Sorption of antimony species by humic acid

The retention of antimony (a potential toxin) in polluted soils or waterway sediments can involve interaction with several component phases. One of these, humic acid, has been found to adsorb antimony (III) from solutions of Sb(OH)₃ or potassium antimonyl tartrate (C₈H₄K₂Sb₂O₁₂) in accordance with Langmuir type isotherms. Using Sb(OH)₃ solutions (initial Sb levels < 10 μM) the bonding constant value (at pH 4) was 6 × 10⁵, with a calculated saturation capacity of 23 μmol g^?1. In the antimonyl tartrate systems (initial Sb levels 0.5 to 75 μM) the bonding constant value for the sorbed species was 1.6 × 10⁵ and the saturation capacity 53 μmol g^?1. Addition of small amounts of HCl or NaOH (to vary the pH between 3.1 and 5.4) had little effect on the amount sorbed from KSbT solutions but with Sb(OH)₃ solutions uptake was reduced (by about 15%). In the presence of NaCl (0.5 or 0.05M) Sb uptake increased (by about 15%). Antimony (V) (introduced as KSb (OH)₆) was not sorbed from solutions < 10 μM in this salt. Using more concentrated solutions, uptake gradually increased, reaching a plateau value of around 8 μmol g^?1 with solutions initially 50 or 75 μM.     

Dynamics of Atmospheric Aerosol Number Size Distributions in the Eastern Mediterranean During the ��SUB-AERO�� Project

Measurements of number size distributions of submicron aerosols have been performed at the Eastern part of Mediterranean as part of an extensive measurement campaign to study photo-oxidants and aerosols (SUB-AERO Project). The measurements were made at the Finokalia station on the island of Crete (Greece) and onboard the research vessel ??Aegaeon??. Two campaigns were performed during July 2000 and January 2001 using two scanning mobility particle sizers. The particle distributions measured in the range between 7.8 < d _p < 327 nm during the summer measurements and between 7.5 < d _p < 316 nm during the winter measurements, where d _p is the mobility particle diameter. The concentration of ultrafine particles (7.5 < d _p < 30 nm) was higher during the winter period and varied mainly between 5 × 10¹ and 2 × 10³?cm^?3 with concentration peak values for this mode exceeding 1 × 10⁴?cm^?3. During the summer campaign, an average number concentration of 1 × 10²?cm^?3 at Finokalia and about 5 × 10¹?cm^?3 aboard the ??Aegaeon?? vessel was measured. An average concentration of 1 × 10³?cm^?3 was measured for the particles in the size range between 30 and 100 nm, whereas in the size range 100?C300 nm, the measured concentration ranged between 1 × 10² and 5 × 10³?cm^?3. Diurnal patterns in number concentrations were observed in connection with the transport of air masses and local sources. During the winter period, three nucleation events were observed in connection with the appearance of a particle mode at 20 nm.     

Evaluation of a Quasi-steady-state Respiration Test in a Full-scale Biopile

A quasi steady state respiration test based on Fick’s law with a correction term for advective flux, for estimating petroleum hydrocarbon degradation rates, was evaluated in a full-scale (3,000 m³) biopile study. A contaminated clayey sand soil with an average TPH content of 1,421?±?260 mg kg^?1 soil was treated in a biopile with a fixed venting and heating system. Temperature in the biopile ranged from 12.1 to 36.6°C and soil water content from 15.2 to 35.8 m³ H₂O m^?3 soil. Oxygen concentrations in the biopile showed a rapid decrease with depth, before venting and reached constant atmospheric concentration during venting. Measured oxygen consumption in the biopile ranged from ?0.04 to ?0.68 mol O₂ m^?3 soil day^?1. Average oxygen consumption rates calculated with the quasi-steady-state method were significantly (P?<?0.05) lower then the oxygen consumption rates calculated with the transient method. It was suggested that the oxygen diffusion was underestimated by the diffusivity models used and that further research is needed to determine relative effective diffusion coefficients in biopiles. Although both respiration testing and petroleum hydrocarbon concentration showed a decrease of oxygen consumption in time, the estimated degradation rate was low compared to the actual decrease in petroleum hydrocarbon concentration. Additional work will have to be done to acquire a more precise knowledge of the relationship between respirometrically determined degradation rates and the actual change in petroleum hydrocarbon concentration in the soil.     

