Use of tree rings to investigate the onset of contamination of a shallow aquifer by chlorinated hydrocarbons

Oaks (Quercus velutina Lam.) growing over a shallow aquifer contaminated by chlorinated hydrocarbons were studied to determine if it was possible to estimate the approximate year that contamination began. The annual rings of some trees downgradient from the contaminant release site contained elevated concentrations of chloride possibly derived from dechlorination of contaminants. Additionally, a radial-growth decline began in these trees at approximately the same time that chloride became elevated. Growth did not decline in trees that contained smaller concentrations of chloride. The source of elevated chloride and the corresponding reductions in tree growth could not be explained by factors other than contamination. On the basis of tree-ring evidence alone, the release occurred in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Contaminant release at a second location apparently occurred in the mid- to late 1970s, suggesting that the area was used for disposal for at least 5 years and possibly longer.     

Euglena gracilis as a model for the study of Cu and Zn toxicity and accumulation in eukaryotic cells

We have observed the effect of copper and zinc on the biology of Euglena gracilis. The cells displayed different sensitivities to these metals, as the apparent LC₅₀ for Cu²⁺ was 0.22 mM, and for Zn²⁺ it was 0.88 mM. While Zn²⁺ was able to increase cell proliferation even at 0.1 mM, the minimal CuCl₂ concentration tested (0.02 mM) was sufficient to impair cell division. Higher concentrations of these metals not only inhibited cell division in a concentration-dependent manner, but also interfered with the metabolism of E. gracilis. A higher accumulation of proteins and lipids per cell was observed at the DI₅₀ concentration for metal-treated cells. These results suggest that the test concentration of both metals leads to a failure in completing cell division. Ultrastructural analysis indicated a chloroplast disorganization in copper-treated cells, as well as the presence of electron dense granules with different shapes and sizes inside vacuoles. Microanalysis of these granules indicated an accumulation of copper, thus suggesting a detoxification role played by the vacuoles. These results indicate that E. gracilis is an efficient biological model for the study of metal poisoning in eukaryotic cells. They also indicate that copper and zinc (copper being more poisonous) had an overall toxic effect on E. gracilis and that part of the effect can be ascribed to defects in the structure of chloroplast membranes.     

Trace metal emissions from co-combustion of refuse derived and packaging derived fuels in a circulating fluidized bed boiler

Energy recovery from refuse derived fuels (RDF) and packaging derived fuels (PDF) is one option in integrated waste management. Nine RDF and PDF co-combustion tests with peat and coal in a circulating fluidized bed boiler were carried out in this work. Heavy metal emissions in flue gas and fly ash were measured. Multivariate data analyses were used to find out the most important parameters affecting metal emissions in the flue gas.

The results showed that total heavy metal emissions were low. Although RDF and PDF had more heavy metals than peat and coal, the multivariate data analysis showed that an increase of the RDF or PDF share in the fuel mixture up to 20% did not correlate directly with the metal emissions in the flue gas. Distribution of Cd, Cu, Zn and Sn between flue gas and fly ash correlated with each other. Injection of limestone to bind sulphur and chlorine did not have a significant effect on heavy metal emissions in the flue gas. Heavy metals concentrated on the fly ash, but all fly ashes passed the EPA-TCLP tests.     

负载氧化镧的活性炭还原NO的研究

稀土金属具有一些特殊的性能,这使得其对碳质材料还原NO的反应可能表现出特殊的催化效果,而此方面的研究没有报道.为了研究稀土金属对活性炭还原NO反应的催化效果,采用浸渍法制备了负载氧化镧的活性炭颗粒(La/C),并在无氧的固定床反应器中进行了程序升温反应和等温反应,考察了气体流量、NO的入口浓度、反应温度和氧化镧负载量对反应活性的影响,同时对反应机理和动力学进行了初步探讨.研究结果表明负载氧化镧的活性炭还原NO的反应是一级反应.由于炭表面3%(质量分数)的氧化镧的存在,C-NO反应的起始反应温度从500 ℃降低到300 ℃,反应活性大大提高,反应活化能从88.95 kJ/mol降低到51.05 kJ/mol.氧化镧的负载量对反应活性有重要影响,但负载量的大量增加对反应活性的提高效果甚微,最佳负载量为1.5%.La/C体系在反应中较稳定,而反应温度的升高对其稳定性不利.     

Analysis of heavy metal distribution in superficial estuarine sediments (estuary of Bilbao, Basque Country) by open-focused microwave-assisted extraction and ICP-OES

Open-focused microwave-assisted extraction and ICP-OES determination of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn from surface sediments of the estuary of Bilbao (Basque Country, North of Spain) was carried out. All the samples were collected at three different tributaries of the estuary (Asua, Galindo and Nerbioi-Ibaizabal) every two months during 1999. The digestion procedure was proposed from the conclusions of a fractionated factorial design, and the precision and accuracy of the method was verified using a certified reference sediment (RTC008-050). The results of the analysis were statistically treated by means of principal component analysis and correlation analysis. The principal component analysis of sediment data (32 samples × 9 metals) indicated different patterns of contamination regarding the tributary and sampling station. The two main patterns observed were a steady increment of the metal concentration along all the campaigns in the samples collected in the Galindo River and a seasonal variation in the Nerbioi-Ibaizabal River, with higher metallic content during summertime and lower content during wintertime.     

