Effect of Extraction Variables on the Biodegradable Chelant-Assisted Removal of Toxic Metals from Artificially Contaminated European Reference Soils

Development of aminopolycarboxylate chelants (APCs) having enhanced biodegradability is gaining increasing focus to replace the EDTA and its homologs with those used widely for the ex situ treatment of contaminated soils and are potential eco-threats. The paper reports the chelant-assisted extraction of the toxic metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) from the metal-spiked European reference soils (Eurosoil 1 and Eurosoil 4) using biodegradable APCs, namely EDDS, GLDA, and HIDS. The effects of chelant-to-metal molar ratio, solution pH, and metal/chelant stability constants were evaluated, and compared with that of EDTA. The selectivity aptitude of the biodegradable chelants towards the toxic metals was assumed from the speciation calculations, and a proportionate correlation was observed at neutral pH. Pre- and post-extractive solid phase distributions of the target metals were defined using the sequential extraction procedure and dissolution of metals from the theoretically immobilized fraction was witnessed. The effect of competing species (Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, and Mn) concentrations was proven to be minimized with an excess of chelant in solution. The highlight of the outcomes is the superior decontamination ability of GLDA, a biodegradable APC, at minimum chelant concentration in solution and applicability at a wide range of pH environments.     

The amount of heavy metals derived from domestic sources in Japan

The amount of heavy metals discharged from daily life was estimated in order to know the origin of the metals contained in the sewage sludge which is produced in the wastewater treatment plant treating only domestic wastewater. The amounts of the metals discharged from our daily life were estimated to be in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 for Cd, 1.6 to 1.9 for Ni, 3.5 to 6.8 for Pb, 0.8 to 1.4 for Cr, 8.2 to 19.3 for Mn 9.4 to 55.8 for Cu, 44.3 to 62.7 for Zn and 111 to 293 for Fe in mg.d^–1 per person, Using these data, the cycle of the metals in our daily life was discussed in relation to land application of sewage sludge.     

Identification of reaction products of acylated anthocyanins from red radish with peroxyl radicals

Red radish anthocyanin extract, which consists of 12 known acylated anthocyanins, was reacted with 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) to generate peroxyl radicals under acidic pH conditions at 37 degrees C. The reaction products were isolated using preparative HPLC, and their chemical structures were determined to be p-hydroxybenzoic acid (1), 6-O-(E)-p-coumaroyl-2-O-beta-d- glucopyranosyl-alpha-d-glucopyranoside (3), p-coumaric acid (4), 6-O-(E)-feruloyl-2-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-alpha-d-glucopyranoside (5), and ferulic acid (6). Some products were not identified. HPLC analyses of the mixture of acylated pelargonidin isolated from red radish and AAPH revealed that the acylated pelargonidins possess the radical scavenging ability on some common sites even if the characteristics of the intramolecular acyl units are different. Degradation rates of acylated pelargonidins and the formation rates of the resulting reaction products were found to be quite different.     

The effect of tractor logging on forest soil compaction and growth ofShorea selanica seedlings in Indonesia

The hardness in soil was investigated in four forest areas in Indonesia after a crawler tractor passed over it several times. The hardness in soil, expressed by bulk density, was measured at various depth and various distances from the main track. Recovery of soil hardness was also examined. The bulk density increased markedly by the first and second pass of the tractor, but did not change after the fifth pass. The bulk density was highest just under the main and the log track, and decreased with an increase in distance from the track (0.5 to 1.5 m). The greatest increase in bulk density was observed at the depth of 0–5 cm. The soil hardness tended to show recovery within 9 years after logging, though not completely. Growth and root penetration of seedlingsShorea selanica decreased with the increase of soil hardness. We considered that the 2 tractor passes that caused bulk density of 1.3 g/cm³ is critical for the growth ofS. selanica’s seedling.     

Behavior of four broad-leaved tree species used to revegetate eroded granite hill slopes

Information on primary growth behavior after planting is required for mixed-plantation revegetation using broad-leaved species. To estimate primary growth, especially from the perspective of crown coverage and changing growth rates, we examined the growth and survival of four broad-leaved species that are frequently used in erosion-control plantations in Japan. The species studied were Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc., Alnus pendula Matsum., Quercus glauca Thunb., and Q. serrata Thunb. The survival, height, and basal diameter of planted trees were measured over a 4-year period, and crown area was calculated over a 3-year period. We found a negative relationship between relative growth rate (RGR) and survival rate, suggesting that fast growth may be fatal when resources are severely limited. The relative height growth rate (RHGR) of A. pendula was especially high during the early period of the study (1997–1999) and then drastically declined, whereas the opposite tendency was observed in Q. glauca. The results of stem allometry analyses conformed to the specific relationships between height growth and diameter growth of the four species; increases in stem thickness based on height increments were smaller in the pioneer species A. pendula. Between-species differences in coverage per planted tree (mean crown area multiplied by survival rate) were small as a result of the negative relationship between coverage area and survival rate.     

Plant species identification using fecal DNAs from red-eared slider and Reeves’ pond turtle in agricultural canals for rural ecosystem conservation

Fecal DNA samples from the red-eared slider and Reeves’ pond turtle, suspected pests of lotus root paddies, were used to identify the plant species eaten by these turtles in order to develop a strategy for rural ecosystem conservation. The fecal samples were obtained from young and adult individuals (mostly female) of both species living in agricultural canals surrounding lotus root paddies in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. The samples were screened for the presence or absence of DNA from nine plant species using PCR and plant species-specific primers for the rbcL gene of chloroplast DNA. In the red-eared slider, our analysis identified seven plant species in the fecal DNA samples of adults and three plant species in those of young individuals. In Reeves’ pond turtle, our analysis identified two plant species from adult fecal samples and one species from those of young individuals. Thus, adult red-eared sliders consume a greater range of plants than young red-eared sliders or Reeves’ pond turtles. Both turtle species, independently of age, consumed lotus plants and were likely to cause feeding damage to lotus roots. Considering the plant species detected in adult red-eared sliders and these plant habitats, we suggest that this adult turtle is likely to travel between the agricultural canals and the lotus root paddies. These findings will help the development of strategies for preventing damage to lotus roots by these turtles; furthermore, they indicate that fecal DNA analysis will be applicable to investigation of the feeding habits of other animal species.     

Silicon content in rice seedlings to protect rice blast fungus at the nursery stage

To control rice blast effectively at the nursery stage, the absolute SiO₂ content necessary for rice plants to resist blast disease was investigated using various rice cultivars and soils. Nine rice cultivars with different complete resistance genes and different degrees of partial resistance were grown on nursery soils amended with silica gel at different rates to change the SiO₂ content of rice plant. The rice seedlings were then inoculated 28 days after sowing with Pyricularia grisea to estimate their blast resistance. In all rice cultivars, the number of lesions was significantly reduced when SiO₂ content increased in the rice seedling; lesions were reduced to 5%–20% of the number on the seedlings grown in soil without silica gel when the seedling SiO₂ content reached 5%. Additionally, the susceptibility to blast disease of rice seedlings grown on eight soils collected from different districts, with varying amounts of silica gel, was compared. The number of lesions decreased significantly when the SiO₂ content in the seedlings reached 5%. These results suggest that SiO₂ content of at least 5% in the rice plant can control this disease at the nursery stage under any conditions.