Nutrient contents in bottom sediment samples from a southern Brazilian microbasin

The nutrients, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, significantly affect the quality of aquatic environments, especially when present at concentrations above natural levels. In this context, the sedimentary column can act as an environment for storage or accumulation of these nutrients and for the reprocessing of such substances in the water column and aquatic biota. In this context, this study aimed to estimate the concentration of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), inorganic phosphorus (IP) and organic phosphorus (OP) in seven sediment samples that were collected from the Marrecas Stream microbasin (Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil). The relationships among the sediment nutrient concentrations and the levels of organic matter (OM), fine material (silt–clay) and the concentration of the metal species, Al, Fe and Mn, as well as the possible nutrient sources to the stream studied were also evaluated. The data set suggest that the TOC and IP appear to have a direct correlation with the vast riparian vegetation present in areas adjacent to the sampling points and to the physico-chemical properties of the water and sedimentary column. Moreover, the results obtained for TN suggest that its concentration possibly suffers interference from the temperature of the water and its oxygenation, in addition to other biological activities. On the other hand, one cannot rule out human interference, mainly in the levels of OP, possibly due to the inflow of domestic sewage to the stream.     

Initial assessment of the infiltration and overland flow for different rainfall events in land constituted of sandstones of the Botucatu Formation (Guarani Aquifer), State of São Paulo, Brazil

This study was carried out in the Córrego do Vaçununga basin constituted of eolic sandstones of Botucatu Formation and residual unconsolidated materials (>90%), considered the most important unconfined aquifer in Brazil, in the city of Luiz Antonio, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Laboratory and in situ tests were performed to characterize the unconsolidated materials in terms of basic physical properties, potential infiltration rate, suction and hydraulic conductivity. The results for infiltration and overland flow depths were obtained according to Morel-Seytoux and Khanji (Water Resour Res 10(4):795–800, 1976) and Chu (Water Resour Res 14(3):461–466, 1978) adaptation of the Green and Ampt [J Agr Sci 4(Part 1):1–24, 1911] model for steady and transient rainfalls, respectively. Rainfall data were collected from January of 2000 to December of 2002, and 12 scenarios were defined considering the intensity and durations. Rather than high homogeneity in terms of the texture of unconsolidated materials, the infiltration and overland flow ratio depends on the type of land use and associated management practices. The results showed that rainfall with high intensity and short duration do not produce high overland flow ratio as we have observed for transient scenarios with long duration and low intensities.     

Chemical and petrographical characterization of feed coal, fly ash and bottom ash from the Figueira Power Plant, Paraná, Brazil

The aim of the present study is the petrographic and chemical characterization of the coal at the Figueira Power Plant, Paraná, Brazil, prior and after the beneficiation process and the chemical characterization of fly and bottom ashes generated in the combustion process.Petrographic characterization was carried out through maceral analysis and vitrinite reflectance measurements. Chemical characterization included proximate analysis, determination of calorific value and sulphur content, ultimate analysis, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Inductively Coupled Plasma — Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma — Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) analysis, and determination of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content.Vitrinite reflectance analyses indicate a high volatile B/C bituminous coal (0.61 to 0.73% Rrandom). Maceral analyses show predominance of the vitrinite maceral group (51.6 to 70.9 vol.%, m.m.f). Except of the Run of mine (ROM) coal sample, the average calorific value of the coals is 5205 kcal/kg and ash yields range from 21.4 to 38.1 wt.%. The mineralogical composition (X-ray diffraction) of coals includes kaolinite, quartz, plagioclase and pyrite, whereas fly and bottom ashes are composed by mullite, ettringite, quartz, magnetite, and hematite. Analyses of major elements from coal, fly and bottom ashes indicate a high SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and Fe₂O₃ content. Trace elements analysis of in-situ and ROM coals by ICP-MS and ICP-AES show highest concentration in Zn and As. Most of the toxic elements such as As, Cd, Cr, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn are significantly reduced by coal beneficiation. Considering the spatial distribution of trace elements in the beneficiated coal samples, which were collected over a period of three months, there appears to be little variation in Cd and Zn concentrations, whereas trace elements such as As, Mo, and Pb show a larger variation.In the fly and bottom ashes, the highest concentrations of trace elements were determined for Zn and As. When compared with trace element concentrations in the feed coal, fly ashes show a significant enrichment in most trace elements (As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Tl, and Zn), suggesting a predominantly volatile nature for these elements. In contrast, Sn is distributed evenly within the different ash types, whereas U shows depleted concentration in both bottom and fly ash samples.According to the International Classification of in-seam coals the Cambuí coals are of para/ortho bituminous rank of low grade (except for the ROM sample), and are characterized by the predominance of vitrinite macerals.     

Influence of metal oxides in the colorimetric determination of acid volatile sulfide in sediments

The sediment of Lagoa dos Patos‐MS, Brazil, was investigated to verify the influence of metal sulfides and oxyhydroxides of Mn and Fe on the heavy metal availability. The spectrophotometric method of methylene blue was used, with 8 interlinked tubes containing the samples with SnCl₂, where N₂ was introduced to release the H₂S extracted with 6.0 mol L^–1 HCl, and trapped in 0.05 M NaOH solution. The influence of SO₄^2–, Mn(IV) and Fe(III) oxyhydroxides was investigated with samples constituted by a mixture of MnO₂; Na₂SO₄; FeCl₃, and sediments. The presence of SnCl₂ was very important to avoid the interferences of iron and manganese oxyhydroxides. The method of standard addition was applied and the efficiency was (100.8 ± 9.4)%. The ratio among the quantities of metals potentially available and the acid volatile sulfide (AVS) indicate that the system presents small metals availability to the benthic community, by the existence of sulfide capable to immobilize the metal as insoluble sulfide.     

Towards a spatial data infrastructure for technological disasters: an approach for the road transportation of hazardous materials

Spatial data have been used for the environmental monitoring of the consequences of accidents that involve the transportation of hazardous chemical products. This spatial data infrastructure (SDI), which was created for the sharing and use of spatial data, is limited by the absence of policies to support its establishment. The main objective of this study was to explore the use of social network analysis (SNA) as a tool to identify spatial data sharing between organizations involved in the management of accidents related to road transport of hazardous materials (RTHM). In addition, to discuss the existing policies and institutional agreements, and to initiate a conceptual SDI framework for RTHM sector. In this context, the institutions that are involved with RTHM were identified and information concerning their interest in the use and sharing of spatial data via a SDI was collected through interviews and consolidated. The interviews were at 39 institutions with representative employees. The interview data were tabulated and entered into the UCINET software (2000 version) to calculate metrics of centrality. From the SNA, the flow of data among the participating institutions was identified through the visual representation of the spatial data sharing and use networks. Subsequently, the existing institutional agreements for spatial data sharing were analyzed and discussed. The compiled results enabled the proposal of a conceptual SDI framework to support the management of disasters involving RTHM, based on the application of SNA theory, and the development of a methodology that supports the analysis of interactions among the various actors of an SDI. The purpose is to facilitate the formulation of policies for the sharing of spatial data for decision-making and preventive disaster management. The results indicate that the 39 institutions share spatial data, but this sharing is not always predetermined by formal agreements. Furthermore, there is a strong demand, by the institutions involved in the management of RTHM accidents, regarding legal mechanisms governing the sharing of data for the purpose of producing maps that help to describe actions of preparedness, prevention, management and immediate relief involving RTHM incidents. Finally, it was possible to propose a conceptual framework with data that is considered essential for creating an SDI for RTHM.