Fluorescence fingerprints and Cu2+-complexing ability of individual molecular size fractions in soil- and waste-borne DOM

Land spreading of organic materials introduces large amounts of dissolved organic matter (DOM) into the soil. DOM has the ability to form stable complexes with heavy metals and can facilitate their transport towards the groundwater. The effects on soil processes are difficult to assess, because different DOM components might react differently towards metal ions. The objective of this study was to investigate the fluorescence signature and the Cu2+-binding capacity of individual molecular size fractions of DOM from various sources. DOM extracted from leaf compost, chicken manure, sugar cane vinasse and a fulvic hypercalcaric cambisol was fractionated by the means of dialysis into four molecular size classes: MW<500, 50012000-14000 Da. Vinasse and leaf compost contained around 80% and 70%, respectively, of the total organic carbon in the fractions with low molecular weight (MW<3500 Da); in chicken manure and soil these fractions accounted for 40% and 50% only. Fluorescence was highest in the fraction MW>12000 Da for leaf compost, chicken manure and soil. The opposite result was obtained for vinasse, where the fractions with low molecular weight showed highest fluorescence intensities, distinguishing it from all other samples. Vinasse showed the greatest ability to bind Cu2+ with a resulting complex concentration of 6.31mgl(-1) while in contact with an excess of Cu2+. Leaf compost, soil and chicken manure followed with 2.69, 1.12, and 0.85mgl(-1), respectively. Within vinasse, the fraction MW<500 Da was able to form the most DOM-Cu complexes, indicating the importance of low molecular weight fractions in metal binding.     

Effects of pH, organic acids, and competitive cations on mercury desorption in soils

The effects of pH, organic acids, and competitive cations on Hg(2+) desorption were studied. Three representative soils for rice production in China, locally referred to as a yellowish red soil (YRS), purplish clayey soil (PCS), and silty loam soil (SLS) and classified as Gleyi-Stagnic Anthrosols in FAO/UNESCO nomenclature, were, respectively, collected from Jiaxin County, Deqing County, and Xiasha District of Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. Most of the added Hg(2+) was adsorbed at low initial concentrations (<2 mg l(-1)). Desorption of the adsorbed Hg(2+) in 0.01M KCl (simulating soil solution) was minimal, but was significantly enhanced by the change of pH, and the presence of organic acids or competitive cations. The desorption of Hg(2+) in the soils decreased with pH from 3.0 to 5.0, leveled off at pH 5.0-8.0, but increased with pH from 7.0 to 9.0. The presence of organic ligands enhanced Hg(2+) desorption in the soils except for YRS, in which the addition of tartaric, malic, or oxalic acid reduced Hg(2+) desorption at low concentrations (<10(-4)M), but Hg(2+) desorption generally increased with organic acid concentration. Citric acid was most effective in increasing Hg(2+) desorption, followed by tartaric acid and malic acid; and oxalic acid was the least effective. Desorption of adsorbed Hg(2+) increased with increasing concentrations of added Cu(2+) or Zn(2+). Applied Cu(2+) increased Hg(2+) desorption more than Zn(2+) at the same loading rate. CAPSULE: The effects of organic acids and competitive cations on Hg desorption in soil-water system are related to their concentrations, basic chemical properties, and soil properties.     

Bioavailability to grains of rice of aged and fresh DDD and DDE in soils

DDT had been widely used around the world before 1980s and is still under production and use for non-agricultural purposes in China. Because of their special physicochemical properties, p,p'-DDT and its main metabolites, p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDE, accumulated and persisted in the environment, presenting potential menace on biota. A green-house study was conducted to determine the bioavailability of p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDE to grains of rice and the influences of traditional Chinese farming practices on their bioaccumulation. Paddy rice and dry rice were grown in submerged paddy soils and non-submerged upland soils, respectively. Two types of soil, Hydragric Anthrosols (An) and Hydragric Acrisols (Ac), were employed. Bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of DDE ranged from 0.67 for rice grown in non-submerged An to 0.84 in submerged An in the control group, whilst BAFs were all below 0.04 in experimental groups. BAFs of DDD varied from 1.39 for submerged An to 2.26 for submerged Ac in original soils. In contrast, BAFs were between 0.05 for non-submerged Ac and 0.08 for submerged An in DDD-contaminated soils. Flooding seemed to have two contradictory effects on the DDE/DDD accumulation by rice: on one hand, it made the pollutants more mobile and bioavailable; while on the other hand, it enhanced the degradation and binding of POPs. Adding rice straw to the soils protected DDE from being taken up yet promoted DDD accumulation by rice. Furthermore, the distinct inorganic component of the soils might also play an important role in the environmental activities of POPs.     

Algal-bacterial interactions in metal contaminated floodplain sediments

The aim of the present study was to investigate algal-bacterial interactions in a gradient of metal contaminated natural sediments. By means of multivariate techniques, we related the genetic structure (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, DGGE) and the physiological structure (community-level physiological profiling, CLPP) of the bacterial communities to the species composition of the algal communities and to the abiotic environmental variables, including metal contamination. The results revealed that genetic and physiological structure of the bacterial communities correlated with the species composition of the algal community, but hardly to the level of metal pollution. This must be interpreted as an indication for a strong and species-specific linkage of algal and bacterial species in floodplain sediments. Metals were, however, not proven to affect either the algal or the bacterial communities of the Dutch river floodplains.     

