Mathematical modeling and computer simulation of radioactive and toxic chemical species dispersion in porous media in the vacinity of uranium recovery operations

The management of uranium recovery operations, such as mill production, tailings, heep leaching or solution mining (in-situ mining), has been one of the most challenging issues facing environmental engineers and scientists in the last decade. Almost any activity (mill production, evaporative and holding ponds, storage sites of chemicals, tailings ponds and transportation) results in radioactive and toxic chemicals contamination of surface and groundwaters. Current estimates based on observations of plant operations indicate that 70–80% of the water used in mill production is lost by seepage and 10–20% by evaporation. This large quantity of seepage raises serious questions as to the degree of migration of radioactive and potentially toxic chemical species from the tailings pond and their impact on the surrounding surface and subsurface environments.This paper discusses the major radioactive and toxic chemicals involved in the uranium recovery operations and presents computer simulation results of their hydrodynamic dispersion, migration and prediction of future material movements.     

Real-time monitoring of nanoparticle retention in porous media

Nanoparticles are not specifically targeted in conventional treatment schemes; consequently, typical wastewater treatment systems are ineffective for nanoparticles removal. With rapidly increasing concern over their health effects, improved understanding of nanoparticle transport and retention in porous media filters is critical because of its application in new wastewater treatment methods and for assessment of the fate of the discharged nanoparticles in soil. In this study, a unique and robust integrated method is developed and validated. Experimentally, this approach uses an on-line, real-time, and in situ method for measuring nanoparticle retention dynamics, eliminating the laborious and less accurate sampling and off-line analysis. The data analysis part is a process simulator which provides both kinetic properties of the retention process as well as the overall capacity and loading. This technique is validated by application to the transport and retention of TiO₂ nanoparticles in two vastly different porous filtration media—activated carbon and sand. TiO₂ retained concentrations ranged from 0.24 to 0.37 mg g^?1 for activated carbon and 0.01–0.014 mg g^?1 for sand. The integrated method presented here is useful for both comparison of the filtration effectiveness of various porous materials as well as for process optimization and scale-up for industrial applications.     

贵州喀斯特地区不同土地利用方式土壤CO_2体积分数变化及影响因素

为了解不同土地利用方式对土壤剖面CO2体积分数的影响,采用气相色谱法对贵州喀斯特地区土壤不同深度空气CO2体积分数进行观测。结果表明：不同土地利用对土壤平均CO2体积分数影响较大,其次序为：次生林（0.35%±0.06%）〉草地（0.34%±0.05%）〉人工林（0.27%±0.03%）〉农田（0.16%±0.03%）。次生林、草地与农田之间土壤CO2体积分数差异性显著,而人工林与农田之间无显著性差异。不同土地利用方式土壤剖面CO2体积分数的时空变化特征比较一致：从春季到夏季逐渐增加而从秋季到冬季又逐渐降低,与该区域的温度和降雨量变化趋势一致。同时随着土壤剖面深度增加CO2体积分数逐渐增大,但在土层12 cm处有突然降低现象（农田除外）。不同土地利用方式土壤空气CO2体积分数变化与大气、土壤温度密切相关（r=0.602~0.886,P〈0.05）,土壤温度升高会导致土壤CO2体积分数上升。土壤湿度虽然也在一定程度上影响了剖面CO2体积分数,但相关性分析表明二者之间并不显著（r=0.105~0.393,P〉0.05）,说明在贵州喀斯特地区,土壤温度对土壤空气CO2体积分数的影响大于土壤湿度。     

垃圾渗滤液有机组分和氨氮在孔隙介质中的迁移特征

通过室内土柱淋滤模拟实验研究了垃圾渗滤液中有机组分(用CODCr表示)和氨氮在不同含水介质中的迁移规律和特征,并通过实验数据计算了延迟因子、COD衰减率和氨氮的单位质量介质吸附量等参数.结果显示,COD在中砂、细砂和粉土中迁移的延迟因子分别为1.13、1.23和1.24,表明有机物在三种实验介质中只发生轻微的延迟作朋;CODCr在三种介质中的自然衰减率分别为50.8%、55.2%和64.8%;氨氮的迁移由于吸附作用发生明显的延迟,其在上述三种介质中迁移的延迟因子和单位质量介质吸附最分别为3.30和194 mg·kg-1、3.91和223 mg·kg-1,以及5.12和280 mg·kg1;饱和条件下渗滤液中的氨氮较难发生硝化作用.上述结果可为评价垃圾渗滤液对地下水环境的影响提供技术参数.     

