Mapping aerial metal deposition in metropolitan areas from tree bark: a case study in Sheffield, England

We investigated the use of metals accumulated on tree bark for mapping their deposition across metropolitan Sheffield by sampling 642 trees of three common species. Mean concentrations of metals were generally an order of magnitude greater than in samples from a remote uncontaminated site. We found trivially small differences among tree species with respect to metal concentrations on bark, and in subsequent statistical analyses did not discriminate between them. We mapped the concentrations of As, Cd and Ni by lognormal universal kriging using parameters estimated by residual maximum likelihood (REML). The concentrations of Ni and Cd were greatest close to a large steel works, their probable source, and declined markedly within 500 m of it and from there more gradually over several kilometres. Arsenic was much more evenly distributed, probably as a result of locally mined coal burned in domestic fires for many years. Tree bark seems to integrate airborne pollution over time, and our findings show that sampling and analysing it are cost-effective means of mapping and identifying sources.     

Effect of citric acid and EDTA on chromium and nickel uptake and translocation by Datura innoxia

EDTA and citric acid were tested to solubilize metals and enhance their uptake by Datura innoxia, chosen because of its ability to accumulate and tolerate metals. Two application modes were used on an industrial soil contaminated mainly by Cr and Ni. The results showed that citric acid was the most effective at increasing the uptake of Cr and EDTA for Ni. These results are consistent with the effectiveness of both chelants in solubilizing metals from the soil. The translocation factor (TF) of Ni was 1.6- and 6.7-fold higher than the control, respectively, for one and two applications of 1mmolkg(-1) EDTA. After two applications of 5 and 10mmolkg(-1) citric acid, the TF of Cr increased 2- and 3.5-fold relative to the control. Whatever the concentration, the application of EDTA modified the plant physiology significantly. For citric acid this was only observed with the highest dose (10mmolkg(-1)).     

Microbial community dynamics in uranium contaminated subsurface sediments under biostimulated conditions with high nitrate and nickel pressure

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: The subsurface at the Oak Ridge Field Research Center represents an extreme and diverse geochemical environment that places different stresses on the endogenous microbial communities, including low pH, elevated nitrate concentrations, and the occurrence of heavy metals and radionuclides, including hexavalent uranium [U(VI)]. The in situ immobilization of U(VI) in the aquifer can be achieved through microbial reduction to relatively insoluble U(IV). However, a high redox potential due to the presence of nitrate and the toxicity of heavy metals will impede this process. Our aim is to test biostimulation of the endogenous microbial communities to improve nitrate reduction and subsequent U(VI) reduction under conditions of elevated heavy metals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Column experiments were used to test the possibility of using biostimulation via the addition of ethanol as a carbon source to improve nitrate reduction in the presence of elevated aqueous nickel. We subsequently analyzed the composition of the microbial communities that became established and their potential for U(VI) reduction and its in situ immobilization. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the microbial population changed from heavy metal sensitive members of the actinobacteria, alpha- and gamma-proteobacteria to a community dominated by heavy metal resistant (nickel, cadmium, zinc, and cobalt resistant), nitrate reducing beta- and gamma-proteobacteria, and sulfate reducing Clostridiaceae. Coincidentally, synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy analyses indicated that the resulting redox conditions favored U(VI) reduction transformation to insoluble U(IV) species associated with soil minerals and biomass. DISCUSSION: This study shows that the necessary genetic information to adapt to the implemented nickel stress resides in the endogenous microbial population present at the Oak Ridge FRC site, which changed from a community generally found under oligotrophic conditions to a community able to withstand the stress imposed by heavy metals, while efficiently reducing nitrate as electron donor. Once nitrate was reduced efficient reduction and in situ immobilization of uranium was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that stimulating the metabolism of the endogenous bacterial population at the Oak Ridge FRC site by adding ethanol, a suitable carbon source, results in efficient nitrate reduction under conditions of elevated nickel, and a decrease of the redox potential such that sulfate and iron reducing bacteria are able to thrive and create conditions favorable for the reduction and in situ immobilization of uranium. Since we have found that the remediation potential resides within the endogenous microbial community, we believe it will be feasible to conduct field tests. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: Biostimulation of endogenous bacteria provides an efficient tool for the successful in situ remediation of mixed-waste sites, particularly those co-contaminated with heavy metals, nitrate and radionuclides, as found in the United States and other countries as environmental legacies of the nuclear age.     

