clay and anthracene

Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) as intermediate products exist widely in the PAHs-contaminated soils, but toxicity assessment associated with EPFRs for terrestrial invertebrates remains unclear. Using the model organism Eisenia fetida, we compared the adverse effects among anthracene (ANT), anthraquinone (ANQ), and EPFRs induced by ANT transformation on clay surfaces. Our results showed that EPFRs-exposed earthworms experienced histopathological damage, which was more severe than ANT and ANQ-exposed earthworms. The source of EPFRs damage was associated with the obvious dysbiosis of reactive oxygen species in earthworms. Specifically, EPFRs trigged more severe antioxidant responses and oxidative damages (e.g., membrane lipid and DNA injury) in comparison with ANT and ANQ exposure, as evidenced by the values of integrated biomarker response (IBR) following the order of EPFRs (14.5) > ANT (12.8) > ANQ (10.9). Moreover, high-throughput sequencing found that EPFRs induced dramatic changes in the composition and structure of earthworm gut microbiota, which may involve immune and metabolism dysfunction, in turn aggravated EPFRs toxicity. Overall, the obtained information highlights the more severe injury of EPFRs to terrestrial organisms, deserving more attentions for the assessment of potential risks associated with radical intermediates in PAHs-contaminated soils.

Topics: Animals; Anthracenes; Anthraquinones; Antioxidants; Biomarkers; Clay; Free Radicals; Membrane Lipids; Oligochaeta; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Reactive Oxygen Species; Soil; Soil Pollutants

Carbonaceous meteorites contributed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to the organic inventory of the primordial Earth where they may have reacted on catalytic clay mineral surfaces to produce quinones capable of functioning as redox species in emergent biomolecular systems. To address the feasibility of this hypothesis, we assessed the kinetics of anthracene (1) conversion to 9,10-anthraquinone (2) in the presence of montmorillonite clay (MONT) over the temperature range 25 to 250 °C. Apparent rates of conversion were concentration independent and displayed a sigmoidal relationship with temperature, and conversion efficiencies ranged from 0.027 to 0.066%. Conversion was not detectable in the absence of MONT or a sufficiently high oxidation potential (in this case, molecular oxygen (O

Topics: Anthracenes; Anthraquinones; Bentonite; Catalysis; Chemistry, Inorganic; Clay; Kinetics; Origin of Life; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Temperature

In this study, anthracene was employed as a probe to explore the potential catalytic effect of clay minerals in soil environment. Clay minerals saturated with various exchangeable cations were tested. The rate of anthracene transformation follows the order: Fe-smectite >> Cu-smectite > Al-smectite ≈ Ca-smectite ≈ Mg-smectite ≈ Na-smectite. This suggests that transition-metal ions such as Fe(III) play an important role in anthracene transformation. Among Fe(III)-saturated clays, Fe(III)-smectite exhibits the highest catalytic activity followed by Fe(III)-illite, Fe(III)-pyrophyllite, and Fe(III)-kaolinite, which is in agreement with the interlayer Fe(III) content. Moreover, effects by two common environmental factors, pH and relative humidity (RH), were evaluated. With an increase in pH or RH, the rate of anthracene transformation decreases rapidly at first and then is leveled off. GC-MS analysis identifies that the final product of anthracene transformation is 9,10-anthraquinone, a more bioavailable molecule compared to anthracene. The transformation process mainly involves cation-π bonding, electron transfer leading to cation radical, and further oxidation by chemisorbed O2. The present work provides valuable insights into the abiotic transformation and the fate of PAHs in the soil environment and the development of contaminated land remediation technologies.

Topics: Aluminum Silicates; Anthracenes; Cations; Clay; Environmental Pollutants; Humidity; Oxidation-Reduction; Surface Properties

An investigation of the mobility, viability, and activity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degrading bacteria in an electric field is presented. Bench-scale model aquifers were used to test electrophoresis and electroosmosis as potential mechanisms for bacterial dispersion in contaminated sites. Glass beads, alluvial sand from Lake Geneva, and historically polluted clayey soil were used as packing materials. The green-fluorescent protein labeled PAH-degrading bacteria Sphingomonas sp. L138 and Mycobacterium frederiksbergense LB501TG were used as test organisms because of the known differing physicochemical surface and adhesion properties of the corresponding wild-type strains. No adverse effects of the electric current on bacterial viability and PAH-degradation were observed in the system chosen. Up to 90% of the weakly negatively charged and moderately adhesive cells of strain L138 were transported by electroosmosis, whereas 0-20% were transported by electrophoresis. By contrast, poor electrokinetic transport of strongly charged and highly adhesive cells of M. frederiksbergense LB501TG occurred in the different model aquifers. Treatment of bacteria with the nonionic surfactant Brij35 resulted in up to 80% enhanced electrokinetic dispersion of both strains. Our findings demonstrate that electroosmosis may be a valuable mechanism to transport bacteria in the subsurface with transport efficiencies heavily depending on the retention of the bacteria by the solid phase.

Topics: Aluminum Silicates; Anthracenes; Biodegradation, Environmental; Clay; Electricity; Electrophoresis; Fluorenes; Glass; Locomotion; Mycobacterium; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Porosity; Silicon Dioxide; Soil Microbiology; Spain; Sphingomonas; Surface Properties; Switzerland

Irradiation of sewage sludge reduces pathogens and can hydrolyze or destroy organic molecules. The effect of irradiation of sewage sludge on C and N dynamics in arable soil and possible interference with toxic organic compounds was investigated in soil microcosms using a clay soil. The soil was treated with phenanthrene and anthracene, with and without irradiated and non-irradiated sewage sludge amendment. All the treated soils were incubated for 182 days at 25 degrees C. The CO2 production and dynamics of inorganic N (NH4+, NO2- and NO3-) were monitored. Addition of sewage sludge (0.023 g g(-1) soil), anthracene or phenanthrene (10.0 microg g(-1) soil dissolved in methanol), and methanol (10 mg g(-1) soil) to soil had a significant effect on CO2 production compared to the control. However, there were no significant differences between soil treated with irradiated and non-irradiated sewage sludge. Irradiated sewage sludge increased the C and N mineralization of anthracene amended soils to a greater extend than in phenanthrene amended soils. Nitrification was inhibited for 28 days in soil treated with either methanol, anthracene and phenanthrene. Application of sewage sludge reduced such toxicity effects after 28 days incubation.

Topics: Aluminum Silicates; Anthracenes; Carbon; Carbon Dioxide; Clay; Enterobacteriaceae; Methanol; Minerals; Nitrogen; Nitrogen Compounds; Phenanthrenes; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sewage; Soil; Soil Microbiology