Chemistry of metal–humic complexes contained in Megalopolis lignite and potential application in modern organomineral fertilization

Lignite samples from two deposits located in the Megalopolis Basin, Southern Greece, were evaluated for their potential applicability as raw materials for the production of organomineral fertilizers. Fundamental chemical analyses were carried out to demonstrate high humic substances and metal contents. To determine their relative distribution in the Megalopolis lignite extract, eight elements, namely Na, K, Cd, Mn, Mg, Pb, Zn, and Cu, were studied both in H₂O and in Na₄P₂O₇/NaOH solutions. The behavior of these metals showed significant variations; Zn, Pb, Cd, and Cu associate mostly to the humic substances and proved scarce in the water extract. Contrarily, K and Mg gave a significantly low total yield in the Na₄P₂O₇/NaOH solution, while Mn was classified among the least extracted elements. Further enrichment of Megalopolis humic substances in these metals was achieved; Pb and Mg proved the most and least retained metal, respectively. Decomplexation titration curves of humic matter saturated with these metal ions demonstrated that novel organomineral fertilizing materials may develop based on optimized metal ion and humate contents, which can retain metals in a soluble form within a wide pH range. Formation of complexes between humic substances and Zn, Cd, and Mg was clearly indicated.     

Evaluation of Greek low-rank coals as potential raw material for the production of soil amendments and organic fertilizers

This study evaluates Greek peat and coal samples for applications in the agricultural/horticultural sector and assesses the suitability of a certain peat/coal either as soil conditioner or as raw material for manufacturing organic fertilizers.Twenty-six samples of different rank ranging from peat to subbituminous coal obtained from several Greek peat/coal deposits, were studied. The laboratory tests included: a) pH and electrical conductivity (EC) determinations, as well as proximate, ultimate and maceral analyses, in order to characterize the samples, b) major and trace element analyses of both the total and the easily exchangeable fractions (EEF), in order to assess the phytotoxicity effect, c) cation exchange capacity (CEC) determination in mixtures of the samples (5 wt.%) with a certain soil (95 wt.%), in order to evaluate the peat/coal impact, and d) the determination of the contents of humic substances (HS), as well as of carboxylic and phenolic groups.The majority of the samples reveal moderate to high ash yields (16–80 wt.%), a slightly acidic to neutral character and electrical conductivity ranging from 100–2500 μS/cm. Concerning the environmental impact of the sensitive trace elements, which might be leached, As, Mn, Ni and Sr show relatively strong mobilization in some samples, although severe impacts are not expected. The soil's CEC is generally improved, although it remains at moderate levels. The most interesting aspect is the humic acids content, which ranges between 9.6 and 52.2 wt.% on a dry basis, exceeding 25 wt.% for most of the samples. The obtained results enable an initial correlation among the different parameters and a rating of the samples according to their suitability for soil-amelioration agents.     

Dolomite formation within microbial mats in the coastal sabkha of Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)

Microbial mediation is the only demonstrated mechanism to precipitate dolomite under Earth surface conditions. A link between microbial activity and dolomite formation in the sabkha of Abu Dhabi has, until now, not been evaluated, even though this environment is cited frequently as the type analogue for many ancient evaporitic sequences. Such an evaluation is the purpose of this study, which is based on a geochemical and petrographic investigation of three sites located on the coastal sabkha of Abu Dhabi, along a transect from the intertidal to the supratidal zone. This investigation revealed a close association between microbial mats and dolomite, suggesting that microbes are involved in the mineralization process. Observations using scanning electron microscopy equipped with a cryotransfer system indicate that authigenic dolomite precipitates within the exopolymeric substances constituting the microbial mats. In current models, microbial dolomite precipitation is linked to an active microbial activity that sustains high pH and alkalinity and decreased sulphate concentrations in pore waters. Such models can be applied to the sabkha environment to explain dolomite formation within microbial mats present at the surface of the intertidal zone. By contrast, these models cannot be applied to the supratidal zone, where abundant dolomite is present within buried mats that no longer show signs of intensive microbial activity. As no abiotic mechanism is known to form dolomite at Earth surface conditions, two different hypotheses can reconcile this result. In a first scenario, all of the dolomite present in the supratidal zone formed in the past, when the mats were active at the surface. In a second scenario, dolomite formation continues within the buried and inactive mats. In order to explain dolomite formation in the absence of active microbial metabolisms, a revised microbial model is proposed in which the mineral‐template properties of exopolymeric substances play a crucial role.     

安徽定远小庙山金矿床流体包裹体研究

小庙山金矿床原生流体包裹体分为4种类型:富气相的两相水溶液包裹体、富液相的两相水溶液包裹体、含CO2三相水溶液包裹体和含子矿物的三相水溶液包裹体,均一温度变化于133～378℃之间,峰值区间分别为180～200℃和220～260℃;盐度介于0.2%～44.6%之间,峰值区间为3%～6%。激光拉曼分析显示,流体包裹体的气相成分主要为CO2、H2O及少量CH4;包裹体群分析显示,成矿流体气相成分主要为CO2、N2、H2O、CH4、C2H2和C2H6,液相成分主要为Na+、K+、Ca2+、F-、Cl-、NO3-和SO42-,其中K+/Na+为1.55～2.75,F-/Cl-为0.02～0.03。矿化石英脉中,流体的δ18OH2O值介于-2.39‰～2.14‰之间,δDH2O值介于-51.2‰～-45.9‰之间,表明成矿流体主要来自岩浆,后期混入大气降水。依据成矿地质背景和矿区内成矿流体的地球化学及同位素资料,认为近南北向断裂是成矿流体运移通道和金富集沉淀的场所。在断裂破碎带中,高温高盐度成矿流体与大气降水混合,引起成矿流体的温度和盐度降低,压力变小,使得流体中的金沉淀成矿。     

