River plumes are the major source of nutrients, sediments, and other pollutant into the coastal waters. The predictive capability of a 3D hydrodynamic model (POMGL), a version of the common Princeton Ocean Model (POM), adapted for the Great Lakes, is assessed versus field measurements. The model was applied to simulate the nearshore hydrodynamics as the Grand River plume entering Lake Michigan. A nesting technique was adapted to represent the circulation and thermal structure of the surface river plume with a higher resolution. The model was compared with extensive field studies in the vicinity of Grand Haven. The current predictions showed fairly good agreement with observations, although the thermal structure of the flow especially near the river mouth was not very well represented. The model showed a weak stratification and a mild temperature transition from the plume to the lake water and therefore more diffusion. Application of hydrostatic models in exchange flows (e.g., buoyant river plumes) is recommended with reservations and coupling of these models with near field entrainment or empirical models to consider the nonhydrostatic nature of lake-river interface currents.

Wastewater from textile industry contains a number of pollutants which are hazardous in nature. The direct discharge of the wastewater into the environment affects its ecological status by causing various undesirable changes. As environmental fortification becomes a global anxiety, industries are finding novel solutions for mounting low-cost and environmental-friendly technologies for the dye removal from the waste. The presence of the dyes hinders sunlight penetration and disturbs the ecosystem of water. However, the treatment of wastewater with biodegradable polymer attains a vital importance as they are environmental friendly. The main objective of the work was to make an effort to develop a feasible process for the removal of dyes/color from the textile wastewater by using potato starch, which is a plant-based bio-polymer. A three-level, full-factorial design was selected, and experiments were conducted using a jar test apparatus. The main effects and interactions of dosage, pH, and temperature on the percentage color removal were analyzed. Reduction in color was analyzed using UV-2800 spectrophotometer. A three-way significant interaction was observed. However, dosage is found to be the most important parameter for dye removal using potato starch.

The reaction of Hg²⁺with sulfite is a major identified reduction pathway in the atmosphere. UV absorption spectroscopy was used to study the kinetics of Hg²⁺reduction by sulfite (Na₂SO₃) in the presence of fly ash. Upon the addition of Cumberland and Shawnee fly ash samples, the reduction rates were 0.0071 ± 0.0008 and 0.0009 ± 0.0006 s⁻¹, respectively. This represents c.a. 40 and 90 % decreases in the homogeneous rate, 0.013 ± 0.007 s⁻¹. The reduction reaction was also observed when Cumberland was added without Na₂SO₃. Sulfur elemental analyzer and high-resolution field emission scanning microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (HR-FE-SEM-EDS) characterization confirmed that Cumberland fly ash particles were rich in sulfur. Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) determined the mean particle size in solution to be 246 ± 25 nm for Cumberland fly ash and 198 ± 14 nm for Shawnee. To obtain further insight on observed Hg²⁺homogeneous reduction rates by sulfite, the effects of several environmental variables were investigated. Hg(NO₃)₂and HgO were used as the sources of Hg²⁺. Extended pH (1–7) and temperature (1.0–45.0 °C) ranges were studied for the first time. The enthalpies of activation for the HgO reduction were 94 ± 3 kJ mol⁻¹at pH 1 and 92 ± 4 kJ mol⁻¹at pH 3, while the entropies were 33 ± 9 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹at pH 1 and 30 ± 10 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹at pH 3. It was determined that increasing ionic strength, especially with nitrate species, slows down the reaction at pH = 7. Significance of the results on the variability of mercury reduction by sulfite at various environmental conditions, and its implication in modelling are discussed.

A high concentration of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) was detected in post-desulfurized waste seawater, which was discharged from a coal-fired power plant equipped with a seawater desulfurization system and which was located in a coastal area. A large amount of DGM was converted from other forms of mercury during transformation processes, such as photo-reduction. The present study targeted the photo-reduction of mercury and the effects of various environmental parameters on DGM production in the post-desulfurized seawater discharged. The results suggested that the photo-reduction of mercury was significantly induced under UV radiation, especially with UVB. The particulate mercury on suspended solids was easily photo-reduced and considered as an important source of DGM. It was confirmed that the suspended solids in post-desulfurized seawater could enhance the reduction process of mercury under UV radiation. The pseudo-first-order rate constants of DGM production, which were determined through the concentration gradient and trial methods, were 1.39 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹and 1.45 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹, respectively. The values showed no significant difference and were both much higher than the reported results, indicating that the photo-reduction of mercury in post-desulfurized seawater deserved more attention. In addition, the initial mercury level was observed when mixing the post-desulfurized seawater with fresh seawater, and this suggested that a significant amount of initial mercury would be produced when the post-desulfurized seawater was discharged into the adjacent sea area and thus becomes another considerable source of DGM.

