Transport of simazine in unsaturated sandy soil and predictions of its leaching under hypothetical field conditions

The potential contamination of groundwater by herbicides is often controlled by processes in the vadose zone, through which herbicides travel before entering groundwater. In the vadose zone, both physical and chemical processes affect the fate and transport of herbicides, therefore it is important to represent these processes by mathematical models to predict contaminant movement. To simulate the movement of simazine, a herbicide commonly used in Chilean vineyards, batch and miscible displacement column experiments were performed on a disturbed sandy soil to quantify the primary parameters and processes of simazine transport. Chloride (Cl(-)) was used as a non-reactive tracer, and simazine as the reactive tracer. The Hydrus-1D model was used to estimate the parameters by inversion from the breakthrough curves of the columns and to evaluate the potential groundwater contamination in a sandy soil from the Casablanca Valley, Chile. The two-site, chemical non-equilibrium model was observed to best represent the experimental results of the miscible displacement experiments in laboratory soil columns. Predictions of transport under hypothetical field conditions using the same soil from the column experiments were made for 40 years by applying herbicide during the first 20 years, and then halting the application and considering different rates of groundwater recharge. For recharge rates smaller than 84 mm year(-1), the predicted concentration of simazine at a depth of 1 m is below the U.S. EPA's maximum contaminant levels (4 microg L(-1)). After eight years of application at a groundwater recharge rate of 180 mm year(-1) (approximately 50% of the annual rainfall), simazine was found to reach the groundwater (located at 1 m depth) at a higher concentration (more than 40 microg L(-1)) than the existing guidelines in the USA and Europe.     

A field trial for an ex-situ bioremediation of a drilling mud-polluted site

The remediation of drilling mud-polluted sites in the Southeast of Mexico is a top priority for Mexican oil industry. The objective of this work was to find a technology to remediate these sites. A field trial was performed by composting in biopiles, where four 1ton soil-biopiles were established, one treatment in triplicate and one unamended biopile. Amended biopiles were added with nutrients to get a C/N/P ratio of 100/3/0.5 plus a bulking agent (straw) at a soil/straw ratio of 97/3. Moisture content was maintained around 30-35%. Results showed that, after 180 d, total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations decreased from 99300+/-23000mgTPHkg(-1) soil to 5500+/-770mgTPHkg(-1) for amended biopiles and to 22900+/-7800mgTPHkg(-1) for unamended biopile. An undisturbed soil control showed no change in TPH concentrations. Gas chromatographic analysis showed residual alkyl dibenzothiophene type compounds. Highest bacterial counts were observed during the first 30 d which correlated with highest TPH removal, whereas fungal count increased at the end of the experimentation period. Results suggested an important role of the straw, nutrient addition and water content in stimulating aerobic microbial activity and thus hydrocarbon removal. This finding opens an opportunity to remediate old polluted sites with recalcitrant and high TPH concentration.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Environmental Applications of a New Bio-Composite Gelatin-Zr(IV) Phosphate

Gelatin-Zr(IV) phosphate composite (GT/ZPC) was synthesized by sol–gel method. Different techniques viz. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray powdered diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used for the characterisation of GT/ZPC composite ion exchanger. The ion exchange capacity (IEC) of GT/ZPC was observed to be better (1.04 meq g^?1) than its inorganic counterpart (0.64 meq g^?1). The pH studies revealed the monofunctional nature of GT/ZPC with one inflection point. The distribution studies showed that the GT/ZPC was highly selective for Cd²⁺ as compare to other metal ions. The environmental applicability of ion exchanger has been analysed for binary separations of metal ions using column method. Cd²⁺ was effectively removed from synthetic mixture of metal ions (Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ and Cu²⁺).     

