Insight investigation of the on-site activated sludge reduction induced by metabolic uncoupler: Effects of 2,6-dichlorophenol on soluble microbial products, microbial activity, and environmental impact.

Metabolic uncoupling technology was one of the methods widely used to on-site control the production of excess sludge in wastewater treatment processes. However, the uncoupler effects on soluble microbial products (SMP), microbial activity, and environment impact have few been reported. This study showed that sludge yield was reduced by 33.3% at 2,6-dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP) concentrations of 10 mg/L. The addition of 2,6-DCP also reduced the content of polysaccharide and protein in SMP, and the three-dimension excitation emission matrix (3D-EEM) suggested that the fluorescence intensities of humic acid-like, fulvic acid-like, and tryptophan protein-like substances decreased, proving that 2,6-DCP addition will weaken the interaction between microorganisms and the environmental matrix. Moreover, 2,6-DCP addition will change the microbial morphology and community of activated sludge. The active or respiring bacteria portion was lessened, and sludge flocs become dispersed, but it will not affect its settling performance. Surprisingly, 2,6-DCP has certain biodegradability and could be used as an environmentally friendly metabolic uncoupler under low-concentration dosing conditions. This study systematically evaluated the effect of 2,6-DCP on sludge production, SMP contents, microbial morphology, microbial community, demonstrating the environmental impact and application feasibility in the wastewater treatment systems.

Enhancing 2,6-dichlorophenol degradation and nitrate removal in the nano-zero-valent iron (nZVI) solid-phase denitrification system.

Nano-zero-valent iron (nZVI), as a typical nano-material, has been recently used in wastewater treatment and combination with bioreactors. Using nZVI coupled denitrification system research the effect and influence of nZVI enhanced denitrification sludge on the degradation of toxic compounds and system performance. The nZVI coupled denitrification system showed better resistance to 2,6-DCP impact, and the concentrations of effluent NO2- and NO3- were below 2.0 mg/L. At the same time, the addition of nZVI enabled the denitrification system to quickly adapt to the toxic environment of 2,6-DCP within 15 days, and the degradation efficiency of 2,6-DCP reached 99.9%. The released SMP reduced after nZVI coupled with denitrification sludge in 2,6-DCP environment, which could improve the effluent water quality. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that the addition of nZVI would change the structure of EPS in denitrification sludge. After 90 days of operation, the dominant bacteria in the denitrifying sludge have undergone great changes. Moreover, Thauera was responsible as the dominant bacteria for degrading 2,6-DCP in the denitrification system. The increased in the proportion of functional bacteria with nitrate_reduction, nitrogen_respiration, nitrate_respiration and nitrite_respiration in the presence of NZVI further reveals the mechanism of enhanced denitrification.

High-level production of maltobionic acid from high-maltose corn syrup by genetically engineered Pseudomonas taetrolens.

Maltobionic acid (MBA) has recently emerged as an important material in various industries. Here, we showed that quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) from Pseudomonas taetrolens could convert maltose into MBA by heterologously expressing this enzyme in MBA non-producing Escherichia coli. We homologously expressed GDH in P. taetrolens to improve intracellular maltose-oxidizing activity and MBA production. We optimized culture conditions, then applied these conditions to batch fermentation by recombinant P. taetrolens in a 5-L bioreactor. The MBA production, yield, and productivity of batch fermentation using high-maltose corn syrup (HMCS), an inexpensive maltose source, were 200 g/L, 95.6 %, and 6.67 g/L/h, respectively. Although the MBA productivity from HMCS was 70.1 % of that compared with pure maltose as the substrate, HMCS was a better substrate for commercial MBA production, considering the cost was 1.1 % of that of pure maltose. The present findings provide an economically feasible strategy with which to produce MBA.

High-sensitive molecularly imprinted sensor with multilayer nanocomposite for 2,6-dichlorophenol detection based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering.

This study describes the preparation of a novel multilayer sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the detection of trace-level chlorophenols by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Composites of SiO2/reduced graphene oxide/gold (SiO2/rGO/Au, SGA) are chosen as the SERS substrates. The fabricated composites are able to enhance the SERS sensitivity, and the addition of MIPs improves the selectivity of traditional SERS substrates. Furthermore, the sensor's detection sensitivity and selectivity are improved by including two functional monomers, namely methacrylic acid (MAA) and acrylamide (AM) containing different functional groups. Finally, in to more effectively balance the selectivity of MIPs shell and the sensitivity of SERS detection, the prepared substrates are surface-modified with polydopamine (pDA) and prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). It is confirmed that the prepared SGA-MIPs exhibits relatively good sensitivity and selectivity in the detection of chlorophenols. Importantly, all the investigations are conducted in environmentally friendly aqueous solution, which enables scaling-up without causing pollution.

