Effects of suspended sediment concentration and grain size on three optical turbidity sensors

Purpose

Optical turbidity sensors have been successfully used to determine suspended sediment flux in rivers, assuming the relation between the turbidity signal and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) has been appropriately calibrated. Sediment size, shape and colour affect turbidity and are important to incorporate into the calibration process.

Materials and methods

This study evaluates the effect of SSC and particle size (i.e. medium sand, fine sand, very fine sand, and fines (silt + clay)) on the sensitivity of the turbidity signal. Three different turbidity sensors were used, with photo detectors positioned at 90 and 180 degrees relative to the axis of incident light. Five different sediment ratios of sand:fines (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 100:0) were also evaluated for a single SSC (1000 mg l^-1).

Results and discussion

The photo detectors positioned at 90 degrees were more sensitive than sensor positioned at 180 degrees in reading a wide variety of grain size particles. On average for the three turbidity sensors, the sensitivity for fines were 170, 40, and 4 times greater than sensitivities for medium sand, fine sand, and very fine sand, respectively. For an SSC of 1000 mg l^-1 with the treatments composed of different proportions of sand and fines, the presence of sand in the mixture linearly reduced the turbidity signal.

Conclusions

The results indicate that calibration of the turbidity signal should be carried out in situ and that the attenuation of the turbidity signal due to sand can be corrected, as long as the proportion of sand in the SSC can be estimated.     

Suspended sediment dynamics during flushing flows in a large impounded river (the lower River Ebro)

Purpose

The aim of this work was to improve the understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics of suspended sediment transport during flushing flows in a large regulated river, the lower River Ebro (NE Spain).

Materials and methods

Relationships between sediment and discharge (i.e. discharge (Q)–suspended sediment concentrations (SSC)) were examined during six flushing flows using continuous discharge and turbidity records obtained at six monitoring sections distributed along the lower Ebro River for the 2008–2011 period.

Results and discussion

Analyses revealed marked spatial and temporal patterns. At the spatial scale, the Q–SSC relationships were mostly influenced by the different routing velocity of discharge and sediment waves. At the upstream sections, the sediment peak usually preceded peak discharge (i.e. clockwise loop); however, flow routing through the 85-km channel length tends to increase the lag between them, modifying the hysteresis towards counter-clockwise patterns in the downstream direction. At the temporal scale, the season when the artificial releases were performed strongly influenced the sediment availability, with similar-magnitude flushing flows generating higher sediment peaks in autumn than in spring.

Conclusions

These results are of great interest in order to reinforce the flushing flows programme in the lower Ebro River, so as to help achieve the sustainability of the riverine and deltaic ecosystems.     

Simulation of nutrition of forests under stress using forgyte-11

Forest ecosystems are being subjected to an increasing variety of stresses for which we do not yet have rotation-length experience. Where we lack such experience, we cannot make experience-based predictions of the long-term effects of these stresses. While we are accumulating such experience, computer models can be used to make interim knowledge-based predictions. Most scientific knowledge has been produced by reductionist; disciplinary, process-based research. Such knowledge is a vital component of any explanation of natural or human-induced landscape phenomena, but cannot, in its reductionist, disciplinary form, provide an adequate basis on its own for long-term predictions about these phenomena. Such predictions require the development of computer models of ecosystem form and function based on the integration of knowledge from eco-physiology, autecology, community ecology, soil science, and climatology into ecosystem-level models that accurately describe the function and temporal dynamics of forest ecosystems.The ability of the ecosystem-level forest management simulation model FORCYTE-11 (FORest nutrient Cycling and Yield Trend Evaluator) to simulate forest stresses is described briefly. The question of how to model other stresses, such as air pollution, acid rain, climate change, soil compaction and erosion, and moisture competition is discussed, and the outline of a new model (FORECAST: FORestry and Environmental Change ASsessmenT) is presented.     

