Adsorptive Removal of Acid Blue 15: Equilibrium and Kinetic Study

Activated carbons prepared from sunflower seed hull have been used as adsorbents for the removal of acid blue 15 (AB‐15) from aqueous solution. Batch adsorption techniques were performed to evaluate the influences of various experimental parameters, e. g., temperature, adsorbent dosage, pH, initial dye concentration and contact time on the adsorption process. The optimum conditions for AB‐15 removal were found to be pH = 3, adsorbent dosage = 3 g/L and equilibrium time = 4 h at 30°C. The adsorption of AB‐15 onto the adsorbent was found to increase with increasing dosage. It was found from experimental results that the Langmuir isotherm fits the data better than the Freundlich and Temkin isotherms. The maximum adsorption capacity, Q_m (at 30°C) was calculated for SF1, SF2, and SF3 as 75, 125 and 110 mg g^–1 of adsorbent, respectively. It was found that the adsorption follows pseudo‐second order kinetics. The thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS° were also evaluated. The activated carbons prepared were characterized by FT‐IR, SEM and BET analysis.     

Phytoplankton production and nutrient distributions in a subtropical estuary: Importance of freshwater flow

The relationships between phytoplankton productivity, nutrient distributions, and freshwater flow were examined in a seasonal study conducted in Escambia Bay, Florida, USA, located in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Five sites oriented along the salinity gradient were sampled 24 times over the 28-mo period from 1999 to 2001. Water column profiles of temperature and salinity were measured along with surface chlorophyll and surface inorganic nutrient concentrations. Primary productivity was measured at 2 sites on 11 dates, and estimated for the remaining dates and sites using an empirical regression model relating phytoplankton net production to the product of chlorophyll, euphotic zone depth, and daily solar insolation. Freshwater flow into the system varied markedly over the study period with record low flow during 2000, a flood event in March 2001, and subsequent resumption of normal flow. Flushing times ranged from 1 d during the flood to 20 d during the drought. Freshwater input strongly affected surface salinity distributions, nutrient flux, chlorophyll, and primary productivity. The flood caused high turbidity and rapid flushing, severely reducing phytoplankton production and biomass accumulation. Following the flood, phytoplankton biomass and productivity sharply increased. Analysis of nutrient distributions suggested Escambia Bay phytoplankton alternated between phosphorus limitation during normal flow and nitrogen limitation during low flow periods. This study found that Escambia Bay is a moderately productive estuary, with an average annual integrated phytoplankton production rate of 290 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹.     

The characteristic pattern of multiple colored layers in coastal stratified lakes in the process of separation from the White Sea

An unusual feature of the saline stratified lakes that were formed due to ongoing postglacial uplift on the White Sea coast is the presence of several differently colored thin layers in the zone with sharp gradients. Colored layers in five lakes at various stages of separation from the sea were investigated using optical microscopy, spectrophotometry, spectrofluorimetry, and photobiology. The upper greenish colored layer located in the aerobic strata of all lakes near the compensation depth of 1% light penetration contains green algae. In the chemocline, another layer, brightly green, red or pink, is dominated by mixotrophic flagellates. Despite the very low light intensities and the presence of H 2 S, active photosynthesis by these algae appears to be occurring, as indicated by high values of the maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry, electron transport activity, photosynthetic activity of photosystem II, the fraction of active centers, and low values of heat dissipation. In the reduced zone of the chemocline, a dense green or brown suspension of anoxygenic phototrophs(green sulfur bacteria) is located.     

Correlation between molecular absorption spectral slope ratios and fluorescence humification indices in characterizing CDOM

Ultraviolet–visible absorption spectral slope ratios S_R (slope in 275–295 nm divided by slope in 350–400 nm) and humification index (HIX, integrated fluorescence emission in 435–480 nm divided by that in 435–480 and 300–345 nm) were compared when characterizing chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in three humic acids and 44 whole water samples. HIX increased with increasing pH for humic acids, while their S_R showed much more complicated dependencies on pH. There was a negative correlation between S_R and HIX. S_R increased in the order terrestrial coal/peat < terrestrial soil/river < seawater, while HIX increased in the order seawater < terrestrial soil/river < terrestrial coal/peat. The comparative study in this work indicates that terrestrially derived CDOM has higher HIX and lower S_R than marine CDOM. Investigators may potentially use these two indices to compare qualitatively the character of CDOM in different sources (e.g., terrestrial vs. marine).     

