Origin of major ions in monthly rainfall events at the Bamenda Highlands, North West Cameroon

Rainwater characteristics can reveal emissions from various anthropogenic and natural sources into the atmosphere. The physico-chemical characteristics of 44 monthly rainfall events （collected between January and December 2012） from 4 weather stations （Bamenda, Ndop plain, Ndawara and Kumbo） in the Bamenda Highlands （BH） were investigated. The purpose was to determine the sources of chemical species, their seasonal inputs and suitability of the rainwater for drinking. The mean pH of 5 indicated the slightly acidic nature of the rainwater. Average total dissolved solids （TDS） were low （6.7 mg/L）, characteristic of unpolluted atmospheric moisture/air. Major ion concentrations （mg/L） were low and in the order K＋ 〉 Ca2＋ 〉 Mg2~ 〉 Na＋ for cations and NO3 〉〉 HCO3 〉 SO] 〉 CI- 〉 PO3- 〉 F- for anions. The average rainwater in the area was mixed Ca-Mg-SO4-CI water type. The CI-/Na＋ ratio （1.04） was comparable to that of seawater （1.16）, an indication that N a＋ and CI originated mainly from marine （Atlantic Ocean） aerosols. High enrichments of Ca2＋, Mg2＋ and SO2- to Na＋ ratios relative to seawater ratios （constituting 44% of the total ions） demonstrated their terrigenous origin, mainly from Saharan and Sahelian arid dusts. The K＋/Na＋ ratio （2.24）, which was similar to tropical vegetation ash （2.38）, and NO3 was essentially from biomass burning. Light （〈 100 mm） pre-monsoon and post-monsoon convective rains were enriched in major ions than the heavy （〉 100 mm） monsoon rains, indicating a high contribution of major ions during the low convective showers. Despite the acidic nature, the TDS and major ion concentrations classified the rainwater as potable based on the WHO guidelines.     

Water chemistry controlled aggregation and photo-transformation of silver nanoparticles in environmental waters

The inevitable release of engineered silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into aquatic environments has drawn great concerns about its environmental toxicity and safety. Although aggregation and transformation play crucial roles in the transport and toxicity of AgNPs, how the water chemistry of environmental waters influences the aggregation and transformation of engineered AgNPs is still not well understood. In this study, the aggregation of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coated AgNPs was investigated in eight typical environmental water samples (with different ionic strengths, hardness, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentrations) by using UV–visible spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. Raman spectroscopy was applied to probe the interaction of DOM with the surface of AgNPs. Further, the photo-transformation and morphology changes of AgNPs in environmental waters were studied by UV–visible spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy. The results suggested that both electrolytes (especially Ca^2 + and Mg^2 +) and DOM in the surface waters are key parameters for AgNP aggregation, and sunlight could accelerate the morphology change, aggregation, and further sedimentation of AgNPs. This water chemistry controlled aggregation and photo-transformation should have significant environmental impacts on the transport and toxicity of AgNPs in the aquatic environments.     

贵州省三岔河流域水化学特征及其控制因素

对乌江源区三岔河流域枯水期和丰水期河水样品离子浓度及组成特征分析表明,河水主要的阴阳离子分别是HCO_3~–和Ca~(2+),分别占到总阴离子量的55%和总阳离子量的70%,与喀斯特地区流域相似。主要离子的时空分布的对比分析表明,Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)、Na~+、HCO_3~–、Cl~–枯水期浓度略高于丰水期,而K+、SO_4~(2–)、NO_3~–两期浓度变化相对较小;空间分布的多样化,反映了不同小流域在地质背景、生态环境、人为活动等方面的差异对河水离子的影响。通过Gibbs图分析表明,研究区河水水化学主要受到岩石风化的影响,通过阴阳离子三角图分析表明,研究区河水水化学主要受到碳酸岩盐的影响,并且硫酸广泛参与到岩石风化中,人为活动对流域水化学组成也有一定影响。     

贵州清水江流域丰水期水化学特征及离子来源分析

对清水江流域丰水期河水离子浓度及组成特征分析表明,流域水化学组成以Ca2+、HCO-3离子为主,其次为Mg2+、SO2-4;TDS均值213.96 mg·L-1,高于世界流域均值.根据海盐校正分析得出,研究区大气降水中海盐输入对流域水化学的贡献率为2.23%,低于世界河流均值3%.Gibbs图结合离子比值分析表明,流域水化学主要受碳酸盐岩风化影响,越往下游硅酸盐岩化学风化贡献越明显,碳酸和硫酸同时参与了流域岩石风化过程.离子来源分析表明,Ca2+、Mg2+、HCO-3离子主要来自于白云石、方解石等碳酸盐岩风化溶解,Na+、K+、Cl-主要来源于硅酸盐岩风化;SO2-4和NO-3主要来源于大气酸沉降和城镇废水输入.人为活动影响分析表明上游工矿企业活动对清水江流域水化学影响明显.     