海洋沉积物中的镉及不同形态镉的生物有效性

镉是一种生物非必需的毒副作用很强的重金属元素.进入海洋环境中的镉,最终有相当部分进入沉积物中,并对底栖生物造成危害.通过测定不同镉质量浓度暴露条件下海水、沉积物和生物体内的镉的形态和含量,研究了海洋沉积物中不同形态镉的生物有效性.结果表明,菲律宾蛤仔对Cd的蓄积随着时间增加,呈现先快速增加的趋势,在24 h内其蓄积速率最大,96 h后生物体内镉的质量分数出现缓慢下降趋势.在蓄积时间一定的条件下,在任何Cd含量沉积物下,菲律宾蛤仔都可以蓄积Cd,而且随着沉积物中镉质量分数升高,生物体内蓄积的镉的质量分数也呈现上升趋势.活性镉(可交换态)是沉积物中镉存在的主要形式(45.48x.96%),硅酸盐结合态和黄铁矿结合态的金属只占较小的比例,活性镉是影响沉积物中重金属镉生物可利用性的最有效形态.     

黄土高原道路边坡绿化土壤基质筛选

目前边坡绿化中,喷播绿化基质通常使用木纤维和稻纤维,在北方地区由于其成本过高等原因,限制了该地区边坡绿化的进程.以本地所产的小麦及玉米秸秆加工成的基质纤维对原本木纤维及稻纤维进行对比试验,利用面积为60 cm×60 cm的土胚培养供试草种,用不同纤维种类和含有不同纤维质量分数的土壤基质对禾本科、豆科的种子发芽率和苗生长状况进行差异性分析,结果表明,纤维种类对于供试种子的发芽率和苗生长均无显著影响,只是表现在木纤维的起初发芽率较高上,而不同纤维质量分数的土壤基质的变化对发芽率和苗生长也均无显著影响,但根据该试验和前人的研究结果,最终得出本地所产的植物纤维可以替代稻纤维及木纤维,且纤维质量分数建议选用3%.     

多孔介质中三氯乙烯的非线性吸附-对流-弥散模型

研究三氯乙烯(TCE)在含水层中的迁移转化规律,对评价其在环境中的影响、预测其在环境中的行为规律及确定相应的修复技术有着重要的意义.TCE在细砂中的等温吸附规律研究采用批试验和模拟柱试验方法.批试验结果采用四种不同的非线性等温吸附模型进行拟合.结果显示,Linear-Langmuir-Freundlich (LLF) 模型的拟合效果最佳,且该模型能较好地描述表面吸附和分配作用.利用经典对流扩散模型,将以KCl为示踪剂的柱试验结果采用非线性最小二乘法反演模拟柱中的纵向弥散度;利用非线性吸附对流扩散模型,将TCE的模拟柱试验结果采用遗传算法反演吸附参数;结果显示Langmuir等温吸附模型描述柱试验中的吸附模式最好.即批试验与柱实验中的吸附模式是不同的.该结论表明必须重新审视非平衡吸附理论在运移模型中的适用性,以及该理论适用的前提条件.在试验结果和模型反演获得的参数基础上确定的TCE在多孔介质中运移的一维非线性吸附-对流-扩散模型,能够很好地揭示TCE在多孔介质中的运移规律,且模型中的阻滞系数是质量浓度的非线性函数.     

