Decreased bioavailability of aminomethylphosphonic acid(AMPA)in genetically modified corn with activated carbon or calcium montmorillonite clay inclusion in soil

The widespread use of pesticides has resulted in detectable residues throughout the environment,sometimes at concentrations well above regulatory limits.Therefore,the development of safe,effective,field-practical,and economically feasible strategies to mitigate the effects of pesticides is warranted.Glyphosate is an organophosphorus herbicide that is degraded to aminomethylphosphonic acid(AMPA),a toxic and persistent metabolite that can accumulate in soil and sediment and translocate to plants.In this study,we investigated the binding efficacy of activated carbon(AC)and calcium montmorillonite(CM)clay to decrease AMPA bioavailability from soil and AMPA translocation to plants.Adsorption isotherms and thermodynamic studies on AC and CM were conducted and showed tight binding(enthalpy values>-20 k J/mol)for AMPA with high capacities(0.25 mol/kg and 0.38 mol/kg,respectively),based on derivations from the Langmuir model.A hydra assay was utilized to indicate toxicity of AMPA and the inclusion of 1%AC and CM both resulted in 90%protection of the hydra(**p≤0.01).Further studies in glyphosate-contaminated soil showed that AC and CM significantly reduced AMPA bioavailability by 53%and 44%,respectively.Results in genetically modified(GM)corn showed a conversion of glyphosate to AMPA in roots and sprouts over a 10-day exposure duration.Inclusion of AC and CM reduced AMPA residues in roots and sprouts by 47%-61%.These studies collectively indicate that AC and CM are effective sorbents for AMPA and could be used to reduce AMPA bioavailability from soil and AMPA residues in GM corn plants.

Swelling characteristics of Gaomiaozi bentonite and its prediction

Gaomiaozi （GMZ） bentonite has been chosen as a possible matrix material of buffers/backfills in the deep geological disposal to isolate the high-level radioactive waste （HLRW） in China. In the Gaomiaozi deposit area, calcium bentonite in the near surface zone and sodium bentonite in the deeper zone are observed. The swelling characteristics of GMZ sodium and calcium bentonites and their mixtures with sand wetted with distilled water were studied in the present work. The test results show that the relationship be- tween the void ratio and swelling pressure of compacted GMZ bentonite-sand mixtures at full saturation is independent of the initial conditions such as the initial dry density and water content, hut dependent on the ratio of bentonite to sand. An empirical method was accordingly proposed allowing the prediction of the swelling deformation and swelling pressure with different initial densities and bentonite-sand ratios when in saturated conditions. Finally, the swelling capacities of GMZ Na- and Ca-bentonites and Kunigel Na-bentonite are compared.