Chemical Fractionation of Aluminium in the Sediments of El-Burullus Lagoon of Nile Delta,Egypt

A five step sequential extraction technique, following Tessier’s protocol has been applied to determine the chemical association of aluminium with major sedimentary phases (exchangeable, carbonate, manganese and iron oxides, organic and residual fraction) in four short sediment cores collected from El-Burullus lagoon of the Nile delta, Egypt. This study is a first approach of chemical fractionation of aluminium in one of the protective areas of the Mediterranean Sea of Egypt. The total metal content was also determined. The results of the fractionation study indicated that aluminium was mainly associated with the residual fraction (>95%). The organic and Fe–Mn oxide fractions were the next important phases. The exchangeable and carbonate fractions were less than 1%, limiting its potential toxicity as a pollutant. The geochemical analysis of aluminium forms reflected the lithogenic origin of this metal in the study area.     

Catchment and in-stream influences on metal concentration and ochre deposit density in upland streams, Northern Ireland

Metal concentrations from stream waters in two geological blocks in Northern Ireland were compared to determine the contributions of catchment characteristics and in-stream conditions. One block is composed of metamorphosed schist and unconsolidated glacial drift with peat or peaty podzol (mainly humic) soils, while the other block consists of tertiary basalt with brown earth and gley soils. Water samples were collected from 52 stream sites and analysed for iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and aluminium (Al) as well as a range of other chemical determinands known to affect metal solubility. Densities of metal-rich ochre deposit were determined for stream bed stone samples. Higher conductivities and concentrations of bicarbonate, alkalinity, calcium and magnesium occurred on basalt than on schist. Despite higher Fe and Mn oxide concentrations in basalt-derived non-humic soils, stream water concentrations were much lower and ochre deposit densities only one-third of those on schist overlain by humic soils. Neither rock nor soil type predicted Al concentrations, but pH and dissolved oxygen did. Peat-generated acidity and the limited acid neutralising capacity of base-poor metamorphosed schist have resulted in elevated concentrations of metals and ochre deposit in surface waters.     

漳州盆地水热系统氚同位素研究

本文依据26个天然水样品的氚同位素测试数据,分析了漳州盆地地下热水及其它天然水的氚值特征及其形成条件;利用“活塞模型”方法计算了漳州盆地地下水和地下热水的年龄;为弄清全盆地地下水的补给、迳流和排泄的总体格局和揭示地下热水的成因提供了依据。     

Fluorine in formation waters,Alberta Basin,Canada

Fluorine is a common minor constituent of formation waters throughout the Alberta Basin, and it was detected in each of the 469 samples analyzed for it. Contents range up to 22 mg/l, with an arithmetic mean of 1.83 mg/l and a median value of 1.20 mg/I. There is a trend toward increased mean and median contents of F from the shallower, cooler, less saline formation waters to the deeper, hotter, more saline formation waters. This trend parallels a trend of increasing saturation with respect to fluorite, with most of the less saline formation waters being undersaturated with respect to fluorite. At the same time, the major portion of F occurs as F⁻ in the less saline formation waters, with increasing amounts held as MgF⁺ as the Ca content, ionic strength and temperature increase. Complexes between Al and F, and VO and F account for only a relatively minor portion of the complexed F. A significant portion of the F in high-salinity formation waters from marine strata could well have originated from the initial seawater. However, it is speculated that water-rock reactions with bentonite or bentonitic shales may have to be invoked to account for the very high contents of F in the less saline formation waters from some of the shallow, cooler, non-marine aquifers of the Upper Cretaceous post-Colorado aquifer-aquitard system. Finally, it is possible to use knowledge of the distribution of F in formation waters from individual aquifers to check on the “correctness” of F determinations (primarily when formation waters of similar composition show saturation with respect to fluorite), and in the same case to predict the F content of formation waters in the Alberta Basin for which only the appropriate major ions have been determined.     

Metal binding capacity of selected maine surface waters

Concentrations of Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, and Pb and binding capacities for Cd, Cu, and Pb were determined for water samples collected from 12 lakes in southwestern Maine using atomic absorption and ion-selective electrodes, respectively. Surface waters in this area are soft and characterized by low pH. Some lakes were highly colored with refractory organics, whereas others had very low organic carbon concentrations. Both Cu and Pb concentrations were positively correlated with organic carbon content. Copper and Pb binding capacities were significantly correlated with organic carbon content, whereas Cd binding capacity was positively correlated with pH, but not with organic carbon. Surface water binding capacity for Pb was greater than that for Cu or Cd. More than 99% of the Ca from all waters studied was removed onto cationic exchange resins. Less than 1% of the total Cu existed as cationic species in highly humic waters, whereas as much as 65% existed as cationic species in less huic waters. Conversely, more than 99% of the Cd present in humic waters existed as cationic species, whereas as little as 50% existed as cationic species in less humic, more alkaline waters. These correlative studies indicate that binding by organic carbon is important for both Cu and Pb in this area and must be considered in models of trace metal speciation. However, Cd binding in the same waters is not correlated with organic carbon, which does not need to be considered in speciation models for Cd.     

