation of phenanthrene-contaminated soils using the diffusive gradients in thin-film technique.

    PubMed

    Amezcua-Allieri, M A; Rodríguez-Vázquez, R

    2006-03-01

    To study the impact of fungal bioremediation of phenanthrene on trace cadmium solid-solution fluxes and solution phase concentration. The bioremediation of phenanthrene in soils was performed using the fungus Penicillium frequentans. Metal behaviour was evaluated by the techniques of diffusive gradient in thin-films (DGT) and filtration. Fluxes of cadmium (Cd) show a significant (P < 0.002) increase after the start of bioremediation, indicating that the bioremediation process itself releases significant amount of Cd into solution from the soil solid-phase. Unlike DGT devices, the solution concentration from filtration shows a clear bimodal distribution. We postulate that the initial action of the fungi is most likely to breakdown the surface of the solid phase to smaller, 'solution-phase' material (<0.45 microm) leading to a peak in Cd concentration in solution. Phenanthrene removal from soils by bioremediation ironically results in the mobilization of another toxic pollutant (Cd). Bioremediation of organic pollutants in contaminated soil will likely lead to large increases in the mobilization of toxic metals, increasing metal bio-uptake and incorporation into the wider food chain. Bioremediation strategies need to account for this behaviour and further research is required both to understand the generality of this behaviour and the operative mechanisms.

  16. Interactions of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and PAH-degrading bacteria (Acinetobacter sp.) on enhanced dissipation of spiked phenanthrene and pyrene in waterlogged soil.

    PubMed

    Gao, Y; Yu, X Z; Wu, S C; Cheung, K C; Tam, N F Y; Qian, P Y; Wong, M H

    2006-12-15

    The effects of cultivation of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and PAH-degrading bacteria (Acinetobacter sp.) separately, and in combination, on the dissipation of spiked phenanthrene and pyrene (0, 50+50, 100+100, 200+200 mg kg(-1)) in waterlogged soil were studied using pot trials. The population of introduced PAH-degrading bacteria remained at 10(5) CFU g(-1) dry soil after 20 days of treatment with Acinetobacter sp. only, but increased to 10(6) when planted with rice simultaneously. Shoot and root biomass of rice when grown alone was adversely affected by spiked PAHs, but significantly increased by 2-55% and 8-409%, respectively, when inoculated with Acinetobacter sp.. Phenanthrene and pyrene concentrations in roots ranged from 1-27 and 20-98 mg kg(-1), respectively, while their concentrations in shoots were generally lower than 0.2 mg kg(-1). The dissipation of phenanthrene was mainly due to abiotic loss as 70-78% phenanthrene was lost from the control soil at the end of 80 days, while removal of 86-87% phenanthrene had been achieved after 40 days in the treatment co-cultivated with Acinetobacter sp. and rice. Compared with the control where only 6-15% of pyrene was removed from soil, a much higher dissipation of pyrene (43-62%) was attained for the treatments co-cultivated with Acinetobacter sp. and rice at the end of 80 days. The results demonstrated that co-cultivation of rice and PAH-degrading bacteria may have a great potential to accelerate the bioremediation process of PAH-contaminated soil under waterlogged conditions.

  17. Properties of the low-lying electronic states of phenanthrene: Exact PPP results

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Chakrabarti, A.; Ramasesha, S.

    1996-10-05

    The authors report properties of the exact low-lying states of phenanthrene, its anion and dianion within the Pariser-Parr-Pople (PPP) model. The experimentally known singlet states of the neutral molecule are well reproduced by the model. The intensities for one and two photon absorption to various single states are also in good agreement with experiment. From the bond orders of these states, the authors predict the equilibrium geometries. The relaxation energies of these states, computed from charge-charge correlations and bond orders, are presented. The authors also present results of ring current calculations in the singlet ground state of phenanthrene. The authorsmore » have also reported energies, spin densities, bond orders, and relaxation energies of several triplet states and compared then with experiments as well as with other calculations, where available. The fine structure constants D and E, computed in the lowest triplet state, compare well with those obtained from experiments. These properties are also presented for the anions and the dianions. The PPP model in these cases predicts a low-energy (< 1 eV) dipole excitation. 31 refs., 4 figs., 9 tabs.« less

  18. Digestive determinants of benzo[a]pyrene and phenanthrene bioaccumulation by a deposit-feeding polychaete

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Penry, D.L.; Weston, D.P.

    1998-11-01

    The uptake of hydrophobic contaminants from ingested sediment can contribute significantly to body burdens of deposit feeders, and feeding behavior and digestive physiology can play important roles in bioaccumulation. The authors examined the uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by the deposit-feeding polychaete Abarenicola pacifica in experiments in which worms were first acclimated to low or high organic carbon sediments with 0.08 or 0.45% total organic carbon, respectively and then transferred to low or high organic carbon test sediments contaminated with radiolabeled phenanthrene or benzo[a]pyrene. Ingestion rate was measurements are essential in many types of bioaccumulation studies because differences inmore » ingestion rates between sediment types may confound some traditional measures of bioavailability. Physiological acclimation to the low or high organic carbon sediments did not appear to affect PAH uptake from the test sediments, but acclimation did affect biotransformation capabilities, particularly for phenanthrene.« less

  19. DNA single strand breakage, DNA adducts, and sister chromatid exchange in lymphocytes and phenanthrene and pyrene metabolites in urine of coke oven workers.

    PubMed Central

    Popp, W; Vahrenholz, C; Schell, C; Grimmer, G; Dettbarn, G; Kraus, R; Brauksiepe, A; Schmeling, B; Gutzeit, T; von Bülow, J; Norpoth, K

    1997-01-01

    OBJECTIVES: To investigate the specificity of biological monitoring variables (excretion of phenanthrene and pyrene metabolites in urine) and the usefulness of some biomarkers of effect (alkaline filter elution, 32P postlabelling assay, measurement of sister chromatid exchange) in workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). METHODS: 29 coke oven workers and a standardised control group were investigated for frequencies of DNA single strand breakage, DNA protein cross links (alkaline filter elution assay), sister chromatid exchange, and DNA adducts (32P postlabelling assay) in lymphocytes. Phenanthrene and pyrene metabolites were measured in 24 hour urine samples. 19 different PAHs (including benzo(a)pyrene, pyrene, and phenanthrene) were measured at the workplace by personal air monitoring. The GSTT1 activity in erythrocytes and lymphocyte subpopulations in blood was also measured. RESULTS: Concentrations of phenanthrene, pyrene, and benzo(a)pyrene in air correlated well with the concentration of total PAHs in air; they could be used for comparisons of different workplaces if the emission compositions were known. The measurement of phenanthrene metabolites in urine proved to be a better biological monitoring variable than the measurement of 1-hydroxypyrene. Significantly more DNA strand breaks in lymphocytes of coke oven workers were found (alkaline filter elution assay); the DNA adduct rate was not significantly increased in workers, but correlated with exposure to PAHs in a semiquantitative manner. The number of sister chromatid exchanges was lower in coke oven workers but this was not significant; thus counting sister chromatid exchanges was not a good variable for biomonitoring of coke oven workers. Also, indications for immunotoxic influences (changes in lymphocyte subpopulations) were found. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of phenanthrene metabolites in urine seems to be a better biological monitoring variable for exposure to PAHs than

  20. Comparison of amphiphilic polyurethane nanoparticles to nonionic surfactants for flushing phenanthrene from soil.

    PubMed

    Kim, Ju-Young; Shim, Sun-Bo; Shim, Jin-Kie

    2004-12-31

    Amphiphilic polyurethane (APU) nanoparticles were synthesized through crosslinking polymerization of nano-aggregates of urethane acrylate nonionomer (UAN). The efficiency of in situ extraction of sorbed phenanthrene from aquifer material was tested using soil columns and compared with that of surfactants such as Triton X-100, Brij 30, and Tween 80. The extraction efficiency of those washing materials strongly depended on their concentration, flow rate, and the degree of sorption within soil column. That is, the extraction efficiency increased with the decrease of flow rate and the degree of sorption and the increase of the concentration. Even though the surfactants are superior to APU nanoparticles at solubilizing phenanthrene, at the same flow rate (0.02 mL/min) and concentration (4000 mg/L), the effectiveness of in situ soil washing of APU nanoparticles was about two times higher than those of surfactants. This is because, at the lower flow rates, the degree of sorption of APU nanoparticles was lower than that of surfactants, owing to the chemically crosslinked nature of APU nanoparticles.

  1. [Transportation and transformation of 14C-phenanthrene in closed chamber (nutrient solution-lava-plant-air) system].

    PubMed

    Jiang, X; Ou, Z; Ying, P; Yediler, A; Ketrrup, A

    2001-06-01

    The transportation and transformation of 14C-phenanthrene in a closed 'plant-lava-nutrient solution-air' chamber system was studied by using radioactivity technology. The results showed that in this closed chamber system, phenanthrene was degraded fast. The radioactivity of 14C left at 23d in the nutrient solution was only 25% of applied. At the end of experiment (46d), the distribution sequence of 14C activity in the components of closed chamber system was root (38.55%) > volatile organic compounds (VOCs, 17.68%) > lava (14.35%) > CO2 (11.42%) > stem (2%). 14C-activities in plant tissue were combined with the tissue, and existed in the forms of lava-bound(root 4.68%; stem and leaves 0.68%) and polar metabolites (root 23.14%; stem 0.78%).

  2. Solar-energy production and energy-efficient lighting: photovoltaic devices and white-light-emitting diodes using poly(2,7-fluorene), poly(2,7-carbazole), and poly(2,7-dibenzosilole) derivatives.

    PubMed

    Beaupré, Serge; Boudreault, Pierre-Luc T; Leclerc, Mario

    2010-02-23

    World energy needs grow each year. To address global warming and climate changes the search for renewable energy sources with limited greenhouse gas emissions and the development of energy-efficient lighting devices are underway. This Review reports recent progress made in the synthesis and characterization of conjugated polymers based on bridged phenylenes, namely, poly(2,7-fluorene)s, poly(2,7-carbazole)s, and poly(2,7-dibenzosilole)s, for applications in solar cells and white-light-emitting diodes. The main strategies and remaining challenges in the development of reliable and low-cost renewable sources of energy and energy-saving lighting devices are discussed.

  3. Natural Mediators in the Oxidation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Laccase Mediator Systems

    PubMed Central

    Johannes, Christian; Majcherczyk, Andrzej

    2000-01-01

    The oxidation of polycyclic aromatic compounds was studied in systems consisting of laccase from Trametes versicolor and so-called mediator compounds. The enzymatic oxidation of acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, anthracene, and fluorene was mediated by various laccase substrates (phenols and aromatic amines) or compounds produced and secreted by white rot fungi. The best natural mediators, such as phenol, aniline, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol were as efficient as the previously described synthetic compounds ABTS [2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole. The oxidation efficiency increased proportionally with the redox potentials of the phenolic mediators up to a maximum value of 0.9 V and decreased thereafter with redox potentials exceeding this value. Natural compounds such as methionine, cysteine, and reduced glutathione, containing sulfhydryl groups, were also active as mediator compounds. PMID:10653713

  4. Natural mediators in the oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by laccase mediator systems

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Johannes, C.; Majcherczyk, A.

    2000-02-01

    The oxidation of polycyclic aromatic compounds was studied in systems consisting of laccase from Trametes versicolor and so-called mediator compounds. The enzymatic oxidation of acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, anthracene, and fluorene was mediated by various laccase substrates (phenols and aromatic amines) or compounds produced and secreted by white rot fungi. The best natural mediators, such as phenol, aniline, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol were as efficient as the previously described synthetic compounds ABTS [2,2{prime}-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole. The oxidation efficiency increased proportionally with the redox potentials of the phenolic mediators up to a maximum value of 0.9 V and decreased thereafter withmore » redox potentials exceeding this value. Natural compounds such as methionine, cysteine, and reduced glutathione, containing sulfhydryl groups, were also active as mediator compounds.« less

  5. Dynamics of Bacterial Communities in Two Unpolluted Soils after Spiking with Phenanthrene: Soil Type Specific and Common Responders

    PubMed Central

    Ding, Guo-Chun; Heuer, Holger; Smalla, Kornelia

    2012-01-01

    Considering their key role for ecosystem processes, it is important to understand the response of microbial communities in unpolluted soils to pollution with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Phenanthrene, a model compound for PAH, was spiked to a Cambisol and a Luvisol soil. Total community DNA from phenanthrene-spiked and control soils collected on days 0, 21, and 63 were analyzed based on PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprints of bacterial communities increasingly deviated with time between spiked and control soils. In taxon specific DGGE, significant responses of Alphaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria became only detectable after 63 days, while significant effects on Betaproteobacteria were detectable in both soils after 21 days. Comparison of the taxonomic distribution of bacteria in spiked and control soils on day 63 as revealed by pyrosequencing indicated soil type specific negative effects of phenanthrene on several taxa, many of them belonging to the Gamma-, Beta-, or Deltaproteobacteria. Bacterial richness and evenness decreased in spiked soils. Despite the significant differences in the bacterial community structure between both soils on day 0, similar genera increased in relative abundance after PAH spiking, especially Sphingomonas and Polaromonas. However, this did not result in an increased overall similarity of the bacterial communities in both soils. PMID:22934091

  6. Drift mobility of holes in phenanthrene single crystals

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sonnonstine, T. J.; Hermann, A. M.

    1974-01-01

    The temperature dependence of drift mobilities of holes in single crystals of phenanthrene was measured in the range from 203 to 353 K in three crystallographic directions. Below the anomaly temperature of 72 C, the mobility temperature dependences are consistent with the Munn and Siebrand slow-phonon hopping process in the b direction and the Munn and Siebrand slow-phonon coherent mode in the a and c prime directions. The drift mobility temperature dependences in crystals that have been cooled through the anomaly temperature in the presence of illumination and an electric field are consistent with the model of Spielberg et al. (1971), in which the hindered vibration of the 4,5 hydrogens introduces a new degree of freedom above 72 C.

  7. New phenanthrene and 9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene derivatives from the stems of Dendrobium officinale with their cytotoxic activities.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Gui-Yun; Deng, Bo-Wen; Zhang, Chong-Yu; Cui, Yi-Da; Bi, Jia-Yi; Zhang, Guo-Gang

    2018-01-01

    Two new phenanthrene and 9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene derivatives (1-2) with six known congeners (3-8) were isolated from the extraction of stems of Dendrobium officinale. Compounds 1 and 2 were based on carbon skeleton in which phenanthrene and 9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene moiety were linked with a phenylpropane unit through a dioxane bridge, respectively. Their structures were determined by comprehensive NMR spectroscopic data, the absolute configuration of new compounds were determined by comparing their experimental and calculated ECD for the first time. All the compounds were investigated contains two cancer cell lines (HI-60, THP-1). All the isolates showed cytotoxicity, especially compound 4 showed markedly cytotoxic activities against HI-60 and THP-1 cell lines with IC 50 values of 11.96 and 8.92 μM.

  8. Impacts of heterogeneous organic matter on phenanthrene sorption--Different soil and sediment samples

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Karapanagioti, Hrissi K.; Childs, Jeffrey; Sabatini, David A.

    2001-01-01

    Organic petrography has been proposed as a tool for characterizing the heterogeneous organic matter present in soil and sediment samples. A new simplified method is proposed as a quantitative means of interpreting observed sorption behavior for phenanthrene and different soils and sediments based on their organic petrographical characterization. This method is tested under singe solute conditions and at phenanthrene concentration of 1 μg/L. Since the opaque organic matter fraction dominates the sorption process, we propose that by quantifying this fraction one can interpret organic content normalized sorption distribution coefficient (Koc) values for a sample. While this method was developed and tested for various samples within the same aquifer, in the current study the method is validated for soil and sediment samples from different sites that cover a wide range of organic matter origin, age, and organic content. All 10 soil and sediment samples studied had log Koc values for the opaque particles between 5.6 and 6.8. This range of Koc values illustrates the heterogeneity of opaque particles between sites and geological formations and thus the need to characterize the opaque fraction of materials on a site-by-site basis.

  9. Surfaces wettability and morphology modulation in a fluorene derivative self-assembly system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cao, Xinhua; Gao, Aiping; Zhao, Na; Yuan, Fangyuan; Liu, Chenxi; Li, Ruru

    2016-04-01

    A new organogelator based on fluorene derivative (gelator 1) was designed and synthesized. Organogels could be obtained via the self-assembly of the derivative in acetone, toluene, ethyl acetate, hexane, DMSO and petroleum ether. The self-assembly process was thoroughly characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis, FT-IR and the contact angle. Surfaces with different morphologies and wetting properties were formed via the self-assembly of gelator 1 in the six different solvents. Interestingly, a superhydrophobic surface with a contact angle of 150° was obtained from organogel 1 in DMSO and exhibited the lotus-effect. The sliding angle necessary for a water droplet to move on the glass was only 15°. Hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces were attributed as the main driving forces for gel formation.

  10. Toxicity of combined chromium(VI) and phenanthrene pollution on the seed germination, stem lengths, and fresh weights of higher plants.

    PubMed

    Hu, Shuangqing; Gu, Hairong; Cui, Chunyan; Ji, Rong

    2016-08-01

    Studies of the interaction and toxicity of pollutant combinations such as heavy metals and PAHs are of practical importance in the remediation and monitoring of the industrial soil environment. This study investigated the single and combined toxicity of chromium(VI) and phenanthrene on three important higher plants: mung beans (Phaseolus aureus), pakchoi cabbage (Brassica chinensis), and rice (Oryza sativa). In experiments using artificial soil matrix, the EC10 and EC20 of the two pollutants, alone and in combination, were analyzed with respect to seed germination, stem length, and above-ground fresh weight of these higher plants. The additive index method was used to evaluate the combined biological toxicity of chromium(VI) and phenanthrene. The results showed that the EC20 of chromium(VI) on the stem lengths of mung beans, pakchoi cabbage, and rice was 289, 248, and 550 mg kg(-1), respectively. The corresponding EC20 values for the fresh weights of the three plants were 334, 307, and 551 mg kg(-1). The EC20 of phenanthrene on the stem lengths of mung beans, pakchoi cabbage, and rice was 528, 426, and 628 mg kg(-1), respectively. The corresponding EC20 values for the fresh weights of the three plants were 696, 585, and 768 mg kg(-1). The EC20 of a combination of chromium(VI) and phenanthrene on the stem lengths of mung beans, pakchoi cabbage, and rice was 192, 173, and 279 mg kg(-1), respectively, and 200, 205, and 271 mg kg(-1) for the fresh weights of the three plants. The single and combined exposure of soil to chromium(VI) and phenanthrene had deleterious effects on plants in the early stage of growth. Overall, pakchoi cabbage was more sensitive than mung beans and rice. The two pollutants exerted synergistic effects on the stem lengths and above-ground fresh weights of both mung beans and rice but antagonistic effects on pakchoi cabbage. The results of this study also suggested pakchoi cabbage as a sensitive indicator of soil pollution.

  11. Fluorene-Based Conjugated Microporous Polymers: Preparation and Chemical Sensing Application.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Qiujing; Yu, Sen; Wang, Qian; Xiao, Qin; Yue, Yong; Ren, Shijie

    2017-12-01

    Conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) with strong fluorescence are great candidates for optoelectronic applications such as photocatalysis and chemical sensing. A series of novel fluorene-based conjugated microporous polymers (FCMPs) with different electronic structures are prepared by Yamamoto coupling reactions using rationally designed monomers. The FCMPs show a high degree of microporosity, decent specific surface areas, and variable fluorescence. FCMP3, which possesses a triazine knot in the network, exhibits the highest specific surface area of 489 m 2 g -1 , the largest pore volume of 0.30 cm 3 g -1 , and the highest solid-state photoluminescence quantum yield of 11.46%. Chemical sensing performance of FCMPs is studied using a range of nitroaromatic compounds as the analytes. Among the FCMPs, FCMP3 exhibits the highest Stern-Volmer constants of 2541, 4708, and 5241 m -1 for the detection of nitrobenzene, 4-nitrotoluene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, respectively, which are comparable to the detecting efficiency of the state-of-the-art CMP-based sensing agents. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  12. Short-Term Rhizosphere Effect on Available Carbon Sources, Phenanthrene Degradation, and Active Microbiome in an Aged-Contaminated Industrial Soil

    PubMed Central

    Thomas, François; Cébron, Aurélie

    2016-01-01

    Over the last decades, understanding of the effects of plants on soil microbiomes has greatly advanced. However, knowledge on the assembly of rhizospheric communities in aged-contaminated industrial soils is still limited, especially with regard to transcriptionally active microbiomes and their link to the quality or quantity of carbon sources. We compared the short-term (2–10 days) dynamics of bacterial communities and potential PAH-degrading bacteria in bare or ryegrass-planted aged-contaminated soil spiked with phenanthrene, put in relation with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) sources and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution. Both resident and active bacterial communities (analyzed from DNA and RNA, respectively) showed higher species richness and smaller dispersion between replicates in planted soils. Root development strongly favored the activity of Pseudomonadales within the first 2 days, and of members of Actinobacteria, Caulobacterales, Rhizobiales, and Xanthomonadales within 6–10 days. Plants slowed down the dissipation of phenanthrene, while root exudation provided a cocktail of labile substrates that might preferentially fuel microbial growth. Although the abundance of PAH-degrading genes increased in planted soil, their transcription level stayed similar to bare soil. In addition, network analysis revealed that plants induced an early shift in the identity of potential phenanthrene degraders, which might influence PAH dissipation on the long-term. PMID:26903971

  13. Preferential glutathione conjugation of a reverse diol epoxide compared to a bay region diol epoxide of phenanthrene in human hepatocytes: relevance to molecular epidemiology studies of glutathione-s-transferase polymorphisms and cancer.

    PubMed

    Hecht, Stephen S; Berg, Jeannette Zinggeler; Hochalter, J Bradley

    2009-03-16

    Bay region diol epoxides are recognized ultimate carcinogens of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and in vitro studies have demonstrated that they can be detoxified by conjugation with glutathione, leading to the widely investigated hypothesis that individuals with low activity forms of glutathione-S-transferases are at higher risk of PAH induced cancer, a hypothesis that has found at most weak support in molecular epidemiology studies. A weakness in this hypothesis was that the mercapturic acids resulting from the conjugation of PAH bay region diol epoxides had never been identified in human urine. We recently analyzed smokers' urine for mercapturic acids derived from phenanthrene, the simplest PAH with a bay region. The only phenanthrene diol epoxide-derived mercapturic acid in smokers' urine was produced from the reverse diol epoxide, anti-phenanthrene-3,4-diol-1,2-epoxide (11), not the bay region diol epoxide, anti-phenanthrene-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide (10), which does not support the hypothesis noted above. In this study, we extended these results by examining the conjugation of phenanthrene metabolites with glutathione in human hepatocytes. We identified the mercapturic acid N-acetyl-S-(r-4,t-2,3-trihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-c-1-phenanthryl)-L-cysteine (14a), (0.33-35.9 pmol/mL at 10 microM 8, 24 h incubation, N = 10) in all incubations with phenanthrene-3,4-diol (8) and the corresponding diol epoxide 11, but no mercapturic acids were detected in incubations with phenanthrene-1,2-diol (7), and only trace amounts were observed in incubations with the corresponding bay region diol epoxide 10. Taken together with our previous results, these studies clearly demonstrate that glutathione conjugation of a reverse diol epoxide of phenanthrene is favored over conjugation of a bay region diol epoxide. Since reverse diol epoxides of PAH are generally weakly or nonmutagenic/carcinogenic, these results, if generalizable to other PAH, do not support the widely held

  14. Systematic developmental neurotoxicity assessment of a representative PAH Superfund mixture using zebrafish

    DOE PAGES

    Geier, Mitra C.; James Minick, D.; Truong, Lisa; ...

    2018-04-01

    Superfund sites often consist of complex mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It is widely recognized that PAHs pose risks to human and environmental health, but the risks posed by exposure to PAH mixtures are unclear. Here, we constructed an environmentally relevant PAH mixture with the top 10 most prevalent PAHs (SM10) from a Superfund site derived from environmental passive sampling data. Using the zebrafish model, we measured body burden at 48 hours post fertilization (hpf) and evaluated the developmental and neurotoxicity of SM10 and the 10 individual constituents at 24 hours post fertilization (hpf) and 5 days post fertilizationmore » (dpf). Zebrafish embryos were exposed from 6 to 120 hpf to (1) the SM10 mixture, (2) a variety of individual PAHs: pyrene, fluoranthene, retene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, naphthalene, acenaphthene, phenanthrene, fluorene, and 2-methylnaphthalene. We demonstrated that SM10 and only 3 of the individual PAHs were developmentally toxic. Subsequently, we constructed and exposed developing zebrafish to two sub-mixtures: SM3 (comprised of 3 of the developmentally toxicity PAHs) and SM7 (7 non-developmentally toxic PAHs). We found that the SM3 toxicity profile was similar to SM10, and SM7 unexpectedly elicited developmental toxicity unlike that seen with its individual components. The results demonstrated that the overall developmental toxicity in the mixtures could be explained using the general concentration addition model. To determine if exposures activated the AHR pathway, spatial expression of CYP1A was evaluated in the 10 individual PAHs and the 3 mixtures at 5 dpf. Results showed activation of AHR in the liver and vasculature for the mixtures and some individual PAHs. Embryos exposed to SM10 during development and raised in chemical-free water into adulthood exhibited decreased learning and responses to startle stimulus indicating that developmental SM10 exposures affect neurobehavior. Collectively, these

  15. Systematic developmental neurotoxicity assessment of a representative PAH Superfund mixture using zebrafish.

    PubMed

    Geier, Mitra C; James Minick, D; Truong, Lisa; Tilton, Susan; Pande, Paritosh; Anderson, Kim A; Teeguardan, Justin; Tanguay, Robert L

    2018-04-06

    Superfund sites often consist of complex mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It is widely recognized that PAHs pose risks to human and environmental health, but the risks posed by exposure to PAH mixtures are unclear. We constructed an environmentally relevant PAH mixture with the top 10 most prevalent PAHs (SM10) from a Superfund site derived from environmental passive sampling data. Using the zebrafish model, we measured body burden at 48 hours post fertilization (hpf) and evaluated the developmental and neurotoxicity of SM10 and the 10 individual constituents at 24 hours post fertilization (hpf) and 5 days post fertilization (dpf). Zebrafish embryos were exposed from 6 to 120 hpf to (1) the SM10 mixture, (2) a variety of individual PAHs: pyrene, fluoranthene, retene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, naphthalene, acenaphthene, phenanthrene, fluorene, and 2-methylnaphthalene. We demonstrated that SM10 and only 3 of the individual PAHs were developmentally toxic. Subsequently, we constructed and exposed developing zebrafish to two sub-mixtures: SM3 (comprised of 3 of the developmentally toxicity PAHs) and SM7 (7 non-developmentally toxic PAHs). We found that the SM3 toxicity profile was similar to SM10, and SM7 unexpectedly elicited developmental toxicity unlike that seen with its individual components. The results demonstrated that the overall developmental toxicity in the mixtures could be explained using the general concentration addition model. To determine if exposures activated the AHR pathway, spatial expression of CYP1A was evaluated in the 10 individual PAHs and the 3 mixtures at 5 dpf. Results showed activation of AHR in the liver and vasculature for the mixtures and some individual PAHs. Embryos exposed to SM10 during development and raised in chemical-free water into adulthood exhibited decreased learning and responses to startle stimulus indicating that developmental SM10 exposures affect neurobehavior. Collectively, these

  16. Systematic developmental neurotoxicity assessment of a representative PAH Superfund mixture using zebrafish

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Geier, Mitra C.; James Minick, D.; Truong, Lisa

    Superfund sites often consist of complex mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It is widely recognized that PAHs pose risks to human and environmental health, but the risks posed by exposure to PAH mixtures are unclear. Here, we constructed an environmentally relevant PAH mixture with the top 10 most prevalent PAHs (SM10) from a Superfund site derived from environmental passive sampling data. Using the zebrafish model, we measured body burden at 48 hours post fertilization (hpf) and evaluated the developmental and neurotoxicity of SM10 and the 10 individual constituents at 24 hours post fertilization (hpf) and 5 days post fertilizationmore » (dpf). Zebrafish embryos were exposed from 6 to 120 hpf to (1) the SM10 mixture, (2) a variety of individual PAHs: pyrene, fluoranthene, retene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, naphthalene, acenaphthene, phenanthrene, fluorene, and 2-methylnaphthalene. We demonstrated that SM10 and only 3 of the individual PAHs were developmentally toxic. Subsequently, we constructed and exposed developing zebrafish to two sub-mixtures: SM3 (comprised of 3 of the developmentally toxicity PAHs) and SM7 (7 non-developmentally toxic PAHs). We found that the SM3 toxicity profile was similar to SM10, and SM7 unexpectedly elicited developmental toxicity unlike that seen with its individual components. The results demonstrated that the overall developmental toxicity in the mixtures could be explained using the general concentration addition model. To determine if exposures activated the AHR pathway, spatial expression of CYP1A was evaluated in the 10 individual PAHs and the 3 mixtures at 5 dpf. Results showed activation of AHR in the liver and vasculature for the mixtures and some individual PAHs. Embryos exposed to SM10 during development and raised in chemical-free water into adulthood exhibited decreased learning and responses to startle stimulus indicating that developmental SM10 exposures affect neurobehavior. Collectively, these

  17. Generation and distribution of PAHs in the process of medical waste incineration

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Chen, Ying, E-mail: echochen327@163.com; National Center of Solid Waste Management, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100029; Zhao, Rongzhi

    Highlights: ► PAHs generation and distribution features of medical waste incineration are studied. ► More PAHs were found in fly ash than that in bottom ash. ► The highest proportion of PAHs consisted of the seven most carcinogenic ones. ► Increase of free oxygen molecule and burning temperature promote PAHs degradation. ► There is a moderate positive correlation between total PCDD/Fs and total PAHs. - Abstract: After the deadly earthquake on May 12, 2008 in Wenchuan county of China, several different incineration approaches were used for medical waste disposal. This paper investigates the generation properties of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)more » during the incineration. Samples were collected from the bottom ash in an open burning slash site, surface soil at the open burning site, bottom ash from a simple incinerator, bottom ash generated from the municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerator used for medical waste disposal, and bottom ash and fly ash from an incinerator exclusively used for medical waste. The species of PAHs were analyzed, and the toxicity equivalency quantities (TEQs) of samples calculated. Analysis results indicate that the content of total PAHs in fly ash was 1.8 × 10{sup 3} times higher than that in bottom ash, and that the strongly carcinogenic PAHs with four or more rings accumulated sensitively in fly ash. The test results of samples gathered from open burning site demonstrate that Acenaphthylene (ACY), Acenaphthene (ACE), Fluorene (FLU), Phenanthrene (PHE), Anthracene (ANT) and other PAHs were inclined to migrate into surrounding environment along air and surface watershed corridors, while 4- to 6-ring PAHs accumulated more likely in soil. Being consistent with other studies, it has also been confirmed that increases in both free oxygen molecules and combustion temperatures could promote the decomposition of polycyclic PAHs. In addition, without the influence of combustion conditions, there is a positive correlation

  18. Repression of Pseudomonas putida phenanthrene-degrading activity by plant root extracts and exudates.

    PubMed

    Rentz, Jeremy A; Alvarez, Pedro J J; Schnoor, Jerald L

    2004-06-01

    The phenanthrene-degrading activity (PDA) of Pseudomonas putida ATCC 17484 was repressed after incubation with plant root extracts of oat (Avena sativa), osage orange (Maclura pomifera), hybrid willow (Salix alba x matsudana), kou (Cordia subcordata) and milo (Thespesia populnea) and plant root exudates of oat (Avena sativa) and hybrid poplar (Populus deltoides x nigra DN34). Total organic carbon content of root extracts ranged from 103 to 395 mg l(-1). Characterization of root extracts identified acetate (not detectable to 8.0 mg l(-1)), amino acids (1.7-17.3 mg l(-1)) and glucose (1.6-14.0 mg l(-1)), indicating a complex mixture of substrates. Repression was also observed after exposure to potential root-derived substrates, including organic acids, glucose (carbohydrate) and glutamate (amino acid). Carbon source regulation (e.g. catabolite repression) was apparently responsible for the observed repression of P. putida PDA by root extracts. However, we showed that P. putida grows on root extracts and exudates as sole carbon and energy sources. Enhanced growth on root products may compensate for partial repression, because larger microbial populations are conducive to faster degradation rates. This would explain the commonly reported increase in phenanthrene removal in the rhizosphere.

  19. Complex conductivity response to microbial growth and biofilm formation on phenanthrene spiked medium

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Albrecht, Remy; Gourry, Jean Christophe; Simonnot, Marie-Odile; Leyval, Corinne

    2011-11-01

    Several laboratory studies have recently demonstrated the utility of geophysical methods for the investigation of microbial-induced changes over contaminated sites. However, it remains difficult to distinguish the effects due to the new physical properties imparted by microbial processes, to bacterial growth, or to the development of bacterial biofilm. We chose to study the influence of biofilm formation on geophysical response using complex conductivity measurements (0.1-1000 Hz) in phenanthrene-contaminated media. Biotic assays were conducted with two phenanthrene (PHE) degrading bacterial strains: Burkholderia sp (NAH1), which produced biofilm and Stenophomonas maltophilia (MATE10), which did not, and an abiotic control. Results showed that bacterial densities for NAH1 and MATE10 strains continuously increased at the same rate during the experiment. However, the complex conductivity signature showed noticeable differences between the two bacteria, with a phase shift of 50 mrad at 4 Hz for NAH1, which produced biofilm. Biofilm volume was quantified by Scanning Confocal Laser Microscopy (SCLM). Significant correlations were established between phase shift decrease and biofilm volume for NAH1 assays. Results suggest that complex conductivity measurements, specifically phase shift, can be a useful indicator of biofilm formation inside the overall signal of microbial activity on contaminated sites.

  20. Differential regulation of phenanthrene biodegradation process by kaolinite and quartz and the underlying mechanism.

    PubMed

    Gong, Beini; Wu, Pingxiao; Ruan, Bo; Zhang, Yating; Lai, Xiaolin; Yu, Langfeng; Li, Yongtao; Dang, Zhi

    2018-05-05

    Natural and cost-effective materials such as minerals can serve as supportive matrices to enhance biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this study we evaluated and compared the regulatory role of two common soil minerals, i.e. kaolinite and quartz in phenanthrene (a model PAH) degradation by a PAH degrader Sphingomonas sp. GY2B and investigated the underlying mechanism. Overall kaolinite was more effective than quartz in promoting phenanthrene degradation and bacterial growth. And it was revealed that a more intimate association was established between GY2B and kaolinite. Si and O atoms on mineral surface were demonstrated to be involved in GY2B-mineral interaction. There was an higher polysaccharide/lipid content in the EPS (extracellular polymeric substances) secreted by GY2B on kaolinite than on quartz. Altogether, these results showed that differential bacterial growth, enzymatic activity, EPS composition as well as the interface interaction may explain the effects minerals have on PAH biodegradation. It was implicated that different interface interaction between different minerals and bacteria can affect microbial behavior, which ultimately results in different biodegradation efficiency. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Modulated charge injection in p-type dye-sensitized solar cells using fluorene-based light absorbers.

    PubMed

    Liu, Zonghao; Xiong, Dehua; Xu, Xiaobao; Arooj, Qudsia; Wang, Huan; Yin, Liyuan; Li, Wenhui; Wu, Huaizhi; Zhao, Zhixin; Chen, Wei; Wang, Mingkui; Wang, Feng; Cheng, Yi-Bing; He, Hongshan

    2014-03-12

    In this study, new pull-push arylamine-fluorene based organic dyes zzx-op1, zzx-op2, and zzx-op3 have been designed and synthesized for p-type dye-sensitized solar cells (p-DSCs). In zzx-op1, a di(p-carboxyphenyl)amine (DCPA) was used as an electron donor, a perylenemonoimide (PMID) as an electron acceptor, and a fluorene (FLU) unit with two aliphatic hexyl chains as a π-conjugated linker. In zzx-op2 and zzx-op3, a 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) and a thiophene were inserted consecutively between PMID and FLU to tune the energy levels of the frontier molecular orbitals of the dyes. The structural modification broadened the spectral coverage from an onset of 700 nm for zzx-op1 to 750 nm for zzx-op3. The electron-rich EDOT and thiophene lifted up the HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) levels of zzx-op2 and zzx-op3, making their potential more negative than zzx-op1. When three dyes were employed in p-type DSCs with I(-)/I3(-) as a redox couple and NiO nanoparticles as hole materials, zzx-op1 exhibited impressive energy conversion efficiency of 0.184% with the open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 112 mV and the short-circuit current density (JSC) of 4.36 mA cm(-2) under AM 1.5G condition. Density functional theory calculations, transient photovoltage decay measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic studies revealed that zzx-op1 sensitized solar cell exhibited much higher charge injection efficiency (90.3%) than zzx-op2 (53.9%) and zzx-op3 (39.0%), indicating a trade-off between spectral broadening and electron injection driving force in p-type DSCs.

  2. Common y-intercept and single compound regressions of gas-particle partitioning data vs 1/T

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pankow, James F.

    Confidence intervals are placed around the log Kp vs 1/ T correlation equations obtained using simple linear regressions (SLR) with the gas-particle partitioning data set of Yamasaki et al. [(1982) Env. Sci. Technol.16, 189-194]. The compounds and groups of compounds studied include the polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons phenanthrene + anthracene, me-phenanthrene + me-anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[ a]fluorene + benzo[ b]fluorene, chrysene + benz[ a]anthracene + triphenylene, benzo[ b]fluoranthene + benzo[ k]fluoranthene, and benzo[ a]pyrene + benzo[ e]pyrene (note: me = methyl). For any given compound, at equilibrium, the partition coefficient Kp equals ( F/ TSP)/ A where F is the particulate-matter associated concentration (ng m -3), A is the gas-phase concentration (ng m -3), and TSP is the concentration of particulate matter (μg m -3). At temperatures more than 10°C from the mean sampling temperature of 17°C, the confidence intervals are quite wide. Since theory predicts that similar compounds sorbing on the same particulate matter should possess very similar y-intercepts, the data set was also fitted using a special common y-intercept regression (CYIR). For most of the compounds, the CYIR equations fell inside of the SLR 95% confidence intervals. The CYIR y-intercept value is -18.48, and is reasonably close to the type of value that can be predicted for PAH compounds. The set of CYIR regression equations is probably more reliable than the set of SLR equations. For example, the CYIR-derived desorption enthalpies are much more highly correlated with vaporization enthalpies than are the SLR-derived desorption enthalpies. It is recommended that the CYIR approach be considered whenever analysing temperature-dependent gas-particle partitioning data.

  3. Magnetic microsphere-confined graphene for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from environmental water samples coupled with high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence analysis.

    PubMed

    Wang, Weina; Ma, Ruiyang; Wu, Qiuhua; Wang, Chun; Wang, Zhi

    2013-06-07

    In this paper, a magnetic microsphere-confined graphene adsorbent (Fe3O4@SiO2-G) was fabricated and used for the extraction of five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (fluorene, anthracene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene) from environmental water samples prior to high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The Fe3O4@SiO2-G was characterized by various instrumental methods. Various experimental parameters that could affect the extraction efficiencies, such as the amount of Fe3O4@SiO2-G, the pH and ionic strength of sample solution, the extraction time and the desorption conditions, were investigated. Due to the high surface area and excellent adsorption capacity of the Fe3O4@SiO2-G, satisfactory extraction can be achieved with only 15mg of the adsorbent per 250mL solution and 5min extraction. Under the optimum conditions, a linear response was observed in the concentration range of 5-1500ngL(-1) for fluorene, 2.5-1500ngL(-1) for anthracene and 15-1500ngL(-1) for phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene, with the correlation coefficients (r) ranging from 0.9897 to 0.9961. The limits of detection (S/N=3) of the method were between 0.5 and 5.0ngL(-1). The relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 5.6%. The recoveries of the method were in the range between 83.2% and 108.2%. The results indicated that this graphene-based magnetic nanocomposite had a great adsorptive ability toward the five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from environmental water samples. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Fate of phenanthrene, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene during biodegradation of crude oil added to two soils.

    PubMed

    Smith, M J; Lethbridge, G; Burns, R G

    1999-04-15

    The release of 14CO2 from 9-[14C]phenanthrene, 4,5,9,10-[14C]pyrene and 7-[14C]benzo[a]pyrene, added to Brent/Fortes crude oil and mixed into a pristine sand soil (0.40% organic C) and a pristine organic soil (22.9% organic C), was determined. After 244 days at 25 degrees C, 11.1 +/- 3.5% (sand) and 17.1 +/- 0.30% (organic) phenanthrene-14C and 9.77 +/- 2.8% (sand) and 5.86 +/- 1.4% (organic) benzo[a]pyrene-14C was released. After 210 days, 3.65 +/- 0.5% (sand) and 4.43 +/- 0.33% (organic) pyrene-14C was released. Inoculation of these two soils with DC1 and PD2 (bacteria capable of accelerating the phenanthrene and pyrene mineralisation in soil in the absence of crude oil) either at day 0 or after release as 14CO2 by indigenous degraders had ceased, failed to increase or initiate further mineralisation. Thus, aged PAH residues were non-bioavailable to these metabolically competent degrading microorganisms. At the end of the first period of incubation (210 days or 244 days), the total aromatic hydrocarbons recovered using Soxhlet extraction was 0.18% (sand) and 42.8% (organic) compared with approximately 100% from bio-inhibited soils. This confirmed that the indigenous microbiological activity not only caused a limited amount of PAH mineralisation but also reduced the extractability of residues, possibly due to the generation of metabolites which were chemisorbed and bound (and non extractable) in 'aged' soils.

  5. Investigation of hydrophobic contaminants in an urban slough system using passive sampling - Insights from sampling rate calculations

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    McCarthy, K.

    2008-01-01

    Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were deployed in the Columbia Slough, near Portland, Oregon, on three separate occasions to measure the spatial and seasonal distribution of dissolved polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine compounds (OCs) in the slough. Concentrations of PAHs and OCs in SPMDs showed spatial and seasonal differences among sites and indicated that unusually high flows in the spring of 2006 diluted the concentrations of many of the target contaminants. However, the same PAHs - pyrene, fluoranthene, and the alkylated homologues of phenanthrene, anthracene, and fluorene - and OCs - polychlorinated biphenyls, pentachloroanisole, chlorpyrifos, dieldrin, and the metabolites of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) - predominated throughout the system during all three deployment periods. The data suggest that storm washoff may be a predominant source of PAHs in the slough but that OCs are ubiquitous, entering the slough by a variety of pathways. Comparison of SPMDs deployed on the stream bed with SPMDs deployed in the overlying water column suggests that even for the very hydrophobic compounds investigated, bed sediments may not be a predominant source in this system. Perdeuterated phenanthrene (phenanthrene-d10). spiked at a rate of 2 ??g per SPMD, was shown to be a reliable performance reference compound (PRC) under the conditions of these deployments. Post-deployment concentrations of the PRC revealed differences in sampling conditions among sites and between seasons, but indicate that for SPMDs deployed throughout the main slough channel, differences in sampling rates were small enough to make site-to-site comparisons of SPMD concentrations straightforward. ?? Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007.

  6. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons profiles of spent drilling fluids deposited at Emu-Uno, Delta State, Nigeria.

    PubMed

    Iwegbue, Chukwujindu M A

    2011-10-01

    The concentrations and profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were determined in spent drilling fluid deposited at Emu-Uno, Delta State of Nigeria. The total concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the spent drilling fluid deposits ranged between 40 and 770 μg kg(-1). The PAHs profile were predominantly 2- and 3-rings with acenaphthalene, phenanthrene, fluorene being the predominant PAHs. The prevalence of 2- and 3-rings PAHs in the spent drilling fluid deposits indicate contamination of the drilling fluids with crude oil during drilling. Incorporation of spent drilling fluids into the soil has serious implication for soil, surface water and groundwater quality. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011

  7. Salicylyl Fluorene Derivatives as Fluorescent Sensors for Cu(II) Ions.

    PubMed

    Khaokeaw, Chenwit; Sukwattanasinitt, Mongkol; Rashatasakhon, Paitoon

    2016-03-01

    Two derivatives of fluorene containing salicylic acid groups are successfully synthesized by palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions and subsequent hydrolysis of salicylate esters. The compounds are characterized by various spectroscopic methods. In phosphate buffer (pH 8.0) solutions, these compounds are well soluble. They show maximum absorption wavelengths in the range of 304-330 nm and exhibit maximum emission wavelength around 420 and 430 nm with the quantum yields of 2.7 and 4.4 %, respectively. The compound with alkynyl salicylate groups (2) exhibits a selective fluorescence quenching towards Cu(II) and Fe(II) with a relatively similar sensitivity. The selectivity favoring Cu(II) over Fe(II) and other metal ions can be achieved upon the addition of 30 μM Triton X-100. The Cu(II) detection limit in solution phase is 1.47 ppb. The fluorescence signal recovery upon the addition of EDTA indicate a reversible complexation between 2 and Cu(II) ion. Fabrication of 2 on filter paper using a 50 μM solution in THF affords a naked-eye detection for Cu(II) and Fe(II) in aqueous media at picomole level.

  8. Urinary naphthalene and phenanthrene as biomarkers of occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

    PubMed Central

    Sobus, Jon R.; Waidyanatha, Suramya; McClean, Michael D.; Herrick, Robert F.; Smith, Thomas J.; Garshick, Eric; Laden, Francine; Hart, Jaime E.; Zheng, Yuxin; Rappaport, Stephen M.

    2009-01-01

    Objectives We investigated the utility of unmetabolized naphthalene (Nap) and phenanthrene (Phe) in urine as surrogates for exposures to mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Methods Our study included workers exposed to diesel exhausts (low PAH exposure level, n = 39) as well as those exposed to emissions from asphalt (medium PAH exposure level, n = 26) and coke ovens (high PAH exposure level, n = 28). Levels of Nap and Phe were measured in urine from each subject using head space-solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Published levels of airborne Nap, Phe, and other PAHs in the coke-producing and aluminum industries were also investigated. Results In post-shift urine, the highest estimated geometric mean concentrations of Nap and Phe were observed in coke-oven workers (Nap: 2,490 ng/l; Phe: 975 ng/l), followed by asphalt workers (Nap: 71.5 ng/l; Phe: 54.3 ng/l), and by diesel-exposed workers (Nap: 17.7 ng/l; Phe: 3.60 ng/l). After subtracting logged background levels of Nap and Phe from the logged post-shift levels of these PAHs in urine, the resulting values [referred to as ln(adjNap) and ln(adjPhe), respectively] were significantly correlated in each group of workers (0.71 ≤ Pearson r ≤ 0.89), suggesting a common exposure source in each case. Surprisingly, multiple linear regression analysis of ln(adjNap) on ln(adjPhe) showed no significant effect of the source of exposure (coke ovens, asphalt, and diesel exhaust) and further suggested that the ratio of urinary Nap/Phe (in natural scale) decreased with increasing exposure levels. These results were corroborated with published data for airborne Nap and Phe in the coke-producing and aluminum industries. The published air measurements also indicated that Nap and Phe levels were proportional to the levels of all combined PAHs in those industries. Conclusion Levels of Nap and Phe in urine reflect airborne exposures to these compounds and are promising surrogates for

  9. (4,5-Diaza­fluoren-9-one-κ2 N,N′)bis­(thio­cyanato-κS)mercury(II)

    PubMed Central

    Notash, Behrouz; Safari, Nasser; Amani, Vahid

    2011-01-01

    In the title compound, [Hg(NCS)2(C11H6N2O)], the HgII atom, lying on a twofold rotation axis, is four-coordinated in a distorted tetra­hedral geometry by an N,N′-bidentate diaza­fluoren-9-one ligand and two thio­cyanate anions. In the crystal, inter­molecular C—H⋯N and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds are effective in the stabilization of the structure. PMID:21753948

  10. High thermal stability fluorene-based hole-injecting material for organic light-emitting devices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Lu; Jiao, Bo; Li, Sanfeng; Ma, Lin; Yu, Yue; Wu, Zhaoxin

    2016-03-01

    Novel N1,N3,N5-tris(9,9-diphenyl-9H-fluroen-2-yl)-N1,N3,N5-triphenylbenzene-1,3,5-triamine (TFADB) was synthesized and characterized as a hole-injecting material (HIM) for organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). By incorporating fluorene group TFADB shows a high glass-transition temperature Tg > 168 °C, indicative of excellent thermal stability. TFADB-based devices exhibited the highest performance in terms of the maximum current efficiency (6.0 cd/A), maximum power efficiency (4.0 lm/W), which is improved than that of the standard device based on 4-4‧-4″Tris(N-(naphthalene-2-yl)-N-phenyl-amino)triphenylamine (2T-NATA) (5.2 cd/A, 3.6 lm/W). This material could be a promising hole-injecting material, especially for the high temperature applications of OLEDs and other organic electronic devices.

  11. Rhamnolipid influences biosorption and biodegradation of phenanthrene by phenanthrene-degrading strain Pseudomonas sp. Ph6.

    PubMed

    Ma, Zhao; Liu, Juan; Dick, Richard P; Li, Hui; Shen, Di; Gao, Yanzheng; Waigi, Michael Gatheru; Ling, Wanting

    2018-05-08

    Given the sub-lethal risks of synthetic surfactants, rhamnolipid is a promising class of biosurfactants with the potential to promote the bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), to provide a favorable substitute for synthetic surfactants. However, few previous studies have integrated the behavior and mechanism behind rhamnolipid-influenced PAH biosorption and biodegradation. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of a bacterial envelope regulated link between phenanthrene (PHE) biosorption and biodegradation by rhamnolipid-induced PHE-degrading strain Pseudomonas sp. Ph6. Rhamnolipid (0─400 mg L -1 ) can change the cell-surface zeta potential, cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), cell ultra-microstructure and functional groups, and then alter PHE biosorption and biodegradation of Ph6. Greater amounts of PHE sorbed on cell envelopes results in more PHE diffusing into cytochylema, thus favoring PHE intracellular biodegradation of Ph6. Rhamnolipid (≤100 mg L -1 ) could change the microstructures and functional groups of cell envelopes of Ph6, enhance the cell-surface zeta potential and CSH, thus consequently favor PHE biosorption and biodegradation by strain Ph6. By contrast, rhamnolipid at higher concentrations (≥200 mg L -1 ) hindered PHE biosorption and biodegradation. Rhamnolipid, as a biosurfactant, can be successfully utilized as an additive to improve the microbial biodegradation of PAHs in the environments. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Effect of linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS) on the mineralization, metabolism and uptake of 14C-phenanthrene in a model ecosystem (water-lava-plant-air).

    PubMed

    Jiang, Xia; Yediler, Ayfer; Yufang, Song; Sun, Tieheng; Kettrup, Antonius

    2005-11-01

    The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS, 200 mg l(-1)) on the fate of phenanthrene in a model ecosystem "water-lava-hydrophytes-air". The experiments were conducted using two closed cultivation chamber systems. Rushes (Juncus effesus) were selected as a representative hydrophyte. Five hundred micrograms per liter of phenanthrene in a culture solution containing a 14C-activity of 75 microCi per chamber was applied (i) to investigate the degradation of the labeled test substance and the transfer processes within the system; (ii) to determine the mass-balance possible and (iii) to detect the occurrence of volatile test substances, their volatile metabolites and the degradation end-product CO2 in the gas phase. Most of the applied 14C-activity was found in the plant (41-45%), in which approximately 95% was associated with plant roots and approximately 5% with shoots. The 14C-activity recovered in the form of VOCs and CO2 was measured in lava (18-29%, 8-11%), and in the culture solution (10-14% and 1%), respectively. Majority of the applied 14C-activity existed in two forms, i.e. (1) polar metabolites (26%), of which 91% were found in plant roots, and (2) un-extractable residues (23%), most of which were in plant roots (40%) and bounded to lava (58%). The presence of LAS significantly increased the volatilization of phenanthrene and its metabolites, inhibited its mineralization and decreased the level of 14C-activity in lava. Moreover, LAS reduced the phenanthrene level in plant roots.

  13. Phenanthrene and 2,2',5,5'-PCB sorption by several soils from methanol-water solutions: the effect of weathering and solute structure.

    PubMed

    Hyun, Seunghun; Kim, Minhee; Baek, Kitae; Lee, Linda S

    2010-01-01

    The effect of the sorption of phenanthrene and 2,2',5,5'-polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB52) by five differently weathered soils were measured in water and low methanol volume fraction (f(c)0.5) as a function of the apparent solution pH (pH(app)). Two weathered oxisols (A2 and DRC), and moderately weathered alfisols (Toronto) and two young soils (K5 and Webster) were used. The K(m) (linear sorption coefficient) values, which log-linearly decreases with f(c), were interpreted using a cosolvency sorption model. For phenanthrene sorption at the natural pH, the empirical constant (alpha) ranged between 0.95 and 1.14, and was in the order of oxisols (A2 and DRC)phenanthrene sorption by two highly weathered soils, which had 10% greater alphasigma values obtained at acidic pH(app). This phenomenon is a result of the greater acid enhancement effect on phenanthrene sorption by the oxisols, which is reduced with increasing f(c). These results revealed an unexplored relationship between the cosolvent effect on the sorption and the properties of the soil organic matter (a primary sorption domain) as a function of the degree of soil weathering. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Development of multi-membrane near-infrared diode mass spectrometer for field analysis of aromatic hydrocarbons.

    PubMed

    Mach, Phillip M; Wright, Kenneth C; Verbeck, Guido F

    2015-02-01

    Membrane Inlet Mass Spectrometry (MIMS) is a technique that incorporates a semi-permeable membrane selective for differing organic molecules and chemistries. This eliminates the need for time-consuming sample preparation and facilitates near instantaneous analysis. This study will examine how the front end of MIMS incorporates three dual inlet ports, allowing for differing MIMS materials and selectivity for specific environments. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes have proven to be selective of benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) as well as aromatic hydrocarbons that are common in petroleum products while remaining selective against the aliphatic chains. PDMS has proven to be a successful choice of membrane with high permeability in atmospheric environments. In addition, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as acenaphthene, acenapthylene, naphthalene, and fluorene have recently been detected to the 5 ppb level in a nitrogen atmosphere with our current configuration. This preliminary work provides proof of concept using near-infrared laser diodes that act upon the membrane to increase its permeability and provide higher sensitivity of aromatic samples.

  15. Analysis and toxicity of 59 PAH in petrogenic and pyrogenic environmental samples including dibenzopyrenes, 7H-benzo[c]fluorene, 5-methylchrysene and 1-methylpyrene.

    PubMed

    Richter-Brockmann, Sigrid; Achten, Christine

    2018-06-01

    In this study 59 PAH were analyzed in samples of petrogenic and pyrogenic sources as well as mixed environmental matrices. Among the analytes, PAH of molecular weights from 128 Da to 302 Da in alkylated and in native form were included. Results show that non-EPA PAH make up 69.3–95.1% of the overall toxic equivalents (TEQ) as based on the toxic equivalent factors (TEF) of 24 PAH. Particularly 7H-benzo[c]fluorene, dibenzopyrene isomers and alkylated PAH (in particular 5-methylchrysene and 1-methylpyrene) turned out to have a huge impact on the toxicity and must not be neglected in future risk assessment. In detail, dibenzopyrenes have a high impact on toxicity predominantly in pyrogenic materials (21% to 84%; mean: 59%) whereas 7H-benzo[c]fluorene dominates toxicity of petrogenic materials (up to 80%; mean: 26%). However, in the studied mixed environmental samples the toxic impact of both groups together is as high as about 80%. Many non-EPA PAH are not considered in risk assessment and amongst them there are some very toxic ones. This needs to be carefully evaluated in future studies.

  16. Combination of Liquid Chromatography with Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternating Least-Squares (MCR-ALS) in the Quantitation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Present in Paprika Samples.

    PubMed

    Monago-Maraña, Olga; Pérez, Rocío L; Escandar, Graciela M; Muñoz de la Peña, Arsenio; Galeano-Díaz, Teresa

    2016-11-02

    This work presents a strategy for quantitating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in smoked paprika samples. For this, a liquid chromatographic method with fluorimetric detection (HPLC-FLD) was optimized. To resolve some interference co-eluting with the target analytes, the second-order multivariate curve resolution-alternating least-squares (MCR-ALS) algorithm has been employed combined with this liquid chromatographic method. Among the eight PAHs quantified (fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene) by HPLC-FLD, only in the case of fluorene, pyrene, and benzo[b]fluoranthene was it necessary to apply the second-order algorithm for their resolution. Limits of detection and quantitation were between 0.015 and 0.45 mg/kg and between 0.15 and 1.5 mg/kg, respectively. Good recovery results (>80%) for paprika were obtained via the complete extraction procedure, consisting of an extraction from the matrix and the cleanup of the extract by means of silica cartridges. Higher concentrations of chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene were found in the paprika samples, with respect to the maximal amounts allowed for other spices that are under European Regulation (EU) N° 2015/1933.

