DCH18C6 using strontium extraction selectivity investigation and sequential soil fractionation study

85Sr as radioindicator has been applied to strontium separation selectivity study using cisdicyclohexano-18-crown-6 (DCH18C6) as extraction agent and picric acid as counter ion with the aim to contribute to the development of a rapid method of strontium extraction. The same radioindicator has been used for strontium fractionation study in chosen soils by application of Tessier- and BCR sequential extraction procedures. Experimental results have shown, that the mentioned extraction system is applicable for IDA determination of Sr2+ in ∼1000-fold abundance of Ca2+, ∼1000-fold abundance and Mg2+, ∼10-fold abundance of K+ and ∼0.2-fold abundance of Ba2+. For the soil samples - chernozems developed on loess - from the near vicinity of NPP Jaslovské Bohunice the exchangeable strontium fraction reached as much as 50 – 60 %.

Manganese fractionation analysis in specific soil and sediment samples

Manganese has been determined in soil- and sediment samples taken from selected regions with high manganese concentrations anthropogenic and/or geogenic. The total content of manganese in chosen sediment- and soil samples has been determined applying FAAS after microwave digestion and the manganese fractions after sequential extraction procedures using galvanostatic stripping chronopotentiometry. The highest content of manganese has been determined in sediment from Hôrka (6243.6 ± 56.2 mg kg-1), while the lowest value has been obtained in the sediment from Kráľová (278.6 ± 3.9 mg kg-1). Using a modified Tessier’s procedure it was found, that manganese in sediments from Kráľová is associated mainly with the carbonate fraction (>50%), while in sediments from Lozorno and Hôrka it is associated primarily with the Mn and Fe oxide fraction (80% and 42% respectively).

Seasonal Variation of the Mobility and Toxicity of Metals in Beijing’s Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Fly Ash

Metal mobility and toxicity of the municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash from different seasons in Beijing were studied using leaching toxicity procedures, sequential extraction procedures, and bioavailability procedures. The X-ray diffraction results showed that MSWI fly ash contained CaSO4, CaCO3, and KCl. The Pb, Zn, and Cd contents of MSWI fly ash were high, especially during autumn, being 42, 77, and 1260 times higher than that of their soil backgrounds, respectively. Leaching toxicity experiments showed that MSWI fly ash is hazardous, since Pb exceeded the maximum threshold (5 mg/L). The main alkali metal ions and anions, heavy metals total content, leaching concentration, chemical speciation, and bioavailability varied seasonally. The Pb and Zn leaching concentrations in summer and autumn were higher than that of the other two seasons. Sequential extraction procedures indicated that Pb, Zn, and Cd showed extremely high metal mobility, i.e., the residual states of Pb and Cd in spring were 5.83% and 1.21%, respectively, and that of Zn in autumn was 10.68%. These results will help industries, governments, and the public better understand the risk of MSWI fly ash and will urge them to pay more attention to preventing harm to the ecosystem and human beings.

Effect of alkalinity source on mechanisms of iron, manganese and zinc removal from acid mine drainage by sulfate-reducing bioreactors

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two different sources of alkalinity source on the mechanisms of metal removal in sulfate-reducing bioreactors. Four upward-flow sulfate-reducing bioreactors each containing a 23 L mixture of organic waste materials and either waste mussel shells or limestone as an alkaline amendment were tested at hydraulic retentions of 3.3 and 10 days to treat acidic mine drainage (pH 2.9, 30 mg/L Fe, 16 mg/L Mn, 5 mg/L Zn) for ten months. A combination of methods was used to examine the effect of alkalinity source on the fate of these metals. Consistent with the monitoring data of the effluent that showed circumneutral pH and low metal concentrations, higher concentrations of Fe, Zn and Mn were found in the spent than the initial substrate, with greater metal and acidity removal in l reactors containing mussel shells (at similar residence times). Sequential extraction procedures found that Fe was mainly in the oxidizable and the residual fractions, Zn in the reducible and residual, and Mn in the exchangeable, reducible and acid extractable fractions. SEM analyses confirmed the presence of pyrite in the substrate, and the use of PHREEQC supported the interpretation that precipitation of iron sulfide and oxyhydroxide minerals, manganese carbonates and zinc sulfide occurred within the substrate for both alkalinity sources. Adsorption edge experiments on the initial substrates confirmed the potential for Zn and Mn to adsorb onto organic materials. Alkalinity source greatly affected system performance with the mussel shell reactors outperforming limestone on a volumetric basis, with the inner surfaces of the mussel shells appearing to be important for greater ongoing alkalinity release, and the outer shells important as metal sorption sites not available in limestone reactors.

