Strength characteristics of compacted pond ash

Strength properties of compacted ash layers depend to a great extent on the moulding conditions. This paper focuses on the effects of compaction energy and degree of saturation on strength characteristics of compacted pond ash. The pond ash sample, collected from the ash pond of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), was subjected to compactive energies varying from 357 kJ/m³ to 3488 kJ/m³. The optimum moisture content and maximum dry densities corresponding to different compactive energies were determined by conventional compaction tests. The shear strength parameters, unconfined compressive strengths (UCS) and California bearing ratio (CBR) values of specimens compacted to different dry densities and moisture content were assessed and reported. The effects of compaction energy and degree of saturation on shear strength parameters i.e. unit cohesion (c_u) and angle of internal friction (Ф) values and also the UCS values are evaluated and presented herein. The results indicate that the dry density and strength of the compacted pond ash can be suitably modified by controlling the compactive energy and moulding moisture content. The strength achieved in the present study is comparable to the good quality, similar graded conventional earth materials. Hence, it may be safely concluded that pond ash can replace the natural earth materials in geotechnical constructions.     

Use of molecular ratios to identify changes in fatty acid composition of Miscanthus × giganteus (Greef et Deu.) plant tissue,rhizosphere and root-free soil during a laboratory experiment

Fatty acids (FAs) are abundant lipids in plants, microorganisms and soil. Depending on chain length they provide potential for evaluating different sources of C in soil: shoots, roots and microorganisms. This, together with their fast turnover and transformation in living and decaying plant tissues, suggests the use of FA molecular ratios as source indicators in soil. To evaluate the applicability of FAs as source indicators, their dynamics in plant tissue and soil were traced during a laboratory experiment using the highly productive perennial C₄ energy grass Miscanthus x giganteus (Greef et Deu.). For the comprehensive use of FAs as source indicators various ratios were calculated: fatty acid ratio (originally defined as carboxylic acid ratio: CAR), carbon preference index (CPI), average chain length (ACL) and unsaturated vs. saturated C₁₈ acids. The FA composition was specific for individual plant tissues as indicated by the CAR, with high values in roots and lower ones in the above ground plant tissue. Based on ACL values of rhizosphere, soil and roots, an enrichment in root derived FAs vs. root-free soil could be estimated. The rhizosphere contained 35–70% more plant derived FAs than root-free soil. The ACL showed potential for estimating root derived carbon in the rhizosphere. The study documents for the first time very fast spatial processes in soil related to plant growth, thereby strongly influencing the FA composition of soil.     

Fatty acid profiling as bioindicator of chemical stress in marine <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pterocladia capillacea,Sargassum hornschuchii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ulva lactuca</Emphasis>

Contaminants are increasing in the aquatic ecosystem due to the development of industrial and agricultural activities. Contaminants include organic pollutants such as pharmaceuticals and endocrine-disrupting compounds, which accumulate in the ecosystem’s primary producers and propagate through the food chain. The total lipid contents and fatty acid profiles in the marine macroalgae Pterocladia capillacea, Ulva lactuca and Sargassum hornschuchii proved to be a good bioindicator to assess contamination levels. The lowest value of the total lipid content was 1.90% obtained in S. hornschuchii under the bisphenol treatment, while the highest value was 4.66% obtained in U. lactuca under exposed to clofibric acid. The fatty acid methyl ester profiles were analysed by using gas chromatography. The total fatty acids varied from 5.85% (U. lactuca after exposure to bisphenol) to 28.38% (P. capillacea treated with clofibric acid). The ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids was significantly higher in U. lactuca after exposure to acetyl salicylic acid than in the other macroalgae under different treatments.     

Geochemical Characteristics of Amino Acids in Sediments of Lake Taihu, A Large, Shallow, Eutrophic Freshwater Lake of China