  17. Oxidative metabolism of phenanthrene and anthracene by soil pseudomonads. The ring-fission mechanism

    PubMed Central

    Evans, W. C.; Fernley, H. N.; Griffiths, E.

    1965-01-01

    1. Phenanthrene is oxidatively metabolized by soil pseudomonads through trans-3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxyphenanthrene to 3,4-dihydroxyphenanthrene, which then undergoes cleavage. 2. Some properties of the ring-fission product, cis-4-(1-hydroxynaphth-2-yl)-2-oxobut-3-enoic acid, are described. The Fe2+-dependent oxygenase therefore disrupts the bond between C-4 and the angular C of the phenanthrene nucleus. 3. An enzyme of the aldolase type converts the fission product into 1-hydroxy-2-naphthaldehyde (2-formyl-1-hydroxynaphthalene). An NAD-specific dehydrogenase is also present in the cell-free extract, which oxidizes the aldehyde to 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid. This is then oxidatively decarboxylated to 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene, thus allowing continuation of metabolism via the naphthalene pathway. 4. Anthracene is similarly metabolized, through 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxyanthracene to 1,2-dihydroxyanthracene, in which ring-fission occurs to give cis-4-(2-hydroxynaphth-3-yl)-2-oxobut-3-enoic acid. The position of cleavage is again at the bond between the angular C and C-1 of the anthracene nucleus. 5. Enzymes that convert the fission product through 2-hydroxy-3-naphthaldehyde into 2-hydroxy-3-naphthoic acid were demonstrated. The further metabolism of this acid is discussed. 6. The Fe2+-dependent oxygenase responsible for cleavage of all the o-dihydroxyphenol derivatives appears to be catechol 2,3-oxygenase, and is a constitutive enzyme in the Pseudomonas strains used. PMID:14342521

  18. Do nonbonded H--H interactions in phenanthrene stabilize it relative to anthracene? A possible resolution to this question and its implications for ligands such as 2,2'-bipyridyl.

    PubMed

    Hancock, Robert D; Nikolayenko, Igor V

    2012-08-23

    The problem of whether interactions between the hydrogen atoms at the 1,10-positions in the "cleft" of the "bent" phenanthrene stabilize the latter molecule thermodynamically relative to "linear" anthracene, or whether the higher stability of phenanthrene is due to a more energetically favorable π-system, is considered. DFT calculations at the X3LYP/cc-pVTZ(-f)++ level of the ground state energies (E) of anthracene, phenanthrene, and the set of five benzoquinolines are reported. In the gas phase, "bent" phenanthrene was computed to be thermodynamically more stable than "linear" anthracene by -28.5 kJ mol(-1). This fact was attributed predominantly to the phenomenon of higher aromatic stabilization of the π-system of phenanthrene relative to anthracene, and not to the stabilizing influence of the nonbonding H--H interactions in its cleft. In fact, these interactions in phenanthrene were shown to be destabilizing. Similar calculations for five benzoquinolines (bzq) indicate that ΔE values vary as: 6,7-bzq (linear) ≤ 2,3-bzq (linear) < 5,6-bzq (bent) ≤ 3,4-bzq (bent) < 7,8-bzq (bent, no H--H nonbonding interactions in cleft), supporting the idea that it is a more stable π-system that favors 7,8-bzq over 2,3-bzq and 6,7-bzq, and that the H--H interactions in the clefts of 3,4-bzq and 5,6-bzq are destabilizing. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding in the cleft of 7,8-bzq plays a secondary role in its stabilization relative 6,7-bzq. The question of whether H--H nonbonded interactions between H atoms at the 3 and 3' positions of 2,2'-bipyridyl (bpy) coordinated to metal ions are stabilizing or destabilizing is then considered. The energy of bpy is scanned as a function of N-C-C-N torsion angle (χ) in the gas-phase, and it is found that the trans form is 32.8 kJ mol(-1) more stable than the cis conformer. A relaxed coordinate scan of energy of bpy in aqueous solution as a function of χ is modeled using the PBF approach, and it is found that the trans conformer is

  19. A Survey of 42 Semi-Volatile Organic Contaminants in Groundwater along the Grand Canal from Hangzhou to Beijing, East China.

    PubMed

    Li, Xiaojie; Rao, Zhu; Yang, Zhipeng; Guo, Xiaochen; Huang, Yi; Zhang, Jing; Guo, Feng; Liu, Chen

    2015-12-18

    The status of organic pollution in groundwater in eastern China along the Grand Canal from Hangzhou to Beijing was evaluated. Forty-two semi-volatile organic contaminants were analyzed, including 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 12 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and seven organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs). Among the detected contaminants, PAHs were the most widespread compounds. One PCB and six OCPs were detected in the groundwater samples, but none of the target OPPs was detected. The total concentration of the 16 PAHs ranged from 0.21 to 1006 ng/L, among which phenanthrene (271 ng/L) and fluoranthene (233 ng/L) were present at very high concentrations and naphthalene (32 positive detections in 50 samples) and fluorene (28 detections in 50 samples) were the most frequently detected. Benzo[a]pyrene equivalents indicated a high environmental risk related to PAHs in a few groundwater samples. To identify the possible sources of PAHs, three concentration ratios, low molecular weight PAHs/high molecular weight PAHs, anthracene/(anthracene + phenanthrene) and fluoranthene/(fluoranthene + pyrene), were determined, that indicated that the PAHs mainly originated from mixed sources: pyrolytic and petrogenic sources with different ratios at different sites.

  20. A Survey of 42 Semi-Volatile Organic Contaminants in Groundwater along the Grand Canal from Hangzhou to Beijing, East China

    PubMed Central

    Li, Xiaojie; Rao, Zhu; Yang, Zhipeng; Guo, Xiaochen; Huang, Yi; Zhang, Jing; Guo, Feng; Liu, Chen

    2015-01-01

    The status of organic pollution in groundwater in eastern China along the Grand Canal from Hangzhou to Beijing was evaluated. Forty-two semi-volatile organic contaminants were analyzed, including 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 12 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and seven organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs). Among the detected contaminants, PAHs were the most widespread compounds. One PCB and six OCPs were detected in the groundwater samples, but none of the target OPPs was detected. The total concentration of the 16 PAHs ranged from 0.21 to 1006 ng/L, among which phenanthrene (271 ng/L) and fluoranthene (233 ng/L) were present at very high concentrations and naphthalene (32 positive detections in 50 samples) and fluorene (28 detections in 50 samples) were the most frequently detected. Benzo[a]pyrene equivalents indicated a high environmental risk related to PAHs in a few groundwater samples. To identify the possible sources of PAHs, three concentration ratios, low molecular weight PAHs/high molecular weight PAHs, anthracene/(anthracene + phenanthrene) and fluoranthene/(fluoranthene + pyrene), were determined, that indicated that the PAHs mainly originated from mixed sources: pyrolytic and petrogenic sources with different ratios at different sites. PMID:26694442

  1. Aqueous photodegradation and toxicity of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons fluorene, dibenzofuran and dibenzothiophene

    PubMed Central

    Shemer, Hilla; Linden, Karl G.

    2007-01-01

    Decay kinetics resulting from the application of UV and UV/H2O2 to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) fluorene, dibenzofuran and dibenzothiophene was studied. Batch experiments were conducted with both low pressure monochromatic (253.7 nm) and medium pressure polychromatic (200–300 nm) UV sources alone or in the presence of up to 25 mg/L hydrogen peroxide, in a quasi-collimated beam apparatus. Degradation of all three PAHs, by both UV and UV/H2O2, exhibited pseudo-first order reaction kinetics and low quantum yields ranging from 1.4×10−3 to 1.8×10−2 mol/E using both UV lamps. Toxicity testing using a bioluminesence inhibition bioassay was correlated to the decay in concentration of the PAHs as analyzed analytically using HPLC. Results demonstrated that treatment efficacy of oxidative PAH degradation measured by following the decay of the target compound is best complemented by also evaluating the toxicity of the treated water due to byproduct formation concerns. PMID:17217979

  2. Evaluation of fluoren-NU as a novel antitumor agent.

    PubMed

    Mukherjee, Asama; Dutta, Sushanta; Chashoo, Gousia; Bhagat, Madhulika; Saxena, Ajit Kumar; Sanyal, Utpal

    2009-01-01

    A new nitrososourea derivative, namely fluoren-NU, 3-[2-(3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosouriedo}ethyl]-spiro[5,9'-fluorenyl]imidazolidine-2,4-dione (compound 2e), was synthesized from 3-(2-bromoethyl)-spiro [5,9'-fluorenyl]imidazolidine-2,4-dione via a four-step synthetic procedure. Its chemical alkylating activity was assessed by coupling with 4-(4-nitrobenzyl)pyridine. In vitro screening in six human tumor cell lines, namely SK-N-SH CNS, IMR-32 neuroblastoma, A549 lung, DU-145 prostate, HL-60 leukemia, and U-937 lymphoma, revealed its significant cytotoxicity in SK-N-SH. Its in vivo antitumoral potency was assessed in murine ascites tumors Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) and Sarcoma-180 (S-180) by measuring the increase in median survival times (MST) of drug-treated (T) over untreated control (C) mice. Results revealed significant tumor regression effects in both of these tumors. Life span of mice bearing advanced tumor for 5 days before the drug challenge was also considerably increased. In vivo toxicological assay at its optimum dose of 40 mg/kg for days 1-7 treatment schedule was conducted sequentially on day 9, 14, and 19 in normal and EAC-bearing mice. Results revealed that it did not adversely affect hematopoiesis or exhibit drug-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. It has shown minimal cytotoxic effect on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) having a high IC50 value of 792 microM. Compared to Mitonafide and CCNU used as standards it also significantly inhibited DNA and RNA synthesis in EAC tumor cells in vitro at 8 microM concentration.

  3. Immune effects of HFO on European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, and Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas.

    PubMed

    Bado-Nilles, Anne; Quentel, Claire; Auffret, Michel; Le Floch, Stéphane; Gagnaire, Béatrice; Renault, Tristan; Thomas-Guyon, Hélène

    2009-07-01

    The European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, and the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, were exposed to a soluble fraction of heavy fuel oil for 5 and 9 days, respectively. The organisms were then transferred to non-contaminated seawater for 1 month. The bioaccumulation and elimination of PAHs in contaminated tissues were dissimilar between species. In fish, acenaphthene and naphthalene were detected and naphthalene was still detectable 30 days after the beginning of the recovery period. In oysters, on the other hand, pyrene and phenanthrene were bioaccumulated and 14 days after exposure no more PAHs were detected. Concerning innate immune parameters, the increase of haemolytic activity of the alternative complement pathway in fish and the reduction of phenoloxidase activity in oysters endured, respectively, 1 and 2 weeks in contaminated organisms. This indicates that these two enzymatic cascades could be quite useful for monitoring pollution by oil.

  4. PAHs in corn grains submitted to drying with firewood.

    PubMed

    de Lima, Rafael Friedrich; Dionello, Rafael Gomes; Peralba, Maria do Carmo Ruaro; Barrionuevo, Simone; Radunz, Lauri Lourenço; Reichert Júnior, Francisco Wilson

    2017-01-15

    Grain drying using firewood as fuel for air heating, with direct fire, is still widely used in Brazil. The combustion of organic material, such as wood, can generate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are known to have carcinogenic potential. In the present work corn grain drying was carried out at three drying air temperatures: 60°C, 60/80°C and 80°C. Following the drying process, the presence and quantification of PAH in the corn grains was investigated. After extracting the PAHs of the matrix, the material was subjected to analysis by gas chromatography with mass detector. he results showed the presence of seven compounds: fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene and chrysene. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Bacterial Degradation of Aromatic Compounds

    PubMed Central

    Seo, Jong-Su; Keum, Young-Soo; Li, Qing X.

    2009-01-01

    Aromatic compounds are among the most prevalent and persistent pollutants in the environment. Petroleum-contaminated soil and sediment commonly contain a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic aromatics. Aromatics derived from industrial activities often have functional groups such as alkyls, halogens and nitro groups. Biodegradation is a major mechanism of removal of organic pollutants from a contaminated site. This review focuses on bacterial degradation pathways of selected aromatic compounds. Catabolic pathways of naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, and benzo[a]pyrene are described in detail. Bacterial catabolism of the heterocycles dibenzofuran, carbazole, dibenzothiophene, and dibenzodioxin is discussed. Bacterial catabolism of alkylated PAHs is summarized, followed by a brief discussion of proteomics and metabolomics as powerful tools for elucidation of biodegradation mechanisms. PMID:19440284

  6. Gradient distribution of persistent organic contaminants along northern slope of central-Himalayas, China.

    PubMed

    Wang, Xiao-Ping; Yao, Tan-Dong; Cong, Zhi-Yuan; Yan, Xing-Liang; Kang, Shi-Chang; Zhang, Yong

    2006-12-15

    High mountains may serve as condenser for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and the vegetation in remote areas has been used as a means to characterized atmospheric concentrations of air pollutants. In this study, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Himalayan spruce needle samples from Zhangmu-Nyalam region (central-Himalayas) were analyzed and the altitudinal gradient of these pollutants was investigated. Total HCHs and DDTs concentration in needles were in the range of 1.3-2.9 ng g(-1) dry weight and 1.7-11 ng g(-1) dry weight, which were lower than concentrations reported in spruce needles from Alps, however higher than concentrations in conifer needles from mountain areas of Alberta. Total Himalayan spruce needle PAHs was below 600 ng g(-1) and fluorene, phenanthrene and acenaphthene were abundant individual compounds measured. The ratios of alpha-HCH/gamma-HCH in pine needles were similar with the usual values for technical HCH, implying technical HCHs might be used in this region. The high ratios of o-p'-DDT/p-p'-DDT and no p-p'-DDE measured in this study led to the suspicion that a new source of o-p'-DDT and/or p-p'-DDT existed in this region. In addition, higher ratios of low molecular weight-/high molecular weight-PAHs in this region indicated that petroleum combustion, vehicle emission and low-temperature combustion might be the major contributions of PAH source. To examine the POPs distillation, the analyte concentrations were correlated with altitude. The more volatile OCPs, alpha-HCH, gamma-HCH, aldrin and alpha-endosulfan positively correlated with altitude, however, less volatile OCPs (DDT and DDD) inversely related with elevation. Almost all PAHs detected in this area showed positive correlations with altitude. It is worthy to note that heavy PAHs (Benzo[k] fluoranthene and Benzo[a]anthracene) displayed positive correlation, which implied the sources of PAHs were near the sampling sites. The

  7. A convenient synthesis of tetrabenzo[de,hi,mn,qr]naphthacene from readily available 1,2-di(phenanthren-4-yl)ethyne.

    PubMed

    Mukherjee, Anupam; Pati, Kamalkishore; Liu, Rai-Shung

    2009-08-21

    We report here a convenient synthesis of tetrabenzo[de,hi,mn,qr]naphthacenes from 1,2-di(phenanthren-4-yl)ethynes through initial Brønsted acid-catalyzed hydroarylation, followed by FeCl(3)-oxidative coupling reactions. This new method is applicable to tetrabenzo[de,hi,mn,qr]naphthacenes bearing various alkyl substituents.

  8. Temperature-dependent conformational variation of chromophoric dissolved organic matter and its consequent interaction with phenanthrene.

    PubMed

    Chen, Wei; Liu, Xiao-Yang; Yu, Han-Qing

    2017-03-01

    Temperature variation caused by climate change, seasonal variation and geographic locations affects the physicochemical compositions of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), resulting in difference in the fates of CDOM-related environmental pollutants. Exploration into the thermal induced structural transition of CDOM can help to better understand their environmental impacts, but information on this aspect is still lacking. Through integrating fluorescence excitation-emission matrix coupled parallel factor analysis with synchronous fluorescence two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy, this study provides an in-depth insight into the temperature-dependent conformational transitions of CDOM and their impact on its hydrophobic interaction with persistent organic pollutants (with phenanthrene as an example) in water. The fluorescence components in CDOM change linearly to water temperature with different extents and different temperature regions. The thermal induced transition priority in CDOM is protein-like component → fulvic-like component → humic-like component. Furthermore, the impact of thermal-induced conformational transition of CDOM on its hydrophobic interaction with phenanthrene is observed and explored. The fluorescence-based analytic results reveal that the conjugation degree of the aromatic groups in the fulvic- and humic-like substances, and the unfolding of the secondary structure in the protein-like substances with aromatic structure, contribute to the conformation variation. This integrated approach jointly enhances the characterization of temperature-dependent conformational variation of CDOM, and provides a promising way to elucidate the environmental behaviours of CDOM. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Salinity effect on the metabolic pathway and microbial function in phenanthrene degradation by a halophilic consortium.

    PubMed

    Wang, Chongyang; Huang, Yong; Zhang, Zuotao; Wang, Hui

    2018-04-25

    With the close relationship between saline environments and industry, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) accumulate in saline/hypersaline environments. Therefore, PAHs degradation by halotolerant/halophilic bacteria has received increasing attention. In this study, the metabolic pathway of phenanthrene degradation by halophilic consortium CY-1 was first studied which showed a single upstream pathway initiated by dioxygenation at the C1 and C2 positions, and at several downstream pathways, including the catechol pathway, gentisic acid pathway and protocatechuic acid pathway. The effects of salinity on the community structure and expression of catabolic genes were further studied by a combination of high-throughput sequencing, catabolic gene clone library and real-time PCR. Pure cultures were also isolated from consortium CY-1 to investigate the contribution made by different microbes in the PAH-degrading process. Marinobacter is the dominant genus that contributed to the upstream degradation of phenanthrene especially in high salt content. Genus Halomonas made a great contribution in transforming intermediates in the subsequent degradation of catechol by using catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (C12O). Other microbes were predicted to be mediating bacteria that were able to utilize intermediates via different downstream pathways. Salinity was investigated to have negative effects on both microbial diversity and activity of consortium CY-1 and consortium CY-1 was found with a high degree of functional redundancy in saline environments.

  10. Versatile peroxidase of Bjerkandera fumosa: substrate and inhibitor specificity.

    PubMed

    Pozdnyakova, Natalia; Makarov, Oleg; Chernyshova, Marina; Turkovskaya, Olga; Jarosz-Wilkolazka, Anna

    2013-01-10

    The inhibitor and substrate specificities of versatile peroxidase from Bjerkandera fumosa (VPBF) were studied. Two different effects were found: NaN(3), Tween-80, anthracene, and fluorene decreased the activity of VPBF, but p-aminobenzoic acid increased it. A mixed mechanism of effector influence on the activity of this enzyme was shown. The catalytic properties of VPBF in the oxidation of mono- and polycyclic aromatic compounds were studied also. 2,7-Diaminofluorene, ABTS, veratryl alcohol, and syringaldazine can be oxidized by VPBF in two ways: either directly by the enzyme or by diffusible chelated Mn(3+) as an oxidizing agent. During VPBF oxidation of 2,7-diaminofluorene, both with and without Mn(2+), biphasic kinetics with apparent saturation in both micromolar and millimolar ranges were obtained. In the case of ABTS, inhibition of VPBF activity by an excess of substrate was observed. Direct oxidation of p-aminobenzoic acid by versatile peroxidase was found for the first time. The oxidation of three- and four-ring PAHs by VPBF was investigated, and the oxidation of anthracene, phenanthrene, fluorene, pyrene, chrysene, and fluoranthene was shown. The products of PAH oxidation (9,10-anthraquinone, 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, and 9-fluorenone) catalyzed by VPBF were identified. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Ingestion and Egestion of Microplastics by the Cladoceran Daphnia magna: Effects of Regular and Irregular Shaped Plastic and Sorbed Phenanthrene.

    PubMed

    Frydkjær, Camilla Krogh; Iversen, Niels; Roslev, Peter

    2017-12-01

    The presence of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems is of increasing global concern. This study investigated ingestion, egestion and acute effects of polyethylene microplastics in Daphnia magna. Fate of regular shaped microplastic beads (10-106 µm) were compared with irregular shaped microplastic fragments (10-75 µm). Daphnia magna ingested regular and irregular microplastic with uptake between 0.7 and 50 plastic particles/animal/day when exposed to microplastic concentrations of 0.0001-10 g/L. Egestion of irregular fragments was slower than that of microplastic beads. The EC50 for irregular microplastic was 0.065 g/L whereas microplastic beads were less inhibitory. The potential of microplastic to act as vector for hydrophobic pollutants was examined using [ 14 C]phenanthrene as tracer. Polyethylene microplastic sorbed less [ 14 C]phenanthrene compared to natural plankton organisms (bacteria, algae, yeast). As microplastics are much less abundant in most aquatic ecosystems compared to plankton organisms this suggests a limited role as vector for hydrophobic pollutants under current environmental conditions.

  12. Fluorene-9-bisphenol is anti-oestrogenic and may cause adverse pregnancy outcomes in mice

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Zhaobin; Hu, Ying; Guo, Jilong; Yu, Tong; Sun, Libei; Xiao, Xuan; Zhu, Desheng; Nakanishi, Tsuyoshi; Hiromori, Youhei; Li, Junyu; Fan, Xiaolin; Wan, Yi; Cheng, Siyu; Li, Jun; Guo, Xuan; Hu, Jianying

    2017-01-01

    Bisphenol A (BPA) is used in the production of plastic but has oestrogenic activity. Therefore, BPA substitutes, such as fluorene-9-bisphenol (BHPF), have been introduced for the production of so-called ‘BPA-free' plastics. Here we show that BHPF is released from commercial ‘BPA-free' plastic bottles into drinking water and has anti-oestrogenic effects in mice. We demonstrate that BHPF has anti-oestrogenic activity in vitro and, in an uterotrophic assay in mice, induces low uterine weight, atrophic endometria and causes adverse pregnancy outcomes, even at doses lower than those of BPA for which no observed adverse effect have been reported. Female mice given water containing BHPF released from plastic bottles, have detectable levels of BHPF in serum, low uterine weights and show decreased expressions of oestrogen-responsive genes. We also detect BHPF in the plasma of 7/100 individuals, who regularly drink water from plastic bottles. Our data suggest that BPA substitutes should be tested for anti-oestrogenic activity and call for further study of the toxicological effects of BHPF on human health. PMID:28248286

  13. Degradation of phenanthrene by Burkholderia sp. C3: initial 1,2- and 3,4-dioxygenation and meta- and ortho-cleavage of naphthalene-1,2-diol.

    PubMed

    Seo, Jong-Su; Keum, Young-Soo; Hu, Yuting; Lee, Sung-Eun; Li, Qing X

    2007-02-01

    Burkholderia sp. C3 was isolated from a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated site in Hilo, Hawaii, USA, and studied for its degradation of phenanthrene as a sole carbon source. The initial 3,4-C dioxygenation was faster than 1,2-C dioxygenation in the first 3-day culture. However, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid derived from 3,4-C dioxygenation degraded much slower than 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acid derived from 1,2-C dioxygenation. Slow degradation of 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid relative to 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acid may trigger 1,2-C dioxygenation faster after 3 days of culture. High concentrations of 5,6- and 7,8-benzocoumarins indicated that meta-cleavage was the major degradation mechanism of phenanthrene-1,2- and -3,4-diols. Separate cultures with 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acid and 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid showed that the degradation rate of the former to naphthalene-1,2-diol was much faster than that of the latter. The two upper metabolic pathways of phenanthrene are converged into naphthalene-1,2-diol that is further metabolized to 2-carboxycinnamic acid and 2-hydroxybenzalpyruvic acid by ortho- and meta-cleavages, respectively. Transformation of naphthalene-1,2-diol to 2-carboxycinnamic acid by this strain represents the first observation of ortho-cleavage of two rings-PAH-diols by a Gram-negative species.

  14. Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in drinking water samples by solid-phase nanoextraction and high-performance liquid chromatography.

    PubMed

    Wang, Huiyong; Campiglia, Andres D

    2008-11-01

    A novel alternative is presented for the extraction and preconcentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from water samples. The new approachwhich we have named solid-phase nanoextraction (SPNE)takes advantage of the strong affinity that exists between PAH and gold nanoparticles. Carefully optimization of experimental parameters has led to a high-performance liquid chromatography method with excellent analytical figures of merit. Its most striking feature correlates to the small volume of water sample (500 microL) for complete PAH analyses. The limits of detection ranged from 0.9 (anthracene) to 58 ng.L (-1) (fluorene). The relative standard deviations at medium calibration concentrations vary from 3.2 (acenaphthene) to 9.1% (naphthalene). The analytical recoveries from tap water samples of the six regulated PAH varied from 83.3 +/- 2.4 (benzo[ k]fluoranthene) to 95.7 +/- 4.1% (benzo[ g,h,i]perylene). The entire extraction procedure consumes less than 100 microL of organic solvents per sample, which makes it environmentally friendly. The small volume of extracting solution makes SPNE a relatively inexpensive extraction approach.

  15. Chemical and biological availability of hydrocarbons in urban harbor sediments

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    LeBlanc, L.A.; Brownawell, Bruce J.

    2002-01-01

    The degradation of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons was studied in batch slurry experiments conducted with field-aged sediments, highly impacted by hydrocarbon pollution. Experiments focused on examining the effects of desorption limitations to hydrocarbon mineralization and degradation. Degradation of PAH (e.g., naphthalene, fluorene, acenaphthene) and saturated hydrocarbons was examined in field-aged sediments collected from four sites in greater NY Harbor and western Long Island Sound. The sites were Rikers Island in far western Long Island Sound, Williamsburg Bridge in the East River, Shooters Island in the Arthur Kill, and the Kill Van Kull off Bayonne, New Jersey. Patterns of hydrocarbon desorption and degradation in weathered sediments were complicated by the mixed combustion and oil-derived hydrocarbon sources, and differed markedly from patterns seen in sediments following an oil spill. Rates of degradation in experiments with spiked sediments, especially over short timescales, did not appear to be limited by rates of desorption. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 224th ACS National Meeting (Boston, MA 8/18-22/2002).

  16. Distribution of radioactivity in the chondrichthyes Squalus acanthias and the osteichthyes salmo gairdneri following intragastric administration of (9-/sup 14/C)phenanthrene

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Solbakken, J.E.; Palmork, K.H.

    1980-12-01

    The fate of polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAH) in marine animals has received increasing attention in the last decade. The present studies dealing with spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) are part of a series of experiments with different marine organisms. All the experiments were performed under the same laboratory conditions using intragastric administration of the PAH-component, /sup 14/C-labelled phenanthrene. Thus it is possible to compare species differences of disposition of PAH in various marine organisms. The most pronounced differences in the disposition of phenanthrene between bony fish and cartilaginous fish in our studies are that the maximum valuemore » of radioactivity in the liver of cartilaginous fish occurred several days later than the corresponding value in bony fish. Furthermore, the radioactivity in cartilaginous fish was retained at a high level beyond 672 h (28 days), a time at which the radioactivity in bony fish is near the background values.« less

  17. PAH bioconcentration in Mytilus sp from Sinclair Inlet, WA

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Frazier, J.; Young, D.; Ozretich, R.

    1995-12-31

    Approximately 20 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were measured by GC/MS in seawater and whole soft tissues of the intertidal mussel Mytilus sp. collected in July 1991 within and around Puget Sound`s Sinclair Inlet. Low variability was observed in the water concentrations collected over three days at control sites, yielding reliable values for the exposure levels experienced by this bioindicator mollusk. Mean water concentrations of acenaphthene, phenanthrene, and fluoranthene in the control region were 2.7 {+-} 0.8, 2.8 {+-} 0.8, and 3.1 {+-} 0.7 ng/liter, respectively. Levels measured near sites of vessel activity were higher but much more variable; this reducedmore » the reliability of the tissue/water bioconcentration factors (BCF) obtained from these samples. An empirical model relating values of Log BCF and Log Kow for the control zone samples supports the utility of this estuarine bioindicator for monitoring general levels of PAH in nearshore surface waters.« less

  18. Identification and quantification of phencyclidine pyrolysis products formed during smoking.

    PubMed

    Lue, L P; Scimeca, J A; Thomas, B F; Martin, B R

    1986-01-01

    As a result of frequent phencyclidine (PCP) abuse, pyrolysis studies were conducted to further investigate its fate during smoking. Marijuana placebo cigarettes were impregnated with 3H-PCP X HCI and burned under conditions simulating smoking. Mainstream smoke was passed through glass wool filters as well as acidic and basic traps. Approximately 90% of the starting material could be accounted for in the first glass wool trap and cigarette holder. HPLC and GC/MS analysis of methanol extracts of these glass wool traps revealed the presence of 1-phenyl-1-cyclohexene (47% of the starting material) greater than PCP (40%) greater than piperidine (15%) greater than N-acetylpiperidine (9%). It was not possible to fully account for the remainder of the piperidine moiety. It has been reported that at high temperatures PCP is converted to numerous polynuclear aromatic compounds which include styrene, alpha-methylstyrene, naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, biphenyl, cyclohexylbenzene, acenaphthene, phenanthrene, and anthracene. These compounds were not formed from PCP under smoking conditions.

  19. Identification and quantification of phencyclidine pyrolysis products formed during smoking

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lue, L.P.; Scimeca, J.A.; Thomas, B.F.

    As a result of frequent phencyclidine (PCP) abuse, pyrolysis studies were conducted to further investigate its fate during smoking. Marijuana placebo cigarettes were impregnated with /sup 3/H-PCP HCl and burned under conditions simulating smoking. Mainstream smoke was passed through glass wool filters as well as acidic and basic traps. Approximately 90% of the starting material could be accounted for in the first glass wool trap and cigarette holder. HPLC and GC/MS analysis of methanol extracts of these glass wool traps revealed the presence of 1-phenyl-1-cyclohexene (47% of the starting material) > PCP (40%) > piperidine (15%) > N-acetylpiperidine (9%). Itmore » was not possible to fully account for the remainder of the piperidine moiety. It has been reported that at high temperatures PCP is converted to numerous polynuclear aromatic compounds which include styrene, ..cap alpha..-methylstyrene, naphthalene, 2-methyl-naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, biphenyl, cyclohexylbenzene, acenaphthene, phenanthrene, and anthracene. These compounds were not formed from PCP under smoking conditions.« less

  20. Identification of phenanthrene derivatives in Aerides rosea (Orchidaceae) using the combined systems HPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS and HPLC-DAD-MS-SPE-UV-NMR.

    PubMed

    Cakova, Veronika; Urbain, Aurélie; Antheaume, Cyril; Rimlinger, Nicole; Wehrung, Patrick; Bonté, Frédéric; Lobstein, Annelise

    2015-01-01

    In our continued efforts to contribute to the general knowledge on the chemical diversity of orchids, we have decided to focus our investigations on the Aeridinae subtribe. Following our previous phytochemical study of Vanda coerulea, which has led to the identification of phenanthrene derivatives, a closely related species, Aerides rosea Lodd. ex Lindl. & Paxton, was chosen for investigation. To identify new secondary metabolites, and to avoid isolation of those already known, by means of the combined systems HPLC-DAD(diode-array detector) with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (HRMS/MS) and HPLC-DAD-MS-SPE(solid-phase extraction)-UV-NMR. A dereplication strategy was developed using a HPLC-DAD-HRMS/MS targeted method and applied to fractions from A. rosea stem extract. Characterisation of unknown minor compounds was then performed using the combined HPLC-DAD-MS-SPE-UV-NMR system. The dereplication method allowed the characterisation of four compounds (gigantol, imbricatin, methoxycoelonin and coelonin), previously isolated from Vanda coerulea stem extract. The analyses of two fractions permitted the identification of five additional minor constituents including one phenanthropyran, two phenanthrene and two dihydrophenanthrene derivatives. The full set of NMR data of each compound was obtained from microgram quantities. Nine secondary metabolites were characterised in A. rosea stems, utilising HPLC systems combined with high-resolution analytical systems. Two of them are newly described phenanthrene derivatives: aerosanthrene (5-methoxyphenanthrene-2,3,7-triol) and aerosin (3-methoxy-9,10-dihydro-2,5,7-phenanthrenetriol). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  1. Modular, Metal-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization Approach to Angularly Fused Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Their Oxidized Derivatives

    PubMed Central

    Thomson, Paul F.; Parrish, Damon; Pradhan, Padmanava; Lakshman, Mahesh K.

    2015-01-01

    Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of 2-bromobenzaldehyde and 6-bromo-2,3-dimethoxybenzaldehyde with 4-methyl-1-naphthaleneboronic acid and acenaphthene-5-boronic acid gave corresponding o-naphthyl benzaldehydes. Corey–Fuchs olefination followed by reaction with n-BuLi led to various 1-(2-ethynylphenyl)naphthalenes. Cycloisomerization of individual 1-(2-ethynylphenyl)naphthalenes to various benzo[c]phenanthrene (BcPh) analogues was accomplished smoothly with catalytic PtCl2 in PhMe. In the case of 4,5-dihydrobenzo[l]acephenanthrylene, oxidation with DDQ gave benzo[l]acephenanthrylene. The dimethoxy-substituted benzo[c]phenanthrenes were demethylated with BBr3 and oxidized to the ortho-quinones with PDC. Reduction of these quinones with NaBH4 in THF/EtOH in an oxygen atmosphere gave the respective dihydrodiols. Exposure of the dihydrodiols to N-bromoacetamide in THF-H2O led to bromohydrins that were cyclized with Amberlite IRA 400 HO− to yield the series 1 diol epoxides. Epoxidation of the dihydrodiols with mCPBA gave the isomeric series 2 diol epoxides. All of the hydrocarbons as well as the methoxy-substituted ones were crystallized and analyzed by X-ray crystallography, and these data are compared to other previously studied BcPh derivatives. The methodology described is highly modular and can be utilized for the synthesis of a wide variety of angularly fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their putative metabolites and/or other derivatives. PMID:26196673

  2. Analysis of particle and vapour phase PAHs from the personal air samples of bus garage workers exposed to diesel exhaust.

    PubMed

    Kuusimaki, Leea; Peltonen, Kimmo; Mutanen, Pertti; Savela, Kirsti

    2003-07-01

    The levels of particle and vapour phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) derived from the diesel exhaust compounds in bus garage work were measured in winter and in summer. Five personal air samples were collected from the breathing zones of 22 garage workers every other day of consecutive weeks. Control samples (n = 22) were collected from office workers in Helsinki. Fifteen PAHs in the air samples were analysed by HPLC using a fluorescence detector. Statistically significant differences were observed between total PAH levels of the exposed workers (2241 and 1245 ng/m(3)) and the control group (254 and 275 ng/m(3)) in both winter (P < 0.001) and summer (P < 0.001). Phenanthrene, pyrene, benzo[ghi]perylene and fluoranthene were the major compounds in the particle phase, and naphthalene, phenanthrene and fluorene in the vapour phase. About 98% of PAHs measured were related to the vapour phase compounds, whereas the high molecular weight PAH compounds were detected only in the particle phase. The PAH levels in the garages were twice as high (P < 0.001) in winter as in summer. Even though the exposure levels were low in the bus garages, the low level does not allow conclusions to be drawn about the possible adverse health effects due to exposure to diesel exhaust.

  3. Solubilization, Solution Equilibria, and Biodegradation of PAH's under Thermophilic Conditions

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Viamajala, S.; Peyton, B. M.; Richards, L. A.

    Biodegradation rates of PAHs are typically low at mesophilic conditions and it is believed that the kinetics of degradation is controlled by PAH solubility and mass transfer rates. Solubility tests were performed on phenanthrene, fluorene and fluoranthene at 20 C, 40 C and 60 C and, as expected, a significant increase in the equilibrium solubility concentration and of the rate of dissolution of these polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was observed with increasing temperature. A first-order model was used to describe the PAH dissolution kinetics and the thermodynamic property changes associated with the dissolution process (enthalpy, entropy and Gibb's free energymore » of solution) were evaluated. Further, other relevant thermodynamic properties for these PAHs, including the activity coefficients at infinite dilution, Henry's law constants and octanol-water partition coefficients, were calculated in the temperature range 20-60 C. In parallel with the dissolution studies, three thermophilic Geobacilli were isolated from compost that grew on phenanthrene at 60 C and degraded the PAH more rapidly than other reported mesophiles. Our results show that while solubilization rates of PAHs are significantly enhanced at elevated temperatures, the biodegradation of PAHs under thermophilic conditions is likely mass transfer limited due to enhanced degradation rates.« less

  4. Separation and characterization of gall bladder bile metabolites from speckled trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, exposed to individual polycyclic aromatic compounds.

    PubMed

    Leonard, J D; Hellou, J

    2001-03-01

    Speckled trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, were orally exposed to individual polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) represented by benzo[a]pyrene, carbazole, chrysene, dibenzofuran, dibenzothiophene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and pyrene. Fish were sacrificed 7 d after exposure and the gall bladder removed for bile analysis. High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence (F) and ultraviolet (UV) detection was used to determine the presence of PAC derivatives in the bile without pretreatment. Glucuronide conjugates were predominant in all exposures with variable amounts (0-53%) of phenols and starting material. Identification of compounds was confirmed by selective extraction of less polar nonconjugated PACs and enzymatic hydrolysis of water-soluble material. This was followed by HPLC and/or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) characterization of the produced phenols. Total metabolite levels varied widely among compounds.

  5. Sublethal effects of phenanthrene, nicotine, and pinane on Daphnia pulex

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Savino, Jacqueline F.; Tanabe, Lila L.

    1989-01-01

    Chronic studies of Daphnia Pulex exposed to different concentrations of phenanthrene, nicotine, and pinane produced consistent sublethal effects among replicates and concentrations. The LOEC's for growth and fecundity with each chemical tested were 3 to 30% of the 48-hr EC50's. Growth decreased as concentration increased for each chemical tested, and fecundity approached zero at 2 to 5 times the LOEC for each chemical. In this study chemicals representing PAHs, heterocyclic nitrogen compounds, and cyclic alkanes, produced detectable sublethal effects in daphnids at less than 0.1 ppm in water. These chronic studies, in conjuction with the more extensive acute toxicity testing (Passino and Smith 1987; Perry and Smith 1988; Smith et al. 1988), provided a relatively quick but thorough toxicological assessment of a large array of chemicals and demonstrated the relative importance of different classes of compounds in changing growth and survival trends in given populations of native organisms. Classic toxicity tests continue to provide a reliable backdrop of results with which the effects of new chemicals or mixtures can be compared.

  6. 'Rare biosphere' bacteria as key phenanthrene degraders in coastal seawaters.

    PubMed

    Sauret, Caroline; Séverin, Tatiana; Vétion, Gilles; Guigue, Catherine; Goutx, Madeleine; Pujo-Pay, Mireille; Conan, Pascal; Fagervold, Sonja K; Ghiglione, Jean-François

    2014-11-01

    By coupling DNA-SIP and pyrosequencing approaches, we identified Cycloclasticus sp. as a keystone degrader of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) despite being a member of the 'rare biosphere' in NW Mediterranean seawaters. We discovered novel PAH-degrading bacteria (Oceanibaculum sp., Sneathiella sp.) and we identified other groups already known to possess this function (Alteromonas sp., Paracoccus sp.). Together with Cycloclasticus sp., these groups contributed to potential in situ phenanthrene degradation at a rate >0.5 mg l(-1) day(-1), sufficient to account for a considerable part of PAH degradation. Further, we characterized the PAH-tolerant bacterial communities, which were much more diverse in the polluted site by comparison to unpolluted marine references. PAH-tolerant bacteria were also members of the rare biosphere, such as Glaciecola sp. Collectively, these data show the complex interactions between PAH-degraders and PAH-tolerant bacteria and provide new insights for the understanding of the functional ecology of marine bacteria in polluted waters. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Biosorption and biodegradation of phenanthrene and pyrene in sterilized and unsterilized soil slurry systems stimulated by Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

    PubMed

    Chen, Baoliang; Ding, Jie

    2012-08-30

    To assess the "bioaccessible" pool of mycelia-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and to quantify its biodegradation kinetics in soil, a soil-slurry system containing mycelial pellets of Phanerochaete chrysosporium as a separable biophase was set up. In sterilized and unsterilized soil-slurry, the distribution and dissipation of phenanthrene and pyrene in soil, fungal body of P. chrysosporium and water were independently quantified over the incubation periods. Biosorption and biodegradation contributions to bio-dissipation of dissolved- and sorbed-PAHs were identified. The biodegradation kinetics of PAHs by allochthonous P. chrysosporium and soil wild microorganisms was higher than those predicted by a coupled desorption-biodegradation model, suggesting both allochthonous and wild microorganisms could access sorbed-PAHs. The obvious hysteresis of PAHs in soil reduced their biodegradation, while the biosorbed-PAHs in P. chrysosporium body as an interim pool exhibited reversibly desorption and were almost exhausted via biodegradation. Both biosorption and direct biodegradation of PAHs in soil slurry were stimulated by allochthonous P. chrysosporium. After 90-day incubation, the respective biodegradation percentages for phenanthrene and pyrene were 63.8% and 51.9% in the unsterilized soil without allochthonous microorganisms, and then increased to 94.9% and 90.6% when amended with live P. chrysosporium. These indicate that allochthonous and wild microorganisms may synergistically attack sorbed-PAHs. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Magnetic adsorbents for the removal of Hg (II) and phenanthrene from aqueous solutions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Isari, Ekavi; Karapanagioti, Hrissi K.; Manariotis, Ioannis D.; Werner, David

    2015-04-01

    Activated carbon (AC) acts as a strong binding agent that lowers the pollutant concentration and, thus its toxicity. Another promising sorbent material in environmental applications is biochar (BC) which is obtained from the incomplete combustion of carbon-rich biomass under oxygen-limited conditions. Both of these materials could be used as soil or sediment amendments that would lower the toxicity in the aqueous phase. A draw back of this technique is that although the pollutant will remain non- bioavailable for many years being sorbed into these sorbents, it actually stays into the system. The objective of this study was (a) to synthesize a magnetic powdered activated carbon (AC/Fe) and magnetic powdered biochar (BC/Fe) produced from commercial AC1 and AC2 samples and biochar respectively and (b) to evaluate the potential use of AC/Fe and BIO/Fe to remove aqueous Hg (II) or phenanthrene while being magnetically recoverable. The BC was produced from olive pomace. The surface area, the pore volume, and the average pore size of each sorbent were determined using gas (N2) adsorption-desorption cycles and the Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) equation. Isotherms with 30 adsorption and 20 desorption points were conducted at liquid nitrogen temperature (77K). Open surface area and micropore volume were determined using t-plot method and Harkins & Jura equation. For both AC/Fe, surface area measurements resulted in 66% those of corresponding AC. For BC/Fe, the surface area was 82% that of BC. Batch experiments with all sorbent samples and mercury solutions were conducted at room temperature (25oC) and at pH 5 in order to compare the sorption properties of the materials. Similar tests were performed with phenanthrene solutions. Based on mercury isotherm data, AC/Fe and BC/Fe are effective sorbents but with lower sorption capacity compared to the initial materials (50-75% lower). All these properties point to promising materials that can effectively be used for in

  9. Design, synthesis, antiviral activity and mode of action of phenanthrene-containing N-heterocyclic compounds inspired by the phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid antofine.

    PubMed

    Yu, Xiuling; Wei, Peng; Wang, Ziwen; Liu, Yuxiu; Wang, Lizhong; Wang, Qingmin

    2016-02-01

    The phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid antofine and its analogues have excellent antiviral activity against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). To simplify the structure and the synthesis of the phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid, a series of phenanthrene-containing N-heterocyclic compounds (compounds 1 to 33) were designed and synthesised, based on the intermolecular interaction of antofine and TMV RNA, and systematically evaluated for their anti-TMV activity. Most of these compounds exhibited good to reasonable anti-TMV activity. The optimum compounds 5, 12 and 21 displayed higher activity than the lead compound antofine and commercial ribavirin. Compound 12 was chosen for field trials of antiviral efficacy against TMV, and was found to exhibit better activity than control plant virus inhibitors. Compounds 5 and 12 were chosen for mode of action studies. The changes in fluorescence intensity of compounds 5 and 12 on separated TMV RNA showed that these small molecules can also bind to TMV RNA, but the mode is very different from that of antofine. The compounds combining phenanthrene and an N-heterocyclic ring could maintain the anti-TMV activity of phenanthroindolizidines, but their modes of action are different from that of antofine. The present study lays a good foundation for us to find more efficient anti-plant virus reagents. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

  10. Assessment of bile fluorescence patterns in a tropical fish, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene and chrysene using fixed wavelength fluorescence and synchronous fluorescence spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Pathiratne, A; Hemachandra, C K; Pathiratne, K A S

    2010-05-01

    Bile fluorescence patterns in Nile tilapia, a potential fish for biomonitoring tropical water pollution were assessed following exposure to selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene and chrysene. Non-normalized fixed wavelength fluorescence signals in the fish exposed to these PAHs reflected dose and/or time response relationships of their metabolism. Normalizing signals to biliverdin introduced deviations to these response patterns. The optimal wavelength pairs (excitation/emission) for synchronous fluorescence scanning measurements of bile metabolites of naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene and chrysene were identified as 284/326, 252/357, 340/382 and 273/382 respectively. This study supports the use of bile fluorescence in Nile tilapia by fixed wavelength fluorescence and synchronous fluorescence spectrometry with non-normalized data as a simple method for screening bioavailability of these PAHs.

  11. Quantitative high-resolution mapping of phenanthrene sorption to black carbon particles.

    PubMed

    Obst, Martin; Grathwohl, Peter; Kappler, Andreas; Eibl, Oliver; Peranio, Nicola; Gocht, Tilman

    2011-09-01

    Sorption of hydrophobic organic contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to black carbon (BC) particles has been the focus of numerous studies. Conclusions on sorption mechanisms of PAH on BC were mostly derived from studies of sorption isotherms and sorption kinetics, which are based on batch experiments. However, mechanistic modeling approaches consider processes at the subparticle scale, some including transport within the pore-space or different spatial pore-domains. Direct evidence based on analytical techniques operating at the submicrometer scale for the location of sorption sites and the adsorbed species is lacking. In this work, we identified, quantified, and mapped the sorption of PAHs on different BC particles (activated carbon, charcoal and diesel soot) on a 25-100 nm scale using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM). In addition, we visualized the pore structure of the particles by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on the 1-10 nm-scale. The combination of the chemical information from STXM with the physical information from TEM revealed that phenanthrene accumulates in the interconnected pore-system along primary "cracks" in the particles, confirming an adsorption mechanism.

  12. Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soil: a comparison between bioremoval and supercritical fluids extraction.

    PubMed

    Amezcua-Allieri, M A; Ávila-Chávez, M A; Trejo, A; Meléndez-Estrada, J

    2012-03-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogenic substances which are resistant to environmental degradation due to their highly hydrophobic nature. Soils contaminated with PAHs pose potential risks to human and ecological health, therefore concern over their adverse effects have resulted in extensive studies on their removal from contaminated soils. The main purpose of this study was to compare experimental results of PAHs removal, from a natural certified soil polluted with PAHs, by biological methods (using bioaugmentation and biostimulation in a solid-state culture) with those from supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), using supercritical ethane as solvent. The comparison of results between the two methods showed that maximal removal of naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, and chrysene was performed using bioremediation; however, for the rest of the PAHs considered (fluoranthene, pyrene, and benz(a)anthracene) SFE resulted more efficient. Although bioremediation achieved higher removal ratios for certain hydrocarbons and takes advantage of the increased rate of natural biological processes, it takes longer time (i.e. 36 d vs. half an hour) than SFE and it is best for 2-3 PAHs rings. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Isolation and characterization of bacteria capable of degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organophosphorus pesticides from PAH-contaminated soil in Hilo, Hawaii.

    PubMed

    Seo, Jong-Su; Keum, Young-Soo; Harada, Renee M; Li, Qing X

    2007-07-11

    Nineteen bacterial strains were isolated from petroleum-contaminated soil in Hilo, HI, and characterized by two different spray-plated methods, turbidity test in liquid medium, and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Analysis of the soil showed 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a range from 0.6 to 30 mg/kg of dry weight each and 12 PAH metabolites. Five distinct bacterial strains (C3, C4, P1-1, JS14, and JS19b1) selected from preliminary plating and turbidity tests were further tested for PAH degradation through single PAH degradation assay. Strains C3, C4, and P1-1 degraded phenanthrene (40 mg/L) completely during 7 days of incubation. Strain JS14 degraded fluoranthene (40 mg/L) completely during 10 days of incubation. Strain JS19b1 degraded 100% of phenanthrene (40 mg/L) in 7 days, 77% of fluorene (40 mg/L) in 14 days, 97% of fluoranthene (40 mg/L) in 10 days, and 100% of pyrene (40 mg/L) in 14 days. Turbidity tests showed that strains P1-1, JS14, and JS19b1 utilized several organophosphorus pesticides as growth substrate. P1-1 can degrade carbofenothion, chlorfenvinphos, diazinon, fonofos, and pirimiphos-methyl. JS14 can transform chlorfenvinphos and diazinon. JS19b1 can break down diazinon, pirimiphos-methyl, and temephos.

  14. Alcohol-soluble interfacial fluorenes for inverted polymer solar cells: sequence induced spatial conformation dipole moment.

    PubMed

    Chen, Lie; Liu, Xiangfu; Wei, Yingkai; Wu, Feiyan; Chen, Yiwang

    2016-01-21

    Three fluorene-based alcohol-soluble organic small molecule electrolytes (SMEs) with different conjugated backbones, namely, TFTN-Br, FTFN-Br and FTTFN-Br, were designed as cathode interfacial layers for inverted polymer solar cells (i-PSCs). The insertion of SMEs to the ITO/active layer interfaces effectively lowered the energy barrier for electron transport and improved the inherent compatibility between the hydrophilic ITO and hydrophobic active layers. Due to these advantages, the device based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):(6,6)-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) with TFTN-Br as the cathode interfacial layer achieved an improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.8%, which is a 26% improvement when compared to the standard device comprising ZnO cathode interfacial layers (PCE = 3.0%). Devices with FTFN-Br and FTTFN-Br also showed an improved PCE of 3.1% and 3.5%, respectively. The variation in device performance enhancement was found to be primarily correlated with the different conformation of their assembly onto the electrode caused by the joint sequence of the polar group of the SMEs, consequently impacting the dipole moment and interface morphology. In addition, introducing SMEs as the cathode interfacial layer also produced devices with long-term stability.

  15. Phenanthrenes from Arundina graminifolia and in vitro evaluation of their antibacterial and anti-haemolytic properties.

    PubMed

    Yan, Xuemeng; Tang, Bingxue; Liu, Meifeng

    2018-03-01

    Chemical investigation and activity test of Arundina graminifolia led to the isolation of six phenanthrenes: blestriarene A (1), shancidin (2), densiflorol B (3), ephemeranthoquinone (4), coelonin (5) and lusianthridin (6). The isolated compounds demonstrated antibacterial and anti-haemolytic activities. It was found that compounds 1 and 2 had medium antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, with MICs of 20-40 μg/mL and MBCs of 40-320 μg/mL. Bactericidal mechanisms were explored. Rupture of cell wall and membrane and leakage of nuclear mass were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, compounds 1-3 attenuated the erythrocyte damage. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant anti-haemolytic activity with inhibition rate about 50% at 16 μg/mL.

  16. Adsorption of phenanthrene on activated carbon increases mineralization rate by specific bacteria.

    PubMed

    Leglize, Pierre; Alain, Saada; Jacques, Berthelin; Corinne, Leyval

    2008-03-01

    Bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in soil is affected by PAH sorption to solid phase. We studied the influence of activated carbon (AC) on phenanthrene (PHE) mineralization by five degrading bacterial strains isolated from contaminated soil. PHE adsorption on AC was important and reduced PHE aqueous concentration up to 90%. PHE degradation was improved in the presence of activated carbon with three of the bacterial strains, named NAH1, MATE3 and MATE7, which produced biofilms, whereas it was not improved with the two other ones, which did not produce biofilms, MATE10 and MATE12. Monitoring PHE distribution during incubation showed that aqueous PHE concentration was significantly higher with the biofilm-producing NAH1 than with MATE10. Bacterial adhesion on AC was also investigated. The precoating of AC with PHE increased NAH1 and MATE3 adhesion to the solid surface (>16 and >13%, respectively). Bacterial properties, such as biofilm production and adhesion to AC capacity seemed to be related to their ability to optimize PHE degradation by improving PHE diffusion and reducing diffusion path length.

  17. Focused ion beam and field-emission microscopy of metallic filaments in memory devices based on thin films of an ambipolar organic compound consisting of oxadiazole, carbazole, and fluorene units

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Pearson, Christopher; Bowen, Leon; Lee, Myung Won; Fisher, Alison L.; Linton, Katherine E.; Bryce, Martin R.; Petty, Michael C.

    2013-01-01

    We report on the mechanism of operation of organic thin film resistive memory architectures based on an ambipolar compound consisting of oxadiazole, carbazole, and fluorene units. Cross-sections of the devices have been imaged by electron microscopy both before and after applying a voltage. The micrographs reveal the growth of filaments, with diameters of 50 nm–100 nm, on the metal cathode. We suggest that these are formed by the drift of aluminium ions from the anode and are responsible for the observed switching and negative differential resistance phenomena in the memory devices.

  18. Complete genome sequence of the phenanthrene-degrading soil bacterium Delftia acidovorans Cs1-4

    DOE PAGES

    Shetty, Ameesha R.; de Gannes, Vidya; Obi, Chioma C.; ...

    2015-08-15

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants and microbial biodegradation is an important means of remediation of PAH-contaminated soil. Delftia acidovorans Cs1-4 (formerly Delftia sp. Cs1-4) was isolated by using phenanthrene as the sole carbon source from PAH contaminated soil in Wisconsin. Its full genome sequence was determined to gain insights into a mechanisms underlying biodegradation of PAH. Three genomic libraries were constructed and sequenced: an Illumina GAii shotgun library (916,416,493 reads), a 454 Titanium standard library (770,171 reads) and one paired-end 454 library (average insert size of 8 kb, 508,092 reads). The initial assembly contained 40 contigs inmore » two scaffolds. The 454 Titanium standard data and the 454 paired end data were assembled together and the consensus sequences were computationally shredded into 2 kb overlapping shreds. Illumina sequencing data was assembled, and the consensus sequence was computationally shredded into 1.5 kb overlapping shreds. Gaps between contigs were closed by editing in Consed, by PCR and by Bubble PCR primer walks. A total of 182 additional reactions were needed to close gaps and to raise the quality of the finished sequence. The final assembly is based on 253.3 Mb of 454 draft data (averaging 38.4 X coverage) and 590.2 Mb of Illumina draft data (averaging 89.4 X coverage). The genome of strain Cs1-4 consists of a single circular chromosome of 6,685,842 bp (66.7 %G+C) containing 6,028 predicted genes; 5,931 of these genes were protein-encoding and 4,425 gene products were assigned to a putative function. Genes encoding phenanthrene degradation were localized to a 232 kb genomic island (termed the phn island), which contained near its 3’ end a bacteriophage P4-like integrase, an enzyme often associated with chromosomal integration of mobile genetic elements. Other biodegradation pathways reconstructed from the genome sequence included: benzoate (by the acetyl

  19. Complete genome sequence of the phenanthrene-degrading soil bacterium Delftia acidovorans Cs1-4

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Shetty, Ameesha R.; de Gannes, Vidya; Obi, Chioma C.