Simulation of nutrition of forests under stress using FORCYTE-11

Forest ecosystems are being subjected to an increasing variety of stresses for which we do not yet have rotation-length experience. Where we lack such experience, we cannot make experience-based predictions of the long-term effects of these stresses. While we are accumulating such experience, computer models can be used to make interim knowledge-based predictions. Most scientific knowledge has been produced by reductionist, disciplinary, process-based research. Such knowledge is a vital component of any explanation of natural or human-induced landscape phenomena, but cannot, in its reductionist, disciplinary form, provide an adequate basis on its own for long-term predictions about these phenomena. Such predictions require the development of computer models of ecosystem form and function based on the integration of knowledge from eco-physiology, autecology, community ecology, soil science, and climatology into ecosystem-level models that accurately describe the function and temporal dynamics of forest ecosystems. The ability of the ecosystem-level forest management simulation model FORCYTE-11 (FORest nutrientCycling andYieldTrendEvaluator) to simulate forest stresses is described briefly. The question of how to model other stresses, such as air pollution, acid rain, climate change, soil compaction and erosion, and moisture competition is discussed, and the outline of a new model (FORECAST:FORestry andEnvironmentalChangeASsessmenT) is presented.     

Description of hydrological and erosion processes determined by applying the LISEM model in a rural catchment in southern Brazil

Purpose

Hydrosedimentological modeling is a tool that can be used to understand better important processes occurring at the catchment scale, such as runoff and sediment yield. The aim of this study was to use the Limburg Soil Erosion Model (LISEM) to describe the runoff and sediment yield during rainfall–runoff events in a small rural catchment in southern Brazil.

Materials and methods

The study was conducted in the Lajeado Ferreira Creek catchment (drainage area of 1.19 km²) where intense land use has caused a negative impact on water resources. Thirteen rainfall–runoff events that occurred in 2010 and 2011, including high-magnitude events, were used to model hydrosedimentological processes.

Results and discussion

Results

from the calibration and validation stages indicate that the model had a good performance when representing the hydrograph, including events with greater complexity. The use of a second soil layer in the model increased its efficiency, which is in accordance with the importance of subsurface flow in this catchment and its sensitivity to the physical properties of the soil, which are essential for controlling hydrosedimentological processes at the catchment scale. The simulation of sediment yield was overestimated by the model, constrained by the lack of sensitivity of the model to soil cohesion and the stability of soil aggregates. During the model calibration stage, these parameters had values different from those measured in the field.

Conclusions

The LISEM model performed well in representing runoff for events of different magnitudes. The discretization of the physical–hydrologic properties in the soil profile enabled the evaluation of the effect of subsurface impediment layers on water infiltration and runoff. The simulation was less accurate for suspended sediment concentration than for runoff. This indicates the need for further studies to either identify other factors controlling erosion and sediment yield that have not been identified by the model, or identify if the representation of the physical parameters is inadequate, especially the values of soil cohesion and aggregate stability.     

Use of geophysical methods for the study of sandy soils under Campinarana at the National Park of Viruá, Roraima state,Brazilian Amazonia

Purpose

The vegetation of the Campinaranas occurs in humid areas with hydromorphic sandy soils at the Amazon region. Thus, the determination and in situ monitoring of moisture content in Campinarana soils, besides the detection of subsurface layers are key measures for studying these soil–vegetation systems. Also, the application of ground penetrating radar (GPR) in deep sandy sedimentary sequence of Amazonia is a promising tool to enhance the knowledge on depositional and soil formation features.

Materials and methods

We studied representative soils of the Campinaranas at the National Park of Viruá, state of Roraima (Brazilian Amazonia), through the use of geophysical methods (soil moisture sensors and GPR). The study was applied in four sandy soils. Besides chemical and physical analysis of soils, soil moisture sensors were installed for monitoring during an entire hydrological year (2010/2011), and performed the calibration of sensors , coupled with imaging of the soil along transects with GPR.

Results and discussion

As a result of calibration of the soil moisture sensors we obtained a general equation with an R ² greater than 0.9. There is an influence of soil moisture content and soil temperature in the distribution of vegetation types in Campinaranas. The use of GPR identified some determinants characteristics in these soils for the differentiating the Campinaranas, represented by spodic and C horizons.

Conclusions

The spodic horizons in soils under Forest Campinarana provided potential errors in the determination of soil moisture, requiring calibration data for the precise use of this device. The investigation of the soil through the GPR showed interesting results, which allowed continuous visualization of the main soil horizons along transects in the phytophysiognomies of Campinaranas.     

