Copper and zinc interaction on water clearance and tissue metal distribution in the freshwater mussel, Cristaria plicata, under laboratory conditions

Copper and zinc interaction on clearance from water and distribution in different tissues was investigated for the freshwater mussel, Cristaria plicata, under laboratory conditions. Clearance rate of Cu or Zn from water was highly dependent on exposure concentration. Interaction effect was most evident at 300 ??g??L^?1 Cu exposure and depressed the Zn clearance rate significantly (p<0.05). However, the presence of 100 ??g??L^?1 and 300 ??g??L^?1 Zn hardly affected the Cu clearance rate. The 300 ??g??L^?1 Cu presence enhanced Cu accumulation in each tissue most significantly (p<0.01), but caused Zn content to decrease in the gills by 62% (p<0.05), viscera by 49% (p<0.05) and foot by 31% (p<0.05), and increase in the mantle by 97% (p<0.05) and the muscles by 243% (p<0.05) for different Zn exposure treatments. The response of metal accumulation in various tissues of the test mussels indicated that Zn transferred from the gills, viscera and foot to the mantle and muscles might be one of the important characteristics of the Zn regulatory mechanism by leading to a narrow range of Zn concentration in the different tissues.     

Biosorption of copper, zinc, cadmium and nickel by Chlorella vulgaris

The sorption capacity of the microalga, Chlorella vulgaris, was investigated using different metals (Cu, Zn, Cd and Ni), in both monometallic and bimetallic solutions. The final metal concentrations were significantly low. In the case of copper, an acid pretreatment (at pH 3) of the biomass was required to avoid an excessive increase in pH and the subsequent precipitation of metal during tests. This pretreatment was not necessary for the rest of the metals. The study of the influence of pH led to a greater metal uptake at a higher pH, suggesting a clear competition between metal cations and protons during the biosorption process. The biomass concentration was also a relevant variable, and the best sorption capacities were achieved at the lowest biomass concentration. pH also had a great influence on the elution of the metal retained by the biomass. The best recovery yields were obtained for the lower pH of the eluent solution. Sorption isotherms were well fitted to the Langmuir model, for both single-metal and two-metal systems. In both cases, the biomass showed a greater affinity for Cd.     

Biosolids application affects the competitive sorption and lability of cadmium,copper, nickel,lead, and zinc in fluvial and calcareous soils

The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of biosolids on the competitive sorption and lability of the sorbed Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in fluvial and calcareous soils. Competitive sorption isotherms were developed, and the lability of these metals was estimated by DTPA extraction following their sorption. Sorption of all metals was higher in the fluvial than in the calcareous soil. Sorption of Cu and Pb was stronger than that of Cd, Ni, and Zn in all soils. Biosolids application (2.5%) reduced the sorption of all metals especially Cu and Pb (28–43%) in both soils (especially the calcareous soil) at the lower added metal concentrations (50 and 100 mg L^?1). However, it increased the sorption of all metals especially Pb and Cu in both soils (especially the calcareous soil; 15.5-fold for Cu) at the higher added concentrations (250 and 300 mg L^?1). Nickel showed the highest lability followed by Cd, Zn, and Pb in both soils. Biosolids increased the lability of the sorbed Ni in the fluvial soils at all added concentrations and the lability of Cd, Pb, and Zn at 50 mg L^?1, but decreased the lability of Cd, Pb, and Zn at 250 and 300 mg L^?1 in both soils. We conclude that at low loading rate (e.g., 50 mg L^?1) biosolids treatment might increase the lability and environmental risk of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn. However, at high loading rate (e.g., 300 mg L^?1) biosolids may be used as an immobilizing agent for Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and mobilizing agent for Ni.     

Characterization of interaction between different adsorbents and copper by simulation experiments using sediment-extracted organic matter from Taihu Lake,China