Stabilization of Molybdate Reactive Phosphorus in 0.5 M Sodium Bicarbonate Extracts of Soils

Molybdate-reactive phosphorus (MRP) in soil-free 0.5 M sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) extracts of 20 soils held at 22 °C increased 0–25% (median 11%) after 24 h and by 5–120% (median 43%) after 72 h. Addition of 2.5 mL L^?1 of chloroform (1) or 0.25–1 g L^?1 of thymol (2), phenyl mercury acetate (3), sodium cyanide (4), or sodium azide (5) showed that only (2)–(5) at 1 g L^?1 stabilized the MRP for 72 h. Five of the soils were re-extracted with 0.5 M NaHCO₃ containing 1 g L^?1 of (2)–(5): all stabilized MRP for 72 h, and (2) increased MRP for three soils (P < 0.05). For 92 additional soils (0.5–200 mg MRP kg^?1) extracted with 0.5 M NaHCO₃ ± 1 g of sodium azide L^?1, the azide had a negligible effect on MRP extraction, and in its presence, extracted MRP was unchanged after 72 h at 22 °C. We recommend this extractant for wider evaluation.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from a rainfed-cultivated black soil in Northeast China: effect of fertilization and maize crop

Nitrous oxide emission (N₂O) from applied fertilizer across the different agricultural landscapes especially those of rainfed area is extremely variable (both spatially and temporally), thus posing the greatest challenge to researchers, modelers, and policy makers to accurately predict N₂O emissions. Nitrous oxide emissions from a rainfed, maize-planted, black soil (Udic Mollisols) were monitored in the Harbin State Key Agroecological Experimental Station (Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China). The four treatments were: a bare soil amended with no N (C0) or with 225?kg?N ha^?1 (CN), and maize (Zea mays L.)-planted soils fertilized with no N (P0) or with 225?kg?N ha^?1 (PN). Nitrous oxide emissions significantly (P?<?0.05) increased from 141?±?5?g N₂O-N?ha^?1 (C0) to 570?±?33?g N₂O-N?ha^?1 (CN) in unplanted soil, and from 209?±?29?g N₂O-N?ha^?1 (P0) to 884?±?45?g N₂O-N?ha^?1 (PN) in planted soil. Approximately 75?% of N₂O emissions were from fertilizer N applied and the emission factor (EF) of applied fertilizer N as N₂O in unplanted and planted soils was 0.19 and 0.30?%, respectively. The presence of maize crop significantly (P?<?0.05) increased the N₂O emission by 55?% in the N-fertilized soil but not in the N-unfertilized soil. There was a significant (P?<?0.05) interaction effect of fertilization?×?maize on N₂O emissions. Nitrous oxide fluxes were significantly affected by soil moisture and soil temperature (P?<?0.05), with the temperature sensitivity of 1.73–2.24, which together explained 62–76?% of seasonal variation in N₂O fluxes. Our results demonstrated that N₂O emissions from rainfed arable black soils in Northeast China primarily depended on the application of fertilizer N; however, the EF of fertilizer N as N₂O was low, probably due to low precipitation and soil moisture.     

