Activities of Po and Pb in the water column at Kuala Selangor, Malaysia

Natural radionuclides, such as ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb were measured in the water samples collected from six stations at Kuala Selangor, Malaysia. Results for ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb in dissolved and particulate phases have showed the difference in distribution and chemical behavior. The fluctuation activities of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb depend on wave action, geology and degree of fresh water input occurring at study areas and probably due to different sampling dates. The distribution coefficient, K_d, values of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb ranged from 2.0 × 10³ l g⁻¹ to 265.15 × 10⁵ l g⁻¹, and from 3.0 × 10³ l g⁻¹ to 558.16 × 10⁵ l g⁻¹, respectively. High K_d values of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb indicated that a strong adsorption of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb onto suspended particles, and the sinking of both nuclides on the seabed at study locations were controlled by the characteristics of suspended particles.     

高脂肪样品中PCBs和OCPs分离方法研究

研究开发了用于分离高脂肪样品中21种多氯联苯（PCBs）和22种有机氯农药（OCPs）的分离柱填料,以及利用该填料分离含脂肪的动物组织样品中PCBs或OCPs的方法。该填料按质量百分比由硅胶-弗罗里硅土混合物30%-35%、酸性改性硅胶50%-60%和无水硫酸钠10%-15%组成,并使用自主研发的四通道色谱分离仪对样品进行分离和净化。利用本方法的填料分离PCBs或OCPs,分离方法高效、快速、工艺简单,可在成本较低的条件下达到显著的分离效果。PCBs化合物柱回收率可达96.4%-119%,对鱼脂肪组织加标回收率可达74.4%-100%;OCPs化合物柱回收率可达78.4%-103%,对鱼脂肪组织加标回收率可达78.3%-102%。结果表明该填料可用于分离PCBs或OCPs,色谱分离效果良好,可以满足高脂肪样品中OCPs和PCBs的监测分离需要。     

南方稻区季节性干旱农户适应行为及其影响因素实证分析

气候异常给我国粮食生产带来的影响成为当前社会各界关注的焦点。受全球气候变暖影响,大范围持续性干旱成为农业生产的最严重威胁,特别是近年来南方稻区季节性干旱问题日趋严重,已严重危害到我国经济社会的和谐健康发展。因此,如何适应季节性干旱已成为当前全社会普遍关注的话题,农户作为农业生产的微观决策主体,其适应季节性干旱行为选择如何,其影响因素有哪些?此问题的解决是实现科学减灾的前提和基础。因此,论文利用南方稻区江西省41个县755份农户调查样本数据,从理论与实证上分析了季节性干旱农户适应行为及其影响因素,统计结果表明：面对季节性干旱时,68.6%的农户会采取相应的适应行为,并且补种（苗）、改种其他作物、调整播种和收获日期是农户最优先考虑采用的适应措施,而资金和劳力是农户采取适应行为措施最主要的限制因素。利用Probit回归模型、Poisson回归模型和Tobit回归模型实证分析了季节性干旱农户适应行为措施选择、采用规模和采用强度的影响因素,计量结果表明：社区资本、干旱发生频率、防灾信息的可获性等因素对农户适应行为采用意愿、规模和强度有正向影响,而所在村距最近公路远近和所处的地形特征对农户适应行为采用意愿、规模和强度有负向影响。因此,需要进一步丰富社区资本、加强农户防灾信息可获性以及加强交通基础设施建设等方面以促进农户采纳适应措施的积极性。     

The determination of partition coefficients of organic compounds in technical products and waste waters for the estimation of their bioaccumulation potential using reversed phase thin layer chromatography

Reversed phase thin layer chromatography (RPTLC) has been investigated for the estimation of octanol/water partition coefficients (P), an important parameter for the prediction of the environmental behaviour of organic chemicals. A strong correlation between P derived from the traditional octanol/water system and RPTLC has been established over five orders of magnitude. RPTLC data are likewise correlated to results obtained by high performance chromatography (HPLC). Due to the low costs, simplicity and separation power RPTLC is especially suited for the investigation and screening of mixtures of compounds before more complicated tests are involved.

Results from a round robin test on the determination of partition coefficients by HPLC, RPTLC and the batch method indicate the simplicity and accuracy of the RPTLC technique. Applications of the RPTLC‐technique on technical products and industrial waste waters are described.     

进水氨氮浓度对静置/好氧/缺氧SBR脱氮除磷性能的影响

在4个序批式反应器(SBR)R1、R2、R3和R4中,以静置段代替传统厌氧段,采用后置缺氧,考察进水氨氮浓度分别为20,30,40,50mg/L对静置/好氧/缺氧SBR脱氮除磷性能的影响.结果表明,R1、R2、R3和R4长期运行中磷去除率分别为82.3%、92.8%、92.6%和89.1%,总氮(TN)去除率分别为97.2%、88.6%、84.5%和72.6%.静置段省却搅拌,但仍起厌氧段作用,仍可实现生物强化除磷.4个反应器好氧段均发生同步硝化-反硝化(SND),分别贡献14.7%、16.6%、17.8%和14.8%的进水后TN量,且后置缺氧段利用糖原驱动反硝化,脱氮效果较好,出水TN分别为0.57,4.43,6.61,13.70mg/L.研究表明,进水氨氮浓度可影响静置释磷、好氧摄磷、反硝化除磷.静置段代替厌氧段的后置缺氧工艺可取得较好脱氮除磷效果,且节约成本,简化工艺.     

