Direct and indirect methods for chromium identification in industrial wastes

The examinations of selected wastes and stream sediments from the vicinity of a chemical plant by sequential extraction procedures and direct methods, SEM/EDX and XRD, were carried out in order to identify the different forms of chromium, particularly as they are released to potential mobility. The results show that the top and bottom waste samples contain 37,756 and 53,650 μg g¹ Cr, respectively, but about 7% and 2% of the total chromium type Cr(VI). The chemical extraction results show that the mobility of Cr in the upper part of the waste pile is significantly higher than in the bottom section; the exchangeable form of Cr accounts for 25% and < 1%, respectively, the last one irrespective of redox conditions. About 50% of Cr is associated with the reducible fraction of the top waste, and similar with the residual fraction in the bottom waste. Oxidation of the bottom waste shift some portion of Cr from residual to the moderately reducible fraction. The major Cr-forms in the river sediments are compounded with Fe-oxides. The < 2 μm size fraction of the selected sediment sample, particular enriched in chromium contained up to 73,000 μg g¹ Cr with about 95% of this in the moderately reducible fraction, predominantly bound with oxyhydroxides. SEM/EDX and XRD analysis of wastes and river sediment indicate that the main insoluble Cr-phase is ferroan — (Mg, Fe) (Cr, Al)²O⁴ which would be dissolved mainly in the residual fraction.     

EFFECT OF A POINT SOURCE INPUT ON STREAM NUTRIENT RETENTION1

ABSTRACT: We examined the effect of a point source (PS) input on water chemistry and nutrient retention in Spavinaw Creek, Arkansas, during summer baseflows in 1998 and 1999. The nutrient uptake length (S_w) concept was used to quantify the impact of nutrient inputs in the receiving stream. We used an artificial injection upstream of the PS inputs to estimate background S and used the natural decline in nutrient concentrations below the PS to estimate the net nutrient uptake length (S_net). S_w for soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in the upstream reference section was O.75 km, but S_net ranged from 9.0 to 31 km for SRP and 3.1 to 12 km for NO₃‐N in the reach below the PS. S_net‐SRP was significantly correlated with discharge whereas S_net‐NO₃‐N was correlated with the amount of NO₃‐N enrichment from the PS. In order to examine specific mechanisms of P retention, loosely exchangeable P and P Sorption Index (PSI) of stream sediments were measured. Sediments exhibited little natural P buffering capacity (low PSI) above the PS, but P loading from the PS further reduced PSI. Loosely exchangeable P in the sediments also increased three fold below the PS, indicating sediments removed some water column P. The physical process of flow and sediment sorption apparently regulated P retention in Spavinaw Creek, whereas the level of N enrichment and possibly biotic uptake and denitrification influenced N retention. Regardless of the mechanism, Spavinaw Creek demonstrated little ability to retain PS‐added nutrients because net nutrient uptake lengths were in the km range.     

南黄海中部E2柱样沉积物来源的稀土元素及微量元素示踪

应用稀土元素地球化学示踪方法,分析了南黄海中部E2柱样的∑REE、∑LREE、∑HREE、∑LREE/∑HREE、δEu和δce的变化特征.结果表明,近200年来南黄海中部沉积物的稀土元素可能均受相同来源控制,稀土元素分布具上陆壳特征.南黄海中部E2柱样和中国东部上地壳的稀土分布模式一致,而与深海沉积物的稀土分布模式相差较大,反映了黄海沉积物和中国大陆壳的亲缘性.近200年来沉积物的δCe和δEu变化不大,且其平均值与上陆壳基本一致,说明近200年来源区的氧化-还原条件和酸碱性可能变化不大,稀土元素主要是由大陆岩石风化和搬运而来,而不是海水提供的.高场强元素丰度及其特征比值的变化幅度不大,与中国东部上地壳一致,指示中国大陆岩石的风化产物是黄海沉积物的主要源区.∑REE与TiO2具有良好的相关性,指示稀土元素与TiO2一样主要来自陆源碎屑物质.     