The complex capacity of different types of organic matters （OMs） for Cu was quantitatively studied by simulation experiments using different adsorbents prepared from the sediment in Taihu Lake. The free Cu was measured with ion selective electrode （ISE） and complex capacity was calculated using a conditional formation constant model. The result indicated that the complex capacity was 0.048 mmol·g-1, 0.009 and 0.005 mmol.g-1for raw sediment, sediment without DOM, sediment without insoluble organic matters but with DOM and sediment without OM. Insoluble organic matter played a major role in the sorption of Cu in sediment and it can adsorb most Cu from water column. In the solution, Cu mainly existed as a complex with DOM and the DOM-Cu complexation capacity was 327.87 mg. g-1. The change of TOC and pH indicated ion-exchange in the interaction between free Cu and DOM. When the Cu concentration in the experiment reached the complex capacity of DOM, precipitation was the major mechanism to remove Cu from water phase, which was observed from UV absorbance change of DOM, that is, its aromaticity increased while molecular weight decreased. The desorption result indi- cated that DOM was more capable of desorbing Cu from adsorbents without OM than adsorbent with OM. The desorbed quantity with DOM was 1.65, 1.78 and 2.25 times higher than that with water for adsorbents without OM, raw adsorbents （sediment） and adsorbents without DOM.     

Efficient removal of heavy metals from electroplating wastewater using polymer ligands

Poly(hydroxamic acid)-poly(amidoxime) chelating ligands were synthesized from poly(methyl acrylate-co-acrylonitrile) grafted acacia cellulose for removing toxic metal ions from industrial wastewaters. These ligands showed higher adsorption capacity to copper (2.80 mmol?g⁻¹) at pH 6. In addition, sorption capacities to other metal ions such as iron, zinc, chromium, and nickel were also found high at pH 6. The metal ions sorption rate (t_1/2) was very fast. The rate of adsorption of copper, iron, zinc, chromium, nickel, cobalt, cadmium and lead were 4, 5, 7, 5, 5, 8, 9 and 11 min, respectively. Therefore, these ligands have an advantage to the metal ions removal using the column technique. We have successfully investigated the known concentration of metal ions using various parameters, which is essential for designing a fixed bed column with ligands. The wastewater from electroplating plants used in this study, having chromium, zinc, nickel, copper and iron, etc. For chromium wastewater, ICP analysis showed that the Cr removal was 99.8% and other metal ions such as Cu, Ni, Fe, Zn, Cd, Pb, Co and Mn removal were 94.7%, 99.2%, 99.9%, 99.9%, 99.5%, 99.9%, 95.6% and 97.6%, respectively. In case of cyanide wastewater, the metal removal, especially Ni and Zn removal were 96.5 and 95.2% at higher initial concentration. For acid/alkali wastewater, metal ions removing for Cd, Cr and Fe were 99.2%, 99.5% and 99.9%, respectively. Overall, these ligands are useful for metal removal by column method from industrial wastewater especially plating wastewater.     

Trace Metal Contents (Al, Cu and Zn) of Tea: Tea and Soil from Two Tea Plantations, and Tea Products from Different Provinces of China

The present project aims to investigate the possible contamination of teas with the trace metals: Al, Cu and Zn. Tea bushes sampled from two tea plantations in the northern part of Guangdong Province accumulated higher concentrations of Cu and Zn in young leaves, and of Al in old leaves. The analysis of the three metals in tea produced in different provinces indicated higher Al levels in those obtained from Guangdong and Yunnan Provinces, which may be due to the lower soil pH in these areas. Green tea had the lowest Al concentration among the four types of tea studied, as only the bud and two young leaves are used, whereas older leaves are used for other types of tea (black, Oolong and Puerh tea). The transfer of Al, Cu and Zn from soil to different parts of tea bushes was low in general, except for Zn at Lechang tea plantation which next to a Pb/Zn mine, where a higher transfer was observed from young leaves to tea products, indicating possible metal contamination during tea processing. However, low concentrations of Cu and Zn (less than 0.07 mg Cu L^-1 and 0.17 mg Zn L^-1), and moderate amounts of Al (2.1-2.5 mg L^-1) were obtained in the tea liquor (1% hot water extracts).     

添加不同化合态结合的铜离子对其在黄土中吸持及形态的影响

分别以CuSO4和Cu(NO3)2为吸持质，研究了添加不同化合态结合的铜离子在黄土中的等温吸持及形态分布规律。结果表明：黄土吸持铜离子以碳酸盐结合态为主。当铜离子初始浓度较低时，添加不同化合态结合的铜离子对其在黄土中的吸持及碳酸盐结合态没有明显影响；当铜离子初始浓度超过一定值时，添加不同化合态结合的铜离子对其在黄土中的吸持及碳酸盐结合态的影响随铜离子初始浓度的增加而明显增大。添加不同化合态结合的铜离子，其持有量和碳酸盐结合态含量均随土壤浓度的增大而减小。当铜离子初始浓度较低时，添加不同化合态结合的铜离子对其在黄土中的吸持量及碳酸盐结合态含量随土壤浓度的变化影响不大；当铜离子初始浓度超过一定值时，相同初始浓度条件下CuSO4较Cu(NO3)2会造成更大幅度的变化。     

