Investigation of hydrolysis and coagulation mechanism of poly-iron coagulant

Chemical coagulation is very important in water treatment, in which coagulant is an essential part. Pre-polymerized Al^3＋ and Fe^3＋ products have been used in practice, continuously spread for many years. However, iron-based coagulant has become the focus of studies due to cumulative biologic toxicity of residual Al in treated water. Polyferric sulfate （PFS） and poly-silicic-ferric sulfate （PSF） are all pre-polymerized polymers of Fe^3＋ salts. The hydrolysis process and species distribution of Fe^3＋ ions have been investigated extensively by many chemists and water-treatment specialists. Generally, the coagulation mechanism of conventional or pre-polymerized coagulants was often studied through jar-test, absorption experiment, microstructure observation or hydrolysis species indirectly. However, few researches have been done on the hydrolysis process of PSF in detail and on the study of the coagulation mechanism using its hydrolysis species distribution until now. In this work, PSF was prepared using water glass, ferrous sulfate and sodium chlorate by a copolymerization method. The hydrolysis species distribution was theoretically derived from pH variation during hydrolysis process of PSF compared to that of polyferric sulfate （PFS）, and then characteristics [morphology, species size, Zeta potential, spectra of X-ray diffraction and infrared spectra （IR）] and coagulation performances were explored between them. Coagulation mechanism was analyzed according to hydrolysis species distribution, characteristics and coagulation performances. The results showed that PSF gives different species distribution at different pH values and characteristics from those of PFS, leading to different coagulation mechanisms between the two coagulants.     

Removal of perchlorate （ClO4^-） contaminants by calcined Zn-Al layered double hydroxides

Layered double hydroxides （LDHs） are a class of synthetic anionic clays whose structure can be described as containing brucite-like layers in which some of the divalent cations have been replaced by trivalent ions, giving rise to positively charged sheets. This charge is balanced by intercalation of anions in the hydrated interlayer regions. LDHs act as sorbents of anionic species through two types of reactions, namely, anion exchange and reconstruction, which further adds the possibility of recycling and reuse. The sorption of anions from aqueous solutions by structural reconstruction of a calcined LDHs is based on a very interesting property of these materials, the so-called memory effect： Calcination of LDHs produces intermediate non-stoichiometric oxides （CLDH） which undergo rehydration in aqueous medium and give back the hydroxide structure with different anions in the interlayers. Perchlorate＇s （ClO4^-） strong oxidizing capabilities make it ideally suited for use as a propellant in solid rocket fuel. However, this use in rocket fuel has led to the ClO4^- contamination of considerable amounts of water throughout the United States. ClO4^- has been shown to inhibit iodide uptake by the thyroid gland; and in large doses, it has been linked to anemia and fetal brain damage. This is especially a problem in China. With the recent emergence of perchlorate contamination as an important drinking water quality issue, adsorption by calcined LDHs was studied for ClO4^- removal. In this work, the effect of various factors such as （a） CLDH structure, （b） conditions for removal of ClO4^- ion, such as dosage of adsorbent, initial concentration of ClO4^-, and temperature and （c） co-existing anions in perchlorate contamination on the removal of ClO4^-, have been investigated, respectively.     

A Study of Chromium Adsorption on Natural Goethite Biomineralized with Iron Bacteria

Goethite, especially biogenic goethite, has high specific surface area and great capacity for the adsorption of many contaminants including metal ions and organic chelates. Chromium is a redox actively toxic metal ion that exists as either Cr^Ⅲ or Cr^Ⅵ in nature, and as such it is essential to understand its behavior of adsorption on natural goethite mineralized by iron bacteria, as Gallionella and Leptothrix in water body. The adsorption of Cr^3＋ and Cr^Ⅵ on naturally biomineralized goethite is studied in this paper. The results show that both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isothermal models are able to accurately describe the adsorption of these two ions. Investigation of SEM/EDS, TEM/EDS indicates that the two ions do not adsorb homogeneously on goethite owing to the different microstructures of goethite, and that the microspherical goethite has a greater adsorption capacity for chromium ions than the helical one. XPS data show that redox reaction of chromium on the surface of biomineralized goethite takes place in the adsorption of both Cr^3＋ and Cr^Ⅵ. The CrvI adsorbed on biogoethite is much easier to transform into CrIII than the oxidization of Cr^Ⅲ on the bio-goethite.     

