Experimental determination of zirconium speciation in hydrothermal solutions

The solubility of ZrO₂(baddeleyite) in HCl, HF, H₂SO₄, NaOH, and Na₂CO₃ solutions was determined by the capsule method at 500°C and 1000 bar. Baddeleyite is the only solid phase detected in the experimental products. Based on the ZrO₂(baddeleyite) solubility measurements, the values of equilibrium constants at 500°C and 1000 bar (consistent with the Gibbs free energies of all the reactants) were obtained for the following reactions: ZrO₂(cr) + H₂SO ₄ ⁰ = Zr(OH)₂OH ₄ ⁰ (pK^o = 4.95), ZrO₂(cr) + 2H₂SO ₄ ⁰ = Zr(SO₄) ₂ ⁰ ) + 2H₂O (pK^o = 3.74), ZrO₂(cr) + H₂O + HF⁰ = Zr(OH)₃F⁰ (pK^o = 3.35), ZrO₂(cr) + 2HF⁰ = Zr(OH)₂F ₂ ⁰ (pK^o = 2.37), and ZrO₂(cr) + 2H₂O + OH^? = Zr(OH) ₅ ^? (pK^o = 4.39). Ionization constants were estimated for the chloride, fluoride, sulfate, and hydroxo complexes of zirconium. Using the experimental data and thermodynamic information derived from experiments and the electrostatic model of the ionization of electrolytes, it was shown that no more than n mg zirconium per one kilogram H₂O can be accumulated in high-temperature fluids at 500°C and 1000 bar.     

Evaluation of aluminum speciation in surface waters in China and its environmental risk assessment

As the ongoing global research on acid precipitation is developing in depth, more and more attention has been paid to the ecological effects of aluminum (Al) due to its toxicity to plants and animals, which is caused by acid precipitation. As a very serious problem of terrestrial and aquatic environmental acidification occurs in China, especially in southwestern China, a systematic investigation of Al speciation in these regions is very important. In this paper, the Al speciation results of surface waters in China are reported and its ecological impacts is evaluated. More than 100 water samples were collected from about twenty provinces of China. Driscoll's Al speciation scheme combined with the modified MINQEL computer model is used for speciation of Al. This study shows that the ecological impacts of acidification are quite different between China and Western countries, because of different geographical environments and geological settings. In Western countries, acidification is mainly caused by NO₂^-. Due to low concentrations of K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, the buffer capacities of soil and water are weak. Therefore, natural waters can be acidified to pH<5 very easily, resulting in a considerable mobilization of Al and worsening of the ecological environment. In China, acid precipitation is mainly in the form of sulfuric acid. In northwestern China, concentrations of K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ are high in soil and surface waters. This leads to much higher capacity and a high resistance ability to acidification. The pH values of waters in this region are high (around 7) and no serious Al toxicity is found at present. However, in northeastern and southeastern China, the soil is rich in Al (unsaturated aluminosilicates in northeastern China, saturated aluminosilicates in north and central China, aluminum-rich soil in southeastern and southwestern China). The concentrations of K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ in soil and waters are lower than those of northwestern China. Therefore the buffer capacity is limited. Numerous surface waters have already been acidified and pH values declined to 5. The impacts of Al toxicity on ecological systems in these regions are very serious, especially in Jiangxi, Hubei Provinces and Chongqing Municipality.     

The determination of compactional strains using quasi-cylindrical objects

The deformation of objects which can be used to define a cylinder (quasi-cylindrical objects) under uniaxial strain is examined. An expression is derived which enables the compactional strain to be calculated from a wide range of single unoriented fossils, and an example of the use of the method given. The method can also be used to determine strain ratios under conditions of pure flattening or pure constriction, i.e. strains with axial symmetry.     

