Relationships between pH, colour and heavy metal concentrations in the Tinto and Odiel rivers (southwest Spain)

2010 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 406-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. de la Torre ◽  
D. Sánchez-Rodas ◽  
J. A. Grande ◽  
T. Gomez

The relationships between pH, colour, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd and sulphates in surface water samples collected from the Tinto and Odiel Rivers (southwest Spain) have been studied. These rivers are adversely affected by the inputs of acid and heavy metals due to Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). Samples were collected from both rivers on a monthly sampling basis from 1995 to 2001. The analytical results showed that pH (mean pH 3.1) in the water samples of the Odiel River presented a greater correlation with heavy metals, colour and sulphates than in the Tinto River (mean pH 2.5). The tidal effect at the sampling point at the Odiel River appears to cause a greater variation of the pH values (2.5–4.4), resulting in the precipitation of iron hydroxide and the co-precipitation of other metals when the pH increased. This phenomenon was not observed in the samples collected from the more acidic Tinto River (pH 2.1–3.2). A similar relationship was observed for the heavy metals and the colour of the surface water of both rivers.

Author(s):  
Irene W. Maina ◽  
Morlu G. F. Stevens ◽  
Bareki S. Batlokwa

Aims: To employ valorized waste materials from Tilapia ruweti scales for removal of heavy metals from areas with major boating activities and high numbers of jetties at the Okavango delta, Botswana. Study Design: Biowaste materials were Identified, valorized and then optimized for adsorption and removal of boating and jetty pollutants from profiled Okavango Delta surface water samples. Place and Duration of Study: Okavango Delta, Maun and Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Palapye, Botswana between March 2017 and September 2018. Methodology: Tilapia ruweti scales were collected from Sehithwa, Maun while water samples were collected from areas with jetties and major boating activities at Shakawe, Mboma Island and Xakanaxa. The concentration of Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb and Cd at all the sampling sites were accurately determined using micro-plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (MPAES). The fish scales were pulverized and valorized by subjecting them to 12.7% vinegar. Minitab 14 software was used as a modeling tool to provide multivariate optimized parameters that affect sorption studies that included initial ion concentration, sorbent dose, contact time and solution pH. The valorized waste materials were then utilized for removal of the selected heavy metals. Results: The optimized adsorption parameters that included contact time, solution pH, sorbent dose and initial ion concentration were ≤ 88.63 min, ≤ 8.75, ≤ 84.29 mg and ≤ 28.44 mg/L respectively. The valorized Tilapia ruweti waste displayed high removal efficiencies toward removing the selected ions from the Okavango Delta surface water samples up to 94.21% with %RSD < 2 for n = 3 (triplicate). Conclusion: The valorized Tilapia ruweti scales were recommended as a cheap, simple and an effective method for remediation of boating pollution at the Okavango delta and other recreational areas.


Author(s):  
Mihaela Roxana Ene ◽  
◽  
Gheorghe Bulubasa ◽  
Alina Florentina Miu ◽  
◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to determine naturally occurring radionuclide 40K in surface water samples from Olt River, Romania. A monitoring study during 7 years (2012-2018) was accomplished. A number of 728 surface water samples were collected and analysed. Several hundred pollution sources were identified for the Olt River basin in Romania. This study is of particular importance since it is the first effort to evaluate the activity concentrations of 40K in surface water from Romania for such a long period. For this reason, two sampling points along the Olt River were chosen, the first one upstream of the discharge point of the magistrate channel "Deversor Olt" (reference location) and respectively the second sampling point downstream of the liquid effluents discharges point (indicator location). The radioactivity concentration of 40K was determined from the 1460.8 keV photopeak. The method used was high resolution gamma ray spectrometry performed with a hyperpure germanium detector. An activity concentration for 40K, no more than 2.14 ± 0.32 Bq l -1 , is observed, but the values recorded for the background location had a slight, but not significant difference compared with the values recorded in the second sampling point.


2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 47-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Simazaki ◽  
M. Asami ◽  
T. Nishimura ◽  
S. Kunikane ◽  
T. Aizawa ◽  
...  