Bromide removal and recovery with layered double hydroxides as an adsorbent

Grignard regents have been applied extensively in chemical industry, especially in pharmacy. A mass of bromide-containing wastewater was produced after reaction, and ozonation of these organic contaminants can produce bromate and other brominated pollutants. The US Environmental Protection Agency （EPA） has established a maximum contaminant level of 10 μg/L for bromate in finished water. Therefore, it is necessary and significant to remove the DBP （disinfection by-products） precursor - bromide. On the other hand, since the bromine is a valuable element, recovery of it from wastewater is significant. Bromide removal is important to control DBP （disinfection by-products） contaminant and an ion exchange process is one of several treatment processes for this purpose. Layered double hydroxides （LDHs） are useful as adsorbents for bromide removal because of theft ion exchange properties. In this study, the adsorption properties of LDHs for bromide and the method of regeneration of this material were examined. It has been found that the LDHs with Mg/Al molar ratio of 2 represented the highest capacity to remove bromide ion from aqueous solution at pH 6.0. The equilibrium isotherms of uptake of bromide by CLDH were well fitted by the Langmuir equation. Bromide adsorbed on the LDHs was effectively desorbed at 30% Na2CO3 solution and the LDHs were regenerated at the same time. The regenerated LDHs could be reused repeatedly for the bromide removal. Bromide in the exhausted desorption solution was recovered as bromine by oxidation using Cl2.     

Early diagenesis of nurtrients （C, N, P and Si） stored in sediments of two reservoirs in southwestern China

Damming is a common anthropogenic intervention along the course of rivers, which is defined as ＂artificial-lake effect＂, both in China and across the world. Today as many as 48000 dams and/or reservoirs are in operation in the Changjiang River （Yangtze River） drainage area, and more are being constructed. While damming is well known to affect riverbome nutrient loads, and thus the riverine ecosystems owing to removal of carbon fixation, and removal of particles in reservoir sediments, there is limited information on the detailed early diagenesis of sediments in reservoirs including the regeneration processes of nutrients deposited in sediments and exchange flux across the sediment-water interface, which is important for mass balance of riverbome nutrients. In the present study, two large-size reservoirs, Wujiangdu Reservoir （WJDR） and Dongfeng Reservoir （DFR）, located on the main steam of the Wujiang River and with uniformity hydrography and discrepancy biogeochemical activity （e. g. primary production）, were selected for a comparative study on the detailed processes of nutrient regeneration. Water, pore water and sediment were sampled from these two reservoirs and dissolved organic carbon （DOC）, NH4^＋, NO3^-, PO4^3-, dissolved silica （DSi） in the overlying water and pore water, and total organic matter in sediments were determined. The results of correlation analysis suggested that in these two reservoirs, processes of nutrient regeneration near the sediment-water interface were significantly different. As a result of rapid decomposition of algae-derived ＂labile＂ organic matter in upper sediments, nutrient regeneration processes and upward fluxes in WJDR are dramatically stronger than those of DFR. NH4^＋ upward flux from sediment in WJDR was about 17 times higher than that in DFR. PO4^3- flux in WJDR is about 13 times above that in DFR. DOC flux in WJDR is larger that in DFR by 5 times, and DSi by 1 time.     

