Removal of several metal ions from aqueous solution using powdered stem of Arundo donax L. as a new biosorbent

Arundo donax L., a member of Poaceae, was washed, dried, selected, pulverized, and then used for removal of Cu(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous solution. Series batch experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of contact time, pretreatment, particle size of biomass and solution pH on the biosorption capability of A. donax L. powder. The desorption characteristics and renewability of the biomass were also studied. The applicability of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms was examined for the experimental data, so did the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and Elovich kinetic models. Results showed that alkali-treated A. donax L. biomass was more appropriate to be the bio-material for biosorption when compared to acid-treated, washed and virgin A. donax L. Owing to its fast adsorption rate, high uptake capacity and the renewability of facility, stem of A. donax L. treated with NaOH seems to be a promising biosorbent for removal of heavy metals from wastewater.     

Bacterial community dynamics in horizontal flow constructed wetlands with different plants for high salinity industrial wastewater polishing

This study is focused on the diversity of bacterial communities from two series of horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (CW) polishing high salinity tannery wastewater. Each series was planted with Arundo donax or Sarcocornia sp. in a substrate composed by expanded clay and sand. Chemical and biochemical oxygen demand removal efficiencies were similar in each series, varying between 58 and 67% (inlet COD 218 ± 28 mg L⁻¹) and 60 and 77% (inlet BOD₅ 37 ± 6 mg L⁻¹), respectively. High numbers of culturable bacteria were obtained from substrate and root samples - 5.75 × 10⁶-3.95 × 10⁸ CFU g⁻¹ recovered on marine agar and 1.72 × 10⁷-8.46 × 10⁸ CFU g⁻¹ on nutrient agar. Fifty bacterial isolates were retrieved from the CW, related phylogenetically to Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, α-, β-, and γ-Proteobacteria. Changes in the bacterial communities, from roots and substrate of each series, related to the plant species, hydraulic loading rates and along CW operation were examined using denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The clustering analysis suggested that a diverse and distinct bacterial community inhabits each series, which was related to the type of plant present in each CW.     

Structural observations and biomechanical measurements of clarinet reeds made from Arundo donax

Plant anatomy was examined for two clarinet reeds made out of Arundo donax by different means of microscopy: light microscopy, low‐energy secondary electron scanning electron microscopy (SEM), backscattered electron SEM, and helium ion microscopy (HiM). The local indentation hardness H_IT and Young's modulus E_IT of different tissues on their cross sections were measured. A vascular bundle (Vb) (H_IT = 60–100 MPa, E_IT = 1,500–2,000 MPa) that includes soft tissues of phloem and xylem and a vascular bundle sheath (Bs) (H_IT = 300–500 MPa, E_IT = ～7,000 MPa) form a pipe of the strong string along the longitudinal direction of the cane. This Vb/Bs string is connected transversally with a net of thin cell‐walls of parenchyma cells (Pa) (H_IT = 70–200 MPa, E_IT = 2,000–3,000 MPa) that also range along the longitudinal direction of the cane. It was turned out that the acoustic quality of a reed is mainly ascribed to the shape and configuration of Vb and the size of Pa. A reed where Vb bundles with continuous Bs rings are homogeneously distributed with higher proportion among a softer network of small Pa cells enables musical performance.     

Liquefaction of metal-contaminated giant reed biomass in acidified ethylene glycol system： Batch experiments

Giant reed is a suitable pioneer plant for metal-contaminated soil phytoremediation,however,it is imperative to dispose the metal-contaminated biomass after harvesting.The liquefaction of metal-contaminated giant reed biomass in ethylene glycol system with sulfuric acid as catalyst for the precursors of polyurethane compounds was studied.The results show that giant reed biomass from metal-contaminated soil is potentially liquefied and significantly affected by solvent/solid ratio,liquefaction temperature and liquefaction time （P〈0.05）.The liquefaction rate of biomass in acidified ethylene glycol system can reach 85.2% with optimized conditions of 60 min,170 ℃,3% sulfuric acid and solvent/biomass ratio of 5：1.The hydroxyl value of liquefied products is of 481 mg KOH/g while reactive hydroxyl groups of them are abundant,which is promised as potential precursors for polyurethane compounds.The solvent liquefaction is a potential method to dispose the metal-contaminated biomass,however,the containing-metal liquefied products should be studied deeply in order to get the suitable precursors in future.     