Determination of main fruits in adulterated nectars by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy combined with multivariate calibration and variable selection methods.

Grape, orange, peach and passion fruit nectars were formulated and adulterated by dilution with syrup, apple and cashew juices at 10 levels for each adulterant. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform mid infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra were obtained. Partial least squares (PLS) multivariate calibration models allied to different variable selection methods, such as interval partial least squares (iPLS), ordered predictors selection (OPS) and genetic algorithm (GA), were used to quantify the main fruits. PLS improved by iPLS-OPS variable selection showed the highest predictive capacity to quantify the main fruit contents. The selected variables in the final models varied from 72 to 100; the root mean square errors of prediction were estimated from 0.5 to 2.6%; the correlation coefficients of prediction ranged from 0.948 to 0.990; and, the mean relative errors of prediction varied from 3.0 to 6.7%. All of the developed models were validated.

Isolation and characterization of two crude oil-degrading fungi strains from Rumaila oil field, Iraq.

Among four crude oil-degrading fungi strains that were isolated from a petroleum-polluted area in the Rumaila oil field, two fungi strains showed high activity in aliphatic hydrocarbon degradation. ITS sequencing and analysis of morphological and biochemical characteristics identified these strains as Penicillium sp. RMA1 and RMA2. Gravimetric and gas chromatography analysis of the crude oil remaining in the culture medium after 14 days of incubation at 30 °C showed that RMA1 and RMA2 degraded the crude oil by 57% and 55%, respectively. These strains reduced surface tension when cultured on crude oil (1% v/v) and exhibited a cell surface hydrophobicity of more than 70%. These results suggested that RMA1 and RMA2 performed effective crude oil-degrading activity and crude oil emulsification. In conclusion, these fungal strains can be used in bioremediation process and oil pollution reduction in aquatic ecosystems.

The hydrogen-bonded complex bis(tert-butylammonium) 2,6-dichlorophenolate 2,4-dichlorophenol-2,4-dichlorophenolate tetrahydrofuran disolvate containing a chiral R53(10) hydrogen-bonded ring as a supramolecular synthon.

A fixed hydrogen-bonding motif with a high probability of occurring when appropriate functional groups are involved is described as a `supramolecular hydrogen-bonding synthon'. The identification of these synthons may enable the prediction of accurate crystal structures. The rare chiral hydrogen-bonding motif R53(10) was observed previously in a cocrystal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol and dicyclohexylamine. In the title solvated salt, 2C4H12N+·C6H3Cl2O-·(C6H3Cl2O-·C6H4Cl2O)·2C4H8O, five components, namely two tert-butylammonium cations, one 2,4-dichlorophenol molecule, one 2,4-dichlorophenolate anion and one 2,6-dichlorophenolate anion, are bound by N-H...O and O-H...O hydrogen bonds to form a hydrogen-bonded ring, with the graph-set motif R53(10), which is further associated with two pendant tetrahydrofuran molecules by N-H...O hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen-bonded ring has internal symmetry, with a twofold axis running through the centre of the 2,6-dichlorophenolate anion, and is isostructural with a previous and related structure formed from 2,4-dichlorophenol, dicyclohexylamine and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. In the title crystal, helical columns are built by the alignment and twisting of the chiral hydrogen-bonded rings, along and across the c axis, and successive pairs of rings are associated with each other through C-H...π interactions. Neighbouring helical columns are inversely related and, therefore, no chirality is sustained, in contrast to the previous case.

Biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons by oleophilic strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIM 5514.

The aim of this work was to study the potential of an indigenous strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIM 5514, isolated from petroleum-polluted soil, for the biodegradation of crude petroleum oil. The isolate completely decolorized 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol in 120h when grown at (37±1°C), indicating its hydrocarbon utilizing nature. Ex situ biodegradation study was performed to find out quantitative utilization and biodegradation of paraffin(s) present in crude oil. When the culture was grown in Bushnell-Hass medium containing crude oil (3%,v/v) at 37°C, 180rpm for 60days, the viscosity of the oil was reduced from 1883cp to 1002cp. Gravimetric and gas chromatographic analysis showed 61.03% and 60.63% of biodegradation of C8-C36+ hydrocarbons, respectively. These results indicated that the isolate has potential to be used for ex-situ and in-situ bioremediation of hydrocarbon pollutants and could have promising applications in petrochemical industry.