Experimental research on adsorption/desorption for petroleum pollutants in the soil in Daqing oilfield

The Daqing oilfield is one of the biggest oilfields in the world. It has been exploited for several decades, which brings serious pollution to local natural environment. The crude oil on ground which is produced in the process of oil production contains various organic pollutants. The petroleum pollutants tend to adsorb, desorb, biodegrade and photolyze and so on in the soil, but adsorption/desorption is a pair of extremely important environment geochemistry behavior. In order to master the rule of petroleum pollutants migration and transformation in the soil environment, and provide scientific evidence for the prevent research project on petroleum pollution treatment in the Daqing oilfield, the chemozem was selected as the experimental sample, which is a kind of representative soil in the Daqing oilfield. The factors affecting adsorbent and desorption＇s characteristics were discussed, including pH of the soil, the concentrations of suspended particulates and temperature. The oscillation-equity was used in the experiment. The mechanism and dynamics process of the adsorption/desorption were researched. The results showed that adsorbing of the petroleum pollutants on the chemozem sediment is a kind of physical adsorption phenomenon. The adsorption function comes from the hydrophobic and sticky character of the petroleum its self. The velocity of adsorption and desorption is almost equivalent, both concentrations of water in the soil are close to the balance in two hours, thus they achieve homeostasis in three hours. The process of adsorption of the petroleum pollutants responses to Herry isothermal model, with increasing pH, concentration of suspended particulates and temperature, the quantity of adsorption show a descending trend. However, desorption is a contrary course of adsorption in the experiment. Due to various influenced phenomena reflect that the soil in the Daqing oilfield has factors, the quantity of desorption shows an ascending trend. These strong adsorption ability to petroleum pollutants.     

Diffusion Kinetics of Carbonate Hydroxyapatite （CHAP） for Adsorbing F^- Dissolved in Water

A systematic research was performed about diffusion kinetics of adsorbing F^- dissolved in water for carbonate hydroxyapatite （CHAP） from the natural hydroxyapatite which was modified by adulterating with CO3^2-. The result shows that the speed of F^- adsorption is controlled by membrane diffusion when F^- concentration is relatively low, which is expressed by the kinetic equation of diffusion Q=0.0005（Ci-C）（t-ti）＋0.3967, or by vacancy diffusion when F^- concentration is relatively high, which is expressed by the kinetic equation of diffusion In[C（o, t）]=8.4718-0.5048Int. Based on the feature of CHAP for adsorbing F^- dissolved in water and its special channel of the structure of CO3^3- modified hydroxyapatite, models of vacancy diffusion and membrane diffusion were established.     

The Tianjin geothermal field （northeastern China）： Geochemistry and implications for possible plugging phenomena

The low-enthalpy geothermal system of Tianjin is located in and around the City of Tianjin （China）, in the NE part of the North China plain, a tectonic depression affected by subsidence since the Neogene. The regional aquifer system is from the top to the bottom, as follows： （1） the ＂Quaternary aquifer＂, in continental sediments; （2） the ＂Tertiary aquifer＂, in the continental depositional series; （3） the ＂Lower Palaezoic-Sinian aquifer＂, in Ordovician-Sinian calcareous rocks. Shallow （300-600 m） and deep （up to 2600 m） producing wells discharge water at up to 50 and 90 C, respectively. Exhausted fluid re-injection started in the 90＇s. Subsequently, a reduction in the injection process was observed, suggesting that sealing or plugging occurred in the reservoir（s）. The present work, based on chemical and isotopic data on fluids and minerals from productive and re-injection wells, describes the causes of the permeability reduction at the bottom hole of the re-injection wells. Geochemical data processing using speciation codes indicates that （1） sealing caused by precipitation of both calcite or amorphous silica is very unlike; （2） the saturation indices for several Fe and Zn sulfides and hydroxides are very positive, although fluids have neutral pH and low temperature （Fe- and Zn-rich minerals are present mainly as transported solids）; （3） pipes, casings, heat exchangers and steel flames are made of low-quality Fe and show evident oxidation effects; casings and producing liners in the wells are likely in the same conditions; （4） thermal fluids sampled in summer, when most wells are shut down, are characterized by more negative redox potential and lower pH than those collected in winter, probably because in summer there is less casing-hot water interaction and, consequently, Fe-oxidation in the casing is reduced. Accordingly, the plugging problem does not seem to be a natural process related to the chemical characteristics of the produced fluid. It is, on the contrary, possibly induced by the oxidation of casings, pumps, pipes, etc.     

