Feasibility Evaluation of Using Biochar-based Permeable Reactive Barrier for the Remediation of Mercury and Arsenic Composite Polluted Water Bodies

This study employed a modified biochar material to construct a permeable reactive barrier(PRB)for the treatment of water bodies polluted with mercury and arsenic.The experimental results demonstrated that the addition of goethite-modified biochar significantly enhanced the remediation efficiency of As(III),achieving a maximum removal rate of 100%.Conversely,pure biochar exhibited high efficiency in the removal of Hg(II),with a maximum removal rate approaching 100%.Furthermore,the pH level of the water significantly influenced the adsorption efficiency of heavy metal ions,with the optimal removal performance observed at a pH of 6.0.The PRB system demonstrated excellent removal rates under low concentrations of heavy metals.However,as the concentration increased,the remediation efficiency exhibited a slight decrease.In summary,the findings of this study provide compelling evidence for the use of modified biochar in the construction of PRBs for the remediation of mercury and arsenic-polluted water bodies.Furthermore,the study reveals the mechanism by which pH and heavy metal concentration influence remediation efficiency.

Determination of Arsenic and Mercury in Soil by Microwave Digestion and Hidride GenerationAtomic Fluorescence Spectrometry

[Objective] The aim was to develop a rapid, simple method for determina- tion of arsenic and mercury in soil samples by atomic fluorescence spectrometry. [Method] The method for determination of As and Hg in soil by combined atomic fluorescence spectrometry and microwave digestion was used. [Result] The concentration curve was linear within the range of 0-80.0μg/L of As and 0-8.0 μg/L of Hg, and the detection limits of As and Hg was 0.036 μg/L and 0.015 μg/L, respectively. The precision for elevenfold determination of As at 40.0 ug/L level and Hg at 4.0μg/L level were 1.1% and 2.2%（RSD）, respectively. Recoveries of 103.0%-106.6% for As and 90.0%-95.0% for Hg were obtained for there soil samples. [Conclusion] The proposed method has the advantages of simple operation, high sensitivity, and high efficiency; it was successfully used for determination of As and Hg in soil samples.

Optimization on selenium and arsenic conversion from copper anode slime by low-temperature alkali fusion process

A process was proposed to convert and separate selenium and arsenic in copper anode slime(CAS) by low-temperature alkali fusion process.Central composite design was employed to optimize the effective parameters,in which Na OH/CAS mass ratio,fusion temperature and fusion time were selected as variables,and the conversion ratio of selenium and arsenic as responses.Second-order polynomial models of high significance and 3D response surface plots were constructed to show the relationship between the responses and the variables.Optimum area of >90% selenium conversion ratio and >90% arsenic conversion ratio was obtained by the overlaid contours at Na OH/CAS mass ratio of 0.65-0.75,fusion temperature of 803-823 K and fusion time of 20-30 min.The models are validated by experiments in the optimum area,and the results demonstrate that these models are reliable and accurate in predicting the fusion process.

Geochemistry of arsenic and selenium in a Ge-poor coal from the Wulantuga coal-hosted Ge ore deposit,Inner Mongolia,North China

This paper reports new data for arsenic(As)and selenium(Se)in a total of twelve bench samples of Ge-rich and Ge-poor coals in the No.6 coal seam from the Wulantuga ore deposit,Inner Mongolia,Northeastern China.The Gepoor coals are characterized by low-ash(with a weighted average ash yield 10.59%).The coal samples were digested using an UltraClave microwave high pressure reactor(milestone)and trace elements were detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry—collision/reaction cell technology,a reliable method for As and Se determination in coal samples.The contents of As and Se in the Ge-poor(with a weighted average content of 9.14 and 0.30 lg/g,respectively)and Ge-rich coal samples in the present study(varies from 16.88 to 17,776 lg/g and from 0.26 to 14.39 lg/g,respectively)are in a sharp contrast.The As in the Ge-poor coals is of both organic-and pyrite-associations,and its enrichment is attributed to the sediment source,and to a lesser extent,to hydrothermal fluids.Se is predominantly connected with organic matter in the Wulantuga Ge-poor coals.

