A high temperature equation of state for the H2O-CaCl2 and H2O-MgCl2 systems

An equation of state (EOS) is developed for salt-water systems in the high temperature range. As an example of the applications, this EOS is parameterized for the calculation of density, immiscibility, and the compositions of coexisting phases in the CaCl₂-H₂O and MgCl₂-H₂O systems from 523 to 973 K and from saturation pressure to 1500 bar. All available volumetric and phase equilibrium measurements of these binaries are well represented by this equation. This EOS is based on a Helmholtz free energy representation constructed from a reference system containing hard-sphere and polar contributions plus an empirical correction. For the temperature and pressure range in this study, the electrolyte solutes are assumed to be associated. The water molecules are modeled as hard spheres with point dipoles and the solute molecules, MgCl₂ and CaCl₂, as hard spheres with point quadrupoles. The free energy of the reference system is calculated from an analytical representation of the Helmholtz free energy of the hard-sphere contributions and perturbative estimates of the electrostatic contributions. The empirical correction used to account for deviations of the reference system predictions from measured data is based on a virial expansion. The formalism allows generalization to aqueous systems containing insoluble gases (CO₂, CH₄), alkali chlorides (NaCl, KCl), and alkaline earth chlorides (CaCl₂, MgCl₂). The program of this model is available as an electronic annex (see EA1 and EA2) and can also be downloaded at: http://www.geochem-model.org/programs.htm.     

GEOCARBSULF: A combined model for Phanerozoic atmospheric O2 and CO2

A model for the combined long-term cycles of carbon and sulfur has been constructed which combines all the factors modifying weathering and degassing of the GEOCARB III model [Berner R.A., Kothavala Z., 2001. GEOCARB III: a revised model of atmospheric CO₂ over Phanerozoic time. Am. J. Sci. 301, 182-204] for CO₂ with rapid recycling and oxygen dependent carbon and sulfur isotope fractionation of an isotope mass balance model for O₂ [Berner R.A., 2001. Modeling atmospheric O₂ over Phanerozoic time. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta65, 685-694]. New isotopic data for both carbon and sulfur are used and new feedbacks are created by combining the models. Sensitivity analysis is done by determining (1) the effect on weathering rates of using rapid recycling (rapid recycling treats carbon and sulfur weathering in terms of young rapidly weathering rocks and older more slowly weathering rocks); (2) the effect on O₂ of using different initial starting conditions; (3) the effect on O₂ of using different data for carbon isotope fractionation during photosynthesis and alternative values of oceanic δ¹³C for the past 200 million years; (4) the effect on sulfur isotope fractionation and on O₂ of varying the size of O₂ feedback during sedimentary pyrite formation; (5) the effect on O₂ of varying the dependence of organic matter and pyrite weathering on tectonic uplift plus erosion, and the degree of exposure of coastal lands by sea level change; (6) the effect on CO₂ of adding the variability of volcanic rock weathering over time [Berner, R.A., 2006. Inclusion of the weathering of volcanic rocks in the GEOCARBSULF model. Am. J. Sci.306 (in press)]. Results show a similar trend of atmospheric CO₂ over the Phanerozoic to the results of GEOCARB III, but with some differences during the early Paleozoic and, for variable volcanic rock weathering, lower CO₂ values during the Mesozoic. Atmospheric oxygen shows a major broad late Paleozoic peak with a maximum value of about 30% O₂ in the Permian, a secondary less-broad peak centered near the Silurian/Devonian boundary, variation between 15% and 20% O₂ during the Cambrian and Ordovician, a very sharp drop from 30% to 15% O₂ at the Permo-Triassic boundary, and a more-or less continuous rise in O₂ from the late Triassic to the present.     

