This work was funded by the Government of Canada&#8217;s Federal Economic Development Agency (FedDev) Applied Research and Commercialization Extension to Queen&#8217;s University (Dr. Allison Rutter and Dr. Darko Matovic). Sincerest thank you to Burt&#8217;s Greenhouses (Odessa, ON) for providing the biochars. Special thanks to Yuxing Cui of the CBRN Protection Group at RMC and staff of the ASU and Zeeb Lab for their ongoing support.

注:化学分析的分析服务部（ASU）环境研究学院皇后大学（金斯顿，ON）进行的。亚利桑那州立大学是由加拿大实验室认可协会（CALA）在认可的范围所列特定的测试认证。其他分析，包括温室试验，分别在加拿大皇家军事学院（金士顿，ON）化学与化工学院编制。 1.一般注意事项<ol><li>为了确保质量保证和质量控制，分析的分析和空白分析两份，一式两份的样品，并与每批样品（最大批量大小10），用于在所述协议的方法的标准参考材料。 </li><li>建立重复的样品时，从原始样本子采样，并经过同样的编制作为未知样品。确保重复的值在每一个20％其他或重复的分析。确保坯件分析的结果都低于对相应的方法的检测限。标准物质限制取决于个人的方法，但确保他们一般都在预期值的15-30％。 注:在很多的协议描述的方法，具体包括样品分析的建议的顺序，包括校准品，空白，高和低的标准，和未知样品上。这是为了确保样本之间无交叉污染，确保高标准，QA / QC。 注:六biochars被生产以商业的温室和用于化学，物理和生物参数进行分析。每个生物炭的名字反映他们的生产参数或原料来源（ 见表1）。 </li></ol> 2.测试A类:基本生物炭实用性能<ol><li>水分和有机质含量<ol><li>使用上的点火程序进行损失由尼尔森和萨默斯（1996）内衬。 <ol><li>包括每10未知样品一式两份样品和标准参考材料（渥太华沙）。 </li><li>标签50毫升的烧杯耐热的标记，在105绝干他们 °C，使他们冷却然后记录重量。 </li><li>权衡2克风干样品放入烘箱干燥的烧杯中。在105℃下24小时干燥样品，然后从烘箱中取出并让它冷却。 </li><li>一旦冷却，称量烧杯和样品（X =体重干燥样品中 - 重烧杯）。 </li><li>放置在马弗炉和热的样品16小时覆盖在420℃。从炉中取出样品，并允许冷却。再称取样品的烧杯中，记录重量（Y =体重灰化样品 - 重量烧杯）。 </li><li>执行以下计算: 我）烧失量= XY ⅱ）％水分=（（样品重量 - X）/样品重量）×100％ III）％有机马特ER =（上点火/ X亏损）×100％ </li></ol></li></ol></li><li>近因和最终分析 注:对于近因/终极分析，四种样品进行了分析:低，高，标准燃料和高2. PAH进行了分析，对低，高，和标准燃料。这些被选为代表2012年以来生产的biochars的。 <ol><li>近因开展和旗舰版，在分析的基础上的方法一个商业设施:ASTM D3172-13 8和D3176-09标准操作规程和近因煤和焦炭分别极限9分析。 </li></ol></li><li> pH值<ol><li>每天用校准标准使用前校准pH探头。 </li><li>添加0.25克生物炭到25毫升蒸馏水，去离子水。 </li><li>手动振摇2分钟，然后离心3000×g离心5分钟。 </li><li>收集上清到玻璃试管和测量pH值。 </li></ol></li><li>粒度分布<ol><li>分析triplicat所有样品通过渐进式干燥筛分改编自ASTM D5158-98使用10美国七大标准筛和平移（4.7，2.0，1.0，0.50，0.25，0.15，0.0075毫米）电子<ol><li>记录每个空筛的重量和从盘堆叠的筛子，以便至4.7毫米，4.7 mm筛是在顶部。 </li><li>将60克生物炭的4.7 mm筛，将盖在上面，保证筛的堆栈上的振动筛。 </li><li>摇动10分钟，并记录每个筛的重量。报告中一个excel文件％的留在每个筛子中的数据。 </li></ol></li></ol></li></ol> 3.测试B类:毒物报告<ol><li>发芽试验<ol><li>使用由Solaiman 等人所述的种子发芽试验方法。（2012）11。 <ol><li>使用滤纸和盆栽土壤作为阳性对照。 </li><li>确保各处理的各自的权重为3g生物炭，10克盆栽土壤中，和1片filte的ř纸。 注意:这些值是根据在培养皿体积，使得每个菜是〜50％满（体积）。 </li><li>入培养皿（8.5厘米直径），放置5 西葫芦菌属西葫芦 （南瓜）种子和50 苜蓿 （苜蓿）种子到每个治疗。 </li><li>用量筒加入15毫升水，以所有的培养皿，然后覆盖它们各自的盖子。 </li><li>放置在培养皿中发芽下14:10小时（白天:夜间）荧光光照和27℃（±6℃）​​保持温度。 </li><li>七天后记录种子发芽的数目。报告结果％的速度培养皿发芽。测量用尺子发芽种子的根长。报告根长度作为每个培养皿（厘米/培养皿）的总和。 </li></ol></li></ol></li><li>避免蚯蚓<ol><li>存储赤子爱胜蚓在由泥炭和灌封健康的土壤基质土壤和保持土壤水分，在〜30％。 </li><li>使用由Li 等人描述的蚯蚓回避方法。 （2011年）。选择蠕虫范围从0.3-0.6克的尺寸。 <ol><li>对于这个实验，使用6回避轮（ 图1）或类似结构上与加拿大环境部的急性回避试验（加拿大环境部，2004年）概述。 </li><li>混合biochars单独使用铲子和水桶与盆栽土壤为2.8％（按重量计）的速率。 </li><li>填充六个室与120克土壤或土壤/生物炭的混合物的，与每一个其他隔室作为具有未修改控制（ 图1）， 即土壤无生物炭。加入10蠕虫圆中间隔层。 </li><li>暴露的蠕虫48小时保持避免车轮覆盖铝箔，以防止蠕虫病毒逃逸。保持温度条件之间20-25℃避免车轮。监测土壤水分，并在〜30％维护。 </LI&gt; <li> 48小时后取出的蠕虫，并在避免车轮记录它们的位置， 即 ，如果它们在ⅰ）经修正或ii）未经修正的隔间。不要重复使用蠕虫未来的测试。 </li></ol></li></ol></li><li>多环芳香烃（PAHs） <ol><li>分析的基础上的EPA 8270 12通过溶剂萃取和GC-MS多环芳烃。 </li></ol></li><li>多氯联苯（PCB）浓度<ol><li>干的样品（10克）处理过夜，在25℃进行18-24小时，然后磨碎成细粉（颗粒尺寸&lt;0.15毫米）与10g硫酸钠和10克Ottawa砂。 </li><li>包括一个分析的空白（Ottawa砂），一个控制（PCB的标准已知量），并每10未知样品一个分析样本重复。 </li><li>将2克样品放入索氏顶针和添加100微升decachlorobiphenyl（DCBP）作为内替代标准。 </li><li>提取索氏设备样品4小时的4-每小时6次在250ml的二氯甲烷中。 </li><li>使用装备有微镍63电子捕获检测器（GC /μECD）的气相色谱仪，熔融石英毛细管柱（30m，0.25mmol毫米内径×0.25微米膜厚度）和合适的软件分析生物炭提取总Aroclors。使用氦气作为载气以1.6毫升/分钟的流速。使用氮气作为电子捕获检测器（ECD）尾吹气。报告值微克/克干重。 </li></ol></li><li>金属分析<ol><li>风干的样品18-24小时，并研磨成细粉末（粒径&lt;0.15毫米）用研钵和研杵。 </li><li>使用试剂级浓酸，热将0.5g样品在2毫升70％（W / W）硝酸和6ml 38％（W / W）的盐酸，直到体积减少到1-2毫升。然后化妆的溶液到25毫升容量瓶用蒸馏水，去离子水，通过Whatman 40号过滤P过滤预习。 </li><li>使用同步电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱仪（ICP-AES）用以下的标准/对照分析样品（见步骤3.5.3.1）。分析多元素ICP标准和检查校准曲线％的误差和相关系数。标准购买定制混合各标准中的许多元素。每个元件具有3点校准曲线（例如镉运行于0，0.1，1.0和5ppm的）。验证校准检查标准曲线。重新校准大约每18个样品。 <ol><li>添加内部标准"上线"（铟和钪）的样品，以验证仪器的稳定性。分析额外的质量控制标准样本，包括有证标准物质（布什，枝叶;白菜和菠菜），方法空白（添加酸到空管消化并按照3.5.2上述对待他们），分析重复，场重复。 </li></ol></li></ol></li><li>水星<ol><li>确保仪器符合美国EPA 7473方法列出的标准，并允许直接测量汞</li><li>称取地面空气干燥生物炭（粒径&lt;0.15毫米）100毫克到石英或镍称量皿。 </li><li>使用的1000微克/毫升Hg和5％盐酸中的双去离子水（DDI）的ICP-AES原液，使工作股（5微克/毫升，1微克/毫升，0.1微克/毫升，0.01微克/毫升）和校准标准。 </li><li>使用清洁空艇作为方法的空白。分析起了方法的空白，低QC（20毫微克汞 - 20微升1微克/毫升汞柱）的样品，空白，高QC（200毫微克汞 - 40微升1微克/毫升汞柱），空白，空白，标准参考材料（MESS-3），空白，MESS-3，空白，样品1，空白，样品2，空白，样品2 DUP，空白，样品3，空白等。 </li><li>将船在仪器室，在这里将样品将热分解的continu氧气OU中流动。 注:燃烧产物然后将在氧气流带走，然后进一步分解在热催化剂床。汞蒸气将被困在金混汞管，并随后在254nm解吸光度法定量。 </li></ol></li></ol> 4.测试C类:生物炭高级分析和土壤特性增强<ol><li>铵氮 注:该方法利用了贝特洛反应，其中铵盐中的溶液与酚发生反应的。加入次氯酸钠导致绿色的化合物的形成。硝普钠被添加到强化的颜色。 <ol><li>权衡5克地面空气干燥样品（颗粒尺寸&lt;0.15毫米）成125毫升的Erlenmeyer烧瓶中。加入2M的（0.01％50液（V / V）的KCl。将烧瓶在旋转振荡器上1小时，在200转。摇动完​​成后，过滤通过Whatman 42号滤纸样品到100ml的复ASTIC小瓶。 </li><li>准备试剂的解决方案: <ol><li>碱性苯酚 - 量度87毫升液化酚加入到1-L的体积填充2/3的DDI水。添加34克氢氧化钠，弥补体积DDI水。 </li><li>次氯酸钠溶液 - 用100毫升的量筒测量31.5毫升商业漂白剂（5-10％），并填写到100毫升的水DDI。转瓶，并添加1.0克NaOH颗粒，并让他们解散。 </li><li> EDTA溶液 - 溶解在1升容积32克的EDTA二钠和0.4g氢氧化钠填充2/3用DDI水。添加0.18克硝普钠，并通过摇动溶解。补到体积与DDI水和添加3毫升的Triton（10％）。 </li></ol></li><li>使校准标准（0.1，0.2，0.3，0.5，1.0和2.0微克/毫升N-浓度），使用试剂级的NH 4 Cl和水的DDI。从试剂级源的氯化铵，从用于制造标准源不同制备的QC参考标准。使用双去离子水为空白。 </li><li>开始运行自动分析仪。设计每次运行开始与高标准（2.0微克/毫升N）×2，校准标准（从高到低），方法空白，高标准，低标准（0.1微克/毫升N）×2，洗脸水，QC参考样品×2，样品，样品的重复和高标准。，和洗涤水。 注:自动分析软件会自动计算出的提取物浓度。 </li><li>计算生物炭浓度=（提取浓度×50毫升（氯化钾））/5克生物炭样品。 </li></ol></li><li>氯化钾可提取的亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐通过自动分析仪 注:格里斯Ilosvay比色法利用亚硝酸离子在酸性条件下磺胺反应，形成重氮化合物。化合物进一步反应与N- -1-萘乙二胺二盐酸盐，以形成一个品红偶氮染料。硝酸盐在样品中，通过曝光转化为亚硝酸盐于还原剂（在此情况下的铜 - 镉减少列）。这使得样品中的硝酸盐+亚硝酸盐浓度的量度。 <ol><li>权衡5克地面空气干燥样品（颗粒尺寸&lt;0.15毫米）到125-ml的锥形瓶中。加入50毫升2M的（0.01％（V / V））的KCl。把瓶在旋转摇动1小时以200rpm。摇动完毕后，过滤通过Whatman 42号滤纸样品为100毫升的塑料瓶中。 </li><li>允许试剂（氯化铵和显​​色剂）温热至室温。 </li><li>打开比色计，让灯预热。在自动分析仪中存储的是标有氯化铵，显色剂和水试剂管线;启动泵，让水通过系统上运行，检查所有的泵管线路的正常功能。 </li><li>一旦系统达到平衡，发生线路中的相应的试剂，并允许运行5-10分钟。打开图表记录器。等待基线稳定，并且设置到第 10 次 </SUP&gt;图单元。 </li><li> ，准备100微克/毫升硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐的QC标准股票从KNO 3纳米2和DDI水分别。为了使10微克/毫升中间体标准，加入5毫升100微克/毫升的储备溶液，以50毫升的容量瓶中，并补到体积与0.01％的KCl。