Theory of storage,inventory and volatility in the LME base metals

The theory of storage, as related to commodities, makes two predictions involving the quantity of the commodity held in inventory. When inventory is low (i.e. a situation of scarcity), spot prices will exceed futures prices, and spot price volatility will exceed futures price volatility. Conversely, during periods of no scarcity, both spot prices and spot price volatility will remain relatively subdued. We test these predictions for the six base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange (aluminium, copper, lead, nickel, tin and zinc), and find strong validation for the theory. Including Chinese inventories reported by the Shanghai Futures Exchange strengthens the relationship further. We also introduce the concepts of excess volatility, inventory-implied spot price and inventory-implied spot volatility and illustrate some applications.     

Fractionation of Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu in Sediments of Khor Kalabsha, Lake Nasser, Egypt

Khor Kalabsha is the second largest Khor in Lake Nasser, which is a freshwater side-branch of the main lake. Chemical analysis of the samples indicates that calcium carbonate and organic matter content in the surface sediments average 17.8 and 3.07%, respectively. Moreover, manganese, iron, zinc and copper concentrations are lower in Khor Kalabsha than in other lakes of Egypt. It has been found that both oxides and residual forms constitute the major part of the measured elements in the study area, while manganese and iron play an important role in building up clay minerals. It is noted that both zinc and copper fractions are controlled by biological and biochemical processes.     

Chemistry, mineralogy and radioactivity in posidonia oceanica meadows from North-Western Sicily

This paper presents measurements of major, minor, metal trace elements and radionuclides in sediments and in Posidonia oceanica samples from north-western Sicily (Italy). The mineralogical and chemical composition of sediments were determined by X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence techniques, respectively. A flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to measure concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in P. oceanica samples and in sediments. Specific activities of selected radionuclides have been determined by high-resolution gamma spectrometry. Standard statistical analysis was used to assess correlations between different elements and different sample types.     

Pathways of adaptation of common dandelion cenopopulations to long-term chemical and radiation influences

A comparative study of the seed progeny of dandelions was performed with samples from cenopopulations growing for a long time under conditions of radioactive contamination (the zone of the Eastern Ural Radioactive Trace, EURT) or chemical pollution (the impact zone of the Nizhnii Tagil Metallurgical Plant, NTMP). The viability of seeds proved to decrease in a similar way along with an increase in technogenic pressure, irrespective of its nature. Experiments on acute exposure to heavy metals and γ-irradiation made it possible to reveal the adaptive capacities of the seed progeny from each cenopopulation. The background sample (formed beyond the zone of any impact) was relatively resistant to irradiation and very sensitive to heavy metals. The cenopopulations from the EURT and NTMP zones manifested nonspecific responses to the effects of both habitual and new factors.     

重金属和油处理剂对水稻根系的影响

试验了Ｎｉ、Ｚｎ、Ｍｎ、Ｓｎ、Ｃｒ和Ｃｕ等６种重金属及油处理剂对水稻根系的影响，结果表明．水中含Ｎｉ０．００７ｍｇ／１、Ｃｕ０．００５ｍｇ／１时，能阻碍根系的伸长；含Ｚｎ０．５ｍｇ／１以上时。不利于根系的伸长；水中含Ｍｎ２０ｍｇ／１，Ｓｎ、Ｃｒ￣（６－）各５ｍｇ／１时，对根系有明显危害；水中含Ｃｒ￣（２＋）＋Ｃｒ￣（６＋）时，当１种离子浓度保持不变，根系的抑制程度随着另１种离子浓度的增加而增大。水中含油处理剂１０００ｍｇ／１时，能抑制水稻发根。     

Anatomical Structure of Ectomycorrhiza in Abies sibirica Ledeb. and Picea obovata Ledeb. under Conditions of Forest Ecosystems Polluted with Emissions from Copper-Smelting Works

Changes in the anatomical characters of ectomycorrhiza in Siberian fir and Siberian spruce were studied in natural forests polluted with heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, and Fe) and sulfur dioxide. As technogenic load increased, the total radius of mycorhiza terminals and plant roots included in them increased in the organic horizon and decreased in the mineral part of the soil. The absolute thickness of fungal mycorhiza caps and their relative contribution to the total volume of consuming organs increased under pollution. The observed responses were regarded as adaptive, aimed at compensating the adverse effects caused by technogenic pollution.     

Changes in Extractable Metal Concentrations During Storage of Surface Water Samples Containing Sediments1

ABSTRACT: Changes in metal concentrations during storage of acidified water samples were studied. Water samples with high concentrations of suspended sediment were collected from the Fraser River, British Columbia. These samples were analyzed for “extractable” metals, which are defined to be the dissolved metals plus those metals extracted from suspended sediment by dilute mineral acid. Concentrations of extractable Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, and Cd were determined over time. Metal concentrations in these water samples were not stable and showed significant increases throughout the storage period. These results suggest that the extractable metal technique is inappropriate for the analysis of water samples containing suspended sediment.     

Influence of Metals on Lindane Adsorption onto Pine Bark

Some persistent pesticides, as organochlorines, are not efficiently removed from usual wastewater treatment plants, unless a tertiary treatment, commonly activated carbon adsorption, is applied. The downside of this practice rests on its high regeneration costs. This fact motivated the research for alternative processes involving the use of natural materials. Pine bark was used in this work, to remove lindane from contaminated waters. The adsorptive capabilities of this material were studied (equilibrium time, adsorption model and saturation of the adsorbent) and the interference of some metals (iron, cadmium, copper, nickel and lead) was also investigated. Results showed an excellent efficiency of adsorption (average 80,65%) and that the presence of the studied metals did not affect both efficiency and the model of the adsorption, within the range of the concentration of the pesticide studied.     

水杉母树管理站土壤重金属污染分析与评价

通过对湖北利川水杉母树管理站土壤中Cd、Cr、Cu、Pb、Zn五种重金属含量进行测定,采用地积累指数法及潜在生态危害指数法分别评价其污染水平,结果表明水杉母树管理站的土壤重金属具有污染。地积累指数法得出Cd受到中等程度的污染,Igeo分级为2级,其他四种重金属无污染。生态危害指数法得出单一金属潜在生态风险系数上Cd的已经可观,其他四种金属为低,多金属潜在生态风险指数提示已经达到中等。     

ICP-AES测定南宁市大气颗粒物中重金属含量

采用石英滤纸和隔膜真空泵自制采样装置,对南宁市区的居民区、校园区、商业区和工业区进行连续10d的大气采样,所得样品经微波消解后,用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法(ICP-AES)同时测定铬、铁、铜、锌、砷、镉和铅七种重金属元素含量以检测南宁市空气质量,同时考察了仪器工作参数对测定结果的影响。实验表明:在选定的实验条件下,各元素的检出限低,准确性和精密度良好。样品测定结果表明,大气环境中重金属污染物以Fe、Zn和Pb为主;工业区,商业区,居民区重金属含量高于校园区。重金属平均浓度最大值为:Cr(0.06027μg/m)3、Fe(1.8541μg/m)3、Cu(0.02214μg/m)3、Zn(0.3666μg/m)3、As(0.02272μg/m)3、Cd(0.004733μg/m)3、Pb(0.1843μg/m)3,低于我国(TJ36-96)《居住区大气中的有害物质最高容许量》中规定值,说明南宁市空气质量良好。