Removal of Arsenic(V) from Aqueous Solutions by Lanthanum-loaded Zeolite

A new adsorption process for the removal of As（V） ion from aqueous solutions is studied in this paper using lanthanum-loaded zeolite. The removal efficiency of different adsorbents, activated alumina and activated carbon are obtained in the study for comparison. The results show that lanthanum-loaded zeolite is an effective adsorbent for the removal of As（V） from aqueous solutions. Then, the pH effect and regeneration of modified zeolite on the As（V） removing efficiency are also assessed. It functions with a wide range of pH （2-8）. After adsorption, zeolite adsorbed with As（V） ions can be regenerated successfully with 1 M NaOH. Based on the data obtained, an adsorption mechanism and the possible complex structure are tentatively presented. Compare to other adsorbents, easy availability of this adsorbent, excellent adsorption capacity, wide optimum pH range, and regeneration are expected to be utilized in practical operations.     

Possible uses of kaolin wastes and transformed materials from the Amazon region （northern Brazil） for environmental applications

The most important Brazilian kaolin district is located in the Amazon region. The beneficiation of this kaolin produces great volumes of wastes, mainly composed of coarse-grained kaolinite not suitable for the paper industry but still very fine and ideal for several other purposes. About 1000 M ton kaolinite-rich wastes are produced annually. The sludge is disposed on artificial sedimentary lakes that occupy extensive areas, with huge impacts on the environment due to extensive deforested areas needed for their construction. This work is indeed to present the different studies that have been carried out in order to characterize and find proper applications of such wastes and transformed products. Possible applications include： （1） production of high-reactivity metakaolinite and fine-grained silica for construction materials; （2） alumina for different applications （ceramic and adsorbents）. Methods used include： drying and calcination of the kaolin-residue, Al-extraction for low-granulometry alumina and silica （here named as sioclay） production. Start- and transformed materials were characterized by means of XRF, XRD, DTS-TG-DSC, FTIR, SEM-EDS, BET, among others. Technological assays were also carried out for ceramic purposes. The mineralogy is dominated by kaolinite, quartz and trace amounts of anatase, rutile, hematite and goethite. Total chemical analyses of all worked materials also reflect the theoretical composition of kaolinite. Both metakaolinite and sioclay do not exhibit X-ray diffraction patterns and present a very small grain size. Metakaolinite, alumina and sioclay exhibit increasingly values of specific area. For the ceramic products, sintering increases its mechanical resistance. Adsorption tests of different metals on kaolin-transformed products were carried out in a batch reactor. Tests will be presented for As, which is a toxic and carcinogenic metalloid. Results for As （V） adsorption carried out in this investigation reveal the ability of sioclay〉alumina〉metakaolin to remove this element by sorption from the solution.     

Cross- and counter-current treatment systems for the removal of equilibrium constrained metals on unconventional sorbants [Bauxsol （TM）]

Bauxsol （TM） is a chemically modified industrial residue from bauxite refining. Consequently, the basis for the technology makes the new procedure an excellent example of ‘Green Technology＇. It has a high metal binding capacity （〉1500 meq/kg）, good phosphate retention （about 2% P by mass）, which remains plant available, and an acid neutralizing capacity from 2.5-7.5 mol/kg. Metal removal to the Bauxsol （TM） material generally shows a strong binding to the mineral surfaces, which improves with aging, and the removal shows a typical Langmuir isotherm. However, for some metals （e.g. Co^2＋, Tl^-, Hg^2＋ UO^2＋ and to some extent Mn^2＋） the removal isotherm rapidly becomes asymptotic, and a partitioning equilibrium between the water and solid appears to be achieved, which controls further metal removal. For these metals to be removed in a single pass type system exceptionally large quantities of Bauxsol （TM） are required. For example, Tl removal from a 1400 p,g/L solution to a single dose of 20 g/L Bauxsol （TM） gives an effluent Tl concentration of 47 μg/L for a 30-minute reaction time; longer reaction times do reduce the concentration （e.g. at 120 minutes Tl concentration is half that at 30 minutes）. However, at 30 minutes, which is typical for an industrial treatment plant, a single dose rate of roughly 300-400 g/L would be necessary to meet the groundwater criteria of 2 μg/L, and a dose rate of 2.3-3.9 kg/L to achieve the surface water criteria of 0.24 μg/L. Clearly, such high dose rates are uneconomic and impractical and this paper investigates the use of cross-current and counter-current treatment systems to counteract the effects of the equilibrium partitioning. The effects of these treatment systems on metal removal and effective dose rate are dramatic such that Tl in a 4-stage cross-current system requires only 18-22 g/L of Bauxsol （TM） to achieve the surface water criteria （about 1% of the single application requirement）.     