使校准标准相结合的0.01％KCl和制备25毫升容量瓶，使校准标准的10微克/毫升的中间标准（0.05，0.2，0.5，1.0，1.5，2微克/毫升NO 3或NO 2）。使用氯化钾的方法空白。 </li><li>准备使用5g的Ottawa砂（惰性材料）的尖峰，并添加0.05毫升的适当1000微克/毫升的QC标准为10毫克N- / kg的样品的最终结果。通过扣球与0.025毫升每1000微克/毫升QC标准的股票的一个样本作结合NO 3 + NO 2秒杀。通过扣球5.0克未知生物炭样品用0.025毫升适当1的准备每次运行一个样本秒杀，000微克/毫升QC标准的股票。 </li><li>开始运行分析。包括一个完整的校准标准，2 QC标准样品，至少两个氯化钾坯，和至少两个标准亚硝酸，一套渥太华砂尖峰和空白并在每次运行样品穗。 注意:标准可以重新运行为每5未知样品之间的标记和验证值用于制备标准曲线的。 </li><li>在每次运行结束重复2.0微克/毫升的标准。运行一式两份样品以10％的最低速率。润亚硝酸盐+硝酸盐分析第一，其次是亚硝酸盐分析。 </li><li>记录上的所有标准，质量控制检查和样品的亚硝酸盐硝酸盐工作表峰高。使用的图表的单位数为高度的测量。要校准仪器，使用标准的相对高度。确保R 2的价值在于在0.99以上，如果不重新运行的标准。 </li><li>使用FORMUL计算样品的浓度一: 提取物浓度=（峰高 - 校正曲线的拦截/校准曲线的斜率）×稀释 生物炭浓度=（提取浓度×50毫升（氯化钾））/5克生物炭样</li><li>从硝酸加亚硝酸浓度减去所估计的亚硝酸盐浓度来计算硝酸盐。 </li></ol></li><li>溶性磷（2％甲酸提取） 注:自动分析软件自动计算浓度。该软件报告校准信息，适合校准曲线的善良，集中所有样品，校准品，空白和QC样品已运行。 <ol><li>此前在干净的玻璃容器或无菌塑料袋分析店面样品。保持冷藏样品两周内分析或保持冷冻长达一年。 </li><li>使所有的标准和QC标准与用于样品相同的萃取液。使用河口沉积物作为标准refereNCE材料和样品的每浴包括两个空白将被提取。 </li><li>使用1-L体积充满至750毫升DDI水，加20毫升（98-99％），甲酸和填充体积与DDI水。 </li><li>添加1.0克地面空气干燥样品（颗粒尺寸&lt;0.15毫米）成125毫升的Erlenmeyer烧瓶中。加50毫升2％的甲酸溶液。把烧瓶于超声波仪10分钟，然后在200rpm转印到旋转的摇动器1小时。后使用Whatman 42号滤纸成另一组125毫升的锥形瓶中振摇，过滤样品。 </li><li>准备标准和尖峰: <ol><li>从磷酸二氢钾和磷酸DDI水准备1000微克/毫升QC股票标准。使用QC库存标准以使校准标准溶液（5微克/毫升，1微克/毫升，0.5微克/毫升，0.2微克/毫升，0.1微克/毫升）。使用0.100毫升的QC标准，使QC钉。为了使QC标准检查，对QC股票标准添加0.100毫升到50毫升体积umetric烧瓶并使其达量氯化钾。 注:这是一个0.2微克/毫升稀释浓度。 </li><li>使用河口泥沙的QC参考样。用0.01％氯化钾作为方法的空白。 </li></ol></li><li>在自动分析系统进行分析。样本集起来作为引物（高标准（0.5微克/毫升），校准物（5微克/毫升，1微克/毫升，0.5微克/毫升，0.2微克/毫升，0.1微克/毫升），空白，空，高标准（ 0.5微克/毫升），低标准（0.1微克/毫升），低标准（0.1微克/毫升），空，QC（参考样品/河口沉积物），QC（参考样品/河口沉积物），方法空白，样品​​1，样品2，样品2数据删除，样品3 等 ，高标准，空。 </li><li>在每一批样品也提取两个空白:一种是校准空白，它是被放置在自动进样器的标准机架，另一方面是一种方法的空白，它是被放置在样品盘。 </li></ol></li><li>比表面积 注:分析;软件S代表布鲁诺尔 - 埃米特 - 泰勒（BET）表面积的化学生物无线电核（CBRN）防护实验室在RMC进行。该方法利用N 2气吸附分析在77K中的相对压力范 ​​围从0.01至0.10的脱气，在120℃下进行最少2小时后。重复的样品每6未知样品进行了分析。样品没有磨成分析前粉末形式。 注:脱气时间和压力是特定于仪器制造商，所提供的方法已被采用高温活性炭预先验证。 </li><li>阳离子交换量（CEC） <ol><li>按照醋酸钠的方法，通过莱尔德和弗莱明（2008年）中描述的CEC计算CEC。 <ol><li>包括一个分析的空白（DDI水），标准物质（渥太华沙）和重复，每10个样品。 </li><li>通过溶解136.08克醋酸钠的准备饱和溶液（1M的醋酸钠pH值8.2）。3H 2 O在750ml蒸馏水，去离子水。通过加入醋酸或氢氧化钠将pH调节至8.2。稀释至1升与DDI水。 </li><li>通过组合800毫升IPA用200ml蒸馏水，去离子水制备第一漂洗溶液（80％异丙醇（IPA））。然后准备第二漂洗溶液（100％IPA）。 </li><li>通过溶解5.35克氯化铵入1升蒸馏水，去离子水制备的置换溶液（0.1M NH 4 Cl）的。 </li><li>称量0.2克样品（空气中干燥，不研磨）成30毫升的离心管中。与此同时，称量0.5g上述相同的空气干燥样品放入一个预称重的铝盘中干燥。放置在铝盘中干燥的样品在烘箱中在200℃下2小时，冷却在干燥器中，然后再次称重，以确定风干样品的水含量。使用该样本来计算水分含量修正因子，F（步4.4.1.10）。 </li><li>加入15毫升饱和溶液中，旋涡，然后离心3000xg离心5分钟。滗并小心弃去上清液，以确保没有样品损失。重复此步骤两次。 </li><li>加入15毫升第一漂洗溶液。涡流和离心机以3,000×g离心5分钟。滗并小心弃去上清液。重复此步骤几次，每次测量上层清液的电导率。当上清液的导电率下降的NaOAc的电导率用IPA（〜6μS/ cm）的饱和的下方，切换到第二漂洗溶液。继续直至上清液的导电率低于1μS/ cm至冲洗样品。 </li><li>使样品空气干燥在通风橱中，然后加入15毫升更换溶液。涡流和离心机以3,000×g离心5分钟。滗并将上清液保存到一个100毫升的容量瓶中。重复此步骤3次以上，每次保存上清液到相同的容量瓶中。然后将体积至100毫升，用蒸馏水，去离子わ器。 </li><li>分析通过如先前所述电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法（ICP-AES）的钠含量。 </li><li>执行以下计算: F =（重量烘箱中干燥，在空气中干燥样品 - 重量空气干燥样品） C = Na浓度（毫克/升），在100毫升的容量瓶中 W =体重风干样品（G）加入到离心管 CEC =（C X 0.435）/（宽x F）（CMOL /公斤） </li></ol></li></ol></li></ol>

