Utilization of MSWI fly ash as partial cement or sand substitute with focus on cementing efficiency and health risk assessment

• Washed MSWI fly ash was used as partial cement or sand substitute. • Sand replacing is beneficial for strength, while cement replacement reduces strength. • Cementing efficiency factor and mortar pore structure explain the strength results. • Health risk assessment was conducted for MSWI fly ash blended cement mortar. • CR and HI contributed by different exposures and heavy metals were analyzed. The strength of cement substituted mortar decreases with the increase in fly ash amount, whereas the strength increases when the fly ash is blended as sand substitute. A mortar with highest strength (compressive strength= 30.2 Mpa; flexural strength= 7.0 Mpa) was obtained when the sand replacement ratio was 0.75%. The k value (cementing efficiency) of fly ash varied between 0.36 and 0.15 for the fly ash fraction in binder between 5% and 25%. The k values of fly ash used for sand replacement were all significantly above that used for cement substitution. The macropores assigned to the gaps between particles decreased when the fly ash was used as sand replacement, providing an explanation for the strength enhancement. The waste-extraction procedure (toxicity-sulphuric acid and nitric acid method (HJ/T 299-2007)) was used to evaluate metal leaching, indicating the reuse possibility of fly ash blended mortar. For the mortar with the mass ratio of fly ash to binder of 0.5%, the carcinogenic risks (CR) and non-carcinogenic hazard quotient (HQ) in sensitive scenario for blended mortar utilization were 9.66 × 10^-7 and 0.06, respectively; these results were both lower than the threshold values, showing an acceptable health risk. The CR (9.89 × 10^-5) and HQ (3.89) of the non-sensitive scenario for fly ash treatment exceeded the acceptable threshold values, indicating health risks to onsite workers. The main contributor to the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk is Cr and Cd, respectively. The CR and HQ from inhalation was the main route of heavy metal exposure.     

An Analysis of Secondary Pollutants in Buenos Aires City

Air pollutant concentrations from a monitoring campaign in Buenos Aires City, Argentina, are used to investigate the relationships between ambient levels of ozone (O₃), nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) as a function of NO _x (=NO + NO₂). This campaign undertaken by the electricity sector was aimed at elucidating the apportionment of thermal power plants to air quality deterioration. Concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) were also registered. Photo stationary state (PSS) of the NO, NO₂, O₃ and peroxy radicals species has been analysed. The ‘oxidant’ level concept has been introduced, OX (=O₃ + NO₂), which varies with the level of NO _x . It is shown that this level is made up of NO _x -independent and NO _x -dependent contributions. The former is a regional contribution that equates the background O₃ level, whereas the latter is a local contribution that correlates with the level of primary pollution. Furthermore, the anticorrelation between NO₂ and O₃ levels, which is a characteristic of the atmospheric photo stationary cycle has been verified.The analysis of the concentration of the primary pollutants CO and NO strongly suggests that the vehicle traffic is the principal source of them. Levels of continuous measurements of SO₂ for Buenos Aires City are reported in this work as a complement of previously published results.     

Spatial Characterization and Prioritization of Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil-Water Resources in Peri-Urban Areas of National Capital Territory (NCT), Delhi