CO2 solubility in dacitic melts equilibrated with H2O-CO2 fluids: Implications for modeling the solubility of CO2 in silicic melts

The solubility of CO₂ in dacitic melts equilibrated with H₂O-CO₂ fluids was experimentally investigated at 1250°C and 100 to 500 MPa. CO₂ is dissolved in dacitic glasses as molecular CO₂ and carbonate. The quantification of total CO₂ in the glasses by mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy is difficult because the weak carbonate bands at 1430 and 1530 cm⁻¹ can not be reliably separated from background features in the spectra. Furthermore, the ratio of CO_2,mol/carbonate in the quenched glasses strongly decreases with increasing water content. Due to the difficulties in quantifying CO₂ species concentrations from the MIR spectra we have measured total CO₂ contents of dacitic glasses by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS).At all pressures, the dependence of CO₂ solubility in dacitic melts on x^fluid_CO2,total shows a strong positive deviation from linearity with almost constant CO₂ solubility at x_CO2fluid > 0.8 (maximum CO₂ solubility of 795 ± 41, 1376 ± 73 and 2949 ± 166 ppm at 100, 200 and 500 MPa, respectively), indicating that dissolved water strongly enhances the solubility of CO₂. A similar nonlinear variation of CO₂ solubility with x_CO2fluid has been observed for rhyolitic melts in which carbon dioxide is incorporated exclusively as molecular CO₂ (Tamic et al., 2001). We infer that water species in the melt do not only stabilize carbonate groups as has been suggested earlier but also CO₂ molecules.A thermodynamic model describing the dependence of the CO₂ solubility in hydrous rhyolitic and dacitic melts on T, P, f_CO2 and the mol fraction of water in the melt (x_water) has been developed. An exponential variation of the equilibrium constant K₁ with x_water is proposed to account for the nonlinear dependence of x_CO2,totalmelt on x_CO2fluid. The model reproduces the CO₂ solubility data for dacitic melts within ±14% relative and the data for rhyolitic melts within 10% relative in the pressure range 100-500 MPa (except for six outliers at low x_CO2fluid). Data obtained for rhyolitic melts at 75 MPa and 850°C show a stronger deviation from the model, suggesting a change in the solubility behavior of CO₂ at low pressures (a Henrian behavior of the CO₂ solubility is observed at low pressure and low H₂O concentrations in the melt). We recommend to use our model only in the pressure range 100-500 MPa and in the x_CO2fluid range 0.1-0.95. The thermodynamic modeling indicates that the partial molar volume of total CO₂ is much lower in rhyolitic melts (31.7 cm³/mol) than in dacitic melts (46.6 cm³/mol). The dissolution enthalpy for CO₂ in hydrous rhyolitic melts was found to be negligible. This result suggests that temperature is of minor importance for CO₂ solubility in silicic melts.     

H2O contents and D/H ratios of nominally anhydrous minerals from ultrahigh-pressure eclogites of the Dabie orogen, eastern China

Garnet and omphacite from ultrahigh-pressure eclogites from the Dabie orogen, eastern China were investigated by Micro-FTIR. The results show that all garnet and omphacite grains contain structural water occurring as hydroxyl (OH), with H₂O contents varying from 14 to 1915 ppm (H₂O wt) and from 105 to 695 ppm, respectively. Within the same sample, the water contents are either homogeneous at the grain scale or vary systematically from higher in the core to lower in the rim. Low water contents at crystal rims possibly result from hydroxyl exsolution after pressure decrease upon rock exhumation. The δD values of omphacites are between −108.4‰ and −114.2‰, and independent of water contents. Heterogeneous water contents of garnet occur at the centimeter scale and fluid mobility during UHP metamorphism was very limited. The estimated whole-rock water content based on mineral H₂O contents is between 260 and 750 ppm, thereby implying that eclogitic rocks formed during continental subduction have the potential to recycle (at least) several hundreds ppm water to mantle depths. The preserved chemical differences likely indicate that the eclogitic rocks resided at mantle conditions for a limited time span, and imply that they were exhumed shortly after subduction. The water released during decompression might represent the early-stage retrograde fluid.     

