Scanning electron microscopy and magnetic characterization of iron oxides in solid waste landfill leachate

Magnetic susceptibility in the assessment of toxic heavy metal elements in the surface sediments of Inner Ambon Bay, Maluku province, Indonesia

The Inner Ambon Bay (IAB) is an important area for the economic development of the city of Ambon, one of only a few urban areas in eastern Indonesia. This study is intended to monitor the anthropogenic impact on IAB by employing combined rock magnetic and geochemical analyses on 20 samples collected from IAB and the surrounding rivers. Magnetic susceptibility values of samples in the IAB averaged 26.37× 10-8 m3/kg, which is relatively high and comparable to that of contaminated coastal environments. Magnetic susceptibility correlated positively with certain metals such as Cr, Co, Ni, and Mn but negatively with Hg. Geochemical analyses showed that Hg and Ag contents were relatively high but pose only moderate risk to the environment based on the geo-accumulation index. Furthermore, the potential ecological risk index (PERI) showed that there were two points that showed moderate ecological risk. Multivariate statistical analysis (principal component analysis (PCA), Pearson's correlation coefficient (PCC), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA)) outlined that the metallic accumulation in the sediments of IAB was related to lithological, geological, and anthropogenic impacts. Therefore, oil spills and household waste are likely major reasons for anthropogenic pollution in the sediments of the IAB.

Topsoil's magnetic and electrical properties in a volcanic and tropical region

Environmental monitoring by measuring topsoil's magnetic and electrical properties is one practical, quick, and low-cost approach. This method has been used worldwide as a proxy for the presence of potentially toxic elements. However, additional research must be conducted on diverse soil types, geology, and climates. We determined the magnetic and electrical properties of urban and agricultural topsoils in a volcanic region and analyzed them as possible proxies of potentially toxic elements for environmental monitoring. To identify topsoil characteristics, we employed the measurements of magnetic susceptibility and hysteresis, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, power of hydrogen (pH), particle morphology, and element contents that were statistically analyzed to identify relevant properties. The result was able to differentiate volcanic soils from urban, industrial, and agricultural areas as well. The value of low-frequency magnetic susceptibility (χLF) in soils from urban areas is higher than 866.0±249.9 ×10-8 m3 kg-1, while the value of χLF in agricultural areas is 208.0±67.8 ×10-8 m3 kg-1. This is reinforced by the relationship between low-frequency and frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility (χLF-χFD%) in samples from urban areas that fall within the same cluster dominated by coarse-grained magnetic minerals originating from anthropogenic processes. In contrast, the agricultural area forms a separate cluster primarily influenced by pedogenic processes from acid igneous rock minerals. Caution is required for interpreting the magnetic signal due to the high contents of lithogenic magnetic particles inherited from the parent materials of Andisols.

Magnetic iron-based nanoparticles biogeochemical behavior in soil-plant system: A critical review

Increasing attention is being given to magnetic iron-based nanoparticles (MINPs) because of their potential environmental benefits. Owing to the earth abundance and high utilization of MINPs, as well as the significant functions of Fe in sustainable agriculture and environmental remediation, an understanding of the environmental fate of MINPs is indispensable. However, there are still knowledge gaps regarding the largely unknown environmental behaviors and fate of MINPs in soil-plant system. Thus, this review summarizes recent literature on the biogeochemical behavior (uptake, transportation, and transformation) of MINPs in soil and plants. The different possible uptake (e.g., foliar and root adsorption) and translocation (e.g., xylem, phloem, symplastic/apoplastic pathway, and endocytosis) pathways are discussed. Furthermore, drivers of MINPs uptake and transportation (e.g., soil characteristics, fertilizer treatments, copresence of inorganic and organic anions, meteorological conditions, and cell wall pores) in both soil and plant environments are summarized. This review also details the physical, chemical, and biological transformations of MINPs in soil-plant system. More importantly, a metadata analysis from the existing literature was employed to investigate the distinction between MINPs and other engineering nanoparticles biogeochemical behavior. In the future, more attention should be given to understanding the behavior of MINPs in soil-plant system and improving the capabilities of predictive models. This review thus highlights the main knowledge gaps regarding MINPs behavior and fate to provide guidance for their safe application in agrochemicals, crop production, and soil health.

