Enhanced U(Ⅵ) bioreduction by alginate-immobilized uranium-reducing bacteria in the presence of carbon nanotubes and anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate

Uranium-reducing bacteria were immobilized with sodium alginate, anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate（AQDS）, and carbon nanotubes（CNTs）. The effects of different AQDS-CNTs contents, U（Ⅳ） concentrations, and metal ions on U（Ⅳ） reduction by immobilized beads were examined. Over 97.5% U（Ⅵ）（20 mg/L） was removed in 8 hr when the beads were added to 0.7% AQDS-CNTs, which was higher than that without AQDS-CNTs. This result may be attributed to the enhanced electron transfer by AQDS and CNTs. The reduction of U（Ⅵ） occurred at initial U（Ⅵ） concentrations of 10 to 100 mg/L and increased with increasing AQDS-CNT content from 0.1% to 1%. The presence of Fe（Ⅲ）, Cu（Ⅱ） and Mn（Ⅱ）slightly increased U（Ⅵ） reduction, whereas Cr（Ⅵ）, Ni（Ⅱ）, Pb（Ⅱ）, and Zn（Ⅱ） significantly inhibited U（Ⅵ） reduction. After eight successive incubation-washing cycles or 8 hr of retention time（HRT） for 48 hr of continuous operation, the removal efficiency of uranium was above 90% and 92%, respectively. The results indicate that the AQDS-CNT/AL/cell beads are suitable for the treatment of uranium-containing wastewaters.

N-doped carbon quantum dots as fluorescent probes for highly selective and sensitive detection of Fe^3+ ions

To investigate the effect of nitrogen on the photoluminescence properties of carbon quantum dots (CO Ds), N-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs)were synthesized by one-step hydrothermal treatment using biomass tar as the carbon precursor.As an inevitable organic pollutant,the unsaturated bonds in biomass tar,such as carboxylic acids,aldehydes,and aromatics,are favorable for formation of the graphitic carbon lattice.The obtained N-CQDs are spherical with an average particle size of 2.64nm and the crystal lattice spacing is 0.25nm,corresponding to the (100)facet of graphitic carbon.The N-CQDs emit bright blue photoluminescence under 365nm ultraviolet light,and they have excellent water solubility and stability with a high quantum yield of 26.1%.Coordination between the functional groups on the N-CQD surface and Fe^3+ ions is promoted because of the improved electronic properties and surface chemical reactivity caused by N atoms,leading to a significant fluorescence quenching effect of the N-CQDs in the presence of Fe^3+ions with high selectivity and sensitivity.There is a linear relationship between In (Fo/F)and the Fe^3+ concentration in the N-CQD concentration range 0.06-1400μmol/L with a detection limit of 60nmol/L, showing that the N-CQ.Ds have great potential as a fluorescent probe for Fe^3+detection.

OPTIMIZATION OF Ni BIOACCUMULATION BY SYNECHCOCCUS

Influencing factors on bioaccumulation of Ni by Synechcoccus were studied in this paper. The equilibration time of Ni bioaccumulation was about 80 min in aqueous solution. Bioaccumulation quantity reached maximum when mass ratio of Ni to dry weight concentration of Synechcoccus was 16-18%. Bioaccumulation quantity increased with increasing pH. The optimum pH was 9-10 and higher pH led to precipitation of Ni（OH）2. Bioaccumulation quantity was also influenced by temperature and light intensity reaching their optima at 35℃ and 3 000 lx respectively. Bioaccumulation of nonliving algae was larger than that of living algae.