Quick Analysis of Organic Amendments via Portable X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

The determination of heavy metals in soils and organic amendments, such as compost, manure, biofertilizer, and sludge, generally involves the digestion of samples with aqua regia, and the determination of those in the solution using various techniques. Portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) has many advantages in relation to traditional analytical techniques. However, PXRF determines the total elemental content and, until now, its use for the analysis of organic amendments has been limited. The objective of this work is the calibration of a PXRF instrument to determine the aqua regia-soluble elemental contents directly in solid samples of organic amendments. Our proposal will avoid the digestion step and the use of other laboratory techniques. Using a training set of samples, calibration functions were obtained that allow the determination of the aqua regia-soluble contents from the PXRF readings of total contents. The calibration functions (obtained by multiple linear regression) allowed the quantitative determination of the aqua regia-soluble contents of Fe, K, P, S, Zn, Cu, Pb, Sr, Cr, and Mn, as well as the organic matter content and a semi-quantitative assessment of Al, Ca, V, Ba, Ni, and As contents. The readings of Si, Fe, Al, Ca, K, or S were used as correction factors, indicating that the calibrations functions found are truly based on the chemical composition of the sample matrix. This study will allow a fast, cheap, and reliable field analysis of organic amendments and of other biomass-based materials.

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Prediction of As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, and Se Concentrations in Organic Amendments Using Portable X-ray Fluorescence and Multivariate Modeling

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10175726 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (17) ◽

pp. 5726

Author(s):

Rafael López-Núñez ◽

Fátima Ajmal-Poley ◽

Pilar Burgos-Doménech

Keyword(s):

Organic Amendments ◽

Linear Functions ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Regression Equations ◽

Sewage Sludges ◽

Aqua Regia ◽

X Ray ◽

Exchange Programme ◽

Analytical Laboratories

Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) has been a widely used technique in various applications. However, its use for the analysis of organic amendments (composts, sewage sludges, organic fertilizers) is scarce. In these matrices, concentrations of some elements are below their detection limit. The objective of this work was to find multiple linear regression equations that were able to predict the aqua-regia-soluble concentrations of the elements As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, and Se using the pXRF readings of other measurable elements as predictor variables. For this, a set of 30 samples of organic amendments (composts, sewage sludges, and organic fertilizers) from the Manure and Refuse Sample Exchange Programme of the Wageningen Evaluating Programs for Analytical Laboratories (MARSEP-WEPAL) was used. Several amendment type-dependent single or multiple linear functions were found based on 1, 2, or 3 predictors. The predictor readings corresponded to the concentration of elements of geogenic (Fe, Si, Ti, Cl, Zr Al, Ca, S, Mn, and Ba), anthropogenic (Zn and Pb), and agricultural (P and K) origin. The regression coefficients of these functions were r = 0.90–0.99; therefore, they allowed for the quantitative determination of the target elements. These results will allow for fast and reliable analysis of organic amendments using pXRF that is valid for quality control in treatment plants.

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Effect of Organic Residues on Pesticide Behavior in Soils: A Review of Laboratory Research

Environments ◽

10.3390/environments8040032 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 32

Author(s):

María J. Carpio ◽

María J. Sánchez-Martín ◽

M. Sonia Rodríguez-Cruz ◽

Jesús M. Marín-Benito

Keyword(s):

Crop Yields ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Matter Content ◽

Laboratory Research ◽

Laboratory Studies ◽

Future Perspectives ◽

Organic Residues ◽

Multiple Factors ◽

Adsorption Desorption

The management of large volumes of organic residues generated in different livestock, urban, agricultural and industrial activities is a topic of environmental and social interest. The high organic matter content of these residues means that their application as soil organic amendments in agriculture is considered one of the more sustainable options, as it could solve the problem of the accumulation of uncontrolled wastes while improving soil quality and avoiding its irreversible degradation. However, the behavior of pesticides applied to increase crop yields could be modified in the presence of these amendments in the soil. This review article addresses how the adsorption–desorption, dissipation and leaching of pesticides in soils is affected by different organic residues usually applied as organic amendments. Based on the results reported from laboratory studies, the influence on these processes has been evaluated of multiple factors related to organic residues (e.g., origin, nature, composition, rates, and incubation time of the amended soils), pesticides (e.g., with different use, structure, characteristics, and application method), and soils with different physicochemical properties. Future perspectives on this topic are also included for highlighting the need to extend these laboratory studies to field and modelling scale to better assess and predict pesticide fate in amended soil scenarios.

