The Uptake of Phosphate Ions by the Alga Hydrodictyon reticulatum

The uptake of orthophosphate has been studied in order to determine the chemical forms of intracellular phosphorus. It was found that the concentration of the main species–orthophosphate and acid hydrolyzable phosphorus–changed in dependence on experimental conditions. The highest uptake of orthophosphate was observed in the neutral medium in the presence of nitrate or ammonium ions in the light, whereas the uptake in the dark was negligible. The uptake of orthophosphate was found to be connected with the transport of alkali metals or ammonium ions into the cell. The rate of the uptake of orthophosphate was compared with that of nitrite, nitrate and ammonium ions.     

Assessing the Comparability of Ammonium,Nitrate and Sulfate Concentrations Measured by Three Air Quality Monitoring Networks

Airborne fine particulate matter across the United States is monitored by different networks, the three prevalent ones presently being the Clean Air Status and Trend Network (CASTNet), the Interagency Monitoring of PROtected Visual Environment Network (IMPROVE) and the Speciation and Trend Network (STN). If combined, these three networks provide speciated fine particulate data at several hundred locations throughout the United States. Yet, differences in sampling protocols and samples handling may not allow their joint use. With these concerns in mind, the objective of this study is to assess the spatial and temporal comparability of the sulfate, nitrate and ammonium concentrations reported by each of these networks. One of the major differences between networks is the sampling frequency they adopted. While CASTNet measures pollution levels on seven-day integrated samples, STN and IMPROVE data pertain to 24-hour samples collected every three days. STN and IMPROVE data therefore exhibit considerably more short-term variability than their CASTNet counterpart. We show that, despite their apparent incongruity, averaging the data with a window size of four to six weeks is sufficient to remove the effects of differences in sampling frequency and duration and allow meaningful comparison of the signals reported by the three networks of concern. After averaging, all the sulfate and, to a lesser degree, ammonium concentrations reported are fairly similar. Nitrate concentrations, on the other hand, are still divergent. We speculate that this divergence originates from the different types of filters used to collect particulate nitrate. Finally, using a rotated principal component technique (RPCA), we determined the number and the geographical organization of the significant temporal modes of variation (clusters) detected by each network for the three pollutants of interest. For sulfate and ammonium, the clusters’ geographical boundaries established for each network and the modes of variations within each cluster seem to correspond. RPCA erformed on nitrate concentrations revealed that, for the CASTNet and IMPROVE networks, the modes of variation do not correspond to unified geographical regions but are found more sporadically. For STN, the clustered areas are unified and easily delineable. We conclude that the possibility of jointly using the data collected by CASTNet, IMPROVE and STN has to be weighed pollutant by pollutant. While sulfate and ammonium data show some potential for joint use, at this point, combining the nitrate data from these monitoring networks may not be a judicious choice.     

Characterization and Application of Dried Plants to Remove Heavy Metals,Nitrate, and Phosphate Ions from Industrial Wastewaters

Low cost adsorbents were prepared from dried plants for the removal of heavy metals, nitrate, and phosphate ions from industrial wastewaters. The efficiency of these adsorbents was investigated using batch adsorption technique at room temperature. The dried plant particles were characterized by N₂ at 77 K adsorption, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and phytochemical screening. The adsorption experiments showed that the microparticles of the dried plants presented a good adsorption of heavy metals, phosphate, and nitrate ions from real wastewaters. This adsorption increased with increasing contact time. The equilibrium time was found to be 30 min for heavy metals and nitrate ions and 240 min for phosphate ions. After the adsorption process, the Pb(II) concentrations, as well as those of Cd(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) were below the European drinking water norms concentrations. The percentage removal of heavy metals, nitrates, and phosphates from industrial wastewaters by dried plants was ～94% for Cd²⁺, ～92% for Cu²⁺, ～99% for Pb²⁺, ～97% for Zn²⁺, ～100% for ${\rm NO}_{{\rm 3}}^{{-} } $ and ～77% for ${\rm PO}_{{\rm 4}}^{3{-} } $ ions. It is proved that dried plants can be one alternative source for low cost absorbents to remove heavy metals, nitrate, and phosphate ions from municipal and industrial wastewaters.     

