Description:    A laboratory-scale study was conducted to determine the removal efficiencies of nine contaminants from a tannery wastewater using a number of physicochemical processes. Coagulation–flocculation using bittern as coagulant, oxidation-utilizing ozone, and adsorption using activated carbon were applied separately and in different sequences. Jar tests were utilized to conduct the experimental work. Except for arsenic, the highest removal efficiencies were recorded when coagulation/flocculation was conducted on the alkalized samples using a bittern dose of 5 mL/L. Activated carbon adsorption improved removal efficiencies of several contaminants. The coagulation/flocculation–adsorption sequence using the optimum dose of 5 mL/L of bittern resulted in high removal efficiencies for total suspended solids (TSS) (97 % ± 1), apparent color (100 % ± 0), turbidity (97 % ± 1), total nitrogen (86 % ± 1), and chromium (100 % ± 0). On the other hand, the same sequence resulted in moderate removal efficiencies for chemical oxygen demand (COD) (72 % ± 7) and total phosphorus (74 % ± 5) and relatively low removals for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (55 % ± 10) and arsenic (42 % ± 14). The removal efficiencies for the different tested sequences demonstrated that each sequence did improve the removal efficiencies for most of the parameters tested and consequently, the quality of tannery effluent. However, no single optimum sequence was capable of attaining high removal efficiencies for all nine parameters. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s11270-012-1379-y Authors George M. Ayoub, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, AUB, P. O. Box 11–0236, Riad El Solh, Beirut, 1107-2020 Lebanon Abeer Hamzeh, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, AUB, P. O. Box 11–0236, Riad El Solh, Beirut, 1107-2020 Lebanon Mahmoud Al-Hindi, Chemical Engineering Program, AUB, Beirut, Lebanon Journal Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Online ISSN 1573-2932 Print ISSN 0049-6979 Journal Volume Volume 224 Journal Issue Volume 224, Number 1

Description:    Anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) is a linear, water-soluble anionic polymer that is widely used for erosion control and water quality protection. There has been an issue whether this formulation could possibly have negative effects on soil microbial diversity by altering microbial binding to soil particles or to one another and thus restricting their mobility and role in carbon and nutrient cycling. We conducted an 8-year study annually applying ultra-high rates of PAM to soil and then monitored impacts on soil bacterial diversity. In July and August, we measured active soil bacterial and fungal biomass and microbial diversity in soils receiving 0 (control), 2,691, and 5,382 kg active ingredient PAM ha −1 . Active microbial biomass in soil was 19–33 % greater in the untreated control than soil treated with 2,691 or 5,382 kg of active ingredient PAM ha −1 . Active bacterial biomass in soil was 21–31 % greater in the control treatment than in soil treated with 2,691 or 5,382 kg of active ingredient PAM ha −1 in August, but not July. Active fungal biomass in soils was 38–50 % greater in the control treatment than soil treated with 2,691 or 5,382 kg of active ingredient PAM ha −1 in July, but not August. Molecular methods were used to access the bacterial diversity, richness, and evenness in an agricultural soil that received 0 (control), 2,691, and 5,382 kg of active ingredient PAM ha −1 . We found that although soil receiving these massive PAM application rates and prolonged exposure may reduce active bacterial and fungal biomass, PAM application did not substantially or consistently affect bacterial structural diversity, richness, or evenness in this agricultural soil. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s11270-012-1382-3 Authors James A. Entry, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory, 3793 North 3600 East, Kimberly, ID 83341, USA DeEtta Mills, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, University Park, Miami, FL, USA Krish Jayachandran, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Florida International University, University Park, Miami, FL, USA R. E. Sojka, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory, 3793 North 3600 East, Kimberly, ID 83341, USA Journal Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Online ISSN 1573-2932 Print ISSN 0049-6979 Journal Volume Volume 224 Journal Issue Volume 224, Number 1