Characterization of gas/particle concentrations and partitioning of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) measured in an urban site of Turkey

Air concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in both gas and particle phases were measured in an urban site (BUTAL-Merinos) of the city of Bursa, Turkey between August 2004 and May 2005. The mean of total (particle+gas) PCB concentrations was about 491.8+/-189.4pg/m(3). The main contributors for PCBs in the sampling site were the local sources and long-range atmospheric transport supported by back trajectory analysis. Lower molecular weight PCB congeners generally dominated in the samples. The particle phase of the measured PCBs accounted for 15% of the total PCB concentrations. Gas/particle distribution was investigated using different approaches such as log K(P)-log P(L)(o), log K(P)-log K(OA) and the Junge-Pankow model. Regression analysis among log K(P), log P(L)(o) and log K(OA) exhibited significant correlation at p<0.05. Correlation between PCB homologs and meteorological parameters was formed to investigate the possible relationships.     

Remobilization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during the resuspension of Yangtze River sediments using a particle entrainment simulator

Remobilization of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during sediment resuspension was investigated using a particle entrainment simulator at shear stress from 0.2 to 0.5Nm(-2), typical of the energy levels present in many tidally driven aquatic environments. The results suggested that desorption from the entrained particles was the primary source of dissolved PAHs. summation operatorPAHs concentrations in particles on volume normalization increased about four times. However, on mass weight basis, summation operatorPAHs concentrations decreased from 6039.74+/-138.28microgkg(-1) to 1665.39+/-112.26microgkg(-1). The same trend was observed for individual PAHs. Dissolved concentrations of PAHs demonstrated significant differences depending on molecular weight and applied shear. The distribution of PAHs between particle and water phase suggested that for three-ring PAHs, the amounts of PAHs in particles were higher than the predicted values during our experiments. This might be due to presence of another active sorbent.     

Anaerobic degradation of nonylphenol in soil

This study investigated the effects of various factors on the anaerobic degradation of nonylphenol (NP) in soil. The results show that the optimal pH for NP degradation was 7.0 and that the degradation rate was enhanced when the temperature was increased. The addition of compost enhanced NP degradation. The individual addition of the electron donors lactate, acetate, and pyruvate inhibited NP degradation. The high-to-low order of NP degradation rates under three anaerobic conditions was sulfate-reducing conditions > methanogenic conditions > nitrate-reducing conditions. The results show that sulfate-reducing bacteria, methanogen, and eubacteria are involved in the anaerobic degradation of NP, with sulfate-reducing bacteria being a major component of the soil. Of the anaerobic strains isolated from the soil samples, strain AT3 expressed the best ability to biodegrade NP.     

Challenges in quantifying biosphere-atmosphere exchange of nitrogen species

Recent research in nitrogen exchange with the atmosphere has separated research communities according to N form. The integrated perspective needed to quantify the net effect of N on greenhouse-gas balance is being addressed by the NitroEurope Integrated Project (NEU). Recent advances have depended on improved methodologies, while ongoing challenges include gas-aerosol interactions, organic nitrogen and N(2) fluxes. The NEU strategy applies a 3-tier Flux Network together with a Manipulation Network of global-change experiments, linked by common protocols to facilitate model application. Substantial progress has been made in modelling N fluxes, especially for N(2)O, NO and bi-directional NH(3) exchange. Landscape analysis represents an emerging challenge to address the spatial interactions between farms, fields, ecosystems, catchments and air dispersion/deposition. European up-scaling of N fluxes is highly uncertain and a key priority is for better data on agricultural practices. Finally, attention is needed to develop N flux verification procedures to assess compliance with international protocols.     

狭长地下受限空间火灾分区形成的试验研究

通过狭长地下受限空间的火灾模拟试验,研究O#柴油在不同空间尺度形成的火灾分区现象.分析柴油燃烧时狭长地下受限空间火灾分区现象形成的判断依据、条件、时间,惰化区氧气耗量与空间容积的关系,惰化区氧气体积分数、烟气温度随时间的变化.结果表明.燃料量、空间尺度和燃烧表面积是影响狭长地下受限空间火灾分区形成的主要因素;分区现象形成的判断依据为惰化区氧气体积分数≤16%;分区现象形成的条件为火焰区容积热强度≥720 kW·m-3.这对地下受限空间火灾的防治和其性能化设计具有参考价值.     

地下储库油气爆炸及抑爆机理与技术研究

针对地下储库受限空间的特点和油气爆炸抑制的需要.在前期所完成的系统油气爆炸试验和理论研究的基础上,采用超细冷气溶胶抑爆新技术,建立地下受限空间油气爆炸及其抑爆模拟试验系统,研制出新型超细冷气溶胶粉体抑爆剂,并对其进行可行性与有效性研究.对地下受限空间油气爆炸抑制的影响因素进行研究,分析了抑爆剂作用机理.结果表明:超细冷气溶胶是一种高效的抑制地下储库油气爆炸的抑爆剂;在相同试验条件下,迎着火焰传播方向喷射抑爆剂的抑爆效果优于垂直火焰传播方向喷射抑爆剂;喷射压力存在临界值,较小较大都不利于油气爆炸抑制,在本文试验条件下.最佳抑爆效果的喷射压力临界值约为0.8 Mpa;抑爆剂用量不能低于临界抑爆浓度,实验得到的抑爆刑临界浓度为0.232 ks/m3;布置方式对抑爆效果具有明显的影响.分散布置比集中布置具有更好的抑爆效果.本文的研究对后续抑爆装置的研制提供了重要的理论参考和关键设计参数.