Effects of thermal desorption on the composition of two coking plant soils: impact on solvent extractable organic compounds and metal bioavailability

To evaluate the efficiency and the influence of thermal desorption on the soil organic compartment, contaminated soils from coking plant sites (NM and H) were compared to their counterparts treated with thermodesorption. The extractable organic matter, and the metal content and distribution with soil compartments were studied.In both thermodesorbed soils, PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) degradation exceeded 90%. However, the thermal desorption led not only to a volatilization of the organic compounds but also to the condensation of extractable organic matter.The treatments only affected the Fe and Zn distribution within the more stable fractions, whereas the organic compound degradation did not affect their mobility and availability.     

Sorption of polar and nonpolar aromatic compounds to four surface soils of eastern China

Improved predictions on the fate of organic pollutants in surface environments require a better understanding of the underlying sorption mechanisms that control their uptake by soils. In this study, we monitored sorption of nine aromatic compounds with varying physicochemical properties (hydrophobicity, electron-donor/acceptor ability and polarity), including two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, two chlorobenzenes, two nitroaromatic compounds, dichlobenil, carbaryl and 2,4-dichlorophenol in aqueous suspension of four surface soils of eastern China. The tested soils were characterized with respect to organic carbon (OC) content, black carbon content, mineralogy, morphology and size fraction to assess the role of the diverse soil characteristics in sorption. The results of this study show that not only the solute hydrophobicity and the OC content of soil are important to the retention of organic pollutants, but also the solute molecular structure and the soil nature.     

Ambient Aerosol and its Carbon Content in Gainesville, a Mid-Scale City in Florida

Ambient aerosols were collected during 2000–2001 in Gainesville, Florida, using a micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI) to study mass size distribution and carbon composition. A bimodal mass distribution was found in every sample with major peaks for aerosols ranging from 0.32 to 0.56 μm, and 3.2 to 5.6 μm in diameter. The two distributions represent the fine mode (<2.5 μm) and the coarse mode (>2.5 μm) of particle size. Averaged over all sites and seasons, coarse particles consisted of 15% carbon while fine particles consisted of 22% carbon. Considerable variation was noted between winter and summer seasons. Smoke from fireplaces in winter appeared to be an important factor for the carbon, especially the elemental carbon contribution. In summer, organic carbon was more abundant. The maximum secondary organic carbon was also found in this season (7.0 μg m⁻³), and the concentration is between those observed in urban areas (15–20 μg m⁻³) and in rural areas (4–5 μg m⁻³). However, unlike in large cities where photochemical activity of anthropogenic emissions are determinants of carbon composition, biogenic sources were likely the key factor in Gainesville. Other critical factors that affect the distribution, shape and concentration were precipitation, brushfire and wind.     

Results of An Indoor Size Fractionated PM School Sampling Program in Libby, Montana

Libby, Montana is the only PM_2.5 nonattainment area in the western United States with the exceptions of parts of southern California. During January through March 2005, a particulate matter (PM) sampling program was conducted within Libby’s elementary and middle schools to establish baseline indoor PM concentrations before a wood stove change-out program is implemented over the next several years. As part of this program, indoor concentrations of PM mass, organic carbon (OC), and elemental carbon (EC) in five different size fractions (>2.5, 1.0–2.5, 0.5–1.0, 0.25–0.5, and <0.25 μm) were measured. Total measured PM mass concentrations were much higher inside the elementary school, with particle size fraction (>2.5, 0.5–1.0, 0.25–0.5, and <0.25 μm) concentrations between 2 and 5 times higher when compared to the middle school. The 1.0–2.5 μm fraction had the largest difference between the two sites, with elementary school concentrations nearly 10 times higher than the middle school values. The carbon component for the schools’ indoor PM was found to be predominantly composed of OC. Measured total OC and EC concentrations, as well as concentrations within individual size fractions, were an average of two to five times higher at the elementary school when compared to the middle school. For the ultrafine fraction (<0.25), EC concentrations were similar between each of the schools. Despite the differences in concentrations between the schools at the various fraction levels, the OC/EC ratio was determined to be similar.     