The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

所有的在该协议中所列的方法已被仔细验证并广泛地用于土壤。由于生物炭特性仍处于起步阶段，这些方法的富碳基质的有效性在很大程度上是未知之数。因此，虽然这些方法本身并不新颖，其适用于常规表征，生物炭。在质量保证/质量控制方面，有间的任何方法没有问题相对于所述坯件是低于检测限或回收率是正确的标准参考材料。这表明，这些方法都适合用于生物炭等炭类物质的表征。许多...

生物炭是有机物1的热解过程中产生的富含碳的副产品。兴趣，无论是公开和学术，在加入生物炭的土壤，从提高土壤质量和植物生长2,3能力茎，可持续的固碳4，和吸着有害污染物2，3，5-7，而废同时提供替代品管理和能源生产通过热解。 Biochars正在被众多企业和组织通过不同的热解系统产生的世界各地。用于生产生物炭的材料包括（但不限于）木屑，动物粪便和建筑废物1。这些差异被预期以改变biochars&#39;物理和化学性质，因此它们对改善底物，促进长期稳定性并增加吸附能力的能力。此外，在热解过程中的生物炭毫安ý变得无意金属污染，多环芳烃和多氯联苯被污染原料或不适当的热解条件的结果。因此，生物炭之前可以大规模应用于环境作为土壤改良剂，仔细表征的生物炭污染物，比表面积，阳离子交换容量，蚯蚓回避和发芽和其他由国际生物炭倡议建议的（IBI）必须进行。在2013年，第一个标准化的产品定义和产品测试准则生物炭，其中规定了生物炭的物理和化学特性的标准，出版并公开提供。 有研究表明在敖德萨商业温室生产的生物炭，ON，加拿大有显著改善植物生长在强烈退化的土壤和吸着持久性有机污染物（POPs），如多氯联苯2,3的能力。这种生物炭已产生三不同的原料（ 即有机物源）经由其中所产生的热被用来在冬季温热其温室操作的锅炉系统。 这项研究提供相关的生物炭的生物质锅炉生产的特征数据，并利用生物炭作为土壤改良剂。这项研究的目的是要彻底表征的物理，化学和六biochars根据该IBI在他们的标准化产品定义和产品测试指引（1.1版）（2013年）制定的标准生物学特性。这些特征将被链接，在可能情况下，向每个生物炭作为农业修正的性能和它们的能够吸附污染物的能力。

