Application of multiwalled carbon nanotubes treated by potassium permanganate for determination of trace cadmium prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometry

In this study we investigated the enrichment ability of oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and established a new method for the determination of trace cadmium in environment with flame atomic absorption spectrometry.The MWCNTs were oxidized by potassium permanganate under appropriate conditions before use as preconcentration packing.Parameters influencing the recoveries of target analytes were optimized.Under optimal conditions,the target analyte exhibited a good linearity (R~2=0.9992) over the concentration range 0.5-50 ng/ml.The detection limit and precision of the proposed method were 0.15 ng/ml and 2.06%, respectively.The proposed method was applied to the determination of cadmium in real-world environmental samples and the recoveries were in the range of 91.3%-108.0%.All these experimental results indicated that this new procedure could be applied to the determination of trace cadmium in environmental waters.     

石油烃、Cu2+对沙蚕的毒性效应及对其抗氧化酶系统的影响

在实验室模拟条件下,研究了石油烃和不同浓度的Cu²⁺对沙蚕(Nereis diversicolor)种群的毒性效应及对其抗氧化酶系统活性的影响.结果表明:石油烃和Cu²⁺对沙蚕均表现出较强的毒性,暴露3d后,其LD₅₀值分别为117.5μL·L^-1和864.0μg·L^-1.Cu²⁺单因子污染暴露5d后,沙蚕体内过氧化物酶(POD)的活性受到显著影响,表现出先受到抑制后缓慢增加的趋势,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的活性也发生显著变化,其变化趋势为先被诱导而后抑制.石油烃以其约为半致死剂量水平单因子暴露5d后,POD的活性并未被显著诱导,SOD的活性则低于对照组.在石油烃与Cu²⁺复合污染的条件下,暴露5d后沙蚕体内POD和SOD活性表现出相同的变化趋势,即先下降后上升.通过比较,还发现沙蚕体内SOD的活性变化更能灵敏地反映出污染物对沙蚕的毒性作用.     

Effects of zeolites on cultures of marine micro-algae

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: The cation-exchange capacity of zeolites is well known and has been increasingly explored in different fields with both economic and environmental successes. In aquatic medium with low salinity, zeolites have found multiple applications. However, a review of the literature on the applications of zeolites in salt waters found relatively few articles, including some recently published papers. The purpose of this review is to present the state-of-the-art on applications of using zeolites for amending the trace elemental contents of salt water as well as the implications of this property for promoting marine micro-algal growth. MAIN FEATURES: This paper deals with the following features: Sorption capacity of zeolites including 1. application of zeolites in saltwater, 2. the role of silicon and zeolites on cultures of micro-algae, and 3. the role of organically chelated trace metals. RESULTS: The following competing factors have been identified as effects of zeolites on algal growth in salt water: (i) ammonia decrease: growth inhibition reduced; (ii) macro-nutrients increase, mainly silicon: stimulation of silicon-dependent algae; (iii) trace metals increase (desorption from zeolites) or decrease (adsorption): inhibition or stimulation, depending on the nature of the element and its concentration; and, (iv) changes in the chelating organics exudation: inhibition or stimulation of growth, depending on the (a) nature of the complexed element; (b) bioavailability of the complex; and (c) concentration of the elements simultaneously present in inorganic forms. DISCUSSION: Zeolites have been capable of stimulating the growth of the silicon-demanding marine micro-algae, like diatoms, mainly because they can act as a silicon buffer in seawater. Zeolites can also influence the yield of non-silicon-demanding algae, because the changes they can cause (liberation and adsorption of trace elements) in the composition of the medium. CONCLUSIONS: Zeolites have been capable of stimulating the growth of the marine micro-algae. However, the extent of ion exchange between zeolite and seawater, which conditions the effects, will depend on several factors: (1) initial metal concentration in seawater; (2) levels of trace metals in the zeolites (contaminants); (3) characteristics of the zeolites in terms of both ion-exchange capacity and specific affinities for the different cations; (4) quantity of zeolite per litre of solution; (5) pH and (6) response of the organism in terms of liberation of organic ligands. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: RECOMMENDATIONS: Therefore, a previous investigation in each particular case is recommended, in order to select the zeolitic characteristics and concentrations that will maximize the algal yield. PERSPECTIVES: Stimulation of phytoplankton growth can be economically relevant since phytoplankton constitutes the basis of the marine food webs and is required in fish farming nurseries in the marine aquaculture industry. Zeolites are cheap, only small amounts (few milligrams per liter of culture) are required and the addition of some micro-nutrients may be omitted. Therefore, the inclusion of zeolites in algal cultures in aquaculture may have economic advantages.     

