Shuyong Mu

Removal of antimony (Sb(V)) from Sb mine drainage: biological sulfate reduction and sulfide oxidation-precipitation.

Antimony (Sb(V)) in Sb mine drainage has adverse effects on the receiving water environments. This study for the first time demonstrated the feasibility of using sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) to convert sulfate ions in SMD into sulfides that reduce Sb(V) to Sb(III) and to form complex with Sb(III) as precipitate. The principal compound in the precipitate was stibnite (Sb2S3) at pH 7 and pH 9. The Sb(V) removal mechanism is sulfate-reduction and sulfide oxidization-precipitation, different from the conventional SRB-precipitation processes for heavy metals. The Sb(V)/sulfate ratio is noted an essential parameter affecting the Sb removal efficiency from SMD.

Simultaneous analysis of photosystem responses of Microcystis aeruginoga under chromium stress.

Chromium (Cr) is a toxic metal that poses a great threat to aquatic ecosystems. Information is limited on coinstantaneous responses of photosystems I (PSI) and II (PSII) to Cr(VI) stress due to lack of instruments that can simultaneously measure PSI and PSII activities. In the present study, responses of quantum yields of energy conversion and electron transport rates of PSI and PSII in Microcystis aeruginosa cells to Cr(VI) stress were simultaneously analyzed by a DUAL-PAM-100 system. Quantum yield of cyclic electron flow (CEF) under Cr(VI) stress and its physiological role in alleviating toxicity of Cr(VI) were also analyzed. At 5 mg L(-1) Cr(VI), quantum yield and electron transport rate of PSII decreased significantly, and light-induced non-photochemical fluorescence quenching lost. Cr(VI) also inhibited efficiency of PSII to use energy under high light more than of PSI. PSII showed lower maximal electron transport rate and light adaptability than PSI. Electron transport rate of PSI was higher and decreased less than that of PSII, implying less sensitivity of PSI to high light and Cr(VI). Energy dissipation through non-light-induced non-photochemical fluorescence quenching increased with increasing Cr(VI) concentration. CEF was stimulated under Cr(VI) treatment and made a significant contribution to quantum yield and electron transport of PSI, which was essential for protection of PSI from stresses of Cr(VI) and high light.

Cu(II) complexation of high molecular weight (HMW) fluorescent substances in root exudates from a wetland halophyte (Salicornia europaea L.).

High molecular weight (HMW) fractions are important components in root exudates. However, there is little available information concerning complexation of Cu(II) to the HMW fractions in root exudates. In the present study, complexation of root exudates from Salicornia europaea L. with Cu(II) was investigated using excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy. Two protein-like fluorescence peaks were identified in the EEM spectra of root exudates. Fluorescence of both peaks was clearly quenched by Cu(II). The increase of conditional stability constant with increasing temperature indicates that the fluorescence quenching of the protein-like fluorescence by Cu(II) may be controlled by a dynamic process. The values of conditional stability constants (logK(a)) were in the range of 4.32-4.69, which were close to those of complexation of fulvic acid with Cu(II). This shows that the HMW fluorescent substances in root exudates from S. europaea L. were strong organic ligands for Cu(II). Our study suggests that the HMW fluorescent substances may affect chemical forms, mobility, and thus the fate of copper in wetland.

Biosorption of Hg(II) onto goethite with extracellular polymeric substances

This study characterized the interactions of goethite, EPS from cyanobacterium Chroococcus sp. and Hg(II) using excitation emission matrix (EEM) spectra and adsorption isotherms. Three protein-like fluorescence peaks were noted to quench in the presence of Hg(II). The estimated conditional stability constant (logKa) and the binding constant (logKb) of the studied EPS-Hg(II) systems ranged 3.84-4.24 and 6.99-7.69, respectively. The proteins in EPS formed stable complex with Hg(II). The presence of proteins of Chroococcus sp. enhanced the adsorption capacity of Hg(II) on goethite; therefore, the goethite-EPS soil is a larger Hg(II) sink than goethite alone soil. Biosorption significantly affects the mobility of Hg(II) in goethite soils.

Effects of irradiation and pH on fluorescence properties and flocculation of extracellular polymeric substances from the cyanobacterium Chroococcus minutus.

Microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) may flocculate or be decomposed when environmental factors change, which significantly influences nutrient cycling and transport of heavy metals. However, little information is available on the stability of EPS in natural environments. Fluorescence and flocculation properties of EPS from Chroococcus minutus under different irradiation and pH conditions were studied. Two aromatic protein-like fluorescence peaks and one tyrosine protein-like peak were identified from the excitation-emission-matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectra of EPS. UVB (ultraviolet B) and solar irradiation increased the fluorescence intensity of all the three peaks while UVC (ultraviolet C) irradiation had little effect. EPS formed unstable flocs after exposure to UV (ultraviolet) irradiation and formed stable flocs under solar irradiation. EPS were prone to flocculation under highly acidic conditions and minimal fluorescence of peaks was observed. The fluorophores in EPS were relatively stable under neutral and alkaline conditions. These findings are helpful for understanding the behavior of EPS in aquatic environments and their role in biogeochemical cycles of the elements.

Lead complexation behaviour of root exudates of salt marsh plant Salicornia europaea L.

Abstract Root exudates are considered to have an important role in mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals. High molecular weight (HMW) substances are the main components of root exudates, however, knowledge about their interactions with heavy metals is lacking. In the present study, Pb(II) complexation of the HMW fluorescent fractions in root exudates from Salicornia europaea L. was investigated using excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy. Two protein-like fluorescence peaks were identified in the EEM spectrum of root exudates. The fluorescence of both peaks was clearly quenched by Pb(II). The values of conditional stability constants, log Ka, for these two protein-like fluorescence peaks were 4.14 and 3.79. This indicates that the fluorescent substances are strong Pb(II) complexing organic ligands.

Different Resistance to UV-B Radiation of Extracellular Polymeric Substances of Two Cyanobacteria from Contrasting Habitats.

The effects of UV-B radiation (UVBR) on photosynthetic activity (Fv/Fm) of aquatic Synechocystis sp. and desert Chroococcus minutus and effects on composition and fluorescence property of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) from Synechocystis sp. and C. minutus were comparatively investigated. The desert cyanobacterium species C. minutus showed higher tolerance of PSII activity (Fv/Fm) to UVBR than the aquatic Synechocystis sp., and the inhibited PSII activity of C. minutus could be fully recovered while that of Synechocystis sp. could be partly recovered. UVBR had significant effect on the yield and biochemical composition of EPS of both species. Protein-like and humic acid-like substances were detected in EPS from Synechocystis sp., and protein-like and phenol-like fluorescent compounds were detected in EPS from C. minutus. Proteins in EPS of desert and aquatic species were significantly decomposed under UVBR, and the latter was more easily decomposed. The polysaccharides were much more resistant to UVBR than the proteins for both species. Polysaccharides of Synechocystis sp. was degraded slightly but those of C. minutus was little decomposed. The higher tolerance to UVBR of the desert cyanobacterium can be attributed to the higher resistance of its EPS to photodegradation induced by UVBR in comparison with the aquatic species.

Interaction of dissolved organic matter with Hg(II) along salinity gradient in Boston Lake

Mercury pollution has become one of the serious ecological and health problems in developing countries. In aquatic environments, widespread dissolved organic matter (DOM) affects the physical transfer, chemical transformation and bioavailability of heavy metal ions. In the arid inland lakes, water salinity has been increasing due to close hydrological system and much higher vaporization than precipitation, and thus there are usually salinity gradients in these inland lakes. The change of salinity may exert influences on complexation of DOM with heavy metals. However, response of the metal complexation of DOM to the salinity is still unclear. In this study, three-dimensional molecule fluorescence spectroscopy (3D-EEM) was used to examine the interaction of Hg(II) and DOM in sediment along a salinity gradient of the Bosten Lake, the biggest inland freshwater lake in China. Three fluorescence peaks were identified in the EEM fluorescence spectra of all DOM samples. All the three fluorescence peaks could be quenched by Hg(II), indicating the formation of stable nonluminous DOM-Hg complexes. The conditional stability constant and binding constant for DOM-Hg(II) were 3.82–4.34 and 3.76–5.54, respectively. Conditional stable constants and binding constants for the system of Hg(II) and protein-like substances were higher than those for the humic substances-Hg(II) system. The ligand ratio of fluorophore to Hg(II) correlated well with the salinity. The strong complexation of Hg(II) and DOM and its responses to salinity change may significantly influence transport, transformation and ecological risk of Hg in Bosten Lake.