Description:    The evaluation of the contribution of natural sources to PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentrations is a priority especially for the countries of European south strongly influenced by Saharan dust transport events. Daily PM 2.5 concentrations and composition were monitored at an urban site at 14 m above ground level, at the National Technical University of Athens campus from February to December 2010. The typical dust constituents Si, Al, Fe, K, Ca, Mg, and Ti were determined by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WDXRF). Sulfur, a tracer of anthropogenic origin and major constituent of PM 2.5 , was determined by both WDXRF and ionic chromatography. The contribution of dust and sulfates in PM 2.5 was calculated from the analytical determinations. An annual mean of 20 μg/m 3 was calculated from the mean daily PM 2.5 concentrations data. Twenty-two per cent of daily concentrations of PM 2.5 reached or exceeded the EU annual target concentration of 25 μg/m 3 . The exceedances occurred during 13 short periods of 1–4 days. Back-trajectory analysis was performed for these periods in order to identify the air masses origin. From these periods, ten periods were associated to Saharan dust transport events. The most intense dust transport event occurred between February 17th and 20th and was responsible for the highest recorded PM 2.5 concentration of 100 μg/m 3 where the dust contribution in PM 2.5 reached 96 %. The other dust transport events were less intense and corresponded to less pronounced enhancements of PM 2.5 concentrations, and their contribution ranged from 15 to 39 % in PM 2.5 concentrations. Air masses originated from northwest Africa while the influence of central Sahara was quite smaller. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s11270-012-1373-4 Authors E. Remoundaki, Laboratory of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Heroon Polytechniou 9, 15780 Zografou, Greece A. Papayannis, Laser Remote Sensing Laboratory, National Technical University of Athens, Heroon Polytechniou 9, 15780 Zografou, Greece P. Kassomenos, Laboratory of Meteorology, Department of Physics, University of Ioannina, University Campus, GR 45110, Ioannina, Greece E. Mantas, Laboratory of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Heroon Polytechniou 9, 15780 Zografou, Greece P. Kokkalis, Laser Remote Sensing Laboratory, National Technical University of Athens, Heroon Polytechniou 9, 15780 Zografou, Greece M. Tsezos, Laboratory of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Heroon Polytechniou 9, 15780 Zografou, Greece Journal Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Online ISSN 1573-2932 Print ISSN 0049-6979 Journal Volume Volume 224 Journal Issue Volume 224, Number 1

Description:    The potential risk of surface and groundwater contamination by the heavy metals and radionuclides leached from uranium waste-rock piles (UWRP) is a major environmental concern in the uranium-mining district of Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the nickel and uranium leaching behaviour in the UWRP lithological materials. In addition to the chemical characterization, these selected UWRP geomedia samples were also subjected to the sequential extraction procedure, availability test to quantify leaching potential and cumulative leaching test (CLT). Sequential extractions results demonstrated substantial observed differences in the Ni and U distribution patterns among various operationally defined geochemical fractions. A large fraction of total Ni concentration was associated with non-labile residual fraction while U was mainly present in the labile fractions. The observed labile Ni and U concentrations also remained relatively high in the gneissic basement materials and underlying organic-rich lake sediment. In case of basement materials, both Ni and U concentrations in solution with the first CLT fraction exceeds their maximum permissible levels in both surface and groundwater. Leaching test results confirmed that Ni and U leachability depends on their total content distribution in various solid phase fractions, and several geochemical processes are controlling the solubility of Ni and U geochemical phases in the UWRP. Our experimental data suggest the potential for a long-term risk to surface and groundwater contamination from these UWRP. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s11270-012-1360-9 Authors Satya P. Singh, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada M. Jim Hendry, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada Journal Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Online ISSN 1573-2932 Print ISSN 0049-6979 Journal Volume Volume 224 Journal Issue Volume 224, Number 1

Description:    Fly ash is currently being generated at a rate of million tons every year and represents an important waste problem. Bentonite and molasses are used in a wide range of applications. The samples of Orhaneli fly ash were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope. Depending on the results of the analysis, morphology and chemical compositions of Orhaneli fly ash were investigated in detail. Orhaneli fly ash, bentonite (0 and 1 % in terms of fly ash, w / w ), and molasses (0–0.75 mL) were pelletized under 30 MPa of pressure for zinc adsorption in wastewater. As a result, it was seen that the usage of Orhaneli fly ash was proper for zinc (Zn 2+ ) adsorption and an optimum adsorption yield with 90 % was found at a compound with Orhaneli fly ash (10 g), bentonite (0 %), and molasses (0.25 mL) at 2.5 h of reaction time, pH 5, 20 °C of reaction temperature, and 300 rpm of stirring rate. Sorption isotherm and sorption kinetics for Zn 2+ on fly ash (with bentonite and molasses) can be explained by Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. Based on the experimental data, it was seen that Orhaneli fly ash and molasses waste could be evaluated for Zn 2+ adsorption from wastewater, environmentally. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s11270-012-1367-2 Authors S. Kolemen, Department of Chemical Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Davutpasa St., N. 127, Esenler, Istanbul, Turkey N. Baran Acarali, Department of Chemical Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Davutpasa St., N. 127, Esenler, Istanbul, Turkey N. Tugrul, Department of Chemical Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Davutpasa St., N. 127, Esenler, Istanbul, Turkey E. Moroydor Derun, Department of Chemical Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Davutpasa St., N. 127, Esenler, Istanbul, Turkey S. Piskin, Department of Chemical Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Davutpasa St., N. 127, Esenler, Istanbul, Turkey Journal Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Online ISSN 1573-2932 Print ISSN 0049-6979 Journal Volume Volume 224 Journal Issue Volume 224, Number 1

