Gold Mining: Is It Worth Its Weight?

Gold (Au) accounts for only 0.004 g/ton of the earth's crust and is the most desired element. With an average annual world production of approximately 2,500 tons, the current methods of Au mining in developing countries cause major environmental issues. These issues vary from deforestation to cyanide and mercury (Hg) contamination. This article presents several cases of environmental catastrophes caused by Au mining in different regions of the world (Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and South America). It discusses the currently available processes for the large-scale extraction of metallic Au grains and supports the need for an alternative sustainable process.     

正交试验-硝酸微波消解-冷原子吸收法测定土壤中汞

应用硝酸微波消解土壤样品-冷原子吸收法测定土壤中的汞。通过正交试验，优化了土壤中汞的微波消解条件。并对干扰消除、方法精密度、加标回收、检出限进行了试验研究。在0～10μg／L范围内线性关系良好，方法测定下限为0．20μg／L，土壤中汞的检出限为0．005μg／g。该优化条件对汞含量为0．02—0．46μg／g的土壤样品，汞提取完全。建立了一种简便、成本低、干扰少、灵敏度高的方法。     

活性炭负载催化剂去除燃煤烟气中单质汞的研究

以贵州凯里褐煤进行燃烧实验,研究采用CoCl2(负载量20%)改性的活性炭去除烟气中的单质汞。颗粒态汞占烟气总汞的87%,而单质汞占气态汞的80.4%。改性活性炭吸附了气态汞中97%的单质汞,而吸收液只吸收了3%的单质汞。可见改性活性炭也能有效地吸附煤燃烧实验中的烟气汞。实验结果表明,煤中汞的释放率为59.5%,1kg的改性活性炭可以吸附208t煤所产生的烟气中的气态单质汞。     

The role of sorption and bacteria in mercury partitioning and bioavailability in artificial sediments

This study compared the relative importance of three types of sorption (organic matter-particle, mercury-organic matter and mercury-particle) in controlling the overall mercury partitioning and bioavailability in sediments. We found that all three types of sorption were important for both inorganic mercury (Hg) and methylated mercury (MeHg). Mercury-particle sorption was more important than mercury-fulvic acid (FA) sorption in increasing the mercury concentrations with increasing aging. Bioavailability (quantified by gut juice extraction from sipunculans) was mainly controlled by mercury-particle sorption, while FA-particle and mercury-FA sorption were not as important, especially for MeHg. Bacterial activity also increased the partitioning of Hg or MeHg in the sediments and was further facilitated by the presence of organic matter. The bioavailability of Hg or MeHg from sediments was only slightly influenced by bacterial activity. This study highlights the importance of sorption from various sources (especially mercury-particle sorption) as well as bacteria in controlling the partitioning and bioavailability of Hg or MeHg in sediments.     

高压实新疆阿尔泰膨润土微观结构随吸力变化特征

采用压汞法(MIP)和扫描电镜(SEM)法,在自由和侧限状态下,试验研究了高压实新疆阿尔泰膨润土在不同吸力条件下的微观结构变化特征。吸力的控制采用了气相法和渗析(液相)法。研究结果表明:(1)低吸力范围内,自由膨胀和侧限条件下的高压实膨润土土水特征存在明显差异;(2)膨润土在自由和侧限状态下的水化过程中呈现出了截然不同的微结构变化特征。自由膨胀条件下,土的吸水膨胀量主要来自土中大孔隙的逐渐膨胀。侧限状态下,随着控制吸力的降低,膨润土的大孔隙逐渐被压缩,较小孔隙的数量不断增加,土中孔隙分布变得更加均匀。     

Inorganic and methyl-mercury speciation in sediments of the Swarzędzkie Lake

Sediment samples were analysed for mercury and methylmercury content in different parts of the bottom sediment of Swarz ?dzkie Lake, which were influenced by different external pollution sources. The results of determination with two methods of mineralization using two separate media (HNO₃/H₂O₂ and HF) were compared. The accuracy of the studied methods was analysed using certified reference material IAEA 405 of river sediment. The recovery of mercury was satisfactory and ranged from 97.5 to 98.8%. Methylmercury compounds in the studied sediments were found in limited concentrations. Their concentrations ranged from 0.26 to 58.1 μg kg^?1, i.e. 1.0–7.4% of the total mercury content. The depth profile displayed high values of both total and methylmercury content at a depth of 10–20 cm, related to the heavy pollution of the lake in the 1980s. Canonical analysis displayed the relationship of both total mercury and methylmercury concentrations with organic matter and phosphorus content in bottom sediments.     

CuO-CeO2/AC吸附燃煤烟气中元素汞的实验研究

通过活性炭负载CuO和CeO2来制备吸附剂,采用固定床吸附方式,在不同反应条件下对吸附剂的吸附性能进行测试,筛选出去除效率最好的吸附剂,并通过BET和XRD对吸附剂的理化性质进行分析。结果表明,CuO和CeO2的加入大大改变了原活性炭的比表面积和孔结构,改善了活性炭的吸附性能。CuO-CeO2/AC中CuO和CeO2质量比不同,对汞的去除效率也不同,在1∶2时去除效率最好;CuO-CeO2/AC中所负载的CuO和CeO的总量为5%时,能大大促进汞的吸附效率,增长有效吸附时间;CuO-CeO2/AC对汞的吸附性能随反应温度的增加呈先增加后减小的趋势,在80℃时达到最大值。     

南京市冬季大气颗粒态汞的分布特征

采集了南京市2012年冬季4个功能区的PM2．5、PM10、TSP样品，对不同粒径大气颗粒物中的颗粒态汞测试。结果表明，南京冬季大气颗粒物TSP中汞的质量浓度为49．26 pg/m3～257．14 pg/m3，平均质量浓度为161．27 pg/m3；PM10中汞的质量浓度为44．82 pg/m3～228．29 pg/m3，平均质量浓度为147．38 pg/m3；PM2．5中汞的质量浓度为35．98 pg/m3～178．58 pg/m3，平均质量浓度为104．10 pg/m3。不同功能区大气颗粒态汞质量浓度的分布趋势为：交通综合区＞旅游区＞住宿综合区＞商业区。大气颗粒态汞60％以上存在于可吸入肺的PM2．5中，细颗粒物富集汞的能力比粗颗粒物强。     

原子吸收法直接测量土壤中的汞含量

实验采用DMA-80自动测汞仪直接测定土壤中的汞含量，详细介绍了土壤样品中汞分析条件的选择，方法在0．4—400ng范围内，线性良好，其检出限为0．2ug／kg。     

Differential fitness of allelic isozymes in the marine gastropodsLittorina punctata andLittorina neritoides,exposed to the environmental stress of the combined effects of cadmium and mercury pollution

The present study tested the separate and the interactive pollution effects of cadmium and mercury on the electrophoretically detected allelic isozyme frequencies of the enzyme phosphoglucose isomerase for two species of littoral marine gastropods —Littorina punctata andL. neritoides — and the enzyme amino peptidase forL. neritoides. Our results indicate differential survivorship of allelic isozyme genotypes specific for each type of pollutant and for their interaction, as well as trends common to all pollutants. Theoretically the results reflect the adaptive nature of at least some allozymic genotypes in these marine gastropods and seem inconsistent with the neutral theory of allozyme polymorphisms. Practically, the results reinforce earlier conclusions that changes in the frequency of allelic isozymes may be used as a genetic monitor of pollution.