Removal of mercury(II) ions in aqueous solution using the peel biomass of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pachira aquatica</Emphasis> Aubl: kinetics and adsorption equilibrium studies

Mercury is a highly toxic substance that is a health hazard to humans. This study aims to investigate powders obtained from the peel of the fruit of Pachira aquatica Aubl, in its in natura and/or acidified form, as an adsorbent for the removal of mercury ions in aqueous solution. The materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The infrared spectra showed bands corresponding to the axial deformation of carbonyls from carboxylic acids, the most important functional group responsible for fixing the metal species to the adsorbent material. The thermograms displayed mass losses related to the decomposition of three major components, i.e., hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. The adsorption process was evaluated using cold-vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CV AFS) and cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV AAS). Three isotherm models were employed. The adsorption isotherm model, Langmuir-Freundlich, best represented the adsorption process, and the maximum adsorption capacity was predicted to be 0.71 and 0.58 mg g^?1 at 25 °C in nature and acidified, respectively. Adsorption efficiencies were further tested on real aqueous wastewater samples, and removal of Hg(II) was recorded as 69.6 % for biomass acidified and 76.3 % for biomass in nature. Results obtained from sorption experiments on real aqueous wastewater samples revealed that recovery of the target metal ions was very satisfactory. The pseudo-second-order model showed the best correlation to the experimental data. The current findings showed that the investigated materials are potential adsorbents for mercury(II) ion removal in aqueous solution, with acidified P. aquatica Aubl being the most efficient adsorbent.     

Indigenous Heavy Metal Multiresistant Microbiota of Las Catonas Stream

Las Catonas stream (Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area) receives a complex mixture of pollutants from point and diffuse sources because of the agricultural, industrial and urban land uses of its basin. Widespread detection of heavy metals exceeding aquatic life protection levels has occurred in monitoring reconnaissance studies in surface and pore water. As a result of the screening of Cu, Cd, Zn and Pb resistant/tolerant and culturable microbiota, B101N and 200H strains (Pseudomonas fluorescens or putida) were isolated and selected for further studies. They showed 65% Cd and 35% Zn extraction efficiency from aqueous phase. The potential use of these strains in wastewater treatment is currently investigated in order to contribute to decrease heavy metal pollution, a problem affecting every stream of Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area.     

Effects of multi-metal toxicity on the performance of sewage treatment system during the festival of colors (Holi) in India

The present study investigated the effects of heavy metals (Ni, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb) toxicity on the performance of 18 MLD activated sludge process-based sewage treatment plant (STP) during celebration of Holi (festival of colors in India). The composite sampling (n?=?32) was carried out during the entire study period. The findings show a significant decrease in chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency (20%) of activated sludge system, after receiving the heavy metals laden wastewater. A significant reduction of 40% and 60% were observed in MLVSS/MLSS ratio and specific oxygen uptake rate, which eventually led to a substantial decrease in biomass growth yield (from 0.54 to 0.17). The toxic effect of metals ions was also observed on protozoan population. Out of the 12 mixed liquor species recorded, only two ciliates species of Vorticella and Epistylis exhibited the greater tolerance against heavy metals toxicity. Furthermore, activated sludge shows the highest metal adsorption affinity for Cu, followed by Zn, Pb, Ni, and Cd (Cu?>?Zn?>?Pb?>?Ni?>?Cd). Finally, this study proves the robustness of activated sludge system against the sudden increase in heavy metal toxicity since it recovered the earlier good quality performance within 5?days.     

