Characterization of plutonium in deep-sea sediments of the Sulu and South China Seas

Anthropogenic Pu isotopes are important geochemical tracers for sediment studies. Their distributions and sources in the water columns as well as the sediments of the North Pacific have been intensively studied; however, information about Pu in the Southeast Asian seas is limited. To study the isotopic composition of Pu, and thus to identify its sources, we collected sediment core samples in the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea during the KH-96-5 Cruise of the R/V Hakuho Maru. We analysed the activities of ^239+240Pu and the atom ratios of ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu using isotope dilution sector-field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS). The ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratios in the sediments of both areas (inventory weighted mean: 0.251 for the South China Sea and 0.280 for the Sulu Sea) were higher than the global fallout value (0.178 ± 0.019), suggesting the existence of Pu from the Pacific Proving Grounds in the North Pacific. Low inventories of ^239+240Pu in sediments were observed in the South China Sea (3.75 Bq/m²) and the Sulu Sea (1.38 Bq/m²). Most of the Pu input is still present in the water column. Scavenging and benthic mixing processes were considered to be the main processes controlling the distribution of Pu in the deep-sea sediments of both study areas.     

Pb and Cd binding to natural freshwater biofilms developed at different pH: the important role of culture pH

The effects of solution pH on adsorption of trace metals to different types of natural aquatic solid materials have been studied extensively, but few studies have been carried out to investigate the effect of pH at which the solid materials were formed on the adsorption. The purpose of present study is to examine this effect of culture pH on metal adsorption to natural freshwater biofilms. The adsorption of Pb and Cd to biofilms which were developed at different culture pH values (ranging from 6.5 to 9.0) was measured at the same adsorption pH value (6.5). The culture pH had considerable effects on both composition and metal adsorption ability of the biofilms. Higher culture pH usually promoted the accumulation of organic material and Fe oxides in the biofilms. The culture pH also affected the quantity and species of algae in the biofilms. The adsorption of Pb and Cd to the biofilms generally increased with the increase of culture pH. This increase was minor at lower pH range and significant at higher pH range and was more remarkable for Cd adsorption than for Pb adsorption. The notable contribution of organic material to the adsorption at higher culture pH values was also observed. The profound impacts of culture pH on adsorption behavior of biofilms mainly resulted from the variation of total contents of the biofilm components and were also affected by the alteration of composition and properties of the components.     

Photochemical degradation of ciprofloxacin in UV and UV/H2O2 process: kinetics, parameters, and products

Photochemical degradation of fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin (CIP) in water by UV and UV/H₂O₂ were investigated. The degradation rate of CIP was affected by pH, H₂O₂ dosage, as well as the presence of other inorganic components. The optimized pH value and H₂O₂ concentration were 7.0 and 5 mM. Carbonate and nitrate both impeded CIP degradation. According to liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis, four and 16 products were identified in UV and UV/H₂O₂ system, respectively. Proposed degradation pathways suggest that reactions including the piperazinyl substituent, quinolone moiety, and cyclopropyl group lead to the photochemical degradation of CIP. Toxicity of products assessed by Vibrio qinghaiensis demonstrated that UV/H₂O₂ process was more capable on controlling the toxicity of intermediates in CIP degradation than UV process.     

Application of 15N–18O double stable isotope tracer technique in an agricultural nonpoint polluted river of the Yangtze Delta Region

One strategy to combat nitrate (NO₃-N) contamination in rivers is to understand its sources. NO₃-N sources in the East Tiaoxi River of the Yangtze Delta Region were investigated by applying a ¹⁵N–¹⁸O dual isotope approach. Water samples were collected from the main channel and from the tributaries. Results show that high total N and NO₃-N are present in both the main channel and the major tributaries, and NO₃-N was one of the most important N forms in water. Analysis of isotopic compositions (δ ¹⁸O, δD) of water suggests that the river water mainly originated from three tributaries during the sampling period. There was a wide range of δ ¹⁵N-NO₃ (?1.4 to 12.4 ‰) and a narrow range of δ ¹⁸O-NO₃ (3.7 to 9.0 ‰) in the main channel waters. The δ ¹⁵N and δ ¹⁸O-NO₃ values in the upper, middle, and lower channels along the river were shifted as 8.2, 3.5, and 9.5 ‰, and 9.0, 4.2, and 6.0 ‰, respectively. In the tributary South Tiao, the δ ¹⁵N and δ ¹⁸O-NO₃ values were as high as 9.5 and 7.0 ‰, while in the tributaries Mid Tiao and North Tiao, NO₃-N in most of the samples had relatively low δ ¹⁵N and δ ¹⁸O-NO₃ values from 2.3 to 7.5 ‰ and 4.7 to 7.0 ‰, separately. Our results also suggest that the dual isotope approach can help us develop the best management practice for relieving NO₃-N pollution in the rivers at the tributary scale.     

