Heavy metals and arsenic fixation into freshwater organic matter under Gammarus pulex L. influence

Organic sediments are a main sink for metal pollutants in aquatic systems. However, factors that make sediments a sink of metals and metalloids are still not clear. Consequently, we investigate the role of invertebrate shredders (Gammarus pulex L.) on quality of metal and arsenic fixation into organic partitions of sediment in the course of litter decay with laboratory microcosm experiments. During the decomposition of leaf litter, G. pulex significantly facilitated the development of small particles of organic matter. The capacity of metal fixation was significantly higher in smaller particles than leaf litter and litter residuals. Thus, G. pulex enhanced metal fixation into the organic partition of sediments by virtue of increasing the amount smaller particles in the aquatic system. Furthermore, invertebrates have a significant effect on formation of dissolved organic matter and remobilization of cobalt, molybdenum and cesium, but no significant effect on remobilization of all other measured elements.     

Growth and alkaline phosphatase activity of Chattonella marina and Heterosigma akashiwo in response to phosphorus limitation

The growth and alkaline phosphatase activity(APA) of two raphidophyceae species Chattonella marina and Heterosigma akashiwo were investigated in response to P-limitation and subsequent addition of dissolved inorganic phosphorus(DIP, Na H2PO4) and two dissolved organic phosphorus(DOP) compounds: guanosine 5-monophosphate(GMP) and triethyl phosphate(TEP). APA levels increased greatly after P-starvation as the decrease of the cellular phosphorus quotes(Qp). C. marina responded to P-limitation quickly and strongly, with 10-fold increase in APA within 24 hr after P-starvation. The larger difference between maximal and minimal QP values in C. marina indicated its high capacity in P storage. APA of H. akashiwo was maximally enlarged about 2.5 times at 48 hr of P-starvation. After the addition of nutrients, cell numbers of C. marina increased in all treatments including the P-free culture, demonstrating the higher endurance of C. marina to P-limitation. However, those of H. akashiwo increased only in DIP and GMP cultures. APA increased only after the addition of the monophosphate ester GMP. The results suggest that quick responses of C. marina to P-limitation, high capacity in P storage as well as endurance for P-depletion provide this species an ecological advantage in phytoplankton community competition under DIP-limited conditions.     

The fate of nitrogen in a moderately alkaline and calcareous soil amended with biosolids and urea

The determination of nitrogen (N) based loading rates for land application of biosolids is challenging and site specific. Over loading may contribute to environmental, agricultural, or human health problems. The objective of this study was to monitor N mineralization and losses in a moderately alkaline and calcareous desert soil amended with either anaerobically digested (AN) or lime-stabilized (LS) biosolids, and irrigated with and without urea enriched water. For Experiment 1, N inputs, leaching and residuals in soil were evaluated in an open soil column system. For Experiment 2, ammonia (NH₃) emissions were evaluated in a closed soil column system. In Experiment 1, AN and LS biosolids increased soil ON (organic N) by three and two fold, respectively. Respective net N mineralization of ON from biosolids alone was 90% and 62% without urea, and 71% and 77%, respectively with added urea. Nitrogen leaching losses and residuals in amended soil did not account for all N inputs into the soil/biosolids system. In Experiment 2, NH₃ emissions were not significantly different among treated soils with or without added urea, except LS amended soil receiving urea. Ammonia losses did not account for unaccounted N in Experiment 1. We concluded that deep placement and rapid mineralization of AN biosolids promoted anaerobic soil conditions and denitrification, in addition to the high denitrification potential of desert soil. LS biosolids showed greater potential than AN biosolids for safe and beneficial land application to desert soils regardless of biosolids placement and the inclusion of N rich irrigation water.     

黑龙滩水库水体生态系统酶活力及其生态学意义研究

本文黑龙滩水库水体生态系统中脲酶与磷酸酶活力及其与多种水质参数之间的关系进行了研究，结果表明：（１）酶活力与水质，水温变化呈出现一致的动态变化规律。（２）黑龙滩水库水体中脲酶来源与水生生物关系不大，而磷酸酶主要来自浮游植物和水生细菌。（３）水体中脲酶活力受水中总氮浓度瓣影响，而磷酸酶活力不受水中磷酸盐的抑制。     

