Evolution rates and PCB content of surface films that develop on impervious urban surfaces

Surface films on impervious surfaces mediate the fate of organic contaminants in urban areas. Using sheltered 3-mm diameter glass beads as a surrogate impervious urban surface, studies in downtown Toronto showed that surface films developed at a consistent rate of 1.6–2.6 nm day⁻¹. Linear film growth was observed up to and including the last day of three studies of 89-, 273-, and 84-day duration. Total PCB content (sum of 15 PCB congeners) also increased linearly, at a similar rate as the surface film. A complementary study using unsheltered beads showed that up to 80% of film mass and PCB content were removed by film wash-off during rain events. The film growth rate on beads exposed at a rural site, 200 km northeast of Toronto, was 12–20 times lower with PCB burdens that were 7–22 times lower compared to Toronto. Based on these findings, it is estimated that approximately 56–226 g of PCBs are captured by a 70 nm thick film covering just the horizontal surface area of Toronto. This is a substantial quantity of PCB that is available for rapid surface–air exchange and wash-off.     

生物滴滤器中水分对憎水性气态污染物净化性能的影响

通过改变稳定工况下的液气比和测定风干过程中滴滤床净化和阻力性能变化,研究了水分对气体生物滴滤器(BTF)净化甲苯性能的影响,结果表明,生物滴滤器净化憎水性挥发性有机物的性能受滤床水分影响较大,与通常气液吸收过程不同,憎水性气体挥发性有机物的生物滴滤过程存在达到最佳净化效果的液气比,风干过程实验表明,滴滤器中水分含量太高,会影响憎水性污染物和氧气等在气相与生物相之间的传质过程;但水分太低又会影响滴滤器内生物相的活性,对生物滴滤器净化憎水性挥发性有机物而言,存在最适滤床水分,可通过监测设备压降来控制滴滤塔内水分。     

聚丙烯酸钠为结合相的梯度扩散薄膜技术预测甘蔗田土壤中镉的生物有效性

DGT技术一直以固态结合相原位采集和测量水体、土壤或沉积物中有效态重金属,液态结合相的DGT主要应用于现场水体中金属离子的检测.本研究分别采用固态结合相梯度扩散薄膜(chelex100-DGT)装置和改进的液态结合相梯度薄膜扩散(CDM-PAAS-DGT)装置,对广西甘蔗田土壤中有效态Cd进行了测定.结果表明,2种装置提取的土壤有效态Cd含量与甘蔗(根、茎、叶)体内Cd含量都呈极显著正相关,改进的CDM-PAAS-DGT装置对土壤中有效态Cd的提取能力更强;融合土壤pH、阳离子交换量(CEC)、有机质(OM%)和土壤颗粒组成等理化指标影响,运用多元统计分析,提取出2种主成分因子,建立了多元回归模型.液态结合相DGT技术能较好地预测甘蔗田土壤中Cd的生物有效性,拓展了其应用范围.     

Phosphorus removal from sediments by Potamogeton crispus: New high-resolution in-situ evidence for rhizosphere assimilation and oxidization-induced retention

Macrophytes are usually chosen for phytoremediation tools to remove P in eutrophic aquatic ecosystems, but the lack of test methods hinders the understanding of removal mechanism and application. In this study, we used the novel technologies combined of Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT), Planar optode (PO), and Non-invasive micro-test technology (NMT) to explore P dynamics in water-sediment continuum and rhizosphere of Potamogeton crispus over time. Results of the high-resolution in situ measurement showed that labile P(LP_DGT) fluxes at the surficial sediment significantly decreased from approximate 120, 140, and 200 pg/ (cm²?sec) via 30 days incubation period to 17, 40, and 56 pg/(cm²?sec) via that of 15 days. Obvious synchronous increase of LP_DGT was not detected in overlying water, suggesting the intense assimilation of dissolve reactive P via root over time. PO measurement indicated that O₂ concentration around the rhizosphere remarkably increased and radially diffused into deeper sediment until 100% saturation along with the root stretch downwards. NMT detection of roots showed the obvious O₂ inflow into root tissue with the uppermost flux of 30 pmol/(cm²?sec) from surroundings via aerenchyma on different treatment conditions. Different from previous reports, gradually saturating O₂ concentrations around the rhizosphere was principally driven by O₂ penetration through interspace attributing to root stretch downward rather than root O₂ leakage. Increased O₂ concentrations in deep sediment over time finally induced the oxidization of labile Fe(II) into Fe(III) bound P and local P immobilization.     

Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) probe for effectively sampling of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in waters and sediments

The passive sampling technique, diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) has attracted increasing interests as an in-situ sampler for organic contaminants including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, its effectiveness has been questioned because of the small effective sampling area (3.1 cm²). In this study, we developed a DGT probe for rapid sampling of eight PFAS in waters and applied it to a water-sediment system. It has a much larger sampling area (27 cm²) and as a result lower method quantification limits (0.15 – 0.21 ng/L for one-day deployment and 0.02 – 0.03 ng/L for one-week deployment) and much higher (by > 10 factors) sampling rate (100 mL/day) compared to the standard DGT (piston configuration). The sampler could linearly accumulate PFAS from wastewater, was sensitive enough even for a 24 hr deployment with performance comparable to grab sampling (500 mL). The DGT probe provided homogeneous sampling performance along the large exposure area. The use of the probe to investigate distributions of dissolved PFAS around the sediment-water interface was demonstrated. This work, for the first time, demonstrated that the DGT probe is a promising monitoring tool for trace levels of PFAS and a research tool for studying their distribution, migration, and fate in aquatic environments including the sediment-water interface.     

LCA study of photovoltaic systems based on different technologies

This work deals with the application of a Life Cycle Assessment approach for evaluating the environmental and energy impacts ascribed to the production of photovoltaic (PV) cells of first and second generations. PV technologies based on silicon and CuInSe₂ (CIS) thin films were taken into account herein. PV systems prepared with amorphous silicon (a-Si) showed a low environmental impact and short energy payback time when compared to those ones obtained using crystalline silicon (c-Si). PV technologies associated with mono-crystal (mono-Si) and polycrystalline silicon (multi-Si) showed large emissions of CO₂, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds, particulates, and SO₂ into air per square meter of PV panel processed. In addition, these technologies displayed a significant fossil fuel demand, biological oxygen demand, and global warming potential, which make them eco-unfriendly. Ribbon silicon (ribbon-Si) and CIS thin films showed intermediate impact scores, but further improvements in their production chain are needed before these devices are commercially used. The technologies examined herein were categorized in first- and second-generation technologies in order to compare their environmental impact and conversion efficiency. Much attention was also paid to the development of third-generation PV cells with improved conversion efficiencies and lower environmental impacts.     

薄膜扩散梯度技术测量砷的影响因素及其应用

研究了水体中常见无机阴离子和腐植酸对以氧化锆为固定膜的新型薄膜扩散梯度技术(Zr-oxide DGT)测量砷(As)的影响及其在自然地表水体中的应用.结果表明,短期(16h)暴露,SO₄^2-无影响,而HCO₃^-、Cl^-、SiO₃^2-和腐植酸有一定的影响,其忍耐的最高浓度值分别为360mg/L、45g/L、100mg/L和36mg/L.1~4d暴露期间,37~148mg/L的HCO₃^-、1.44~2.88g/L的SO₄^2-、12~24g/L 的Cl^-、8~24mg/L的SiO₃^2-和3~9mg/L的腐植酸均无影响,而高浓度的HCO₃^-(370mg/L)、SO₄^2- (8.64g/L)、Cl^-(72g/L)和腐植酸(27mg/L) 3~4d以及SiO₃^2-(72mg/L) 2~4d的存在明显降低该技术对As的吸收富集,并对As(III)的作用更大.将Zr-oxide DGT技术应用于南京市地表水体,并与传统的主动监测方法进行比较,发现利用Zr-oxide DGT技术测得的溶解态As浓度与传统的主动采样技术测定浓度一致.     

