Transport of nitrogen in soil water following the application of animal manures to sloping grassland

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted on a sloping grassland soil in southwest England to investigate the downslope transport of nitrogen in soil water following the application of cattle manure, slurry and inorganic fertilizer. Transport of nitrogen (N) species was monitored on hydrologically isolated plots. Manure (50 t ha^?1), slurry (50 m³ ha^?1) and fertilizer (250 kg N ha^?1) were applied in February/March 1992. Subsurface water movement, by both matrix and preferential flow, was the dominant flow route during the experiment. Subsurface and surface nutrient flow pathways were monitored by analysing soil water and surface runoff for NO₃-N, NH₄-N and total N. Subsurface flow chemistry was dominated by NO₃-N, with concentrations usually between 2 and 5 mg NO₃ ?N dm^?3. Differences between fertilizer and manure treatments and the untreated control were not significant. Significantly elevated NO₃-N concentrations were observed in soil water in the buffer zone, indicating the importance of a buffer zone at least 10 m wide between manure spreading zones and an adjacent water course.     

Nutrient fluxes induced by disturbance in Meiliang Bay of Lake Taihu

A wave flume experiment was conducted to study nutrient fluxes at water-sediment interface of Meiliang Bay under different hydrodynamic conditions. The results reveal that hydrodynamics has remarkable effects on nutrient fluxes in this area. With a bottom wave stress of 0.019 N m^?2 (equivalent to disturbance caused by wind SE 5–7 m s^?1 at the sediment sample site of Meiliang Bay), the fluxes of TN, TDN and NH₄ ⁺-N were separately 1.92 × 10^?3, ?1.81 × 10^?4 and 5.28 × 10^?4 mg m^?2 s^?1 (positive for upward and negative for downward), but for TP, TDP and SRP, the fluxes were 5.69 × 10^?4, 1.68 × 10^?4 and ?1.29 × 10^?4 mg m^?2 s^?1. In order to calculate the released amount of nutrients based on these results, statistic analysis on the long-term meteorological data was conducted. The result shows that the maximum lasting time for wind SE 5–7 m s^?1 in this area is about 15 h in summer. Further calculation shows that 111 t TN, 32 t NH₄ ⁺-N, 34 t TP and 10 t TDP can be released into water (the sediment area was 47.45% of the whole surface area), resulting in concentration increase of 0.025, 0.007, 0.007 and 0.002 mg L^?1 separately. With stronger disturbance (bottom wave stress is 0.217 N m^?2 which is equivalent to disturbance caused by wind SE 10–11 m s^?1 at the same site), there has been significant increase of nutrient fluxes (1.16 × 10^?2, 6.76 × 10^?3, 1.14 × 10^?2 and 2.14 × 10^?3 mg m^?2 s^?1 for TN, DTN and NH₄ ⁺-N and TP). The exceptions were TDP with flux having a decrease (measured to be 9.54 × 10^?5 mg m^?2 s^?1) and SRP with flux having a small increase (measured to be 5.42 × 10^?5 mg m^?2 s^?1). The same statistic analysis on meteorological data reveal that the maximum lasting time for wind SE 10–11 m s^?1 is no more than 5 h. Based on the nutrient fluxes and the wind lasting-time, similar calculations were also made suggesting that 232 t TN, 134.9 t TDN, 228 t NH₄ ⁺-N, 42.7 t TP, 2.0 t TDP and 1.1 t SRP will be released from sediment at this hydrodynamic condition resulting in the concentration increases of 0.050, 0.029, 0.049, 0.009, 0.0004 and 0.0002 mg L^?1. Therefore in shallow lakes, surface disturbance can lead to significant increase of nutrient concentrations although some components in water column had negative flux with weak disturbance (e.g. TDN and SRP in this experiment). In this case, sediment looks to be a source of nutrients. These nutrients deposited in sediment can be carried or released into water with sediment resuspension or changes of environmental conditions at water-sediment interface, which can have great effects on aquatic ecosystem and is also the characteristics of shallow lakes.     