Respirometric Monitoring for the Determination of Effective Height and Reaction Rate Constant in Up-Flow Autotrophic Denitrification Reactor Packed with Sulfur

A novel technology for the removal of nitrogen from wastewater, autotrophic denitrification process with sulfur particle, has been developed. A respirometer was employed for the monitoring of nitrogen gas produced in the reactor. It was found that the autotrophic denitrification studied by gas production rate and nitrate depletion rate followed a first order reaction from the relationship. The reaction rate constant based on effective volume, k_N was ranged from 2.67 to 3.07 h^–1. The effective height was around 23.8 and 50% of the total height for 11.8 and 5.9 h of packed bed contact time, respectively. It was assumed that the reaction rate constants were similar in each experimental condition, PBCT = 11.9 and 5.9 h because there was little gradient of biomass concentration within 50% of the total height. The respirometry was found to be a simple and fast way to monitor the denitrification process. The method was especially useful for the determination of kinetic parameters.     

Evaluation of treatment techniques for increasing the uptake of metal ions from solution by nonliving seaweed algal biomass

The effects of several different treatments on subsequent uptake of several metal ions from solution by six strains of seaweed algae and a sea plant were investigated. Samples of Gracilaria conferta, Eisenia bicyclis, Ulva lactuca, Sargassum fluitans, Cladophora prolitera, Padina pavonica, and Zostera marina were treated with one or more of the following: 1 M HCl, 1 M HNO₃, 0.1 M NaOH, 1 M NaOH, acetone, and 60°C water at times from 15 to 60 min and temperatures of 25 and 60°C. Results obtained demonstrate that a treatment time of 15 or 30 min is usually sufficient to produce maximum subsequent metal uptake. Temperature of treatment had little effect.The percentages of Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Co, TI, Hg, Au, and Ag subsequently removed from standard metal solutions at a pH of 2–6 by each treated biomass were compared with the percent removal by untreated biomass under the same conditions. All treatments increased the ability of the biomass types studied to bind metals relative to untreated biomass. In addition, pH binding dependence was altered to some extent with a greater degree of binding observed at low pHs by biomass treated with acid. For certain strains of seaweed algae, 0.1 M NaOH treatment produced subsequent uptake of Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cd at levels reaching 100% of initial metal available. Both acidic and basic treatment increased the uptake of Au, Ag, and Hg by four strains of seaweed to nearly 100%.     

Biosorption kinetics of heavy metals by leaf biomass of Jatropha curcas in single and multi-metal system

Biosorption of Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cr⁶⁺ from aqueous solutions by leaf biomass of Jatropha curcas was investigated as a function of biomass concentration, initial metal ion concentration, contact time, and pH of the solution systematically. The aim of this study was to optimize biosorption process and find out a suitable kinetic model for the metal removal in single and multi-metal system. The experimental data were analyzed using two sorption kinetic models, viz., pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order equations, to determine the best fit equation for the biosorption of metal ions Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cr⁶⁺ onto the leaf biomass of J. curcas in different metal systems. The experimental data fitted well the pseudo-second-order equation and provided the best correlation for the biosorption process. The findings of the present investigation revealed that J. curcas leaf biomass was an eco-friendly and cost-effective biosorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater.     

Restoration of properties of cultivated soils polluted by copper and nickel

The long-term observations of the restoration of chemical and biological properties of cultivated podzol soil polluted by airborne emissions from a copper-nickel smelter located in the western Arctic of Russia were carried out. After 8 years, the total content of copper in soil decreased to a third (from 6230 to 2080 mg kg(-1)) and nickel to a sixth (from 3500 to 580 mg kg(-1)). Based on these observations, the removal time for heavy metals to reach permissible levels was calculated. The estimate was 100 years for copper and 108 years for nickel. Soil remained toxic to wheat seedlings, especially to their roots, for the whole observation period. A restoration of the number and activity of soil microorganisms was associated with the reduction in soil metal-toxicity. The number of non-sporeforming saprophytic bacteria was quickly restored concurrently with the removal of metals from the soil; fungal biomass also increased.     