Description:    The aim of this work was to study the degradation of three azo dyes, Orange II, Methyl red and Biebrich Scarlet by electro-Fenton and the effect of the electrochemical pretreatment on the biodegradability of the solutions. The electrochemical pretreatment showed that an electrochemical reduction on the carbon felt electrode was mainly responsible for the decolorization of the azo dyes. Indeed, the electrochemical behaviour of the azo dyes highlighted their electroactivity; electrolysis with and without ferric ions led to the same decolorization yield, namely 99 % at 15 min for Methyl red, and stable chemical oxygen demand (COD) values were recorded during decolorization. In a second step and owing to the absence of by-product electroactivity in reduction, the formation of hydroxyl radicals by the Fenton reaction led to the oxidation of by-products from the electrochemical reduction. It was illustrated by the decrease recorded for the COD values. The results also showed that the azo bond cleavage occurring during the electrochemical reduction was not sufficient to significantly reduce recalcitrance, as shown from biological oxygen demand (BOD) 5 /COD ratio examination below the limit of biodegradability (0.4). Contrarily, a positive trend was recorded for Orange II during the electro-Fenton reaction, with a BOD 5 /COD ratio of 0.81 after 28 h of pretreatment. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s11270-012-1385-0 Authors F. Fourcade, Université de Rennes 1, CNRS, UMR 6226, Avenue du Général Leclerc, CS 50837, 35708 Rennes Cedex 7, France M. Delawarde, Université de Rennes 1, CNRS, UMR 6226, Avenue du Général Leclerc, CS 50837, 35708 Rennes Cedex 7, France L. Guihard, Département Chimie, IUT de Rennes, Université de Rennes 1, 3 rue du Clos Courtel, BP 1144, 35014 Rennes Cedex, France S. Nicolas, Département Chimie, IUT de Rennes, Université de Rennes 1, 3 rue du Clos Courtel, BP 1144, 35014 Rennes Cedex, France A. Amrane, Université de Rennes 1, CNRS, UMR 6226, Avenue du Général Leclerc, CS 50837, 35708 Rennes Cedex 7, France Journal Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Online ISSN 1573-2932 Print ISSN 0049-6979 Journal Volume Volume 224 Journal Issue Volume 224, Number 1

Description:    The decolorization and degradation of anionic sulphonated azo dye (Reactive orange 16 (RO16)), which is suspected to be carcinogenic, were investigated using ozone. The decolorization process of the reactive dye was carried out by bubbling ozone at the bottom of a bubble column reactor containing the dye solution. The effect of pH, reaction time, dye concentration, ozone concentration, and decolorization time was studied. Also, degradation products and possible degradation mechanism were investigated. The results showed that ozonation was a highly effective way to remove color from wastewater. The color of a synthetic waste solution containing water-soluble reactive dye was reduced to 69.69 % under the basic condition (pH 12), with complete RO16 degradation occurring in 8 min. Ozone consumption continued for a further 16 min after which time most of the degradation reactions were complete. Kinetic studies showed that direct ozonation of the aqueous dyes represented a pseudo-first-order reaction with respect to the dye. The apparent rate constant increased with both the applied ozone dose and higher pH values and declined logarithmically with the initial dye concentration. Intermediates such as 6-acetylamino-3-aminonaphthalene-2-sulfonic acid, 2-(4-nitrosophenyl) sulfonylethyl hydrogen sulfate, and 6-acetamido-4-hydroxy-3-nitroso naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid were detected by gas chromatograph coupled with mass spectrometry in the absence of pH buffer, while nitrate and sulfate ions and formic, acetic, and oxalic acids were detected by ion chromatography. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s11270-012-1353-8 Authors Kadir Turhan, Yildiz Technical University, Department of Chemistry, 34210 Esenler, Istanbul, Turkey S. Arda Ozturkcan, Yildiz Technical University, Department of Chemistry, 34210 Esenler, Istanbul, Turkey Journal Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Online ISSN 1573-2932 Print ISSN 0049-6979 Journal Volume Volume 224 Journal Issue Volume 224, Number 1