Aeolian dust from hot spots in eastern China and Mongolia can be carried downwind to provinces in China, neighboring countries, the Pacific islands, and cities far beyond the source region. Although dust sources of huge extent have been identified in several countries, few effective countermeasures are available to combat dust emissions in arid regions. We analyzed Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images (1 km spatial resolution) that captured dust emission and dispersion during 2000–2013 to determine dust sources in eastern China and Mongolia. MODIS level 1B data and the brightness temperature difference (BTD) algorithm provided efficient discrimination of dust in this study. The derived dust information, in conjunction with the MODIS land cover product (1 km spatial resolution) and high-resolution Landsat data (30 m spatial resolution; Landsat 8, Operational Land Imager sensor) were used to identify the locations and specific sources of dust. Dust emissions appear to be sporadic in time and space, controlled by both environmental factors and human activity, although past studies have indicated that many dust emissions are from consistently active hot spots. Analysis of MODIS data indicated that three subregions of the eastern China and Mongolia source region are the dominant sources of dust: Horqin Sandy Land, Otintag Sandy Land, and the southeastern Mongolian Gobi; each of these subregions contains dust emission hot spots. We identified the locations of consistent hot spots and verified that some individual dust emissions originated from those hot spots. Our data also indicated that hot spots in southeastern Mongolia have migrated northward since 2006. Our study showed that hot spots such as dry lakes, river beds, mines, and croplands contribute to dust emissions in the eastern China and Mongolia source region. Dust hot spots coincide with regions of expanding industry in Otintag Sandy Land and in some areas of the Mongolian Gobi and with agricultural areas in Horqin Sandy Land and in some parts of the Mongolian Gobi. In Horqin and Otintag sandy lands, dust sources are associated with ephemeral water bodies. Water conservation can be an important countermeasure for initial dust emissions in the Horqin Sandy Land. In the Otintag Sandy Land, attention should be paid to human activities, for example, minimizing the effects of mining disturbances, improving dust suppression in industrial areas, and controlling water use by industry. In Mongolia, protective farming techniques and water conservation in dust emitting basins, and dust suppression and water resource protection in mining zones, must be considered to combat dust emission. MODIS level 1B data can be used to locate dust hot spots and to identify future sources of dust entrainment. Dust hot spots identified from MODIS level 1B data provide small-scale information about dust emission that can be used to locate pollution hot spots, increase understanding of the global dust cycle, and improve dust modeling.

Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a representative of a group of compounds found in our rivers that have been classified as upcoming contaminants. Its pharmacological activity to treat mood and neurological disorders is based on its effects on ion channels, but effects on aquatic organisms have not yet been thoroughly investigated.In our initial analysis, we compared CBZ effects on two microalgae species differing in CBZ sensitivity: Parachlorella kessleri and Neochloris pseudoalveolaris. While we observed a stimulation in the growth rate in cultures of P. kessleri in the presence of 10 μg L⁻¹ CBZ, no effect on growth rates of N. pseudoalveolaris cultures could be documented at this concentration. Any higher tested CBZ concentration led to growth inhibition.To gain insight into these effects, biochemical and physiological parameters of these two microalgae species were measured in the presence of CBZ in a concentration-dependent manner.As the severe inhibition of growth rate correlated with a significant inhibition of most tested parameters in cultures of N. pseudoalveolaris, the primary reason for the adverse effect of CBZ on cultures of this microalgae species could not be identified. In cultures of N. pseudoalveolaris, experimental data indicate that inhibition of growth rate occurs when the microalgae are no longer able to compensate for adverse CBZ-induced ROS effects.Analysis of the CBZ response of cultures of P. kessleri showed a reduction of growth stimulatory effect if the CBZ concentration exceeds a threshold value. In general, cultures of P. kessleri show a great potential to withstand CBZ as an environmental pollutant.

