Application of Column Chromatography for Accurate Determination of the Carbon Isotopic Compositions of n-alkanes in Diverse Environmental Samples

Ocean Science Journal - The carbon isotopic compositions (δ13C) of n-alkanes in various environmental samples have been previously proposed as suitable fingerprints for assessing the origin of...     

Drying effects on sorption capacity of coastal sediment: The importance of architecture and polarity of organic matter

Investigations on how desiccation changes sorption of organic compounds by salt marsh sediments provide insight into the physical and chemical properties of these wide-spread coastal sediments. We measured sorption of compounds with different polarities (lysine, tyrosine, naphthalene and aniline) onto natural sediments and sediments that were dried and rewetted. Sorption of lysine by marsh sediment decreased significantly when the sediment was dried using a freeze-drier, oven, or desiccator, and sorption capacity was not restored when sediments were rewetted. In contrast to lysine, the sorption capacity of more hydrophobic compounds (tyrosine, aniline and naphthalene) increased significantly after salt marsh sediment was dried. These results suggest that drying greatly increased sediment hydrophobicity. Consistently, water drop penetration time, an index of hydrophobicity, was significantly lower for combusted sediments than for those that were simply dried. Sediments treated with EDTA, or boiled in seawater, exhibited a similar or even greater reduction in lysine sorption capacity compared with sediments that were dried. Water retention capacity of salt marsh sediment decreased 50% after sediment was dried. The effects of pH and salinity on lysine sorption in wet and dry sediments suggest that carboxyl groups play a major role in lysine sorption through cation ion exchange, and drying may reduce access to carboxyl groups. We hypothesize that the three-dimensional (3D) structure of organic matter, originating mainly from Spartina alterniflora, is an important factor controlling sorption capacity in salt marsh sediment. The drying process makes sedimentary organic matter change conformation, shrink in volume, and expose hydrophobic groups, thus becoming more hydrophobic. In environments with wet and dry cycles, the distribution of hydrophobic or hydrophilic compounds between solution and particulate phases could thus be influenced by the 3D structure and polarity of organic matter.     

Adsorption characteristics of perchloroethylene in natural sandy materials with low organic carbon content

Laboratory batch tests were conducted to investigate the sorption isotherms and sorption kinetics of the chlorinated hydrocarbon perchloroethylene (PCE) in five natural sandy materials with an organic carbon content (f _oc) in the range 0.080–0.540%. The amended non-linear dual-mode model can describe the sorption isotherms in materials with f _oc in the range 0.080–0.090%. For a sample with a much higher f _oc of 0.54%, the absorption isotherm was found to fit a linear model. These results may indicate that organic carbon is not the main factor influencing the sorption isotherm. The sorption kinetics of PCE in samples with f _oc in the range 0.080–0.090% are not first-order and are different from those observed in the samples with higher f _oc. The sorption process in the materials with lower f _oc involves fast sorption, fast desorption and an equilibrium stage. The results may imply that the factors affecting sorption kinetics of PCE in low f _oc media are pore filling and capillary condensation rather than organic carbon content.     

Effect of agricultural land use on the chemistry of groundwater from basaltic aquifers, Jeju Island, South Korea

Geochemical processes were identified as controlling factors of groundwater chemistry, including chemical weathering, salinization from seawater and dry sea-salt deposition, nitrate contamination, and rainfall recharge. These geochemical processes were identified using principal component analysis of major element chemistry of groundwater from basaltic aquifers in Jeju Island, South Korea, a volcanic island with intense agricultural activities. The contribution of the geochemical processes to groundwater chemistry was quantified by a simple mass-balance approach. The geochemical effects due to seawater were considered based on Cl contributions, whereas the effects due to natural chemical weathering were based on alkalinity. Nitrogenous fertilizers, and especially the associated nitrification processes, appear to significantly affect groundwater chemistry. A strong correlation was observed between Na, Mg, Ca, SO₄ and Cl, and nitrate concentrations in groundwater. Correspondingly, the total major cations, Cl, and SO₄ in groundwater were assessed to estimate relative effect of N-fertilizer use on groundwater chemistry. Cl originates more from nitrate sources than from seawater, whereas SO₄ originates mostly from rainwater. N-fertilizer use has shown the greatest effect on groundwater chemistry, particularly when nitrate concentrations exceed 6–7 mg/L NO₃–N. Nitrate contamination significantly affects groundwater quality and 18% of groundwater samples have contamination-dominated chemistry.     