Examination of a Rock Failure Criterion Based on Circumferential Tensile Strain

—Uniaxial compression, triaxial compression and Brazialian tests were conducted on several kinds of rock, with particular attention directed to the principal tensile strain. In this paper we aim to clarify the effects of the experimental environment—such as confining pressure, loading rate, water content and anisotropy—on the critical tensile strain, i.e., the measured principal tensile strain at peak load.¶It was determined that the chain-type extensometer is a most suitable method for measuring the critical tensile strain in uniaxial compression tests. It is also shown that the paper-based strain gage, whose effective length is less than or equal to a tenth of the specimen’s diameter and glued on with a rubber-type adhesive, can be effectively used in the Brazilian tests.¶The effect of confining pressure P _C on the critical tensile strain ? _TC in the brittle failure region was between ?0.02 × 10^?10 Pa^?1 and 0.77 × 10^?10 Pa^?1. This pressure sensitivity is small compared to the critical tensile strain values of around ?0.5 × 10^?2. The strain rate sensitivities ?? _TC /?{log(d|?|/dt)} were observed in the same way as the strength constants in other failure criteria. They were found to be from ?0.10 × 10^?3 to ?0.52 × 10^?3 per order of magnitude in strain rate in the triaxial tests. The average magnitude of the critical tensile strain ? _TC increased due to the presence of water by 4% to 20% for some rocks, and decreased by 22% for sandstone. It can at least be said that the critical tensile strain is less sensitive to water content than the uniaxial compressive strength under the experimental conditions reported here. An obvious anisotropy was observed in the P-wave velocity and in the uniaxial compressive strength of Pombetsu sandstone. It was not observed, however, in the critical tensile strain, although the data do show some variation.¶A "tensile strain criterion" was proposed, based on the above experimental results. This criterion signifies that stress begins to drop when the principal tensile strain reaches the critical tensile strain. The criterion is limited to use within the brittle failure region. The critical tensile strain contains an inelastic strain component as well as an elastic one. It is affected by the strain rate, however, it is relatively insensitive to the confining pressure, the presence of water and anisotropy.     

Methane Oxidation in the Water Column of Xiangxi Bay,Three Gorges Reservoir

Four field campaigns are carried out to quantify the methane (CH₄) oxidation rate in Xiangxi Bay (XXB) of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), China. The water depth of the sampling site varied from 13 to 30 m resulting from the water level fluctuation of the TGR. The CH₄ oxidation rates are measured in situ as the decline of dissolved CH₄ concentration versus time in incubated, and those rates. The CH₄ oxidation rates range from 1.18 × 10^?3 to 3.69 × 10^?3 µmol L^?1 h^?1, with higher values and stronger variation during summer. A static floating chamber method is used to measure CH₄ emitted to the atmosphere resulting in an annual mean flux of 4.79 µmol m^?2 h^?1. The CH₄ emission rate is significantly negatively correlated with the water level. The results show that a large fraction of CH₄ is consumed in the water column with a range of 28.97–55.90 µmol m^?2 h^?1, accounting for ≈69–98% of the total CH₄ input into the water column, and more than 90% is consumed outside the summer, when the water level is lowest. Water depth, which is dominated by water level of the TGR, is a potentially important driver for CH₄ oxidation and atmospheric emission in the tributary bay.     

Carbon monoxide on the primitive earth

The reaction of CO + OH^? in aqueous solution to give formate was studied as a carbon monoxide sink on the primitive earth and in the present ocean. The reaction is first order in OH^? and first order in the molar CO concentration. The second order rate constant is given by log k(M^?1hr^?1) = 15.83?4886/T between 25°C and 60°C. Using the solubility of CO in sea water, and assuming a pH of 8 for a primitive ocean of the present size, the halflife of CO in the atmosphere is calculated to be 12 × 10⁶ yr at 0°C and 5.5 × 10⁴ yr at 25°C.Three other CO sinks would have been important in the primitive atmosphere: CO + H₂ → H₂CO driven by various energy sources, CO + OH → CO₂ + H, and the Fischer-Tropsch reaction of CO + H₂ → hydrocarbons, etc. It is concluded that the lifetime of a CO atmosphere would have been very short on the geological time scale although the relative importance of these four CO sinks is difficult to estimate.The CO + OH^? reaction to give formate is a very minor CO sink on the earth at the present time.     

