V and Cr substitution in dicalcium silicate under oxidizing and reducing conditions - Synthesis, reactivity, and leaching behavior studies

Dicalcium silicate (C₂S) is known to incorporate potentially hazardous metals (Cr and V) in a belite-rich cementitious system. The effect of the electrovalence nature of V and Cr on C₂S polymorphs' (α´, β, γ) stability under oxidizing and reducing conditions as well as their reactivity are systematically investigated via analyzing oxidation states, phase composition, bonding system, and microstructure as well as oxide composition quantitively. It is shown that C₂S can incorporate Cr (VI) and V(V) consequently leading to stabilization of α´, β-C₂S. Instead, Cr (II, III) and V < (V) tend not to substitute in C₂S. Despite reactive polymorphs (α´, β-C₂S) stability due to Cr (VI) and V(V) incorporation, the early age (48-72 h) C₂S reactivity is drastically reduced due to Cr (VI) and V (V) incorporation. Moreover, one batch leaching test revealed that the V (V) leaching is inversely proportional to aqueous Ca²⁺ ion at pH > 12 while Cr leaching is sensitive to its oxidation state, and dissolution of C₂S. Even though C₂S can incorporate Cr (VI) and V (V) ions, the final leaching is governed by the immobilization potential of C-S-H gel, pH as well as types of calcium chromate and vanadate complexes.

The selectivity of electron acceptors for the removal of caffeine, gliclazide, and prazosin in an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor

This study attempts to investigate the relationship between the dominance of reducing conditions and the biotransformation of pharmaceutical compounds, which has been scarcely reported in a continuous anaerobic treatment process. Previous batch experiments have discovered the possible implications of different reducing conditions on the biotransformation process, but have failed to reflect actual removal performance due to substrate limitations and other operational factors. Continuously operating reactors commonly receive wastewater stream containing a wide range of electron acceptors that diversify the growth of microorganisms in anaerobic treatment. The alteration of the dominance of reducing conditions in a continuous anaerobic reactor may result in the improvement of biotransformation performance compared to a single reducing condition in a substrate-limited batch experiment. The removal of psychostimulant caffeine (CAF), anti-diabetic drug gliclazide (GCZ), and anti-hypertensive drug prazosin (PRZ) were examined through the operation of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor under predominant methanogenic condition (Phase I) and simultaneous reducing conditions provided by a nitrate supplement (Phase II). The results revealed high biotransformation performance for all three compounds (73-> 99%) in both Phase I and Phase II experiments and fitted the pseudo-first-order model. The biotransformation rate of CAF and PRZ were relatively lower by 25% and 29%, while the GCZ rate improvement doubled in Phase II compared to Phase I. The outcome from 16s rRNA sequencing suggested that the biotransformation of the compounds may be driven by Firmicutes and Bacteroidota in both phases, and Burkhorderiales and sulfate-reducing bacteria species in Phase II. This study proved preferential of reducing conditions does not negatively affect the biotransformation performance of each pharmaceutical compound in a continuous anaerobic reactor, but they led to varying biotransformation rate, hence shifting the microbial diversity.

Plant uptake and availability of antimony, lead, copper and zinc in oxic and reduced shooting range soil

Shooting ranges polluted by antimony (Sb), lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are used for animal grazing, thus pose a risk of contaminants entering the food chain. Many of these sites are subject to waterlogging of poorly drained soils. Using field lysimeter experiments, we compared Sb, Pb, Cu and Zn uptake by four common pasture plant species (Lolium perenne, Trifolium repens, Plantago lanceolata and Rumex obtusifolius) growing on a calcareous shooting range soil under waterlogged and drained conditions. To monitor seasonal trends, the same plants were collected at three times over the growing season. Additionally, variations in soil solution concentrations were monitored at three depths over the experiment. Under reducing conditions, soluble Sb concentrations dropped from ∼50 μg L^-1 to ∼10 μg L^-1, which was attributed to the reduction of Sb(V) to Sb(III) and the higher retention of the trivalent species by the soil matrix. Shoot Sb concentrations differed by a factor of 60 between plant species, but remained at levels <0.3 μg g^-1. Despite the difference in soil solution concentrations between treatments, total Sb accumulation in shoots for plants collected on the waterlogged soil did not change, suggesting that Sb(III) was much more available for plant uptake than Sb(V), as only 10% of the total Sb was present as Sb(III). In contrast to Sb, Pb, Cu and Zn soil solution concentrations remained unaffected by waterlogging, and shoot concentrations were significantly higher in the drained treatment for many plant species. Although showing an increasing trend over the season, shoot metal concentrations generally remained below regulatory values for fodder plants (40 μg g^-1 Pb, 150 μg g^-1 Zn, 15-35 μg g^-1 Cu), indicating a low risk of contaminant transfer into the food chain under both oxic and anoxic conditions for the type of shooting range soil investigated in this study.