To examine the biogeochemistry of amino acids (AAs) in the sediment of Lake Taihu, surface sediments (0–3 cm) and deeper sediments (18–21 cm) were collected at 21 sites from different ecotype zones of the lake. AAs were extracted from the sediments, and the total hydrolyzable amino acids (THAA) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography instrument. The THAA contents in Taihu sediment were much lower than that in marine sediments, ranging from 6.84 to 38.24 μmol g⁻¹ in surface sediments and from 2.91 to 18.75 μmol g⁻¹ in deeper sediments in Taihu, respectively. AAs were a major fraction of the organic matter (OM) and organic nitrogen in Taihu sediments. The AAs on average contributed 8.2% of organic carbon (OC) and 25.0% of total nitrogen (TN) from surface sediments, and 5.9% of OC and 20.5% of TN in deeper sediments, respectively. AA composition provided very useful information about the degradation of OM. Glycine (Gly) and lysine (Lys) were the predominant forms of AAs in the sediments, irrespective of lake regions, followed by alanine, glutamic acid, serine (Ser), and aspartic acid (Asp). The high concentrations of Gly, Lys, and Ser suggested that these forms of AAs were relatively refractory during OM degradation in sediments. The relationship between the Asp/Gly ratio and Ser + Thr [mol%] indicated that OM in surface sediment was relatively fresher than that in deeper sediments. The AAs-based degradation index (DI) gave a similar conclusion. The composition and DI of AAs in surface sediments are markedly different across different zones in Taihu. The percentages of AAs to organic carbon (AA-C%) and total nitrogen (AA-N%) were higher in phytoplankton-dominated zones than those in macrophyte-dominated zones. These results suggest that DI could provide useful information about the degradation of OM in shallow lakes such as Taihu.     

南海不同水深表层沉积物脂肪酸分布特征及其生物源的空间变化

为探究边缘海区域由陆架到深海盆脂类的分布模式及其指示的生物源的空间变化特征,对采集于南海4个不同水深断面的表层沉积物脂肪酸进行了系统研究.从表层沉积物中检出丰富的脂肪酸,包括直链饱和脂肪酸、直链不饱和脂肪酸和支链脂肪酸等.其中,高碳数直链脂肪酸（≥C₂₀）主要来源于陆源高等植物的输入,低碳数直链脂肪酸主要来源于藻类的贡献,低碳数支链（包括异构和反异构）脂肪酸主要来源于细菌贡献.高碳数脂肪酸指示的高等植物输入,在南海沿岸区的高值与河流的输入有关,而在深海盆的高值可能与洋流、风尘输入等有关.低碳数支链脂肪酸指示的细菌分布在南海北部沿岸表现出高值,在深海盆表现出较低的分布模式.低碳数直链脂肪酸表征的浮游植物的贡献在南海北部表现出高值,在深海盆局部区域也表现出高值分布.细菌和浮游植物在南海北部表现出的高值,可能与丰富的营养盐条件有关.而浮游植物在深海盆的分布模式,可能受到洋流以及其他输入的影响.      

Seasonal variation in the biochemical composition of red seaweed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Catenella repens</Emphasis>) from Gangetic delta,northeast coast of India

The biochemical composition of red seaweeds, Catenella repens was investigated in this present study along with subsequent analysis of relevant physico-chemical variables. In this study, the relationship between the nutritive components of this species and the ambient environmental parameters was established. Protein content varied from 2.78 ± 0.30% of dry weight (stn.3) to 16.03 ± 0.96% of dry weight (stn.1) with highest values during monsoon. The protein levels were positively correlated with dissolved nitrate content and negatively correlated with water temperature (except stn.3) and salinity. Carbohydrate content of this species varied significantly (p < 0.05) during pre-monsoon between stations and the values showed positive relationship with salinity and surface water temperature. In contrast to carbohydrate, lipid concentration was lowest in values and varied very slightly between seasons and stations. Astaxanthin content of the seaweed species was greater in pre-monsoon than monsoon and post-monsoon in all the selected stations. Compared with the three seasons, samples of red seaweed collected in pre-monsoon has high carbohydrate-astaxanthin in contrast to protein-lipid which showed high values during monsoon. Statistical analysis computed among the environmental and biochemical parameters suggests the potential role played by the abiotic parameters on biosynthetic pathways of seaweed. This paper also highlights the influence of the nutritional quality of water that can be used for mass cultivation of Catenella repens.     

Behaviour of model footing on pond ash

This paper focuses on the effective utilization of pond ash, as foundation medium. A series of laboratory model tests have been carried out using square, rectangular and strip footings on pond ash. The effects of dry density, degree of saturation of pond ash, size and shape of footing on ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations are presented in this paper. Local shear failure of a square footing on pond ash at 37% moisture content (optimum moisture content) is observed up to the values of dry density 11.20 kN/m³ and general shear failure takes place at the values of dry density 11.48 kN/m³ and 11.70 kN/m³. Effects of degree of saturation on ultimate bearing capacity were studied. Experimental results show that degree of saturation significantly affects the ultimate bearing capacity of strip footing. The effect of footing length to width ratio (L/B), on increase in ultimate bearing capacity of pond ash, is insignificant for L/B ≥ 10 in case of rectangular footings. The effects of size of footing on ultimate bearing capacity for all shapes of footings viz., square, rectangular and strip footings are highlighted.     