Use of nitrogen process inhibitors for reducing gaseous nitrogen losses from land-applied farm effluents

Applications of dairy farm effluents to land may lead to ammonia (NH₃) volatilization and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. Nitrogen (N) transformation process inhibitors, such as urease inhibitors (UIs) and nitrification inhibitors (NIs), have been used to reduce NH₃ and N₂O losses derived from agricultural N sources. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of amending dairy effluents with UI (N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBTPT)) and NI (dicyandiamide (DCD)) on NH₃ and N₂O emissions. Treatments included either fresh or stored manure and either fresh or stored farm dairy effluent (FDE), with and without NBTPT (0.25 g kg^?1 N) or DCD (10 kg ha^?1), applied to a pasture on a free-draining volcanic parent material soil. The nutrient loading rate of FDE and manure, which had different dry matter contents (about 2 and 11 %, respectively) was 100 kg N ha^?1. Application of manure and FDE led to NH₃ volatilization (15, 1, 17 and 0.4 % of applied N in fresh manure, fresh FDE, stored manure and stored FDE, respectively). With UI (NBTPT), NH₃ volatilization from fresh manure was significantly (P?<?0.05) decreased to 8 % from 15 % of applied N, but the UI did not significantly reduce NH₃ volatilization from fresh FDE. The N₂O emission factors (amount of N₂O–N emitted as a percentage of applied N) for fresh manure, fresh FDE and stored FDE were 0.13?±?0.02, 0.14?±?0.03 and 0.03?±?0.01 %, respectively. The NI (DCD) was effective in decreasing N₂O emissions from stored FDE, fresh FDE and fresh manure by 90, 51 and 46 % (P?<?0.05), respectively. All types of effluent increased pasture production over the first 21 days after application (P?<?0.05). The addition of DCD resulted in an increase in pasture production at first harvest on day 21 (P?<?0.05). This study illustrates that UIs and NIs can be effective in mitigating NH₃ and N₂O emissions from land-applied dairy effluents.     

14C-labelled maleic hydrazide degradation in soil: Influence of temperature,moisture, clay and organic material

¹⁴C-labelled maleic hydrazide (MH) was added to each of three soils at a concentration of 4 mg kg^?1, and its degradation measured by the release of ¹⁴CO₂ after 2 days. Between 1 and 30°C, at a constant moisture content (full field capacity), the mean degradation rate increased by a factor of 3 for each temperature increment of 10°C (Q₁₀ = 3). The mean activation energy was 78 kJ mol^?1. Above 35°C, the degradation rate decreased.At soil moisture contents between wilting point and 80–90% of field capacity, the degradation rate doubled with an increase in moisture content of 50% of field capacity (constant temperature, 25°C). Above field capacity, the degradation rate was either unchanged or decreased. Below wilting point the degradation was very slow, even after 2 months.The rate of decomposition of MH at all temperatures and moisture contents was lowest in the soil with the highest content of organic matter and the lowest clay content. This soil had the highest Freundlich K value, and presumably adsorbed MH the most strongly, although the lower clay content may also play a role in the lower decomposing capacity of this soil.     

Low Success Rate in Re-Establishing European Perch in Some Highly Acidified Lakes in Southernmost Norway

In order to test whether major reductions in acid inputs had improved water quality sufficiently for fish populations to recover, we stocked wild European perch (Perca fluviatilis) in three highly acidified lakes that had previously supported this species, and in one limed lake. The fish, which were introduced from a local lake (donor lake), generally ranged from 12 to 16 cm in total length, and were stocked at densities of 117–177 fish ha^?1. The untreated lakes were highly acid, with minimum pH values and maximum inorganic aluminium concentrations (Al_i) during the spring of 4.6–4.7 and 118–151 µg L^?1 respectively. In the limed lake, the corresponding values for pH and Al_i ranged between 5.8 and 6.6 and 5 and 19 µg L^?1 respectively. Gill-netting in two subsequent years after the introduction yielded only a few recruits (0+) and one adult in one of the three acidified lakes in one year only. However, stocked perch reproduced successfully in both years in the limed lake. There was a significant linear relationship between the catches (CPUE) of juvenile perch (age 0+) in the different lakes in the autumn and the water quality in May (time of hatching), both in terms of Al_i (r ²=0.934, P<0.05) and pH (r ²=0.939, P<0.05). Our data suggest unsuccessful recruitment in waters of pH <5.1 and Al_i>60 µg L^?1.     