重庆某工业园土壤重金属污染特征、风险及源解析

以重庆市某工业园区表层土壤为研究对象,探讨了土壤重金属在不同季节的污染特征,利用污染指数法、健康风险模型和主成分/绝对主成分得分受体模型进行风险评价和源分析。结果表明:不同季节土壤样品间各重金属含量差异显著。35.5%的样品中汞含量超出土壤污染风险筛选值,其他元素未超标。与土壤背景值相比,各元素表现出不同程度的富集,汞超标约110~1300倍。内梅罗指数显示土壤整体和汞元素处于轻度污染及以下,其他元素为安全。潜在生态危害指数显示,土壤整体和汞属于极强污染,镉属于轻微~强污染,其他元素为轻微污染。土壤重金属总致癌风险为2.6×10^-7~1.0×10^-5,总非致癌风险熵均小于1,砷存在致癌风险,主要通过经口摄入暴露。秋季中,汞、六价铬、铅、镍、砷和铜来自工业源,镉主要来源于自然成因。春季中,镉和铅来自交通、冶金和燃煤等排放,镍、砷和铜源于冶炼和金属表面处理等排放,汞主要来自化工生产和燃料燃烧。交通运输、工业生产和燃料燃烧等污染的排放是土壤重金属的主要来源,今后应加强园区内汞、砷和镉的源头减排和治理。     

典型重金属污染农田能源植物示范种植研究

为探索安全经济利用重金属中度-重度污染农田的模式,在浙江某典型重金属复合污染农田开展了能源植物(甜高粱Sweet sorghum、甘蔗Saccharum sinensisRoxb.、香根草Vetiveria和盐肤木Rhus chinensis)种植示范研究.结果表明,经施加0.1%的石灰和0.2%的磷矿粉改良后,土壤p...     

Incidence of metal and antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas spp. from the river water, agricultural soil irrigated with wastewater and groundwater

A total of 144 isolates of Pseudomonas spp. (48 each from the Yamuna River water, wastewater irrigated soil and groundwater irrigated soil) were tested for their resistance against certain heavy metals and antibiotics. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Hg^2?+?, Cd^2?+?, Cu^2?+?, Zn^2?+?, Ni^2?+?, Pb^2?+?, Cr^3?+? and Cr^6?+? for each isolate were also determined. A maximum MIC of 200 ??g/ml for mercury and 3,200 ??g/ml for other metals were observed. The incidences of metal resistance and MICs of metals for Pseudomonas isolates from the Yamuna water and wastewater irrigated soil were significantly different to those of groundwater irrigated soil. A high level of resistance against tetracycline and polymyxin B (81.2%) was observed in river water isolates. However, 87.5% of Pseudomonas isolates from soil irrigated with wastewater showed resistance to sulphadiazine, whereas 79.1% were resistant to both ampicillin and erythromycin. Isolates from soil irrigated with groundwater exhibited less resistance towards heavy metals and antibiotics as compared to those of river water and wastewater irrigated soil. Majority of the Pseudomonas isolates from water and soil exhibited resistance to multiple metals and antibiotics. Resistance was transferable to recipient Escherichia coli AB2200 strains by conjugation. Plasmids were cured with the curing agent ethidium bromide and acridine orange at sub-MIC concentration.     

垃圾渗滤液中微塑料分析的消解方法评价

微塑料(MPs)是近年来国内外关注度极高的新兴污染物,建立实际环境样品中MPs的分析方法是开展相关研究的基础。对于复杂污水样品而言,样品的消解过程至关重要,将极大地影响MPs的准确分析。选择垃圾渗滤液为典型复杂污水样品,采用样品浊度和色度变化、残余悬浮固体量、MPs在颗粒物中的占比为评价指标,对盐酸消解、30%过氧化氢消解及芬顿试剂消解3种常用消解方法的消解效果进行了比较。结果表明,30%过氧化氢对垃圾渗滤液样品的消解效果最佳,MPs在全部颗粒物中的占比达63.7%,极大地缩减了后续MPs定性分析的时间,降低了分析难度,且对渗滤液中MPs的回收率也高达(103±3)%。在此基础上,讨论了消解效果与过氧化氢投加量/样品浊度(V_H2O2/T₁)的关系。当V_H2O2/T₁为0.15～0.20 mL/NTU时,样品残余悬浮固体量最低,消解效果最佳。     