Sustainable Use of Coffee Husks For Reinforcing Polyethylene Composites

The utilization of the coffee husk fiber (CHF) from the coffee industry as a reinforcing filler in the preparation of a cost-effective thermoplastic based composite was explored in this study. The chemical composition and thermal properties of the CHF were investigated and compared with those of wood fiber (WF). CHF proved to be mainly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, and exhibited similar thermal behavior to WF. High density polyethylene (HDPE) composites with CHF loadings of from 40 to 70% were prepared using melt processing and extrusion. The processing properties, mechanical behavior, water absorption and thermal performance of these composites were investigated. The effect of maleated polyethylene (MAPE) used as a coupling agent on the composite was explored. The experimental results showed that increasing the CHF loading in the HDPE matrix resulted in an increase in the modulus and thermal properties of the composites, but resulted in poor water resistance. The addition of a 4% MAPE significantly improved the interfacial behavior of the hydrophilic lignocellulosic fiber and the hydrophobic polymer matrix.     

Transfer of Graphene CVD to Surface of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) Films: Effect on Biodegradation Process

Here, the influence of graphene as a coating on the biodegradation process for two different polymers is investigated, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) (biodegradable) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) (non-biodegradable). Chemical vapor deposition graphene was transferred to the surface of two types of polymers using the Direct Dry Transfer technique. Polymer films, coated and uncoated with graphene, were buried in a maturated soil for up to 180 days. The films were analyzed before and after exposure to microorganisms in order to obtain information about the integrity of the graphene (Raman Spectroscopy), the biodegradation mechanism of the polymer (molecular weight and loss of weight), and surface changes of the films (atomic force microscopy and contact angle). The results prove that the graphene coating acted as a material to control the biodegradation process the PBAT underwent, while the LDPE covered by graphene only had changes in the surface properties of the film due to the accumulation of solid particles. Polymer films coated with graphene may allow the production of a material that can control the microbiological degradation, opening new possibilities in biodegradable polymer packaging. Regarding the possibility of graphene functionalization, the coating can also be selective for specific microorganisms attached to the surface.     

Efficient degradation of rhodamine B using modified graphite felt gas diffusion electrode by electro-Fenton process

The electro-Fenton (EF) process treatment of 0.1-M (rhodamine B) RhB solution was studied with different graphite cathode materials, and graphite felt (GF) was selected as a promising material in further investigation. Then, the degradation performances of gas diffusion electrode (GDE) and graphite felt (GF) were compared, and GDE was confirmed to be more efficient in RhB removal. The operational parameters such as Fe²⁺ dosage and current density were optimized, and comparison among different modified methods—polytetrafluoroethylene-carbon black (PTFE-CB), polytetrafluoroethylene-carbon nanotube (PTFE-CNT), electrodeposition-CB, and electrodeposition-CNT—showed 98.49 % RhB removal by PTFE-CB-modified cathode in 0.05 M Na₂SO₄ at a current density of 50 A/m² and an air flow rate of 1 L/min after 20 min. Meanwhile, after cathode modified by PTFE-CB, the mineralization efficiency and mineralization current efficiency performed absolutely better than the pristine one. Cyclic voltammograms, SEM images, contact angles, and BET surface area were carried out to demonstrate stronger current responses and higher hydrophilicity of GF after modified. The value of biochemical oxygen demand/chemical oxygen demand (BOD₅/COD) increased from 0.049 to 0.331 after 90-min treatment, suggesting the solution was biodegradable, and the modified cathode was confirmed to be stable after ten circle runs. Finally, a proposed degradation pathway of RhB was put forward.     

Characterization of peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) under different PM2.5 concentration in wintertime at a North China rural site

As a secondary pollutant of photochemical pollution, peroxyacetyl nitrate(PAN) has attracted a close attention. A four-month campaign was conducted at a rural site in North China Plain(NCP) including the measurement of PAN, O₃, NO_x, PM_2.5, oxygenated volatile organic compounds(OVOCs), photolysis rate constants of NO₂ and O₃ and meteorological parameters to investigate the wintertime characterization of photochemistry from November 2018 to Fe...     