Effects of organic ligands on fractionation of rare earth elements (REEs) in hydroponic plants: an application to the determination of binding capacities by humic acid for modeling

Previous studies have revealed the fractionation processes of rare earth elements (REEs) in hydroponic plants, with a heavy REE (HREE, the elements from Gd to Lu) enrichment in leaves. In this study, effects on the HREE enrichment in soybean leaves with additions of carboxylic acids (acetate, malate, citrate, NTA, EDTA and DTPA) and two soil humic acids (HAs) were investigated. REE speciation in carboxylic acid and HA solutions was simulated using Visual MINTEQ and Model V, respectively. The results showed that the effects caused by carboxylic acids were strongly dependent on the differences between their binding strengths for light REEs (LREEs, the elements from La to Eu) and those for HREEs. A good correlation existed between these effects and the changes of free REE ions in solutions. This relationship was also observed for the HA treatments, provided that the intrinsic equilibrium constants of REEs for cation–proton exchange with HA (i.e., pK_MHA) in Model V were estimated using a free-energy relationship with the stability constants for REE complexation with lactic acid. It is suggested that this set of pK_MHA values is more suitable for use in Model V for the simulation of REE complexation with HA.     

ICP-AES法同时测定新疆石灰性土壤中多种有效元素含量

报道了用全谱直读等离子发射光谱法（ICP-AES）同时测定新疆石灰性土壤中有效元素Cu、Fe、Zn、Mn的分析方法.选择合适的分析线,采用基体匹配法与背景扣除法进行校正.该方法与国家标准方法相比较,结果均十分符合,并具有准确、灵敏度高、操作简便快速等优点.     

毒气泄漏事故避难场所避难效果分析

有毒气体泄漏时,疏散和就地避难都是保护人员安全的有效行动。当疏散行动无效时,此时可考虑进行就地避难,应急决策者必须准确认识就地避难的可靠性。文中模拟分析了渗透吸附作用、换气次数、避难室空间体积、有效吸附面积对避难室内浓度的影响。结果表明,渗透吸附作用的存在明显降低了室内浓度,且强度越大浓度越低;换气次数越小,浓度越低;避难室空间越大,浓度越低,但影响不明显;吸附面积与空间体积之比越大,浓度下降越明显;毒负荷指数越大,规定暴露时间内避难室内毒负荷上升越缓慢。最后确定了特定场景下避难室最佳换气次数。     

Enhancing environmental integration in strategic environmental assessment (SEA): insight from sensitivity analysis

This paper explores the potential of sensitivity analysis to improve the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process and enhance environmental integration. It applies the Sensitivity Model Prof. Vester® to the England SEA process, following two objectives: (1) establishing how different strategic environmental assessment (SEA) elements affect environmental integration; and (2) establishing the sensitivity of the SEA process in terms of response to change. The findings showed that no single element was critical to enhancing environmental integration. Several elements, acting as sources of uncertainty, leverage or stability in the process, were also identified, highlighting their potential as priority targets for process improvement. It is concluded that sensitivity analysis can supplement current expert-led approaches to SEA improvement by (1) identifying elements likely to influence environmental integration and (2) testing the likely performance of recommendations for process improvement.     

Assessment of the impacts of municipal solid waste dumps on soils and plants

The study aimed at evaluating the impacts of open municipal solid wastes dumps on soil and vegetation near the main roads linking major cities in Nigeria. We hypothesised that the metals from the wastes exerted substantial impacts at the dump sites which affect the soil and plants. Data were analysed from five dump sites and five control sites. The result revealed that the effects of the heavy metals (HM) were significant and higher at the dump sites where their concentrations were far above the EU, and Canadian environmental quality permissible limits for agricultural soils and vegetation. In contrast with dump sites, a significant relationship (R²?=?0.70; p??Cr?>?Pb at both dump sites and control sites. Further study on the effects of more HM on soil and plant is recommended in the area. Recycling and bio-phytoremediation processes should also be introduced.     

油库火灾事故环境影响分析

针对火灾事故发生时产生的有毒烟气对周围环境的影响进行了预测分析,对事故处理过程中的伴生/次生污染和可能发生事故连锁效应的情况进行了分析评价。     

秦淮河表层沉积物毒害微量元素分布特征及污染评价

在秦淮河流域采集河流表层沉积物样品,研究其毒害微量元素含量的空间分布和生态风险.流域沉积物中毒害微量元素的含量表现出明显的空间分异.Hg、Cd、Pb、Cu和Zn受流域城市化过程的影响最为显著,其富集主要集中在流域中、下游的老城区、新城区和城乡过渡区.As的分布除了与城市工业企业的排污有关外,还可能受农业活动的影响.毒害...