Mechanism of lead immobilization by oxalic acid-activated phosphate rocks

Lead (Pb) chemical fixation is an important environmental aspect for human health. Phosphate rocks (PRs) were utilized as an adsorbent to remove Pb from aqueous solution. Raw PRs and oxalic acid-activated PRs (APRs) were used to investigate the effect of chemical modification on the Pb-binding capacity in the pH range 2.0-5.0. The Pb adsorption rate of all treatments above pH 3.0 reached 90%. The Pb binding on PRs and APRs was pH-independent, except at pH 2.0 in activated treatments. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that the raw PRs formed cerussite after reacting with the Pb solution, whereas the APRs formed pyromorphite. The Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy analysis indicated that carbonate (CO₃^2-) in raw PRs and phosphate (PO₄^3-) groups in APRs played an important role in the Pb-binding process. After adsorption, anomalous block-shaped particles were observed by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data further indicated that both chemical and physical reactions occurred during the adsorption process according to the binding energy. Because of lower solubility of pyromorphite compared to cerussite, the APRs are more effective in immobilizing Pb than that of PRs.     

Nitrogen deposition alters soil chemical properties and bacterial communities in the Inner Mongolia grassland

Nitrogen deposition has dramatically altered biodiversity and ecosystem functioning on the earth; however, its effects on soil bacterial community and the underlying mechanisms of these effects have not been thoroughly examined. Changes in ecosystems caused by nitrogen deposition have traditionally been attributed to increased nitrogen content. In fact, nitrogen deposition not only leads to increased soil total N content, but also changes in the NH₄⁺-N content, NO₃^--N content and pH, as well as changes in the heterogeneity of the four indexes. The soil indexes for these four factors, their heterogeneity and even the plant community might be routes through which nitrogen deposition alters the bacterial community. Here, we describe a 6-year nitrogen addition experiment conducted in a typical steppe ecosystem to investigate the ecological mechanism by which nitrogen deposition alters bacterial abundance, diversity and composition. We found that various characteristics of the bacterial community were explained by different environmental factors. Nitrogen deposition decreased bacterial abundance that is positively related to soil pH value. In addition, nitrogen addition decreased bacterial diversity, which is negatively related to soil total N content and positively related to soil NO₃^--N heterogeneity. Finally, nitrogen addition altered bacterial composition that is significantly related to soil NH₄⁺-N content. Although nitrogen deposition significantly altered plant biomass, diversity and composition, these characteristics of plant community did not have a significant impact on processes of nitrogen deposition that led to alterations in bacterial abundance, diversity and composition. Therefore, more sensitive molecular technologies should be adopted to detect the subtle shifts of microbial community structure induced by the changes of plant community upon nitrogen deposition.     

Degradation of pyrene by immobilized microorganisms in saline-alkaline soil

Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is very difficult in saline-alkaline soil due to the inhibition of microbial growth under saline-alkaline stress. The microorganisms that can most effectively degrade PAHs were screened by introducing microorganisms immobilized on farm byproducts and assessing the validity of the immobilizing technique for PAHs degradation in pyrene-contaminated saline-alkaline soil. Among the microorganisms examined, it was found that Mycobacterium sp. B2 is the best, and can degrade 82.2% and 83.2% of pyrene for free and immobilized cells after 30 days of incubation. The immobilization technique could increase the degradation of pyrene significantly, especially for fungi. The degradation of pyrene by the immobilized microorganisms Mucor sp. F2, fungal consortium MF and co-cultures of MB+MF was increased by 161.7% (P < 0.05), 60.1% (P < 0.05) and 59.6% (P < 0.05) after 30 days, respectively, when compared with free F2, MF and MB+MF. Scanning electron micrographs of the immobilized microstructure proved the positive effects of the immobilized microbial technique on pyrene remediation in saline-alkaline soil, as the interspace of the carrier material structure was relatively large, providing enough space for cell growth. Co-cultures of different bacterial and fungal species showed different abilities to degrade PAHs. The present study suggests that Mycobacterium sp. B2 can be employed for in situ bioremediation of PAHs in saline-alkaline soil, and immobilization of fungi on farm byproducts and nutrients as carriers will enhance fungus PAH-degradation ability in saline-alkaline soil.     

Soil warming effect on net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide during the transition from winter carbon source to spring carbon sink in a temperate urban lawn

The significant warming in urban environment caused by the combined effects of global warming and heat island has stimulated widely development of urban vegetations. However, it is less known of the climate feedback of urban lawn in warmed environment. Soil warming effect on net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of carbon dioxide during the transition period from winter to spring was investigated in a temperate urban lawn in Beijing, China. The NEE (negative for uptake) under soil warming treatment (temperature was about 5℃ higher than the ambient treatment as a control) was -0.71 μmol/(m².sec), the ecosytem was a CO₂ sink under soil warming treatment, the lawn ecosystem under the control was a CO₂ source (0.13 μmol/(m².sec)), indicating that the lawn ecosystem would provide a negative feedback to global warming. There was no significant effect of soil warming on nocturnal NEE (i.e., ecosystem respiration), although the soil temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀) of ecosystem respiration under soil warming treatment was 3.86, much lower than that in the control (7.03). The CO₂ uptake was significantly increased by soil warming treatment that was attributed to about 100% increase of α (apparent quantum yield) and A_max (maximum rate of photosynthesis). Our results indicated that the response of photosynthesis in urban lawn is much more sensitive to global warming than respiration in the transition period.     