Selenium Alleviates Carbohydrate Metabolism and Nutrient Composition in Arsenic Stressed Rice Plants

This study reported the influence of selenium(Se)on carbohydrate composition and some related enzymes and nutrient compositions of arsenic(As)stressed rice plants.Rice plants of cultivar PR126 were grown on soil amended with As in a range of 25-100μmol/kg with and without 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg Se.Total soluble sugars(TSS)and reducing sugars(RS)increased in leaves of As stressed plants at the tillering and grain filling stages whereas sucrose and starch contents showed the reverse trend.Se supplementation to As stressed plants further increased TSS and RS,and enhanced sucrose phosphate synthase activity in rice leaves,thus improving sucrose content and the tolerance to As stress of the plants.Se alone or in combination with As resulted in lower As accumulation in rice husk and grains,and the highest reduction was observed in Se applied at 1.0 mg/kg compared to the corresponding As treatments alone.As may limit the accumulations of Na,Mg,K,Ca,Fe,Zn and Mn in rice grains,which are essential for humans.Binary application of different combinations of As and Se protected the plants against As and increased the mineral content in rice grains.Addition of Se in As treated soil significantly alleviated As stress by enhancing grain yields compared to the corresponding As treatment.It is concluded that Se induced amelioration of the toxic impact of As in rice either by modulating carbohydrate composition and/or nutrient uptake is one of the mechanisms to alleviate As stress in plants.

Determination and ecological risk assessment of arsenic and mercury in sediments from the Changjiang River Estuary and adjacent East China Sea

Arsenic(As)and mercury(Hg)are pollutants presented in marine environment.A process of atomic fluorescence spectrometry was proposed for the simultaneous determination of As and Hg in marine sediment samples(n=38)collected from the Changjiang River Estuary and adjacent East China Sea.The proposed method used an optimized pretreatment procedure in an aqua regia–H_(2)O digestion system.Recoveries of As and Hg increased to97%and 98%,respectively,with suitable precisions(2.7%–4.1%)under optimized process conditions.As and Hg were widely presented in these samples,with the ranges of content values were 2.39–8.77μg/g for As and48.03–410.8 ng/g for Hg.Results indicate that anthropogenic factors strongly influence the abundances of As and Hg in investigated samples.The preliminary environmental risk assessment was investigated using the Igeoaccumulation index(Igeo)and anthropogenic contribution rate(M).Findings reveal that Hg demonstrates a strong ecological risk(with average values of 1.3 and 72%for Igeo and M,respectively)in the sediments from the Changjiang River Estuary and adjacent East China Sea.Therefore,Hg should be considered in future investigations.

Health Risk Assessment in Children by Arsenic and Mercury Pollution of Groundwater in a Mining Area in Sonora, Mexico

A highly acidic spill from one of the most important copper mines in the Americas (Buenavista del Cobre) occurred in Sonora, Mexico in August, 2014. 40,000 m3 of metals-enriched sulphate solution escaped into the Sonora River representing the worst ecological disaster in Mexican history. The spill affected the economy, water accessibility and the health of residents near the river. Despite the economic importance of mining in this area, no environmental assessment was undertaken. There is no information about the health impact of this event on the local population. The study assesses the health risk among children exposed to arsenic and mercury via groundwater in five communities located in a mining area into the Sonora River Basin, Mexico. Local drinking water from the localities was sampled one year after the spill and it was analyzed for arsenic and mercury by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry coupled with Hydride Generation (AAS/HG). Further, some of the traditional local foods were sampled and analyzed for the same elements. Results indicate that levels of arsenic in drinking water did not exceed the Mexican Norm (25 μg As/L) or the EPA Guideline (10 μg As/L). The concentrations of mercury exceeded the WHO and Mexican Legislation value (1.0 μg Hg/L). The Hazard Quotient (HQ) values for arsenic were >1 in 42% of children exposed and for mercury in 67% of the children. Foods concentrations contained in the ranges of 9.2 to 62.0 μg As/Kg and 0.28 to 42 μg Hg/Kg for arsenic and mercury respectively. These values are below the Codex Alimentarius limits. Children affected by mining activities are at risk of developing chronic diseases associated with low arsenic and mercury exposure via groundwater consumption, without consideration of the contribution from these metals by other important exposures routes.