Oxygen isotope exchange between H2O and CO2 at elevated CO2 pressures: Implications for monitoring of geological CO2 storage

Traditionally, the application of stable isotopes in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects has focused on δ¹³C values of CO₂ to trace the migration of injected CO₂ in the subsurface. More recently the use of δ¹⁸O values of both CO₂ and reservoir fluids has been proposed as a method for quantifying in situ CO₂ reservoir saturations due to O isotope exchange between CO₂ and H₂O and subsequent changes in δ¹⁸O_H2O values in the presence of high concentrations of CO₂. To verify that O isotope exchange between CO₂ and H₂O reaches equilibrium within days, and that δ¹⁸O_H2O values indeed change predictably due to the presence of CO₂, a laboratory study was conducted during which the isotope composition of H₂O, CO₂, and dissolved inorganic C (DIC) was determined at representative reservoir conditions (50 °C and up to 19 MPa) and varying CO₂ pressures. Conditions typical for the Pembina Cardium CO₂ Monitoring Pilot in Alberta (Canada) were chosen for the experiments. Results obtained showed that δ¹⁸O values of CO₂ were on average 36.4 ± 2.2‰ (1σ, n = 15) higher than those of water at all pressures up to and including reservoir pressure (19 MPa), in excellent agreement with the theoretically predicted isotope enrichment factor of 35.5‰ for the experimental temperatures of 50 °C. By using ¹⁸O enriched water for the experiments it was demonstrated that changes in the δ¹⁸O values of water were predictably related to the fraction of O in the system sourced from CO₂ in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions. Since the fraction of O sourced from CO₂ is related to the total volumetric saturation of CO₂ and water as a fraction of the total volume of the system, it is concluded that changes in δ¹⁸O values of reservoir fluids can be used to calculate reservoir saturations of CO₂ in CCS settings given that the δ¹⁸O values of CO₂ and water are sufficiently distinct.     

Kinetics of H2-O2-H2O redox equilibria and formation of metastable H2O2 under low temperature hydrothermal conditions

Hydrothermal experiments were conducted to evaluate the kinetics of H_2(aq) oxidation in the homogeneous H₂-O₂-H₂O system at conditions reflecting subsurface/near-seafloor hydrothermal environments (55-250 °C and 242-497 bar). The kinetics of the water-forming reaction that controls the fundamental equilibrium between dissolved H_2(aq) and O_2(aq), are expected to impose significant constraints on the redox gradients that develop when mixing occurs between oxygenated seawater and high-temperature anoxic vent fluid at near-seafloor conditions. Experimental data indicate that, indeed, the kinetics of H_2(aq)-O_2(aq) equilibrium become slower with decreasing temperature, allowing excess H_2(aq) to remain in solution. Sluggish reaction rates of H_2(aq) oxidation suggest that active microbial populations in near-seafloor and subsurface environments could potentially utilize both H_2(aq) and O_2(aq), even at temperatures lower than 40 °C due to H_2(aq) persistence in the seawater/vent fluid mixtures. For these H₂-O₂ disequilibrium conditions, redox gradients along the seawater/hydrothermal fluid mixing interface are not sharp and microbially-mediated H_2(aq) oxidation coupled with a lack of other electron acceptors (e.g. nitrate) could provide an important energy source available at low-temperature diffuse flow vent sites.More importantly, when H_2(aq)-O_2(aq) disequilibrium conditions apply, formation of metastable hydrogen peroxide is observed. The yield of H₂O_2(aq) synthesis appears to be enhanced under conditions of elevated H_2(aq)/O_2(aq) molar ratios that correspond to abundant H_2(aq) concentrations. Formation of metastable H₂O₂ is expected to affect the distribution of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) owing to the existence of an additional strong oxidizing agent. Oxidation of magnetite and/or Fe⁺⁺ by hydrogen peroxide could also induce formation of metastable hydroxyl radicals (•OH) through Fenton-type reactions, further broadening the implications of hydrogen peroxide in hydrothermal environments.     

