Sequestration and metabolism of protoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids by larvae of the leaf beetle Platyphora boucardi and their transfer via pupae into defensive secretions of adults

Several neotropical leaf-beetles of the genus Platyphora ingest and specifically metabolize plant acquired pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) of the lycopsamine type (e.g., rinderine or intermedine) and enrich the processed alkaloids in their exocrine defensive secretions. In contrast to the related palaearctic leaf beetles of the genus Oreina, which absorb and store only the non-toxic alkaloid N-oxides, Platyphora sequesters PAs exclusively as protoxic tertiary amines. In this study, the ability of P. boucardi larvae to accumulate PAs was investigated. Tracer studies with [¹⁴C]rinderine and its N-oxide revealed that P. boucardi larvae, like adult beetles, utilize the two alkaloidal forms with the same efficiency, but accumulate the alkaloid as a tertiary amine exclusively. Ingested rinderine is rapidly epimerized to intermedine, which is localized in the hemolymph and all other tissues; it is also detected on the larval surface. Like adults, larvae are able to synthesize their own alkaloid esters (beetle PAs) from orally administered [¹⁴C]retronecine and endogenous aliphatic 2-hydroxy acids. These retronecine esters show the same tissue distribution as intermedine. A long-term feeding experiment lasting for almost four months revealed that retronecine esters synthesized from [¹⁴C]retronecine in the larvae are transferred from larvae via pupae into the exocrine glands of adult beetles. Pupae contain ca. 45% of the labeled retronecine originally ingested, metabolized, and stored by larvae; ca. 12% of larval radioactivity could be recovered from the defensive secretions of adults sampled successively over two and a half months. Almost all of this radioactivity is found in the insect-made retronecine esters that are highly enriched in the defensive secretions, i.e., more than 200-fold higher concentration compared to pupae.     

The fate of nitrogen in agroecosystems: An illustration using Canadian estimates

Agroecosystems rely on inputs of nitrogen (N) to sustain productivity. But added N can leak into adjacent environments, affecting the health of other ecosystems and their inhabitants. Worries about global warming have cast further attention on the N cycle in farmlands because farms are a main source of N₂O, and because carbon sequestration, proposed to help reduce CO₂ loads, requires a build-up of N. Our objective was to estimate, as an illustrative example, the net N balance of Canadian agroecosystems in 1996 and then infer some hypotheses about the routes of N loss, their magnitude, and ways of reducing them. We defined agroecosystems as all agricultural lands in Canada including soil to 1 m depth and all biota, except humans. Only net flows of N across those boundaries were counted in our balance – all others represent internal cycling. Based on our estimates, about 2.35 Tg N entered Canadian agroecosystems from biological fixation, fertilizers, and atmospheric deposition (excluding re-deposited NH₃). In the same year, about 1.03 Tg N were exported in crop products and 0.19 Tg were exported in animals and animal products. Consequently, N inputs exceed exports in products by about 1.13 Tg, a surplus that is either accumulating in agroecosystems or lost to the environment. Because potential soil organic matter gains can account for only a small part of the surplus N, most is probably lost to air or groundwater. Our finding, that N losses amount to almost half of N added, concurs with field experiments that show crop recovery of added N in a given year is often not more than 60%. Better management may reduce the fraction lost somewhat but, because N in ecosystems eventually cycles back to N₂, substantive gains in efficiency may not come easily. As well as trying to reduce losses, research might also focus on steering losses directly to N₂, away from more harmful intermediates. If some of the `missing N' can be assimilated into organic matter, agricultural soils in Canada may need little added N to achieve C sequestration targets.     

二氧化碳地中隔离技术及其岩石力学问题

寻求经济又安全的强有力减排技术关系到日本政府能否履行在京都议定书中所作的承诺。二氧化碳是主要的温室气体，二氧化碳地中隔离是把从集中排放源分离得到的二氧化碳注入地下深处具有适当封闭条件的地层中隔离起来，即把二氧化碳归还原处——地球深部。介绍了二氧化碳地中隔离的概念及国际动态，并基于隔离容量、机理、安全性及成本分析，论述其可行性。     

利用碳封存技术开发我国深层煤层气资源的思考

碳封存技术是在美国政府大力倡导下,联合加拿大、澳大利亚、挪威、日本等国家,以捕获碳并安全存储的方式来取代直接向大气中排放CO2的一种新技术。我国的煤层气资源非常丰富,煤层气资源量约为116.8×1012m3,埋深2 000~4 000 m范围的煤层气资源量约为50×1012m3,这部分埋藏较深的资源由于开发成本较高,虽然在短期内很难加以利用,但碳封存技术的出现为开发和利用深部煤层气资源提供了可能的技术条件。CO2的吸附能力是CH4的4倍以上,如果把CO2通过钻井注入到深部煤层中,由于其吸附能力的差异,CH4会被优先置换出来,利用该技术一方面实现封存CO2的目的,同时还能够开发深部CH4。这种置换技术在我国很多含煤盆地具有广阔的应用前景。     