Analysis of runoff,sediment dynamics and sediment yield of subcatchments in the highly erodible Isábena catchment,Central Pyrenees

Purpose

The Isábena catchment (445 km²), Spain, features highly diverse spatial heterogeneity in land use, lithology and rainfall. Consequently, the relative contribution in terms of water and sediment yield varies immensely between its subcatchments, and also temporally. This study presents the synthesis of ~2.5 years of monitoring rainfall, discharge and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in the five main subcatchments of the Isábena and its outlet.

Materials and methods

Continuous discharge at the subcatchment outlets, nine tipping bucket rainfall and automatic SSC samplers (complemented by manual samples), were collected from June 2011 until November 2013. The water stage records were converted to discharge using a rating curve derived with Bayesian regression. For reconstructing sediment yields, the data from the intermittent SSC sampling needed to be interpolated. We employed non-parametric multivariate regression (Quantile Regression Forests, QRF) using the discharge and rainfall data plus different aggregation levels of these as ancillary predictors. The subsequent Monte Carlo simulations allowed the determination of monthly sediment yields and their uncertainty.

Results and discussion

The stage–discharge rating curves showed wide credibility intervals for the higher stages, with great uncertainties associated with the discharge rates, especially during floods. The water yield of the subcatchments differed considerably. The entire catchment’s output was dominated by the northernmost subcatchment (~360 mm year^?1). The smaller, southern subcatchments featured much higher variability and lower runoff rates (55–250 mm year^?1). The SSCs exhibited a wide range and can exceed 100 g l^?1 for the central subcatchments, where most of the badlands are located. For the reconstruction of the sedigraphs, the QRF method proved suitable with Nash–Sutcliffe indices of 0.50 to 0.84. The specific sediment yield ranges from relatively low (32 t km^?2 year^?1) in the highly vegetated north to high values (3,651 t km^?2 year^?1) in areas with many badland formations.

Conclusions

The Isábena catchment shows high erosion dynamics with great variability in space and time, with stark contrasts even between adjacent subcatchments. The natural conditions make water and sediment monitoring and instrumentation very challenging; the measurement of discharge is particularly prone to considerable uncertainties. The QRF method employed for reconstructing sedigraphs and monthly yields proved well suited for the task.     

Metal contamination of soils, sediments and dusts in the vicinity of marine leisure boat maintenance facilities

Purpose

Metal contamination arising from boat maintenance is a growing environmental concern. In this study, metals currently or historically employed in boat paints (Ba, Cu, Pb, Sn and Zn) have been determined in geosolids sampled from within and in the vicinity of two leisure boat maintenance facilities in south west England.

Materials and methods

Samples of dusts, sediments and soils from two boatyards and from various urban control sites were fractionated through 63 μm before being digested in boiling aqua regia. Metal concentrations were determined in sample digests by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry.

Results and discussion

Metal concentrations were highly variable in each medium but were greatest in boatyard dusts which, pre-fractionation, often contained visible particles of paint. Metal concentrations in sediments and soils were higher than concentrations in respective control samples and, in many cases, exceeded environmental quality standards or predicted effect concentrations. Observations are attributed to the heterogeneous contamination of geosolids by fine particulates of antifouling paint generated during boat maintenance and repair; specifically, particulates contaminate sediment via boatyard runoff (with rainfall and washdown water), while soil is contaminated through the deposition of fine, airborne paint dusts.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that boat paint particles enriched in a variety of metals contaminate both coastal and terrestrial environments. Contamination arises from the removal and dispersion of dusts during boat maintenance. Stricter measures for the containment and disposal of wastes generated by boat repair and repainting are, therefore, recommended.     

BiKF AdaMus: a novel research project studying the response and adaptive potential of single species and communities to climate change in combination with other stressors

Introduction

How will the combination of climate-induced physical/chemical changes and anthropogenic pollution impact key species and biodiversity, and thus the ecosystem functions in future?

Discussion

The project AdaMus within the newly founded Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre BiK^F aims to understand the prospective ecosystem stress responses and adaptive potential of species and communities to multiple stressors to provide reliable predictions of future developments in terrestric, aquatic and marine environments.