Carbon isotope evidence implying high O2/CO2 ratios in the Permo-Carboniferous atmosphere

Theoretical models predict a marked increase in atmospheric O₂ to ∼35% during the Permo-Carboniferous (∼300 Ma) occurring against a low (∼0.03%) CO₂ level. An upper O₂ value of 35%, however, remains disputed because ignition data indicate that excessive global forest fires would have ensued. This uncertainty limits interpretation of the role played by atmospheric oxygen in Late Paleozoic biotic evolution. Here, we describe new results from laboratory experiments with vascular land plants that establish that a rise in O₂ to 35% increases isotopic fractionation (Δ¹³C) during growth relative to control plants grown at 21% O₂. Despite some effect of the background atmospheric CO₂ level on the magnitude of the increase, we hypothesize that a substantial Permo-Carboniferous rise in O₂ could have imprinted a detectable geochemical signature in the plant fossil record. Over 50 carbon isotope measurements on intact carbon from four fossil plant clades with differing physiological ecologies and ranging in age from Devonian to Cretaceous reveal a substantial Δ¹³C anomaly (5‰) occurring between 300 and 250 Ma. The timing and direction of the Δ¹³C excursion is consistent with the effects of a high O₂ atmosphere on plants, as predicted from photosynthetic theory and observed in our experiments. Preliminary calibration of the fossil Δ¹³C record against experimental data yields a predicted O₂/CO₂ mixing ratio of the ancient atmosphere consistent with that calculated from long-term models of the global carbon and oxygen cycles. We conclude that further work on the effects of O₂ in the combustion of plant materials and the spread of wildfire is necessary before existing data can be used to reliably set the upper limit for paleo-O₂ levels.     

不同类型湿地CO2:CH4比例及其影响因素: 整合分析

湿地是温室气体二氧化碳(CO₂)和甲烷(CH₄)的主要来源之一,在全球碳循环中发挥着重要作用。由于CH₄在百年尺度上的全球增温潜势是CO₂的45倍,因此深入研究湿地CO₂:CH₄的排放比例及其影响因素对准确理解和预测湿地碳循环过程及其对未来全球变化的响应具有重要意义。本文采用文献整合分析方法,对比了不同类型湿地中CO₂:CH₄排放比例的特征及其影响因素。结果表明,藓类泥炭沼泽、滨海湿地和稻田中CO₂:CH₄排放比例显著高于草本沼泽、河流湿地和湖泊湿地等其他类型湿地;相关性分析研究发现,湿地CO₂:CH₄排放比例与pH和水位显著负相关,与盐度显著正相关。可见,藓类泥炭沼泽低水位和低pH抑制CH₄排放是导致其CO₂:CH₄排放比例较高的重要原因,而滨海湿地高盐分抑制CH₄排放是其CO₂:CH₄排放比例高的重要原因。与自然湿地相比,稻田CO₂:CH₄排放比例高与其人为施肥和稻草还田抑制CH₄排放有关。此外,大气温度、土壤温度、降水量、土壤含水率等因子也对湿地CO₂:CH₄排放比例具有重要影响,尽管它们之间的线性相关关系不显著。目前,湿地CO₂:CH₄排放比例和影响因素仍存在很大的不确定性,未来亟待加强不同类型湿地CO₂:CH₄排放比例及其关键影响因素研究。

     

Theoretical investigation of iron isotope fractionation between Fe(H2O)6 and Fe(H2O)6: Implications for iron stable isotope geochemistry

The magnitude of equilibrium iron isotope fractionation between Fe(H₂O)₆³⁺ and Fe(H₂O)₆²⁺ is calculated using density functional theory (DFT) and compared to prior theoretical and experimental results. DFT is a quantum chemical approach that permits a priori estimation of all vibrational modes and frequencies of these complexes and the effects of isotopic substitution. This information is used to calculate reduced partition function ratios of the complexes (10³ · ln(β)), and hence, the equilibrium isotope fractionation factor (10³ · ln(α)). Solvent effects are considered using the polarization continuum model (PCM). DFT calculations predict fractionations of several per mil in ⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁴Fe favoring partitioning of heavy isotopes in the ferric complex. Quantitatively, 10³ · ln(α) predicted at 22°C, ∼ 3 ‰, agrees with experimental determinations but is roughly half the size predicted by prior theoretical results using the Modified Urey-Bradley Force Field (MUBFF) model. Similar comparisons are seen at other temperatures. MUBFF makes a number of simplifying assumptions about molecular geometry and requires as input IR spectroscopic data. The difference between DFT and MUBFF results is primarily due to the difference between the DFT-predicted frequency for the ν₄ mode (O-Fe-O deformation) of Fe(H₂O)₆³⁺ and spectroscopic determinations of this frequency used as input for MUBFF models (185-190 cm⁻¹ vs. 304 cm⁻¹, respectively). Hence, DFT-PCM estimates of 10³ · ln(β) for this complex are ∼ 20% smaller than MUBFF estimates. The DFT derived values can be used to refine predictions of equilibrium fractionation between ferric minerals and dissolved ferric iron, important for the interpretation of Fe isotope variations in ancient sediments. Our findings increase confidence in experimental determinations of the Fe(H₂O)₆³⁺ − Fe(H₂O)₆²⁺ fractionation factor and demonstrate the utility of DFT for applications in “heavy” stable isotope geochemistry.     