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants and microbial biodegradation is an important means of remediation of PAH-contaminated soil. Delftia acidovorans Cs1-4 (formerly Delftia sp. Cs1-4) was isolated by using phenanthrene as the sole carbon source from PAH contaminated soil in Wisconsin. Its full genome sequence was determined to gain insights into a mechanisms underlying biodegradation of PAH. Three genomic libraries were constructed and sequenced: an Illumina GAii shotgun library (916,416,493 reads), a 454 Titanium standard library (770,171 reads) and one paired-end 454 library (average insert size of 8 kb, 508,092 reads). The initial assembly contained 40 contigs inmore » two scaffolds. The 454 Titanium standard data and the 454 paired end data were assembled together and the consensus sequences were computationally shredded into 2 kb overlapping shreds. Illumina sequencing data was assembled, and the consensus sequence was computationally shredded into 1.5 kb overlapping shreds. Gaps between contigs were closed by editing in Consed, by PCR and by Bubble PCR primer walks. A total of 182 additional reactions were needed to close gaps and to raise the quality of the finished sequence. The final assembly is based on 253.3 Mb of 454 draft data (averaging 38.4 X coverage) and 590.2 Mb of Illumina draft data (averaging 89.4 X coverage). The genome of strain Cs1-4 consists of a single circular chromosome of 6,685,842 bp (66.7 %G+C) containing 6,028 predicted genes; 5,931 of these genes were protein-encoding and 4,425 gene products were assigned to a putative function. Genes encoding phenanthrene degradation were localized to a 232 kb genomic island (termed the phn island), which contained near its 3’ end a bacteriophage P4-like integrase, an enzyme often associated with chromosomal integration of mobile genetic elements. Other biodegradation pathways reconstructed from the genome sequence included: benzoate (by the acetyl

  20. Planar conjugated polymers containing 9,10-disubstituted phenanthrene units for efficient polymer solar cells.

    PubMed

    Li, Guangwu; Kang, Chong; Li, Cuihong; Lu, Zhen; Zhang, Jicheng; Gong, Xue; Zhao, Guangyao; Dong, Huanli; Hu, Wenping; Bo, Zhishan

    2014-06-01

    Four novel conjugated polymers (P1-4) with 9,10-disubstituted phenanthrene (PhA) as the donor unit and 5,6-bis(octyloxy)benzothiadiazole as the acceptor unit are synthesized and characterized. These polymers are of medium bandgaps (2.0 eV), low-lying HOMO energy levels (below -5.3 eV), and high hole mobilities (in the range of 3.6 × 10(-3) to 0.02 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) ). Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) polymer solar cells (PSCs) with P1-4:PC71 BM blends as the active layer and an alcohol-soluble fullerene derivative (FN-C60) as the interfacial layer between the active layer and cathode give the best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.24%, indicating that 9,10-disubstituted PhA are potential donor materials for high-efficiency BHJ PSCs. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  1. Recyclable nanoscale zero-valent iron-based magnetic polydopamine coated nanomaterials for the adsorption and removal of phenanthrene and anthracene

    PubMed Central

    Li, Jing; Zhou, Qingxiang; Liu, Yongli; Lei, Man

    2017-01-01

    Abstract In this study, nanoscale zero-valent iron nanoparticles (NZVIs) were coated with silica and polydopamine using a two-step process. The coated nanoparticles were applied as adsorbents for removal of two common polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pollutants, phenanthrene (PHE) and anthracene (ANT) from aqueous system. Adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model. Isotherms and thermodynamics were investigated and the results indicated that the adsorption process fit best to the Freundlich model and exhibited the characteristics of an exothermal physical adsorption process. Owing to their superparamagnetic characteristics and stability, these adsorbents could be easily collected and recycled for reuse. PMID:28179954

  2. Recyclable nanoscale zero-valent iron-based magnetic polydopamine coated nanomaterials for the adsorption and removal of phenanthrene and anthracene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Jing; Zhou, Qingxiang; Liu, Yongli; Lei, Man

    2017-12-01

    In this study, nanoscale zero-valent iron nanoparticles (NZVIs) were coated with silica and polydopamine using a two-step process. The coated nanoparticles were applied as adsorbents for removal of two common polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pollutants, phenanthrene (PHE) and anthracene (ANT) from aqueous system. Adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model. Isotherms and thermodynamics were investigated and the results indicated that the adsorption process fit best to the Freundlich model and exhibited the characteristics of an exothermal physical adsorption process. Owing to their superparamagnetic characteristics and stability, these adsorbents could be easily collected and recycled for reuse.

  3. Polyurethane foam (PUF) passive samplers for monitoring phenanthrene in stormwater.

    PubMed

    Dou, Yueqin; Zhang, Tian C; Zeng, Jing; Stansbury, John; Moussavi, Massoum; Richter-Egger, Dana L; Klein, Mitchell R

    2016-04-01

    Pollution from highway stormwater runoff has been an increasing area of concern. Many structural Best Management Practices (BMPs) have been implemented for stormwater treatment and management. One challenge for these BMPs is to sample stormwater and monitor BMP performance. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using polyurethane foam (PUF) passive samplers (PSs) for sampling phenanthrene (PHE) in highway stormwater runoff and BMPs. Tests were conducted using batch reactors, glass-tube columns, and laboratory-scale BMPs (bioretention cells). Results indicate that sorption for PHE by PUF is mainly linearly relative to time, and the high sorption capacity allows the PUF passive sampler to monitor stormwater events for months or years. The PUF passive samplers could be embedded in BMPs for monitoring influent and effluent PHE concentrations. Models developed to link the results of batch and column tests proved to be useful for determining removal or sorption parameters and performance of the PUF-PSs. The predicted removal efficiencies of BMPs were close to the real values obtained from the control columns with errors ranging between -8.46 and 1.52%. This research showed that it is possible to use PUF passive samplers for sampling stormwater and monitoring the performance of stormwater BMPs, which warrants the field-scale feasibility studies in the future.

  4. Fundamental and future prospects of printed ambipolar fluorene-type polymer light-emitting transistors for improved external quantum efficiency, mobility, and emission pattern

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kajii, Hirotake

    2018-05-01

    In this review, we focus on the improved external quantum efficiency, field-effect mobility, and emission pattern of top-gate-type polymer light-emitting transistors (PLETs) based on ambipolar fluorene-type polymers. A low-temperature, high-efficiency, printable red phosphorescent PLET based on poly(alkylfluorene) with modified alkyl side chains fabricated by a film transfer process is demonstrated. Device fabrication based on oriented films leads to an improved EL intensity owing to the increase in field-effect mobility. There are three factors that affect the transport of carriers, i.e., the energy level, threshold voltage, and mobility of each layer for heterostructure PLETs, which result in various emission patterns such as the line-shaped, multicolor and in-plane emission pattern in the full-channel area between source and drain electrodes. Fundamentals and future prospects in heterostructure devices are discussed and reviewed.

  5. Degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons and treatment of refinery wastewater under saline condition by a halophilic bacterial consortium enriched from marine environment (Red Sea), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    PubMed

    Jamal, Mamdoh T; Pugazhendi, Arulazhagan

    2018-06-01

    A halophilic bacterial consortium was enriched from Red Sea saline water and sediment samples collected from Abhor, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The consortium potentially degraded different low (above 90% for phenanthrene and fluorene) and high (69 ± 1.4 and 56 ± 1.8% at 50 and 100 mg/L of pyrene) molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at different concentrations under saline condition (40 g/L NaCl concentration). The cell hydrophobicity (91° ± 1°) and biosurfactant production (30 mN/m) confirmed potential bacterial cell interaction with PAHs to facilitate biodegradation process. Co-metabolic study with phenanthrene as co-substrate during pyrene degradation recorded 90% degradation in 12 days. The consortium in continuous stirred tank reactor with petroleum refinery wastewater showed complete and 90% degradation of low and high molecular weight PAHs, respectively. The reactor study also revealed 94 ± 1.8% chemical oxygen demand removal by the halophilic consortium under saline condition (40 g/L NaCl concentration). The halophilic bacterial strains present in the consortium were identified as Ochrobactrum halosaudis strain CEES1 (KX377976), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain CEES2 (KX377977), Achromobacter xylosoxidans strain CEES3 (KX377978) and Mesorhizobium halosaudis strain CEES4 (KX377979). Thus, the promising halophilic consortium was highly recommended to be employed in petroleum saline wastewater treatment process.

  6. Removal Capacities of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) by a Newly Isolated Strain from Oilfield Produced Water

    PubMed Central

    Qi, Yi-Bin; Wang, Chen-Yu; Lv, Cheng-Yuan; Lun, Zeng-Min; Zheng, Cheng-Gang

    2017-01-01

    The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading strain Q8 was isolated from oilfield produced water. According to the analysis of a biochemical test, 16S rRNA gene, house-keeping genes and DNA–DNA hybridization, strain Q8 was assigned to a novel species of the genus Gordonia. The strain could not only grow in mineral salt medium (MM) and utilize naphthalene and pyrene as its sole carbon source, but also degraded mixed naphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene and pyrene. The degradation ratio of these four PAHs reached 100%, 95.4%, 73.8% and 53.4% respectively after being degraded by Q8 for seven days. A comparative experiment found that the PAHs degradation efficiency of Q8 is higher than that of Gordonia alkaliphila and Gordonia paraffinivorans, which have the capacities to remove PAHs. Fourier transform infrared spectra, saturate, aromatic, resin and asphaltene (SARA) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of crude oil degraded by Q8 were also studied. The results showed that Q8 could utilize n-alkanes and PAHs in crude oil. The relative proportions of the naphthalene series, phenanthrene series, thiophene series, fluorene series, chrysene series, C21-triaromatic steroid, pyrene, and benz(a)pyrene were reduced after being degraded by Q8. Gordonia sp. nov. Q8 had the capacity to remediate water and soil environments contaminated by PAHs or crude oil, and provided a feasible way for the bioremediation of PAHs and oil pollution. PMID:28241412

  7. Endocrine disrupting potential of PAHs and their alkylated analogues associated with oil spills.

    PubMed

    Lee, Sangwoo; Hong, Seongjin; Liu, Xiaoshan; Kim, Cheolmin; Jung, Dawoon; Yim, Un Hyuk; Shim, Won Joon; Khim, Jong Seong; Giesy, John P; Choi, Kyungho

    2017-09-20

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkylated PAHs are known to be major toxic contaminants in spills of petroleum hydrocarbons (oil). Spilled oil undergoes weathering and over time, PAHs go through a series of compositional changes. PAHs can disrupt endocrine functions, and the type of functions affected and associated potencies vary with the type and alkylation status of PAH. In this study, the potential of five major PAHs of crude oil, i.e., naphthalene, fluorene, dibenzothiophene, phenanthrene, and chrysene, and their alkylated analogues (n = 25), to disrupt endocrine functions was evaluated by use of MVLN-luc and H295R cell lines. In the MVLN-luc bioassay, seven estrogen receptor (ER) agonists were detected among 30 tested PAHs. The greatest ER-mediated potency was observed for 1-methylchrysene (101.4%), followed by phenanthrene and its alkylated analogues (range of %-E2max from 1.6% to 47.3%). In the H295R bioassay, significantly greater syntheses of steroid hormones were observed for 20 PAHs. For major PAHs and their alkylated analogues, disruption of steroidogenesis appeared to be more significant than ER-mediated effects. The number and locations of alkyl-moieties alone could not explain differences in the types or the potencies of toxicities. This observation shows that disruption of endocrine functions by some constituents of oil spills could be underestimated if only parent compounds are considered in assessments of hazard and risk.

  8. Characterization and Phenanthrene Sorption of Natural and Pyrogenic Organic Matter Fractions.

    PubMed

    Jin, Jie; Sun, Ke; Wang, Ziying; Yang, Yan; Han, Lanfang; Xing, Baoshan

    2017-03-07

    Pyrogenic humic acid (HA) is released into the environment during the large-scale application of biochar. However, the biogeochemistry of pyrogenic organic matter (PyOM) fractions and their sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) are poorly understood in comparison with natural organic matter (NOM) fractions. HA and humin (HM) fractions isolated from soils and the oxidized biochars were characterized. Sorption of phenanthrene (PHE) by these fractions was also examined. The characterization results demonstrate that pyrogenic HAs are different from natural HAs, with the former having lower atomic H/C ratios, more abundant aromatic C, and higher concentrations of surface carboxylic groups. Compared with the fresh biochars, the K oc of PHE on their oxidized biochars, pyrogenic HA, and HM fractions were undiminished, which is encouraging for the use of biochar in soil remediation. The PyOM fractions exhibited stronger nonlinear sorption than the NOM fractions. In addition, the PyOM fractions had higher sorption capacity than the NOM fractions due to their low polar C content and high aryl C content. The results obtained from this work will shed new light on the impact of the addition of biochar on the biogeochemistry of soil organic matter and on the fate of HOCs in biochar-amended soil.

  9. Reports of investigations on: Derivation of an infinite-dilution activity coefficient model and application to two-component vapor/liquid equilibria data: Final report

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Roper, V.P.; Kobayashi, R.

    1988-02-01

    Infinite-dilution fugacity coefficients were obtained for the system fluorene/phenanthrene at thirteen temperatures by fitting total pressure across the entire mole fraction range by a computer routine. A thermodynamically consistent routine, that allowed for both positive and negative pressure deviations from the ideal values, was used to correlate data over the full mole fraction range from 0 to 1. The four-suffix Margules activity coefficient model without modification essentially served this purpose since total pressures and total pressure derivatives with respect to mole fraction were negligible compared to pressure measurement precision. The water/ethanol system and binary systems comprised of aniline, chlorobenzene, acetonitrilemore » and other polar compounds were fit for total pressure across the entire mole fraction range for binary Vapor-Liquid-Equilbria (VLE) using the rigorous, thermodynamically consistent Gibbs-Duhem Relation derived by Ibl and Dodge. Data correlation was performed using a computer least squares procedure. Infinite-dilution fugacity coefficients were obtained using a modified Margules activity coefficient model.« less

  10. Hot foam for weed control-Do alkyl polyglucoside surfactants used as foaming agents affect the mobility of organic contaminants in soil?

    PubMed

    Cederlund, H; Börjesson, E

    2016-08-15

    Use of alkyl polyglucosides (APGs) as a foaming agent during hot water weed control may influence the environmental fate of organic contaminants in soil. We studied the effects of the APG-based foaming agent NCC Spuma (C8-C10) on leaching of diuron, glyphosate, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sand columns. We also examined how APG concentration affected the apparent water solubility and adsorption of the herbicides and of the PAHs acenaphthene, acenaphthylene and fluorene. Application of APGs at the recommended concentration of 0.3% did not significantly affect leaching of any of the compounds studied. However, at a concentration of 1.5%, leaching of both diuron and glyphosate was significantly increased. The increased leaching corresponded to an increase in apparent water solubility of diuron and a decrease in glyphosate adsorption to the sand. However, APG addition did not significantly affect the mobility of PAHs even though their apparent water solubility was increased. These results suggest that application of APG-based foam during hot water weed control does not significantly affect the mobility of organic contaminants in soil if used according to recommendations. Moreover, they suggest that APGs could be useful for soil bioremediation purposes if higher concentrations are used. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Phenanthrene sorption with heterogeneous organic matter in a landfill aquifer material

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Karapanagioti, H.K.; Sabatini, D.A.; Kleineidam, S.; Grathwohl, P.; Ligouis, B.

    1999-01-01

    Phenanthrene was used as a model chemical to study the sorption properties of Canadian River Alluvium aquifer material. Both equilibrium and kinetic sorption processes were evaluated through batch studies. The bulk sample was divided into subsamples with varying properties such as particle size, organic content, equilibration time, etc. in order to determine the effect of these properties on resulting sorption parameters. The data have been interpreted and the effect of experimental variables was quantified using the Freundlich isotherm model and a numerical solution of Fick's 2nd law in porous media. Microscopic organic matter characterization proved to be a valuable tool for explaining the results. Different organic matter properties and sorption mechanisms were observed for each soil subsample. Samples containing coal particles presented high Koc values. Samples with organic matter dominated by organic coatings on quartz grains presented low Koc values and contained a high percentage of fast sorption sites. The numerical solution of Fick's 2ndlaw requires the addition of two terms (fast and slow) in order to fit the kinetics of these heterogeneous samples properly. These results thus demonstrate the need for soil organic matter characterization in order to predict and explain the sorption properties of a soil sample containing heterogeneous organic matter and also the difficulty and complexity of modeling sorption in such samples.

  12. Chronic toxicity of phenanthrene to the marine polychaete worm, Nereis (Neanthes) arenaceodentata

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Emery, V.L. Jr.; Dillon, T.M.

    1996-02-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely distributed in the environment. While environmental concentrations are generally below acutely, lethal levels, chronic, low level exposures may result in subtle sublethal effects. PAHs accumulate in bottom sediments and may represent a hazard to the benthos. Polychaetes are important members of this community. The objective of this study is to evaluate the chronic sublethal effects of one PAH, phenanthrene (PHN), on the polychaete worm, Nereis arenaceodentata. PHN was selected because of its high toxicity to marine invertebrates relative to other PAHs. The response of bivalves to heavy metals and other toxins has usually beenmore » determined by observing valve position. Since mussels close their valves to avoid noxious stimuli, experimental delivery of chemicals is uncertain. To obtain constant results. Preston employed plastic spacers to hold the valves apart. This obviates the observation of valve position as an index of response, and some other method is required. Electromyography of intact mussels is one such index, and is shown to be a simple, effective and quantitative measurement of activity. Experiments are reported on the effects of added mercury on salt water and fresh water species. Parts of this Nvork have appeared in brief form.« less

  13. In depth analysis of the quenching of three fluorene-phenylene-based cationic conjugated polyelectrolytes by DNA and DNA bases.

    PubMed

    Davies, Matthew L; Douglas, Peter; Burrows, Hugh D; Martincigh, Bice; Miguel, Maria da Graça; Scherf, Ullrich; Mallavia, Ricardo; Douglas, Alastair

    2014-01-16

    The interaction of three cationic poly {9,9-bis[N,N-(trimethylammonium)hexyl]fluorene-co-1,4-phenylene} polymers with average chain lengths of ∼6, 12, and 100 repeat units (PFP-NR36(I),12(Br),100(Br)) with both double and single stranded, short and long, DNA and DNA bases have been studied by steady state and time-resolved fluorescence techniques. Fluorescence of PFP-NR3 polymers is quenched with high efficiency by DNA (both double and single stranded) and DNA bases. The resulting quenching plots are sigmoidal and are not accurately described by using a Stern-Volmer quenching mechanism. Here, the quenching mechanism is well modeled in terms of an equilibrium in which a PFP-NR3/DNA aggregate complex is formed which brings polymer chains into close enough proximity to allow interchain excitation energy migration and quenching at aggregate or DNA base traps. Such an analysis gives equilibrium constants of 8.4 × 10(6) (±1.2 × 10(6)) M(-1) for short-dsDNA and 8.6 × 10(6) (±1.7 × 10(6)) M(-1) for short-ssDNA with PFP-NR36(I).

  14. Silicon-based material with spiro-annulated fluorene/triphenylamine as host and exciton-blocking layer for blue electrophosphorescent devices.

    PubMed

    Chen, Hua; Jiang, Zuo-Quan; Gao, Chun-Hong; Xu, Mei-Feng; Dong, Shou-Cheng; Cui, Lin-Song; Ji, Shun-Jun; Liao, Liang-Sheng

    2013-08-26

    A novel silicon-based compound, 10-phenyl-2'-(triphenylsilyl)-10H-spiro[acridine-9,9'-fluorene] (SSTF), with spiro structure has been designed, synthesized, and characterized. Its thermal, electronic absorption, and photoluminescence properties were studied. Its energy levels make it suitable as a host material or exciton-blocking material in blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PhOLEDs). Accordingly, blue-emitting devices with iridium(III) bis[(4,6-difluorophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C(2)']picolinate (FIrpic) as phosphorescent dopant have been fabricated and show high efficiency with low roll-off. In particular, 44.0 cd A(-1) (41.3 lm W(-1)) at 100 cd m(-2) and 41.9 cd A(-1) (32.9 lm W(-1)) at 1000 cd m(-2) were achieved when SSTF was used as host material; 28.1 lm W(-1) at 100 cd m(-2) and 20.6 lm W(-1) at 1000 cd m(-2) were achieved when SSTF was used as exciton-blocking layer. All of the results are superior to those of the reference devices and show the potential applicability and versatility of SSTF in blue PhOLEDs. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  15. Solution‐crystallization and related phenomena in 9,9‐dialkyl‐fluorene polymers. II. Influence of side‐chain structure

    PubMed Central

    Perevedentsev, Aleksandr; Stavrinou, Paul N.; Smith, Paul

    2015-01-01

    ABSTRACT Solution‐crystallization is studied for two polyfluorene polymers possessing different side‐chain structures. Thermal analysis and temperature‐dependent optical spectroscopy are used to clarify the nature of the crystallization process, while X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy reveal important differences in the resulting microstructures. It is shown that the planar‐zigzag chain conformation termed the β‐phase, which is observed for certain linear‐side‐chain polyfluorenes, is necessary for the formation of so‐called polymer‐solvent compounds for these polymers. Introduction of alternating fluorene repeat units with branched side‐chains prevents formation of the β‐phase conformation and results in non‐solvated, i.e. melt‐crystallization‐type, polymer crystals. Unlike non‐solvated polymer crystals, for which the chain conformation is stabilized by its incorporation into a crystalline lattice, the β‐phase conformation is stabilized by complexation with solvent molecules and, therefore, its formation does not require specific inter‐chain interactions. The presented results clarify the fundamental differences between the β‐phase and other conformational/crystalline forms of polyfluorenes. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015, 53, 1492–1506 PMID:27546983

  16. Evaluation of ultraviolet spectrophotometry for simultaneous analysis of alkylbenzenes, alkylnaphthalenes, alkylanthracenes/phenanthrenes and total aromatics in mid-distillate fuels

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kim, W. S.; Seng, G. T.

    1982-01-01

    A rapid ultraviolet spectrophotometric method for the simultaneous determination of aromatics in middistillate fuels was developed and evaluated. In this method, alkylbenzenes, alkylnaphthalenes, alkylanthracenes/phenanthracenes and total aromatics were determined from ultraviolet spectra of the fuels. The accuracy and precision were determined using simulated standard fuels with known compositions. The total aromatics fraction accuracy was 5% for a Jet A type fuel and 0.6% for a broadened properties jet turbine type fuel. Precision, expressed as relative standard deviations, ranged from 2.9% for the alkylanthracenes/phenanthrenes to 15.3% for the alkylbenzenes. The accuracy, however, was less for actual fuel samples when compared to the results obtained by a mass spectrometric method. In addition, the ASTM D-1840 method for naphthalenes by ultraviolet spectroscopy was evaluated.

  17. Estimation and application of the thermodynamic properties of aqueous phenanthrene and isomers of methylphenanthrene at high temperature

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dick, Jeffrey M.; Evans, Katy A.; Holman, Alex I.; Jaraula, Caroline M. B.; Grice, Kliti

    2013-12-01

    Estimates of standard molal Gibbs energy (ΔGf°) and enthalpy (ΔHf°) of formation, entropy (S°), heat capacity (CP°) and volume (V°) at 25 °C and 1 bar of aqueous phenanthrene (P) and 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 9-methylphenanthrene (1-MP, 2-MP, 3-MP, 4-MP, 9-MP) were made by combining reported standard-state properties of the crystalline compounds, solubilities and enthalpies of phenanthrene and 1-MP, and relative Gibbs energies, enthalpies and entropies of aqueous MP isomers from published quantum chemical simulations. The calculated properties are consistent with greater stabilities of the β isomers (2-MP and 3-MP) relative to the α isomers (1-MP and 9-MP) at 25 °C. However, the metastable equilibrium values of the abundance ratios 2-MP/1-MP (MPR) and (2-MP + 3-MP)/(1-MP + 9-MP) (MPI-3) decrease with temperature, becoming <1 at ∼375-455 °C. The thermodynamic model is consistent with observations of reversals of these organic maturity parameters at high temperature in hydrothermal and metamorphic settings. Application of the model to data reported for the Paleoproterozoic Here’s Your Chance (HYC) Pb-Zn-Ag ore deposit (McArthur River, Northern Territory, Australia) indicates a likely effect of high-temperature equilibration on reported values of MPR and MPI-3, but this finding is contingent on the location within the deposit. If metastable equilibrium holds, a third aromatic maturity ratio, 1.5 × (2-MP + 3-MP)/(P + 1-MP + 9-MP) (MPI-1), can be used as a proxy for oxidation potential. Values of logaH2aq determined from data reported for HYC and for a sequence of deeply buried source rocks are indicative of more reducing conditions at a given temperature than those inferred from data reported for two sets of samples exposed to contact or regional metamorphism. These results are limiting-case scenarios for the modeled systems that do not account for effects of non-ideal mixing or kinetics, or external sources or transport of the organic matter. Nevertheless

  18. Effect of H(2)SO(4) and HCl in the anode purging solution for the electrokinetic-Fenton remediation of soil contaminated with phenanthrene.

    PubMed

    Kim, Jung-Hwan; Kim, Jong Yun; Kim, Soo-Sam

    2009-09-01

    The Electrokinetic-Fenton (EK-Fenton) process is a powerful technology to remediate organic-contaminated soil. The behavior of salts and acids introduced for the pH control has significant influence on the H(2)O(2) stabilization and destruction of organic contaminants. In this study, the effects of the type and concentration of acids, which were introduced at the anode, were investigated for the treatment of clayey soil contaminated with phenanthrene. In experiments with H(2)SO(4) as the anode solution, H(2)O(2) concentration in the anode reservoir decreased due to reaction between reduced species of sulfate and H(2)O(2), as time elapsed. By contrast, HCl as an electrolyte in the anode reservoir did not decrease the H(2)O(2) concentration in the anode reservoir. The reaction between the reduced species of sulfate and H(2)O(2) hindered the stabilization of H(2)O(2) in the soil and anode reservoir. In experiments with HCl for pH control, Cl(.), and Cl(2)(. -), which could be generated with mineral catalyzed Fenton-like reaction, did not significantly hinder H(2)O(2) stabilization. H(2)O(2) transportation with electro-osmotic flow and mineral catalyzed Fenton-like reaction on the soil surface resulted in the simultaneous transport and degradation of phenanthrene, which are dependent of the advancement rate of the acid front and electro-osmotic flow toward the cathode according to HCl and H(2)SO(4) concentrations in the anode purging solution.

  19. Biochar based remediation of water and soil contaminated by phenanthrene and pentachlorophenol.

    PubMed

    Rao, Maria A; Di Rauso Simeone, Giuseppe; Scelza, Rosalia; Conte, Pellegrino

    2017-11-01

    Phenanthrene (Phe) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) are classified as persistent organic pollutants and represent serious concern for the environment as they are toxic and ubiquitous. Biochar based remediation is an emerging technology used in water and soil contamination. In this study we used poplar (BP) and conifer (BC) biochars to remediate water and soil contaminated by Phe and PCP. BP and BC were able to remove completely either Phe or PCP from contaminated water within one to three days. When biochar was confined in a porous membrane, BC and BP maintained their sorption efficiency for several remediation cycles. However, in these conditions BC allowed faster Phe removal. In soil remediation experiments, addition of two biochar rates, i.e. 2.5 and 5 mg g -1 , strongly reduced Phe extractability (up to 2.7% of the initially added Phe with the larger BC dose). This was similar to the behavior observed when compost was applied in order to verify the role of soil organic matter in the fate of both contaminants. PCP extractability was reduced only up to 75% (in average) in all samples including those with compost amendment. Only larger amount of biochar (20 and 50 mg g -1 ) allowed reduction of the extractable PCP and nullified phytotoxicity of the contaminant. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. A Free-Radical Pathway to Hydrogenated Phenanthrene in Molecular Clouds-Low Temperature Growth of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

    PubMed

    Thomas, Aaron M; Lucas, Michael; Yang, Tao; Kaiser, Ralf I; Fuentes, Luis; Belisario-Lara, Daniel; Mebel, Alexander M

    2017-08-05

    The hydrogen-abstraction/acetylene-addition mechanism has been fundamental to unravelling the synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) detected in combustion flames and carbonaceous meteorites like Orgueil and Murchison. However, the fundamental reaction pathways accounting for the synthesis of complex PAHs, such as the tricyclic anthracene and phenanthrene along with their dihydrogenated counterparts, remain elusive to date. By investigating the hitherto unknown chemistry of the 1-naphthyl radical with 1,3-butadiene, we reveal a facile barrierless synthesis of dihydrophenanthrene adaptable to low temperatures. These aryl-type radical additions to conjugated hydrocarbons via resonantly stabilized free-radical intermediates defy conventional wisdom that PAH growth is predominantly a high-temperature phenomenon and thus may represent an overlooked path to PAHs as complex as coronene and corannulene in cold regions of the interstellar medium like in the Taurus Molecular Cloud. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  1. Alteration of development and gene expression induced by in ovo-nanoinjection of 3-hydroxybenzo[c]phenanthrene into Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryos.

    PubMed

    Chen, Kun; Tsutsumi, Yuki; Yoshitake, Shuhei; Qiu, Xuchun; Xu, Hai; Hashiguchi, Yasuyuki; Honda, Masato; Tashiro, Kosuke; Nakayama, Kei; Hano, Takeshi; Suzuki, Nobuo; Hayakawa, Kazuichi; Shimasaki, Yohei; Oshima, Yuji

    2017-01-01

    Benzo[c]phenanthrene (BcP) is a highly toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) found throughout the environment. In fish, it is metabolized to 3-hydroxybenzo[c]phenanthrene (3-OHBcP). In the present study, we observed the effects of 1nM 3-OHBcP on the development and gene expression of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryos. Embryos were nanoinjected with the chemical after fertilization. Survival, developmental stage, and heart rate of the embryos were observed, and gene expression differences were quantified by messenger RNA sequencing (mRNA-Seq). The exposure to 1nM 3-OHBcP accelerated the development of medaka embryos on the 1st, 4th, and 6th days post fertilization (dpf), and increased heart rates significantly on the 5th dpf. Physical development differences of exposed medaka embryos were consistent with the gene expression profiles of the mRNA-Seq results for the 3rd dpf, which show that the expression of 780 genes differed significantly between the solvent control and 1nM 3-OHBcP exposure groups. The obvious expression changes in the exposure group were found for genes involved in organ formation (eye, muscle, heart), energy supply (ATPase and ATP synthase), and stress-response (heat shock protein genes). The acceleration of development and increased heart rate, which were consistent with the changes in mRNA expression, suggested that 3-OHBcP affects the development of medaka embryos. The observation on the developmental stages and heart beat, in ovo-nanoinjection and mRNA-Seq may be efficient tools to evaluate the effects of chemicals on embryos. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Magnetic halloysite nanotube/polyaniline/copper composite coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: A rapid approach for determination of nitro-phenanthrenes in water and soil samples.

    PubMed

    Darvishnejad, Mohammad; Ebrahimzadeh, Homeira

    2018-08-17

    A fast, sensitive and reliable ultrasound-assisted magnetic dispersive solid-phase microextraction (UAMDSPME) setup was developed and evaluated for the enrichment of nitro- phenanthrenes compound in environmental samples prior to GC-MS determination. A new type of nanocomposite sorbent was made based on halloysite nanotubes (HNTs). HNTs is a type of natural material, have attracted great interest because of their large surface area and high chemical and thermal stability. The hybrid nanocomposite (magnetic HNT@PANI@Cu) was obtained by coating the magnetic HNTs by polyaniline (PANI) and afterwards decorating with metalic copper. Its morphology and surface properties were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. In this work several factors that may affect the extraction efficiencies such as desorption solvent type and its volume, sonication times for extraction and desorption, sorbent amount, organic modifier content, salt concentration and matrix effect were investigated in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection (S/N = 3) was 0.25 ng L -1 and the linearity was in the range of 0.01-100 μg L -1 . The method precision expressed as relative standard deviations (RSDs%) were 4.6-6.1% (intra-day), and 7.2-9.6% (inter-day). Finally, the presented method was successfully applied to the rapid determination of trace levels of nitro-phenanthrenes in spiked water and soil samples. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Tuning the Electrical Memory Behavior from Nonvolatile to Volatile in Functional Copolyimides Bearing Varied Fluorene and Pyrene Moieties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jia, Nanfang; Qi, Shengli; Tian, Guofeng; Wang, Xiaodong; Wu, Dezhen

    2017-04-01

    For producing polymer based electronics with good memory behavior, a series of functional copolyimides were designed and synthesized in this work by copolymerizing 3,3',4,4'-diphenylsulfonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (DSDA) with (9,9'-bis(4-aminophenyl)fluorene) (BAPF) and N, N-bis(4-aminophenyl) aminopyrene (DAPAP) diamines. The synthesized copolyimides DSDA/(DAPAP/BAPF) were denoted as coPI-DAPAP x ( x = 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 1, 0), where x% represents the molar fraction of the DAPAP unit in the diamines. Characterization results indicate that the coPI-DAPAP x exhibits tunable electrical switching behaviors from write once read many times (WORM, nonvolatile, coPI-DAPAP100, coPI-DAPAP50, coPI-DAPAP20, coPI-DAPAP10) to the static random access memory (SRAM, volatile, coPI-DAPAP5, coPI-DAPAP1) with the variation of the DAPAP content. Optical and electrochemical characterization show gradually decreasing highest occupied molecular orbital levels and enlarged energy gap with the decrease of the DAPAP moiety, suggesting decreasing charge-transfer effect in the copolyimides, which can account for the observed WORM-SRAM memory conversion. Meanwhile, the charge transfer process was elucidated by quantum chemical calculation at B3LYP/6-31G(d) theory level. This work shows the effect of electron donor content on the memory behavior of polymer electronic materials.

  4. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Haliotis tuberculata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mollusca, Gastropoda): Considerations on food safety and source investigation.

    PubMed

    Conte, Francesca; Copat, Chiara; Longo, Sabrina; Conti, Gea Oliveri; Grasso, Alfina; Arena, Giovanni; Dimartino, Angela; Brundo, Maria Violetta; Ferrante, Margherita

    2016-08-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were analyzed in wild specimens of Haliotis tuberculata from three sites of the Sothern Ionian Sea. The species Ht is commonly found at these sites and has significant commercial value. Main results revealed mean values of benzo(a)pyrene higher than the threshold set by Regulation No. 835/2011/EU in all sampling sites and the sum of selected PAHs, expressed as ΣPAH4 by EC Regulation, were below the limit set by the same Regulation in ME and VSG. We found generally higher concentrations than literature finding, especially for low molecular weight PAHs, and results of diagnostic ratios highlighted both pyrolytic and petrogenic sources. The potential human health risks due consumption of Ht by local inhabitants have been assessed by exposure daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ) and lifetime cancer risk (CR). EDI values were below the intake range reviewed by EFSA for each class of contaminant. BaP daily intake was below the value of 10 ng/Kg/day, suggested by JFCFA, and CRBaP was slightly higher than the acceptable risk level (ARL) of 1×10(-5). Conversely, target hazard quotient (THQ) resulted always below 1, thus the risk to develop chronic systemic effects due naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, anthracene, fluoranthene and pyrene was low. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fugitive PM10 emissions from an integrated iron and steel plant.

    PubMed

    Khaparde, V V; Bhanarkar, A D; Majumdar, Deepanjan; Rao, C V Chalapati

    2016-08-15

    Fugitive emissions of PM10 (particles <10μm in diameter) and associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were monitored in the vicinity of coking unit, sintering unit, blast furnace and steel manufacturing unit in an integrated iron and steel plant situated in India. Concentrations of PM10, PM10-bound total PAHs, benzo (a) pyrene, carcinogenic PAHs and combustion PAHs were found to be highest around the sintering unit. Concentrations of 3-ring and 4-ring PAHs were recorded to be highest in the coking unit whereas 5-and 6-ring PAHs were found to be highest in other units. The following indicatory PAHs were identified: indeno (1,2,3-cd) pyrene, dibenzo (a,h) anthracene, benzo (k) fluoranthene in blast furnace unit; indeno (1,2,3-cd) pyrene, dibenzo (a,h) anthracene, chrysene in sintering unit; Anthracene, fluoranthene, chrysene in coking unit and acenaphthene, fluoranthene, fluorene in steel making unit. Total-BaP-TEQ (Total BaP toxic equivalent quotient) and BaP-MEQ (Total BaP mutagenic equivalent quotient) concentration levels ranged from 2.4 to 231.7ng/m(3) and 1.9 to 175.8ng/m(3), respectively. BaP and DbA (dibenzo (a,h) anthracene) contribution to total-BaP-TEQ was found to be the highest. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Selection and identification of fungi isolated from sugarcane bagasse and their application for phenanthrene removal from soil.

    PubMed

    Cortés-Espinosa, D V; Fernández-Perrino, F J; Arana-Cuenca, A; Esparza-García, F; Loera, O; Rodríguez-Vázquez, R

    2006-01-01

    This work investigated the identification and selection of fungi isolated from sugarcane bagasse and their application for phenanthrene (Phe) removal from soil. Fungi were identified by PCR amplification of ITS regions as Aspergillus terrus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger, Penicillium glabrum and Cladosporium cladosporioides. A primary selection of fungi was accomplished in plate, considering Phe tolerance of every strain in two different media: potato dextrose agar (PDA) and mineral medium (MM). The radial extension rate (r(r)) in PDA exhibited significant differences (p<0.05) at 200 and 400 ppm of Phe. A secondary selection of A. niger, C. cladosporoides, and P. glabrum sp. was achieved based on their tolerance to 200, 400, 600 and 800 ppm of Phe, in solid culture at a sugarcane bagasse/contaminated soil ratio of 95:5, in Toyamas, Czapeck and Wunder media. Under these conditions, a maximum (70%) Phe removal by A. niger was obtained. In addition C. cladosporioides and A. niger were able to remove high (800 ppm) Phe concentrations.

  7. PAH composition of Water Based Drilling Mud and drill cuttings in the offshore region, east coast of India.

    PubMed

    Jagwani, Devaanshi; Kulkarni, Atul; Shukla, Parth; Ramteke, Dilip S; Juneja, Harjeet D

    2011-11-01

    As a consequence of offshore drilling, used Water Based Drilling Muds (WBMs) are typically disposed off, by discharging into the sea; such a disposal does not fully eliminate the environmental hazards. Hence, in this study, 2, 3, 4 and 5 ringed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs i.e. naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, chrysene and benzo (a) pyrene) were determined from the WBMs and associated drill cuttings obtained from varying depths(viz. 150, 300 and 600 m) from three offshore wells present in East coast of India. In both WBMs and drill cuttings, concentration of naphthalene was maximum i.e. 81.59 ± 2.73 and 39.87 ± 2.40 mg/kg respectively, while benzo (a) pyrene was minimum i.e. 0.19 ± 0.07 and 0.12 ± 0.03 mg/kg respectively. The WBMs contained significantly (p < 0.05) higher PAH concentration than drill cuttings. The individual PAH concentration significantly (p < 0.01) increased with increasing depth in each well.

  8. Input and behavior of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in arable, fallow, and forest soils of the taiga zone (Tver oblast)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhidkin, A. P.; Gennadiev, A. N.; Koshovskii, T. S.

    2017-03-01

    Contents of 11 most prevalent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in snow and soils of arable, fallow, and forest areas significantly remote from impact technogenic sources of polyarenes have been examined in the Torzhok district of Tver oblast. From the analysis of snow samples, the volumes and composition of PAHs coming from the atmosphere onto the areas of different land use have been determined. Light hydrocarbons prevail in PAHs. They make up 65-70% of total PAHs; their share in soils reaches almost 95%. An increase in the content of PAHs is revealed in fallow soils compared to arable and afforested areas. A direct relationship is revealed between the lateral distribution of total PAHs and the content of organic carbon. The distribution of total PAHs is surface-accumulative in forest soils, mainly uniform in arable soils, and deepaccumulative in fallow soils. PAH groups characterized by similar radial distributions and ratios between their reserves in snow and soils are distinguished: (1) fluorene and phenanthrene, (2) biphenyl and naphthalene, (3) benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, perylene, and benzo[ a]pyrene, and (4) anthracene and benzo[ ghi]pyrene.

  9. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) formation from the pyrolysis of different municipal solid waste fractions.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Hui; Wu, Chunfei; Onwudili, Jude A; Meng, Aihong; Zhang, Yanguo; Williams, Paul T

    2015-02-01

    The formation of 2-4 ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from the pyrolysis of nine different municipal solid waste fractions (xylan, cellulose, lignin, pectin, starch, polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) were investigated in a fixed bed furnace at 800 °C. The mass distribution of pyrolysis was also reported. The results showed that PS generated the most total PAH, followed by PVC, PET, and lignin. More PAH were detected from the pyrolysis of plastics than the pyrolysis of biomass. In the biomass group, lignin generated more PAH than others. Naphthalene was the most abundant PAH, and the amount of 1-methynaphthalene and 2-methynaphthalene was also notable. Phenanthrene and fluorene were the most abundant 3-ring PAH, while benzo[a]anthracene and chrysene were notable in the tar of PS, PVC, and PET. 2-ring PAH dominated all tar samples, and varied from 40 wt.% to 70 wt.%. For PS, PET and lignin, PAH may be generated directly from the aromatic structure of the feedstock. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Influence of fuel composition on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emissions from a fleet of in-service passenger cars

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lim, McKenzie C. H.; Ayoko, Godwin A.; Morawska, Lidia.; Ristovski, Zoran D.; Jayaratne, E. Rohan

    The composition of exhaust emissions from eight in-service passenger cars powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and unleaded petrol (ULP) were measured on a chassis dynamometer at two driving speeds (60 and 80 km h -1) with the aims of evaluating their polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contents and investigating the effects of the type of fuel on vehicle performance, ambient air quality and associated health risks. Naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo(a)anthracene and benzo(b)fluoranthene were the most prominent PAHs emitted by both ULP and LPG powered cars. The total emission factors of PAHs from LPG cars were generally lower than (but statistically comparable with) those of ULP cars. Similarly, the total BAP eq of the PAHs emitted by LPG cars were lower than those from ULP cars. Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods showed that cars powered by LPG fuel performed better than those powered by ULP fuel in term of PAH levels. The implications of these observations on the advantages and disadvantages of using ULP and LPG fuels are discussed.

  11. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of phenanthrene-degrading fluorescent Pseudomonas biovars.

    PubMed Central

    Johnsen, K; Andersen, S; Jacobsen, C S

    1996-01-01

    A total of 41 phenanthrene degraders were isolated from a former coal gasification site by using Pseudomonas-selective Gould's S1 medium. All isolates were found to belong to the fluorescent Pseudomonas group and were subjected to characterization by phenotypic methods, including classical taxonomic tests, API 20NE, and Biolog GN, and the strains were further characterized by the genotypic method repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (REP-PCR). By using classical tests, the population was found to consist of 38 strains belonging to P. fluorescens, 2 P. putida strains, and 1 Pseudomonas sp. Bacteria in phenograms from Biolog GN and REP-PCR data were divided into groups, which were in good agreement with classical test and API 20NE results. We found a nonfluorescent group of 22 bacteria inconsistent with any Pseudomonas sp. in Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. The group showed small differences in the genotypic test, indicating that all 22 isolates were not recent clones of the same isolate. Analyses of the nonfluorescent group indicated that it belonged to Pseudomonas, but the group could not be affiliated with P. fluorescens because of differences in DNA-DNA hybridization. Identifications using classical tests and API 20NE were found to correlate, but Biolog GN identifications after 24-h incubation resulted very often in the distantly related P. corrugata. The reproducibilities of individual tests of each phenotypic method were assessed, and low reproducibilities were mainly found to be associated with specific Biolog GN test wells. Classical tests and API 20NE proved to be the best for identification of isolates, whereas Biolog GN and REP-PCR were found to be the best tests for high resolution among these closely related isolates. PMID:8837438

  12. Syntheses and Chemosensory of Anthracene and Phenanthrene Bisimide Derivatives

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bogusz, Zachary A.

    2004-01-01

    As the present technology of biochemical weapons advances, it is essential for science to attempt to prepare our nation for such an occurrence. Various areas of current research are devoted to precautionary measures and potential antidotes for national security. A practical application of these precautions would be the development of a chemical capable of detecting harmful gas. The benefits of being capable to synthesis a chemical compound that would warn and identify potentially deadly gases would ensure a higher level of safety. The chemicals in question can be generalized as bisimide anthracene derivatives. The idea behind these compounds is that in the presence of certain nerve gases, the compound will actually fluoresce, giving an indication that there is a strong likelihood of the presence of a nerve gas and ensure the proper precautionary measures are taken. The fluorescence is due to the quenching of an electric proton transfer within the structure of the molecule. The system proves to be very unique on account of the fact that the fluorescence can be "turned off" by reducing the system. By utilizing the synthesis designed by Dr. Faysal Ilhan, four distinct compounds can be synthesized through photochemical reactions involving para- and ortho- diketones. The photochemistry involved is very modem and much research is being devoted to fully understanding the possibilities and alternative applications of such materials. and meta-nitro anthracene bisimide (ABI-NO2), the amine of each (ABI-NH2), a para- and meta-nitro phenanthrene bisimjde (PBI-NO2), and the amine of each (PBI-NH2). Upon synthesizing these distinct compounds, I must then purify and analyze them in order to obtain any relevant trends, behaviors, and characteristics. The chemical composition analyses that will be conducted are the procedures taken by Dr. Daniel Tyson on previous experiments. The results generated from the data will point further research in the correct direction and hopefully

  13. Low effect of phenanthrene bioaccessibility on its biodegradation in diffusely contaminated soil.

    PubMed

    Crampon, M; Cébron, A; Portet-Koltalo, F; Uroz, S; Le Derf, F; Bodilis, J

    2017-06-01

    This study focused on the role of bioaccessibility in the phenanthrene (PHE) biodegradation in diffusely contaminated soil, by combining chemical and microbiological approaches. First, we determined PHE dissipation rates and PHE sorption/desorption isotherms for two soils (PPY and Pv) presenting similar chronic PAH contamination, but different physico-chemical properties. Our results revealed that the PHE dissipation rate was significantly higher in the Pv soil compared to the PPY soil, while PHE sorption/desorption isotherms were similar. Interestingly, increases of PHE desorption and potentially of PHE bioaccessibility were observed for both soils when adding rhamnolipids (biosurfactants produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Second, using 13 C-PHE incubated in the same soils, we analyzed the PHE degrading bacterial communities. The combination of stable isotope probing (DNA-SIP) and 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing revealed that Betaproteobacteria were the main PHE degraders in the Pv soil, while a higher bacterial diversity (Alpha-, Beta-, Gammaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria) was involved in PHE degradation in the PPY soil. The amendment of biosurfactants commonly used in biostimulation methods (i.e. rhamnolipids) to the two soils clearly modified the PHE sorption/desorption isotherms, but had no significant impact on PHE degradation rates and PHE-degraders identity. These results demonstrated that increasing the bioaccessibility of PHE has a low impact on its degradation and on the functional populations involved in this degradation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Extracellular polymeric substances facilitate the biosorption of phenanthrene on cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa.

    PubMed

    Bai, Leilei; Xu, Huacheng; Wang, Changhui; Deng, Jiancai; Jiang, Helong

    2016-11-01

    Phytoplankton-derived extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are of vital importance for the biogeochemical cycles of hydrophobic organic pollutants in lake ecosystems. In this study, roles of loosely-bound EPS (LB-EPS) and tightly bound EPS (TB-EPS) in biosorption of phenanthrene (PHE) on a typical cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa were investigated. The results showed that the biosorption of PHE on M. aeruginosa cell varied lasted 24 h, while the binding of PHE to LB-EPS and TB-EPS reached equilibrium within less than 2 h. The equilibrium biosorption capacities of M. aeruginosa cell, LB-EPS and TB-EPS were 6.78, 12.31, and 9.47 μg mg(-1), respectively, indicating that the binding of PHE to EPS was a considerable process involved in biosorption. Fluorescence quenching titration revealed that increasing temperature induced more binding sites in EPS for PHE and the binding process was driven by electrostatic force and hydrophobic interactions. Interestingly, dynamic and static quenching processes occurred simultaneously for the binding of PHE to protein-like substances in EPS, whereas the binding of PHE to humic-like substances belonged to static quenching. The relatively higher contents of proteins in LB-EPS produced a stronger binding capacity of PHE. Overall, the interactions between hydrophobic organic pollutants and cyanobacterial EPS are favorable to the bioaccumulation of hydrophobic organic pollutants in cyanobacteria and facilitate the regulatory function of cyanobacterial biomass as a biological pump. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Functional Categorization of Transcriptome in the Species Symphysodon aequifasciatus Pellegrin 1904 (Perciformes: Cichlidae) Exposed to Benzo[a]pyrene and Phenanthrene

    PubMed Central

    Lemgruber, Renato de Souza Pinto; Marshall, Nislanha Ana dos Anjos; Ghelfi, Andrea; Fagundes, Daniel Barros; Val, Adalberto Luis

    2013-01-01

    This study aims to evaluate the transcriptome alterations, through cDNA libraries, associated with the combined effects of two PAHs, benzo[a]pyrene (0.5 µg/L) and phenanthrene (50 µg/L), present in crude oil, on specimens of Symphysodon aequifasciatus (discus fish) after 48 h of exposure. The cDNA libraries were constructed according to the SOLiD™ SAGE™ protocol for sequencing in the SOLiD v.3 Plus sequencer. The results were analyzed by bioinformatics and differentially expressed genes were categorized using the gene ontology program. The functional categories (terms) found in the gene ontology and the gene network generated using STRING software were used to predict the adverse effects of benzo[a]pyrene and phenanthrene in the liver. In the present study, 27,127 genes (compared to Danio rerio database) were identified. Considering only those genes with a p-value less than or equal to 0.05 and greater than or equal to two-fold change in expression across libraries, we found 804 genes, 438 down-regulated (54%) and 366 up-regulated (46%), in the experimental group compared to the control. Out of this total, 327 genes were successfully categorized, 174 down-regulated and 153 up-regulated, using gene ontology. Using String, the gene network was composed by 199 nodes, 124 of them resulting in 274 interactions. The results showed that even an acute exposure of 48 h caused metabolic change in response to environmental contaminants, resulting in changes of cell integrity, in oxidation-reduction processes, in the immune response and disturbances of intracellular signaling of discus fish. Also the gene network has showed no central interplay cluster, exhibiting instead interconnected clusters interactions and connected sub-networks. These findings highlight that even an acute sublethal exposure of PAHs can cause metabolism changes that may affect survival of discus. Our findings using SOLiD coupled with SAGE-method resulted in a powerful and reliable means for gene

  16. Properties of the plant- and manure-derived biochars and their sorption of dibutyl phthalate and phenanthrene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qiu, Mengyi; Sun, Ke; Jin, Jie; Gao, Bo; Yan, Yu; Han, Lanfang; Wu, Fengchang; Xing, Baoshan

    2014-06-01

    The properties of plant residue-derived biochars (PLABs) and animal waste-derived biochars (ANIBs) obtained at low and high heating treatment temperatures (300 and 450°C) as well as their sorption of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and phenanthrene (PHE) were investigated in this study. The higher C content of PLABs could explain that CO2-surface area (CO2-SA) of PLABs was remarkably high relative to ANIBs. OC and aromatic C were two key factors influencing the CO2-SA of the biochars. Much higher surface C content of the ANIBs than bulk C likely explained that the ANIBs exhibited higher sorption of DBP and PHE compared to the PLABs. H-bonding should govern the adsorption of DBP by most of the tested biochars and π-π interaction play an important role in the adsorption of PHE by biochars. High CO2-SA (>200 m2 g-1) demonstrated that abundant nanopores of OC existed within the biochars obtained 450°C (HTBs), which likely result in high and nonlinear sorption of PHE by HTBs.

  17. Efficiency of butyl rubber sorbent to remove the PAH toxicity.

    PubMed

    Okay, O S; Özdemir, P; Yakan, S D

    2011-01-01

    Large amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been released to the marine environment as a result of oil spills and from other sources including wastewaters, surface runoff, industrial processes, atmospheric deposition, biosynthesis, and natural events such as forest fires. PAHs have been known to affect a variety of biological processes and can be potent cell mutagens/carcinogens and toxic. In this study, PAH toxicity removal was investigated by using a novel macroporous butyl rubber (BR) sorbent. To find out the toxicity removal efficiency of the sorbents, the toxicity tests with Vibrio fisheri (luminescence bacteria) and Phaeodactylum tricornutum (marine algae) were applied to the acenaphthene (Ace) and phenanthrene (Phen) solutions in seawater (Ace: 500- 1000 μg/L; Phen; 100-1000 μg/L) before and after sorbent applications. Additionally, lysosomal stability and filtration rate biomarker techniques were applied to the mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) exposed to 1000 μg/L Phen solution and bioaccumulation was measured. The results showed that the toxicity of the PAH solutions decreased 50-100 percent depending on the concentration of the solutions and organisms. Phaeodactylum was found as the most sensitive organism to Phen and Ace. Since the application of BR sorbent removed the Phen from the solution, the bioaccumulated Phen amount in the mussels decreased accordingly.

  18. The influence of smoking in traditional conditions on content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Petrovská klobása

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Škaljac, S.; Petrović, Lj; Jokanović, M.; Tomović, V.; Tasić, T.; Ivić, M.; Šojić, B.; Ikonić, P.; Džinić, N.

    2017-09-01

    The aim of this study was to determine the content of 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (acenaphthylene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene and benzo[ghi]perylene) the from Environmental Protection Agency list (US-EPA PAH) in traditional dry fermented sausage Petrovská klobása. Sausages were smoked in traditional conditions and samples for analyses were taken on day 0 of production (0), at the end of drying (T1) and at the end of the storage period (T2). The highest total content of 13 US-EPA PAHs was determined in sausages at the end of the storage period (73.5 μg/kg). Phenanthrene was the most abundant of the PAHs in all examined sausage samples (0-4.90 μg/kg T1-18.0 μg/kg and T2-26.3 μg/kg). Benzo[a]pyrene, with a maximum allowed content in smoked meat products of 2 µg/kg (EC No. 835/2011), was below the limit of detection in all examined samples. Also, PAH4 (the total content of benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene and benzo[a]pyrene) with a maximum allowed content in smoked meat products of 12 µg/kg (EC No. 835/2011), was below the limit of detection in all examined sausage samples. According to the results obtained in this study, and in regard to the European regulation on PAHs content, the dry fermented sausage Petrovská klobása, smoked in traditional conditions, was safe for consumers.

  19. Succession of Phenotypic, Genotypic, and Metabolic Community Characteristics during In Vitro Bioslurry Treatment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Sediments

    PubMed Central

    Ringelberg, David B.; Talley, Jeffrey W.; Perkins, Edward J.; Tucker, Samuel G.; Luthy, Richard G.; Bouwer, Edward J.; Fredrickson, Herbert L.

    2001-01-01

    Dredged harbor sediment contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was removed from the Milwaukee Confined Disposal Facility and examined for in situ biodegradative capacity. Molecular techniques were used to determine the successional characteristics of the indigenous microbiota during a 4-month bioslurry evaluation. Ester-linked phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), multiplex PCR of targeted genes, and radiorespirometry techniques were used to define in situ microbial phenotypic, genotypic, and metabolic responses, respectively. Soxhlet extractions revealed a loss in total PAH concentrations of 52%. Individual PAHs showed reductions as great as 75% (i.e., acenapthene and fluorene). Rates of 14C-PAH mineralization (percent/day) were greatest for phenanthrene, followed by pyrene and then chrysene. There was no mineralization capacity for benzo[a]pyrene. Ester-linked phospholipid fatty acid analysis revealed a threefold increase in total microbial biomass and a dynamic microbial community composition that showed a strong correlation with observed changes in the PAH chemistry (canonical r2 of 0.999). Nucleic acid analyses showed copies of genes encoding PAH-degrading enzymes (extradiol dioxygenases, hydroxylases, and meta-cleavage enzymes) to increase by as much as 4 orders of magnitude. Shifts in gene copy numbers showed strong correlations with shifts in specific subsets of the extant microbial community. Specifically, declines in the concentrations of three-ring PAH moieties (i.e., phenanthrene) correlated with PLFA indicative of certain gram-negative bacteria (i.e., Rhodococcus spp. and/or actinomycetes) and genes encoding for naphthalene-, biphenyl-, and catechol-2,3-dioxygenase degradative enzymes. The results of this study suggest that the intrinsic biodegradative potential of an environmental site can be derived from the polyphasic characterization of the in situ microbial community. PMID:11282603

  20. Impact of phenanthrene on the properties of biogeochemical interfaces in soil: A two-layer column study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reichel, Katharina; Totsche, Kai Uwe

    2013-04-01

    Biogeochemical interfaces in soils (Totsche et al. 2010) are the "hot spots" of microbial activity and the processing of organic compounds in soils. The production and relocation of mobile organic matter (MOM) and biocolloids like microorganisms are key processes for the formation and depth propagation of biogeochemical interfaces in soils (BGI). Phenanthrene (PHE) has been shown to affect microbial communities in soils (Ding et al. 2012) and may induce shifts in MOM quantity and quality (amount, type and properties of MOM). We hypothesize that the properties of BGI in soil change significantly due to the presence of PHE. The objectives of this study are (i) to evaluate the effect of PHE on soil microbial communities and on MOM quantity and quality under flow conditions with single- and two-layer column experiments and (ii) to assess the role of these processes for the physicochemical, mechanical and sorptive properties of BGI in soils. The soil columns were operated under water-unsaturated conditions. The top layer (source layer, SL, 2 cm) is made of sieved soil material (Luvisol, Scheyern, Germany) spiked with PHE (0.2 mg/g). The bottom layer (reception layer, RL, 10 cm) comprised the same soil without PHE. PHE-free columns were conducted in parallel as reference. Release and transport of MOM in mature soil of a single-layer column experiment was found to depend on the transport regime. The release of larger sized MOM (>0.45 µm) was restricted to an increased residence time during flow interruptions. Steady flow conditions favor the release of smaller MOM (<0.45 µm). Compared to the reference, in the two-layer column experiments higher OC concentrations were detected in the effluent from PHE spiked columns after enhanced flow interruptions (26d, 52d). That indicated the PHE influenced production or mobilization of MOM. Parallel factor analysis of fluorescence excitation and emission matrices revealed the presence of a constant DOM background and two new unknown

  1. Evaluation of sewage sludge and slow pyrolyzed sewage sludge-derived biochar for adsorption of phenanthrene and pyrene.