雄烯二酮在我国典型土壤中的吸附特性

采用批吸附室内模拟实验研究了雄烯二酮在我国红壤、潮土、黑土3种典型土壤中的吸附特征,以及牛粪溶解态有机质(DOM)对土壤吸附雄烯二酮的影响。结果表明,雄烯二酮在土壤中吸附动力学符合Elovch方程(R20.89),热力学特征可通过Freundlich等温吸附方程(R20.83)描述,土壤对雄烯二酮的吸附呈非线性吸附特征,其中潮土吸附等温线的非线性最强(n=0.37);吸附系数K f介于6.0~20.2,并与有机质含量呈显著正相关(p0.05)。雄烯二酮浓度较低时,共存牛粪DOM抑制其在土壤表面的吸附作用。研究认为,有机质是土壤吸附雄烯二酮的主要组分,共存牛粪DOM可促进雄烯二酮向地表水和地下水的迁移。     

Seasonal Variations of Trace Metal Chemical Forms in Bed Sediments of a Karstic River in Lebanon: Implications for Self-purification

Although Lebanon has abundant water, its rivers are polluted and aquifer water mismanaged. Effective river water usage requires an understanding of the geochemistry of polluting metals in catchments. Climate is “Mediterranean”: wet winters and dry summers. Active sediment flushing is restricted to winter high discharge episodes. Except in winter, water column pollutants are removed by precipitation or sorption to the surface of static bed sediments. Hence (1) does winter flushing of contaminated sediment and replacement by clean sediment favour self purification? (2) does the distribution of metals between extractable fractions change seasonally and thereby affect metal bioavailability ? Results on the distribution of metals are reported for Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd in bed sediments from Nahr Ibrahim (a karstic river) for summer and winter. A Tessier-like sequential extraction scheme was applied to samples (< 75 μm) for five locations along a 13 km stretch to the sea. Water pH was above 8.2 at all locations implying a very low solubility for Fe. Sediment was derived from catchment soils and limestone. Total sediment Fe increased in winter at all sites following deposition of eroded soil from upstream. Cadmium, Cu and Pb derived from polluting sources; the sources of Zn were more complex. Dilution by clean sediment explained winter reductions in total Cd, Cu and Pb; Zn changes were less consistent. Iron occurred mostly (> 77 sum of fractions) in the residual fraction compared with 6– 31 for pollutants; residual Cu and Zn showed a small increase in winter whereas Cd and Pb did not change. All readily exchangeable metals decreased in winter and the carbonate bound forms predominated in both seasons. Nahr Ibrahim has a high capacity for self purification and metal resolubilisation from sediment will be limited by the solubility of carbonate forms.     

Remobilization of selected metal ions from Nile sediment (Egypt) according to sequential extraction and metal–EDTA complex

River sediments are basic components of our environment, providing nutrients for living organisms and serving as sinks for deleterious chemical species. The metal contents may be remobilized and released back into waters with changes in environmental conditions, thus affecting living organisms and human activities. This paper aims to determine the effect of a synthetic anthropogenic chelating agent (EDTA) as industrial discharges on the remobilization of several metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in River Nile sediments (at Aswan and Mansoura cities) under different concentrations and pH values, and to investigate the influence of metal–EDTA complexes on this remobilization. For these purposes, sequential extraction and experiments on the effect of pH and metal EDTA complex were carried out on the two representative sediment samples south and north of the River Nile in Egypt. The results of sequential extraction show that most of metal contents present in the residual form (Cu, 11.36–72.34%; Pb, 29.64–66.67%; and Zn, 43.76–50.09% at Aswan and Mansoura, respectively). Non-residual fractions which may be available for the remobilization by EDTA represented anthropogenic (industrial, agriculture, and domestic discharges) and lithiopogenic (metals bound to Fe and Mn oxides) sources. A clear increase was detected for Cu and Zn remobilization from the increase in EDTA concentrations, in contrast, Cd independent of the EDTA concentration and slight influence on Pb content. The remobilization of metals as a function of pH exhibited. The metals were greatly remobilized under the complexing action of EDTA, showing that some of these elements were adsorbed on the sediments. The remobilization rate of metals was dependent upon the added metal–EDTA complex (with the exchange rate being in the order Ca–EDTA>Zn–EDTA>Cd–EDTA>Cu–EDTA>Pb–EDTA), due to the stability constant of the metal–EDTA complex. The results of these experiments showed that heavy metals are greatly remobilized under the complexing action of EDTA when it is present in excess, so all precautions should be taken to prevent any wastewater containing EDTA or any chelating agents discharging directly or indirectly via the River Nile stream because most EDTA remains in the aquatic phase. The ability of this portion to remobilize metals from sediments should be taken into account.     