测井评价煤层气储层的方法探讨

根据煤层气储层实验室分析确定的体积模型（碳、灰分、挥发分、水分）,以测井曲线予以评价。其中以自然伽马测井确定湿灰分,该方法的前提条件是湿分主要是泥质且泥质不具放射性元素;以密度测井与人工伽马测井确定含碳量,并对密度测井作湿分校正;以灰分校正后的密度测井确定饱和水孔隙度;含气量的估算以声波测井和密度测井组成的复合参数ΔT/dDEN来确定,或以视电阻率曲线确定含气量。以某地区2个钻孔为例,讨论了煤层深度、压力等与水分、灰分、含气饱和度、含气量等参数的关系,认为含气量与深度成正比关系。     

Lipid biomarker analysis of cyanobacteria-dominated microbial mats in meltwater ponds on the McMurdo Ice Shelf,Antarctica

The lipid biomarker composition of microbial mat communities from three meltwater ponds from the McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica, was investigated for the first time. Hydrocarbons, ether-linked components, fatty acids (FAs), wax esters, hopanols and sterols from Fresh, Orange and Salt Ponds were analysed. The dominance of cyanobacteria and the presence of bacterial sulfate reducers were confirmed using signature FAs in all three mats. Wax ester analysis suggested the presence of Chloroflexus spp. The dominance of short chain hydrocarbons, wax esters and FAs indicated that microorganisms are the major source of organic matter in these meltwater ponds. A variety of sterols were present in different relative abundances. The greatest diversity of sterols was in Salt Pond, followed by Fresh Pond, which was attributed to differences in the present eukaryotic diversity. Lipid profiles of the three communities were similar despite the presence of a salinity gradient. Analysis of lipid biomarkers allowed the creation of profiles for these unique Antarctic cryo-ecosystems. This will assist in the comparison of present and past microbial communities and in the monitoring of Antarctic biodiversity in response to global climate change and other environmental perturbations.     

Corrosion of metal roof materials related to volcanic ash interactions

Metal roofing material is commonly used for residential and industrial roofs in volcanically active areas. Increased corrosion of metal roofing from chemically reactive volcanic ash following ash deposition post-eruption is a major concern due to decreasing the function and stability of roofs. Currently, assessment of ash-induced corrosion is anecdotal, and quantitative data are lacking. Here, we systematically evaluate the corrosive effects of volcanic ash, specifically ash leachates, on a variety of metal roofing materials (i.e. weathered steel, zinc, galvanized steel, and Colorsteel©) utilizing weathering chamber experiments and direct acid treatments. Weathering chamber tests were carried out for up to 30 days, and visual, chemical, and surface analyses did not definitively identify significant corrosion in any of the test roofing metal samples. Direct concentrated acid treatments with hydrochloric (HCl), sulphuric (H₂SO₄), and hydrofluoric (HF) acids demonstrate that roofing materials are chemically resilient. Our experimental results suggest that ash-leachate-related corrosion is a longer-term process (>1 month), potentially related to a multitude of factors including increased ash leachate concentrations, the dissolution of the glass matrix of the ash, moisture retention at the ash-surface boundary, and potential reactions involving photo-oxidation. Overall, corrosion is not a simple process related to the short-term release of acid and/or salt leachates from the ash surface, but a product of dynamic interactions involving ash and water at the surface of metal roofing material for extended periods.     

Effects of age on the chemical structure of paleosol humic acids and fulvic acids

Humic acids and fulvic acids were extracted from six paleosols in Southern Italy. Humic acids (HAs) constituted between 96.5 and 99.2% of the total extracts; the remaining materials consisted of fulvic acids (FAs). Radiocarbon ages of the HAs ranged from about 6,000 to close to 29,000 years B.P., δ¹³C values averaged $\text{?25.6 ± 0.3‰}$ The HAs were characterized by chemical (elemental and functional group analyses) and spectroscopic (IR, ESR, ¹³CNMR, E₄/E₆ ratios) methods. FAs were characterized by chemical methods, E₄/E₆ ratios and IR spectra.The chemical and spectroscopic analyses showed practically no differences in the chemical structure and composition of the six HAs and FAs, so that age appeared to have little effect on these parameters. The paleosols were found to be closed systems with low polysaccharide and protein contents, thus providing unfavorable substrates for microbial activity. The preservation of the humic materials in the paleosols may have been due to low biological activity and/or to retention by amorphous minerals. The HAs did not appear to be affected by temperatures higher than 170–200°C over the 23,000 year period which we observed.     