    PubMed

    Zielińska, Anna; Oleszczuk, Patryk

    2015-09-01

    The present study investigated the sorption of phenanthrene (PHE) and pyrene (PYR) by sewage sludges and sewage sludge-derived biochars. The organic carbon normalized distribution coefficient (log K(OC) for C(w) = 0.01 S(w)) for the sewage sludges ranged from 5.62 L kg(-1) to 5.64 L kg(-1) for PHE and from 5.72 L kg(-1) to 5.75 L kg(-1) for PYR. The conversion of sewage sludges into biochar significantly increased their sorption capacity. The value of log K(OC) for the biochars ranged from 5.54 L kg(-1) to 6.23 L kg(-1) for PHE and from 5.95 L kg(-1) to 6.52 L kg(-1) for PYR depending on temperature of pyrolysis. The dominant process was monolayer adsorption in the micropores and/or multilayer surface adsorption (in the mesopores), which was indicated by the significant correlations between log K(OC) and surface properties of biochars. PYR was sorbed better on the tested materials than PHE. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Electrokinetic-Enhanced Remediation of Phenanthrene-Contaminated Soil Combined with Sphingomonas sp. GY2B and Biosurfactant.

    PubMed

    Lin, Weijia; Guo, Chuling; Zhang, Hui; Liang, Xujun; Wei, Yanfu; Lu, Guining; Dang, Zhi

    2016-04-01

    Electrokinetic-microbial remediation (EMR) has emerged as a promising option for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from contaminated soils. The aim of this study was to enhance degradation of phenanthrene (Phe)-contaminated soils using EMR combined with biosurfactants. The electrokinetic (EK) remediation, combined with Phe-degrading Sphingomonas sp. GY2B, and biosurfactant obtained by fermentation of Pseudomonas sp. MZ01, degraded Phe in the soil with an efficiency of up to 65.1 % at the anode, 49.9 % at the cathode after 5 days of the treatment. The presence of biosurfactants, electricity, and a neutral electrolyte stimulated the growth of the degrading bacteria as shown by a rapid increase in microbial biomass with time. The electrical conductivity and pH changed little during the course of the treatment, which benefitted the growth of microorganisms and the remediation of Phe-contaminated soil. The EMR system with the addition of biosurfactant had the highest Phe removal, demonstrating the biosurfactant may enhance the bioavailability of Phe and the interaction with the microorganism. This study suggests that the EMR combined with biosurfactants can be used to enhance in situ bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soils.

  3. Temperature-dependent sorption of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene to low organic carbon aquifer sediments

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Piatt, Joseph J.; Backhus, Debera A.; Capel, Paul D.; Eisenreich, Steven J.

    1996-01-01

    Sorption experiments were conducted with naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene on low organic carbon sediments at 4 and 26 °C using batch and column techniques. Experimental controls ensured the absence of biologic and photolytic activity and colloid-free solution supernatants. Equilibrium distribution coefficients (Kd) increased 1.1−1.6 times with a decrease in temperature of 22 °C. Fraction instantaneous sorption (F) values did not change significantly with a decrease in temperature of 22 °C. Desorption rate constants (k2) decreased 1.2−2.6 times with a decrease in temperature of 22 °C. Times to equilibrium were at least 40 h. The magnitude of observed Kd and k2 values and the effect of temperature on Kd (e.g., low enthalpy of sorption) are consistent with sorbate partitioning between the aqueous phase and small amounts of organic matter (foc = 0.02%) on the sediments. The temperature dependence of Kd and k2 may be small as compared to the effects of heterogeneities in field-scale aquifer systems. Thus, thermal gradients may not be of major importance in most saturated subsurface regimes when predicting solute transport. However, aquifer remediation pump-and-treat times could be decreased because increased temperature decreases both retardation and tailing.

  4. Enhanced transport of phenanthrene and 1-naphthol by colloidal graphene oxide nanoparticles in saturated soil.

    PubMed

    Qi, Zhichong; Hou, Lei; Zhu, Dongqiang; Ji, Rong; Chen, Wei

    2014-09-02

    With the increasing production and use of graphene oxide, the environmental implications of this new carbonaceous nanomaterial have received much attention. In this study, we found that the presence of low concentrations of graphene oxide nanoparticles (GONPs) significantly enhanced the transport of 1-naphthol in a saturated soil, but affected the transport of phenanthrene to a much smaller extent. The much stronger transport-enhancement effect on 1-naphthol was due to the significant desorption hysteresis (both thermodynamically irreversible adsorption and slow desorption kinetics) of GONP-adsorbed 1-naphthol, likely stemmed from the specific polar interactions (e.g., H-bonding) between 1-naphthol and GONPs. Increasing ionic strength or the presence of Cu(II) ion (a complexing cation) generally increased the transport-enhancement capability of GONPs, mainly by increasing the aggregation of GONPs and thus, sequestering adsorbed contaminant molecules. Interestingly, modifying GONPs with Suwannee River humic acid or sodium dodecyl sulfate had little or essentially no effect on the transport-enhancement capability of GONPs, in contrast with the previously reported profound effects of humic acids and surfactants on the transport-enhancement capability of C60 nanoparticles. Overall, the findings indicate that GONPs in the aquatic environment may serve as an effective carrier for certain organic compounds that can interact with GONPs through strong polar interactions.

  5. Synthesis of novel fluorene-based two-photon absorbing molecules and their applications in optical data storage, microfabrication, and stimulated emission depletion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yanez, Ciceron

    2009-12-01

    Two-photon absorption (2PA) has been used for a number of scientific and technological applications, exploiting the fact that the 2PA probability is directly proportional to the square of the incident light intensity (while one-photon absorption bears a linear relation to the incident light intensity). This intrinsic property of 2PA leads to 3D spatial localization, important in fields such as optical data storage, fluorescence microscopy, and 3D microfabrication. The spatial confinement that 2PA enables has been used to induce photochemical and photophysical events in increasingly smaller volumes and allowed nonlinear, 2PA-based, technologies to reach sub-diffraction limit resolutions. The primary focus of this dissertation is the development of novel, efficient 2PA, fluorene-based molecules to be used either as photoacid generators (PAGs) or fluorophores. A second aim is to develop more effective methods of synthesizing these compounds. As a third and final objective, the new molecules were used to develop a write-once-read many (WORM) optical data storage system, and stimulated emission depletion probes for bioimaging. In Chapter I, the microwave-assisted synthesis of triarylsulfonium salt photoacid generators (PAGs) from their diphenyliodonium counterparts is reported. The microwave-assisted synthesis of these novel sulfonium salts afforded reaction times 90 to 420 times faster than conventional thermal conditions, with photoacid quantum yields of new sulfonium PAGs ranging from 0.01 to 0.4. These PAGs were used to develop a fluorescence readout-based, nonlinear three-dimensional (3D) optical data storage system (Chapter II). In this system, writing was achieved by acid generation upon two-photon absorption (2PA) of a PAG (at 710 or 730 nm). Readout was then performed by interrogating two-photon absorbing dyes, after protonation, at 860 nm. Two-photon recording and readout of voxels was demonstrated in five and eight consecutive, crosstalk-free layers within a

  6. [Transport and differentiation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in air from Dashiwei karst Sinkholes in Guangxi, China].

    PubMed

    Kong, Xiang-Sheng; Qi, Shi-Hua; Sun, Qian; Huang, Bao-Jian

    2012-12-01

    The typical karst Dashiwei Sinkholes located in Leye County, Guangxi were chosen as the study object. The air samples from the opening of Dashiwei Sinkholes to the underground river profiles were collected by polyurethane foam passive samplers (PUF-PAS), and the meteorological parameters were observed. The 16 PAHs were analyzed using GC-MS. The results showed that the total PAHs concentration in air in Dashiwei Sinkholes ranged from 33.76 ng x d(-1) to 150.86 ng x d(-1), with an average of 80.36 ng x d(-1). The mean concentrations in the cliff, the bottom and the underground river profiles were 67.17, 85.36 and 101.67 ng x d(-1), respectively. The 2-3 rings PAHs (including phenanthrene, anthracene, napnthalene and fluorene) accounted for 87.97% of the total of PAHs. The transport and accumulation processes of PAHs in air in Dashiwei Sinkholes were: the ground to the cliff section to the bottom section and then to the underground river, and the total PAHs concentrations showed an obvious increasing tendency with the decrease in altitude or increase in the length of the underground river. Low molecular weight PAHs compounds (including phenanthrene, anthracene, flourene and fluoranthene) in air went through differentiation at the bottom of the west peak, the bottom of the sinkhole and the underground river. The primary sources of PAHs were pyrogenic sources with atmosphere transport. Ambient temperature was the predominating factor influencing the transport and accumulation of gas phase PAHs in Dashiwei Sinkholes, following by wind speed, wind direction and relative humidity. Relative humidity and the temperature were the predominating factors influencing the differentiation, following by wind speed and wind direction. As a whole, a "cold trapping effect" of POPs was showed obviously in Dashiwei Sinkholes.

  7. Does Switching to Reduced Ignition Propensity Cigarettes Alter Smoking Behavior or Exposure to Tobacco Smoke Constituents?

    PubMed Central

    Rees, Vaughan W.; Norton, Kaila J.; Cummings, K. Michael; Connolly, Gregory N.; Alpert, Hillel R.; Sjödin, Andreas; Romanoff, Lovisa; Li, Zheng; June, Kristie M.; Giovino, Gary A.

    2010-01-01

    Introduction: Since 2004, several jurisdictions have mandated that cigarettes show reduced ignition propensity (RIP) in laboratory testing. RIP cigarettes may limit fires caused by smoldering cigarettes, reducing fire-related deaths and injury. However, some evidence suggests that RIP cigarettes emit more carbon monoxide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and smokers may alter their smoking patterns in response to RIP cigarettes. Both of these could increase smokers’ exposures to harmful constituents in cigarettes. Methods: An 18-day switching study with a comparison group was conducted in Boston, MA (N = 77), and Buffalo, NY (N = 83), in 2006–2007. Current daily smokers completed 4 laboratory visits and two 48-hr field data collections. After a 4-day baseline, Boston participants switched to RIP cigarettes for 14 days, whereas Buffalo participants smoked RIP cigarettes throughout. Outcome measures included cigarettes smoked per day; smoking topography; salivary cotinine; breath CO; and hydroxylated metabolites of pyrene, naphthalene, phenanthrene, and fluorene. Because the groups differed demographically, analyses adjusted for race, age, and sex. Results: We observed no significant changes in smoking topography or CO exposure among participants who switched to RIP cigarettes. Cigarette use decreased significantly in the switched group (37.7 cigarettes/48 hr vs. 32.6 cigarettes/48 hr, p = .031), while hydroxyphenanthrenes increased significantly (555 ng/g creatinine vs. 669 ng/g creatinine, p = .007). No other biomarkers were significantly affected. Discussion: Small increases in exposure to phenanthrene among smokers who switched to RIP versions were observed, while other exposures and smoking topography were not significantly affected. Toxicological implications of these findings are unclear. These findings should be weighed against the potential public health benefits of adopting RIP design standards for cigarette products. PMID:20805292

  8. Diversity of metabolic capacities among strains degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bouchez, M.; Besnaienou, B.; Blanchet, D.

    1995-12-31

    Strains of Pseudomonas and Rhodococcus genera were isolated for their capacity to use, as a sole carbon and energy source, one of the following polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): naphthalene (NAP), fluorene (FLU), phenanthrene (PHE), anthracene (ANT), fluoranthene (FLT), and pyrene (PYR). The range of PAHs supporting growth of these pure strains was usually restricted, but several other hydrocarbons were used by Rhodococcus sp. All strains could grow on simple organic acids. Maximal specific growth rates ({mu}{sub max}) of all strains on their PAH growth substrates were determined by respirometry. No clear relationships between {mu}{sub max} values and the molecular weightmore » or water solubility of PAHs were apparent, but Pseudomonas sp. exhibited the highest {mu}{sub max} values. Carbon balances for PAH biodegradation were established. Differences between strains were observed, but high mineralization rates and low production of soluble metabolites were obtained for all PAHs. Bacterial biomass represented 16% to 35% of the carbon consumed. Strain diversity was also apparent in the interactions observed in the degradation of a mixture of two PAHs by individual strains, which often involved inhibition of PAH substrate degradation, with or without cometabolization of the second PAH.« less

  9. Biodegradation of low and high molecular weight hydrocarbons in petroleum refinery wastewater by a thermophilic bacterial consortium.

    PubMed

    Pugazhendi, Arulazhagan; Abbad Wazin, Hadeel; Qari, Huda; Basahi, Jalal Mohammad Al-Badry; Godon, Jean Jacques; Dhavamani, Jeyakumar

    2017-10-01

    Clean-up of contaminated wastewater remains to be a major challenge in petroleum refinery. Here, we describe the capacity of a bacterial consortium enriched from crude oil drilling site in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, to utilize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as sole carbon source at 60°C. The consortium reduced low molecular weight (LMW; naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluorene and anthracene) and high molecular weight (HMW; pyrene, benzo(e)pyrene and benzo(k)fluoranthene) PAH loads of up to 1.5 g/L with removal efficiencies of 90% and 80% within 10 days. PAH biodegradation was verified by the presence of PAH metabolites and evolution of carbon dioxide (90 ± 3%). Biodegradation led to a reduction of the surface tension to 34 ± 1 mN/m thus suggesting biosurfactant production by the consortium. Phylogenetic analysis of the consortium revealed the presence of the thermophilic PAH degrader Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain CEES1 (KU664514) and Bacillus thermosaudia (KU664515) strain CEES2. The consortium was further found to treat petroleum wastewater in continuous stirred tank reactor with 96 ± 2% chemical oxygen demand removal and complete PAH degradation in 24 days.

  10. New Findings on Aromatic Compounds' Degradation and Their Metabolic Pathways, the Biosurfactant Production and Motility of the Halophilic Bacterium Halomonas sp. KHS3.

    PubMed

    Corti Monzón, Georgina; Nisenbaum, Melina; Herrera Seitz, M Karina; Murialdo, Silvia E

    2018-04-24

    The study of the aromatic compounds' degrading ability by halophilic bacteria became an interesting research topic, because of the increasing use of halophiles in bioremediation of saline habitats and effluents. In this work, we focused on the study of aromatic compounds' degradation potential of Halomonas sp. KHS3, a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated seawater of the Mar del Plata harbour. We demonstrated that H. sp. KHS3 is able to grow using different monoaromatic (salicylic acid, benzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, phthalate) and polyaromatic (naphthalene, fluorene, and phenanthrene) substrates. The ability to degrade benzoic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid was analytically corroborated, and Monod kinetic parameters and yield coefficients for degradation were estimated. Strategies that may enhance substrate bioavailability such as surfactant production and chemotactic responses toward aromatic compounds were confirmed. Genomic sequence analysis of this strain allowed us to identify several genes putatively related to the metabolism of aromatic compounds, being the catechol and protocatechuate branches of β-ketoadipate pathway completely represented. These features suggest that the broad-spectrum xenobiotic degrader H. sp. KHS3 could be employed as a useful biotechnological tool for the cleanup of aromatic compounds-polluted saline habitats or effluents.

  11. Fate and Transport of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Upland Irish Headwater Lake Catchments

    PubMed Central

    Scott, Heidi E. M.; Aherne, Julian; Metcalfe, Chris D.

    2012-01-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a concern due to their carcinogenicity and propensity for transboundary atmospheric transport. Ireland is located on the western periphery of Europe and assumed to receive clean Atlantic air. As such, it has been used as an atmospheric reference for comparison to other regions. Nonetheless, few studies have evaluated concentrations of PAHs within the Irish environment. In the current study, PAHs were measured at five upland (500–800 masl) headwater lake catchments in coastal regions around Ireland, remote from industrial point source emissions. Semipermeable membrane devices were deployed in lakes for a 6-month period in July 2009, and topsoils were sampled from each catchment during October 2010. The concentrations of PAHs were low at most study sites with respect to other temperate regions. Homologue groups partitioned between lake and soil compartments based on their molecular weight were: “lighter” substances, such as Phenanthrene and Fluorene, were found in higher proportions in lakes, whereas “heavier” compounds, such as Chrysene and Benz[a]anthracene, were more prominent in soils. Concentrations of PAHs were highest at the east coast sites, potentially due to contributions from historical transboundary and regional combustion sources. PMID:23346024

  12. Attenuation of phenanthrene and pyrene adsorption by sewage sludge-derived biochar in biochar-amended soils.

    PubMed

    Zielińska, Anna; Oleszczuk, Patryk

    2016-11-01

    The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of soils on the sorption of phenanthrene (PHE) and pyrene (PYR) by sewage sludge-derived biochars (SS-derived biochars). The SS-derived biochars were added to soils with varying properties as well as with a different degree and source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination. The biochars (BCs) were produced from sewage sludge during pyrolysis at temperatures of 500 °C (BC500) and 700 °C (BC700). The addition of biochars to the soils (5 %, w/w) increased the sorption of PHE from 8.3 to 20.3 % and PYR from 14.5 to 31.7 % by amended soil. BC700 biochar was characterized by better sorption capacity than BC500 biochar. Nevertheless, the presence of soil reduces the effectiveness of biochars in binding the compounds studied. The sorption capacity of the biochars decreased several times after they had been mixed with the soil compared to pure biochars. The study found dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and clay minerals present in the soils to have a significant effect on reducing the efficiency of PHE and PYR sorption by biochar. A greater impact of fouling was observed in the case of BC500 biochar characterized by lower porosity than BC700 biochar.

  13. Isolation and characterization of biochar-derived organic matter fractions and their phenanthrene sorption.

    PubMed

    Jin, Jie; Sun, Ke; Liu, Wei; Li, Shiwei; Peng, Xianqiang; Yang, Yan; Han, Lanfang; Du, Ziwen; Wang, Xiangke

    2018-05-01

    Chemical composition and pollutant sorption of biochar-derived organic matter fractions (BDOMs) are critical for understanding the long-term environmental significance of biochar. Phenanthrene (PHE) sorption by the humic acid-like (HAL) fractions isolated from plant straw- (PLABs) and animal manure-based (ANIBs) biochars, and the residue materials (RES) after HAL extraction was investigated. The HAL fraction comprised approximately 50% of organic carbon (OC) of the original biochars. Results of XPS and 13 C NMR demonstrated that the biochar-derived HAL fractions mainly consisted of aromatic clusters substituted by carboxylic groups. The CO 2 cumulative surface area of BDOMs excluding PLAB-derived RES fractions was obviously lower than that of corresponding biochars. The sorption nonlinearity of PHE by the fresh biochars was significantly stronger than that of the BDOM fractions, implying that the BDOM fractions were more chemically homogeneous. The BDOMs generally exhibited comparable or higher OC-normalized distribution coefficients (K oc ) of PHE than the original biochars. The PHE logK oc values of the fresh biochars correlated negatively with the micropore volumes due to steric hindrance effect. In contrast, a positive relationship between the sorption coefficients (K d ) of BDOMs and the micropore volumes was observed in this study, suggesting that pore filling could dominate PHE sorption by the BDOMs. The positive correlation between the PHE logK oc values of the HAL fractions and the aromatic C contents indicates that PHE sorption by the HAL fractions was regulated by aromatic domains. The findings of this study improve our knowledge of the evolution of biochar properties after application and its potential environmental impacts. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Biosorption of phenanthrene by pure algae and field-collected planktons and their fractions.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Dainan; Ran, Chenyang; Yang, Yu; Ran, Yong

    2013-09-01

    The biosorption isotherms for phenanthrene (Phen) by cultured algae, field-collected plankton, and market algae samples (OSs) and their fractions (lipid-LP, lipid free carbon-LF, alkaline nonhydrolyzable carbon-ANHC, and acid nonhydrolyzable carbon-NHC) were established. All the biosorption isotherms are well fitted by the Freundlich model. The biosorption isotherms for the ANHC and NHC fractions are nonlinear and for the other fractions are linear. It was found that the NHC fractions are chemically and structurally different from other fractions by using elemental analysis and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), consisting mainly of aliphatic polymethylene carbon. The average KOC values for Phen at Ce=0.005Sw are 10706±2768mLg(-1) and 95843±55817mLg(-1) for the bulk market algal samples and their NHC isolates, respectively. As the NHC fraction for Porphyra contains higher polymethylene carbon than that for Seaweed or Spirulina, it exhibits higher biosorption capacity. Moreover, the logKOC values are significantly higher for the field-collected samples than for the market algae and cultured algae samples. The multivariate correlation shows that the logKOC values are positively related to the LP contents, and negatively to the C/N ratios for the original algal samples. Furthermore, the logKOC values are negatively related to the polarity indices (O/C and O+N/C) for the original samples and their fractions excluding LP fractions. These observations help to understand the role of polarity, LP and NHC fractions, and aliphatic structures in the biosorption of Phen, which requires more attention in the examination of sorption processes in the natural environment. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. A phenanthrene derived PARP inhibitor is an extra-centrosomes de-clustering agent exclusively eradicating human cancer cells

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Cells of most human cancers have supernumerary centrosomes. To enable an accurate chromosome segregation and cell division, these cells developed a yet unresolved molecular mechanism, clustering their extra centrosomes at two poles, thereby mimicking mitosis in normal cells. Failure of this bipolar centrosome clustering causes multipolar spindle structures and aberrant chromosomes segregation that prevent normal cell division and lead to 'mitotic catastrophe cell death'. Methods We used cell biology and biochemical methods, including flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry and live confocal imaging. Results We identified a phenanthrene derived PARP inhibitor, known for its activity in neuroprotection under stress conditions, which exclusively eradicated multi-centrosomal human cancer cells (mammary, colon, lung, pancreas, ovarian) while acting as extra-centrosomes de-clustering agent in mitosis. Normal human proliferating cells (endothelial, epithelial and mesenchymal cells) were not impaired. Despite acting as PARP inhibitor, the cytotoxic activity of this molecule in cancer cells was not attributed to PARP inhibition alone. Conclusion We identified a water soluble phenanthridine that exclusively targets the unique dependence of most human cancer cells on their supernumerary centrosomes bi-polar clustering for their survival. This paves the way for a new selective cancer-targeting therapy, efficient in a wide range of human cancers. PMID:21943092

  16. Chemical structure-nonlinear optical property relationships for a series of two-photon absorbing fluorene molecules

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hales, Joel Mccajah

    This dissertation reports on the investigation of two-photon absorption (2PA) in a series of fluorenyl molecules. Several current and emerging technologies exploit this optical nonlinearity including two-photon fluorescence imaging, three-dimensional microfabrication, site-specific photodynamic cancer therapy and biological caging studies. The two key features of this nonlinearity which make it an ideal candidate for the above applications are its quadratic dependence on the incident irradiance and the improved penetration into absorbing media that it affords. As a consequence of the burgeoning field which exploits 2PA, it is a goal to find materials that exhibit strong two-photon absorbing capabilities. Organic materials are promising candidates for 2PA applications because their material properties can be tailored through molecular engineering thereby facilitating optimization of their nonlinear optical properties. Fluorene derivatives are particularly interesting since they possess high photochemical stability for organic molecules and are generally strongly fluorescent. By systematically altering the structural properties in a series of fluorenyl molecules, we have determined how these changes affect their two-photon absorbing capabilities. This was accomplished through characterization of both the strength and location of their 2PA spectra. In order to ensure the validity of these results, three separate nonlinear characterization techniques were employed: two-photon fluorescence spectroscopy, white-light continuum pump-probe spectroscopy, and the Z-scan technique. In addition, full linear spectroscopic characterization was performed on these molecules along with supplementary quantum chemical calculations to obtain certain molecular properties that might impact the nonlinearity. Different designs in chemical architecture allowed investigation of the effects of symmetry, solvism, donor-acceptor strengths, conjugation length, and multi-branched geometries on

  17. Phenanthrene exposure induces cardiac hypertrophy via reducing miR-133a expression by DNA methylation

    PubMed Central

    Huang, Lixing; Xi, Zhihui; Wang, Chonggang; Zhang, Youyu; Yang, Zhibing; Zhang, Shiqi; Chen, Yixin; Zuo, Zhenghong

    2016-01-01

    Growing evidence indicates that there is an emerging link between environmental pollution and cardiac hypertrophy, while the mechanism is unclear. The objective of this study was to examine whether phenanthrene (Phe) could cause cardiac hypertrophy, and elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved. We found that: 1) Phe exposure increased the heart weight and cardiomyocyte size of rats; 2) Phe exposure led to enlarged cell size, and increased protein synthesis in H9C2 cells; 3) Phe exposure induced important markers of cardiac hypertrophy, such as atrial natriuretic peptide, B-type natriuretic peptide, and c-Myc in H9C2 cells and rat hearts; 4) Phe exposure perturbed miR-133a, CdC42 and RhoA, which were key regulators of cardiac hypertrophy, in H9C2 cells and rat hearts; 5) Phe exposure induced DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) in H9C2 cells and rat hearts; 6) Phe exposure led to methylation of CpG sites within the miR-133a locus and reduced miR-133a expression in H9C2 cells; 7) DNMT inhibition and miR-133a overexpression could both alleviate the enlargement of cell size and perturbation of CdC42 and RhoA caused by Phe exposure. These results indicated that Phe could induce cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in the rat and H9C2 cells. The mechanism might involve reducing miR-133a expression by DNA methylation. PMID:26830171

  18. Novel phenanthrene and isocoumarin from the rhizomes of Dioscorea nipponica Makino subsp. rosthornii (Prain et Burkill) C. T. Ting (Dioscoreaceae).

    PubMed

    Li, Xuejiao; Zhao, Chengcheng; Jing, Songsong; Sun, Jiachen; Li, Xia; Man, Shuli; Wang, Ying; Gao, Wenyuan

    2017-08-01

    The investigation of the constituents in the rhizomes of Dioscorea nipponica Makino subsp. rosthornii (Prain et Burkill) C. T. Ting afforded one new phenanthrene 2,2',7,7'-tetramethoxy-[1,1'-biphenanthrene]-4,4',6,6'-tetrol (7) and one new isocoumarin diorosthornoumarin (8), together with 16 known compounds (1-6 and 9-18). Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic evidences (IR, HR-ESI-MS, NMR and optical rotation), as well as comparison with literature values. All the compounds 1-18 were firstly isolated from Dioscorea nipponica Makino subsp. Rosthornii (Prain et Burkill) C. T. Ting, and compound 9 was firstly obtained as a natural product from plants, while the compounds 11 and 14 were obtained from both the genus Dioscorea and the family Dioscoreaceae for the first time. Moreover, the antitumor activities of the compounds were tested against lung carcinoma NCI-H460 cell line. Compound 12, 13, 15 and 16 showed significant cytotoxic activities, whereas 7 displayed moderate cytotoxicity. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. [Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water and sediment from Zhoushan coastal area, China].

    PubMed

    Jiang, Min; Tuan, Le Huy; Mei, Wei-Ping; Ruan, Hui-Hui; Wu, Hao

    2014-07-01

    The spatial and temporal distribution of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been investigated in water and sediments of Zhoushan coastal area every two months in 2012. The concentrations of total PAHs ranged from 382.3 to 816.9 ng x L(-1), with the mean value of 552.5 ng x L(-1) in water; whereas it ranged from 1017.9 to 3047.1 ng x g(-1), with the mean value of 2 022.4 ng x g(-1) in sediment. Spatial distribution showed that Yangshan and Yanwoshan offshore area had the maximum and minimum of total PAHs contents in water, while the maximum and minimum occurred at Yangshan and Zhujiajian Nansha offshore area in sediment. Temporal distribution revealed that total PAHs contents in water reached the maximum and minimum values in October and June, however in sediments these values were found in August and June, respectively. The PAHs pollution was affected by oil emission, charcoal and coal combustion. Using the biological threshold and exceeded coefficient method to assess the ecological risk of PAHs in Zhoushan coastal area, the result showed that sigma PAHs had a lower probability of potential risk, while there was a higher probability of potential risk for acenaphthylene monomer, and there might be ecological risk for acenaphthene and fluorene. Distribution of PAHs between sediment and water showed that Zhoushan coastal sediment enriched a lot of PAHs, meanwhile the enrichment coefficient (K(d) value) of sediment in Daishan island was larger than that in Zhoushan main island.

  20. Electrodeposition of self-assembled poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) @gold nanoparticles on stainless steel wires for the headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatographic determination of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

    PubMed

    Yang, Liu; Zhang, Jie; Zhao, Faqiong; Zeng, Baizhao

    2016-11-04

    In this work, a novel poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)@Au nanoparticles (PEDOT@AuNPs) hybrid coating was prepared and characterized. Firstly, the monomer 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene was self-assembled on AuNPs, and then electropolymerization was performed on a stainless steel wire by cyclic voltammetry. The obtained PEDOT@AuNPs coating was rough and showed cauliflower-like micro-structure with thickness of ∼40μm. It displayed high thermal stability (up to 330°C) and mechanical stability and could be used for at least 160 times of solid phase microextraction (SPME) without decrease of extraction performance. The coating exhibited high extraction capacity for some environmental pollutants (e.g. naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene and phenathrene) due to the hydrophobic interaction between the analytes and PEDOT and the additional physicochemical affinity between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and AuNPs. Through coupling with GC detection, good linearity (correlation coefficients higher than 0.9894), wide linear range (0.01-100μgL -1 ), low limits of detection (2.5-25ngL -1 ) were achieved for these analytes. The reproducibility (defined as RSD) was 1.1-4.0% and 5.8-9.9% for single fiber (n=5) and fiber-to-fiber (n=5), respectively. The SPME-GC method was successfully applied for the determination of three real samples, and the recoveries for standards added were 89.9-106% for lake water, 95.7-112% for rain water and 93.2-109% for soil saturated water, respectively. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Removal of phenanthrene in aqueous solution containing photon competitors by TiO2-C-Ag film supported on fiberglass.

    PubMed

    González-Ramírez, Denisse Fabiola; Ávila-Pérez, Pedro; Torres-Bustillos, Luis G; Aguilar-López, Ricardo; Montes-Horcasitas, María C; Esparza-García, Fernando J; Rodríguez-Vázquez, Refugio

    2017-07-03

    Surface interactions with pollutants and photons are key factors that affect the applications of TiO 2 in environmental remediation. In this study, the solubilizing agents dimethylsulfoxide and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, which act as photon competitors, had no effect on the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 -C-Ag film in phenanthrene (PHE) removal. Fiberglass with TiO 2 -C-Ag coating removed 91.1 ± 5.2 and 99.7 ± 0.4% of PHE in treatments using UVA (365-465 nm) and UVC (254 nm) irradiation, respectively. The use of fiberglass as a support increased the superficial area, thus allowing PHE sorption. C and Ag, which are electrically active impurities in TiO 2 , enhanced its photocatalytic activity and thus the attraction of the pollutant to its surface. The use of high-frequency UV light (UVC) decreased the amount of carbon species deposited on the TiO 2 CAg film surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the TiO 2 -C-Ag film revealed extensive oxidation of the carbon deposited on the film under UVC light and loss of electrons from Ag clusters by conversion of Ag 0 to Ag 3+ .

  2. Effects of inoculation of PAH-degrading bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on responses of ryegrass to phenanthrene and pyrene.

    PubMed

    Wu, Fuyong; Yu, Xiezhi; Wu, Shengchun; Wong, Minghung

    2014-01-01

    In order to investigate the effects of soil microorganisms on biochemical and physiological response of plants to PAHs, PAH-degrading bacteria (Acinetobacter sp.) and/or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus mosseae) were inoculated with ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) under four different concentrations of phenanthrene and pyrene (0, 50 + 50, 100 + 100, 200 + 200 mg kg(-1)) in soils. Acinetobacter sp. played limited roles on the growth of ryegrass, chlorophyll content, water soluble carbohydrate content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) in shoot. By contrast, G. mosseae significantly (P < 0.01) increased ryegrass growth, partially by improving the photosynthetic activity through increasing the chlorophyll content in shoot. G. mosseae also significantly decreased MDA content in shoot. However, G. mosseae significantly increased SOD activity in shoot, which seemed to be resulted from significantly higher pyrene concentrations in shoot. The present study suggested that AM fungi could reduce the damage of cell membranes caused by free radicals, which may be one of the mechanisms involved in mycorrhizal alleviation of plant stress under PAHs. The present study indicated that the dual inoculation was superior to single inoculation in remediating PAHs contaminated soils.

  3. Effect of Substrate Character on Heterogeneous Ozone Reaction Rate with Individual PAHs and Their Reaction Mixtures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Holmen, B. A.; Stevens, T.

    2009-12-01

    Vehicle exhaust contains many unregulated chemical compounds that are harmful to human health and the natural environment, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), a class of organic compounds derived from fuel combustion that can be carcinogenic and mutagenic. PAHs have been quantified in vehicle-derived ultrafine particles (Dp<100nm), which are more toxic than larger particles and are linked to adverse health problems, including respiratory and cardiac disease. Once emitted into the atmosphere, particle-bound PAHs can undergo “aging” reactions with oxidants, such as ozone, to form more polar species. These polar reaction products include species such as quinones that can be more toxic than the parent PAH compounds. Here, 0.4ppm ozone was reacted over a 24-hour period with the 16 EPA priority PAHs plus coronene adsorbed to (i) a quartz fiber filter and (ii) NIST diesel PM. The difference in the PAH/O3 heterogeneous reaction rate resulting from the two substrates will be discussed. The experiments were completed by spiking a known PAH mixture to the solid, reacting the samples with gas-phase ozone, and determining both PAH loss over time and products formed, using thermal-desorption gas chromatography / mass spectrometry (TD-GC/MS). The individual PAHs anthracene, phenanthrene, and fluorene, adsorbed to a QFF were also separately reacted with 0.4 ppm ozone. A volatilization control and the collection of volatilized PAHs using a Tenax-packed thermal desorption vial completed the mass balance and aided determination parent-product relationships. Heterogeneous reaction products analyzed directly without derivatization indicate the formation of 9,10-anthracenedione, 9H-fluoren-9-one, and (1,1’-biphenyl)-2,2’-dicarboxaldehyde from the reaction of ozone with the PAH mix on a QFF, but only 9,10-anthracenedione was detected for the diesel PM reaction. The implications of these results for aging of diesel particulate in urban environments will be discussed.

  4. Inoculating plants with the endophytic bacterium Pseudomonas sp. Ph6-gfp to reduce phenanthrene contamination.

    PubMed

    Sun, Kai; Liu, Juan; Gao, Yanzheng; Sheng, Yuehui; Kang, Fuxing; Waigi, Michael Gatheru

    2015-12-01

    Plant organic contamination poses a serious threat to the safety of agricultural products and human health worldwide, and the association of endophytic bacteria with host plants may decrease organic pollutants in planta. In this study, we firstly determined the growth response and biofilm formation of endophytic Pseudomonas sp. Ph6-gfp, and then systematically evaluated the performance of different plant colonization methods (seed soaking (SS), root soaking (RS), leaf painting (LP)) for circumventing the risk of plant phenanthrene (PHE) contamination. After inoculation for 48 h, strain Ph6-gfp grew efficiently with PHE, oxalic acid, or malic acid as the sole sources of carbon and energy. Moreover, strain Ph6-gfp could form robust biofilms in LB medium. In greenhouse hydroponic experiments, strain Ph6-gfp could actively colonize inoculated plants internally, and plants colonized with Ph6-gfp showed a higher capacity for PHE removal. Compared with the Ph6-gfp-free treatment, the accumulations of PHE in Ph6-gfp-colonized plants via SS, RS, and LP were 20.1, 33.1, and 7.1 %, respectively, lower. Our results indicate that inoculating plants with Ph6-gfp could lower the risk of plant PHE contamination. RS was most efficient for improving PHE removal in whole plant bodies by increasing the cell numbers of Ph6-gfp in plant roots. The findings in this study provide an optimized method to strain Ph6-gfp reduce plant PAH residues, which may be applied to agricultural production in PAH-contaminated soil.

  5. Carboxylation as an initial reaction in the anaerobic metabolism of naphthalene and phenanthrene by sulfidogenic consortia.

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, X; Young, L Y

    1997-01-01

    The anaerobic biodegradation of naphthalene (NAP) and phenanthrene (PHE) was investigated by using sediment collected from the Arthur Kill in New York/New Jersey harbor. The initial cultures were composed of 10% sediment and 90% mineral medium containing 20 mM sulfate. Complete loss of NAP and PHE (150 to 200 muM) was observed after 150 days of incubation. Upon refeeding, NAP and PHE were utilized within 14 days. The utilization of both compounds was inhibited in the presence of 20 mM molybdate. [14C]NAP and [14C]PHE were mineralized to 14CO2. The activities could be maintained and propagated by subculturing in mineral medium. In the presence of halogenated analogs, 2-naphthoate was detected in NAP-utilizing enrichments. The mass spectrum of the derivatized 2-napththoate from the enrichment supplemented with both [13C]bicarbonate and NAP indicates the incorporation of 13CO2 into NAP. In the PHE-utilizing enrichment, a metabolite was detected by both high-pressure liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses. The molecular ion and fragmentation pattern of its mass spectrum indicate that it was phenanthrenecarboxylic acid. The results obtained with [13C] bicarbonate indicate that 13CO2 was incorporated into PHE. It appears, therefore, that carboxylation is an initial key reaction for the anaerobic metabolism and NAP and PHE. To our knowledge, this is the first report providing evidence for intermediates of PAH degradation under anaerobic conditions. PMID:9471963

  6. Crystal structure of 2,2′′-bis­(2,7-di­chloro-9-hy­droxy-9H-fluoren-9-yl)-1,1′:4′,1′′-terphenyl tri­ethyl­amine trisolvate

    PubMed Central

    Klien, Henrik; Seichter, Wilhelm; Weber, Edwin

    2015-01-01

    In the title solvate, C44H26Cl4O2·3C6H15N, the asymmetric part of the unit cell comprises two halves of the diol mol­ecules, 2,2′′-bis­(2,7-di­chloro-9-hy­droxy-9H-fluoren-9-yl)-1,1′:4′,1′′-terphenyl, and three mol­ecules of tri­ethyl­amine, i. e. the diol mol­ecules are located on crystallographic symmetry centres. Two of the solvent mol­ecules are disordered over two positions [occupancy ratios of 0.567 (3):0.433 (3) and 0.503 (3):0.497 (3)]. In the diol mol­ecules, the outer rings of the 1,1′:4′,1′′-terphenyl elements are twisted with reference to their central arene ring and the mean planes of the fluorenyl moieties are inclined with respect to the terphenyl ring to which they are connected, the latter making dihedral angles of 82.05 (8) and 82.28 (8)°. The presence of two 9-fluoren-9-ol units attached at positions 2 and 2′′ of the terphenyl moiety induces a ‘folded’ geometry which is stabilized by intra­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking inter­actions, the latter formed between the fluorenyl units and the central ring of the terphenyl unit [centroid–centroid distances = 3.559 (1) and 3.562 (1) Å]. The crystal is composed of 1:2 complex units, in which the solvent mol­ecules are associated with the diol mol­ecules via O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, while the remaining solvent mol­ecule is linked to the host by a C—H⋯N hydrogen bond. The given pattern of inter­molecular inter­actions results in formation of chain structures extending along [010]. PMID:26870400

  7. Different profiles of carcinogen exposure in Chinese compared with US cigarette smokers.

    PubMed

    Benowitz, Neal L; Gan, Quan; Goniewicz, Maciej L; Lu, Wei; Xu, Jiying; Li, Xinjian; Jacob, Peyton; Glantz, Stanton

    2015-12-01

    Differences in carcinogen exposure from different cigarette products could contribute to differences in smoking-associated cancer incidence among Chinese compared with US smokers. Urine concentrations of metabolites of nicotine, the tobacco-specific nitrosamine (TSNA) 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites (PAHs) were compared in 238 Chinese and 203 US daily smokers. Comparing Chinese versus US smokers, daily nicotine intake and nicotine intake per cigarette smoked were found to be similar. When normalised for cigarettes per day, urine NNAL excretion was fourfold higher in US smokers, while the excretion of urine metabolites of the PAHs fluorene, phenanthrene and pyrene metabolites was 50% to fourfold higher in Chinese smokers (all, p<0.0001). Similar results were seen when NNAL and PAHs excretion was normalised for daily nicotine intake. Patterns of carcinogen exposure differ, with lower exposure to TSNA and higher exposure to PAHs in Chinese compared with US smokers. These results most likely reflect country differences in cigarette tobacco blends and manufacturing processes, as well as different environmental exposures. NCT00264342. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

  8. Amelioration of soil PAH and heavy metals by combined application of fly ash and biochar

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Masto, Reginald; George, Joshy; Ansari, Md; Ram, Lal

    2016-04-01

    Generation of electricity through coal combustion produces huge quantities of fly ash. Sustainable disposal and utilization of these fly ash is a major challenge. Fly ash along with other amendments like biochar could be used for amelioration of soil. In this study, fly ash and biochar were used together for amelioration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminated soil. Field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of fly ash and biochar on the amelioration of soil PAH, and the yield of Zea mays. The treatments were control, biochar (4 t/ha), fly ash (4 t/ha), ash + biochar ( 2 + 2 t/ha). Soil samples were collected after the harvest of maize crop and analysed for chemical and biological parameters. Thirteen PAHs were analysed in the postharvest soil samples. Soil PAHs were extracted in a microwave oven at 120 °C using hexane : acetone (1:1) mixture. The extracted solutions were concentrated, cleaned and the 13 PAHs [Acenaphthene (Ace), fluorene (Flr), phenanthrene (Phn), anthracene(Ant), pyrene(Pyr), benz(a)anthracene (BaA), chrysene (Chy), benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF), benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF), benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene (BghiP), dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene)(Inp)] were analysed using GC-MS. The mean pH increased from 6.09 in control to 6.64 and 6.58 at biochar and fly ash treated soils, respectively. N content was not affected, whereas addition of biochar alone and in combination with fly ash, has significantly increased the soil organic carbon content. P content was almost double in combined (9.06 mg/kg) treatment as compared to control (4.32 mg/kg). The increase in K due to biochar was 118%, whereas char + ash increased soil K by 64%. Soil heavy metals were decreased: Zn (-48.4%), Ni (-41.4%), Co (-36.9%), Cu (-35.7%), Mn (-34.3%), Cd (-33.2%), and Pb (-30.4%). Soil dehydrogenase activity was significantly increased by ash and biochar treatments and the maximum activity was observed for the combined

  9. Oxygen sensor via the quenching of room-temperature phosphorescence of perdeuterated phenanthrene adsorbed on Whatman 1PS filter paper.

    PubMed

    Ramasamy, S M; Hurtubise, R J

    1998-11-01

    Perdeuterated phenanthrene (d-phen) exhibits strong room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) when adsorbed on Whatman 1PS filter paper. An oxygen sensor was developed that depends on oxygen quenching of RTP intensity of adsorbed d-phen. The system designed employed a continuous flow of nitrogen or nitrogen-air onto the adsorbed phosphor. The sensor is simple to prepare and needs no elaborate fabrication procedure, but did show a somewhat drifting baseline for successive determinations of oxygen. Nevertheless, very good reproducibility was achieved with the RTP quenching data by measuring the RTP intensities just before and at the end of each oxygen determination. The calibration plots gave a nonlinear relationship over the entire range of oxygen (0-21%). However, a linear range was obtained up to 1.10% oxygen. A detection limit of 0.09% oxygen in dry nitrogen was acquired. Also, carbon dioxide was found to have a minimal effect on the RTP quenching. Thus, oxygen could be measured accurately in relatively large amounts of carbon dioxide. The performance of the oxygen sensor was evaluated by comparing data obtained with a commercial electrochemical trace oxygen analyzer. Also, additional information on the quenching phenomena for this system was obtained from the RTP lifetime data acquired at various oxygen contents.

  10. The anharmonic quartic force field infrared spectra of five non-linear polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and triphenylene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mackie, Cameron J.; Candian, Alessandra; Huang, Xinchuan; Maltseva, Elena; Petrignani, Annemieke; Oomens, Jos; Mattioda, Andrew L.; Buma, Wybren Jan; Lee, Timothy J.; Tielens, Alexander G. G. M.

    2016-08-01

    The study of interstellar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) relies heavily on theoretically predicted infrared spectra. Most earlier studies use scaled harmonic frequencies for band positions and the double harmonic approximation for intensities. However, recent high-resolution gas-phase experimental spectroscopic studies have shown that the harmonic approximation is not sufficient to reproduce experimental results. In our previous work, we presented the anharmonic theoretical spectra of three linear PAHs, showing the importance of including anharmonicities into the theoretical calculations. In this paper, we continue this work by extending the study to include five non-linear PAHs (benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and triphenylene), thereby allowing us to make a full assessment of how edge structure, symmetry, and size influence the effects of anharmonicities. The theoretical anharmonic spectra are compared to spectra obtained under matrix isolation low-temperature conditions, low-resolution, high-temperature gas-phase conditions, and high-resolution, low-temperature gas-phase conditions. Overall, excellent agreement is observed between the theoretical and experimental spectra although the experimental spectra show subtle but significant differences.

  11. The anharmonic quartic force field infrared spectra of five non-linear polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and triphenylene.

    PubMed

    Mackie, Cameron J; Candian, Alessandra; Huang, Xinchuan; Maltseva, Elena; Petrignani, Annemieke; Oomens, Jos; Mattioda, Andrew L; Buma, Wybren Jan; Lee, Timothy J; Tielens, Alexander G G M

    2016-08-28

    The study of interstellar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) relies heavily on theoretically predicted infrared spectra. Most earlier studies use scaled harmonic frequencies for band positions and the double harmonic approximation for intensities. However, recent high-resolution gas-phase experimental spectroscopic studies have shown that the harmonic approximation is not sufficient to reproduce experimental results. In our previous work, we presented the anharmonic theoretical spectra of three linear PAHs, showing the importance of including anharmonicities into the theoretical calculations. In this paper, we continue this work by extending the study to include five non-linear PAHs (benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and triphenylene), thereby allowing us to make a full assessment of how edge structure, symmetry, and size influence the effects of anharmonicities. The theoretical anharmonic spectra are compared to spectra obtained under matrix isolation low-temperature conditions, low-resolution, high-temperature gas-phase conditions, and high-resolution, low-temperature gas-phase conditions. Overall, excellent agreement is observed between the theoretical and experimental spectra although the experimental spectra show subtle but significant differences.

  12. Mycoremediation of manganese and phenanthrene by Pleurotus eryngii mycelium enhanced by Tween 80 and saponin.

    PubMed

    Wu, Minghui; Xu, Yongan; Ding, Wenbo; Li, Yuanyuan; Xu, Heng

    2016-08-01

    Bioremediation of areas co-contaminated with metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by mushrooms has attracted considerable attention in recent years. In this study, Pleurotus eryngii was introduced for the removal of Mn and phenanthrene (Phe) from potato liquid medium (PDL) simultaneously. Effects of Tween 80 and saponin on P. eryngii growth together with Mn uptake as well as Phe removal were investigated. Although pollutants had a negative effect on mycelial morphology and growth, P. eryngii could still tolerate and remove Mn and Phe. Tween 80 increased removal of Mn and Phe through increase of P. eryngii growth, Phe solubility, pollutants bioavailability, and specific surface area of mycelium pellets, moreover, the activities of manganese peroxidase (MnP) and laccase, which played an important role on PAHs biodegradation. The maximal removal of Mn and Phe was achieved (92.17 and 93.85 % after 15 days incubation, respectively) with 0.6 g L(-1) Tween 80. Treatments with saponin markedly inhibited P. eryngii growth (50.17-66.32 % lower relative to control) due to its fungistatic activity. Nevertheless, saponin could slightly enhance Phe removal through increasing solubility of Phe, and Phe removal rate varied from 80.53 to 87.06 % in saponin treatments. Joint stress of Mn and Phe induced a strong antioxidative response, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity decreased in surfactants-treated mycelium compared with control. Generally, Tween 80 was more suitable for strengthening mycoremediation by P. eryngii than saponin, and could be a promising alternative for the remediation of heavy metals and PAHs co-contaminated sites by mushrooms.

  13. Changes of biomarkers with oral exposure to benzo(a)pyrene, phenanthrene and pyrene in rats.

    PubMed

    Kang, Hwan Goo; Jeong, Sang Hee; Cho, Myung Haing; Cho, Joon Hyoung

    2007-12-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants present in air and food. Among PAHs, benzo(a)pyrene(BaP), phenanthrene (PH) and pyrene (PY) are considered to be important for their toxicity or abundance. To investigate the changes of biomarkers after PAH exposure, rats were treated with BaP (150 microg/kg) alone or with PH (4,300 microg/kg) and PY (2,700 microg/kg) (BPP group) by oral gavage once per day for 30 days. 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity in liver microsomal fraction was increased in only BaP groups. The highest concentration (34.5 ng/g) of BaP, was found in muscle of rats treated with BaP alone at 20 days of treatment; it was 23.6 ng/g in BPP treated rats at 30 days of treatment. The highest PH concentration was 47.1 ng/g in muscle and 118.8 ng/g in fat, and for PY it was 29.7 ng/g in muscle and 219.9 ng/g in fat, in BPP groups. In urine, 114-161 ng/ml 3-OH-PH was found, while PH was 41-69 ng/ml during treatment. 201-263 ng/ml 1-OH-PY was found, while PH was 9-17 ng/ml in urine. The level of PY, PH and their metabolites in urine was rapidly decreased after withdrawal of treatment. This study suggest that 1-OH-PY in urine is a sensitive biomarker for PAHs; it was the most highly detected marker among the three PAHs and their metabolites evaluated during the exposure period and for 14 days after withdrawal.

  14. Changes of biomarkers with oral exposure to benzo(a)pyrene, phenanthrene and pyrene in rats

    PubMed Central

    Kang, Hwan Goo; Cho, Myung Haing; Cho, Joon Hyoung

    2007-01-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants present in air and food. Among PAHs, benzo(a)pyrene(BaP), phenanthrene (PH) and pyrene (PY) are considered to be important for their toxicity or abundance. To investigate the changes of biomarkers after PAH exposure, rats were treated with BaP (150 µg/kg) alone or with PH (4,300 µg/kg) and PY (2,700 µg/kg) (BPP group) by oral gavage once per day for 30 days. 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity in liver microsomal fraction was increased in only BaP groups. The highest concentration (34.5 ng/g) of BaP, was found in muscle of rats treated with BaP alone at 20 days of treatment; it was 23.6 ng/g in BPP treated rats at 30 days of treatment. The highest PH concentration was 47.1 ng/g in muscle and 118.8 ng/g in fat, and for PY it was 29.7 ng/g in muscle and 219.9 ng/g in fat, in BPP groups. In urine, 114-161 ng/ml 3-OH-PH was found, while PH was 41-69 ng/ml during treatment. 201-263 ng/ml 1-OH-PY was found, while PH was 9-17 ng/ml in urine. The level of PY, PH and their metabolites in urine was rapidly decreased after withdrawal of treatment. This study suggest that 1-OH-PY in urine is a sensitive biomarker for PAHs; it was the most highly detected marker among the three PAHs and their metabolites evaluated during the exposure period and for 14 days after withdrawal. PMID:17993750

  15. Bioavailability of phenanthrene in the presence of birnessite-mediated catechol polymers.

    PubMed

    Russo, Fabio; Rao, Maria A; Gianfreda, Liliana

    2005-07-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread environmental contaminants and contribute to the pollution of aquatic and terrestrial environments. In soil, their fate may be affected by interactions with the soil biological community and soil colloids. This study was conducted to investigate the fate of phenanthrene (Phe), selected as a representative PAH, in simplified model systems, which simulate processes naturally occurring in soil. Phe was interacted with catechol (Cat), an orthodiphenol, and common intermediate in the microbial degradation of PAHs, and birnessite (Bir), an abiotic strong oxidative catalyst abundant in soil. Two experimental conditions were investigated: Cat (5 mM)+Bir (1 mg ml(-1))+Phe (0.05 mg ml(-1)) mixed at the same time and incubated for 24 h at 25 degrees C (Cat-Bir-Phe) and Cat+Bir incubated for 24 h at 25 degrees C before Phe addition and then incubated for a further 24 h (Cat-Bir+Phe). After incubation, the systems were analysed for residual Cat and Phe, supplied with a selected Phe-degrading mixed bacterial culture, and then the microbial degradation of Phe and the growth of cells were monitored. Complex phenomena simultaneously occurred. Cat was completely removed after a 24-h incubation with Bir, and no interference by Phe in the Bir-mediated transformation of Cat was observed. Elemental analysis and UV-Vis and Fourier transfer infrared spectra showed that Cat transformation by Bir produced soluble and insoluble polymeric aggregates involving Phe. The hydrocarbon also interacted with the surfaces of Bir either previously coated (Cat-Bir+Phe sample) or not by Cat polymers. When a Phe-degrading bacterial culture was added to the systems after Bir-mediated Cat polymerisation, a different behaviour was observed in terms of Phe consumption and bacterial growth, thus suggesting differentiated availability of Phe to the microbial cells. The hydrocarbon was completely transformed in the presence of Bir and/or Bir covered by Cat

  16. Microwave-assisted one-pot synthesis of new phenanthrene fused-tetrahydrodibenzo-acridinones as potential cytotoxic and apoptosis inducing agents.

    PubMed

    Kumar, Niggula Praveen; Sharma, Pankaj; Reddy, T Srinivasa; Shankaraiah, Nagula; Bhargava, Suresh K; Kamal, Ahmed

    2018-05-10

    An expeditious microwave-assisted one-pot synthesis of new cytotoxic phenanthrene fused-tetrahydrodibenzo-acridinones has been successfully accomplished. This protocol offers wide substrate scope, catalyst-free synthesis, atom-economy, simple recrystallization, high yields, and ethanol was used as green solvent. These new compounds were tested for their in vitro cytotoxicity against cervical (HeLa), prostate (PC-3), fibrosarcoma (HT-1080), ovarian (SKOV-3) cancer cells, and were safer to normal (Hek-293T) kidney cell line. All the compounds have displayed significant cytotoxicity profile, among them 8m being the most potent compound with an IC 50 0.24 ± 0.05 μM against SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that cells were blocked at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. The effect of 8m on F-actin polymerisation was also studied. Hoechst staining clearly showed the decreased number of viable cells and indicated apoptosis progression. Compound 8m caused the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential as observed via JC-1 staining and also enhanced the generation of reactive oxygen species. The increase of caspase-3 activation by 3.7 folds supported the strong apoptosis induction. In addition, an in vitro 3D-spheroid progression assay was performed with 8m that significantly suppressed the tumor cells. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  17. Efficient biodegradation of phenanthrene by a novel strain Massilia sp. WF1 isolated from a PAH-contaminated soil.

    PubMed

    Wang, Haizhen; Lou, Jun; Gu, Haiping; Luo, Xiaoyan; Yang, Li; Wu, Laosheng; Liu, Yong; Wu, Jianjun; Xu, Jianming

    2016-07-01

    A novel phenanthrene (PHE)-degrading strain Massilia sp. WF1, isolated from PAH-contaminated soil, was capable of degrading PHE by using it as the sole carbon source and energy in a range of pH (5.0-8.0), temperatures (20-35 °C), and PHE concentrations (25-400 mg L(-1)). Massilia sp. WF1 exhibited highly effective PHE-degrading ability that completely degraded 100 mg L(-1) of PHE over 2 days at optimal conditions (pH 6.0, 28 °C). The kinetics of PHE biodegradation by Massilia sp. WF1 was well represented by the Gompertz model. Results indicated that PHE biodegradation was inhibited by the supplied lactic acid but was promoted by the supplied carbon sources of glucose, citric acid, and succinic acid. Salicylic acid (SALA) and phthalic acid (PHTA) were not utilized by Massilia sp. WF1 and had no obvious effect on PHE biodegradation. Only two metabolites, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (1H2N) and PHTA, were identified in PHE biodegradation process. Quantitatively, nearly 27.7 % of PHE was converted to 1H2N and 30.3 % of 1H2N was further metabolized to PHTA. However, the PHTA pathway was broken and the SALA pathway was ruled out in PHE biodegradation process by Massilia sp. WF1.

  18. Effects of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) root mucilage on microbial community response and capacity for phenanthrene remediation.

    PubMed

    Sun, Ran; Belcher, Richard W; Liang, Jianqiang; Wang, Li; Thater, Brian; Crowley, David E; Wei, Gehong

    2015-07-01

    Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is normally limited by their low solubility and poor bioavailability. Prior research suggests that biosurfactants are synthesized as intermediates during the production of mucilage at the root tip. To date the effects of mucilage on PAH degradation and microbial community response have not been directly examined. To address this question, our research compared 3 cowpea breeding lines (Vigna unguiculata) that differed in mucilage production for their effects on phenanthrene (PHE) degradation in soil. The High Performance Liquid Chromatography results indicated that the highest PHE degradation rate was achieved in soils planted with mucilage producing cowpea line C1, inoculated with Bradyrhizobium, leading to 91.6% PHE disappearance in 5 weeks. In root printing tests, strings treated with mucilage and bacteria produced larger clearing zones than those produced on mucilage treated strings with no bacteria or bacteria inoculated strings. Experiments with 14C-PHE and purified mucilage in soil slurry confirmed that the root mucilage significantly enhanced PHE mineralization (82.7%), which is 12% more than the control treatment without mucilage. The profiles of the PHE degraders generated by Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis suggested that cowpea C1, producing a high amount of root mucilage, selectively enriched the PHE degrading bacteria population in rhizosphere. These findings indicate that root mucilage may play a significant role in enhancing PHE degradation and suggests that differences in mucilage production may be an important criterion for selection of the best plant species for use in phytoremediation of PAH contaminated soils. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  19. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with total suspended particles and surface soils in Kunming, China: distribution, possible sources, and cancer risks.