Determination of adsorption operating conditions in dynamic mode on basis of batch study: Application for Dimethylphthalate elimination on activated carbon prepared from Arundo donax

This study aims to determine the operating conditions to implement the Dimethylphthalate removal using an activated carbon prepared from Arundo donax, carbonized at 358?°C during 13?min. To achieve this objective, the study is conducted in batch and dynamic mode. Several kinetic models are applied, namely pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, intragranular, and Bangham models. The pseudo-second-order model fits the data perfectly, the estimated regression coefficients >0.999. The intragranular diffusion takes place in two stages. The two-parameter (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich) and three-parameter models (Redlich-Peterson, Sips, and Toth) are applied to model the equilibrium isotherms. The nonlinear regression methodology based on the error functions (hybrid fractional error function, Marquardt’s percent standard deviation, average relative error, Sum of the absolute errors) is applied. The HYBRID fits properly the data showing that the Temkin model gives the best fitting (R²_adj = 0.992), and the Dubinin-Radushkevich model the worst (R²_adj = 0.793). The thermodynamic study shows that the adsorption occurs according to a physical process. The DMP desorption is more effective with a 5% NaOH solution. In dynamic mode, the runs are conducted in fixed bed column. The effect of the bed height, the DMP initial concentration, and the flow rate on the breakthrough curves is investigated, then these breakthrough curves are modeled using the Thomas and Bed Depth Service Time models. The regeneration of the exhausted Arundo donax activated carbon is performed in a column, after 5 cycles, the breakthrough time decreases from 65.3?to 26.8?h, however, the exhaustion time varies less rapidly.     

Growth changes and tissues anatomical characteristics of giant reed （Arundo donax L.） in soil contaminated with arsenic, cadmium and lead

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to elucidate the growth changes and tissues anatomical characteristics of giant reed (Arundo donax L.), a perennial rhizomatous grass, which was cultivated for 70 d in soils contaminated with As, Cd and Pb. The results show that giant reed rapidly grows with big biomass of shoots in contaminated soil, possessing strong metal-tolerance with limited metal translocation from roots to shoots. When As, Cd and Pb concentrations in the soil are less than 254, 76.1 and 1 552 mg/kg, respectively, plant height and dried biomass are slightly reduced, the accumulation of As, Cd and Pb in shoots of giant reed is low while metal concentration in roots is high, and the anatomical characteristics of stem tissues are thick and homogeneous according to SEM images. However, plant height and dried biomass are significantly reduced and metal concentration in plant shoots and roots are significantly increased (P<0.05), the stems images become heterogeneous and the secretion in vascular bundles increases significantly when As, Cd and Pb concentrations in the soil exceed 334, 101 and 2 052 mg/kg, respectively. The giant reed is a promising, naturally occurring plant with strong metal-tolerance, which can be cultivated in soils contaminated with multiple metals for ecoremediation purposes.     

Dilute oxalic acid pretreatment for biorefining giant reed (Arundo donax L.)

Biomass pretreatment is essential to overcome recalcitrance of lignocellulose for ethanol production. In the present study we pretreated giant reed (Arundo donax L.), a perennial, rhizomatous lignocellulosic grass with dilute oxalic acid. The effects of temperature (170-190 °C), acid loading (2-10% w/w) and reaction time (15-40 min) were handled as a single parameter, combined severity. We explored the change in hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin composition following pretreatment and glucan conversion after enzymatic hydrolysis of the solid residue. Two different yeast strains, Scheffersomyces (Pichia) stipitis CBS 6054, which is a native xylose and cellobiose fermenter, and Saccharomyces carlsbergensis FPL-450, which does not ferment xylose or cellobiose, were used along with commercial cellulolytic enzymes in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). S. carlsbergensis attained a maximum ethanol concentration of 15.9 g/l after 48 h at pH 5.0, while S. stipitis, at the same condition, took 96 h to reach a similar ethanol value; increasing the pH to 6.0 reduced the S. stipitis lag phase and attained 18.0 g/l of ethanol within 72 h.     