Description:    In this study, high surface area porous carbons were synthesized by chemical activation using petroleum coke as the precursor and KOH as the activation agent. The pore structure of the as-synthesized activated carbons was characterized by nitrogen adsorption, and their CO 2 sorption capacities were measured by a magnetic suspension balance at 1 and 10 bar, respectively. The effects of activated carbon preparation parameters (preheating temperature, preheating time, activation time, heating rate during the pyrolysis, and particle size of the precursor) on porous texture, CO 2 adsorption capacity, and CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of the activated products were investigated. It has been found that at 1 bar, the CO 2 adsorption capacity is determined by the micropore contribution, i.e., the ratio between micropore surface area and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of the sorbents, while at 10 bar, CO 2 adsorption capacity is related to the BET surface area of the activated products. The maximum CO 2 adsorption uptake of 15.1 wt% together with CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 9.4 at 1 bar were obtained for a sample activated at 700 °C indicating its high potential in the capture of CO 2 . Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s11270-012-1387-y Authors Xupei Zhu, College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, People’s Republic of China Yi Fu, College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, People’s Republic of China Gengshen Hu, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Zhejiang Jinhua, 321004 People’s Republic of China Yang Shen, College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, People’s Republic of China Wei Dai, College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, People’s Republic of China Xin Hu, College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, People’s Republic of China Journal Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Online ISSN 1573-2932 Print ISSN 0049-6979 Journal Volume Volume 224 Journal Issue Volume 224, Number 1

Description:    The potential for climatic factors as well as soil–plant–climate interactions to change as a result of rising levels of atmospheric CO 2 concentration is an issue of increasing international environmental concern. Agricultural and forest practices and managements may be important contributors to mitigating elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentrations. A computer model was developed using the Structural Thinking and Experiential Learning Laboratory with Animation (STELLA) software for soil CO 2 emissions from a short-rotation woody crop as affected by soil water and temperature regimes, root and microbial respiration, and surficial processes such as rainfall, irrigation, and evapotranspiration. The resulting model was validated with good agreement between the model predictions and the experimental measurements prior to its applications. Two scenarios were then chosen to estimate both diurnal and annual soil CO 2 emissions from a 1-ha mature cottonwood plantation as affected by soil temperature, soil (i.e., root and microbial) respiration, and irrigation. The simulation resulted in typical diurnal soil respiration and CO 2 emission patterns, with increases from morning to early afternoon and decreases from early afternoon to midnight. This pattern was driven by diurnal soil temperature variations, indicating that soil temperature was the main influence on soil respiration and CO 2 efflux into the atmosphere. Our simulations further revealed that the average seasonal soil respiration rate in summer was 1.6 times larger than in winter, whereas the average seasonal CO 2 emission rate in summer was 1.77 times larger than in winter. Characteristic annual variation patterns for soil respiration and CO 2 emission also were modeled, with both increasing from January 1 through June 30 followed by steady declines from September 1 through December 31. These results suggest that the STELLA model developed is a useful tool for estimating soil CO 2 emission from a short-rotation woody crop plantation. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s11270-012-1392-1 Authors Ying Ouyang, USDA Forest Service, Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research, 100 Stone Blvd., Thompson Hall, Room 309, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA Theodor D. Leininger, USDA Forest Service, Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research, 432 Stoneville Road, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA Jeff Hatten, Department of Forestry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA Prem B. Parajuli, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA Journal Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Online ISSN 1573-2932 Print ISSN 0049-6979 Journal Volume Volume 224 Journal Issue Volume 224, Number 1

Description:    The impacts of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the removal of 17β-estradiol (E2) in horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-mediated oxidative coupling systems were investigated in this study. The results showed that the removal rate of E2 and the affinity of HRP to E2 had been significantly decreased in the presence of DOM. Compared with urban sludge DOM (USDOM), river sediment DOM (RSDOM), which features relatively low aromaticity and molecular weight and a large number of O-containing groups, more strongly inhibited the E2–HRP–H 2 O 2 reactions than USDOM. The products were analyzed with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The results suggested that the self-coupling of E2 was suppressed in the presence of DOM, likely resulting from cross-coupling between DOM and E2 or self-coupling of DOM in the HRP system. The results are useful in understanding the fate of estrogens in natural systems. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s11270-012-1359-2 Authors Wei Huang, School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Universities Town, Guangzhou, 510006 People’s Republic of China Haiyan Song, School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Universities Town, Guangzhou, 510006 People’s Republic of China Hongqin Xie, Dongguan Environmental Monitoring Station, Dongguan, 523009 People’s Republic of China Youyi Yin, School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Universities Town, Guangzhou, 510006 People’s Republic of China Erwen Yuan, School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Universities Town, Guangzhou, 510006 People’s Republic of China Hong Xiao, School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Universities Town, Guangzhou, 510006 People’s Republic of China Jianzhong Wu, School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Universities Town, Guangzhou, 510006 People’s Republic of China Guangying Zhou, School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Universities Town, Guangzhou, 510006 People’s Republic of China Journal Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Online ISSN 1573-2932 Print ISSN 0049-6979 Journal Volume Volume 224 Journal Issue Volume 224, Number 1