Removal of Cyanide and Zinc–Cyanide Complex by an Ion-Exchange Process

Removal efficiencies of cyanide and a zinc–cyanide complex in solutions were studied by using an ion-exchange process at pH 10.0 and 12.0. An anion-exchange resin, AMBERLITE® IRA-402 Cl, was used to perform packed bed continuous experiments. For the initial 200 mg/l cyanide solution, the packed bed gave a cyanide effluent concentration of 0.2 mg/l at 80 bed volumes for both pH 10.0 and 12.0. Comparatively, in the mixture of 200 mg/l cyanide and 100 mg/l zinc, packed bed volumes were obtained as 80 and 90 at pH 10.0 and 12.0, respectively, to have 0.2 mg/l cyanide effluent concentrations. The packed beds were exhausted at 250 and 400 bed volumes for cyanide and zinc–cyanide complex solutions, respectively. Speciation calculations in Zn(II)/cyanide/OH^? were used to interpret the results. The exchange capacities of the resin were determined as ～1.2 and ～0.9 meq/ml resin for cyanide and zinc–cyanide complex solutions, respectively, and were independent of pH in the studied pH range.     

Ozone Formation Potentials of Volatile Organic Compounds and Ozone Sensitivity to Their Emission in the Megacity of São Paulo, Brazil

In the present study, a three-dimensional Eulerian photochemical model was employed to estimate the impact that organic compounds have on tropospheric ozone formation in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP). In the year 2000, base case simulations were conducted in two periods: August 22–24 and March 13–15. Based on the pollutant concentrations calculated by the model, the correlation coefficient relative to observations for ozone ranged from 0.91 to 0.93 in both periods. In the simulations employed to evaluate the ozone potential of individual VOCs, as well as the sensitivity of ozone to the VOC/NO _x emission ratio, the variation in anthropogenic emissions was estimated at 15% (according to tests performed previously variations of 15% were stable). Although there were significant differences between the two periods, ozone concentrations were found to be much more sensitive to VOCs than to NO _x in both periods and throughout the study domain. In addition, considering their individual rates of emission from vehicles, the species/classes that were most important for ozone formation were as follows: aromatics with a kOH?>?2?×?10⁴ ppm^?1 min^?1; olefins with a kOH?<?7?×?10⁴ ppm^?1 min^?1; olefins with a kOH?>?7?×?10⁴ ppm^?1 min^?1; ethene; and formaldehyde, which are the principal species related to the production, transport, storage and combustion of fossil fuels.     

Use of Agro‐industrial Organic Compound: Yield and Nutrient Absorption in Wheat

Abstract

This study, focusing on the cultivation of wheat, consisted of applying an organic compound to the soil for a period of 2 years. The organic compound was made from a mixture of organic residues from a jelly industry (bovine chips and sharings) and other residues from a sugar‐alcohol industry. The mixture was applied at random into the intergrowth lines in a top‐dressing process, without incorporation, and in cumulative increasing doses. In the first year, the applications ranged from 2 to 25 t ha; in the second year, the applications ranged from 8 to 75, in wheat plants. Comparing the results of the chemical treatment to the organic application, it was observed that the organic compound increased the yield of wheat during the 2 years. Furthermore, the organic compound did not contaminate the plants, such as in the absorption of nutrients by the grains, once they have presented normal patterns of nutrient concentrations.     

An Exploratory Investigation of Polar Organic Compounds in Waters from a Lead�CZinc Mine and Mill Complex

Surface water samples were collected in 2006 from a lead mine?Cmill complex in Missouri to investigate possible organic compounds coming from the milling process. Water samples contained relatively high concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC; greater than 20 mg/l) for surface waters but were colorless, implying a lack of naturally occurring aquatic humic or fulvic acids. Samples were extracted by three different types of solid-phase extraction and analyzed by electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry. Because large amounts of xanthate complexation reagents are used in the milling process, techniques were developed to extract and analyze for sodium isopropyl xanthate and sodium ethyl xanthate. Although these xanthate reagents were not found, trace amounts of the degradates, isopropyl xanthyl thiosulfonate and isopropyl xanthyl sulfonate, were found in most locations sampled, including the tailings pond downstream. Dioctyl sulfosuccinate, a surfactant and process filtering aid, was found at concentrations estimated at 350 ??g/l at one mill outlet, but not downstream. Release of these organic compounds downstream from lead?Czinc mine and milling areas has not previously been reported. A majority of the DOC remains unidentified.     

Treatment of Waters Contaminated by Phenol and Cresols in Circulating Packed Bed Bioreactors—Biodegradation and Toxicity Evaluations

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - Specific (nitrifying, denitrifying, and methanogenic) microbial activities were measured in simplified down-flow lab-scale columns simulating subsurface...     

