Distribution and relationships of selected trace metals in molluscs and associated sediments from the Gulf of Aden, Yemen

Concentrations of Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Mn and Fe in the soft tissue of Turbo coronatus, Acanthopleura haddoni, Ostrea cucullata and Pitar sp., as well as in associated surface sediments (bulk and bioavailable metal concentrations) from the Gulf of Aden, Yemen, were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry method. Large differences between size-classes of molluscs in metal concentrations were recorded. Significant spatial differences in metal concentrations in both the soft tissue of the molluscs and associated sediments studied were mostly identified. Statistically significant correlations (p<0.01) between concentrations of selected metals were observed. A slope of the linear regression is significantly higher than unity for Fe (9.91) and Cd (3.45) in A. haddoni and for Ni (4.15) in T. coronatus, suggesting that the bioavailability of these metals is disproportionally increased with a degree of enrichment of the sediments in Fe, Cd and Ni, respectively. A slope constant approximating to unity (1.14) for Cu in A. haddoni relative to its concentration in sediment extract implies that bioavailability of this metal proportionally increased with growing concentrations of its labile forms in the associated sediment. The degree of contamination of Gulf of Aden waters by the metals studied is discussed and the potential ability of molluscs, especially A. haddoni and T. coronatus, as biomonitors of metallic pollutants is postulated.     

Effects of oyster shell on soil chemical and biological properties and cabbage productivity as a liming materials

Oyster shell, a byproduct of shellfish-farming in Korea and containing a high amount of CaCO(3), has a high potential to be used as a liming material in agriculture. However, the agricultural utilization of oyster shell is limited due to its high concentration NaCl. The oyster-shell meal collected had a low concentration of water soluble NaCl (mean 2.7 g kg(-1)), which might be a result of stacking the material for 6 months in the open field. It has a very similar liming potential with calcium carbonate, with 3.4 and 3.8 Mg ha(-1) for silt loam (SiL, pH 6.2) and sandy loam (SL, pH 5.8) to bring the soil pH to 6.5, respectively. To determine the effect of crushed oyster-shell meal on improving soil chemical and biological properties and crop plant productivity, oyster-shell meal was applied at rates of 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 Mg ha(-1) before transplanting Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) in the two soils mentioned above. Soil pH was significantly increased to 6.9 and 7.4 by 16 Mg ha(-1) shell meal application (4 times higher level than the recommendation) in SiL and SL, respectively, at harvesting stage. The effect of liming was found higher in SL compared to SiL soil, probably due to the different buffering capacity of the two soils. The concentration of NaCl and EC value of soils were found slightly increased with shell meal applications, but no salt damage was observed. Oyster-shell meal application increased soil organic matter, available P, and exchangeable cations concentrations. The improved soil pH and nutrient status significantly increased the microbial biomass C and N concentrations and stimulated soil enzyme activities. With the exception of acid phosphomonoesterase (PMEase) activity, which decreased with increasing soil pH in SL but slightly increased in SiL, the activities of urease and alkali PMEase increased markedly with increasing soil pH by shell meal application. The improved soil chemical and biological properties resulted in increased crop productivity. The highest yield in Chinese cabbage was achieved following the application of 8 Mg ha(-1) oyster-shell meal. Conclusively, crushed oyster shell could be used as an alternative liming material to restore the soil chemical and microbial properties in upland soil and to increase crop productivity.     

垃圾焚烧飞灰中的氯化二苯并二噁(口英)和氯化二苯并呋喃的分析

由于氯化二苯并二(口恶)(口英)(Polychlorinateddibenzo-p-dioxins,PCDD)和氯化二苯并呋喃(Polychlorinated dibenzofuran,PCDF)的某些异构体具有极高的毒性,如2,3,7,8-T,CDD系迄今所发现的毒性最高的化合物,同时这两类化合物作为某些化学产品(PCB、2、4-D、2,4,5-T和五氯酚等)的杂质和副产物,或作为燃烧产物而广泛地进入环境。它们已引起各国环境科学家的注意,目前在世界范围内正在开展对PCDD和PCDF的分析方法,环境行为和效应的研     

Ultrasound-assistant preparation of Cu-SAPO-34 nanocatalyst for selective catalytic reduction of NO by NH3

The influence of the various preparation methods of Cu-SAPO-34 nanocatalysts on the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH₃ under excess oxygen was studied. Cu-SAPO-34 nanocatalysts were prepared by using four techniques: conventional impregnation (IM), ultrasound-enhanced impregnation (UIM), conventional deposition precipitation (DP) using NaOH and homogeneous deposition precipitation (HDP) using urea. These catalysts were characterized in detail by various techniques such as N₂-sorption, XRD, TEM, H₂-TPR, NH₃-TPD and XPS to understand the catalyst structure, the nature and the dispersed state of the copper species, and the acid sites for NH₃ adsorption. All of the nanocatalysts showed high activities for NO removal. However, the activities were different and followed the sequence of Cu-SAPO-34 (UIM) > Cu-SAPO-34 (HDP) > Cu-SAPO-34 (IM) > Cu-SAPO-34 (DP). Based on the obtained results, it was concluded that the NO conversion on Cu-SAPO-34 nanocatalysts was mainly related to the high reducibility of the isolated Cu^2 + ions and CuO species, the number of the acid sites and the dispersion of CuO species on SAPO-34.     