Fate of aluminium released by sacrificial anodes – Contamination of marine sediments by environmentally available compounds

To protect their steel structures from corrosion by cathodic protection, many harbours use aluminium sacrificial anodes, which induces aluminium release and potential contamination of the surrounding waters and sediments. To study the impact on Al mobility, a natural marine sediment was artificially contaminated with aluminium from different sources: sulphate or chloride salts, or sacrificial anodes. To estimate Al mobility in sediments, single (HCl) and sequential (F6) extractions were performed; they highlighted that aluminium is poorly mobile in natural sediment (HCl-leachable: 2% and F6-leachable: 9%). Contamination by aluminium salts inhibits HCl-leachability (≤ 2%), whereas the Al F6-leachability is intensified up to 18%, suggesting that the additional aluminium is scavenged in a mobile fraction that HCl is not able to solubilise. In case of aluminium anode contamination, sediments present surging Al HCl-leachable (15%) and F6-leachable (32%) fractions, which are related to aluminium mineralogical speciation. Indeed, contrary to the Al naturally present or introduced by salts, Al released by anodes is partly bound to the acid-soluble fraction, probably because of the integration of the released Al into the calcareous deposit produced at the anodes surfaces that finally comes away and gets mixed up with the sediment. The presence of aluminium in the acid-soluble fraction of sediments could have an important environmental impact as this fraction is easily available. Indeed, Al scavenged in the acid-soluble fraction of sediments participates in enhancing Al lability near the sacrificial anodes and may affect the surrounding ecosystems.     

Predicted effects from abatement action against eutrophication in two small bays of the Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea has abnormal algal blooms during spring and summer which are effects of high concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) and other nutrients in the surface water. Björnöfjärden (BF), a coastal area connected to the Baltic Sea, is selected for investigating whether aluminium treatment of sediments may reduce TP concentrations in the water mass. The aim of this paper is to evaluate effects from different abatement actions in two bays, BF and Nyköpingsfjärden (NF). The four investigated scenarios are (1) no action, (2) reducing TP from local sources, (3) fixing TP in sediments with aluminium, and (4) decreasing TP concentrations in the outside sea. Magnitudes of different TP fluxes during the different scenarios were estimated using a dynamic mass balance model, CoastMab, which has previously been tested against data from Swedish coastal waters. Alternative actions such as aluminium treatment and reduction of TP from local sources would result in no or scant effect on the TP concentrations in the two bays according to model simulations. The only action which would result in a significant expected decrease in TP concentrations would be to decrease TP concentrations in the outside sea. It is concluded that BF and NF are not suitable for studying effects from local abatement action because of large TP fluxes from the outside sea.     

Investigation of the hydrogeochemistry of some bottled mineral waters in Hungary

Bottled drinking water constitutes a significant part of total water consumption in developed countries and national and EU legislation regulates their market production. In the framework of an international project carried out by the EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Expert Group 36 bottled waters were obtained from public markets in Hungary in order to determine their hydrogeochemical composition. The objective of this study is to investigate the possible relationship between groundwater aquifer lithology and the processed and marketed bottled waters, and to develop a classification of bottled waters, based on their dissolved mineral content. Analytical results of this study are compared with the composition shown on bottle labels, and with archive hydrochemical data from the producing wells. Results show that, while processing of original groundwater, such as oxygen addition, iron or hydrogen-sulphide removal can significantly alter water composition, bottled water composition can be used for selection of sites for detailed hydrogeochemical and hydrogeological characterization. A simple and useful classification of bottled water quality is also presented that is based on natural groups of sampled waters derived by means of statistical data analysis methods.     

Calculation of ionic activities in natural waters

The Garrels and Thompson model for calculating the distribution of ionic activities in sea-water was programmed for computer treatment, and extended to include 33 dissolved species. Ionic activities predicted by the model compare well with those expected on the basis of independent evidence (concerning equilibria involving gypsum, calcite, dissolved ferrous and ferric iron and a basic aluminium sulphate) for waters with pH values between 1.8 and 8.2, and ionic strengths up to 1.0.     