    PubMed

    Yang, Xiaoxia; Ren, Dong; Sun, Wenwen; Li, Xiaoman; Huang, Bin; Chen, Rong; Lin, Chan; Pan, Xuejun

    2015-05-01

    The concentrations, distribution, possible sources, and cancer risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in total suspended particles (TSPs) and surface soils collected from the same sampling spots were compared in Kunming, China. The total PAH concentrations were 9.35-75.01 ng/m(3) and 101.64-693.30 ng/g dry weight (d.w.), respectively, in TSPs and surface soils. Fluoranthene (FLA), pyrene (PYR), chrysene (CHR), and phenanthrene (PHE) were the abundant compounds in TSP samples, and phenanthrene (PHE), fluorene (FLO), fluoranthene (FLA), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF), and benzo[g,h,i]perylene (BghiP) were the abundant compounds in surface soil samples. The spatial distribution of PAHs in TSPs is closely related to the surrounding environment, which varied significantly as a result of variations in source emission and changes in meteorology. However, the spatial distribution of PAHs in surface soils is supposed to correlate with a city's urbanization history, and high levels of PAHs were always observed in industry district, or central or old district of city. Based on the diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis (PCA), vehicle emissions (especially diesel-powered vehicles) and coal and wood combustion were the main sources of PAHs in TSPs, and the combustion of wood and coal, and spills of unburnt petroleum were the main sources of PAHs in the surface soils. The benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration (BaPeq) for the TSPs and surface soil samples were 0.16-2.57 ng/m(3) and 11.44-116.03 ng/g d.w., respectively. The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) exposed to particulate PAHs ranged from 10(-4) to 10(-3) indicating high potential of carcinogenic risk, and the ILCR exposed to soil PAHs was from 10(-7) to 10(-6) indicating virtual safety. These presented results showed that particle-bound PAHs had higher potential carcinogenic ability for human than soil PAHs. And, the values of cancer risk for children were always higher than for adults, which

  20. Role of structure, accessibility and microporosity on sorption of phenanthrene and nonylphenol by sediments and their fractions.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Dainan; Duan, Dandan; Huang, Youda; Xiong, Yongqiang; Yang, Yu; Ran, Yong

    2016-12-01

    To better understand interaction mechanism of sediment organic matter with hydrophobic organic compounds, sorption of phenanthrene (Phen) and nonylphenol (NP) by bulk sediments and their fractions was investigated. Three surface sediments were selectively fractionated into different organic fractions, including the demineralized carbon (DM), lipid free carbon (LF), lipid (LP), and nonhydrolyzable carbon (NHC) fractions. The structure and microporosity of the isolated fractions were characterized by NMR and CO 2 adsorption techniques, and used as sorbents for Phen and NP. The calculated micropore volumes (V o ) and specific surface area (SSA) values are positively related to the concentrations of aromatic C and char for the DM, LF and NHC fractions, suggesting that aromatic moieties and char component significantly contribute to the microporosity. The LF fractions exhibit greater sorption affinity than the DM fractions do, indicating that the presence of LP could block the accessibility of sorption sites for Phen and NP. Significant and positive correlations among log K' FOC values for Phen and NP and aromatic carbon and char contents, and V o and SSA values suggest the aromatic moieties and microporosity dominate their sorption of HOCs by sediment organic matter (SOM). As the NHC fractions have much stronger sorption than other fractions do, they dominate the overall sorption by the bulk samples. This study indicated that the important roles of aromatic moieties, accessibility, and microporosity in the sorption of HOCs by SOM. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Purification of polluted water with spent mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) substrate: from agricultural waste to biosorbent of phenanthrene, Cd and Pb.

    PubMed

    García-Delgado, C; Alonso-Izquierdo, M; González-Izquierdo, M; Yunta, F; Eymar, E

    2017-07-01

    The present research was aimed to (i) report the recycling of spent A. bisporus substrate (SAS) to remove heavy metals (Cd and Pb) and phenanthrene (Phe) from polluted water and (ii) assess the possibility to use the treated water for irrigation. Batch experiments were carried out to assess, firstly, the effect of interaction time between pollutants with SAS and, secondly, the pH of the polluted water. Then a biofilter was designed by using pressurized glass columns. Chemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity and content of Pb, Cd, Phe, nutrients (NPK) and Cl - were determined. Equilibrium for contaminants was quickly reached (1-2 h). The pH of the polluted water was the key factor for pollutants' adsorption. The polluted water's pH was increased after biofilter interaction. Phe was not detected in any fraction. Pb and Cd sorption rates were higher than 99%. The pollutant concentrations were within the permitted range to be used for agriculture purposes. Purified water showed significant concentrations of NPK, indicating its potential use as fertilizer. The SAS shows potential to be used as Phe, Pb and Cd biosorbent and the resulting treated water can be used for irrigation according to pollutant contents and agronomical evaluation.

  2. Biochar characteristics produced from food-processing products and their sorptive capacity for mercury and phenanthrene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fotopoulou, Kalliopi N.; Karapanagioti, Hrissi K.; Manariotis, Ioannis D.

    2015-04-01

    Various organic-rich wastes including wood chips, animal manure, and crop residues have been used for biochar production. Biochar is used as an additive to soils to sequester carbon and improve soil fertility but its use as a sorbent for environmental remediation processes is gaining increased attention. Surface properties such as point of zero charge, surface area and pore volume, surface topography, surface functional groups and acid-base behavior are important factors, which affect sorption efficiency. Understanding the surface alteration of biochars increases our understanding of the pollutant-sorbent interaction. The scope of the present work was to evaluate the effect of key characteristics of biochars on their sorptive properties. Raw materials for biochar production were evaluated including byproducts from brewering, coffee, wine, and olive oil industry. The charring process was performed at different temperatures under limited-oxygen conditions using specialized containers. The surface area, the pore volume, and the average pore size of the biochars were determined. Open surface area and micropore volume were determined using t-plot method and Harkins & Jura equation. Raw food-processing waste demonstrates low surface area that increases by 1 order of magnitude by thermal treatment up to 750oC. At temperatures from 750 up to 900oC, pyrolysis results to biochars with surface areas 210-700 m2/g. For the same temperature range, a high percentage (46 to73%) of the pore volume of the biochars is due to micropores. Positive results were obtained when high surface area biochars were tested for their ability to remove organic (i.e. phenanthrene) and inorganic (i.e. mercury) compounds from aqueous solutions. All these properties point to new materials that can effectively be used for environmental remediation.

  3. Temporal occurrence and sources of persistent organic pollutants in suspended particulate matter from the most heavily polluted river mouth of Lake Chaohu, China.

    PubMed

    Liu, Cheng; Zhang, Lei; Fan, Chengxin; Xu, Fuliu; Chen, Kaining; Gu, Xiaozhi

    2017-05-01

    The Nanfei River is by many measures the most heavily polluted tributary to Lake Chaohu. In this study, the temporal occurrence and sources of four classes of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), in suspended particulate matter (SPM) from the river mouth were investigated monthly during 2014. Results show that concentrations of all four POPs in SPM were higher than those in the sediment of Lake Chaohu. PBDEs (26.7 ng g -1 dry weight (dw)) were originated mainly from commercial deca-BDE mixtures. PCB concentrations (1.336 ng g -1 dw) were lower than those of sediments in many other water bodies worldwide. PAHs (2597 ng g -1 dw) and OCPs (57.38 ng g -1 dw) were the most common POPs. PAHs mainly had high molecular weights and originated from pyrolytic sources, with a small proportion of petrogenic origin. The predominant OCPs were DDTs, heptachlorepoxides, dieldrin, hexachlorocyclohexanes, hexachlorobenzene, and chlordanes. Most OCPs originated from historical use, except lindane. Generally, of all the POPs studied, those of primary ecological concern should be acenaphthene, fluorene, DDTs, and chlordanes. Higher concentrations of POPs were detected during winter and spring than in summer and autumn, probably because of the high river flow during the rainy season. The high concentration of POPs in the riverine SPM and the fractionation of POPs in the water and SPM of the river should be a focal point in the future study of Lake Chaohu. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. Using testate amoeba as potential biointegrators of atmospheric deposition of phenanthrene (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) on "moss/soil interface-testate amoeba community" microecosystems.

    PubMed

    Meyer, Caroline; Desalme, Dorine; Bernard, Nadine; Binet, Philippe; Toussaint, Marie-Laure; Gilbert, Daniel

    2013-03-01

    Microecosystem models could allow understanding of the impacts of pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on ecosystem functioning. We studied the effects of atmospheric phenanthrene (PHE) deposition on the microecosystem "moss/soil interface-testate amoebae (TA) community" over a 1-month period under controlled conditions. We found that PHE had an impact on the microecosystem. PHE was accumulated by the moss/soil interface and was significantly negatively correlated (0.4 < r(2) < 0.7) with total TA abundance and the abundance of five species of TA (Arcella sp., Centropyxis sp., Nebela lageniformis, Nebela tincta and Phryganella sp.). Among sensitive species, species with a superior trophic level (determined by the test aperture size) were more sensitive than other TA species. This result suggests that links between microbial groups in the microecosystems are disrupted by PHE and that this pollutant had effects both direct (ingestion of the pollutant or direct contact with cell) and/or indirect (decrease of prey) on the TA community. The TA community seems to offer a potential integrative tool to understand mechanisms and processes by which the atmospheric PHE deposition affects the links between microbial communities.

  5. 2,5-linked polyfluorenes for optoelectronic devices

    DOEpatents

    Cella, James Anthony; Shiang, Joseph John; Shanklin, Elliott West; Smigelski, Paul Michael

    2010-06-08

    Polyfluorene polymers and copolymers having substantial amounts (10-100%) of fluorenes coupled at the 2 and 5 positions of fluorene are useful as active layers in OLED devices where triplet energies >2.10 eV are required.

  6. 2,5-linked polyfluorenes for optoelectronic devices

    DOEpatents

    Cella, James Anthony [Clifton Park, NY; Shiang, Joseph John [Niskayuna, NY; Shanklin, Elliott West [Altamont, NY; Smigelski, Jr, Paul Michael

    2011-06-28

    Polyfluorene polymers and copolymers having substantial amounts (10-100%) of fluorenes coupled at the 2 and 5 positions of fluorene are useful as active layers in OLED devices where triplet energies >2.10 eV are required.

  7. 2,5-linked polyfluorenes for optoelectronic devices

    DOEpatents

    Cella, James Anthony [Clifton Park, NY; Shiang, Joseph John [Niskayuna, NY; Shanklin, Elliott West [Altamont, NY; Smigelski, Paul Michael [Scotia, NY

    2009-12-22

    Polyfluorene polymers and copolymers having substantial amounts (10-100%) of fluorenes coupled at the 2 and 5 positions of fluorene are useful as active layers in OLED devices where triplet energies >2.10 eV are required.

  8. 2,5-linked polyfluorenes for optoelectronic devices

    DOEpatents

    Cella, James Anthony [Clifton Park, NY; Shiang, Joseph John [Niskayuna, NY; Shanklin, Elliott West [Altamont, NY; Smigelski, Jr., Paul Michael

    2011-11-08

    Polyfluorene polymers and copolymers having substantial amounts (10-100%) of fluorenes coupled at the 2 and 5 positions of fluorene are useful as active layers in OLED devices where triplet energies >2.10 eV are required.

  9. Agarose-chitosan-C18 film micro-solid phase extraction combined with high performance liquid chromatography for the determination of phenanthrene and pyrene in chrysanthemum tea samples.

    PubMed

    Ng, Nyuk Ting; Sanagi, Mohd Marsin; Wan Ibrahim, Wan Nazihah; Wan Ibrahim, Wan Aini

    2017-05-01

    Agarose-chitosan-immobilized octadecylsilyl-silica (C 18 ) film micro-solid phase extraction (μSPE) was developed and applied for the determination of phenanthrene (PHE) and pyrene (PYR) in chrysanthemum tea samples using high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). The film of blended agarose and chitosan allows good dispersion of C 18 , prevents the leaching of C 18 during application and enhances the film mechanical stability. Important μSPE parameters were optimized including amount of sorbent loading, extraction time, desorption solvent and desorption time. The matrix match calibration curves showed good linearity (r⩾0.994) over a concentration range of 1-500ppb. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed method showed good limits of detection (0.549-0.673ppb), good analyte recoveries (100.8-105.99%) and good reproducibilities (RSDs⩽13.53%, n=3) with preconcentration factors of 4 and 72 for PHE and PYR, respectively. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. A laboratory analog for the carrier of the 3 micron emission of the protoplanetary nebula IRAS 05341+0852.

    PubMed

    Beegle, L W; Wdowiak, T J; Arnoult, K M

    1997-09-10

    A mixture of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), acenaphthylene and acenaphthene, when subjected to the energetic environment of a hydrogen plasma, is transformed into a material that exhibits an infrared absorption profile in the 3 micron region that is an excellent match of the protoplanetary nebula IRAS 05341+0852 emission profile in the same wavelength region. Acenaphthylene and acenaphthene were chosen as precursors in the experiment because these molecules have a structure that can be described as a keystone in a process in which carbon atoms in a stellar wind condense into PAH species. The spectral match between experiment and observations appears to validate that scenario.

  11. Reinforced microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from polluted soil samples using an in-needle coated fiber with polypyrrole/graphene oxide nanocomposite.

    PubMed

    Behfar, Mina; Ghiasvand, Ali Reza; Yazdankhah, Fatemeh

    2017-07-01

    The surface of a stainless-steel wire was platinized using electrophoretic deposition method to create a high-surface-area with porous and cohesive substrate. The platinized fiber was coated by the polypyrrole/graphene oxide nanocomposite by electropolymerization and accommodated into a stainless-steel needle to fabricate an in-needle coated fiber. The developed setup was coupled to gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and applied to extract and determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene) in complicated solid matrices, along with reinforcement of the extraction by cooling the sorbent, using liquid carbon dioxide. To obtain the best extraction efficiency, the important experimental variables including extraction temperature and time, temperature of cooled sorbent, sampling flow rate, and desorption condition were studied. Under the optimal condition, limits of detection for five studied analytes were in the range of 0.2-0.8 pg/g. Linear dynamic ranges for the calibration curves were found to be in the range of 0.001-1000 ng/g. Relative standard deviations obtained for six replicated analyses of 1 ng/g of analytes were 4.9-13.5%. The reinforced in-needle coated fiber method was successfully applied for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in contaminated soil samples. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  12. Trends in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in the great lakes atmosphere.

    PubMed

    Sun, Ping; Blanchard, Pierrette; Brice, Kenneth A; Hites, Ronald A

    2006-10-15

    Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) concentrations were measured in both the vapor and particle phases at seven sites near the Great Lakes as a part of the Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network. Lower molecular weight PAHs, including fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthrene, and pyrene, were dominant in the vapor phase, and higher molecular weight PAHs, including chrysene, benzo[a]pyrene, and coronene, were dominant in the particle phase. The highest PAH concentrations in both the vapor and particle phases were observed in Chicago followed by the semiurban site at Sturgeon Point, NY. The spatial difference of PAH concentrations can be explained by the local population density. Long-term decreasing trends of most PAH concentrations were observed in both the vapor and particle phases at Chicago, with half-lives ranging from 3-10 years in the vapor phase and 5-15 years in the particle phase. At Eagle Harbor, Sleeping Bear Dunes, and Sturgeon Point, total PAH concentrations in the vapor phase showed significant, but slow, long-term decreasing trends. At the Sturgeon Point site, which was impacted by a nearby city, particle-phase PAH concentrations also declined. However, most particle-phase PAH concentrations did not show significant long-term decreasing trends at the remote sites. Seasonal trends were also observed for particle-phase PAH concentrations, which were higher in the winter and lower in the summer.

  13. Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by four-way parallel factor analysis in presence of humic acid.

    PubMed

    Yang, Ruifang; Zhao, Nanjing; Xiao, Xue; Yu, Shaohui; Liu, Jianguo; Liu, Wenqing

    2016-01-05

    There is not effective method to solve the quenching effect of quencher in fluorescence spectra measurement and recognition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic environment. In this work, a four-way dataset combined with four-way parallel factor analysis is used to identify and quantify polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of humic acid, a fluorescent quencher and an ubiquitous substance in aquatic system, through modeling the quenching effect of humic acid by decomposing the four-way dataset into four loading matrices corresponding to relative concentration, excitation spectra, emission spectra and fluorescence quantum yield, respectively. It is found that Phenanthrene, pyrene, anthracene and fluorene can be recognized simultaneously with the similarities all above 0.980 between resolved spectra and reference spectra. Moreover, the concentrations of them ranging from 0 to 8μgL(-1) in the test samples prepared with river water could also be predicted successfully with recovery rate of each polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon between 100% and 120%, which were higher than those of three-way PARAFAC. These results demonstrate that the combination of four-way dataset with four-way parallel factor analysis could be a promising method to recognize the fluorescence spectra of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of fluorescent quencher from both qualitative and quantitative perspective. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) biodegradation potential and diversity of microbial consortia enriched from tsunami sediments in Miyagi, Japan.

    PubMed

    Bacosa, Hernando Pactao; Inoue, Chihiro

    2015-01-01

    The Great East Japan Earthquake caused tsunamis and resulted in widespread damage to human life and infrastructure. The disaster also resulted in contamination of the environment by chemicals such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This study was conducted to investigate the degradation potential and describe the PAH-degrading microbial communities from tsunami sediments in Miyagi, Japan. PAH-degrading bacteria were cultured by enrichment using PAH mixture or pyrene alone as carbon and energy sources. Among the ten consortia tested for PAH mixture, seven completely degraded fluorene and more than 95% of phenanthrene in 10 days, while only four consortia partially degraded pyrene. Six consortia partially degraded pyrene as a single substrate. Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) revealed that each sample was dominated by unique microbial populations, regardless of sampling location. The consortia were dominated by known PAHs degraders including Sphingomonas, Pseudomonas, and Sphingobium; and previously unknown degraders such as Dokdonella and Luteimonas. A potentially novel and PAH-degrading Dokdonella was detected for the first time. PAH-ring hydroxylating dioxygenase (PAH-RHDα) gene was shown to be more effective than nidA in estimating pyrene-degrading bacteria in the enriched consortia. The consortia obtained in this study are potential candidates for remediation of PAHs contaminated soils. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Heterologous Expression of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Ring-Hydroxylating Dioxygenase Genes from a Novel Pyrene-Degrading Betaproteobacterium

    PubMed Central

    Hu, Jing; Aitken, Michael D.

    2012-01-01

    A betaproteobacterium within the family Rhodocyclaceae previously identified as a pyrene degrader via stable-isotope probing (SIP) of contaminated soil (designated pyrene group 1 or PG1) was cultivated as the dominant member of a mixed bacterial culture. A metagenomic library was constructed, and the largest contigs were analyzed for genes associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolism. Eight pairs of genes with similarity to the α- and β-subunits of ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases (RHDs) associated with aerobic bacterial PAH degradation were identified and linked to PG1 through PCR analyses of a simplified enrichment culture. In tandem with a ferredoxin and reductase found in close proximity to one pair of RHD genes, six of the RHDs were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Each cloned RHD was tested for activity against nine PAHs ranging in size from two to five rings. Despite differences in their predicted protein sequences, each of the six RHDs was capable of transforming phenanthrene and pyrene. Three RHDs could additionally transform naphthalene and fluorene, and these genotypes were also associated with the ability of the E. coli constructs to convert indole to indigo. Only one of the six cloned RHDs was capable of transforming anthracene and benz[a]anthracene. None of the tested RHDs were capable of significantly transforming fluoranthene, chrysene, or benzo[a]pyrene. PMID:22427500

  16. Kinetics of hydrophobic organic contaminant extraction from sediment by granular activated carbon.

    PubMed

    Rakowska, M I; Kupryianchyk, D; Smit, M P J; Koelmans, A A; Grotenhuis, J T C; Rijnaarts, H H M

    2014-03-15

    Ex situ solid phase extraction with granular activated carbon (GAC) is a promising technique to remediate contaminated sediments. The methods' efficiency depends on the rate by which contaminants are transferred from the sediment to the surface of GAC. Here, we derive kinetic parameters for extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from sediment by GAC, using a first-order multi-compartment kinetic model. The parameters were obtained by modeling sediment-GAC exchange kinetic data following a tiered model calibration approach. First, parameters for PAH desorption from sediment were calibrated using data from systems with 50% (by weight) GAC acting as an infinite sink. Second, the estimated parameters were used as fixed input to obtain GAC uptake kinetic parameters in sediment slurries with 4% GAC, representing the ex situ remediation scenario. PAH uptake rate constants (kGAC) by GAC ranged from 0.44 to 0.0005 d(-1), whereas GAC sorption coefficients (KGAC) ranged from 10(5.57) to 10(8.57) L kg(-1). These values are the first provided for GAC in the presence of sediment and show that ex situ extraction with GAC is sufficiently fast and effective to reduce the risks of the most available PAHs among those studied, such as fluorene, phenanthrene and anthracene. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) formation from the pyrolysis of different municipal solid waste fractions

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhou, Hui; Energy Research Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT; Wu, Chunfei, E-mail: c.wu@leeds.ac.uk

    2015-02-15

    Highlights: • PAH from pyrolysis of 9 MSW fractions was investigated. • Pyrolysis of plastics released more PAH than that of biomass. • Naphthalene was the most abundant PAH in the tar. • The mechanism of PAH release from biomass and plastics was proposed. - Abstract: The formation of 2–4 ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from the pyrolysis of nine different municipal solid waste fractions (xylan, cellulose, lignin, pectin, starch, polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) were investigated in a fixed bed furnace at 800 °C. The mass distribution of pyrolysis was also reported. Themore » results showed that PS generated the most total PAH, followed by PVC, PET, and lignin. More PAH were detected from the pyrolysis of plastics than the pyrolysis of biomass. In the biomass group, lignin generated more PAH than others. Naphthalene was the most abundant PAH, and the amount of 1-methynaphthalene and 2-methynaphthalene was also notable. Phenanthrene and fluorene were the most abundant 3-ring PAH, while benzo[a]anthracene and chrysene were notable in the tar of PS, PVC, and PET. 2-ring PAH dominated all tar samples, and varied from 40 wt.% to 70 wt.%. For PS, PET and lignin, PAH may be generated directly from the aromatic structure of the feedstock.« less

  18. Impact of bacterial activity on turnover of insoluble hydrophobic substrates (phenanthrene and pyrene)-Model simulations for prediction of bioremediation success.

    PubMed

    Rein, Arno; Adam, Iris K U; Miltner, Anja; Brumme, Katja; Kästner, Matthias; Trapp, Stefan

    2016-04-05

    Many attempts for bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminated sites failed in the past, but the reasons for this failure are not well understood. Here we apply and improve a model for integrated assessment of mass transfer, biodegradation and residual concentrations for predicting the success of remediation actions. First, we provide growth parameters for Mycobacterium rutilum and Mycobacterium pallens growing on phenanthrene (PHE) or pyrene (PYR) degraded the PAH completely at all investigated concentrations. Maximum metabolic rates vmax and growth rates μ were similar for the substrates PHE and PYR and for both strains. The investigated Mycobacterium species were not superior in PHE degradation to strains investigated earlier with this method. Real-world degradation scenario simulations including diffusive flux to the microbial cells indicate: that (i) bioaugmentation only has a small, short-lived effect; (ii) Increasing sorption shifts the remaining PAH to the adsorbed/sequestered PAH pool; (iii) mobilizing by solvents or surfactants resulted in a significant decrease of the sequestered PAH, and (iv) co-metabolization e.g. by compost addition can contribute significantly to the reduction of PAH, because active biomass is maintained at a high level by the compost. The model therefore is a valuable contribution to the assessment of potential remediation action at PAH-polluted sites. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. 40 CFR Appendix J to Part 122 - NPDES Permit Testing Requirements for Publicly Owned Treatment Works (§ 122.21(j))

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ...,2-trichloroethane Trichloroethylene Vinyl chloride Acid-extractable compounds P-chloro-m-creso 2...-nitrophenol Pentachlorophenol Phenol 2,4,6-trichlorophenol Base-neutral compounds Acenaphthene Acenaphthylene...

  20. 40 CFR Appendix J to Part 122 - NPDES Permit Testing Requirements for Publicly Owned Treatment Works (§ 122.21(j))

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ...,2-trichloroethane Trichloroethylene Vinyl chloride Acid-extractable compounds P-chloro-m-creso 2...-nitrophenol Pentachlorophenol Phenol 2,4,6-trichlorophenol Base-neutral compounds Acenaphthene Acenaphthylene...

  1. 40 CFR Appendix J to Part 122 - NPDES Permit Testing Requirements for Publicly Owned Treatment Works (§ 122.21(j))

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ...,2-trichloroethane Trichloroethylene Vinyl chloride Acid-extractable compounds P-chloro-m-creso 2...-nitrophenol Pentachlorophenol Phenol 2,4,6-trichlorophenol Base-neutral compounds Acenaphthene Acenaphthylene...

  2. 40 CFR Appendix J to Part 122 - NPDES Permit Testing Requirements for Publicly Owned Treatment Works (§ 122.21(j))

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ...,2-trichloroethane Trichloroethylene Vinyl chloride Acid-extractable compounds P-chloro-m-creso 2...-nitrophenol Pentachlorophenol Phenol 2,4,6-trichlorophenol Base-neutral compounds Acenaphthene Acenaphthylene...

  3. Provisional Peer-Reviewed Toxicity Values for Acenaphthene

    EPA Science Inventory

    A Provisional Peer-Reviewed Toxicity Values (PPRTV) is defined as a toxicity value derived for use in the Superfund Program when such a value is not available from EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Database. PPRTVs are developed according to a Standard Operating Pr...

  4. Biodegradation of PAHs in Soil: Influence of Initial PAHs Concentration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kamil, N. A. F. M.; Talib, S. A.

    2016-07-01

    Most studies on biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) evaluate the effect of initial PAHs concentration in liquid medium. There are limited studies on evaluation in solid medium such as contaminated soil. This study investigated the potential of the bacteria, Corynebacterium urealyticum isolated from municipal sludge in degrading phenanthrene contaminated soil in different phenanthrene concentration. Batch experiments were conducted over 20 days in reactors containing artificially contaminated phenanthrene soil at different concentration inoculated with a bacterial culture. This study established the optimum condition for phenanthrene degradation by the bacteria under nonindigenous condition at 500 mg/kg of initial phenanthrene concentration. High initial concentration required longer duration for biodegradation process compared to low initial concentration. The bacteria can survive for three days for all initial phenanthrene concentrations.

  5. Kinetic characteristic of phenanthrene sorption in aged soil amended with biochar

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Chanyang; Kim, Yong-Seong; Hyun, Seunghun

    2015-04-01

    Biochar has been recently highlighted as an amendment that affects yield of the crops by increasing pH, cation exchange capacity and water retention, and reduces the lability of contaminants by increasing sorption capacity in the soil system. Biochar's physico-chemical properties, high CEC, surfaces containing abundant micropores and macropores, and various types of functional groups, play important roles in enhancing sorption capacity of contaminants. Aging through a natural weathering process might change physico-chemical properties of biochar amended in soils, which can affect the sorption behavior of contaminants. Thus, in this study, the sorption characteristics of phenanthrene (PHE) on biochar-amended soils were studied with various types of chars depending on aging time. To do this, 1) soil was amended with sludge waste char (SWC), wood char (WC), and municipal waste char (MWC) during 0, 6, and 12 month. Chars were applied to soil at 1% and 2.5% (w/w) ratio. 2) Several batch kinetic and equilibrium studies were conducted. One-compartment first order and two-compartment first order model apportioning the fraction of fast and slow sorbing were selected for kinetic models. Where, qt is PHE concentration in biochar-amended soils at each time t, qeis PHE concentration in biochar-amended soils at equilibrium. ff is fastly sorbing fraction and (1-ff) is slowly sorbing fraction. k is sorption rate constant from one-compartment first order model, k1 and k2 are sorption rate constant from two-compartment first order model, t is time (hr). The equilibrium sorption data were fitted with Fruendlich and Langmuir equation. 3) Change in physico-chemical properties of biochar-amended soils was investigated with aging time. Batch equilibrium sorption results suggested that sorbed amount of PHE on WC was greater than SWC and MWC. The more char contents added to soil, the greater sorption capacity of PHE. Sorption equilibrium was reached after 4 hours and equilibrium pH ranged

  6. Individual and combined effects of fluoranthene, phenanthrene, mannitol and sulfuric acid on marigold (Calendula officinalis).

    PubMed

    Khpalwak, Wahdatullah; Abdel-Dayem, Sherif M; Sakugawa, Hiroshi

    2018-02-01

    A study was conducted to characterize marigold stress response to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (oxidative stress inducers) with and without sulfuric acid (S.Acid; pH 3) (acid-stress inducer), and to evaluate reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity of mannitol (Mann). Marigold (Calendula officinalis) seedlings were grown in a greenhouse and fumigated with fluoranthene (FLU), phenanthrene (PHE), Mann, and S.Acid individually and in various combinations for 40 days. Various physiological and biochemical parameters among others were analyzed using standard methods. The results revealed that fumigation of FLU induced oxidative stress to the plants via ROS generation leading to negative effects on photosynthesis at near saturating irradiance (A max ), stomatal conductance (G s ), internal carbon dioxide concentration (C i ), leaf water relations and chlorophyll pigments. Significant per cent inhibition of A max (54%), G s (86%) and C i (32%), as well as per cent reductions in chlorophyll a (Chl.a) (33%), Chl.b (34%), and total chlorophyll (Tot. Chl) (48%) contents were recorded in FLU fumigated treatment in comparison to control. Combination of Mann with FLU scavenged the generated ROS and substantially lowered the oxidative stress on the plants hence all the measured parameters were not significantly different from control. PHE fumigation had varied effects on marigold plants and was not as deleterious as FLU. Combined fumigation of S.Acid with both the PAHs had significant negative effect on leaf water relations, and positive effect on fresh and turgid weight of the plants but had no effect on the other measured parameters. The lowest proline contents and highest catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities in FLU fumigated plants further confirmed that oxidative stress was imposed via the generation of ROS. From the results, it is evident that Mann could be an efficient scavenger of ROS-generated by FLU in the marigold plants. We recommend Mann to

  7. Free-volume characteristics of epoxies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Singh, Jag J.; Eftekhari, Abe; Shultz, William J.; St.clair, Terry L.

    1992-01-01

    Positron annihilation spectroscopy was used to measure free-volume characteristics of selected epoxies. Fluorene resins, a new family of high-temperature thermosetting resins, were selected as the test medium. Experimental results indicate that the free-volume cell size V sub f varies with the molecular weight between the cross-links M sub c according to an equation of the form V sub f = AM sub c sup B, where A and B are structural constants. In two of the samples, the concentration of bulky fluorene groups was increased in the network backbone by replacement of some of the conventional bisphenol A epoxy resin with fluorene-derived epoxy resin. This resulted in an increase in their glass transition temperature for a given level of cross-linking. It was found that in these samples, the Doppler broadening of the annihilation peak decreases with the increasing fluorene content, presumably due to enhanced damping of the chain motions.

  8. Binding of Diverse Environmental Chemicals with Human Cytochromes P450 2A13, 2A6, and 1B1 and Enzyme Inhibition

    PubMed Central

    Shimada, Tsutomu; Kim, Donghak; Murayama, Norie; Tanaka, Katsuhiro; Takenaka, Shigeo; Nagy, Leslie D.; Folkman, Lindsay M.; Foroozesh, Maryam K.; Komori, Masayuki; Yamazaki, Hiroshi; Guengerich, F. Peter

    2014-01-01

    A total of 68 chemicals including derivatives of naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, biphenyl, and flavone were examined for their abilities to interact with human P450s 2A13 and 2A6. Fifty-one of these 68 chemicals induced stronger Type I binding spectra (iron low- to high-spin state shift) with P450 2A13 than those seen with P450 2A6, i.e. the spectral binding intensities (ΔAmax/Ks ratio) determined with these chemicals were always higher for P450 2A13. In addition, benzo[c]phenanthrene, fluoranthene, 2,3-dihydroxy-2,3-dihydrofluoranthene, pyrene, 1-hydroxypyrene, 1-nitropyrene, 1-acetylpyrene, 2-acetylpyrene, 2,5,2’,5’-tetrachlorobiphenyl, 7-hydroxyflavone, chrysin, and galangin were found to induce a Type I spectral change only with P450 2A13. Coumarin 7-hydroxylation, catalyzed by P450 2A13, was strongly inhibited by 2’-methoxy-5,7-dihydroxyflavone, 2-ethynylnaphthalene, 2’-methoxyflavone, 2-naphththalene propargyl ether, acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, naphthalene, 1-acetylpyrene, flavanone, chrysin, 3-ethynylphenanthrene, flavone, and 7-hydroxyflavone; these chemicals induced Type I spectral changes with low Ks values. On the basis of the intensities of the spectral changes and inhibition of P450 2A13, we classified the 68 chemicals into eight groups based on the order of affinities for these chemicals and inhibition of P450 2A13. The metabolism of chemicals by P450 2A13 during the assays explained why some of the chemicals that bound well were poor inhibitors of P450 2A13. Finally, we compared the 68 chemicals for their abilities to induce Type I spectral changes of P450 2A13 with the Reverse Type I binding spectra observed with P450 1B1: 45 chemicals interacted with both P450s 2A13 and 1B1, indicating that the two enzymes have some similarty of structural features regarding these chemicals. Molecular docking analyses suggest similarities at the active sites of these P450 enzymes. These results indicate that P450 2A13, as well as Family

  9. Long-term simulation of in situ biostimulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated soil

    PubMed Central

    Jones, Maiysha D.; Singleton, David R.; Aitken, Michael D.

    2016-01-01

    A continuous-flow column study was conducted to evaluate the long-term effects of in situ biostimulation on the biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil from a manufactured gas plant site. Simulated groundwater amended with oxygen and inorganic nutrients was introduced into one column, while a second column receiving unamended groundwater served as a control. PAH and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations, as well as microbial community profiles, were monitored along the column length immediately before and at selected intervals up to 534 days after biostimulation commenced. Biostimulation resulted in significantly greater PAH removal than in the control condition (73% of total measured PAHs vs. 34%, respectively), with dissolution accounting for a minor amount of the total mass loss (~6%) in both columns. Dissolution was most significant for naphthalene, acenaphthene, and fluorene, accounting for >20% of the total mass removed for each. A known group of PAH-degrading bacteria, ‘Pyrene Group 2’ (PG2), was identified as a dominant member of the microbial community and responded favorably to biostimulation. Spatial and temporal variations in soil PAH concentration and PG2 abundance were strongly correlated to DO advancement, although there appeared to be transport of PG2 organisms ahead of the oxygen front. At an estimated oxygen demand of 6.2 mg O2/g dry soil and a porewater velocity of 0.8 m/day, it took between 374 and 466 days for oxygen breakthrough from the 1-m soil bed in the biostimulated column. This study demonstrated that the presence of oxygen was the limiting factor in PAH removal, as opposed to the abundance and/or activity of PAH-degrading bacteria once oxygen reached a previously anoxic zone. PMID:22311590

  10. Impacts of Pantoea agglomerans strain and cation-modified clay minerals on the adsorption and biodegradation of phenanthrene.

    PubMed

    Tao, Kelin; Zhao, Song; Gao, Pin; Wang, Lijin; Jia, Hanzhong

    2018-06-06

    Interactions between microorganisms and minerals have the potential contribution to remove polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in model systems. In this study, phenanthrene (PHE) was used as a probe molecule to explore the potential adsorption and biotransformation processes in the presence of microorganisms and various reference clays, such as montmorillonite (M), kaolinite (K), and pyrophyllite (P). Equilibrium adsorption experiments and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique were used to investigate the sorption of Pantoea agglomerans strains on clay minerals saturated with cations (Na + and Fe 3+ ). The adsorption isotherms of PHE and Pantoea agglomerans strains on cation-modified clay minerals fitted to Langmuir equation, and their adsorbed amounts both followed the sequence: montmorillonite > kaolinite > pyrophyllite. For six types of cation-modified minerals, the behavior of PHE adsorbed and Pantoea agglomerans adhered onto mentioned minerals was in the order of Na(I)-M > Fe(Ⅲ)-M, Na(I)-K > Fe(Ⅲ)-K and Fe(Ⅲ)-P > Na(I)-P, respectively. The biodegradation results showed that cation-modified clay minerals could enhance the biodegradation of PHE, ascribing to their large specific surface area, and cation exchange capability, as well as the difference in zeta potential between minerals and Pantoea agglomerans strains. Comparison of biodegradation rates displayed that PHE was degraded the highest in the presence of Na-M (93.285%). In addition, the obtained results suggested that the adhesion of bacteria onto cation-exchanged clay minerals was beneficial to the biodegradation of PHE. Anthracen-9-ylmethanol and 3,4-dimethyl-2-(3-methylbutanoyl)benzoic acid were detected as the main intermediate compounds, which can be further biodegraded into small molecules. The overall results obtained in this study are of valuable significance for the understanding of the behavior of PHE in soil and associated environment. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All

  11. Biodegradation, Biosorption of Phenanthrene and Its Trans-Membrane Transport by Massilia sp. WF1 and Phanerochaete chrysosporium

    PubMed Central

    Gu, Haiping; Lou, Jun; Wang, Haizhen; Yang, Yu; Wu, Laosheng; Wu, Jianjun; Xu, Jianming

    2016-01-01

    Reducing phenanthrene (PHE) in the environment is critical to ecosystem and human health. Biodegradation, biosorption, and the trans-membrane transport mechanism of PHE by a novel strain, Massilia sp. WF1, and an extensively researched model fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium were investigated in aqueous solutions. Results showed that the PHE residual concentration decreased with incubation time and the data fitted well to a first-order kinetic equation, and the t1/2 of PHE degradation by WF1, spores, and mycelial pellets of P. chrysosporium were about 2 h, 87 days, and 87 days, respectively. The biosorbed PHE was higher in P. Chrysosporium than that in WF1, and it increased after microorganisms were inactivated and inhibited, especially in mycelial pellets. The detected intracellular auto-fluorescence of PHE by two-photon excitation microscopy also proved that PHE indeed entered into the cells. Based on regression, the intracellular (Kdin) and extracellular (Kdout) dissipation rate constants of PHE by WF1 were higher than those by spores and mycelial pellets. In addition, the transport rate constant of PHE from outside solution into cells (KinS/Vout) for WF1 were higher than the efflux rate constant of PHE from cells to outside solution (KoutS/Vin), while the opposite phenomena were observed for spores and mycelial pellets. The amount of PHE that transported from outside solution into cells was attributed to the rapid degradation and active PHE efflux in the cells of WF1 and P. Chrysosporium, respectively. Besides, the results under the inhibition treatments of 4°C, and the presence of sodium azide, colchicine, and cytochalasin B demonstrated that a passive trans-membrane transport mechanism was involved in PHE entering into the cells of WF1 and P. Chrysosporium. PMID:26858710

  12. Use of nutrient supplements to increase the microbial degradation of PAH in contaminated soils

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Carmichael, L.M.; Pfaender, F.K.

    1994-12-31

    The microbial degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) is often low in soils due to unavailability of PAH and/or to conditions in the soil that are not favorable to microbial activity. As a result, successful bioremediation of PAH contaminated soils may require the addition of supplements to impact PAH availability or soil conditions. This paper reports on the addition of supplements (Triton X-100, Inopol, nutrient buffer, an organic nutrient solution, salicylic acid) on the fate of (9-{sup 14}C) phenanthrene, a model PAH, in creosote contaminated soils. Phenanthrene metabolism was assessed using a mass balance approach that accounts for metabolism ofmore » phenanthrene to CO{sub 2}, relative metabolite production, and uptake of phenanthrene into cells. Most of the supplements did not drastically alter the fate of phenanthrene in the contaminated soils. Additions of Inopol, however, increased phenanthrene mineralization, while salicylic acid decreased phenanthrene mineralization but greatly increased the production of polar and water soluble metabolites. All supplements (excluding salicylic acid and the organic nutrient solution) increased populations of heterotrophic microorganisms, as measured by plate counts. Phenanthrene degrader populations, however, were only slightly increased by additions of the nutrient buffer, as measured by the Most Probable Number assay.« less

  13. Effect of aging of chemicals in soil on their biodegradability and extractability

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hatzinger, P.B.; Alexander, M.

    1995-11-01

    A study was conducted to determine whether the time that a compound remains in a soil affects its biodegradability and the ease of its extraction. Phenanthrene and 4-nitrophenol were aged in sterilized loam and muck, and bacteria able to degrade the compounds were then added to the soils. increasingly smaller amounts of phenanthrene in the muck and 4-nitrophenol in both soils were mineralized with increasing duration of aging. Aging also increased the resistance of phenanthrene to biodegradation in nutrient-amended aquifer sand. The rate of miner- alization of the two compounds in both soils declined with increasing periods of aging. Themore » amount of phenanthrene and 4-nitrophenol added to sterile soils that was recovered by butanol extraction declined with duration of aging, but subsequent Soxhlet extraction recovered phenanthrene from the loam but not the muck. The extents of mineralization of phenanthrene previously incubated for up to 27 days with soluble or insoluble organic matter from the muck were similar. Less aged than freshly added phenanthrene was biodegraded if aggregates in the muck were sonically disrupted. The data show that phenanthrene and 4-nitrophenol added to soil become increasingly more resistant with time to biodegradation and extraction.« less

  14. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons benzo[a]pyrene and phenanthrene inhibit intestinal lipase activity in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

    PubMed

    de Gelder, Stefan; Sæle, Øystein; de Veen, Bas T H; Vos, Joëlle; Flik, Gert; Berntssen, Marc H G; Klaren, Peter H M

    2017-08-01

    Elevated levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are detected in aquafeeds where fish oils are (partially) replaced by vegetable oils. The highly lipophilic PAHs solubilize readily in oil droplets and micelles in the intestinal lumen that can affect enzymatic lipid digestion by altering lipase activity. We therefore investigated the effect of two PAHs, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and phenanthrene (PHE), on bile salt-activated lipase (BAL) activity in desalted luminal extracts of the proximal intestine of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using the triacylglycerides rapeseed oil and fish oil as substrates. The hydrolysis of rapeseed oil and fish oil measured at a calculated substrate concentration of 2.2mM, increased linearly up to 30min at 15°C. Substrate dependency under initial velocity conditions was described by simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a K m value of 1.2mM for rapeseed and fish oil. Rapeseed oil hydrolysis was inhibited by 1nM BaP and 10nM PHE. The hydrolysis of fish oil was only inhibited by 10μM BaP. The in vitro lipase activity data were corroborated by TLC/HPLC analysis of the reaction products, showing that in the presence of BaP and PHE, 46-80% less free fatty acids (FFA) were hydrolysed from rapeseed and fish oil triacylglycerides. The presence of low concentrations of BaP and PHE decreased rapeseed oil hydrolysis by BAL whereas fish oil hydrolysis was not affected. The replacement of fish oil by rapeseed oil in aquafeeds introduces PAHs that could affect lipid digestion. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. Unimolecular reaction energies for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon ions.

    PubMed

    West, Brandi; Rodriguez Castillo, Sarah; Sit, Alicia; Mohamad, Sabria; Lowe, Bethany; Joblin, Christine; Bodi, Andras; Mayer, Paul M

    2018-03-07

    Imaging photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy was employed to explore the unimolecular dissociation of the ionized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) acenaphthylene, fluorene, cyclopenta[d,e,f]phenanthrene, pyrene, perylene, fluoranthene, dibenzo[a,e]pyrene, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, coronene and corannulene. The primary reaction is always hydrogen atom loss, with the smaller species also exhibiting loss of C 2 H 2 to varying extents. Combined with previous work on smaller PAH ions, trends in the reaction energies (E 0 ) for loss of H from sp 2 -C and sp 3 -C centres, along with hydrocarbon molecule loss were found as a function of the number of carbon atoms in the ionized PAHs ranging in size from naphthalene to coronene. In the case of molecules which possessed at least one sp 3 -C centre, the activation energy for the loss of an H atom from this site was 2.34 eV, with the exception of cyclopenta[d,e,f]phenanthrene (CPP) ions, for which the E 0 was 3.44 ± 0.86 eV due to steric constraints. The hydrogen loss from PAH cations and from their H-loss fragments exhibits two trends, depending on the number of unpaired electrons. For the loss of the first hydrogen atom, the energy is consistently ca. 4.40 eV, while the threshold to lose the second hydrogen atom is much lower at ca. 3.16 eV. The only exception was for the dibenzo[a,l]pyrene cation, which has a unique structure due to steric constraints, resulting in a low H loss reaction energy of 2.85 eV. If C 2 H 2 is lost directly from the precursor cation, the energy required for this dissociation is 4.16 eV. No other fragmentation channels were observed over a large enough sample set for trends to be extrapolated, though data on CH 3 and C 4 H 2 loss obtained in previous studies is included for completeness. The dissociation reactions were also studied by collision induced dissociation after ionization by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization. When modeled with a simple temperature-based theory for the

  16. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons In Edible Mushrooms from Niger Delta, Nigeria: Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Health Risk Assessment

    PubMed

    Igbiri, Sorbari; Udowelle, Nnaemeka Arinze; Ekhator, Osazuwa Clinton; Asomugha, Rose Ngozi; Igweze, Zelinjo Nkeiruka; Orisakwe, Orish Ebere

    2017-02-01

    In the oil-rich Niger Delta, hydrocarbon pollution and oil spillages, gas flaring and sundry anthropogenic activities constitute sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), with food contamination playing a major role in human exposure. In this study we assessed PAH levels in wild and cultivated edible mushroom species consumed by the general population from the oil producing Niger Delta, Nigeria. The concentrations of USEPA-16 PAHs were determined by gas chromatography and carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks were calculated. The concentrations of USEPA-16 PAHs ranged from 0.02 mg/kg – 3.37 mg/kg. The dietary intake of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic USEPA-16 PAHs (Naphthalene, Acenaphthylene, Acenaphthene, Anthracene, Phenanthrene, Flourene, Flouranthene, Pyrene, Benzo[a]Anthracene, Chrysene, Benzo[a]Pyrene, Benzo[b]Flouranthene, Benzo[K]Flouranthene, Benzo[g,h,i] Perylene, Dibenz[a,h]Anthracene and Ideno[1,2,3-cd]Pyrene) for adults, adolescents and seniors ranged from 0.00 – 0.05 mg/kg/day, 0.00 – 0.06 mg/kg/day and 0.00 – 0.07 mg/kg/day. The BaPeq ranged from 0.02 – 2.76 with margin of exposure MOE values of BaP ranging from 3,500,000 to 700,000, 3,500,000 and 3,500,000 to 7,000,000 for adults, adolescents and seniors indicating very insignificant health risk. The incremental lifetime cancer risk was within the safe range of 1.56x10-8 – 1.73x10-6 with the highest calculated risk found for wild Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom species from the study area. Creative Commons Attribution License

  17. Electro Optical Properties of Copolymer Blends: Lasing, Electroluminescence and Photophysics

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-04-15

    conjugated main chain structures with high photoluminescent and electroluminescent quantum yields. The structures incorporated fluorene containing moieties...The systems studied focused on novel conjugated main chain structures with high photoluminescent and electroluminescent quantum yields. The structures...the quantum efficient fluorine group. The properties of segmented copolymers that incorporate fluorenes were compared to the homo-PPV type systems

  18. Fire-Resistant Composites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kourtides, D. A.; Parker, J. A.

    1983-01-01

    Resin blend produces high-char-yield, low-smoke composites. Diglycidyl Ether of Bis-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-Fluorene is prepared by reacting epichlorohydrin and sodium hydroxide with 9,9-bis(hydroxyphenyl) fluorene. End of reaction determined by gas or liquid chromatography, mass spectroscopy or infrared techniques. Used to manufacture printed circuit boards and panels for buildings, ships and aircraft.

  19. Urinary hydroxy-metabolites of naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene as markers of exposure to diesel exhaust.

    PubMed

    Kuusimäki, Leea; Peltonen, Yrjö; Mutanen, Pertti; Peltonen, Kimmo; Savela, Kirsti

    2004-01-01

    The objective of this study was to assess the exposure of bus-garage and waste-collection workers to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) derived from diesel exhaust by the measurement of levels of seven urinary PAH metabolites: 2-naphthol, 1-hydroxyphenanthrene, 2-hydroxyphenanthrene, 3-hydroxyphenanthrene, 1+9-hydroxyphenanthrene, 4-hydroxyphenanthrene and 1-hydroxypyrene. One urine sample from each of 46 control persons, and one pre-shift and two post-shift spot urine samples from 32 exposed workers were obtained in winter and in summer. The metabolites were analysed after enzymatic hydrolysis by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The sum of seven PAH metabolites (mean 3.94 +/- 3.40 and 5.60 +/- 6.37 micromol/mol creatinine in winter and summer, respectively) was higher [P=0.01, degrees of freedom (df) =61.2 and P=0.01, df=67.6 in winter and summer, respectively] in the exposed group than in the control group (mean 3.18 +/- 3.99 and 3.03 +/- 2.01 micromol/mol creatinine in winter and summer, respectively). The mean concentrations of 2-naphthol among exposed and controls ranged between 3.34 and 4.85 micromol/mol creatinine and 2.51 and 2.58 micromol/mol creatinine, respectively (P<0.01 in winter, P<0.03 in summer). The mean level of the hydroxyphenanthrenes in the samples of exposed workers was between 0.40 and 0.70 micromol/mol creatinine and in the control samples 0.40-0.60 micromol/mol creatinine. The concentration of 1-hydroxypyrene was higher among exposed workers in both pre-shift and post-shift samples (mean 0.10-0.15 micromol/mol creatinine) than in control group (mean 0.05-0.06 micromol/mol creatinine) in winter (P=0.002, df=78) and in summer (P<0.001, df=68). The urinary hydroxy-metabolites of naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene showed low exposure to diesel-derived PAHs; however, it was higher in exposed workers than in control group. Urinary PAH monohydroxy-metabolites measured in this study did not

  20. Influence of processing in the prevalence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a Portuguese traditional meat product.

    PubMed

    Roseiro, L C; Gomes, A; Santos, C

    2011-06-01

    The concentration of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was determined in traditional dry/fermented sausage along distinct stages of processing under two different technological procedures (traditional and modified processes). The influence of product's position in the smoking room, on the variation of contaminants and in their migration dynamics from the outer into the inner part, was also followed up. Raw material mixtures presented expressive total PAH values, 106.17 μg kg(-1) in wet samples and 244.34 μg kg(-1) in dry mater (DM), expressing the frequent fire woods occurred in the regions pigs were extensively reared. Traditional processing produced a higher (p<0.01) total PAH levels comparatively to modified/industrial procedures, with mean values reaching 3237.10 and 1702.85 μg kg(-1) DM, respectively. Both, raw materials and final products, showed PAH profiles with light compounds representing about 99.0% of the total PAHs, mostly accounted by those having two rings (naphthalene-27.5%) or three rings (acenaphtene-16.9%; fluorene-27.1%; phenanthrene-19.5% and anthracene-3.9%). The benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) accumulated in traditional and modified processed products never surpassed the limit of 5 μg kg(-1) established by the EU legislation. PAHs in products hanged in bars closer to heating/smoking source speed up their transfer from the surface/outer portion to the inner part of the product. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Calcium Alginate-Caged Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Dispersive Microsolid Phase Extraction Combined With Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection for the Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Water Samples.

    PubMed

    Abboud, Ayad Sami; Sanagi, Mohd Marsin; Ibrahim, Wan Aini Wan; Keyon, Aemi S Abdul; Aboul-Enein, Hassan Y

    2018-02-01

    In this study, caged calcium alginate-caged multiwalled carbon nanotubes dispersive microsolid phase extraction was described for the first time for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from water samples prior to gas chromatographic analysis. Fluorene, phenanthrene and fluoranthene were selected as model compounds. The caged calcium alginate-caged multiwalled carbon nanotubes was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and thermal gravimetry analyses. The effective parameters namely desorption solvent, solvent volume, extraction time, desorption time, the mass of adsorbent and sample volume were optimized. Under the optimum extraction conditions, the developed method showed good linearity in the range of 0.5-50 ng mL-1 (R2 ≥ 0.996), low limits of detection and quantification (0.42-0.22 ng mL-1) (0.73-1.38 ng mL-1) respectively, good relative recoveries (71.2-104.2%) and reproducibility (RSD 1.8-12.4%, n = 3) for the studied PAHs in water sample. With high enrichment factor (1,000), short extraction time (<30 min), low amounts of adsorbent (100 mg) and low amounts of solvent (0.1 mol) have proven that the microsolid phase extraction method based on calcium alginate-caged multiwalled carbon nanotubes are environmentally friendly and convenient extraction method to use as an alternative adsorbent in the simultaneous preconcentration of PAHs from environmental water samples. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  2. Occupational PAH exposures during prescribed pile burns.

    PubMed

    Robinson, M S; Anthony, T R; Littau, S R; Herckes, P; Nelson, X; Poplin, G S; Burgess, J L

    2008-08-01

    Wildland firefighters are exposed to particulate matter and gases containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), many of which are known carcinogens. Our objective was to evaluate the extent of firefighter exposure to particulate and PAHs during prescribed pile burns of mainly ponderosa pine slash and determine whether these exposures were correlated with changes in urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-HP), a PAH metabolite. Personal and area sampling for particulate and PAH exposures were conducted on the White Mountain Apache Tribe reservation, working with 21 Bureau of Indian Affairs/Fort Apache Agency wildland firefighters during the fall of 2006. Urine samples were collected pre- and post-exposure and pulmonary function was measured. Personal PAH exposures were detectable for only 3 of 16 PAHs analyzed: naphthalene, phenanthrene, and fluorene, all of which were identified only in vapor-phase samples. Condensed-phase PAHs were detected in PM2.5 area samples (20 of 21 PAHs analyzed were detected, all but naphthalene) at concentrations below 1 microg m(-3). The total PAH/PM2.5 mass fractions were roughly a factor of two higher during smoldering (1.06 +/- 0.15) than ignition (0.55 +/- 0.04 microg mg(-1)). There were no significant changes in urinary 1-HP or pulmonary function following exposure to pile burning. In summary, PAH exposures were low in pile burns, and urinary testing for a PAH metabolite failed to show a significant difference between baseline and post-exposure measurements.

  3. Occupational PAH Exposures during Prescribed Pile Burns

    PubMed Central

    Robinson, M. S.; Anthony, T. R.; Littau, S. R.; Herckes, P.; Nelson, X.; Poplin, G. S.; Burgess, J. L.

    2008-01-01

    Wildland firefighters are exposed to particulate matter and gases containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), many of which are known carcinogens. Our objective was to evaluate the extent of firefighter exposure to particulate and PAHs during prescribed pile burns of mainly ponderosa pine slash and determine whether these exposures were correlated with changes in urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-HP), a PAH metabolite. Personal and area sampling for particulate and PAH exposures were conducted on the White Mountain Apache Tribe reservation, working with 21 Bureau of Indian Affairs/Fort Apache Agency wildland firefighters during the fall of 2006. Urine samples were collected pre- and post-exposure and pulmonary function was measured. Personal PAH exposures were detectable for only 3 of 16 PAHs analyzed: naphthalene, phenanthrene, and fluorene, all of which were identified only in vapor-phase samples. Condensed-phase PAHs were detected in PM2.5 area samples (20 of 21 PAHs analyzed were detected, all but naphthalene) at concentrations below 1 μg m−3. The total PAH/PM2.5 mass fractions were roughly a factor of two higher during smoldering (1.06 ± 0.15) than ignition (0.55 ± 0.04 μg mg−1). There were no significant changes in urinary 1-HP or pulmonary function following exposure to pile burning. In summary, PAH exposures were low in pile burns, and urinary testing for a PAH metabolite failed to show a significant difference between baseline and post-exposure measurements. PMID:18515848

  4. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the leaves of twelve plant species along an urbanization gradient in Shanghai, China.

    PubMed

    Liang, Jing; Fang, Hailan; Zhang, Taolin; Wang, Xingxiang

    2017-04-01

    Plants, particularly their leaves, play an important role in filtering both gas-phase and particle-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, many studies have focused on the accumulation and adsorption functions of plant leaves, possibly underestimating the effects that plants have on air quality. Therefore, eight tree species from different locations in Shanghai were selected to assess PAH filtering (via adsorption and capture) using washed and unwashed plant leaves. The differences in the total PAH contents in the washed leaves were constant for the different species across the different sampling sites. The PAH levels decreased in the following order: industrial areas > traffic areas > urban areas > background area. The PAH compositions in the different plant leaves were dominated by fluorene (Fle), phenanthrene (Phe), anthracene (Ant), chrysene (Chr), fluoranthene (Flu), and pyrene (Pyr); notably, Phe accounted for 49.4-76.7% of the total PAHs. By comparing the PAH contents in the washed leaves with the PAH contents in the unwashed leaves, Pittosporum tobira (P. tobira), Ginkgo biloba (G. biloba), and Platanus acerifolia (P. acerifolia) were found to be efficient species for adsorbing PAHs, while Osmanthus fragrans (O. fragrans), Magnolia grandiflora (M. grandiflora), and Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. (P. cerasifera Ehrh.) were efficient species for capturing PAHs. The efficiencies of the plant leaves for the removal of PAHs from air occurred in the order of low molecular weight > medium molecular weight > high molecular weight PAHs.