鄂尔多斯高原地下水固碳能力研究

利用不同深度地下水的二氧化碳含量,结合粒子示踪技术确定不同深度地下水的循环量,对鄂尔多斯高原地下水的固碳能力进行了估算。结果表明,浅层地下水二氧化碳含量为0.02～6.45 mg/L,中、深层地下水不含二氧化碳;浅层地下水的循环量占总循环量的82.4%,中、深层地下水的循环量占总循环量的17.6%;鄂尔多斯高原地下水的固碳能力约为2 470 t/a。     

小水电代燃料工程对黔东南人工林生态系统固碳效益的影响

研究小水电代燃料工程对人工林生态系统的固碳效益的影响,是小水电代燃料工程生态效益和可持续性评价的重要内容。本文选取贵州省麻江县小水电代燃料工程项目区内常绿阔叶次生林、马尾松人工林和柏木人工林为研究对象,以立地条件相近的非项目区马尾松人工林和柏木人工林为对照,通过外业调查和实验室测定,对比分析了不同林分生态系统碳储量间的差异。结果如下：（1）项目区内马尾松和柏木人工林的乔木层、林下层和土壤层碳储量均大于各自对照林分,其中在乔木层上碳储量差异显著（P<0.05）。（2）项目区内常绿阔叶次生林、马尾松和柏木人工林生态系统碳储量分别为153.70、88.25和36.69 Mg/hm²,其中次生林显著大于人工林,马尾松和柏木人工林均显著大于各自对照林分（P<0.05）。研究表明：（1）小水电代燃料工程增加了人工林生态系统碳储量,提高了人工林生态系统的固碳效益。（2）研究区内的植被恢复具有较高的固碳潜力。     

Economical Evaluation of CO2-EOR Projects in the Middle East

Abstract

Recently, there is a growing interest the in oil industry to utilize carbon dioxide (CO₂) to enhance oil production from mature reservoirs. Conversely, there is a rising global attention to reduce CO₂ emissions from burning fossil fuels due to environmental concerns. Synchronization between these two objectives is promising through CO₂ Capture and Storage (CCS) projects where CO₂ is captured from large emission sources and then storedin safe geological structures. Economical evaluation of CO₂-EOR projects is a crucial measure in order to ensure a project's viability.

In this study, an efficient model was developed to predict the economics of CO₂-EOR projects. The developed model consists of five modules that are linked together to allow for fast prediction of CO₂-EOR economics.

The model was used to predict the economics of a case study where CO₂-EOR application is considered for a Middle Eastern reservoir. Moreover, the case study was subjected to sensitivity analyses to evaluate the effects of several parameters on the various economical components of CO₂-EOR projects.     

Upslope plume migration and implications for geological CO2 sequestration in deep,saline aquifers

Recent investigations regarding CO₂ sequestration in deep saline aquifers have focused on characterization of the injected plume, its migration within the aquifer over time, and possible leakage out of the aquifer. To study these complex flow systems, simplified models are sometimes used to describe both plume evolution and the amount of leakage. Simplifications may include an assumption of perfectly horizontal geological formations, negligible capillary pressure, and symmetry of the injection plume. In this study, we explicitly test the limits of the assumption of a horizontal aquifer through numerical simulation of typical injection scenarios in continental sedimentary basins. Our approach is to simulate injection of CO₂ into a confined saline aquifer for an extended period (we have used 15 years) and examine the effect of different degrees of slope, as well as other system parameters, on plume asymmetry using measures such as the location of the centroid of the CO₂ plume. Dimensional analysis of this system shows that the centroid migrates upslope in proportion with buoyancy, aquifer permeability, and slope, whereas increased porosity and CO₂ viscosity mitigate upslope migration of the centroid. The results of this study show that the effect of slope can be ignored for many aquifers likely to become CO₂ sequestration sites in North America. However, slope will be more important for higher permeability aquifers, such as the site used in the Sleipner sequestration project in the North Sea.     

Growth kinetics and lipid production using Chlorella vulgaris in a circulating loop photobioreactor

BACKGROUND: Compared with agriculture, microalgae culture promises to be a novel way of producing lipids for both food consumption and transportation fuel (biodiesel) purposes while using a minimal amount of land area. A circulating loop photobioreactor has been used to study the growth kinetics and lipid yield of Chlorella vulgaris growing on carbon dioxide as the sole source of carbon. RESULTS: Because of high photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) fluxes, C. vulgaris was observed to grow in exponential mode. The highest growth rate achieved was 0.049 h^?1 at the optimum growth conditions of 71.8 mW L^?1 PAR density, 10% CO₂ (v/v) in air and with an applied 8 h dark phase. The microalgae was observed to grow in a Monod fashion with a PAR density saturation coefficient of 2.8 mW L^?1. Light intensity showed the potential to significantly increase lipid yield, which reached a maximum of 30% (by mass) of cell dry weight. CONCLUSION: The circulating loop photobioreactor is a low‐cost bioreactor technology capable of culturing photosynthetic microalgae at high PAR densities and with uniform mixing and lighting. C. vulgaris is able to grow exponentially in this bioreactor and produce lipids at concentrations up to 30% by cell dry weight. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry