Uncertainties in determining microbial biomass C using the chloroform fumigation–extraction method

We tested the accuracy of the chloroform fumigation–extraction method, which is commonly used to determine soil biomass C concentrations. Accurate and precise determination of total microbial biomass is important in order to characterize soil properties and to develop predictive metal transport models for soils. Two natural soils, and individual soil components, including silica sand, montmorillonite, kaolinite, a humic acid, and Bacillus subtilis bacterial cells, were fumigated for 24 h. Following the fumigation, C from fumigated and unfumigated samples was extracted using a 0.5 M K₂SO₄ solution. The difference between the C content in the fumigated and unfumigated samples ideally represents C due to biomass because the fumigation procedure should lyse cells and release biomass C. We observed increased C release upon fumigation for bacteria-only samples, confirming the ability of fumigation to lyse cells. There was no difference in extracted C concentration between fumigated and unfumigated samples of silica sand and of humic acid, confirming that the fumigation process does not introduce additional organic C to samples of these soil components. However, the fumigated clay samples both showed increased C release relative to the unfumigated controls, indicating that significant concentrations of the fumigant, chloroform, adsorbed onto the clay minerals studied here. Additionally, we found significant chloroform remaining in the extracts from two fumigated natural soils. Attempts to remove the chloroform from the soils or soil components prior to extraction by increasing the evacuation time, or to remove chloroform in the extracts by sparging them vigorously with nitrogen gas, both failed. This research reveals that chloroform gas may adsorb significantly to clays and the clay fraction of natural soils. Thus, the fumigation–extraction method must be corrected to account for the added chloroform C and accurately assess the concentration of biomass C in soils that contain significant concentrations of clays.     

Dissolution of hydroxide minerals in the 1 M sodium acetate,ph 5, extracting solution in sequential extraction schemes

Used extensively in exploration geology to simulate the natural weathering of mineral deposits, sequential extractions have found new use in environmental studies determining the processes governing metal transport in the environment as well as estimating the bioavailability of contaminants in soils, sediments and waste materials. Many extracting solutions and extraction sequences can be found in the literature and the abilities of any given extracting solution to solubilise a target component of a soil/sediment system is much debated. A study into the mechanisms of aqueous metal uptake by bauxite refinery residues (red mud) revealed the need to establish the selectivity of the sodium acetate solution used to extract metals from carbonates, an extracting solution common to most sequential extraction schemes. The phase extractability of copper and lead removed from solution by hydroxide and carbonate compounds was used to demonstrate and define the abilities of the sodium acetate extracting solution. The experiments in this study demonstrate that 1 M Na acetate, pH 5, also releases metals associated with hydroxide minerals. The impact of these findings will depend on the chemistry and mineralogy of the soil/sediment system or waste material studied.     

Selenium enrichment in Carboniferous Shales,Britain and Ireland: Problem or opportunity for shale gas extraction?

The Carboniferous Bowland Shale in England, and its correlatives in Ireland, contain anomalously high concentrations of trace elements, including selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo) and arsenic (As). High levels of these elements reflect high sulphur contents as these elements occur as trace constituents of pyrite. Anomalous Se in particular may have a volcanic provenance, from contemporary volcanic activity and/or drainage from Ordovician volcanogenic sulphide deposits. Following concern over the release of Se and As into groundwater during shale gas extraction in the US, the potential fate of Se and As during any future shale gas extraction from the Bowland Shale merits attention. It is at least an environmental issue that must be managed, but at best it could be an opportunity for extraction of Se in an environmentally sensitive manner.     

Solvent–water extraction method for the evaluation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons bioavailability in coal–tar-contaminated soils

A solvent–water extraction method was proposed as an assessment tool to estimate the bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coal–tar-contaminated soils. The approach taken was to measure the percent of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons extracted by a solvent–water mixture and comparing the results with the percent of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degraded in a soil slurry reactor. Five soil samples from three former manufactured gas plant sites and a coal–tar disposal site which were operated between 1880 and 1947, and 1945 and 1950, respectively, in Iowa, USA were used in this study. Extraction experiments were conducted using acetone–water or ethanol–water mixtures with solvent volume fractions ranging from 1.0 to 0.4 (v/v). The percent of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons extracted from the various soils decreased as the volume fraction of the solvent in the solvent–water mixture was reduced. An acetone–water mixture of 0.6 was found to be appropriate in correlating the percent of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degraded to the percent of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons extracted. For the first correlation, the percent extracted and the percent biodegraded were modified by using the molecular weights and log K _ow of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, respectively. For the second correlation, the equation relating the percent extracted and the percent biodegraded was modified using soil properties such as organic carbon content and percent of clay and silt. Although the experiments were conducted for a limited number of soils, the extraction method appeared to be a good starting point in estimating the bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coal–tar-contaminated soils.     

Copper,zinc, lead ores — Their exploitation and metal extraction by the ancients in the northwestern India

India has a rich and impressive heritage in the production and use of base and precious metals. The presence of extensive ancient mine workings and debris, enormous heaps of slags and retorts, ruins of temples and townships of the major mining centres of modern India, bear mute testimony to the art of exploitative and extractive processes in vogue in the early period. The Aravalli range, trending NE-SW, in northwest India, hosts about 80% of the known base metal deposits and 95% of the zinc-lead resources of India. The ancient workings extend to considerable depths, the deepest being at 250 m below surface, which is perhaps the greatest ever achieved by miners in the ancient world. Radiocarbon dating of the materials /artifacts recovered, indicated that many of the mines in Aravalli belt were worked as far back as 400 BC and certainly flourished in the medieval period. The exploitative and quite sophisticated extraction processes of base metals and silver, practiced by the ancients in various areas of this belt are described. Detailed literary evidences of finding different ores, exploitative and extraction techniques practiced by the ancients fromVedic to post-Vedic Sanskrit texts and the archaeo-metallurgical evidences are described. The investigations showed that there are no analogies in the world for smelting processes in general and zinc, in particular, practiced by the ancient metal workers, in this part of the world.     

Determination of fuel combustion product in airport runoff water samples using liquid–liquid extraction with gas chromatography–spectrometry

Determination of xenobiotics in samples of airport runoff water is both a complex and indispensable task due to an increasing threat resulting from the activities of numerous airports. The aim of this study was to develop, optimize, and validate a procedure based on liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). So far, no procedure was available that would ensure reliable data about concentration levels of these toxic pollutants in a new type of environmental samples, such as airport stormwater. The most difficult step in the analytical procedure used for the determination of fuel combustion products in airport stormwater samples is sample preparation. In this work, eight different protocols of sample preparation were tested. The evaluation of the LLE demonstrated that the best extraction conditions were as follows: dichloromethane (extraction solvent), solvent volume of 15 mL and sample volume of 250 mL. The percent recovery values ranged from 66 to 106 %, which shows that the LLE technique is a powerful method for extracting PAHs from airport runoff water samples with a complex matrix composition. Moreover, the developed procedure was characterized by satisfactory selectivity and a relatively low LOQ (0.17–0.52 μg/L). The procedure has been successfully applied to the analysis of stormwater samples collected from different sites at international airport in Poland. The procedure can thus be used as a tool for tracking the environmental fate of these compounds and for assessing the environmental effect of airports.     

Melt extraction and melt refertilization in mantle peridotite of the Coast Range ophiolite: an LA–ICP–MS study

The middle Jurassic Coast Range Ophiolite (CRO) is one of the most important tectonic elements in western California, cropping out as tectonically dismembered elements that extend 700 km from south to north. The volcanic and plutonic sections are commonly interpreted to represent a supra-subduction zone (SSZ) ophiolite, but models specifying a mid-ocean ridge origin have also been proposed. These contrasting interpretations have distinctly different implications for the tectonic evolution of the western Cordillera in the Jurassic. If an SSZ origin is confirmed, we can use the underlying mantle peridotites to elucidate melt processes in the mantle wedge above the subduction zone. This study uses laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) to study pyroxenes in peridotites from four mantle sections in the CRO. Trace element signatures of these pyroxenes record magmatic processes characteristic of both mid-ocean ridge and supra-subduction zone settings. Group A clinopyroxene display enriched REE concentrations [e.g., Gd (0.938–1.663 ppm), Dy (1.79–3.24 ppm), Yb (1.216–2.047 ppm), and Lu (0.168–0.290 ppm)], compared to Group B and C clinopyroxenes [e.g., Gd (0.048–0.055 ppm), Dy (0.114–0.225 ppm), Yb (0.128–0.340 ppm), and Lu (0.022–0.05 ppm)]. These patterns are also evident in orthopyroxene. The differences between these geochemical signatures could be a result of a heterogeneous upper mantle or different degrees of partial melting of the upper mantle. It will be shown that CRO peridotites were generated through fractional melting. The shapes of REE patterns are consistent with variable degrees of melting initiated within the garnet stability field. Models call for 3% dry partial melting of MORB-source asthenosphere in the garnet lherzolite field for abyssal peridotites and 15–20% further partial melting in the spinel lherzolite field, possibly by hydrous melting for SSZ peridotites. These geochemical variations and occurrence of both styles of melting regimes within close spatial and temporal association suggest that certain segments of the CRO may represent oceanic lithosphere, attached to a large-offset transform fault and that east-dipping, proto-Franciscan subduction may have been initiated along this transform.     

Profiling of dissolved organic compounds in the oil sands region using complimentary liquid–liquid extraction and ultrahigh resolution Fourier transform mass spectrometry

Understanding and characterizing organics in aquatic environments is a great challenge for environmental monitoring, especially for the oil sands industry due to the complexity and potential toxicity of dissolved organics in water. To date, significant efforts have been made in investigating the toxicity of naphthenic acids, although other compounds may also contribute to the toxicity of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). Here, we present a case study showing a systematic approach for profiling the organic composition of OSPW and environmental water samples by concentrating and separating dissolved organics through complementary liquid–liquid extractions followed by positive- or negative-ion mode ultrahigh resolution mass detection. Our comparative investigation shows clear differences in the composition of dissolved organics (homologues particularly) not only between OSPW samples and environmental water samples, but also differences among oil sands operators. Sulfur-containing compounds (especially the SO _n classes) appear to have great potential to be used for evaluating the impact of OSPW, while our understanding of oxygen-only containing compounds should not be limited to O₂ (i.e., classic naphthenic acids), but rather can be broadened to include many other compound classes (for instance O _n , n = 1–9). Systematic profiling of water samples should be more widely implemented for monitoring the origin and transport of organics in aquatic ecosystems of the oil sands development region, northeastern Alberta, Canada.     

A micro-scale investigation of melt production and extraction in the upper mantle based on silicate melt pockets in ultramafic xenoliths from the Bakony–Balaton Highland Volcanic Field (Western Hungary)

Mantle xenoliths in Neogene alkali basalts of the Bakony–Balaton Highland Volcanic Field (Western Hungary) frequently have melt pockets that contain silicate minerals, glass, and often carbonate globules. Textural, geochemical and thermobarometric data indicate that the melt pockets formed at relatively high pressure through breakdown of mainly amphibole as a result of temperature increases accompanied, in most cases, by the influx of external metasomatic agents. New elemental and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope data show that in several xenoliths the external agent was either a LIL-enriched aqueous fluid or a CO₂-rich fluid, whereas in other xenoliths the melt pockets were additionally enriched in LREE and sometimes HFSE, suggesting metasomatism by a silicate melt. The compositional character of the external agents might have been inherited by melting of a hydrated and probably carbonated deeper lithospheric component, which itself was metasomatized by melts with significant slab-derived components. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Speciation analysis of metals （Tl, Cd and Pb） in Tl-containing pyrite and its cinder from Yunfu Mine, China, by ICP-MS with sequential extraction

The speciation of heavy metals such as thallium, cadmium and lead existing in pyrite and pyrite cinder was analyzed by ICP-MS with a sequential extraction procedure. The distribution patterns of these metals including exchangeable, reducible, oxidizable and residual fractions were obtained. Tl, Cd and Pb in pyrite and pyrite cinder samples from each extraction step were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Under the optimized instrumental conditions, detection limits of Tl, Cd and Pb in different matrices were within the range of 0.006–0.07 μg/L, and the relative standard deviations ranged from 0.8% to 1.2%. The accuracy of Tl, Cd and Pb determination was checked by analyzing two certified reference materials. The results demonstrate that trace Tl, Cd and Pb in the samples can be accurately determined. The sequential extraction results revealed that the percent contents of Tl, Cd and Pb in exchangeable, reducible and oxidizable fractions in pyrite cinder are different from those in pyrite and in pyrite cinder. Tl, Cd and Pb mostly are distributed in residual fraction. Therefore, the mobility of metals in pyrite is higher than that in pyrite cinder. Although distributions of Tl, Cd and Pb in the non-residual fraction are not dominant in pyrite cinder, the total concentrations of them could not be ignored. Consequently, attention must be paid to the risk of potential pollution by pyrite cinder.     

The optimization of the antibiotics extraction from wastewaters and manure using Box–Behnken experimental design

The aim of this study was to optimize the solid-phase extraction method of several antibiotics in order to determine their concentration in wastewater (influent and effluent) and manure samples. The selected antibiotics for the present study were ampicillin, ceftazidime, cefepime, imipenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, tetracycline, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, vancomycin, gentamicin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. The optimum extraction conditions were established using a three- and four-factor Box–Behnken design under response surface methodology. The extraction of the antibiotics from liquid matrices was performed on several types of cartridges (Oasis HLB, Strata-X and HyperSep Retain PEP). With Oasis HLB cartridges were obtained the best recovery degrees (74.81 and 105.39% with the exception of tazobactam 58.70% and gentamicin 51.57%). This type of cartridges was further used for all of the samples collected for this study. In the case of the manure samples were tested two different extraction techniques: ultrasounds- and microwave-assisted solvent extraction, the first one being the most efficient. All the extractions obtained during the present study were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography with two detectors, diode array and mass spectrometer in positive ionization mode.     

Microwave-assisted extraction of organochlorine pesticides from sediments and determination by gas chromatograph with electron capture detection

A simple and rapid procedure to extract organochlorine pesticides （OCPs） from sediments by means of microwave energy is proposed. Sediment samples were irradiated with microwaves in a closed vessel system while immersed in hexane-acetone （1 ： 1, v/v）. The sample extracts were cleaned up using solid phase extraction with Florisil as adsorbent. Pesticides were eluted with hexane-ethyl acetate （80 ： 20, v/v） and determined by gas chromatographic separation with electron capture detection. Three oven programs were assayed with two different solvent mixtures in order to achieve adequate experimental conditions for the complete extraction of organochlorine pesticides from the matrix. Different variables such as the composition of extraction solvent,     

Polymer Particles in Solid Atmospheric Precipitation in the Northwestern Kola Peninsula in 2020‒2021

Doklady Earth Sciences - From December 2020 to April 2021, in the northwestern part of the Kola Peninsula, including the infrastructure of the city of Murmansk, the quantity of polymer particles in...     

Anthropogenic Transformation in Engineering–Geological Megastructures in Russia

Engineering activities lead to the anthropogenic transformation of engineering–geological conditions in different areas of Russia. A differential estimate has been made for changes in individual components of engineering–geological structures: relief, upper section soils, underground waters, depth of seasonal soil freezing and thawing, and current geological processes. The general integrated evaluation of the anthropogenic transformation of engineering–geological megastructures in Russia has been made on the basis of differential estimates of the components.     

