The use of clays to sequestrate organic pollutants. Leaching experiments

Leaching experiments are performed from clay-pollutant systems in order to evaluate the capability of clays to sequestrate organic pollutants from wastewaters. Reference kaolinite KGa-1b, montmorrillonite SWy-2 and reference soil BCR^®-700 are the sorbent materials. 2,4,6-trichloroaniline (2,4,6-TCA) and 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) are the typical pollutants, sorbed at amounts of 10.0 mg g⁻¹ and 5.8 mg g⁻¹ on SWy-2 and 7.3 mg g⁻¹ and 2.2 mg g⁻¹ on KGa-1b, respectively.The leaching agents are ultrapure water and model solutions of acid rain and surface waters that simulate meteoric leaching. 1.0 mM HNO₃, 1.0 mM H₂SO₄ solutions and a methanol/water 50/50 (v/v) mixture simulate leaching agents of industrial source.The results are compared and the preferential capability of the clays to sequestrate the more lipophilic 2,4,6-TCA is evidenced.The bond interactions are discussed and explained through preferential adsorption reactions. For montmorrillonite also a simultaneous intercalation in the phyllosilicate interlayer is proposed.     

Ecological risk assessment of organic waste amendments using the species sensitivity distribution from a soil organisms test battery

Safe amendment rates (the predicted no-effect concentration or PNEC) of seven organic wastes were estimated from the species sensitivity distribution of a battery of soil biota tests and compared with different realistic amendment scenarios (different predicted environmental concentrations or PEC). None of the wastes was expected to exert noxious effects on soil biota if applied according either to the usual maximum amendment rates in Europe or phosphorus demands of crops (below 2 tonnes DM ha⁻¹). However, some of the wastes might be problematic if applied according to nitrogen demands of crops (above 2 tonnes DM ha⁻¹). Ammonium content and organic matter stability of the studied wastes are the most influential determinants of the maximum amendment rates derived in this study, but not pollutant burden. This finding indicates the need to stabilize wastes prior to their reuse in soils in order to avoid short-term impacts on soil communities.     

Multiple batch extraction test to estimate contaminant release parameters using a Bayesian approach

Industrial activities produce vast amounts of weakly contaminated materials which are commonly reused as filling materials on natural ground. There is a strong demand to define guidelines for the application of these materials, to estimate the leaching potential of contaminants from the materials, and to assess the potential hazard for groundwater pollution. We present a multiple batch experiment, where measurements of liquid-phase concentrations at varying liquid/solid ratios are used to estimate the total mass of contaminant that can be extracted from a contaminated material with a mild extractant like water. Furthermore, the experiment yields estimates of the isotherm describing the partitioning of the contaminant between the solid and liquid phases, and a concentration that might be expected under soil hydraulic conditions representative for the field situation. Model parameters are estimated from liquid-phase concentrations within a Bayesian framework by applying the Shuffled Complex Evolution Metropolis Algorithm (SCEM-UA), an efficient Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampler. A sensitivity analysis and inversions of synthetically generated data corrupted with noise show the general suitability of the proposed method. An uncertainty analysis for model parameters and model predictions shows the expected accuracy of the estimates. An application to concentration measurements obtained from a multiple batch extraction test illustrates the applicability of the approach for a real situation.     

An alternative approach to reconstructing organic matter accumulation with contrasting watershed disturbance histories from lake sediments

A number of proxies, including carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N) and stable isotopes (delta(13)C and delta(15)N), have been used to reconstruct organic matter (OM) profiles from lake sediments and these proxies individually or in combination cannot clearly discriminate different sources. Here we present an alternative approach to elucidate this problem from lake sediments as a function of watershed scale land use changes. Stable isotope signatures of defined OM sources from the study watersheds, Shawnigan Lake (SHL) and Elk Lake (ELL), were compared with sedimentary proxy records. Results from this study reveal that terrestrial inputs and catchment soil coinciding with the watershed disturbances histories probably contributed in recent trophic enrichment in SHL. In contrast, cultural eutrophication in ELL was partially a result of input from catchment soil (agricultural activities) with significant input from lake primary production as well. Results were consistent in both IsoSource (IsoSource version 1.2 is a Visual Basic program used for source separation, (http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/models/isosource/isosource.htm) and discriminant analysis (statistical classification technique).     

Characteristics of organic phosphorus fractions in different trophic sediments of lakes from the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River region and Southwestern Plateau, China

In this study, the characteristics of organic phosphorus (Po) fractions in sediments of six lakes from the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River region and Southwestern China Plateau, China were investigated using a soil Po fractionation scheme, and the relationships between Po, inorganic phosphorus (Pi) and pollution status were also discussed. The results show that the rank order of Po fractions was: residual Po>HCl-Po>fulvic acid-P>humic acid-P>NaHCO3-Po, with their average relative proportion 8.7:4.6:3.2:2.1:1.0. Po fractions, especially nonlabile Po, were significantly correlated with organic matter, Po and NaOH-Pi. Different distribution patterns of P fractions were observed in those two different regions. Po fractions in the heavily polluted sediments were higher than those in moderately and no polluted sediments, it is suggested that Po should be paid more attention in the lake eutrophication investigation.     