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="2073">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="30">
			<td height="30" style="height:30px;width:343px;">Name of Material/ Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:1163px;">Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Biochar</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Burt&#39;s Greenhouses</td>
			<td style="width:208px;"></td>
			<td>All six biochars were produced at Burt&#39;s Greenhouses via BlueFlame Boiler system</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="27">
			<td height="27" style="height:27px;width:343px;">NaOAc</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">E124-4</td>
			<td>Dissolving 136.08 g of NaOAC.3H2O in 750mL distilled, deionized&#160; water (DDI water)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Acetic Acid</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">A38-212</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sodium Hydroxide</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>SS284-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Isopropanol</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">A416P4</td>
			<td>80% IPA- 800 mL IPA with 200 mL DDI water.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:343px;">NH4Cl</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">A649500</td>
			<td>Dissolving 5.35 g NH4Cl into 1 L DDI water.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Alumminum Drying Pan</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>08-732-110</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Drying Oven</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">508N0024</td>
			<td>200&#176;C for 2 hours.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Desiccator</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>08-595A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Balance</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Mettler</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">1113032410</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Saturating Solution</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">06-664-25</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Vortex</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Barnstead/Thermolyne</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">871000536389&#160;&#160;&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Centrifuge</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">International Equipment Company</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">24372808</td>
			<td>3000 g for 5 mins.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Rinsing Solution</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (Ricca Chemistry Company)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">06-664-24</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Conductivity Meter</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">WESCAN</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">88298</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Replacing Solution</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">06-664-24</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">ICP-AES</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Varian</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">EL00053841</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">ASAP 2000 Surface Area Analyser&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Cavlon</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">885</td>
			<td>Degassing at 120&#176;C for a minimum of 2 hours.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Muffle Furnace</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">806N0024</td>
			<td>Heat for 16 hours covering at 420&#176;C.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">pH Meter</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">1230185263</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sieve</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">2288926</td>
			<td>4.7 mm sieve being at the top.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sieve Skaker</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Meinzer II</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">0414-02</td>
			<td>Shake for 10 min.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sodium Sulphate</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">EM-SX0761-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Ottawa Sand</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">S23-3</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Soxhlet Apparatus</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (Pyrex)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">09-557A</td>
			<td>4&#160;hours at 4&#8211;6&#160;cycles per hour.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">DCBP</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Suprlco Analytical</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">48318&#160;&#160;&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Dichloromethane</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">40042-40855-U</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">6890 Plus Gas Chromatograph Micro 63 Ni ECD</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Agilent</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">US00034778</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Helium</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">AlphaGaz</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">SPG-NIT1AL50SMART</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Nitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">AlphaGaz</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">SPG-HEL1AL50SMART</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Mortor and Pestle</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (CoorsTeh)</td>
			<td>12-948G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Nitric Acid</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">351288212</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">No. 40 Filter Paper</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (Whatman)</td>
			<td>09-845A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Quartz/Nickel weigh boats</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>11-474-210</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">DMA-80</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">ATS Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">5090264</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">98-99% Formic Acid</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">33015-1L</td>
			<td>1L volumetric filled to 750 mL with DDI water add 20 mL formic acid and fill to volume with DDI water.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sonicator</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Sientific</td>
			<td>15338284</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Rotating Shaker</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">New Brunswick Scientific (Innova 2100)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">14-278-108</td>
			<td>1 hour at 200 rpm.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">No. 42 Filter Paper</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (Whatman)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">09-855A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">WhirlPacks</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">R55048</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Potassium Dihydrogen Orthophospahte</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">181525</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">2M KCl</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">P282100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Plastic Vials</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">03-337-20</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Ammonium Chloride</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">PX05115</td>
			<td>Allow to warm up to room temperature</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Colour Reagent</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">361028260</td>
			<td>Allow to warm up to room temperature</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Colorimeter</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">13-642-400</td>
			<td>Turn on to let the lamp warm up and run for 5 minutes.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">ASEAL Auto Analyzer 2</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">SEAL</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">4723A12068</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Liquified Phenol</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">MPX05115</td>
			<td>Alkaline Phenol- Measure 87 mL of liquefied phenol into 1-L volumetric filled 2/3 with DDI water.&#160; Add 34 g NaOH, make up to volume with DDI water.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">NaOH</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">S318-3</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Commercial Bleach</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Retail Store</td>
			<td style="width:208px;"></td>
			<td>Hypochlorite Solution- using 100-mL graduated cylinder measure 31.5 mL of commercial bleach and fill to 100 mL with DDI water.&#160;&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">NaOH Pellets</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">S320-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Disodium EDTA</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">E5124</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sodium Hyprchlorite</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">SS290-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Triton (10%)</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">BP151-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sodium Nitroprusside</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">S350-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Ammonium Salts</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">A637-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Phenoxide</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>AC388611000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Eisenia Fetida</td>
			<td>The Worm Factory</td>
			<td style="width:208px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Spade</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Retail Store</td>
			<td style="width:208px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Bucket</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Retail Store</td>
			<td style="width:208px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Potting Soil</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Retail Store</td>
			<td style="width:208px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Avoidance Wheel</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Environment Canada</td>
			<td style="width:208px;"></td>
			<td>Constructed by a modified design from Environment Canada&#8217;s Acute Avoidance Test.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Alumminum Foil</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">01-213-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Petri Dishes</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">08-757-11</td>
			<td>8.5 cm in diameter.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Pumpkin Seeds</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Ontario Seed Company (OSC)</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:208px;">2055</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Alfalpha Seeds</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Ontario Seed Company (OSC)</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:208px;">6675</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Centrifuge Tubes (30mL)</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">22-038-906</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:343px;">Beakers (50mL)</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (Pyrex)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">02-540G</td>
			<td>Oven dry at 105oC.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Beakers (30mL)</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (Pyrex)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">20-540C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Erlenmeyer Flasks (125mL)</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (Pyrex)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">S76106C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Volumetric Flask (100mL)</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (Pyrex)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">10-211C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Estuarine Sediment</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">National Insititute of Standards</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">1546A</td>
			<td>Standard Reference Material</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Bleach</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Clorox Ultra (5-10% sodium hypochlorite)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

physical, chemical and biological characterization of six biochars produced for the remediation of contaminated sites

生物炭的物理和化学性质的基础上的原料来源和生产条件而变化，从而有可能对工程师biochars与特定功能（ 例如 ，碳吸收，土壤质量的改进，或污染物吸附）。在2013年，国际生物炭组织（IBI）作出公开提供的标准化产品定义和产品测试指引（1.1版），它设置为生物炭的物理和化学特性的标准。六biochars从三个不同的原料和在两个温度下作出对有关其作为土壤改良剂使用特性进行了分析。该协议描述了原料和biochars的分析，包括:阳离子交换量（CEC），比表面积（SSA），有机碳（OC）和含水率，pH值，颗粒尺寸分布，以及靠近并最终分析。在协议中还描述了在原料和生物炭的分析S表示污染物，包括多环芳香烃（PAHs），多氯联苯（PCBs），金属和汞以及营养物（磷，亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐和铵的氮）。该协议还包括了生物检测程序，避免蚯蚓和发芽试验。根据质量保证/质量控制（QA / QC）的空白，重复，标准和参考材料的结果，所有的方法测定足以与生物炭和原料材料的使用。所有biochars和原料均远低于标准由IBI组和有biochars之间的小的差别，除了在从建筑废料产生的生物炭的情况下。该生物炭（简称老生物炭）被确定为有砷，铬，铜，铅水平升高，并没有蚯蚓回避和发芽试验。基于这些结果，老生物炭，并不适宜用作土壤改良剂为炭素equestration，基材的质量改进或补救。