雨后入湖溪流磷污染对西湖的影响及其对策

入湖径流是西湖磷的最主要污染源，尤其是暴雨后径流的磷污染最严重，梅雨（2001年）和台风雨后径流的磷净输入为1.77t，约占西湖全年磷总沉积量的42.5%。西湖流域内土壤表土的磷含量约是母土的两倍。西湖流域内土壤表土富磷和暴雨的冲刷和淋溶是导致雨后径流磷浓度提高的主要原因。提出了几种减小和消除径流磷污染的几种方案，通过分析比较，建渠排暴雨后径流水到钱塘江是比较彻底的消除径流磷污染的措施。     

机械工业废水中重金属离子的处理工艺研究

研究了过氧化钙处理剂对机械工业废水中重金属离子锰、铜、锌、铬的处理工艺，以及过滤方法对重金属离子去除率的影响。处理的最佳条件为：过氧化钙用量0．1％～0．2％，处理时间30min，处理温度为室温，处理过程中不需调整pH。     

Ligand exchange rate of metal-nom complexes by EDTA

Metal complexation by natural ligands is important for metal transport and distribution in surface and ground water. The goal of the work was to study the ligand exchange rate for two important metal ions in natural aquatic systems (Al, Fe) was determined using EDTA and natural organic matter (NOM) of humic type as ligands. After adding EDTA to a solution containing metal-NOM complexes, these complexes dissociated and metal-EDTA complexes were formed. Metal-NOM complexes were separated from metal-EDTA complexes with the help of size-exclusion chromatography and detected by on-line inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Injecting the samples into the system over time after addition of EDTA allowed us to measure the rate of the exchange of NOM by EDTA. The experiments could be well described with a first-order rate law assuming that the dissociation of the metal-NOM complexes is the rate-determining step. The exchange rate of Fe was found to be faster than that of Al. This corresponds well with the exchange rate of water molecules from the coordination sphere of the metal ions, which is also faster for Fe than for Al. Furthermore, the UV and the fluorescence signal of the chromatograms were measured. The results indicate that no disaggregation of NOM molecules took place, although about 75-85% of the aggregate-forming metal ions exchanged NOM by EDTA in their coordination sphere. This suggests clearly the fundamental role of NOM in colloidal transport of metals and in their bioavailability.     

Investigation of the complexation of metal-ions by strong ligands in fresh and marine water

SCOPE: The detection and investigation of metal ions bound in strong complexes in natural waters is a difficult task, due to low concentration of the metal ions themselves, and also of the strong ligands, which, moreover, are often not of a well-defined composition. Here, a method is proposed for the investigation of the speciation of metal ions in natural waters. OBJECTIVE AND METHOD: It is based on the sorption of metal ions on strongly sorbing ion exchange resins, i.e. complexing resins. For this reason the method is called Resin Titration. It has been shown in previous investigations that the concentration of metal ion totally sorbed by a particular resin, and its reaction coefficient in the solution phase in the presence of the resin, can be determined from the sorption data using a simple relationship. Here, a data treatment (the Ruzic linearization method) is proposed for also determining the concentration of the ligands responsible for the complex in equilibrium with the resin. RESULTS: The method was applied to data obtained by Resin Titration of a freshwater and a seawater. Copper(II) and aluminium(III) were considered, using Chelex 100 as a titrant, due to its strong sorbing properties towards these metal ions. The results were: the total metal concentration in equilibrium with the resin, the side reaction coefficients, and the concentration of ligands. In all these cases the ligands forming very strong complexes were found to be at concentration lower than that of the metals. CONCLUSION: The Ruzic linearization method allows the determination of the concentration of the ligands forming very strong complexes in equilibrium with Chelex 100. The reaction coefficient was better determined by the calculation method previously proposed for RT. The ligands responsible for the strong complexes were found to be at low concentration, often lower than that of the metal ions considered. The metal in the original sample is partly bound to these ligands, since the complexes are very strong. Only a part of the metal is linked to weaker ligands, or free.     

微生物抗重金属毒性研究进展

不少重金属是微生物正常生长的必需元素 ,但是当重金属在菌体内浓度过高时 ,会对菌体产生毒性。微生物可通过细胞的表面富集与细胞膜成分的改变减小毒性的破坏 ,在重金属进一步的诱导下 ,菌体会产生由结构基因与调节基因组成的抗性基因 ,通过多途径的联合作用对重金属的毒性进行解毒