Ligand-less in situ surfactant-based solid phase extraction for preconcentration of silver from natural water samples prior to its determination by atomic absorption spectroscopy

A simple and rapid ligand-less in situ surfactant-based solid phase extraction method for preconcentration of silver from water samples is developed. In this method, a cationic surfactant containing a proper alkyl group (n-dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide) is dissolved in the aqueous sample and then a proper ion-pairing agent (ClO₄^?) is added. Due to the interaction between surfactant and ion-pairing agent, solid particles are formed and used for adsorption of silver carbonate. After centrifugation, the sediment is dissolved in 2.0 mL 1 M HNO₃ in ethanol and then aspirated directly into the flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Variables affecting the extraction efficiencies such as pH, concentrations of surfactant and CO₃^2?, ion pair concentration, and extraction time, are optimized. Under such conditions, the calibration curve is linear from 3 to 700 μg L^?1. Detection limit is 1.1 μg L^?1 with an enrichment factor of 37. The relative standard deviation for eight replicate measurements of 100 μg L^?1 is 2.1%. The method has been applied for the determination of silver in water samples.     

Preconcentration of samarium with modified yeast cells for its determination by atomic emission spectroscopy

A chelating-modified biosorbent is produced by coupling of a dye, procion red, to yeast cells. The resulting modified cells have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared, elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis and studied for preconcentration and determination of trace Sm(III). The optimum pH value for sorption of the samarium ions is 6.2. The sorption capacity of functionalized modified yeast cells is 7.2 mg g^?1. Recovery was 99% when Sm(III) was eluted with an aqueous solution of 0.1 mol L^?1 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Scatchard analysis suggested that binding sites were homogeneous. The equilibrium data were analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Redlich–Peterson isotherm models, and the respective constants were determined as 1.0 (L mg^?1), 2.9 [(mg g^?1) (L mg^?1)^1/n], 2.4 × 10⁸ (L g^?1), and 30 (dm³ g^?1) at 20 °C. The method was applied for an Sm(III)-containing sample of ceramic industry effluent.     

Removal of textile dyes from aqueous solution using PEG based aqueous biphasic system

Aqueous biphasic systems (ABSs) composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and salt have been examined for the removal of textile dyes from textile effluent. The partitioning of four dyes namely Cibacron Scarlet LS 2G, Rhodamine B, Brown ERN and Astacryl Red 3B was investigated. All the dyes studied were found to partition into the upper PEG rich layer. Sodium carbonate was found to be the most efficient salt for extraction of dyes. Sodium sulphate was found to be marginally less efficient. Sodium chloride did not cause partitioning at all. Partitioning occurred at all pH and was almost pH independent. The partitioning of these dyes in larger volume (100?mL) ABS was also demonstrated. Studies using dye bath effluent were also conducted. In all cases very high efficiencies consistently above 98% were obtained.     

Solid phase extraction of trace metals from environmental samples using Amberlite XAD-7 loaded with 2-hydroxy-propiophenone-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone and determination by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry

A method for the solid phase extraction of trace metals, namely Co, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn, from environmental and biological samples using column Amberlite XAD-7 loaded with 2-hydroxy-propiophenone-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (HPPPTSC) and determination by inductively coupled spectrometry (ICP–AES) has been developed. The reagent has the capacity to form chelate complexes with the metals because of three binding sites in the reagent molecule. The optimum experimental conditions for the quantitative sorption of five metals, pH, effect of flow rate, concentration of eluent, sorption capacity and the effect of diverse ions on the preconcentration of analytes have been investigated. The sorption capacity of the resin has 83, 127, 35, 88 and 85?µmol?g^?1 for Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺, respectively. The preconcentration factors for Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were 100, 110, 120, 140 and 150, respectively. The accuracy of the proposed procedure was evaluated by standard reference materials. The achieved results were in good agreement with certified values. The proposed method was applied for the determination of trace metals in river water and plant leaves.     

Study of atrazine degradation in soil from Kenyan sugarcane-cultivated fields in controlled laboratory conditions

A study to compare the extent of atrazine mineralization in soils from Kenyan sugarcane-cultivated fields with and without history of atrazine use was carried out in the laboratory under controlled conditions. The study was testing the hypothesis that repeated atrazine application to soil will not result in enhanced atrazine mineralization. The study was carried out with ¹⁴C-uniformly ring-labeled atrazine in a laboratory under controlled conditions. Atrazine mineralization to ¹⁴CO₂ in soil with no history of atrazine use was negligible (0.16%) after 163 days of soil incubation. The three metabolites hydroxyatrazine, desisopropylatrazine, and desethylatrazine in the proportion of 17.7%, 1.3%, and 2.6%, respectively, were in the soil after 75 days. In the soil from the sugarcane-cultivated field with history of atrazine use, atrazine mineralization was 89.9% after 98 days. The same soil, amended with mature compost, showed a lag phase of eight days before rapid atrazine mineralization was observed.