The Oxidation of Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) in Aqueous Solution by UV/H2O2 Photolysis

The oxidation of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in solution using UV/H₂O₂ and direct UV photolysis are analyzed in this study. It was found that DEHP was 100% removal in the solution by 180-min UV/H₂O₂ treatment and 73.5% removal by 180-min direct UV photolysis. The effect of different factors, such as DEHP concentration, H₂O₂ concentration, and UV light intensity, on photochemical degradation was investigated. The degradation mechanism of DEHP and the acute toxicity of intermediates were also studied. The photochemical degradation process was found to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics. The results of our study suggested that the concentration with 40 mg/L H₂O₂ and 5 μg/mL DEHP in the solution at pH 7 with 10.0?×?10^?6 Einstein l^?1?s^?1 UV was the optimal condition for the photochemical degradation of DEHP. The photochemical degradation with UV/H₂O₂ can be an efficient method to remove DEHP in wastewater.     

Competitive and noncompetitive adsorption of silicate and phosphate by two acid Si-deficient soils and their effects on P and Si extractability

The effects of pH on the adsorption of silicate and phosphate, either singly or in competition, by two acid soils were investigated. Both soils adsorbed two to three times more P than Si and adsorption isotherms at pH 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 and 6.5 showed that increasing pH greatly increased Si adsorption but decreased that of P. Silicate adsorption was very low below pH 5.0, increased rapidly up to pH 9–10 before decreasing again. Adsorption of P was at a maximum at pH 2.0, decreased slowly up to pH 7.0 and then more rapidly above pH 7.0. When Si and P were added at equimolar concentrations, the presence of P decreased Si adsorption between pH 6.0 and 8.0 while the presence of Si decreased P adsorption in the pH region 6.0 and 11. Addition of calcium silicate at rates equivalent to 300, 600 and 1200 kg Si ha^?1 resulted in a progressive increase in soil pH. Separate samples of soil were treated with Ca(OH)₂ to give the same pH values so that the effect of Si could be identified. The highest rate of Si (1200 kg ha^?1 which gave a pH of 6.5) caused a significant decrease in P adsorption (as determined by adsorption isotherms) and an increase in resin-extractable P but the lower rates had little effect. Addition of P to the soil as calcium phosphate at rates equivalent to 30, 60 and 100 kg P ha^?1 all caused a decrease in Si adsorption capacity and an increase in CaCl₂-extractable Si. It was concluded that the strategy of adding Si to lower P requirements in acid soils is not likely to be effective while addition of fertilizer P may well lower Si adsorption and promote Si desorption and its increased mobility.     

Effects of atmospheric CO2 enrichment on CO2 exchange rates of beech stands in small model ecosystems

CO₂ enrichment experiments were performed during two vegetation periods on young beech stands in four closed mini-greenhouses. The houses were climatized according to the outside microclimate (±0,5 °C,±15 % rel. air humidity, wind speed approximately to outside in the range of 0.5 – 2.5 m s^?1, max. 17 % PAR reduction). The model ecosystems — consisting of 36 young beech (2.5 yr-old) in a soil block of 0.38 m³ and an air volume of 0.64 m³ — were exposed to CO₂ concentrations of the unchanged ambient air (350±34 ppmv, control) and of 700 ppmv (698±10 ppmv). Plant growth parameters were measured non distructively and at the end of the 1^st season samples were taken for weighing the phytomass. CO₂ gas exchange of the stands taken as a whole were continuously measured with two entire mini-greenhouses and, in addition, a compact mini-cuvette system (CMS 400, Walz) was used for measuring dark respiration and CO₂ net assimilation rates of single leaves in both stands. Under the influence of the additional CO₂ supply stem diameter (2 cm above the first lateral roots) was increased by 13.5 %, stem height by 27.4 %, and the number of leaves/tree by 33 % at the end of the 2^nd season. The number of buds was not significantly different and the effect on mean area per leaf was insignificant. Leaf area index was by 1.4 units greater. All dry weights of the main organs were increased after the 1^st season: leaf 60 %, stem 34 %, bud 54 %. Roots <2 mm φ weighed 1.5-fold more and roots > 2 mm φ 1.7-fold more under elevated CO₂. CO₂ gas exchange of two systems was measured. Whole system CO₂ losses during night as well as photosynthetic CO₂ gains during days were greater at 700 ppmv than in the control system. However, if one balances CO₂ gains with CO₂ losses over a period of five days in August both model-ecosystems taken as a whole were sinks for CO₂. During this selected time period of 5 days at the peak of the season the beech stand at 350 ppmv was the greater sink. At 350 ppmv CO₂ (control) the average leaf respiration for 20 °C amounted to 0.31±0.18 and at 700 ppmv to 0.57± 0.42 μmol CO₂ m^?2 s^?1 (n=35/40, t=3.48, α < 0.05), and correlated positively with leaf temperature. At light saturation the mean net assimilation rate was 4.48 μmol m^?2 (leaf area) s^?1 in the control and 6.21 μmol m^?2 s^?1 at the high CO₂ concentration corresponding with an enhancement factor of 1.39 for the selected time period. Results from the whole stand and from single leaf measurements are compared by means of mathematical modelling procedures in order to quantify CO₂ enrichment effects on beech model ecosystems.     