沙土不同有机组分对磷的解吸特征影响

采用平衡解吸法研究了沙土不同有机组分对磷的解吸附特征影响。结果表明,通过过氧化氢去除有机质后的沙土使磷的解吸比例（Dr=0.94）大幅度增加,解吸迟滞性指数（TⅡ=0.05）显著降低;有机质是影响磷在沙土上解吸特征的重要因素;磷在橡胶态胶体（轻组有机组分）上的表面分配作用吸附是导致解吸比例（Dr=0.81）增大,解吸迟滞性指数（TⅡ=0.05）减小的原因;稳结态腐殖质中的胡敏酸在对磷的吸着和滞留过程中发挥重要作用,HⅡ＋HⅢ组（Dr=0.57、TⅡ=0.30）;磷在紧结态腐殖质所形成的团聚体结构中引起的团聚体结构不可逆形变是导致磷的解吸比例（HⅢ组Dr=0.24）降低,解吸迟滞性指数（HⅢ组TⅡ=0.49）增大的根本原因,考查土壤磷的解吸特征不但要考虑有机质的含量,更要考虑有机质的存在形态,它也是影响土壤磷解吸特征的重要因素,轻组有机组分、重组有机组分、以及重组有机组分中的稳结态腐殖质、紧结态腐殖质所携载的吸附态磷进入水体后对上覆水体的释放通量可分别按其饱和吸附量的81%、66%、57%和24%进行估算。     

Trace metal distribution in different chemical fractions of marine sediments along the eastern Aegean shelf

The major objective of this study was to carry out sequential chemical extraction for the partitioning of particulate trace metals in sediment samples, collected along the eastern Aegean shelf during cruises July‐August 1994, in the framework of a National Marine Measurement and Monitoring Programme for the Aegean Sea.

Five metals, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Cr were examined in each of sediment samples. Three chemical fractions of the sediments were separated and concentrations of the trace metals were determined by AAS techniques. The three different leaches used were hydroxylamine hydrochloride‐acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide and nitric‐perchloric acids.

Metals were concentrated mainly in the fraction extracted by nitric‐perchloric acids. Lead in the first fraction were found in the sediments of Northern part of Aegean, where the concentration of organic material was high.

The total concentrations of Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr were higher in Izmir Bay than the other sampling points. The distribution of Pb concentrations was the highest in Edremit Bay and Izmir Bay.     

不同施氮量对饲料稻糙米蛋白质含量的影响及其机理

采用田间小区试验探讨了"氮中量施肥法"(N,P2O5,K2O施用量为190,90,100 kg·hm-2)、"氮高量施肥法"(N,P2O5,K2O施用量为210,90,100 kg-hm-2)、"氮低量施肥法"(N,P2O5,K2O施用量为170,90,100kg·hm-2)对饲料稻威优198糙米蛋白质质量分数的影响及其机理.结果表明,与氮高量施肥法和氮低量施肥法相比,氮中量施肥法能明显促进孕穗期、乳熟期水稻旗叶中硝酸还原酶,乳熟期旗叶中蛋白水解酶活性,齐穗期旗叶谷氨酰胺合成酶以及齐穗期和乳熟期籽粒中谷氮酰胺合成酶活性,明显促进水稻对氮素营养的吸收与转运,显著提高糙米中蛋白质质量分数和蛋白质质量分数.氮中量施肥法处理糙米蛋白质质量分数分别比氮高量施肥法处理和氮低量施肥法处理提高了 1.39%和17.93%,籽粒产量分别提高了 12.02%和8.47%,糙米蛋白质产量分别提高了12.54%和18.32%.研究表明,氮中量施肥法能满足饲料稻高蛋白高产栽培的需要.     

Effects of humic acid fractions with different polarities on photodegradation of 2,4-D in aqueous environments

Four fractions (A, B, C, and D) of humic acids (HAs) were separated based on the polarity from weak to strong. UV-vis absorption and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis show that the fractions C and Dpossessedmore aromatic C=C content. The influences of HAs and their fractions on the photolysis were investigated by the photodegradation of 2,4-D solutions under simulated solar light irradiation. The degradation rate of 2,4-D was found to decrease in the presence of bulk HAs or their fractions especially at high HAs concentration. The fractions of strong polarity C and D retarded the degradation rate more than the fractions of weak polarity A and B. This could be attributed to the different absorption intensity of the four HAs fractions in the order of D ? C > A > B, and the stronger π-π electron donor-acceptor interactions between the strong polar fractions and 2,4-D.     

