Chemical speciation and potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in volcanic rocks of Southern Qinghai,China

ABSTRACT

Seven volcanic rocks samples were collected from Southern Qinghai to analyze chemical speciation and migration behavior of heavy metals by sequential chemical extraction procedure and column leaching test. The geo-accumulation index, ecological risk index and the risk assessment code were applied to assess the heavy metal pollution and potential environmental effects in this area. Results revealed that the total concentrations of heavy metals did not exceed the background values in soil of this area. Most of the samples produced acid rock drainage. The order of heavy metal migration and transformation sequence in the volcanic rocks of Zhiduo region was Cd?>?Pb?>?As?=?Cu?=?Zn?=?Mn based on the geo-accumulation index and Cd caused heavy pollution, which was also confirmed by the leaching test. Moderate potential ecological risk posed by heavy metals occurred in the study area based on the potential ecological risk index. Cd contributed to most of ecological risk while the remaining heavy metals (except As) exerted medium to high risks to the environment according to the risk assessment code evaluation results. In summary, volcanic rocks possessed potential risks to the surroundings due to potential release of heavy metals. Cd that caused the pollution should be paid special attention.     

Remobilization of selected metal ions from Nile sediment (Egypt) according to sequential extraction and metal–EDTA complex

River sediments are basic components of our environment, providing nutrients for living organisms and serving as sinks for deleterious chemical species. The metal contents may be remobilized and released back into waters with changes in environmental conditions, thus affecting living organisms and human activities. This paper aims to determine the effect of a synthetic anthropogenic chelating agent (EDTA) as industrial discharges on the remobilization of several metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in River Nile sediments (at Aswan and Mansoura cities) under different concentrations and pH values, and to investigate the influence of metal–EDTA complexes on this remobilization. For these purposes, sequential extraction and experiments on the effect of pH and metal EDTA complex were carried out on the two representative sediment samples south and north of the River Nile in Egypt. The results of sequential extraction show that most of metal contents present in the residual form (Cu, 11.36–72.34%; Pb, 29.64–66.67%; and Zn, 43.76–50.09% at Aswan and Mansoura, respectively). Non-residual fractions which may be available for the remobilization by EDTA represented anthropogenic (industrial, agriculture, and domestic discharges) and lithiopogenic (metals bound to Fe and Mn oxides) sources. A clear increase was detected for Cu and Zn remobilization from the increase in EDTA concentrations, in contrast, Cd independent of the EDTA concentration and slight influence on Pb content. The remobilization of metals as a function of pH exhibited. The metals were greatly remobilized under the complexing action of EDTA, showing that some of these elements were adsorbed on the sediments. The remobilization rate of metals was dependent upon the added metal–EDTA complex (with the exchange rate being in the order Ca–EDTA>Zn–EDTA>Cd–EDTA>Cu–EDTA>Pb–EDTA), due to the stability constant of the metal–EDTA complex. The results of these experiments showed that heavy metals are greatly remobilized under the complexing action of EDTA when it is present in excess, so all precautions should be taken to prevent any wastewater containing EDTA or any chelating agents discharging directly or indirectly via the River Nile stream because most EDTA remains in the aquatic phase. The ability of this portion to remobilize metals from sediments should be taken into account.     

Distribution of a Community of Mammals in Relation to Roads and Other Human Disturbances in Gabon,Central Africa

We present the first community‐level study of the associations of both roads and other human disturbances with the distribution of mammals in Gabon (central Africa). Our study site was in an oil concession within a littoral mosaic landscape. We conducted surveys along 199 line transects and installed camera traps on 99 of these transects to document mammal presence and abundance. We used generalized linear mixed‐effect models to document associations between variables related to the ecosystem (land cover, topography, and hydrology), roads (coating, width of rights of way, condition, type of vehicle used on the road, traffic level, affiliation of users, and general type of road), and other human disturbances (urbanization, agriculture, hunting, logging, gathering, and industrial activities) and the abundance or presence of 17 species or groups of mammals including elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), buffalo (Syncerus caffer), sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekei), red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus), smaller ungulates, gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), side‐striped jackal (Canis adustus), carnivores, monkeys, and large rodents. Some types of roads and other human disturbances were negatively associated with the abundance or presence of elephants, buffalos, gorillas, sitatungas, some monkeys, and duikers. The pattern of associations of mammals with roads and other human disturbances was diverse and included positive associations with road presence (red river hog, some monkeys, and duikers), agriculture (sitatunga, small carnivores, and large rodents) and industrial activities (sitatunga, red river hog, red duikers, and side‐striped jackal). Our results suggest that the community of mammals we studied was mostly affected by hunting, agriculture, and urbanization, which are facilitated by road presence. We recommend increased regulation of agriculture, hunting, and road building in the area. Distribución de una Comunidad de Mamíferos en Relación a Carreteras y Otras Perturbaciones Humanas en Gabón, Africa Central     

Online solid phase preconcentration using EGDMA–MAA copolymer for lead determination by FAAS

A Ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) methacrylic acid (MAA) resin was used for preconcentration of lead at trace levels in water samples. For this purpose, a flow-injection, solid phase extraction method was developed for the determination of lead by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Lead ions were sorbed on a EGDMA–MAA column at pH 4, followed by an elution step using 288 µL of 4.0 M nitric acid solution and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Optimum conditions for quantitative sorption involving the pH, sample volume, loading and elution flow rates, eluent type, and volume were investigated. A 868-fold enrichment factor could be reached. The detection limit for the water samples, estimated from the noise on the signal obtained for 250 mL of 10 µg L^?1 loaded at 4.9 mL min^?1 was 1.04 µg L^?1. The method was applied for lead determination in river water samples collected in Edirne, Turkey. Recoveries of spiked solutions (10 µg L^?1) to river water samples were quantitative. Finally, the method was validated by the analysis of certified reference material SRM 2704 (Buffalo River Sediment).     

Spatial distribution of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in major rivers in southwest Nigeria

Concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were measured for the first time in major rivers within southwest, Nigeria. PFOS was concentrated from water and sediment using solid-phase extraction, identified and quantified with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Concentrations of PFOS ranged from 1.71 to 16.19 ng L^?1 in water, and from 1.64 to 10.29 ng g^?1 in sediments across all locations. Comparatively, the concentrations of PFOS observed in this study were within the range ever measured in the environment. Field-based sediment water distribution coefficients (log K_d, L kg^?1) ranged from 2.08 to 3.56. While no correlation was observed between K_d and organic carbon contents, there was significant positive correlation between K_d and salinity (r² = 0.7867), which suggested that activities capable of increasing salinity can enhance PFOS removal from the environment.     

Determination of pentachlorophenol in human urine using solid phase extraction and GC‐MS analysis with stable isotope dilution

A method for the determination of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in human urine was developed. Urine samples were fortified with ¹³C₆‐IabeIed PCP and hydrolyzed with sulfuric acid prior to extraction. The urine samples were then passed through preconditioned solid phase extraction cartridges containing octadecylsilane adsorbent. The PCP was subsequently eluted from the cartridge with ethyl acetate and converted to pentachloroanisole prior to GC‐MS analysis. GC‐MS quantitation was performed using the technique of stable isotope dilution. Percent recoveries averaging 100, 97, and 111% were obtained for replicate urine samples fortified with approximately 2, 20, and 200 ng/mL of PCP, respectively. The method detection limit was estimated to be 0.2 ng/mL.     

SPE-RRLC-MS/MS法测定制药废水中青霉素G

建立了利用固相萃取-高分离度快速液相色谱-串联质谱(SPE-RRLC-MS/MS)测定制药废水中青霉素G残留的方法。水样以30%硫酸锌+20%亚铁氰化钾作为沉淀剂沉淀蛋白质后,上清液采用Oasis HLB固相萃取柱富集和净化,以0.01 mol/L乙酸铵溶液(加0.1%甲酸)+乙腈作为流动相进行等度洗脱,经Agilent Plus C18柱分离后,在串联质谱ESI(+)源下进行MRM检测。该方法的青霉素G检出限(S/N=3)为0.02μg/L,目标物在0.0020～1.0 mg/L范围内线性关系良好,线性相关系数为0.9997。在0.20,1.0,2.0μg/L添加水平平均回收率为74.6%～101.4%,相对标准偏差为4.49%～8.17%。该方法灵敏度高、重现性好、定性定量准确,可满足制药废水中青霉素G残留检测的要求。     

乳状液膜法治理草甘膦废水

采用液膜分离技术从草甘膦生产废水中回收可利用资源草甘膦,并通过实际工业废水进行验证。主要考察了外水相pH值、乳水比及内水相浓度对草甘膦去除的影响。试验结果表明:以航空煤油为溶剂,3%表面活性剂(质量分数),4%载体(体积分数),10%NaOH内水相,油内比Roi为2∶1乳状液膜体系,处理初始浓度为1%的草甘膦工业废水,在pH值为2,乳水比Rew为1∶5的传质条件下,草甘膦去除率可达85%以上。     

乳状液膜法治理氧化铁氨氮废水的研究

研究了采用液膜分离技术从氧化铁行业生产氨氮废水中处理氨氮的工艺,并通过实际工业废水进行了验证。主要考察了表面活性剂的用量、外水相pH值、内相试剂的选择、油内比、乳水比等因素对氨氮去除率的影响。通过实验结果表明:以3%EA表面活性剂(质量分数),10%内水相硫酸浓度,油内比为2∶1的乳状液膜体系,处理初始浓度为1057mg/L氧化铁行业氨氮废水,在pH值为11.8,乳水比Rew为1∶8的传质条件下,氨氮去除率可达94%以上。     

二氯甲烷萃取-HPLC法测定水中的多菌灵

用二氯甲烷液-液萃取氮吹浓缩法萃取水和废水中的多菌灵,取浓缩纯化后的有机相直接进样到高效液相色谱仪,用二极管矩阵检测器检测,根据保留时间外标法定量。实验结果表明,采用此方法可将水体中的多菌灵快速有效地提取,并可获得较高的精密度和准确度。