Methane uptake and nitrous oxide emission in Japanese forest soils and their relationship to soil and vegetation types

Abstract

To determine the means and variations in CH₄ uptake and N₂O emission in the dominant soil and vegetation types to enable estimation of annual gases fluxes in the forest land of Japan, we measured monthly fluxes of both gases using a closed-chamber technique at 26 sites throughout Japan over 2 years. No clear seasonal changes in CH₄ uptake rates were observed at most sites. N₂O emission was mostly low throughout the year, but was higher in summer at most sites. The annual mean rates of CH₄ uptake and N₂O emission (all sites combined) were 66 (2.9–175) µg CH₄-C m^?2 h^?1 and 1.88 (0.17–12.5) µg N₂O-N m^?2 h^?1, respectively. Annual changes in these fluxes over the 2 years were small. Significant differences in CH₄ uptake were found among soil types (P < 0.05). The mean CH₄ uptake rates (µg CH₄-C m^?2 h^?1) were as follows: Black soil (95 ± 39, mean ± standard deviation [SD]) > Brown forest soil (60 ± 27) ≥ other soils (20 ± 24). N₂O emission rates differed significantly among vegetation types (P < 0.05). The mean N₂O emission rates (µg N₂O-N m^?2 h^?1) were as follows: Japanese cedar (4.0 ± 2.3) ≥ Japanese cypress (2.6 ± 3.4) > hardwoods (0.8 ± 2.2) = other conifers (0.7 ± 1.4). The CH₄ uptake rates in Japanese temperate forests were relatively higher than those in Europe and the USA (11–43 µg CH₄-C m^?2 h^?1), and the N₂O emission rates in Japan were lower than those reported for temperate forests (0.23–252 µg N₂O-N m^?2 h^?1). Using land area data of vegetation cover and soil distribution, the amount of annual CH₄ uptake and N₂O emission in the Japanese forest land was estimated to be 124 Gg CH₄-C year^?1 with 39% uncertainty and 3.3 Gg N₂O-N year^?1 with 76% uncertainty, respectively.     

Fulvic acid in foliar spray is more effective than humic acid via soil in improving coffee seedlings growth

ABSTRACT

Humic (HA) and fulvic (FA) acids improve the nutrient availability and uptake by plants but some aspects of their agronomic use still need to be clarified. The effects of HA soil application and FA foliar application on the growth, Zn and B uptake by coffee seedlings were evaluated. HA was added to an Oxisol at concentrations 0, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg kg^?1 (C-HA), in both limed (pH 6.2) and overlimed (pH 7.2) conditions. FA (0, 0.2, 0.5 and 1 g L^?1 C-FA) was applied to coffee leaves in three different application modes (M): with 0.3% Zn and 0.6% B supplied via foliar (M₁), 0.6% B and 1.2% Zn supplied via foliar (M₂) and 1.2 mg kg^?1 B and 6 mg kg^?1 Zn supplied via soil (M₃). HA addition in soil significantly (p < 0.05) reduced leaf B and Zn accumulation and coffee growth in both pH conditions. In the M₁ and M₂, FA application significantly (p < 0.05) increased the shoot growth at 0.59 and 0.45 g L^?1 and B accumulation at 0.96 and 0.45 g L^?1 C-FA. Foliar application of C-FA, instead soil application of C-HA, is a suitable practice to improve coffee seedlings growth and nutrition on Oxisol.     