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Variation in Environmental Quality of Water and Sediments of Streams in Mined and Unmined Areas with Emphasis on Mercury (Hg) and Arsenic (As)

Heavy metal pollution from both anthropogenic and natural processes can have significant effect on environmental quality of stream and river systems. However, in Ghana, heavy metal pollution of waterbodies is attributed mainly to mining activities but the role of natural mechanisms in altering stream water and sediment quality in relation to heavy metals has received little attention. Spatial and temporal variation in water quality parameters and heavy metal concentrations in water and sediments were studied comparatively in a river and two streams in a gold-rich watershed impacted by heavy mining activities. Samples were collected monthly over a twelve-month period from November 2010 to October 2011 from upstream (unmined) and downstream (mined) sections of the studied streams. Parameters measured include temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, turbidity, colour, mercury (Hg) and arsenic. High spatial variability of water quality parameters was found. Hg concentrations in water were extremely low in both upstream and downstream areas. Maximum geochemical background levels of Hg in unmined pristine areas were 2.45 mg/g whilst arsenic was 29.10 mg/g. By contrast, gold-mined downstream areas recorded Hg and arsenic concentrations of 8.75 mg/g and 82.53 mg/g in stream sediments respectively. Levels of Hg and arsenic in sediments were several orders of magnitude greater than concentrations in surface water in downstream sections and this may be explained by substances originating from mining activities, upstream transport or remobilized sedimented materials in the overlying water column. Our study showed that both natural and human activities may contribute to heavy metal pollution in the highly mineralized watershed of the Pra River Basin. Human factors are however likely to amplify the natural background levels of heavy metals.

A Review of the Potential Issues of Pollution Caused by the Mineral Elements, Mercury, Lead and Arsenic, Its Possible Impacts on the Human Beings and the Suggested Solutions

Objective: This paper mainly discusses and summarises the potential issues of pollution caused by the Mineral elements, Mercury, Lead and Arsenic, its possible impacts on the human beings and the suggested solutions. Methods: This paper is prepared by reviewing the latest academic literatures. Result: First, this article discusses two aspects including the effects of Mercury, Lead and Arsenic on the Chinese herbal medicine and the potential issues of causing the environmental pollution. And then further study its toxicity effects and the side impacts on the human bodies in order to realize the actual circumstances people are encountering nowadays. This paper will also the corresponding its treatment method of reviews. Hope this will provide a valuable reference. Conclusion: Theses issues caused by the Mineral elements are prominent nowadays, thus the ongoing researches on the impacts of pollution and the possible solutions are regarded as highly valued in order to conserve the natural environment and meanwhile safeguard the well beings of people and the future offspring.

The Chemical Speciation and Behavior of Mercury and Selenium in the Insoluble Fraction of Striped Dolphin Liver

Most of the mercury and selenium exist in the insoluble fraction of dolphin liver. After the insoluble fraction was digested by alkaline protease in the presence of 1%SDS, approximately 50% of Hg and Se consisted in the supernatant and the others in the residue. Gel filtration chromatography of the hydrolysate showed that 96% of Hg and 87% of Se were combined with the high molecular weight proteins stably, which cannot be substituted by the complex reagents. Mercury and selenium in the residue were confirmed as HgSe crystal.

Effect of competing solutes on arsenic(Ⅴ) adsorption using iron and aluminum oxides

The study focused on the effect of several typical competing solutes on removal of arsenic with Fe2O3 and Al2O3. The test results indicate that chloride, nitrate and sulfate did not have detectable effects, and that selenium（Ⅳ） （Se（Ⅳ）） and vanadium（Ⅴ） （V（Ⅴ）） showed slight effects on the adsorption of As（Ⅴ） with Fe2O3. The results also showed that adsorption of As（Ⅴ） on A12O3 was not affected by chloride and nitrate anions, but slightly by Se（Ⅳ） and V（Ⅴ） ions. Unlike the adsorption of As（Ⅴ） with Fe2O3, that with Fe2O3 was affected by the presence of sulfate in water solutions. Both phosphate and silica have significant adverse effects on the adsorption of As（Ⅴ） adsorption with Fe2O3 and Al2O3. Compared to the other tested anions, phosphate anion was found to be the most prominent solute affecting the As（Ⅴ） adsorption with Fe2O3 and Al2O3. In general, Fe2O3 has a better performance than Al2O3 in removal of As（Ⅴ） within a water environment where multi competing solutes are present.