Insights into arsenic retention dynamics of Pleistocene aquifer sediments by in situ sorption experiments

The migration of arsenic (As) enriched groundwater into Pleistocene aquifers as a consequence of extensive groundwater abstraction represents an increasing threat to the precious water resources in Asian delta regions. Pleistocene aquifer sediments are typically rich in FeIII-(hydr)oxides and are capable to adsorb high amounts of As. This results in a pronounced accumulation of As in Pleistocene aquifers, where high As groundwater infiltrates from adjacent Holocene aquifers. However, As retention by Pleistocene aquifers over long-term time scales remains largely unknown. We studied As sorption in situ by placing natural Pleistocene sediments and pure mineral phases directly inside groundwater monitoring wells at a study site near Hanoi (Vietnam). This in situ exposure allows for constant flushing of the samples with unaltered groundwater and the establishment of undisturbed sorption equilibria similar to those in local aquifer sediments, which is not readily attainable in traditional laboratory sorption experiments. The groundwaters in our experimental wells were characterized by different As concentrations (0.01-6.63 μmol/L) and redox states, reaching from suboxic to anoxic conditions (E_h of +159 to -4 mV). Results show that adsorption is the dominant As retention mechanism, independent from the respective groundwater chemistry (i.e. concentrations of dissolved P, HCO₃^- and Si). Whilst most of the As sorbed within the first week, sorption further increased slowly but consistently by 6-189%, respectively, within six months. Hence, the As sorption behavior of Pleistocene aquifer sediments should be determined over longer periods to avoid an underestimation of the As sorption capacity. Accompanying desorption experiments revealed that about 51% of the sorbed As was remobilized within six months when exposed to low As groundwater. We therefore conclude that a considerable proportion of the As accumulated in the aquifer sediments is prone to remobilization once the As concentrations in migrating groundwater decline. Remobilization of As should be considered in local water management plans to avoid contamination of precious groundwater resources with this As legacy.

Sewage sludge ash--A promising secondary phosphorus source for fertilizer production

Sewage sludge incineration is extensively practiced in some European countries such as the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. A survey of German sewage sludge ash showed that the recovery potential is high, approx. 19,000 t of phosphorus per year. However, the survey also discovered that the bioavailability of phosphorus in the sewage sludge ash is poor and that more than half of the ashes cannot be used as fertilizers due to high heavy metal content. A new thermochemical process for sewage sludge ash treatment was developed that transforms the ash into marketable fertilizer products. Sewage sludge ash was thermochemically treated with sodium and potassium additives under reducing conditions, whereby the phosphate-bearing mineral phases were transformed into plant available phosphates. High P-bioavailability was achieved with a molar Na/P ratio >1.75 in the starting materials. Sodium sulfate, carbonate and hydroxide performed comparably as additives for this calcination process. Potassium carbonate and -hydroxide have to be added in a molar K/P ratio >2.5 to achieve comparable P-solubility. The findings of the laboratory scale investigations were confirmed by an industrial demonstration trial for an ash treatment with sodium sulfate. Simultaneously, the volatile transition metal arsenic (61% removal) as well as volatile heavy metals such as cadmium (80%), mercury (68%), lead (39%) and zinc (9%) were removed via the off-gas treatment system. The product of the demonstration trial is characterized by high bioavailability and a toxic trace element mass fraction below the limit values of the German fertilizer ordinance, thus fulfilling the quality parameters for a P-fertilizer.

Pore Mn²⁺ dynamics of the rhizosphere of flooded and non-flooded rice during a long wet and drying phase in two rice growing soils

Flooded rice soils produce elevated concentrations of soluble manganous manganese (Mn(2+)) that could be potentially toxic to subsequent crops. To provide insight into how soil pore Mn(2+) changes its concentration in a rice and post rice drying soil, we used an artificial microcosm system to follow Mn(2+) concentrations in two different soil types (red sodosol and grey vertosol) and under two irrigation regimes (flooded and saturated). Soil pore water was collected from four different depths of soil (2.5 cm, 7.5 cm, 15 cm and 25 cm) and Mn(2+) concentrations were analysed during and after the rice phase over a one year cycle. Mn(2+) increased with the advancement of anaerobic conditions at all soil depths, but the concentration was higher in flooded soil compared to saturated soil. Initially, the highest concentration of Mn(2+) was found at a depth of 7.5 cm, while at the later stage of rice growth, more Mn(2+) was found in the deepest sampling depth (25 cm). Plants grown in saturated soils showed a delay in flowering of approximately 3 weeks compared to flooded cultures. Moreover, plants grown in flooded soil produced more tillers and leaf area than those grown in saturated soil. Peak concentrations of soil Mn(2+) were associated with the reproductive stage of rice growth. Mn(2+) concentrations decreased after drainage of water. In post rice soils, Mn(2+) remained elevated for some time (lag phase), and then rapidly declined. Regression analysis revealed that the process of oxidation of Mn(2+) to Mn(4+) following water drainage decreased with soil depth.