Responses of soluble microbial products and extracellular polymeric substances to the presence of toxic 2,6-dichlorophenol in aerobic granular sludge system.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the responses of soluble microbial products (SMP) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) to the presence of toxic 2,6-dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP) in aerobic granular sludge (AGS) system. Batch experiment showed that NH4+-N removal efficiency significantly decreased from 99.6% to 47.2% in the toxic 2,6-DCP of 20 mg/L. Moreover, the inhibition degrees of 2,6-DCP on (SOUR)H, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] were 7.8%, 32.1% and 9.5%, respectively. The main components of SMP, including protein (PN) and polysaccharide (PS) increased from 2.3 ± 0.74 and 16.8 ± 0.12 mg/L to 66.4 ± 0.56 and 18.0 ± 0.19 mg/L in the presence of 2,6-DCP. Three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) spectroscopy identified tryptophan PN-like, humic acid-like and fulvic acid-like substances in the control SMP, and their fluorescence intensities increased after exposure to 2,6-DCP. Synchronous fluorescence spectra suggested that the fluorescence quenching between EPS and 2,6-DCP was a static quenching process. The obtained results could provide insightful information on the responses of microbial products to AGS in the presence of toxic chlorophenols.

Cocrystals of 2,6-dichloroaniline and 2,6-dichlorophenol plus three new pseudopolymorphs of their coformers.

The structures of cocrystals of 2,6-dichlorophenol with 2,4-diamino-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine, C6H4Cl2O·C4H7N5, (III), and 2,6-dichloroaniline with 2,6-diaminopyrimidin-4(3H)-one and N,N-dimethylacetamide, C6H5Cl2N·C4H6N4O·C4H9NO, (V), plus three new pseudopolymorphs of their coformers, namely 2,4-diamino-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine-N,N-dimethylacetamide (1/1), C4H7N5·C4H9NO, (I), 2,4-diamino-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine-N-methylpyrrolidin-2-one (1/1), C4H7N5·C5H9NO, (II), and 6-aminoisocytosine-N-methylpyrrolidin-2-one (1/1), C4H6N4O·C5H9NO, (IV), are reported. Both 2,6-dichlorophenol and 2,6-dichloroaniline are capable of forming definite synthon motifs, which usually lead to either two- or three-dimensional crystal-packing arrangements. Thus, the two isomorphous pseudopolymorphs of 2,4-diamino-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine, i.e. (I) and (II), form a three-dimensional network, while the N-methylpyrrolidin-2-one solvate of 6-aminoisocytosine, i.e. (IV), displays two-dimensional layers. On the basis of these results, attempts to cocrystallize 2,6-dichlorophenol with 2,4-diamino-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine, (III), and 2,6-dichloroaniline with 6-aminoisocytosine, (V), yielded two-dimensional networks, whereby in cocrystal (III) the overall structure is a consequence of the interaction between the two compounds. By comparison, cocrystal-solvate (V) is mainly built by 6-aminoisocytosine forming layers, with 2,6-dichloroaniline and the solvent molecules arranged between the layers.

Ultrasonic preparation of nano-nickel/activated carbon composite using spent electroless nickel plating bath and application in degradation of 2,6-dichlorophenol.

Ni was effectively recovered from spent electroless nickel (EN) plating baths by forming a nano-nickel coated activated carbon composite. With the aid of ultrasonication, melamine-formaldehyde-tetraoxalyl-ethylenediamine chelating resins were grafted on activated carbon (MFT/AC). PdCl2 sol was adsorbed on MFT/AC, which was then immersed in spent electroless nickel plating bath; then nano-nickel could be reduced by ascorbic acid to form a nano-nickel coating on the activated carbon composite (Ni/AC) in situ. The materials present were carefully examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemistry techniques. The resins were well distributed on the inside and outside surfaces of activated carbon with a size of 120 ± 30 nm in MFT/AC, and a great deal of nano-nickel particles were evenly deposited with a size of 3.8 ± 1.1 nm in Ni/MFT. Moreover, Ni/AC was successfully used as a catalyst for ultrasonic degradation of 2,6-dichlorophenol.

Carbon Felt-Based Bioelectrocatalytic Flow-Through Detectors: 2,6-Dichlorophenol Indophenol and Peroxidase Coadsorbed Carbon-Felt for Flow-Amperometric Determination of Hydrogen Peroxide.