所有结果，包括比较受IBI 13所设定的标准总结可以在表1（摘要），2（新，高，低，三是原料和高2 biochars）和3（旧生物质炭）被发现。所有biochars和原料在2012年和2013年（ 表2）使用的是远低于标准由IBI设置，并有biochars之间的差异不大。老生物炭（ 表3），提交测试第一生物炭，是从用于航运托盘和建筑废料制成，被确定为?...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Physical, Chemical and Biological Characterization of Six Biochars Produced for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites at JoVE.com

Physical, Chemical and Biological Characterization of Six Biochars Produced for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites

生物炭是作为土壤改良剂与可持续固碳，提高基材的品质和吸着污染物的能力，富含碳的物质。该协议描述了用于生物炭的特性，这是之前大规模实施这些修订的环境所需的17分析方法。

物理，化学和六Biochars生产的生物表征污染场地修复的

The physical and chemical properties of biochar vary based on feedstock sources and production conditions, making it possible to engineer biochars with ...

physical-chemical-biological-characterization-six-biochars-produced

Research

JoVE Journal

Environment

35.0K 次观看.  Royal Military College of Canada. 生物炭是作为土壤改良剂与可持续固碳，提高基材的品质和吸着污染物的能力，富含碳的物质。该协议描述了用于生物炭的特性，这是之前大规模实施这些修订的环境所需的17分析方法。 

视频: Physical, Chemical and Biological Characterization of Six Biochars Produced for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites

Single-plant, Sterile Microcosms for Nodulation and Growth of the Legume Plant Medicago truncatula with the Rhizobial Symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti

Rhizobial bacteria form symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots of compatible host legume plants. One of the most well-developed model systems for studying these interactions is the plant Medicago truncatula cv. Jemalong A17 and the rhizobial bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021. Repeated imaging of plant roots and scoring of symbiotic phenotypes requires methods that are non-destructive to either plants or bacteria. The symbiotic phenotypes of some plant and bacterial mutants become apparent after relatively short periods of growth, and do not require long-term observation of the host/symbiont interaction. However, subtle differences in symbiotic efficiency and nodule senescence phenotypes that are not apparent in the early stages of the nodulation process require relatively long growth periods before they can be scored. Several methods have been developed for long-term growth and observation of this host/symbiont pair. However, many of these methods require repeated watering, which increases the possibility of contamination by other microbes. Other methods require a relatively large space for growth of large numbers of plants. The method described here, symbiotic growth of M. truncatula/S. meliloti in sterile, single-plant microcosms, has several advantages. Plants in these microcosms have sufficient moisture and nutrients to ensure that watering is not required for up to 9 weeks, preventing cross-contamination during watering. This allows phenotypes to be quantified that might be missed in short-term growth systems, such as subtle delays in nodule development and early nodule senescence. Also, the roots and nodules in the microcosm are easily viewed through the plate lid, so up-rooting of the plants for observation is not required.

Single-plant, Sterile Microcosms for Nodulation and Growth of the Legume Plant Medicago truncatula with the Rhizobial Symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti

Growth of Medicago truncatula plants in symbiosis with the nitrogen-fixing bacteria Sinorhizobium meliloti in individual, sterile microcosms made from standard laboratory plates permits frequent examination of root systems and nodules without compromising sterility. Plants can be maintained in these growth chambers for up to 9 weeks.

单厂，无菌的缩影和结瘤的豆科植物生长<em&gt;苜蓿</em&gt;与根瘤菌共生体<em&gt;根瘤菌</em

Rhizobial  bacteria form symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots of compatible host  legume plants.  One  of the most well-developed model systems ...

科研

环境科学

Physical Isolation of Endospores from Environmental Samples by Targeted Lysis of Vegetative Cells

Endospore formation is a survival strategy found among some bacteria from the phylum Firmicutes. During endospore formation, these bacteria enter a morpho-physiological resting state that enhances survival under adverse environmental conditions. Even though endospore-forming Firmicutes are one of the most frequently enriched and isolated bacterial groups in culturing studies, they are often absent from diversity studies based on molecular methods. The resistance of the spore core is considered one of the factors limiting the recovery of DNA from endospores. We developed a method that takes advantage of the higher resistance of endospores to separate them from other cells in a complex microbial community using physical, enzymatic and chemical lysis methods. The endospore-only preparation thus obtained can be used for re-culturing or to perform downstream analysis such as tailored DNA extraction optimized for endospores and subsequent DNA sequencing. This method, applied to sediment samples, has allowed the enrichment of endospores and after sequencing, has revealed a large diversity of endospore-formers in freshwater lake sediments. We expect that the application of this method to other samples will yield a similar outcome.

A method to single out bacterial endospores from complex microbial communities was developed to perform tailored culture or molecular studies of this group of bacteria.

从环境样品中的内生孢子通过无性细胞定向裂解物理隔离

Endospore formation is a survival strategy found among some bacteria from the phylum Firmicutes. During endospore formation, these bacteria enter a ...

Characterization and Application of Passive Samplers for Monitoring of Pesticides in Water

Five different water passive samplers were calibrated under laboratory conditions for measurement of 124 legacy and current used pesticides. This study provides a protocol for the passive sampler preparation, calibration, extraction method and instrumental analysis. Sampling rates (RS) and passive sampler-water partition coefficients (KPW) were calculated for silicone rubber, polar organic chemical integrative sampler POCIS-A, POCIS-B, SDB-RPS and C18 disk. The uptake of the selected compounds depended on their physicochemical properties, i.e., silicone rubber showed a better uptake for more hydrophobic compounds (log octanol-water partition coefficient (KOW) &#62; 5.3), whereas POCIS-A, POCIS-B and SDB-RPS disk were more suitable for hydrophilic compounds (log KOW &#60; 0.70).