Spatial Variability of Nitrate and Ammonium in Pleistocene Aquifer of Central Yangtze River Basin

It becomes increasingly important and challenging for nitrogen pollution prevention to identify key controls for spatial variability of nitrogen in groundwater that could be affected by multiple factors, including anthropogenic input, groundwater flow, and local geochemistry. This study characterized spatial variability of both nitrate and ammonium in the Pleistocene aquifer of central Yangtze River Basin and assessed the effect of various factors in controlling nitrate and ammonium levels based on multiple statistical approaches (correlation, geostatistics, multiple liner regression). The results indicate that nitrate is mostly influenced by Cl⁻ that represents anthropogenic input, while Eh representing local redox state is a secondary variable influencing nitrate concentrations. The groundwater with elevated nitrate concentrations are estimated to occur mainly in areas with higher-permeability near-surface sediments which can facilitate more anthropogenic nitrate transport and less nitrate removal owing to more oxidized state. Ammonium is mostly correlated to Eh, followed by dissolved organic carbon (DOC), but only DOC improves significantly the accuracy of co-kriging prediction model. The groundwater with elevated ammonium concentrations are estimated to occur mainly in areas with more organic-rich sediments within or around the aquifer which can facilitate more ammonium release owing to natural organic matter consumption accompanying strong reducing conditions. The regional groundwater flow is not a factor significantly controlling nitrate or ammonium levels owing to flat topography and sluggish lateral flow.     

Effect of Nickel and Cadmium on Ammonium Uptake Kinetics of Free and Immobilized Cells of Anacystis nidulans

The stress effect of Ni and Cd on the ammonium uptake varied significantly (ANOVA test) in free and immobilized state of the test organism. The effect due to the interaction between different variables (cell state type, metal type and metal dose) was studied to depict the significant or non‐significant variation in the ammonium uptake by free and immobilized cells in the presence of metal ions. Ammonium uptake exhibited a competitive mode of inhibition in the presence of Ni in both free and immobilized state of the organism. However, Cd exhibited non‐competitive and competitive inhibition in free and immobilized cells, respectively. The study demonstrates that there is a considerable influence of metal ions on the ammonium uptake. Cd was found to be more toxic compared to Ni in both free and immobilized state.     

Uptake and discharge of petroleum hydrocarbons by barnacles

The hydrocarbon content of barnacles living on tarballs has been compared with the hydrocarbon composition of the tarballs. While there is some contamination of the barnacles there is no evidence of gross pollution and the analyses suggest that oil hydrocarbons are assimilated and then discharged, unmetabolized, quite rapidly.     

Uptake of zinc,lead and cadmium by young whiting in the Severn Estuary

First year whitings, winter residents of the Severn Estuary, had highest levels of zinc in November 1975 but maximum concentrations of lead and cadmium in March 1976. These metal levels are linearly related to both the length and weight of the fish. It is suggested that zinc concentrations reach an upper threshold limit beyond which there is no further accumulation. This is quickly reached as fish move into polluted areas.     

Magnesium Ammonium Phosphate Production from Wastewater through Box–Behnken Design and Its Effect on Nutrient Element Uptake in Plants

This study examined ${\rm NH}_{{\rm 4}}^{{\rm + }} $ , ${\rm PO}_{{\rm 4}}^{{\rm 3}- } $ recovery and the concentration of residual ions from anaerobic effluent of the potato processing industry through magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) precipitation using a Box–Behnken design. The regression model was statistically significant in terms of ${\rm NH}_{{\rm 4}}^{{\rm + }} $ and ${\rm PO}_{{\rm 4}}^{{\rm 3}- } $ removal efficiency and residual ion concentrations. Optimum ${\rm NH}_{{\rm 4}}^{{\rm + }} $ and ${\rm PO}_{{\rm 4}}^{{\rm 3}- } $ removal was obtained at pH 9.50 and at Mg²⁺/${\rm NH}_{{\rm 4}}^{{\rm + }} $ /${\rm PO}_{{\rm 4}}^{{\rm 3}- } $ molar ratio of 1.8:1:1.8. Under these conditions, Mg, Ca, K, Fe, and Cl concentrations required for plant growth significantly decreased with MAP precipitation, which was supported by EDX analysis of dry MAP precipitate. The fertilizer effect of MAP on the growth of corn and tomato plants was compared with chemical fertilizers through pot trials. Nutrient element uptake levels of plants were examined in different fertilizer sources. While Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn nutrient element uptake levels were sufficient in MAP pots, Ca uptake exceeded sufficient level. Average levels of N, P, K, Mg, Cu, and Mn of corn plant were higher in MAP than other pots. The average N, P, and Mg levels of tomato plant in MAP pots were higher than other pots. N/K ratio, which is important in tomato plants, was better optimized in MAP pots. Only Ni, Cr, and Pb heavy metals were found in plants.     