Oxidation of iron (II) nanomolar with H2O2 in seawater

The oxidation of Fe(II) with H₂O₂ at nanomolar levels in seawater have been studied using an UV-Vis spectrophotometric system equipped with a long liquid waveguide capillary flow cell. The effect of pH (6.5 to 8.2), H₂O₂ (7.2 × 10⁻⁸ M to 5.2 × 10⁻⁷ M), HCO₃⁻ (2.05 mM to 4.05 mM) and Fe(II) (5 nM to 500 nM) as a function of temperature (3 to 35 °C) on the oxidation of Fe(II) are presented. The oxidation rate is linearly related to the pH with a slope of 0.89 ± 0.01 independent of the concentration of HCO₃⁻. A kinetic model for the reaction has been developed to consider the interactions of Fe(II) with the major ions in seawater. The model has been used to examine the effect of pH, concentrations of Fe(II), H₂O₂ and HCO₃⁻ as a function of temperature. FeOH⁺ is the most important contributing species to the overall rate of oxidation from pH 6 to pH 8. At a pH higher than 8, the Fe(OH)₂ and Fe(CO₃)₂²⁻ species contribute over 20% to the rates. Model results show that when the concentration of O₂ is two orders of magnitude higher than the concentration of H₂O₂, the oxidation with O₂ also needs to be considered. The rate constants for the five most kinetically active species (Fe²⁺, FeOH⁺, Fe(OH)₂, FeCO₃, Fe(CO₃)₂²⁻) in seawater as a function of temperature have been determined. The kinetic model is also valid in pure water with different concentrations of HCO₃⁻ and the conditions found in fresh waters.     

Iron weathering products in a CO2 + (H2O or H2O2) atmosphere: Implications for weathering processes on the surface of Mars

Various iron-bearing primary phases and rocks have been weathered experimentally to simulate possible present and past weathering processes occurring on Mars. We used magnetite, monoclinic and hexagonal pyrrhotites, and metallic iron as it is suggested that meteoritic input to the martian surface may account for an important source of reduced iron. The phases were weathered in two different atmospheres: one composed of CO₂ + H₂O, to model the present and primary martian atmosphere, and a CO₂ + H₂O + H₂O₂ atmosphere to simulate the effect of strong oxidizing agents. Experiments were conducted at room temperature and a pressure of 0.75 atm. Magnetite is the only stable phase in the experiments and is thus likely to be released on the surface of Mars from primary rocks during weathering processes. Siderite, elemental sulfur, ferrous sulfates and ferric (oxy)hydroxides (goethite and lepidocrocite) are the main products in a water-bearing atmosphere, depending on the substrate. In the peroxide atmosphere, weathering products are dominated by ferric sulfates and goethite. A kinetic model was then developed for iron weathering in a water atmosphere, using the shrinking core model (SCM). This model includes competition between chemical reaction and diffusion of reactants through porous layers of secondary products. The results indicate that for short time scales, the mechanism is dominated by a chemical reaction with second order kinetics (k = 7.75 × 10⁻⁵ g⁻¹/h), whereas for longer time scales, the mechanism is diffusion-controlled (De_A = 2.71 × 10⁻¹⁰ m²/h). The results indicate that a primary CO₂- and H₂O-rich atmosphere should favour sulfur, ferrous phases such as siderite or Fe²⁺-sulfates, associated with ferric (oxy)hydroxides (goethite and lepidocrocite). Further evolution to more oxidizing conditions may have forced these precursors to evolve into ferric sulfates and goethite/hematite.     