Distribution pattern of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in particle-size fractions of coking plant soils from different depth

The concentrations of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in four size fractions (<2, 2–20, 20–200, >200 μm) in soils at different depth from a heavily contaminated crude benzol production facility of a coking plant were determined using GC–MS. Vertically, elevated total PAHs concentrations were observed in the soils at 3.0–4.5 m (layer B) and 6.0–7.5 m (layer C), relatively lower at 1.5–3.0 m (layer A) and 10.5–12.0 m (layer D). At all sampling sites, the silt (2–20 μm) contained the highest PAHs concentration (ranged from 726 to 2,711 mg/kg). Despite the substantial change in PAHs concentrations in soils with different particle sizes and lithologies, PAHs composition was similarly dominated by 2–3 ring species (86.5–98.3 %), including acenaphthene, fluorene, and phenanthrene. For the contribution of PAHs mass in each fraction to the bulk soil, the 20–200 μm size fraction had the greatest accumulation of PAHs in loamy sand layers at 1.0–7.5 m, increasing with depth; while in deeper sand layer at 10.5–12.0 m, the >200 μm size fraction showed highest percentages and contributed 81 % of total PAHs mass. For individual PAH distribution, the 2–3 ring PAHs were highly concentrated in the small size fraction (<2 and 2–20 μm); the 4–6 ring PAHs showed the highest concentrations in the 2–20 μm size fraction, increasing with depth. The distribution of PAHs was primarily determined by the sorption on soil organic matter and the characteristics of PAHs. This research should have significant contribution to PAH migration study and remediation design for PAHs-contaminated sites.     

Determination of average individual dry weights and ash-free dry weights in different sieve fractions of marine meiofauna

Individual dry weights and ash-free dry weights for different meiofauna taxa from two soft bottom localities (31 and 117 m depth) in Gullmar Fjord on the Swedish west coast were determined. Samples from August 1980 and February 1981 of about 100 to 600 formalin-preserved specimens of each of the different taxa from each of four sieve fractions were weighed on a microbalance. Individual dry weights ranging from 0.12 g (nematodes in the 0.040-mm fraction) to 172 g (polythalamous, arenaceous Foraminifera in the 0.500-mm fraction) and ash-free dry weights ranging from 0.10 g (nematodes in the 0.040-mm fraction) to 37 g (polychaetes in the 0.500-mm fraction) were obtained. Great similarities were noted between corresponding values from the two stations as well as between summer and winter values. The percentage of organic matter, determined by ashing, in the body weight differed greatly among taxa. Some standard individual dry weight and ash-free dry weight values, to be used for re-calculation of abundance values into biomass, are presented.     

Front velocity and structure of bottom gravity currents with a low volume of release propagating in a porous medium

The paper reports results of large eddy simulations of lock exchange compositional gravity currents with a low volume of release advancing in a horizontal, long channel. The channel contains an array of spanwise-oriented square cylinders. The cylinders are uniformly distributed within the whole channel. The flow past the individual cylinders is resolved by the numerical simulation. The paper discusses how the structure and evolution of the current change with the main geometrical parameters of the flow (e.g., solid volume fraction, ratio between the initial height of the region containing lock fluid and the channel depth, ratio between the initial length and height of the region containing lock fluid) and the Reynolds number. Though in all cases with a sufficiently large solid volume fraction the current transitions to a drag-dominated regime, the value of the power law coefficient, α, describing the front position’s variation with time (x _f  ~ t ^α , where t is the time measured from the removal of the lock gate) is different between full depth cases and partial depth cases. The paper also discusses how large eddy simulation (LES) results compare with findings based on shallow-water equations. In particular, LES results show that the values of α are not always equal to values predicted by shallow water theory for the limiting cases where the current height is comparable, or much smaller, than the channel depth.     