Nationwide surveys of 1,4-dioxane and methyl-t-butyl ether (MTBE) levels in raw water used for the drinking water supply were conducted at 91 water treatment plants in Japan in 2001 and 2002, prior to the revision of the drinking water quality standards. 1,4-dioxane was widely and continuously detected in raw water samples and its occurrence was more frequent and its concentrations higher in groundwater than in surface water. However, its maximum concentration in raw water was much lower than its new standard value (50 μg/L), which was determined as a level of 10−5 excessive cancer risk to humans. Trace levels of MTBE were also detected in several surface water samples.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 6592
Author(s):  
Ana Moldovan ◽  
Maria-Alexandra Hoaghia ◽  
Anamaria Iulia Török ◽  
Marius Roman ◽  
Ionut Cornel Mirea ◽  
...  

This study aims to investigate the quality and vulnerability of surface water (Aries River catchment) in order to identify the impact of past mining activities. For this purpose, the pollution and water quality indices, Piper and Durov plots, as well vulnerability modeling maps were used. The obtained results indicate that the water samples were contaminated with As, Fe, Mn, Pb and have relatively high concentrations of SO42−, HCO3−, TDS, Ca, K, Mg and high values for the electrical conductivity. Possible sources of the high content of chemicals could be the natural processes or the inputs of the mine drainage. Generally, according to the pollution indices, which were correlated to high concentrations of heavy metals, especially with Pb, Fe and Mn, the water samples were characterized by heavy metals pollution. The water quality index classified the studied water samples into five different classes of quality, namely: unsuitable for drinking, poor, medium, good and excellent quality. Similarly, medium, high and very high vulnerability classes were observed. The Durov and Piper plots classified the waters into Mg-HCO3− and Ca-Cl− types. The past and present mining activities clearly change the water chemistry and alter the quality of the Aries River, with the water requiring specific treatments before use.


Author(s):  
Kamran Bashir ◽  
Zhimin Luo ◽  
Guoning Chen ◽  
Hua Shu ◽  
Xia Cui ◽  
...  

Griseofulvin (GSF) is clinically employed to treat fungal infections in humans and animals. GSF was detected in surface waters as a pharmaceutical pollutant. GSF detection as an anthropogenic pollutant is considered as a possible source of drug resistance and risk factor in ecosystem. To address this concern, a new extraction and enrichment method was developed. GSF-surface molecularly imprinted polymers (GSF-SMIPs) were prepared and applied as solid phase extraction (SPE) sorbent. A dispersive solid phase extraction (DSPE) method was designed and combined with HPLC for the analysis of GSF in surface water samples. The performance of GSF-SMIPs was assessed for its potential to remove GSF from water samples. The factors affecting the removal efficiency such as sample pH and ionic strength were investigated and optimized. The DSPE conditions such as the amount of GSF-SMIPs, the extraction time, the type and volume of desorption solvents were also optimized. The established method is linear over the range of 0.1–100 µg/mL. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.01 and 0.03 µg/mL respectively. Good recoveries (91.6–98.8%) were achieved after DSPE. The intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations were 0.8 and 4.3% respectively. The SMIPs demonstrated good removal efficiency (91.6%) as compared to powder activated carbon (67.7%). Moreover, the SMIPs can be reused 10 times for water samples. This is an additional advantage over single-use activated carbon and other commercial sorbents. This study provides a specific and sensitive method for the selective extraction and detection of GSF in surface water samples.


2012 ◽  
Vol 610-613 ◽  
pp. 3252-3256
Author(s):  
Mei Qin Chen ◽  
Feng Ji Wu

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has properties of extreme acidification, quantities of sulfate and elevated levels of soluble heavy metals. It was a widespread environmental problem that caused adverse effects to the qualities of ground water and surface water. In the past decades, most of investigations were focused on the heavy metals as their toxicities for human and animals. As another main constitution of AMD, sulfate ion is nontoxic, yet high concentration of sulfate ion can cause many problems such as soil acidification, metal corrosion and health problems. More attention should be paid on the sulfate ion when people focus on the AMD. In the paper, sulfate removal mechanisms include adsorption, precipitation, co-precipitation and biological reduction were analyzed and summarized. Meanwhile, the remediation technologies, especially the applications of them in China were also presented and discussed.


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