Bank filtration in the sandy littoral zone of Lake Tegel (Berlin): Structure and dynamics of the biological active filter zone and clogging processes

This study focused on clogging processes and on the benthic microalgal and meiofaunal assemblage in the sandy littoral zone of Lake Tegel, which are significantly involved in bank filtration, in a long-term. Our approach combined field studies and “in situ” experiments to highlight the structure of the biological active filter zone as well as the mechanisms and effects of clogging in the interstices that influence the infiltration process.Campaigns to measure “in situ” infiltration rates and hydraulic potential were conducted monthly from March 2004 to April 2005. Meiofaunal abundances and fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) were determined every 6 weeks in freeze cores down to depths of 50 cm. In parallel, concentrations of carbon, nitrogen and chlorophyll a were measured in samples of unfrozen sediment cores, that were divided in 1-cm steps down to depths of ≥10 cm. Similar sediment profiles were generated for analysis of colloidal carbohydrates, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and proteins between December 2005 and June 2006. Electron microscopy was used to visualize biofilm structure. Long-term experiments with natural FPOM and melamine resin particles as fluorescent tracers were performed to study “in situ” particle retention and transport, respectively. Additionally seston input was quantified during a 1-week period in April 2005.Infiltration rates showed a high temporal and spatial variability, but were not correlated with hydraulic conductivities as hydraulic gradients changed a lot. Likewise a correlation between infiltration rates and hydraulic potentials was not observed, indicating clogging processes. These are triggered to a high extend by biological compounds. In addition, seston input and intermittent gas intrusion are considered to reduce the hydraulic conductivity considerably. No significant “in situ” transport of inert natural fluorescent tracers was observed. However, a complete and permanent clogging of the sandy sediment does not occur, and daily infiltration rates of 0.7-27 L m⁻² h⁻¹ (mean 9 L m⁻² h⁻¹) guarantee a sufficient water supply by bank filtration for decades.     

翡翠的白色次生变化产物初步研究

翡翠的白色次生物通常与褐色次生物共存,说明两者形成于相同的表生环境,即氧化环境。白色次生物既可以白沙皮的形式出现,也可以白色絮状物或白斑的形式存在于翡翠的裂隙及其附近颗粒之间。白色次生物在翡翠中以细小粘土矿物等的集合体形式分布于硬玉颗粒的边缘和裂隙中,以交代结构为主,充填结构为辅。结合红外光谱分析和电子探针测试可知,翡翠中的白色次生变化产物以高岭石或高岭石质为主,另外含有不常见的副钡长石和氟硅钙钠石,说明白色次生物的矿物组成较为复杂。     

沉积环境有机质及在铀成矿中的作用研究

通过系统研究,将沉积环境有机质分为可确定或未确定的高相对分子质量有机物质、简单物质和腐殖质3个主要部分,一般称为非腐殖质和腐殖质2个部分.非腐殖质系指那些可被列入单独的化合物类别中的有机化合物,主要包括糖、脂类和氨基酸;腐殖质系指那些很难确定的不能再分成其他化合物的有机化合物,据其溶解性质和颜色特征,腐殖质分为黄腐酸、...     

海洋生物型临床肠内营养制剂基料安全性研究初探

海洋生物型临床肠内营养制剂作为新型临床营养制剂已显示出了巨大的临床应用价值和市场开发前景.近年来,食品和药品安全问题备受关注,临床营养制剂基料安全性研究显得十分迫切.通过综述国内外临床营养制剂基料安全性研究现状,对其基料中重金属、海洋生物毒素、多氯联苯和有机氯农药等危害物进行了分析,探讨了危害物控制技术和脱除方法,为优质基料的选择和安全、高效、优质的临床营养制剂的研制开发提供参考.     

矿物光电子能量在地球早期生命起源与进化中的作用

地球早期生命起源的第一步是合成简单的有机化合物,但合成有机物所需能量来源问题长期困扰着学术界。早期地球上丰富的硫化物半导体矿物可将太阳光子转化为光电子,提供持续的能量来源。也正是由于矿物光电子能量较高,在非生物途径合成小分子有机物方面具有优势。其中半导体矿物自然硫转化太阳能产生的光电子能量,是目前所发现的最高的矿物光电子能量,不仅能直接还原CO₂分子为甲酸物质,还可催化其他生命基础物质的合成。在全球陆地系统中暴露在阳光下的岩石/土壤表面普遍被一层铁锰氧化物“矿物膜”所覆盖,光照下含半导体矿物水钠锰矿的“矿物膜”产生原位、灵敏、长效的光电流,显示出优异的光电效应。生物光合作用中心Mn₄CaO₅在裂解水产氧过程中产生成分和结构类似水钠锰矿的结构中间体,地球早期“矿物膜”中水钠锰矿可能促进了锰簇Mn₄CaO₅与生物光合作用的起源与进化。早期地球半导体矿物为生命起源基本物质的合成提供直接能量来源,矿物光电子能量在地球早期生命起源与进化中起到了重要作用。