Rhizobacteria Effect on Arsenic Migration and Translocation of Biogenic Elements in Plants

The study was aimed at the transformation of arsenic compounds in the rhizosphere, its accumulation in plants, P and Si translocation to plants under the influence of Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum, and Bacillus mucilaginosus with various forms of As compounds in the soil. The authors describe the maximum effect of Bacillus megaterium var. Phosphaticum strain on As migration, its mobilization and immobilization in the rhizosphere due to arsenic leaching from mineral and difficult-todestroy compounds and its accumulation in plants. The forms of arsenic compounds were isolated from the rhizosphere based on sequential extraction procedures. The features of the inter-element As-P interaction in plants were established. With the intense accumulation of As in the rhizosphere inoculated with rhizobacteria, the intake of phosphorus into plants was not observed, as contrary to Si. The study of As and biogenic elements behavior under the influence of rhizobacteria is of great importance in the development of ecobiotechnologies related to soil remediation and crop production.

Characteristics of Arsenic Leached from Sediments: Agricultural Implications of Abandoned Mines

Heavy metals, including arsenic from abandoned mines, are easily transported with sediment and deposited in water bodies such as reservoirs and lakes, creating critical water quality issues when they are released. Understanding the leaching of heavy metals is necessary for developing efficient water quality improvement plans. This study investigated how arsenic leaches from different soil types and responds to hydrologic conditions to identify areas susceptible to arsenic contamination. In this study, batch- and column-leaching tests and sequential extraction procedures were used to examine arsenic leaching processes in detail. The results showed that most arsenic-loaded sediments accumulated in the vicinity of a reservoir inlet, and arsenic in reservoir beds have a higher leaching potential than those from agricultural land and river beds. Arsenic deposited at the bottom of reservoirs had higher mobility than that in the other soils, and arsenic leaching was closely associated with the acidity of water. In addition, arsenic leaching was found to be responsive to seasons (wet or dry) as its mobilization is controlled by organic compounds that vary over time. The results suggested that temporal variations in the hydrochemical composition of reservoir water should be considered when defining a management plan for reservoir water quality.

METAL-ORGANIC COMPLEXES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SOLID SAMPLES: ON THE SELECTIVITY OF PYROPHOSPHATE EXTRACTION

Sequential extraction procedures (SEP) have been widely used for the fractionation of trace elements in soils according to their physicochemical mobility and bioaccessibility. Potassium/sodium pyrophosphate in alkaline medium may be considered as the most appropriate extracting reagent for the recovery of amorphous metal-organic complexes, which play a very important role in biological, physical, and chemical processes in soil. However, the selectivity of pyrophosphate has been poorly studied. In the present work the ability of pyrophosphate to attack mineral inorganic phases of environmental solids was assessed using dynamic extraction, which allows one to minimize artifacts and mimic natural conditions. Samples of gabbro and granite containing nearly no organic compounds were taken as example. The eluents applied addressed exchangeable, specifically sorbed, bound to Mn oxides, and bound to metal-organic complexes fractions extractable by 0.05 M Ca(NO3)2, 0.43 M CH3COOH, 0.1 M NH2OH · HCl, and 0.1 M K4P2O7 at pH 11, respectively. As expected, pyrophosphate extraction leads to a partial dissolution of elements bound to inorganic compounds. The recovery of aluminum, iron, manganese, and rare earth elements by pyrophosphate is up to 4% of their total concentrations in samples. The results were discussed on the basis of coordination chemistry of pyrophosphate complexes. In general, pyrophosphate extraction could be further regarded to be sufficiently selective for the dissolution of metal-organic complexes while using SEP in environmental analysis, soil science, and biogeochemistry. Nevertheless, in the interpretation of the fractionation results, a partial dissolution of mineral inorganic phases should be taken into consideration, especially for soils with low content of organic compounds.