Characteristics and distributions of humic acids in two soil profiles of the southwest China Karst area

Characteristics and distributions of humic acid(HA) and soil organic matter(SOM) in a yellow soil profile and a limestone soil profile of the southwest China Karst area were systematically investigated to reveal their evolutions in different soils of the study area. The results showed that characteristics and distribution of SOM along the two soil profiles were notably different. Total organic carbon(TOC) contents of soil samples decreased just slightly along the limestone soil profile but sharply along the yellow soil profile. TOCs of the limestone soils were significantly higher than those of the corresponding yellow soils, and C/N ratios of SOMs showed a similar variation trend to that of TOCs, indicating that SOM can be better conserved in the limestone soil than in the yellow soil. The soil humic acids were exhaustively extracted and further fractionated according to their apparent molecular weights using ultrafiltration techniques to explore underlying conservation mechanisms. The result showed that C/N ratios of HAs from different limestone soil layers were relatively stable and that large molecular HA fractions predominated the bulk HA of the top soil, indicating that HA in the limestone profile was protected while bio and chemical degradations were retarded. Combined with organic elements contents and mineral contents of two soils, weconcluded that high calcium contents in limestone soils may play a key role in SOM conservation by forming complexation compounds with HAs or/and enclosing SOMs with hypergene CaCO_3 precipitation.

Evaluation of organ distribution of microcystins in the freshwater phytoplanktivorous fish Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

To evaluate the public health risk of exposure to microcystins in fish food in China, the distribution pattem of microcystin-LR and microcystin-RR in various organs （liver, intestine, kidney, muscle and lipid） of the dominant freshwater phytoplanktivorous fish Hypophthalmichthys molitrix in Hangzhou, China＇s Tiesha River was investigated with the method of HPLC-ESI-MS analysis. The distribution of microcystins was different in the fish organs and the major total microcystins （microcystin-LR and microcystin-RR） were present in the intestines （6.49 μg/g fresh weight）, followed by the livers （4.52 μg/g fresh weight） and the muscles （2.86 μg/g fresh weight）. Microcystins were detected in kidneys （1.35 μg/g fresh weight）, but not detected in lipid. The results suggested that the mean daily intake from fish was 0.03 μg/kg body weight which was very close to the recommended WHO tolerable daily intake （TDI） level of 0.04μg/kg body weight per day, and local people were wamed they may have health risk if they consumed fish from the river.

Synthesis,gas adsorption and reliable pore size estimation of zeolitic imidazolate framework-7 using CO_2 and water adsorption

Reliable estimation of the pore size distribution(PSD) in porous materials such as metal–organic frameworks(MOFs) and zeolitic imidazolate frameworks(ZIFs) is crucial for accurately assessing adsorption capacity and corresponding selectivity. In this study, the so-called zeolitic imidazolate framework-7(ZIF-7) is successfully synthesized via relatively fast and convenient microwave technique. The morphology and structure of the obtained MOF were characterized by XRD, SEM and N_2 and CO_2adsorption/desorption isotherms at 77 K and0 °C respectively. Then, to determine the PSD of the fabricated MOF, carbon dioxide isotherms are experimentally measured at various temperatures up to atmospheric pressure. Afterward, the experimental CO_2 isotherms data are utilized in two recently proposed in-house algorithms of SHN1 and SHN2 to extract the true PSD of manufactured ZIF-7. The obtained results revealed that median pore diameter of the fabricated ZIF-7 is estimated around 0.404 nm and 0.370 nm by using CO_2 isotherms at 273 K and 298 K respectively. These values are in good agreement with the real pore diameter of 0.42 nm. Moreover, experimental data of water adsorption isotherms over four different MOFs, borrowed from literature, are employed to illustrate further effectiveness of the above algorithms on successful determination of the corresponding pore size distributions. All predicted PSDs are proved to be in good agreement with those obtained from independent methods such as topology and morphology studies.