Bioavailability of Metals in Fly Ash and Their Bioaccumulation in Naturally Occurring Vegetation: A Pilot Scale Study

A pilot scale study was conducted to find out the different forms of metals if fly ash (FA) and bioaccumulation of these metals in the naturally growing vegetation on FA dumps. The total, acid extractable, bioavailable and water soluble fraction of metals of Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Ni, Co and Pb, and their bioaccumulation coefficients (BAC) on naturally growing vegetation were determined. FA samples had a neutral pH, low electrical conductivity, low organic C and trace amounts of N and P. The relative abundance of total metals in FA were found in the order Fe ≤ ≤ Zn ≤ Ni ≤ Co ≤ Cu. The concentration of bioavailable (DTPA) metals depend on the type and nature of coal used in thermal power stations. In the water the extract solution, only Fe and Zn were found above detection limits. After one year only four species of naturally occurring herbaceous vegetation were found growing and Cynodon dactylon (grass) covered almost entire surface of the FA. Iron accumulated to the greatest extent in vegetation followed by Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni and Co. The sequence of BAC for different metals were Fe (202) ≤ Mn (90) ≤ Zn (63) ≤ Pb (49) ≤ Ni (41) ≤ Cu (24). The experimental study revealed that Cynodon grass could be used for remediation of fly ash without any amendments, as this grass species act as metal excluder type.     

会泽某铅锌矿周边农田土壤重金属风险评价研究

采用现场采样与室内测试方法测定了会泽某铅锌矿周边农田土壤中Cd、As、Pb、Cr、Cu、Zn、Ni的含量,利用地积累指数法、潜在生态指数法对其土壤环境质量进行了评价,并应用US EPA推荐的健康风险评价法对重金属的健康风险进行了初步评价。结果表明,7种重金属均存在不同程度的富集或污染。多种重金属潜在生态风险指数属于中等及以上的风险状态,重金属潜在生态风险指数排序为CdPbAsCuNiZnCr。7种重金属在3种暴露途径下对儿童的非致癌健康风险均大于成人,但对成人、儿童均不存在显著的非致癌健康影响、非致癌健康总风险。As、Ni、Cr、Cd重金属的致癌风险值与4种元素总致癌风险值均未超出10-6~10-4的范围,尚不具备致癌风险。     

Necessity of Toxicity Assessment in Turkish Industrial Discharges (Examples from Metal and Textile Industry Effluents)

Toxicity of some organic and inorganic chemicals to microorganisms is an important consideration in assessingtheir environmental impact against their economic benefits.Microorganisms play an important role in several environmentalprocesses, both natural and engineered. Some organic and inorganics at toxic levels have been detected in industrial discharges resulting in plant upsets and discharge permit violations. In addition to this, even though in some cases the effluent wastewater does not exceed the discharge limits,the results of toxicity tests show potential toxicity. Toxicityknowledge of effluents can benefit treatment plant operators inoptimising plant operation, setting pre-treatment standards, and protecting receiving water quality and in establishing sewer discharge permits to safeguard the plant. In the Turkish regulations only toxicity dilution factor (TDF) with fish is part of the toxicity monitoring program of permissible wastewater discharge. In various countries, laboratory studiesinvolving the use of different organisms and protocol for toxicity assessment was conducted involving a number of discharges.In this study, it was aimed to investigate the acute toxicity of textile and metal industry wastewaters by traditional and enrichment toxicity tests and emphasize the importance of toxicity tests in wastewater discharge regulations. The enrichment toxicity tests are novel applications and give anidea whether there is potential toxicity or growth limiting and stimulation conditions. Different organisms were used suchas bacteria (Floc and Coliform bacteria) algae (Chlorella sp.), fish (Lepistes sp.) and protozoan (Vorticella sp.) to represent four tropic levels. The textile industry results showed acute toxicity for at least one organism in 8 out of 23 effluent samples. Acute toxicity for at least two organisms in 7 out of 23 effluent sampling was observed for the metal industry. The toxicity test results were assessed with chemical analyses such as COD, BOD, color and heavy metals. It was observed that the toxicity of the effluents could not be explained by using physicochemical analyses in 5 cases for metal and 4 cases for the textile industries. The results clearly showed that the useof bioassay tests produce additional information about the toxicity potential of industrial discharges and effluents.     