The presence of multicomponent nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) source zones in the subsurface can significantly complicate remediation efforts, transport predictions, and the development of accurate risk assessments. A series of flow-cell experiments was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of two different enhanced-solubilization agents for the removal of a multicomponent dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) source zone from homogeneous porous media. The source zone consisted of an equal 1:1:1 mole mixture of cis-1,2-dichloroethene (DCE), trichloroethene (TCE), and tetrachloroethene (PCE) with NAPL saturation (Sn) targeted between 8 and 14 %. Solutions (5 wt%) of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were flushed through the flow-cell system until nearly complete contaminant removal was achieved. Analysis of elution curves indicate that SDS was approximately 10 times more efficient at removing all three components from the system compared to HPCD. Although enhancement factor magnitudes vary for each specific contaminant component and enhanced-solubilization agent, the lowest-solubility contaminant component (i.e., PCE) consistently experienced the greatest relative solubility enhancement during flushing. SDS was generally superior when evaluated on a recovery basis; however, HPCD outperformed SDS for all contaminant components when compared based on moles-contaminant to moles-reagent removal efficiency analysis. Contaminant mass flux reduction analysis showed that enhanced-solubilization flushing (HPCD and SDS) resulted in general inefficient contaminant removal behavior. Raoult’s Law could be used to successfully predict aqueous contaminant concentrations from the multicomponent DNAPL source zone, indicating that dissolution processes were relatively ideal during both HPCD and SDS enhanced-solubilization flushing. These findings suggest that multicomponent NAPL source dissolution and removal depend upon the flushing agent itself and of the solubility and properties of the individual components of the NAPL mixture. The selection of a particular enhanced-flushing agent should be evaluated carefully prior to remediation as the dissolution, removal, and mass flux behavior of each component can vary significantly.

A wide variety of application of nanoparticles (NPs) in recent years has raised their possible entrance into the environment so that can affect living components of ecosystems. There is no comparative study on the long-term effects of a wide range of concentrations of NPs, related bulk particles (BPs), and corresponding metal ions on different traits of the plants. The present study has investigated comparative effects of zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs, ZnO BPs, and zinc ions (Zn²⁺) on rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) after long-term exposure to a wide range of concentrations. The inhibitory effects of treatments on the growth of B. napus were in the order Zn²⁺ >> ZnO BPs > ZnO NPs. Results showed the significant changes in the antioxidant enzyme activities, total chlorophyll, soluble proteins, proline, and soluble sugars of the leaves in response to the treatments. However, total phenolic compounds were not affected significantly by any treatment. Overall, in the present study, the toxicity of ZnO NPs on B. napus was lower than those of Zn²⁺ or ZnO BPs. Results indicate that adverse effects of ZnO NPs or BPs on B. napus may be due in part to the toxic effects of Zn²⁺ ions dissolution, probably induced by root exudates, or due o the physical interaction of ZnO particles with roots and induction of structural and functional disorders.

Some microorganisms can produce biotensoactive when in contact with hydrocarbons, which favours micelle formation, allowing microbial cells to metabolise them effectively. In this study, we evaluated the capacity of nitrogen-fixing (NFB) and hydrocarbonoclastic bacterial strains to generate biotensoactive. The sampling site was in a flood plain of the Chico Zapote River, on the low basin of the Tonalá River in Tabasco, Mexico. Rhizospheres and soil contaminated by oil were collected, and the concentration of oil and botanic samples were determined for their taxonomic classification. The collected rhizosphere oil was seeded into Congo red cultures to obtain Azospirillum (NFB) bacteria. The NFB strain was placed in liquid mineral medium with oil as the only carbon source to identify the hydrocarbonoclastic strains. Biochemical and physiological evaluations determined that the species were Azospirillum brasilense and Azospirillum lipoferum. The strains were placed into Kim medium for generating a biosurfactant. The biosurfactant produced by A. brasilense showed an emulsion stability of 229 min, yield of 0.1375 g L⁻¹, emulsion capacity of 80 % and superficial tension of 38 mN m⁻¹, and while the biotensoactive produced by A. lipoferum had an emulsion stability of 260 min, yield of 0.22 g L⁻¹, emulsion capacity of 90 % and superficial tension of 35.5 mN m⁻¹.