New Insight into Factors Controlling Organic Matter Distribution in Lower Cambrian Source Rocks: A Study from the Qiongzhusi Formation in South China

Sedimentary organic matter(OM) is a major reservoir of organic carbon in the global carbon cycle. Despite many studies, there still exist many debates on the mechanism of OM accumulation and preservation in marine sediments. We present a new field study of a Lower Cambrian shallow marine shelf sequence in the northern edge of the Yangtze Plate, China. Our results show that palynological OM and biogenic silica(Bio-Si) could be used alongside more conventional redox and paleo-productivity proxies to study the distribution of OM in marine sediments. The qualitative and quantitative study of palynological OM provides more detailed information on the nature of sedimentary organic carbon, which can be helpful in the assessment of primary productivity and OM preservation. In addition, the presence of Bio-Si stimulates the physical preservation of OM. Further analysis indicates that an increase in Bio-Si can promote OM preservation. This case-study provides insight into the intertwined factors controlling OM accumulation in the Early Cambrian.

Distribution of fatty acids in the alpine grassland soils of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

As an important biomarker, fatty acids(FAs) have been extensively used to trace the origin of organic matter in sediments and soils. However, studies of the distribution and abundance of FAs in alpine grassland soils are still rare, especially on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau(QTP), the highest plateau in the world, which contributes sediments to many large rivers in Asia. This study investigates the composition, distribution and source of FAs with increasing soil depths from 17 typical alpine grassland sites in the QTP. The most abundant FAs included the ubiquitous C16 FA and even-numbered long-chain FAs(C20–C30), indicating mixed inputs from microbial and higher plant sources. Source apportionment showed that higher plants were the dominant contributor of FAs(approximately 40%) in QTP soils. The abundance of FAs decreased with soil depth, with the highest value(1.08±0.09 mg/g C) at a 0–10 cm depth and the lowest value(0.46±0.12 mg/g C) at a 50–70 cm depth, due to much lower plant inputs into the deeper horizons. The total concentration of FAs was negatively correlated to the mean annual temperature(MAT; P<0.05) and soil p H(P<0.01), suggesting that the preservation of FAs was favored in low-MAT and low-p H soils on the QTP. The abundance of fresh C source FAs increased significantly with the mean annual precipitation(MAP; P<0.05), indicating that high MAP facilitates the accumulation of fresh FAs in QTP soils. Other environmental parameters, such as the soil mineral content(aluminum and iron oxide), microbial community composition as well as litter quality and quantity, may also exert a strong control on the preservation of FAs in QTP soils and warrant further research to better understand the mechanisms responsible for the preservation of FAs in QTP soils.

Sorption and phase distribution of ethanol and butanol blended gasoline vapours in the vadose zone after release

The sorption and phase distribution of 20% ethanol and butanol blended gasoline （E20 and B20） vapours have been examined in soils with varying soil organic matter （SOM） and water contents via laboratory microcosm experiments. The presence of 20% alcohol reduced the sorption of gasoline compounds by soil as well as the mass distribution of the compounds to soil solids. This effect was greater for ethanol than butanol. Compared with the sorption coefficient （Kd） of unblended gasoline compounds, the Kd of E20 gasoline compounds decreased by 54% for pentane, 54% for methylcyclopentane （MCP） and 63% for benzene, while the Kd of B20 gasoline compounds decreased by 39% for pentane, 38% for MCP and 49% for benzene, The retardation factor （R） of E20 gasoline compounds decreased by 53% for pentane, 53% for MCP and 48% for benzene, while the R of B20 gasoline compounds decreased by 39% for pentane, 37% for MCP and 38% for benzene. For all SOM and water contents tested, the Kd and R of all gasoline compounds were in the order of unblended gasoline 〉 B20 〉 E20, indicating that the use of high ethanol volume in gasoline to combat climate change could put the groundwater at greater risk of contamination,

Spatio-temporal variability in microfossil and geochemical records of Cenomanian-Turonian oceanic anoxic event-2:a review