Geotechnical Properties of Low Calcium and High Calcium Fly Ash

In this paper, a comparative study has been made for physical and engineering properties of low calcium and high calcium Indian fly ash. The grain size distribution of fly ash is independent of lime content. Fly ash particles of size >75 μm are mostly irregular in shape whereas finer fractions are spherical for low calcium fly ash. For high calcium fly ash, chemical and mineralogical differences have been observed for different size fractions. Compared to low calcium fly ash, optimum moisture content is low and maximum dry density is high for high calcium fly ash. Optimum moisture content is directly proportional and maximum dry density is inversely proportional to the carbon content. The mode and duration of curing have significant effect on strength and stress–strain behavior of compacted fly ash. The gain in strength with time for high calcium fly ash is very high compared to that of low calcium fly ash due to presence of reactive minerals and glassy phase.     

煤炭显微煤岩组分与工业分析关系研究

通过分析宁夏各煤田中部分具有代表性煤矿勘查阶段钻孔煤岩煤样测试数据,研究了煤的显微煤岩组分与工业分析之间的关系。随着煤中有机组分、无机组分含量的变化,煤的灰分、挥发分、固定碳发生变化。煤中有机组分含量大于90%时,煤中灰分与黏土类含量存在正相关,挥发分与惰质组和壳质组含量均存在正相关,且惰质组含量影响更大;有机组分含量小于90%时,煤中灰分与惰质组和黏土类含量均存在正相关,且惰质组含量影响更大,挥发分与壳质组含量存在正相关。煤中固定碳含量受镜质组含量影响最大,二者存在正相关。     

线性回归分析在邯峰矿区2~#煤层瓦斯含量预测中的应用

以邯峰矿区53个钻孔中2#煤层资料为基础数据进行线性回归分析,首先初步确定原煤水分、挥发分、灰分、煤厚、煤层倾角、埋深、顶板(岩性、厚度)和底板(岩性、厚度)等因素与煤层瓦斯含量的相关程度,并将其定量化,经一元线性拟合筛选,删除对2#煤层瓦斯含量影响较小的灰分和底板因素,对余下因素再进行多元线性拟合,建立2#煤层瓦斯含量与2#煤的水分、挥发分、埋深、煤厚、煤层倾角和顶板(岩性、厚度)的多元线性回归方程。经检验该方程较好地表达了瓦斯含量与相关因素的定量关系,预测值与实测值接近,可作为邯峰矿区预测其它钻孔2#煤层瓦斯含量的数学模型。     

Biogeochemical significance of fatty acid distribution in the coastal upwelling ecosystem off Concepción (36°S), Chile

The distribution of fatty acids (FAs) in the water column and surface sediment of the coastal upwelling ecosystem off Concepción (central Chile; almost monthly from February 2007 to November 2008) was analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The concentration of FAs in the water column ranged from 3.4 to 67.7 μg l⁻¹ and showed higher values in surface water than in bottom water, and under upwelling vs. non-upwelling conditions. The content in surface sediment ranged from 21.6 to 328.5 μg g dw⁻¹ and had a higher abundance in February 2007, and January–March and June 2008. In surface water 16:0, 18:0 and 16:1n-7 made up ca. 47% of the FAs during the study period, while in bottom water 16:0, 18:0 and 18:1n-9 accounted for ca. 45%, and in surface sediment ca. 43% was accounted for by 14:0, 16:0, 16:1n-7 and 18:1n-7 FAs. Seasonal variability in the relative abundance of saturated and polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) was observed in surface water, while in bottom water and surface sediment no major temporal change in FA composition was observed. A negative exponential relationship between bacterial FAs and PUFAs from surface water and sediment suggests that bacteria may be responsible for ca. 80% of PUFA removal during sinking. We suggest that the FA composition of the surface sediment of the ocean is a consequence of rapid alteration of the FA pool by biological activity in the water column and sediment, driven by the removal of the labile fraction of FAs.     

Comparative study of body composition of four fish species in relation to pond depth

Fish specimen of Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala, Hypophthalmicthys molitrix and Catla catla were sampled from three ponds of different depths (152 cm, 122 cm and 76 cm) to compare the body composition of these species in relation to pond depth. There was significant (P < 0.001) effect of pond depth on water, ash, organic, fat and protein contents (all % wet and dry body weight). It was observed that pond depth has significant effect (P < 0.01) on condition factor in pond B (122 cm depth) and no effect in pond A and C. Maximum mean values of body composition were observed in Labeo rohita in all the three ponds. Present study demonstrates that fish cultured in ponds of different depths have different values of protein which can help guide the farmers to select best pond depths to produce protein rich fish.     

