Removal of aqueous lead by poorly-crystalline hydroxyapatites

The use of a phosphorus amendment in altering Pb to a chemically less mobile phase is a promising strategy based on minimizing ecotoxicological risk and improving time and cost efficiency. This study evaluated crystalline and poorly-crystalline hydroxyapatite sorbents on removal of aqueous Pb in response to reaction time, solution pH, and Pb concentration. Batch experiments were conducted using a commercially-available crystalline hydroxyapatite (HA), and two poorly-crystalline hydroxyapatites synthesized from gypsum waste (CHA) and incinerated ash of poultry waste (MHA). Poorly-crystalline hydroxyapatites had greater capacity for Pb removal from a solution with a wider pH range as compared to a crystalline hydroxyapatite. The maximum sorption capacity of Pb determined by the Langmuir model was 500 mg g⁻¹ for CHA, 277 mg g⁻¹ for MHA and 145 mg g⁻¹ for HA. Removal of aqueous Pb by CHA was not dependent on solution pH, with a 98.8% reduction throughout the solution pH range of 2–9, whereas aqueous Pb removal by HA and MHA was pH-dependent with less removal in the neutral solution pH. Poorly-crystalline hydroxyapatites may provide an effective alternative to existing remediation technologies for Pb-contaminated sites.     

Heavy metals in bark of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus massoniana</Emphasis> (Lamb.) as an indicator of atmospheric deposition near a smeltery at Qujiang,China

Goal, Scope and Background Rapid urbanization and the expansion of industrial activities in the past several decades have led to large increases in emissions of pollutants in the Pearl River Delta of south China. Recent reports have suggested that industrial emission is a major factor contributing to the damages in current natural ecosystem in the Delta area. Tree barks have been used successfully to monitor the levels of atmospheric metal deposition in many areas, but rarely in China. This study aimed at determining whether atmospheric heavy metal deposition from a Pb-Zn smeltery at Qujiang, Guangdong province, could be accurately reflected both in the inner bark and the outer bark of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana L.). The impact of the emission from smeltery on the soils beneath the trees and the relationships of the concentrations between the soils and the barks were also analyzed. Methods Barks around the bole of Pinus massoniana from a pine forest near a Pb-Zn smeltery at Qujiang and a reference forest at Dinghushan natural reserve were sampled with a stainless knife at an average height of 1.5 m above the ground. Mosses and lichens on the surface barks were cleaned prior to sampling. The samples were carefully divided into the inner bark (living part) and the outer bark (dead part) in the laboratory, and dried and ground, respectively. After being dry-ashed, the powder of the barks was dissolved in HNO₃. The solutions were analyzed for iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) by inductively coupled plasmas emission spectrometry (ICP, PS-1000AT, USA) and Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS, ZEENIT 60, Germany). Surface soils (0–10 cm) beneath the sample trees were also collected and analyzed for the selected metals. Results and Discussion Concentrations of the selected metals in soils at Qujiang were far above their environmental background values in the area, except for Fe and Mn, whilst at Dinghushan, they were far below their background values, except for Cd and Co. Levels of the metals, in particular Pb and Zn, in the soils beneath the sample trees at Qujiang were higher than those at Dinghushan with statistical significance. The result suggested that the pine forest soils at Qujiang had a great input of heavy metals from wet and dry atmospheric deposition, with the Pb-Zn smeltery most probably being the source. Levels of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni and Pb at Qujiang, both in the inner and the outer bark, were statistically higher than those at Dinghushan. Higher concentrations of Pb, Fe, Zn and Cu may come from the stem-flow of elements leached from the canopy, soil splash on the 1.5 m height and sorption of metals in the mosses and lichens growing on the bark, which were direct or indirect results from the atmospheric deposition. Levels of heavy metals in the outer barks were associated well with the metal concentrations in the soil, reflecting the close relationships between the metal atmospheric deposition and their accumulation in the outer bark of Masson pine. The significant (p<0.01) correlations of Fe-Cu, Fe-Cr, Fe-Pb, Fe-Ni, Pb-Ni, and Pb-Zn in the outer barks at Qujiang again suggested a common source for the metals. The correlation only occurred between Pb and Ni, Cd and Co in the outer barks at Dinghushan, which suggested that those metals must possibly have other uncommon sources. Conclusions Atmospheric deposition of the selected metals was great at Qujiang, based on the levels in the bark of Pinus massoniana and on the concentrations in the soils beneath the trees compared with that at Dinghushan. Bark of Pinus massoniana, especially the outer bark, was an indicator of metal loading at least at the time of sampling. Recommendations and Perspectives The results from this study and the techniques employed constituted a new contribution to the development of biogeochemical methods for environmental monitoring particularly in areas with high frequency of pollution in China. The method would be of value for follow up studies aimed at the assessment of industrial pollution in other areas similar with the Pearl River Delta.     