Conclusion

Long-term experiments with terrestrial, aquatic and marine species and communities will be conducted under IPCC predicted climate conditions. In terrestric and limnic experiments, additional co-stressors such as pesticides and alien species are introduced to test for interactions. In the case of marine plankton, potential consequences of multiple climate-related changes in the physical environment (temperature, salinity and oxygen) will be analysed.     

Use of optical and acoustic instruments to study the turbid plumes generated by three different types of dredges during dredging activities inside and outside of a port

Purpose

The turbid plumes generated by different types of dredges have specific behaviours and diffusion patterns. The dredging of the Oil Port of Genoa Multedo (Italy) with three different dredges (grab, backhoe and trailing suction hopper) enabled us to study: the physical and hydrodynamic characteristics of the water column of the port and the area just outside it; the characteristics of the turbid plumes; and the different responses of our optical and acoustic instruments.

Materials and methods

In the dredging operations, a vessel equipped with a vertical acoustic Doppler current profiler and a conductivity–temperature–depth probe with a turbidimeter followed the different dredges during their daily operations. Using the acoustic backscatter and turbidity data acquired during the dredging phase, we investigated the turbidity variations caused by the dredging operations to study the evolution of the plume generated by the three different dredges.

Results and discussion

The grab plume was present only on the bottom up to a distance of 50 m from the grab, while at greater distances the turbidity fell to background values. The backhoe plume was present close to the bottom at a distance of 50 m from the dredging and, in the entire water column, at distances of 50–400 and 100 m inside and outside of the port, respectively. The trailing suction hopper dredge plume extended from the surface through the entire water column at distances from the dredging of 400 and 100 m inside and outside of the port, respectively. The highest values were found close to the bottom at distances from the dredging at 50 and 30 m inside and outside of the port, respectively.

Conclusions

The choice of a combined monitoring system is a good practical solution for studying the differences between the turbid plumes created by the three dredging tools (grab, backhoe and trailing suction hopper dredge) under different hydrodynamic conditions. Furthermore, two different types of instrument should give complementary information on different aspects of sediment resuspension during a dredging operation.     

In situ ATR-FTIR study on the adhesion of Pseudomonas putida to Red soil colloids

Purpose

Bacterial adhesion to soil particles is fundamentally important in mineral weathering, organic matter degradation, heavy metal transformation, and fate of pollutants. However, the adhesion mechanism between bacteria and soil colloids under continuous flow systems in the natural environments remains unknown.

Materials and methods

The kinetics of Pseudomonas putida cellular adsorption and desorption on Red soil colloid films under controlled flow systems were examined using in situ attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) and non-DLVO interactions were employed to elucidate the cellular adsorption and desorption kinetics.

Results and discussion

In situ ATR-FTIR spectroscopy can be used effectively to investigate the kinetics of bacterial adhesion to a soil colloid deposit. Surface proteins may be involved in the bacterial adhesion to soil colloids. The adsorption followed pseudo-first-order kinetic equation. High adsorption rate constant and great saturation coverage of adsorbed bacteria were found at high ionic strengths in dynamic systems.

Conclusions

P. putida bacterial cellular adsorption on the soil colloid deposit was irreversible in a wide range of ionic strengths under controlled flow systems. The less reversible adhesion was probably attributed to the DLVO predicted deep secondary energy minima together with non-DLVO factors including polymer bridging, local charge heterogeneities, surface roughness, and Lewis acid–base interactions.     

Heavy metal contamination of urban topsoils in a typical region of Loess Plateau,China

Purpose

Heavy metals pollution of city soil has become a serious environmental issue. Attention has been given to the issue of soil contamination in big cities, but little research has been done in the Loess Plateau, which is the largest loess deposition area in the world. The aim of this study was to assess the contamination of topsoil.

Materials and methods

Forty soil samples were collected from different districts and sieved through nylon sieves. The coarse particles (2 mm) were used to determine pH and electrical conductivity using a suspension of 1:5 soil to deionized water. The fine particles (150 μm) were used to determine soil organic matter and selected heavy metals. Metals were measured in digested solutions by a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Results and discussion

The mean concentrations of heavy metals in urban soils in the study area are significantly lower than the mean concentrations across China. The integrated pollution index was determined to be 1.13, indicating moderate pollution. Weathering of parent material, the use of pesticide and fertilizer, discharge of waste from traffic, wastes from commodities and industry, and coal combustion are considered to be the main sources of heavy metal pollution in the study area.