A protocol about the characterization and application of five different passive sampling devices is presented.

表征和被动采样的应用在农药水监测

Five different water passive samplers were calibrated under laboratory conditions for measurement of 124 legacy and current used pesticides. This study ...

A Bending Test for Determining the Atterberg Plastic Limit in Soils

The thread rolling test is the most commonly used method to determine the plastic limit (PL) in soils. It has been widely criticized, because a considerable subjective judgment from the operator that carries out the test is involved during its performance, which may affect the final result significantly. Different alternative methods have been put forward, but they cannot compete with the standard rolling test in speed, simplicity and cost.
In an earlier study by the authors, a simple method with a simple device to determine the PL was presented (the &#34;thread bending test&#34; or simply &#34;bending test&#34;); this method allowed the PL to be obtained with minimal operator interference. In the present paper a version of the original bending test is shown. The experimental basis is the same as the original bending test: soil threads which are 3 mm in diameter and 52 mm long are bent until they start to crack, so that both the bending produced and its related moisture content are determined. However, this new version enables the calculation of PL from an equation, so it is not necessary to plot any curve or straight line to obtain this parameter and, in fact, the PL can be achieved with only one experimental point (but two experimental points are recommended).
The PL results obtained with this new version are very similar to those obtained through the original bending test and the standard rolling test by a highly experienced operator. Only in particular cases of high plasticity cohesive soils, there is a greater difference in the result. Despite this, the bending test works very well for all types of soil, both cohesive and very low plasticity soils, where the latter are the most difficult to test via the standard thread rolling method.

The traditional standardized test for determining the plastic limit in soils is performed by hand, and the result varies depending on the operator. An alternative method based on bending measurements is presented in this study. This allows the plastic limit to be obtained with a clear and objective criterion.

弯曲试验在土壤确定阿太堡限塑

The thread rolling test is the most commonly used method to determine the plastic limit (PL) in soils. It has been widely criticized, because a ...

Use of a Battery of Chemical and Ecotoxicological Methods for the Assessment of the Efficacy of Wastewater Treatment Processes to Remove Estrogenic Potency

Endocrine Disrupting Compounds pose a substantial risk to the aquatic environment. Ethinylestradiol (EE2) and estrone (E1) have recently been included in a watch list of environmental pollutants under the European Water Framework Directive. Municipal wastewater treatment plants are major contributors to the estrogenic potency of surface waters. Much of the estrogenic potency of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents can be attributed to the discharge of steroid estrogens including estradiol (E2), EE2 and E1 due to incomplete removal of these substances at the treatment plant. An evaluation of the efficacy of wastewater treatment processes requires the quantitative determination of individual substances most often undertaken using chemical analysis methods. Most frequently used methods include Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS/MS) or Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LCMS/MS) using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Although very useful for regulatory purposes, targeted chemical analysis can only provide data on the compounds (and specific metabolites) monitored. Ecotoxicology methods additionally ensure that any by-products produced or unknown estrogenic compounds present are also assessed via measurement of their biological activity. A number of in vitro bioassays including the Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES) are available to measure the estrogenic activity of wastewater samples. Chemical analysis in conjunction with in vivo and in vitro bioassays provides a useful toolbox for assessment of the efficacy and suitability of wastewater treatment processes with respect to estrogenic endocrine disrupting compounds. This paper utilizes a battery of chemical and ecotoxicology tests to assess conventional, advanced and emerging wastewater treatment processes in laboratory and field studies.

Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDC) pose a substantial risk to the aquatic environment. Municipal wastewater treatment plants are major contributors to the estrogenic potency of surface waters. The methodology provided in this paper allows for an assessment of the efficacy and suitability of wastewater treatment processes with respect to EDC removal.

对污水处理工艺的疗效评估利用化学和生态毒理学方法的电池，以消除雌激素潜能

Endocrine Disrupting Compounds pose a substantial risk to the aquatic environment. Ethinylestradiol (EE2) and estrone (E1) have recently been included in ...

Comparison of Scale in a Photosynthetic Reactor System for Algal Remediation of Wastewater

An experimental methodology is presented to compare the performance of two different sized reactors designed for wastewater treatment. In this study, ammonia removal, nitrogen removal and algal growth are compared over an 8-week period in paired sets of small (100 L) and large (1,000 L) reactors designed for algal remediation of landfill wastewater. Contents of the small and large scale reactors were mixed before the beginning of each weekly testing interval to maintain equivalent initial conditions across the two scales. System characteristics, including surface area to volume ratio, retention time, biomass density, and wastewater feed concentrations, can be adjusted to better equalize conditions occurring at both scales. During the short 8-week representative time period, starting ammonia and total nitrogen concentrations ranged from 3.1-14 mg NH3-N/L, and 8.1-20.1 mg N/L, respectively. The performance of the treatment system was evaluated based on its ability to remove ammonia and total nitrogen and to produce algal biomass. Mean &#177; standard deviation of ammonia removal, total nitrogen removal and biomass growth rates were 0.95&#177;0.3 mg NH3-N/L/day, 0.89&#177;0.3 mg N/L/day, and 0.02&#177;0.03 g biomass/L/day, respectively. All vessels showed a positive relationship between the initial ammonia concentration and ammonia removal rate (R2=0.76). Comparison of process efficiencies and production values measured in reactors of different scale may be useful in determining if lab-scale experimental data is appropriate for prediction of commercial-scale production values.

An experimental methodology is presented to compare the performance of small (100 L) and large (1,000 L) scale reactors designed for algae remediation of landfill wastewater. System characteristics, including surface area to volume ratio, retention time, biomass density, and wastewater feed concentrations, can be adjusted based on application.