碳源对工业污染场地土壤中HCHs和DDTs降解的促进作用

我国对有机氯农药的大量需求使得在农药生产、加工和分装等过程中造成了许多城镇中存在有机氯农药污染场地,限制了土地的后续开发利用.本研究选取3种类型的碳源组成有机修复剂A、B、C,添加到受有机氯工业污染场地土壤中进行微生物降解试验,并对比了3种修复剂的效果.试验过程中,反应体系水分含量为50％,添加零价金属调节氧化还原电位,采用好氧/厌氧交替循环方式进行生物降解.实验结果表明:3种修复剂对HCHs和DDTs的降解都有显著促进作用.与DDTs相比,HCHs较易降解.90 d内,添加修复剂(A、B、C)的处理中∑HCH的浓度分别从73.37~85.71 mg·kg^-1降解到了15.88~38.21 mg·kg^-1.与未添加修复剂的对照相比较,∑HCH的降解率提高了19%~52%,90 d内,ΣHCH的降解率最高可达81%.添加修复剂(A、B、C)的处理中ΣDDT的浓度分别从91.68~119.79 mg·kg^-1降解到了45.1~60.7 mg·kg^-1,相对未添加修复剂的对照试验,∑DDT的降解率提高了39%~45%,30 d内∑DDT的降解率最高可达到51%,但30 d后降解效率无明显增加.就不同类型碳源的促进作用来看,C/N最高,而含水率最低的修复剂B的效果最好,而C/N比最低而含水率最高的修复剂A效果最差.     

集约化种植区硝态氮在土壤剖面中的分布与累积特征

采用GPS定位、土钻取样的方法,在北京市大兴区14个乡镇的农田土壤中选取了91个土壤剖面,分别在0～20cm、20～40cm、40～60cm、60～80cm4个不同深度取得土壤样品,并在一次种植期结束后,综合考虑种植类型和土壤质地后选取24个重复取样点.在此基础上,分析了种植类型及土壤质地对硝态氮分布及累积情况的影响.结果表明,研究区土壤中的硝态氮含量有随土壤深度的增加呈降低的趋势.露地菜田和设施菜田最容易出现硝态氮淋洗现象,果园和粮田的总体状况较好,但粮田个别地区有一定的污染风险,细质地土壤具有较强的保水保肥能力.大兴区采育镇及长子营镇地区有较高的硝态氮累积量,为硝态氮淋洗污染危险区,应进行合理施肥,以免在一个种植期结束后造成较深层土壤中硝态氮的累积.研究结果可为大兴区地下水环境保护提供参考.     

广州市“南肺”果园土壤H g和A s的形态分析

采用Tessier连续提取法、BCR连续提取法和Leleyter连续提取法,研究广州"南肺"果园土壤Hg和As的形态分布和生物可给性。结果表明,果园土壤Hg和As形态分布都以残渣态为主;3种方法的土壤生物可给性分析均表明,Hg和As生物可利用态的含量较少;生物不可利用态是主要形态,其次是潜在可利用态。     

有机氯农药污染土壤的Fenton氧化修复研究

研究了Fenton氧化对某实际有机氯农药污染场地土壤的修复效果。结果显示:Fenton氧化能够快速有效地降解污染土壤中的六氯和DDTs。当Fe2+浓度为80 mmol/L,Fe2+与H2O2的摩尔浓度比为1∶5,水土比10∶1时,反应6 h,土壤中六氯和总DDT的去除率分别为:96.7%和78.2%。每方土的修复成本估算为951元。     

异位稳定化技术处理重金属复合污染土壤的工程应用研究

异位稳定化技术处理重金属污染土壤在国内外已有应用,但鲜有大规模工程应用时的控制关键及操作要求的报道。本研究根据异位稳定化处理技术的特点,采用该技术处理重金属复合污染且修复时间有限的目标污染场地,通过合理控制稳定剂投加量、土壤理化性质、施工工艺及养护条件等各项影响因素,取得了很好的处理效果,可为类似污染场地提供借鉴和经验。     

改性粉煤灰处理含铬(Ⅵ)地下水的实验研究

用硫酸改性的粉煤灰作为吸附剂,处理含铬(Ⅵ)为5mg/L地下水,最佳条件为:pH=2,液固比10000:3,25℃下反应3h。处理后水样铬(VI)浓度0.03mg/L,满足(GB/T 14848-93)《地下水环境质量标准》。在不改变原水pH条件下,增加粉煤灰用量,水样中铬(VI)浓度也可由5mg/L降至0.05mg/L。同时,吸附剂对铬(VI)的吸附符合Freundlich和Langmuir等温线。