Conclusions

The results indicate that, at least in the study area, land use greatly influences the soil quality and heavy metal contents in urban topsoils. Soil backfill may change heavy metal contents to some extent. Deep digging and backfill can be effectively used for the remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil and sediments.     

An approach for the critical coagulation concentration estimation of polydisperse colloidal suspensions of soil and humus

Purpose

The critical coagulation concentration (CCC) is considered as one of the most important parameters to evaluate the particles aggregation and sedimentation behaviors in the environment. Even though there are a few methods for its measurement, each method has its limitations especially as those methods to be applied to polydisperse systems like soil. Thus, the purpose of this research is to establish a new and more reliable method for its determination.

Materials and methods

Two types of polydisperse colloidal materials were adopted: soil and humus in the experimental studies. The dynamic light scattering technique was employed to determine the effective hydrodynamic diameter of the particles or aggregates changing with time under different pH and electrolyte concentrations of CaCl₂ or KCl. In addition, the fractal dimension of aggregates was also detected with the static light scattering technique.

Results and discussion

A new aggregation rate total average aggregation rate (TAA rate) was defined firstly. We found the defined TAA rate increased linearly with the increase of electrolyte concentration at electrolyte concentrations lower than the CCC value, and the TAA rate stayed approximately constant at electrolyte concentrations higher than the CCC value; an intersection point of the two straight lines therefore could be observed, and the electrolyte concentration at the intersection point will theoretically be the CCC value. The experimental results for the two materials under different pH conditions indeed meet those theoretical predictions, which imply that the CCC value can be determined through the measurement of the TAA rate under different electrolyte concentrations. The comparison of the CCC values obtained between our new method and the widely applied stability ratio method showed that the new method was much better than the stability ratio method for the two polydisperse materials. In addition, the static light scattering measurements also showed that the variations of the fractal dimensions of the aggregates with electrolyte concentrations could be well explained by the CCC values obtained by the new method, which once again verified the applicability of the new method.

Conclusions

A new theory and a corresponding new method for the CCC estimation, which can be applied to polydisperse colloidal suspensions, were developed, and the new method has been demonstrated to be much better than the widely applied method for polydisperse materials in environment.     

Effect of hydrodynamics factors on sediment flocculation processes in estuaries

Purpose

Cohesive sediment is able to flocculate and create flocs, which are larger than individual particles and less dense. The phenomenon of flocculation has an important role in sediment transport processes such as settling, deposition and erosion. In this study, laboratory experiments were performed to investigate the effect of key hydrodynamic parameters such as suspended sediment concentration and salinity on floc size and settling velocity. Results were compared with previous laboratory and field studies at different estuaries.

Materials and methods

Experimental tests were conducted in a 1-L glass beaker of 11-cm diameter using suspended sediment samples from the Severn Estuary. A particle image velocimetry system and image processing routine were used to measure the floc size distribution and settling velocity.

Results and discussion

The settling velocity was found to range from 0.2 to 1.2 mm s^?1. Settling velocity changed in the case of increasing suspended sediment concentration and was controlled by the salinity. The faster settling velocity occurred when sediment concentration is higher or the salinity is lower than 2.5. On the other hand, at salinities higher than 20, in addition to increasing SSC, it was found that the situation was reversed, i.e. the lower the sediment concentration, the faster the settling velocity.

Conclusions

Sediment flocculation is enhanced with increasing sediment concentration but not with increasing salinity.

     

Modelling post-depositional transport of PAHs in aquatic bed sediments using CoReTranS

Purpose

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous and persistent contaminants in aquatic bed sediments. A better understanding of their in-bed fate and transport is therefore key in minimising the risk to the environment over time through various remediation and monitoring strategies. Since ecological effects and risks are related to contaminant concentrations, this study developed CoReTranS, a predictive model that simulates one-dimensional organic contaminant reaction and transport in bed sediments.

Materials and methods

CoReTranS was benchmarked against analytical solutions of simplified reactive transport models and validated using a published study of marsh sediments contaminated with petroleum-derived hydrocarbons from Wild Harbour, West Falmouth, MA, USA.

