Biodegradation of different tall oil soaps was studied in order to examine the behaviour of these bioproducts in natural environments and to study their biodegradation rates. The rates of biodegradation were studied by modelling the biodegradation phenomenon as a pseudo-first-order reaction. Biodegradation was studied in seven different environments. Four of these were water phases: groundwater in aerobic and anaerobic conditions, river water and Office of Environmental Compliance and Documentation (OECD) 301 F standard conditions. In addition, three solid phases, sand, acidic forest soil and topsoil, were used as a solid matrix. The results showed that the matrix and the concentration had a strong effect on both the rate and degree of the biodegradation reaction. As a result, all of the tall oil soaps were about 57–85 % biodegradable in OECD 301 F conditions, but only moderately biodegradable in Finnish river water taken in the summer. When compared to the sample taken in the autumn, the biodegradation degree was considerably higher. In groundwater, biodegradation degree was low, even negligible in anaerobic conditions. With ten times less sample content, the biodegradation degrees in groundwater and surface water increased to 60 % for all the tall oil soaps, with one soap, in particular, up to 80 % during 100 days of measurement. In the topsoil, biodegradation was vague, and in slightly acidic forest soil, the decomposition reactions were complex. This is probably due to gas formation in the side reactions. In sand, tall oil soaps did not biodegrade at all.

A total of 179 surface sediment samples from shallow waters have been collected in Catalonia (Northwestern Mediterranean) from 2002 to 2010 to analyze heavy metals (Al, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, V, and Zn) concentrations, organic matter content, and sediment size in order (i) to find baseline values, (ii) to investigate metal contamination trends, and (iii) to identify its spatial and temporal distribution. Highest metals concentrations were registered in the Barcelona metropolitan area and in the mouth of Besòs and Llobregat Rivers for Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd. Mercury was also abundant in these areas but the highest record was found close to Tarragona. The concentrations agree with those reported in other studies performed in big river’s mouths and industrialized areas. The absence of large industrial activity and urbanization outside Barcelona and Tarragona explains the low metal contents found at the other sampling sites. Based on enrichment factor (EF), Pb was the most enriched metal. Results will provide a useful aid for sustainable marine management in Catalonia.

The Lea Navigation in the north-east of London, a canalized reach of the River Lea, is affected by episodes of very low levels of dissolved oxygen. The problem was detected by the Environment Agency from the confluence with Pymmes Brook (which receives the final effluent of Deephams sewage treatment works) to the Olympic site (Marshgate Lane, Stratford). In this study, possible causes and sources of the poor water quality in the Lea Navigation were investigated using algal bioassays and detailed spatial seasonal mapping of the physico-chemical parameters collected in situ. Results showed chronic pollution and identified polar compounds in the river water and high bacterial concentrations as possible causes of low dissolved oxygen levels. This study confirmed the negative impact of Deephams sewage treatment works (via Pymmes Brook) on the water quality of the Lea. However, whilst the Environment Agency had previously focused on the pollution created by the sewage treatment works, results showed evidence of other sources of pollution; in particular, Stonebridge Brook was identified as an uncontrolled source of pollution and untreated wastewater. This study demonstrates the value of conducting combined methodologies and detailed monitoring. Other possible sources include Old Moselle Brook, diffuse pollution from surface run-off, boat discharges and other undetected drainage misconnections.

Biodiesel has proven to be a reasonable substitute to petroleum diesel owing to continuous depletion and pollution caused by the latter. The uncomplicated process of production of fatty acid methyl ester or biodiesel as it is commercially known has made it an even better substitute of fossil diesel. The preparation of biodiesel involves the use of alcohol (methanol) and hydroxides (NaOH). There is a possibility that some of these compounds remain unreacted and needs to be washed with water. This residue water containing alcohol and hydroxide residues if discharged in the soil may affect its quality. This research paper deals with the effect of biodiesel effluent on various physico-chemical properties of soil. The result of the research proves that the biodiesel effluent if discharged in soil will degrade soil quality.

A dose–response study was performed in four commercial clones, Baldo (Populus deltoides), Jean Pourtet (Populus nigra), I-214 (Populus x euramericana) and Villafranca (Populus alba), to investigate the best performing species in terms of metal content and high metal resistance (absence of symptoms) useful in biomass production on contaminated water/land by zinc. Zinc (1 μM as control and 1 mM) was applied for 4 weeks in a hydroponic system. Clone Villafranca was the least damaged, while the most sensitive was clone I-214. The highest zinc concentration in all different parts of plants analysed was recorded in Villafranca > I-214 > Baldo > Jean Pourtet. The higher translocation factor was seen in Baldo, the lowest in Villafranca. Analyses of leaf damage showed a reduction on Chl a in young leaves (96 %) in I-214 stressed plants, whereas in Villafranca, Chl a was about double compared to the control. Regarding other photosynthetic pigments, violaxanthin was significantly correlated to zinc concentration in old leaves. The responses of clones to zinc (Zn) stress were specific: Villafranca was the most resistant, while I-214 showed the highest biomass production under Zn excess. Since these two clones have useful and complementary traits for uptake and detoxification while maintaining high biomass production under Zn excess, they are interesting candidates for understanding the key resistance mechanisms.