  5. Contribution of hydrophobic effect to the sorption of phenanthrene, 9-phenanthrol and 9, 10-phenanthrenequinone on carbon nanotubes.

    PubMed

    Peng, Hongbo; Zhang, Di; Pan, Bo; Peng, Jinhui

    2017-02-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), with diverse sources and acute toxicity, are categorized as priority pollutants. Previous studies have stated that the hydrophobic effect controls PAH sorption, but no study has been conducted to quantify the exact contribution of the hydrophobic effect. Considering the well-defined structure of carbon nanotubes and their stable chemical composition in organic solvents, three multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were selected as a model adsorbent. Phenanthrene (PHE) and its degradation intermediates 9-phenanthrol (PTR) and 9, 10-phenanthrenequinone (PQN) were used as model adsorbates. To quantify the contribution of the hydrophobic effect for these three chemicals, the effect of organic solvent (methanol and hexadecane) was investigated. Adsorption isotherms for PHE, PTR and PQN were well fitted by the Freundlich isotherm model. A positive relationship between adsorption affinities of these three chemicals and specific surface area (SSA) was observed in hexadecane but not in water or methanol. Other factors should be included other than SSA. Adsorption of PQN on MWCNTs with oxygen functional groups was higher than that on pristine MWCNTs due to π-π EDA interactions. The contribution of hydrophobic effect was 50%-85% for PHE, suggesting that hydrophobic effect was the predominant mechanism. This contribution was lower than 30% for PTR/PQN on functionalized MWCNTs. Hydrogen bonds control the adsorption of PTR, and π-π bonding interactions control PQN sorption after screening out the hydrophobic effect in hexadecane. Hydrophobic effect is the control mechanism for nonpolar chemicals, while functional groups of CNTs and solvent types control the adsorption of polar compounds. Extended work on quantifying the relationship between chemical structure and the contribution of the hydrophobic effect will provide a useful technique for PAH fate modeling. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. Sulfamic acid promoted one-pot synthesis of phenanthrene fused-dihydrodibenzo-quinolinones: Anticancer activity, tubulin polymerization inhibition and apoptosis inducing studies.

    PubMed

    Kumar, Niggula Praveen; Thatikonda, Sowjanya; Tokala, Ramya; Kumari, S Sujana; Lakshmi, Uppu Jaya; Godugu, Chandraiah; Shankaraiah, Nagula; Kamal, Ahmed

    2018-05-01

    A facile one-pot method for the synthesis of new phenanthrene fused-dihydrodibenzo-quinolinone derivatives has been successfully accomplished by employing sulfamic acid as catalyst. These new compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic potential against human lung (A549), prostate (PC-3 and DU145), breast (MCF-7) and colon (HT-29 and HCT-116) cancer cell lines. Among all the tested compounds, one of the derivatives 8p showed good anti-proliferative activity against A549 lung cancer cell line with an IC 50 of 3.17 ± 0.52 µM. Flow cytometric analyses revealed that compound 8p arrested both Sub G1 and G2/M phases of cell cycle in a dose dependent manner. The compound 8p also displayed significant inhibition of tubulin polymerization and disruption of microtubule network (IC 50 of 5.15 ± 0.15 µM). Molecular docking studies revealed that compound 8p efficiently interacted with critical amino acid Cys241 of the α/β-tubulin by a hydrogen bond (SH…O = 2.4 Å). Further, the effect of 8p on cell viability was also studied by AO/EB, DCFDA and DAPI staining. The apoptotic characteristic features revealed that 8p inhibited cell proliferation effectively through apoptosis by inducing the ROS generation. Analysis of mitochondrial membrane potential through JC-1 staining and annexin V binding assay indicated the extent of apoptosis in A549 cancer cells. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Mobile bacteria and transport of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in porous media.

    PubMed Central

    Jenkins, M B; Lion, L W

    1993-01-01

    Sorption of hydrophobic pollutants such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to soil and aquifer materials can severely retard their mobility and the time course of their removal. Because mobile colloids may enhance the mobility of hydrophobic pollutants in porous media and indigenous bacteria are generally colloidal in size, bacterial isolates from soil and subsurface environments were tested for their ability to enhance the transport of phenanthrene, a model PAH, in aquifer sand. Batch isotherm experiments were performed to measure the ability of selected bacteria, including 14 isolates from a manufactured gas plant waste site, to sorb 14C-phenanthrene and to determine whether the presence of the suspended cells would reduce the distribution coefficient (Kd) for phenanthrene with the sand. Column experiments were then used to test the mobility of isolates that reduced the Kd for phenanthrene and to test the most mobile isolate for its ability to enhance the transport of phenanthrene. All of the isolates tested passively sorbed phenanthrene, and most but not all of the isolates reduced the Kd for phenanthrene. Some, but not all, of those isolates were mobile in column experiments. The most mobile isolate significantly enhanced the transport of phenanthrene in aquifer sand, reducing its retardation coefficient by 25% at a cell concentration of approximately 5 x 10(7) ml-1. The experimental results demonstrated that mobile bacteria may enhance the transport of PAHs in the subsurface. PMID:8250555

  8. Dissipation of phenanthrene and pyrene at the aerobic-anaerobic soil interface: differentiation induced by the rhizosphere of PAH-tolerant and PAH-sensitive rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars.

    PubMed

    He, Yan; Xia, Wen; Li, Xinfeng; Lin, Jiajiang; Wu, Jianjun; Xu, Jianming

    2015-03-01

    A pot experiment was conducted to reveal the removal of two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (phenanthrene, PHE, and pyrene, PYR) during rice cultivation in a paddy field. The rhizosphere effect on facilitating dissipation of PAHs varied simultaneously as a function of soil properties, PAH types, cultivation time, and genotypes within rice cultivars, with differences performed for PYR but not PHE. Changes in soil PLFA profiles evidenced that the growth of rice roots modified the dominant species within rhizosphere microbial communities and induced a selective enrichment of Gram-negative aerobic bacteria capable of degrading, thereby resulting in the differentiated dissipation of PYR. While the insignificant differences in PHE dissipation might be attributed to its higher solubility and availability under flooded condition that concealed the differences in improvement of bioavailability for microorganisms between rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere, and between both soils and both rice cultivars. Our findings illustrate that the removal of PAHs in paddy soils was more complex relative to those in dryland soils. This was possibly due to the specialty of rice roots for oxygen secretion that provides development of redox heterogeneous microbial habitats at root-soil interface under flooded condition.

  9. 40 CFR 464.11 - Specialized definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    .... tetrachloroethylene 87. trichloroethylene (2) Die Casting (§ 464.15(c) and § 464.16(c)): 1. acenaphthene 4. benzene 7... (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 84. pyrene 85. tetrachloroethylene 87. trichloroethylene (5) Melting Furnace.... pyrene 85. tetrachloroethylene 87. trichloroethylene ...

  10. Reduced biodegradability of desorption-resistant fractions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil and aquifer solids

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    White, J.C.; Alexander, M.

    1996-11-01

    Less of the desorption-resistant fractions of phenanthrene and naphthalene than freshly added phenanthrene and naphthalene was mineralized in columns of aquifer solids, loam, or muck. Slurrying columns of hydrocarbon-amended aquifer solids, loam, or muck enhanced the rate and extent of mineralization of desorption-resistant phenanthrene and naphthalene, but degradation was still less than in slurries amended with fresh compound. A substantial portion of the desorption-resistant compound remained undergraded in the slurry. A surfactant and methanol increased the mineralization of resistant phenanthrene in slurries of loam. A mixed culture of microorganisms enriched on desorption-resistant phenanthrene degraded twice as much of this fractionmore » of compound as a pseudomonad. The authors suggest that predictions of the environment fate of toxic chemicals require information on the biodegradability of the fraction of a compound that is resistant to desorption.« less

  11. Accumulation of phenanthrene by roots of intact wheat (Triticum acstivnm L.) seedlings: passive or active uptake?

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Background Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of particular concern due to their hydrophobic, recalcitrant, persistent, potentially carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic properties, and their ubiquitous occurrence in the environment. Most of the PAHs in the environment are present in surface soil. Plants grown in PAH-contaminated soils or water can become contaminated with PAHs because of their uptake. Therefore, they may threaten human and animal health. However, the mechanism for PAHs uptake by crop roots is little understood. It is important to understand exactly how PAHs are transported into the plant root system and into the human food chain, since it is beneficial in governing crop contamination by PAHs, remedying soils or waters polluted by PAHs with plants, and modeling potential uptake for risk assessment. Results The possibility that plant roots may take up phenanthrene (PHE), a representative of PAHs, via active process was investigated using intact wheat (Triticum acstivnm L.) seedlings in a series of hydroponic experiments. The time course for PHE uptake into wheat roots grown in Hoagland solution containing 5.62 μM PHE for 36 h could be separated into two periods: a fast uptake process during the initial 2 h and a slow uptake component thereafter. Concentration-dependent PHE uptake was characterized by a smooth, saturable curve with an apparent Km of 23.7 μM and a Vmax of 208 nmol g-1 fresh weight h-1, suggesting a carrier-mediated uptake system. Competition between PHE and naphthalene for their uptake by the roots further supported the carrier-mediated uptake system. Low temperature and 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) could inhibit PHE uptake equally, indicating that metabolism plays a role in PHE uptake. The inhibitions by low temperature and DNP were strengthened with increasing concentration of PHE in external solution within PHE water solubility (7.3 μM). The contribution of active uptake to total absorption was almost 40% within PHE water

  12. Self-assembly behavior of poly(fluorenyl styrene)-block-poly(2-vinyl pyridine) and their blends with single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mezzenga, Raffaele; Li, Chaoxu; Hsu, Jung-Ching; Chen, Wen-Chang; Sugiyama, Kenji; Hirao, Akira

    2010-03-01

    We describe a supramolecular strategy to disperse carbon nanotubes in block copolymer matrices. To achieve the desired functions and morphologies, comb-type architectures in which one and two fluorene units attached on the styrene ring of polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinyl pyridine) were studied. Depending on the pendant fluorene units, the block ratio, the casting solvent and thermal annealing history, multiple morphologies were found. The phase diagram, compared to PS-b-P2VP, was interpreted in terms of the conformational asymmetry arising from grafting of fluorene units of variable lengths. Hydrogen bonds between COOH-SWCNT and P2VP favor miscibility of SWCNT within P2VP domains and the blending of these two components is reflected both on the final morphologies and on the electron conductivity of the blends.

  13. Concentrations of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and inorganic constituents in ambient surface soils, Chicago, Illinois, 2001-02

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Kay, Robert T.; Arnold, Terri L.; Cannon, William F.; Graham, David; Morton, Eric; Bienert, Raymond

    2003-01-01

    Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds are ubiquitous in ambient surface soils in the city of Chicago, Illinois. PAH concentrations in samples collected in June 2001 and January 2002 were typically in the following order from highest to lowest: fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, phenanthrene, benzo(a)pyrene, chrysene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, and anthracene. Naphthalene, acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, and fluorene were consistently at the lowest concentrations in each sample. Concentrations of the PAH compounds showed variable correlation. Concentrations of PAH compounds with higher molecular weights typically show a higher degree of correlation with other PAH compounds of higher molecular weight, whereas PAH compounds with lower molecular weights tended to show a lower degree of correlation with all other PAH compounds. These differences indicate that high and low molecular-weight PAHs behave differentl y once released into the environment. Concentrations of individual PAH compounds in soils typically varied by at least three orders of magnitude across the city and varied by more than an order of magnitude over a distance of about 1,000 feet. Concentrations of a given PAH in ambient surface soils are affected by a variety of site-specific factors, and may be affected by proximity to industrial areas. Concentrations of a given PAH in ambient surface soils did not appear to be affected the organic carbon content of the soil, proximity to non-industrial land use, or proximity to a roadway. The concentration of the different PAH compounds in ambient surface soils appears to be affected by the propensity for the PAH compound to be in the vapor or particulate phase in the atmosphere. Lower molecular-weight PAH compounds, which are primarily in the vapor phase in the atmosphere, were detected in lower concentrations in the surface soils. Higher molecular-weight PAH

  14. Effects of biochars on the bioaccessibility of phenanthrene/pyrene/zinc/lead and microbial community structure in a soil under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

    PubMed

    Ni, Ni; Shi, Renyong; Liu, Zongtang; Bian, Yongrong; Wang, Fang; Song, Yang; Jiang, Xin

    2018-01-01

    The immobilization of co-contaminants of organic and inorganic pollutants by biochar is an efficient remediation strategy. However, the effect of biochar amendments on the bioaccessibility of the co-contaminants in dry versus flooded soils has rarely been compared. In batch experiments, bamboo-derived biochar (BB) had a higher sorption capacity for phenanthrene (Phe)/pyrene (Pyr)/zinc (Zn) than corn straw-derived biochar (CB), while CB had a higher sorption capacity for lead (Pb) than BB. After 150days of incubation, the amendments of 2% CB, 0.5% BB and 2% BB effectively suppressed the dissipation and reduced the bioaccessibility of Phe/Pyr by 15.65%/18.02%, 17.07%/18.31% and 25.43%/27.11%, respectively, in the aerobic soils. This effectiveness was more significant than that in the anaerobic soils. The accessible Zn/Pb concentrations were also significantly lower in the aerobic soils than in the anaerobic soils, regardless of treatments. The Gram-negative bacterial biomass and the Shannon-Weaver index in the aerobic soil amended with 2% CB were the highest. The soil microbial community structure was jointly affected by changes in the bioaccessibility of the co-contaminants and the soil physiochemical properties caused by biochar amendments under the two conditions. Therefore, dry land farming may be more reliable than paddy soil cultivation at reducing the bioaccessibility of Phe/Pyr/Zn/Pb and enhancing the soil microbial diversity in the short term. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  15. Usefulness of oxidative stress biomarkers evaluated in the snout scraping, serum and Peripheral Blood Cells of Crocodylus moreletii from Southeast Campeche for assessment of the toxic impact of PAHs, metals and total phenols.

    PubMed

    Dzul-Caamal, Ricardo; Hernández-López, Abigail; Gonzalez-Jáuregui, Mauricio; Padilla, Sergio E; Girón-Pérez, Manuel Ivan; Vega-López, Armando

    2016-10-01

    In this study, we assessed the effects of inorganic and organic pollutants [As, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, PAHs (11 compounds) and total phenols] from a panel of biomarkers [O2, H2O2, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), carbonyl proteins (RCO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total cytochrome P450 activities] evaluated in the Snout Scraping (SS), Serum (S) and Peripheral Blood Cells (PBC) of the Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) inhabiting the reference locality (Lake Mocu) and polluted locality (Champoton River) using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). In male crocodiles from the reference site, only H2O2 in PBC was related to levels of fluoranthene on the Keel of Caudal Scales (KCS), but, in females, no association was detected. In contrast, a sex-linked response was detected in specimens from the polluted locality. Levels of benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, pyrene, phenanthrene, acenaphthene, Zn, Cu, and Pb in KCS of the female crocodil were related to the oxidative stress biomarkers on PBC, incluing the total CYP450 activity and levels of O2, H2O2 in serum. However, in male crocodiles, the oxidative stress in SS and in the serum (TBARS, RCO, CAT, GPx), and SOD in PBC was related to As, Pb, Cu, Fe, and benzo[a]pyrene water concentrations and to the burdens of As, Fe, Mn, indeno[1,2,3cd]pyrene in KCS. These results confirm the usefulness of minimal or non-invasive methods of evaluating the oxidative stress response for the environmental monitoring program on the wild Morelet's crocodile that is subject to special protection in Mexican guidelines. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Trends in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in the Great Lakes atmosphere

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ping Sun; Pierrette Blanchard; Kenneth A. Brice

    2006-10-15

    Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) concentrations were measured in both the vapor and particle phases at seven sites near the Great Lakes as a part of the Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network. Lower molecular weight PAHs, including fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthrene, and pyrene, were dominant in the vapor phase, and higher molecular weight PAHs, including chrysene, benzo(a)pyrene, and coronene, were dominant in the particle phase. The highest PAH concentrations in both the vapor and particle phases were observed in Chicago followed by the semiurban site at Sturgeon Point, NY. The major sources of PAHs in and around Chicago are vehicle emissions, coalmore » and natural gas combustion, and coke production. The spatial difference of PAH concentrations can be explained by the local population density. Long-term decreasing trends of most PAH concentrations were observed in both the vapor and particle phases at Chicago, with half-lives ranging from 3-10 years in the vapor phase and 5-15 years in the particle phase. At Eagle Harbor, Sleeping Bear Dunes, and Sturgeon Point, total PAH concentrations in the vapor phase showed significant, but slow, long-term decreasing trends. At the Sturgeon Point site, which was impacted by a nearby city, particle-phase PAH concentrations also declined. However, most particle-phase PAH concentrations did not show significant long-term decreasing trends at the remote sites. Seasonal trends were also observed for particle-phase PAH concentrations, which were higher in the winter and lower in the summer. 36 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.« less

  17. Could saponins be used to enhance bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aged-contaminated soils?

    PubMed

    Davin, Marie; Starren, Amandine; Deleu, Magali; Lognay, Georges; Colinet, Gilles; Fauconnier, Marie-Laure

    2018-03-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are persistent organic compounds of major concern that tend to accumulate in the environment, threatening ecosystems and health. Brownfields represent an important tank for PAHs and require remediation. Researches to develop bioremediation and phytoremediation techniques are being conducted as alternatives to environmentally aggressive, expensive and often disruptive soil remediation strategies. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the potential of saponins (natural surfactants) as extracting agents and as bioremediation enhancers on an aged-contaminated soil. Two experiments were conducted on a brownfield soil containing 15 PAHs. In a first experiment, soil samples were extracted with saponins solutions (0; 1; 2; 4 and 8 g.L -1 ). In a second experiment conducted in microcosms (28 °C), soil samples were incubated for 14 or 28 days in presence of saponins (0; 2.5 and 5 mg g -1 ). CO 2 emissions were monitored throughout the experiment. After the incubation, dehydrogenase activity was measured as an indicator of microbiological activity and residual PAHs were determined. In both experiments PAHs were determined using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Fluorimetric Detection. The 4 g.L -1 saponins solution extracted significantly more acenaphtene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, and pyrene than water. PAHs remediation was not enhanced in presence of saponins compared to control samples after 28 days. However CO 2 emissions and dehydrogenase activities were significantly more important in presence of saponins, suggesting no toxic effect of these surfactants towards soil microbiota. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. Analysis of a PAH-degrading bacterial population in subsurface sediments on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shao, Zongze; Cui, Zhisong; Dong, Chunming; Lai, Qiliang; Chen, Liang

    2010-05-01

    Little is known about the types and concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) existing in the deep-sea subsurface environment, which is believed to be cold, oligothrophic and of high static pressure. PAHs in the upper layers of the water column are unavoidably subjected to degradation while they are deposited to the sea floor and become embedded in the deep-sea sediment. In this report, a high concentration of PAHs was discovered in the sediment 2.7 m beneath the bottom surface at a water depth of 3962 m on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). The total concentration of PAHs was 445 ng (g dry wt sediment) -1. Among the seven detected PAHs, the concentrations of phenanthrene (222 ng g -1) and fluorene (79 ng g -1) were relatively high. In addition, PAH-degrading bacteria were found within the sediments. As in a previously detected site on the MAR, in the PAH-enriched region of this site, a bacterium of the genus Cycloclasticus was found to be the predominant isolate detected by PCR-DGGE analysis. In addition, bacteria of the Halomonas, Marinobacter, Alcanivorax, Thalassospira and Maricaulis genera, were also included in the PAH-degrading community. In summary, a high concentration of PAHs was detected in the subsurface of the deep-sea sediment, and once again, the Cycloclasticus bacterium was confirmed to be a ubiquitous marine PAH degrader even in the subsurface marine environment. Considering the abundance of PAHs therein, biodegradation is thus thought to be inactive, probably because of the low temperature, limited oxygen and/or limited nutrients.

  19. Cyclodextrin-functionalized mesostructured silica nanoparticles for removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

    PubMed

    Topuz, Fuat; Uyar, Tamer

    2017-07-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the byproducts of the incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels, and have high affinity towards DNA strands, ultimately exerting their carcinogenic effects. They are ubiquitousenvironmental contaminants,and can accumulate on tissues due to their lipophilic nature. In this article, we describe a novel concept for PAH removal from aqueous solutions using cyclodextrin-functionalized mesostructured silica nanoparticles (CDMSNs) and pristine mesostructured silica nanoparticles (MSNs). The adsorption applications of MSNs are greatly restricted due to the absence of surface functional groups on such particles. In this regard, cyclodextrins can serve as ideal functional molecules with their toroidal, cone-type structure, capable of inclusion-complex formation with many hydrophobic molecules, including genotoxic PAHs. The CDMSNs were synthesized by the surfactant-templated, NaOH-catalyzed condensation reactions of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in the presence of two different types of cyclodextrin (i.e. hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) and native β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)). The physical incorporation of CD moieties was supported by XPS, FT-IR, NMR, TGA and solid-state 13 C NMR. The CDMSNs were treated with aqueous solutions of five different PAHs (e.g. pyrene, anthracene, phenanthrene, fluorene and fluoranthene). The functionalization of MSNs with cyclodextrin moieties significantly boosted the sorption capacity (q) of the MSNs up to ∼2-fold, and the q ranged between 0.3 and 1.65mg per gram CDMSNs, of which the performance was comparable to that of the activated carbon. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. Development of a short path thermal desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in indoor air.

    PubMed

    Li, Yingjie; Xian, Qiming; Li, Li

    2017-05-12

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are present in petroleum based products and are combustion by-products of organic matters. Determination of levels of PAHs in the indoor environment is important for assessing human exposure to these chemicals. A new short path thermal desorption (SPTD) gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method for determining levels of PAHs in indoor air was developed. Thermal desorption (TD) tubes packed with glass beads, Carbopack C, and Carbopack B in sequence, were used for sample collection. Indoor air was sampled using a small portable pump over 7 days at 100ml/min. Target PAHs were thermally released and introduced into the GC/MS for analysis through the SPTD unit. During tube desorption, PAHs were cold trapped (-20°C) at the front end of the GC column. Thermal desorption efficiencies were 100% for PAHs with 2 and 3 rings, and 99-97% for PAHs with 4-6 rings. Relative standard deviation (RSD) values among replicate samples spiked at three different levels were around 10-20%. The detection limit of this method was at or below 0.1μg/m 3 except for naphthalene (0.61μg/m 3 ), fluorene (0.28μg/m 3 ) and phenanthrene (0.35μg/m 3 ). This method was applied to measure PAHs in indoor air in nine residential homes. The levels of PAHs in indoor air found in these nine homes are similar to indoor air values reported by others. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Comparison of PAHs uptake by selected Monocotyledones and Dicotyledones from municipal and industrial sewage sludge.

    PubMed

    Gworek, Barbara; Klimczak, Katarzyna; Kijeńska, Marta; Gozdowski, Dariusz

    2016-10-01

    The study was focused on two goals: (i) the confirmation of the existence of a general relation between the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sewage sludge and in plants growing in it, regardless of the type and content of sewage sludge, and (ii) if so, the answer to the question whether the uptake of PAHs by plants depends on their type. To realize the set aims, the contents of PAHs in four differentiated plant species were measured, two belonging to the Monocotyledones and two belonging to Dicotyledones group, growing in municipal and industrial sewage sludge in two locations. All the investigations were carried out during the period of 3 years. The results clearly demonstrated that the uptake of PAHs by a plant depended on polyaromatic hydrocarbon concentration in the sewage sludge. The relation between accumulation coefficient of PAHs in plant material vs. the content of PAH in sewage sludge was of exponential character. The results indicate that in case of four- and five-ring PAHs, the root uptake mechanism from soil solution occurs, regardless of the type and origin of sewage sludge and the type of plant. For three-ring PAHs, we can assume for Monocotyledones that the root uptake mechanism occurs because we observe a significant correlation between the content of fluorene, phenanthrene, and anthracene in plant material and in the sewage sludge. For Dicotyledones, the correlation is insignificant, and in this case probably two mechanisms occur-the uptake by roots and by leaves.

  2. A comparative study to evaluate natural attenuation, mycoaugmentation, phytoremediation, and microbial-assisted phytoremediation strategies for the bioremediation of an aged PAH-polluted soil.

    PubMed

    García-Sánchez, Mercedes; Košnář, Zdeněk; Mercl, Filip; Aranda, Elisabet; Tlustoš, Pavel

    2018-01-01

    Biological treatments are considered an environmentally option to clean-up polluted soil with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). A pot experiment was conducted to comparatively evaluate four different strategies, including natural attenuation (NA), mycoaugmentation (M) by using Crucibulum leave, phytoremediation (P) using maize plants, and microbial-assisted phytoremediation (MAP) for the bioremediation of an aged PAH-polluted soil at 180 days. The P treatment had higher affinity degrading 2-3 and 4 ring compounds than NA and M treatments, respectively. However, M and P treatments were more efficient in regards to naphthalene, indeno[l,2,3-c,d]pyrene and benzo[g,h,i]perylene degradation respect to NA. However, 4, 5-6 rings undergo a strong decline during the microbe-assisted phytoremediation, being the treatment which determined the highest rates of PAHs degradation. Sixteen PAH compounds, except fluorene and dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, were found in maize roots, whereas the naphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, and pyrene were accumulated in the shoots, in both P and MAP treatments. However, higher PAH content in maize biomass was achieved during the MAP treatment respect to P treatment. The bioconversion and translocation factors were less than 1, indicating that phystabilization/phytodegradation processes occurred rather than phytoextraction. The microbial biomass, activity and ergosterol content were significantly boosted in the MAP treatment respect to the other treatments at 180 days. Ours results demonstrated that maize-C. laeve association was the most profitable technique for the treatment of an aged PAH-polluted soil when compared to other bioremediation approaches. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. Ultra-Deep Adsorptive Desulfurization of Light-Irradiated Diesel Fuel over Supported TiO 2-CeO 2 Adsorbents

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Xiao, Jing; Wang, Xiaoxing; Chen, Yongsheng

    2014-02-13

    This study investigates ultra-deep adsorptive desulfurization (ADS) from light-irradiated diesel fuel over supported TiO 2–CeO 2 adsorbents. A 30-fold higher desulfurization capacity of 95 mL of fuel per gram of adsorbent (mL-F/g-sorb) or 1.143 mg of sulfur per gram of adsorbent (mg-S/g-sorb) was achieved from light-irradiated fuel over the original low-sulfur fuel containing about 15 ppm by weight (ppmw) of sulfur. The sulfur species on spent TiO 2–CeO 2/MCM-48 adsorbent was identified by sulfur K-edge XANES as sulfones and the adsorption selectivity to different compounds tested in a model fuel decreases in the order of indole > dibenzothiophenesulfone → dibenzothiophenemore » > 4-methyldibenzothiophene > benzothiophene > 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene > phenanthrene > 2-methylnaphthalene ~ fluorene > naphthalene. The results suggest that during ADS of light-irradiated fuel, the original sulfur species were chemically transformed to sulfones, resulting in the significant increase in desulfurization capacity. For different supports for TiO2–CeO2 oxides, the ADS capacity increases with a decrease in the point of zero charge (PZC) value; for silica-supported TiO 2–CeO 2 oxides (the lowest PZC value of 2–4) with different surface areas, the ADS capacity increases monotonically with increasing surface area. The supported TiO 2–CeO 2/MCM-48 adsorbent can be regenerated using oxidative air treatment. The present study provides an attractive new path to achieve ultraclean fuel more effectively.« less

  4. Anaerobic biodegradation of PAHs in mangrove sediment with amendment of NaHCO3.

    PubMed

    Li, Chun-Hua; Wong, Yuk-Shan; Wang, Hong-Yuan; Tam, Nora Fung-Yee

    2015-04-01

    Mangrove sediment is unique in chemical and biological properties. Many of them suffer polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination. However, the study on PAH biological remediation for mangrove sediment is deficient. Enriched PAH-degrading microbial consortium and electron acceptor amendment are considered as two effective measures. Compared to other electron acceptors, the study on CO2, which is used by methanogens, is still seldom. This study investigated the effect of NaHCO3 amendment on the anaerobic biodegradation of four mixed PAHs, namely fluorene (Fl), phenanthrene (Phe), fluoranthene (Flua) and pyrene (Pyr), with or without enriched PAH-degrading microbial consortium in mangrove sediment slurry. The trends of various parameters, including PAH concentrations, microbial population size, electron-transport system activities, electron acceptor and anaerobic gas production were monitored. The results revealed that the inoculation of enriched PAH-degrading consortium had a significant effect with half lives shortened by 7-13 days for 3-ring PAHs and 11-24 days for 4-ring PAHs. While NaHCO3 amendment did not have a significant effect on the biodegradation of PAHs and other parameters, except that CO2 gas in the headspace of experimental flasks was increased. One of the possible reasons is that mangrove sediment contains high concentrations of other electron acceptors which are easier to be utilized by anaerobic bacteria, the other one is that the anaerobes in mangrove sediment can produce enough CO2 gas even without adding NaHCO3. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  5. Towards field detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in environment water using a self-assembled SERS sensor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yan, Xia; Shi, Xiaofeng; Yang, Jie; Zhang, Xu; Jia, Wenjie; Ma, Jun

    2017-10-01

    A self-assembled surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor is reported in this paper. To achieve high sensitivity, a high sensitive SERS substrate and a high efficient self-constructed light path were made. The SERS substrate was composed by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, pH=13), glycidyl methacrylate-ethylene dimethacrylate (GMA-EDMA) porous material and syringe filter. The substrate had a good repeatability, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the same substrate was less than 5%. The efficiency of the self-constructed light path is about two times better than RPB Y type reflection fiber when the energy density was roughly equal on samples. The size of the SERS sensor is 350×300×180 mm and the weight is 15 kg. Its miniaturization and portable can comply with the requirements of field detection. Besides, it has good sensitivity, stability and selectivity. For lab experiments, strong enhancements of Raman scattering from organic pollutant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) molecules were exhibited. The dependences of SERS intensities on concentrations of PAHs were investigated, and the results indicated that they revealed a satisfactory linear relationship in low concentrations. The limits of detection (LODs) of PAHs phenanthrene and fluorene are 8.3×10-10 mol/L and 7.1×10-10 mol/L respectively [signal to noise ratio (S/N) =3]. Based on this SERS sensor, signals of benzo (a) pyrene and pyrene were found in environmental water and the sensor would be an ideal candidate for field detection of PAHs.

  6. Mass transfer of hydrophobic organic chemicals between silicone sheets and through plant leaves and low-density polyethylene.

    PubMed

    Ahmadi, Hamid; Bolinius, Damien Johann; Jahnke, Annika; MacLeod, Matthew

    2016-12-01

    Plant leaves play an important role in the fate of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) in the environment. Yet much remains unknown about the permeability of leaves by HOCs. In this pilot study we measured (i) the kinetics of mass transfer of three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and six polychlorinated biphenyls between a spiked and an unspiked sheet of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in direct contact with each other for 24 h and (ii) kinetics of mass transfer of two PAHs through leaves and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) in a passive dosing experiment by inserting these matrices between the two sheets of PDMS for 48 h. The kinetics of mass transfer of fluoranthene between PDMS sheets in direct contact were a factor of 12 slower than those reported in the literature. The kinetics of mass transfer of fluorene and phenanthrene through leaves were within the range of those previously reported for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid through isolated cuticles. Our results provide a proof-of-concept demonstration that the passive dosing method applied in this study can be used to measure the mass transfer coefficients of organic chemicals through leaves. Key recommendations for future experiments are to load the PDMS at the highest feasible concentrations to avoid working at analyte levels close to the limit of detection, to keep the leaves moist and to minimize potential pathways for contamination of the PDMS sheets by exposure to laboratory air. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  7. CHEMISTRY OF OXIDATION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS BY SOIL PSEUDOMONADS

    PubMed Central

    Rogoff, Martin H.

    1962-01-01

    Rogoff, Martin H. (U.S. Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, Pa.). Oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by soil pseudomonads. J. Bacteriol. 83:998–1004. 1962.—Substitution of phenanthrene by a methyl group at the 9-carbon blocks oxidation of the compound by a resting-cell suspension of a phenanthrene-grown soil pseudomonad. When 2-methylphenanthrene is provided, the oxidation rate is considerably higher; 3-methylphenanthrene is oxidized at a rate intermediate between the other two, even though the methyl group is attached to a carbon directly involved in ring splitting. Cells grown on naphthalene or anthracene oxidize phenanthrene at a much lower rate than cells grown with phenanthrene or 2-methylnaphthalene as the source of carbon. Naphthalene-grown cells also absorb less phenanthrene from aqueous solution than do their phenanthrene-grown counterparts. The data are in keeping with the hypothesis that polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons attach to the relevant bacterial enzymes at carbon-carbon bonds of high electron density (K regions; localized double bonds), and that the ring-splitting reactions then occur at other bonds on the substrate molecule. The actual bond that undergoes fission is determined by the electronic and steric configurations of the enzyme-substrate complex. When linearly arranged aromatic compounds such as naphthalene or anthracene are attacked, attachment to an enzyme and ring splitting may take place on the same ring; angular aromatic compounds such as phenanthrene afford attachment to an enzyme at a bond in a ring other than the one containing the ring-splitting site. PMID:14493381

  8. Unexpected DNA affinity and sequence selectivity through core rigidity in guanidinium-based minor groove binders.

    PubMed

    Nagle, Padraic S; McKeever, Caitriona; Rodriguez, Fernando; Nguyen, Binh; Wilson, W David; Rozas, Isabel

    2014-09-25

    In this paper we report the design and biophysical evaluation of novel rigid-core symmetric and asymmetric dicationic DNA binders containing 9H-fluorene and 9,10-dihydroanthracene cores as well as the synthesis of one of these fluorene derivatives. First, the affinity toward particular DNA sequences of these compounds and flexible core derivatives was evaluated by means of surface plasmon resonance and thermal denaturation experiments finding that the position of the cations significantly influence the binding strength. Then their affinity and mode of binding were further studied by performing circular dichroism and UV studies and the results obtained were rationalized by means of DFT calculations. We found that the fluorene derivatives prepared have the ability to bind to the minor groove of certain DNA sequences and intercalate to others, whereas the dihydroanthracene compounds bind via intercalation to all the DNA sequences studied here.

  9. Comparison of phenanthrene removal by Aspergillus niger ATC 16404 (filamentous fungi) and Pseudomonas putida KT2442 (bacteria) in enriched nutrient-liquid medium

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hamzah, N.; Kamil, N. A. F. M.; Singhal, N.; Padhye, L.; Swift, S.

    2018-04-01

    Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) is one of the persistent and carcinogenic pollutants that needs to be eliminated from the environment. The study on degradation of PAHs by bacteria is thoroughly discussed in literature. Many strains of bacteria were chosen in order to eliminate the PAHs compound in the environment. However, there are less study on the filamentous fungi although fungi appears to be an abundant population and as dominant group in PAHs contaminated soil habitats [1], [2]. This study was conducted to determine and compare the Phenanthrene (PHE) removal by fungi and bacteria in excessive nutrient-liquid culture. Then, the survival for both strains was investigated in the presence of PHE and finally, the analysis on the fungi-PHE interaction was carried out. In condition of excessive nutrient, the removal of PHE was evaluated for fungi and bacteria in batch experiment for 5 days. PHE removal for A.niger and P.putida were found to be 97% and 20% respectively after 5 days. The presence of PHE was negatively inhibits the grow of the bacteria and the fungus. The PHE uptake mechanism for A.niger was observed to be a passive transport mechanism with 45 μg per g fungus dry weight within 24 hr of incubation. As a conclusion, filamentous fungi have the potent role in the removal of PHE as well as bacteria but depending on the strains and the condition of the environment. Fungi is known to co-metabolize the PHE meanwhile, PHE can be used as sole carbon for bacteria. This preliminary result is significant in understanding the bacteria-fungi-PHE interaction to enhance the degradation of PAHs for co-culture study in the future.

  10. Human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using data from a duplicate diet study in Catalonia, Spain.

    PubMed

    Martorell, Isabel; Nieto, Antonio; Nadal, Martí; Perelló, Gemma; Marcé, Rosa M; Domingo, José L

    2012-11-01

    In this study, the dietary intake of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by the population of Tarragona County (Catalonia, Spain) was assessed using the duplicate diet approach. Duplicate diet samples, prepared as per consumption, were collected during September 2010 in various restaurants offering a variety of daily menus (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). For analysis of PAHs, a total of 90 composite samples were prepared. Analytical procedure of PAHs was performed by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Intake calculations were made for the standard male adult population. The highest intakes corresponded to acenaphthylene (12.7 μg/day), acenaphthene (12.4 μg/day), and fluorene (11.9 μg/day), while the lowest intake corresponded to dibenz[a,h]anthracene (0.12 μg/day), being also comparatively low those of pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene+benzo[j]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[ghi]perylene (0.13 μg/day in all cases). The results were compared with data from previous total diet studies (TDS) recently performed in the same geographical area. In the present study, the estimated mean dietary intake for a standard male adult living in Catalonia was 59.2 μg/day, a value notably higher than that found in our recent TDS (6.72 μg/day). However, it is essential to remark that important methodological differences exist between both surveys, reflecting that calculation methods should be similar when the purpose is to compare results from different surveys. In general terms, we conclude that for PAHs, duplicate diet studies may be a good alternative to total diet studies, especially when there are important economical limitations to perform a suitable TDS. The costs associated to the former may be notably lower, as they do not require such an extensive number of samples for chemical analysis. Moreover, a duplicate diet approach may even be more realistic, as cooked foodstuffs are used for dietary exposure assessment. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All

  11. Kinetics of sorption of polyaromatic hydrocarbons onto granular activated carbon and Macronet hyper-cross-linked polymers (MN200).

    PubMed

    Valderrama, C; Cortina, J L; Farran, A; Gamisans, X; Lao, C

    2007-06-01

    Polymeric supports are presented as an alternative to granular activated carbon (GAC) for organic contaminant removal from groundwater using permeable reactive barriers (PRB). The search for suitable polymeric sorbents for hydrocarbon extraction from aqueous streams has prompted the synthesis of new resins incorporating new functionalities or modifying the polymer network properties that solve many of the existing problems. Between them, the new type of polymeric sorbents Macronet Hypersol containing a styrene-divinylbenzene macroporous hyperreticulated network has been evaluated. Because of their potential sorptive properties, tests were conducted to determine the feasibility of using them as a low-cost reactive material for groundwater applications. The present work describes the sorption of six polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from aqueous solution onto both Macronet polymeric sorbent MN200 and granular activated carbon. Batch experiments were performed to determine loading rates of a family of PAHs (naphthalene, fluorene, anthracene, acenaphthene, pyrene, and fluoranthene), from a simple two-rings PAH (naphthalene) up to a four-ring PAH (pyrene). The behavior of a non-functionalized Macronet support (MN200) was compared with the behavior of a recognized material, granular activated carbon (GAC). Analyses of the respective rate data with three theoretical models (pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order reaction models and the Elovich model) were used to describe the PAH sorption kinetics. Sorption rate constants were determined by graphical analysis of the proposed models. The study showed that sorption systems followed a pseudo-first-order reaction model, although the pseudo-second-order reaction model provides an acceptable description of the sorption process. Graphical analysis showed that the sorption process with activated carbon is a more complex process than the one observed for hyper-cross-linked polymers (MN200). A simulation of the barrier thickness needed

  12. Potential of Endophytic Bacterium Paenibacillus sp. PHE-3 Isolated from Plantago asiatica L. for Reduction of PAH Contamination in Plant Tissues

    PubMed Central

    Zhu, Xuezhu; Jin, Li; Sun, Kai; Li, Shuang; Ling, Wanting; Li, Xuelin

    2016-01-01

    Endophytes are ubiquitous in plants, and they may have a natural capacity to biodegrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In our study, a phenanthrene-degrading endophytic Paenibacillus sp. PHE-3 was isolated from P. asiatica L. grown in a PAH-contaminated site. The effects of environmental variables on phenanthrene biodegradation by strain PHE-3 were studied, and the ability of strain PHE-3 to use high molecular weight PAH (HMW-PAH) as a sole carbon source was also evaluated. Our results indicated that pH value of 4.0–8.0, temperature of 30 °C–42 °C, initial phenanthrene concentration less than 100 mg·L−1, and some additional nutrients are favorable for the biodegradation of phenanthrene by strain PHE-3. The maximum biodegradation efficiency of phenanthrene was achieved at 99.9% after 84 h cultivation with additional glutamate. Moreover, the phenanthrene biodegradation by strain PHE-3 was positively correlated with the catechol 2,3-dioxygenase activity (ρ = 0.981, p < 0.05), suggesting that strain PHE-3 had the capability of degrading HMW-PAHs. In the presence of other 2-, 3-ringed PAHs, strain PHE-3 effectively degraded HMW-PAHs through co-metabolism. The results of this study are beneficial in that the re-colonization potential and PAH degradation performance of endophytic Paenibacillus sp. PHE-3 may be applied towards reducing PAH contamination in plants. PMID:27347988

  13. Tetrabutylammonium Salts of Aluminum(III) and Gallium(III) Phthalocyanine Radical Anions Bonded with Fluoren-9-olato- Anions and Indium(III) Phthalocyanine Bromide Radical Anions.

    PubMed

    Konarev, Dmitri V; Khasanov, Salavat S; Ishikawa, Manabu; Nakano, Yoshiaki; Otsuka, Akihiro; Yamochi, Hideki; Saito, Gunzi; Lyubovskaya, Rimma N

    2017-04-18

    Reduction of aluminum(III), gallium(III), and indium(III) phthalocyanine chlorides by sodium fluorenone ketyl in the presence of tetrabutylammonium cations yielded crystalline salts of the type (Bu 4 N + ) 2 [M III (HFl-O - )(Pc .3- )] .- (Br - )⋅1.5 C 6 H 4 Cl 2 [M=Al (1), Ga (2); HFl-O - =fluoren-9-olato - anion; Pc=phthalocyanine] and (Bu 4 N + ) [In III Br(Pc .3- )] .- ⋅0.875 C 6 H 4 Cl 2 ⋅0.125 C 6 H 14 (3). The salts were found to contain Pc .3- radical anions with negatively charged phthalocyanine macrocycles, as evidenced by the presence of intense bands of Pc .3- in the near-IR region and a noticeable blueshift in both the Q and Soret bands of phthalocyanine. The metal(III) atoms coordinate HFl-O - anions in 1 and 2 with short Al-O and Ga-O bond lengths of 1.749(2) and 1.836(6) Å, respectively. The C-O bonds [1.402(3) and 1.391(11) Å in 1 and 2, respectively] in the HFl-O - anions are longer than the same bond in the fluorenone ketyl (1.27-1.31 Å). Salts 1-3 show effective magnetic moments of 1.72, 1.66, and 1.79 μ B at 300 K, respectively, owing to the presence of unpaired S=1/2 spins on Pc .3- . These spins are coupled antiferromagnetically with Weiss temperatures of -22, -14, and -30 K for 1-3, respectively. Coupling can occur in the corrugated two-dimensional phthalocyanine layers of 1 and 2 with an exchange interaction of J/k B =-0.9 and -1.1 K, respectively, and in the π-stacking {[In III Br(Pc .3- )] .- } 2 dimers of 3 with an exchange interaction of J/k B =-10.8 K. The salts show intense electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals attributed to Pc .3- . It was found that increasing the size of the central metal atom strongly broadened these EPR signals. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  14. 40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart F of... - Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry Chemicals

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 10 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Synthetic Organic Chemical... Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry Pt. 63, Subpt. F, Table 1 Table 1 to Subpart F of Part 63—Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry Chemicals Chemical name a CAS No. b Group Acenaphthene...

  15. 40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart F of... - Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry Chemicals

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 10 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Synthetic Organic Chemical... Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry Pt. 63, Subpt. F, Table 1 Table 1 to Subpart F of Part 63—Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry Chemicals Chemical name a CAS No. b Group Acenaphthene...

  16. 40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart F of... - Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry Chemicals

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 10 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Synthetic Organic Chemical... Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry Pt. 63, Subpt. F, Table 1 Table 1 to Subpart F of Part 63—Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry Chemicals Chemical name a CAS No. b Group Acenaphthene...

  17. 40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart F of... - Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry Chemicals

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 9 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Synthetic Organic Chemical... Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry Pt. 63, Subpt. F, Table 1 Table 1 to Subpart F of Part 63—Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry Chemicals Chemical name a CAS No. b Group Acenaphthene...

  18. High levels of PAH-metabolites in urine of e-waste recycling workers from Agbogbloshie, Ghana.

    PubMed

    Feldt, Torsten; Fobil, Julius N; Wittsiepe, Jürgen; Wilhelm, Michael; Till, Holger; Zoufaly, Alexander; Burchard, Gerd; Göen, Thomas

    2014-01-01

    The informal recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) is an emerging source of environmental pollution in Africa. Among other toxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a major health concern for exposed individuals. In a cross-sectional study, the levels of PAH metabolites in the urine of individuals working on one of the largest e-waste recycling sites of Africa, and in controls from a suburb of Accra without direct exposure to e-waste recycling activities, were investigated. Socioeconomic data, basic health data and urine samples were collected from 72 exposed individuals and 40 controls. In the urine samples, concentrations of the hydroxylate PAH metabolites (OH-PAH) 1-hydroxyphenanthrene (1-OH-phenanthrene), the sum of 2- and 9-hydroxyphenanthrene (2-/9-OH-phenanthrene), 3-hydroxyphenanthrene (3-OH-phenanthrene), 4-hydroxyphenanthrene (4-OH-phenanthrene) and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH-pyrene), as well as cotinine and creatinine, were determined. In the exposed group, median urinary concentrations were 0.85 μg/g creatinine for 1-OH-phenanthrene, 0.54 μg/g creatinine for 2-/9-OH-phenanthrene, 0.99 μg/g creatinine for 3-OH-phenanthrene, 0.22 μg/g creatinine for 4-OH-phenanthrene, and 1.33 μg/g creatinine for 1-OH-pyrene, all being significantly higher compared to the control group (0.55, 0.37, 0.63, 0.11 and 0.54 μg/g creatinine, respectively). Using a multivariate linear regression analysis including sex, cotinine and tobacco smoking as covariates, exposure to e-waste recycling activities was the most important determinant for PAH exposure. On physical examination, pathological findings were rare, but about two thirds of exposed individuals complained about cough, and one quarter about chest pain. In conclusion, we observed significantly higher urinary PAH metabolite concentrations in individuals who were exposed to e-waste recycling compared to controls who were not exposed to e-waste recycling activities. The impact of e-waste recycling on exposure to

  19. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Schachtl, Eva; Yoo, Jong Suk; Gutiérrez, Oliver Y.

    The reaction network and elementary steps of the hydrogenation of phenanthrene are explored on parent and Ni-promoted MoS2/c-Al2O3. Two pathways were identified, i.e., Path 1: Phenanthrene _ 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (DiHPhe)?1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octahydro-phenanthrene (asymOHPhe), and Path 2: Phenanthrene ?1,2,3,4-tetrahydrophenanthrene (TetHPhe)?1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydrophenan threne. The steps TetHPhe?asymOHPhe (hydrogenation), and DiHPhe?TetHPhe (hydrogenationisomerization) become notable at phenanthrene conversions above 20%. The reaction preferentially proceeds via Path 1 (90% selectivity) on MoS2/Al2O3. Ni promotion (Ni/(Ni + Mo) molar ratio of 0.3 at the edges on MoS2) increases the hydrogenation activity per active edge twofold and leads to 50% selectivity to both pathways. The reaction orders in H2 vary from _0.8more » on MoS2/Al2O3 to _1.2 on Ni-MoS2/Al2O3, whereas the reaction orders in phenanthrene (_0.6) hardly depend on Ni promotion. The reaction orders in H2S are zero on MoS2/Al2O3 and slightly negative on Ni-MoS2/Al2O3. DFT calculations indicate that phenanthrene is preferentially adsorbed parallel to the basal planes, while H is located at the edges perpendicular to the basal planes. Theory also suggests that Ni atoms, incorporated preferentially on the S-edges, increase the stability of hydrogenated intermediates. Hydrogenation of phenanthrene proceeds through quasi-equilibrated adsorption of the reactants followed by consecutive addition of hydrogen pairs to the adsorbed hydrocarbon. The rate determining steps for the formation of DiHPhe and TetHPhe are the addition of the first and second hydrogen pair, respectively. The concentration of SH groups (activated H at the edges) increases with Ni promotion linearly correlating the rates of Path 1 and Path 2, albeit with different functions. The enhancing effect of Ni on Path 2 is attributed to accelerated hydrogen addition to adsorbed hydrocarbons without important changes in their coverages.« less

  20. Effect of rhamnolipid biosurfactant on solubilization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

    PubMed

    Li, Shudong; Pi, Yongrui; Bao, Mutai; Zhang, Cong; Zhao, Dongwei; Li, Yiming; Sun, Peiyan; Lu, Jinren

    2015-12-15

    Rhamnolipid biosurfactant-producing bacteria, Bacillus Lz-2, was isolated from oil polluted water collected from Dongying Shengli oilfield, China. The factors that influence PAH solubilization such as biosurfactant concentration, pH, ionic strength and temperature were discussed. The results showed that the solubilities of naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene increased linearly with the rise of rhamnolipid biosurfactant dose above the biosurfactant critical micelle concentration (CMC). Furthermore, the molar solubilization ratio (MSR) values decreased in the following order: naphthalene>phenanthrene>pyrene. However, the solubility percentage increased and followed the opposite order: pyrene>phenanthrene>naphthalene. The solubilities of PAHs in rhamnolipid biosurfactant solution increased with the rise of pH and ionic strength, and reached the maximum values under the conditions of pH11 and NaCl concentration 8 g · L(-1). The solubility of phenanthrene and pyrene increased with the rise of temperature. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Measurement and estimated health risks of semivolatile organic compounds (PCBs, PAHs, pesticides, and phthalates) in ambient air at the Hanford Site

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Patton, G.W.; Cooper, A.T.; Blanton, M.L.

    1997-09-01

    Air samples for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlorinated pesticides, phthalate plasticizers, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were collected at three Hanford Site locations (300-Area South Gate, southeast of 200-East Area, and a background location near Rattlesnake Springs). Samples were collected using high-volume air samplers equipped with a glass fiber filter and polyurethane foam plug sampling train. Target compounds were extracted from the sampling trains and analyzed using capillary gas chromatography with either electron capture detection or mass selective detection. Twenty of the 28 PCB congeners analyzed were found above the detection limits, with 8 of the congeners accounting for over 80%more » of the average PCB concentrations. The average sum of all individual PCB congeners ranged from 500-740 pg/m{sup 3}, with little apparent difference between the sampling locations. Twenty of the 25 pesticides analyzed were found above the detection limits, with endosulfan I, endosulfan II, and methoxychlor having the highest average concentrations. With the exception of the endosulfans, all other average pesticide concentrations were below 100 pg/m{sup 3}. There was little apparent difference between the air concentrations of pesticides measured at each location. Sixteen of the 18 PAHs analyzed were found above the detection limit. Phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, fluorene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and naphthalene were the only PAHs with average concentrations above 100 pg/m{sup 3}. Overall, the 300 Area had higher average PAH concentrations compared to the 200-East Area and the background location at Rattlesnake Springs; however, the air concentrations at the 300-Area also are influenced by sources on the Hanford Site and from nearby communities.« less

  2. Human biomonitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsand metals in the general population residing near the municipal solid waste incinerator of Modena, Italy.

    PubMed

    Gatti, Maria Giulia; Bechtold, Petra; Campo, Laura; Barbieri, Giovanna; Quattrini, Giulia; Ranzi, Andrea; Sucato, Sabrina; Olgiati, Luca; Polledri, Elisa; Romolo, Michael; Iacuzio, Laura; Carrozzi, Giuliano; Lauriola, Paolo; Goldoni, Carlo A; Fustinoni, Silvia

    2017-11-01

    A cross-sectional biomonitoring study was carried out to investigate exposure to incinerator emission in relation to the body burden of selected biomarkers in the population living around the plant. Approximately 500 people, aged 18-69 yrs, living within 4 km from the incinerator were randomly selected form the population register. Exposure was measured through fall-out maps of particulate matter (PM), used as tracer for incinerator emissions. Ten metabolized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), from naphthalene to chrysene, 1-hydroxypyrene and twelve metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Ni, Zn, V, Tl, As, Sn) were measured in spot urine samples. Confounders, such as diet, smoking, traffic, occupation and personal characteristics were assessed by questionnaires and objective measurements, and included into multivariate linear regression models. Metal concentrations in urine were in line with or higher than Italian reference limits, besides Cr and V with more than twofold concentrations. Metal levels did not show clear association to exposure categories. Most abundant PAHs were naphthalene (median 26.2 ng/L) and phenanthrene (7.4 ng/L). All PAHs, but benz[a]anthracene and 1-hydroxypyrene, were found in more than 52% of samples, and included in regression models. Significant associations between urinary PAHs and exposure were found, strong for fluorene, and weaker for naphthalene, fluoranthene and pyrene. Results were confirmed by sensitivity analyses. Correlation with variables reported in literature were observed. The study indicates that the emissions were very low and highlights that specific urinary PAHs provided useful information about the internal dose arising from incinerator emission. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Comparison of Biomarkers of Tobacco Exposure between Premium and Discount Brand Cigarette Smokers in the NHANES 2011-2012 Special Sample.

    PubMed

    Wasserman, Emily J; Reilly, Samantha M; Goel, Reema; Foulds, Jonathan; Richie, John P; Muscat, Joshua E

    2018-05-01

    Background: Increased cigarette costs have inadvertently strengthened the appeal of discounted brands to price-sensitive smokers. Although smokers perceive discounted brands as having poorer quality, little is known about their delivery of toxic tobacco smoke constituents compared with premium-branded tobacco products. Methods: We investigated the differences between discount and premium brand smokers using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2012 Special Smoker Sample. Our analyses focused on demographic differences and 27 biomarkers of harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHC) listed by the FDA, including volatile organic compounds, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol and its glucuronide [4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol glucuronide; reported as total NNAL (tNNAL)], metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Data were analyzed using linear regression models adjusting for potential confounders. Results: A total of 976 non-tobacco users and 578 recent cigarette smokers were eligible for analysis, of which 141 (26.0% weighted) smoked discount brand cigarettes and 437 (74.0% weighted) smoked premium. Discount brand smokers were older, predominantly non-Hispanic white, and had higher serum cotinine. Discount brand smokers had significantly higher levels of 13 smoking-related biomarkers, including tNNAL, uranium, styrene, xylene, and biomarkers of exposure to PAHs (naphthalene, fluorene, and phenanthrene), compared with premium brand smokers. Conclusions: These findings suggest that discount cigarette use is associated with higher exposure to several carcinogenic and toxic HPHCs. Impact: These results may have important regulatory implications for product standards, as higher exposures could lead to a greater degree of harm. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(5); 601-9. ©2018 AACR . ©2018 American Association for Cancer Research.

  4. Evaluating environmental modeling and sampling data with biomarker data to identify sources and routes of exposure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shin, Hyeong-Moo; McKone, Thomas E.; Bennett, Deborah H.

    2013-04-01

    Exposure to environmental chemicals results from multiple sources, environmental media, and exposure routes. Ideally, modeled exposures should be compared to biomonitoring data. This study compares the magnitude and variation of modeled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposures resulting from emissions to outdoor and indoor air and estimated exposure inferred from biomarker levels. Outdoor emissions result in both inhalation and food-based exposures. We modeled PAH intake doses using U.S. EPA's 2002 National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) county-level emissions data for outdoor inhalation, the CalTOX model for food ingestion (based on NATA emissions), and indoor air concentrations from field studies for indoor inhalation. We then compared the modeled intake with the measured urine levels of hydroxy-PAH metabolites from the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) survey as quantifiable human intake of PAH parent-compounds. Lognormal probability plots of modeled intakes and estimated intakes inferred from biomarkers suggest that a primary route of exposure to naphthalene, fluorene, and phenanthrene for the U.S. population is likely inhalation from indoor sources. For benzo(a)pyrene, the predominant exposure route is likely from food ingestion resulting from multi-pathway transport and bioaccumulation due to outdoor emissions. Multiple routes of exposure are important for pyrene. We also considered the sensitivity of the predicted exposure to the proportion of the total naphthalene production volume emitted to the indoor environment. The comparison of PAH biomarkers with exposure variability estimated from models and sample data for various exposure pathways supports that both indoor and outdoor models are needed to capture the sources and routes of exposure to environmental contaminants.