Isolation and Identification of Enterococci from Seawater Samples: Assessment of Their Resistance to Antibiotics and Heavy Metals

A hundred Enterococcus strains were isolated from seawater samples collected from coastal areas of Istanbul. Isolates were identified to the species level using standard biochemical tests specified by Facklam and Collins. The species distribution was as follows Enterococcus faecalis (96%), Enterococcus gallinarum (3%) and Enterococcus solitarius (1%). The resistance of bacteria to both heavy metals (zinc [Zn], iron [Fe], cadmium [Cd], chrome [Cr], cobalt [Co]) and antibiotics (ampicillin 10 μg [AP], penicillin G 10 Units [PG], gentamycin 10 μg [GM], streptomycin 10 μg [S], chloramphenicol 10 μg [C], erythromycin 15 μg [E], kanamycin 30 μg [K], amikacin 30 μg [AK], nalidixic acid 30 μg [NA], and vancomycin 30 μg [VA]) was evaluated. None of the strains was resistant to VA. It was found that among the 100 isolates, those that exhibit resistance to antibiotics, particularly NA, S and K, were also resistant all the heavy metals tested. To our knowledge this is the first report focusing on determination of resistance of environmental enterococci found in Istanbul against heavy metals and antibiotics. Thus, combined expressions of antibiotic and heavy metal resistance may help to reinforce ecological and epidemiological studies and to determine the role of these strains in antibiotic and heavy metal resistance dissemination.     

绍兴市典型印染废水中重金属锑排放现状及排放源调查

分析和统计的86家印染工业企业当中,废水总排口中的总锑超标率为25.6%,质量浓度0.050 mg/L以下较低排放浓度所占比例最大,达62.8%。印染废水锑排放源主要有涤棉和涤纶化纤类布料的染色、印花工艺废水,碱减量工艺废水等,工业液碱、废酸以及硫酸铝污水处理剂等原料当中含锑浓度较高。印染废水经污水处理厂集中纳管深度处理后,锑排放浓度较低,锑去除效率最高达到88.0%,大大降低了环境地表水体锑污染的风险。     

上海市浦东新区大气细颗粒物中重金属污染特征及来源解析

于2017年对浦东城区和郊区大气PM2.5中的重金属特征和来源进行了分析。结果表明,K、Fe、Na、Ca、Mg、Al等矿物元素为浦东新区PM2.5中含量最高的金属元素,其中K的年均值为297.3 ng/m^3。浦东城区的不同元素在季节变化上呈现较为不同的变化规律,郊区的金属元素值大部分呈现春季先逐月下降,在夏、秋季有起伏波动,在10月之后逐渐上升;沙尘+道路源+建筑扬尘、煤燃烧、工业排放、金属冶炼、船舶排放、海盐+垃圾焚烧+生物质燃烧为浦东城区PM2.5中重金属元素的6大类主要来源。其中沙尘+道路源+建筑扬尘对Ca的贡献率为82.7%,煤燃烧对As的贡献率为86.6%,工业排放对SO4^2-的贡献率达到65.9%,金属冶炼对Cr的贡献率为75.7%,船舶排放对V的贡献率为97.5%、海盐+垃圾焚烧+生物质燃烧对Cl^-的贡献率为93.0%。煤燃烧和金属冶炼主要来自于西部方向。船舶排放分布在长江口及其延伸带。浦东新区PM2.5中重金属元素的质量浓度与本地源排放强度、外界传输和大气扩散条件均有密切关系。     