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Near-infrared spectroscopy as a potential method for routine sediment analysis to improve rapidity and efficiency

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1998.0751 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 37 (6-7) ◽

pp. 181-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Diane F. Malley

Keyword(s):

Near Infrared ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Aggregate Size ◽

Clay Content ◽

Analytical Techniques ◽

Matter Content ◽

Near Infrared Reflectance ◽

Organic C ◽

Analytical Technique ◽

Sediment Analysis

The potential for improvement in the rapidity, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency of sediment analysis by the application of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) is recognized. The rapid (<2 min), non-chemical, non-destructive analytical technique of near-infrared (700–2500 nm) spectroscopy combines applied spectroscopy and complex statistics. It has been used for the experimental analysis of various constituents and functions of soils since the 1960s, and applications for the analysis of sediments are currently being explored. For application of NIRS, sediment samples require little preparation, other than drying, and the samples are not subject to the manipulations of conventional analytical techniques. The spectral information recorded in a 2 min scan can be used to predict numerous constituents and parameters on the samples once appropriate calibration equations have been prepared from sets of samples analyzed by both NIRS and conventional analytical techniques. Constituents and properties of soil and/or sediment analyzed by NIRS technology include moisture, organic matter content, organic C, CO3=, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, clay content, humic acids, lignin, cellulose, metal oxides, heavy metals, aggregate size, and inferred past pH of lakes. Several areas are identified where further research is needed to prepare for the application of NIRS to the routine analysis of sediments.

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A small rainfall simulator for the determination of soil erodibility.

Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.18174/njas.v35i3.16735 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 407-415 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

A. Kamphorst

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Conservation ◽

Standard Procedure ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Clay Content ◽

Matter Content ◽

Soil Erodibility ◽

Rainfall Simulator ◽

Highly Sensitive

A small rainfall simulator is described, which can be used in the field as well as in the laboratory for the determination of infiltration and erosion characterisitcs of soils. It is particularly suitable for soil conservation surveys, as it is light to carry and easy to handle in the field. A description is given of a standard procedure for the determination of topsoil erodibilities in the field and some results are presented. The method appears to be highly sensitive to soil properties influencing soil erodibility, such as clay content, organic matter content and soil pH. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

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Pollution and risk assessment of potential hazardous elements in a shooting range soils (NW Spain)

Spanish Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.3232/sjss.2016.v6.n2.03 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

Author(s):

Andrés Rodríguez-Seijo ◽

Manoel Lago-Vila ◽

Daniel Arenas-Lago ◽

María Luisa Andrade ◽

Flora Alonso Vega

Keyword(s):

Soil Acidity ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Pollution Assessment ◽

Matter Content ◽

Mitigation Measures ◽

Nw Spain ◽

Shooting Range ◽

Potentially Harmful Elements ◽

Shooting Range Soils

Pollution at shooting ranges is an issue of growing importance. Accumulation in soils of potentially harmful elements (PHEs) from ammunitions used is a major environmental risk. The total and available (extraction with 0.01 M CaCl2 and DTPA) content of As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn were evaluated in 10 soils from a shooting range for military use (León, Spain). The results showed that, among the studied pollutants, Pb is the element present in highest concentration (13.83-4451.57 mg kg-1), followed by Sb (1.80-96.10 mg kg-1), Cu (4.50-88.52 mg kg-1), As (13.24-62.47 mg kg-1), Zn (13.31-46.19 mg kg-1), Ni (11.53-46.30 mg kg-1) and Cd (0.30-1.00 mg kg-1). The strong soil acidity, its medium organic matter content and low proportion of clay, favor a high availability of these PHEs, particularly Pb and Cu. Although impact mitigation measures, such as collecting cartridges whenever a round of shots is fired in the shooting range, the pollution assessment indicates that performances should improve in the berm. The application of organic amendments, or nanomaterials, could help reduce the PHEs availability and avoid the contamination of adjacent areas.