  5. An enhanced procedure for measuring organic acids and methyl esters in PM2.5

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, F.; Duan, F. K.; He, K. B.; Ma, Y. L.; Rahn, K. A.; Zhang, Q.

    2015-11-01

    A solid-phase extraction (SPE) pretreatment procedure allowing organic acids to be separated from methyl esters in fine aerosol has been developed. The procedure first separates the organic acids from fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and other nonacid organic compounds by aminopropyl-based SPE cartridge and then quantifies them by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The procedure prevents the fatty acids and dimethyl phthalate from being overestimated, and so allows us to accurately quantify the C4-C11 dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) and the C8-C30 monocarboxylic acids (MCAs). Results for the extraction of DCAs, MCAs, and AMAs in eluate and FAMEs in effluate by SAX and NH2 SPE cartridges exhibited that the NH2 SPE cartridge gave higher extraction efficiency than the SAX cartridge. The recoveries of analytes ranged from 67.5 to 111.3 %, and the RSD ranged from 0.7 to 10.9 %. The resulting correlations between the aliphatic acids and FAMEs suggest that the FAMEs had sources similar to those of the carboxylic acids, or were formed by esterifying carboxylic acids, or that aliphatic acids were formed by hydrolyzing FAMEs. Through extraction and cleanup using this procedure, 17 aromatic acids in eluate were identified and quantified by gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry, including five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH): acids 2-naphthoic, biphenyl-4-carboxylic, 9-oxo-9H-fluorene-1-carboxylic, biphenyl-4,4´-dicarboxylic, and phenanthrene-1-carboxylic acid, plus 1,8-naphthalic anhydride. Correlations between the PAH acids and the dicarboxylic and aromatic acids suggested that the first three acids and 1,8-naphthalic anhydride were secondary atmospheric photochemistry products and the last two mainly primary.

  6. Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as a biomarker of exposure to PAHs in air: a pilot study among pregnant women.

    PubMed

    Nethery, Elizabeth; Wheeler, Amanda J; Fisher, Mandy; Sjödin, Andreas; Li, Zheng; Romanoff, Lovisa C; Foster, Warren; Arbuckle, Tye E

    2012-01-01

    Recent studies have linked increased polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air and adverse fetal health outcomes. Urinary PAH metabolites are of interest for exposure assessment if they can predict PAHs in air. We investigated exposure to PAHs by collecting air and urine samples among pregnant women pre-selected as living in "high" (downtown and close to steel mills, n=9) and "low" (suburban, n=10) exposure areas. We analyzed first-morning urine voids from all 3 trimesters of pregnancy for urinary PAH metabolites and compared these to personal air PAH/PM(2.5)/NO(2)/NO(X) samples collected in the 3rd trimester. We also evaluated activities and home characteristics, geographic indicators and outdoor central site PM(2.5)/NO(2)/NO(X) (all trimesters). Personal air exposures to the lighter molecular weight (MW) PAHs were linked to indoor sources (candles and incense), whereas the heavier PAHs were related to outdoor sources. Geometric means of all personal air measurements were higher in the "high" exposure group. We suggest that centrally monitored heavier MW PAHs could be used to predict personal exposures for heavier PAHs only. Urine metabolites were only directly correlated with their parent air PAHs for phenanthrene (Pearson's r=0.31-0.45) and fluorene (r=0.37-0.58). Predictive models suggest that specific metabolites (3-hydroyxyfluorene and 3-hydroxyphenanthrene) may be related to their parent air PAH exposures. The metabolite 2-hydroxynaphthalene was linked to smoking and the metabolite 1-hydroxypyrene was linked to dietary exposures. For researchers interested in predicting exposure to airborne lighter MW PAHs using urinary PAH metabolites, we propose that hydroxyfluorene and hydroxyphenanthrene metabolites be considered.

  7. A chemical extraction method for mimicking bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to wheat grown in soils containing various amounts of organic matter

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Shu Tao; Fuliu Xu; Wenxin Liu

    Severe contamination of agricultural soils by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) occurs in many places in China mainly as a result of coal and biomass combustion. Because ingestion is the main source of human exposure to PAHs and vegetables are basic ingredients for the Chinese diet, it is important to know how and to what extent PAHs are accumulated in vegetables produced in contaminated soils. This study, evaluated the extent to which organic matter contents in soils influence the accumulation of PAHs by the roots of wheat plants and have developed a rapid chemical method for determining the bioavailability of PAH.more » Four PAHs, naphthalene, acenaphthylene, fluorene, and phenanthrene, were added to natural soil samples with different amounts of organic matter for pot experiments to evaluate apparent bioavailability of PAHs to wheat roots (Triticum aestivum L.). The extractabilities of PAHs in the soil were tested by a sequential extraction scheme using accelerated solvent extraction with water, n-hexane, and a mixture of dichloromethane and acetone as solvents. The water or n-hexane-extractable PAHs were positively correlated to dissolved organic matter (DOM) and negatively correlated to total organic matter (TOM), indicating mobilization and immobilization effects of DOM and TOM on soil PAHs, respectively. The apparent accumulation of PAHs by wheat roots was also positively and negatively correlated to DOM and TOM, respectively. As a result, there are positive correlations between the amounts of PAHs extracted by water or n-hexane and the quantities accumulated in plant roots, suggesting the feasibility of using water- or n-hexanes-extractable fractions as indicators of PAH availability to plants. 19 refs., 8 figs., 1 tab.« less

  8. Description of Immundisolibacter cernigliae gen. nov., sp. nov., a high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium within the class Gammaproteobacteria, and proposal of Immundisolibacterales ord. nov. and Immundisolibacteraceae fam. nov.

    PubMed

    Corteselli, Elizabeth M; Aitken, Michael D; Singleton, David R

    2017-04-01

    The bacterial strain TR3.2T was isolated from aerobic bioreactor-treated soil from a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated site in Salisbury, NC, USA. Strain TR3.2T was identified as a member of 'Pyrene Group 2' or 'PG2', a previously uncultivated cluster of organisms associated with the degradation of high-molecular-weight PAHs by stable-isotope probing. Based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence, the strain was classified as a member of the class Gammaproteobacteria but possessed only 90.5 % gene identity to its closest described relative, Methylococcus capsulatus strain Bath. Strain TR3.2T grew on the PAHs pyrene, phenanthrene, anthracene, benz[a]anthracene and fluorene, as well as the azaarene carbazole, and could additionally metabolize a limited number of organic acids. Optimal growth occurred aerobically under mesophilic temperature, neutral pH and low salinity conditions. Strain TR3.2T was catalase and oxidase positive. Predominant fatty acids were C17 : 0 cyclo and C16 : 0. Genomic G+C content of the single chromosome was 67.79 mol% as determined by complete genome sequencing. Due to the high sequence divergence from any cultivated species and its unique physiological properties compared to its closest relatives, strain TR3.2T is proposed as a representative of a novel order, family, genus and species within the class Gammaproteobacteria, for which the name Immundisolibacter cernigliae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The associated order and family are therefore proposed as Immundisolibacteralesord. nov. and Immundisolibacteraceaefam. nov. The type strain of the species is TR3.2T (=ATCC TSD-58T=DSM 103040T).

  9. Laboratory studies to characterize the efficacy of sand capping a coal tar-contaminated sediment.

    PubMed

    Hyun, Seunghun; Jafvert, Chad T; Lee, Linda S; Rao, P Suresh C

    2006-06-01

    Placement of a microbial active sand cap on a coal tar-contaminated river sediment has been suggested as a cost effective remediation strategy. This approach assumes that the flux of contaminants from the sediment is sufficiently balanced by oxygen and nutrient fluxes into the sand layer such that microbial activity will reduce contaminant concentrations within the new benthic zone and reduce the contaminant flux to the water column. The dynamics of such a system were evaluated using batch and column studies with microbial communities from tar-contaminated sediment under different aeration and nutrient inputs. In a 30-d batch degradation study on aqueous extracts of coal tar sediment, oxygen and nutrient concentrations were found to be key parameters controlling the degradation rates of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). For the five PAHs monitored (naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, and pyrene), degradation rates were inversely proportional to molecular size. For the column studies, where three columns were packed with a 20-cm sand layer on the top of a 5 cm of sediment layer, flow was established to sand layers with (1) aerated water, (2) N(2) sparged water, or (3) HgCl(2)-sterilized N(2) sparged water. After steady-state conditions, PAH concentrations in effluents were the lowest in the aerated column, except for pyrene, whose concentration was invariant with all effluents. These laboratory scale studies support that if sufficient aeration can be achieved in the field through either active and passive means, the resulting microbially active sand layer can improve the water quality of the benthic zone and reduce the flux of many, but not all, PAHs to the water column.

  10. Effects of profession on urinary PAH metabolite levels in the US population.

    PubMed

    Liu, Bian; Jia, Chunrong

    2016-01-01

    Although exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is common in both environmental and occupational settings, few studies have compared PAH exposure among people with different professions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the variations in recent PAH exposure among different occupational groups over time using national representative samples. The study population consisted of 4162 participants from the 2001 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, who had both urinary PAH metabolites and occupational information. Four corresponding monohydroxy-PAH urine metabolites: naphthalene (NAP), fluorene (FLUO), phenanthrene (PHEN), and pyrene (PYR) among seven broad occupational groups were analyzed using weighted linear regression models, adjusting for creatinine levels, sociodemographic factors, smoking status, and sampling season. The overall geometric mean concentrations of NAP, FLUO, PHEN, and PYR were 6927, 477, 335, and 87 ng/L, respectively. All four PAH metabolites were elevated in the "extractive, construction, and repair (ECR)" group, with 21-42 % higher concentrations than those in the reference group of "management." Similar trends were seen in the "operators, fabricators, and laborers (OFL)" group for FLUO, PHEN, and PYR. In addition, both "service" and "support" groups had elevated FLUO. Significant (p < 0.001) upward temporal trends were seen in NAP and PYR, with an approximately 6-17 % annual increase, and FLUO and PHEN remained relatively stable. Race and socioeconomic status show independent effects on PAH exposure. Heterogeneous distributions of urinary PAH metabolites among people with different job categories exist at the population level. The upward temporal trends in NAP and PYR warrant reduction in PAH exposure, especially among those with OFL and ECR occupations.

  11. [Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and soluble organic fraction in fine particles from solid fraction of biodiesel exhaust fumes].

    PubMed

    Szewczyńska, Małgorzata; Pośniak, Małgorzata

    2012-01-01

    This paper presents the results of investigations into the distribution of fine particles in the biodiesel exhaust fumes (bio-DEP), as well as into the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and soluble organic fraction (SOF) in the study fractions. Samples of biodiesel B20 and B40 exhaust combustion fumes were generated at the model station composed of a diesel engine from Diesel TDI 2007 Volkswagen. Sioutas personal cascade impactor (SPCI) with Teflon filters and low-pressure impactor ELIPI (Dekati Low Pressure Impactor) were used for sampling diesel exhaust fine particles. The analysis of PAHs adsorbed on particulate fractions was performed by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC/FL). For the determination of dry residue soluble organic fraction of biodiesel exhaust particles the gravimetric method was used. The combustion exhaust fumes of 100% ON contained mainly naphthalene, acenaphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene and chrysene, whilst the exhaust of B40-single PAHs of 4 and 5 rings, such as chrysene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, dibenzo (ah)anthracene and benzo(ghi)perylene. The total content of PAHs in diesel exhaust particles averaged 910 ng/m3 for 100% ON and 340 ng/m3 for B40. The concentrations of benzo(a)antarcene were at the levels of 310 ng/m3 (100% ON) and 90 ng/m3 (B40). The investigations indicated that a fraction < 025 microm represents the main component of diesel exhaust particles, regardless of the used fuel. Bioester B 100 commonly added to diesel fuel (ON) causes a reduction of the total particulates emission and thus reduces the amount of toxic substances adsorbed on their surface.

  12. Effects of nano bamboo charcoal on PAHs-degrading strain Sphingomonas sp. GY2B.

    PubMed

    She, Bojia; Tao, Xueqin; Huang, Ting; Lu, Guining; Zhou, Zhili; Guo, Chuling; Dang, Zhi

    2016-03-01

    Nano bamboo charcoal (NBC) has been commonly used in the production of textiles, plastics, paint, etc. However, little is known regarding their effects towards the microorganisms. The effects of NBC on phenanthrene degrading strain Sphingomonas sp. GY2B were investigated in the present study. Results showed that the addition of NBC could improve the phenanthrene removal by Sphingomonas sp. GY2B, with removal efficiencies increased by 10.29-18.56% in comparison to the control at 24h, and phenanthrene was almost completely removed at 48h. With the presence of low dose of NBC (20 and 50mgL(-1)), strain GY2B displayed a better growth at 6h, suggesting that NBC was beneficial to the growth of GY2B and thus resulting in the quick removal of phenanthrene from water. However, the growth of strain GY2B in high dose of NBC (200mgL(-1)) was inhibited at 6h, and the inhibition could be attenuated and eliminated after 12h. NBC-effected phenanthrene solubility experiment suggested that NBC makes a negligible contribution to the solubilization of phenanthrene in water. Results of electronic microscopy analysis (SEM and TEM) indicated NBC may interact with the cell membrane, causing the enhanced membrane permeability and then NBC adsorbed on the membrane would enter into the cells. The findings of this work would provide important information for the future usage and long-term environmental risk assessment of NBC. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. Toxicity of a PAH photooxidation product to the bacteria Photobacterium phosphoreum and the duckweed Lemna gibba: Effects of phenanthrene and its primary photoproduct, phenanthrenequinone

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    McConkey, B.J.; Duxbury, C.L.; Dixon, D.G.

    1997-05-01

    Phenanthrene (PHE) undergoes a significant increase in toxicity after exposure to simulated or natural sunlight in aqueous media, coincident with the appearance of PHE photoproducts. To investigate whether the primary photoproduct of PHE, 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (PHEQ), contributes to the increased hazards of solutions containing photomodified PHE, toxicity assays were conducted using the marine bacteria Photobacterium phosphoreum and the aquatic plant Lemna gibba (duckweed). Photobacterium phosphoreum was exposed to PHE, PHEQ, a photomodified PHE mixture containing known amounts of PHE and PHEQ (pmPHE), and a mixture mimicking the amounts of PHE and PHEQ in the pmPHE mixture. The bacteria were found tomore » be equally sensitive to PHE in simulated solar radiation or darkness, with an EC50 of 0.53 mg/L. In both darkness or SSR, solutions containing PHEQ (with or without PHE) all exhibited an EC50 of 0.06 to 0.10 mg/L based on PHEQ concentrations, indicating that PHEQ was the primary active component of the pmPHE mixture. Lemna gibba was tested in SSR and visible light with PHE, PHEQ, and the pmPHE mixture. The calculated EC50 for PHE was 3.5 mg/L in SSR and 10.8 mg/L in visible light, showing that the presence of UV radiation in the SSR source increased the phytotoxicity of PHE. Strikingly, PHEQ was much more toxic to L. gibba than PHE in a light-independent manner. Thus, for both P. phosphoreum and L. gibba the major photooxidation product of PHE in SSR, PHEQ, is the more toxic of the two chemicals.« less

  14. Development of Spiro[cyclopenta[1,2-b:5,4-b']dithiophene-4,9'-fluorene]-Based A-π-D-π-A Small Molecules with Different Acceptor Units for Efficient Organic Solar Cells.

    PubMed

    Wang, Wengong; Shen, Ping; Dong, Xinning; Weng, Chao; Wang, Guo; Bin, Haijun; Zhang, Jing; Zhang, Zhi-Guo; Li, Yongfang

    2017-02-08

    Three acceptor-π-donor-π-acceptor (A-π-D-π-A) small molecules (STFYT, STFRDN, and STFRCN) with spiro[cyclopenta[1,2-b:5,4-b']dithiophene-4,9'-fluorene] (STF) as the central donor unit, terthiophene as the π-conjugated bridge, indenedione, 3-ethylrhodanine, or 2-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)rhodanine as the acceptor unit are designed, synthesized, and characterized as electron donor materials in solution-processing organic solar cells (OSCs). The effects of the spiro STF-based central core and different acceptors on the molecular configuration, absorption properties, electronic energy levels, carrier transport properties, the morphology of active layers, and photovoltaic properties are investigated in detail. The three molecules exhibit desirable physicochemical features: wide absorption bands (300-850 nm) and high molar absorption coefficients (4.82 × 10 4 to 7.56 × 10 4 M -1 cm -1 ) and relatively low HOMO levels (-5.15 to -5.38 eV). Density functional theory calculations reveal that the spiro STF central core benefits to reduce the steric hindrance effect between the central donor block and terthiophene bridge and suppress excessive intermolecular aggregations. The optimized OSCs based on these molecules deliver power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 6.68%, 3.30%, and 4.33% for STFYT, STFRDN, and STFRCN, respectively. The higher PCE of STFYT-based OSCs should be ascribed to its better absorption ability, higher and balanced hole and electron mobilities, and superior active layer morphology as compared to the other two compounds. So far, this is the first example of developing the A-π-D-π-A type small molecules with a spiro central donor core for high-performance OSC applications. Meanwhile, these results demonstrate that using spiro central block to construct A-π-D-π-A molecule is an alternative and effective strategy for achieving high-performance small molecule donor materials.

  15. Pulsed Discharge Nozzle Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy of Cold PAH Ions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Biennier, Ludovic; Salama, Farid; Allamandola, Louis J.; Scherer, James J.; DeVincenzi, Donald (Technical Monitor)

    2002-01-01

    The gas-phase electronic absorption spectra of the naphthalene (C10H8(+)) and acenaphthene (C12H10(+)) cations have been measured in the visible range in a free 10 jet planar expansion in an attempt to collect data in an astrophysically relevant environment. The direct absorption spectra of two out of four bands measured of the gas-phase cold naphthalene cation along with the gas-phase vibronic absorption spectrum of the cold acenaphthene cation are reported for the first time. The study has been carried out using the ultrasensitive and versatile technique of cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS) coupled to a pulsed discharge slit nozzle (PDN). The new CRDS-PDN set up is described and its characteristics are evaluated. The direct-absorption spectra of the PAH ions are discussed and compared to the gas-phase and solid-phase data available in the literature. The analysis of the results show that cold, free flying PAH ions are generated in the argon discharge primarily through soft Penning ionization. This enables the intrinsic band profiles to be measured, a key requirement for astrophysical applications.

  16. Effectiveness of an anaerobic granular activated carbon fluidized-bed bioreactor to treat soil wash fluids: a proposed strategy for remediating PCP/PAH contaminated soils.

    PubMed

    Koran, K M; Suidan, M T; Khodadoust, A P; Sorial, G A; Brenner, R C

    2001-07-01

    An integrated system has been developed to remediate soils contaminated with pentachlorophenol (PCP) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This system involves the coupling of two treatment technologies, soil-solvent washing and anaerobic biotreatment of the extract. Specifically, this study evaluated the effectiveness of a granular activated carbon (GAC) fluidized-bed reactor to treat a synthetic-waste stream of PCP and four PAHs (naphthalene, acenaphthene, pyrene, and benzo(b)fluoranthene) under anaerobic conditions. This waste stream was intended to simulate the wash fluids from a soil washing process treating soils from a wood-preserving site. The reactor achieved a removal efficiency of greater than 99.8% for PCP with conversion to its dechlorination intermediates averaging 46.5%. Effluent, carbon extraction, and isotherm data also indicate that naphthalene and acenaphthene were removed from the liquid phase with efficiencies of 86 and 93%, respectively. Effluent levels of pyrene and benzo(b)fluoranthene were extremely low due to the high-adsorptive capacity of GAC for these compounds. Experimental evidence does not suggest that the latter two compounds were biochemically transformed within the reactor.

  17. Vasorelaxant and Hypotensive Effects of an Ethanolic Extract of Eulophia macrobulbon and Its Main Compound 1-(4′-Hydroxybenzyl)-4,8-Dimethoxyphenanthrene-2,7-Diol

    PubMed Central

    Wisutthathum, Sutthinee; Chootip, Krongkarn; Martin, Hélène; Ingkaninan, Kornkanok; Temkitthawon, Prapapan; Totoson, Perle; Demougeot, Céline

    2018-01-01

    Background: Ethnopharmacological studies demonstrated the potential for Eulophia species to treat inflammation, cancer, and cardio-metabolic diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate the vasorelaxant effect of ethanolic Eulophia macrobulbon (EM) extract and its main phenanthrene on rat isolated mesenteric artery and to investigate the hypotensive effect of EM. Methods: The vasorelaxant effects of EM extract or phenanthrene and the underlying mechanisms were evaluated on second-order mesenteric arteries from Sprague Dawley rats. In addition, the acute hypotensive effect was evaluated in anesthetized rats infused with cumulative concentrations of the EM extract. Results: Both EM extract (10-4–1 mg/ml) and phenanthrene (10-7–10-4 M) relaxed endothelium-intact arteries, an effect that was partly reduced by endothelium removal (p < 0.001). A significant decrease in the relaxant effect of the extract and the phenanthrene was observed with L-NAME and apamin/charybdotoxin in endothelium-intact vessels, and with iberiotoxin in denuded vessels. SNP (sodium nitroprusside)-induced relaxation was significantly enhanced by EM extract and phenanthrene. By contrast, ODQ (1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline-1-one), 4-aminopyridine and glibenclamide (endothelium-denuded vessels) and indomethacin (endothelium-intact vessels) had no effect. In calcium-free solution, both the EM extract and phenanthrene inhibited extracellular Ca2+-induced contraction in high KCl and phenylephrine (PE) pre-contracted rings. They also inhibited the intracellular Ca2+ release sensitive to PE. The acute infusion of EM extract (20 and 70 mg/kg) induced an immediate and transient dose-dependent hypotensive effect. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of EM tubers and its main active compound, 1-(4′-hydroxybenzyl)-4,8-dimethoxyphenanthrene-2,7-diol (phenanthrene) induced vasorelaxant effects on rat resistance vessels, through pleiotropic effects including endothelium-dependent effects (NOS

  18. Enhancement of soil retention for phenanthrene in binary cationic gemini and nonionic surfactant mixtures: characterizing two-step adsorption and partition processes through experimental and modeling approaches.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Shan; Huang, Gordon; An, Chunjiang; Wei, Jia; Yao, Yao

    2015-04-09

    The enhancement of soil retention for phenanthrene (PHE) through the addition of a binary mixture of cationic gemini (12-2-12) and nonionic surfactants (C12E10) was investigated. The maximum apparent sorption coefficient Kd(*) reached 4247.8 mL/g through the addition of mixed 12-2-12 gemini and C12E10 surfactants, which was markedly higher than the summed individual results in the presence of individual 12-2-12 gemini (1148.6 mL/g) or C12E10 (210.0 mL/g) surfactant. However, the sorption of 12-2-12 gemini was inhibited by the increasing C12E10 dose; and a higher initial 12-2-12 gemini dose showed a higher "desorption" rate. The present study also addressed the sorption behavior of the single 12-2-12 gemini surfactant at the soil/aqueous interface. The sorption isotherm was divided into two steps to elucidate the sorption process; and the sorption schematics were proposed to elaborate the growth of surfactant aggregates corresponding to the various steps of the sorption isotherm. Finally, a two-step adsorption and partition model (TAPM) was developed to simulate the sorption process. Analysis of the equilibrium data indicated that the sorption isotherms of 12-2-12 gemini fitted the TAPM model better. Thermodynamic calculations confirmed that the 12-2-12 gemini sorption at the soil/aqueous interface was spontaneous and exothermic from 288 to 308K. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Affects Acetic Acid Production during Anaerobic Fermentation of Waste Activated Sludge by Altering Activity and Viability of Acetogen.

    PubMed

    Luo, Jingyang; Chen, Yinguang; Feng, Leiyu

    2016-07-05

    Till now, almost all the studies on anaerobic fermentation of waste activated sludge (WAS) for bioproducts generation focused on the influences of operating conditions, pretreatment methods and sludge characteristics, and few considered those of widespread persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in sludge, for example, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Herein, phenanthrene, which was a typical PAH and widespread in WAS, was selected as a model compound to investigate its effect on WAS anaerobic fermentation for short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) accumulation. Experimental results showed that the concentration of SCFAs derived from WAS was increased in the presence of phenanthrene during anaerobic fermentation. The yield of acetic acid which was the predominant SCFA in the fermentation reactor with the concentration of 100 mg/kg dry sludge was 1.8 fold of that in the control. Mechanism exploration revealed that the present phenanthrene mainly affected the acidification process of anaerobic fermentation and caused the shift of the microbial community to benefit the accumulation of acetic acid. Further investigation showed that both the activities of key enzymes (phosphotransacetylase and acetate kinase) involved in acetic acid production and the quantities of their corresponding encoding genes were enhanced in the presence of phenanthrene. Viability tests by determining the adenosine 5'-triphosphate content and membrane potential confirmed that the acetogens were more viable in anaerobic fermentation systems with phenanthrene, which resulted in the increased production of acetic acid.

  20. A urinary metabolite of phenanthrene as a biomarker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolic activation in workers exposed to residual oil fly ash.

    PubMed

    Kim, Jee Young; Hecht, Stephen S; Mukherjee, Sutapa; Carmella, Steven G; Rodrigues, Ema G; Christiani, David C

    2005-03-01

    Residual oil fly ash is a chemically complex combustion product containing a significant component of potentially carcinogenic transition metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Various biomarkers of PAH exposure have been investigated previously, most notably 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), in urine. In this study, we assessed the utility of r-1,t-2,3,c-4-tetrahydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrophenanthrene (trans, anti-PheT), a metabolite of phenanthrene, to detect occupational PAH exposure. Urine samples collected across the workweek were analyzed for 1-OHP and trans, anti-PheT in boilermakers (n = 20) exposed to residual oil fly ash. Median baseline urinary trans, anti-PheT concentrations were 0.50 microg/g creatinine in current tobacco smokers and 0.39 microg/g creatinine in nonsmokers. Median baseline urinary 1-OHP concentrations in smokers and nonsmokers were 0.31 and 0.13 microg/g creatinine, respectively. To study further the effect of smoking exposure on the urinary PAH markers, urinary cotinine was used. Although urinary trans, anti-PheT and 1-OHP concentrations were correlated (Spearman r = 0.63; P < 0.001) for all subjects, the regression coefficient between log-transformed trans, anti-PheT and log 1-OHP was statistically significant only for subjects with low levels of urinary cotinine or for nonsmokers. Each 1-unit increase in log 1-OHP was associated with a 0.77-unit increase (95% confidence interval, 0.45-1.09) in log trans, anti-PheT in subjects with low levels of urinary cotinine (P < 0.001). In these subjects, dichotomized occupational exposure status was a significant predictor of log trans, anti-PheT (P = 0.02) but not of log 1-OHP (P = 0.2). In conclusion, we found that urinary trans, anti-PheT was detected in levels comparable with 1-OHP in occupationally exposed workers, particularly nonsmokers. This study shows that urinary trans, anti-PheT may be an effective biomarker of uptake and metabolic activation of PAHs.

  1. Heat and PAHs Emissions in Indoor Kitchen Air and Its Impact on Kidney Dysfunctions among Kitchen Workers in Lucknow, North India.

    PubMed

    Singh, Amarnath; Kamal, Ritul; Mudiam, Mohana Krishna Reddy; Gupta, Manoj Kumar; Satyanarayana, Gubbala Naga Venkata; Bihari, Vipin; Shukla, Nishi; Khan, Altaf Hussain; Kesavachandran, Chandrasekharan Nair

    2016-01-01

    Indoor air quality and heat exposure have become an important occupational health and safety concern in several workplaces including kitchens of hotels. This study investigated the heat, particulate matter (PM), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emissions in indoor air of commercial kitchen and its association with kidney dysfunctions among kitchen workers. A cross sectional study was conducted on 94 kitchen workers employed at commercial kitchen in Lucknow city, North India. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to collect the personal and occupational history of the kitchen workers. The urine analysis for specific gravity and microalbuminuria was conducted among the study subjects. Indoor air temperature, humidity, wet/ dry bulb temperature and humidex heat stress was monitored during cooking activities at the kitchen. Particulate matter (PM) for 1 and 2.5 microns were monitored in kitchen during working hours using Hazdust. PAHS in indoor air was analysed using UHPLC. Urinary hydroxy-PAHs in kitchen workers were measured using GC/MS-MS. Higher indoor air temperature, relative humidity, PM1 and PM2.5 (p<0.001) was observed in the kitchen due to cooking process. Indoor air PAHs identified are Napthalene, fluorine, acenaphthene, phenanthrene, pyrene, chrysene and indeno [1,2,3-cd) pyrene. Concentrations of all PAHs identified in kitchen were above the permissible OSHA norms for indoor air. Specific gravity of urine was significantly higher among the kitchen workers (p<0.001) as compared to the control group. Also, the prevalence of microalbuminuria was higher (p<0.001) among kitchen workers. Urinary PAH metabolites detected among kitchen workers were 1-NAP, 9-HF, 3-HF, 9-PHN and 1-OHP. Continuous heat exposure in kitchens due to cooking can alter kidney functions viz., high specific gravity of urine in kitchen workers. Exposure to PM, VOCs and PAHs in indoor air and presence of urinary PAHs metabolites may

  2. Heat and PAHs Emissions in Indoor Kitchen Air and Its Impact on Kidney Dysfunctions among Kitchen Workers in Lucknow, North India

    PubMed Central

    Singh, Amarnath; Kamal, Ritul; Mudiam, Mohana Krishna Reddy; Gupta, Manoj Kumar; Satyanarayana, Gubbala Naga Venkata; Bihari, Vipin; Shukla, Nishi; Khan, Altaf Hussain; Kesavachandran, Chandrasekharan Nair

    2016-01-01

    Indoor air quality and heat exposure have become an important occupational health and safety concern in several workplaces including kitchens of hotels. This study investigated the heat, particulate matter (PM), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emissions in indoor air of commercial kitchen and its association with kidney dysfunctions among kitchen workers. A cross sectional study was conducted on 94 kitchen workers employed at commercial kitchen in Lucknow city, North India. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to collect the personal and occupational history of the kitchen workers. The urine analysis for specific gravity and microalbuminuria was conducted among the study subjects. Indoor air temperature, humidity, wet/ dry bulb temperature and humidex heat stress was monitored during cooking activities at the kitchen. Particulate matter (PM) for 1 and 2.5 microns were monitored in kitchen during working hours using Hazdust. PAHS in indoor air was analysed using UHPLC. Urinary hydroxy-PAHs in kitchen workers were measured using GC/MS-MS. Higher indoor air temperature, relative humidity, PM1 and PM2.5 (p<0.001) was observed in the kitchen due to cooking process. Indoor air PAHs identified are Napthalene, fluorine, acenaphthene, phenanthrene, pyrene, chrysene and indeno [1,2,3-cd) pyrene. Concentrations of all PAHs identified in kitchen were above the permissible OSHA norms for indoor air. Specific gravity of urine was significantly higher among the kitchen workers (p<0.001) as compared to the control group. Also, the prevalence of microalbuminuria was higher (p<0.001) among kitchen workers. Urinary PAH metabolites detected among kitchen workers were 1-NAP, 9-HF, 3-HF, 9-PHN and 1-OHP. Continuous heat exposure in kitchens due to cooking can alter kidney functions viz., high specific gravity of urine in kitchen workers. Exposure to PM, VOCs and PAHs in indoor air and presence of urinary PAHs metabolites may

  3. Impact of electrochemical treatment of soil washing solution on PAH degradation efficiency and soil respirometry.

    PubMed

    Mousset, Emmanuel; Huguenot, David; van Hullebusch, Eric D; Oturan, Nihal; Guibaud, Gilles; Esposito, Giovanni; Oturan, Mehmet A

    2016-04-01

    The remediation of a genuinely PAH-contaminated soil was performed, for the first time, through a new and complete investigation, including PAH extraction followed by advanced oxidation treatment of the washing solution and its recirculation, and an analysis of the impact of the PAH extraction on soil respirometry. The study has been performed on the remediation of genuine PAH-contaminated soil, in the following three steps: (i) PAH extraction with soil washing (SW) techniques, (ii) PAH degradation with an electro-Fenton (EF) process, and (iii) recirculation of the partially oxidized effluent for another SW cycle. The following criteria were monitored during the successive washing cycles: PAH extraction efficiency, PAH oxidation rates and yields, extracting agent recovery, soil microbial activity, and pH of soil. Two representative extracting agents were compared: hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD) and a non-ionic surfactant, Tween(®) 80. Six PAH with different numbers of rings were monitored: acenaphthene (ACE), phenanthrene (PHE), fluoranthene (FLA), pyrene (PYR), benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), and benzo(g,h,i)perylene (BghiP). Tween(®) 80 showed much better PAH extraction efficiency (after several SW cycles) than HPCD, regardless of the number of washing cycles. Based on successive SW experiments, a new mathematical relation taking into account the soil/water partition coefficient (Kd*) was established, and could predict the amount of each PAH extracted by the surfactant with a good correlation with experimental results (R(2) > 0.975). More HPCD was recovered (89%) than Tween(®) 80 (79%), while the monitored pollutants were completely degraded (>99%) after 4 h and 8 h, respectively. Even after being washed with partially oxidized solutions, the Tween(®) 80 solutions extracted significantly more PAH than HPCD and promoted better soil microbial activity, with higher oxygen consumption rates. Moreover, neither the oxidation by-products nor the acidic media (p

  4. Quantifying the atomic-level mechanics of single long physisorbed molecular chains.

    PubMed

    Kawai, Shigeki; Koch, Matthias; Gnecco, Enrico; Sadeghi, Ali; Pawlak, Rémy; Glatzel, Thilo; Schwarz, Jutta; Goedecker, Stefan; Hecht, Stefan; Baratoff, Alexis; Grill, Leonhard; Meyer, Ernst

    2014-03-18

    Individual in situ polymerized fluorene chains 10-100 nm long linked by C-C bonds are pulled vertically from an Au(111) substrate by the tip of a low-temperature atomic force microscope. The conformation of the selected chains is imaged before and after manipulation using scanning tunneling microscopy. The measured force gradient shows strong and periodic variations that correspond to the step-by-step detachment of individual fluorene repeat units. These variations persist at constant intensity until the entire polymer is completely removed from the surface. Calculations based on an extended Frenkel-Kontorova model reproduce the periodicity and magnitude of these features and allow us to relate them to the detachment force and desorption energy of the repeat units. The adsorbed part of the polymer slides easily along the surface during the pulling process, leading to only small oscillations as a result of the high stiffness of the fluorenes and of their length mismatch with respect to the substrate surface structure. A significant lateral force also is caused by the sequential detachment of individual units. The gained insight into the molecule-surface interactions during sliding and pulling should aid the design of mechanoresponsive nanosystems and devices.

  5. Isolation, Characterization, and Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon Degradation Potential of Aerobic Bacteria from Marine Macrofaunal Burrow Sediments and Description of Lutibacterium anuloederans gen. nov., sp. nov., and Cycloclasticus spirillensus sp. nov.†

    PubMed Central

    Chung, W. K.; King, G. M.

    2001-01-01

    Two new polyaromatic hydrocarbon-degrading marine bacteria have been isolated from burrow wall sediments of benthic macrofauna by using enrichments on phenanthrene. Strain LC8 (from a polychaete) and strain M4-6 (from a mollusc) are aerobic and gram negative and require sodium chloride (>1%) for growth. Both strains can use 2- and 3-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as their sole carbon and energy sources, but they are nutritionally versatile. Physiological and phylogenetic analyses based on 16S ribosomal DNA sequences suggest that strain M4-6 belongs to the genus Cycloclasticus and represents a new species, Cycloclasticus spirillensus sp. nov. Strain LC8 appears to represent a new genus and species, Lutibacterium anuloederans gen. nov., sp. nov., within the Sphingomonadaceae. However, when inoculated into sediment slurries with or without exogenous phenanthrene, only L. anuloederans appeared to sustain a significant phenanthrene uptake potential throughout a 35-day incubation. In addition, only L. anuloederans appeared to enhance phenanthrene degradation in heavily contaminated sediment from Little Mystic Cove, Boston Harbor, Boston, Mass. PMID:11722910

  6. Effects of weathering on biological marker and aromatic hydrocarbon composition of organic matter in Phosphoria shale outcrop

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Clayton, J.L.; King, J.D.

    1987-01-01

    GC-MS analyses were performed on core samples collected from a shale outcrop of the Permian Phosphoria Formation in Utah, U.S.A., to study effects of weathering on selected biological marker and aromatic (phenanthrene) hydrocarbon compounds. Among the biological markers, the most important weathering effects are a decrease in the 20S 20R diastereomer ratio of the C29 steranes and loss of low molecular weight triaromatic steroids. A decrease in the C19 through C22 tricylcic terpanes occurs relative to the total C19-C26 tricyclic fraction. Pronounced loss of methyl-substituted phenanthrenes occurs relative to phenanthrene. No major effect on the overall distribution of pentacyclic terpanes is evident. ?? 1987.

  7. Evaluation of Upland Disposal of Richmond Harbor, California, Sediment from Santa Fe Channel

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1993-07-01

    15 concern were salt, metals, tributyltin ( TBT ), pesticides (particularly DDT and its derivatives), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Test...Battelle Northwest for tetrabutyltin (TETBT), tributyltin ( TBT ), dibutyltin (DBT), monobutyltin (MBT), naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene...RANK TBT D1-1 t Richmond, Anaerobic, Kinetic, Tributyltin , day 1, Rep 1 RANS PAN D5-3 : Richmond, Anaerobic, Sequential, PAHs, day 5, Rep 3. RO-14-5

  8. JPRS Report, Science & Technology USSR: Physics & Mathematics.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-01-17

    Irregularities on Readings of Local Work Function by Scanning Tunneling Microscope [A.O. Golubok, N.A. Tarasov, et al; PISMA V ZHURNAL TEKHNICHESKOY...constant. The substances tested (anthracene, phenanthrene, naphthacene, triphenylene, p- terphenyl, pentacene , benzo(def)phenanthrene, benzo(ghl...in nucleus-nucleus collisions are analyzed, considering that local thermodynamic equilibrium establishes itself after two or three collisions to be

  9. 1H NMR Metabolomics: A New Molecular Level Tool for Assessment of Organic Contaminant Bioavailability to Earthworms in Soil

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McKelvie, J. R.; Wolfe, D. M.; Celejewski, M. A.; Simpson, A. J.; Simpson, M. J.

    2009-05-01

    At contaminated field sites, the complete removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is rarely achieved since a portion of these compounds remain tightly bound to the soil matrix. The concentration of PAHs in soil typically decreases until a plateau is reached, at which point the remaining contaminant is considered non- bioavailable. Numerous soil extraction techniques, including cyclodextrin extraction, have been developed to estimate contaminant bioavailability. However, these are indirect methods that do not directly measure the response of organisms to chemical exposure in soil. Earthworm metabolomics offers a promising new way to directly evaluate the bioavailability and toxicity of contaminants in soil. Metabolomics involves the measurement of changes in small-molecule metabolites, including sugars and amino acids, in living organisms due to an external stress, such as contaminant exposure. The objective of this study was to compare cyclodextrin extraction of soil (a bioavailability proxy) and 1H NMR metabolomic analysis of aqueous earthworm tissue extracts as indicators of contaminant bioavailability. A 30 day laboratory experiment was conducted using phenanthrene-spiked sphagnum peat soil and the OECD recommended earthworm species for toxicity testing, Eisenia fetida. The initial phenanthrene concentration in the soil was 320 mg/kg. Rapid biodegradation of phenanthrene occurred and concentrations decreased to 16 mg/kg within 15 days. After 15 days, phenanthrene biodegradation slowed and cyclodextrin extraction of the soil suggested that phenanthrene was no longer bioavailable. Multivariate statistical analysis of the 1H NMR spectra for E. fetida tissue extracts indicated that the metabolic profile of phenanthrene exposed earthworms differed from control earthworms throughout the 30 day experiment. This suggests that the residual phenanthrene remaining in the soil after 15 days continued to elicit a metabolic response, even though it was not

  10. Development of New Laser Protective Dyes. Phase 2.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    DYE LASERS, PROTECTION, LASERS, DYES , HAZARDS, SYNTHESIS, EYE SAFETY, OPTICAL MATERIALS, PLASTICS, LENSES, THERMAL STABILITY, CYANINE DYES , POLYCARBONATES, INJECTION MOLDING, NEAR INFRARED RADIATION, FLUORENES.

  11. Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in used motor oil and implications for urban runoff quality

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ferreira, M.; Stenstrom, M. K.; Lau, S.

    2013-12-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common organic pollutants of urban stormwater runoff due to atmospheric deposition, vehicle-related discharges, and coal tar pavement sealants. The US EPA lists sixteen PAHs as priority pollutants and seven of those are potential carcinogenic compounds. Due to their molecular structure, PAHs tend to attach to particles that will subsequently be deposited as sediments in waterways. This study focuses on the degradation of PAHs present in used motor oil. Four experimental setups were used to simulate volatilization and photooxidation in the degradation of sixteen PAHs as observed for up to 54 days. The volatilization-only experiment showed substantial reduction only in the concentration of Napthalene (Nap). However, photooxidation-only was more efficient in degrading PAHs. In this process, substantial reduction in the concentrations of Nap, Acenapthene (Anthe), Anthracene (ANT), Fluoranthene (FLT), Pyrene (PYR), Benz[a]anthracene (BaA), Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), Indeno[1,2,3,cd]pyrene (INP), and Benz[g,h,i]perylene (BghiP) were observed as early as five days. The two volatilization-photooxidation experiments exhibited substantial reduction in the concentrations of Fluorene (FLU), Chrysene (CHR) and Benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF), in addition to the PAHs reduced by photooxidation-only. Phenanthrene (PHE), Fluoranthene (FLT), and Benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF) only exhibited substantial decreased concentrations after 20 days in the volatilization-photooxidation experiment. One PAH, acenapthylene (Anthy), was not detected in the original sample of used motor oil. The highest degradations were observed in the combined volatilization-photooxidation experiment. In regions with infrequent rainfall, such as Southern California, molecules of PAHs attached to highway particles will have time to undergo degradation prior to transport. Therefore, PAHs may be present in lower concentrations in highway runoff in dry climates than in rainy climates

  12. Long-Term Oil Pollution and In Situ Microbial Response of Groundwater in Northwest China.

    PubMed

    Sun, Yujiao; Lu, Sidan; Zhao, Xiaohui; Ding, Aizhong; Wang, Lei

    2017-05-01

    Potential threats exist where groundwater is polluted by high concentrations of oil compounds (980.20 mg L -1 the highest TPHs). An abandoned petrochemical plant in Lanzhou City, where long-term petrochemical products leakage contaminated the groundwater, was used as a field site in this study. To determine the extent of pollution and find an effective solution, chemical techniques combined with molecular biological techniques were used to survey the migration and decomposition of pollutants. Moreover, Illumina Sequencing was employed to reveal the microbial changes of different sites. Light-chain alkanes (mostly C6-C9), most benzene compounds, and some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene) mainly polluted the source. C29 to C36 and chlorobenzenes (hexachlorocyclohexane) polluted the secondary polluted sites. Moreover, chloralkane (trichloroethane and dichloroethane), benzene derivatives (trimethylbenzene and butylbenzene), and PAHs (fluorene and phenanthrene) were present in the other longtime-contaminated water. The bacterial genera are closely related with the chemical matters, and different groups of microorganisms gather in the sample sites that are polluted with different kinds of oil. The biodiversity and abundance of observed species change with pollution conditions. The dominant phyla (81%) of the bacterial community structure are Proteobacteria (62.2% of the total microbes), Bacteroidetes (8.85%), Actinobacteria (6.70%), and Choloroflexi (3.03%). Pseudomonadaceae is significant in the oil-polluted source and Comamonadaceae is significant in the secondary polluted (migrated oil) sample; these two genera are natural decomposers of refractory matters. Amycolatopsis, Rhodocyclaceae, Sulfurimonas, and Sulfuricurvum are the dominant genera in the long-migrated oil-polluted samples. Bioavailability of the oil-contaminated place differs with levels of pollution and cleaning the worse-polluted sites by microbes is more difficult.

  13. Biomass burning influences determination based on PM2.5 chemical composition combined with fire counts at southeastern Tibetan Plateau during pre-monsoon period

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Ningning; Cao, Junji; Wang, Qiyuan; Huang, Rujin; Zhu, Chongshu; Xiao, Shun; Wang, Linlin

    2018-07-01

    Influences of biomass burning (BB) on a high altitude site were investigated by collecting fine particulate matter (PM2.5) samples from 29 March to 27 April of 2012 at Mt. Yulong (4500 m above sea level), and analyzing them for selected chemical species including water soluble ions (WSIs), organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and n-alkanes. The mean PM2.5 mass loading for the study was 6.30 ± 4.90 μg m-3, and 15.48 ± 2.82 μg m-3 and 1.75 ± 0.41 μg m-3 for a high and a low PM episode, respectively. WSIs accounted for 62% of the total mass, and SO42- was the dominant anion and NH4+ was the main cation. PAHs were mainly 3 ring compounds, fluorene (Flo) and phenanthrene (Phe) together accounted for 54% of the total PAHs. For n-alkanes, n-Nonacosane (C29) concentration was the highest with the value of 1.09 ± 1.18 ng m-3, following is n-Hentriacontane (C31) and n-Heptacosane (C27) suggested that n-alkane in our samples were mainly contributed by biogenic sources. BB emission was confirmed by the diagnostic ratios, and it also had a significant influence on aerosol optical depth (AOD) distribution and enhances the concentration of most species, especially for OC, K+ and EC. Significant relationships were found between daily fire counts and BB species, and correlation coefficients (r) for mass, K+, OC, and EC were 0.58, 0.57, 0.53 and 0.60 (n = 29, P < 0.01), respectively. It indicated that daily fire counts can advance our understanding of how biomass burning affect aerosols and air quality at a high-altitude site.

  14. Biodegradation of Mixed PAHs by PAH-Degrading Endophytic Bacteria.

    PubMed

    Zhu, Xuezhu; Ni, Xue; Waigi, Michael Gatheru; Liu, Juan; Sun, Kai; Gao, Yanzheng

    2016-08-09

    Endophytic bacteria can promote plant growth, induce plant defence mechanisms, and increase plant resistance to organic contaminants. The aims of the present study were to isolate highly PAH-degrading endophytic bacteria from plants growing at PAH-contaminated sites and to evaluate the capabilities of these bacteria to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in vitro, which will be beneficial for re-colonizing target plants and reducing plant PAH residues through the inoculation of plants with endophytic bacteria. Two endophytic bacterial strains P₁ (Stenotrophomonas sp.) and P₃ (Pseudomonas sp.), which degraded more than 90% of phenanthrene (PHE) within 7 days, were isolated from Conyza canadensis and Trifolium pretense L., respectively. Both strains could use naphthalene (NAP), PHE, fluorene (FLR), pyrene (PYR), and benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) as the sole sources of carbon and energy. Moreover, these bacteria reduced the contamination of mixed PAHs at high levels after inoculation for 7 days; strain P₁ degraded 98.0% NAP, 83.1% FLR, 87.8% PHE, 14.4% PYR, and 1.6% B(a)P, and strain P₃ degraded 95.3% NAP, 87.9% FLR, 90.4% PHE, 6.9% PYR, and negligible B(a)P. Notably, the biodegradation of PAHs could be promoted through additional carbon and nitrogen nutrients; therein, beef extract was suggested as the optimal co-substrate for the degradation of PAHs by these two strains (99.1% PHE was degraded within 7 days). Compared with strain P₁, strain P₃ has more potential for the use in the removal of PAHs from plant tissues. These results provide a novel perspective in the reduction of plant PAH residues in PAH-contaminated sites through inoculating plants with highly PAH-degrading endophytic bacteria.

  15. Improved optimization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) mixtures resolution in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography by using factorial design and response surface methodology.

    PubMed

    Andrade-Eiroa, Auréa; Diévart, Pascal; Dagaut, Philippe

    2010-04-15

    A new procedure for optimizing PAHs separation in very complex mixtures by reverse phase high performance (RPLC) is proposed. It is based on changing gradually the experimental conditions all along the chromatographic procedure as a function of the physical properties of the compounds eluted. The temperature and speed flow gradients allowed obtaining the optimum resolution in large chromatographic determinations where PAHs with very different medium polarizability have to be separated. Whereas optimization procedures of RPLC methodologies had always been accomplished regardless of the physico-chemical properties of the target analytes, we found that resolution is highly dependent on the physico-chemical properties of the target analytes. Based on resolution criterion, optimization process for a 16 EPA PAHs mixture was performed on three sets of difficult-to-separate PAHs pairs: acenaphthene-fluorene (for the optimization procedure in the first part of the chromatogram where light PAHs elute), benzo[g,h,i]perylene-dibenzo[a,h]anthracene and benzo[g,h,i]perylene-indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene (for the optimization procedure of the second part of the chromatogram where the heavier PAHs elute). Two-level full factorial designs were applied to detect interactions among variables to be optimized: speed flow, temperature of column oven and mobile-phase gradient in the two parts of the studied chromatogram. Experimental data were fitted by multivariate nonlinear regression models and optimum values of speed flow and temperature were obtained through mathematical analysis of the constructed models. An HPLC system equipped with a reversed phase 5 microm C18, 250 mm x 4.6mm column (with acetonitrile/water mobile phase), a column oven, a binary pump, a photodiode array detector (PDA), and a fluorimetric detector were used in this work. Optimum resolution was achieved operating at 1.0 mL/min in the first part of the chromatogram (until 45 min) and 0.5 mL/min in the second one (from 45

  16. Study on the structures and anti-hepatic fibrosis activity of stilbenoids from Arundina graminifolia (D. Don) Hochr.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Qingqing; Wang, Huiting; Lin, Fankai; Dai, Rongji; Yu, Deng lin; Lv, Fang

    2017-12-01

    A phytochemical study was performed on Arundina graminifolia (D.Don) Hochr. by silica gel column and semi-preparative HPLC, and ten stilbenoids were obtained. Their structures were elucidated by NMR and MS spectra and identified as 7-hydroxy-2,4-dimethoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (1), 4,7-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (2), 2,7-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (3), 3,3’-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-bibenzyl (4), 7-hydroxy-2,8-dimethoxy-phenanthrene-1,4-dione (5), 7-hydroxy-2,10-dimethoxy-phenanthre-ne-1,4-dione (6), 7-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-1,4-dione (7), 7-hydroxy-2-methoxy-phenanthrene-1,4-dione (8), 7-hydroxy-1-(p-hydroxybenzyl)-2,4-dimethoxy-9,10-dihydroxy-phenanthrene (9), 2,7-dihydroxy-1-(p-hydroxybenzyl)-4-methoxy-9,10-dihydroxy-phenanthrene (10). Compounds 5 and 6 were isolated from this plant for the first time. The isolated compounds were examined for their anti-hepatic fibrosis activity against HSC-T6 cells in vitro. The results showed that compounds 4 and 5 exhibited moderate growth inhibitory effects with IC50 61.9 μg/mL and 52.7 μg/mL, respectively.

  17. Differential electron emission from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules under fast ion impact

    DOE PAGES

    Biswas, Shubhadeep; Champion, Christophe; Weck, P. F.; ...

    2017-07-17

    Interaction between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecule and energetic ion is a subject of interest in different areas of modern physics. Here, we present measurements of energy and angular distributions of absolute double differential electron emission cross section for coronene (C 24H 12) and fluorene (C 13H 10) molecules under fast bare oxygen ion impact. For coronene, the angular distributions of the low energy electrons are quite different from that of simpler targets like Ne or CH 4, which is not the case for fluorene. The behaviour of the higher electron energy distributions for both the targets are similar tomore » that for simple targets. In case of coronene, a clear signature of plasmon resonance is observed in the analysis of forward-backward angular asymmetry of low energy electron emission. For fluorene, such signature is not identified probably due to lower oscillator strength of plasmon compared to the coronene. The theoretical calculation based on the first-order Born approximation with correct boundary conditions (CB1), in general, reproduced the experimental observations qualitatively, for both the molecules, except in the low energy region for coronene, which again indicates the role of collective excitation. Single differential and total cross sections are also deduced. An overall comparative study is presented.« less

  18. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Biswas, Shubhadeep; Champion, Christophe; Weck, P. F.

    Interaction between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecule and energetic ion is a subject of interest in different areas of modern physics. Here, we present measurements of energy and angular distributions of absolute double differential electron emission cross section for coronene (C 24H 12) and fluorene (C 13H 10) molecules under fast bare oxygen ion impact. For coronene, the angular distributions of the low energy electrons are quite different from that of simpler targets like Ne or CH 4, which is not the case for fluorene. The behaviour of the higher electron energy distributions for both the targets are similar tomore » that for simple targets. In case of coronene, a clear signature of plasmon resonance is observed in the analysis of forward-backward angular asymmetry of low energy electron emission. For fluorene, such signature is not identified probably due to lower oscillator strength of plasmon compared to the coronene. The theoretical calculation based on the first-order Born approximation with correct boundary conditions (CB1), in general, reproduced the experimental observations qualitatively, for both the molecules, except in the low energy region for coronene, which again indicates the role of collective excitation. Single differential and total cross sections are also deduced. An overall comparative study is presented.« less

  19. Investigations of microbial degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons based on 13C-labeled phenanthrene in a soil co-contaminated with trace elements using a plant assisted approach.

    PubMed

    Wawra, Anna; Friesl-Hanl, Wolfgang; Jäger, Anna; Puschenreiter, Markus; Soja, Gerhard; Reichenauer, Thomas; Watzinger, Andrea

    2018-03-01

    Co-contaminations of soils with organic and inorganic pollutants are a frequent environmental problem. Due to their toxicity and recalcitrance, the heterogeneous pollutants may persist in soil. The hypothesis of this study was that degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is enhanced if heavy metals in soil are immobilized and their bioavailability reduced. For metal immobilization and enhanced biodegradation, distinct mineral and organic soil amendments (iron oxides, gravel sludge, biochar) were deployed in an incubation batch experiment. The second part of the experiment consisted of a greenhouse pot experiment applying fast-growing and pollution-tolerant woody plants (willow and black locust). Soil amendments initially immobilized NH 4 NO 3 -extractable zinc, cadmium, and lead; after 100 days of incubation, soil amendments showed reductions only for cadmium and a tendency to enhance arsenic mobility. In order to monitor the remediation success, a 13 C-phenanthrene (PHE) label was applied. 13 C-phospholipid fatty acid analysis ( 13 C-PLFA) further enabled the identification of PHE-degrading soil microorganisms. Both experiments exhibited a similar PLFA profile. Gram-negative bacteria (esp. cy17:0, 16:1ω7 + 6, 18:1ω7c) were the most significant microbial group taking up 13 C-PHE. Plants effectively increased the label uptake by gram-positive bacteria and increased the biomass of the fungal biomarker, although their contribution to the degradation process was minor. Plants tended to prolong PAH dissipation in soil; at the end of the experiment, however, all treatments showed equally low total PAH concentrations in soil. While black locust plants tended not to take up potentially toxic trace elements, willows accumulated them in their leaves. The results of this study show that the chosen treatments did not enhance the remediation of the experimental soil.

  20. Hierarchical structure and dynamics of oligocarbonate-functionalized PEG block copolymer gels

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Prabhu, Vivek; Wei, Guangmin; Ali, Samim; Venkataraman, Shrinivas; Yang, Yi Yan; Hedrick, James

    Hierarchical, self-assembled block copolymers in aqueous solutions provide advanced materials for biomaterial applications. Recent advancements in the synthesis of aliphatic polycarbonates have shown nontraditional micellar and hierarchical structures driven by the supramolecular assembly of the carbonate block functionality that includes cholesterol, vitamin D, and fluorene. This presentation shall describe the supramolecular assembly structure and dynamics observed by static and dynamic light scattering, small-angle neutron scattering and transmission electron microscopy in a model pi-pi stacking driven fluorene system. The combination of real-space and reciprocal space methods to develop appropriate models that quantify the structure from the micelle to transient gel network will be discussed. 1) Biomedical Research Council, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 2) NIST Materials Genome Initiative.

  1. Hydrous pyrolysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and implications for the origin of PAH in hydrothermal petroleum

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    McCollom, T. M.; Simoneit, B. R.; Shock, E. L.