Influence factors of phosphorus variation regularity in sediment-water system

Knowledge of phosphorus （P） variation regularity of sediment-water system has important influence on water pollution. Thus P variation regularity of top-sediment affected by some factors such as type of sediment （sandy and silty）, background value of sediment, P concentration of overlaying water, inhibiter, disinfection, was investigated. The results stated that, （1） P in the sandy sediment occurred mainly in the form of insoluble P. Silty sediment with a low background level has higher dissoluble total phosphorus （DTP） content than silty sediment with a high background level. （2） Low-P primary liquid has low TP and DTP contents, TP in the overlying water was rich in DTP. While TP in overlying water of high P primary liquid was rich in insoluble total phosphorus （ITP）. Overlying water of adding inhibitor set has high TP, dominated by ITP. TP in overlying water of no inhibitor set was dominated by DTP. Adding inhibitor set has obviously high pH value and tallish DO concentration in overlying water than in no inhibitor set. Disinfection set has high Pcontent in overlying water, DTP content is high. DO and ORP in overlying water of non-disinfection set were obviously higher than in that disinfection set.     

Distribution of the Ordovician Fluid in the Tahe Oilfield and Dynamic Response of Cave System S48 to Exploitation

The Tahe Oilfield is a complex petroleum reservoir of Ordovician carbonate formation and made up of spatially overlapping fracture-cavity units. The oilfield is controlled by a cave system resulting from structure-karst cyclic sedimentation. Due to significant heterogeneity of the reservoir, the distribution of oil and water is complicated. Horizontally, a fresh water zone due to meteoric water can be found in the north part of the Akekule uplift. A marginal freshening zone caused by water released from mudstone compaction is found at the bottom of the southern slope. Located in a crossformational flow discharge zone caused by centripetal and the centrifugal flows, the main part of the Tahe Oilfield, featuring high salinity and concentrations of CI^- and K^＋＋Na^＋, is favorable for accumulation of hydrocarbon. Three types of formation water in the Tahe Ordovician reservoir are identified： （1） residual water at the bottom of the cave after oil and gas displacement, （2） residual water in fractures/pores around the cave after oil and gas displacement, and （3） interlayer water below reservoirs. The cave system is the main reservoir space, which consists of the main cave, branch caves and depressions between caves. Taking Cave System S48 in the Ordovician reservoir as an example, the paper analyzes the fluid distribution and exploitation performance in the cave system. Owing to evaporation of groundwater during cross-formational flow, the central part of the main cave, where oil layers are thick and there is a high degree of displacement, is characterized by high salinity and Br^- concentration. With high potential and a long stable production period, most wells in the central part of the main cave have a long water-free oil production period. Even after water breakthrough, the water content has a slow or stepwise increase and the hydrochemistral characteristics of the produced water in the central part of the main cave are uniform. From the center to the edge of the main cave, displacement and enri     

Selected aspects of studies of sediments from the Ebro River （Spain） and the Dobczyce drinking water reservoir （Poland） within the frames of the European and national research projects

