Applying a logistic growth equation to model flocculation of sediment in the presence of living and dead organic matter

In the present study, we aim to parameterize a flocculation model, based on a logistic growth equation, by conducting laboratory experiments. The flocculation experiments are performed using two types of natural sediments and different flocculating agents: salt (monovalent and divalent), extracellular polymeric substances, and living and dead microalgae Skeletonema costatum. It was found that the median size of flocs (D50) did not exceed the Kolmogorov microscale when salt-induced flocculation was performed (in the absence of organic matter), which is in line with previous studies. Flocs with organic matter reach sizes that are larger than the Kolmogorov microscale, and both their growth and steady-state size are salinity-dependent. In particular, divalent salts are shown to promote flocculation of sediment to organic matter. The logistic growth model can be used to study either the evolution of a class volume concentration as function of time or the change in size of a given class as function of time. The fine particle volume concentration decreases in time, whereas the coarse particle volume concentration increases, during the flocculation process. The mass balance between the two classes as defined by Chassagne and Safar (Modelling flocculation: Towards an integration in large-scale sediment transport models. Marine Geology. 2020 Dec 1;430:106361) is estimated

Using DNA Barcoding to Identify the Genus Lolium

Seeds of the genus Lolium are difficult to identify based on morphology for morphological likeness and some physical deformation such as friction and flattening during storage and transport. DNA barcoding, a newly-established method, has been used to discriminate a variety of agricultural crops with its own advantages. In present study, DNA barcodes for the genus Lolium were investigated for the first time. DNA sequences of psbA-trnH, rbcL, atpF-atpH, and the ITS2 region were evaluated for their ability to differentiate Lolium from the related genus Festuca. As confirmed by inter-intraspecific divergence and Kimura 2 parameter analysis, the greatest divergence existed in ITS2, followed by psbA-trnH. On the contrary, rbcL and atpF-atpH possessed poor genetic variation of 0-0.0115, and was relatively difficult in discrimination of genus Lolium. For ITS2 sequence, no inter-intraspecific distance overlaps were observed and each species has a distinct barcoding gap. ITS2 could effectively discriminate all species based on a neighbor-joining tree. Thus, the ITS2 region is a candidate for DNA barcoding of Lolium

Flocculation in Estuaries: Modeling, Laboratory and In-situ Studies

Modelling the flocculation of particles in a natural environment like an estuary is a challenging task owing to the complex particle-particle and particle-hydrodynamic interactions involved. In this chapter a summary is given of recent laboratory and in-situ studies regarding flocculation. A flocculation model is presented and the way to implement it in an existing sediment transport model is discussed. The model ought to be parametrized, which can be done by performing laboratory experiments which are reviewed. It is found, both from laboratory and in-situ studies, that flocculation between mineral sediment and organic matter is the dominant form of flocculation in estuarine systems. Mineral sediment in the water column is 200 μm. The origin of these two types is discussed. The two types of flocs are found at different positions in the water column and both have settling velocities in the range [0.5–10] mm/s

Fungicidal, Corrosive, and Mutational Effects of Polyhexamethylene Biguanide Combined with 1-Bromo-3-chloro-5,5-dimethylimidazolidine-2,4-dione

Background. The disinfectants polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) and 1-bromo-3-chloro-5,5-dimethylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (BCDMH) each have limitations. So far, their combined usage has not been examined. In this study, the fungicidal activity of combined disinfectant using PHMB and BCDMH, named PB, against Candida albicans was evaluated. Methods. Suspension quantitative fungicidal test and viable fungi count were used to test fungicidal effects against C. albicans. Coupon corrosion testing was used to evaluate disinfectants’ corrosive effects on stainless steel, copper, and aluminum. The mouse lymphoma assay was used to detect mutations induced by PB. Results and Discussion. Fungicidal activity of the combination of 40 mg/L PHMB and 40 mg/L BCDMH was comparable to, or even better than, those of 600 mg/L PHMB or 640 mg/L BCDMH alone. The combination of 400 mg/L PHMB and 400 mg/L BCDMH exhibited good fungicidal effects in field applications. The combination of 100 mg/L PHMB and 100 mg/L BCDMH did not have corrosive effects on stainless steel and no mutagenic effect was observed under the test conditions. Conclusions. The combination of PHMB and BCDMH has strong fungicidal effects and little metal corrosive and mutagenic effect and can be used as one suitable fungicide for wide household and industrial applications, including shipping containers

A Novel Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (n-PCR) Assay for Identifying Sorghum nitidum

This work developed a novel nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR) assay to identify Sorghum nitidum (S. nitidum). It has been designed a set of specific n-PCR inner primers Snit5/Snit2 and outer primers Nout1/Nout2 based on a conserved nucleotide sequence of adh1-like gene of S. nitidum. Fourteen samples of sorghum were used to investigate the specificity of the primers and the n-PCR assay. The result showed that 9 samples of S. nitidum displayed a positive strong, specific amplified band at ~873 bp in gel spectra, while other relatives, including Sorghum halepense, Sorghum almum, Sorghum bicolor, Sorghum propinum and Sorghum sudanse exhibited negative amplifications. This assay was able to specifically identify S. nitidum fast and effectively, which could be applied widely in field inspection, agriculture production and plant protection

Review of the action of organic matter on mineral sediment flocculation

Sediment is found throughout the world’s alluvial plain rivers, estuarine coasts and adjacent seas and is thereby a key factor in major ecosystems. Suspended mineral sediment can affect the biological activity of microorganisms and plants, by reducing light penetration in the water column or by binding to organic matter. Biological processes can, in turn, affect the physical and chemical properties of the sediment particles and influence the adhesion between particles. They can facilitate the sediment aggregation (flocculation) through bridging, patching and sweep, while biological decay will mainly help to disintegrate organic matter rich flocs. Biological activity also affects the properties of flocs (structure, density, sedimentation rate and composition). This activity is itself influenced by environmental conditions (like temperature, light and nutrient fluxes). Sediment flocculation thus involves complex relationships between several physical, chemical and biological factors. The role of biology in particular needs to be better integrated in sediment transport models, through the interaction between mineral clay particles, microorganisms and their excreted polymers (Extra Polymeric Substances, i.e., EPS). In this article, a summary of the state-of-the-art research regarding sediment flocculation is given. In particular, the action of organic matter on fine-grained sediment flocculation is discussed. The aim of the article is to provide a more comprehensive understanding of bio-sediment dynamics and give an outlook on remaining research questions.Environmental Fluid Mechanic

The role of algae in fine sediment flocculation: In-situ and laboratory measurements

The precise interactions between organic and inorganic particles in the context of flocculation is an on-going topic of research. The suspended particulate matter (SPM) found in estuaries is composed of both organic and inorganic particles with specific particle size distributions (PSD's). These PSD's are a function of the hydrodynamic conditions, suspended sediment concentration (SSC), organic matter composition, salinity and seasonal variations. A field campaign was carried out in August 2015 in the turbidity maximum zone of the Yangtze Estuary, where the SPM dynamics were recorded. The concentration of algae in the water column was indirectly measured through the chlorophyll-a concentration (CC). We show that there is a strong correlation between SSC and CC in the whole water column, for the whole tidal cycle. Additional flocculation experiments in the laboratory confirm that the largest observed flocs are predominantly organic-based, and that salinity alone could not induce the flocculation of the Yangtze mineral particles. A key parameter for the maximal floc size is the algae concentration to sediment concentration ratio. When this ratio is high, the D50 is high and vice-versa.Accepted Author ManuscriptEnvironmental Fluid Mechanic