超级火山喷发及其环境效应SCIEI北大核心CSCD

超级火山喷发可以在极短时间内剧烈改变区域地形地貌,引起全球性气候巨变,是人类赖以生存的地球宜居环境的严重威胁。因此,剖析地质历史上的超级火山喷发事件及其环境效应,将有助于我们预测和应对未来可能的超级火山喷发及其造成的自然灾难。本文从超级火山和超级喷发的定义入手,重点介绍超级火山喷发的固相和气相产物、如何鉴别地质历史上的超级火山喷发、以及超级火山喷发可能带来的环境和社会影响。由于最近一次超级火山喷发发生在2.6万年前的新西兰,人类文明并没有经历过超级火山喷发,科学家们主要通过二十世纪以来有记录的小型火山喷发、冰芯和年轮记录、火山-环境-气候模型等来推测、反演和模拟超级火山喷发对气候和环境的影响。已有的研究表明,超级火山喷发产生的碎屑熔岩流和岩浆房塌陷产生的破火山口给周边地区环境造成直接的摧毁;进入平流层的火山气体经过物理化学变化形成气溶胶,有效的反射和吸收太阳辐射,从而导致长达数年的区域甚至全球性的剧烈降温和降水减少。尽管科学家们已经做了很多数值模拟和推演,但超级火山喷发的影响仍然是难以估计的。特别是超级火山喷发发生的季节和地点会带来不同的火山-海洋-大气-植被耦合效应,导致不同规模的气候和环境变化,未来应当加强这方面的研究。     

土壤和沉积物中元素的化学形态及其顺序提取法

介绍了形态分析的概念和化学形态分析方法,探讨了广泛应用于土壤、沉积物重金属形态分析中的Tessier和BCR顺序提取方案及其异同,综述了顺序提取方法在地球化学、环境科学、农业科学等方面的应用及中国相关标准物质的研制现状。     

Iodine and selenium speciation in natural waters and their concentrating at landscape-geochemical barriers

Drinkable waters in Bryansk oblast are generally poor in I and Se. Possible I and Se speciation in the drinkable waters and their means of migration and concentration in soils at geochemically contrasting conditions are analyzed, and the possible reason for the high mobility of I is demonstrated to be predetermined not only by its occurrence in the form of iodide and organic complexes but also by solute mineral species (CaI⁺ and MgI⁺), with the former and the latter types of the complexes spread more widely in the polessky and opolny landscape types, respectively. Iodine complexation with alkali-earth cations under reduced neutral-weakly alkaline conditions facilitates, on the one hand, vertical iodine migration and, on the other hand, its precipitation on the carbonate barrier. The predominant solute species of Se in these environments is hydroselenide, which can form FeSe in the presence of significant Fe concentrations and be precipitated on the reduced barrier in soils of hydromorphic landscapes. The generally low total I and Se concentrations in the drinkable waters and the migration of solute compounds of radioactive I in the form of organic and inorganic complexes could likely result in a higher thyroid morbidity rate over the whole territory of Bryansk oblast, including areas contaminated with radioactive I isotopes after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.     

高岭石等粘土矿物对五氯苯酚的吸附及其与矿物表面化合态关系

高岭石、蒙脱石和伊利石三种粘土矿物对五氯苯酚的吸附实验研究表明,其pH等温线为峰型曲线,三种矿物在pH<3时基本不吸附,在pH≈5或6时有一吸附峰,此后在pH≈6.5或7时有一低值,当pH>7时,高岭石和蒙脱石两矿物吸附量又表现出上升趋势。三种矿物表面位的化合态分析证明,吸附属于表面络合型,其峰型特征起因于矿物表面两种羟基位的化合态浓度和五氯苯酚的离子态浓度均随溶液pH变化而变化。     

Isomorphism of actinides and REE in synthetic ferrite garnets

The reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is accompanied by the formation of liquid high-level radioactive waste (HLW). To increase the safety of handling HLW, it is proposed to extract actinide isotopes (An) and REE from them. These elements may be incorporated into crystalline matrices, e.g., based on ferrites with garnet structure, and then disposed in a geologic repository. The actinide-REE fraction is characterized by a complex composition. In addition to major components (An and REE), Al, Si, Na, and Sn occur therein in small amounts (a few wt %). Possible incorporation of the admixtures into ferrite garnets, as well as their effect on the phase composition of matrices and Th, Ce, Gd, and La contents were studied. It was shown that admixtures enter into garnet by means of isomorphic replacement. The properties of samples change only when admixtures are added in amounts exceeding their concentrations in HLW. The ability of ferrite garnets to accumulate significant amounts of An, REE, and admixture elements makes them suitable for use as matrices in immobilizing actinide-REE HLW of complex composition.     

