Coupling of a Column System with ICP‐MS for the Characterisation of Colloid‐mediated Metal(loid) Transport in Porous Media

In this work a coupling method for the characterisation of colloid‐mediated transport of the metal(loid) species in porous media was developed. For this transport experiments quartz sand was used as column packing material and the synthetic three‐layer clay mineral laponite as model colloid. The determination of colloids was conducted by means of UV detection. The quantification of the metal(loid) ions was carried out in two different ways: (1) The fractions collected at the column outlet were analysed with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP‐MS) (offline measurements); (2) the column system was directly coupled with ICP‐MS (online measurements). In the column experiments the influence of laponite colloids on the transport of Cu, Pb, Zn, Pt and As species was investigated. In the offline experiments as a consequence of dilution during sample preparation no metal(loid) species at the column outlet could be found. Unlike this the breakthrough of all metal(loid)s could be detected under the same experimental column conditions in the coupling experiments. This coupling technique offers the online detection of the metal species and colloidal particles with high resolution even at low concentrations and without any time‐consuming preparation. The coupling experiments have shown that the laponite particles accelerate the transport of the cationic metals. For anionic metal(loid) species no influence of laponite on their transport behaviour was found.     

Temporal variation in discharge chemistry and portal flow from the 8-Level adit, Lynx Mine, Myra Falls Operations, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

The Lynx mine, currently inactive, has produced copper and zinc concentrates from massive sulfide deposits on a lease within the rainy, mountainous interior of Vancouver Island. Tailings, used to back-fill a mined-out stope, are being leached by percolating groundwater and the resulting acidic, metal-laden drainage is discharging from the portal of the 8-Level adit. Temporal variations in the flow rate, specific conductance and temperature of the discharge were monitored continuously over a 2-year period while effluent chemistry was sampled weekly. Conductivity was relatively constant throughout most of the year but peaked with the first autumn storm events as accumulated soluble sulfide oxidation products were flushed from the workings. Concentrations of sulfate and most metals were closely correlated with conductivity as were low pH values as stored acidity was released along with dissolved species. Variations in pH controlled the speciation and partitioning of metals between dissolved and particulate phases.     

Electrokinetic remediation of an electroplating site: design and scale-up for an in-situ application in the unsaturated zone

In-situ electrokinetic remediation of contaminated soils requires integrated approaches and adequately engineered setups to control relevant mass fluxes. Based on laboratory findings, this study presents the design of a pilot-scale remediation at an operating electroplating site. The fine-textured soil developed from Jurassic limestone exhibits a chromium, copper, nickel, and zinc contamination down to depths of more than 4 m. The feasibility of an electrokinetic remediation in the unsaturated zone was tested in a lab-scale experiment with subsoil material sampled at the site. The electrodes were placed in water-impermeable, ion-selective membrane wells. This construction allows the necessary watering of the electrodes, maintains unsaturated conditions in the soil compartment, and enables the transfer of contaminant ions into the wells. In addition, the soil is protected from pH changes caused by water electrolysis at the electrodes. The setup includes a watering and drainage system to compensate the electroosmotic water flux and impede desiccation of the anodic region. With a direct current of 70 V and an electric field strength of 2.2 V cm⁻¹, contaminant removal rates amounted up to 27% and 66% (w/w) of the initial zinc/copper and chromium/nickel concentrations. Copper, nickel, and zinc accumulated in the cathode well, while chromate species were enriched in the anode well. Given the successful lab-scale remediation, the pilot plant was designed for the in-situ treatment of a soil volume of 12 m³ below a production hall. A power of 500 V DC at a maximum current of 30 A is supplied by a transformer rectifier. This yields an electric field strength comparable to the lab-scale experiment and thereby similar contaminant transport velocities. A vacuum distillation unit is employed for process water reuse and to control electrolyte conductivity. To cope with chlorine gas generation at the anodes a gas absorber unit is employed. According to the lab-scale results, about 2, 9, 9, and 15 kg zinc, chromium, copper, and nickel, respectively, are expected to be removed from the field plot during an operation time of 10 months.     

Major ions characteristics in a disturbed aquifer of an oceanic island——Sipadan, Malaysia

The Sipadan island is the only oceanic island found in Malaysia, and is popularly known for its beautiful corals and diving activities. The aquifer of the island is affected by seawater intrusion associated with groundwater exploitation. Geologically, the aquifer is composed of several series of Quaternary bioherm facies, and its recharge merely depends on rainfall. This research attempts to understand the chemical changes of the groundwater attributed to the salinization processes based on major ion composition （Ca^2＋, Mg^2＋, Na^＋, K^＋, HCO, SO, Cl^-）. The initial assessments were done in years 1993 - 1994, followed by subsequent assessment in years 2004-2005. Methods of analyses were adopted from APHA （1995）. The hydrogeochemical saturation indices （SI） were computed using the PHREEQC program in order to assess the state of equilibrium between groundwater and the minerals present. The results of analyses indicated that the groundwater has been highly enriched in Na^＋, SO and CI, reflecting an encroachment of saline water into the aquifer. The groundwater facies can be classified as sodium chloride （Na-Cl） water type. There are positive correlations （moderate to strong）, except HCO3^-, between the studied parameters. The weak and inconsistent correlation of HCO3^- with the cations and anions related to dissolved salts suggests that saltwater intrusion has an insignificant impact on the chemistry of HCO3^- in the groundwater. Strong correlations （r 〉0.70） exist among the major elements （Na^＋, Mg^2＋, K^＋, Cl^- and SO4^-） and salinity （EC）. These relationships clearly identify the main elements contributing to the groundwater salinity and their tendency to depict a similar trend of salinization pattern. Chloride has a major influence on the salinity of groundwater based on the positive and strong correlation that exist between Cl^- and EC （r=0.97）.     