Biodegradation of litter in Eucalyptus pauciflora communities—II. Fungal succession in fungicide- and insecticide-treated leaves

Fungal succession on untreated and fungicide- and insecticide-treated leaves of Eucalyptus pauciflora was compared. Natural succession on untreated leaves fits the general scheme for succession on deciduous tree leaves. Initial colonizers are species of Coelomycetes and Moniliales. When the numbers of Coelomycetes decrease in the late stages of decomposition, the frequency of Penicillium species and species of Zygomycetes increases. The succession is affected only marginally by DDT and dieldrin treatment while benomyl severely restricts the occurrence of most fungal species. The effect of benomyl persists even after exposure for 48 weeks in the field.     

Biodegradation of litter in Eucalyptus pauciflora communities—I: Techniques for comparing the effects of fungi and insects

Intact leaves of E. pauciflora were confined either in litter bags of three mesh sizes (5, 1 and 0.5 mm) or 5 mm mesh size bags after treatment with benomyl, zineb, DDT or dieldrin to assess the effects of insects and fungi on decomposition. In the untreated material, there was a loss in dry weight and total phosphorus of about 45 and 60% respectively and an initial gain in total nitrogen of up to 10% followed by a loss of between 70 and 86% of the original amount. There was no significant difference between the effects of the mesh sizes. A different pattern was observed for the insecticide and fungicide treated leaves which suggested that the fungi tended to mineralize phosphorus but immobilize nitrogen while the insects tended to mineralize or remove by migration both phosphorus and nitrogen.     

SE—Structures and Environment: Effects of Solids Separation and Time on the Production of Odorous Compounds in Stored Pig Slurry

Fresh pig faeces were separated into seven different liquid portions with particle size ranges <2·0, <1·4, <1·0, <0·5, <0·25, <0·15, and <0·075 mm, respectively. Separation was achieved by consecutive sieving of the fresh pig manure through a series of seven American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) standard wire screen sieves with openings of 2·0, 1·4, 1·0, 0·5, 0·25, 0·15 and 0·075 mm. The separated manure fractions were stored at an ambient temperature of approximately 20°C in Plexiglas columns (91 cm deep and 15 cm in diameter) to simulate storage in under-floor or in other types of holding pits. The results indicated that although solid–liquid separation was found to reduce production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) regarded as odour precursors, this technique might not significantly reduce odour nuisances from swine facilities unless particles smaller than 0·075mm are separated from the liquids. Inverse linear correlations were observed between total solids (TS) and total volatile solids (TVS) with both BOD₅and VFAs and therefore their respective levels could also be used to quantify the potential of odour nuisances in stored pig manure.     

Fractions of Copper in Soil and Their Contribution to Copper Availability in Rice–Wheat Cropping System under Long-Term Integrated Nutrient Management in an Acid Alfisol

Long-term effects of integrated application of organics and chemical fertilizers on transformation of copper (Cu) into various chemical pools and their availability under rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system were investigated in the ongoing long-term fertilizer experiment initiated in 1991 kharif season (May–October) at the research farm of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University on an acidic soil in the Western Himalayas of India. The continuous use of chemical fertilizers alone for 20 years brought about marked depletion in all forms of copper except organically bound Cu (Cu-PYR) compared to buffer plots. Integrated use of organics and chemical fertilizers gave higher content of Cu forms over chemically treated plots except Cu occluded by free oxides (Cu-OX). Residual Cu was the most dominant form of copper contributing about 67% of the total Cu. Soil solution and exchangeable Cu (Cu-CA) was the most important fraction of copper contributing toward DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) extractable Cu. Content of DTPA extractable Cu increased over control when chemical fertilizers were applied in conjunction with different organics, whereas DTPA Cu content declined over control with application of chemical fertilizers alone for the last 20 years.     

Chemical Fractions of Zinc and Their Contribution toward Its Availability under Long-Term Integrated Nutrient Management in Rice–Wheat Sequence in an Acidic Alfisol

This study was carried out in an ongoing field experiment initiated during the 1991 kharif season (May–October) on an acidic soil in the Western Himalayas of India to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient supply on transformation of zinc (Zn) into various chemical pools. The continuous use of chemical fertilizers alone for 20 years brought about marked depletion in different pools of Zn compared to buffer plots, while integrated use of organic and chemical fertilizers recorded greater content than chemically treated plots. Nonspecifically adsorbed exchangeable Zn (Zn I) was the most important fraction of Zn contributing to diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA)–extractable Zn. Content of DTPA-extractable Zn also increased in soil with integrated application of chemical fertilizers and organics over the years. Residual Zn was the most dominant form of Zn, contributing about 55% to total Zn, whereas nonspecifically adsorbed exchangeable Zn was the most important fraction of Zn contributing to DTPA Zn.     