Trends in sediment metal concentrations in the River Avoca, South-East Ireland

Variation in sediment metal concentrations in the River Avoca, which is severely polluted by acid mine drainage (AMD) discharged from the abandoned sulphur and copper mines in Avoca, is reported. A survey of surface and subsurface sediments was repeated after seven years during exceptionally low flow conditions in 2001. The present study found that the reference (up-stream) site used in the original 1994 study was itself impacted by AMD, showing sediment metal enrichment by AMD to be greater than originally thought. The new reference site contained elevated Pb (570 µg g^–1) in the subsurface sediment due to abandoned Pb-Zn mines 25 km further upstream. Concentrations of Cu (43 µg g^–1), Zn (349 µg g^–1) and Fe (4.0%) were normal for uncontaminated rivers. All the downstream sites showed sediment metal enrichment arising from the AMD (Cu and Zn p < 0.001; Fe p < 0.01). Subsurface concentrations of metals immediately below the mixing zone were Cu 904 µg g–1 (sd 335), Zn 723 µg g–1 (sd 93), Fe 6.3% (sd 1.5) and Pb 463 µg g^–1 (sd 279). Monthly variation in metal concentrations at sites was not significantly different (p > 0.05). Although surface sediment metal concentrations were more variable, they followed similar trends to subsurface sediment. There were no significant differences in the subsurface sediment concentrations for either Cu or Zn over the period 1994 and 2001 immediately below the mines, although at the lowest site Zn had decreased by 35% over the period (p < 0.01). However there was a significant (p < 0.01) decrease over the period in the Fe concentration at all the impacted sites. This corresponds to a reduction in Fe concentration in the AMD and indicates that some remediation has occurred in the river since 1994.     

表面活性剂和有机粘土矿物对底泥吸附菲的影响

根据底泥原地处理技术原理,基于有机粘土矿物的环保性能,以菲为目标污染物,开展向底泥中加入表面活性剂(十六烷基三甲基溴化铵,HDTMA-Br)和有机粘土矿物(十六烷基三甲基溴化铵改性膨润土,HDTMA改性土)后对其吸附菲的性能影响研究。结果表明,底泥对菲的吸附作用主要表现为表面物理吸附特征,吸附等温线符合Freundlich方程;底泥中加入HDTMA+或HDTMA改性粘土后菲在两相间的表观分配系数增大,吸附分别为表面作用和分配作用;菲在底泥上的解吸曲线呈较好线性,吸附不存在滞后效应,而在加入表面活性剂和有机粘土矿物的底泥上线性变差,对菲的吸附出现不可逆吸附现象,吸附变得稳定;在污染物浓度很低的情况下,pH、盐度和温度的改变对吸附量的影响不大。     

Degradation kinetics of butyltin compounds during the bioremediation of contaminated harbour sediments

The present study was aimed at the reclamation of harbour sediments contaminated with butyltin compounds (BTCs) by means of biostimulation and/or bioaugmentation experiments carried out in a 5-L slurry bioreactor. In the biostimulation experiment with inorganic nutrients, almost 50% of TBT was degraded in 20 weeks. In the bioaugmentation experiment with a microbial consortium, no significant degradation of TBT was observed. Conversely, bioaugmentation combined with biostimulation led to a decrease of ～50% in TBT after four weeks. A simple kinetic model fitted to the experimental data of BTC concentration allowed us to estimate that 10 weeks are needed to decrease BTC contamination by 90% using a strategy based on both biostimulation and bioaugmentation, and 29 weeks for a strategy using biostimulation only. Overall, our study indicates that strategies based on biostimulation coupled to bioaugmentation can be effective in significantly reducing the concentration of BTCs over relatively short timescales.     

Partitioning of Cs-137 Between Sediment and Water From the Black Sea

Abstract

As part of a joint USA/USSR Environmental Agreement to determine the distribution and concentration of Chernobyl radioactivity in the northwest Black Sea area, the sediment from eight stations was collected and analyzed to assess the ability of this material to adsorb radiocaesium. Batch tests were conducted in which Cs-137 tracer was added to mixtures of sediment and bottom water, with contact solutions ranging from 85 Bq ml^?1 to 1,760 Bq ml^?1. This work was done in an argon atmosphere at 9.5°C, which is the average temperature of the sediment. Isotherms were linear for all cores and distribution ratios (R_D) calculated from the slopes of the isotherms ranged from 660 to 1,660 ml g^?1. These isotherms fit a simplified Freundlich isotherm. Correlations of R_D to a number of sediment parameters describing texture and mineralogy were determined. A close relationship was observed between R_D for caesium and the percentage of illite contained in the samples.     