规模在光合反应器系统对污水的整治藻类比较

An experimental methodology is presented to compare the performance of two different sized reactors designed for wastewater treatment. In this study, ...

Dispersion of Nanomaterials in Aqueous Media: Towards Protocol Optimization

The sonication process is commonly used for de-agglomerating and dispersing nanomaterials in aqueous based media, necessary to improve homogeneity and stability of the suspension. In this study, a systematic step-wise approach is carried out to identify optimal sonication conditions in order to achieve a stable dispersion. This approach has been adopted and shown to be suitable for several nanomaterials (cerium oxide, zinc oxide, and carbon nanotubes) dispersed in deionized (DI) water. However, with any change in either the nanomaterial type or dispersing medium, there needs to be optimization of the basic protocol by adjusting various factors such as sonication time, power, and sonicator type as well as temperature rise during the process. The approach records the dispersion process in detail. This is necessary to identify the time points as well as other above-mentioned conditions during the sonication process in which there may be undesirable changes, such as damage to the particle surface thus affecting surface properties. Our goal is to offer a harmonized approach that can control the quality of the final, produced dispersion. Such a guideline is instrumental in ensuring dispersion quality repeatability in the nanoscience community, particularly in the field of nanotoxicology.

Here, we present a step-wise protocol for the dispersion of nanomaterials in aqueous media with real-time characterization to identify the optimal sonication conditions, intensity, and duration for improved stability and uniformity of nanoparticle dispersions without impacting the sample integrity.

纳米材料在水介质中的分散: 对协议优化的研究

The sonication process is commonly used for de-agglomerating and dispersing nanomaterials in aqueous based media, necessary to improve homogeneity and ...

Techniques for Investigating the Anatomy of the Ant Visual System

This article outlines a suite of techniques in light microscopy (LM) and electron microscopy (EM) which can be used to study the internal and external eye anatomy of insects. These include traditional histological techniques optimized for work on ant eyes and adapted to work in concert with other techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These techniques, although vastly useful, can be difficult for the novice microscopist, so great emphasis has been placed in this article on troubleshooting and optimization for different specimens. We provide information on imaging techniques for the entire specimen (photo-microscopy and SEM) and discuss their advantages and disadvantages. We highlight the technique used in determining lens diameters for the entire eye and discuss new techniques for improvement. Lastly, we discuss techniques involved in preparing samples for LM and TEM, sectioning, staining, and imaging these samples. We discuss the hurdles that one might come across when preparing samples and how best to navigate around them.

This article outlines a suite of techniques in light and electron microscopy to study the internal and external eye anatomy of insects. These include several traditional techniques optimized for work on ant eyes, detailed troubleshooting, and suggestions for optimization for different specimens and regions of interest.

蚂蚁视觉系统解剖学研究方法

This article outlines a suite of techniques in light microscopy (LM) and electron microscopy (EM) which can be used to study the internal and external eye ...

Thermal Scanning Conductometry (TSC) as a General Method for Studying and Controlling the Phase Behavior of Conductive Physical Gels

The thermal scanning conductometry protocol is a new approach in studying ionic gels based on low molecular weight gelators. The method is designed to follow the dynamically changing state of the ionogels, and to deliver more information and details about the subtle change of conductive properties with an increase or decrease in the temperature. Moreover, the method allows the performance of long term (i.e. days, weeks) measurements at a constant temperature to investigate the stability and durability of the system and the aging effects. The main advantage of the TSC method over classical conductometry is the ability to perform measurements during the gelation process, which was impossible with the classical method due to temperature stabilization, which usually takes a long time before the individual measurement. It is a well-known fact that to obtain the physical gel phase, the cooling stage must be fast; moreover, depending on the cooling rate, different microstructures can be achieved. The TSC method can be performed with any cooling/heating rate that can be assured by the external temperature system. In our case, we can achieve linear temperature change rates between 0.1 and approximately 10 &#176;C/min. The thermal scanning conductometry is designed to work in cycles, continuously changing between heating and cooling stages. Such an approach allows study of the reproducibility of the thermally reversible gel-sol phase transition. Moreover, it allows the performance of different experimental protocols on the same sample, which can be refreshed to initial state (if necessary) without removal from the measuring cell. Therefore, the measurements can be performed faster, in a more efficient way, and with much higher reproducibility and accuracy. Additionally, the TSC method can be also used as a tool to manufacture the ionogels with targeted properties, like microstructure, with an instant characterization of conductive properties.

Thermal Scanning Conductometry TSC as a General Method for Studying and Controlling the Phase Behavior of Conductive Physical Gels

The kinetics of the cooling process defines the properties of ionic gels based on low molecular weight gelators. This manuscript describes the usage of thermal scanning conductometry (TSC), which obtains full control over the gelation process, along with in situ measurements of the samples' temperature and conductivity.

热扫描电导 (TSC) 作为研究和控制导电物理凝胶相行为的一般方法

The thermal scanning conductometry protocol is a new approach in studying ionic gels based on low molecular weight gelators. The method is designed to ...

A Precise and Autonomous System for the Detection of Insect Emergence Patterns

Existing systems to measure insect emergence patterns have limitations; they are only partially automated and are limited in the maximum number of emerging insects they can detect. In order to obtain precise measurement of insect emergence, it is necessary for systems to be semi-automated and able to measure large numbers of emerging insects. We addressed these issues by designing and building a system that is automated and can measure emergence of up to 1200 insects. We modified the existing &#34;falling-ball&#34; system using Arduino microcontrollers to automate data collection and expand the sample size through multiple data channels. Multiple data channels enable the user to not only increase their sample size, but also allows for multiple treatments to be run simultaneously in a single experiment. Furthermore, we created an R script to automatically visualize the data as a bubble plot, while also calculating the median day and time of emergence. The current system was designed using 3D printing so the user can modify the system to be adjusted for different species of insects. The goal of this protocol is to investigate important questions in chronobiology and stress physiology, using this precise and automated system to measure insect emergence patterns.

Measurement of insect emergence patterns requires precision. Existing systems are only semi-automated and sample size is limited. We addressed these issues by designing a system using microcontrollers to precisely measure the time of emergence of large numbers of emerging insects.