Estimates of residual dairy manure nitrogen availability using various techniques

It is common practice to repeatedly apply dairy manure to the same fields. To accurately assess the total plant availability of manure nutrients, it is necessary to account for the nutrients remaining in soil from previous manure applications. A field experiment studying manure nitrogen (N) uptake by corn (Zea mays L.) was conducted from 1998 to 2003 on a Plano silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, mesic, Typic Argiudolls). Plots received two rates of semisolid manure either every year, every 2 yr, or every 3 yr to estimate first-, second-, and third-year dairy manure N residuals. Residual manure N availability was estimated from single and multiple manure applications using (i) the fertilizer N equivalence method, (ii) the apparent recovery (difference) method, (iii) relative effectiveness method, and (iv) recovery of (15)N-labeled manure. Second-year availabilities after a single manure application using the fertilizer equivalence, difference, and relative effectiveness methods were estimated to be 12, 8, and 4% of total manure N applications, respectively. Estimates of third-year availability by these methods were 3, 1, and 5%, respectively. Measurement of (15)N recovered from labeled manure was 6 and 2% in the second and third year, respectively. Fertilizer equivalence, difference, and relative effectiveness methods showed great year to year variability, reducing the confidence in the residual manure N availability estimates by these methods, but using (15)N-labeled manures reduced variability substantially. Based on this and other studies, we suggest that second- and third-year residual N availability from a single application of semisolid dairy manure would be 9 to 12%, and 3 to 5% of the original manure N application, respectively.     

峡山地不同垂直带土壤层的水文功能及其影响因子

渗透性能和持水能力是土壤重要的水力学性质,是土壤调节径流、保持水土和涵养水源等水文功能的基础。以三峡库首的夷陵-大老岭山地为对象,采集亚高山棕壤针叶林地、中山黄棕壤针阔混交林与茶园地和低山黄壤针叶林地等4个样点剖面的土壤样品,在室内进行土壤饱和导水率、水分特征曲线和理化性质测定,量化了不同样地土壤渗透性能、持水能力和水分库容等水文功能参数,并明确了其主要影响因子。结果表明: 研究区山地土壤饱和导水率在0.06～14.78 mm/min之间,亚高山棕壤和中山黄棕壤林地土壤渗透性能较好,其平均饱和导水率在7.15～14.78 mm/ min之间,低山黄壤次之（1.3 9 mm/min）,中山黄棕壤茶园土壤渗透能力最差（1.17 mm/min）。不同类型土壤的饱和含水量、毛管含水量、田间持水量存在较大差异,凋萎含水量差异较小。同一类型土壤的不同发生层内,土壤饱和含水量随土壤深度的增加而递减,毛管持水量和田间持水量随土层深度的增加波动上升。不同样地间土壤水分总库容差异较大,随着海拔的升高,土壤水分总库容增加。土壤水分特征参数与土壤性质的相关分析表明,饱和导水率与土壤总孔隙度呈显著正相关,与容重呈显著负相关;饱和含水量、毛管持水量、田间持水量均与土壤总孔隙度、粘粒含量呈显著性正相关,与容重呈显著负相关;饱和含水量与根系重量呈显著正相关;毛管持水量、田间持水量与砂粒含量呈显著负相关。与中山茶园地和低山黄壤林地相比,亚高山棕壤和中山黄棕壤林地渗透性能较好且持水性更强,具有更好的调蓄径流和涵养水源的水文功能。 关键词： 山地土壤;土壤孔隙度;饱和导水率;持水能力;三峡库区     

维生素和酮苷生产废水中难降解污染物的溯源研究

研究了维生素和酮苷生产过程中各生产工段排水的生物降解特性,评价了各生产工段对生产废水中难降解有机物的贡献率,追溯了可能的难降解特征污染物。结果表明,维生素生产废水中的难降解物质主要来自W1-1、W1-3、W1-5和W1-6生产工段,甲醛、丁烯酮、醛酮聚合物和吡啶可能是导致生产废水难降解的重要原因;酮苷生产废水中的难降解物质主要来自W2-1、W2-3和W2-7生产工段,氯代有机溶剂和苯环类物质可能是导致生产废水难降解的重要原因。建议根据具体生产工段排水的水质特征,有针对性地进行物化处理,提高废水可生化性。