Development of thermochromic strips as a water pasteurization indicator

Boiling of water, for purification, commonly practiced in the world, has many problems associated with it like danger of scalding,scaling in the vessels, removal of useful minerals and blandness of taste etc. Water can be made safe for drinking simply by heating at 65℃ for 6 minutes. A colour indicating strip was developed which changes colour from red to purple at 67℃. Use of this strip can help in pasteurizing water without the above problems and with considerable energy saving.     

Health risks associated with heavy metals in the drinking water of Swat, northern Pakistan

The concentrations of heavy metals such as Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were investigated in drinking water sources （surface and groundwater） collected from Swat valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The potential health risks of heavy metals to the local population and their possible source apportionment were also studied. Heavy metal concentrations were analysed using atomic absorption spectrometer and compared with permissible limits set by Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb were higher than their respective permissible limits, while Cu, Mn and Zn concentrations were observed within their respective limits. Health risk indicators such as chronic daily intake （CDI） and health risk index （HRI） were calculated for adults and children separately. CDIs and HRIs of heavy metals were found in the order of Cr 〉 Mn 〉 Ni 〉 Zn 〉 Cd 〉 Cu 〉 Pb and Cd 〉 Ni 〉 Mn 〉 Cr 〉 Cu 〉 Pb 〉 Zn, respectively. HRIs of selected heavy metals in the drinking water were less than 1, indicating no health risk to the local people. Multivariate and univariate statistical analyses showed that geologic and anthropogenic activities were the possible sources of water contamination with heavy metals in the study area.     

全球价值链视角下中国农产品贸易隐含氮、磷、钾研究

基于GTAP数据库提供的多区域投入产出表,采用全球价值链方法测算中国农产品贸易中隐含的化肥转移,并按照农产品最终消费的地理位置将其分解为四部分。研究发现：（1）中国农产品进口为国内节约640万t化肥（占我国化肥用量的13%）,同时引起全球化肥用量节约285万t,为缓解全球资源和环境压力做出贡献;（2）中国农产品贸易深度参与全球价值链,进口农产品中隐含的化肥有12%会再次出口到全球,意味着农产品贸易背后隐含的资源到达中国后会再次出口,形成多次跨境转移。建议在全球价值链视角下更为客观地估算农产品贸易隐含的化肥及其他资源环境问题,倡导共同承担贸易引致的资源环境问题。     

黄土丘陵区林草退耕年限对土壤团聚体特征的影响

随着国家退耕还林还草战略的实施、植被覆盖的变化,林、草地植被恢复进程中土壤团聚体特征的变化受到广泛关注.本研究以黄土丘陵区西部的官山林场退耕后栽植的刺槐林地、撂荒草地为对象,选取退耕年限为10、25 a的林、草地,采用湿筛法测定各样地0~30 cm土壤的水稳性团聚体组成,比较退耕还林、还草和退耕年限(10、25 a)对土壤水稳性团聚体平均质量直径(MWD)和分形维数(D)的影响.结果表明:退耕10 a的林地0~30 cm土层水稳性大团聚体含量(R0.25)、MWD和D分别为57.60%、1.91 mm和2.73;退耕25 a的林地分别为60.17%、1.88 mm和2.74;退耕10 a的草地分别为59.89%、1.82 mm和2.74;退耕25 a的草地分别为72.69%、2.71 mm和2.61.进一步分析证明,随着退耕年限的增加,土壤团聚性增强;但林草地的变化存在差异:恢复10 a阶段,土壤团聚性林地尚优于草地,25 a后草地优于林地.各样地土壤的SOC含量与R0.25呈显著正相关关系(p0.01),与D呈显著负相关关系(p0.05).退耕类型和退耕年限对土壤团聚性有显著影响.     

Assessment of sunflower germplasm for phytoremediation of lead-polluted soil and production of seed oil and seed meal for human and animal consumption

Phytoremediation is a valuable technology for mitigating soil contamination in agricultural lands,but phytoremediation without economic revenue is unfeasible for land owners and farmers.The use of crops with high biomass and bioenergy for phytoremediation is a unique strategy to derive supplementary benefits along with remediation activities.Sunflower(Helianthus annuus L.) is a high-biomass crop that can be used for the phytoremediation of polluted lands with additional advantages(biomass and oi...     

Removal of heavy metals through adsorption using sand

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