Results and discussion

The CoReTranS model effectively predicted the vertical distribution of PAHs in the Wild Harbour sediments as confirmed by the modelling results from the published study. The CoReTranS model was also used to interpret results from a published study of PAH-contaminated fjord sediments from Kitimat Arm in British Columbia, Canada. Specific insights into the post-depositional fate and transport of selected PAHs in the Kitimat fjord sediments were obtained by comparing the measured concentration-depth profiles with the numerical results from the CoReTranS model. Key parameters such as effective diffusivity of contaminants and burial velocities of sediment particles were shown to possibly account for the predicted concentrations-depth profiles in the Kitimat fjord sediments.

Conclusions

As demonstrated, CoReTranS can simulate reactive transport models in order to predict PAH concentration profiles in porewater under site-specific conditions. The information derived from the use of the CoReTranS model highlighted practical application of such information by engineers to site-specific risk assessment and remediation.     

Hyperaccumulative property of Solanum nigrum L. to Cd explored from cell membrane permeability,subcellular distribution,and chemical form

Purpose

The aim of this article was to explore the hyperaccumulative property from cell membrane permeability, subcellular distribution, and chemical form of Solanum nigrum L. to Cd compared to the nonhyperaccumulator Solanum melongena L. (cultivar name Liaoqie 3) in the same plant family.

Materials and methods

Soil pot culture experiment was conducted, and the cell membrane permeability, subcellular distribution, and chemical forms of Cd in S. nigrum and S. melongena were determined.

Results and discussion

The results showed that the tolerance of S. nigrum to Cd was higher and owned all Cd hyperaccumulator characteristics. The relative electric conductivities in root and leaf were higher of S. nigrum than S. melongena, but the malondialdehyde concentrations in former were roughly lower than that in latter. Cd concentration ratio in cell wall, NaCl extractable form, and HAc (acetic acid) extractive form were higher in root, stem, and leaf of S. nigrum.

Conclusions

Compared to S. melongena, stronger Cd tolerance, higher cell membrane permeability with intact cell membrane, weak Cd forms in subcellular distribution, and relative lower bioactivity speciation may be part reasons of S. nigrum hyperaccumulating Cd.     

A sustained controlled release formulation of soil nitrogen based on nitrate-layered double hydroxide nanoparticle material

Purpose

Nitrate-layered double hydroxide material (nitrate-LDH) matrix can be considered as a potential formulation of delivering nitrogen into soil in a sustained manner.

Materials and methods

The nitrate-LDH matrix was formulated by a co-precipitation technique and subsequently characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray analysis, and infrared spectroscopy. The release of nitrate was monitored in different buffer mediums: buffer A as a simulated acidic soil solution and buffer B as a simulated neutral soil solution.

Results and discussion

The stability of nitrate-LDH against thermal decomposition was evaluated by thermal gravimetric analysis. The nitrate-LDH supported a sustained controlled release process of nitrate during 16 days into acidic soil at 15 °C, while the release was continued to 20 days into neutral soil at the same temperature. The increase of soil temperature slightly enhanced the release of nitrate.

Conclusions

We offered a potential management strategy of soil nitrogen leaching process. The nitrate form of layered double hydroxide material was used as a nitrogen fertilizer in order to monitor the release of nitrate anion into soil at different conditions.     

Simultaneous removal of Cu and PAHs from dredged sediments using flotation

Purpose

This study addresses the feasibility of a flotation technique, using a lab-scale flotation cell, to simultaneously remove both metals and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from fine sediment fractions (<250 μm) that are potentially contaminated with copper (Cu).

Materials and methods

A multiple flotation process with three consecutive flotation stages was performed on three sediments (13S, 14B, and 24A) with different particle size distributions, Cu and PAH concentrations, and organic matter contents.

Results and discussion

Flotations performed under selected conditions allowed for significant removal of both Cu (61–70 %) and PAHs (75–83 %) with acceptable froth recoveries of approximately 23–29 %. Removal rates for arsenic, lead, and zinc were 48–61, 40–48, and 32–36 %, respectively. Flotation selectivity of Cu was greatly influenced by the contents of fine particles and organic matter of the sediments. The maximum flotation selectivity was obtained for the 53–125-μm size fraction. The high flotation selectivity of Cu (2.5–3.2) and PAHs (3.0–3.6) demonstrated the feasibility of flotation to treat soils or sediments containing both organic and inorganic pollutants.