Effect of inorganic arsenic in paddy soil on the migration and transformation of selenium species in rice plants

Selenium(Se)in paddy rice is one of the significant sources of human Se nutrition.However,the effect of arsenic(As)pollution in soil on the translocation of Se species in rice plants is unclear.In this research,a pot experiment was designed to examine the effect of the addition of 50 mg As/kg soil as arsenite or arsenate on the migration of Se species from soil to indica Minghui 63 and Luyoumingzhan.The results showed that the antagonism between inorganic As and Se was closely related to the rice cultivar and Se oxidation state in soil.Relative to the standalone selenate treatment,arsenite significantly(p<0.05)decreased the accumulation of selenocystine,selenomethionine and selenate in the roots,stems,sheaths,leaves,brans and kernels of both cultivars by 21.4%-100.0%,40.0%-100.0%,41.0%-100%,5.4%-96.3%,11.3%-100.0% and 26.2%-39.7% respectively,except for selenocystine in the kernels of indica Minghui 63 and selenomethionine in the leaves of indica Minghui 63 and the stems of indica Luyoumingzhan.Arsenate also decreased(p<0.05)the accumulation of selenocystine,selenomethionine and selenate in the roots,stems,brans and kernels of both cultivars by 34.9%-100.0%,30.2%-100.0%,11.3%-100.0% and 5.6%-39.6%respectively,except for selenate in the stems of indica Minghui 63.However,relative to the standalone selenite treatment,arsenite and arsenate decreased(p<0.05)the accumulation of selenocystine,selenomethionine and selenite only in the roots of indica Minghui 63 by 45.5%-100.0%.Our results suggested that arsenite and arsenate had better antagonism toward Se species in selenate-added soil than that in selenite-added soil;moreover,arsenite had a higher inhibiting effect on the accumulation of Se species than arsenate.

Recent advances in speciation analysis of mercury,arsenic and selenium

Mercury(Hg),arsenic(As) and selenium(Se) are ubiquitous in the environment and exist in a variety of species,which have great influence on their transport,bioaccumulation and toxicity.This review presents the recent research progress in speciation analysis of Hg,As,and Se,with emphasis on enhanced cold vapor generation as interface for liquid chromatography and atomic spectrometry,speciation of volatile species in gas phase,and isotope dilution technique to improve the precision and accuracy of speciation.Hyphenated techniques to characterize the complexes of Hg and As with phytochelatins and chromatographic separation coupled with multi-collector-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to measure species-specific isotopic ratios,are also briefly discussed.

Selenium-oxidizing Agrobacterium sp.T3F4 decreases arsenic uptake by Brassica rapa L.under a native polluted soil

Toxic arsenic(As)and trace element selenium(Se)are transformed by microorganisms but their complex interactions in soil-plant systems have not been fully understood.An Asand Se-oxidizing bacterium,Agrobacterium sp.T3F4,was applied to a native seleniferous As-polluted soil to investigate As/Se uptake by the vegetable Brassica rapa L.and As-Se interaction as mediated by strain T3F4.The Se content in the aboveground plants was significantly enhanced by 34.1%,but the As content was significantly decreased by 20.5% in the T3F4-inoculated pot culture compared to the control(P<0.05).Similar result was shown in treatment with additional 5 mg/kg of Se(IV)in soil.In addition,the As contents in roots were significantly decreased by more than 35% under T3F4 or Se(IV)treatments(P<0.05).Analysis of As-Se-bacterium interaction in a soil simulation experiment showed that the bioavailability of Se significantly increased and As was immobilized with the addition of the T3F4strain(P<0.05).Furthermore,an As/Se co-exposure hydroponic experiment demonstrated that As uptake and accumulation in plants was reduced by increasing Se(IV)concentrations.The 50% growth inhibition concentration(IC50)values for As in plants were increased about one-fold and two-fold under co-exposure with 5 and 10μmol/L Se(IV),respectively.In conclusion,strain T3F4 improves Se uptake but decreases As uptake by plants via oxidation of As and Se,resulting in decrease of soil As bioavailability and As/Se competitive absorption by plants.This provides a potential bioremediation strategy for Se biofortification and As immobilization in As-polluted soil.