Groundwater N speciation and redox control of organic N mineralization by O2 reduction to H2O2

Excess N from agriculture induces eutrophication in major river systems and hypoxia in coastal waters throughout the world. Much of this N is from headwaters far up the watersheds. In turn, much of the N in these headwaters is from ground-water discharge. Consequently, the concentrations and forms of N in groundwater are important factors affecting major aquatic ecosystems; despite this, few data exist for several species of N in groundwater and controls on speciation are ill-defined. Herein, we report N speciation for a spring and well that were selected to reflect agricultural impacts, and a spring and well that show little to no agricultural-N impact. Samples were characterized for NO₃⁻, NO₂⁻, N₂O, NH₄⁺, urea, particulate organic N(), and dissolved organic N(). These analytes were monitored in the agricultural spring for up to two years along with other analytes that we reported upon previously. For all samples, when oxidized N was present, the dominant species was NO₃⁻ (88-98% of total fixed N pool) followed by (<4-12%) and only trace fractions of the other N analytes. In the non-agriculturally impacted well sample, which had no quantifiable NO₃⁻ or dissolved O₂, comprised the dominant fraction (68%) followed by NH₄⁺ (32%), with only a trace balance comprised of other N analytes. Water drawn from the well, spring and a wetland situated in the agricultural watershed also were analyzed for dissolved N₂ and found to have a fugacity in excess of that of the atmosphere. H₂O₂ was analyzed in the agricultural spring to evaluate the O₂/H₂O₂ redox potential and compare it to other calculated potentials. The potential of the O₂/H₂O₂ couple was close in value to the NO₃⁻/NO₂⁻ couple suggesting the important role of H₂O₂ as an O₂-reduction intermediate product and that O₂ and NO₃⁻ are reduced concomitantly. The O₂/H₂O₂ and NO₃⁻/NO₂⁻ couples also were close in value to a cluster of other inorganic N and Fe couples indicating near partial equilibrium among these species. Urea mineralization to NO₂⁻ was found to approach equilibrium with the reduction of O₂ to H₂O₂. By modeling as amide functional groups, as justified by recent analytical work, similar thermodynamic calculations support that mineralization to NO₂⁻ proceeds nearly to equilibrium with the reduction of O₂ to H₂O₂ as well. This near equilibration of redox couples for urea- and -oxidation with O₂-reduction places these two couples within the oxidized redox cluster that is shared among several other couples we have reported previously. In the monitored agricultural spring, [NO₃⁻] was lower in the summer than at other times, whereas [N₂O] was higher in the summer than at other times, perhaps reflecting a seasonal variation in the degree of denitrification reaction progress. No other N analytes were observed to vary seasonally in our study. In the well having no agricultural-N impact, C_org/N_org = 5.5, close to the typical value for natural aqueous systems of about 6.6. In the agricultural watershed C_org/N_org varied widely, from ∼1.2 to ?9.     

Indoor and outdoor urban atmospheric CO2: Stable carbon isotope constraints on mixing and mass balance

