Dynamic interactions of natural organic matter and organic compounds

Purpose

This article reviews our current understanding about how organic chemicals and water interact dynamically with, and therefore coevolve with, soil and sediment natural organic matter (NOM). NOM can be regarded as a polymer-like phase that responds to the input of organic compounds in ways analogous to synthetic polymers.

Methods

Sorption selectivity of organic compounds is shown to result in part from the three-dimensional microstructure of NOM related to its glassy character. Sorption to NOM conforms to polymer theory by exhibiting isotherm shape and irreversible behaviors characteristic of the glassy organic physical state. The glassy state is a metastable state characterized by the presence of excess free volume (holes).

Results

In polymers and NOM, incoming molecules preferentially occupy holes due to the absence of a cavitation penalty. Incoming molecules can enlarge existing holes and create new holes that do not relax completely when the molecules leave. The physical changes in NOM induced by sorption result in hysteresis in the isotherm that persists indefinitely at ambient temperature.

Conclusions

Sorption selectivity and hysteresis have important implications for the fate and bioavailability of contaminants.     

Genotype by environment interaction of seed and oil yield in vernonia (Vernonia galamensis variety ethiopica)

Vernonia (Vernonia galamensis variety ethiopica) is a potentially novel renewable source of natural epoxy oil. The objective of this study was to determine the genotype by environment interaction and to identify superior and stable genotypes of vernonia with high seed and oil yield. Field experiments were conducted during 2006, 2007 and 2008 at two localities namely, Gabaza and Syferkuil. Ten selected genotypes of vernonia were evaluated for seed yield, oil content and oil yield using the randomized complete block design with three replications. Significant interactions (P ≤ 0.05) were detected among genotype by location for seed yield, oil content, oil yield and genotype by year for seed and oil yield. Genotype Vge-18 had the highest seed yield ranging between 3095 and 3337 kg/ha followed by Vge-17 yielding 3006-3137 kg/ha at Gabaza. These genotypes were also the best performers at Syferkuil where Vge-17 yielded 2915-3217 kg/ha followed by Vge-18 with 2819-3152 kg/ha. The superiority statistics allocated Vge-17 and Vge-18 as best yielding and stable genotypes. In both locations Vge-4 had increased seed oil contents at 43% (Gabaza) and 35% (Syferkuil). Other promising genotypes with high seed oil content were Vge-33 at Gabaza (40-43%) and Vge-3 at Syferkuil (34-35%). Genotypes with the highest oil yields were found to be Vge-18 (1117-1370 kg/ha) at Gabaza and Vge-4 with yields of 885-922 kg/ha at Syferkuil. Overall, Vge-17 and Vge-18 were identified as having the highest seed yield, while Vge-4 and Vge-3 yielded the highest seed oil content with average stability. These genotypes could be used for direct large scale production or strategic breeding of vernonia in these or similar environments.     

Microbial reaction of secondary tropical forest soils to the addition of leaf litter

Two soils from a secondary tropical forest at La Union, Philippines, predominantly vegetated with Swietenia marcrophylla and Gmelina arborea were amended with different leaf litter types (Eucalyptus camaldulensis, S. macrophylla, G. arborea, and Calliandra calothyrsus) and incubated in the laboratory for 49 days at 25 °C. The experiment was carried out to elucidate the reasons for a low ATP-to-microbial biomass C ratio and a high microbial biomass C-to-N ratio. This has been measured repeatedly in tropical forest soils. In the non-amended soils, the microbial biomass C-to-N ratio of 12.1 exceeded the soil organic C-to-total N ratio of 11, while the ergosterol-to-microbial biomass C ratio of 0.14% and the ATP-to-microbial biomass C ratio of 4.1 μmol g⁻¹ were both low. At the end of the incubation, the addition of the different leaf litter types led generally to a decrease in the microbial biomass C-to-N ratio and to an increase in the ATP-to-microbial biomass C ratio, adenylate energy charge (AEC) and especially to an increase in the ergosterol-to-microbial biomass C ratio. The increase in the ATP-to-microbial biomass C ratio and the decrease in the microbial biomass C-to-N ratio were positively related to the N concentration in the leaf litter, the increase in the ergosterol-to-microbial biomass ratio negatively. The reasons for a low ATP-to-microbial biomass C ratio and a high microbial biomass C-to-N ratio are P deficiency and probably a reduced access of soil microorganisms to N containing organic components at low soil organic C levels.     

Prevalence of enterotoxigenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> virulence genes from scouring piglets in Zimbabwe

World-wide, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC)-induced diarrhea are economically important for porcine producers. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of toxin and fimbrial genes among E. coli isolated from diarrheic piglets from randomly selected piggeries in Zimbabwe.We used multiplex PCR for screening STa, STb, LT, and Stx-2e toxins. Subsequently F4, F5, F6, F18 and F41 fimbriae genes were screened in toxin positive isolates. Toxin positive strains lacking tested fimbriae genes were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, agglutination and agglutination inhibition tests. Approximately 32% of the 1,984 isolates tested positive for STa, STb, LT or Stx-2e genes. Of these, approximately 81% had F4, F5, F6, F18 or F41 fimbriae genes. The remaining toxin positive strains lacked tested fimbriae genes and appeared to either express F1-like fimbriae, or lacked fimbriae. The data constitute an important framework for implementation of prevention measures, such as using relevant fimbriae-based vaccines against ETEC induced diarrhea or VTEC-induced edema.     

Heavy metals and their leachability in incinerator ash

Samples of ash from municipal refuse incinerators in six Connecticut towns as well as samples of incinerated sewage sludge were collected during 1988 and 1989. The samples were analyzed for pH, metal content by HNO₃ + H₂O₂ digestion, extractable metals by solvents including NaOAc, DTPA, H₂CO₃ and H₂O. Two samples were examined for metals that could be leached by H₂O from laboratory columns. Most ash samples were highly alkaline and their pH changed slowly, decreasing by about two pH units over a 6-week period. The variability in metal content of ash from different incinerators was similar to that observed in samples obtained from the same facility at different times. Only a portion of the metals were extracted by the solvents in the order NaOAc > DTPA > H₂CO₃ > H₂O. The relative amounts of the total metals in the ash that could be extracted with specific solvents varied widely, suggesting different chemical forms in different ashes. After the initial removal of large concentrations of metals in the leachates from laboratory columns over 2 to 3 days, leaching of metals continued at extremely low concentrations that were generally below drinking water standards.