Role of Iron(III) and Aluminum Hydroxides in Concentration/reduction of Au(III) Complexes

Abstract: The adsorption of gold on iron(III) and aluminum hydroxides from solutions containing Au(III) complexes has been studied as a function of pH and chloride concentration at 30C. Iron(III) hydroxide was more effective in adsorbing gold from solution than aluminum hydroxide. However, both hydroxides controlled the behavior of Au(III) complex with very similar manner. The most effective gold adsorption occurred in aqueous solution with near neutral pH and low Cl concentration. In this solution condition, Au(III) complexes were mainly dissolved as AuCl₂(OH)₂^- and AuCl(OH)₃^-, and the surface charge for both hydroxides was positive. In addition, the adsorbed Au(III) complexes were spontaneously reduced to elemental gold in spite of the absence of a specific reducing agent.
The results of this study suggest that adsorption and spontaneous reduction of gold complexes on the surface of hydrous metal oxides with positive charge play an important role in gold precipitation in subsurface environment.     

Characterization of Mediterranean magnetotactic bacteria

Magnetotactic bacteria are a diverse group of motile prokaryotes that are ubiquitous in aquatic habitats and cosmopolitan in distribution. In this study, we collected magnetotactic bacteria from the Mediterranean Sea. A remarkable diversity of morphotypes was observed, including multicellular types that seemed to differ from those previously found in North and South America. Another interesting organism was one with magnetosomes arranged in a six-stranded bundle which occupied one third of the cell width. The magnetosome bundle was evident even under optic microscopy. These cells were connected together and swam as a linear entire unit. Magnetosomes did not always align up to form a straight linear chain. A chain composed of rectangle magnetosomes bent at a posi- tion with an oval crystal. High resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis of the crystal at the pivotal position suggested uncompleted formation of the crystal. This is the first report of Mediterranean magnetotactic bacteria, which should be useful for studies of biogeochemical cycling and geohistory of the Mediterranean Sea.     

祁连山七一冰川物质平衡的最新观测结果

祁连山七一冰川观测结果表明, 2001/2002年度和 2002/2003 年度冰川物质平衡分别为-810mm和-316 mm水当量, 冰面出现显著的减薄状态. 和过去的观测结果相比较, 20 世纪 70 年代为较大的正平衡, 年平均为360 mm水当量; 80年代年平均为4 mm水当量, 基本接近零平衡状态. 到近两年亏损强烈, 为所有观测资料中负平衡值最大的年份, 零平衡线也达到最高位置. 物质平衡出现较大的负值和零平衡线位置升高的状况, 强烈反映了祁连山冰川对气候变暖过程的响应. 如果气候变暖趋势继续, 冰川物质平衡负值将增大、冰面减薄和雪线的升高, 冰川将继续呈现萎缩状态.     

地壳表层砷的循环与污染地下水模式

为了更好地监测和预测地下水砷污染,揭示由自然原因引起的地下水砷污染规律和机制,通过多年来对内蒙古河套平原地下水砷污染的调查研究,在充分了解和掌握砷的化学与地球化学性质以及世界各国地下水砷污染状况与分布特征的基础上,总结了砷在自然环境中的分布和污染地下水的机理。文章阐述了4种地下水砷污染类型的形成机理,并提出了地壳表层砷的循环与污染地下水模式,通过该模式在基本掌握某一地区地质环境背景的情况下,可以初步预测其可能发生地下水砷污染的地段。地下水砷污染是砷在地壳表层循环过程中发生的一种环境水文地球化学现象,污染区的分布与特定的地质、地理背景和环境条件有关。在还原解吸污染类型中,封闭的环境、硫元素和有机碳的存在是地层中砷溶出的主要控制因素。今后应加强对封闭的冲积或湖积平原、河流入湖或入海三角洲等地区地下水砷污染的调查与监测。