Runoff and sediment yield from a small watershed in southeastern Spain (Lanjarón): implications for water quality

Abstract

This study presents an analysis of three hydrological years (2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10) of precipitation, runoff and sediment yield collected from a small (669.7 ha) semi-arid watershed in southeastern Spain (Lanjarón). At the watershed outlet the runoff, suspended sediment concentration, total solute concentrations and dissolved nutrients (N-NO₃, N-NH₄, H₂PO₄ and K) in streamflow were continuously monitored. The runoff was highly variable, ranging between 53.4 and 154.7 mm year^?1, with an average of 97.6 mm year^?1. In contrast, sediment yields were more regular, averaging 1.8 Mg ha^?1 year^?1. The hydrological response of the watershed depended mainly on rainfall intensity. Formerly, 32% of the watershed was forested and runoff was more regular, despite the typical Mediterranean rainfall cycle; however, due to forest area reduction to 17% and the increase in abandoned farmland area (18%) in recent decades, the runoff variability has increased. Greater amounts of solutes (32.7 Mg ha^?1 year^?1) were exported, so that this water is considered as poor for irrigation use. The temporal nutrient export was related to seasonal discharge fluctuations as well as daily concentrations. In addition, the nutrient concentrations of the water discharged were lower than threshold limits cited in water-quality standards for agricultural use and for potable water, with the exception of K (65.9 mg L^?1), which may degrade surface waters as well as irrigated soils. Thus, hydrological and erosive processes depended on the watershed features, but also on prior conditions in combination with the characteristics of rainfall episodes.

Citation Durán, Z.V.H., Francia, M.J.R., Garcia, T.I., Rodríguez, P.C.R., Martínez, R.A., and Cuadros, T.S., 2012. Runoff and sediment yield from a small watershed in southeastern Spain (Lanjarón): implications for water quality. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (8), 1610–1625.     

UV/H2O2 Process Under High Intensity UV Irradiation: A Rapid and Effective Method for Methylene Blue Decolorization

This study examined the UV/H₂O₂ decolorization efficiency under high UV photon flux (intensity normalized by photon energy) irradiation; the incident UV was ranging from 3.13 × 10^?8 to 3.13 × 10^?6 einstein cm^?2 s^?1. The experimental results showed that complete decolorization of 20 mg L^?1 methylene blue (MB) can be achieved within 5 s and 99% decolorization of 1000 mg L^?1 MB can be achieved in 180 s under the best condition of high UV intensity UV/H₂O₂ process. To the best of our knowledge, UV/H₂O₂ decolorization process in such a short time has not been reported. The electrical energy per order of the process was 16.21 kWh m^?3 order^?1 and it is relatively economical compared with other advanced oxidation processes. The kinetics of decolorization follows pseudo‐first order. There is a linear relationship between rate constant and UV intensity, which indicates that increasing UV intensity does not cause decline in light utilization efficiency. The experiment related to initial substrate concentration shows decolorization rate of different substrate concentration (20–1000 mg L^?1) are closed to each other. Besides, optimal H₂O₂ concentration, comparative study with low photon flux light, decolorization of other types of dyes and TOC removal were also studied.     

Dynamics of seasonal recharge beneath a semiarid vegetation on the gnangara mound,Western Australia

To estimate seasonal changes in recharge to the underlying sandy aquifer, the soil water dynamics of the unsaturated zone was monitored down to a depth of 20 m over a period of three years (1985 to 1987). The measurements were made by a neutron probe at eight locations beneath a native vegetation in a semiarid region, Western Australia, receiving precipitation of 775 mm yr^?1. A relatively simple method, based on the analyses of sequentially measured soil water profiles involving utilization of zero flux plane in the unsaturated zone, is presented and used to compute seasonal recharge rates. Drainage fluxes (recharge rates) below two specified depths were estimated. These were: R₁ (water flux at a depth of 10 m, just below the maximum rooting depth) and R₂ (water flux at a depth of 18 m, just above the water table). These two estimates were significantly different both on a seasonal and annual basis, but their cumulative values for the three year period were very similar. While the annual precipitation varied from 525 to 850 mm yr^?1, the corresponding spatially averaged R₁ varied from 34 to 149 mm yr^?1, and R₂ varied from 65 to 80 mm yr^?1. A significant difference in recharge between the upslope and downslope positions on a hillslope was ascribed to differences in vegetation density of the understorey and differences in hydraulic properties of subsoils. For the three year period, the average R₁ and R₂ were 13 per cent and 10 per cent of the precipitation respectively. These values compare favourably with a long-term estimate based on an environmental tracer technique.     

Soil degradation in central Spain due to sheet water erosion by low‐intensity rainfall events

Runoff and sediment lost due to water erosion were recorded for 36 (1 m²) plots with varying types of vegetative cover located on sloping gypsiferous fields in the South of Madrid. 75% of the events had maximum 30‐minute intensity (I₃₀) less than 10 mm h^?1 in the period studied (1994–2005). As for the vegetative cover, maximum correlation between runoff and soil loss was found in the least protected plots (0–40% cover) during the most intense rainfall events; however, a significant positive correlation was also observed in plots with greater coverage (40–60%). If coverage exceeded 60%, rainfall erosivity declined. The average amount of sediment produced in high‐intensity events was significantly greater (approximately 7 g m^?2 per I₃₀ event >10 mm h^?1) than that produced in the rest of the moderate‐intensity events (approximately 3 g m^?2 per I₃₀ event <10 mm h^?1), but due to the high rate of occurrence of the latter throughout the year sediment loss during the period studied totaled 128 g m^?2. By comparison, only 40 g m^?2 was produced by the I₃₀ events greater than 10 mm h^?1. Even though the amount of soil lost is relatively insignificant from a quantitative standpoint, the organic matter content lost in the sediment (six times more than in the soil) is a permanent loss that threatens the development of the surface of the soil in this area when the vegetative cover is less than 40%. The soil here experiences a chronic loss of 0·02 mm annually as a consequence of frequent, moderate events, in addition to any loss produced by extraordinary events, which, though less frequent, are much more erosive. If moderate events are ignored, an important part of soil loss will be lost in the long run. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tracking particle-associated processes in nearshore environments by use of 234Th/238U disequilibrium

Measurement of excess ²³⁴Th (t_1/2 = 24.1 days) in surface sediment from 12 stations throughout Long Island Sound, U.S.A., demonstrates: (1) a mean (summer) sediment inventory of 3.6 dpm/cm² consistent with complete, nearly instantaneous removal of ²³⁴Th from the overlying water and capture within the estuary, and (2) preferential association of excess ²³⁴Th with small particles and inventory build-ups in muddy bottom areas. There may also be a tendency for higher inventories in areas of high physical or biogenic reworking of surface sediments. A range of particle reworking rates (0–5 cm) from <0.01 × 10^?6 to 1.6 × 10^?6 cm²/s is found in the Sound with most values ～0.2?0.5 × 10^?6 cm²/s. The inventory and reworking patterns demonstrate the high mobility, both horizontal and vertical, of particles in the estuary on ²³⁴Th decay time scales and are unequivocal evidence for control of reactive element distribution in the water column by the muddy regions of the basin.     

Hydrograph separation to improve understanding of Dissolved Organic Carbon Dynamics in Headwater catchments

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a key component of the global carbon cycle, but, to date, large uncertainties still exist on its source and fate in first‐order streams. In a 23 ha rangeland and steep‐slope headwater of South Africa, our aim was to quantify the contribution of overland flow (OF), soil water (SW) and ground water (GW) to DOC fluxes (DOC_F), and to interpret the results in terms of DOC sources and fate. The average 2010–2011 DOC concentration (DOC_C) at the catchment outlet was 4.7 mg C l^?1 with a standard error of ±2.5 mg C l^?1, which was significantly lower than in SW (15.2 ± 1.6 mg C l^?1) and OF (11.9 ± 0.8 mg C l^?1), but higher than in GW (2.3 ± 0.6 mg C l^?1). Based on end‐member mixing using Si and Na concentration in the water compartments, the average SW contribution to DOC_F was 66.4%, followed by OF (30.0%) and GW (3.6%). The resulting estimated DOC_F at the catchment outlet was 8.05 g C m² y^?1. This was much higher than the observed value of 2.80 g C m² y^?1, meaning that 5.25 g C m² y^?1 or 65% of the DOC is lost during its downslope and/or downstream transport to the catchment outlet. Complementary investigations revealed that the DOC_C in SW dropped from 15.2 ± 1.6 to 2.6 ± 0.3 mg C l^?1 during its downslope transport to the river system, which corresponded to a net loss of 5.10 g C m² y^?1, or 97% of the catchment DOC losses. These results on DOC sources and potential fate in headwaters are expected to improve our understanding of the impact of hydrology on the global C‐cycle. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Temporal and spatial variability of radium in the coastal ocean and its impact on computation of nearshore cross-shelf mixing rates

Constraining the exchange of water from the shoreline to the mid-shelf is necessary for the development of accurate and predictive models of nearshore circulation. Ra isotopes, which emanate from sediments and have a variety of half-lives, may be useful in measuring cross-shelf mixing rates. The distributions of Ra isotopes were measured in transects extending perpendicular from the shoreline at Sunset Beach and Huntington Beach, CA. The average inventory at Sunset Beach was four times greater than at Huntington Beach. Building on previous research on Ra inputs and circulation in San Pedro Bay, a two-dimensional model for surface water Ra was developed to identify the importance of onshore flow and cross-shelf mixing near Huntington Beach. For the mean summertime conditions, the eddy diffusivity (K_h) was 1.4±0.4 m² s⁻¹, with 8% of the water from Sunset Beach moving down the coast. The remaining water must be low-Ra water that has moved onshore. At time scales greater than a week, the short-lived Ra inventory at Huntington Beach varied by 50%, which reflects changes in the fractions of water moving down-coast and/or in the longshore advection rate. The shoreline Ra concentration varied on time scales of hours, which may be generated by tidal changes in the Ra input at the shoreline and short-period fluctuations in the mixing rate. The low K_h observed in this study in comparison to higher values measured further offshore is evidence that K_h increases with distance offshore. When scale-dependent mixing beyond 455 m offshore is incorporated into the model, the results are consistent with the observed data for ²²³Ra, ²²⁴Ra, and ²²⁸Ra. Using the model, the ²²⁸Ra input flux to the summertime mixed layer was between 3.4×10⁶ and 4.0×10⁶ atoms s⁻¹ (m shoreline)⁻¹.     

Winter methane dynamics beneath ice and in snow in a temperate poor fen

The influence of winter on methane (CH₄) stored in pore water and emitted through snow was investigated in a temperate poor fen in New Hampshire over two winters. Methane accumulated beneath ice layers (1 cm) deposited by freezing rain, resulting in snow-pore air mixing ratios as high as 140 ppmv during the first winter and 600 ppmv during the second. An early winter snow crust of 300 kg m^?3 caused no discontinuity in a linear mixing ratio profile and therefore was not observed to retard snowpack emissions. Methane concentration-depth profiles in pore water steepened and concentrations increased by as much as 400 μM at the 10 and 20 cm depths as the ice cover formed. This suggests that the peat-ice cover plays an important part in CH₄ build-up in pore water by limiting the transport of gases between the peat and the atmosphere. Pore water concentrations gradually declined through late winter. The seasonality of dissolved CH₄ in pore water over two winters and one summer showed an average annual amplitude of 1.3 gCH₄m^?2 (25–75cm depth range), with a winter maximum of 4.7gCH₄m^?2. Emissions during the winter with average snowfall accounted for a larger percentage (9.2% in 1993–1994) of total annual emission than the winter with below-average snowfall and warmer air temperature (2% in 1994–1995). Emissions averaged 56 and 26mg m^?2 day^?1 during the first and second winter (December, January and February), respectively.     