Due to rapid industrialization and urbanization during last two decades, contamination of soils by heavy metals is on an increase globally. Lands under peri-urban agriculture are the worst affected. In NCT, Delhi about 14.4% of land area is chemically degraded. In order to take care of this problem, recently the Supreme Court of India ordered to shift various non-confirming (about 39,000 units) industries to regions outside NCT, Delhi. However in spite of this, there have been several reports and parliamentary debates on the phyto-toxicity and extensive accumulation of heavy metals in the region. Literature review revealed that the basis of these debates is a few studies on some point locations in/around Delhi. It was further observed that information on the distribution and extent of heavy metal pollution problem in the region was completely missing. The present study was thus basically aimed at assessing the spatial distribution/extent and type of heavy metal pollution in the study area, for enabling future designing of appropriate site-specific management measures by the decision makers.For this, detailed spatial information on bio-available heavy metal concentrations in the soils and surface/sub-surface waters of NCT (Delhi) was generated through actual soil/water surveys, standard laboratory methods and GIS techniques. The study showed that concentration of all micronutrients (viz. Zn: 0.05–0.18 ppm; Cu: in traces; Fe: 0–0.5 ppm; and Mn: 0–1.2 ppm) and most heavy metals (viz. Ni: 0–0.7 ppm; Pb: 0–0.15 ppm and Cd: in traces) in the surface/sub-surface irrigation waters were well within permissible limits. However Cr concentrations in irrigation waters of Alipur and Shahdara blocks were far above their maximum permissible limit of 1 ppm. It was further observed that Ni and Cr concentrations in the drinking waters of almost entire test area were far above maximum permissible levels of 0.02 and 0.01 ppm, respectively. Bio-available concentrations of several heavy metals (viz. Pb: 0.1–2 ppm; Cd: traces; Ni: 0.05–2 ppm and Cr: 0–0.4 ppm) in the study area soils were also observed to be well within the maximum permissible limits. However there were point Cu contaminations (5–10 ppm) in the sewage-sludge amended soils of vegetable growing areas near south Shahdara block. This was attributed to increased Cu availability due to oxidized acidic conditions generated by over-irrigation of agricultural lands. Available Mn concentrations in Kanjhawala, western Najafgarh and Alipur soils were also observed to be above maximum permissible limit of 10 ppm. This was observed to be mainly due to the geology (i.e. presence of Mn rich sedimentary rocks) and prevalence of reduced acidic conditions, due to paddy cultivation, in these areas. It was further observed that there is acute zinc (Zn) deficiency (< 0.6 ppm) in paddy growing soils of north Kanjhawala, Alipur and some parts of Najafgarh and Shahdara blocks due to extensive leaching of available Zn fractions to lower soil horizons. Similar available Zn deficiencies in high pH (8.5) soils of areas around Bamnoli village in E-Najafgarh block were also observed.     

大型铜尾矿库区节节草(Hippochaete ramosissimum)根际土壤重金属形态分布与影响因素研究

通过野外调查和实验分析,对安徽省铜陵市铜官山铜尾矿库、狮子山铜尾矿库及狮子山铜尾矿库周边农田3处生长的节节草根际与非根际土壤中重金属(Cu、Cd、Pb、Zn)的形态、含量和分布进行了研究.结果表明,节节草根际与非根际土壤重金属的主要形态分布基本一致,均表现为矿物态含量占据了重金属全量的大部分,而交换态含量偏低.与非根际土壤相比较,根际土壤中交换态、有机态重金属所占比例显著增加,其中Cu的有机结合态所占比例增加了53 25%、Cd、Pb的有机结合态所占比例增加超过17%,Zn则增加了5.67%;与此同时,碳酸盐结合态和铁锰氧化物结合态含量有所下降.统计分析表明,Cu、Cd、Pb、Zn在根际土壤中的形态分布与土壤pH值、有机质含量、植物生长等因素密切相关.     

重金属离子存在下腐植酸和芘之间的相互作用

建立并验证了腐植酸(HA)和芘结合常数(Koc)测定的荧光猝灭法,进而研究了重金属离子对HA和芘相互作用的影响,测定了重金属离子存在下HA和芘之间的Koc.结果表明:纯化后的HA是分子质量较小的部分,水溶性较高,具有羟基、羧基和碳氧键等极性基团;HA利用其分子中的羟基、羧基、碳氧键等基团和重金属离子产生络合作用,这种络合作用影响了HA的结构;随着重金属离子浓度的增大,Koc遵循先增大,再减小,最后趋于不变的趋势.     