Mutual detoxification of mercury and selenium in unicellular Tetrahymena

Selenium（Se） is commonly recognized as a protective element with an antagonistic effect against mercury（Hg） toxicity. However, the mechanisms of this Hg–Se antagonism are complex and remain controversial. To gain insight into the Hg–Se antagonism, a type of unicellular eukaryotic protozoa（Tetrahymena malaccensis, T. malaccensis） was selected and individually or jointly exposed to two Hg and three Se species. We found that Se species showed different toxic effects on the proliferation of T. malaccensis with the toxicity following the order：selenite（Se（IV）） 〉 selenomethionine（SeMeth） 〉 selenate（Se（VI））. The Hg–Se antagonism in Tetrahymena was observed because the joint toxicity significantly decreased under co-exposure to highly toxic dosages of Hg and Se versus individual toxicity. Unlike Se（IV） and Se（VI）, non-toxic dosage of SeM eth significantly decreased the Hg toxicity, revealing the influence of the Se species and dosages on the Hg–Se antagonism. Unexpectedly, inorganic divalent Hg（Hg2＋） and monomethylmercury（MeHg） also displayed detoxification towards extremely highly toxic dosages of Se, although their detoxifying efficiency was discrepant. These results suggested mutual Hg–Se detoxification in T. malaccensis, which was highly dependent on the dosages and species of both elements. As compared to other species, SeM eth and MeHg promoted the Hg–Se joint effects to a higher degree. Additionally, the Hg contents decreased for all the Hg–Se co-exposed groups, revealing a sequestering effect of Se towards Hg in T. malaccensis.

Physiological Mechanism of Exogenous Selenium in Alleviating Mercury Stress on Pakchoi(Brassica campestris L.)

The objective of this study was to explain the physiological mechanisms through which Na_(2)SeO_(3) mitigates the growth and developmental inhibition of pakchoi under HgCl_(2)stress.The results showed that treatment with HgCl_(2)(40 mg L^(−1))led to reduced biomass,dwarfing,root shortening,and root tip necrosis in pakchoi.Compared to control(CK),the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and peroxidase(POD)in Hg treatment increased,and the content of malondialdehyde(MDA)also dramatically increased,which negatively impacted the growth of pakchoi.Low concentrations of Na_(2)SeO_(3)(0.2 mg L^(−1))significantly increased the content of soluble sugars compared with control,while chlorophyll,soluble proteins,free amino acids,and vitamin C had no significant changes.The results of the mixed treatments with HgCl_(2)and Na_(2)SeO_(3) suggested that selenium may be able to reduce the toxicity of mercury in pakchoi.The biomass,plant height,root length,chlorophyll content,soluble protein,other physiological indicators,and proline showed significant increases compared with the HgCl_(2)treatment.Additionally,the MDA content and mercury accumulation in pakchoi decreased.Our results revealed the antagonistic effects of selenium and mercury in pakchoi.Thus,a theoretical basis for studying pakchoi’s mercuryexcreted and selenium-rich cultivation technology was provided.