Investigation of Soil Concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Trace Elements, and Anions Due to Iron–Steel Plant Emissions in an Industrial Region in Turkey

The spatial distribution of several air pollutants emitted from iron–steel industries in Hatay-Iskenderun industrial region in Turkey was investigated by measuring their concentrations in soil. Collected soil samples (n?=?20) were analyzed for persistent organic pollutants (POPs; i.e., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and polychlorinated naphthalenes), anions, and trace elements. Generally, all measured POP concentrations and marker trace elements for iron–steel industry (Zn, Pb, and Cu) were high relative to those reported previously for rural and urban areas around the world, and they were comparable to those measured recently in a similar industrial region (Aliaga, Izmir, Turkey). For all investigated POPs, elements, and anions, the highest concentrations were measured at points located north of the iron–steel industries where their emissions are transported by the prevailing southerly winds. The spatial distribution and levels of POPs, elemental, and anionic concentrations indicated that the iron–steel plants in Hatay-Iskenderun region are important sources for these pollutants. Statistically significant relationships between several organic and inorganic pollutants further confirmed that they are emitted by common sources (iron–steel plants).     

Carbon and nitrogen turnover in response to warming and nitrogen addition during early stages of forest litter decomposition—an incubation experiment

Purpose

Little is known about the interactive effects of temperature, nitrogen (N) supply, litter quality, and decomposition time on the turnover of carbon (C) and N of forest litter. The objective of this study was to investigate the interactive effects of warming, N addition and tree species on the turnover of C and N during the early decomposition stage of litters in a temperate forest.

Materials and methods

A 12-week laboratory incubation experiment was carried out. The leaf litters including two types of broadleaf litters (Quercus mongolica and Tilia amurensis), a needle litter (Pinus koraiensis), and a mixed litter of them were collected from a broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest ecosystem in northeastern China in September 2009. Nine treatments were conducted using three temperatures (15, 25, and 35 °C) combined with three doses of N addition (equal to 0, 75, and 150 kg?·?ha^?1?a^?1, respectively, as NH₄NO₃).

Results and discussion

After 12 weeks of incubation, the mass loss ranged between 12 and 35 %. The broadleaf litters had greater mass loss and cumulative CO₂–C emission than the needle litter. Temperature and N availability interacted to affect litter mass loss and decomposition rate. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) concentrations in litter leachate varied widely with litter types. DOC increased significantly with increased temperature but decreased significantly with increased N availability. DON increased significantly with increased N availability but showed a higher level at the moderate decomposition temperature. The amounts of CO₂ and N₂O emission were significantly higher at 25 °C than those at 15 and 35 °C, and were significantly increased by the N addition.

Conclusions

The present study indicated relatively intricate temperature and N addition effects on C and N cycling during early stages of litter decomposition, implying that future increases in temperature and N deposition will directly affect C and N cycling in broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest ecosystem, and may indirectly influence the ecosystem composition, productivity, and functioning in NE China. It is, therefore, important to understand the interactive effects of biotic and abiotic factors on litter decomposition in field conditions in order to assess and predict future ecosystem responses to environmental changes in NE China.     

Sulfate and Calcium Movement in an Allophanic Soil—The Relevance of Ion‐Pair Adsorption in the Soil–Plant System

Cooperative adsorption involving anions and cations, termed ion‐pair adsorption (IPA), is reported to increase the retention of some ions in certain soils. Sulfate and calcium can exhibit such interaction, and this affects their movement through the soil. Ion‐pair adsorption is shown here in miscible displacement experiments with a variable‐charge soil. The relevance of IPA under more realistic conditions is further investigated in a pot experiment. Rapeseed (Brassica napus) was grown at two different irrigation regimes and with two sulfur fertilizer sources. Calcium sulfate (CaSO₄·2H₂O) was used to induce IPA in contrast to potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄). The results suggest that IPA reduces sulfate and calcium leaching only in the short term. Continued irrigation dissipates the differences between the two fertilizer sources. Final soil ion concentrations and the plant uptake could not be related to IPA, evidencing the short‐term relevance of IPA. The influence of IPA on the bioavailability of calcium and sulfate to plants still demands further study.     

Economic benefits of large-scale remediation of contaminated marine sediments—a literature review and an application to the Grenland fjords in Norway

Purpose  

As input to a cost-benefit analysis of large-scale remediation measures of contaminated sediments in the Grenland fjords in Norway, we conducted a contingent valuation (CV) survey of a representative sample of households from municipalities adjacent to these fjords.     