Gold Content in Siliceous Deposits Formed from Acidic and Iron-rich Geothermal Waters at Hatchobaru, Central Kyushu, Japan

Abstract: The gold content in siliceous deposits formed from geothermal waters at the Hatchobaru geothermal power station in central Kyushu, Japan, was determined by inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP–MS). It ranges from 1.3 to 4.6 mg/kg. The highest gold content was obtained from the siliceous deposit formed from acidic waters. In this siliceous deposit, hydrous iron(III) oxide of amorphous state is a major constituent, suggesting that hydrous iron(III) oxide might play an important role when gold is concentrated into siliceous deposits formed from acidic and iron-rich geothermal waters.     

The content of some microelements in mineral waters from Covasna and Harghita Romanian districts

Using two analytical techniques, CSV/ASV and ICP–AES, the concentration of some microelements (lead, zinc, manganese) in mineral waters from the Covasna and Harghita districts of Romania were determined. The optimum parameters for the voltammetric determination of manganese, copper, zinc and lead were established (electrolyte, deposition time, pulse duration, pulse amplitude, etc.) and then the content of these elements in twelve samples of mineral water were determined. The results obtained by both techniques led to the conclusion that the concentration of microelements in mineral waters from Covasna and Harghita districts is connected to the mineral content underground.     

“Rust” contamination of formation waters from producing wells

In the Alberta Basin there is a significant difference in the content of Fe between formation waters from drillstem tests and formation waters from producing wells. This was demonstrated using a data set comprising 525 formation waters from drillstem tests and 107 formation waters from producing wells. Both a cross-plot of Mn and Fe in the two sets of formation waters and box plots of the same data sets showed that formation waters from producing wells have dominantly Fe>Mn, compared with those from drillstem tests which are characterized by Mn>Fe. Suspecting that “rust” contamination from well casing and ancillary equipment was the cause, the pH values of the samples were compared to see if the two data sets also differed in pH. It was demonstrated that not only are formation waters from drillstem tests less acidic than those from producing wells, but there is a systematic statistical trend of increasing acidity with age of the strata (temperature, depth, and increased amounts of the acid gases — H₂S and CO₂). The difference between the pH of formation waters from drillstem tests and producing wells is attributed to the partial scrubbing of the acid gases from the fluids produced during the drillstem test; this results in less acidic formation waters. Vanadium may also be enhanced in formation waters from producing wells. This note reports these differences and cautions too much reliance on values for Fe in waters from producing wells.     

Dissolved aluminium in interstitial waters of recent marine sediments

Measurements of the concentration and vertical distribution of dissolved aluminium and silica, and of pH. in interstitial waters of recent marine sediments from the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea were performed to evaluate the behaviour of aluminium during early diagenesis. The results suggest that thermodynamic equilibria alone do not control the concentrations of dissolved species in the system Al-Si-O₂-H₂O during early diagenesis. Rather, these concentrations are governed by dynamic factors involving mineral dissolution-precipitation reactions and diffusion.     

Contribution of Viral Lysis and Nanoflagellate Grazing to Bacterial Mortality at Surface Waters and Deeper Depths in the Coastal Ecosystem of Subtropical Western Pacific

Since nanoflagellate grazing and viral lysis differ in their impact on the microbial food web, it is important to assess their relative importance on bacterial mortality fractions. This study investigated the abundance of microbial assemblages and the loss of bacteria due to viral lysis and nanoflagellate grazing at two different depths (3 and 135 m) in the coastal waters of subtropical western Pacific during summer (July, August, and September 2012). The bacterial growth rates in the surface waters varied from 0.07 to 0.09 h^?1, a range higher than those found in the deep waters (0.013 to 0.016 h^?1). The grazing rates of nanoflagellates on bacteria ranged from 0.051 to 0.058 h^?1 and from 0 to 0.004 h^?1 in the surface and deep waters, respectively. During the study period, nanoflagellate grazing was responsible for most of bacterial mortality (81–87 %) relative to viral lysis in the surface waters, while viral lysis was responsible for 67–75 % of the total bacterial mortality in the deep waters.     

Elemental and isotopic geochemistry in the hydrothermal area of Chaves,Vila Pouca de Aguiar (northern Portugal)

Chaves thermal waters (76°C) are the most important external manifestations of low-temperature geothermal systems occurring in Portuguese mainland. They are related to crystalline granitic rocks. This paper describes the use of the environmental isotopic composition (oxygen-18, deuterium, and tritium) of hot and cold waters of the Chaves area as an important hydrogeological tool to solve specific problems arising in the appraisal of the geothermal resources of the area (e.g., origin and age of waters, recharge area, and underground flow paths).¹⁸O and D analyses seem to confirm the meteoric origin of Chaves thermal waters. The local altitude dependence of meteoric waters was determined by¹⁸O and D analyses of superficial and shallow groundwaters of the Chaves plain and its bordering mountains. Chaves thermal waters seem to be related to meteoric waters, infiltrated on the highest topography areas (Bolideira granitic outcrop NE Chaves), that percolate at great depth and emerge in a discharge area at lower altitude (Chaves plain). Chaves thermal waters showing little oxygen-18 shift and low tritium concentrations could be considered external manifestations of an old geothermal system in which the isotopic water-rock interaction is adjusted to equilibrium.     