Uptake of Heavy Metals by Cladophora glomerata

The influence of the duration of exposure on the accumulation of Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, Co Zn and Ni by Cladophora glomerata was studied in short-term batch experiments. It was determined that the uptake of heavy metals differs not only in the rate of uptake but also in the maximum cumulation attained. The highest uptake after exposure for 6 h to an initial concentration of 200 μg/l occurred with chromium — 168 μg/g, the minimum uptake occurred with cobalt — 86.9 μg/g. Also the rate of uptake differed significantly. After the exposure period of 15 min 120.7 μg/g of chromium was taken up and, in contrast, only 7.6 μg/g of nickel was taken up after the same exposure period.     

The Uptake of 226Ra by Planktonic Algae under Conditions of Continuous Cultivation

The radium cumulation in Coelastrum cambricum, Scenedesmus obliquus and Microcystis pulverea was studied under conditions of continuous cultivation at constant level of radium in the cultivation medium. The algae were exposed to the concentrations of 30, 300 and 3000 Bq/l ²²⁶Ra in the medium for a period of 14 days. It was found that radium started to cumulate immediately after its addition to the culture just as in the stationary type of cultivation, in the continuous cultivation, however, its content decreased with the length of exposure. This is due to the decreasing part of radium adsorbed on the cell surface. While in green algae the portion of radium incorporated into cells increased with the length of exposure, in blue-green algae up to 90% of radium was bound to the surface or gelatinous capsules of the cells through out the experiment. With the three phytoplankton species used, the highest cumulation of radium (nonwashable part) was recorded in Coelastrum cambricum. A dependence of the radium cumulation on its content in the medium was observed in the species Scenedesmus obliquus.     

Uptake of Dissolved and Oil Phase Organic Chemicals by Bacteria

Hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs) discharged into soil and ground water will partition into gaseous, aqueous, oil, and sorbed phases. Knowledge of how bacteria assimilate HOCs is important to individuals involved in evaluating intrinsic, or engineered, bioremediation. The majority of bacteria isolated from the subsurface are gram-negative. The outer membrane of gram-negative organisms acts as a selective barrier to many solutes, including hydrophobic chemicals. Thus, diffusional transport of a hydrophobic solute through the outer membrane may be the rate-limiting step in biodegradation. Bacteria may also produce biosurfactants that can facilitate cell-oil contact or assist solubilization of oil and sorbed phases.     

Removal of Copper,Nickel, and Zinc Ions from Electroplating Rinse Water

Removal of copper, nickel, and zinc ions from synthetic electroplating rinse water was investigated using cationic exchange resin (Ceralite IR 120). Batch ion exchange studies were carried out to optimize the various experimental parameters (such as contact time, pH, and dosage). Influence of co‐existing cations, chelating agent EDTA on the removal of metal ion of interest was also studied. Sorption isotherm data obtained at different experimental conditions were fitted with Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich–Peterson, and Toth models. A maximum adsorption capacity of 164 mg g^?1 for Cu(II), 109 mg g^?1 for Ni(II), and 105 mg g^?1 for Zn(II) was observed at optimum experimental conditions according to Langmuir model. The kinetic data for metal ions adsorption process follows pseudo second‐order. Presence of EDTA and co‐ions markedly alters the metal ion removal. Continuous column ion exchange experiments were also conducted. The breakeven point of the column was obtained after recovering effectively several liters of rinse water. The treated rinse water could be recycled in rinsing operations. The Thomas and Adams–Bohart models were applied to column studies and the constants were evaluated. Desorption of the adsorbed metal ions from the resin column was studied by conducting a model experiments with Cu(II) ions loaded ion exchange resin column using sulfuric acid as eluant. A novel lead oxide coated Ti substrate dimensionally stable (DSA) anode was prepared for recovery of copper ions as metal foil from regenerated liquor by electro winning at different current densities (50–300 A cm^?2).     

The State of Metal Ions in Natural Waters

On the basis of an analysis of literature and of own investigations, the state of metalions in natural waters is described as essential for the properties. There are investigated especially: hydrolysis, polymerization and complexation with humic substances. An analytical method for determining the degree of dispersion and the shares of free and complexed metal-ions as well as their charge and molar mass is presented.     