Watershed land use as a determinant of metal concentrations in freshwater systems

Concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cu, dissolved organic matter (DOM), and pH were synthesized from 30 publications to determine the factors regulating concentrations and behavior of metals in freshwater systems. Results from the review suggest that contrasting watershed land use can directly (erosion and runoff) and indirectly (in-lake processes including metal–DOM–pH interactions) affect the metal concentrations in freshwater systems. Among the watershed land uses considered here, concentrations of Fe, Mn, and Cu were observed in the following order: arctic lakes < forested < agricultural < urbanized < mined. A drastic difference in mean metal concentrations has been observed when undisturbed or low impact watersheds (arctic and forested) were changed by agricultural, urban, and mining developments. Relationships between metal concentrations and pH revealed that metals precipitate at high pH (pH > 5). Additionally, at pH < 5, metal concentrations were significantly correlated with DOM due to metal–DOM complexation. High ratios of metal: DOM occur only at low DOM concentrations. Collectively, two general conclusions can be drawn from this review. First, lakes, rivers, and streams with urbanized watersheds are the most susceptible to increased concentrations of metals. Secondly, these results also suggest that regardless of high or low DOM in the water column, pH would affect metal concentrations in freshwater systems. Nonetheless, free metal ions would be higher in freshwater systems with acidic water and low DOM.     

Influence of fertilizer and sewage sludge compost on yield and heavy metal accumulation by lettuce grown in urban soils

Previous research has demonstrated that many urban soils are enriched in Pb, Cd and Zn. Culture of vegetable crops in these soils could allow transfer of potentially toxic metals to foods. Tanya lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was grown in pots of five urban garden soils and one control agricultural soil to assess the effect of urban-soil metal enrichment, and the effect of soil amendments, on heavy metal uptake by garden vegetables. The amendments included NPK fertilizer, limestone, Ca(H₂PO₄)₂, and two rates of limed sewage sludge compost. Soil Cd ranged from 0.08 to 9.6 mg kg^–1; soil Zn from 38 to 3490 mg kg^–1; and soil Pb from 12 to 5210 mg kg^–1. Lettuce yield on the urban garden soils was as great as or greater than that on the control soil. Lettuce Cd, Zn and Pb concentrations increased from 0.65, 23, and 2.2 mg kg^–1 dry matter in the control soil to as high as 3.53, 422 and 37.0 mg kg^–1 on the metal-rich urban garden soils. Adding limestone or limed sewage sludge compost raised soil pH and significantly reduced lettuce Cd and Zn, while phosphate fertilizer lowered soil pH and had little effect on Zn but increased Cd concentration in lettuce. Urban garden soils caused a significant increase in lettuce leaf Pb concentration, especially on the highest Pb soil. Adding NPK fertilizer, phosphate, or sludge compost to two high Pb soils lowered lettuce Pb concentration, but adding limestone generally did not. On normally fertilized soils, Pb uptake by lettuce was not exceptionally high until soil Pb substantially exceeded 500 mg kg^–1. Comparing garden vegetables and soil as potential sources of Pb risk to children, it is clear that the risk is greater through ingestion of soil or dust than through ingestion of garden vegetables grown on the soil. Urban dwellers should obtain soil metal analyses before selecting garden locations to reduce Pb risk to their children.     