Sedimentary record of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and DDTs in Dianchi Lake, an urban lake in Southwest China

Unique time trends of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) were found in a dated sediment core from Dianchi Lake (DC), an urban lake in Southwest China. The temporal trend of PAHs in DC was not only different from those in China's coastline and remote lakes of China, but also different from those in more developed countries. Identification of sources suggested that PAHs in DC originated primarily from domestic combustion of coal and biomass. However, a change of source from low- and moderate-temperature combustion to high-temperature combustion processes was observed. Different from those in China's coastline and some developed countries, the temporal trend of DDTs in DC mirrored the historical usage of DDTs in China, with erosion of soils and surface runoff from its drainage area the most likely routes of DDT introduction to the lake. Rapid urbanization and industrialization in its catchment, effective interception of point-source pollution, and changes in sources of energy during the last few decades have significantly influenced the vertical profiles of PAHs in DC.     

Mass transfer coefficients for volatilization of polychlorinated biphenyls from the Hudson River,New York measured using micrometeorological approaches

Air–water exchange is an important process controlling the fate of many organic chemicals in the environment. Modeling this process is hampered by the lack of direct observations. Thus, the purpose of this work was to derive direct measurements of the mass transfer coefficients for air–water exchange (v_aw) of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that may be used to check the validity of values derived from tracer gas experiments. v_aw values for PCBs were determined using previously published turbulent fluxes divided by the corresponding dissolved phase concentrations. The median v_aw values for each homolog decreased with increasing molecular weight and ranged from 0.29 for hexachlorobiphenyls to 2.2 m d^?1 for monochlorobiphenyls with a propagated uncertainty of about 70%, lower than in previous studies. Due to relatively low wind speeds and possible sorption of PCBs to colloids, these numbers may be biased low. These field measurements of v_aw differ by as much as a factor of 23 from predictions based on the widely-used Whitman two-film model. Therefore a new formulation for the calculation of v_aw based on field measurements is needed. This study demonstrates that micrometeorological approaches are a viable option for the measurement of v_aw for hydrophobic organics such as PCBs and should be used to generate enough field data on the air–water exchange of hydrophobic organics to allow the development of new predictive models.     

响应面法和神经网络优化Acinetobactersp．DNS32发酵基质

为了提高阿特拉津降解菌Acinetobactersp．DNS32的产量,分别采用响应曲面法和基于人工神经网络的遗传算法对阿特拉津降解菌DNS32发酵培养基中3个重要基质成分（玉米粉、豆饼粉、K：HPO。）进行优化研究。响应曲面法确定3种成分的含量为玉米粉39．494g／L,豆饼粉25．638g／L和K。HPO。3．265g／L时,预测发酵活菌最大生物量为7．079×10^8CFU／mL,实测量为7．194×10^8CFU／mL;人工神经网络结合遗传算法优化确定3种主要成分含量为玉米粉为39．650g／L,豆饼粉为25．500g／L,K2HPO4为2．624g／L时,预测最大值为7．199×10^8CFU／mL,实测量为7．244×10。CFU／mL;最终确定培养基配方：玉米粉为39．650g／L,豆饼粉为25．500g／L,K2HPO4为2．624g／L,CaCO3为3．000g／L,MgSO4·7H2O和NaCl均为0．200g／L;优化后阿特拉津降解菌DNS32发酵生物量比优化前提高了36．6％。结果表明,在阿特拉津降解菌DNS32发酵培养基组分优化方面,响应面法和基于人工神经网络的遗传算法都是可行的,基于人工神经网络的遗传算法具有更好的拟合度和预测准确度。     

钢渣掺量对泡沫混凝土砌块性能的影响

泡沫混凝土是一种环保、节能的保温隔热材料,以其优良的保温性能,受到越来越多研究者的关注。对钢渣的特性进行了分析测试,对钢渣不同掺量对泡沫混凝土砌块特性的影响进行了研究,结果表明,采用添加5％～35％钢渣所制备的钢渣泡沫混凝土砌块,其密度等级为JC／T1062—2007中的B10级,掺人5％、15％钢渣的泡沫混凝土抗压强度达到A3．5等级,掺人25％、35％钢渣的泡沫混凝土抗压强度达到A2．5等级。随着钢渣掺量的增大,抗压强度、抗折强度降低,吸水率增大。在同一钢渣掺量的情况下,泡沫混凝土砌块的抗压强度变化率增加显著,而且随着钢渣的加入量升高而增大。钢渣的加入有利于提高泡沫混凝土砌块的后期抗压强度。     

高碱度水库水混凝过程中残留铝控制

针对高碱度水库水源的某水厂残留铝超标问题,选取碱化度(B)与Alb含量不同的3种铝盐絮凝剂,研究不同投量与pH值下混凝效果与残留铝浓度水平。结果表明,碱化度和Alb含量显著影响混凝效果。DOC和浊度的去除率随着3种絮凝剂AlCl3(B=0)、PACl-1(B=1.2)、PACl-2(B=2.2)投量增大而升高。3种絮凝剂投量在1.5～2.0 mg/L(以铝计)范围内,总铝和溶解铝含量最低。对于该水厂自制的絮凝剂PACl-2,可通过降低絮凝剂碱化度,或将水的pH值降低至7～7.5之间,以此可以提高PACl-2混凝效果,而且可以降低出厂水残留铝浓度。考虑工程应用可行性,可优先考虑调整絮凝剂生产工艺。