Spatial distribution and internal metal concentrations of terrestrial arthropods in a moderately contaminated lowland floodplain along the Rhine River

Soil metal concentrations, inundation characteristics and abundances of 14 arthropod taxa were investigated in a moderately contaminated lowland floodplain along the Rhine River and compared to the hinterland. Internal metal concentrations were determined for the orders of Coleoptera (beetles) and Araneida (spiders) and were related to soil concentrations. The floodplain was characterized by larger arthropod abundance than the hinterland, in spite of recurrent inundations and higher soil metal concentrations. Most arthropod taxa showed increasing abundance with decreasing distance to the river channel and increasing average inundation duration. For Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, significant relations were found between arthropod concentrations and concentrations in soil. Significant relations were few but positive, indicating that increasing soil concentrations result in increasing body burdens in arthropods. For arthropod-eating vertebrates, these results might imply that larger prey availability in the floodplain coincides with higher metal concentrations in prey, possibly leading to increased exposure to metal contamination.     

锌冶炼区菜地土壤和蔬菜重金属污染状况及风险评价

对黔西北地区某典型锌冶炼区菜地土壤和主要蔬菜进行取样调查,测定了土壤和蔬菜可食用部分Pb、Cd、Zn、Cu、As、Ni 6种重金属的含量,采用单项污染指数和综合污染指数法评价了土壤和蔬菜中重金属的污染状况,并分别采用潜在生态风险指数（RI）和目标危险系数法（THQ）评价了菜地土壤重金属污染的潜在生态风险和蔬菜中重金属对成人和青少年儿童的健康风险.结果表明,该区域菜地土壤已受到重金属的重度污染,且以Cd对综合指数的贡献最大,土壤Cd存在极强生态风险,研究区处于轻微、中等、强和很强的生态风险程度的采样点比例分别为2.0%、14.3%、35.7%和48.0%;在所采集的蔬菜样本中,土豆处于重度污染水平,芸豆处于中度污染水平;复合重金属健康风险指数评价结果表明,食用研究区域蔬菜对成人和青少年儿童健康产生负面影响的可能性很大.     

地下水DNAPLs污染修复多相流模拟的替代模型

应用克里格法、支持向量回归法、核极限学习机法建立多相流模拟模型的替代模型,并应用集对分析法建立组合替代模型,通过将多种替代模型进行对比,分析不同替代模型在地下水DNAPLs污染修复多相流模拟问题中的适用性.结果表明,3种单一替代模型中,克里格模型的精度最高,其次是核极限学习机模型,最后是支持向量回归模型;应用集对分析原理建立集对权组合替代模型,与单一替代模型相比,其模拟模型的逼近精度更高,且提升效果十分显著,平均残差和平均相对误差分别为0.4009%和0.5373%;集对权组合替代模型运行一次仅需1.5s,选择组合替代模型代替多相流模拟模型进行地下水DNAPLs污染的修复方案优选分析,能够大幅减小模拟-优化过程的计算负荷,并保持较高的计算精度.     

贵州兴仁煤矿开采旧址重金属Cd、 Hg和As在常见蕨类及其根际土壤中的含量与积累特征研究

本文对贵州兴仁某处煤矿区旧址自然定居的优势蕨类7科10属(分别为蕨菜、华中介蕨、栗蕨、狗脊、芒萁、顶芽狗脊、耳羽岩蕨、光里白、蜈蚣草和岭南铁角蕨)及其根际土壤重金属(Cd、Hg和As)含量进行了调查分析。结果表明,植物根际土壤Cd含量为0. 03～1. 9 mg/kg,超过了国家土壤二级标准; Hg和As含量分别为0. 5～15 mg/kg和537～5 330 mg/kg,均超过了国家土壤三级标准,其中As超标严重。蕨类植物中蜈蚣草富集As效果最佳,地上部分As含量达1 710 mg/kg,转运系数为1. 4。岭南铁角蕨地上部分Cd含量可高达1 490μg/kg,转运系数达56,具有极强的Cd富集能力。通过相关性分析发现,蕨类吸收Cd和As的量与根际土p H呈显著正相关关系(P0. 05),吸Hg量则与p H呈显著负相关(P0. 05)。土壤中重金属的可交换态与蕨类对重金属的吸收总量均呈显著正相关关系(P0. 05)。单因子污染指数法计算结果显示,废渣堆附近土壤Hg和As污染十分严重,其中As污染已扩散到下游区域。潜在生态风险程度评估表明,该煤矿区重金属Cd、Hg和As复合污染严重,其高风险程度应引起相关部门重视。     

基于多源辅助数据和神经网络模型的稻田土壤砷空间分布预测

合适的方法和多源的辅助数据对于准确预测土壤重金属的空间分布具有重要意义.该研究提出一种径向基函数神经网络结合普通克里格法的模型(RBFNN_OK),由主成分分析(PCA)提取的地形因子、遥感数据和邻近信息等多源辅助数据作为自变量,预测江西省都昌县稻田土壤砷空间分布.为验证RBFNN_OK的可行性:首先在全县范围内采集144个稻田表层(0～20 cm)土壤样品,运用ArcGIS地统计模块随机抽取115个(80%)采样点作为测试集,29个(20%)采样点作为验证集.其次多源辅助数据包括地形因子、遥感数据和邻近信息等14个定量因子作为预测变量,将预测变量进行主成分分析,得到前10个主成分的累积贡献率达到97.62%.再次一个特定的RBFNN_OK被用来预测土壤砷空间分布.最后将RBFNN_OK模型的预测结果与径向基神经网络模型(RBFNN)、回归克里格模型(RK)和多元逐步线性回归模型(MSLR)进行比较.结果表明,RBFNN_OK的测量值标准偏差与均方根误差的比值(RPD)较其它3种方法分别提高了14.92%、35.71%和44.67%.此外,RBFNN_OK还提供了更加真实且有关土壤砷空间分布的细节信息.RBFNN_OK取得最优效果可能归因于引入多源辅助数据,考虑多源辅助数据和土壤砷之间的多重共线性和非线性关系.该方法可为稻田土壤砷调查与环境保护提供更为精准的信息.