《地下水管理条例》实施后的金属指标检测样品采集及前处理规范性分析

《地下水管理条例》自2021年12月1日起施行,但是由于《地下水质量标准》(GB/T 14848—2017)未明确其中的金属指标是检测可溶态含量还是总量,导致各检测机构在检测过程中的采样和前处理环节存在较多不确定之处。梳理了国内外地下水监测相关标准和规范,并进行了实验比对,经分析得出以下结论:铜、铅、锌、铁、锰的可溶态含量和总量检测结果存在明显差异,其中,铁和铅检测结果的差异最明显,铁和锰检测结果的差异会影响地下水质量类别判定。《地下水质量标准》中的金属指标应检测可溶态,包括汞、砷和硒。充分洗井后采集的地下水样品存在一定的浑浊度是合理的。完成采集的地下水金属指标检测样品中不应包含沉淀相。测定地下水可溶态汞、砷和硒时,如采用原子荧光法,则需对样品进行消解;如采用电感耦合等离子体质谱法,则无需对样品进行消解。在此基础上,对地下水采样及前处理关键环节和地下水检测管理工作提出了相关建议。     

Simulating the Sorptive Removal of Dissolved Copper by Biocarrier Beads

Biocarrier beads containing the dead biomass of Bacillus drentensis immobilized in polymer polysulfone were synthesized in order to remove heavy metals from wastewater. A series of batch experiments were carried out to identify the sorption mechanisms and the theoretical nature of the underlying processes. A mathematical model was developed to simulate the fate and transport of copper ions in a saturated fixed bed packed with biocarrier beads. Mass balance equations were established to represent the migration and distribution of metal ions in the biocarrier beads and the surrounding bulk liquid. Numerical experiments were performed using the proposed model for quantitative analysis of the temporal changes in the distribution of copper ions in and around the biocarrier beads in a fixed bed. The simulation results show that the biosorption of heavy metals by the biocarrier beads depends largely on surface adsorption. A sensitivity analysis was carried out on the major design parameters in a fixed bed. The effects of bed height, flow velocity, and influent concentration were examined by assessing a simulated breakthrough curve. The breakthrough time occurs earlier for a decreasing bed height and increasing flow velocity and influent Cu(II) concentration, whereas the slope at 50 % breakthrough becomes steeper as the flow velocity increases and the influent concentration decreases. The simulation results show that the proposed mathematical model can provide a quantitative analysis of the distribution of metal adsorbate in and around porous particulate adsorbents in a fixed bed and that it can be used as an effective predictive tool.     

真藓对碳酸盐型锰矿区重金属污染的指示意义

锰矿开采产生重金属污染,对周围环境造成影响,有必要对矿区重金属进行监测。研究以典型碳酸盐型锰矿——南茶锰矿(按职能划分为4个功能区：矿井区、废石区、选矿区、蓄矿区)为对象,以区域内真藓Bryum argenteum为材料,结合相关分析、聚类分析、主成分分析、变异系数等方法考察了真藓和土壤中重金属的含量及其可能的来源。结果表明：各功能区均受到不同程度的人为干扰,人为干扰越强,区域污染越严重。在不同污染梯度的功能区内,真藓的重金属(Fe、Mn、Zn、Cr、Ni、Ba、Co、Mo、Hg、Pb、Cd、Cu、Tl、As、Sb)含量与土壤重金属含量显著正相关(P<0.05),说明真藓是监测碳酸盐型锰矿重金属污染的有效指标。真藓指示南茶锰矿除了可能受到采矿活动的强烈影响外(Mn、Cu、Fe、Zn、Cr、Ni、Mo、Ba),还受到来自运输车辆的机械磨损、排放及采矿活动的复合污染(Tl、Cd、Pb、As、Sb),识别结果与区域重金属分布情况吻合,表明真藓具有识别重金属污染的能力。在今后碳酸盐型锰矿污染防治工作中,可将真藓作为重金属污染监测的生物材料。