2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol (DCIP) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were coadsorbed on a porous carbon felt (CF) from their mixed aqueous solution under ultrasound irradiation for 5 min. The resulting DCIP and HRP-coadsorbed CF (DCIP/HRP-CF) showed an excellent bioelectrocatalytic activity for the reduction of H2O2. The coadsorption of DCIP together with HRP was essential to obtain larger bioelectrocatalytic current to H2O2. The DCIP/HRP-CF was successfully used as a working electrode unit of a bioelectrocatalytic flow-through detector for highly sensitive and continuous amperometric determination of H2O2. Under the optimized operational conditions (i.e., applied potential, +0.2 V versus Ag/AgCl; carrier pH 5.0, and carrier flow rate, 1.9 mL/min), the cathodic peak current of H2O2 linearly increased over the concentration range from 0.1 to 30 µM (the sensitivity, 0.88 µA/µM (slope of linear part); the limit of detection, 0.1 µM (S/N = 3) current noise level, 30 nA) with a sample through-put of ca. 40-90 samples/h.

Convenient microtiter plate-based, oxygen-independent activity assays for flavin-dependent oxidoreductases based on different redox dyes.

Flavin-dependent oxidoreductases are increasingly recognized as important biocatalysts for various industrial applications. In order to identify novel activities and to improve these enzymes in engineering approaches, suitable screening methods are necessary. We developed novel microtiter-plate-based assays for flavin-dependent oxidases and dehydrogenases using redox dyes as electron acceptors for these enzymes. 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol, methylene green, and thionine show absorption changes between their oxidized and reduced forms in the visible range, making it easy to judge visually changes in activity. A sample set of enzymes containing both flavoprotein oxidases and dehydrogenases - pyranose 2-oxidase, pyranose dehydrogenase, cellobiose dehydrogenase, D-amino acid oxidase, and L-lactate oxidase - was selected. Assays for these enzymes are based on a direct enzymatic reduction of the redox dyes and not on the coupled detection of a reaction product as in the frequently used assays based on hydrogen peroxide formation. The different flavoproteins show low Michaelis constants with these electron acceptor substrates, and therefore these dyes need to be added in only low concentrations to assure substrate saturation. In conclusion, these electron acceptors are useful in selective, reliable and cheap MTP-based screening assays for a range of flavin-dependent oxidoreductases, and offer a robust method for library screening, which could find applications in enzyme engineering programs.

Interactions of betulinic acid with xenobiotic metabolizing and antioxidative enzymes in DMBA-treated Sprague Dawley female rats.

Cancer chemoprevention is related to classical epidemiology and involves the use of agents that inhibit, delay, or reverse the carcinogenesis that occurs as a result of accumulation of mutations and increased proliferation. Betulinic acid is known for its cytotoxic effects against a panel of cancer cell lines. In the present study, interactions of betulinic acid (BA) with xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes including mixed function oxidases (cytochrome b5, P420, P450, NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase, and NADH cytochrome b5 reductase), phase II enzymes (GST, DT-diaphorase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase), LDH, antioxidative enzymes (glutathione reductase, SOD, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and guaiacol peroxidase), and lipid peroxidation are studied alone as well as in the presence of 7,12 dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA)--a potent carcinogen using Sprague Dawley female rats. The effect of BA on reduced glutathione content and protein content is also taken into consideration. It has been found that administration of BA decreased the level of mixed function oxidases that are involved in the conversion of carcinogen to electrophile, elevated the level of phase II enzymes which participated in the removal of electrophiles by sulfation, conjugation etc. It has been found that BA effectively removed or neutralized the reactive species by the action of phase II enzymes and such an effect was reflected from the specific activities of antioxidative enzymes which were found to be lower as compared to positive control (DMBA-treated group) and in some cases even that of untreated control. BA was also found to have a pronounced effect in protecting the animals from lipid peroxidation as evident from the reduced levels of TBARS, conjugated diene, and lipid hydroperoxide formation. This study highlights the role of BA in modulating the activities of xenobiotic and antioxidative enzymes that have putative roles in cancer initiation and proliferation.

More about the role of 2,6-dichlorophenol in tick courtship: identification and olfactometer bioassay in Amblyomma cajennense and Rhipicephalus sanguineus

This study aimed to identify 2,6-dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP) in Amblyomma cajennense and to evaluate its role in A. cajennense and Rhipicephalus sanguineus courtship. Hexanic extract from attractive females was purified by solid phase extraction and the phenol was identified by the single ion monitoring method using GC/MS. In an olfactometer, the responses of A. cajennense and R. sanguineus males to females, control rubber septa or rubber septa impregnated with 2,6-DCP at 50, 500, and 5000 ng, respectively, were studied. 2,6-DCP was identified in A. cajennense extract and the males oriented themselves toward the concentration of 500 ng. These septa and the females were recognized as copula partners. The septa treated with 2,6-DCP did not attract and were not even recognized by the R. sanguineus males, whereas the females were recognized. Due to the presence of 2,6-DCP in A. cajennense and the results of biological bioassays, it was concluded that this compound acts as an attractant and mounting sex pheromone in this tick, but it does not play any role in R. sanguineus courtship.