The Cenomanian-Turonian boundary oceanic anoxic event(OAE-2;Bonarelli event;~94 Ma)is associated with a species turnover in the marine calcareous microfossil record,widespread marine anoxia,black shale deposition and positiveδ13C excursions.This study reviews 141 CTBE sites globally,aiming to understand micropaleontological,geochemical,and sedimentological expressions of OAE-2.There is a clear palaeogeographic and palaeobathymetric heterogeneity in the development of OAE-2 marine anoxia.A majority of the documented OAE-2 sites are from deep marine environments.The calcareous nannoplankton and benthic foraminifera record a diversity decline,while planktic foraminifera shows community level shifts and no major mass extinction.The variability of total organic carbon in OAE-2 sediments across sites(<1 to>10 wt.%)and theδ13C profiles(diachronous)have been attributed to different mechanisms of anoxia development.The increased primary“productivity model”gains support from productivity proxies(e.g.,Ba,P,Cu,Ni),redox-sensitive elements(e.g.,Mn,Mo,U,V,As),and eutrophic genera(e.g.,benthic foraminifera Gabonita spp.,calcareous nannofossils Biscutum spp.and Zeugrhabdotus erectus).The enhanced organic carbon“preservation model”in stratified(semi)restricted basins gains support from sites with lower enrichment of redox-sensitive elements and oligotrophic flora and fauna in the OAE-2 records.Geochronology of the Caribbean and the High Atlantic Large Igneous Province events(CLIP and HALIP)mark them as likely triggers of the OAE-2 related global perturbation of marine biogeochemistry.Volcanic triggers may have caused climate warming,altered hydrological cycles,enhanced continental weathering,shifts in ocean circulation,and nutrient flows.Addressing knowledge gaps,further research is urged,utilizing innovative proxies,and exploring underrepresented depositional systems to comprehensively understand OAE-2 onset and biotic crisis.

Effects of ozonation and coagulation on effluent organic matter characteristics and ultrafiltration membrane fouling

Effluent organic matter （EfOM） is the major cause of fouling in the low pressure membranes process for wastewater reuse. Coagulation and oxidation of biological wastewater treatment effluent have been applied for the fouling control of microfiltration membranes. However, the change in EfOM structure by pre-treatments has not been clearly identified. The changes of EfOM characteristics induced by coagulation and ozonation were investigated through size exclusion chromatography, UV/Vis spectrophotometry, fluorescence spectrophotometry and titrimetric analysis to identify the mechanisms in the reduction of ultrafiltration （UF） membrane fouling. The results indicated that reduction of flux decline by coagulation was due to modified characteristics of dissolved organic carbon （DOC） content. Total concentration of DOC was not reduced by ozonation. However, the mass fraction of the molecules with molecular weight larger than 5 kDa, fluorescence intensity, aromaticity, highly condensed chromophores, average molecular weight and soluble microbial byproducts decreased greatly after ozonation. These results indicated that EfOM was partially oxidized by ozonation to low molecular weight, highly charged compounds with abundant electron- withdrawing functional groups, which are favourable for alleviating UF membrane flux decline.

Effect of different molecular weight organic components on the increase of microbial growth potential of secondary effluent by ozonation

Ozonation has been widely applied in advanced wastewater treatment. In this study, the effect of ozonation on assimilable organic carbon （AOC） levels in secondary effluents was investigated, and AOC variation of different molecular weight （MW） organic components was analyzed. Although the removal efflciencies were 47%-76% and 94%-100% for UV2s4 and color at ozone dosage of 10 mg/L, dissolved organic carbon （DOC） in secondary effluents was hardly removed by ozonation. The AOC levels increased by 70%-780% at an ozone dosage range of 1-10 mg/L. AOC increased significantly in the instantaneous ozone demand phase, and the increase in AOC was correlated to the decrease in UV254 during ozonation. The results of MW distribution showed that, ozonation led to the transformation of larger molecules into smaller ones, but the increase in low MW （〈1 kDa） fraction did not contribute much to AOC production. The change of high MW （〉100 kDa and 10-100 kDa） fractions itself during ozonation was the main reason for the increase of AOC levels. Furthermore, the oxidation of organic matters with high MWs （〉 100 kDa and 10-100 kDa） resulted in more AOC production than those with low MWs （1-10 kDa and 〈1 kDa）. The results indicated that removing large molecules in secondary effluents could limit the increase of AOC during ozonation.