The immobilization agent was the key factor that determined the success of remediation of heavy metal polluted soil. In this study, mercapto-grafted palygorskite (MP) as a novel and efficient immobilization agent was utilized for the remediation of Cd-polluted paddy soil in pot trials, and the remediation mechanisms were investigated in the aspect of soil chemistry and plant physiology with different rice cultivars as model plants. Mercapto-grafted palygorskite at applied doses of 0.1–0.3% could reduce Cd contents of brown rice and straws of different cultivars significantly. Both reduced DTPA-extractable Cd contents in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil and decreasing Cd contents in iron plaques on rice root surfaces confirmed that MP was an efficient immobilization agent for Cd pollutant in paddy soil. In the aspect of soil chemistry, the pH values of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils had no statistical changes in the MP treatment groups, but their zeta potentials decreased obviously, indicating that MP could enhance the fixation or sorption of Cd on soil compositions. In the aspect of antioxidant system, MP could increase POD activity of rice roots significantly to alleviate the stress of Cd to roots, and resulted in the decrease of T-AOC, SOD, and CAT activities of rice roots of the selected cultivars. MP had no inhabitation or enhancement effects on TSH of rice roots but enhance the contents of MTs and NPT to binding Cd to complete detoxification process. MP as a novel and efficient immobilization agent could complete the remediation effects through soil chemistry and plant physiological mechanisms.
Sweet potato starch wastewater (SPSW) is an industrial food-processing waste product, which is a significant pollution source due to its high chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen, and phosphorus loads. The influence of hydrolytic acidification (HA) process on C, N, and P as well as other main parameters were evaluated. It is essential to treat these wastewaters with effective methods such as HA, a general pretreatment application. In this study, we investigate the scientific link between the changes of different fractions of C, N, and P with particle size distribution in response to the newly introduced HA process. Results showed that the levels of COD, TN, and TP remained ultimately stable; pH and suspended solids (SSs) decreased obviously. HA process exhibits excellent capability of reducing the larger particulars (with diameter of >5 μm) into smaller ones (with diameter of <0.1 μm). The most significant initial concentration contribution to COD, TN, and TP pollution came from particles and matter with a diameter of >5 μm, at 41.8, 57.3, and 43.5%, respectively. While the most significant contribution to COD, TN, and TP was resulting from micro-molecular size particles (<0.1 μm) after 48 h. The smallest particles (<0.1 μm) were the most dominant contribution to all pollutants measured, with COD, TN, and TP contributions of 63.2, 50.4, and 59.3%, respectively. While the contribution of larger particles (particle size >5 μm) reduced to 10.2, 15.3, and 7.1%, respectively.
Mining has been carried out upstream of Miyun Reservoir, Beijing, for several decades, and has caused metal emissions to the environment, threatening human health. We conducted a soil survey to assess metal contamination in this area and to determine distribution of heavy metals in the particle size. We attempted to determine the possible sources of the metals and the significance of metals in the fine particle fractions to soil risk assessments. Thirty-four soil samples were collected, and eight samples were partitioned into seven size fractions. Most of the metal concentrations in the soils were higher than the background levels in Beijing, and the metal concentrations and total organic matter (TOC) contents generally increased as the particle size decreased. Each metal except Hg significantly positively correlated with the TOC. The metals in the coarse-grained soils were mainly derived from parent materials, but the metals in the fine fractions were mostly anthropogenic. Statistical analyses showed that there were three metal sources: Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn had anthropogenic sources; Co, Cr, Ni, and V had mixed anthropogenic and natural sources; and As and Be had natural sources. The trace metals were primarily in the clay and fine silt fractions, and they might pose health risks through the inhalation of resuspended soil particles (PM10 and PM2.5). The elevated accumulation factors, enrichment factors, and ecological risk indices for the metals in the fine fractions suggest that risk assessments should be based on the fine particle size. 相似文献