Spatio-seasonal patterns and sources of major ions in the Longjiang River catchment, Southern China.

River water quality is closely related to the major ion sources and hydrological conditions. However, there is a limited cognition about the geochemical sources and the seasonal variations of major ions. Thus, in this study, a total of 90 water samples were collected from the Longjiang River and its three tributaries in the dry and wet seasons.

Effects of recycling hyper-thermal inoculum by repeated batch cultivation into co-composting of sludge and livestock-poultry manure.

The enrichment and adaptation of hyper-thermal compost-derived thermophilic inoculum by repeated batch cultivation (RBC) was conducted by investigating bacterial community. The effects of recycling hyper-thermal inoculum by RBC into co-composting were investigated through evaluating the influences of temperature, pH, moisture, C/N ratio, transformation of nitrogen, composting maturity, humification levels and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that RBC enriched the thermophilic bacterial community and nitrogen fixation bacteria of the compost-derived thermophilic inoculum.

In-situ remediation of acid mine drainage from abandoned coal mine by filed pilot-scale passive treatment system: Performance and response of microbial communities to low pH and elevated Fe.

A field pilot-scale passive treatment system was developed for in-situ bioremediation of acid mine drainage (AMD). The microbial community and its variation were analyzed. The data proved that 93.

A modified method of separating Tl(I) and Tl(III) in aqueous samples using solid phase extraction.

In spite of the development of new measurement techniques in recent years, the rapid and accurate speciation of thallium in environmental aqueous samples remains a challenge. In this context, a novel method of solid phase extraction (SPE), involving the anion exchange resin AG1-X8, is proposed to separate Tl(I) and Tl(III). In the presence of diethylene triamine pentacetate acid (DTPA), Tl(III) and Tl(I) can be separated by selective adsorption of Tl(III)-DTPA onto the resin, Tl(III) is then eluted by a solution of HCl with SO.

[Spatial Distribution, Sources and Bioavailability of Heavy Metals in the Surface Sediments of Longjiang River, Southern China].

In order to evaluate the pollution status, possible sources, and bioavailability of heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Sb, Zn, and Tl), 33 surface sediments were collected from Longjiang River, Southern China. The total concentrations and potential bioavailable concentrations of the heavy metals were analyzed using ICP-MS. Enrichment factors (EFs), Pearson correlation analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to further assess their pollution degree and potential sources.

[Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Potential Ecological Risk of Antimony and Selected Heavy Metals in Sediments of Duliujiang River].

In order to investigate the spatial distribution characteristics of Sb and selected heavy metals, and to discriminate their sources and potential ecological risks in surface sediments of the Duliujiang river,a total of 62 surface sediment samples were collected in this study. Total contents of Sb, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Tl, Zn and Fe in these samples were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS) and the inductive plasma optical emission spectrometry(ICP-OES). Principal component analysis(PCA) and Pearson correlation analysis were used to deduce the potential sources of these elements.

Occurrence and mobility of toxic elements in coals from endemic fluorosis areas in the Three Gorges Region, SW China.

Fluorine (F) is a topic of great interest in coal-combustion related endemic fluorosis areas. However, little extent research exists regarding the environmental geochemistry of toxic elements that are enriched in coals and coal wastes in traditional endemic fluorosis areas, particularly focusing on their occurrences and mobilities during the weathering-leaching processes of coals and coal wastes in the surface environment. This paper addressed the issue of toxic elements in coals and coal wastes in the Three Gorges Region, Southwest (SW) China, where endemic fluorosis has historically prevailed, and investigated the distribution, occurrence, mobility features, and associated potential health risks.

Characterization of the microbial community composition and the distribution of Fe-metabolizing bacteria in a creek contaminated by acid mine drainage.

A small watershed heavily contaminated by long-term acid mine drainage (AMD) from an upstream abandoned coal mine was selected to study the microbial community developed in such extreme system. The watershed consists of AMD-contaminated creek, adjacent contaminated soils, and a small cascade aeration unit constructed downstream, which provide an excellent contaminated site to study the microbial response in diverse extreme AMD-polluted environments. The results showed that the innate microbial communities were dominated by acidophilic bacteria, especially acidophilic Fe-metabolizing bacteria, suggesting that Fe and pH are the primary environmental factors in governing the indigenous microbial communities.

Microbial diversity and community structure in an antimony-rich tailings dump.

To assess the impact of antimony (Sb) on microbial community structure, 12 samples were taken from an Sb tailings pile in Guizhou Province, Southwest China. All 12 samples exhibited elevated Sb concentrations, but the mobile and bioaccessible fractions were small in comparison to total Sb concentrations. Besides the geochemical analyses, microbial communities inhabiting the tailing samples were characterized to investigate the interplay between the microorganisms and environmental factors in mine tailings.