Heavy metal and PCB spatial distribution pattern in sediments within an urban catchment—contribution of historical pollution sources

Purpose

This work analyzes polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and heavy metal contamination in fluvial sediments and soils in an urban catchment, according to the geo-accumulation index and to soil and sediment quality guidelines. The catchment is located in Coimbra, Portugal, being affected by frequent flooding, and its main stream is a tributary to one of the major rivers in Portugal (Mondego). Given the presence of industrial activities over time, some inputs of pollutants are expected, but so far, the legacy of historic pollution in this catchment has not yet been investigated.

Materials and methods

Twenty-five samples were collected from nine sampling sites at the depths of 0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm (to provide a historic perspective) along longitudinal profiles (streamlines) and in soils downstream of pollution sources. These samples were analyzed for six heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni), organic carbon, pH and ten PCBs (IUPAC numbers 28, 30, 52, 101, 138, 153, 166, 180, 204, 209).

Results and discussion

Total PCB concentrations ranged 0.47–5.3 ng g^?1 dry weight (dw), and levels increase from the bottom to the top layers, suggesting an increased input over the last 100 years. PCB congener distribution shows the dominance of hexachlorobiphenyls, especially PCB138, suggesting the existence of local sources. PCB levels did not exceed sediment quality levels, placing sediments/soil under class 1 (not contaminated) or class 2 (trace contamination) with respect to PCB. All six metals exceeded the lowest effect level for sediment quality criteria, and three (Cd, Pb and Zn) largely exceeded the clean levels for dredged materials, placing sediments in class 5 (heavily contaminated). Sampling site S1 presented the highest concentrations of Zn, Pb and Cd, and historic vehicle traffic was identified as the most likely source, given the vertical and horizontal profiles.

Conclusions

High levels of Pb, Cd and Zn were found in fluvial sediments at some locations of the Loreto catchment, likely from historic traffic sources. This urban area is frequently affected by flooding events and is currently being subject to urban redevelopment. During these events/actions, historic pollutants in the sediments might surface and be redistributed, impacting the downstream ecosystem of the major Mondego River or increasing the risk of exposure of the urban population.

     

Determination of Bentazone,Chloridazon and Terbuthylazine and Some of Their Metabolites in Complex Environmental Matrices by Liquid Chromatography–Electrospray Ionization–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Using a Modified QuEChERS Method: an Optimization and Validation Study

In a study on the behaviour of pesticides in a soil–plant–water system, the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) method for analysing pesticide or metabolite residues in soil and maize (leaves, roots and kernels) was optimized and validated. The pesticides bentazone, chloridazon and terbuthylazine and their metabolites bentazone-methyl, chloridazon-desphenyl, chloridazon-methyl-desphenyl, terbuthylazine-desethyl and terbuthylazine-2-hydroxy were selected in this study. The QuEChERS extracts obtained from soil and maize matrices and the collected leachate were analysed by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS/MS) using a high-performance liquid chromatography and an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) analytical column. As expected, shorter run times and higher sensitivity were achieved with the UHPLC column. Validation studies focused on recovery, repeatability, matrix effects, limits of detection and quantification. Recoveries (and repeatability relative standard deviation (RSD)) of the spiked samples were in the range of 55 to 98 % (7.4–18) in soil, 23 to 101 % (1.7–20) in maize and 82 to 105 % (4.4–25) in leachate. Quantification limits were lower than 3.0 μg kg^?1 in soil, 7.3 μg kg^?1 in maize and 0.080 μg l^?1 in leachate.     

Removal of Silver and Lead Ions from Water Wastes Using Azolla filiculoides, an Aquatic Plant, Which Adsorbs and Reduces the Ions into the Corresponding Metallic Nanoparticles Under Microwave Radiation in 5?min

Pollution of water bodies with heavy metal ions is a major worldwide environmental problem. The objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism in which metallic ions are adsorbed and reduced to metallic nanoparticles onto plant materials using microwave radiation. In this research, we have fabricated metallic silver and lead nanoparticles from their corresponding ions using the aquatic plants Azolla filiculoides and Pistia stratiotes (since identical results are obtained for both plants, the emphasis will be on the Azolla) under microwave radiation. Our data show that metallic silver and metallic lead nanoparticles were completely removed from the polluted solution and were embedded in the A. filiculoides surface after 5 min of microwave reaction. It was also found that, for both metals, reduction of the metallic ions was accomplished by the plant matrix without the need of an external reducing agent. Most of the particles had a spherical shape within the 10?C50 nm size range. Mass balance data clearly indicate that most of the silver particles were found on the surface of the plant and not in the clean water. Pectin and ??-glucuronic acid did not reduce the silver or lead ions under microwave radiation. We therefore hypothesize that perhaps the proteins or sugar alcohols in the plant matrix were serving as the reducing agents. We believe that this technique in which adsorption and reduction are combined using microwave radiation can be applied for removing and recycling metallic ions from contaminated water and industrial wastewater.