东湖溶解态磷酸酶的活性、动力学特征及其空间分布

湖泊中酶的活性是具有监测意义的生物化学参数．不同季节东湖纳污点的溶解态碱性磷酸酶活性（ＡＰＡＤｉｓｓ）显著高于湖区水样中的相应值．在纳污点和湖区,ＡＰＡＤｉｓｓ与溶解正磷酸盐浓度的关系不尽一致．与表层水相比,富营养型湖区沉积物间隙水中的ＡＰＡＤｉｓｓ及其动力学参数均明显不同．郭郑湖区表层水ＡＰＡＤｉｓｓ的非均一性空间分布是不同来源且具不同动力学特征的酶循不同的反应机制共同作用的结果,它反应了湖泊污染程度、营养水平以及有机物质转化效率的概况．     

碱性催化剂对农业废物液化产生生物油和气体的影响

采用热化学处理法对农业废物玉米秸秆和苹果渣进行处理,3种碱性物质Na2CO3、K2CO3和KOH作为催化剂,都能不同程度提高液化生物油收率、减少固体残渣收率.但碱性催化剂会降低气体收率,因而不适合作为以获得气体产物为目的的生物质气化试验的催化剂.就增加液化生物油收率方面而言,Na2CO3的催化效果最好,KOH催化效果次之,K2CO3的催化效果最差.     

Radionuclide and chemical concentrations in mineral waters at Saratoga Springs, New York

A project to characterize the radionuclide and chemical components in natural spring waters in the vicinity of Saratoga Springs, New York (USA) has been completed. As a result of the measured radionuclide and chemical content, eight springs were labeled as mineral waters, whereas three springs contained very low concentrations of these components. The mineral waters were highly enriched in alkaline and alkaline-earth elements, as well as chloride ions. Three isotopes of radium ((224)Ra, (226)Ra, (228)Ra) were detected in the mineral waters and reached concentrations of 1, 20, and 2 Bq/L, respectively. Overall, the (226)Ra isotope constituted about 80% of the total radioactivity measured in the water samples. Dissolved uranium concentrations in the mineral waters were very low (mean approximately 50 mBq/L).     

Survey of mercury,cadmium and lead content of household batteries

The objective of this work was to provide updated information on the development of the potential impact of heavy metal containing batteries on municipal waste and battery recycling processes following transposition of the new EU Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC. A representative sample of 146 different types of commercially available dry and button cells as well as lithium-ion accumulators for mobile phones were analysed for their mercury (Hg)-, cadmium (Cd)- and lead (Pb)-contents. The methods used for preparing the cells and analysing the heavy metals Hg, Cd, and Pb were either developed during a former study or newly developed. Several batteries contained higher mass fractions of mercury or cadmium than the EU limits. Only half of the batteries with mercury and/or lead fractions above the marking thresholds were labelled. Alkaline–manganese mono-cells and Li-ion accumulators, on average, contained the lowest heavy metal concentrations, while zinc–carbon batteries, on average, contained the highest levels.     

Low-temperature (NO + O2) adsorption performance of alkaline earth metal-doped C-FDU-15

To improve the removal capacity of NO + O₂ effectively, the alkaline earth metal-doped order mesoporous carbon (A-C-FDU-15(0.001) (A = Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba)) and Mg-C-FDU-15(x) (x = 0.001?0.003) samples were prepared, and their physicochemical and NO + O₂ adsorption properties were determined by means of various techniques. The results show that the sequence in (NO + O₂) adsorption performance was as follows: Mg-C-FDU-15(0.001) (93.2 mg/g) > Ca-C-FDU-15(0.001) (82.2 mg/g) > Sr-C-FDU-15(0.001) (76.1 mg/g) > Ba-C-FDU-15(0.001) (72.9 mg/g) > C-FDU-15 (67.1 mg/g). Among all of the A-C-FDU-15(0.001) samples, Mg-C-FDU-15(0.001) possessed the highest (NO + O₂) adsorption capacity (106.2 mg/g). The species of alkaline earth metals and basic sites were important factors determining the adsorption of NO + O₂ on the A-C-FDU-15(x) samples, and (NO + O₂) adsorption on the samples was mainly chemical adsorption. Combined with the results of (NO + O₂)-temperature-programmed desorption ((NO + O₂)-TPD) and in situ diffused reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) characterization, we deduced that there were two main pathways of (NO + O₂) adsorption: one was first the conversion of NO and O₂ to NO₂ and then part of NO₂ was converted to NO₂^? and NO₃^?; and the other was the direct oxidation of NO to NO₂^? and NO₃^?.