From July to November 2009, concentrations of CO₂ in 78 samples of ambient air collected in 18 different interior spaces on a university campus in Dallas, Texas (USA) ranged from 386 to 1980 ppm. Corresponding δ¹³C values varied from −8.9‰ to −19.4‰. The CO₂ from 22 samples of outdoor air (also collected on campus) had a more limited range of concentrations from 385 to 447 ppm (avg. = 408 ppm), while δ¹³C values varied from −10.1‰ to −8.4‰ (avg.=-9.0‰). In contrast to ambient indoor and outdoor air, the concentrations of CO₂ exhaled by 38 different individuals ranged from 38,300 to 76,200 ppm (avg. = 55,100 ppm), while δ¹³C values ranged from −24.8‰ to −17.7‰ (avg. = −21.8‰). The residence times of the total air in the interior spaces of this study appear to have been on the order of 10 min with relatively rapid approaches (∼30 min) to steady-state concentrations of ambient CO₂ gas. Collectively, the δ¹³C values of the indoor CO₂ samples were linearly correlated with the reciprocal of CO₂ concentration, exhibiting an intercept of −21.8‰, with r² = 0.99 and p < 0.001 (n = 78). This high degree of linearity for CO₂ data representing 18 interior spaces (with varying numbers of occupants), and the coincidence of the intercept (−21.8‰) with the average δ¹³C value for human-exhaled CO₂ demonstrates simple mixing between two inputs: (1) outdoor CO₂ introduced to the interior spaces by ventilation systems, and (2) CO₂ exhaled by human occupants of those spaces. If such simple binary mixing is a common feature of interior spaces, it suggests that the intercept of a mixing line defined by two data points (CO₂ input from the local ventilation system and CO₂ in the ambient air of the room) could be a reasonable estimate of the average δ¹³C value of the CO₂ exhaled by the human occupants. Thus, such indoor spaces appear to constitute effective “sample vessels” for collection of CO₂ that can be used to determine the average proportions of C₃ and C₄-derived C in the diets of the occupants. For the various groups occupying the rooms sampled in this study, C₄-derived C appears to have constituted ∼40% of the average diet.     

Methane: An equation of state with application to the ternary system H2O-CO2-CH4

The following hardsphere modified Redlich-Kwong (HSMRK) equation of state was obtained by least squares fitting to available P-V-T data for methane (P in bars; T in Kelvins; v in cm³ mol^?1; b = 60.00 cm³ mol^?1; R = 83.14 cm³barmol^?1K^?1): $\text{P}\text{RT(1 + y + y}{}^2\text{?y}{}^3\text{v(1?y)}{}^3\text{)}\text{-}\text{c(T) + d(T)}\text{v}\text{+}\text{e(T)}\text{v}{}^2\text{/v(v + b)T}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$$\text{y =}\text{b}\text{4v}$c(T) = 13.403 × 10⁶ + (9.28 × 10⁴)T + 2.7 T²d(T) = 5.216 × 10⁹ ? (6.8 × 10⁶)T + (3.28 × 10³)T²e(T) = (?2.3322 × 10¹¹) + (6.738 × 10⁸)T + (3.179 × 10⁵)T² For the P-T range of experimental data used in the fit (50 to 8600 bars and from 320 to 670 K), calculated volumes and fugacity coefficients for CH₄ relative to experimentally determined volumes and fugacity coefficients have average percent deviations of 0.279 and 1.373, respectively. The HSMRK equation, which predicts linear isochores over a wide P-T range, should yield reasonable estimates of fugacity coefficients for CH₄ to pressures and temperatures well outside the P-T range of available P-V-T data. Calculations for the system H₂O-CO₂-CH₄, using the HSMRK equations for H₂O and CO₂ of Kerrick and Jacobs (1981) and the HSMRK equation for CH₄ of this study, indicate that compared to the binary H₂O-CO₂ system, small amounts of CH₄ in the ternary system H₂O-CO₂-CH₄ slightly increases the activity of H₂O, and significantly decreases the activity of CO₂.     