Five‐Year Soil Respiration Reflected Soil Quality Evolution in Different Forest and Grassland Vegetation Types in the Eastern Loess Plateau of China

Soil CO₂ efflux in forest and grassland over 5 years from 2005 to 2009 in a semiarid mountain area of the Loess plateau, China, was measured. The aim was to compare the soil respiration and its annual and inter‐annual responses to the changes in soil temperature and soil water content between the two vegetation types for observing soil quality evolution. The differences among the five study years were the annual precipitation (320.1, 370.5, 508.8, 341.6, and 567.4 mm in 2005–2009, respectively) and annual distribution. The results showed that the seasonal change of soil respiration in both vegetation types was similar and controlled by soil temperature and soil water content. The mean soil respiration across 5 years in the forest (3.78 ± 2.68 µmol CO₂ m^?2 s^?1) was less than that in the grassland (4.04 ± 3.06 µmol CO₂ m^?2 s^?1), and the difference was significant. The drought soil in summer depressed soil respiration substantially. The Q₁₀ value across 5‐year measurements was 2.89 and 2.94 for forest and grassland. When soil water content was between wilting point (WP) and field capacity (FC), the Q₁₀ in both types increased with increasing soil water content, and when soil water content dropped to below WP, soil respiration and the Q₁₀ decreased substantially. Although an exponential model was well fitted to predict the annual mean soil respiration for each single year data, it overestimated and underestimated soil respiration, respectively, in drought conditions and after rain for short periods of time during the year. The two‐variable models including temperature and water content variables could be well used to predict soil respiration for both types in all weather conditions. The models proposed are useful for understanding and predicting potential changes in the eastern part of Loess plateau in response to climate change.     

Travel time controls the magnitude of nitrate discharge in groundwater bypassing the riparian zone to a stream on Virginia's coastal plain

Groundwater that bypasses the riparian zone by travelling along deep flow paths may deliver high concentrations of fertilizer‐derived NO₃^? to streams, or it may be impacted by the NO₃^? removal process of denitrification in streambed sediments. In a study of a small agricultural catchment on the Atlantic coastal plain of Virginia's eastern shore, we used seepage meters deployed in the streambed to measure specific discharge of groundwater and its solute concentrations for various locations and dates. We used values of Cl^? concentration to discriminate between bypass water recharged distal to the stream and that contained high NO₃^? but low Cl^? concentrations and riparian‐influenced water recharged proximal to the stream that contained low NO₃^? and high Cl^? concentrations. The travel time required for bypass water to transit the 30‐cm‐thick, microbially active denitrifying zone in the streambed determined the extent of NO₃^? removal, and hydraulic conductivity determined travel time through the streambed sediments. At all travel times greater than 2 days, NO₃^? removal was virtually complete. Comparison of the timescales for reaction and transport through the streambed sediments in this system confirmed that the predominant control on nitrate flux was travel time rather than denitrification rate coefficients. We conclude that extensive denitrification can occur in groundwater that bypasses the riparian zone, but a residence time in biologically active streambed sediments sufficient to remove a large fraction of the NO₃^? is only achieved in relatively low‐conductivity porous media. Instead of viewing them as separate, the streambed and riparian zone should be considered an integrated NO₃^? removal unit. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Streamflow and suspended sediment yield following the 2000 Bobcat fire,Colorado