Concentrations of Heavy Metals in Muscle with Relation to the Growth of Two Marine Fish Species

Heavy metal concentrations in muscle and their relation to thegrowth of two marine fish species,including tonguefish( Cynoglossus arel) and mullet( Mugil cephalus),were studied. The samples were collected in Bach Dang estuary andconcentrations of heavy metals( As,Cd,Co,Mn,Cu,Zn,Pb,and V) in muscle of the fisheswere determined. The result showed that the accumulated trend of heavy metal is different between fish species. The concentration of As,Zn,Mn,V,Cu,Pb,Co and Cd in tonguefish were 73. 7 ± 30. 6,22. 82 ± 4.87,3. 44 ± 2. 13,1. 61 ± 0. 15,0. 71 ± 0. 13,0. 45 ± 0. 24,0. 03 ± 0. 02 and 0. 02 ± 0. 02 mg·g-1,respectively. Meanwhile the concentration of Zn,As,V,Mn,Cu,Pb,Co and Cd in mullet were 83. 41 ±19. 68,9. 78 ± 1. 92,1. 36 ± 0. 54,1. 29 ± 0. 51,0. 65 ± 0. 12,0. 42 ± 0. 20,0. 06 ± 0. 03 and0. 03 ± 0. 01mg·g-1,respectively. Comparison of metal levels among thesespecies indicated that the concentrations of As and Mn in tonguefish were significantly higher than those in mullet,whereas Zn levels in mullet were found to be higher than that in tonguefish. There is no significant differences of Cd,Co,Cu,Pb and V levels in muscle between two species. Significant inversed relationshipsbetween concentration levels of metals and lengths of tonguefish were found for Mn,Cu and Zn,butnot for As,Cd,Pb,and V. There were no significant relationships between the heavy metal concentrations and the length of mullet. In general,decreasesof the heavy metal concentrations corresponded to the increases of fish body lengths,particularly for As,Co,Cu,Mn and V and the exception for Cd. Terefore reduced risks were associated with consuming biggermullet fish,and increased risks of As and Cd were associated with consuming bigger tonguefish in Bach Dang river mouth.     

Solid phase extraction of trace metals from environmental samples using Amberlite XAD-7 loaded with 2-hydroxy-propiophenone-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone and determination by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry

A method for the solid phase extraction of trace metals, namely Co, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn, from environmental and biological samples using column Amberlite XAD-7 loaded with 2-hydroxy-propiophenone-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (HPPPTSC) and determination by inductively coupled spectrometry (ICP–AES) has been developed. The reagent has the capacity to form chelate complexes with the metals because of three binding sites in the reagent molecule. The optimum experimental conditions for the quantitative sorption of five metals, pH, effect of flow rate, concentration of eluent, sorption capacity and the effect of diverse ions on the preconcentration of analytes have been investigated. The sorption capacity of the resin has 83, 127, 35, 88 and 85?µmol?g^?1 for Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺, respectively. The preconcentration factors for Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were 100, 110, 120, 140 and 150, respectively. The accuracy of the proposed procedure was evaluated by standard reference materials. The achieved results were in good agreement with certified values. The proposed method was applied for the determination of trace metals in river water and plant leaves.     

Trends in sediment metal concentrations in the River Avoca, South-East Ireland

Variation in sediment metal concentrations in the River Avoca, which is severely polluted by acid mine drainage (AMD) discharged from the abandoned sulphur and copper mines in Avoca, is reported. A survey of surface and subsurface sediments was repeated after seven years during exceptionally low flow conditions in 2001. The present study found that the reference (up-stream) site used in the original 1994 study was itself impacted by AMD, showing sediment metal enrichment by AMD to be greater than originally thought. The new reference site contained elevated Pb (570 microg g(-1)) in the subsurface sediment due to abandoned Pb-Zn mines 25 km further upstream. Concentrations of Cu (43 microg g(-1)), Zn (349 microg g(-1)) and Fe (4.0%) were normal for uncontaminated rivers. All the downstream sites showed sediment metal enrichment arising from the AMD (Cu and Zn p < 0.001; Fe p < 0.01). Subsurface concentrations of metals immediately below the mixing zone were Cu 904 microg g-1 (sd 335), Zn 723 microg g-1 (sd 93), Fe 6.3% (sd 1.5) and Pb 463 microg g(-1) (sd 279). Monthly variation in metal concentrations at sites was not significantly different (p > 0.05). Although surface sediment metal concentrations were more variable, they followed similar trends to subsurface sediment. There were no significant differences in the subsurface sediment concentrations for either Cu or Zn over the period 1994 and 2001 immediately below the mines, although at the lowest site Zn had decreased by 35% over the period (p < 0.01). However there was a significant (p < 0.01) decrease over the period in the Fe concentration at all the impacted sites. This corresponds to a reduction in Fe concentration in the AMD and indicates that some remediation has occurred in the river since 1994.     