Seasonal studies on the relative importance of different size fractions of phytoplankton in Narragansett Bay (USA)

The composition and productivity of four different size-fractions (<20, 20 to 60, 60 to 100, >100 μm) of the phytoplankton of lower Narragansett Bay (USA) were followed over an annual cycle from November, 1972 to October, 1973. Diatoms dominated the population in the winter-spring bloom and in the fall, the summer population was dominated by flagellates. The nannoplankton (<20 μm) were the most important, accounting for 46.6% of the annual biomass as chlorophyll a and 50.8% of the total production. The relative importance of the different fractions showed a marked seasonality. During the winter-spring and fall blooms the netplankton fractions (>20 μm) were the most important. Nannoplankters domnated in the summer. The yearly mean assimilation numbers for the different fractions were not signfficantly different. During the winter-spring bloom, however, the assimilation numbers for the netplankters were significantly higher than those for the nannoplankton fraction. Temperature accounted for most of the variability in assimilation numbers; a marked nutrient stress was observed on only two occasions. Growth rates calculated from ¹⁴C uptake and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-cell carbon were generally quite high; maxima were >1.90 doublings per day during blooms of a flagellate in the summer and of Skeletonema costatum in the fall. The series of short cycles observed in which the dominant species changed were related to changes in the physiological state of the population. Higher growth rates were generally observed at times of peak phytoplankton abundance while lower growth rates were observed between these peaks. The high growth rates and assimilation numbers usually found suggest that the phytoplankton in lower Narragansett Bay was not generally nutrient-limited between November, 1972 and October, 1973. Nutrient regeneration in this shallow estuary, therefore, must be very rapid when in situ nutrient levels are low.     

施肥对不同肥力水平春玉米农田土壤有机碳及其组分的影响

选取辽河灌区不同肥力水平春玉米(Zea mays ssp. mays L.)农田土壤为研究对象,通过连续3年田间定位试验研究施肥对不同层次土壤有机碳组分(TOC、ASOC、LFOC、DOC和MBC)的影响,分析土壤有机碳组分的产量效应.结果表明,连续种植春玉米能够显著增加低产田土壤w(TOC),增加各产田土壤w(ASOC)和w(MBC),降低各产田土壤w(LFOC),土壤w(DOC)变化较小.施肥使土壤w(TOC)增加了-13.41%~7.54%,平均增加了0.16%;使高产田表层(0~10 cm)土壤w(TOC)显著增加,低产田犁底层(20~40 cm)土壤w(TOC)显著降低.施肥使土壤w(ASOC)增加了-13.98%~72.22%,平均增加了15.82%;使低产田犁底层和高产田耕层(10~20 cm)土壤w(ASOC)显著增加,中产田耕层土壤w(ASOC)显著降低.施肥使土壤w(LFOC)增加了-42.60%~168.57%,平均增加了48.83%;使中产田表层和犁底层、高产田表层和耕层土壤w(LFOC)显著增加,高产田犁底层土壤 w(LFOC)显著降低.施肥使土壤 w(DOC)增加了-42.74%~51.29%,平均增加了9.36%;使中产田耕层和犁底层、高产田表层和耕层土壤 w(DOC)显著增加,低产田耕层土壤 w(DOC)显著降低.施肥使土壤 w(MBC)增加了-1.16%~19.97%,平均增加了9.32%,除中产田耕层土壤之外其他土层土壤w(MBC)均有所增加.施肥主要提高土壤ASOC和LFOC含量,促进土壤DOC的变化.施肥显著增加低产田土壤有机碳组分含量,促进中产田土壤有机碳组分变化,增加高产田土壤有机碳耗损.施肥主要增加表层(0~10 cm)土壤有机碳组分含量,耗损犁底层(20~40 cm)土壤有机碳,调解耕层(10~20 cm)土壤活性有机碳组分.施肥对微生物可利用性及结构不同的活性有机碳组分影响不同;高、中、低产田因其土壤理化性状及有机碳本底值不同,对施肥的响应存在差异.施肥总体增加土壤活性有机碳各组分含量,同时通过改变微生物及玉米根系活力影响活性有机碳含量及组分.土壤中有机碳组分与产量的回归方程为(产量)=-4665.61-0.008×w(SOC)-0.421×w (ASOC)-0.777×w (LFOC)+5.370×w (DOC)+33.408×w (MBC).ASOC和MBC具有土壤肥力指示作用,施肥主要通过调控土壤ASOC提高玉米产量.     