3D geological modelling of the Renard 2 kimberlite pipe,Québec,Canada: from exploration to extraction

The Renard 2 kimberlite pipe is one of nine diamondiferous kimberlite pipes that form a cluster in the south-eastern portion of the Superior Province, Québec, Canada and is presently being extracted at the Renard Mine. It is interpreted as a diatreme-zone kimberlite consisting of two Kimberley-type pyroclastic units and related country rock breccias, all cross-cut by coherent kimberlite dykes and irregular intrusives. Renard 2 has been the subject of numerous diamond drilling campaigns since its discovery in 2001. The first two geological models modelled kimberlite and country rock breccia units separately. A change in modelling philosophy in 2009, which incorporated the emplacement envelope and history, modelled the entire intrusive event and projected the pipe shape to depth allowing for more targeted deep drilling where kimberlite had not yet been discovered. This targeted 2009 drilling resulted in a > 400% increase in the volume of the Indicated Resource. Modelling only the kimberlite units resulted in a significant underestimation of the pipe shape. Current open pit and underground mapping of the pipe shape corresponds well to the final 2015 geological model and contact changes observed are within the expected level of confidence for an Indicated Resource. This study demonstrates that a sound understanding of the geological emplacement is key to developing a reliable 3D geological and resource model that can be used for targeted delineation drilling, feasibility studies and during the initial stages of mining.

     

Relationship between fluorine content in drinking water and oral health in some big cities in China

Background： Fluorine is an important element to human health. Overloading of fluorine may cause dental and/or skeletal fluorosis, while in fluorine deficiency distracts, fluoride drinking water supply or other methods of fluoridation may greatly reduce the ratio of dental caries of local residents. The benefit of drinking water fluoridation has been widely accepted as a public sanitation measure in most western countries, but in China it faces big challenges. Method： Investigation of oral health and fluorine level in drinking water, main food and urine in some big cities of China. Result and conclusion： （1） Fluorine content in drinking water in 70% of the whole research cities is lower than 0.3 mg/L, and in 90% of the research cities, it is lower than 0.5 mg/L. （2） Fluorine concentrations in main foodstuff of respective cities in China were low and did not have too much difference. （3） Drinking water was the main source of fluorine intake for Chinese residents. （4） With the data of the epidemiological research by NCOH in 1995, in the range of fluorine content in drinking water below 1.0 mg/L, the ratio of dental caries and DMFT decreases with the increase of fluorine concentration. The relation between fluorine concentration in drinking water and dental index did not have a good linear relationship.     

Heavy metal content in untreated forest soils in Southwest China

The rapid industrial development in China has caused a range of environmental problems. Along with emissions of ＂conventional＂ air pollutants, such as sulfur and nitrogen oxides, there are also increasing emissions of heavy metals to the atmosphere. Little information is available on metal contamination due to atmospheric deposition in forest soils in China. In order to get an overview of the extent of the problem, we conducted analyses of metal content in soil samples from three forested research catchments in Southwest China [Tieshanping （TSP） in Chongqing, Liuchongguan （LCG） and Leigongshan （LGS） in Guizhou]. Total concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sn and Zn were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry after microwave digestion. The Hg content was determined using a Direct Mercury Analyzer. The concentrations of most of the analyzed metals were below the National Grade A standard limits in China for most samples, except for Cd and Pb where the limits were slightly exceeded at some of the sampling sites. In general, there were small differences between the different sites, although Cd and Co show a tendency to be higher at the most remote site （Leigongshan）. This site receives the lowest deposition of conventional air pollutants among the sites and the higher metals concentrations are possibly related to higher content in the soil parent material. There is no apparent general gradient in metal concentrations with proximity to cities, major air pollution emission sources, nor with sulphur deposition loads.     

Votalization of selenium in selenium-rich black rock series in Yutangba

Votalization of selenium in selenium-rich black rock series in Yutangba is discussed at 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900℃.Votalization of selenium tends to increase when the temperature is high. So environmental influence of selenium-rich black rock series combustion needs to be considered.