Conclusions

Overall, the flotation results showed a high selectivity for both Cu and PAHs and demonstrated the feasibility of flotation to treat media contaminated with organic and inorganic contaminants.     

Nitrate reduction coupled with microbial oxidation of sulfide in river sediment

Purpose

Nitrate (NO ₃ ^? ) is often considered to be removed mainly through microbial respiratory denitrification coupled with carbon oxidation. Alternatively, NO ₃ ^? may be reduced by chemolithoautotrophic bacteria using sulfide as an electron donor. The aim of this study was to quantify the NO ₃ ^? reduction process with sulfide oxidation under different NO ₃ ^? input concentrations in river sediment.

Materials and methods

Under NO ₃ ^? input concentrations of 0.2 to 30?mM, flow-through reactors filled with river sediment from the Pearl River, China, were used to measure the processes of potential NO ₃ ^? reduction and sulfate (SO ₄ ^2? ) production. Molecular biology analyses were conducted to study the microbial mechanisms involved.

Results and discussion

Simultaneous NO₃ ^? removal and SO₄ ^2? production were observed with the different NO ₃ ^? concentrations in the sediment samples collected at different depths. Potentially, NO ₃ ^? removal reached 72 to 91?% and SO ₄ ^2? production rates ranged from 0.196 to 0.903?mM?h^?1. The potential NO ₃ ^? removal rates were linearly correlated to the NO ₃ ^? input concentrations. While the SO ₄ ^2? production process became stable, the NO ₃ ^? reduction process was still a first-order reaction within the range of NO ₃ ^? input concentrations. With low NO ₃ ^? input concentrations, the NO ₃ ^? removal was mainly through the pathway of dissimilatory NO ₃ ^? reduction to NH ₄ ⁺ , while with higher NO ₃ ^? concentrations the NO ₃ ^? removal was through the denitrification pathway.

Conclusions

While most of NO ₃ ^? in the sediment was reduced by denitrifying heterotrophs, sulfide-driven NO ₃ ^? reduction accounted for up to 26?% of the total NO ₃ ^? removal under lower NO ₃ ^? concentrations. The vertical distributions of NO ₃ ^? reduction and SO ₄ ^2? production processes were different because of the variable bacterial communities with depth.     

Distribution of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn in redox features of mine-waste impacted wetland soils

Purpose

Wetland soils of the Coeur d??Alene (CdA) River Basin of northern Idaho, USA are contaminated with toxic elements released during mining activities. In this paper, we report results from a multi-scale investigation of total As, Cd, Pb, and Zn distributions along a transect of these contaminated soils.

Materials and methods

Four sites along an 80-m transect were established at the Black Rock Slough wetland in CdA River Basin. The elevation difference between the upslope and lowland site was 1.1?m. Soils were sampled from three depths, down to 45?cm. Redoximorphic features were isolated from the soils and categorized into five types of cemented particles, and Fe-enriched and depleted soil masses. Soils and isolated soil separates were analyzed for total elemental concentration.

Results and discussion

Within soil profiles, contaminants are enriched in surface horizons as compared to the original depositional profiles. Enrichment was more dramatic in the upland sites than the lowland sites. Fe-enriched masses that ranged in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters were also enriched in As, Pb, and Zn. At the smallest scale investigated, five different soil aggregate types ranging in size from 1 to 2?mm in diameter had distinct contaminant associations: Fe-cemented aggregates were elevated in As and Zn; Mn-cemented aggregates had more than five times as much Pb as the bulk soil; root channels were elevated in As; and charcoal particles were elevated in all contaminants, particularly Pb and Cd.

Conclusions

Results show that in wetland soils pedogenic processes differentially distribute contaminants amongst the redoximorphic features. The distribution is affected by landscape position and water table influence. At the pedon scale, there is an enrichment of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn in surface horizons, suggesting that upward flux of contaminants is occurring. This contaminant redistribution should be considered in design of management and remediation strategies.