The use of pyrolysis and barium distributions to assess the areal extent of drilling fluids in surficial marine sediments

The influence of drilling fluid dispersion on the chemistry of surficial sediments was determined by an integrated study of organic and inorganic parameters. Pyrolysis characteristics and barium, organic carbon, and carbonate content were determined for sediments associated with six drilling sites in coastal Gulf of Mexico waters. The areal extent and magnitude of influence of dispersed fluids were related to water depth, prevailing currents, density of the dispersed material, history of the drill site and platform-induced biological activity. The potential use of pyrolysis techniques for defining the impact area and the various types of inputs derived from off-shore drilling operations was demonstrated.     

Influence of the economic activities on coasts upon the coastal waters of the Black Sea

The contemporary state of the ecosystem, coastal waters and coasts of the Black Sea can be assessed as critical. The main causes of unfavourable ecological changes of the sea, and especially its shelf waters, are the natural and anthropogenic changes in river runoff increase of biogenic compounds, organic matter, pollutants and toxic agents carried to the sea in river waters, pollution of the sea water basin with petroleum. This work is devoted to an assessment of the role of sea coasts in the change of its ecological state because up till now the majority of researchers considered the influence of quantitative and qualitative changes of the river runoff produced by the economic activities to be decisive. It is shown that even according to at present incomplete data the contribution of coasts of biogenic compounds to the coastal sea waters is comparable with the contribution of the runoff of large rivers; it is significant for oil hydrocarbons, and decisive with regard to surface acting agents (SAA), phenols and pesticides. In a number of areas the ecological state of the coastal waters is almost completely determined by the inflow of pollutants from coasts. The integral assessment of the quality of coastal sea waters on different areas of the sea proved that the quality of the water along the coasts of Georgia, Russia and the Ukraine varies from moderately polluted to extremely dirty.     

Effects of Soil Composition on Zn Speciation in Drainage Waters from Agricultural Soils

The influence of Zn speciation on Zn transport by drainage from different soils to surface water is examined in a stream catchment in an agricultural area. Drainage waters were collected from two types of soils, a mineral soil (MS) and a soil rich in organic matter (OS) by means of artificial drainage pipes. The speciation of dissolved Zn in the stream and the drainage waters was determined using ligand-exchange and voltammetry. About 50–95% of dissolved Zn is bound in strong complexes, and the free Zn²⁺ ion concentration is in the range of 1–16% of dissolved Zn. A substantial part of Zn is present in weaker organic or inorganic complexes. The simulated Zn speciation using the WHAM VI model is compared to the determined speciation. Free Zn²⁺ concentrations predicted by the WHAM VI model are generally higher than the analytically determined free Zn²⁺, but are mostly within the same order of magnitude. Effects of different soil organic matter content on Zn speciation and transport are discussed. Zn speciation in the drainage at the OS site is influenced by the distribution of organic matter between the solid and solution phase. The abundant organic Zn complexes in solution contribute to facilitate Zn transport from soil into surface waters, through the drainage at the OS site. Drainage from the OS site contributes about twice as much Zn input to the receiving water as the MS soil, as related to specific area. The mineral soil contains much lower organic matter, and a part of Zn bound with inorganic phases can hardly be released by dissolved organic ligands, leading to much higher Zn retention at the MS site.     

舟山岛东北部沿海实测台风浪特性

为了解影响舟山岛的台风浪特性,基于舟山岛东北部沿海水域深、浅水两个测站同步测量的6个台风过程波浪资料,统计分析了两测站的波参数变化和谱变化特性,探讨了波浪变化的原因。研究显示:①灿鸿过程的深、浅水站最大波高均大于其他5个台风浪过程;②多数台风浪过程深水站波向主要为东及东南东向,而浅水站主要为东、东北东及东北向,水下地形对波向变化起主要作用;③不同路径台风对两测站谱型有明显影响,灿鸿、巴蓬、黄蜂和天鹅过程的波浪在两站以双峰谱为主,苏迪罗和杜鹃过程深水站波浪以单峰谱居多,浅水站则多峰谱多于单峰谱。研究成果对沿海建筑物的设计以及防灾减灾有重要参考价值。