Postfire runoff and erosion are a concern, and more data are needed on the effects of wildfire at the watershed‐scale, especially in the Colorado Front Range. The goal of this study was to characterize and compare the streamflow and suspended sediment yield response of two watersheds (Bobcat Gulch and Jug Gulch) after the 2000 Bobcat fire. Bobcat Gulch had several erosion control treatments applied after the fire, including aerial seeding, contour log felling, mulching, and straw wattles. Jug Gulch was partially seeded. Study objectives were to: (1) measure precipitation, streamflow, and sediment yields; (2) assess the effect of rainfall intensity on peak discharges, storm runoff, and sediment yields; (3) evaluate short‐term hydrologic recovery. Two months after the fire, a storm with a maximum 30 min rainfall intensity I₃₀ of 42 mm h^?1 generated a peak discharge of 3900 l s^?1 km^?2 in Bobcat Gulch. The same storm produced less than 5 l s^?1 km^?2 in Jug Gulch, due to less rainfall and the low watershed response. In the second summer, storms with, I₃₀ of 23 mm h^?1 and 32 mm h^?1 generated peak discharges of 1100 l s^?1 km^?2 and 1700 l s^?1 km^?2 in the treated and untreated watersheds respectively. Maximum water yield efficiencies were 10% and 17% respectively, but 18 of the 23 storms returned ≤2% of the rainfall as runoff, effectively obscuring interpretation of the erosion control treatments. I₃₀ explained 86% of the variability in peak discharges, 74% of the variability in storm runoff, and >80% of the variability in sediment yields. Maximum single‐storm sediment yields in the second summer were 370 kg ha^?1 in the treated watershed and 950 kg ha^?1 in the untreated watershed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Removal of Ni(II) Using Cation Exchange Resins in Packed Bed Column: Prediction of Breakthrough Curves

Sorptive removal of Ni(II) from electroplating rinse wastewaters by cation exchange resin Dueolite C 20 was investigated at the temperature of 30°C under dynamic conditions in a packed bed. The effects of sorbent bed length 0.1–0.2 m, fixed flow rate 6 dm³ min^?1, and the initial rinse water concentration (C₀) 53.1 mg L^?1 on the sorption characteristics of Dueolite C 20 were investigated at an influent pH of 6.5. More than 94.5% of Ni(II) was removed in the column experiments. The column performance was improved with increasing bed height and decreasing the flow rate. The Thomas, Yoon–Nelson, Clark, and Wolborska models were applied to the experimental data to represent the breakthrough curves and determine the characteristic design parameters of the column. The sorption performance of the Ni(II) ions through columns could be well described by the Thomas, Yoon–Nelson, and Wolborska models at effluent‐to‐influent concentration ratios (C/C₀) >0.03 and <0.99. Among the all models, the Clark model showed the least average percentage time deviation. The sorptive capacity of electroplating rinse water using Ni(II) was found to be 45.98 mg g^?1.     

Degradation of an Azo Dye with Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysts by Sonophotolysis

This study illustrates the degradation of an azo dye, Reactive Yellow 81 (RY81), by the combined irradiation of UV‐C and ultrasound in the presence of homogeneous (Fe²⁺) and heterogeneous (TiO₂, ZnO) catalysts. The efficiency of homogeneous and heterogeneous oxidation systems was evaluated in regard of the decolorization and mineralization of RY81. Decolorization followed pseudo‐first‐order kinetics with homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. Complete color removal was accomplished by homogeneous sonocatalytic and sonophotocatalytic oxidation processes with apparent rate constants of 0.96 × 10^?3 and 46.77 × 10^?3 s^?1, respectively, in the presence of Fe²⁺. However, partial color removal was obtained by heterogeneous sonocatalytic, photocatalytic, and sonophotocatalytic oxidation processes with apparent rate constants of 2.32 × 10^?3, 3.60 × 10^?3, and 3.67 × 10^?3 s^?1, respectively, in the presence of ZnO. TiO₂ had the worst catalytic effect of all of the oxidation processes. The addition of hydrogen peroxide increased the rate constants of the heterogeneous oxidation processes and decreased the rate constants of the homogeneous oxidation processes. RY81 mineralization was 62.8% for the US/UV/Fe²⁺ homogeneous oxidation process, which was the best oxidation process, whereas it was 43.5% for the US/UV/ZnO/H₂O₂ heterogeneous oxidation process within 2 h reaction time.