Biomarker responses in caged rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) from Masan Bay and Haegeumgang, South Korea

The purpose of this study was to compare enzymatic biomarker activities in fish caged at two sites, Masan Bay (contaminated) and Haeguemgang (reference). In the present study, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), brain acetyl cholinesterase (bAChE), muscle acetyl cholinesterase (mAChE) and butyryl cholinesterase (mBChE) in caged rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) were measured 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days after caging. The level of CYP1A mRNA and Protein expression was induced higher in Masan Bay at 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30 days after caging. EROD activity in the caged fish was significantly higher in Masan Bay than in Haeguemgang 3 and 7 days after caging, but not at 14 and 30 days after caging. bAChE activity was significantly inhibited at 7 and 14 days after caging in Masan Bay. However, mBChE activity was not significantly inhibited during the experiment. Taken together, the data suggest that the caged fish were exposed, at least transiently, to CYP1A inducers and ChE inhibitors, which is consistent with our previous observations.     

Spheroidal pyroxenite aggregates in the Bushveld Complex — a special case of silicate liquid immiscibility

Spherical aggregates of orthopyroxene are reported from some parts of the Bushveld Complex in a variety of host rocks.Detailed mapping has shown that these spherical aggregates, comprising pyroxenite spheroids in a quartz-norite matrix, are contact phenomena and not stratigraphic markers. Orthopyroxene, biotite and amphibole are enriched in spheroids relative to matrix; their mineral chemistry showing a fairly constant orthopyroxene and plagioclase composition through the spheroids and into the matrix, indicating in-situ formation.Bulk chemistry shows spheroid to matrix tie-lines orthogonal to those generally accepted for silicate liquid immiscibility, but other chemical information is consistent with the occurrence of immiscibility.The formation of the aggregates may be related to the industrial process of spherical agglomeration, by which spheroids are formed by the introduction of an immiscible “bridging liquid” to the melt — probably derived from the floor rocks in this case. The mechanism accounts for the field relationships, petrography and chemistry of the aggregate-matrix system. The petrology of the process equates with a special case of silicate liquid immiscibility induced by local contamination and ageing of the original magma.A similar “bridging liquid” mechanism could also account for the formation of the so-called “boulder bed” beneath the Merensky Reef.     

Pelagic tar off Georgia and Florida in relation to physical processes

Following the Ixtoc I oil rig blowout in Campeche Bay we hypothesized that resulting tarballs should eventually appear in the Gulf Stream off Gerogia and that because of dynamic barriers in the innershelf little would reach nearshore areas. To test these hypotheses, surface tows to collect floating tar were taken off the coasts of Georgia and Florida in October and December, 1979.No tar was found within 40 km of the shore. All samples more than 40 km offshore contained some tar. The mean concentration was 0.82 mg m^?2 with a range of 0.01–5.6 mg m^?2. Closely spaced sampling showed extreme variation but trends were consistent. Perylene was the most abundant compound in the tarballs.     

Survival of two species of amphipods in aqueous extracts of petroleum oils

Aqueous extracts of two petroleum oils, No. 2 fuel oil and Southern Louisiana crude, were tested on two amphipods, Gammarus muccronatus and Amphithoe valida, for survival. The oils were toxic at concentrations of 0.8 ppm (fuel oil) and 2.4 ppm (S. Louisiana crude). Mortalities increased with the concentration and length of exposure. Few or no young were produced at these and higher concentrations (breeding adults were decreasing rapidly in numbers). The amphipods are more sensitive to aqueous extracts of these oils than benthic polychaetes and shrimp, for which data are available.     

TRANSIENT EM RESPONSE OF A LARGE LOOP ON A LAYERED GROUND *

The voltage induced in a horizontal loop on a layered ground has been calculated for the case where the loop is excited by a step current and measurements are made during the off-cycle. The expressions derived for a uniform ground show that for large time t the induced voltage E(t) is approximately given by E(t)?— (Ibαμ/20t) (σμ²/t)^3/2 where σ is the conductivity of the ground, μ the permeability, b the loop radius, and I the amplitude of the current step. For small times the corresponding result is E(t)?—Ibμ/2t. When the ground is composed of a number of layers a numerical procedure for calculating the induced voltage is described. The calculated responses of various multilayered structures show that at short times the induced voltage is asymptotic to that produced in the case of a uniform ground of conductivity equal to the top layer. Interference effects in the top layer can lead to anomalous decay curves which may result in the underestimation of the conductivity of a buried layer.