Mineral and organic matter either soluble or suspended are transported by the rivers and when deposited in the bed of the river or in the water reservoir, sediments are formed, whose chemical composition may serve as a fingerprint of the history of the ecosystem. The results of the studies of sediments in water systems （river catchments, reservoirs） can be used not only for the evaluation of the current state of the ecosystem but also to prevent any dangerous environmental changes. Bottom sediments can in many ways accumulate both suspended and soluble components. The process is influenced by several factors like pH, red-ox potential, oxygen content, interactions, etc. The complexity of those phenomena causes that in order to study the accumulation processes of compounds in sediments the application of various analytical techniques is required. The authors participate in two big projects on sediment studies. The AquaTerra Project is the EU funded project on understanding river-sediment-soil-groundwater interactions for support of management of river basins and catchment areas. Our group＇s studies are focused on mercury determination and its speciation in sediments and fish from the Ebro River in Spain. The Dobczyce Project is the national project funded by the Ministry of Education and sciences of Poland which is also a EU member country. The latter covers many aspects of accumulation and fate processes of chemical compounds in sediments of the reservoir which supplies 60% of drinking water to about one million population in the city of Krakow in Poland.     

Genesis study of high abundant 17a（H）-diahopanes in Lower Cretaceous lacustrine source rocks of the Lishu Fault Depression,Songliao Basin,Northeast China

Relatively abundant 17α（H）-diahopanes have been detected in the lower cretaceous lacustrine source rocks from the Lishu Fault Depression in the Songliao Basin Northeast China. Rich long chain tricyclic terpanes （carbon number up to C35） and gammacerane have been observed in those source rocks with relatively abundant 17α（H）-diahopanes, which is rarely seen in previous reports. In this paper, the formation of 17α（H）-diahopanes has been discussed from three aspects including maturity, oxidation-reduction nature of depositional environment and parent material composition by the GC/MS analyses. The results reveal that maturity and oxidation-reduction nature of depositional environment have little effect on the formation of 1 7α（H）-diahopanes in the investigated area. How- ever, the positive correlation between long-chain tricyclic terpanes and 17α（H）-diahopanes argues strongly for a common origin, and the origin is related to the algaes in saline water environment. The algaes in saline water envi- ronment may be a kind of origin of 1 7α（H）-diahopanes.     

Microstructure and Photocatalytic Decomposition of Methylene Blue by TiO2-Mounted Halloysite, a Natural Tubular Mineral

On the basis of analysis of structure and properties, halloysite, a natural tubular mineral, was developed for an environmental treatment. TiO2 was mounted into halloysite by using hydrolysis of tetrabutyl titanate at room temperature. The adsorption and photocatalytic performance of halloysite and TiO2-mounted halloysite have been examined in methylene blue aqueous solution in the dark and under ultraviolet ray irradiation, respectively. Their performance of adsorption and photodecomposition was evaluated from the adsorbed and degraded amounts of methylene blue （MB）. Due to the mixture of adsorption and photodecomposition, the concentration of MB, organic pollution, in water decreased rapidly with TiO2-mounted halloysite powder, which is a faster reaction than that with halloysite-only adsorption. This new use of halloysite is leading to many interesting applications in the decomposition and elimination of various pollutants in air and water.     

Remobilization of Iodine in Marine Sediments During Early Diagenesis

Based on the sedimentary geochemical studies of the Antarctic Ocean and the various geochemical parameters available,this paper deals with the process of emobilization of iodine in marine sediments during early diagenesis.The results showed that the process is not always controlled completely by organic matter as was expected previously.On average the adsorption and oxide phases of iodine account respectively for 23% and 32% of the total in continental-shelf and hemipelagic surficial sediments.Chemical analysis has revealed that the upward diffusion flux and redox conditions would play an important role in the concentration of iodine in the surface sediments.And the species of iodine in the surfial sediments characteristic of high I/Corg ratios would bepredominated by the oxide and adsorption phases.As experimentally evidenced,it is the early diagenetic remoibilization of iodine associated with the oxide and adsorption phases that led to the decrease of I/Corg with increasing depth.Calculations suggested that the diffusion flux of iodine from the deep parts of te sedimentary columum upwards is on the same order of magnitude as the deposition flux of it from sea water.This may be one of the important factors leading to the depletion of iodine in sedimentary rocks.On the basis of the above discussion and calculations the author has proposed a model for the remobilization of iodine in marine sediments during early diagenesis.     