Modelling the kinetics and equilibrium properties of cadmium biosorption by river green alga and water hyacinth weed

Cadmium biosorption properties of non-living, dried river green alga from a river source, and water hyacinth weed, Eichhornia crassipes from a lake in Zimbabwe have been investigated. The cadmium uptake was found to depend on initial pH, uptake being apparently minimal at low pH values and increasing with an increase in pH. Cadmium biosorption kinetics by both samples is fast, with 80% of total uptake occurring within 60?min. The effect of initial solution pH and initial cadmium concentration on cadmium biosorption from a cadmium solution has been studied. The data for algal biomass fitted the Langmuir monolayer adsorption isotherm, while the biosorption of the metal by water hyacinth weed fitted the Freundlich adsorption isotherm with 1/n values all less than 1. Maximum metal uptake capacities were recorded using 0.35?g of biomass and a 250?mg?L^?1 cadmium solution at pH 6.5 and at 25°C and these were about 85 and 50?mg?L^?1 for water hyacinth weed and green alga, respectively, showing that water hyacinth weed offered a greater potential for cadmium uptake. The absorption was described by pseudo-second order rate model and the rate constant and equilibrium sorption capacity are reported.     

Effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens on metal phytoextraction from contaminated soil by Brassica juncea

The present study deals with metal uptake by Brassica juncea in the presence of Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf 27 for Zn, Cu and Cd removal from brass and electroplating-industry effluent-contaminated soil. Inoculation of P. fluorescens significantly (p<0.05) increased water soluble (Ws) and exchangeable (Ex) metal content in contaminated soil in laboratory conditions and also enhanced plant biomass by 99% and chlorophyll content by 91% as compared to uninoculated plants in the greenhouse. The metal uptake by B. juncea followed the pattern Zn>Cu>Cd and increased with increasing plant growth duration. P. fluorescens inoculation increased root and shoot uptake of Zn by 3.05 and 2.69, Cu by 3.19 and 2.82 and Cd by 3.11- and 2.75-fold, respectively. BCF value for each metal was>1 and increased by 44%, 42% and 38% for Zn, Cu and Cd, respectively, in inoculated conditions, whereas TF remained unaffected and followed the order Zn>Cd>Cu. P. fluorescens inoculation also enhanced Ws fraction of Zn, Cu and Cd by 99%, 77% and 90% and Ex by 107%, 70% and 93%, respectively. Results depicted that association of B. juncea with P. fluorescens could be a promising strategy for enhancing soil metal bioavailability and plant growth for successful phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils.     

Metal immobilization by sludge-derived biochar: roles of mineral oxides and carbonized organic compartment

Pyrolyzing sludge into biochar is a potentially promising recycling/disposal solution for municipal wastewater sludge, and the sludge-derived biochar (SDBC) presents an excellent sorbent for metal immobilization. As SDBC is composed of both mineral oxides and carbonized organic compartment, this study therefore compared the sorption behaviour of Pb and Zn on SDBC to those of individual and mixture of activated carbon (AC) and amorphous aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃). Batch experiments were conducted at 25 and 45 °C, and the metal-loaded sorbents were artificially aged in the atmosphere for 1–60 days followed by additional sorption experiments. The Pb sorption was generally higher than Zn sorption, and the co-presence of Pb reduced Zn sorption on each studied sorbent. Higher sorption capacities were observed at 45 °C than 25 °C for SDBC and AC, while the opposite was shown for Al₂O₃, indicating the significance of temperature-dependent diffusion processes in SDBC and AC. Nevertheless, metal sorption was more selective on Al₂O₃ that showed a greater affinity towards Pb over Zn under competition, correlating with the reducible fraction of sequential extraction. Furthermore, significant amounts of Pb and Zn were additionally sorbed on SDBC following 30-day ageing. The X-ray diffraction revealed the formation of metal-phosphate precipitates, while the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed a larger quantity of metal–oxygen bonding after 30-day ageing of metal-loaded SDBC. The results may imply favourable long-term transformation and additional sorption capacity of SDBC. In conclusion, SDBC resembles the sorption characteristics of both organic and mineral sorbents in different aspects, presenting an appropriate material for metal immobilization during soil amendment.     

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.