Sediment denitrification in waterways in a rice-paddy-dominated watershed in eastern China

Purpose

Rice-paddy-dominated watersheds in eastern China are intensively cultivated, and lands with two crops receive as much as 550–600 kg?ha^–1?year^–1 of nitrogen (N), mainly through the addition of N-based fertilizers. However, stream N concentrations have been found to be relatively low. Waterways in the watersheds are assumed to be effective “sinks” for N, minimizing its downstream movement. We directly measured net sediment denitrification rates in three types of waterways (ponds, streams/rivers, and a reservoir) and determined the key factors that control net sediment denitrification. Such information is essential for evaluating the impact of the agricultural N cycle on the quality of surface water.

Materials and methods

The pond–stream–reservoir continuum was sampled every 2 months at nine sites in an agricultural watershed between November 2010 and December 2011. Net sediment N₂ fluxes/net sediment denitrification rates were determined by membrane inlet mass spectrometry and the N₂/Ar technique. A suite of parameters known to influence denitrification were also measured.

Results and discussion

Net denitrification rates ranged between 28.2?±?18.2 and 674.3?±?314.5 μmol N₂–N?m^–2?h^–1 for the streams, 23.7?±?23.9 and 121.2?±?38.7 μmol N₂–N?m^–2?h^–1 for the ponds, and 41.8?±?17.7 and 239.3?±?49.8 μmol N₂–N?m^–2?h^–1 for the reservoir. The mean net denitrification rate of the stream sites (173.2?±?248.4 μmol N₂–N?m^–2?h^–1) was significantly higher (p?<?0.001) than that of the pond sites (48.3?±?44.5 μmol N₂–N?m^–2?h^–1), and the three types of waterways all had significantly higher (p?<?0.01) mean net denitrification rates in summer than in other seasons. Linear regression and linear mixed effect model analysis showed that nitrate (NO₃ ^?–N) concentration in surface water was the primary controlling factor for net sediment denitrification, followed by water temperature. Using monitoring data on NO₃ ^?–N concentrations and temperature of the surface water of waterways and an established linear mixed effect model, total N removed through net sediment denitrification in the pond–stream–reservoir continuum was estimated at 46.8?±?24.0 t?year^–1 from July 2007 to June 2009, which was comparable with earlier estimates based on the mass balance method (34.3?±?12.7 t?year^–1), and accounted for 83.4 % of the total aquatic N. However, the total aquatic N was only 4.4 % of the total N input to the watershed, and thus most of the surplus N in the watershed was likely to be either denitrified or stored in soil.

Conclusions

High doses of N in a rice-paddy-dominated watershed did not lead to high stream N concentrations due to limited input of N into waterways and the high efficiency of waterways in removing N through denitrification.     

Influence of the Modification of Nutritional Parameters in Aglaonema commutatum: K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+