镍冶金废水处理工艺研究

报道了一种处理镍冶金废水的工艺方法。工业试验和生产结果表明，处理后水中镍残余浓度〈０．４ｍｇ／Ｌ，钴〈．１ｍｇ／Ｌ，铜〈０．０２ｍｇ／Ｌ，渣中镍含量为１１．１８％，钴０．１９３％，铜０．７４％。废水处理后达到国家排放标准，有价金属得有效回收。     

铜、镍、铅、锌4种重金属对水田土壤藻类的综合效应

为确定污水、污泥的农田施用标准,使用正交试验表L₉（3⁴）研究了4种重金属铜、镍、铅和锌在低、中、高3种浓度下对土壤藻类的数量和种类的影响。混合重金属使土壤藻类的种群结构发生改变,使蓝藻数量减少,硅藻数量或减少或增加,视条件而定,裸藻成为优势种。在土壤－藻类体系中重金属临界值铜为50mg/kg,镍为50mg/kg,铅为150mg/kg,锌为300mg/kg。     

Assessment of risk in a minerals industry: Canadian nickel

The level of rents attributable to natural resource producers depends on the risk faced by those producers. This paper argues that estimates of risk in mining should control for characteristics of firms such as diversification and debt financing. The capital asset pricing model is applied to securities of three Canadian nickel mining firms over the period 1961–1974. It is concluded that the level of risk was not unusually high.     

ECO-design of reuse and recycling networks by multi-objective optimization

An ECO-optimized reuse of process liquors addresses the financial gain and the effective use of resources. In processes that have a potential for process liquor recovery, the minimization of both economic and environmental burdens can be realised by an ECO-optimal design of reuse and recycling network (RRN).In this paper, a procedure for synthesizing such an RRN for a metal finishing process is investigated. The simultaneous analysis of environmental impact sensitivity (SAEIS) based on a superstructure approach, combined with multi-objective optimization is performed by mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP). This allows an “eco–eco” trade-off i.e. total annualized cost and environmental impacts are minimized simultaneously. By varying the weighting factor, different RRN alternatives were generated. A replacement of the standard and closed-loop system by these solutions, even for the environmentally friendliest case, yielded a reasonable cost saving on raw material's inputs.     

13X沸石去除废水中镍离子的实验研究

实验着重研究了合成 1 3X沸石分子筛吸附重金属离子中的镍离子。结果表明 :当废水pH≥ 5 ,CNi2 + ≤ 2 0 0mg/L ,吸附时间为 30min ,按镍 /沸石质量比为 1∶50投入沸石进行处理 ,镍离子的去除率可达到 99%以上。处理后废水均达到工业排放标准。     

镍对纤维藻（Ankistrodesmus．sp．）毒性作用研究

本文研究了重金属镍对一种淡水绿藻──纤维藻（Ａｎｋｉｓｔｒｏｄｅｓｍｕｓ．ｓｐ．）的毒性作用．结果表明：纤维藻对镍毒作用反应敏感．镍对纤维藻的半数有效浓度９６ＥＣ５０为０．３３μｇ／ｍＬ镍，当镍浓度≥０．４μｇ／ｍＬ时，纤维藻的生长受到明显抑制，生长滞期延长，光合作用受阻，细胞膜透性增加．当镍浓度为３．２μｇ／ｍＬ时，其蛋白质氨基酸含量明显下降．     

Shift in ectomycorrhizal community composition in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedling roots as a response to nickel deposition and removal of lichen cover

Scots pine seedlings were exposed to wet-deposited nickel (Ni) and removal of lichen cover in a dry heath Scots pine forest. Ni deposition affected the colonization of roots by indigenous ectomycorrhizal fungi in contrasting ways in intact and skimmed quadrats. Highest frequencies of tubercle morphotypes of ectomycorrhiza were found in quadrats exposed to 100 mg m⁻² year⁻¹ Ni in lichen covered treatment, while in skimmed quadrats these peaked after the treatment with 10 mg Ni m⁻² year⁻¹. Removal of the lichen layer increased the value of diversity index (H′) of ectomycorrhizal fungal community, probably due to the increase in the evenness of the morphotype distribution. Lichen removal seemed also to improve the condition of the short roots, as the frequencies of poor and senescent short roots were decreased by the removal.