Distribution and speciation of heavy metals and their sources in Kumho River sediment,Korea

The interaction between heavy metals and river sediment is very important because river sediment is the sink for heavy metals introduced into a river and it can be a potential source of pollutants when environmental conditions change. The Kumho River, the main tributaries of the Nakdong River in Korea, can be one of the interesting research targets in this respect, because it runs through different geologic terrains with different land use characteristics in spite of its short length. Various approaches were used, including mineralogical, geochemical, and statistical analyses to investigate the distribution and behavior of heavy metals in the sediments and their sources. The effect of geological factor on the distribution of these metals was also studied. No noticeable changes in the species or relative amounts of minerals were observed by quantitative X-ray diffraction in the sediments at different stations along the river. Only illite showed a significant correlation with concentrations of heavy metals in the sediments. Based on an average heavy metal concentration (the average concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were 1.67, 20.9, 99.7, 125, 97.6, 149, 298 ppm, respectively), the sediments of the Kumho River were classified as heavily polluted according to EPA guidelines. The concentrations of heavy metals in the sediments were as follows: Zn > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cr > Co > Cd. In contrast, contamination levels based on the average I _geo (index of geoaccumulation) values were as follows: Pb > Cd > Zn > Cu > Co = Cr > Ni. The concentrations of heavy metals increased downstream (with the exception of Cd and Pb) and were highest near the industrial area, indicating that industrial activity is the main factor in increasing the concentrations of most heavy metals at downstream stations. Sequential extraction results, which showed increased heavy metal fractions bound to Fe/Mn oxides at the downstream stations, confirmed anthropogenic pollution. The toxicity of heavy metals such as Ni, Cu, and Zn, represented by the exchangeable fraction and the fraction bound to carbonate, also increased at the downstream stations near the industrial complexes. Statistical analysis showed that Pb and Cd, the concentrations of which were relatively high at upstream stations, were not correlated with other heavy metals, indicating other possible sources such as mining activity.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the soils of technogenic landscapes

An integrated study of qualitative and quantitative composition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the atmospheric precipitation-soil-lysimetric water system of aerotechnogenic polluted landscapes was conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography in a gradient mode. Only low-molecular weight polyarenes (phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, and chrysene) were found in the atmospheric precipitation and lysimetric waters. The growth of PAHs in soils is provided by the input of phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene with atmospheric precipitation. The absence of heavy PAHs (benzfluoranthenes, benz(a)pyrene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene, benz(ghi) perylene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene) in the atmospheric precipitation and their identification in soil give grounds to state that their accumulation was caused mainly by transformation of organic matter during pedogenesis. The technogenic impact was estimated and criterion of the degree of soil pollution by PAH was proposed.     

环境样品中钼的测定方法进展

根据多年来国内对钼的测定方法的研究报道,对环境样品中钼的主要测定方法进行总结,常用方法有分光光度法、催化极谱法、原子吸收分光光度法、ICP—AES法及ICP-MS等,分析了它们的优缺点,有利于选择适宜的测定方法。     

Characteristics of trace elements in contaminated rivers and their environmental significance

Several rivers researched around Taihu Lake in Chinese eastern plain are distributed to the west of the lake. Pollutants of different types from tributaries and inlets flow directly into the main rivers and finally into the lake. They change trace elements of rivers fi＇om which we can analyze. Researches about trace elements are helpful for understanding the pollutant characteristics, industrial structure and agricultural cultivation in the area of network rivers in the plain of China. Samples of water column, suspended matter and sediment were collected fi＇om the west rivers of Taihu Lake, which represent three typical rivers. Observation in the field and the primary composition analysis showed the Caoqiao River was mainly contaminated by industrial wastewater, the Liangxi River was discharged by domestic sewage and the Dapu River was principally input by farmland runoff. REE concentrations and their normalized curves showed obvious characters for rivers discharged by different sewages. The contents of total REE in water column followed the order of the Caoqiao River, the Dapu River and the Liangxi River fi＇om high to low. TREEs in suspended matter and sediments follow the order of the Dapu River 〉 the Caoqiao River 〉 the Liangxi River. REE normalized curves （for Australia shale） suggested that significant diversities were presented in water column, suspended matter and sediments, i.e., heavy REE enrichment in water, middle REE enrichment in suspended matter, and smooth curves for sediments. But the heavy pollution resulted in several anomalous curves in the same rivers. Some element ratios were selected as indices for polluted rivers based on their geochemical properties and diversities between rivers. The results displayed the discriminative indices for water column, suspended matter and sediment. The effective indices were Pb/Fe, Cr/Fe, Ni/Fe, Pb/Ni, Zn/Ni for water column, Cu/Al, Cu/Fe, Zn/Fe, K/Ca, K/Na, Pb/Co, Zn/Co for suspend matter and Pb/Fe, K/Ca, Ca/Mg, Zn/Ni for sediment, respectively. In general, rivers mainly discharged by industrial sewage have high ratios of Pb/Ni, K/Ca, are enriched in the middle REE and have positive Gd anomaly. The domestic sewage flowing into rivers reveals high ratios of Zn/Ni, Pb/Fe, and is enriched in the heavy REE, and has the positive Eu anomaly. If runoff of farmland enters into the rivers, it will have high ratios of Ca/Mg, K/Na, high lanthanum, and show the smooth normalized curves of REE.     