Abstract

This trial was carried out to establish an appropriate nutrient solution for Aglaonema commutatum and to investigate the nutritional effects generated by modifications in the solution. Six treatments were tested: control (T₀; pH 6.5, E.C. 1.5 dS m^?1, 6 mmol L^?1 NO₃ ^?‐N, and 6 mmol L^?1 K⁺); high nitrogen (N) level (T₁; 9 mmol L^?1 6:3 NO₃ ^?–NH₄ ⁺); N form (T₂; 6 mmol L^?1 N‐NH₄ ⁺); high K⁺ level (T₃; 12 mmol L^?1 K⁺); high electrical conductivity (T₄; E.C. 4 dS m^?1, 25 mmol L^?1 NaCl), and basic pH (T₅; pH 8). At the end of the cultivation, leaf, shoot, and root dry weights and elemental concentrations were determined. Nutrient contents and total plant uptake were calculated from the dry weights and nutrient concentrations. Plant K⁺ uptake increased with application of K⁺ or basic nutrient solution. The uptake and transport of calcium (Ca) were enhanced by the use of NO₃ ^?‐N and inhibited by the presence of other cations in the medium (NH₄ ⁺, K⁺, Na⁺) and by basic pH. Magnesium (Mg) uptake increased with NO₃ ^?‐N application and with pH. Sodium (Na) uptake was the highest in the saline treatment (T₄), followed by the basic pH treatment. Sodium accumulation was detected in the roots (natrophobic plant), where the plant generated a physiological barrier to avoid damage. Dry weight did not differ significantly (p<0.05) among treatments except in the NaCl treatment. These results may help in the formulation of nutrient solutions that take into account the ionic composition of irrigation water and the physiological requirements of plants.     

Radiation Synthesis of Poly(Acrylamide-Acrylic Acid-Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate) Resin and Its Use for Binding of Some Anionic Dyes

Poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) P(AAm-AA-DMAEMA) resin was prepared by the template copolymerization. PAAm was used as a template for the copolymerization of DMAEMA and AA in aqueous solution using gamma rays. The adsorption of indigo carmine and eriochrome black-T anionic dyes from aqueous media on P(AAm-AA-DMAEMA) has been investigated. The adsorption behavior of this resin has been studied under different adsorption conditions: dye concentrations (50?C500 mg l^?1), contact times, temperature (30?C55°C), and pH values (2?C7). The amount of dye adsorbed increased with increasing resin content, but it had a little change with temperature and decreased slightly with increasing pH. Adsorption data of the samples were modeled by the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic equations in order to investigate dye adsorption mechanism. It was found that the adsorption kinetics of the resin followed a pseudo-second-order model with rate constant (k ₂) of 2.5?×?10^?3 and 1.8?×?10^?2 g (mg^?1 min^?1) for indigo carmine and eriochrome black-T, respectively. Equilibrium isotherms were analyzed using the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. It was seen that the Freundlich model fits the adsorption data better than the Langmuir model.     

Evaluation of the Fate of Ciprofloxacin and Amoxicillin in Domestic Wastewater

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the contribution of sorption to the removal of two commonly used antibiotics (amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin) from wastewater. These antibiotics are excreted in large quantities with more than 75% of them being unmetabolized and are therefore likely to end up in domestic wastewater in significant quantities. The specific objectives were to determine the sorption behavior in synthetic wastewater (SWW), the effect of pH and contribution of microbial surfaces, to the sorption of these antibiotics. The SWW, adjusted to various pH levels, was used and sorption kinetics conducted at 100 and 250 ??g L^?1 concentrations. Adsorption isotherms were determined at different pH levels. The SWW (pH 6.6) was inoculated with Rhodococcus sp. B30 strain to determine the contribution of microbial surfaces to sorption. Generally, both antibiotics revealed a decrease in sorption with pH increase, suggesting that lowering the solution pH of the wastewater may reduce their amounts in wastewater solution. Comparatively, ciprofloxacin exhibited higher sorption than amoxicillin. The sorption distribution coefficient (K _d) values for ciprofloxacin ranged from 0.4356 to 0.8902 L?g^?1, with pH?=?5.5 exhibiting the highest K _d, while that for amoxicillin ranged from 0.1582 to 0.3858 L?g^?1 with the highest K _d at pH?=?3.5. There was a significant difference (p?<?0.05) in K _d values between various pH levels for both antibiotics except between the pH of 5.5 and 6.6. Both antibiotics were not degraded within 48 h by Rhodococcus sp. B30 strain. These results indicate that degradation may not be the major process of removal of compounds from wastewater treatment plants and hence the importance of sorption as an intervention technique.     

