ABSTRACT
The ecological risk assessment of chemicals including nanoparticles is based on the determination of adverse effects on organisms and on the environmental concentrations to which biota are exposed. The aim of this work was to better understand the behavior of nanoparticles in the environment, with the ultimate goal of predicting future exposure concentrations in water. We measured the concentrations and particle size distributions of CeO(2) nanoparticles in algae growth medium and deionized water in the presence of various concentrations and two types of natural organic matter (NOM). The presence of natural organic matter stabilizes the CeO(2) nanoparticles in suspension. In presence of NOM, up to 88% of the initially added CeO(2) nanoparticles remained suspended in deionized water and 41% in algae growth medium after 12d of settling. The adsorbed organic matter decreases the zeta potential from about -15 mV to -55 mV. This reduces aggregation by increased electrostatic repulsion. The particle diameter, pH, electric conductivity and NOM content shows significant correlation with the fraction of CeO(2) nanoparticles remaining in suspension.
Subject(s)
Cerium/chemistry , Fresh Water/chemistry , Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry , Water Pollutants/chemistry , Organic Chemicals/chemistry , Particle SizeABSTRACT
The main factors contributing to variation in metal concentrations in earthworms inhabiting floodplain soils were investigated in three floodplains differing in inundation frequency and vegetation type. Metal concentrations in epigeic earthworms showed larger seasonal variations than endogeic earthworms. Variation in internal levels between sampling intervals were largest in earthworms from floodplain sites frequently inundated. High and low frequency flooding did not result in consistent changes in internal metal concentrations. Vegetation types of the floodplains did not affect metal levels in Lumbricus rubellus, except for internal Cd levels, which were positively related to the presence of organic litter. Internal levels of most essential metals were higher in spring. In general, no clear patterns in metal uptake were found and repetition of the sampling campaign will probably yield different results.
Subject(s)
Disasters , Metals/toxicity , Oligochaeta/metabolism , Seasons , Soil Pollutants/toxicity , Animals , Arsenic/analysis , Arsenic/metabolism , Cadmium/analysis , Cadmium/metabolism , Calcium/analysis , Calcium/metabolism , Chromium/analysis , Chromium/metabolism , Copper/analysis , Copper/metabolism , Iron/analysis , Iron/metabolism , Lead/analysis , Lead/metabolism , Metals/analysis , Metals/metabolism , Oligochaeta/chemistry , Soil Pollutants/analysis , Soil Pollutants/metabolism , Zinc/analysis , Zinc/metabolismABSTRACT
The 226Ra2+ selectivity of both the self-assembled (iso)-guanosine-based systems and ionizable thiacalix[4]crown dicarboxylic acids was determined in gas-field-produced water and a metal ion-containing model solution (simulant). Seven gas-field-produced water samples have been analyzed. From a sample (K5D) with average metal ion concentrations ([metal(tot)] = 0.14 M), thiacalix[4]crown-5 dicarboxylic acid (10(-4) M) extracts 60% of the 226Ra2+ content. Extractions performed with the model solution ((M)K5D) indicate that in K5D there is significant competition in 226Ra2+ extraction due to the organic constituents of K5D, in particular with self-assembled extractants guanosine and isoguanosine. Nevertheless, all four extractants extract 226Ra2+ both from the produced water K5D and the model solution (M)K5D, even with a 100-fold excess of [metal(tot)] to [extractant]. The extracted 226Ra2+ cations could effectively be stripped from the extractants bywashing with pH 2 water. The results obtained with the extractants used, especially thiacalix[4]crown-5 dicarboxylic acid 3, clearly demonstrate the way to selectively remove Ra2+ from gas-field-produced waters.
Subject(s)
Crown Compounds/chemistry , Radon/isolation & purification , Water Pollutants, Radioactive/isolation & purification , Fossil Fuels , Geological Phenomena , GeologyABSTRACT
The 226Ra2+ selectivity of the ionizable (thia)calix[4]crowns 1-4 was determined in the presence of a large excess of the most common alkali and alkaline earth cations. Selective 226Ra2+ (2.9 x 10(-)(8) M) extraction occurs even at extremely high M(n+)/226Ra2+ ratios of 3.5 x 10(7) [M(n+) = Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and Sr2+ (1M)] and an ionophore concentration of 10(-4) M. The selectivity coefficients log(K(Ra)(ex)/K(M)(ex)) are approximately 3.5 for Mg2+, Ca2+, and Sr2+. In the presence of Ba2+, which has very similar chemical properties, only the thiacalix[4]crown-6 derivative 4 showed a selectivity for 226Ra2+. In addition to the remarkable 226Ra2+ selectivities, the effective pH range (pH 8-13) of the thiacalix[4]crown dicarboxylic acids (3 and 4) allows for full regeneration of the ionophores at lower pH values (pH <6).