Parameters influencing the variation in mercury emissions from an Alberta power plant burning high inertinite coal over thirty-eight weeks period

Feed coals and fly ashes from a coal-fired power station burning Alberta subbituminous coal were examined for a period of thirty-eight weeks to determine the variation in emitted mercury. Feed coal samples were analyzed for proximate, calorific value and Hg content, while fly ash samples were examined for C and Hg contents. The maceral content of the feed coal was also determined. The emitted mercury was calculated and compared to mercury emitted from the stack according to a mass-balance calculation from a previous study for the same station.Mercury contents ranged from 0.029 to 0.066 mg/kg for feed coal, and from 0.069 to 0.112 mg/kg for fly ash. The carbon/char in fly ash was separated into reactive (vitrinitic/bimacerate) and less reactive (inertinitic) chars using ZnBr₂ at specific gravities of 1.7, 2.0, and 2.25 to 2.4. The result shows that there is a positive correlation between the carbon and mercury content of the fly ash. The reactive char particles in the fly ash may be responsible for the capture mercury in fly ash. The percentage of estimated captured mercury by fly ash increases with increasing carbon content (%) in fly ash. The percentage of emitted mercury for the period of 38 weeks is estimated to be within the range of 49% to 76% of the total input of mercury.     

Comparative proteome analysis of butachlor-degrading bacteria

A Pseudomonas putida strain, named ER1, was isolated from an agricultural soil and found to actively degrade the herbicide butachlor. The enzyme extracted from ER1 could degrade butachlor. Furthermore, incubation of ER1 in a medium containing 50 mg/kg of butachlor after 3 days resulted in the high butachlor-degrading enzyme activity of ER1. Response of ER1 to butachlor might be related to changes in protein composition at both quantitative and qualitative levels. Total proteins were extracted from control strain (incubated in the medium without butachlor) and the treated strain (incubated in the medium with butachlor). The proteins were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Of the total number of ER1 protein, 11 spots were significantly changed under butachlor stress. Analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry coupled with database searching allowed the function of some proteins which were similar to the hydrolases activity or oxidoreductase activity.     

Amino acid and amino sugar transformation during sedimentation in lacustrine systems

We compared the degradation behaviour of amino sugars (ASs) and amino acids (AAs) during sedimentation in two lakes. Concentrations of individual ASs and AAs were measured in plankton, sediment trap and sediment samples from Lake Zug (LZ; eutrophic, stratified, permanently anoxic below 170 m) and Lake Brienz (LB; oligotrophic, oxic throughout the water column). In the plankton samples AAs comprised 37–50% of the organic carbon (C_org) and 41–65% of the N. With increasing water depth the fraction of C_org and N as AAs almost halved in both lakes. At the sediment surface the contribution of AAs to the C_org pool was slightly greater, but in the sediments the proportion further decreased downwards to values of 1% of the C_org pool in LB and 8% in LZ, and 3% and 17% of the N pool, respectively. ASs contributed to a smaller extent to the planktonic organic matter (OM). Within the water column, the contribution decreased in both lakes. In contrast, in the sediments the contribution of ASs to the C_org and N pools increased slightly with depth, indicating AS accumulation. We applied degradation indices based on ASs, AAs and chlorins, which all revealed transformation with OM sedimentation. However, some indices were more sensitive to early degradation (e.g. reactivity index) and others to an intermediate level of degradation (e.g. chlorin index and non-protein AAs). Despite the different trophic status and redox conditions, the general pattern of degradation was similar in both lakes, but was more pronounced in the sediments of the eutrophic LZ.     

大同煤田接触变质煤的煤岩煤质变化规律

大同煤田石炭-二叠纪煤层中的岩浆岩侵入造就了大量的接触变质煤，降低了煤的利用价值。为了详细探讨岩浆岩体距煤层距离对煤的物理化学性质影响，通过对塔山井田5222巷的辉绿岩岩墙及周围煤层的地质编录、系统采样，及煤样的煤岩学分析、工业分析和元素分析，研究接触变质带的煤岩煤质特征。结果表明:接触变质煤在高温条件下生成各种天然焦微观结构，如镶嵌结构、流动结构、热解碳等；侵入体对煤层的瞬时加热显著提升了热变煤的煤级，镜质体最大反射率由正常煤的0.67%~0.87%增至接触变质煤的0.94%~3.67%；接触变质煤中水分含量和灰分产率显著升高，挥发分产率降低；靠近岩墙的煤样中C含量上升，H、N、O含量下降。综合分析认为，岩墙接触变质作用对煤层的影响范围约4.5 m，即1.25倍岩墙宽度，而严重变质带为1.6 m。研究成果为煤的开采利用评价提供依据。