Superparamagnetic iron oxides nanoparticles from municipal solid waste incinerators

During their production, management, and landfilling, bottom (BA) and fly (FA) ashes from municipal solid waste incineration may liberate Fe-bearing, ultrafine particles and easily enter different environmental sinks of the biosphere. We aim to explore a collection of BA and FA samples from Italian incinerators to probe magnetic mineralogy and the fraction of harmful superparamagnetic (SP) nanoparticles (d<30nm). X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy observation, temperature- and frequency-dependent magnetometry, and Mossbauer analysis are performed. The integration of information from our rock magnetic and non-magnetic techniques leads us to conclude that the dominant magnetic carrier in our samples is magnetite and its intermediate/impure forms, while sulphides (i.e., monoclinic pyrrhotite) are important ancillary magnetic phases. The SP fraction fluxing from the BA and FA outputs of a single incinerator is detected and estimated in 10³tons/year. This work stresses the need to calibrate the current technologies towards a safer management of combustion ashes and certainly to inform the environmental impact assessment by using a combination of different methods.

Optimal reduction of chemical oxygen demand and NH3-N from landfill leachate using a strongly resistant novel Bacillus salmalaya strain

Background

When the unavoidable waste generation is considered as damaging to our environment, it becomes crucial to develop a sustainable technology to remediate the pollutant source towards an environmental protection and safety. The development of a bioengineering technology for highly efficient pollutant removal is this regard. Given the high ammonia nitrogen content and chemical oxygen demand of landfill leachate, Bacillus salmalaya strain 139SI, a novel resident strain microbe that can survive in high ammonia nitrogen concentrations, was investigated for the bioremoval of ammonia nitrogen from landfill leachate. The treatability of landfill leachate was evaluated under different treatment parameters, such as temperature, inoculum dosage, and pH.

Results

Results demonstrated that bioaugmentation with the novel strain can potentially improve the biodegradability of landfill leachate. B. salmalaya strain 139SI showed high potential to enhance biological treatment given its maximum NH₃–N and COD removal efficiencies. The response surface plot pattern indicated that within 11 days and under optimum conditions (10% v/v inoculant, pH 6, and 35 °C), B. salmalaya strain139SI removed 78% of ammonia nitrogen. At the end of the study, biological and chemical oxygen demands remarkably decreased by 88% and 91.4%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that ammonia ions covered the cell surface of B. salmalaya strain139SI.

Conclusions

Therefore, novel resistant Bacillus salmalaya strain139SI significantly reduces the chemical oxygen demand and NH₃–N content of landfill leachate.

Graphical abstract

Leachate treatment by B. salmalaya strain 139SI within 11 days.

The rare earth elements in municipal solid waste incinerators ash and promising tools for their prospecting

Bottom and fly ashes from Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators (MSWI) are hazardous products that present concern for their safe management. An attractive option to reduce their impact both on the environment and the financial commitment is turning MSWI ashes into secondary raw materials. In this study we present the REE content and distribution of bottom and fly ashes from MSWI after a highly effective digestion method and samples analysis by ICP-MS. The chondrite-normalised REE patterns of MSWI bottom and fly ash are comparable with that of crustal averages, suggesting a main geogenic source. Deviations from typical crustal pattern (e.g., Eu, Tb) disclose a contribution of likely anthropogenic provenance. The correlation with major elements indicates possible sources for REE and facilitates a preliminary resource assessment. Moreover, magnetic susceptibility measurements can be a useful prospecting method in urban ores made of MSWI ashes. The relationship between REE and some influencing parameters (e.g., Pricing Influence Factor) emphasises the importance of MSWI ash as alternative source of REE and the need of further efforts for REE recovery and purification from low concentrations but high flows waste.

Assessment of heavy metal pollution from a Fe-smelting plant in urban river sediments using environmental magnetic and geochemical methods

Environmental magnetic proxies provide a rapid means of assessing the degree of industrial heavy metal pollution in soils and sediments. To test the efficiency of magnetic methods for detecting contaminates from a Fe-smelting plant in Loudi City, Hunan Province (China) we investigated river sediments from Lianshui River. Both magnetic and non-magnetic (microscopic, chemical and statistical) methods were used to characterize these sediments. Anthropogenic heavy metals coexist with coarse-grained magnetic spherules. It can be demonstrated that the Pollution Load Index of industrial heavy metals (Fe, V, Cr, Mo, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu) and the logarithm of saturation isothermal remanent magnetization, a proxy for magnetic concentration, are significantly correlated. The distribution heavy metal pollution in the Lianshui River is controlled by surface water transport and deposition. Our findings demonstrate that magnetic methods have a useful and practical application for detecting and mapping pollution in and around modern industrial cities.