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Determination of Soil Nitrate and Organic Matter Content Using Portable, Filter-Based Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy

Proximal Soil Sensing ◽

10.1007/978-90-481-8859-8_12 ◽

2010 ◽

pp. 143-152 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

B.R. Jahn ◽

S.K. Upadhyaya

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Matter Content ◽

Soil Nitrate ◽

Mid Infrared ◽

Mid Infrared Spectroscopy

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Determination of minerals in platinum concentrates from the Transvaal by X-ray methods

Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society ◽

10.1180/minmag.1932.023.138.05 ◽

1932 ◽

Vol 23 (138) ◽

pp. 188-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

F. A. Bannister

Keyword(s):

Solid Solution ◽

New Mineral ◽

Early Analysis ◽

Aqua Regia ◽

X Ray ◽

Ray Methods ◽

Platinum Mineral ◽

Insoluble Portion

Concentrates from the platiniferous norites of the Bushveld, Transvaal, are not completely soluble in aqua regia. The insoluble portion consists of steel-grey fragments first analysed chemically by R. A. Cooper and considered by him to be a new platinum mineral represented by the formula Pt(As,S)2. The name cooperite was proposed for the new mineral by F. Wartenweiller, and after further work Cooper decided that the arsenic found in the early analysis was due to the presence of sperrylite, and he changed the formula to PtS2. H. Schneiderhöhn observed simple twinning and, less frequently, polysynthetie lamellae on polished sections of mineral grains from the same deposits, and he suggested that cooperite is probably orthorhombic and isomorphous with marcasite. The latest account of the new mineral has been published by H. R. Adam who gave several analyses of cooperite from the Rustenburg and Potgietersrust districts and concluded that the ‘mineral is PtS2 with a small amount of excess metal (platinum, palladium, and nickel) present in solid solution’.

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Zeta potential and electrophoretic mobility for the recovery of a saline soil with organic amendments

Ciência e Agrotecnologia ◽

10.1590/1413-70542018424004318 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 42 (4) ◽

pp. 420-430

Author(s):

Judith Prieto Méndez ◽

Francisco Prieto García ◽

Nallely Trejo González ◽

Yolanda Marmolejo Santillán ◽

Otilio Arturo Acevedo Sandoval

Keyword(s):

Zeta Potential ◽

Electrophoretic Mobility ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Saline Soil ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Matter Content ◽

Analysis Techniques ◽

First Time ◽

Soil Colloids

ABSTRACT The accumulation of salts in the soil profile produces conditions that affect the growth of crops. The effects of these conditions on crops and the intensity of these effects depend on the quantity and type of salts that predominate and are also influenced by soil characteristics and climate, among other aspects. The salinization of agricultural soils is a serious problem facing agriculture today. The use of organic amendments has increased in recent years, acting on the texture of the soil, correcting compaction or granularity problems, and influencing chemical and/or biological reactions. The objectives of this work were to analyze the use of compost and vermicompost using different analysis techniques to determine the influence of conditions on the remediation of a saline soil. In saturation extracts of soil, compost, and vermicompost, a Zeta potential value 2.34-2.44 times more negative (more-stable colloids) than that in the soil colloids was observed in the amendments. The values of electrophoretic mobility were more negative in the organic amendments compared with the soil. This is the first time that these parameters have been reported for these purposes and for a saline soil. In this study, the soil has low organic matter content (1.65%), so these amendments are expected to improve soil quality and texture, achieving the recovery of saline soils.

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