Natural resources and the environmental problems of their utilization in Hungary

The paper reports on the general state of the natural resources of Hungary. About half of the country's mineral resources used in energy production has to be imported. Agricultural production has a rather favourable natural environment, though the undergoing privatisation of land with the lack of investable capital caused a recent setback. The forested area is only 18% of the total territory. The surface waters are rather polluted with 95% arriving from abroad. About one fifth of the surface waters and almost half of the rich reserves of subsurface waters are being utilized. The spatial distribution of the locations of the country's natural reserves is not even. In recent years environmental protection is being paid special attention. The most important issues are avoiding further air pollution and the protection of the country's surface and subsurface waters by the construction of water treating stations and canalization.     

灵庄港河道底泥化学组成及其环境影响初探

本文研究灵庄港待疏浚的底泥的养分特征及重金属污染物的化学组分,探讨该底泥处置方式及其可能带来的环境影响.结果表明:灵庄港疏浚底泥的养分含量高于河道两岸耕地耕作层土壤,底泥中重金属元素符合农用底泥污染物控制标准,可以直接投放到附近的农田以增加经济效益,节约处置费用.     

Characteristics of distribution and chemical speciation of heavy metals in environmental mediums around Jinchang mining city,Northwest China

Heavy metal contamination was the main environmental problem around the Jinchang Ni–Cu mine area of Gansu, Northwest China. The concentration of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in various environmental mediums around the Jinchang Ni–Cu mine area were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The different chemical speciation of heavy metals was extracted using BCR (European Community Bureau of Reference) sequential extraction procedure, and the concentration of chemical speciation of each heavy metal was measured by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The results showed that Cu and Ni were the most important heavy metal pollutants in various mediums including cultivated soils, dust on slagheap surfaces, tailings, and sediments in waste water drains. In the tailings and sediments, the concentrations of Ni were obviously higher than those of Cu, whereas, in the soil and dust, the concentrations of Cu were higher than those of Ni. Analysis of chemical speciation indicated that Cr and Zn were mainly in residual fraction; Cu was mainly in oxidizable fraction; Ni was mainly in reducible fraction and acid soluble fraction; and Pb was mainly in reducible fraction and residual fraction. The extent of contamination of various environmental mediums was different because the heavy metals were derived from different sources. Furthermore, the mobility of various heavy metals was different because of the different distribution of chemical speciation.     

原油芳烃中三芴系列化合物的环境指示作用

原油芳烃组分中的三芴(硫芴、氧芴和芴)系列化合物被认为源于同一母质,他们的含量变化常被认为是原始沉积环境的反映.通过对南阳凹陷、江汉盆地、准噶尔盆地和珠江口盆地等地区64个原油芳烃组分中三芴系列化合物的分析,发现利用新图版来区分原油母质形成的原始环境,比用简单的三角图效果好;用硫芴系列/氧芴系列与姥植比作图来判别环境也能取得用伽马蜡烷指数与姥植比同样效果.     

OSL dating and luminescence characteristics of aeolian deposits and their source material in Dalarna,central Sweden

Aeolian dunes, coversands, glacifluvial deltas and paraglacial mass‐movement deposits in Bonäsheden and Skattungheden in Dalarna, central Sweden were dated by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) on quartz. The OSL ages confirm that the majority of the dunes started forming directly after deglaciation, as suggested by previous investigators. Dune formation seems to have lasted at least 1500 years, until c. 9 ka. Four younger episodes of sand drift resulting in coversand deposition were dated by OSL and/or radiocarbon to 4100±200 a, 1569–1412 cal. a BP, 970±60 a and 150±10 a. The youngest one is related to changes in land use, while the older ones may be due to regional climatic changes. The dated quartz had excellent luminescence characteristics; the luminescence was bright and dominated by the fast signal component, which made it possible to successfully analyse even untreated material, so‐called range‐finder dating. These characteristics are most likely inherited from one of the source rocks of the Quaternary deposits – the Mesoproterozoic Dala sandstone, which we show to also have very good luminescence properties.