Environmental variables related to wheat yields in the semiarid pampa region of Argentina

The current paper analyses various environmental parameters in relation to wheat yields in Bordenave, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The variables used are: precipitation (ppt), maximum (Tx) and minimum temperature (Tmi) as well as those obtained by applying the Palmer model. Decadic and phenological scales are used for data corresponding to the period 1977–2000. The stepwise method is used to obtain a multi-variate equation to calculate yield taking into account environmental variables only. For a five variates model the coefficient of determination, R² equals 95.79% and the standard error of estimation is 129.0 kg ha⁻¹. In the sample yields, the incidence of total variability for thermal variables is 42.7% and for hydrological variables, 53%. The value and sign of the correlation coefficients were analysed throughout the cultivation cycle. The α coefficient is mainly responsible for yield variance during tillering and stem elongation. There is good correlation with the values of Palmer's Drought Severity Index (PDSI) for the flowering and grain filling stages.     

Catastrophic debris flows near Machu Picchu village (Aguas Calientes), Peru

Slope movements together with intensive river erosion and the following accumulation are the leading processes in the landscape evolution in the area of Machu Picchu village (former Aguas Calientes), which is located close to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. Debris flows affect not only the bottoms of valleys or canyons, but also debris fans at the termini of the drainage basins, which are heavily inhabited at some places. The most recent event in the Machu Picchu village occurred in April 2004, but several others were documented in a broader area in the last 50 years. The field inspections at Machu Picchu (May and September 2004; June and September 2005) together with oral testimony revealed the nature and behavior of the debris flow. Machu Picchu village can be assessed as a zone with high landslide risk in relation to its urban development. Despite that, the village recorded a rapid growth (threefold population increase) without urban control within the past two decades. Precipitation, which is the main triggering factor of the debris flows, and natural hazard management of the Machu Picchu village are discussed in this paper.     

湘江中下游农田土壤和蔬菜的重金属污染

A total of 219 agricultural soil and 48 vegetable samples were collected from the midstream and downstream of the Xiangjiang River（the Hengyang-Changsha section）in Hunan Province.The accumulation characteristics,spatial distribution and potential risk of heavy metals in the agricultural soils and vegetables were depicted.There are higher accumulations of heavy metals such as As,Cd,Cu,Ni,Pb and Zn in agricultural soils,and the contents of Cd（2.44 mg kg^-1 ）,Pb（65.00 mg kg^-1 ）and Zn（144.13 mg kg^-1 ）are 7.97,3.69 and 1.63 times the corresponding background contents in soils of Hunan Province,respectively. 13.2%of As,68.5%of Cd,2.7%of Cu,2.7%of Ni,8.7%of Pb and 15.1%of Zn in soil samples from the investigated sites exceeded the maximum allowable heavy metal contents in the China Environmental Quality Standard for Soils（GB15618-1995,Grade Ⅱ）.The pollution characteristics of multi-metals in soils are mainly due to Cd.The contents of As,Cd,Cu,Pb and Zn in vegetable soils are significantly higher than the contents in paddy soils.95.8%, 68.8%,10.4%and 95.8%of vegetable samples exceeded the Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Foods（GB2762-2005）for As,Cd,Ni and Pb concentrations,respectively.There are significantly positive correlations between the concentrations of Cd,Pb and Zn in vegetables and the concentrations in the corresponding vegetable soils（p〈0.01）.It is very necessary to focus on the potential risk of heavy metals for food safety and human health in agricultural soils and vegetables in the midstream and downstream of the Xiangjiang River,Hunan Province of China.     