Surface and adsorptive properties of wood char particles in soil

Char and soot （black carbon, BC） are highly surface-active materials that can play an important role in contaminant fate and bioavailability in soils and sediments. This report summarizes our research on the influence of adsorbate structure and BC properties on adsorption of organic compounds, and the possible attenuation of BC surface activity by humic substances in the environment. The BC was a maple wood char formed at 400 ℃ in air and under other conditions. The solutes were polar and apolar aromatic compounds. The following points will be discussed. （1） By comparing adsorption to nonporous graphite, it was shown that molecular sieving effects （steric restriction） in the char micropore system occur in the order of increasing substitution on the benzene ring and in the order of increasing fused ring size. （2） By accounting for hydrophobic and steric effects it was shown that aromatic rings substituted with strongly pi-electron-accepting functional groups, such as nitro, undergo pi-pi electron donor-acceptor （EDA） interactions with the pi-donor polyaromatic （graphene） surface of the char. The free energy of adsorption due to pi-pi EDA interactions correlated with the free energy of molecular complexation in chloroform with model compounds representing the graphene surface （napthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene）. （3） A series of chars were prepared of different polarity （O content） but similar surface area and pore size distribution by varying temperature and atmosphere. Single- and bi-solute experiments showed that polar interactions with surface O are not a significant driving force for adsorption of polar compounds. Rather, surface O attracts water molecule clusters that inhibit adsorption of both polar and nonpolar compounds by competition. （4） Aging of char particles in a soil-water suspension strongly reduced char SA and sorption of added benzene. Studies were conducted with dissolved humic （HA） acid, HA-char co-precipitates, Ala＋-HA-char co-flocculates, and soybean oil representing humic lipid components.     

Heavy metal distribution and evolution in acid mine drainage system developed from nickel sulfide tailings （Western Australia）

Compared to the regional groundwater, at B. S. nickel mine （W. Australia）, the groundwater in the vicinity of the tailings storage facility displays low pH （minimum 2.9, mean 4.95）, high electrical conductivity, and elevated concentrations of A1 and heavy metals （Co, Mn, Zn, Ni and Cu）. Contours of heavy metal concentrations and pH values show that the acid drainage, which was developed from sulfide tailings and confined to the tailings storage facility, is concentrated at the northwest comer of the facility, moving northwest-southeastward across the northeast part of the facility. There has been no significant rainfall to contribute to the groundwater recharge in the study region, thus groundwater fluctuations around the facility are from infiltration through the evaporation pond and tailing slurry in the facility. Infiltration waters continuously leach the tailing pile which contains sulfide minerals including pyrrhotite, pentlandite, and trace amounts of chalcopyrite, pyrite, etc. Oxidation of these minerals led to the formation of acidic water and this acidic water assists the dissolution of sulfide minerals, which are transported into the groundwater. Therefore, it is no surprise that the heavy metals tend to move down the tailing profile, as opposed to being concentrated on the upper part of the regional weathered profile （by adsorption of weathered clay that normally resides on the surface）. Quarterly monitoring （from November 2003 to August 2004） of the contaminated groundwater showed median pH values about 5, groundwater levels and heavy metal concentrations remained stable except for May 2004, when both decreased simultaneously.     

Simulating Experiments on Enrichment of Gold by Bacteria and Their Geochemical Significance

The experiments on the enrichment of gold by bacteria indicate that bacteria have a very intense capacity of enriching gold and act as an arrester of trace gold in sea water,Bacteria enrich gold in two forms:absorption and adsorption.Absorption means that gold finds its way into organisms and it is combined with the mercapto group of protein,whereas adsorption means that gold is adsorbed on organisma by amino acid secreted by cell walls,Bacteria are organisms with very high vitality and reproductive capacity and huge productivity in nature Bacteria,which are important geolgical agents for gold enrichment and can exert effects on geological environments by their metabolism,are of important geochemical significance for the formation of gold-bearing black rock series.