铁、铝氧化物和土壤对苄嘧磺隆的吸附

用平衡吸附法研究了苄嘧磺隆在两种土壤(广州赤红壤、湖南红壤)和两种人工合成氧化物(针铁矿、铝氧化物)中的吸附,以及pH对吸附的影响.结果表明:(1)用Langmuir,Freundlich和Temkin等温方程描述供试样品对苄嘧磺隆的吸附,其中Freundlich吸附等温方程拟合的结果较佳.在苄嘧磺隆的实验浓度范围内和一定的pH条件下,吸附苄嘧磺隆的量随其浓度的升高而增加,其顺序为:铝氧化物＞湖南红壤＞针铁矿＞广州赤红壤.(2)苄嘧磺隆在供试样品中的吸附量随溶液pH值的升高而减小.     

液相络合-铁屑还原-酸吸收回收法脱除烟气中的NOx

用"Fe2 螯合剂吸收-铁屑还原-酸吸收"回收法脱除烟气中的NOx,研究了铁屑脱硝过程的影响因素,确定了脱硝过程的合适工艺条件,并对络合脱硝溶液的再生和循环利用进行了研究.结果表明:最佳工艺参数为:络合脱硝溶液中Fe2 EDTA浓度20mmol·l-1,pH值6.0,温度65℃;在此条件下,用两个反应器串联,对O2含量为10.5%的模拟烟气可取得90%以上的脱硝效率.     

大宝山采矿活动对环境的重金属污染调查

调查了大宝山铁铜多金属矿床固体废弃物-水相互作用对环境的重金属污染,结果表明,矿床固体废弃物导致了水、土壤的重金属污染,污染元素主要有Cd、Cu、Pb、Zn等;重金属元素的水迁移强度由大至小顺序为Cr、Cu、Zn、Ni、Cd、As、Pb、Hg;元素的生物吸收系数由大至小顺序为Cd、Zn、Hg、Ni、Cu、Cr、As、Pb,虽然水稻糙米中的重金属含量未超过国家标准,但Cd、Cr两种元素含量已远远超出了植物中毒量的下限值.     

An efficient technology to treat heavy metal--lead--contaminated soil by microwave radiation

Microwave (MW) technology can be used to vitrify contaminated soil wastes and immobilize heavy metal ions in soils. More than 93% of the Pb(II)-contaminated soil was vitrified to a glass/ceramic formation after 30 min of MW radiation. In a 6-year study, the Pb(II) concentration of the vitrified soil in the leaching test was less than 1.0 mg/l, which is substantially below the USEPA regulatory limit of 5.0 mg/l.     

Metals in vineyard soils of the Penedès area (NE Spain) after compost application

The application of organic wastes to improve soil physical characteristics in mechanized vineyards planted after land levelling is becoming a common practice in Mediterranean areas. It may be useful as an additional source of organic matter and nutrients, but these wastes could also have negative effects due to their metal content. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of compost application on soil metal contents in mechanized vineyard soils of the Spanish Mediterranean area, where this practice is repeated every three years. The study was carried out in a ten-year-old vineyard where the main soil type is Typic Calcixerept. Composted cattle manure was applied in alternate rows, at a rate of 40 Mgha(-1) dry-weight. Nine sampling points were located along the slopes of two plots: a levelled plot prepared for mechanization with large soil disturbance movements within the plot, and a plot of undisturbed soil. At each location, soil samples were taken in both treated and untreated soils. Total concentrations (digestion with aqua regia) and the extractable DTPA (Diethylene-triaminepentacetic)-CaCl2-TEA (Triethanolamine) fractions of Cu, Zn and Mn were analyzed in each sample. For Cu and Zn, the initial concentration was higher in the undisturbed plot. In both cases, total Cu and total Zn were positively affected by manure input and the concentration in treated soils was significantly higher than in untreated soil. For Mn, the initial concentration was higher in disturbed soils than in undisturbed ones, and although in both scenarios the concentrations increased with manure, no significant differences were found between treated and untreated soils. The extractable fraction also increased in treated versus untreated soils, although for Cu and Mn the extractable/total metal ratio was similar in treated and untreated soils. After one compost application, total metal contents increased significantly, particularly for Zn. Most of those metals are accumulated in the soil, due to the soil characteristics.