The purposes of this research were (1) to compare level of uptake and accumulation of Eu and Ce by wheat and rye seedlings grown in soil spiked with these metals, (2) to estimate short-term variations of Eu and Ce in soil and in plants and (3) to study effects of Eu and Ce accumulation on concentrations of other macro- and trace elements in the plants. The experiments were performed in a naturally illuminated greenhouse. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to determine concentrations of rare earth elements and essential nutrients and trace elements in the plants and soil. The experimental results indicate that addition of Eu and Ce to soil can lead to enhanced uptake of the trace elements by plants. Plants more easily accumulated Eu than Ce. Moreover, for rye, differences between amounts of Ce in the seedlings grown in Ce-spiked soil and in Ce-free soil were statistically insignificant. During the first hours after transfer of seedlings to soil spiked with Eu, concentration of Eu in the roots of both plant species increased significantly. An increase of leaf Eu concentration was also observed, however, these variations were not as marked as those in roots. During the following 10-day growth in the Eu-spiked soil, concentration of Eu in plants constantly increased. The bioaccumulation of Eu resulted in certain decrease of Eu in the rhizosphere soil. However, no variations in soil Ce concentrations were found. The accumulation of Eu and Ce in rye and wheat seedlings did not significantly affect concentrations of essential plant nutrients and other REEs.

Environmental pollution is one of the most serious causes of degradation of Mediterranean wetlands. Mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd) are of particular concern due to biomagnification. Here, we used red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) to monitor the spatial and temporal patterns of these two metals in a Portuguese rice field system. We sampled the crayfish in three different sites and three different time periods in the Sado River Basin (Portugal). We measured temperature, pH, total dissolved solids and conductivity in the water. Hg and Cd were measured in the crayfish abdominal muscle tissue and exoskeleton. In muscle, a spatial pattern was found for the accumulation of Cd while for Hg, only a temporal pattern emerged. The spatial pattern for Cd seemed to reflect the mining history of the sites, whereas the temporal pattern for Hg seemed related to the flooding of rice fields. We suggest that this flooding process increases Hg bioavailability.

The effect of anaerobic digestion (AD), coarse solids removal, and a manure additive More Than Manureᵀᴹ (MTMᵀᴹ) on ammonia (NH₃) emission from raw (Non AD) dairy manure and AD manure was studied during 110 days of storage. The study consisted of eight treatments in duplicate: AD manure and non AD manure, with and without coarse solids, and with and without MTMᵀᴹ additive. These studies were conducted in a naturally ventilated barn. The nitrogen content of manure, especially the ammoniacal nitrogen, played an important role in NH₃ emission. During the first 11 weeks of the storage, AD manure had significantly greater peak (33 to 38 ppm) concentrations of NH₃, and NH₃ fluxes (94 to 130 μg min⁻¹ m⁻²) compared to raw manure (14 to 25 ppm and 55 to 81 μg min⁻¹ m⁻², respectively). From the 11th week until the end of storage, there was no significant difference in NH₃ emissions across the manure treatments. The presence of course solids resulted in significanlty less peak NH₃ for non AD manure when data were evaluated for the whole storage period. The manure additive MTMᵀᴹ did not have a significant effect on NH₃ emissions during storage, however, temperature was positively related to NH₃ emissions. Total ammoniacal nitrogen and solids concentration in manure was the most important factors affecting NH₃ emissions during storage.

Many of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are operated by biological process with their excellent performances. However, the early warning system in the influent line is required to avoid the process malfunction because the biological wastewater treatment system has serious drawback to toxic chemicals in the influent. In order to develop a new type of biosensor using anaerobic granules in an online device for rapid detection of toxic inhibitory to the biological process, a porous pot reactor and an anaerobic granule biosensor (AGB) were demonstrated as an upset early warning device (UEWD) in this study. In the first group of toxic loading tests, the prepared cupric chloride solutions were separately injected into both the porous pot and AGB systems at six different concentrations, and phenol solutions were used at three different concentrations in the second group of tests. The results showed the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (ammonia-N) removal efficiency from porous pot reactor decreased dramatically in response to the addition of Cu²⁺and phenol with the variation of the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) in AGB. The response of AGB system was 6 to 20 h in advance of porous pot reactor performance response, which suggests that the AGB could potentially be used as an online UEWD.

In an effort to customize biochars for soil amendments, multiple feedstocks have been combined in various ratios prior to pyrolysis. The resulting variation in the chemistry and structure can affect a biochar’s adsorption capacity, which influences the bioavailability of many chemical compounds in the soil system including phenolic acids. This study characterizes the sorption of 14C-labeled ferulic acid, syringic acid, and chlorocatechol to four biochars prepared from individual feedstocks and four from mixed feedstocks using batch equilibration. Pure feedstock biochar sorption followed switchgrass< swine solids< poultry litter< pine chip for both ferulic (Kd= 1.4-75) and syringic acid (Kd= 0.07-6.03), and appeared to be influenced by the properties of the biochars as well as the chemicals themselves. All biochar Kd values, except pine chip, were lower than that of the reference soil (Waukegan silt loam). The sorptive properties of the combined feedstock biochars could not be predicted from their pure feedstock components and sorption coefficients were both unexpectedly higher and lower than the individual parent materials’ biochars. Further research is necessary to understand the characteristics of these combination biochars, particularly their sorption, which this study has shown is not merely an intermediary of its components.