Abundance of mass 47 CO2 in urban air, car exhaust, and human breath

Atmospheric carbon dioxide is widely studied using records of CO₂ mixing ratio, δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O. However, the number and variability of sources and sinks prevents these alone from uniquely defining the budget. Carbon dioxide having a mass of 47 u (principally ¹³C¹⁸O¹⁶O) provides an additional constraint. In particular, the mass 47 anomaly (Δ₄₇) can distinguish between CO₂ produced by high temperature combustion processes vs. low temperature respiratory processes. Δ₄₇ is defined as the abundance of mass 47 isotopologues in excess of that expected for a random distribution of isotopes, where random distribution means that the abundance of an isotopologue is the product of abundances of the isotopes it is composed of and is calculated based on the measured ¹³C and ¹⁸O values. In this study, we estimate the δ¹³C (vs. VPDB), δ¹⁸O (vs. VSMOW), δ47, and Δ₄₇ values of CO₂ from car exhaust and from human breath, by constructing ‘Keeling plots’ using samples that are mixtures of ambient air and CO₂ from these sources. δ47 is defined as , where is the R⁴⁷ value for a hypothetical CO₂ whose δ¹³C_VPDB = 0, δ¹⁸O_VSMOW = 0, and Δ₄₇ = 0. Ambient air in Pasadena, CA, where this study was conducted, varied in [CO₂] from 383 to 404 μmol mol⁻¹, in δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O from −9.2 to −10.2‰ and from 40.6 to 41.9‰, respectively, in δ47 from 32.5 to 33.9‰, and in Δ₄₇ from 0.73 to 0.96‰. Air sampled at varying distances from a car exhaust pipe was enriched in a combustion source having a composition, as determined by a ‘Keeling plot’ intercept, of −24.4 ± 0.2‰ for δ¹³C (similar to the δ¹³C of local gasoline), δ¹⁸O of 29.9 ± 0.4‰, δ47 of 6.6 ± 0.6‰, and Δ₄₇ of 0.41 ± 0.03‰. Both δ¹⁸O and Δ₄₇ values of the car exhaust end-member are consistent with that expected for thermodynamic equilibrium at∼200 °C between CO₂ and water generated by combustion of gasoline-air mixtures. Samples of CO₂ from human breath were found to have δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values broadly similar to those of car exhaust-air mixtures, −22.3 ± 0.2 and 34.3 ± 0.3‰, respectively, and δ47 of 13.4 ± 0.4‰. Δ₄₇ in human breath was 0.76  ± 0.03‰, similar to that of ambient Pasadena air and higher than that of the car exhaust signature.     

The rise of trees and their effects on Paleozoic atmospheric CO2 and O2

The rise of large vascular plants during the mid-Paleozoic brought about a major increase in the rates of weathering of silicate minerals that induced a drop in the level of atmospheric CO₂ and contributed, via the atmospheric greenhouse effect, to global cooling and the initiation of the most long lived and a really extensive glaciation of the past 550 million years. Sedimentary burial of the microbiologically resistant remains of the plants resulted during the Permo-Carboniferous in both further lowering of CO₂ and in elevation of atmospheric O₂. Evidence of changes in CO₂ and O₂ are provided by mathematical models, studies of paleosols, fossil plants, fossil insects, and the effects of modern plants on silicate weathering, and by laboratory studies of the effects of changes in O₂ on plants and insects. To cite this article: R.A. Berner, C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

Rhondonite solubility and thermodynamic properties of aqueous MnCl2 in the system MnOSiO2HClH2O

The solubility of rhodonite, represented by the reaction MnSiO₃ (rhodonite) + 2HCl⁰ = MnCl₂⁰ + SiO₂ (quartz) + H₂O, was investigated experimentally in the temperature range 400°–700°C at 1 and 2 kbar by rapid-quench hydrothermal techniques and the Ag-AgCl buffer methods. Variations in the molalities of associated hydrogen chloride (m_HCl⁰) as a function of the molalities of total Mn indicate that Mn in the fluid in equilibrium with the assemblage rhodonite + quartz is predominantly associated as MnCl₂⁰. The Mn:Cl in the fluid ?2, indicating that Mn⁺² is the dominant oxidation state.The solubility data were used to calculate the equilibrium constant of the above reaction as a function of temperature, pressure, and the difference in Gibbs free energy of formation between MnCl₂⁰ and HCl⁰. The equilibrium constants of solubility for Mn minerals for which thermochemical data are available were also calculated. Calculated mineral solubilities were used in conjunction with the data of Frantz et al. (1981) to calculate the composition of supercritical fluids in equilibrium with Mn-bearing phases and assemblages. At 400°C and 1000 bars, supercritical fluids in equilibrium with olivines of compositions similar to those present in MORB tend to be enriched in Mn, despite the low mole fraction of tephroite in the olivine. Supercritical fluids in equilibrium with the assemblage quartz-hematite-rhodonite at 500° and 400°C and 1000 bars show high concentrations of Mn relative to Fe. Manganese concentrations in the fluids increase with decrease in the mole fraction of H, whereas Fe concentrations decrease. The data indicate that H fugacity plays a significant role in the separation of Mn from Fe in chloride-bearing hydrothermal fluids at supercritical temperatures.