Chemical availability of arsenic and antimony in industrial soils

Total concentrations and extractable fractionations of As and Sb were determined in soil samples from former mining sites in Scotland and Italy. Pseudo-total levels of As and Sb in the sample were between 50–17,428 mg/kg and 10–1,187 mg/kg (Scotland), and 16–691 mg/kg and 1.63–11.44 mg/kg (Italy). Between 0.001–0.63% and <0.001−8.82% of the total soil As and Sb, were extractable using, a single extraction bioavailability estimate. Data from an As-specific extraction procedure revealed that up to 60% of As was associated to amorphous Fe-Al oxyhydroxide phase in all soils. A non-specific-sequential extraction test also showed As to be strongly associated with Fe (and Al) oxyhydroxides at both locations. In the case of Sb, in addition to the crystalline Fe-oxide bound Sb the Al-silicate phase also appeared to be significant. At both sites Sb appears to be chemically more accessible than As with consistent availability despite the varied origin and host soil properties.     

锑砷钙渣的应用

有色冶炼产生的锑砷钙渣在玻璃瓶生产中的应用 ,理论和实践证明 :用锑砷钙渣代替白砒是可行的。     

pH-dependent release characteristics of antimony and arsenic from typical antimony-bearing ores

The pH-dependent leaching of antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) from three typical Sb-bearing ores (Banxi, Muli and Tongkeng Antimony Mine) in China was assessed using a pH-static leaching experiment. The pH changes of the leached solutions and pH-dependent leaching of Sb and As occurred in different ways. For the Banxi and Muli Sb ores, alkaline conditions were more favorable for the release of Sb compared to neutral and acidic conditions, but the reverse was true for the pH-dependent release of As. For the Tongkeng Sb ore, unlike the previous two Sb-bearing ores, acidic conditions were more favorable for Sb release than neutral and alkaline conditions. The ores with lower Sb and As contents released higher percentages of their Sb and As after 16 day leaching, suggesting that they are the largest potential sources of pollution. This work may provide key information on the geochemistry of Sb and As in the weathering zone.     

Antimony leaching release from brake pads: Effect of pH,temperature and organic acids

Metals from automotive brake pads pollute water, soils and the ambient air. The environmental effect on water of antimony(Sb) contained in brake pads has been largely untested. The content of Sb in one abandoned brake pad reached up to 1.62 × 104mg/kg.Effects of initial p H, temperature and four organic acids(acetic acid, oxalic acid, citric acid and humic acid) on Sb release from brake pads were studied using batch reactors.Approximately 30%(97 mg/L) of the total Sb contained in the brake pads was released in alkaline aqueous solution and at higher temperature after 30 days of leaching. The organic acids tested restrained Sb release, especially acetic acid and oxalic acid. The p H-dependent concentration change of Sb in aqueous solution was best fitted by a logarithmic function. In addition, Sb contained in topsoil from land where brake pads were discarded(average9 × 103mg/kg) was 3000 times that in uncontaminated soils(2.7 ± 1 mg/kg) in the same areas. Because potentially high amounts of Sb may be released from brake pads, it is important that producers and environmental authorities take precautions.? 2015 The Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences.     

Molecular diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at a large-scale antimony mining area in southern China

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF) have great potential for assisting heavy metal hyperaccumulators in the remediation of contaminated soils. However, little information is available about the community composition of AMF under natural conditions in soils contaminated by antimony(Sb). The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of AMF molecular diversity, and to explore the effects of Sb content and soil properties on the AMF community structure in an Sb mining area. Four Sb mine spoils and one adjacent reference area were selected from around the Xikuangshan mine in southern China. The association of AMF molecular diversity and community composition with the rhizosphere soils of the dominant plant species was studied by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis(PCR-DGGE). Results from all five studied sites showed that the diversity of AMF decreased with increasing Sb concentration. Principal component analysis(PCA) indicated that the AMF community structure was markedly different among these groups. Further redundancy analysis(RDA) showed that Sb contamination was the dominating factor influencing the AMF community structure in the Sb mine area. However, the multivariate analysis showed that, apart from the soil Sb content, extractable nitrogen content and organic matter content also attributed to AMF sequence distribution type. Some AMF sequences were only found in the highly contaminated area and these might be ideal candidates for improving phytoremediation efficiency in Sb mining regions. Gene sequencing analysis revealed that most species were affiliated with Glomus, suggesting that Glomus was the dominant AMF genus in the studied Sb mining area.     