湿生植物根系泌氧能力与其结构相关性研究

为了更好地了解湿生植物对湿地基质供氧能力,对西伯利亚鸢尾、风车草、芦竹和腺柳根系泌氧能力进行研究,并计算湿地植物泌氧能力,为人工湿地不同植物选择提供参考数据。结果表明:在26℃、3000 lux光照的水培条件下,芦竹根系干重泌氧率最高,达到0.201 mmol/(g·h)。湿生植物植株干重泌氧速率与根重-根长比及植株-根系干重比呈显著正相关(p0.01),也与根系孔隙度呈显著正相关。除木本植物腺柳外,西伯利亚鸢尾、风车草和芦竹单植株干重的泌氧率与通气组织面积占比呈显著正相关(p0.01),而与根系表皮层平均厚度呈显著负相关(p0.01),因此,通气组织发育程度和根系表皮层厚度也是影响湿生植物根系泌氧能力的重要因素。基于试验条件,湿地芦竹泌氧率为38.4 g/(m~2·d),湿地腺柳泌氧率为98.3 g/(m~2·d),都高于西伯利亚鸢尾和风车草泌氧率。因此,腺柳和芦竹有利于提高湿地基质中氧含量,其根际易于形成好氧环境。     

Adsorption of malachite green from aqueous solution onto carbon prepared from Arundo donax root

Arundo donax root carbon (ADRC), a new adsorbent, was prepared from Arundo donax root by carbonization. The surface area of the adsorbent was determined 158 m²/g by N₂ adsorption isotherm. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out for the removal of malachite green (MG) from aqueous solution using ADRC as adsorbent. The effects of various parameters such as solution pH (3–10), carbon dose (0.15–1.0 g/100 ml) and initial MG concentration (10–100 mg/l) on the adsorption system were investigated. The effective pH was 5–7 and the optimum adsorbent dose was found to be 0.6 g/100 ml. Equilibrium experimental data at 293, 303 and 313 K were better represented by Langmuir isotherm than Freundlich isotherm using linear and non-linear methods. Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG, ΔH and ΔS were also calculated. The negative Gibbs free energy change and the positive enthalpy change indicated the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the adsorption. The adsorption equilibrium time was 180 min. Adsorption kinetics was determined using pseudo-first-order model, pseudo-second-order model and intraparticle diffusion model. The results showed that the adsorption of MG onto ADRC followed pseudo-second-order model.     

The response of Arundo donax L. (C3) and Panicum virgatum (C4) to different stresses

In this work, two perennial rhizomatous grasses (Arundo donax L. (giant reed; C₃) and Panicum virgatum L. (switchgrass; C₄)) considered as promising energy crops have been subjected to four different types of stress in two experiments: (i) both species were subjected to four salinity and water stress treatments [well-watered with non-saline solution (WW S−), low-watered with non-saline solution (WS S-), well-watered with saline solution (WW S+) and low-watered with saline solution (WS S+)]; and (ii) both species were subjected to three temperature and light treatments [ambient temperature and light (C), ambient temperature and darkness (AD) and cold temperature and darkness (CD)]. Photosynthetic and physiological parameters as well as biomass production were measured in these plants. It can be hypothesized that a higher photosynthesis rate (A_sat) was be observed in switchgrass as a consequence of its C₄ metabolic pathway. However, our results indicated a similar A_sat at the beginning of the experiment for both species. This could be due to switchgrass being an NAD-ME C₄ type whereas giant reed has been reported as a C₃ species with a high photosynthetic rate. We showed that switchgrass seems to be more resistant to stresses such as water stress, salinity and cold than giant reed in our greenhouse conditions.