Effect of land use on the denitrification, abundance of denitrifiers, and total nitrogen gas production in the subtropical region of China

The potential denitrification (PD) rate, NO, N₂O, and N₂ emission were determined after treatment with 50 mg NO₃ ^??N kg^?1 soil using the acetylene inhibition method, and meanwhile abundance of four denitrifying genes (i.e., narG, nirK, norB, nosZ) was also investigated in subtropical soils of China. Soil samples were collected from conifer forest (C), shrub forest, and farmland. These soils were derived from Quaternary red earth and granite. The PD rate and N gas emissions significantly (p?<?0.05) differed between forest and farmland soils; abundance of denitrifying genes was also significantly affected by the land-use change. Correlation and multiple stepwise regression analyses showed that the PD rate was significantly (p?<?0.05) and positively correlated with soil pH but not with soil organic C and total N contents (p?>?0.05). The norB gene copies in farmland soils were significantly higher than in conifer and shrub forest soils (p?<?0.01). Both norB and nosZ gene copies were linearly correlated with soil pH, and the PD rate and N₂ emission rate were significantly correlated with the abundance of norB (p?<?0.05). Probably, soil pH affected denitrifiers targeted by the norB gene, thus decreasing the reduction of NO and N₂O.     

Can Phosphate Help Acidified Lakes to Recover?

Experimental addition of phosphate to enclosures in an acidified lake in Southern Norway was performed to study the effect on nitrate, pH and labile aluminium along a gradient of phosphate from 4–19 µg P L^?1. Nitrate decreased from 180 µg L^?1 to below detection limit after three weeks at P-concentrations > 17 µg L^?1, due to phytoplankton uptake. pH increased from 4.9 to 5.2, corresponding to a 50% decrease of H⁺-equivalents from 12 to 6 µg P L^?1 due to algal uptake of H⁺-ions when assimilating NO₃ ^?-ions. Due to the increased pH and probably also precipitation with phosphate, concentrations of labile aluminium decreased from 150 to 100 µg L^?1 within the P-interval 4–19 µg L^?1. Algal biomass increased from 0.5 to 6 µg chlorophyll a L^?1 along the same P-gradient. The results suggest that moderate P-addition (< 15 µg P L^?1 to avoid eutrophication problems) can improve water quality in moderately acidified lakes, and also increase nitrate retention in strongly acidified lakes. In humic lakes, the treatment will be less efficient due to light limitation of primary production and the presence of organic acids.     

Enhanced dissipation of DEHP in soil and simultaneously reduced bioaccumulation of DEHP in vegetable using bioaugmentation with exogenous bacteria

The widely used plastic film containing di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in agriculture has caused serious soil pollution and poses risks to human health through the food chain. An effective DEHP degradation bacteria, Microbacterium sp. J-1, was newly isolated from landfill soil. Response surface methodology was successfully employed for optimization resulting in 96% degradation of DEHP (200 mg L^?1) within 5 days. This strain degraded DEHP by hydrolysis of the ester bond and hydroxylation of the aromatic ring to form 2-ethyl hexanol, mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, phthalate acid, and protocatechuic acid, and subsequently transformed these compounds with a maximum specific degradation rate (q _max), half-saturation constant (K _s ), and inhibition constant (K _i ) of 1.46 day^?1, 180.2 mg L^?1, and 332.8 mg L^?1, respectively. Bioaugmentation of DEHP-contaminated soils with the strain J-1 greatly enhanced the DEHP dissipation rate (~88%). Moreover, this strain could efficiently colonize the rhizosphere soil of inoculated vegetables and further enhanced DEHP degradation (~97%), leading to a significant decrease (>70%) in DEHP accumulation in shoots and roots of the inoculated vegetables compared to uninoculated vegetables. The results highlighted the roles of the inoculated exogenous bacteria in simultaneously bioremediating contaminated soils and reducing bioaccumulation of DEHP in the edible part of the vegetable for food safety.