The Toxic Effects of Mercury Ions on a Freshwater Teleost,Puntius sophore (HAMILTON), as assessed by Bioassay and Histopathological Indices

Puntius sophore (HAMILTON ) were exposed to several concentrations of mercury up to 10 d under static bioassay conditions. Abnormal behaviour in fish were increase in swimming activity, absence of shoaling behaviour, surfacing, loss of equilibrium and death. The body and gills of dead and living fish in the higher mercury concentrations are covered by coagulated mucus. The 96 h and 240 h LC₅₀ values and their 95% confidence limits were 0.145 (0.133 … 0.165); 0.065 (0.057 … 0.072) mg/l of Hg, respectively. The F-ratios are significant at the 1% level of significance and thus indicate that the per cent mortality caused by mercury is distributed in a heterogeneous manner while there is no significant overall difference between the replications. The histopathological assessment of the gill was also carried out. In the control fish, gills are characterized by thin secondary gill lamellae and epithelial layer closely associated with the basement membrane. Several histopathological changes were observed in the gill, including the swelling in secondary gill lamellae, nuclei increases in size and number, and degeneration of epithelial layer.     

Uptake of macroelements by the helophytePhalaris arundinacea L.

Helophytes are often incorporated into biological wastewater treatment plants. In favourable situations, they can take up large amounts of nutrients. One helophyte, the reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), is fast growing when supplied with sufficient light and nutrients. Experiments were carried out under natural climatic conditions in small plastic tanks filled with sand with regular additions of a balanced and concentrated nutrient solution. In the growing season (May–October), plant production reached 10.5 kg m^–2 of dry biomass, of which 66% was in the aerial parts. Maximum nutrient uptake capacity was reached just after flowering and before senescence (beginning of October): 49% N, 34% P, 52% K and 34% Mg of the input was fixed in the aerial parts, which are easily harvestable. The corresponding values for the below ground parts were 12%, 10%, 11% and 11% respectively. Excretion of K and Mg has been observed when nutrients are translocated to the storage organs.     

Ammonium Ion, Humic Materials, and Trihalomethane Potential in Northeastern Kansas Ground Waters

Glacial buried-valley aquifers serve as primary sources of potable ground water in northeastern Kansas. A long known problem, however, is that a large percentage of well waters in this region exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits for nitrate (NO⁻₃). A detailed study of the hydrogeology and water quality of the buried valleys has confirmed the nitrate problem and led to a recognition that some well waters with low ( 5 mg/l) NO⁻₃ concentrations have anomalous ( 0.5 mg/l) ammonium ion (NH⁺₄) levels, with an NH⁺₄ range from <0.1 to 4.8 mg/l. The extractable NH⁺₄ concentrations in related glacial sediments range up to approximately 75 mg/kg, and the amounts generally increase from an average of 2 mg/kg in the topsoil downward to bedrock. Migration of brines from subjacent Permian or Pennsylvanian bedrock into the unconsolidated sediments locally may cause desorption of NH⁺₄ and an increase in its levels in the associated ground waters. Numerous test holes drilled in the study area showed a black scum on the fluid and cuttings, which may be from buried humic materials. Recently measured total organic carbon (TOC) contents of the ground waters confirm a significant level in some areas, with a range from 0.1 to 2.4 mg/l as C. Chlorination of water with dissolved organics may lead to production of halogenated compounds. Two public-water-supply well waters contained total trihalomethane (TTHM) levels close to the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 100 /μg/l in chlorinated samples quenched after one week. The presence of NH⁺₄ inhibits the formation of THMs, but it also can give rise to odor and taste problems in the finished water. The inhibition of THM formation by NH⁺₄ is achieved by reactions which compete with the organics for combination with chlorine. These reactions make maintaining appropriate chlorine residuals difficult and also may lead to production of undesirable side products. Present efforts to evaluate the regional water-quality problems are focused in Nemaha County, Kansas.     

Uptake of radioactivity by marine sediments and implications for monitoring metal pollutants

The value of studying artificially-produced radionuclides in the marine environment is discussed in the wider context of monitoring sediments for other metal pollutants. Differences in the dispersion of selected radionuclides discharged from the same known source are used to illustrate the sort of changes in phase or speciation which must occur with other metal pollutants, but which cannot be demonstrated directly because of the multiplicity of sources. Various chemical and physical procedures are discussed which can be applied to a study of heavy metal associations with marine sediments, as are questions such as the existence, or otherwise, of mechanisms for the slow release of adsorbed material from the buried sediment back into the water column. Suggestions are made as to how radionuclide studies may be helpful in answering questions such as these, which are considered to be vital for the meaningful interpretation of sediment analyses.