Spectroscopic Distribution of Dissolved Organic Matter in a Dam Reservoir Impacted by Turbid Storm Runoff

Spectroscopic characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in a large dam reservoir were determined using ultraviolet absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate spatial distribution of DOM composition after turbid storm runoff. Water samples were collected along a longitudinal axis of the reservoir at three to four depths after a severe storm runoff. Vertical profiles of turbidity data showed that a turbid water layer was located at a middle depth of the entire reservoir. The spectroscopic characteristics of DOM samples in the turbid water layer were similar to those of terrestrial DOM, as demonstrated by the higher specific UV absorbance (SUVA) and the lower fluorescence emission intensity ratio (F ₄₅₀/F ₅₀₀) compared to other surrounding DOM samples in the reservoir. Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that higher content of humic-like DOM composition was contained in the turbid water. Fluorescence excitation–emission matrix (EEM) showed that lower content of protein-like aromatic amino acids was present in the turbid water DOM. The highest protein-like fluorescence was typically observed at a bottom layer of each sampling location. The bottom water DOM exhibited extremely high protein-like florescence near the dam site. The particular observation was attributed to the low water temperature and the isolation of the local bottom water due to the upper location of the withdrawal outlet near the dam. Our results suggest that the distribution of DOM composition in a dam reservoir is strongly influenced by the outflow operation, such as selective withdrawal, as well as terrestrial-origin DOM inputs from storm runoff.     

Volatile Organic Compounds: Sampling Methods and Their Worldwide Profile in Ambient Air

The atmosphere is a particularly difficult analytical system because of the very low levels of substances to be analysed, sharp variations in pollutant levels with time and location, differences in wind, temperature and humidity. This makes the selection of an efficient sampling technique for air analysis a key step to reliable results. Generally, methods for volatile organic compounds sampling include collection of the whole air or preconcentration of samples on adsorbents. All the methods vary from each other according to the sampling technique, type of sorbent, method of extraction and identification technique. In this review paper we discuss various important aspects for sampling of volatile organic compounds by the widely used and advanced sampling methods. Characteristics of various adsorbents used for VOCs sampling are also described. Furthermore, this paper makes an effort to comprehensively review the concentration levels of volatile organic compounds along with the methodology used for analysis, in major cities of the world.     

有机肥对土壤NO3--N累积的影响

长期定位试验和调查取样的结果表明,土壤中NO3--N的累积量随有机肥施用量的增加而增加,过量施用有机肥会引起2 m以下深层次土壤中NO3--N的大量累积。当有机肥和无机肥配合施用时,土壤中NO3--N的累积量随总施N量的增加而增加。有机肥对土壤NO3--N累积的影响和对地下水的潜在威胁不容忽视。     

环境监测用氮气中多组分VOCs标准物质的研制

介绍了采用称量法制备瓶装1μmol/mol氮气中42个组分挥发性有机物(VOCs)标准物质的研制方法。建立了选择离子模式,气相色谱-质谱联用的分析方法,对目标组分在气瓶中的长期稳定性进行了考察。所选择的42种目标组分完全满足中国环境保护标准《环境空气挥发性有机物的测定吸附管采样-热脱附/气相色谱-质谱法》(HJ 644—2013)和美国环保署《使用特殊处理的采样罐/气相色谱仪检测环境大气中的挥发性有机物》(EPA TO—14A)这2个方法标准中所规定的环境空气中挥发性有机有害成分的监测要求。将研制的气体标准物质与中国计量科学研究院(NIM)和英国国家物理实验室(NPL)分别进行了比对测试,取得了良好的比对结果与国际等效度。结果表明,1μmol/mol氮气中42种组分VOCs标准物质的有效期为一年,相对扩展不确定度为5.0%(包含因子k=2),并取得国家标准物质证书GBW(E)062231。     

膨润土吸附水中有机污染物的应用进展

论述了膨润土的吸附机理,介绍了膨润土的物理及化学改性方法及其对有机染料废水,焦化废水,烟草废水,煤泥水,含酚类、石油烃类、抗生素废水及微污染水等的处理效果。针对膨润土作为环保吸附剂存在的问题指出了今后的研究方向:1)将研究成果应用于实际废水;2)研究环境友好且效果好的改性工艺及材料;3)研究新的吸附剂制备形式;4)加大膨润土在废气处理上的研究力度;5)研制吸附效果更佳且能处理复杂成分污水的新型复合吸附剂。     

过一硫酸盐的活化及其降解水中有机污染物机理的研究进展

基于活化过一硫酸盐（PMS）产生SO₄^-·的新型高级氧化技术,在芬顿和类芬顿催化降解水中有机污染物的研究中占有重要地位。本文从活化PMS方法的特点和用途出发,对目前活化PMS的主要方法进行了论述,并对活化PMS降解水中有机污染物的机理进行了探讨,最后对该领域研究中存在的问题进行了分析。指出,开发高效的协同活化PMS的方法将成为该领域研究的必然趋势。