The influence of physicochemical parameters on bioaccessibility-adjusted hazard quotients for copper,lead and zinc in different grain size fractions of urban street dusts and soils

When the hazard quotient for ingestion (HQI) of a trace element in soil and dust particles is adjusted for the element’s bioaccessibility, the HQI is typically reduced as compared to its calculation using pseudo-total element concentration. However, those studies have mostly used bulk particles (<2 mm or <250 µm), and the reduction in HQI when expressed as bioaccessible metal may not be similar among particle size fractions, the possibility probed by the present study of street dusts and soils collected in Tehran. The highest Cu, Pb and Zn near-total concentrations occurred in the finest particles of dusts and soils. Bioaccessible concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn in the particles (mg kg^?1) were obtained using simple bioaccessibility extraction test (SBET). The bioaccessibility (%) did not vary much among near-total concentrations. In the bulk (<250 µm) sample, the bioaccessible concentration of Cu and Pb increased as the pH of sample increased, while Zn bioaccessibility (%) in the bulk particles was influenced by organic matter and cation exchange capacity. X-ray diffraction identified sulfide and sulfate minerals in all of the size-fractionated particles, which are insoluble to slightly soluble in acidic conditions and included most of the Cu and Pb in the samples. The only Zn-bearing mineral identified was hemimorphite, which would be highly soluble in the SBET conditions. The calculated HQI suggested potential non-carcinogenic health risk to children and adults from ingestions of soils and dusts regardless of particle size consideration, in the order of Zn > Pb ≥ Cu. The HQI calculated from near-total metal was not much different for particle size classes relative to bulk particles; however, the bioaccessibility percent-adjusted HQI for Pb was higher for the smaller particles than the bulk. This work is novel in its approach to compare HQI for a bulk sample of particles with its composite particle size fractions.     

Water-soluble fractions of composts for the photodegradation of organic pollutants in solar light

Composts fractions were extracted by water from composts at the beginning and at the end of the composting process. These water extracts were characterized by elementary analysis and spectroscopies, and then, tested for their capacity to photosensitize the degradation of three aromatic compounds: Irgarol, fenuron, and 2,4,6-trimethylphenol. In solar light, the water extracts (25 mg/l) were found to completely degrade 2,4,6-trimethylphenol after 24 h, and afford a transformation of fenuron and Irgarol of 25% and 18%, respectively.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Resampling methods for estimating dispersion indices in random and adaptive designs

In many surveys in environmental and natural phenomena the aim is to evaluate the heterogeneity, and the skewness of the distribution of the number point-objects in the study area opportunely partitioned in sub-regions. For this purpose, in this paper the estimation of dispersion indices is considered by using simple random sampling and adaptive sampling with initial simple random sampling selected with replacement or without replacement. The jackknife and the bootstrap procedures are proposed in both cases for reducing bias. Finally, both a simulation study and a case study on biological population referred to a Oidium tuckeri contamination in a growing vineyard is performed to assess the accuracy of the proposed estimators.     

Lagrangian models of dispersion in marine environment

Turbulent dispersion can be studied successfully by using Lagrangian particle models. In general, the prediction of correct concentration fields is a complex issue when the turbulent field is inhomogeneous and non-stationary. Two classes of Lagrangian dispersion models have been considered in this work, which are based on the Wiener process and the so called “well-mixed” criterion. In order to test the performances of these models and shed light on the underlying physical processes and modeling assumptions, four different numerical models have been compared and tested by means of their long time behavior by considering several study cases concerning idealized marine environment. Furthermore, the coupling of the community model Princeton Ocean Model (POM) with the Lagrangian model LASEMOD (LAgrangian SEa MODel) is used to investigate the temporal and spatial evolution of a passive pollutant released in the vicinity of the coast in the Tyrrhenian Sea basin. The simulation shows with reasonable accuracy the time evolution of both the hydrodynamic and the concentration fields and provides a useful insight into the evaluation of the environmental impact of pollutant releases along the coast.