Antimony leaching release from brake pads: Effect of pH, temperature and organic acids

Metals from automotive brake pads pollute water, soils and the ambient air. The environmental effect on water of antimony (Sb) contained in brake pads has been largely untested. The content of Sb in one abandoned brake pad reached up to 1.62 × 10⁴ mg/kg. Effects of initial pH, temperature and four organic acids (acetic acid, oxalic acid, citric acid and humic acid) on Sb release from brake pads were studied using batch reactors. Approximately 30% (97 mg/L) of the total Sb contained in the brake pads was released in alkaline aqueous solution and at higher temperature after 30 days of leaching. The organic acids tested restrained Sb release, especially acetic acid and oxalic acid. The pH-dependent concentration change of Sb in aqueous solution was best fitted by a logarithmic function. In addition, Sb contained in topsoil from land where brake pads were discarded (average 9 × 10³ mg/kg) was 3000 times that in uncontaminated soils (2.7 ± 1 mg/kg) in the same areas. Because potentially high amounts of Sb may be released from brake pads, it is important that producers and environmental authorities take precautions.     

Antimony content of macrofungi from clean and polluted areas

Species of macrofungi (mushrooms) were collected from clean areas and analyzed for their antimony content. These were compared to species collected from extremely polluted areas in the vicinity of a lead smelter and on mine and slag dumps. Antimony content was determined using long-term instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Ectomycorrhizal and terrestrial saprobic macrofungi were examined. Antimony content of macrofungi from the clean areas was mostly less than 100 μg kg⁻¹ (dry mass). The highest concentrations (units of mg kg⁻¹) were found in various species of the ectomycorrhizal genera Chalciporus and Suillus. Antimony contents of macrofungi growing in the polluted areas were considerably higher. The highest content was found in a single collection of Chalciporus piperatus (1423 mg kg⁻¹).     

氢化物发生／火焰原子吸收光谱法测定固体废物浸出液中的锑和铋

本文采用１∶１０的固液比以ｐＨ５．０±０．２的ＨＡｃ—ＮａＡｃ为没提剂制备锑渣和铋渣浸出液，处理后浸出液中的锑和铋采用氢化物发生／火焰原子吸收光谱法进行测定。对铋渣中锑测定结果偏低的原因做了简要探讨。     

Antimony uptake by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> (L.) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus annuus</Emphasis> (L.) from nutrient solution

We investigated the extent of Sb uptake by maize (Zea mays) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) from nutrient solutions containing concentrations from 3 to 24 mg/L of potassium antimonate, with the aim of determining the potential of Sb to enter the food chain. The maximum shoot Sb concentrations in Z. mays and H. annuus were 41 mg/kg and 77 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. There was no significant difference in Sb uptake between species. The average bioaccumulation coefficients (the plant/solution concentration quotients) were 1.02 and 1.93 for Z. mays and H. annuus, respectively. Phosphate addition did not affect plant growth or Sb uptake. Antimony uptake by both Z. mays and H. annuus is unlikely to pose a health risk to animals and humans.     

Migration and transformation of Sb are affected by Mn(III/IV) associated with lepidocrocite originating from Fe(II) oxidation

Antimony (Sb) is a recognized priority pollutant with toxicity that is influenced by its migration and transformation processes. Oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III) oxides, which is a common phenomenon in the environment, is often accompanied by the formation of Mn(III/IV) and might affect the fate of Sb. In this study, incorporated Mn(III) and sorbed/precipitated Mn(III/IV) associated with lepidocrocite were prepared by adding Mn(II) during and after Fe(II) oxidation, respectively, and the effects of these Mn species on Sb fate were investigated. Our results indicated that the association of these Mn species with lepidocrocite obviously enhanced Sb(III) oxidation to Sb(V), while concomitantly inhibiting Sb sorption due to the lower sorption capacity of lepidocrocite for Sb(V) than Sb(III). Additionally, Mn oxide equivalents increased in the presence of Sb, indicating that Sb oxidation by Mn(III/IV) associated with lepidocrocite was a continuous recycling process in which Mn(II) released from Mn(III/IV) reduction by Sb(III) could be oxidized to Mn(III/IV) again. This recycling process was favorable for effective Sb(III) oxidation. Moreover, Sb(V) generated from Sb(III) oxidation by Mn(III/IV) enhanced Mn(II) sorption at the beginning of the process, and thus favored Mn(III/IV) formation, which could further promote Sb(III) oxidation to Sb(V). Overall, this study elucidated the effects of Mn(III/IV) associated with lepidocrocite arisen from Fe(II) oxidation on Sb migration and transformation and revealed the underlying reaction mechanisms, contributing to a better understanding of the geochemical dynamics of Sb.