Heavy metals distribution in agricultural topsoils in urban area

Intensive urbanisation of the Croatian capital of Zagreb has led to a situation where very good agricultural soils, developed mostly on Pleistocene eolian sediments and alluvial and proluvian Holocene sediments are entrapped within urban and suburban areas. Therefore the influence of urban and industrialised environments on the accumulation of metals in agricultural topsoils has been investigated. On an area of 860 km² of the wider Zagreb region, 331 samples were taken according to a regular 1ǵ km square mesh. Samples were dissolved in aqua regia and analysed for Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn with flame atomic aqua regia absorption spectroscopy. The following concentration ranges have been determined: Cd 0.25-3.85 mg kg^-1 (average 0.66 mg kg^-1), Cu 4.30-183 mg kg^-1 (average 20.8 mg kg^-1), Fe 5.8-51.8 g kg^-1 (average 27 g kg^-1), Mn 79.2-1282 mg kg^-1 (average 613 mg kg^-1), Ni 0.70-282 mg kg^-1 (average 49.5 mg kg^-1), Pb 1.50-139 mg kg^-1 (average 25.9 mg kg^-1), and Zn 15.2-277 mg kg^-1 (average 77.9 mg kg^-1). Visualisation of the spatial data is made by the aid of GIS, and selected maps of the heavy metal concentrations in topsoils are displayed. Statistical multivariate analysis was carried out for quantitative study and data were processed by means of R-mode factor analysis, applying the varimax-raw rotational technique. F1, which grouped Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and partially Ni, is characterized as a factor with strongly scattered anthropogenic influence. The elements in F2, Fe, Mn and partially Ni are mainly of geogenic, i.e. pedogenic, origin. The variations in concentrations of the investigated elements are thus of both natural and anthropogenic origins. The variations in the main soil constituents, particularly Fe and Mn, are determined primarily by the composition of different regolithic substrates of the fluvial origin in recent pedogenesis. High concentrations of nickel are also related to morphogenetic characteristics of the wider region, primarily basic and ultrabasic magmatic rocks of the surrounding mountain range. It is, however, assumed that the anomalous nickel concentrations in the vicinity of the highway and the airport are of anthropogenic origin, i.e. caused by fuel combustion. Copper is characterized by strongly scattered anthropogenic influence, which is related particularly to uncontrolled solid waste disposals or discharges of liquid waste from households or agricultural enterprises. With Zn, Pb and Cd, there are two possible ways of diffuse pollution. The Sava River, which drains the area and feeds the abundant Quaternary aquifer spreading below the major part of the investigated agricultural areas, has been exposed to intensive pollution by mining, industry and cities in the recent history. The part of the area with the highest determined concentrations of Zn, Pb and Cd was repeatedly flooded as recently as the previous decade; therefore, the recent sedimentation of the river deposits exposed to pollution is a very probable cause of the accumulation of metals in this until recently inundation area. The other way is atmospheric deposition of particles from urban sources (industrial emission, traffic, waste disposals, heating plants, etc.). In addition to agricultural enterprises, several economically important, but ecologically risky, facilities are situated in the vicinity of the water-protection area. The area is intersected by a very busy ring road, while a marshalling yard, the city dump, pharmaceutical and chemical industry, the district-heating plant and the airport are all located in close proximity. The geochemical maps show a clear relationship between human activities and metal concentration gradients.     

Direct and Indirect Validation of Potential Fishing Zone Advisory off the Coast of Uttara Kannada,Karnataka

The technique of predicting Potential Fishing Zone using satellite derived sea surface temperature and chlorophyll is becoming an important aspect for the fishermen. In the present study an attempt has been made to compare fish density/catch per unit effort in the areas predicted by Satellite imagery and available to fishermen via electronic display boards at the fish landing centers of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka with those of non predicted areas. Direct and Indirect validation was done. Direct method means comparing the catch using fishing vessels simultaneously in the notified region with that of catch from non notified region. And in indirect method by comparing catch data from landing centers on notified days with that of non notified days. Direct validation off Karwar showed that catch was significantly higher in notified (PFZ) area with high densities as compared to non notified (non PFZ) regions. When comparisons of landing center data of Karwar, Tadadi and Bhatkal are done it is evident that in all the centers during the period under study, higher catches were observed on notified days than non notified days except in Bhatkal centre in 2009–10. There by validating the accuracy of PFZ predictions and economic gains to fishermen.     

Preliminary observations of solar radio sources with the Culgoora radioheliograph operating at four frequencies

The Culgoora radioheliograph has been modified for observing at 327.4 MHz, which is in addition to the three frequencies (43.25, 80, and 160 MHz) previously available. At the new frequency the array beamwidth is 56, which represents the highest resolution yet available for metre-wavelength solar mapping.At 327.4 MHz the sources of radio emission are mainly in the lowest layers of the corona. Some preliminary four-frequency observations have been made of type I storms. It is found that the source size generally decreases with increasing observing frequency. This result confirms earlier suggestions that the sources of both type I and type III emission are contained in structures whose boundaries diverge outwards in the corona.