Stable lead isotopes reveal a natural source of high lead concentrations to gasoline-contaminated groundwater

Concentrations of total lead as high as 1,600 g/L were detected in gasoline-contaminated and uncontaminated groundwater at three gasoline-release sites in South Carolina. Total lead concentrations were highest in turbid groundwater samples from gasoline-contaminated and uncontaminated wells, whereas lower turbidity groundwater samples (collected using low-flow methods) had lower total lead concentrations. Dissolved lead concentrations in all wells sampled, however, were less than 15 g total lead/L, the current United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) maximum contaminant level (MCL). Because many total lead concentrations exceeded the MCL, the source of lead to the groundwater system at two of the three sites was investigated using a stable lead isotope ratio approach. Plots of the stable isotope ratios of lead (Pb) in groundwater as ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb versus ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb versus ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb were similar to ratios characteristic of lead-based minerals in local rocks of the southeastern US, and were not similar to the stable lead isotopes ratios characteristic of distant lead ore deposits such as Broken Hill, Australia, used to produce tetraethyl lead in gasoline products prior to its phase-out and ban in the United States. Moreover, the isotopic composition of dissolved lead was equivalent to the isotopic composition of total lead in turbid samples collected from the same well, suggesting that the majority of the lead detected in the groundwater samples was associated with sediment particulates of indigenous aquifer material, rather than lead associated with spilled leaded gasoline. The results of this investigation indicate that (1) lead detected at some gasoline-release sites may be derived from the local aquifer material, rather than the gasoline release, and consequently may affect site-specific remediation goals; (2) non-low flow groundwater sampling methods, such as a disposable bailer, may result in turbid groundwater samples and high total lead concentrations, and; (3) stable lead isotopes can be used to clarify the source of lead detected above permissible levels in gasoline-contaminated groundwater systems.     

Alcohol’s effect on the hydraulic conductivity of consolidated clay

Centrifuge tests were carried out to determine the effect of different alcohols and one glycol on a thin consolidated disc of clay. The evolution of changes in the clay hydraulic conductivity with time was investigated and other structural changes due to chemical attack were monitored. The findings presented here demonstrate that the hydraulic conductivity of the clay appear to be generally related to the polarity of the chemicals and the dielectric constant, with the exception of butanol. In the case of butanol at low flow rate and low stress level, the action of the chemical caused the clay to crack, with a consequent large increase in flow. This effect on the clay hydraulic conductivity could be used for improving pollution remediation especially when alcohols are associated with gasoline.     

论统计相关性和因果性: 以中国油价上涨与全球大地震关系为例

近些年中国油价上调时间与全球大震的发生出现同步, 引起地震学家和相关人员的关注。 这两者在物理上是毫无联系的事件, 然而通过对2003—2015年的相关资料进行分析, 发现两者发生时间具有较好的一致性, 即油价上调与全球大震发生具有相关性, 这种相关性甚至通过了严格的统计检验, 超出99%的置信区间。 这个看似荒谬的结论背后隐藏的是一个容易被忽略的统计误区: 对事后数据进行统计检验, 如果有足够多的样本, 通过精心挑选则一定能找到一些样本是统计相关的, 即使他们之间没有任何因果关系。 揭示这一统计误区对于目前地震预报使用的统计方法有重要意义, 上述研究表明仅仅依靠统计检验不能判定某种现象或者异常是否与地震存在必然的因果关系, 是否存在物理上的关联, 因为所考察的现象或者异常有可能是大量样本中的一个被精心挑选出来的特例。 在大数据大量积累和使用的今天, 为了避免走入上述统计误区, 需要在分析相关性的基础上, 对每一种可能的前兆现象进行向前预报检验, 同时探求其与地震的内在因果关系, 即阐明前兆现象的物理机制。     

Biodegradability of trimethylbenzene isomers under the strictly anaerobic conditions in groundwater contaminated by gasoline