Spatially distributed modeling of the long-term carbon balance of a boreal landscape

Spatially and temporally distributed information on the sizes of biomass carbon (C) pools (BCPs) and soil C pools (SCPs) is vital for improving our understanding of biosphere-atmosphere C fluxes. Because the sizes of C pools result from the integrated effects of primary production, age-effects, changes in climate, atmospheric CO₂ concentration, N deposition, and disturbances, a modeling scheme that interactively considers these processes is important. We used the InTEC model, driven by various spatio-temporal datasets to simulate the long-term C-balance in a boreal landscape in eastern Canada. Our results suggested that in this boreal landscape, mature coniferous stands had stabilized their productivity and fluctuated as a weak C-sink or C-source depending on the interannual variations in hydrometeorological factors. Disturbed deciduous stands were larger C-sinks (NEP₂₀₀₄ = 150 gC m⁻² yr⁻¹) than undisturbed coniferous stands (e.g. NEP₂₀₀₄ = 8 gC m⁻² yr⁻¹). Wetlands had lower NPP but showed temporally consistent C accumulation patterns. The simulated spatio-temporal patterns of BCPs and SCPs were unique and reflected the integrated effects of climate, plant growth and atmospheric chemistry besides the inherent properties of the C pool themselves. The simulated BCPs and SCPs generally compared well with the biometric estimates (BCPs: r = 0.86, SCPs: r = 0.84). The largest BCP biases were found in recently disturbed stands and the largest SCP biases were seen in locations where moss necro-masses were abundant. Reconstructing C pools and C fluxes in the ecosystem in such a spatio-temporal manner could help reduce the uncertainties in our understanding of terrestrial C-cycle.     

土壤重金属污染及其修复技术研究

土壤重金属污染物有汞、镉、铅、锌等,主要来源于交通运输、工业污染和农业污染。土壤重金属污染会导致农作物减产甚至死亡,对人体健康也会产生极大危害。目前土壤重金属污染修复的技术主要包括工程修复法、物理化学修复法、化学修复法和生物修复法。植物修复技术作为一种新兴的绿色、生态、高效的修复技术具有良好的发展前景。     

大坝拦截对河流水溶解组分化学组成的影响分析——以夏季乌江渡水库为例

以乌江渡水库为主要研究对象，揭示了大坝拦截条件下的夏季水化学特征：阴离子以HCO-3,SO2-4为主，阳离子以Ca2+,Mg2+为主，其余离子含量低于10%，说明了碳酸盐岩的风化对水体化学组成起到了主要控制作用，蒸发盐岩石的风化对水体化学组成影响较小。水库水体存在温度分层现象，形成了不同层位的水体有着不同的水化学组成，即水化学分层。水化学的分层形成了溶解组分在水库垂直深度上的规律分布，比如受藻类的影响，Si和叶绿素随深度成相反的变化特征；HCO-3受光合作用和有机质降解的影响，30 m 以上随着水深的增加而递增，30 m 以下呈现相反趋势；水库泄水方式明显改变了水化学各种参数和离子在水体中的分配。乌江水库两主要支流（息烽河和偏岩河）分别对乌江渡坝前水体中的Ca2+,SO2-4,HCO-3,Mg2+和K+,Na+,Cl-有贡献。网箱养鱼、生活污水、农业施肥、酸性矿山废水以及酸雨沉降都会对水体造成不同程度的污染。     

The chemical exploitation of nickel phytoextraction: An environmental, ecologic and economic opportunity for New Caledonia

Herein, we explore the outlines of an innovative method based on the chemical recovery of metal-rich biomass produced in phytoextraction technologies. Taking advantage of the adaptive capacity of some New Caledonian plants to hyperaccumulate Ni²⁺ cations in their aerial parts, this technique is based on the direct use of metals derived from plants as “Lewis acid” catalysts in organic chemistry. Metallic cations contained in New Caledonian nickel hyperaccumulators are recovered through a simple cost-effective process and serve the preparation of heterogeneous catalysts used in synthetic transformations allowing access to molecules with high added-value. The design of all processes is in line with the principles of green chemistry; it is adapted to the new economic constraints; it offers a new relevant outlet for metal-rich biomass; and it represents an alternative to non-renewable mineral materials.     

Ionic liquids as lubricants or lubrication additives: An ecotoxicity and biodegradability assessment

This paper reports on the (eco)toxicity and biodegradability of ionic liquids considered for application as lubricants or lubrication additives. Ammonium- and pyrrolidinium-based cations combined with methylsulphate, methylsulphonate and/or (CF₃SO₂)₂N⁻ anions were investigated in tests to determine their aquatic toxicity using water fleas Daphnia magna, green algae Selenastrum capricornutum and marine bacteria (Vibrio fischeri). Additional test systems with an isolated enzyme (acetylcholinesterase) and isolated leukaemia cells from rats (IPC-81) were used to assess the biological activity of the ionic liquids. These compounds generally exhibit low acute toxicity and biological activity. Their biodegradability was screened according to OECD test procedures 301 B and 301 F. For choline and methoxy-choline ionic liquids ready biodegradability was observed within 5 or 10 d, respectively. Some of the compounds selected have a considerable potential to contribute to the development of more sustainable products and processes.     

土壤重金属的植物污染化学研究进展

针对中国土壤重金属污染加剧的趋势,为改善土壤环境质量和保障农产品安全,提出了土壤重金属的植物污染化学研究领域.结合多年的研究工作,从土壤重金属的植物根际化学行为、土壤重金属的植物吸收与解毒机制和重金属污染土壤的植物-微生物交互作用等方面简要阐述了土壤-植物系统中重金属的分布、存在形态、迁移转化、累积及生物学效应和控制规律的研究进展,并对将来的植物污染化学理论研究提出了展望.