Quantum Tunneling of Water in Beryl: A New State of the Water Molecule.

Using neutron scattering and ab initio simulations, we document the discovery of a new "quantum tunneling state" of the water molecule confined in 5 Å channels in the mineral beryl, characterized by extended proton and electron delocalization. We observed a number of peaks in the inelastic neutron scattering spectra that were uniquely assigned to water quantum tunneling. In addition, the water proton momentum distribution was measured with deep inelastic neutron scattering, which directly revealed coherent delocalization of the protons in the ground state.

An integrated anaerobic/aerobic bioprocess for the remediation of chlorinated phenol-contaminated soil and groundwater.

An investigation of biodegradation of chlorinated phenol in an anaerobic/aerobic bioprocess environment was made. The reactor configuration used consisted of linked anaerobic and aerobic reactors, which served as a model for a proposed bioremediation strategy. The proposed strategy was studied in two reactors before linkage. In the anaerobic compartment, the transformation of the model contaminant, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP), to lesser-chlorinated metabolites was shown to occur during reductive dechlorination under sulfate-reducing conditions. The consortium was also shown to desorb and mobilize 2,4,6-TCP in soils. This was followed, in the aerobic compartment, by biodegradation of the pollutant and metabolites, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol, and phenol, by immobilized white-rot fungi. The integrated process achieved elimination of the compound by more than 99% through fungal degradation of metabolites produced in the dechlorination stage. pH correction to the anaerobic reactor was found to be necessary because acidic effluent from the fungal reactor inhibited sulfate reduction and dechlorination.

Linking organic pollutant (bio)availability with geosorbent properties and biomimetic methodology: a review of geosorbent characterisation and (bio)availability prediction.

The interdependent link between structure and physico-chemical properties of geosorbents and sorption activity of hydrophobic organic pollutants (HOC) upon interaction with solid matrices has been established. The conclusions derived from these investigations have not been actively incorporated into risk assessment and remediation protocols since legislators prefer to adopt a conservative approach when the potential of contaminants to be released from soil matrices are evaluated. With the advent of spectroscopic techniques, it is possible to determine the molecular properties of the geosorbent organic matter which play a pivotal role in HOC retention. Physical-chemical and biological methods are employed to predict the potential for HOC release from sorbent matrices. This article serves as a review discussing the literature and reports the progress that has been made in these particular areas. The implication of employing molecular descriptor factors correlated with a biomimetic method to assess availability and risk is also considered.