Distribution of Selenium and Mercury in Heilongjiang Province and Its Effect on Body of Beef Cattle

The aim of this study was to study the distribution of Selenium （Se） and Mercury （Hg） in feed and drinking water in Heilongjiang Province and the effect on body of beef cattle. The experiment selected four areas of Qiqihar, Harbin, Jixi and Hegang Cities in Heilongjiang Province. In each area, a pasture was selected. Five beef cattle from each ranch were collected. At the same time, blood, liver, muscle, kidney, urine and faece of the cattle were collected, as well as drinking water, feed and formula feed from the ranch. The contents of Se and Hg in the collected samples were detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results showed that the contents of Se in liver, kidney, urine and blood of beef cattle were increased with the increase of Se contents in drinking water, while the contents of Se in muscle tissue and manure were decreased. When the contents of Se in feed increased, the contents of them in muscle, manure and liver of beef cattle were increased frst and then decreased, while the contents of Se in kidney, urine and blood were decreased frst and then increased. When Hg contents in drinking water were increased, the contents of them in beef cattle tissue, blood and manure were increased frst and then decreased, and the contents of Se in urine were increased frst and them decreased. And when Hg contents in feed increased, the contents of Se and Me were also increased. In conclusion, Se and Hg contents in these areas were within the safety standards, meanwhile, the contents of Se and Hg in body tissues of beef cattle were affected to varying degrees by the contents of selenium and mercury in feed.

Extraction Characteristics of Selenium as Affected by Coal Fly Ash Type, Water Extractant, and Extraction Time

Selenium (Se) contamination can be a potential groundwater concern near un-lined coal ash landfills. Of all the Environmental Protection Agency’s priority and non-priority pollutants, Se has the narrowest concentration range considered beneficial and detrimental for aquatic and terrestrial organisms. The effects of ash type (i.e., fresh and weathered), water-extractant type (i.e., deionized water, rainwater, and groundwater), and extraction time (i.e., 2 and 6 hours) on Se, arsenic (As), and chromium (Cr) concentrations were investigated from Class C, subbituminous coal fly ash produced at the Flint Creek Power Plant (Benton County, AR). Water-extractable Se concentrations differed (p = 0.03) between ash types across water-extractants, but were unaffected (p > 0.05) by extraction times. Unexpectedly, fresh ash water-extractable Se concentrations were below minimum detection limits (i.e., 2.0 μg·L-1) for all treatments. In contrast, averaged over extraction times, the water-extractable Se concentration from weathered ash was greatest (p < 0.05) with groundwater and rainwater, which did not differ and averaged 60.0 μg·L-1, compared to extraction with deionized water (57.6 μg·L-1). Selenite SeO32- was greater (p ·L-1) than in the weathered ash (0.70 mg·kg-1), while selenate SeO42- concentration was greater (p < 0.001) in the weathered (0.67 mg·kg-1) than in fresh ash (0.48 mg·kg-1). Results from this study indicate that environmental weathering of Class C, subbituminous fly ash promotes oxidation of selenite, to the less toxic, but highly mobile selenate. The formation of hydrated ettringite [Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12·26H2O] and calcium selenite (CaSeO3) likely acted as a sink for weathered ash selenite. Implications of this research include a better understanding of the past, present, and future environmental and health risk potential associated with the release of watersoluble Se, As, and Cr to aid in the development of sustainable fly ash management strategies.

Selenium’s Utility in Mercury Toxicity: A Mini-Review

Purpose: This review of the literature intends to provide readers an understanding of the prophylactic and antidotal usefulness of selenium (Se) for mercury (Hg) toxicity. We will provide an explanation of Hg and Se interactions for potential remediation options to contaminated ecosystems. Design/methodology/approach: In this mini-review, we discuss mechanistic aspects between Hg and Se, the implication for health outcomes, and its usefulness in the ecological recovery of Hg contaminated areas. Findings: Mercury has a strong affinity for Se, resulting in Se-dependent enzymes and proteins’ deactivation with devastating consequences to the host. It is likely that Hg’s toxicity results in Se deficiency. Selenium compounds can have prophylactic or antidotal effects to prevent or reverse the adverse toxicity action of Hg exposure. Current research indicates that the chemical interactions between Hg and Se are unique. The Hg capturing capacity of Se is a million times higher than sulfur compounds and results in inactive complexes. Practical implications: Future work can target engineering methods for technologies that can reduce the toxicity of Hg in the environment. Originality/value: The unique interactions between the elements are that Hg can compromise Se dependent enzymes;however, pharmacologic doses of Se can prevent or modulate the toxic effects of Hg. Paper type: Literature review.