Evaluation of Point and Diffuse Sources of Nutrients in a River Basin on Base of Monitoring Data

The methodology of materials accounting is presented and applied to developing nutrient balance (nitrogen and phosphorus) in a river basin. The method is based on the balance principle: inputs and outputs of each nitrogen and phosphorus related sub-systems were balanced. The application of the methodology strategies was illustrated by means of a case study of the Krka river, Slovenia. Different pathways of emission to surface waters were taken into account: WWTP discharges, direct discharges, erosion/runoff and baseflow. Total annual emission into the river Krka was estimated to be 362 tonnes N/year and 73.3 tonnes P/year. The main sources of nitrogen are diffuse sources, emitted via baseflow (52%). Other important sources are effluents from WWTP, which account for 36% of total emissions. Other sources like erosion and direct discharges to surface water (animal manure, industry, households) are of lower magnitude. Erosion is main source of phosphorus emission (55% of total emission), WWTP effluents account for 37% of total emission, while other sources are less important. Besides reduction of point sources by means of wastewater collection and implementation of nutrient removal technology, managing agricultural nitrogen and phosphorus to protect water quality should become a major challenge in the Krka river basin.     

国家实施污染预防的政策建议

文章对我国污染预防现状进行了评估,并对如何进一步实施污染预提出初步建议,形成污染预防框架行动计划,试图人们从行为和观念转向污染预防提供方向。框架行计划着重从政策和法律,组织和人力资源,研究和开发,污染预防活动和实践到评估、推广等方面进行了建议。     

NOx分解还原催化研究进展

介绍和评价了ＮＯ_ｘ分解还原的３类催化剂：贵金属催化剂、氧化物催化剂、金属离子置换的分子筛。在ＮＯ_ｘ的碳氢化合物选择性催化还原反应（ＨＣ－ＳＣＲ反应）中,同样有３类催化剂,即金属氧化物、贵金属和分子筛。由于Ｃｕ－ＺＳＭ－５是目前最有希望投入实际使用的一种,故本文重点介绍了它对ＮＯ_ｘ的ＨＣ－ＳＣＲ反应的催化机理,以及温度、Ｏ_２含量、Ｃｕ~（２＋）的置换度、不同种类ＨＣ及ＨＣ含量等各种因素对Ｃｕ－ＺＳＭ－５的影响,并对其工作台试验进行了评价,指出了其存在的问题及当前的研究热点。     

化肥氮素在水稻田中迁移与淋失的模拟研究

为了研究氮化肥施入农田对地表水和地下水的影响 ,在一种特殊的大型人工模拟土层和地下水装置中进行试验。研究结果表明 :即使尿素和生物矿质复混肥以中、低施肥量施入水田 ,也会造成地表淹水、耕层土壤和不同深度土层溶液有较高含量的有机 N和 N H3- N,并对地下水补给状况极差的地下水有明显的污染 ;水田中 N O- 3 - N很难长期存在 ,其污染程度可忽略不计     

植物根圈污染生态研究进展

阐述了植物根圈的概念 ,根圈三大结构主成份是 (1)植物根系 ,(2 )微生物 ,(3)土壤或水等 ,并从它们的相互关系出发讨论了国内外有关根圈污染生态的研究情况 ,同时提出了根圈污染生态的研究前景和意义。     

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。     

关于我国21世纪农业清洁生产的思考

现代工业的出现和工业化进程的不断发展,使生态环境受到污染和破坏。清洁生产因突破了传统的终端污染控制的被动局面,在工业领域得到推广应用。然而,以高度集约化和大量化学物质投入为重要特征的现代农业,所导致的环境污染问题也日益严峻。因此,为达到农业生产与生态环境协调发展的目的,农业清洁生产应成为２１世纪农业发展模式和农业环保策略,其关键是开发绿色农用品,改进农业生产技术。     

郑州市土壤与绿色植物中汞的分布特征

汞污染具有生物积累性,因而得到社会广泛关注。研究监测和评估了郑州市城区土壤和绿色植物叶片中汞浓度、分布、污染水平等。研究发现郑州市主城区土壤总汞浓度为0. 150～0. 958 mg/kg,平均浓度为0. 448 mg/kg;郑州市主城区绿色植物叶片总汞浓度为0. 017～0. 249 mg/kg,平均浓度为0. 107 mg/kg;土壤和叶片中汞浓度按功能区排序为交通枢纽区工业区商业区行政区高教区住宅区。采用地累积指数法对郑州市80个土壤样品的汞污染水平进行评估,结果显示60%受到轻度污染,35%受到偏中度污染,5%受到中度污染。研究较为全面地分析了土壤汞污染的现状及浓度,为郑州市土壤汞污染防治提供参考。