梯度薄膜扩散技术(DGT)与传统化学方法评估黑麦草吸收Cd的对比

为研究不同方法评估黑麦草吸收Cd的效果,采集了16个不同理化性质实际Cd污染土壤,盆栽试验种植黑麦草,采用梯度薄膜扩散技术(DGT)测定黑麦草根际土Cd的生物有效性,并与离心法采集土壤溶液、乙酸(HAc)和乙二胺四乙酸二钠(EDTANa2)3种传统提取方法所提取土壤有效态Cd含量进行比较,研究其与黑麦草地上部和地下部Cd含量的相关关系.结果表明,DGT提取的土壤有效态Cd含量与黑麦草中Cd含量的相关性显著高于化学提取法.运用多元统计分析研究土壤pH、阳离子交换量(CEC)、有机质(OM)和土壤颗粒组成等理化指标的影响,提取出两种主成分因子,建立了多元回归模型.第一主成分与OM和黏粒(clay)之间呈显著相关,定义为土壤中影响重金属生物有效性的"有机指标",第二主成分则与土壤pH和CEC相关程度较高,定义为土壤中影响重金属生物有效性的"无机指标".研究表明,第二主成分显著影响了3种化学方法构建的预测模型,而DGT技术综合了两种主成分对土壤有效态Cd含量的影响,所构建的模型几乎不受土壤基本理化性质的影响,说明DGT分析法是一种预测黑麦草吸收Cd的较好方法.     

DGT和传统化学法比较研究复合污染土壤中Cd的生物有效性

以小麦和玉米2种陆生植物为金属吸收材料,利用盆栽试验比较研究了新型DGT(diffusive gradients in thin films,薄膜扩散梯度技术)法与5种传统化学法评价土壤中Zn复合存在下Cd的生物有效性. 结果显示:①土壤中w(Cd)为4 mg/kg时明显抑制了2种植物的生长,与对照组相比,小麦的地上部和根系生物量分别降低了26.2%和23.4%,玉米的分别降低了23.5%和30.9%. ②Zn的添加能够减轻Cd对植物的毒害,并促进植物生长;Cd污染土壤中Zn的复合存在会抑制2种植物对Cd的吸收,并随w(Zn)的增加其抑制作用更加明显;DGT法、土壤溶液法测定的土壤溶液中ρ(Cd)和4种化学提取法(HAc、EDTA、CaCl₂和NaAc)测定的土壤中w(有效态Cd)均随w(Zn)的增加而明显降低. ③Pearson相关分析显示,2种植物体内w(Cd)与6种方法表征的土壤中w(有效态Cd)均呈显著正相关(R>0.900,P<0.01),但植物体内w(Cd)与DGT和土壤溶液法测定的土壤溶液中ρ(Cd)的R(>0.940)大于其他4种化学提取法. 可见,对于评价Cd-Zn复合污染土壤中Cd的生物有效性而言,DGT与土壤溶液法均优于传统的化学提取法.      

Impacts of microbial redox conditions on the phase distribution of pyrene in soil-water systems

Variations in the soil/sediment organic matter (SOM)-hydrophobic organic contaminant (HOC) bindings upon microbially mediated redox conditions were examined. While the extractability of pyrene associated with soil declined after its biodegradation began during aerobic incubation, its variations were almost constant (±3.0-4.4%) during anoxic/anaerobic incubations. The dissolved organic matter released from the soil incubated under highly reduced conditions became more humified and aromatic, had a higher average molecular weight, and was more polydispersed compared to that obtained from oxic incubation, similar to the SOM alterations in the early stage of diagenesis (humification). The concentrations of pyrene in the aqueous phase increased significantly during the soil incubations under highly reduced conditions due to its favorable interaction with the altered DOM. Our results suggest that the microbially mediated redox conditions have significant impacts on SOM and should be considered for the transport, fate, bioavailability, and exposure risk of HOCs in the geo-environments.