Trimethylbenzene (TMB), as a constituent of gasoline, is often expected to be used as a conservative tracer in anaerobic BTEX-contaminated groundwater site to correct for attenuation due to dispersion, dilution and sorption along a flow path. To evaluate the suitability of using TMB as a tracer and to better understand biodegradability of TMB in contaminated groundwater by gasoline under anaerobic conditions, laboratory microcosms were conducted with mixed nitrate/iron/sulfate electron-acceptor amendments, using aquifer materials collected from Canadian Forces Base (CFB), Borden, Ontario, Canada. The results showed that under denitrifying conditions, biodegradation of 1,3,5-TMB, 1,2,4-TMB and 1,2,3-TMB were relatively slow and after 204 days of incubation approximately 27, 24, and 16% of the initial concentrations, respectively, were degraded in the microcosms. Under sulfate-reducing conditions, TMB isomers were recalcitrant. In contrast, significant biodegradation of TMB was observed under iron-reducing conditions. 1,3,5-TMB, 1,2,4-TMB and 1,2,3-TMB were degraded to 44, 47, and 24% of initial concentrations with first-order biodegradation rate constants of 0.003, 0.006 and 0.013 d⁻¹, respectively. This study indicates that TMB biodegradation is insignificant under nitrate and sulfate-reducing conditions but significant under iron-reducing conditions. Therefore, the use of TMB as a tracer for interpreting removal of other biodegradable gasoline constituents such as BTEX requires caution, especially in the presence of iron-reducing conditions.     

Source identification for fine aerosols in Mammoth Cave National Park

In this study, positive matrix factorization (PMF) was applied to the chemical composition data of the ambient PM_2.5 collected at the Mammoth Cave National Park, an IMPROVE site in Kentucky. Eight individual carbon fractions, four organic carbons (OCs), pyrolyzed organic carbon (OP) and three elemental carbons (ECs), were provided to the analysis. Nine sources including the well-distinguished gasoline emission and diesel emission were identified. Also, the back trajectories indicated the crustal factor in this study were likely caused by Saharan dust storms in the summer. The apportionment of nine sources was: gasoline emission (6.7%), diesel emission (3.1%), summer secondary sulfate (49.0%), winter secondary sulfate (0.6%), OP-rich secondary sulfate (16.2%), secondary nitrate (2.8%), Intercontinental dust plus soil (4.9%), wood smoke (13.6%), and aged sea salt (3.2%). The results of this study will help regularize the pollution control strategies in rural areas of Kentucky and upper mid-western US while demonstrating the feasibility of applying carbon fractions to the source apportionment of rural upper-Midwestern areas.     

Glutamic Acid Modified Fenton System for Degradation of BTEX Contamination

The present study employed a modified Fenton system that aims to extend the optimum pH range towards neutral conditions for studying the oxidation of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylenes (BTEX) using glutamic acid (Glu) as an iron chelator. Addition of 20 mM Glu greatly enhanced the oxidation rate of BTEX in modified Fenton system at pH 5–7. A rapid mass destruction (>97% after 1 h) of BTEX as a water contaminant carried out in the presence of 500 mM H₂O₂, 10 mM Fe²⁺, and 20 mM Glu at pH 5 could be shown. The efficiency of this modified Fenton's system for mass destruction of BTEX in contaminated water was measured to estimate the impact of the major process variables that include initial concentrations of soluble Fe, H₂O₂, Glu (as metal chelating agent), and reaction time.     

Electrokinetic treatment of polluted soil at pilot level coupled to an advanced oxidation process of its wastewater

Soil contaminated with hydrocarbons is a current problem of great importance. These contaminants may be toxic, can retain water and block gas exchange with the atmosphere, which produces a poor-quality soil unsuitable for ecological health. Electroremediation is among the treatments for the removal of such contaminants. In this research, a pilot-level electroremediation test was applied using a circular arrangement of electrodes with a Ti cathode at the middle of the cell surrounded by six IrO₂–Ta₂O₅ | Ti anodes. The presence of an NaOH electrolyte helps to develop the electromigration and electro-osmosis of gasoline molecules (at 1126 mg kg⁻¹) surrounded by Na⁺ ions. The hydrocarbons are directed towards the cathode and subsequently removed in an aqueous Na⁺ – hydrocarbon solution, and the –OH migrates to the anode. During electrokinetic treatment, the physicochemical characteristics of the soil close to either the cathode or anode and at the half-cell were evaluated during the three weeks of treatment. During that time, more than 80% of hydrocarbons were removed. Hydrocarbons removed by the electrokinetic treatment of gasoline-polluted soil were collected in a central wastewater compartment and subsequently treated with a Fenton-type advanced oxidation process. This achieved more than 70% mineralization of the hydrocarbons to CO₂ and H₂O within 1.5 h; its low toxicity status was verified using the Deltatox^® kit test. With this approach, the residual water complied with the permissible limits of COD, pH, and electrical conductivity for being discharged into water bodies, according to Mexican norm NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996.