Spatial variability of metals in the inter-tidal sediments of the Medway Estuary,Kent, UK

Concentrations of major and trace metals were determined in eight sediment cores collected from the inter-tidal zone of the Medway Estuary, Kent, UK. Metal associations and potential sources have been investigated using principal component analysis. These data provide the first detailed geochemical survey of recent sediments in the Medway Estuary. Metal concentrations in surface sediments lie in the mid to lower range for UK estuarine sediments indicating that the Medway receives low but appreciable contaminant inputs. Vertical metal distributions reveal variable redox zonation across the estuary and historically elevated anthropogenic inputs. Peak concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn can be traced laterally across the estuary and their positions indicate periods of past erosion and/or non-deposition. However, low rates of sediment accumulation do not allow these sub surface maxima to be used as accurate geochemical marker horizons. The salt marshes and inter-tidal mud flats in the Medway Estuary are experiencing erosion, however the erosion of historically contaminated sediments is unlikely to re-release significant amounts of heavy metals to the estuarine system.     

Diagenetic reactions in reservoir strata and geochemical properties of pore fluid and its origin in Songliao Basin

The reservoirs of the SOngliao Basin are composed of typical unstable sandstones,with high percentages of volcanic fragments and feldspar,In the course of sedimentation and burying,a series of physical and chemical reactions took place between minerals and pore water and water-rock reactions and ion exchange caused changes in ion assemblage of pore water,Hydration-hydrolysis,dissolution and the albitization of feldspar made many ions free from their framework and inter into the pore water,and induced the precipitation of a large amount of authigenic minerals such as smectite and chlorite,During the diagenesis of sandstone.diagenetic reactions involved several stages with increasing depth,and so did the precipitation of authigenic minerals and the transformaiton of minerals.The migration of ions is related with the precipitation,transformation and dissolution of authigenic minerals.Thus,to deepen our study on sandstone diagenesis is an important link for the analysis of ion migration in the evolution of pore water ,the origin and evolution of pore water could be tracked in terms of the geochemistry of fluid inclusions in authigenic minerals.And the isotopic composition of the authigenic mineral calcite can provide its genetic information.     

Effect of Sediment Motion Patterns on Sorption of Cadmium Ions by Sediment Particles

I.INTRODUCTIONThefateofmanytraceheavymetalsinnaturalwatersis,toalargeextent,controlledbysorptionprocessesandthedynamicsoftheparticlesthemselves.Thepotentialinfluencesofenvironmentalvariablessuchastemperature,CaZ+,Na+andCI--,dissolvedorganiccarbonandPHvaluesontraceheavymetalpartitioninghavebeenwidelyinvestigated.Forexample,StumnandMorgan(1981)suggestthattheextentofsorptionvariespositivelywithtemperature.Itfollowsthatdecreasedsorptionmightbeexpectedatlowtemperatures,e.g.duringwintermont…     

极光区离子分布函数视线方向上的解析解及其饱和现象

以弛豫碰撞模式下Boltzmann方程的解为基础，从极光区视线方向上离子的非Maxwell一维速度分布函数的Raman等人的积分解出发，导出了一维速度分布函数的解析形式解，给出了它的一些特性，并研究了该分布函数随电场增强而出现的饱和现象，给出了物理解释，计算了几种情况下的饱和电场值．     

雷暴下地面自然尖端电晕放电离子时空演化的数值模拟

为了对雷暴云下近地面的电特性进行分析，本文建立了模拟自然尖端所产生的电晕离子演化的一维数值模式。以地面电场为基础，考虑到地面电晕离子的演化，成功地计算了从地面至８００ｍ的空中电场及电荷、电流的时空演变，发现地面电晕离子可解释除雷暴云电荷影响外的空中电场和地面电场的差异，空间电场比地面电场更能反应雷暴电荷所产生的电场。空间电荷层可延伸到８００ｍ的高度上，且电荷密度可高达０．２５ｎＣ／ｍ^３，６００ｍ高度上的传导电流密度可达０．１ｎＡ／ｍ^２。     

Reconstructing the iron cycle from the horizontal distribution of metals in the sediment of Baldeggersee

In Baldeggersee, the distributions of solid phase Fe, Mn, V, Cr, As and Mo were determined in different sediment strata, deposited under various deep-water oxygen conditions. Iron concentrations are correlated with water depth when an anoxic sediment is in contact with an oxic water column. Benthic redox gradients trigger iron transport towards the deepest site (geochemical focusing) and loss of iron from the shallower parts through the outflow. Fe cycling in the lake is inhibited by oxygen penetration into the sediment. Vanadium and arsenic can be used as tracers for the internal Fe cycle. Their distribution patterns are highly correlated with iron. In case of a stable oxycline in the deep water, Mo is enriched in the sediment and correlates with Mn. The horizontal distribution patterns of Fe, V, As and the correlation of Fe and Mn with trace metals are promising proxy indicators for the reconstruction of deep-water oxygen conditions during deposition.