自然粒度下渤海沉积物中有机碳的地球化学特征

对渤海三个典型海域6个站位柱状沉积物自然粒度下的有机碳（OC）进行了研究，探讨了有机碳的垂直分布特征及其氧化还原环境（Eh^0,Es^0,Fe^3 /Fe^2 比值）因素对渤海沉积物中有机碳的影响，渤海自然粒度沉积物中的有机碳含量在0.39-0.86%之间，一般在表层-次表层含量变化较剧烈，在下层变化较缓，相关分析说明，在中层，一般沉积物的还原性相比表层有增强，氧化环境与还原环境共存，有机质被氧化，OC浓度变得趋于减小，Fe^3 /Fe^2 也趋于减小，二者有明显的正相关；在下层，还原环境占据了主导地位，导致大量OC不能被氧化，就被保存了下来，而Fe^3 /Fe^2 却明显减小，所以在下层OC-Fe^3 /Fe^2 呈较强的负相关；在表层又掺杂了生物化学与物理扰动等因素，使OC-Fe^3 /Fe^2 的相关性变得复杂，且不规律，表层-次表层OC主要取决于物质来源和物理搅动，变化较复杂；中，下层主要受氧化还原环境影响，矿化作用明显，有机碳含量逐渐降低；下层除C3区和A区外，有机碳含量也逐步降低。有机碳含量不同层次受不同的物质来源，沉积环境，氧化还原进程与不同的生物化学过程共同影响，从C区的断面分布看，表层-次表层呈垂直叠层分布，主要是逐步垂直沉降沉积的结果。25cm以下呈水平推进式梯度分布，可能由于特殊的沉积事件如大洪水冲刷沉积而致。     

ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN BED SEDIMENTS OF THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER,CALIFORNIA1

ABSTRACT: Bed sediments of the San Joaquin River and its tributaries were sampled during October 7–11, 1985, and analyzed for organochiorine pesticide residues in order to determine their areal distribution and to evaluate and prioritize needs for further study. Residues of DDD, DDE, DDT, and dieldrin are widespread in the fine-grained bed sediments of the San Joaquin River and its tributaries despite little or no use of these pesticides for more than 15 years. The San Joaquin River has among the highest bed-sediment concentrations of DDD, DDE, DDT, and dieldrin residues of major rivers in the United States. Concentrations of all four pesticides were correlated with each other and with the amount of organic carbon and fine-grained particles in the bed sediments. The highest concentrations occurred in bed sediments of westside tributary streams. Potential tributary loads of DDD, DDE, DDT, and dieldrin to the San Joaquin River were computed from bed-sediment concentrations and data on streamfiow and suspended-sediment concentration in order to identify the general magnitude of differences between streams and to determine study priorities. The estimated loads indicate that the most important sources of residues during the study period were Salt Slough because of a high load of fine sediment, and Newman Wasteway, Orestimba Creek, and Hospital Creek because of high bed-sediment concentrations. Generally, the highest estimated loads of DDD, DDE, DDT, and dieldrin were in Orestimba and Hospital Creeks.     

AQUATIC TRANSPORT OF HEAVY METALS IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT1

ABSTRACT: A study has been conducted for the past two years on a 4.6 mile stretch of the Saddle River near Lodi, New Jersey. The primary objectives of this study were two fold; initially, the amounts of various heavy metals being contributed to the Saddle River by stormwater runoff, rainfall, and individual tributaries, etc., were investigated to better delineate the distribution of various sources of heavy metals to the aquatic environment. Secondly, a series of benthal deposits from the Saddle River were analyzed to determine the fate of these metals once introduced into the receiving stream. A mass balance analysis of heavy metals in the Saddle River was performed to determine the amount of these materials contributed from unrecorded sources. The results of this study seemed to demonstrate the importance of considering the potential scouring of river sediments as a secondary source of metals in determinations of this type. The distribution of metals in precipitation samples collected in this study was found to be similar to that in runoff, with lead and zinc predominating. Relative concentrations of metals in precipitation as compared to those of stormwater were relatively insignificant. Metal concentrations of bottom sediments were found to vary considerably from sample to sample.