    1999-01-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are found at high concentrations in thermally altered organic matter and hydrothermally generated petroleum from sediment-covered seafloor hydro-thermal systems. To better understand the factors controlling the occurrence of PAH in thermally altered environments, the reactivities of two PAH, phenanthrene and anthracene, were investigated in hydrothermal experiments. The compounds were heated with water at 330 degrees C in sealed reaction vessels for durations ranging from 1 to 17 days. Iron oxide and sulfide minerals, formic acid, or sodium for-mate were included in some experiments to vary conditions within the reaction vessel. Phenanthrene was unreactive both in water alone and in the presence of minerals for up to 17 days, while anthracene was partially hydrogenated (5-10%) to di- and tetrahydroanthracene. In the presence of 6-21 vol % formic acid, both phenanthrene and anthracene reacted extensively to form hydrogenated and minor methylated derivatives, with the degree of hydrogenation and methylation increasing with the amount of formic acid. Phenanthrene was slightly hydrogenated in sodium formate solutions. The hydrogenation reactions could be readily reversed; heating a mixture of polysaturated phenanthrenes resulted in extensive dehydrogenation (aromatization) after 3 days at 330 degrees C. While the experiments demonstrate that reaction pathways for the hydrogenation of PAH under hydrothermal conditions exist, the reactions apparently require higher concentrations of H2 than are typical of geologic settings. The experiments provide additional evidence that PAH may be generated in hydrothermal systems from progressive aromatization and dealkylation of biologically derived polycyclic precursors such as steroids and terpenoids. Furthermore, the results indicate that PAH initially present in sediments or formed within hydrothermal systems are resistant to further thermal degradation during hydrothermal alteration.

  2. Phototoxic effects of PAH and UVA exposure on molecular responses and developmental success in coral larvae.

    PubMed

    Overmans, Sebastian; Nordborg, Mikaela; Díaz-Rúa, Rubén; Brinkman, Diane L; Negri, Andrew P; Agustí, Susana

    2018-05-01

    Exposure to polycyclic aromatic carbons (PAHs) poses a growing risk to coral reefs due to increasing shipping and petroleum extraction in tropical waters. Damaging effects of specific PAHs can be further enhanced by the presence of ultraviolet radiation, known as phototoxicity. We tested phototoxic effects of the PAHs anthracene and phenanthrene on larvae of the scleractinian coral Acropora tenuis in the presence and absence of UVA (320-400 nm). Activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme was reduced by anthracene while phenanthrene and UVA exposure did not have any effect. Gene expression of MnSod remained constant across all treatments. The genes Catalase, Hsp70 and Hsp90 showed increased expression levels in larvae exposed to anthracene, but not phenanthrene. Gene expression of p53 was upregulated in the presence of UVA, but downregulated when exposed to PAHs. The influence on stress-related biochemical pathways and gene expresson in A. tenuis larvae was considerably greater for anthracene than phenanthrene, and UVA-induced phototoxicity was only evident for anthracene. The combined effects of UVA and PAH exposure on larval survival and metamorphosis paralleled the sub-lethal stress responses, clearly highlighting the interaction of UVA on anthracene toxicity and ultimately the coral's development. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Insights into the sorption properties of cutin and cutan biopolymers.

    PubMed

    Shechter, Michal; Chefetz, Benny

    2008-02-15

    Plant cuticles have been reported as highly efficient sorbents for organic compounds. The objective of this study was to elucidate the sorption and desorption behavior of polar and nonpolar organic compounds with the major structural components of the plant cuticle: the biopolymers cutin and cutan. The sorption affinity values of the studied compounds followed the order: phenanthrene > atrazine > chlorotoluron > carbamazepine. A higher sorption affinity of phenanthrene and atrazine to cutin was probably due to the higher level of amorphous paraffinic carbon in this biopolymer. Phenanthrene exhibited reversible sorption behavior and a high ratio of organic-carbon-normalized distribution coefficient (Koc) to carbon-normalized octanol-water partitioning coefficients (Kowc) with both biopolymers. This suggests that both biopolymers provide phenanthrene with a partition medium for hydrophobic interactions with the flexible long alkyl-chain moieties of the biopolymers. The low Koc/Kowc ratios obtained for the polar sorbates suggest that the polar sites in the biopolymers are not accessible for sorption interactions. Atrazine and carbamazepine exhibited sorption-desorption hysteresis with both sorbents, indicating that both sorbates interact with cutin and cutan via both hydrophobic and specific interactions. In general, the sorptive properties of the studied biopolymers were similar, signifying that the active sorption sites are similar even though the biopolymers exhibit different properties.

  4. Biodegradation of polycyclic hydrocarbons by Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

    PubMed

    Bumpus, J A

    1989-01-01

    The ability of the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are present in anthracene oil (a distillation product obtained from coal tar) was demonstrated. Analysis by capillary gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography showed that at least 22 PAHs, including all of the most abundant PAH components present in anthracene oil, underwent 70 to 100% disappearance during 27 days of incubation with nutrient nitrogen-limited cultures of this fungus. Because phenanthrene is the most abundant PAH present in anthracene oil, this PAH was selected for further study. In experiments in which [14C]phenanthrene was incubated with cultures of P. chrysosporium containing anthracene oil for 27 days, it was shown that 7.7% of the recovered radiolabeled carbon originally present in [14C]phenanthrene was metabolized to 14CO2 and 25.2% was recovered from the aqueous fraction, while 56.1 and 11.0% were recovered from the methylene chloride and particulate fractions, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography of the 14C-labeled material present in the methylene chloride fraction revealed that most (91.9%) of this material was composed of polar metabolites of [14C]phenanthrene. These results suggest that this microorganism may be useful for the decontamination of sites in the environment contaminated with PAHs.

  5. Predictive Chemical and Statistical Modeling of Particulate Matter Formation in Turbulent Combustion with Application to Aircraft Engines

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-03-01

    the reactant. faster than phenanthrene II, whereas the latter decomposes about as fast as phenanthrene III. The correlation of these rates with the...the spreading rate of the jet at the first station near the nozzle is slightly too fast . Second, at the two downstream stations, the centerline...In previous RANS studies [93–96], the same two discrepancies are observed, that is, an initial jet spreading rate that is too fast and an

  6. Synthesis and properties of functionalized 4 nm scale molecular wires with thiolated termini for self-assembly onto metal surfaces.

    PubMed

    Wang, Changsheng; Bryce, Martin R; Gigon, Joanna; Ashwell, Geoffrey J; Grace, Iain; Lambert, Colin J

    2008-07-04

    We report the synthesis of new oligo(aryleneethynylene) molecular wires of ca. 4 nm length scale by palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling methodology. Key structural features are the presence of electron donor 9-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)fluorene (compounds 13 and 14) and electron acceptor 9-[di(4-pyridyl)methylene]fluorene units (compound 16) at the core of the molecules. Terminal thiolate substituents are protected as cyanoethylsulfanyl (13 and 16) or thioacetate derivatives (14). The molecules display well-defined redox processes in solution electrochemical studies. The optical properties in solution are similar to those of the fluorenone analog 6: the strongest absorptions for 6, 13 and 16 are in the region lambda(max) = 387-393 nm, with 13 showing an additional shoulder at 415 nm which is not present for 6 and 16; this shoulder is assigned to a HOMO-LUMO transition from the dithiole to the fluorene unit. Molecules 6, 13, 14 and 16 form self-assembled monolayers on gold substrates which exhibit essentially symmetrical current-voltage (I-V) characteristics when contacted by a gold scanning tunelling microscope (STM) tip. The effects of the chemical modifications at the central unit of 6, 14 and 16 on the HOMO-LUMO levels and electron transport through the molecules in vacuum have been computed by an ab initio approach.

  7. A Novel Cardiotoxic Mechanism for a Pervasive Global Pollutant

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brette, Fabien; Shiels, Holly A.; Galli, Gina L. J.; Cros, Caroline; Incardona, John P.; Scholz, Nathaniel L.; Block, Barbara A.

    2017-01-01

    The Deepwater Horizon disaster drew global attention to the toxicity of crude oil and the potential for adverse health effects amongst marine life and spill responders in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The blowout released complex mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into critical pelagic spawning habitats for tunas, billfishes, and other ecologically important top predators. Crude oil disrupts cardiac function and has been associated with heart malformations in developing fish. However, the precise identity of cardiotoxic PAHs, and the mechanisms underlying contractile dysfunction are not known. Here we show that phenanthrene, a PAH with a benzene 3-ring structure, is the key moiety disrupting the physiology of heart muscle cells. Phenanthrene is a ubiquitous pollutant in water and air, and the cellular targets for this compound are highly conserved across vertebrates. Our findings therefore suggest that phenanthrene may be a major worldwide cause of vertebrate cardiac dysfunction.

  8. Stretchable Fluorescent Polyfluorene/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber Blend Electrospun Fibers through Physical Interaction and Geometrical Confinement.

    PubMed

    Hsieh, Hui-Ching; Chen, Jung-Yao; Lee, Wen-Ya; Bera, Debaditya; Chen, Wen-Chang

    2018-03-01

    Stretchable light-emitting polymers are important for wearable electronics; however, the development of intrinsic stretchable light-emitting materials with great performance under large applied strain is the most critical challenge. Herein, this study demonstrates the fabrication of stretchable fluorescent poly[(9,9-bis(3'-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl)-2,7-fluorene)-alt-2,7-(9,9-dioctyl-fluorene)]/acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (PFN/NBR) blend nanofibers using the uniaxial electrospinning technique. The physical interaction of PFN with NBR and the geometrical confinement of nanofibers are employed to reduce PFN aggregation, leading to the high photoluminescence quantum yield of 35.7%. Such fiber mat film shows stable blue emission at the 50% strain for 200 stretching/release cycles, which has potential applications in smart textiles. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  9. Development of acute and chronic sediment bioassays with the harpacticoid copepod Quinquelaophonte sp.

    PubMed

    Stringer, Tristan J; Glover, Chris N; Keesing, Vaughan; Northcott, Grant L; Gaw, Sally; Tremblay, Louis A

    2014-01-01

    Reliable environmentally realistic bioassay methodologies are increasingly needed to assess the effects of environmental pollution. This study describes two estuarine sediment bioassays, one acute (96 h) and one chronic (14 d), with the New Zealand harpacticoid copepod Quinquelaophonte sp. utilising behavioural and reproductive endpoints. Spiked sediments were used to expose Quinquelaophonte sp. to three reference compounds representing important categories of estuarine chemical stressors: zinc (a metal), atrazine (a pesticide), and phenanthrene (a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon). Acute-to-chronic ratios (ACR) were used to further characterise species responses. Acute sediment (sandy and low total organic content) 96 h EC50 values for the sublethal inhibition of mobility for zinc, atrazine and phenanthrene were 137, 5.4, and 2.6 µg/g, respectively. The chronic EC50 values for inhibition of reproduction (total offspring) were 54.5, 0.0083, and 0.067 µg/g for zinc, atrazine, and phenanthrene, respectively. For phenanthrene, a potentially novel mode of action was identified on reproduction. Quinquelaophonte sp. was found to be more sensitive than several other estuarine species indicating choice of test organism is important to characterising the effects of environmentally relevant levels of contamination. The bioassay sediment results demonstrate the sensitivity and suitability of Quinquelaophonte sp. as a tool for the assessment use of estuarine health. © 2013 Published by Elsevier Inc.

  10. Biodegradation of polycyclic hydrocarbons by Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

    PubMed Central

    Bumpus, J A

    1989-01-01

    The ability of the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are present in anthracene oil (a distillation product obtained from coal tar) was demonstrated. Analysis by capillary gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography showed that at least 22 PAHs, including all of the most abundant PAH components present in anthracene oil, underwent 70 to 100% disappearance during 27 days of incubation with nutrient nitrogen-limited cultures of this fungus. Because phenanthrene is the most abundant PAH present in anthracene oil, this PAH was selected for further study. In experiments in which [14C]phenanthrene was incubated with cultures of P. chrysosporium containing anthracene oil for 27 days, it was shown that 7.7% of the recovered radiolabeled carbon originally present in [14C]phenanthrene was metabolized to 14CO2 and 25.2% was recovered from the aqueous fraction, while 56.1 and 11.0% were recovered from the methylene chloride and particulate fractions, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography of the 14C-labeled material present in the methylene chloride fraction revealed that most (91.9%) of this material was composed of polar metabolites of [14C]phenanthrene. These results suggest that this microorganism may be useful for the decontamination of sites in the environment contaminated with PAHs. PMID:2705768

  11. Syntheses and evaluation of multicaulin and miltirone-like compounds as antituberculosis agents.

    PubMed

    Burmaoğlu, Serdar; Seçinti, Hatice; Mozioğlu, Erkan; Gören, Ahmet C; Altundaş, Ramazan; Seçen, Hasan

    2017-12-01

    Four multicaulin and miltirone-like phenanthrene derivatives were synthesised and evaluated as antituberculosis agents. The crucial step of the synthesis was Pschorr coupling of 4-(3-isopropyl-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-(2-aminophenyl)ethane (13) to give 2-isopropyl-3-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (9) and 4-isopropyl-3-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (9a). Compound 9 was converted to multicaulin and miltirone-like phenanthrene derivatives by further reactions. The best antituberculosis activity was exhibited by 2-isopropylphenanthrene-3-ol (11).

  12. Extracellular polymeric substances govern the development of biofilm and mass transfer of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for improved biodegradation.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Yinping; Wang, Fang; Zhu, Xiaoshu; Zeng, Jun; Zhao, Qiguo; Jiang, Xin

    2015-10-01

    The hypothesis that extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) affect the formation of biofilms for subsequent enhanced biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was tested. Controlled formation of biofilms on humin particles and biodegradation of phenanthrene and pyrene were performed with bacteria and EPS-extracted bacteria of Micrococcus sp. PHE9 and Mycobacterium sp. NJS-P. Bacteria without EPS extraction developed biofilms on humin, in contrast the EPS-extracted bacteria could not attach to humin particles. In the subsequent biodegradation of phenanthrene and pyrene, the biodegradation rates by biofilms were significantly higher than those of EPS-extracted bacteria. Although, both the biofilms and EPS-extracted bacteria showed increases in EPS contents, only the EPS contents in biofilms displayed significant correlations with the biodegradation efficiencies of phenanthrene and pyrene. It is proposed that the bacterial-produced EPS was a key factor to mediate bacterial attachment to other surfaces and develop biofilms, thereby increasing the bioavailability of poorly soluble PAH for enhanced biodegradation. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  13. Identification of petroleum hydrocarbons using a reduced number of PAHs selected by Procrustes rotation.

    PubMed

    Fernández-Varela, R; Andrade, J M; Muniategui, S; Prada, D; Ramírez-Villalobos, F

    2010-04-01

    Identifying petroleum-related products released into the environment is a complex and difficult task. To achieve this, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of outstanding importance nowadays. Despite traditional quantitative fingerprinting uses straightforward univariate statistical analyses to differentiate among oils and to assess their sources, a multivariate strategy based on Procrustes rotation (PR) was applied in this paper. The aim of PR is to select a reduced subset of PAHs still capable of performing a satisfactory identification of petroleum-related hydrocarbons. PR selected two subsets of three (C(2)-naphthalene, C(2)-dibenzothiophene and C(2)-phenanthrene) and five (C(1)-decahidronaphthalene, naphthalene, C(2)-phenanthrene, C(3)-phenanthrene and C(2)-fluoranthene) PAHs for each of the two datasets studied here. The classification abilities of each subset of PAHs were tested using principal components analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis and Kohonen neural networks and it was demonstrated that they unraveled the same patterns as the overall set of PAHs. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Synthesis and fluorescence emission properties of 1,3,6,8-tetraarylpyrenes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hu, Jian-Yong; Feng, Xing; Tomiyasu, Hirotsugu; Seto, Nobuyuki; Rayhan, Ummey; Elsegood, Mark R. J.; Redshaw, Carl; Yamato, Takehiko

    2013-09-01

    Three types of stable pyrene-based highly fluorescence (blue) compounds, 1-, 1,6-bis, 1,8-bis and 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(7-tert-butylpyrenyl)pyrenes and 1,3,6,8-tetrakis[9,9-bis(3-methylbutyl)-9H-fluoren-2-yl]pyrene, were successfully synthesized via a Pd/Cu-catalysed Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of the corresponding bromopyrenes with 7-tert-butyl-1-pyrenylboronic ester or 2-[9,9-bis(3-methylbutyl)-9H-fluoren-2-yl]-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl[1,3,2]dioxaborolane, respectively. All compounds have good solubility in common organic solvents and high thermal stability with melting points up to 270 °C; the exceptions are the isomeric 1,6-bis-, and 1,8-bispyrenyl-substituted pyrenes. All products show high extinction coefficients of absorption (λmax ≈ 349-396 nm) and high quantum yields (λmax ≈ 432-465 nm; Φf ≈ 0.75-0.99) in dichloromethane solution, and emit strong fluorescence in the visible region ranging from deep-blue to pure-blue on increasing the number of substituents. This data suggests that such systems have promise as blue emitters in organic light-emitting device (OLED) applications (OLED = organic light emitting diode). Crystal structures were determined for 1,3,6,8-tetrakis [9,9-bis(3-methylbutyl)-9H-fluoren-2-yl] pyrene and 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)pyrene.

  15. Low-voltage polariton electroluminescence from an ultrastrongly coupled organic light-emitting diode

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gubbin, Christopher R.; Maier, Stefan A.; Kéna-Cohen, Stéphane, E-mail: s.kena-cohen@polymtl.ca

    2014-06-09

    We demonstrate electroluminescence from Frenkel molecular excitons ultrastrongly coupled to photons of a metal-clad microcavity containing a 2,7-bis[9,9-di(4-methylphenyl)-fluoren-2-yl]-9,9-di(4-methylphenyl)fluorene emissive layer. Thin layers of molybdenum oxide and 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline are used as hole and electron injection layers, respectively. The fabricated devices exhibit an electroluminescence threshold of 3.1 V, a value that is below the bare exciton energy. This result is found to be independent of detuning and consistent with a two-step process for polariton formation. Moreover, we investigate the quantum efficiency of carrier to polariton to photon conversion and obtain an external quantum efficiency of 0.1% for the fabricated structures, an improvement ofmore » 5 orders of magnitude over previous reports.« less

  16. Monitoring of selected priority and emerging contaminants in the Guadalquivir River and other related surface waters in the province of Jaén, South East Spain.

    PubMed

    Robles-Molina, José; Gilbert-López, Bienvenida; García-Reyes, Juan F; Molina-Díaz, Antonio

    2014-05-01

    The province of Jaén counts with four natural parks, numerous rivers, reservoirs and wetlands; moreover, it is probably the region with higher olive oil production in the world, which makes this zone a proper target to be studied based on the European Water Framework Directive 2000/60/CE. The aim of this survey is to monitor a total number of 373 compounds belonging to different families (pesticides, PAHs, nitrosamines, drugs of abuse, pharmaceuticals and life-style compounds) in surface waters located at different points of the province of Jaén. Among these compounds some priority organic substances (regulated by the EU Directive 2008/105/EC) and pollutants of emerging concern (not regulated yet) can be found. A liquid chromatography electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOFMS) method covering 340 compounds was developed and applied, together with a gas chromatography triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method which enabled the analysis of 63 organic contaminants (30 of these compounds are analyzed by LC-TOFMS as well). From April 2009 to November 2010 a total of 83 surface water samples were collected (rivers, reservoirs and wetlands). In this period numerous organic contaminants were detected, most of them at the ng L(-1) level. The most frequently priority substances found were chlorpyrifos ethyl, diuron and hexachlorobenzene. Within the other groups, the most frequently detected compounds were: terbuthylazine, oxyfluorfen, desethyl terbuthylazine, diphenylamine (pesticide family); fluorene, phenanthrene, pyrene (PAHs group), codeine, paracetamol (pharmaceuticals compounds) and caffeine, nicotine (life-style compounds). As is could be expected, the total concentration of emerging contaminants is distinctly larger than that of priority pollutants, highlighting the importance of continuing with the study of their presence, fate and effects in aquatic environments. However, concentration levels (at the ng per liter level) are low in

  17. Monitoring priority substances, other organic contaminants and heavy metals in a volcanic aquifer from different sources and hydrological processes.

    PubMed

    Estevez, Esmeralda; Cabrera, María del Carmen; Fernández-Vera, Juan Ramón; Molina-Díaz, Antonio; Robles-Molina, José; Palacios-Díaz, María del Pino

    2016-05-01

    Irrigation with reclaimed water (R) is necessary to guarantee the sustainability of semi-arid areas. Results obtained during a two years monitoring network (2009-2011) in Gran Canaria are presented, including the analysis of chemical parameters, N and S isotopes, priority substances (2008/105/EC, 2013/39/EU), other organic contaminants and heavy metals in groundwater and R used to irrigate a golf course. The aims of this work are to evaluate the contamination in a volcanic aquifer, relate the presence of organic contaminants and heavy metals with the hydrogeochemistry and identify pollution sources in the area. No priority substance exceeded the EU thresholds for surface water, although seventeen were detected in R. The most frequent compounds were hexachlorobenzene, chlorpyrifos ethyl, fluorene, phenanthrene and pyrene. These compounds were detected at low concentration, except chlorpyrifos. Chlorpyrifos ethyl, terbuthylazine, diuron, terbutryn, procymidone, atrazine and propazine exceeded the European threshold concentration for pesticides in groundwater (100ngL(-1)). Therefore, the priority substances chlorpyrifos ethyl and diuron must be included in monitoring studies. The priority pesticides chlorfenvinphos and diazinon were always detected in R but rarely in groundwater. Besides, the existence of contaminants not related to the current R irrigation has been identified. Absence of environmental problems related to heavy metals can be expected. The relationship among contaminant presence, hydrogeochemistry, including the stable isotopic prints of δ(18)O, δ(15)N and δ(34)S and preferential recharge paths has been described. The coastal well shows high values of EC, nitrate, a variable chemistry, and 50% of organic contaminants detected above 100ngL(-1). The well located in the recharge area presents a stable hydrochemistry, the lowest value of δ(15)N and the lowest contaminants occurrence. The area is an example of a complex volcanic media with several

  18. Distribution and sources of bioaccumulative air pollutants at Mezquital Valley, Mexico, as reflected by the atmospheric plant Tillandsia recurvata L.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zambrano García, A.; Medina Coyotzin, C.; Rojas Amaro, A.; López Veneroni, D.; Martínez, L. Chang; Sosa Iglesias, G.

    2009-03-01

    Mezquital Valley (MV), a Mexican wastewater-based agricultural and industrial region, is a ''hot spot'' of regulated air pollutants emissions, but the concurrent unregulated ones, like hazardous metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), remain undocumented. A biomonitoring survey with the epiphytic Tillandsia recurvata was conducted there to detect spatial patterns and potential sources of 20 airborne elements and 15 PAH. The natural δ13C and δ15N ratios of this plant helped in source identification. The regional mean concentrations of most elements was two (Cr) to over 40 times (Ni, Pb, V) higher than reported for Tillandsia in other countries. Eleven elements, pyrene and chrysene had 18-214% higher mean concentration at the industrial south than at the agricultural north of MV. The total quantified PAH (mean, 572 ng g-1; range, 142.6-2568) were composed by medium (65%, phenanthrene to chrysene), low (28%, naphthalene to fluorene) and high molecular weight compounds (7%, Benzo(b)fluoranthene to indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene). The δ13C (mean, -14.6‰; range, -5.7 to -13.7‰) was lower (<-15‰) near the major petroleum combustion sources. The δ15N (mean, -3.0‰; range, -9.9 to 3.3‰) varied from positive at agriculture/industrial areas to negative at rural sites. Factor analysis provided a five-factor solution for 74% of the data variance: (1) crustal rocks, 39.5% (Al, Ba, Cu, Fe, Sr, Ti); (2) soils, 11.3%, contrasting contributions from natural (Mg, Mn, Zn) and saline agriculture soils (Na); (3) cement production and fossil fuel combustion, 9.8% (Ca, Ni, V, chrysene, pyrene); (4) probable agricultural biomass burning, 8.1% (K and benzo(g,h,i)perylene), and (5) agriculture with wastewater, 5.2% (δ15N and P). These results indicated high deposition of bioaccumulative air pollutants at MV, especially at the industrial area. Since T. recurvata reflected the regional differences in exposition, it is recommended as a biomonitor for comparisons within and

  19. Exposure to Nicotine and Selected Toxicants in Cigarette Smokers Who Switched to Electronic Cigarettes: A Longitudinal Within-Subjects Observational Study

    PubMed Central

    Gawron, Michal; Smith, Danielle M.; Peng, Margaret; Jacob, Peyton; Benowitz, Neal L.

    2017-01-01

    Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are purported to deliver nicotine aerosol without any toxic combustion products present in tobacco smoke. In this longitudinal within-subjects observational study, we evaluated the effects of e-cigarettes on nicotine delivery and exposure to selected carcinogens and toxicants. Methods: We measured seven nicotine metabolites and 17 tobacco smoke exposure biomarkers in the urine samples of 20 smokers collected before and after switching to pen-style M201 e-cigarettes for 2 weeks. Biomarkers were metabolites of 13 major carcinogens and toxicants in cigarette smoke: one tobacco-specific nitrosamine (NNK), eight volatile organic compounds (1,3-butadiene, crotonaldehyde, acrolein, benzene, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, ethylene oxide, and propylene oxide), and four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and pyrene). Changes in urine biomarkers concentration were tested using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: In total, 45% of participants reported complete abstinence from cigarette smoking at 2 weeks, while 55% reported continued smoking. Levels of total nicotine and some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites did not change after switching from tobacco to e-cigarettes. All other biomarkers significantly decreased after 1 week of using e-cigarettes (p < .05). After 1 week, the greatest percentage reductions in biomarkers levels were observed for metabolites of 1,3-butadiene, benzene, and acrylonitrile. Total NNAL, a metabolite of NNK, declined by 57% and 64% after 1 and 2 weeks, respectively, while 3-hydroxyfluorene levels declined by 46% at week 1, and 34% at week 2. Conclusions: After switching from tobacco to e-cigarettes, nicotine exposure remains unchanged, while exposure to selected carcinogens and toxicants is substantially reduced. Implications: To our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates that substituting tobacco cigarettes with an e-cigarette may

  20. Identification of the Full 46 Cytochrome P450 (CYP) Complement and Modulation of CYP Expression in Response to Water-Accommodated Fractions of Crude Oil in the Cyclopoid Copepod Paracyclopina nana.

    PubMed

    Han, Jeonghoon; Won, Eun-Ji; Kim, Hui-Su; Nelson, David R; Lee, Su-Jae; Park, Heum Gi; Lee, Jae-Seong

    2015-06-02

    The 46 cytochrome P450 (CYP) gene superfamily was identified in the marine copepod Paracyclopina nana after searching an RNA-seq database and comparing it with other copepod CYP gene families. To annotate the 46 Pn-CYP genes, a phylogenetic analysis of CYP genes was performed using a Bayesian method. Pn-CYP genes were separated into five different clans: CYP2, CYP3, CYP20, CYP26, and mitochondrial. Among these, the principal Pn-CYP genes involved in detoxification were identified by comparing them with those of the copepod Tigriopus japonicus and were examined with respect to their responses to exposure to a water-accommodated fraction (WAF) of crude oil and to the alkylated forms of two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; phenanthrene and fluorene). The expression of two Pn-CYP3027 genes (CYP3027F1 and CYP3027F2) was increased in response to WAF exposure and also was upregulated in response to the two alkylated PAHs. In particular, Pn-CYP3027F2 showed the most notable increase in response to 80% WAF exposure. These two responsive CYP genes (Pn-CYP3027F1 and CYP3027F2) were also phylogenetically clustered into the same clade of the WAF- and alkylated PAH-specific CYP genes of the copepod T. japonicus, suggesting that these CYP genes would be those chiefly involved in detoxification in response to WAF exposure in copepods. In this paper, we provide information on the copepod P. nana CYP gene superfamily and also speculate on its potential role in the detoxification of PAHs in marine copepods. Despite the nonlethality of WAF, Pn-CYP3027F2 was rapidly and significantly upregulated in response to WAF that may serve as a useful biomarker of 40% or higher concentration of WAF exposure. This paper will be helpful to better understand the molecular mechanistic events underlying the metabolism of environmental toxicants in copepods.

  1. Homology modeling, simulation and molecular docking studies of catechol-2, 3-Dioxygenase from Burkholderia cepacia: Involved in degradation of Petroleum hydrocarbons.

    PubMed

    Ajao, At; Kannan, M; Yakubu, Se; Vj, Umoh; Jb, Ameh

    2012-01-01

    Catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase is present in several types of bacteria and undergoes degradation of environmental pollutants through an important key biochemical pathways. Specifically, this enzyme cleaves aromatic rings of several environmental pollutants such as toluene, xylene, naphthalene and biphenyl derivatives. Hence, the importance of Catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase and its role in the degradation of environmental pollutants made us to predict the three-dimensional structure of Catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase from Burkholderia cepacia. The 10ns molecular dynamics simulation was carried out to check the stability of the modeled Catechol 2, 3- dioxygenase. The results show that the model was energetically stable, and it attains their equilibrium within 2000 ps of production MD run. The docking of various petroleum hydrocarbons into the Catechol 2,3-dioxygenase reveals that the benzene, O-xylene, Toluene, Fluorene, Naphthalene, Carbazol, Pyrene, Dibenzothiophene, Anthracene, Phenanthrene, Biphenyl makes strong hydrogen bond and Van der waals interaction with the active site residues of H150, L152, W198, H206, H220, H252, I254, T255, Y261, E271, L276 and F309. Free energy of binding and estimated inhibition constant of these compounds demonstrates that they are energetically stable in their binding cavity. Chrysene shows positive energy of binding in the active site atom of Fe. Except Pyrene all the substrates made close contact with Fe atom by the distance ranges from 1.67 to 2.43 Å. In addition to that, the above mentioned substrate except pyrene all other made π-π stacking interaction with H252 by the distance ranges from 3.40 to 3.90 Å. All these docking results reveal that, except Chrysene all other substrate has good free energy of binding to hold enough in the active site and makes strong VdW interaction with Catechol-2,3-dioxygenase. These results suggest that, the enzyme is capable of catalyzing the above-mentioned substrate.

  2. Homology modeling, simulation and molecular docking studies of catechol-2, 3-Dioxygenase from Burkholderia cepacia: Involved in degradation of Petroleum hydrocarbons

    PubMed Central

    Ajao, AT; Kannan, M; Yakubu, SE; VJ, Umoh; JB, Ameh

    2012-01-01

    Catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase is present in several types of bacteria and undergoes degradation of environmental pollutants through an important key biochemical pathways. Specifically, this enzyme cleaves aromatic rings of several environmental pollutants such as toluene, xylene, naphthalene and biphenyl derivatives. Hence, the importance of Catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase and its role in the degradation of environmental pollutants made us to predict the three-dimensional structure of Catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase from Burkholderia cepacia. The 10ns molecular dynamics simulation was carried out to check the stability of the modeled Catechol 2, 3- dioxygenase. The results show that the model was energetically stable, and it attains their equilibrium within 2000 ps of production MD run. The docking of various petroleum hydrocarbons into the Catechol 2,3-dioxygenase reveals that the benzene, O-xylene, Toluene, Fluorene, Naphthalene, Carbazol, Pyrene, Dibenzothiophene, Anthracene, Phenanthrene, Biphenyl makes strong hydrogen bond and Van der waals interaction with the active site residues of H150, L152, W198, H206, H220, H252, I254, T255, Y261, E271, L276 and F309. Free energy of binding and estimated inhibition constant of these compounds demonstrates that they are energetically stable in their binding cavity. Chrysene shows positive energy of binding in the active site atom of Fe. Except Pyrene all the substrates made close contact with Fe atom by the distance ranges from 1.67 to 2.43 Å. In addition to that, the above mentioned substrate except pyrene all other made π-π stacking interaction with H252 by the distance ranges from 3.40 to 3.90 Å. All these docking results reveal that, except Chrysene all other substrate has good free energy of binding to hold enough in the active site and makes strong VdW interaction with Catechol-2,3-dioxygenase. These results suggest that, the enzyme is capable of catalyzing the above-mentioned substrate. PMID:23144539

  3. Decomposition and transformation of cutin and cutan biopolymers in soils: effect on their sorptive capabilities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shechter, M.; Chefetz, B.

    2009-04-01

    Plant cuticle materials, especially the highly aliphatic biopolymers cutin and cutan, have been reported as highly efficient natural sorbents. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of decomposition on their sorption behavior with naphthol and phenanthrene. The level of cutin and cutan was reduced by 15 and 27% respectively during the first 3 mo of incubation. From that point, the level of the cutan did not change, while the level of the cutin continued to decrease up to 32% after 20 mo. 13C NMR analysis suggested transformation of cutan mainly within its alkyl-C structure which are assigned as crystalline moieties. Cutin, however, did not exhibit significant structure changes with time. The level of humic-like substances increased due to cutin decomposition but was not influenced in the cutan system after 20 mo of incubation. This indicates that the cutin biopolymer has been decomposed and transformed into humic-like substances, whereas the cutan was less subject to transformation. Decomposition affected sorption properties in similar trends for both cutin and cutan. The Freundlich capacity coefficients (KFOC) of naphthol were much lower than phenanthrene and were less influenced by the decomposition, whereas with phenanthrene KFOC values increased significantly with time. Naphthol exhibited non-linear isotherms; and nonlinearity was decreased with incubation time. In contrast, phenanthrene isotherms were more linear and showed only moderate change with time. The decrease in the linearity of naphthol isotherms might relate to the transformation of the sorption sites due to structural changes in the biopolymers. However, with phenanthrene, these changes did not affect sorption linearity but increased sorption affinities mainly for cutan. This is probably due to decomposition of the rigid alkyl-C moieties in the cutan biopolymer. Our data suggest that both biopolymers were relatively stable in the soil for 20 mo. Cutan is less degradable than cutin

  4. Reduced quenching effects of organic gain media with metallic electrodes via introducing a conjugated macroelectrolyte interlayer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yi, Jianpeng; Huang, Jinjin; Liu, Chengfang; Lai, Wen-Yong; Huang, Wei

    2017-01-01

    We have demonstrated amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) restoration and threshold reduction by introducing a novel water/alcohol soluble conjugated macroelectrolyte, tris(4-(7-(9,9-di(hexyl-1-N,N-diethanolamino)-9H-fluoren-2-yl)-9,9-di(hexyl-1-N,N-diethanolamino)-9H-fluoren-2-yl)phenyl)amine (TPAOH), serving as an interfacial layer between the gain media layer, dioctyl substituted polyfluorene (PFO), and the Ag electrode layer. By optimizing the film thickness of TPAOH, enhanced ASE performance has been achieved with the lowest threshold of 21 μJ/cm2, demonstrating 3.5-fold reduction from 74 μJ/cm2. Atomic force microscopy results showed good compatibility between the TPAOH film and the PFO layer. The results suggest a facile and low-cost solution-processing interfacial technique to construct efficient organic semiconductor lasers in the presence of metallic electrodes.

  5. Development of miniaturized submersible fluorometers for the detection of aromatic hydrocarbons in marine waters

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tedetti, Marc; Bachet, Caroline; Joffre, Pascal; Ferretto, Nicolas; Guigue, Catherine; Goutx, Madeleine

    2014-05-01

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the most widespread organic contaminants in aquatic environments. Due to their physico-chemical properties, PAHs are persistent and mobile, can strongly bioaccumulate in food chains and are harmful to living organisms. They are thus recognized by various international organizations as priority contaminants and are included in the list of 45 priority regulated substances by the European Union. Because of their aromatic structure, PAHs are "optically active" and have inherent fluorescence properties in the ultraviolet (UV) spectral domain (200-400 nm). Therefore, UV fluorescence spectroscopy has been successfully used to develop PAH sensors (i.e. UV fluorometers). Currently, five UV submersible fluorometers are commercially available for in situ measurements of PAHs: EnviroFlu-HC (TriOS Optical Sensors, Germany), Hydrocarbon Fluorometer (Sea & Sun Technology, Germany), HydroC ™ / PAH (CONTROS, Germany), UviLux AquaTracka (Chelsea Technology Group, UK) and Cyclops-7 (Turner Designs, US). These UV fluorometers are all dedicated to the measurement of phenanthrene (λEx /λEm: 255/360 nm), one of the most abundant and fluorescent PAHs found in the aquatic environment. In this study, we developed original, miniaturized submersible fluorometers based on deep UV light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for simultaneous measurements of two PAHs of interest: the MiniFluo-UV 1 for the detection of phenanthrene (PHE, at λEx /λEm: 255/360 nm) and naphthalene (NAP, at λEx /λEm: 270/340 nm), and the MiniFluo-UV 2 for the detection of fluorene (FLU, at λEx /λEm: 255/315 nm) and pyrene (PYR, at λEx /λEm: 270/380 nm). The MiniFluo-UV sensors have several features: measurements of two PAHs at the same time, small size (puck format, 80 x 60 mm), very low energy consumption (500 mW at 12V), LED monitoring, analog and numerical communication modes. The two MiniFluo-UV sensors were first tested in the laboratory: 1) on standard solutions of

  6. Yields of Bacterial Cells from Hydrocarbons

    PubMed Central

    Wodzinski, Richard S.; Johnson, Marvin J.

    1968-01-01

    A strain of Nocardia and one of Pseudomonas, both isolated on pristane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane), gave cell yields of approximately 100% on n-octadecane and pristane. Both organisms grew more rapidly on the n-octadecane than on the pristane. A mixed culture, isolated on 3-methylheptane, whose two components were identified as species of Pseudomonas and of Nocardia, gave approximately 100% cell yields and grew with generation times of about 5 hr on n-heptane, n-octane, and 2-methylheptane. The generation time on 3-methylheptane was 8.6 hr and the cell yield was only 79%. A strain of Pseudomonas isolated from naphthalene enrichments and one from phenanthrene enrichments both gave a cell yield of 50% on naphthalene. The phenanthrene isolate gave a cell yield of 40% on phenanthrene. A Nocardia species isolated on benzene gave a 79% cell yield on benzene. The generation times of the bacteria isolated on aromatic hydrocarbons were related to the solubility of the aromatic hydrocarbons on which they were grown; the more insoluble hydrocarbons gave slower growth. PMID:5726161

  7. Enhanced arsenic uptake and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-dissipation using Pteris vittata L. and a PAH-degrading bacterium.

    PubMed

    Sun, Lu; Zhu, Ganghui; Liao, Xiaoyong

    2018-05-15

    This study examined the effects of P. vittata and a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading bacterium (Alcaligenes sp.) on arsenic (As) uptake and phenanthrene dissipation. Bacterial inoculation substantially increased As accumulation in plants by 27.8% (frond) and 27.5% (root) at 60d, respectively, compared with the non-inoculated treatment, although temporal change of As translocation and reduction in plants was observed. Bacterial inoculation positively affected plants by improving growth, nutrition and antioxidative activities, and helped to modify soil As availability to the plants, which may benefit in plant tolerance and As accumulation. Plant and bacteria association enhanced phenanthrene dissipation from the soil, with the highest dissipation rate of 96.4% at 60d in the rhizosphere, which might be associated with enhanced bacterial population and activity inspired by the growth of plant. The result reveals that combination of P. vittata and PAH-degrading bacteria can promote As accumulation and phenanthrene dissipation, and can be exploited as a promising strategy for As and PAH co-contamination remediation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Contrasting effects of a nonionic surfactant on the biotransformation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to cis-dihydrodiols by soil bacteria

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Allen, C.C.R.; Boyd, D.R.; Hempenstall, F.

    The biotransformation of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) naphthalene and phenanthrene was investigated by using two dioxygenase-expressing bacteria, Pseudomonas sp. strain 9816/11 and Sphingomonas yanoikuyae B8/36, under conditions which facilitate mass-transfer limited substrate oxidation. Both of these strains are mutants that accumulate cis-dihydrodiol metabolites under the reaction conditions used. The effects of the nonpolar solvent 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane (HMN) and the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 on the rate of accumulation of these metabolites were determined. HMN increased the rate of accumulation of metabolites for both microorganisms, with both substrates. The enhancement effect was most noticeable with phenanthrene, which has a lower aqueousmore » solubility than naphthalene. Triton X-100 increased the rate of oxidation of the PAHs with strain 9816/11 with the effect being most noticeable when phenanthrene was used as a substrate. However, the surfactant inhibited the biotransformation of both naphthalene and phenanthrene with strain B8/36 under the same conditions. The observation that a nonionic surfactant could have such contrasting effects on PAH oxidation by different bacteria, which are known to be important for the degradation of these compounds in the environment, may explain why previous research on the application of the surfactants to PAH bioremediation has yielded inconclusive results. The surfactant inhibited growth of the wild-type strain S. yanoikuyae B1 on aromatic compounds but did not inhibit B8/36 dioxygenase enzyme activity in vitro.« less

  9. Combining yeast display and competitive FACS to select rare hapten-specific clones from recombinant antibody libraries

    DOE PAGES

    Sun, Yue; Ban, Bhupal; Bradbury, Andrew; ...

    2016-08-29

    The development of antibodies to low molecular weight haptens remains challenging due to both the low immunogenicity of many haptens and the cross-reactivity of the protein carriers used to generate the immune response. Recombinant antibodies and novel display technologies have greatly advanced antibody development; however, new techniques are still required to select rare hapten-specific antibodies from large recombinant libraries. In the present study, we used a combination of phage and yeast display to screen an immune antibody library (size, 4.4 × 10 6 ) against hapten markers for petroleum contamination (phenanthrene and methylphenanthrenes). Selection via phage display was used firstmore » to enrich the library between 20- and 100- fold for clones that bound to phenanthrene-protein conjugates. The enriched libraries were subsequently transferred to a yeast display system and a newly developed competitive FACS procedure was employed to select rare hapten-specific clones. Competitive FACS increased the frequency of hapten-specific scFvs in our yeast-displayed scFvs from 0.025 to 0.005% in the original library to between 13 and 35% in selected pools. The presence of hapten-specific scFvs was confirmed by competitive ELISA using periplasmic protein. Three distinct antibody clones that recognize phenanthrene and methylphenanthrenes were selected, and their distinctive binding properties were characterized. To our knowledge, these are first antibodies that can distinguish between methylated (petrogenic) versus unmethylated (pyrogenic) phenanthrenes; such antibodies will be useful in detecting the sources of environmental contamination. Furthermore, this selection method could be generally adopted in the selection of other hapten-specific recombinant antibodies.« less

  10. Combining yeast display and competitive FACS to select rare hapten-specific clones from recombinant antibody libraries

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sun, Yue; Ban, Bhupal; Bradbury, Andrew

    The development of antibodies to low molecular weight haptens remains challenging due to both the low immunogenicity of many haptens and the cross-reactivity of the protein carriers used to generate the immune response. Recombinant antibodies and novel display technologies have greatly advanced antibody development; however, new techniques are still required to select rare hapten-specific antibodies from large recombinant libraries. In the present study, we used a combination of phage and yeast display to screen an immune antibody library (size, 4.4 × 10 6 ) against hapten markers for petroleum contamination (phenanthrene and methylphenanthrenes). Selection via phage display was used firstmore » to enrich the library between 20- and 100- fold for clones that bound to phenanthrene-protein conjugates. The enriched libraries were subsequently transferred to a yeast display system and a newly developed competitive FACS procedure was employed to select rare hapten-specific clones. Competitive FACS increased the frequency of hapten-specific scFvs in our yeast-displayed scFvs from 0.025 to 0.005% in the original library to between 13 and 35% in selected pools. The presence of hapten-specific scFvs was confirmed by competitive ELISA using periplasmic protein. Three distinct antibody clones that recognize phenanthrene and methylphenanthrenes were selected, and their distinctive binding properties were characterized. To our knowledge, these are first antibodies that can distinguish between methylated (petrogenic) versus unmethylated (pyrogenic) phenanthrenes; such antibodies will be useful in detecting the sources of environmental contamination. Furthermore, this selection method could be generally adopted in the selection of other hapten-specific recombinant antibodies.« less

  11. Synthesis of photochromic oligophenylenimines: optical and computational studies.

    PubMed

    Pérez, Armando I Martínez; Alonso, Oscar Coreño; Borbolla, Julián Cruz; Vásquez-Pérez, José M; Alonso, Juan Coreño; Ayala, Karina Alemán; Luna-Bárcenas, Gabriel; Pandiyan, Thangarasu; García, Rosa A Vázquez

    2015-03-27

    Phenyleneimine oligomers 4,4'-(((1E,1'E)-(((1E,1'E)-(1,4-phenylenebis-(azanylylidene))bis(methanylylidene))bis(2,5-bis(octyloxy)-4,1-phenylene))bis(methanylyl-idene))-bis(azanylylidene))dianiline (OIC1MS) and 7,7'-(((1E,1'E)-(((1E,1'E)-((9H-fluorene-2,7-diyl)bis(azanylylidene))bis(methanylylidene))bis(2,5-bis(octyloxy)-4,1phenylene))bis- (methanylylidene))bis(azanylylidene))bis(9H-fluoren-2-amine) (OIC2MS) were prepared by means of conventional and mechanochemical synthesis and characterized by FT-IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR techniques. The optical properties of the compounds were studied in solution by using UV-visible spectroscopy, and the optical effects were analyzed as a function of solvent. The results show that OIC2MS exhibits interesting photochromic properties. Furthermore, the structural and electronic properties of the compounds were analyzed by TD-DFT. It was found that the mechanosynthesis is an efficient method for the synthesis of both tetraimines.

  12. Biotin-Functionalized Semiconducting Polymer in an Organic Field Effect Transistor and Application as a Biosensor

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Zin-Sig; Lim, Sang Chul; Kim, Seong Hyun; Yang, Yong Suk; Hwang, Do-Hoon

    2012-01-01

    This report presents biotin-functionalized semiconducting polymers that are based on fluorene and bithiophene co-polymers (F8T2). Also presented is the application of these polymers to an organic thin film transistor used as a biosensor. The side chains of fluorene were partially biotinylated after the esterification of the biotin with corresponding alcohol-groups at the side chain in F8T2. Their properties as an organic semiconductor were tested using an organic thin film transistor (OTFT) and were found to show typical p-type semiconductor curves. The functionality of this biosensor in the sensing of biologically active molecules such as avidin in comparison with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was established through a selective decrease in the conductivity of the transistor, as measured with a device that was developed by the authors. Changes to the optical properties of this polymer were also measured through the change in the color of the UV-fluorescence before and after a reaction with avidin or BSA. PMID:23112654

  13. Improved ambient-stable perovskite solar cells enabled by a hybrid polymeric electron-transporting layer

    DOE PAGES

    Zhu, Zonglong; Chueh, Chu -Chen; Zhang, Guangye; ...

    2016-08-26

    In this study, an efficient inverted perovskite solar cell with decent ambient stability is successfully demonstrated by employing an n-type polymer, poly{[ N,N’-bis(2-octyldodecyl)- 1,4,5,8-naphthalene diimide-2,6-diyl]- alt-5,5’-(2,2’-bithiophene)} (N2200), as the electron-transporting layer (ETL). The device performance can be further enhanced from a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15 to 16.8% by tailoring the electronic properties of N2200 with a polymeric additive, poly[9,9-bis(6’- ( N,N’-diethylamino)propyl)-fluorene- alt-9,9-bis(3-ethyl(oxetane- 3-ethyloxy)-hexyl) fluorene] (PFN-Ox). More importantly, the device derived from this hybrid ETL can maintain good ambient stability inherent from the pristine N2200 ETL, for which 60–70% of initial PCE can be retained after being stored inmore » air with 10–20% humidity for 45 days.« less

  14. Supramolecular Architecture of Substituted Tetraphenyl-carbo-benzenes from the Energetic Viewpoint.

    PubMed

    Shishkina, Svitlana V; Dyakonenko, Viktoriya V; Shishkin, Oleg V; Maraval, Valérie; Chauvin, Remi

    2017-09-20

    The use of DFT-calculated energy-vector diagrams (EVDs) featuring the topology of pairwise intermolecular interaction energies is applied to crystals of carbo-benzenes. A homogeneous set of six ideally centrosymmetric tetraphenyl-carbo-benzenes is selected, with various substituents R in para positions: R=4-anisyl, 1-ethyl-2-phenyl-1H-indol-3-yl, 2-chloro-2-(1-ethyl-2-phenyl-1H-indol-3-yl)ethenyl, tetradecyl, and 9,9-dihexyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl, 2-(9,9-dihexyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl)ethynyl. The basic structural motifs (BSMs) of the crystals vary from layers to columns, depending on the size and shape of the substituents R. The BSM cohesion is shown to rely on π-stacking, CH-π and dispersive interactions. Solvate molecules are shown to have a negligible role in the formation of the BSM, whereas they loosen the interaction between neighbouring BSMs. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  15. Characterization of Cu(II) and Cd(II) resistance mechanisms in Sphingobium sp. PHE-SPH and Ochrobactrum sp. PHE-OCH and their potential application in the bioremediation of heavy metal-phenanthrene co-contaminated sites.

    PubMed

    Chen, Chen; Lei, Wenrui; Lu, Min; Zhang, Jianan; Zhang, Zhou; Luo, Chunling; Chen, Yahua; Hong, Qing; Shen, Zhenguo

    2016-04-01

    Soil that is co-contaminated with heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is difficult to bioremediate due to the ability of toxic metals to inhibit PAH degradation by bacteria. We demonstrated the resistance mechanisms to Cu(II) and Cd(II) of two newly isolated strains of Sphingobium sp. PHE-SPH and Ochrobactrum sp. PHE-OCH and further tested their potential application in the bioremediation of HM-phenanthrene (PhA) co-contaminated sites. The PHE-SPH and PHE-OCH strains tolerated 4.63 and 4.34 mM Cu(II) and also showed tolerance to 0.48 and 1.52 mM Cd(II), respectively. Diverse resistance patterns were detected between the two strains. In PHE-OCH cells, the maximum accumulation of Cu(II) occurred in the cell wall, while the maximum accumulation was in the cytoplasm of PHE-SPH cells. This resulted in a sudden suppression of growth in PHE-OCH and a gradual inhibition in PHE-SPH as the concentration of Cu(II) increased. Organic acid production was markedly higher in PHE-OCH than in PHE-SPH, which may also have a role in the resistance mechanisms, and contributes to the higher Cd(II) tolerance of PHE-OCH. The factors involved in the absorption of Cu(II) or Cd(II) in PHE-SPH and PHE-OCH were identified as proteins and carbohydrates by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Furthermore, both strains showed the ability to efficiently degrade PhA and maintained this high degradation efficiency under HM stress. The high tolerance to HMs and the PhA degradation capacity make Sphingobium sp. PHE-SPH and Ochrobactrum sp. PHE-OCH excellent candidate organisms for the bioremediation of HM-PhA co-contaminated sites.

  16. Diazatetraester 1H-pyrazole crowns as fluorescent chemosensors for AMPH, METH, MDMA (ecstasy), and dopamine.

    PubMed

    Reviriego, Felipe; Navarro, Pilar; García-España, Enrique; Albelda, M Teresa; Frías, Juan C; Domènech, Antonio; Yunta, Maria J R; Costa, Rubén; Ortí, Enrique

    2008-11-20

    The synthesis and steady-state fluorescence studies on the interaction with AMPH, METH, MDMA, and DA of two diazatetraester pyrazole crowns containing appended N-(9H-fluoren-9-yl) and N-(naphth-2-ylmethyl) functions, in a water/ethanol 70:30 mixture at physiological pH, are described.

  17. Competitive sorption of organic contaminants in chalk.

    PubMed

    Graber, E R; Borisover, M

    2003-12-01

    In the Negev desert, Israel, a chemical industrial complex is located over fractured Eocene chalk formations where transfer of water and solutes between fracture voids and matrix pores affects migration of contaminants in the fractures due to diffusion into the chalk matrix. This study tests sorption and sorption competition between contaminants in the chalk matrix to make it possible to evaluate the potential for contaminant attenuation during transport in fractures. Single solute sorption isotherms on chalk matrix material for five common contaminants (m-xylene, ametryn, 1,2-dichloroethane, phenanthrene, and 2,4,6-tribromophenol) were found to be nonlinear, as confirmed in plots of Kd versus initial solution concentration. Over the studied concentration ranges, m-xylene Kd varied by more than a factor of 100, ametryn Kd by a factor of 4, 1,2-dichloroethane Kd by more than a factor of 3, phenanthrene Kd by about a factor of 2, and 2,4,6-tribromophenol Kd by a factor of 10. It was earlier found that sorption is to the organic matter component of the chalk matrix and not to the mineral phases (Chemosphere 44 (2001) 1121). Nonlinear sorption isotherms indicate that there is at least some finite sorption domain. Bi-solute competition experiments with 2,4,6-tribromophenol as the competitor were designed to explore the nature of the finite sorption domain. All of the isotherms in the bi-solute experiments are more linear than in the single solute experiments, as confirmed by smaller variations in Kd as a function of initial solution concentration. For both m-xylene and ametryn, there is a small nonlinear component or domain that was apparently not susceptible to competition by 2,4,6-tribromophenol. The nonlinear sorption domain(s) is best expressed at low solution concentrations. Inert-solvent-normalized single and bi-solute sorption isotherms demonstrate that ametryn undergoes specific force interactions with the chalk sorbent. The volume percent of phenanthrene sorbed

  18. Enhanced polyaromatic hydrocarbon degradation by adapted cultures of actinomycete strains.

    PubMed

    Bourguignon, Natalia; Isaac, Paula; Alvarez, Héctor; Amoroso, María J; Ferrero, Marcela A

    2014-12-01

    Fifteen actinomycete strains were evaluated for their potential use in removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Their capability to degrade of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene was tested in minimal medium (MM) and MM with glucose as another substrate. Degradation of naphthalene in MM was observed in all isolates at different rates, reaching maximum values near to 76% in some strains of Streptomyces, Rhodococcus sp. 016 and Amycolatopsis tucumanensis DSM 45259. Maximum values of degradation of phenanthrene in MM occurred in cultures of A. tucumanensis DSM 45259 (36.2%) and Streptomyces sp. A12 (20%), while the degradation of pyrene in MM was poor and only significant with Streptomyces sp. A12 (4.3%). Because of the poor performance when growing on phenanthrene and pyrene alone, Rhodococcus sp. 20, Rhodococcus sp. 016, A. tucumanensis DSM 45259, Streptomyces sp. A2, and Streptomyces sp. A12 were challenged to an adaptation schedule of successive cultures on a fresh solid medium supplemented with PAHs, decreasing concentration of glucose in each step. As a result, an enhanced degradation of PAHs by adapted strains was observed in the presence of glucose as co-substrate, without degradation of phenanthrene and pyrene in MM while an increase to up to 50% of degradation was seen with these strains in glucose amended media. An internal fragment of the catA gene, which codes for catechol 1,2-dioxygenase, was amplified from both Rhodococcus strains, showing the potential for degradation of aromatic compounds via salycilate. These results allow us to propose the usefulness of these actinomycete strains for PAH bioremediation in the environment. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  19. Heavy metal-immobilizing organoclay facilitates polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation in mixed-contaminated soil.

    PubMed

    Biswas, Bhabananda; Sarkar, Binoy; Mandal, Asit; Naidu, Ravi

    2015-11-15

    Soils contaminated with a mixture of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pose toxic metal stress to native PAH-degrading microorganisms. Adsorbents such as clay and modified clay minerals can bind the metal and reduce its toxicity to microorganisms. However, in a mixed-contaminated soil, an adsorption process more specific to the metals without affecting the bioavailability of PAHs is desired for effective degradation. Furthermore, the adsorbent should enhance the viability of PAH-degrading microorganisms. A metal-immobilizing organoclay (Arquad(®) 2HT-75-bentonite treated with palmitic acid) (MIOC) able to reduce metal (cadmium (Cd)) toxicity and enhance PAH (phenanthrene) biodegradation was developed and characterized in this study. The MIOC differed considerably from the parent clay in terms of its ability to reduce metal toxicity (MIOC>unmodified bentonite>Arquad-bentonite). The MIOC variably increased the microbial count (10-43%) as well as activities (respiration 3-44%; enzymatic activities up to 68%), and simultaneously maintained phenanthrene in bioavailable form in a Cd-phenanthrene mixed-contaminated soil over a 21-day incubation period. This study may lead to a new MIOC-assisted bioremediation technique for PAHs in mixed-contaminated soils. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Microplastics Reduce Short-Term Effects of Environmental Contaminants. Part II: Polyethylene Particles Decrease the Effect of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on Microorganisms.

    PubMed

    Kleinteich, Julia; Seidensticker, Sven; Marggrander, Nikolaj; Zarfl, Christiane

    2018-02-07

    Microplastic particles in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are currently discussed as an emerging persistent organic pollutant and as acting as a vector for hydrophobic chemicals. Microplastic particles may ultimately deposit and accumulate in soil as well as marine and freshwater sediments where they can be harmful to organisms. In this study, we tested the sensitivity of natural freshwater sediment bacterial communities (by genetic fingerprint) to exposure to microplastics (polyethylene, 2 and 20 mg/g sediment) and microplastics loaded with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, phenanthrene and anthracene), using a laboratory-based approach. After two weeks of incubation, the bacterial community composition from an unpolluted river section was altered by high concentrations of microplastics, whereas the community downstream of a wastewater treatment plant remained unchanged. Low microplastic concentrations loaded with phenanthrene or anthracene induced a less pronounced response in the sediment communities compared to the same total amount of phenanthrene or anthracene alone. In addition, biodegradation of the PAHs was reduced. This study shows, that microplastic can affect bacterial community composition in unpolluted freshwater sediments. Moreover, the results indicate that microplastics can serve as a vehicle for hydrophobic pollutants but bioavailability of the latter is reduced by the sorption to microplastics.